Black Immigrant Daily News

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In light of creole heritage month, the Forestry Department wishes to inform the general public that permission must be obtained from the Department in order to take or hunt protected wildlife such as the Agouti and Manicou (also known as the opossum).

These species are listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act as fully protected wildlife and are therefore not permitted for hunting without a valid permit.

Section 10 (4) of the Wildlife Protection Act expressly states that: ‘Except by the authority of a license or permit issued by the Minister under this section, it is an offence for any person to hunt or to take any wildlife in a wildlife reserve.’

Additionally, section 17 (e) states that ‘A person commits an offence who exposes or offers for sale or purchase any protected wildlife or any part of such wildlife or the eggs, fry or young thereof without a valid permit’.

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The Department further notes that under section 4 of the Act, ‘any person who commits an offence under this Act is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 and or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months’.

In short, Forestry wishes to inform the general public that the sale of wildlife meat is strictly illegal without a valid permit or license.

Wildlife species such as the Saint Lucia iguana are particularly vulnerable and face the risk of extinction due to the restricted and degraded nature of their natural habitat.

For instance, the Saint Lucia iguana faces may threats including habitat loss and predation by invasive species such as mongooses which feed on iguana eggs and hatchlings.

It is therefore our duty as St. Lucians to protect this unique species which is found only in St. Lucia.

The Forestry Department over the years has engaged in educating the public of the importance of protecting our vulnerable endemic wildlife species of birds, reptiles and mammals among others, which play an invaluable role in maintaining the balance and richness of our natural environment.

Anyone who is involved in the illegal hunting, sale and purchasing of protected wildlife is urged to cease such activities immediately, or if caught will be charged under the Wildlife Protection Act.

For further information, please contact the Department’s Senior Wildlife Protection Officer, Pius Haynes, at telephone number 518-7154.

SOURCE: Forestry Department. Headline photo Agouti (Stock image)

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Melvyn Zamy
Vendredi 14 Octobre 2022 – 14h47

Du 14 au 23 octobre prochain, les équipes de France d’épée seniors sont en stage aux Antilles. Si les dames ont posé leurs bagages en Guadeloupe, c’est en Martinique que les hommes s’entraîneront. De nombreux champions sont présents, dont l’espoir martiniquais Kendrick Jean-Joseph accompagné de Romain Cannone, champion olympique en titre de la discipline.

  Hoddebourg-Rinna invité aux Herbiers 

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Les salariés grévistes de TotalEnergies ont finalement reconduit vendredi leur mouvement sur l’ensemble des sites du groupe pétrolier, en dépit de la signature d’un accord sur des augmentations salariales conclu dans la nuit avec deux syndicats majoritaires.

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Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Randall Mitchell. Photo by David Reid

TOURISM, Culture and the Arts Minister Randall Mitchell described Opposition Senator David Nakhid’s claims about the Prime Minister being under police investigation as nothing more than “a madman’s rant.”

Mitchell said all Nakhid and other UNC members continue to do through their actions is prove to the population that their party is no longer relevant to the future growth of TT.

Mitchell made these statements during his contribution to the budget debate in the Senate on Friday.

In the Senate on Thursday, Nakhid alleged he had been called as a witness by the Anti-Corruption Investigation Bureau in a probe into allegations of misbehaviour in public office by Dr Rowley.

Rowley dismissed the claim. He lamented that the budget debate had descended into a UNC search for scandal and that its strategy was: “When you have nothing to effectively assail the actual budgetary provisions, invent and invoke or revel in scandals, real or imaginary.”

As he supported Rowley’s position, Mitchell said, “When the honourable senator was speaking – Senator Nakhid – a calypso came to my mind, one by David Rudder.”

He did not remember the name of the calypso initially, but said, “I know within there, he sings ‘Vote for we and we go set you free.’”

Responding to an inaudible comment in the Parliament Chamber, Mitchell replied, “A madman’s rant. That is what came to mind (with Nahkid’s contribution).”

He recalled Nakhid “went on to say the Prime Minister is being investigated or something or the other.

“What he (Nakhid) would not say is that every single day, he has been writing the commissioner of police, harassing the CoP.”

He described Nakhid’s actions “as something I can only describe as pestilential.”

Nakhid, Mitchell continued, does not understand the Constitution or the powers it gives a prime minister.

“That brings me back to (opposition) Senator (Wade) Mark. I saw it (Mark’s contribution) as envious petulance.”

He dismissed Mark’s description of the new building being constructed at the site of the PNM’s Balisier House headquarters as a “Tower of Babylon.”

