$.6b in drugs hidden in Trinidad Juices tins busted in Virginia
For the second time in two months a drink produced by local manufacturing company SM Jaleel and Company Ltd has been associated internationally with the illegal drug trade.
In the latest incident, Customs and Border Protection (CPB) officers seized 732 pounds of cocaine, with a street value of over $.6 billion, concealed in cans bearing the labels of Trinidad Orange and Grapefruit Juices at the Port of Norfolk in Virginia, United States, on December 20 last year.
The discovery was made during the inspection of a 20-foot container containing the fruit juices. The wholesale value of the cocaine is about US$12 million and has a street value of as much as US$100 million, according to Customs officials.
The seizure is the largest in the history of the Port of Norfolk. Port officials stated that the container originated from this country and was destined for New York.
The container carrying the drugs was said to be flagged as soon as it left this country. According to a news report on News Channel 3 in Virginia, Customs and Border Protection Area Port Director Mark Laria said all tools were used to effect the bust.
“We used every tool at our disposal. We have large scale X-ray equipment, we have small scale X-ray equipment, we have probes, we have various tools and technology that were brought to bear on this shipment and it took every bit of it plus the officers’ knowledge and intuition to locate the cocaine in this shipment,” said Laria, according to the report.
No arrests have been made. Earlier last month, another drink associated with SM Jaleel and Company Ltd laced with cocaine was named in the death of a Royal Navy veteran in the United Kingdom.
A liquid cocaine concoction in a Pear D soft drink bottle was blamed for the death of Joromie Lewis.
Lewis, 32, is said to have consumed the drink on December 5 and succumbed shortly after. This led to the voluntary recall of all Pear D drinks bearing the code “BB Jan 08 14”.
SM Jaleel and Company yesterday said it has launched an internal investigation into the latest multi-million cocaine bust involving its products.
The company said it is being targeted by cunning criminals.
“It is common knowledge that the criminals involved in the drug trade have been using mechanisms to transport cocaine such as fruit, car parts, lumber, hardware, etc. It now appears that someone may be trying to utilise our company’s product in this regard,” a release on the company’s website stated yesterday.
SM Jaleel and Company Ltd said it has not been contacted by investigators on the issue and only found out about the situation through the media.
“We too have only just been recently informed of the situation that occurred almost a month ago on December 20, 2013, regarding the use of our TJC orange and grapefruit-flavoured juice tins in the smuggling of cocaine into the United States and have, to date, not been contacted by the relevant US authorities in connection with this matter,” the release stated.
“At present, we have no knowledge or evidence of the details other than the press release from the United States. We have already commenced our own internal investigation; however, we are not yet in a position to provide any further details at this time,” it stated.
The company maintained that it has always promoted family values and complied with all laws both locally and internationally.
“SM Jaleel is a family-owned and operated business that began its operations in Trinidad approximately 90 years ago. We have consistently maintained our family values throughout the development of the business to include, in more recent times, the global expansion of our operations through the exportation of our trusted products to various countries and communities around the world,” the release stated.
“We have always taken pride in the high level of quality and standards that we have adhered to for our products and have and will always continue to comply with the various legislations, both locally and internationally, relating to the production and exportation of our products,” it added.
Source-Trinidad Express
OAS contributes to Dominica, St Vincent & St Lucia
The Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States, through the Inter-American Emergency Aid Fund (FONDEM), yesterday made a contribution to Dominica and two other Caribbean islands to help in rehabilitation works following Christmas Eve’s inclement weather.
Secretary General of the OAS, José Miguel Insulza presented the contributions to Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines and St Lucia at a press conference in Washington, D.C on Friday, January 18, 2014.
Although he did not disclose the amount of the contribution made towards the islands, Insulza expressed his hope that it “will help alleviate as much as possible the situation”.
He also encouraged others, including “our friends in the Inter-American system”, to provide economic support for the affected countries.
“We hope that our symbolic contribution can help promote those efforts,” Insulza, who made the symbolic contribution together with the OAS’ assistant secretary general, Albert Ramdin said.
Permanent Representative of Dominica to the OAS, Hubert Charles, expressed his gratitude for the contribution, and added that “we are not surprised that the OAS is among the first to step up and provide financial assistance”.
Charles added that the commitment of the international community to provide financial and material assistance to small and vulnerable states in times of need is an important feature of our hemispheric civilization and called on all concerned to hold on to this tradition even at this time of budgetary stringency.
He noted that the Christmas Eve weather event was an unusual one, not only in terms of the date on which it occurred, but also in terms of the volume of rain experienced over a very short period of time.
