Guyana: Hunting tragedy, son shot accidentally

Relatives of 12 year-old cyclist Justin Nobrega who was accidentally shot during a hunting trip are awaiting the results of a post mortem examination which are expected sometime later today. The relatives are also hoping for the release of the dead boy’s father who has been detained along with his hunting partner since the incident.
Twelve year-old Justin was pronounced dead on arrival at the Linden Hospital after he was shot while in the company of his father and a friend.
According to a police report the incident occurred at around 23:10 hours on Friday last at Adventure on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

Meanwhile, the dead lad’s mother, Michelle Nobrega who spoke with this publication yesterday said that she received the dreadful news from her husband on Friday night. The woman who said she has accepted her son’s death believes it was a genuine accident.

“My son loves hunting; hunting is like a family tradition for us and he died doing one of the things he loved best.” Justin was also a member of the Continental Cycling Club.  Mrs. Nobrega said her husband related that he had spotted a deer while hunting and shot at it but the deer did not fall.  (read more)

Dominican Republic: Caribe Tours bus plunges off the road

A Caribe Tours bus full of passengers crashed Monday afternoon off the Yamí Bridge, of Bayacanes, on the road from Jarabacoa to La Vega, and so far it is unknown if there are dead or wounded. 

The unfortunate incident occurred close to 4:00 PM in the afternoon.  The health status of the driver and the passengers is unknown.  Members of the fire department, the  Civil Defense, and authorities from La Vega have moved to the site to aid the occupants of the bus which was travelling from Jarabacoa to Santo Domingo.

According to reports, the driver lost control of the vehicle in the curve known as El Recodo, plunging  into a river.

As it turned out, those who were on board the bus were returning from a stay in Jarabacoa, taking advantage of the long holiday weekend.  (Read the article in Spanish here)

Trinidad and Tobago: AMBULANCE HORROR Fuad blasts emergency services and promises harsh measures

Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan promised "harsh decisions" after an ambulance service ignored the cry for help from a young mother and her ailing baby.

Khan, in a media release, said he was "disgusted" to learn of the "inhumane behaviour" of the emergency medical technicians (EMT's) who, on Friday, told mother Stacy Simon that a corporate policy prevented them from helping her 21-month-old baby.

Baby Akeel Simon was later pronounced dead on arrival at the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH).

The child, who had Down's Syndrome, had three holes in his heart and an enlarged liver. He began to run a high fever on Friday which was his clinic day at SFGH. While on the way to hospital with his mother Stacy Simon of Happy Valley, Erin, the car they were in encountered mechanical problems.  (read more)

Jamaica: HBO producing 2012 Jamaica Jazz and Blues documentary

Capturing the sights, sounds and energy on the grounds of the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium was easy for the combination of HBO and platinum sponsors Flow.

Indeed, when the lights flashed on the main stage at the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, a crew from HBO was at the stadium producing a documentary feature about the 2012 event.

HBO will, this year, place special focus on Jamaica's historic 50th anniversary of Independence, and will showcase cultural icons and places of interest throughout the island to promote Jamaica as a prime tourist and business destination.

The Flow-HBO partnership will bring the internationally renowned festival and Jamaica into the homes of millions of viewers across 22 countries in the Caribbean and Latin America.  (read more)

Trinidad and Tobago: Not the muppets, Roger Alexis brings puppet comedy characters Santana and friends to the big screen

Roger Alexis can be considered the next big thing in the local film industry, after proving himself with his first movie, I’m Santana. The popular puppet short film series of the same name became an instant Internet sensation two years ago, appealing to viewers across the globe. And now, Alexis, the voice behind the main puppet, Santana and the mastermind behind the movie, has taken it up a couple notches and by the looks of it, he’s hit the jackpot. Last Wednesday evening, media and fans got the chance to view the highly-anticipated premiere at Caribbean Cinemas 8, Trincity Mall, Trincity. Three earlier screenings of the movie that day were sold out. From the time the show began, laughter erupted from members of the audience, who were clearly familiar with all the characters, as they shouted out things like: “Buh what happen to Narine. He real dottish eh?”and “Ogosh, Patsy yuh bad girl!” 

The storyline is creative and comedic and is centred around the film’s main characters, Santana, Janice, Kizzy, Raj, Narine, Pasty, Sokdeo, Miss Milly and the not so spiritual, Pastor Stewart. In the 73 minute feature film, Santana is forced to take a long look at himself as heartache causes him to realise what and who he had lost. The same could be said for “loud mouth” Patsy, known for abusing her husband, Narine, who sported a black eye throughout the movie. And when it came to Pastor Stewart, well, let’s just say that the words “you can run but you can’t hide” proved true in his case. The movie is not recommended for children though, due to some obscene language, Trini style.  (read more)

Carib Comment:  If you have never seen these puppets in action, watch 'Patsy' below!

