RICE AND PEAS; MACARONI PIE
COU COU; GARLIC ROASTED POTATOES
STEAMED PUDDING AND SOUSE; BBQ SPARERIBS
BBQ PIG TAIL; SEA CAT; BAKED CHICKEN
BAKED PORK; FRIED SNAPPER
FRIED KING FISH; LAMB STEW
TURKEY STEW; FLYING FISH GRAVY
STEAMED VEGETABLES
TOSSED SALAD; COLE SLAW
The case involving seven members of the opposition Antigua Labour Party (ALP) came to an abrupt end yesterday after one of the accused, Vere Bird Jr. suffered an apparent seizure.
Leader of the opposition in Parliament and political leader of the ALP Lester Bird, deputy of the party Gaston Browne, Molwyn Joseph, Bird Jr., Mary Claire Hurst general-secretary of the ALP, head of the ALP Youth Arm Sharon Kentish and Jim Galloway are charged for violating the Public Order Act.
The Bird brothers, Browne, Joseph, Hurst, Kentish and Galloway have pleaded not guilty to addressing a meeting when not granted permission to do so on 4 May (Labour Day) last year.
Reports are that the accused are alleged to have spoken at an Antigua Trades and Labour Union (AT&LU) rally without the necessary permission from the Commissioner of Police Thomas Bennett. The AT&LU, the parent organisation of the ALP and the main organiser of the traditional rally, had already sought permission from the police and forwarded a list of speakers. The union, however, allegedly refused to amend its list of speakers and add names put forward by the ALP.
Allegations are the matter came to a head-on at Labour Day when members of the ALP decided to address supporters despite reportedly not having authorisation to do so.
Reports are that the union was in the process of setting up its public address system on lower All Saints Road in the vicinity of the VC Bird bust, which is customary. Apparently, members of the ALP executive set up its system first and commenced to address those gathered.
As Assistant Commissioner of Police Albert Smith was giving his evidence in the St. John’s Magistrates’ Court, Bird, who was seated along with the six other accused, began to tremble and gave slight moans. A number of people in the courtroom including his son Vere Bird III and his niece Rika Bird, who are both members of the defence team along with Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin, rushed to his assistance.
Bird was quickly placed on the ground and items of clothing including his shoes and tie were removed as people tried to help. The accused reportedly was biting on his tongue and an object had to be placed in his mouth to stop him from doing so.
The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) was summoned to the scene and responded within seven minutes. By that time, the apparent seizure had passed, but Bird was transported to the Mount St. John Medical Centre (MSJMC) where up to time of going to press he was reportedly doing well.
The incident with Bird seemed to have shocked those present at court, as several of his colleagues looked on with concern and compassion as Bird lay on the ground.
Meanwhile, as the substantive case was being heard, acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Henry Christian told the court that on 2 May, last year about 8 a.m., he had a conversation with Commissioner Thomas Bennett and as a result went to the Police Headquarters to the commissioner’s office at about 10 a.m. for a meeting.
Christian told the court that Commissioner Bennett chaired the meeting which was attended by him (Christian), Phillip Campbell, Assistant Commissioners Albert Smith and Davidson Whyte, Vere Bird Jr., Mary Claire Hurst, Peter Leonard, Stafford Joseph and Dave Joseph.
According to Christian, the meeting started after 11 a.m. and was called as a result of an application made to the commissioner for a list of names to be added to a previous list that was granted to address the AT&LU’s Labour Day rally. The witness said there was a previous application that was granted to the AT&LU.
Christian told the court that during the meeting, Hurst and Bird Jr. said it was normal for either the AT&LU or the ALP to make applications to host public meetings or rallies and that the executive of both entities would address these meetings or rallies.
According to the officer, Peter Leonard, Stafford Joseph and Dave Joseph shared an alternative view.
These three people (Leonard, Stafford and Dave) were of the opinion that Labour Day is the workers’ day and as a result, only the executive of the union should address the rally.
Christian said he was aware that Stafford, Dave and Leonard held positions with the AT&LU and that Bird Jr. and Hurst are executive members of the ALP. He said both Bird Jr. and Hurst would make representation for the ALP for different things.
