iNews Briefs
Mistrial in case of cop accused of corruption and bribery
The trial of police officer Elvis Kelsey Ebanks accused of corruption and bribery when he is alleged to have asked for more than $500 from Filipino Len Ferraris not to pursue a case of theft against him of a mobile phone, ended with a mistrial being declared by Justice Malcolm Swift. The jury was dismissed.
Ferraris needed an interpreter as he is a Filipino national whose first language is Tagalog. The interpreter, who is not a professional, was asked by the judge during Ferraris’ cross examination, if he was translating the questions and answers verbatim from the witness. When the interpreter said “No” defence attorney Amelia Fosuhene raised concerns.
The judge ordered a mistrial as it was obvious the trial could not continue because no one could be sure of the accuracy of the interpreted answers of Ferraris evidence.
See iNews Cayman story published November 6 2013 “Cop accused of bribery – trial has begun” at: http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/cop-accused-of-bribery-trial-has-begun/
Note: The first trial was also a mistrial involving an interpreter who started crying when she appeared to get emotionally involved in the testimony.
Grouper numbers are increasing
Dr. Guy Harvey has said since the conservation efforts in Little Cayman the numbers of the Nassau Grouper are increasing.
Dr. Harvey is a leading marine biologist and conservationist. He said the Nassau Grouper, an iconic reef predator, has suffered tremendously through over fishing throughout the Caribbean.
Through his Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation the rebuilding of the numbers of grouper are not just increasing here but in other Caribbean islands.
The role of the foundation is to document the research work and it is assisting the Department of Environment and the REEF organisation on specific conservation efforts at the grouper aggregation site off the west end of Little Cayman.
Jamaican senator wants Barbados to pay Myrie her money
Form Caribbean360
KINGSTON, Jamaica, 2014, CMC – The Jamaica government is being called upon to assist 35-year-old Shanique Myrie to collect the monies owed to her by the Barbados government following a ruling by the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) last year.
Myrie successfully sued the Barbados government after she was refused entry into the island in 2011.
The CCJ, which was established in 2001 to replace the London-based Privy Council as the region’s final court, and also functions as an international tribunal interpreting the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas that governs the regional integration movement, awarded pecuniary damages in the sum of BDS$2,240 (One BDS dollar = US$0.50 cents) and non-pecuniary damages to the tune of BDS$75,000.
Opposition Senator Robert ‘Bobby’ Montague, speaking in the Senate on Friday, called on Foreign Affairs Minister AJ Nicholson to ensure that Bridgetown meets its payment to Myrie.
“Let us insist, Mr Minister, that Miss Shanique Myrie be paid the funds the court has ordered. The lack of that quick payment by our sister nation makes the dream of a Caribbean Court of Justice just a dream, nuff bark but no bite,” Montague said as he made his contribution to the 2014 State of the Nation Debate.
“Can you imagine the cries and howling if it was Jamaica to pay?” Montague said.
“Minister, the weakness of your government is showing…We can’t allow our citizen to be poorly treated; get a court ruling in her favour and allow others to be thumbing their noses at us. Minister, call your colleague from Barbados. Put down your foot,” Montague said.
For more: http://www.caribbean360.com/index.php/news/jamaica_news/1106995.html#ixzz2uRVFlfAc
Sunrise Adult Training Centre helps disabled to succeed
The Sunrise Adult Training Centre in West Bay is holding sessions daily to teach disabled students various skills on how to survive at home and in the workplace.
The centre is hoping this will help them to be able to lead normal lives and Programme Manager Kim Voaden said one of their Sunrise more elderly disabled students is getting ready to retire. The student received a long service award last year she said.
China would use coal plant to power Jamaica port
By David Mcfadden From Boston.com
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — A Chinese company wants to build its own coal-fired plant in southern Jamaica to generate the power needed for a hoped-for $1.5 billion port that the Caribbean island envisions as helping transform its chronically sluggish economy.
During an update to Parliament, Transport and Works Minister Omar Davies said China Harbour Engineering Co. aims to power the transshipment port with coal ‘‘to provide lower cost electricity for the project.’’ Jamaicans pay 42 cents per kilowatt hour.
