Grenada opposition leader slams government property purchase
Opposition leader, Dr Keith Mitchell, has described the Grenada government’s recent purchase of property, at a cost of $2 million, as inappropriate, untimely and irresponsible, particularly in light of the difficulties the government has been experiencing in meeting its financial obligations, including paying public servants, on time and in a period in which many of the vulnerable and the growing numbers of the unemployed are struggling to make ends meet.
In addition, Mitchell pointed out that this $2 million should have been used to provide some financing to Grenada Authority for the Regulation of Financial Institutions (GARFIN), instead of government attempting to impose further burden on insurance policy holders at this time.
The opposition leader has drawn attention to the fact that this is taking place when the entire country is going through trying times, when businesses are closing or sending workers home, when the new secondary school and T.A. Marryshow Community College (TAMCC) graduates have very little hope of finding rewarding jobs, and when the hotel and manufacturing sectors are crying out for rescue.
He said that for the government to decide to spend $2 million on the purchase of property in such a difficult time is a demonstration of poor financial management and a total lack of concern for the peoples’ plight and the country’s future.
According to Mitchell, “To use scarce resources to purchase property rather than directing it towards meeting the pressing needs of government workers and the poor, or stimulating the economy, at this time of unprecedented economic, financial and social problems is unconscionable as it is unforgivable.”
Mitchell called on the government to listen to the cry of the people, and to implement the measures that are urgently required to turn the economy around and bring much needed relief to the Grenadian people.
Until such time, he says, all purchases of property or other such wasteful spending should be suspended.
Caribbean News Now
IMF completes second review of St Kitts-Nevis, disburses US$4.83 million
The Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Tuesday its executive board has completed the second review of St Kitts and Nevis’ economic performance under a programme supported by a 36-month Stand-by Arrangement (SBA).
In a statement, the IMF said the completion of the review allows the immediate disbursement of an amount equivalent to SDR 3.161 million (about US$4.83 million), bringing total disbursements under the arrangement to SDR 36.781 million (about US$56.21 million).
The executive board said it has also approved a request for waivers of applicability for three end-March 2012 performance criteria. These waivers were necessary because the executive board meeting was scheduled to take place after end-March but before the data for the overall balance of the central government, the central government budget expenditure arrears, and the stock of short-term external debt becomes available.
The SBA was approved on July 27, 2011, for an amount equivalent to SDR 52.51 million (about US$80.25 million), or 590 percent of St Kitts and Nevis’ IMF quota.
Guyanese charged for malpractice - police seize equipment
Guyanese National, Howard Earl has been charged for allegedly practicing medicine in St.Lucia without a proper license and not being a registered medical practitioner.
The office he used to practise his illegal activities have been closed by police and all the equipment at the location has been confiscated.
Law Enforcement officials also shutdown a number of other clinics and medical businesses operated by the defendant.
He was granted $5000 dollar bail or suitable surety on each charge when he made his first court appearance on Tuesday morning.
HTS
6-year old crushed by car
A six year old lad is dead and police have begun their investigations into the circumstances leading to his death.
Reports are that the boy was crushed by a car which was under repairs by his step-father.
A police release said about 10:45AM Ajay Suraj wass in the company of his stepfather Maheshwar Sookram who was carrying out repairs to a motor vehicle which was jacked-up at the time.
The vehicle is reported to have slipped of the jack and crushed Suraj .
He was pronounced Dead on arrival at hospital.
Romney Begins Overseas Tour as Obama Pledges to Reduce Gun Violence
U.S. presidential candidate Mitt Romney will meet with British Prime Minister David Cameron in London Thursday as he begins a three-nation tour aimed at boosting his foreign policy credentials.
The presumptive Republican Party nominee arrived in the British capital Wednesday for talks with Mr. Cameron, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and former prime minister Tony Blair. Romney will also make an appearance at Friday's opening ceremonies of the 2012 Olympic Games, before traveling to Israel and Poland.