“Vere Bird Jr. was persuading the commissioner that additional names should be granted because it was the norm that both organisations would share the platform from time to time,” Christian testified.
Christian said Bird Jr. told the commissioner that members of the ALP were going to speak on the platform on Labour Day as his late father paved the way for this to happen.
The officer said that Bird went on to say, “Sir (commissioner) have the riot truck and the riot unit ready because we will share the platform on Labour Day. The handcuffs will not be enough to lock up all the Labour Party supporters.”
The acting assistant commissioner said shortly thereafter, the meeting came to an end and that to his knowledge no permission was granted for names to be added to the list to speak at the public rally.
During cross-examination, Christian said he was not aware that permission is not needed by labour unions to speak on Labour Day pertaining to trade unions. He admitted that if the law is not infringed, the police cannot interfere with trade unions on Labour Day.
In re-examination he told the court that it is customary in recent times for the unions to apply for permission to speak on Labour Day.
Also giving evidence was Assistant Commissioner Albert Smith, who said while on duty at the VC Bird bust about 8:55 a.m. along with other officers, he saw Bird Jr. at the podium that had been set up with the abbreviation AT&LU. He testified that Bird Jr. and others were dancing to the music of a hi-fi system. Smith said he went up to Bird Jr. and told him that he and the ALP did not get permission to speak from the commissioner and should not attempt to do so. The witness said the accused assured him that the AT&LU received permission and that they (ALP) are the same.
He told the court that he also saw Browne and told him what he had told Bird Jr. Smith said he later saw Leonard and Stafford at the southern side of the bust and that Stafford told him something.
Smith said that shortly thereafter, he noticed Browne had commenced the meeting and began to call people to the podium including Stafford who did not turn up to the podium. The assistant commissioner said again Stafford came to him and told him something and left shortly after.
The witness added that Browne continued to call people to the podium including Lester (Bird), Molwyn (Joseph) and the other accused.
“I reiterate to Browne that he did not have permission to speak and that he should desist from doing so. The public address ended about 10 a.m. and then there was a march by a large number of people up Market Street and it ended at 46 North Street,” Smith said.
He told the court that while at 46 North Street, he again saw Browne and told him that “he and his men have been in violation of the Public Order Act and that the appropriate action would be taken. Due to Bird Jr.’s illness the matter was adjourned to 18 Feb. (Antigua Sun)
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Some unwanted visitors have been making their way into the Piparo Presbyterian School, causing panic among pupils and teachers. In the past week, seven snakes have been captured in the classrooms and washrooms at the school, the Express was told yesterday. And classes have been dismissed early every time a snake is spotted on the compound, parents said. One parent said, ’This is madness. Imagine seven snakes this week. We are getting calls everyday, saying that snakes were found in the school and we should come and pick up our children. We have to leave our jobs and make our way down to the school. Something needs to be done.’ The school, located at Pascal Road, Piparo, was closed yesterday. The snakes are believed to be young boa-constrictors, known in Trinidad as the macajuel, and are not poisonous. The parent added, ’On Thursday two snakes were found the washroom. Whether the snakes are poisonous or not is not important. We just cannot have our children in classrooms with snakes.’ Parents believe the snakes were living in a wood pile near the school. ’The school was under renovations during the Christmas holidays. The contractor left a pile of wood and other material at the school, so I believe the snakes are inside the material,’ she said. Two weeks ago, a large snake was found crawling into a classroom. ’We want the ministry to come and see what is happening. We don’t want our children to be injured. We want something to be done now,’ a parent said. Manan Deo, chairman of the Presbyterian Board of Education, said he was not aware of the incident or the situation. ’I am having a meeting with the board tomorrow (today) morning and will make enquires about this. I will follow this up,’ he said. Ministry of Education’s director of communications, Elton Wickham, could not be reached for comment yesterday. However, an official at the ministry said he was not aware that snakes were found at the school. (Trinidad Express) |
