Above average hurricane season predicted
Hurricane forecaster and Professor Emeritus, Dr. William Gray, is predicting what he described as an ‘above average’ Hurricane Season in 2013.
Addressing the 2013 National Hurricane Conference in New Orleans, Dr. Gray said his prediction is based on favorable conditions in the tropics.
“The only thing I can see that can stop it is if an El Nino develops for this year, and we don’t think that will happen,” he said.
An average session calls for 12 named storms of which 6 will become Hurricanes with 3 Intense Hurricanes of Categories 3, 4 or 5.
Attending the conference from Dominica was Former National Disaster Coordinator, Cecil Shillingford, who made a presentation on “The Effects of Secondary Hazards on Dominica” focusing on the 2011 flooding as a result of Hurricane Ophelia, landslides with specific mention of the 2010 San Sauveur Disaster and Storm Surges of Hurricanes Lenny and Omar, 1999 and 2008 respectively.
He also participated on a panel which looked at Disaster Risk Reduction efforts in the Caribbean Region and Moderated a session which looked at Hurricane Planning in the Private Sector, Tools for Alert and Warning and Early Warning in Dutch St. Maarten.
Shillingford is a member of a small committee which organized the Tropical Islands Sessions at the National Hurricane Conference. That Committee was able to arrange for 10 presentations from the Caribbean Region. Funding for most of the Caribbean presenters and participants to the Conference was made possible through the United States Agency for International Development/ Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA).
The four-day conference, which ended last week, included over a hundred sessions in forecasting, emergency response, insurance issues, recovery, debris management, techniques in increasing public awareness and Tropical Island issues and was attended by nearly 1,500 participants from across hurricane prone areas.
Rio de Janeiro bus in deadly viaduct fall
Seven people have died in Rio de Janeiro after a bus fell 10m from a viaduct in the city centre, Brazilian police say.
Several more passengers were injured as the 328 bus crashed on to the Avenida Brasil, one of the city's main thoroughfares, landing on its roof.
Firefighters said 13 passengers were on the bus at the time of the accident.
Fire engines, ambulances and two helicopters have been working to ferry the injured to hospitals.
Police said those killed were five men and two women.
The accident happened at around 16:30 (20:30 BST) close to Rio's Governor's Island, in the northern area of the city.
Globo TV footage shot from a helicopter showed emergency teams evacuating the injured from the overturned bus with rush-hour traffic at a standstill on Avenida Brasil.
The cause of the accident is not yet known. However, Globo cited a witness as saying that the driver had a dispute with a passenger shortly before the crash.
Police say they are investigating.
Digicel to sell 4G smartphone for under US$100
Caribbean consumers will soon be able to buy a fully loaded 4G Android smartphone for “well under US$100” from telecommunications company, Digicel Group.
Due to hit company retail stores in mid-May, the Digicel Smartphone DL600 will run on the latest version of the popular Android operating system (OS) - Jellybean 4.1.
In a statement issued from the company’s Kingston, Jamaica offices yesterday, Digicel said the phone’s other features include a 3.5 inch display, a one gigahertz (1Ghz) processor, “an aesthetically appealing and fresh design” that is 4G capable with speeds of 7.2 megabits per second (Mbps).
Although Digicel Group has more than 13 million customers of varying ages across 30 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and the Pacific, the company is targeting the younger generation with the DL600.
“Fully loaded with a range of popular and useful apps (applications) which will allow customers to do more,” Digicel expressed confidence the DL600 would “appeal to young people on the go who want style, functionality and affordability, as well as superfast speeds to suit their busy lifestyles.”
Commercial Director for Digicel Group, Brian Finn, was quoted in yesterday’s statement as saying the aim of introducing a Digicel-branded smartphone was to bring “the amazing experience of 4G to as many people as possible. It’s about accessibility, style and affordability.”
Finn noted the demand in the youth market to be connected “via messaging, social media and other lifestyle and information apps,” all of which the DL600 was designed to deliver.
No word yet on where the phone is being manufactured or if it will be immediately available in all 30 of Digicel Group’s markets upon its release in mid-May.
Bermudian killed in US car crash
Condolences poured in yesterday for Bermudian Juriena Smith Vincent-Lee who was killed in a car crash in North Carolina on Saturday.
The former Bermuda police officer lost her life in the head-on collision; the driver of the other car died as well.
The 35-year-old’s mother, Lucetta Beckles, and her daughter’s adopted mother, Judy Lee, are to leave Bermuda for North Carolina today.
The victim’s two sisters, Keivanna Lee, 37, and Tiffany DeSilva, 30, are both resident in the UK but will join them to assist with funeral arrangements.
Ms Beckles was still in shock and very distraught when she spoke with The Royal Gazette yesterday.
She said her daughter was injured beyond recognition, identified only through dental records.
Ms Vincent-Lee moved to the US 15 years ago. She married Tashonda Vincent last year in Washington DC. She was employed with the North Carolina campus police in Hillsborough.
Said Ms Beckles: “My phone hasn’t stopped ringing since, but we are grateful for all of the condolences sent.”