Romney is facing criticism about a recent story in the British Daily Telegraph which quotes an unidentified Romney adviser that Mr. Obama, the first black U.S. president, did not fully appreciate the shared “Anglo-Saxon heritage” that underscores the relationship between the United States and Britain. Vice President Joe Biden called the remarks “a disturbing start” to Romney's trip.
In an interview with NBC News, Romney said the two nations share “a very common bond” and that he believes President Obama shares this view.
The president traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana, Wednesday to address a gathering of the National Urban League, a prominent African American civil rights and economic advocacy group.,
He discussed the recent mass shooting spree in Aurora, Colorado, where 12 people were killed and 58 others wounded when a gunman opened fire at a movie theater last Friday.
“I, like most Americans, believe that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual the right to bear arms. I think we recognize the traditions of gun ownership that passed on from generation to generation, that hunting and shooting are part of a cherished national heritage. But I also believe that a lot of gun owners would agree that AK-47s belong in the hands of soldiers, not in the hands of criminals. That they belong on the battlefield of war, not on the streets of our cities.”
Mr. Obama says methods to prevent criminals and the mentally ill from purchasing weapons, such as background checks, should not be controversial, but instead “should be common sense.”
Also on Wednesday, the commission that oversees presidential debates announced three of them will take place in October at the University of Colorado in Denver; Center College in Danville, Kentucky; and Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida. The lone vice presidential debate will also take place in October, at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York.
Blast Kills 5 in NW Pakistan
Officials in northwestern Pakistan say a bomb has exploded in a busy market, killing at least five people.
The blast happened Thursday in Salarzai, an area of the Bajur tribal district near the Afghan border.
No group claimed immediate responsibility for the attack, which also wounded at least 11 people.
The Pakistani Taliban has a history of attacks in the area.
Authorities: Mass Shooting Suspect Sent Package Describing an Attack
Law enforcement officials say the suspect in Friday's mass shooting at a Colorado movie theater sent a package to a university psychiatrist containing a notebook describing an attack.
The package, which reportedly included stick figure drawings of a gunman shooting people, was sent before the shootings. The exact date is unknown.
The University of Colorado Denver said the postal service delivered a suspicious package Monday, which was turned over to authorities within hours.
Holmes was a Ph.D. student in neuroscience at the university before dropping out of the program last month.
Prosecutors expect to formally charge Holmes on July 30, and he could face the death penalty if convicted.
The July 20 shooting killed 12 people and wounded 58 others.
Meanwhile, the first funeral was held Wednesday in the wake of the shooting. Gordon Cowden, who was 51, was the oldest of the victims.
Syrian Activists: Battles Continue in Aleppo, Hama
Syrian opposition activists say clashes between rebels and government forces continue in the country's largest city, Aleppo, and in several other areas that have been key sites in the 16-month anti-government uprising.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported shelling in several Aleppo neighborhoods Thursday that killed a girl and wounded seven other people.
It also said deadly clashes were taking place in the cities of Hama and in Deir Ezzor province, as well as explosions targeting military vehicles in Idlib.
Activists say the government has used attack helicopter and tanks during several days of fighting in Aleppo. White House spokesman Jay Carney said Wednesday those reported tactics are a sign of the depths of depravity of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Also Wednesday, Arab diplomats said they are preparing to bring a Syria resolution to the United Nations General Assembly. The measure would likely mention Syria's statements earlier this week regarding the possible use of chemical weapons against foreign attackers.
U.N. General Assembly resolutions are non-binding and cannot be vetoed. Russia and China have vetoed three U.N. Security Council resolutions on Syria.
TCI Baptist Union Churches travels to Jamaica
20 Youths and Youth Leaders from TCI Baptist Union Churches traveled to Jamaica for the Caribbean Baptist Fellowship 9th Youth Festival. This Festival is being held from July 25th to July 29th, 2012 under the Them "Sold Out: Fully His". This Festival happens every three years and was last held in the Bahamas in 2009. TCI enjoyed a representation of 42 strong.