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A 52-year-old woman is expected to appear before a Port of Spain magistrate on Monday, charged with a series of offences arising out of last Tuesday’s theft at the Chancellor Hill, St Clair, home of cricket icon Brian Lara. The woman, who resides at Le Platte Village, Maraval, was once employed as a domestic helper at Lara’s home and will be charged over the weekend, after an assortment of premium liquor and wines stolen from Lara was found stashed in her home. Several other items which were reported missing from Lara’s residence were also found on her premises. The female suspect was among a series of close associates and employees interviewed by investigating officers. Police say, based on information received, they are close to making a breakthrough in the matter. Lara lodged a report about the robbery on Wednesday morning at the St Clair Police Station. Several items, including jewelry, clothing and an honorary Order of Australia award-which was given to him during the hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting last year by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd-along with an undisclosed sum of cash, were stolen. Tickets to the upcoming Beyonce I AM concert, along with a vault, were also stolen. So far, the items stolen have been valued at close to $1 million. (Trinidad Express) |
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UNC Political Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar spent last night at the St Clair Medical Centre, where she was receiving treatment for a fractured left shoulder. She was rushed to the hospital in immense pain just after 4 p.m. yesterday, after she fell in the Parliament chamber. She is in no grave danger but will have to wear a sling until her shoulder is healed. Persad-Bissessar was on her cellphone when she tripped on the carpet, fell and injured her shoulder. A loud scream, followed by a thud, was heard in the media gallery, and all Parliamentarians and Opposition MPs turned toward the public gallery. Persad-Bissessar was busy trying to organise a meeting with the Public Services Association (PSA), which she was supposed to chair during the Parliament’s tea break, when she fell. Parliament police and her colleagues, Dr Tim Gopeesingh and Subhas Panday, rushed to Persad-Bissessar’s side and a few minutes later accompanied her to St Clair, as she was in excruciating pain. Speaking to the media afterward, Gopeesingh said, ’She was in a lot of pain coming in the ambulance vehicle. We need an emergency system for the Parliament because we took almost 20 minutes to reach here, so we have to do something about that because anybody from Parliament who needs medical treatment should be able to get the medical treatment in a short period of time.’ He said Persad-Bissessar underwent a CT scan and X-rays and was examined by orthopaedic specialist Dr David Toby. Following that examination, Gopeesingh told the media, ’She has a small fracture at the head of the humerus. She would not need any surgery for the time being, most likely not, and she’s going to be on conservative treatment for the next two days, with pain relief. ’Subsequent to that, further determination would be made by the orthopaedic surgeon.’ Asked how she was feeling and whether she was conscious, Gopeesingh said, ’She’s in good spirits. She said to us, ’Boys, why don’t you go back to the Parliament.’’ Newly-elected United National Congress vice-chairman Dr Fuad Khan, who is also a urologist, told the media Persad-Bissessar, if she feels better, can be released from the hospital today. ’It’s not a very bad injury,’ he said. He explained, however, that when there is an injury of that kind to the shoulder, there is a lot of pain and Persad-Bissessar would need to rest and mobilise the arm. Persad-Bissessar’s injury comes two weeks after she defeated Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday for the political leadership of the UNC. Her success streak continued this week with support from her Parliamentary colleagues for her to replace Panday as Opposition Leader. At the hospital yesterday, Gopeesingh, Panday (Subhas) and Chandresh Sharma, who had all supported Panday during the internal elections, put politics aside and stayed close to Persad-Bissessar, lending support. Said Gopeesingh, ’There is no tension, she is our colleague and we have to take care of all our colleagues and when it comes to health, nothing comes in the way at all.’ Gopeesingh returned to the Parliament last night, where he updated members, including Prime Minister Patrick Manning, on the status of Persad-Bissessar’s injury. Manning took the opportunity to express empathy for Persad-Bissessar just before Leader of the House Colm Imbert was about to raise a motion for the adjournment of yesterday’s sitting before 7 p.m. ’I didn’t want this sitting to be adjourned without expressing empathy for our colleague from Siparia. As you know, Mr Speaker, as she was exiting the Chamber earlier this afternoon, she stumbled and took a nasty headlong fall and we understand had to be taken to the St Clair Medical Centre,’ Manning said. He added: ’We hope, Mr Speaker, that she was not seriously damaged or damaged at all and that she, very shortly, after a speedy recovery, will return to the service of the people of Siparia and the people of Trinidad and Tobago. We express our empathy on behalf of those of this side of the House.’ Persad-Bissessar is not the first Parliamentarian to fall in the Parliament. In the past, politicians such as Finance Minister Karen Nunez-Tesheira, former health minister John Rahael and former speaker Occah Seepaul fell in the House as well, but they never suffered any major injuries. UNC chairman Jack Warner chaired the meeting with the PSA yesterday in Persad-Bissessar’s absence. Speaking to the media afterward, he said Persad-Bissessar is a hard worker and with her strength she would recover speedily. ’I am very concerned because, after all, she has a lot of work to do. She has a function tomorrow to say thanks,’ he said. He was referring to a victory party today at the Rienzi Complex, Couva, where a number of artistes are scheduled to perform. Yesterday, Panday cleared the Office of the Opposition Leader, Charles Street, Port of Spain. Commenting on that, Warner said, ’If he does that, I think he is doing the correct thing.’(Trinidad Express) -with reporting by Juhel Browne |
Great start! CANBERRA, Australia, CMC: West Indies captain Chris Gayle says his side’s crushing warm-up win on Thursday was an ideal start to their one-day tour and augured well for the upcoming series against Australia.Propelled by Gayle’s whirlwind 146 from a mere 89 balls, West Indies completed a convincing 90-run over the Matthew Hayden-led Prime Minister’s XI at the Manuka Oval.
“This was a great start to the tour for us. This is what we wanted. We got a good pitch to play on and the players responded very well,” an elated Gayle said.
“I enjoyed my time out in the middle and I am also happy that some of the other players, such as Travis Dowlin and Lendl Simmons, also got good scores.
“We batted all the way down as well, so overall we are happy with the performance.”
The right-handed Dowlin batted brilliantly to score 72 off 85 balls while Simmons looked a class act with 70 not out off just 49 balls, as West Indies piled up a massive 399 for five in a game reduced to 45 overs.
three for 51
In response, left-arm spinner Nikita Miller took two wickets with consecutive balls to end with three for 51, while medium pacer Darren Sammy finished with two for 37 to restrict the hosts to 312 for seven off their allotted overs.
Twenty-three-year-old Tom Cooper batted through the innings to make an unbeaten 160 and share the Man-of-the-Match award with Gayle.
“In the bowling, everyone got a feel. We did not want to give any one bowler too much work,” Gayle pointed out.
“We tried to let everyone get an opportunity and, as a precaution, we did not want anyone to have a heavy workload.”
The match is the only official warm-up before West Indies face Australia in five one-day internationals starting Sunday (tonight Caribbean time) in Melbourne.
Gayle said with the win under their belts, they would now build on this over the next few days for the opening game.
more work
“Overall, as a team we know we still have some work to do in the build-up to the first one-day international, so we have a few more days to go where we will put in some more work in the nets so we can be fully ready to face Australia on Sunday,” the easygoing Jamaican said.
Meanwhile, Barbados chief selector Courtney Browne has hailed the move to appoint Ottis Gibson as West Indies coach, and says the Caribbean will benefit from his experience and competence.
The 40-year-old Gibson was named by the West Indies Cricket Board on Monday to succeed Australian John Dyson in the top regional coaching spot.
“It’s good to see that we have somebody in the Caribbean now who have been around an international setup for a while,” said Browne, the former West Indies wicketkeeper who played 20 Tests and 45 one-day internationals between 1995 and 2005.
“Not only that but Ottis’ background has been in coaching development as well. He is the guy who used to set a lot of the programmes for English
coaching at the Level Three and Level Four programmes.
“Ottis is really the guy who really sat down and wrote these programmes and implemented them.” (Jamaica Gleaner)
FINANCE MINISTER Audley Shaw says the country’s return to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will mean “hard work and sacrifice” by Jamaicans.The multi-lateral lending agency on Thursday approved a 27-month stand-by arrangement, paving the way for the country to borrow up to US$1.27 billion to support its medium-term economic programme and cope with the consequences of the global downturn.