Weather authorities at the Melville Hall Airport reported 44 millimeters of rain in a twenty-four hour period, which is about normal, but the southern part of the island which was affected most significantly, experienced 101 millimeters of rain in that same period.
“The initial clean-up work has been completed however extra-budgetary contributions are required to fund the program for repairing and reconstruction of damaged civil infrastructures, shoring up embankments and providing support to the families and small businesses impacted by the storm,” Charles said.
The disaster, he added, provides an opportunity to highlight the importance of support for the medium and long term development plans of the Caribbean region.
“In fact, we are convinced that our capacity to respond appropriately to such events will be enhanced by the achievement of our regional development agenda. Focus though, must now be on rehabilitation after the storm”.
He expressed gratitude to the OAS for the assistance and expressed sorrow at the loss of life in St Vincent and the Grenadines and St Lucia.
“We pray that comfort will be brought to the bereaved families,” Charles stated.
Ambassador from St Lucia, Sonia Johnny, thanked the OAS for its “generous support” while the Representative of St Vincent and the Grenadines, La Celia Prince, said “we have been very fortunate to have the support of the OAS on this journey.”
Source-Dominica Vibes News
Ganja stakeholders to step up campaign in Jamaica
Cannabis stakeholders yesterday expressed the need for a more aggressive campaign to push Parliament to move further and faster towards legalising the growing, distribution and use of ganja (cannabis, marijuana) in Jamaica.
Ganja Law Reform Coalition (GLRC) chairman Paul Chang felt that a more robust campaign and show of support would encourage parliamentarians favourable to fundamental changes to legislation affecting the use of the drug, and suggested the need for a young parliamentarian to step up and take the lead, with strong public support, including street demonstrations from stakeholders, including the GLRC.
"We need a young MP to break the party ranks and put forward proposals for more meaningful legislations than the half steps that they are taking," Chang told the opening session of the Cannabis Stakeholders Conference, held in the multifunctional room of the main library of the University of the West Indies (UWI) at Mona.
Obviously shrugging off commitments by Minister of Justice, Senator Mark Golding that Cabinet has been considering amendments that could lead to automatic expungement of ganja sentences, as well as Government MP Raymond Pryce's successful resolution to decriminalise the possession of small portions of the drug, Chang said he is hoping that increased agitation would show a groundswell of support for more substantial changes, and lead to a conscience vote in Parliament. But he insisted that it required young MPs being more forceful inside Gordon House.
"Government only works when you make them work," commented Louis Moyston, lecturer and researcher, who was the main speaker at the opening session.
"I am saying to them (Government), we are going to inform you about what is taking place; we are going to inform you about the potential; and we would like you to work with us, so we can achieve a better future," he stated.
Dr K'adamawe K'nIfe, strategic planning and entrepreneurship specialist in the Department of Management Studies at the UWI, noted that Jamaica spends over $100 million each year fighting ganja use, while some 2,000 youth are being annually for smoking it.
He suggested a more formal approach to the programming of the use of ganja in the future, which would examine its role in the agriculture sector, its bio-diversity and the development of business models.
Moyston also examined the "Historical Background of Cannabis in Jamaica", noting that historical incidents, like the 1938 labour riots, were attributed to ganja smoking, and since then more severe penalties introduced, leading up to the 1970s when some were relaxed, including mandatory sentences, while in the 1980s Edward Seaga confronted the US on the issue and relaxed enforcement.
Yesterday's conference was the latest development in an attempt by advocates of the legalisation of ganja to force the government to take quick action, to follow nations like Uruguay and US states like Colorado, to legalise use of the drug for both medicinal and recreational purposes. It was organised by the GLRC, the Cannabis Commercial and Medicinal Research Task Force, and the National Alliance for the Legalisation of Ganja.
The forum examined a range of issues touching on the legalisation of ganja and was to weigh in on the options, in light of global developments. Its decisions will be published in a communiqué and position paper. However, the media were only allowed into the opening session, which lasted approximately one hour, under the chairmanship of Professor Archibald McDonald, principal of the UWI, Mona.
A position paper, developed by a Cannabis Commercial and Medicinal Research Task Force, led by Delano Seiveright, was also discussed. The paper outlined the products and business opportunities that could be developed from a cannabis industry, including food, personal care, wellness, beauty, clothing, travel and leisure, spirituality, construction-paper fibres, seed oils, essential oils, seed nut, leaf, whole-plant, charcoal, environmental-soil rehabilitation, spas, restaurants, coffee houses, shops, guest houses and clinics.
