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Relatives and colleagues of slain security officer Jeffery Peters, joined relatives of slain Jerry Stuart and wounded Peola Baptiste in prayer during a candlelight vigil on Saturday at the site where the tragedy occurred at Pennywise Super Centre, La Romaine. – YVONNE WEBB

FEARFUL that the reading of the budget and other issues may put the investigation into the deadly Pennywise Super Centre heist, and the officers who lost their lives, on the back burner, the Estate Police Association (EPA) held a candlelight vigil on Saturday night, on the site of the September 19 tragedy.

“The reason why we are here is because we know the nation is a ten-day wonder. We know that with the reading of the budget, this situation has gone cold,” said EPA president Deryck Richardson.

“We think that in light of what the association would have been lobbying for – better protection for security officers, exactly what was missing from this particular incident – we intend to keep a number of vigils to keep it alive.”

Friends, relatives and colleagues gathered on the spot where Allied Security officers Jeffrey Peters and Jerry Stuart were ambushed and shot dead, and their colleague Peola Baptiste critically wounded. Baptiste is still in hospital fighting for her life.

Richardson said security officers put their lives on the line every day because of the security threat in the country, and the people carrying out those threats, who they have to confront, are using high-powered rifles.

“We are outgunned and woefully undermanned, and all for a paltry salary of $18.75 per hour.”

He called on Allied Security to take care of the children and families of the dead and wounded officers beyond what is available under the Workmen’s Compensation Act.

“Mr Peters has two daughters, ages two and six. We also have Mr Stuart who had two children. There has to be some support for the children, especially as their fathers would have been able to work and take care of them.”

Estate Police Association president Deryck Richardson (left), joins hands relatives of critically-wounded security officer Peola Baptiste and Pastor Brian Jones (red shirt) during a candlelight vigil for Baptiste and families of her slain colleagues Jeffrey Peters and Jerry Stuart at Pennywise Super Centre, La Romaine on Saturday evening. – YVONNE WEBB

The EPA has written to the Occupational Health and Safety Authority for an investigation into whether any breaches were detected and whether appropriate sanctions must follow.

“So, it is not a done deal. This is not something we intend to sweep under the carpet.”

Colleagues joined hands with relatives of the officers and prayed with them.

“We thought it important that we revisit the spot, and we want to thank the families for having the strength to come out here tonight at this particular place, to join with us, where we can join in fellowship and say a prayer in memory of them.”

Richardson said it is also important to keep Baptiste in their prayers.

“Prayers is what has been sustaining her. Her pain is our pain. She is at the ICU (at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope) still making progress. Let us look at her strength and strengthen ourselves.”

As he prayed for the departed souls, the wounded, and their families, Pastor Brian Jones said, “I never thought TT would have come to this.

“Tonight we celebrate the lives of the two officers who were mercilessly gunned down on this spot.”

He also prayed for the four of six suspects in the heist, killed by the police, “who perpetrated this wicked act. We pray for their families as well, because many of their families seem to give the impression they were not aware their loved ones were involved in this. So we pray for mercy.

“Let the EPA never stop until full justice is done with these companies, that they will make the requisite changes to protect the lives of the officers who continue to work.”

He also prayed for the full restoration of Baptiste’s physical and mental health.

Peters will be laid to rest on Monday, after a service at the Mt D’or Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Stuart’s funeral was held last Friday at the Belgrove’s Funeral Chapel, Tacarigua.

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

[Update: 5pm, Sunday, October 2]

The Barbados Meteorological Services continues to closely monitoring the progress of a tropical wave now located near 47/48W south of 14N.

This was the new location as of 5 pm today, Sunday, October 2, 2022.

Current Situation: Throughout the day convection associated with this wave has decreased somewhat and the system remains disorganized however, some sporadic development of deep convection is likely over the next 12 to 24 hours.

Intensity Forecast: Conditions are currently marginally favorable for slow development over the next 24 to 48 hours as it approaches Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean however, after 48 hours numerical guidance suggests that conditions should become less conducive for tropical cyclone development as it crosses the island chain.

Track Forecast: The system is expected to track westward to slightly north of westward at 15 to 20 mph over the next 24 to 36 hours with some reduction in forward speed as the system interacts with a deep layered trough which is forecast to be anchored across the region on Wednesday.

Special Note: Regardless of development this wave in combination with a deep layered trough will bring some moderate to heavy showers and occasional gusty winds to Barbados on Wednesday.

Recommendations to the public: Stay alert for updates from the BMS on this system over the next 24 to 48 hours.

The next update will be on Monday, October 3, 2022, at 8 am or sooner if conditions warrant.