Jamaica: Simply Magic - Celine Dion Wows Patrons; Traffic Nightmare Nearly Mars Jazz And Blues Festival

A chaotic traffic pile-up on the North Coast Highway corridor threatened to muddy the best-ever Jamaica Jazz and BluesFestival, yet failed to overwhelm the performance of top-billed artiste, Celine Dion.

According to Walter Elmore, chairman of Art of Music Productions (AMP), organiser of the event, at the end of the day people will forget the traffic problem, but won't forget how they were thrilled by the stellar feat of Dion.

Abandoning all systems, drivers transformed the two-lane highway into five, causing total gridlock for persons coming into Trelawny from Kingston and Montego Bay.

By 11 p.m., a conservative estimate of 20,000 people had poured into the Trelawny Stadium venue, setting the record for the largest turnout of patrons in the 16-year history of the festival. However, many complained that it took them hours to experience the magic that only an award-winning singer such as Celine Dion could have created.  (read more)

Trinidad and Tobago: Funeral of boy killed by scorpion...

LITTLE Israel Brown, who died after being stung by a scorpion, loved Jesus and wanted to become a policeman.

He was young, strong, healthy and playful before he died three days ago at the San Fernando General Hospital.

Brown's cousin, Jenelle Mitchell, in her eulogy at his funeral yesterday, said he always wanted children to be mannerly and listen to him.

Many mourners, including several pupils from the Hope Pre-School which Brown attended, came to his funeral held at Jesus Loves You Ministries at Macaulay, Claxton Bay.

Brown died on Thursday after being stung by a black scorpion while playing at his Hill Top Drive, St Margaret's, Claxton Bay, home on Wednesday.

He would have celebrated his fourth birthday on February 1 but was instead laid to rest along with three toys including Legos and a stuffed animal given to him by his father, Sheldon Brown.  (read more)

Dominican Republic: 52 year old man accused of raping 11 year old niece, arrested

Yesterday, police officers arrested a 52 year old agronomist in Neyba, against whom was issued an arrest warrant for allegedly raping a child under 11 years of age.

The arrested man is identified as José Antonio Méndez Montero (Joseph Milena), who serves as the Office Manager at Elbow-Café, located on Calle Las Marias, number 43, Neyba.

The child is the niece of the accused. The event took place on 22 January in a nursery owned by the detainee, located in Estero section of this city.

The indictment against Joseph Milena was filed by relatives of the victim, who presented evidence of "deflowering himeal membrane (late)" according to the certificate issued by the coroner.

The warrant number 00031-2012 was issued by the magistrate Bahoruco Judicial District.

Police said the detainee must be brought to justice in the coming hours, to be known as coercion.  (Click here to read the article in Spanish)

Jamaica: Baby among 5 burnt to death in mysterious fire

STUNNED relatives and neighbours of a couple and their three children who perished in a mysterious fire at their Whitehall Avenue home in St Andrew yesterday morning have been trying to determine what may have led to the tragedy.

Carol Spencer, who would have celebrated her 40th birthday on Wednesday; her common-law husband, Garfield Brown, 32; their 18-month-old son, Michael; and her sons from previous relationships, Kemar Brown, 18; and Ian Palmer, 14; were found dead when firefighters, with the aid of residents, managed to extinguish the blaze that engulfed the family's home on Spencer Close yesterday.  (read more)

Guyana: Suriname cops capture Guyanese wanted for fireman’s killing

Murdered fireman: Delon Collins

Surinamese authorities have captured a Guyanese wanted for the Christmas Eve’s day murder of Berbice  fireman, Delon Collins.  Suriname’s online Daghblad Suriname yesterday said that Sohan Busjit, 23, and another Guyanese, Gray Kempton, were both nabbed from tips received by the police there. Kempton is said to be wanted for armed robbery in Guyana.

The two were reportedly both hiding out in Suriname. They are being held by the Aliens Department on charges of being illegally in Suriname. The newspaper said that Guyanese authorities are to be notified.
Guyanese police issued a wanted bulletin for Busjit on January 9, saying that he is wanted for questioning in relation to robbery and murder committed on Delon Collins on Christmas Eve last year. Busjit’s address was given as Limlair Village, Corentyne, Berbice.  (read more)

Trinidad and Tobago: Mom, granny in spat at funeral for abused child, Josiah

EMOTIONS ran high yesterday at the funeral service for six-year-old Josiah Israel Governor when his mother, Brenda Governor, lunged at her mother-in-law, Laurel Andrews, during the viewing of the body.