Among the guests were Wanda James of the Cannabis Global Initiative, a renowned advocate based in Colorado, and her husband, Scott Durrah, who is also a renowned leader in the US movement.
Source-Jamaica Observer
TCIG Energy & Utilties Department partners with Fortis
The TCIG Energy and Utilities Department has partnered with Fortis TCI to launch an energy efficiency and energy conservation jingle competition for schools.
The Competition seeks to create the buzz and enthusiasm amongst secondary school students to become involved in energy related issues and is one of the ways the Department is educating the public about the need to conserve energy.
The Department hopes to increase the level of awareness and education on the issues and benefits of efficient energy use and various methods of conservation.
Attempted Robbery in Provo at a Financial Institution
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) are investigating the report of an attempted Robbery at a Financial Institution on Providenciales.
It was reported that around 9:33pm on Friday 17th January 2014 two (2) men were seen in the area of the Financial Institution on the Leeward Highway where gunshots were heard being fired.
Police Officers were dispatched to the scene and upon arrival, a male Police Officer was seen with what appeared to be blood coming from his right forearm. He told officers that as he got out of his private vehicle, which he parked in front of the financial institution, two armed men came from the eastern side of the Institution and shouted at him to drop what he had in his hand and started shooting in his direction. As a result he ran through the parking lot of the institution towards the main road while the two assailants were still in pursuit and firing shots in his direction.
The male officer was taken to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre where his injuries were deemed serious but none life threatening. He was treated and later discharged.
During the shooting, a bullet from one of the assailants weapon entered the left rear window and exit through the front windshield of a motorist vehicle as it drove past the entrance of the institution heading in a western direction on the Highway. The motorist received a few scrapes on his face from the glass fragments. The motorist went to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre where medical treatment was received and the driver later discharged.
On-going investigation has revealed no description of the gun men up to news time.
Police are urging anyone with information about this incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 8477 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: www.crimestoppers.tc. Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind people they should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.
CABINET MEETING HELD IN THE CAPITAL
His Excellency the Governor, Peter Beckingham, chaired the meeting of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ (TCI) Cabinet on Wednesday, 15th January 2014 at 10am at the Hilly Ewing Building, Providenciales.
All Ministers were present.
At this meeting Cabinet:
· Reviewed and approved a paper from the Minister of Finance entitled ‘2014 Business Transformation Strategy: A Reform Strategy for Growth and Empowerment.’ The document sets out a strategic roadmap for economic recovery and prosperity in the Turks and Caicos Islands based on improving the business environment over the next 3 years. It is the Government's intention to table the strategy at the next sitting of the House of Assembly;
· Reviewed a paper from the Ministry of Finance on Domestic Capital Accumulation Vehicles for Economic Development in the TCI;
· Approved a Resolution to be forwarded to the House of Assembly on the Adoption of a Credit Union Policy in the Islands;
· Noted the recommendations of the Procurement Board on the award of a contract in relation to the construction of a replacement Dock Jetty for South Caicos. Further details will be provided by the Director of Contracts;
· Agreed to a recommendation from the Minister of Education Youth Sports and Library to form a National Youth Advisory Committee consisting of representatives from the following areas: Senior Youth Leader/Representing the Church; the Business Sector; a Leader/Non-Governmental/ Volunteer Agency; a Government Agency; a representative from Tourism and a representative from a Parliamentary Association;
· In line with the recommendation of the Minister of Home Affairs, Cabinet approved an Update on the Building Code of the Turks and Caicos Islands pending further review by the Ministry of Home Affairs;
· Heard from the Minister of Border Control and Labour (BCL) who raised the issue regarding the grants of cleaning contracts in Middle Caicos. Cabinet agreed that the policy on grants of contracts should be reviewed jointly between the Ministry of BCL and the Ministry of Government Support Services (GSS) to ensure that there is a transparent and fair system of awarding contracts in place. Cabinet further agreed that the Ministry GSS should review the grant of the particular contracts in Middle and North Caicos which were the subject of the demonstrations earlier this week and where it is determined that the contracts were awarded outside the established policy or that the awardee did not possess a Business License on the date the contract was granted, the contract should be cancelled and the awardee struck from the list of approved contractors.
Further details will be provided by Ministers in due course.
TCI Community College Foundation Board update on Gala
On November 8, 2013, the resurrected TCI Community College Foundation Board, chaired by Ms Claudette Monroe Clare, and supported by a hard-working, dedicated cast of residents, hosted a gala affair at the Regent Palms Resort & Spa in Provo.
The primary purpose of the event was to raise much needed funds to support the TCICC in its efforts to provide scholarships to academically deserving students who wish to matriculate at the institution and to enhance the academic offerings and infrastructure at the two campuses in Grand Turk and Provo.
