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stephaniefchase · 8 years

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Bajan Newscap 8/31/2016

Good Morning #realdreamchasers!. Here is your daily newscap. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today Online (BT) or Midweek Nation Newspaper (DN).

DON’T PANIC - SEPTEMBER 1 IT IS. The start of the much-talked about social responsibility levy is on course, even as a local tax specialist calls for its implementation to be postponed.Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler said Barbadians need not worry after the tax comes into existence tomorrow.‘“There is absolutely no need for any undue concerns. The effective date for the start of the tax is September 1,” Sinckler told the MIDWEEK NATION last night, as Barbadians braced for increases in prices. The minister said the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA) would soon be issuing special guidance notes regarding the levy, that should make its implementation smoother. (MWN)

PRICE GOUGING - One of the island’s largest private sector groupings is confirming that retail prices will rise above two per cent following the implementation of the National Social Responsibility Levy on Thursday, September 1.However, the Barbados Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCCI) said speculation that prices would skyrocket on the same day and that businesses would seek to profiteer was far from the truth.University of the West Indies economist Dr Troy Lorde said in a story published yesterday that not only would Barbadians pay more for goods when the levy took effect, they should also expect to see more than a two per cent hike in costs. Today, BCCI President Eddie Abed said consumers should expect price rises of between four and six per cent. (BT)

ANSAL MCAL BUYING TWO MORE BAJAN COMPANIES - Approximately eight months after losing the bid to acquire Banks Holdings Limited (BHL), Trinidadian conglomerate ANSA McAL is about to acquire two other companies in Barbados.This comes as the company finalizes the sale of its Trimart supermarket chain.Making the announcement tonight during the official opening of the group’s latest addition to the island – the Sissons Paint shop in Wildey, St Michael – President And Chief Executive Officer of ANSA McAL Barbados Limited Nicholas Mouttet declined to give details out of fear that the deals could be compromised. The ANSA McAL Group of Companies is made up of over 60 companies across the region, employing over 950 people.Mouttet said since the investment in Standard Distributors in Barbados about 55 years ago by the ANSA McAL group, the company continued to invest heavily here. (BT)

GUARANTORS MUST PAY - GUARANTORS WHO SIGNED for delinquent borrowers from the Student Revolving Loan Fund (SRLF) are the latest targets as the agency looks to recoup millions. But the agency’s attempt to touch their salaries, pensions and gratuities has outraged some who have reported that they recently received letters simply telling them the money was being taken out, while in another case the letter went directly to the guarantor’s payroll department unknown to him.Some of them said they were seeking legal advice on whether an administrator at the Government education loans facility has the power to instruct the Treasury Department to take the money without any consultation or court order.In some cases, guarantors working in, or retired from, the public service with pensions and gratuities coming through the Treasury were informed that lump sums of thousands of dollars would be deducted in one fell swoop. (MWN)

BURGER KING BUYING LOCAL - Barbadian producers can expect more than $3 million in business to come their way this year once fast food restaurant Burger King follows through on a commitment to buy local.General Manager Ryan Walters said that $900,000 of that would be spent on local chicken.He said the combination of purchases from major suppliers and smaller ones could result in the globally-branded food outlet investing about $3.7 million this year. But he said those figures did not include what Burger King’s fifth new outlet, opened yesterday at Dome Mall in Warrens, planned to spend for the rest of the year.The fast food executive also noted that with Burger King’s plans to expand further, more money would be spent at local food suppliers.Walters acknowledged that when Burger King began operations in Barbados on January 20, 2013, 80 per cent of its supplies was imported. Now, he said, more than half of its food is sourced locally. (BT)

BARBADOS FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION - FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of the Barbados Family Planning Association (BFPA), George Griffith, has dismissed Father Clement Paul’s call for the association to apologise for the success of its programmes. Griffith, a 23-year veteran of the BFPA, said Roman Catholic priest Paul was out of his depth on the issue and had “fallen behind in his thinking with regard to social development”. The retired social worker defended the BFPA, formed in 1954, as having done a wonderful job and said there was more work to be done. He said rather than being critical of the BFPA, thanks should be expressed for the development of families and the social and economic development of the island over the years. (MWN)

