West Indies cricket management ‘dysfunctional’
Chairman of the CARICOM sub-committee on cricket governance, Dr. Keith Mitchell has deemed the management operational functions of West Indies Cricket as dysfunctional and in need of change.
Dr. Mitchell, who is also the Prime Minister of Grenada, made the statement in Dominica during a joint press conference Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit on Friday 9 October 2015.
He said West Indies Cricket has been at the helm of world sport for decades, but has been in decline for twenty and more years.
“If I am Governor in Grenada and Grenada is on the decline for twenty something years, I do not see how I would want to continue to stay there; either I change the status quo or I get out,” Dr Mitchell noted.
He said it has nothing to do with “who is there, but the whole system of governance of West Indies Cricket must change. And if we love the game, because cricket defines the psyche of the West Indian man and woman, we must do something”.
Sports Awards
The Department of Sports along with all TCI National Sporting Bodies would like to congratulate all nominees and inductees that would be indicted into the first TCI Sports Awards ceremony Banquet on Saturday 24th October, 2015 7:30pm at the Gustuvas Lightbourne Sports Complex.
Nominees for the year sports awards are:
- Mr. Billy Forbes
- Mr. Ifeanyichaukwa Otuonye
- Ms. Candaca Hanchell
- Mrs. Gertrude Forbes
- Mrs. Paula Vigil-Stubbs
- Mr. Keith Cox
- Miss Olivia Park
- Miss Tanesia Gardiner
- Master Anthony Gardiner
- Miss Emily Bayles
- Miss Enie St. Jean
- Miss Akia Guerrier
- Mr. Mackenson Cadet
- Mr. Woodens Corvil
- Miss Christma Jean Louis
- Miss Danzella Jennings
TCI Sports Hall of Fame inductees:
- Mrs. Sonia Bien-Aime
- Mrs. Rita Gardiner
- Mr. Joshua "Obed" Gardiner (deceased)
- Ms. Judith Robinson
Categories for the sports awards of the year are:
- Sports Personality of the Year
- Unsung Hero of the year
- Sponsor of the Year
- Association of the Year
- Youth Female of the Year (age 13 -21)
- Youth Male of the Year (age 13 – 21)
- Junior Male of the Year (age 7 -12)
- Junior Female of the Year (age 7 -12)
- Senior Female of the Year (22+)
US Donates 10 Boats to Jamaica Constabulary Force
The United States Embassy yesterday handed over 10 boats to the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to assist in the country's crime-fighting efforts at sea. The 37-foot Boston Whaler vessels, donated by the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, are valued at US$1.5 million.
Commissioner of Police Dr Carl Williams, who received the vessels during a ceremony at his Old Hope Road offices in St Andrew, expressed gratitude to the US Government for the generous contribution.
He noted that the donation of the vessels will significantly boost the fleet available to protect the country's borders. At present there are only six operational vessels for use by the Marine Police Division.
St Lucia Man Jailed for Having Sex with 3 Children
A St Lucia man was sentenced to 37 years imprisonment after he was found guilty of having unlawful sexual intercourse with three minors.
George Jn Baptiste was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor aged seven years; seven years imprisonment for gross indecency with a minor aged 10 and five years imprisonment each on two counts of unlawful sexual connection with minor seven and 11 years respectively. The court was told that the incidents occurred on August 5, 2011 at Maynard Hill in the capital, Castries.
Reports are that one of the children had been left in the care of her grandmother and had gone to the home of the accused to play with the other two girls after lunch. The defendant, who is a relative of one of the girls, arrived shortly afterwards and asked the children if they wanted ice-cream. He gave one of the girls money to purchase the ice cream and on her return took the children to nearby bushes where he also performed oral sex on two of the children.
Jn Baptiste pleaded guilty to the two counts of unlawful sexual connection and not guilty on the counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and gross indecency. His sentences will run concurrently and deductions will be made for time spent awaiting trial.
Trump Calls Bernie Sanders "Maniac" and "Socialist-Slash-Communist"
Donald Trump has taken aim against a new rival, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, calling the lawmaker a "maniac" and "socialist-slash-communist." Trump made the remarks in Richmond, Virginia, in front of a crowd of 5,000 the day after the Democrats met in Las Vegas for their first debate.
"I watched Hillary last night -- 'we're gonna give this, we're gonna give that,'" he said. "The poor woman, she's gotta give everything away because this maniac that was standing on her right was giving everything away so she's following! It's what's happening." Sanders admitted that he is a Democratic Socialist, but Trump pushed the point further during the event. "I call him a socialist-slash-communist because that's what he is," he said. "He's gonna tax you people at 90 percent, he's gonna take everything!”