The commitment to the tertiary educational development of the young and not so young people of this country, evidenced by the generous financial support of businesses and individuals (one who anonymously gave $20, 000 and Mr. Mervin Cox who donated a refrigerator and a stove to the Hospitality Department), resulted in approximately $55, 000 to benefit students and the TCICC.
President of the TCICC Lee Ingham thanked the Administration, Faculty and Staff, “I want to take this opportunity to thank all the corporate and individual citizens of the TCI, especially those in Provo, for their generous support.
I look forward to a continuous, symbiotic relationship with the TCI community, welcome suggestions and ideas as we all strive to meet the educational objectives of our students-clientele and our country.”
The Community College will now be able to commence the implementation while working on other projects in 2014.
Seahawks parlay 49ers' mistakes into Super Bowl trip vs. Broncos
All season long, the Seattle Seahawks' defense carried them at times the offense sputtered. Its biggest challenge yet will come in Super Bowl XLVIII.
The Seahawks forced turnovers on the San Francisco 49ers' final three drives, the last an interception by Malcolm Smith on a deflection by Richard Sherman in the end zone with 22 seconds to go that sealed a 23-17 victory in Sunday's NFC Championship Game.
"This team was ready to finish," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said during the George Halas Trophy presentation to the conference champions.
But they're not done just yet.
Next up is a title date with Peyton Manning and the high-powered Denver Broncos on Feb. 2 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
It's the second Super Bowl trip in the 38-year history of the Seahawks, who also went after the 2005 season and lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XL.
This NFC title triumph was particularly sweet. They rallied from an early 10-point deficit against the division rival 49ers, who lost last year's Super Bowl to the Baltimore Ravens.
San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick fumbled and threw an interception on the 49ers' two drives before the late interception. But the Seahawks scored only one field goal off those turnovers, keeping the outcome in doubt.
Given the ball once more with 3 minutes, 15 seconds to go, Kaepernick completed four consecutive passes, including a fourth-and-2 crossing strike to Frank Gore as the 49ers drove to the Seattle 18.
But Sherman got a piece of Kaepernick's jump-ball throw for Michael Crabtree in the end zone, and Smith corralled the carom, allowing Seattle to run out the clock.
It set off a celebration during which Sherman leaped into the stands at CenturyLink Field and New York, New York played over the stadium speakers.
"That's as sweet as it gets, man," Sherman said.
No players remain from that 2005 Seahawks team, and no one on Seattle's roster has appeared in a Super Bowl. Neither has Carroll, who did take the University of Southern California to two BCS championship games before becoming the Seahawks' coach in 2010.
They took their first lead at 20-17 with 13:52 to go in regulation after Carroll reconsidered a field-goal attempt on fourth-and-7 from the 35-yard line. Russell Wilson drew Aldon Smith offside and took advantage of the free play to throw a TD strike to Jermaine Kearse.
Minutes later, Cliff Avril came around the edge to strip Kaepernick as he tried to throw and Michael Bennett scooped the ball on a hop, giving Seattle a chance to push the lead to 10. But a botched exchange at the goal line left the Seahawks with nothing.
They made it 23-17 with 3:37 left on a field goal after Kam Chancellor intercepted a bad-idea throw from Kaepernick for Anquan Boldin at the sideline.
Then came the final drive that had tension high from an announced crowd of 68,454 that had seen the Seahawks offense stumble again and again from the time the game began.
Wilson finished 16-of-25 passing for 215 yards and the go-ahead touchdown but struggled all day to find anyone open in a Percy Harvin-less receiver group.
Smith sacked and stripped Wilson and recovered the fumble on the game's opening play, setting up a 49ers field goal in a first half the visitors owned.
Kaepernick racked up 98 rushing yards on eight carries before halftime. That included consecutive scrambles of 12 and 58 yards to set up the game's first touchdown, a 1-yard Anthony Dixon plunge on fourth-and-goal that made it 10-0 with 10:03 left in the half.
The Seahawks got on the scoreboard before halftime with a field goal after a 51-yard Wilson strike to Doug Baldwin. And Marshawn Lynch knotted the score after halftime, juking rookie safety Eric Reid in the hole and racing 40 yards for a touchdown to make it 10-all.
The 49ers regained the lead on the next drive, with Kaepernick gaining 22 yards on a designed keeper, catching a break when center Jonathan Goodwin recovered his fumble on a Bennett strip-sack and firing an off-balance bullet to Boldin for a 26-yard TD.