TASI EXTENDED - Government is to further extend its experimental programme of combining the services of the Barbados Transport Board and private operators of public service vehicles on some routes.A release today from the Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS) quoted the Transport Authority as saying the Transport Authority Service Integration (TASI) project would now run through to December 31. The TASI project, which was launched in December 2015 on the Edey Village, Christ Church route and later on the Sturges, St Thomas route, was first extended in June.Director of Transport in the Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW) Alex Linton said at the time that the extension would be followed closely by the addition of new routes.However, today’s BGIS release made no mention of additional routes. (BT)

MASCULINITY AT CROSSROADS - A UNIVERSITY LECTURER has cautioned about the dangers associated with the perception of Caribbean masculinity. Senior lecturer in cultural studies at the Cave Hill campus of the University of the West Indies, Dr Aaron Kamugisha, told those attending a discussion on the issue that no one is benefiting from the idea that masculinity equals overwhelming prowess and control.Contributing to the discussion on Caribbean masculinity and its impact on sexuality held on Saturday, he pointed out that many men, like others, found it difficult to have control over most aspects of their lives.As a result, he said the question was how to deal with the consequences of the associated anxieties and the violence produced. (MWN)

GOVERNMENTS NOT DOING ENOUGH - REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE been chided by a student leader for not doing enough when it comes to financing higher education. President of the President of the Guild of Students at the Cave Hill campus, Olvine Holas, spoke of the guild’s concerns on Monday during a press conference at the Cave Hill campus of the University of the West Indies.While noting that they are thankful for the funds and other assistance being provided, Holas intimated that more could be done by CARICOM governments and encouraged them to commit more funds.“I cannot cry out to our governments enough to understand the importance of education and higher education and education of the region’s young minds so that we can contribute meaningfully in the present and in the future to the development of our Caribbean region,” he said, adding that some of the stories from students in need were “heartbreaking” and “nerve-wrecking”.

NOT BACKING DOWN - DIRECTOR OF THE Barbados Vocational Training Board (BVTB), Henderson Thompson, yesterday admitted that Jasmine Valerie Payne was the only employee who was dismissed or otherwise disciplined between 2010 and 2013 for alleged failure to complete assigned tasks. Thompson returned to the witness stand when the unfair dismissal case brought by Payne to the Employment Rights Tribunal continued.It was earlier established that Payne depended on inputs from managers and department heads to complete the activities section of the BVTB’s annual reports and that she needed information from the audited accounts to add to the reports, which were unavailable.Thompson told the panel, which is chaired by Omari Drakes and includes commissioners Dr Hartley Richards and Frederick Forde, that the audited accounts were the responsibility of the board’s accountant. (MWN)

WAR ON DRUGS - A local religious leader has likened illegal drug use to slavery and has committed his ministry to rescuing young people from the scourge.Pastor of Empowerment International Ministries Roger Husbands has also declared war on community drug pushers, while stressing that school must not be seen as a “chill-out spot”.Husbands made the commitment at his Roebuck Street church on Sunday, where nine boys and young men graduated from a programme run by the Drug Education and Counselling Services (DESC) of which the pastor is the founder. The church leader said he had seen the effect drug use was having on young people, blaming narcotics for driving the youth towards violence.Husbands urged all of Barbados to join in the fight against drug use and trafficking by being vigilant and reporting to the police or Crimestoppers any signs of this illegal activity in the communities.DESC is described as a faith based non-governmental organization working with young boys and girls with substance abuse and behavioural issues to help them find hope and freedom from these menaces.Husband said it has treated over 1,000 young people since it began operating some 12 years ago. (BT)