“The agreement marks the commencement of a challenging, but decisive journey towards good governance, solid economic development and the restoration of hope for all Jamaicans,” Shaw said in a statement on Thursday.
Jamaica rushed to the IMF for balance-of-payment support after turbulent world economic conditions crippled several sectors, bringing economic activities to a crawl.
The approval of the stand-by arrangement is expected to generate about US$1.1 billion in funding from other international financial institutions.
A disbursement of US$640 million is now available to Jamaica. The IMF on Thursday said that part of this first disbursement would be used to establish a financial stability support fund aimed at supporting the country’s financial sector.
coerced into trading
Financial institutions were coerced into trading in high-yielding government bonds for longer-term and lower-interest papers under a debt-exchange programme as Government moved to tighten the fiscal accounts.
Government had also announced a $22 billion tax package in December to rake in revenue, bringing to $46 billion in new taxes announced this fiscal year.
The finance minister said the moves were necessary in order to set the stage for financial boom.
“All members and sectors will share in the tremendous sacrifice before us as together we lay down an economic framework conducive to investment, job creation, increased productivity and the generation of significant foreign- exchange earnings,” Shaw said. (Jamaica Gleaner)
Mark Beckford, Staff Reporter
Chang
With Jamaica experiencing severe drought conditions not seen in the island in several years, a company is offering to sell the Government water-treatment systems to ease the water shortage affecting the island.
The Gleaner understands that BSL Global Water Systems, an American company, has put in a proposal to the Government to provide water-treatment systems to pump water from the sea.
This water would be hooked up to the islandwide water system. The company has offered to install and operate the water-treatment systems at little cost to the Government.
pumps large quantity
The minimal cost would be approximately $0.002 per gallon. BSL says it could offer a system which could pump up to five million gallons a day.
“We have put in a proposal to the Government to look at our system, and we have many systems, and our water-treatment systems can be connected to rivers, streams (and) wells,” Jamaican representative of BSL Global Water Systems, Barry Bonitto, said.
He added that the water-treatment system would offer many benefits to the island.
The process, however, would include desalination, which refers to several processes which remove excess salt and other minerals from the water. Desalination as a process has had its supporters and detractors. Those who are against it say that it is expensive for developing countries and has many side effects. Those who support it say that new a industry, such as salt, could be formed from the by-products.
too expensive
Minister of Water and Housing Horace Chang is pouring cold water on the idea being proposed by the company. When contacted by The Gleaner, Chang said that the process would be too expensive and not sustainable.
“We have enough water in the island and mobilising those (water-treatment systems) is not viable and it is twice as expensive,” he said.
Chang was quick to point out that while companies would offer subsidies, there were other things included in the package, which might cost the country in the long run.
He said that there were many natural-water resources in the island and the Government was working towards accessing and maximising them.
Chang said that the Government was expanding water supply to Kingston, St Andrew and St Catherine in the next 24 months. He also said that 22 rural systems would be brought on stream in three months. (Jamaica Gleaner)
Arthur Hall, Senior Staff ReporterThe police High Command is still searching for answers to several questions as it continues to probe the massive gun and ammunition find on Munster Road in eastern St Andrew on Thursday.
But even as the investigators seek answers, acting Commissioner Owen Ellington is threatening tough action against members of the police force involved in the suspected theft of guns and ammunition from the armoury.
A police sergeant has already been arrested in connection with the seizure, and even though Ellington is yet to confirm that the 19 guns and almost 11,000 rounds of ammunition were from the police armoury, he is preparing to act.
“Our investigations are being conducted with a view to taking criminal action where it is appropriate, and serious departmental action where that is appropriate,” Ellington told journalists at a media briefing yesterday.
security breached
The acting commissioner defended the security arrangements at the armoury even as he accepted that dishonest persons could have breached the system.
