#Marvay | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

thechasefiles · 7 years ago

Text

The Chase Files Daily Newscap 1/24/2018

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your newscap for Wednesday 24th January 2018. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT), or by Mid Week Nation News Newspaper (MWN).

LAST LAUGH: FAILED STRIKE A STRONG MESSAGE TO THE UNION, BYER-SUCKOO SAYS – The island’s largest public sector trade union failed to inspire its members to join last week’s strike because civil servants saw through the union’s attempts at backing Government in a corner, according to Minister of Labour Dr Esther Byer-Suckoo. In providing an analysis of the unsuccessful national shutdown, Byer-Suckoo all but dismissed the National Union of Public Workers’ (NUPW) effort as a joke, stating that it was pulling workers’ legs by demanding a 23 per cent pay rise for its members. However, the minister told Barbados TODAY the workers understood Government’s fiscal situation and sent a message to the union by defying its orders, and showing up for work. “I think a lot of people have been reading the situation well. At the end of the day Barbadians are intelligent people. The workers understand that anybody who could promise them at the end of the day that they would get a significant increase in salary is only pulling their legs for short-term gain. The workers understand this and they realize that this is not the time for industrial action,” Byer-Suckoo told Barbados TODAY on the sidelines of a meeting of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) St Michael West Central branch at Lawrence T Gay Memorial School on Sunday. In explaining the rationale for the January 15 deadline, NUPW President Akanni McDowall had told Barbados TODAY his union was cognizant that Parliament must be dissolved by the end of March of this year, therefore civil servants were not about to squander their chances of securing a salary increase by allowing the matter to drag on until Stuart finally decides to ring the election bell. However, Byer-Suckoo suggested that McDowall was in fact attempting to hold the DLP administration to ransom on the cusp of the general election, and it backfired. She further said the NUPW would be wise to return to the negotiating table and consider Government’s proposed alternative to the pay hike. “From the civil servants that I spoke to it is really an understanding that the union was only attempting to strike now because there is an election on the horizon and the Government would be forced to give into the demands because they wanted to get back in power. But we in the Democratic Labour Party are not going to make those promises and the risk of impacting the country in the long term,” Byer-Suckoo said. “They also realize that this notion that there has been no negotiations has to be corrected. It is not a case where the union came out and asked for one thing and Government said flat out, ‘no’. There has been some discussion about other things that can be offered though not in the range of the salary increase that the union would like at this time. At this point it might make sense to consider what is actually doable. I hope that now they have had the action and having seen the effect, maybe we can now get back to the negotiation table,” she stressed. The NUPW boss would not comment on Byer-Suckoo’s statement, choosing instead to refer Barbados TODAY to a press statement issued over the weekend. “The NUPW is committed to securing a salary increase for its members, regardless of the party in power, endorsement from other unions or the opinions of social commentators. Neither silence, contempt, award or reward will sway us to do otherwise,” the statement read. The union also disputed reports that the strike had been a failure, arguing in the statement that “initial reports indicate that our efforts were effective, based on the numbers of members who stayed away from work and the respective Government departments adversely affected”. (BT)

NUPW TACTICS COMPARED TO DRIVE-BY SHOOTING – The pressure continues to mount on the island’s largest public sector trade union to back off from any further industrial action at this time to try to force the Freundel Stuart administration to meet its demands for a 23 per cent pay hike and a coping subsidy of $60 million. A two-day strike called by the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) last Thursday and Friday, and its promise to continue pressing for an increase, have already been described by Government spokespersons as selfish, nonsense and badly timed. This morning, one of Barbados’ leading scholars was even more dramatic in his description of the NUPW’s negotiating tactic, comparing it to a drive-by shooting. “The tactics at this moment are a bit premature and misguided because you [NUPW] don’t have widespread union solidarity . . . and [are] not [considering] the realities of the economy. So your 23 per cent, for example, or some of the policies associated with your coping mechanism are not on all squares with Government’s counter-suggestions. So, you want to be negotiating and not engaging in a proverbial drive-by shooting . . . because that’s not a negotiation. If you are going to pull those tactics, that’s a drive-by shooting,” Director of the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) Dr Don Marshall told Barbados TODAY on the sidelines of a roundtable discussion to examine the relevance of the work of the late acclaimed regional economist Sir Arthur Lewis to the challenges of Caribbean development. The SALISES director said he was concerned about the way the NUPW leadership has been handling the salary dispute in terms of safeguarding the future of the trade union as an institution and its understanding of trade union practices. (BT)