NO WATER BUT HIGH WATER BILLS - It has become an all-too-familiar story for residents of St Joseph and other districts in the east and north of the island.The seemingly endless water shortages compounded by inflated water bills have tested their patience, many of them said. Having vented their frustrations at town hall meetings organized by the Opposition Barbados Labour Party, and having written to the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) demanding improvements, consumers in St Joseph said they had reached the end of their tether and were prepared to act.They are planning to take their case to the BWA headquarters in The Pine, St Michael by staging a protest there, for which they are awaiting police permission.Another vexing issue was that of water bills, which residents have repeatedly claimed were not representative of the service they received.Alleyne said she too had been receiving bills that were much too high and they all should get refunds from BWA.This is one of the issues that the residents said they would like to discuss with Minister Estwick.However, they said it was perplexing that despite their woes, the minister had yet to meet with the community. (BT)

FENCE DISPUTE - MINISTER OF TRANSPORT and Works and parliamentary representative for St Philip North Michael Lashley has been drawn into a simmering dispute between neighbours in his community over the erection of a fence. Yesterday, Lashley, accompanied by a team from the Town Planning office, along with land surveyors, visited the disputed area at Marley Vale, where land owner Ottis Phillips has started erecting a fence around his property.While not disputing the ownership of the land, the residents called the actions of the property owner selfish and complained that it hindered easy access to their homes via a route they claimed they had been using for a considerable period.Additionally, the village shopkeeper complained that the construction of the fence would cause her to suffer a considerable fall-off in business. (MWN)

ANOTHER MYRIE CASE - ANOTHER JAMAICAN NATIONAL is threatening to take Barbados to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) over her alleged treatment at Grantley Adams International Airport. Sonya King is claiming inhumane treatment meted out to her by Immigration Department officers over the weekend after arriving from Trinidad for a short vacation.Her cries have evoked memories of the famous Shanique Myrie saga which occurred in 2011 and went all the way to the CCJ, where she won a judgment against the Barbados Government two years later. However, in King’s case, there was no incident involving a cavity search. King’s story has already made headlines in the Jamaica Observer.The 24-year-old said she landed last Saturday night with her 14-month-old son Kaleb but was denied entry. (MWN)

WOUNDED OVER A MAN - An ongoing feud over a man landed a woman and her friend in the District “A” Magistrates Court today, charged with wounding a third woman.Friends Melissa Alicia Haynes, 32, of King’s Village, Holder’s Hill, St James and Keisha Ianna Payne, 35, of Cemetery Lane, Road View, St Peter are charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding Peta Sobers.When they appeared before Acting Magistrate Douglas Frederick today, the two pleaded guilty to the offence, which occurred on May 16, 2015.The No 1 District “A” Criminal Court heard that Sobers was confronted by Haynes and Payne near the Super Styles Store in the City and was struck on the forehead several times with an umbrella and beaten about the body.Sobers had to seek medical attention for her injuries.Asked by the magistrate to explain their behaviour, Payne said she had an ongoing feud with Sobers, which came to a head on board a cruise.“But the mistake I made was not to report it to the police,” Payne said, to which Frederick said: “Revenge is not a defence. If you had managed to kill this girl you would be facing a different charge.”“What is the reason for this, a man?” Frederick further queried.“Yeah,” Payne replied.Haynes, who explained that she was a friend of Payne, said the complainant had been “dropping talk and stuff like that”.However, the Acting Chief Magistrate stopped her mid-sentence saying: “You are a friend, you must be able to tell your friend to come back. You should lead not follow. You have no right being here . . . you should not be in it at all.”“What happen to the man?” Frederick questioned.“I get rid of he,” Payne answered.Frederick informed the two that they would have to compensate Sobers, which the defendants signalled their willingness to do.There were no objections and the two women were granted $1,000 bail each with a stern warning.“Stay away for the complainant; have nothing to say or do with her because we want no further allegations,” Frederick cautioned.The two are scheduled to return to court on September 9. (BT)