"Snap she, all yuh snap she," shouted three of the mourners as Governor was hurried out of the chapel by a man who was seen telling her to calm down as she wept and ran across the Eastern Main Road.

The funeral was held in the chapel of Simpson's Funeral Home, Eastern Main Road, Laventille, from around 10.15 a.m. yesterday during which Spiritual Baptist leader, Darrell Goodridge, urged mourners not to go with "hate and hate and hate because we all just recited the Our Father prayer and if we say that, we have to forgive....".

Last week Friday, Josiah was taken to the Besson Street Police Station in an unconscious state by his mother and another relative. The child was then taken by the police to hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.  (read more)

Carib Comment:  Click here to read previous posts

United States: Walter Mercado leaves hospital

Walter Mercado was discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon in which he was held in Cleveland, Ohio, and is resting at a hotel in the same city.   His doctors gave him the ok after confirming that the procedures they underwent were a complete success.

 The astrologer left the hospital with the intention of enjoying a great dinner. At the hospital, everything was excellent, but the "food, as expected, was somewhat bland," he reported in a statement.  

He added that his doctors recommended that he has adopt a low fat diet, but that does not stop him from enjoying a good fish with fresh vegetables.

 Yvonne Bennett reported that "we will remain several days here in Cleveland because we have some friends who have offered to attend and show the best of the city. Although the temperature is cold and Walter is eager to return to your tropical island, we are enjoying our visit to this great American city in the midwest. "

It was reported that Walter reiterated "the excitement and gratitude that has brought me love and support from my fans. On my Facebook page I received comments from people in China who sent me their blessings. This force that the public has sent me is what has helped me recover so fast. I hope to be in a week with you in Puerto Rico. "  (Read the article in Spanish)

Jamaica: Jazz Lovers, Look Out For Nicole Henry Tonight at Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival

Nicole Henry's powerfully expressive, emotionally resonant voice has already earned her three international top-10 albums, the most recent being her 2008 release The Very Thought of You.

She's also won an international reputation as a beguiling live performer, enchanting audiences on multiple continents.

Growing up in a musical family in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Henry immersed herself in the arts early on, singing in school and church, and studying cello and ballet.

She balanced this with a deep love for the popular music that surrounded her, finding inspiration in the artistry of such performers as Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. Another source of inspiration was Henry's aunt, Debbie Henry, who sang in the soul/disco outfit, Silk.

A graduate of the University of Miami with a degree in communications and theatre, Henry got her first recording experience with dance music DJ/producer Noel Sanger. (read more)

Carib Comment:  Click here for more information on the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival

Take a quick break and enjoy Nicole Henry below!

Jamaica: Celine Didn't Ask For Much

Carib Comment:  Click here for more information about the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival

CANADIAN superstar Celine Dion graces the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival on Friday night as its biggest-ever star in its 16-year history.

Never mind that the likes of Gladys Knight, Kenny G, Kenny Rogers, Air Supply, Dionne Warwick, Patti Labelle, Al Green, Kool and the Gang, Earth Wind and Fire, Diana Ross, Chicago and Lionel Richie number among the greats who have appeared on the much-acclaimed event that started as the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, Celine Dion is being celebrated as the catch of the festival.

However, unlike some superstars who come with mega demands, Walter Elmore of Art of Music Production has described the rider of the French-Canadian artiste for the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival as "surprisingly simple" for a five-time Grammy Award winner.

Who could forget the 2008 renewal when R&B star Diana Ross drew the wrath of some fans who paid at least $5,300 for entry to the Aqueduct in Montego Bay, but didn't even see her face on the event's final night. (read more)

Trinidad and Tobago: Manning sits up, asking to go home

Former prime minister Patrick Manning sat up for the first time yesterday, three days after he was enfeebled by a stroke, and asked about the nation's plans.

And he clearly voiced his readiness to go home, his wife, Hazel Manning, said last evening.

Manning's relatives held a press conference to give an update on his medical condition at his San Fernando East constituency office yesterday.

"Today I visited him all morning and I got from doctors very positive responses. He sat up on his own, he spoke, he asked to go home and doctors had to convince him that he could not go home," Hazel said. (read more)

Canada: Cocaine in pineapples, watermelons…Guyana link seen as Canadians arrest 6

Would you like pineapple with your cocaine? Some watermelon with your weed?
In a highly-tainted fruit salad caper, six Toronto-area accused drug importers were arrested after police and border agents seized coke and pot in loads of pineapples and watermelons.
“Drug dealers will stop at nothing to get their contraband into this country,” RCMP Supt. Rick Penney, Commander of the GTA Drug Enforcement Unit, said Wednesday in a statement announcing the arrests.