“The security procedures at the armoury and stores are adequate for the guidance of honest and responsible people. What is appearing is that there was a breach of trust and there was a severe lapse in terms of attention to duty.”
But Ellington was unable to provide the country with any assurance that the 19 guns, almost 11,000 rounds of ammunition and several bullet-proof vests seized so far were all that had been stolen.
“We will commence an audit as soon as the forensic experts are finished with the stores, but we would never be in any position to attempt to answer any such question before that is done,” said Ellington.
He had called the briefing to provide an update on the gun and ammunition find.
no new info
However, it was clear that there was not much more that the commission could add to what had been said on Thursday in the immediate aftermath of the find.
What Ellington could say was that of the 11 persons arrested in connection with the find, four women and three men had been released.
Still in custody up to yesterday were a police sergeant, the owner of the house on Munster Road, and two civilians attached to the police armoury.
Ellington also used the opportunity to reject claims that more than 19 guns had been found and that the police were involved in a cover-up.
dispelling rumours
“I would, at this stage, dispel rumours that have been circulating in the media that the actual gun find was 60. It is not 60, it’s 19. Every aspect of the operation was recorded by our scene-of-crime expert under the watchful eye of people from the Criminal Investigation Bureau, the Anti-Corruption Branch and the Major Investigations Task Force,” Ellington declared.
The acting commissioner also announced that the armoury remained under lockdown as it was being preserved as a crime scene, with an audit to be conducted after a forensic investigation was done.
“The armoury was audited as recently as last year. It is a regular occurrence in our management of weapons and stores,” said Ellington.
He also announced that the police had seized $787,000 from the house on Munster Road in eastern St Andrew where the guns and ammunition were found.
11,000 rounds of ammunition and several bullet-proof vests seized so far were all that had been stolen.
“We will commence an audit as soon as the forensic experts are finished with the stores, but we would never be in any position to attempt to answer any such question before that is done,” said Ellington.
He had called the briefing to provide an update on the gun and ammunition find.
However, it was clear that there was not much more that the commissioner could add to what had been said on Thursday in the immediate aftermath of the find.
What Ellington could say was that of the 11 persons arrested in connection with the find, four women and three men had been released.
Still in custody up to yesterday were a police sergeant, the owner of the house on Munster Road, and two civilians attached to the police armoury.
dispelling rumours
Ellington also used the opportunity to reject claims that more than 19 guns had been found and that the police were involved in a cover-up.
“I would, at this stage, dispel rumours that have been circulating in the media that the actual gun find was 60. It is not 60, it’s 19. Every aspect of the operation was recorded by our scene-of-crime expert under the watchful eye of people from the Criminal Investigation Bureau, the Anti-Corruption Branch and the Major Investigations Task Force,” Ellington declared.
The acting commissioner also announced that the armoury remained under lockdown as it was being preserved as a crime scene, with an audit to be conducted after a forensic investigation was done.
“The armoury was audited as recently as last year. It is a regular occurrence in our management of weapons and stores,” said Ellington.
He also announced that the police had seized $787,000 from the house on Munster Road in eastern St Andrew where the guns and ammunition were found. (Nation News)
THE BARBADOS WATER AUTHORITY (BWA) is not yet concerned over the reduced rainfall but is prepared to enact a drought management plan if necessary.
General manager Denis Yearwood acknowledged Barbados had recorded less rainfall in 2009 than in 2008 but it was still too early for any alarm.
“Traditionally, March is our driest month. We do not know if this will be so this time so we will have to watch and see if things get progressively drier,” he said.
If this happens the BWA would take action by advising the public on water-saving procedures and monitoring and adjusting their own systems.
Last Wednesday, the acting chief of applied meteorology and climatology at the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, agro-meteorologist Adrian Trotman, issued a Press release indicating Barbados could expect drought conditions over the next three months.
He said this was the view of scientists of the Caribbean Drought and Precipitation Monitoring Network who have been analysing rainfall trends in the Caribbean since January 2009.
Trotman said a drought would not only affect the agricultural sector but also water resource management.
He said an extended period of six months would affect groundwater levels. (CA) (Nation News)