A small group of protesters made The Donald pause his remarks for a few seconds as they chanted for immigration reform and climate change –- some got into a scuffle with Trump supporters until they were removed from the venue.
Major Gun Trafficking Bust in NYC Highlights Flow of Guns from States with Looser Gun Laws
Amid a raging national debate on guns, a bust in New York City highlights a problem for police in crime-plagued urban areas. While officers can control illegal gun sales in their cities, they have been at a loss to stop the flow of firearms from places with looser laws.
Eight people from three states have been arrested and charged with buying guns legally in Atlanta and Pittsburgh and bringing them to New York, sometimes aboard low-cost Chinatown buses. “I sell guns,” alleged trafficking ringleader Michael Bassier was caught saying on a wiretap, according to prosecutors. “I’ve got two Mac 10s on me, an SK assault rifle and four handguns and I’m walking through New York.” Bassier, 31, of Canarsie, Brooklyn, boasted how he could take advantage of less strict gun laws outside of New York and then sell the weapons at a premium in the city.
As long as criminals can easily get access to guns, we will continue to have carnage.
“I’m selling them the right way and the wrong way,” Bassier allegedly said on one recorded conversation with a woman believed to be his girlfriend. “When I’m out of state, like in Atlanta and Georgia and all that, it’s all legal. In New York, it’s completely illegal.” It has been a source of frustration for law enforcement officials. “We have states that seem to not care about where these guns end up,” said Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson, whose office charged Bassier and seven others in a 541-count indictment.
“As long as criminals can easily get access to guns, we will continue to have carnage.” Thompson announced the charges Wednesday while standing behind a table filled with some of the 112 handguns, shotguns and assault-style rifles sold to an undercover New York City police officer for a total of more than $130,000
Huge Travel Bills in Antigua
Antigua & Barbuda government has announced cutbacks on major travels. Governments spokesperson Lionel Max hurst made the disclosure on Thursday morning.
Hurst says even without including trips made by Ministers of Government, the nation’s travel bill is extremely high. He calculated it at $500,000 a month or $3 million a year.
Antigua & Barbuda governments spokesperson, Lionel max Hurst.
Plane Aborts Takeoff After Airport Employee Drives Onto Runway in Los Angeles
A jet carrying 76 passengers was forced to abort takeoff at the Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday after an airport employee drove a rogue vehicle onto the runway, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
The Delta Connection jet, a Kansas City-bound Embraer 175 operated by Compass Air, was headed down the runway at just under 100 mph when alarms began to sound and an air traffic controller noticed a vehicle driving straight toward the plane. With the car just 3,500 feet away, the pilot punched the brakes as officials rushed out to stop the vehicle.
Meanwhile, air traffic controllers were dealing with two other issues – a Delta jet forced into an emergency landing after an in-flight cardiac arrest, and an Alaska Air plane dealing with a mechanical issue. Eager to clear the runway for the incoming heart patient, officials quickly escorted the vehicle off the runway.
The driver, a longtime airport employee who was not authorized to drive there, was issued a citation, the airport said. His right to drive on airfield service roads (generally used by catering and baggage trucks) was rescinded.
After an inspection of its brakes, the Delta Connection plane circled back around and departed LAX about an hour later without incident. The FAA is investigating.
US Troops to Stay in Afghanistan in Policy Shift
President Barack Obama has confirmed plans to extend the US military presence in Afghanistan beyond 2016, in a shift in policy. Speaking at the White House, he said the US would keep 5,500 troops in the country when he leaves office in 2017.
Originally all but a small embassy-based force were due to leave by the end of next year. But the US military says more troops will be needed to help Afghan forces counter a growing Taliban threat.
There are currently 9,800 US troops stationed in Afghanistan. The US forces will be stationed in four locations - Kabul, Bagram, Ja-lala-bad and Kand-ahar.
Seahawks' Derrick Coleman Suspended Indefinitely After Arrest
Seattle Seahawks fullback Derrick Coleman was suspended after being arrested by police in Washington State. The Bellevue Police Department was scheduled to hold a press conference on Thursday afternoon, but would not provide any further information before then.
The Seahawks said only that Coleman would not play for the team "indefinitely" until the team received "further information."
The Seattle Times reports that Coleman was driving a vehicle that was involved in a hit-and-run crash. Coleman's vehicle struck a second vehicle, injuring the second driver. Coleman, who the Times says was uninjured, wakled away from the scene, but was arrested after police located him nearby.
Coleman, 24, is legally deaf, but uses hearing aids.