BES HEAD: LOOK AT IMF TOO – Beating home drums alone will not do it, so Barbados should also consider outside help from an agency like the International Monetary Fund (IMF). New Barbados Economic Society (BES) president Shane Lowe said “the two – a home-grown solution and external help such as from the IMF – are not mutually exclusive and can go together”. The former Central Bank economist told the MIDWEEK NATION: “Ultimately, a home-grown programme, supported and financed by a multilateral lending agency of which Barbados is a member, can help to address the two key issues – reversing the slide in foreign exchange reserves and reducing the fiscal deficit to restore fiscal sustainability and improve Barbados’ externalcredit rating. Such action would then “improve the economy’s competitiveness while reducing inefficiencies, the cost of Government and the size of the fiscal deficit at the same time”, he added. Lowe, who is strategy and economic analyst at CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank, said it was also important for policymakers to “tackle the efficiency and effectiveness of many of its state-owned entities”. He elaborated: “Transfers to public institutions accounted for 23 per cent of Government’s total current expenditure in 2016/17 (as per the Central Bank’s October 31, 2017 press release).” In terms of the economic forecast for this year, Lowe said “economic growth will likely slow in 2018 as the anticipated growth in tourist arrivals just offsets the persistent weakness in consumer demand for goods and services from the full effects of the May2017 budgetary measures and any additional measures which may be imposed to further reduce the fiscal deficit. (MWN)

BARBADOS AMONG 8 JURISDICTIONS REMOVED FROM EU LIST – Eight jurisdictions have been removed from the European Union's list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes, following commitments made at a high political level to remedy EU concerns. Barbados, Grenada, the Republic of Korea, Macao SAR, Mongolia, Panama, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates are moved to a separate category of jurisdictions subject to close monitoring. On January 23, 018, the Council agreed that a delisting was justified in the light of an expert assessment of the commitments made by these jurisdictions to address deficiencies identified by the EU. In each case, the commitments were backed by letters signed at a high political level. The decision leaves nine jurisdictions on the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions out of 17 announced initially on December 5, 2017. These are American Samoa, Bahrain, Guam, Marshall Islands, Namibia, Palau, Saint Lucia, Samoa and Trinidad and Tobago. The list also carries recommendations on steps to take to be de-listed. The EU's list is intended to promote good governance in taxation worldwide, maximising efforts to prevent tax avoidance, tax fraud and tax evasion. It was prepared during 2017 in parallel with the OECD global forum on transparency and exchange of information for tax purposes. Whereas the list is to be revised at least once a year, the working group responsible for preparing it (the 'code of conduct group') can recommend an update at any time. Jurisdictions that remain on the list are strongly encouraged to make the changes requested of them. Their tax legislation, policies and administrative practices result or may result in a loss of revenues for the EU's member states. Pending such changes, the EU and the member states could apply defensive measures. Today's decision was taken without discussion at a meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council, by means of an amendment to its December conclusions. The eifhr jurisdictions are moved from annex I of the conclusions (non-cooperative jurisdictions) to annex II (cooperation with respect to commitments taken). (MWN)

WESLEY HALL SMOKED OUT – The Ministry of Education has promised that it will act to ensure the Wesley Hall schools do not become another Louis Lynch Secondary School. Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry, Harry Husbands, issued the warning after memories of that controversial saga were triggered as hundreds of students had to take refuge on the Passage Road Playing Field in St Michael when smoke coming from the chimney of a nearby business caused respiratory issues for staff and students of the Junior and Infants school yesterday morning. The majority of the junior school’s 522 students and 39 staff, and the infant school’s 351 students and 28 employees were forced to make the trek. It was the third such incident for the term at the King Street schools. “The ministry is deadly serious about protecting the interest of the staff and the students at both of these schools and we intend to do all in our power to safeguard their interest,” he said while standing on the compound of the junior school, which opened in 1884. (MWN)

CUSTOMER PROTESTS SUV ‘TREATMENT’ – Within the space of a year, Curtis Rogers has taken his 2015 Mazda BT-50 to McEnearney Quality Inc. (MQI) 11 times. Angry and frustrated that MQI was refusing his request for a new vehicle, the 30-year-old picketed outside the car dealer’s Wildey, St Michael office yesterday morning for just over three hours. Not even a decision by management of Republic Bank to ask Rogers to move his vehicle off its property could halt his efforts, as he parked it a short distance away, just outside Luther Thorne Memorial Primary School. His protest, which saw him draping signs reading This Vehicle Is No Good over the vehicle, brought traffic to a crawl as motorists slowed to take notice. Rogers told the MIDWEEK NATION the SUV, which he bought for $104 000 in May 2015, was still under a three-year warranty. (MWN)

AG: NO NEED TO PANIC – The Royal Barbados Police Force now has expanded powers to implement two-day curfews or a so-called “special investigation period” in response to serious violence, in the use of cordons and to stop and search. The additional powers are being granted under the Police (Amendment) Bill, 2017, which was piloted in the House of Assembly yesterday by Attorney General and Minister of Home Affairs Adriel Brathwaite. However, the Opposition Barbados Labour Party, through former Attorney General Dale Marshall, has warned Government the bill could infringe the rights of citizens. Brathwaite told the Lower Chamber the bill would allow lawmen “to protect life and property”, though he maintained that crime in the country had not reached the stage where residents needed to panic. (MWN)