[Original story: 8:25am, Sunday, October 2]

Barbadians are being put on notice as the Barbados Meteorological Services closely monitors the progress of a tropical wave located near 46/47W south of 14N as of 8 am today, Sunday, October 2, 2022.

This wave is expected to bring showers midweek whether it passes directly or indirectly.

Over the past 12 hours, convection associated with this wave has increased but the system still remains rather disorganized.

Intensity Forecast:

Conditions are currently marginally favourable for slow development over the next 24 to 48 hours, after which numerical guidance suggests that conditions should become less conducive for development after 48 hours.

Track Forecast:

The system is expected to track westward to slightly north of westward at 15 to 20 mph over the next 48 hours before getting caught up in a deep layered trough forecast to be anchored across the region.

Expectations for Barbados:

Regardless of development this wave in combination with a deep layered trough will bring some moderate to heavy showers, occasional gusty winds to Barbados on Wednesday into Thursday.

Recommendations to the public:

Stay alert for updates from the BMS on this system over the next 24 to 48 hours. The next update will be at 5 pm today, October 2, 2022 or sooner if conditions warrant.

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

Raising awareness of breast cancer is a continual fight, and Dr Shirley Hanoman-Jhagroo does not plan to back down.

The medical coordinator of the Barbados Cancer Society’s Breast Screening Programme voiced that women looking to get tested have been further disadvantaged by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH). The island’s sole public hospital does not offer mammogram services and most recently biopsies have been added to this list.

“The Queen Elizabeth Hospital is no longer offering mammogram services and recently we have had a problem with them doing biopsies….

“I think [it] is very disheartening because if a woman or whoever there is a suspicion that the lesion there is cancerous, are you going to wait months before the biopsy? No. This is not what this programme is about, so we are going to fight this,” Dr Hanoman-Jhagroo remarked during the opening ceremony of the 2022 CIBC Walk for the Cure at Warrens, St Michael.

She noted that a biopsy was not a cheap procedure and lower-income individuals could be wronged by the healthcare system.

While speaking to the thousands gathered in the CIBC FirstCaribbean car park, shared that the Breast Screening Clinic saw an average of two to three new cases weekly. Thanks to early detection – between stages zero and two – their survival increased between 95 to 98 per cent.

However, positive cases have steadily increased over the past three years, Dr Hanoman-Jhagroo reported.

“Positive cases in breast screening have increased from 23 in 2018 to 57 in 2020, and 69 so far in 2021. All of these cases were females between the ages of 31 to 86,” she said.

The medical coordinator of the Breast Screening Programme reminded those gathered that “breast cancer can affect anyone at any age” she mentioned that an 18-year-old also tested positive. While sharing that there have been no reported cases in men between 2018 to 2021, she cautioned that vigilance must be enforced, because anyone was susceptible.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with Responsibility for Culture, Senator Dr Shantal Munro-Knight is calling the social media post circulating that proposes government intends to replace the Lord Nelson statue with a likeness of former Mayor Ernest Deighton Mottley as preposterous.

In reply she said, “It is fake news, completely untrue! There is no such direction, discussion, there is no such meeting planned for Thursday. Thursday is Cabinet. I don’t normally have meetings on Thursday. Thursday is Cabinet. So it is completely untrue.”

Furthermore, she stressed that the process of selecting a new monument to replace that of Lord Nelson in National Heroes Square are now well-advanced.

Seeking to set the record straight tonight, she said, “Let me say for the record if people would recall, the division of culture actually launched in May as part of the season of emancipation a design competition for a monument commemorating family. A press release had been issued. It was in the press. It was on social media. It was a public competition for the mission of a design for a monument commemorating the family. This was in May. Last year we started the process with consultations asking people to submit what they think should replace statue of Lord Nelson and he was square, and out of that it came up that we would go to look at the monument for family.”

Dr Munroe-Knight believes that government has “followed a very transparent process of being able to do that. The final designs are in my office. It is a multi-stakeholder committee, not only of governments but people from the artistic community are making this decision in relation to the design.”

She also shared that the process is going to be completed within the week and explained that she simply awaiting a report that is to be submitted to her.

In the social media post, it was purported that after the recent consultations, the substantive Minister of Culture Hon. Mia Amor Mottley has instructed to commence the public sensitization, request for design proposals and quotations to replace the Lord Nelson statue in the City of Bridgetown with that of Ernest Deighton Mottley, Former Mayor of Bridgetown. And it went on to invite someone to a planning meeting this Thursday 6th October 2022 at the Division of Culture, Sky Mall Office.

Dr Munroe-Knight responded to the social media allegations as it also insinuated that she would be the chair of said meeting.

NewsAmericasNow.com