CCTV site visit
On Tuesday, 31st July, members of the local media, along with private sector sponsors, were treated to a site visit of the new CCTV facility in Providenciales.
In a press conference held prior to the site visit, H.E. the Governor remarked:
"Commissioner of Police, Ladies and Gentleman. I have been asked to make some remarks at the start of this Site Visit.
Modern policing requires, I would suggest, three key ingredients: the human factor, the technical factor and the community factor. I want to say a few words on each.
Without the human factor, i.e. well-trained, committed Police Officers under effective leadership, nothing will be possible. TCI benefits from having in the RTCIPF a local police force which is increasingly on top of its game. I am glad to have this opportunity to commend the Officers of the Force and those who lead them, not least and to his considerable credit, the Commissioner James Smith. My thanks to them and to him.
Without the technical factor, a Police Force is hobbled from facing down the criminals and would-be criminals. The RTCIPF is benefitting from increased technical capacity enabling it to be fit for the task. For that thanks - and I very much wish to say this today - are due to TCIG without whose support and significant budgetary allocations none of these improvements, including the CCTV project, would be possible.
Without the community factor, a Police Force can never deliver optimally. And community support takes many forms. A Police Force is not separate from the local community, it is part of it and relies upon it. The RTCPF needs public support if it is to deliver on public safety. The project whose completion we anticipate and the site of which we are visiting today, is a key part of community engagement. And the support provided by members of the local business community as a contribution to the setting up of the new Suite, is also a demonstration of that wider effort and I wish to acknowledge and applaud that support by the businesses and representatives here this morning.
I hope that all of us in these Islands will soon benefit from the new facility; benefit in the way that really matters, namely, enhanced security and even greater public safety."
MELANIA TRUMP MOCKED BY 'BEST' DRESSED WOMAN Who Pulled Statue of Liberty Protest
The woman who was arrested for scaling the Statue of Liberty on Independence Day to protest President Trump's immigration policy is at it again, and this time her target's Melania.
Patricia Okoumou showed up for her court hearing Friday in Manhattan wearing a green dress with the words, "I REALLY CARE WHY WON'T U?" and "BE BEST" written on her backside.
The first message is a shot at the First Lady for the tone-def jacket she wore in June that read, "I REALLY DON'T CARE, DO U?" on her way to visit child detention centers in Texas.
Okoumou's "Be Best" refers to Melania's initiative of the same name to promote online safety for kids ... which has been ripped for allegedly plagiarizing from the Obama administration.
As we reported, Okoumou was arrested for scaling Lady Liberty on July 4 to protest the separation of immigrant families. She was charged with trespassing, interference with agency functions and disorderly conduct.
Sprint Relay Gold For Jamaica's Women
Jamaica's women's sprint relay put together three smooth baton exchanges on their way to winning the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games title yesterday as the country increased its medal tally in athletics to 17.
The team of Jura Levy, Sherone Simpson, Jonielle Smith and Natasha Morrison stopped the clock at 43.41 seconds as Trinidad and Tobago finished second with 43.61 while the Dominica Republic secured the bronze medal with 43 68.
"We are very happy that we were able to pass the baton safely. The aim was to get a good start and the other three just maintain (the lead)," Simpson said after the race
Their male counterparts were beaten into third as Barbados took the victory in 38.41 seconds. The team of Nesta Carter, Romario Williams, Rasheed Dwyer and Javoy Tucker registered 38.79 seconds.
The women's 4x400 team at one point looked set to secure the country's ninth gold medal in athletics but was denied by Cuba on the anchor leg. Derriann Hill, Tiffany James, Alesha Kelly and Junelle Bromfield finished in 3:30.63. Cuba registered 3:29.48 as Colombia finished third with 3:32.61.
Yankees unravel in ugly loss to Red Sox
Like an out-of-control snowball tumbling wildly down a mountain, the New York Yankees cascaded toward a 15-7 blowout loss to the Boston Red Sox on Thursday thanks to an avalanche of mental errors and moments of uninspired, lackluster play.
The Yankees' starting pitcher, C.C. Sabathia, wasn't very good. Their bullpen was even worse. Their defense was, at times, questionable. And oh, by the way, they still have three more games this weekend against the best team in baseball.
As they stand at a crossroads, staring at a pivotal point in their season, the Yankees can only hope they don't stay on this reckless, downhill path.
If they do, their American League East championship goals might all but disappear.
Bahamian Government Remains Firm on August 10 Transition Date for Shanty Town Residents
The Government intends to “fulfil” its duty and make the eviction exercise for shanty town residents in New Providence as seamless as possible said Minister of Labour, Senator the Hon. Dion Foulkes.
He affirmed that the transition deadline of August 10, for all residents to leave shanty towns in New Providence is “firm” and “irrevocable” as he urged the residents to move by the deadline which was extended from July 31.
All of the land in the shanty towns is owned by the government and was previously leased for farming. “Most of the leases have expired,” said Minister Foulkes. “It is crown land; the people’s land and the government holds the land in the name of the Bahamian people.”
A utility disconnection exercise for Bahamas Power and Light, Cable Bahamas and Water and Sewerage will take place before August 10.
Furthermore, Minister Foulkes revealed that all animals including dogs, cats, and chickens in the shanty towns will be removed during an exercise on August 8 by the canine units of the Bahamas Humane Society and the Ministry of Agriculture. Pastor Jean Paul Charles, leader of the Haitian Pastors League, said his association is assisting 150-200 families who are willing to move but are experiencing challenges with finding sureties and funds for rental purposes.
Another challenge is that parents of children who reside in the shanty towns prefer them to attend schools in the neighbourhood where they are presently enrolled.