MURDERERS APPEAL TO CCJ – Two Barbadians convicted of murder will today challenge the ruling of the Court of Appeal on the constitutionality of the mandatory death sentence before the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). The case, which will be heard at the court based in Trinidad and Tobago, is a consolidation of appeals from Dwayne Omar Severin and Jabari Sensimania Nervais, who were sentenced to death in separate murder trials. Severin, formerly of Crane, St Philip, was found guilty of killing Virgil Barton, on November 30, 2009, near his home at Lucas Street in the same parish. In February 2012, a 12-member jury found Nervais, formerly of 3rd Avenue, Sisnett Road, Bannister Land, St Michael, guilty of murdering Jason Ricardo Burton on November 17, 2006. Burton lived at Perseverance Drive, Jackson, St Michael. Both were sentenced to hang. Last May, acting president of the Court of Appeal, then Justice of Appeal Sandra Mason, dismissed the appeals of Nervais and Severin. She said Parliament would have to make the necessary changes to Section 2 of the Offences Against The Person Act, if the death penalty were to be placed at the discretion of sentencing judges. Late Director of Public Prosecutions Charles Leacock, who appeared on behalf of the Crown, said the ruling confirmed the 2003 decision of the Privy Council that judges should not be the ones determining whether the death penalty was unconstitutional. Queen’s Counsel Andrew Pilgrim, who represented Nervais, said he would appeal to the CCJ to bring closure to the death penalty issue. The case will be streamed live. (MWN)

TWO CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH GOLDEN SANDS ROBBERY – Police have made a major breakthrough in their investigations of the armed robbery that occurred on Saturday, January 6, at the Ixora Bar & Restaurant, Golden Sands Hotel, Maxwell Main Road, Christ Church. The investigation, lead by Major Crimes Unit, resulted in two men being arrested and charged. They are 22-year-old Hakeem Zoe Isiah Robinson of #24 Bartletts Tenantry, Sergeants Village, Christ Church and Akeem Ricardo Bourne, also 22 years old, of #2, 5th Avenue, Wildey, St Michael and #385 Emerald Park West, Six Roads, St Philip. The pair were jointly charged with aggravated burglary (Ixora Restaurant situated at Golden Sands Hotel, January 6), aggravated burglary (residence of Emmerson Trotman, January 3), robbery of Emmerson Trotman (January 3), and eight counts of endangering lives by discharging a firearm in a public place whilst at Ixora Restaurant (January 6). Hakeem Robinson faces additional charges of burglary (residence of Donna Atherley, January 12), aggravated burglary (residence of Lee and Princess Johnson, between January 15 and 16), robbery of Chad Wright (January 8), serious bodily harm of Chad Wright, January 8), use of firearm (January 8), possession of a controlled drug to wit: cocaine (January 16), possession of a controlled drug to wit: cannabis (January 16), possession of a controlled drug to wit: cocaine with intent to supply (January 16), and trafficking of a controlled drug to wit: cocaine (January 16). The pair is expected to appear in the Oistins Magistrates Court tomorrow. (MWN)

WOMAN REMANDED AFTER LOSING SURETY – A woman in her late 20s, who had been out on $7,500 bail for over two years, lost her freedom today. An inconsolable Crystal Nadeen Grosvenor, of No 412, London Bourne, Towers, St Michael, was remanded to prison after she was unable to get another surety to post bail. Her substantive surety withdrew today, telling Magistrate Douglas Frederick she no longer wanted the responsibility and claiming that Grosvenor was not complying to certain bail conditions. The accused has maintained her innocence of cannabis and cocaine charges leveled against her and a co-accused since July 29, 2015 . She will return to the No.1 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on Friday in another attempt at bail. (BT)

LABOURER ORDERED TO PAY FINE - A 34-year-old labourer has one month to pay the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court a $1,500 fine. The amount, which carries an alternative eight-month prison sentence, was imposed on Dwayne Tyrone Williams, of Olivies Gap, Tudor Bridge, St Michael today. He pleaded guilty to possession, possession with intent to supply and trafficking of 60 grammes of cannabis on January 22. Law enforcement officers were in the Searles area of Tudor Bridge, St Michael when they found the illegal drug in Williams’ possession. “I find that marijuana through a track this morning,” Williams reportedly told police at the time. Today in the docks, Williams, who is known to the law courts, apologized before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant for his actions and asked that a fine or community service be imposed. His wish for a fine was granted on the trafficking charge and he was reprimanded and discharged on the other two offences. (BT)

KIRBY GETS SECOND GOLD – Golden boy Jack Kirby delivered again as Barbados finished second in Zone 1 when the inaugural Union Americana de Natacion (UANA) Swimming Cup ended on Sunday at the Coral Springs Aquatic Centre in Florida. Kirby won his second gold medal of the meet when he set a new Barbados record of 26.63 seconds while winning the 15-17 Boys’ 50-metre backstroke. He also landing an “A” qualifying time for the Youth Olympics. On Saturday, Kirby, who attends Baylor University in the United States, won the first gold medal when he finished first in the 100 metres backstroke in a national record and Youth Olympics “A” qualifying time of 56.34. The Youth Olympics are set to take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in October. Barbados earned 181.50 points to finish behind Mexico, who amassed 870 points. They were among the 22 countries participating from the Central American and Caribbean (CCCAN) zone. Overall, Barbados placed fifth, ending the meet with seven medals – two golds, three silvers and two bronze. (MWN)