But Baldwin returned the kickoff 69 yards to set up a field goal that pulled Seattle within 17-13, and then Carroll's bold decision to forego the field goal led to a touchdown and a lead the Seahawks never gave up.
Source-USA Today
TNT Soca Princesses collapse - World Cup dreams crash at final hurdle
T&T’s dream of becoming the first team to represent the Caribbean at the Fifa Under-20 Women’s World Cup came to bitter end in the Cayman Islands, yesterday, when the Soca Princesses suffered a heartbreaking 7-3 defeat in overtime to Costa Rica in the third-place play-off of the Concacaf Under-20 Women’s Championship.
This was a result of a tired second-half performance from the team which closed the first half with a 3-1 lead. In fact, the T&T team which stormed to a two-goal lead by the half-hour mark, courtesy of a classy brace from Anique Walker, before she drifted out of the match, showed signs of slowing down. Khadisha Debesette, did, however, score the goal of the match, a blistering effort midway into the Costa Rica half, but it seemed only to invite a more determined response from Costa Rica.
Without taking too many risks, Costa Rica patiently capitalised against a tired looking T&T, who ran out of steam in the last 20 minutes of regulation time.
Costa Rica pulled a second goal back in the 71st minute from Yesmi Rodriguez Talavera, at which point a total collapse was imminent.
Second-half substitute Michelle Montero beat on a messy T&T defence with four minutes left to take the match into extra-time.
Another second-half substitute Nicole Araya Munoz scored two simple goals in the first half of overtime, before Katheryn Arroyo and Benavidez Arguedas put the match to rest with one item each in the closing moments. T&T never looked likely to reply to Costa Rica’s second-half efforts as most plays were broken down in the final third of the pitch, unlike that from T&T’s energetic showing in the first half-hour.
As a result of its deserved victory, Costa Rica joined finalists, USA and Mexico as the teams to represent Concacaf in August’s 2014 Fifa Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada. The two finalists were in action in the second match which concluded after press time last evening.
Proposal for ICC re-vamp bad for WI says director
A working paper for a revamped International Cricket Council (ICC) will come before members as early as the ICC’s quarterly meeting in Dubai on January 28 and 29 and if it is passed, West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) director Baldath Mahabir, believes cricket in the region could suffer.
The major news coming out of the working paper produced by the ICC's finance and commercial affairs committee, is that Test cricket be played using a two-tier system. If this happens the West Indies will be in the second division based on current rankings . Another major recommendation by the committee which includes WICB president Dave Cameron, is that the major power brokers of the revamped ICC be England, India and Australia.
Even under the proposed two tiered system England, India and Australia will not be demoted. Teams like West Indies and New Zealand would find themselves in the second tier and this is worrying for Mahabir. If this new working paper is passed, seven of the 10 full member nations would have to support it.
While not being able to state the WICB’s position on it, Mahabir gave his personal view. “Anytime you have a situation where people are looking to divide and rule it could never be good. Looking at the proposals, this is a situation where power broking and sharing will go to three of the members and this cannot be healthy.
“We are at a point where we need to expand the game and by bringing a model that is not inclusive would do damage to the sport down the road. This model would only lead to monopolising of the sport and I cannot see how this could be good for cricket.”
Mahabir said the WICB is sure to discuss this soon to come up with a position. “We have not set the date for our next ordinary meeting but an emergency meeting may be called. This is very serious as with West Indies playing second tier cricket, we may lose interest among the fans and this could prove detrimental.”
Former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe, commenting on the issue in Cricinfo, said it would be sad for the West Indies because they have made a tremendous contribution to the sport of cricket.
“Cricket is cyclical and to ask the West Indies to play second tier cricket will be unfair. They had ruled the sport for quite a while and now although they are not doing that, they have shown glimpses of getting back over the last year. They have fallen away a bit over the last few months but a nation that has done so much for cricket to suffer that fate now will be cruel.
“That is there national sport and to receive a blow like that would hurt the game in that region.”
Summary of working paper
1 New executive committee (ExCo) to be set up with permanent memberships for BCCI, CA, ECB, to override all other committees.
2 Promotion and relegation in Test cricket, with exceptions made in the cases of BCCI, CA, ECB.
3 ICC to be delinked from FTP arrangements, with bilateral agreements only taking over.
4 New finance model of ICC revenue distribution.
5 Key positions in ICC—ICC chairman, chairmen of ExCo and finance & commercial affairs committee—to be nominees of BCCI-CA-ECB.
6 Reinstatement of Champions Trophy in 2017 and 2021 in place of the World Test Championship.
Source-Guardian Media