Government senators thumped their desks as Mitchell countered, “It is a tower of strength. It is a tower of intellectual capacity and prowess. It is a tower of moral rectitude.”

He challenged UNC members to ask themselves why their party has no home of its own to date.

Mitchell declared it was not the PNM’s fault the UNC was evicted from a rented accommodation at Rienzi Complex in Couva, later occupied a space above a grocery in Couva and now has its headquarters “upstairs a rum shop.”

Acknowledging that many devout Muslims are members of the PNM and that Nakhid is a Muslim, Mitchell said, “If (that description) offends this honourable senator (Nakhid), we will describe it as a restaurant and bar.”

Should Nakhid dislike the word “rum,” Mitchell added, “We will describe it as liquid elixirs that contain propanol and ethanol, that when regularly consumed, can cause one to become inebriated.”

He reiterated that Nakhid’s contribution was nothing more than a vitriolic diatribe which demonstrated the UNC’s growing political irrelevance and lack of understanding of the budget.

Recalling that he cut his political teeth in the House of Representatives as San Fernando East MP between September 7, 2015 and August 2020, Mitchell said the population understands the only substantive opposition comment about the budget had come from Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal. But he claimed Moonilal’s contribution this year lacked any substance.

“No buss mark, no allegation of corruption. Nothing at all he could put to the stain of this government.”

Mitchell said this proved the opposition was politically irrelevant and its only desire was to bring TT into disrepute.

“You know the opposition has lost the plot.”

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Randall Mitchell, Tourism and Arts Minister – Photo by Roger Jacob

TOURISM, Culture and the Arts Minister Randall Mitchell is confident Trinidad and Tobago will experience a boost in its tourism and culture sectors next year, after having to endure the covid19 pandemic, along with the rest of the world, for the last two years.

In his contribution to the budget debate in the Senate on Friday, Mitchell highlighted hotel investment, festivals and increased airlift as some of the reasons for a brighter outlook in 2023.

“We will turn the sod for the start of a 152-room, Sheraton-branded hotel at the Piarco Aero Park. This hotel is estimated to cost $156 million and construction will begin shortly thereafter.”

Mitchell disclosed that a local group had recently bought the Maracas Bay Hotel. Pending the relevant approvals for its plans, he said this project will be “a $35 million investment into the 40-room hotel. This translates into 100 construction jobs and 50 permanent ones once completed.”

Mitchell said the Asa Wright Nature Centre recently signed a ten-year lease with an “accommodation operator” for redeveloping and running the eco-lodge.

FILE PHOTO: The main house and other buildings at the Asa Wright Nature Centre, Blanchisseuse Road, Arima.

“This lease will represent a $10 million investment into the property. Work has already begun and is expected to be completed and (the centre) ready to be opened on March 1, 2023.”

The Radisson Blu Hotel in Port of Spain will add 79 apartment-style suites to its current room stock.

Mitchell said hotel occupancy rates this year “have also been slowly returning to the pre-pandemic levels of between 65 and 70 per cent for TT.”

He was encouraged that visitor arrivals to TT are steadily returning to pre-pandemic levels as well.

Mitchell praised international airlines such as British Airways, American Airlines, United Airlines, Copa and JetBlue for continuing their flights into TT. He said British Airways will fly directly to Port of Spain next year while continuing its flights to Tobago.

He added, “There is a very strong prospect on the horizon of a new airline flying into Trinidad from Toronto.”

He was confident that Tobago’s carnival this month will offer a much-needed stimulus to the island’s economy. Mitchell said Government fully supports the Tobago House of Assembly’s efforts to promote the festival and build on it.

Mitchell described this year’s “Taste of Carnival” as a success and a platform for the return of Carnival next year. Reminding senators the event cost $20 million, Mitchell added, “It was not about making a profit.”

The idea was to allow Carnival stakeholders an opportunity to work and devise strategies towards staging a better, safer Carnival 2023.

Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Randall Mitchell – Photo by Jeff K Meyers

From the perspective of airline and hotel bookings to date, Mitchell said Carnival 2023 is almost sold out.

He added that UNC claims that Government was not paying attention to Carnival were false. Mitchell reminded senators that Carnival is part of TT’s culture, its biggest festival and brings great economic benefits.

Touching on sport tourism, he highlighted the Commonwealth Youth Games and the continuation of Caribbean Premier League (CPL) cricket amongst several major sports events TT will host next year.

Against this background, Mitchell declared, “We have no time to waste on the Opposition. We have work to do.”

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