KIRTON OFF TO CANADA FOR QUALIFIERS – Young Barbadian batsman Nicholas Kirton has been selected to represent Canada in the upcoming ICC World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe. The 19-year-old left-handed batsman was spotted by Canada’s coach and manager Ingleton Liburd during a series of practice matches at the 3Ws Oval, Cave Hill Campus against a select UWI/Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) team, late last year. Kirton scored an impressive century during one of the matches after which Liburd immediately expressed an interest in having him join the team, on their journey towards qualifying for the World Cup. UWI and CCC head coach, Floyd Reifer said he was delighted that Kirton has been given an opportunity to experience playing at an international level. “Since joining the UWI Blackbirds cricket programme, he has certainly taken advantage of all the resources available to develop his game – the coaching, facilities and modern, high-tech equipment,” said Reifer. The former Barbados batsman and West Indies’ captain said Kirton, who also captained the UWI Twenty20 team to the title last year, had worked extremely hard on his game. “His work ethic and dedication must be commended. He possesses leadership qualities that we continue to harness in the UWI programme. Nicholas is the youngest captain at UWI to win a national T20 title. He is certainly a player we will continue to groom for the future,” noted Reifer. As a result of his selection, Kirton, who also captained the Barbados Under-19 team in 2016, has taken a semester’s leave from UWI to pursue his exploits in the international cricket arena. He will return to join the Sagicor UWI Blackbirds for the 2018 Barbados Cricket Association’s season. In last year’s season, Kirton, who is also a useful off-spin bowler, scored three half-centuries while scoring 287 runs at an average of 26.09 in nine matches. (MWN)

MARZVILLE AND MARVAY THROUGH TO SOCA MONARCH SEMIS – Local artistes Omar Marzville McQuilkin and Damian Marvay are through to the semi-finals of the International Soca Monarch competition. This is both artistes’ second time in the semis. The announcement was made on Monday afternoon in Trinidad and Tobago. They are among 35 semi-finalists hoping to make it through to the finals in hopes of dethroning two-time monarch Voice. That list is less than half of the semi-finalists making it through last year. It was reported that fewer artistes entered the competition this year because of a drop in prize money. Last year seven Bajan artistes made the cut. The semi-finals will take place on Thursday at the Savannah in Port of Spain from 6 p.m. (MWN)

GOSPEL THRILLER – Thousands of Barbadians had their minds made up, and they had no intention of missing the Errol Barrow Day Sunset Concert at Kensington Oval. In the section of the Oval made available for the concert on Monday evening, there was standing room only as scores of gospel lovers packed the venue to sing and dance for the Lord. American gospel artiste and minister Donnie McClurkin was the headline act and the vocal powerhouse did not disappoint. The Grammy Award winner entered the stage around 7:30 p.m. and warmed the crowds up with a Caribbean medley, which was well received. He then thrilled the audience with songs such as I’ve Got My Mind Made Up, Days Of Elijah, Agnus Dei and Only You Are Holy. During the evening, many of the patrons used their mobile phones and waved them in the air. The bright white lights that lit up the dark skies were mesmerising. There was also a sense of warmth and brotherliness in the crowd amidst the worship. Many held hands and raised them as they sang and prayed fervently for the safety, healing and prosperity of the nation. There were a number of Barbadian acts on the ticket, including the Gospelfest Dancers; winner of last year’s Richard Stoute Teen Talent Contest, Trinity Clarke; Alison Norville, and Pastor John Yarde, who performed during the earlier hours of the show. Members of veteran gospel band Promise held their own as they reminded the audience why they became a household name with songs like Stand Up And Tell Me If You Love My Jesus, Everybody Ought To Know (Who Jesus Is), I Am Under The Rock and Oil In My Lamp. The Barbados Gospelfest Association, in connection with the St Michael North West Development Foundation, organised the concert. (MWN)

That’s all for today folks there are 341 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

0 notes

stephaniefchase · 8 years ago

Text

Bajan Newscap 2/11/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers! Here is your daily news cap for Saturday 11th February 2017. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT) or by purchasing a Saturday Sun Nation Newspaper (SS).