CONCEIRGE DENIES THEFT - A 31-year-old concierge yesterday denied assaulting Tonya Weekes and occasioning her actual bodily harm on August 28.Shaha Ola Harte of #13 4th Avenue, North Wildey Terrace, St Michael also pleaded not guilty to stealing a $1,600 cellular phone and a $750 car key from Weekes.Acting Chief Magistrate Douglas Frederick granted Harte $3,000 bail and adjourned the case until November 28, when she will return to the District ‘A’ Magistrates Court.Harte was represented by attorney-at-law Alvan Babb. (BT)

RUM THIEF REMANDED - An unemployed man confessed that it was he who stole a bottle of rum from a friend’s shop on August 28.Vincent Tony Smith of Ellis Village, Halls Road, St Michael pleaded guilty to stealing the alcohol valued $41.75 belonging to Angela Eversley early sunday morning.In outlining the case to the District ‘A’ Magistrates Court today, Sergeant Martin Rock said Eversley was asleep when she was awakened by a knock on her shop. She got out of bed, looked out and saw Smith, who she knew as Fire, and another man standing outside her window.The second man ordered some eggs and after serving him, she turned away. That was when Smith pushed his hand through the dispatch window and took a bottle of Old Brigand Rum.Soon after, the woman went after Smith and took back the bottle, which was half-empty by then, from him. He in turn chased her, took away the rum and offered to pay for it. When he was asked to address the court today, Smith admitted he was wrong to steal the alcohol but said that when he offered to pay for the item, the woman refused.Smith, who has previous convictions, added that he also gave “a shot uh rum to the fella who buy the eggs but he went long”.The magistrate explained that the complainant operated a small business and could not afford such losses. The court ordered a presentencing report, remanded Smith and adjourned the case until September 26. (BT)

SERIAL THIEVES WALK FREE BECAUSE PROSECUTION DIDN’T PHOTOCOPY FILES - Acting Chief Magistrate Douglas Frederick today dismissed a three-year-old case against two St Michael men after the prosecution had no file with which to start the matter. Kemal Mario Straker, of Lot #15, Clapham Park, St Michael and Kirklan Joel Bowen of Wildey Main Road, St Michael were charged with robbing Saskia Wiltshire of a bag worth $39.40; a $1,600 Samsung Galaxy tablet; $700 BlackBerry cellular phone; a $25 flash drive; a $60 make-up kit; a $25 purse; a $23.99 book; a $25 phone charger; and five pens worth between $20 and $60.The two were also accused of robbing Daran Gall of a $250 iPod, a $400 cellular phone and $10.They were previously granted $10,000 bail each, however Straker is currently on remand at HMP Dodds on other charges.When the case came up for hearing today the prosecutor said while his office was in possession of a file, they encountered some difficulties in making copies for the accused men.The magistrate argued that there was sufficient time to get the documents copied and dismissed the case. (MWN)

$3000 BAIL FOR CARPENTER - When Sherman Troy Hinds went before Acting Chief Magistrate Douglas Frederick yesterday, he pleaded not guilty to unlawfully and maliciously inflicting serious bodily harm on Mark Farrell on June 4 this year.The accused, from Edgecliff, St John, is a carpenter.There was no objection to the 40-year-old getting bail and this was granted to him in the sum of $3,000.Attorney Samuel Legay acted on behalf of Hinds, whose matter was adjourned until November 17 when he will again go before the District ‘A’ Magistrates Court. (BT)

KINGDOM ARTS - Bringing modest fashion to the modern age were the talented designers in the fashion segment of this year’s third annual Kingdom Arts Festival. Joining together under the theme Thankful, designers Sharon Callender, Khala Hurdle, Rachel Clement, Lester Welch, Sheldene Brathwaite, Ruth-Ann King and Katrina Martelly expressed their spirit of thankfulness through their various designs.A festival with Christianity as the foundation, Kingdom Arts not only sought to showcase the talents of people in ministry that are artistes, designers and entrepreneurs, but also develop and teach, resulting in consistent growth both inside and outside of the festival. (MWN)

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