Ms DeSilva said she and her sister were devastated on hearing of their sibling’s death.
“We still don’t have all the information, we’re heading out on Thursday for North Carolina to meet up with family there.
“My sister and I are coping with this, we all are, but it’s hard. It’s really, really hard,” she said.
“Things like this make me cherish my loved ones even more and I’m so grateful I spoke with Juriena on Wednesday. I will cherish that last conversation with her for the rest of my life and I feel so blessed that I got to tell her that I love her one last time.”
She continued: “I know she was very happy before her life was ended too soon. I just want to celebrate her life and I don’t want her to ever be forgotten. You could never ask for a better sister.
“She was always there, always supportive, always giving advice. It all feels like a bad dream that’s just wrong and it feels like it shouldn’t have happened.
“I can’t help but think of so many memories; I can’t really say what my fondest memory is of her I have so many. But what sticks out in my mind most today is when I was pregnant with my second child and how Juriena catered to me endlessly.
“I would tell her I could do it and she just refused to let me do anything. I don’t know why I even thought about that today.”
Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Michael DeSilva extended condolences to the family on behalf of the Bermuda Police Service.
“Juriena is a former Bermuda police officer who joined the service as a cadet in August 1995. She went on the following year to attend Recruit Foundation Course #52, where I was one of her trainers.
“I remember Juriena well, and I commented on her training reports that she was ‘an energetic young officer with huge potential’.
”During her short career with us she earned a Letter of Good Work from Commissioner Jean-Jacques Lemay for her excellent work on the task force. Juriena left the service in January 1999 to pursue further education, and she returned to us as a summer student until 2004.”
He continued: “Juriena will be remembered as a keen and determined officer who was always warm and pleasant. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family for their untimely and tragic loss.”
A memorial service is likely to be held in Bermuda in due course, a family member said.
Mini Quesadilla, Pizza, Cheese Steak among foods recall due to E. Coli Contamination
Rich Products Corporation, is recalling approximately 196,222 pounds of frozen chicken quesadilla and various other heat treated, not fully cooked frozen mini meals and snack items because they may be contaminated with E. coli, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
New York Knicks defeated the Miami Heat
Led by Carmelo Anthony's career-high 50 points, the New York Knicks took the season series against the Miami Heat with a 102-90 win Tuesday, and moved into second place in the Eastern Conference.
Anthony scored 50 points for the third time in his career—the first as a Knick—to help down the defending champs sans LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. J.R. Smith added 14 points and six rebounds, Raymond Felton scored 10 points with nine assists, and Kenyon Martin dropped nine points, grabbed six boards, and committed three hard fouls on Miami in the paint.
Chris Bosh led the way for Miami with 23 points to go with six boards. The unlikely trio of Mike Miller, Norris Cole and Ray Allen led the way for Miami in the first half but fizzled down the stretch.
Tyson Chandler returned for the Knicks and scored a single point but played clutch defense to close Miami out down the stretch.
New York moves to 21 games over .500—their high-water mark on the season. They seem to be peaking at just the right time, after a midseason mini-stretch of futility.
Former NBA Guard Javaris Crittenton Indicted on Murder Charges
Former NBA first-round pick Javaris Crittenton was indicted on murder charges by a grand jury on Tuesday, according to a report from WSB-TV in Atlanta's Twitter feed: Crittenton was first charged with the murder of Jullian Jones in August 2011. He was charged with 12 different counts in the case and freed on $230,000 bond that September. Crittenton will now have to turn himself in after nearly a year and a half as a free man.
Allegedly the victim of a robbery, police believe Crittenton went to exact revenge on the gang members who took jewelry and other belongings from him. Though she was not considered a target, Crittenton allegedly opened fire in the room and killed Jones, who was just 22 at the time of her death.
Crittenton is also believed to have joined the Mansfield Crips, a notoriously violent gang, during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers, per WSB-TV.
The 25-year-old Crittenton was drafted in the first round by the Lakers in 2007. He went on to play just two NBA seasons, first being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies midway through his rookie year before finishing up with the Washington Wizards in 2008-09.
During that 2008-09 season, the first sign of Crittenton's questionable off-the-court behavior surfaced. He and teammate Gilbert Arenas reportedly drew guns on one another in a gambling dispute and were subsequently suspended by the NBA for the remainder of the season.
Crittenton has yet to step on an NBA floor since. He played in China in 2010 and for the NBA's Developmental League in 2011, but has not played organized basketball while these charges lingered.
With Tuesday's indictment expediting nearly a two-year process, Crittenton's NBA future is likely the least of his worries going forward.
Barcelona to assess Lionel Messi hamstring injury
Lionel Messi was substituted at half-time with a hamstring injury as Barcelona drew with Paris St-Germain in the Champions League last eight.
The Argentine forward, 25, scored his side's 38th-minute opener on Tuesday but suffered the injury minutes later. Messi, who netted in a record 19th consecutive league game on Saturday, did not re-emerge after the interval.
Barcelona later confirmed: "He will undergo further tests on Wednesday to determine the extent of the injury."
Messi, who also suffered a bloodied left knee against PSG, was replaced by Spanish international Cesc Fabregas for the second 45 minutes in Paris.