OWEN’S PUPPETS –Former Minister of Energy Elizabeth Thompson is pointing an accusing finger at her ex boss by implying that he was behind the island’s newest political party as a means to get at Barbados Labour Party (BLP) leader Mia Mottley. Thompson, who served as Minister of Energy and Environment in the Owen Arthur-led BLP administration, Friday launched a broadside at Arthur and Lynette Eastmond, who yesterday launched the United Progressive Party (UPP), mere weeks after reportedly stating she was a member of the BLP and was not involved in any other political movement. Eastmond, who contested and lost the last three general elections on a BLP ticket, was introduced as the chairman of the new party, something that Thompson did not allow to go unnoticed in a lengthy Facebook post. “I found the fact that the person who led the interview was described as chairman and not party leader, most interesting,” she wrote. “It will be interesting to see who they attract and what their platform is. This group [is] united by dislike of the leader of the BLP and sharing common bonds in their inability to win seats or nominations.” The former minister led a stout defence of Mottley, with whom she served in the Arthur Cabinet, suggesting that the current BLP leader had survived Arthur’s every attempt to get rid of her. Having failed, Thompson said it had become obvious from Arthur’s recent utterances that he had resorted to forming a party of disgruntled BLP politicians as his latest effort to humiliate Mottley. “OSA [Owen Seymour Arthur] did not manage to get rid of MAM [Mia Amor Mottley] by abusing her publicly; he did not accomplish it by not going to Parliament; he did not accomplish it by being silent on important national issues; he did not accomplish it by threatening to leave and then actually leaving the BLP. “So when in recent weeks, almost coinciding with talk of the new party, he was again engaging in serious national discourse in a way that we know he is fully capable of doing . . . finally, he has revealed his latest hand, or should I say, his instrument. If this is the new game, then the UPP is the United Puppets Party . . . or the United Political Puppets.” This notwithstanding, Thompson held out hope that Mottley and Arthur would put their differences aside and “unite for the sake of the country”. She said they did not have to be friends, they “just have to work together for the greater cause of country and citizen”. Otherwise, she said, the UPP would be an asset to the incumbent Democratic Labour Party, which is currently struggling to maintain Barbadians’ faith in its ability to govern. “If I were FS [Freundel Stuart, the Prime Minister], even if I was contemplating an early election, I would sit back, give the UPP time to pull BLP supporters, give them time to raise finance and candidates, wait for the Old BLP and the New BLP to start cannibalizing each other and their leaders,” she said, even while insisting that the country needed “strong, visionary, competent people, united to take the country forward and utilizing skills, intellect and experience”. (BT)

DON’T TOUCH THEM –The Freundel Stuart administration is being given a stern warning not to touch certain state entities if it ever were to go on a privatization drive. Barbados’ Ambassador to the Caribbean Community Robert Bobby Morris Friday said some statutory bodies were simply too important to be placed in the hands of the private sector. Privatization has been a vexing issue since the 2013 general election campaign, and with the economy continuing to struggle, leading economists, including former Prime Minister Owen Arthur, have been pushing Government to divest the statutory corporations. The administration has largely ignored this advice, other than the announced agreement to sell the Barbados National Terminal Company Limited to the Sol Group for $100 million. Morris admitted that a number of state agencies were draining Government’s resources and should be sold. However, he said there were those that served a public good, and they ought to remain under Government management. He made specific reference to the Child Care Board, the National Sports Council, the Barbados Vocational Training Board, the Public Utilities Board, the Electoral and Boundaries Commission and the Welfare Department, asking “can we put that out to private sector? I believe not”. The historian lauded the performance of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc and the Barbados Tourism Product Authority, created after the disbanding of the Barbados Tourism Authority, as examples of reformed state entities that work well. He also described planned changes at the National Cultural Foundation as a good move. However, he suggested that some serious restructuring was needed at other state entities to get them functioning at their optimum. (BT)

GO AFTER PRIVATE SECTOR –Barbadians’ docility and submissiveness allow the private sector to get away with ignoring their financial commitments to the country, one accountant has charged. Secretary of the Institute of Internal Auditors’ Barbados Chapter Krystle Howell Thursday night told a meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Bridgetown at the Goddard’s Training Room on Fontabelle it was time for Barbadians to stand up and demand from local businesses money which they owe Government. To prove her point Howell made reference to the last report from the Auditor General which showed that a number of companies owe Government over $500 million as at March 31, 2015, and that sustained attempts to recoup the outstanding funds had failed. She said it was an indication that some private sector companies would “rather see the country go down” than take up their responsibility. Speaking on Information in Today’s Society: Impact and Consequences, the auditor did not limit her concerns to the private sector. She also challenged Barbadians to speak out on some Government decisions, including the printing of money by the Central Bank and Government’s high spending on imports. She said Barbadians should stop “sitting back and just watching it happen and saying, ‘it is not my fault I am not getting involved in that’”. Pointing to the recent uproar over potholes, she said in order for things to improve here, Barbadians needed to become assertive. (BT)

