Black Immigrant Daily News

The Antigua and Barbuda High Commission in London will be hosting its second annual United Kingdom-Antigua and Barbuda Business Forum from 6th to 10 th November, 2022.

The event is the brainchild of High Commissioner Karen-Mae Hill and seeks to identify, promote and connect trade and investment opportunities for Antiguan and Barbudan businesses in the UK market.

It will be held in the same week as the annual World Travel Market in London and will involve close collaboration with the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority.

Exhibitors from Antigua and Barbuda will have the opportunity to showcase their goods and services at various customised events to include the World Travel Market. They will gain information on the entry requirements for the United Kingdom including exporting, standards, marketing, transportation and logistics as well as explore opportunities under the UK-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement.

The exhibitors will also interact with UK media and engage in targeted Business to Business (B2B) exchanges that will provide important networking and potential investment opportunities.

As is customary, the Forum includes elements of celebration of Antigua and Barbuda’s political independence and diaspora engagement and will feature several wider events to promote Antigua and Barbuda.

The Opening Ceremony will conclude with the London screening of the Environmental Awareness Group’s documentary – “Redonda: The Road to Recovery” which chronicles the restoration and transformation of this Island. The film will also be screened in Leicester, another diaspora hub for Antiguans and Barbudans.

The week will also host the launch of the book by celebrated author Pamela Roberts titled The Adventures of a Black Edwardian Scholar: The Story of James Arthur Harley. It is the compelling story of an Antiguan who studied at Howard, Yale and Oxford Universities in the early 20th century and became a priest and later a Councillor and whose life provides an interesting study on the intersection of race, identity, academics, religion and politics. The foreword to the book was written by High Commissioner Karen-Mae Hill.

Nine businesses will participate in the Forum: Grannie Annie Pepper Sauce, Neem Avenue, Crispa Chips, Shell Beach Sea Food Company, Sarafina Savoury Caribbean Pudding, 2SIX8 Craft Brewery, Antigua Distillery Ltd., Miss Ellie Stuffed Dumplings and BWC Enterprises which is a coconut-based company. They will be joined by the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Trade has commended the initiative and said that trade promotion and securing international investment is central to Antigua and Barbuda’s economic development policy.

“These forums provide an invaluable opportunity to expose Antigua and Barbuda’s entrepreneurs to important opportunities in key markets like the United Kingdom and equally to exhibit Antigua and Barbuda as an attractive destination for British investment. Trade has always been a force for good in the world. It helps to raise living standards and provide economic opportunity and prosperity for our people”, the Minister said.

The Resident British High Commissioner to Antigua and Barbuda, Lindsy Thompson also commended the trade initiative between both nations. She said, “I’d like to congratulate all those involved in making the second UK Business Forum come to life. The British High Commission St John’s and the UK’s Department for International Trade are proud to be able to engage in this important event, particularly on how Antiguan and Barbudan businesses can harness the benefits of the UK/CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement, which is governs trade between our two nations. This event further highlights the close relationship the UK and Antigua and Barbuda enjoys: and one the UK wants to continue to grow. The products of many of the businesses being showcased in the UK in November are enjoyed by not just my family here in Antigua and Barbuda, but guests to our High Commission. I’m thrilled that the UK market will soon be able to enjoy them too.”

Several public and private sector partners have contributed to making the Forum possible. The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) who will be hosting the B2B exchanges at its offices, the law firm Georgiev, Todorov & Co., the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), the UK Department for International Trade (DIT), Caribbean Export, the Antigua and Barbuda Investment Authority, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Trade and the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority.

The exhibitors participated in a pre-departure briefing session on Tuesday 11th October jointly developed by the High Commission, the Antigua Barbuda Investment Authority, the Ministry of Trade and the British High Commission St. John’s.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

One year after two suspected bandits, who were wanted for the murder of a 19-year-old man, were shot dead by the Police, a coroner’s inquest into the wanted men’s death commenced today at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

According to a notice published by the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Judicature, Sueanna Lovell, the deceased persons in the matter are Kwase Jupiter and David Smith.

City Magistrate Annette Singh will act as the coroner. A total of 22 witnesses, most of whom are Police ranks, are listed to testify in the proceedings.

An inquest is a judicial inquiry in common law jurisdictions, particularly one held to determine the cause of a person’s death and if anyone is to be held liable.