In addition, Barcelona had Argentine defender Javier Mascherano taken off on a stretcher after 84 minutes with an injury to his right knee.
Barcelona assistant coach Jordi Roura said Mascherano "will be out for four to six weeks", ruling him out of the second leg on 10 April.
Added Roura: "I think it was a typical quarter-final and a good result but we deserved better.
"And it comes at a price because we have lost Messi as well as Mascherano."
Jamaica tops CARIFTA Games table again with 68 medals
Powerhouse Jamaica again topped the medals table for yet another year when the 42nd edition of the CARIFTA Games ended here at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium on Monday night.
In the mile relays that brought the curtain down on the three days of competition, Jamaica won twice while the Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago captured one each. Jamaica ended with 28 gold, 25 silver and 15 bronze for a tally of 68 medals, ahead of Trinidad and Tobago with nine gold, one silver and ten bronze. Hosts Bahamas claimed eight gold, 12 silver and 11 bronze while Barbados finished with four gold, 14 silver and two bronze.
In the Girls’ Under-17 4x400m, the quartet of Shannon Kalawan, Tiffany James, Patrice Moody and Asshanni Robb took the top spot in three minutes, 44.13 seconds ahead of the British Virgin Islands (3:48.76) and the Bahamas (3:49.38).
Jamaica's Under-20 Girls team of Yanique McNeil, Simoya Campbell, Shericka Jackson and Chris-Ann Gordon stamped their class on the three-team field to win in 3:34.36. Barbados finished second in 3:41.89 and Bahamas third in 3:45.95.
In the Under-17 Boys event, MeHenri Deluze, Tyler Bowe, Kinard Rolle and Mikhail Bethel combined to hand the Bahamas a sweet victory over Barbados in a time of 3:16.12.
The Barbadians were a close second in 3:16.38, with Jamaica taking bronze in 3:16.47. There was disappointment for Jamaica in the Under-20 Boys as their team was disqualified, allowing Trinidad and Tobago’s side of Asa Guevara, Jereem Richards, Theon Lewis and Machel Cedenio to take victory in a record time of 3:06.23.
Barbados in Regional 4-Day semis after crushing Leewards
Barbados needed less than two hours in yesterday’s final day to crush Leeward Islands by an innings and 31 runs and storm into the semi-finals of the Regional Four-Day Championship.
They were led by experienced left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn who snatched six for 43 to send the Leewards crashing to 149 all out in their second innings, after they resumed the sixth round clash at Warner Park on 40 for four.
Off-spinner Ashley Nurse supported with four for 47, to end with match figures of ten for 136.
Wicketkeeper Jahmar Hamilton top-scored with 50 while Devon Thomas chipped in with 29. The pair featured in a 68-run, sixth-wicket stand after captain Sylvester Joseph fell in the day’s second over, but once they were separated, the end for the Leewards came quickly.
With the win, Barbados moved to 36 points, level with Trinidad and Tobago, with five-time champions Jamaica and Windward Islands leading the standings with 48 points.
Barbados and T&T face off next week in Port of Spain, in their final round encounter.
Starting the day requiring a further 140 runs to make Barbados bat again, the Leewards stumbled early when Benn struck with the eighth ball of play, getting one to spin sharply and trap Joseph lbw on the backfoot for three.
Hamilton and Thomas then denied Barbados any further immediate success with the best stand of the innings, playing positively against both Nurse and Benn.
The 22-year-old Hamilton struck seven fours in a knock off 80 balls in an hour-and-a-half at the crease while Thomas faced 52 balls in an hour’s batting, and counted four fours.
The breakthrough came when Thomas edged Benn to Nurse at slip with the score on 112 for six and Tonito Willett followed soon afterward for five, lbw to Benn.
Hamilton eventually reached his fifth first class half-century but failed to push on, falling lbw to Nurse at 142 for eight.
The innings finished swiftly as Hayden Walsh Jr was caught close to the wicket by Kevin Stoute off Benn for 13 and Anthony Martin was lbw to Nurse without scoring.
LEEWARDS 1st innings 201
Barbados 1st innings 381-6 decl.
LEEWARDS 2nd innings (o/n 40 for four)
K. Powell c wkp. Dowrich b Nurse 12
L. Richardson c Nurse b Benn 12
K. Walters c Stoute b Benn 5
S. Burton c Stoute b Benn 1
S. Joseph lbw b Nurse 3
D. Thomas c Nurse b Benn 29
J. Hamilton lbw b Nurse 50
T. Willett lbw b Benn 5
H. Walsh Jr c Stoute b Benn 13
J. Athanaze not out 2
A. Martin lbw b Nurse 0
Extras: (b-13, lb-2, nb-2) 17
Total: (all out, 40.4 overs) 149
Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-34, 3-39, 4-40, 5-44, 6-112, 7-126, 8-142, 9-148.
Bowling: Best 4-0-18-0, Cummins 2-0-17-0, Nurse 14.3-3-47-4, Benn 18-5-43-6, Carter 2-0-9-0.
Points: Barbados 12, Leewards 0.