MORRIS: TREAD CAREFULLY WITH PAY DEMANDS - Former trade unionist Robert Bobby Morris says while he is prepared to leave the final decision on any salary increases to both Government and his former colleagues in the labour movement, the Freundel Stuart administration should proceed with extreme caution on such proposals. “As I say, I don’t like to interfere with these things,” Morris told Barbados TODAY right after delivering Friday’s Democratic Labour Party luncheon lecture at the party’s George Street, Belleville, St Michael headquarters. However, he said: “If Government looks at the situation and that increase could worsen their situation, worsen the deficit that they plan, erode further the debt situation they have, the Government would have to make a decision and to come to the people and say, ‘listen, I would like to do that but not at the expense to be putting pressure on [Government].’” The retired labour leader further warned that “the matter was not an emotional thing at all”. In fact, were pay increases left to him, they would all be based on some performance factor. “I would love to see the day when all salary negotiations, private and public sector, have a performance factor related,” he stressed. Morris, who spent approximately 30 years in the trade union movement, also pointed out the private sector pay hikes were only given to workers “where it can be afforded”. He also said that even though workers in the public sector had not received a pay rise in a number of years, it did not mean they were not receiving bigger pay packets, since some had been receiving annual increments. However, as the island’s largest public sector union, the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) prepares to meet with temporary public officers here on Monday to update them on salary talks with Government, President Akanni McDowall is contending that Government can afford to pay public workers a salary increase. “We don’t believe that Government does not have enough money to pay public servants. We just believe that Government is mismanaging the money that it has,” McDowall told Barbados TODAY Friday evening, while insisting that civil servants had been made to suffer too long. (BT)

CBC STAFFERS “SICK” - Some of the staff at the lone state-run television station were sick yesterday, and it had to do with money. But the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation’s general manager said the number of those who called in sick had no impact on the operations of The Pine, St Michael facility. Reports were that staff at CBC had staged a sick-out in protest over long-delayed wage negotiations. Shop steward Kent Jerson declined to comment and referred the SATURDAY SUN to the Barbados Workers’ Union. Efforts to reach the BWU’s senior assistant general secretary Orlando “Gabby” Scott or deputy general secretary Dwaine Paul were unsuccessful. (SS)

MORE NURSES NEEDED – President of the Barbados Nurses’ Association (BNA), Joannah Waterman, is calling for the nursing complement at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to be increased. Shortly after her installation as the new president at the BNA’s 80th annual general meeting, Waterman signalled to Minister of health John Boyce she would be agitating for an increase in nurses at the goverment’s health care institutions, as well as for improved working conditions and remuneration, during her term of office. The minister was not present at the meeting at Accra Beach Hotel but Waterman nonetheless directed her remarks to him. “We are cognisant of the current economic climate . . . but as the largest, most mission-critical population in the health sector, we deserve to have our needs adequately addressed,” she said. (SS)

HYATT APPROVED - The final decision on the controversial Hyatt hotel on Lower Bay Street, the City will be announced in two weeks, official sources have said. The sources told Barbados TODAY that approval had been given by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart for construction of the multi-million dollar development to begin, and Town Planning officials were simply putting the finishing touches to the agreement before the announcement is made. According the officials, lawyers have advised that an environmental impact assessment (EIA) was not required under the Town & Country Planning Act, therefore there was no reason for any further delay to the US$100 million Hyatt Centric Resort. Social activist David Comissiong had demanded that an EIA be done before permission was granted to the developers of the 15-storey property, and had threatened a lawsuit to prevent construction from beginning unless the study was done. Stuart had announced at the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry luncheon on January 25 that “within the next seven days I expect to be in a position to give planning permission” for the project. He had also said he expected “all of the outstanding pre-conditions would have been satisfied” by the time he was ready to give the go-ahead. It was just yesterday that Comissiong had claimed that important legal conditions had not been met at the time the Prime Minister made his announcement. Armed with a document obtained from the Town Planning Department’s registry, the attorney-at-law pointed out that several segments of the form had been left blank. “It is worthy of note that none of these conditions were satisfied when Stuart gave the assurance that approval would be given in another seven days, but could have been the outstanding pre-conditions that would have to be satisfied within the seven day period,” Comissiong charged. (BT)

UNITY CALL TO STOP ECONOMIC ROT - Barbados has the ability to pull itself up by its own bootstraps in order to stave off any worsening of the local economy. And it is against this background that the Barbados Private Sector Association is appealing to all sectors to join ranks to come up with solutions to the problems that threaten the island’s economic health. “We believe that local circumstances are entirely within our control and that we have the capacity to resolve the problems confronting us,” said the association in a statement yesterday. “We have two huge advantages that can help make this happen. First, our size. In a small country like Barbados we can turn things around quickly. Secondly, the vast, but largely untapped intellectual potential of our people, both at home and abroad. (SS)

EASTERN PULL –St. Philip it is! The eastern parish is still the fastest growing parish when it comes to residential homes. Chief Town Planner Mark Cummins said a steady stream of Barbadians have been making the parish their home since the 1970s in spite of several recent large housing projects in the neighbouring Christ Church approved by the Town and Country Development Planning Office. He pointed out that in Christ Church a development at Staple Groves was recently completed and within the last six months permission was granted for a development of turnkey (contractor-designed) houses at the Ridge, an area just east of Edey Village. That project involved more than 700 houses and there is another project in the vicinity of the Blackman Gollop Primary School expected to have more than 100 housing units when completed. (SS)