The Chinese company aims to develop a transshipment port in a swath of southern Jamaica that would lure the deep-drafting ships expected to travel through the Panama Canal when its expansion is completed.
It is a key part of a development strategy Jamaica hopes would transform the island into a global logistical hub in coming years. Blueprints also call for an expansion of Jamaica’s existing container terminal, airports and roads while the government creates special economic zones to lure companies and usher the island into the global supply chain.
The Chinese company has already applied for a license with Jamaica’s environmental agency to begin geotechnical work in the Portland Bight area in southern Jamaica.
An environmental impact assessment still needs to done to green-light the port project in coastal Portland Bight, home to the island’s biggest protected area. Davies said tax incentives, a review of citizenship laws for investors, land acquisition and authorization for the coal-fired plant also had to be addressed before any agreement could be signed.
If agreements are concluded within a year, Davies said, the China-financed port would likely not be operational for an additional four years. But he said nearby Kingston’s existing container port, which is expected to be privatized and turned over to an international operator soon, would be able to handle increased shipping traffic from the Panama Canal in the meantime.
Davies warned lawmakers that regional competitors are ‘‘already embarking on similar plans.’’
Political leaders of Trinidad & Tobago are currently in China trying to expedite a deal to develop a transshipment port, dry dock and construction of several economic zones.
More Cuban migrants spotted off Cayman Brac
It was only five days ago (Wed 19) a group of Cuban migrants left Cayman Brac but another boatload of Cuban migrants were seen in the Brac waters on Monday (24).
Immigration officials in the Brac confirmed there were 27 people on board the 30 ft. boat, 22 of them men and 5 women.
The migrants anchored for the night at West End before leaving around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday (25).
Man arrested on suspicion of smuggling drugs
Deputy Collector of Customs, Dave Tatum, said during a routine search on a man at Charles Kirkconnell International Airport in Cayman Brac last Friday (21), four packages of substances suspected to be narcotics were found in his luggage.
The man was arrested and processed by Customs officers and later released on bail whilst further investigations proceed.
St Vincent police have no motives for second person in 10 days shot in their sleep
From Caribbean360
KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, Wednesday February 26, 2014, CMC – Police were searching for the gunman who shot and killed a 49-year-old man as he slept at his home on Wednesday morning, the second such killing in 10 days.
Head of the Criminal Investigation Department, Assistant Superintendent of Police Syndney James, said the authorities have no motives for the murder of Phillip “Super Cat” Qusahie.
Earlier this month, Earl Jack, 26, died at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital after an assailant opened his bedroom window and shot him in the head while he slept at his home in Great House, Lowmans Hill.
Last September, Police Sergeant Jimmy Jack, was shot and wounded after an unknown assailant shot him while he slept at a police facility in Calliaqua.
So far this year, five people have been murdered here.
Antigua drought leaves main reservoir with six weeks water supply
From Caribbean360
ST JOHN’S, Antigua, Wednesday February 26, 2014, CMC – The Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) has embarked on a water rationing programme after indicating that the main reservoir has approximately six weeks of water supply left.
APUA said that decreasing surface water reserves has forced it to reduce the volume of water distributed to consumers and warned that the service would be “depressed islandwide from 10pm-4 am (local time) daily until water conditions improve”.
The utility company said that Antigua had received “ a lower than average rainfall during 2013 and is currently experiencing its dry season”.
“APUA would like to once again remind consumers of the gravity of this situation and asks that all citizens practice conservation to the best of their ability,” it added.
APUA manager Ivan Rodrigues, speaking on the Observer Radio here, said that the island has passed the drought-watch stage, and that as the dry season persists, residents must change their water consumption habits “from one of waste to one of conservation.
“No rainfall is expected within this period. We have been getting some drizzle, but not the gut showers that are needed.
“We are hoping things won’t get any worse; as the surface water depletes we are going to be bringing other systems online,” he said.
He noted that in the absence of surface water, APUA will seek an additional 500,000 gallons of water from the water company SembCorp that already provides 3.1 million gallons of water daily.
On average, Antigua requires 5.6 million gallons per day, increasing to six million gallons during the peak tourism months.