Sergeant Michele Paradis said the plot was uncovered first in the port of Saint John, New Brunswick, when Canada Border Services Agency officers seized a container believed to contain cocaine.


Their search turned up 19 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside 80 hollowed-out pineapples scattered throughout the shipment, Paradis said.
She said the illegal coke load was first linked to a Toronto-area address in August, and then traced to gang members with ties to co-conspirators in Jamaica, Guyana, Costa Rica and the United States.


Over the subsequent months, investigators tracked and seized other incoming drug shipments, including two trucks entering Ontario at the Windsor border crossing with 115 kilos of marijuana hidden in shipments of watermelons, Paradis said.   (read more)

Dominican Republic: Dominicans mark the birth of Founding Father Juan Pablo Duarte

Today Thursday January 26 marks the 199th anniversary of the birth of the country’s Founding Father, Juan Pablo Duarte, who conceived and impelled the cause of Dominican Republic, with his preachings on freedom and created two organizations which served as the ideological and conspirative platforms of independence. (read more)

Jamaica: Carbon monoxide-based sickle cell treatment to be tested in Jamaica

DESPITE its toxicity, the colourless, odourless carbon monoxide will form the basis for a new treatment to be tested among sicklers in Jamaica, and if found to be successful, could lead to a better life for sickle cell patients worldwide.

The treatment is being developed by Sangart Inc, a global biopharmaceutical company that produces life-saving medicines that targets oxygen-deprived tissues. After more than a decade of research, the company has combined the human haemoglobin with carbon monoxide to create MP4CO, and will be conducting trials in Jamaica, France and the United Kingdom to determine the efficacy of this treatment for humans.  (read more)

Dominican Republic: More than 300,000 Dominican children are forced to work to survive

In the Dominican Republic more than 300,000 children are forced to work as adults to feed themselves and to survive, officials said, which ensured strong action has been taken in order to make the country a child labor free.

The Labor Ministry said in a public meeting that 305,000 Dominican children are in this situation with an amount equivalent to 12 percent of the population between ages 5 and 17 years.

The agency also reported the existence of networks in the country dedicated to the exploitation of child labor, a situation that is known by the whole society.

Many children work in the construction of large buildings in the city of Santo Domingo, while the provinces recorded the highest rate of child labor in Barahona, Pedernales (southwest) and Duarte (northeast), reported the Ministry of Labour.

The authorities assured, however, that they will deal with the matter with "urgency" that is needed,with a meeting to target the region, initially to eradicate the worst forms of child labor by 2015 and child labor in general for 2020, as is set by the Decent Work Hemispheric Agenda.

As part of these actions, the agency implemented a social networking system of reporting and registration of children who are working, with the aim of detecting cases as quickly as part of ongoing projects, which can guarantee complainants discretion in the management of information.  (Read the article in Spanish here)

Guyana: Imam re-arrested as five more victims come forward

The Imam at the centre of a growing sexual molestation scandal was re-arrested yesterday after more boys came forward with allegations against him.
Kaieteur News understands that at least five more boys are claiming that they were molested by the Imam, who had worked at a Turkeyen masjid and at a private city school.

“Yes, he has been re-arrested and the investigation is ongoing,” a senior police official told Kaieteur News. It appears that police are attempting to question as many persons as possible before laying charges in the matter.
Earlier in the week, officials from the Child Protection Agency had revealed that two other boys had alleged that they were sexually molested by the Imam.
Medical examinations revealed that one of the boys was abused. Medical examinations on four other boys appear to confirm their stories.


Carib Comment:  Click here to read previous posts on this story

Jamaica: Jamaica Improves In Press Freedom Rankings

Jamaica’s ranking in freedom of the press has jumped nine places in the latest report put out by international media watchdog group, Reporters without Borders. 

The country now ranks at 16 out of 179 countries. 

The ranking is shared with Cyprus and Germany. 

In its report, Reporters without Borders said Jamaica has a very honourable record in freedom of expression and media safety. 

However, it noted that this is slightly diminished by the occasional physical assault.  (read more)

 

Trinidad and Tobago: Child dies from physical abuse - boy wanted to live with his granny

SIX-YEAR-OLD Josiah Governor had begged his granny to take him away from a life of abuse but repeated attempts to take the child away were turned down, according to his grandmother Laurel Andrews.

Andrews said she had threatened to report the abuse to the police but was told she would never see her grandson again.

Josiah was taken to the Besson Street Police Station last Friday in an unconscious state by his mother and another relative. The child was then taken to hospital by police and was pronounced dead on arrival.