CHARGE THEM –"Backyard tattooists" who prey on schoolchildren should feel the sting of the law. That view was expressed by tattoo artist of over 20 years Ryan Gaskin, who said there could be a link between the underground market and the growing number of school-aged children getting "inked". Recently the head of the Barbados Association of Guidance Counsellors, Saul Leacock, raised concerns over the trend, noting that some teens were sporting visible tattoos and multiple piercings. He encouraged parents to be more vigilant about their children’s dress and conduct at school. Gaskin said unlicensed tattooists, informally known as "scratchers", should face charges and or jail time for conducting business with minors, which he said was a form of assault. (SS)

IT WASN’T ME –Murder accused Damien Lecoursey Reveira could know his fate next week. Madam Justice Jacqueline Cornelius adjourned his murder trial until next Monday, after the 27-year-old who is charged with the shooting death of 31-year-old Anderson Ashby more than six year ago, addressed the court and defence attorney Andrew Pilgrim, QC said he was not calling any witnesses. “I don’t know anything about any set up, Ma’am. All I know about is selling a gun, Ma’am. These men kill this man and they are home on bail and I am here fighting for my life this morning, Ma’am,” Reveira said in an unsworn statement from the dock of the No. 5 Supreme Court. It is alleged that Reveira killed Ashby in a gun deal gone wrong on October 9, 2010, on the Belfield playing field in Black Rock, St Michael. Principal Crown Counsel Elwood Watts is prosecuting the case, which is being heard by a 12-member jury. (BT)

JAMAICAN WOMAN JAILED FOR IMPORTING DRUGS WORTH $50,000 – A 38-year-old Jamaican woman is to spend the next 18 months in jail here after pleading guilty in the District ‘C’ Magistrates’ Court to importing four kilogrammes of cannabis with an estimated street value of Bds$50,000. Roseanne Rocky Simmons was also sentenced by Chief Magistrate Christopher Birch to a further 18 months in prison for possession of cannabis, after she was unable to pay the required fine of $5,000 for each of the two drug offences. However, her sentences will run concurrently. Simmons was also reprimanded and discharged for the offence of trafficking and convicted, reprimanded and discharged for the offence of possession with intent to supply. The visitor, who arrived here on Wednesday from Jamaica via Trinidad, was caught with five taped packages containing the illegal drugs in a false top of her suitcase. (BT)

MAYERS ON AMMO & GUN CHARGE – A 20-year-old man will reappear in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court in 28 days on firearm and ammunition charges. Shoiad Akimian Jaleel Mayers, of Long Gap, Spooner’s Hill, St Michael, was remanded to HMP Dodds Friday when he went before Magistrate Douglas Frederick to face the two indictable charges. The offences allegedly occurred on February 5. Mayers, who was not required to enter a plea, was represented by attorney-at-law Romain Marshall. He returns to court on March 10. (BT)

FRAUD, THEFT CHARGES –A MAN ACCUSED of pretending to be a prison officer and an agent of the Director of Public Prosecutions has ended up in jail on remand. Cleve Anderson Hoyte, 48, of Brighton, St George, appeared in the District “C” Court on both fraud and theft charges yesterday in connection with $70 000. He is to appear in two other courts on the charges. When he went before the District “C” Magistrate’s Court, Hoyte was not required to plead to the indictable charges that he dishonestly obtained $800 from Felicia Thompson by falsely representing that he was a prison officer, Mark Reece, and was assisting in the bail for her son Akeem Thompson who was on remand at HMP Dodds. (SS)

PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION FOR CLARKE –An unemployed man who is listed as having no fixed place of abode, will call the Psychiatric Hospital home for the next three weeks at least. Justin Dave Clarke pleaded guilty to entering Rezults Auto sometime between February 8 and 9 as a trespasser and stealing shock absorbers worth $300. However, the facts of his offence were not read in court today by prosecutor Sergeant Martin Rock after Magistrate Douglas Frederick realized that the 29-year-old was “not tracking” and was slow to answer questions asked of him. He has to be assessed and observed at the Black Rock, St Michael facility and will return to the No. 1 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on March 3. (BT)