Jupiter and Smith were shot dead on October 2, 2021, during a shootout with the Police at Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown.

Shot dead by the Police: David Smith (left) and Kwase Jupiter

Jupiter called “Ding Docker” and Smith, called “Burlyn” were wanted for the September 30, 2021, murder of 19-year-old Joshua Denny, an electrician of Festival City, Georgetown, who was shot dead during a robbery.

According to reports, at the time of the shootout, Police were acting on information received that the suspects, who had eluded Police in Albouystown, Georgetown, on October 1, 2021, were in the Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown area.

As ranks closed in on the suspects, there was an exchange of gunfire between the two men and Police officers during which the suspected bandits were fatally shot. Police confirmed that two firearms, along with eight rounds of 9mm ammunition, were recovered from the scene.

During a search in the Albouystown area, cops managed to recover several items, including a haversack, a motorcycle, a licence plate, face masks, a helmet and other motorcycle parts that were used during the robbery.

It was reported that when the Police received information about the suspects’ whereabouts, they swooped down on a location in Albouystown, but went to the wrong house.

It was during that time an aunt of one of the suspects, a businesswoman in the community, hid her nephew and his accomplice in her home until the Police left.

Joshua Denny was shot and killed by bandits

On the day Denny, who was expecting his first child, was killed, eyewitnesses who described the incident as bizarre, said the gunmen bolted with the man’s gold chain after shooting him. The young man was killed moments after leaving home for work at approximately 07:20h.

The man was found by his sister, Felicia Denny, shortly after the incident, lying on the roadway with blood oozing from his chest. She said that her brother called her minutes after he had left home, informing her that he had been shot.

Upon rushing to the scene, she found him in a critical state. This publication had reported that the now dead man had left for work before, but returned home to use the washroom.

It was when he left home for the second time that he was attacked and shot two houses away from where he lived. He was picked up and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, but died while undergoing emergency surgery.

Meanwhile, in 2019, Jupiter was charged for robbery under arms and the unlawful possession of ammunition. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years in prison. At the time of his demise, he had just been released from prison.

Smith, on the other hand, was arrested and charged in May 2021 for robbery under arms and discharging a loaded firearm.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Digicel Group has been shortlisted for both the Global Carrier Awards and the World Communication Awards.

Entering the category for “Best Environmental, Social, Governmental (ESG) Initiative” in the Global Carrier Awards, this submission looked at the extensive work the Digicel Haiti Foundation has done in the field of education throughout the nation.

Digicel has built 188 schools, resulting in more than 100,000 Haitian children accessing education in a Digicel-built school each day.

The “Best ESG Initiative” category recognises initiatives that are changing the world in the environmental, societal, state and government spheres, including charity initiatives, corporate environmental commitments now or for the future, or anything in the CSR space.

For the World Communication Awards, Digicel was shortlisted in two categories, the “Social Contribution Award”, again for the work of the Digicel Haiti Foundation in education and the “Customer Experience Award” for work done to improve customer experience and to go above and beyond when it comes to putting the customer first.

The “Social Contribution Award” celebrates the service provider demonstrating the greatest positive impact on the market it seeks to address, while the “Customer Experience Award” will go to the service provider that proves to have the best all-round experience for its customer whilst enhancing the trust bonds with its customers in an increasingly digital world.

Oliver Coughlan, Digicel Group CEO said: “Each year, we take a look at the work Digicel has done in a number of areas and determine which aspects can stand tall in a global playing field. While we mostly operate in small island nations, we have a big impact and we are all immensely proud of the work we do in the markets we serve.

“Being shortlisted for these awards is a tremendous honour, and validates the work we have been doing. Getting to this stage took a collective effort, so I’d like to give a big thank you to all the teams across the business who have been working extremely hard to make this a possibility, especially in Haiti where, despite the challenges, we continue to do our best to create a world where no one gets left behind.”

The Global Carrier Awards will be held on October 19 at The O?, London and the World Communication Awards on November 1 at the Grand Connaught Rooms, London.

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News

Justice Frank Seepersad

A TACARIGUA businessman who held two booths at the Public Transport Services Corporation (PTSC) San Juan mall has been ordered to pay over $168,000 for rental fees he owes.

Justice Frank Seepersad made the order on Tuesday but applied a 90-day stay of execution of his decision to give Stanisclaus Huggins time to pay.