British minister visits BVI to review recovery efforts and hurricane preparedness
Britain’s Foreign Office Minister for the Overseas Territories, Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon, visited the British Virgin Islands this week to discuss hurricane preparedness and see progress on recovery from last year’s devastation.
On his two-day visit, the minister visited a number of public sites affected by last year’s hurricanes with Premier Dr Orlando Smith. He saw how UK support is helping recovery efforts, and officially handed over the new purpose-built temporary Court House to the government, which will allow the Supreme Court and Magistrates’ Court to function fully again whilst a permanent building is constructed.
Ahmad also visited RFA Mounts Bay, which will remain in the region throughout the hurricane season to provide rapid assistance to islands if needed. He met with the board of the Recovery and Development Agency to hear about their progress and efforts to deliver the six-month accelerated plan ahead of endorsement of the longer term recovery and development plan by the BVI House of Assembly.
Swedish royal jewels stolen by thieves who fled by speedboat
Thieves stole priceless royal artifacts in a daring raid on a Swedish cathedral before escaping by speedboat, police said.
The thieves made off with jewels belonging to former Swedish monarchs Karl IX and Kristina from the Strängnäs Cathedral to the west of the capital, Stockholm, on Tuesday.
Two crowns and a golden orb adorned with a crucifix were taken from the cathedral, which dates back to the 12th century, according to a police report. The items date from the early 17th century.
A witness told Swedish media that he was eating lunch when he saw two people running toward a boat, which they sped away in.
Police said several thieves were involved in the heist. They fled in an open-topped motorboat across the sea from the base of the church. Several police patrol boats as well as police helicopters joined a hunt for the perpetrators.
The cathedral was placed on lockdown, CNN affiliate Expressen reported, and the search for the thieves continued on Wednesday.
"To a limited extent we are still looking for (them) both on the ground and at sea. We have no new findings so far," said Tor Sevelius, commanding officer at the police's management center.
"From our point of view, the material value is less important than the cultural history of these items. I do not see this as a theft from Strängnäs cathedral assembly. This is part of the national cultural heritage, this is a theft of Swedish society," Lundgren said.
Arizona care worker accused of migrant shelter child abuse
A former youth worker at a shelter for migrant children in Arizona has pleaded not guilty to sexually abusing eight boys under his care.
Levian Pacheco, 25, is charged with committing 11 sex crimes between August 2016 and July 2017 at the privately operated housing centre. Records show he is HIV-positive, and some of the boys are undergoing testing for the sexually transmitted virus.
The news comes days after another care worker was charged with a sex crime. Prosecutors say the boys Mr Pacheco allegedly targeted at the Casa Kokopelli facility in Mesa were all between the ages of 15 to 17.
He was employed by Southwest Key, a Texas-based non-profit that is the largest organisation contracted by the US government to house undocumented immigrant children.
A number of the over 2,000 children who were separated from their parents after crossing the US-Mexico border without papers have been held at Southwest Key facilities.
Mr Pacheco's lawyer told US media the allegations include an "extraordinarily broad range of dates and lack of specificity". The allegations predate the Trump administration's since-reversed "zero tolerance" policy, which led to the separation of illegal immigrant families.
This is the third known arrest of a Southwest Key staff member related to allegations of child molestation at a housing facility, US media report.
Swedish police kill man with Down's syndrome carrying toy gun
A young man fatally shot by Swedish police while carrying a toy gun in Stockholm had Down's syndrome and a form of autism, local media report. Officers opened fire on Eric Torell, 20, in response to what they described as a "threatening situation" in the early hours of Thursday morning.
He was reported missing after leaving home hours earlier, his family said. Eric's mother, Katarina Söderberg, said the toy was a gift and she described her son as "the world's kindest man".
MS Soderberg said that Eric was severely disabled and struggled with his speech, only ever really using the word "mum".
She described the plastic toy he was carrying at the time of the shooting as "like a submachine gun". "It's impossible to understand. He wouldn't hurt a fly," Ms Söderberg said.
The incident occurred at about 04:00 local time in the Vasastan district of the Swedish capital, Stockholm, after police responded to reports of a man in possession of a gun.Three officers reportedly arrived at the scene and approached Eric before ordering him to discard what they believed to be a dangerous weapon. He was then shot after failing to comply and acting "threateningly", police said.
Eric was taken to hospital but was later confirmed dead from his injuries. Ms Söderberg said her son had left home a number of times previously but had always been found or returned.An investigation into possible police misconduct is now under way, Expressen reported.
Dengue fever outbreak stopped by special mosquitoes
Australian researchers say for the first time an entire city has been protected from viral disease dengue.
Captive-bred mosquitoes with a naturally occurring bacteria were released in the city of Townsville, where they mated with local mosquitoes.
By spreading the bacteria Wolbachia, which hinders dengue transmission, the city has been dengue-free since 2014.
Researchers from Monash University also believe their work could stop mosquito-borne diseases Zika and malaria.
"Nothing we've got is slowing these diseases down - they are getting worse," said Scott O'Neill, director of the World Mosquito Program, quoted by the Guardian.
"I think we've got something here that's going to have a significant impact and I think this study is the first indication that it's looking very promising."
"At a cost of around A$15 (£8.50) per person, the Townsville trial demonstrates the approach can be rolled out quickly, efficiently and cost effectively to help provide communities ongoing protection from mosquito-borne diseases," Professor O'Neill said.
The programme is currently working in 11 countries and aims to deploy the Wolbachia mosquitoes in larger and poorer parts around the world with a target of reducing the cost to just US$1 (75p) per person.