FISHERMAN CONFESSES –A fisherman who has been on remand on three drug charges, Friday admitted to committing the offences that occurred almost four years ago. Shirland Holder of Bathsheba, St Joseph pleaded guilty in the No. 5 Supreme Court to possession, importation and trafficking of 227.5 kilogrammes of cannabis on the night of May 3, 2013. Principal Crown Counsel Anthony Blackman told the court that lawmen, acting on information, ventured to Tent Bay, St Joseph on that date and took up various vantage points on a cliff. Using night vision equipment, they spotted motor vessel M416 with the name Madeline approaching the bay from a northerly direction. The vessel which had two occupants stopped a short distance from the shore and, according to Blackman, the men were seen throwing some bulky packages into the sea. One of the men then jumped into the water and started moving to shore with some of the packages that had been tossed overboard. The bundles were then pulled ashore, about 25 metres away from where officers were located. The vessel piloted by the other man then turned and sped off. As police made their presence known, the man who later identified himself as Holder tried to run away but was apprehended. When the packages were examined in Holder’s presence and found to contain vegetable matter, he was asked to account for having it and he told lawmen: “Officer, it is weed, I know.” He was also asked what he meant by “weed” and he replied: “Marijuana.” Holder was taken into custody and told of his right to an attorney. “I ain’t worrying with the lawyer now. I just want to lie down and catch myself,” replied Holder who declined to give a written statement. “You hold me pun de scene, I ain’t giving no statement.” The Crown’s representative also told the court presided over by Madam Justice Jacqueline Cornelius that Holder also identified the vessel the following day. “I know de boat well. . . . That is the boat we bring de weed on,” said Holder who was subsequently charged. Friday, a prison officer informed the court that Holder had already spent 1,377 days on remand at HMP Dodds. Justice Cornelius then ordered a pre-sentencing report in preparation for sentencing. The 50-year-old returns to court on May 5. (BT)

FORDE THE FASTEST – Harrison College, one of the most revered schools in Barbados, held their annual sports day yesterday, and with Jonathan Jones, Aren Spencer, Layla Haynes and Caleb Massiah leading the way, are poised to be a major force at the Secondary Schools Championships. The tag of fastest boy at the school went to Division 2 athlete Julian Forde, a member of the champion house Dalton. Forde, clocked the fastest time of the day in the 100 metres, racing across the finish line at the school ground on Crumpton Street in 11.43 secs. The smooth-striding Forde sprinting to the finish line well clear of Armstrong’s Jide Griffith to the delight of spectators. (SS)

SOARING SPARTANS - THE SPARTANS are generally known to be warriors, and Cumberbatch Spartan Striders (Green House) showed that they were cut from that cloth at Alleyne School Sports yesterday. At the sports day held at the National Stadium, there were also four records broken in the 200 and 400, and the 4x400 open races. Jadon Holligan of Cumberbatch Spartan Striders clearing the bar during the high jump to earn himself the title in the Under-17 Division. (ss)

KING’S HIGH POINT –DARIAN KING has recently been getting the better of Victor Estrella on the court. And now off of it, too. King is now the highest rated men’s player in the Central American and Caribbean Tennis Confederation (COTECC) region after finally going past Estrella in the recent ATP rankings. It’s the first time King, ranked No.139 in the world, held the honour. His Dominican Republic counterpart owned that position for a number of years after cracking the world’s top 100 in 2014. However, the 36-year-old Estrella dropped 60 spots this week, falling out of the top 100 and landing 17 places behind King at No.156. (SS)

FLORETTE THE ONE TO BEAT - The Suzanne Miller-owned smart three-year-old filly Fleurette heads a small field of six in Saturday’s Grandstand Posse And Bubba’s Sports Bar Trial going 1570 meters. Fleurette won her most recent start on January 14 in the Michael Parravicino Memorial Breeders Stakes And Trophy defeating the useful colt Zip Code. The Victor Cheeseman-trained animal will be looking for two stakes in a row, but standing in her way could be the talented 3-year-old colt Black Rock. Black Rock, owned by Suzanne’s husband Luther G Miller III and trained by Jonathan Simpson is coming off a second place finish on January 14 going the sprint trip of 1100 meters. Post time for the first race Saturday is 1 p.m. Selection for the feature race the Grandstand Posse Trial are Fleurette, Black Rock, Butterfly and De Girlz Dem Sugar in that order. (BT)

MARVAY & RAM IN ISM FINALS - Marvay's name IS on the lips of many in Trinidad and Tobago. The first timer has made it into the finals of the International Soca Monarch competition in the twin-island republic. Marvay was rushing to a show when contacted and manager Katrina Chandler couldn't contain her excitement when speaking to NATION ONLINE. "I was pretty confident that Marvay would make the cut. His song is huge, his fan base is growing by the minute. He is forever humble and genuine and I believe that is what the Trinis love about him. Let's not forget that voice! I expect him to do well. He is ready for the big stage." The list, just released, has on 22 finalists and another Bajan, Peter Ram, joins Marvay to make the final count. While Ram is no stranger to the soca scene, Marvay is a fresh face in that genre. His popular Know The Face placed him second in the Sweet Soca Finals for Crop Over 2016. Ram's Good Morning was also a monster hit for 2016 and is being used by at least three pan bands for Panorama 2017 in Trinidad. King Bubba FM, Marzville and Biggie Irie were the other three Bajans in the semifinals held last week. Marvay's co-manager Ingrid Holder said: "I'm very happy for Marvay. I want the Bajan posse to come to Trinidad and support on Finals night February 24. (SS)

Well that’s all for today folks. There are 323 days left in the year ;) Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

0 notes