Huggins, at a brief trial at the Judicial Waterfront Centre, Port of Spain, admitted he was in debt with PTSC. He also admitted the corporation was entitled to the rental fees and was free to reject an instalment plan.

However, he said while he knew he was in arrears, the corporation had not sent him any invoices.

Huggins represented himself at the trial of his claim against the corporation for a written tenancy agreement. He also wanted damages for the breach of his tenancy contract and an injunction to restrain PTSC from evicting him.

In his claim, Huggins said he operated a defensive driving school at the San Juan mall. One of the booths was used as a classroom while another was used as his office. He also said he got permission to use another booth as his office instead of one of the others he had before.

He said in 2018 when he went to pay his monthly rent, he was told his name was not on the list of tenants and he decided to withhold his rent until PTSC agreed to give him receipts in his name.

Huggins also said he was locked out of the booths and this situation continued for two-and-a-half years before PTSC, on July 29, 2020, demanded immediate payment of the arrears.

Huggins said he offered to pay some arrears in monthly instalments but was, instead, ordered to vacate the premises.

He sued for breach of his tenancy contract.

In his ruling, Seepersad said he could not grant a request for Huggins to pay his debt in instalments but said it was open to PTSC to engage in negotiations with the former tenant since he has said he cannot pay a lump sum.

The judge said that would be entirely up to PTSC but also advised Huggins to consider giving up possession of the booths by handing over the keys since the longer he holds on to the booths, “your indebtedness continues.”

“It is entirely a commercial decision for you to make.” Huggins was also ordered to pay PTSC’s legal costs in the sum of $14,000.

PTSC was represented by attorney Nirad Ramrekersingh.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

NCB Merchant Bank (Trinidad and Tobago) Ltd, a subsidiary of the Jamaica-based NCB Capital Markets Group, has signed an agreement with Guyana Shorebase Inc. (‘GYSBI’) for the disbursement of a syndicated term loan to the value of US$10 million.

Guyana Shore Base Inc. is a Guyanese majority-owned company that provides a multi-use facility offering support and logistical services to satisfy the highly specialised needs of Guyana’s oil and gas industry. Fourteen international oil companies are currently engaged in petroleum operations onshore and offshore in Guyana’s territorial waters.

This loan facility will allow GYSBI to expand its capacity in the delivery of secure open and covered storage, berthing for supply vessels, operational personnel, and loading/unloading logistics support. GYSBI offers services ranging from waste management, chemical storage, warehousing, construction, supply chain management, expatriate management, and customs and logistics services. The company currently has four berths, and 30 acres of developed land at its main port and owns and manages 140 acres of an industrial estate.

Guyana’s estimated reserves in August of this year stand at more than 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) and 13.2 billion cubic feet of associated gas. With an estimate of 750,000 barrels of oil per day in the next two years and potential revenues of US$50-US$200 billion by 2050, the industry is ramping up for the long haul.

NCBMBTTL has been providing financing in Guyana since 2015. It was part of a wider NCB syndicate out of Jamaica that extended a US$20MM loan to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO), and in 2020 NCBMBTTL arranged financing for Nabi/KCL Oilfield Construction Services JV to aid in their construction of a corporate campus in Ogle, Guyana for a prominent energy company.

“We were able to provide financing that is flexible, forward-thinking, and facilitative of GYSBI’s business model”, said Mr. Marli Creese, Head of Corporate and Investment Banking at NCB Merchant Bank (Trinidad and Tobago) Limited. “By taking the time to understand Guyana Shore Base, we were able to create a custom-tailored financial solution.”

GYSBI General Manager Mr. Robert Albiez stated that “This bridging loan agreement is a precursor to a more significant multimillion-dollar deal involving NCBMBTTL and three other Guyana banks to provide capital for projects that will further build and enhance GYSBI’s capacity to support Exxon Mobil’s offshore drilling campaign.”

The NCB Financial Group has assets of USD 12 billion, a capital base of circa USD 1 billion, and is publicly traded on the Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago Stock exchanges. It trades under the ticker symbol NCBFG.

In 2015 Muneshwers Limited, Pacific Rim Constructors, LED Offshore, and Total Tec Oilfield Services – all companies with relevant experience and expertise, combined interests to establish Guyana Shorebase Incorporated. The company was later awarded a 5-year mandate to provide ExxonMobil with shore base services which have been subsequently extended to 2032. With the increasing demand for services, GYSBI will now be able to provide increased services as a single source resource to the sector.

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