The delegation is again led by Sharlene Cartwright Robinson, Director of the TCI Baptist Union's Youth Department and CBF Youth Department's Northern Youth Director. Robinson says that "we will be leading and participating a number of the activities on Program including leading family groups, Bible Studies and Workshops. The delegates will participate in the Festival Choir and showcase TCI Culture. We are half the size of our delegation that attended three years ago but we will represent God, our Union and our country well".
Of great excitement this time for TCI's delegation is the fact that for the first time a TCI Pastor would be conducting the daily Bible Studies. Rev Pedro Williams, Immediate Past President for the Baptist Union of Churches has been charged with this responsibilty. "We are proud of this opportunity to have TCI showcased in this manner. I know that Rev Williams will connect with the hundreds of delegates and they will be blessed".
The Festival will end of Sunday and Robinson's three year Directorship would end but she has been officially nominated for President and expects to be named into this office during the Closing Ceremony.
Dog Attack takes the life of a female in North Caicos
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force are presently investigating an incident involving the death of a female in the North Caicos area. It has been reported that this person was attacked by a number of wild dogs and she has succumbed to the injuries. This attack took place overnight in the Whitby area of North Caicos.
It has also been reported that there were three other attacks by these dogs which caused significant injuries to persons in the same community. One attack occurred on Sunday and the other attacks occurred during the overnight hours of last night.
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force is partnering with other Government agencies as it relates to the response that will be undertaken. An immediate response has been mounted with the movement of Tactical officers from Providenciales to the Whitby area.
- Reports suggest that this person may have been attacked by a number of wild dogs overnight in the Whitby area of North Caicos. It has also been reported that there were three other attacks by these dogs which caused significant injuries to persons in the same community. One attack occurred on Sunday and the other attacks occurred during the overnight hours of last night.
- Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force and Department of Agriculture personnel have now deployed from Providenciales and Grand Turk to join locally based colleagues on North Ciacos, including the Director of Agriculture and the Chief Veterinarian.
- The Department of Agriculture is organising a trapping team to deal with the situation forthwith. It will be working with the local police to control the feral dog population.
- An armed Police tactical Unit is on the scene.
- Additional vehicles have been made available to staff.
Persons should take the following precautionary measures:
- The Police advise the general public to stay off the beach between Pelican to Prospect, Whitby until further notice.
- Use extreme caution if you see a number of dogs travelling together.
- Try to avoid walking on the beaches or road at nights. Please ensure that you carry a stick in the event that you have to fend off feral dogs.
- Walk in groups and always inform persons where you are going.
- Wear brightly coloured clothing when walking on roads and beaches.
- Try not to appear threatening to dog (do not stare at the dog, do not smile to show your teeth and stand at angle to the dog)
- Do not display fear or weakness. Never turn your back to a dog and run away. A dog's natural instinct will be to chase and catch you.
- Shield yourself! If the dog does attack, "feed" him your jacket, shirt, purse, bicycle, umbrella or anything that you can put between yourself and the dog.
- Whenever possible seek higher ground if an attack seems imminent (for example, climbing a tree or mounting a fence)
- If attacked, and you fall, curl up in a ball and protect your face, neck, and head.
- Never approach a barking, snarling, sleeping, eating, or nursing dog.
Susan Malcolm, Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Environment and Home Affairs, said: ”As a precaution, we urge all residents to avoid the known areas where feral dogs are known to frequent. Please limit night walks on the beach and if necessary whenever you go out to do so in a group. Residents are also advised that if you must cross these areas, arm yourselves with sticks or some other implement to effectively fend off the feral dogs. The Department also strongly suggests that elderly persons and children avoid these areas or be accompanied by people who could offer protection. Dogs in packs tend to roam at nights; extra precaution is urged especially from dust until dawn.”
The Department of Agriculture urges all residents to report all sightings, all attacks and attempted attacks and all dangerous dogs (dogs that have bitten other dogs and humans) to:
Department of Agriculture: 946-5801 extension 82203; or 911
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force are asking the general public to stay off the beach area between Pelican to Prospect, Whitby until further notice. It is also requested that persons use extreme caution and care when they see a number of dogs travelling together. Also please report any sighting of dogs acting in an aggressive manner immediately.