He had several marks of violence about his body and an autopsy yesterday confirmed he died from multiple blunt force trauma. Further tests have been ordered as police have not yet classified the death.

Detectives probing the case say they will be going to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard SC today for instructions on how to move forward with their investigations.

A male suspect remains in police custody.  (read more)

Haiti: U.N. to Investigate New Allegations of Sexual Exploitation of Children

The United Nations has opened an investigation into two new allegations of “sexual exploitation” or minors by U.N. Police in Haiti.

The Associated Press reports that U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said one case concerns the U.N. police officers in Port-au-Prince, the other in Gonaives. The nationalities of the police nor any other details were provided.

“The United Nations is outraged by these allegations and takes its responsibilities to deal with them extremely seriously,” Nesirky said at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

In a press release received by DH from the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), the mission in Port-au-Prince, expressed “the regret to inform that it has become aware of two cases of serious allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by members of the police staff.”  (Read more)

Jamaica: UTech Student Killed In Alleged Love Triangle

Pain and grief covered Hopal Bailey-Brown's face yesterday as she arrived at the Elletson Flats, St Andrew, house where her only child, Alex was stabbed to death hours earlier.

Bailey-Brown said she made the two-hour trip with her husband, Simeon, from their home in St Ann because she wanted to see the Goodson Avenue house where her son's life ended in what police investigators believe was a love-triangle killing.

"I just want to get some closure ... to find out where my son was killed," she told The Gleaner before indicating that she was too distraught to give a full interview.

Her grief did not escape the attention of some residents in the quiet middle-class community.

"How does a parent deal with something like this?" one resident questioned as she tried to console Bailey-Brown.  (read more)

Barbados: Concerns over too much "low culture" in the country

Ministry officials with six of the eleven National Development Scholarship recipients. From left: Sharon Harris; Minister of Education, Ronald Jones; Andrea Brathwaite (partially hidden); Paul Issacs; Ramon Husein; Karen Proverbs; Sadio Harris; Senior Education Officer, Adrian Clement (partially hidden); and Chief Education Officer (Ag.), Laurie King.

THE Barbadian society is being pervaded with too much ‘low culture,’ which is, in turn, bringing society down.

This is according to Minister of Education and Human Resource Development, Ronald Jones.Speaking during a meeting with the National Development Scholars at the Ministry yesterday, Jones was in agreement with the Commissioner of Police, Darwin Dottin, stating that Barbados has become ‘fête-land’ and needs an injection of ‘high culture’.  (Read more here)

Dominican Republic: Man sentenced to 20 years for murder of architect

The judges of the Second National District Appellate Court, Sarah Veras, Ingrid Fernandez and Teofilo Andujar  sentenced Juan Pablo Nunez Ortiz to 20 years imprisonment after finding him guilty of murdering architect Americo Antonio Perez Mendez, who must complete his sentence in the penitentiary Najayo, San Cristobal.

The judges made their decision to sentence him to 20 years in prison, after hosting a public prosecutor's request that the evidence could prove  his responsibility for the charges against him.

The architect Perez Mendez died, according to the autopsy as a result of strangulation, on July 7, 2010 and according to the record, before the crime was committed the deceased and the murderer had sex such as "homosexual.

The murder happened in Conde pedestrian street, near the corner Eugenio Maria de Hostos, in the apartment of the deceased.  The lawyer for the victim and civil party was Dr. Adrian Bonifacio Espinal.  (Click here to read the article in Spanish)

Trinidad and Tobago: Women performers shine at 2012 Chutney Soca Monarch semis

Despite the inclement weather, thousands turned up for the semi-finals of the 2012 Chutney Soca Monarch at the Rienzi Complex, Couva on Saturday night. The show which began at 9 pm with fireworks, saw the women of chutney music giving their best performances, outshining the men.

The 16-year-old competition has never had a female winner but Saturday night’s performances were an indication that that could change this year.

First up at Rienzi Complex was Nisha Baksh Lutchmedial who had the crowd going with her uptempo chorus, “Ah want to wine and free up meh mind”. The chutney diva, Drupatie Ramgoonai, herself took to the stage at about 10 pm accompanied by the bmobile Shiv Shakti dancers to do her traditional song, “Sawan Ke”. Dressed in a bright yellow outfit, Drupatie had the crowd cheering her along, making it clear that she was in this competition to win.

“The biggest judge is the people. They are the ones who can really judge you,” she said, adding that she was keen to entertain the people with pure, undiluted chutney.   

Carib Comment:  Kick back and enjoy Drupatie singing  "Sawan Ke"