Government reviewing a plan proposed by the Country’s Police Chief to combat crime in Dominica12/29/2015 A plan put together by the country’s Police Chief to combat crime in Dominica is being reviewed by government.
The plan which speaks mainly to the issue of community policing is before the ministry of national security. And the minister in charge of that Ministry Rayburn Blackmoore has confirmed that the plan is being fine-tuned. He told a press conference that the latest move is in keeping with the hopes of government, to go beyond its normal practices in application of law enforcements in Dominica. Clip: National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore Meantime, Police Chief Daniel Carbon says the force has been grappling with the implementation of community policing for over 20 years. Clip:
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First direct flight between China and Cuba took off yesterday from Beijing International Airport12/29/2015 The first direct flight between China and Cuba took off yesterday from Beijing International Airport, with state-owned carrier Air China said to be aiming to promote Chinese tourism in the Caribbean & Latin America.
Fox News reports that the route is the first direct one linking China, the world’s second-largest economy, and the Caribbean, as well as the first route between the Asian nation and Latin America operated by an Asian Airline.Flights from China to Mexico and Brazil are currently operated by foreign carriers. Belgian police have arrested two people suspected of planning attacks in Brussels on New Year's Eve12/29/2015 Raids took place on Sunday and Monday in Brussels and the provinces of Flemish Brabant and Liege.
Police seized military clothing and computer equipment in the raids, but no weapons or explosives. Belgium has been on high alert since the attacks of 13 November in Paris. Several of the perpetrators are thought to have been based in Belgium. However, the latest arrests are not linked to the Paris attacks, prosecutors say. Reports from Fort De France confirm presence & local transmission of the mosquito borne Zika virus12/29/2015 Reports from Fort De France indicate Martinique is the latest island in the region to confirm the presence and local transmission of the mosquito borne Zika virus.
PAHO says that French speaking Caribbean island is the 11th country in the Americas to report the virus this year, and the 12th to report local transmission. Dr Joy St. John, Director of Surveillance at the Disease Prevention & Control at the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), says “In the last decade, the Caribbean has been wrestling with waves of vector borne diseases. During the last two years the region has seen unrelenting outbreaks of Chikungunya, and more recently Zika.” Last month, CARPHA confirmed the presence of five cases of the mosquito borne Zika virus in Suriname. Symptoms of the Zika virus include fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes. The illness is usually mild, with symptoms lasting from several days to a week. Severe illness requiring hospitalisation is uncommon. Other countries confirming the presence of the virus are Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Suriname, and Venezuela. Dominican Economist Kent Vital calls for greater focus on protection of Dominica’s environment12/29/2015 Dominican born Economist Kent Vital, wants to see greater focus placed on the protection of Dominica’s environment.
According to him, protecting the environment is key to sustainable development. He says "...countries these days are finally getting to a place where they understand, that the environment should not be treated as a third leg". Vital who currently works with the Caribbean Development Bank, has lauded the efforts being made by Environmentalist Atherton Martin. He says the Government of Dominica should recognize the value of persons like Mr. Martin. Clip: According to reports from government sources, travel will be made easier for residents who wish to move in and out of the Roseau Valley, as a Trafalgar to Wotten Waven Bailey Bridge is being installed in that area, is nearing completion.
This bridge will replace the one that was damaged during the passage of tropical storm Erika on August 27, 2015. It is being installed in the same location. This bailey bridge was donated to Dominica by the government of Jamaica. On his Facebook page, Prime Minister Skerrit thanked Jamaica for what he called their “most generous gift.” Meanwhile, vehicular access has been restored to the communities of Boetica and Delices, which was previously cut off from the rest of the island during the passage of Tropical Storm Erika on August, 27, 2015 Dominicans are expressing grave concern over alcohol intake by minors around the festive seasons12/29/2015 Dominicans are concerned about the alcohol intake by minors around festivities, including this Christmas season. Some concerned adults alleged that many children are indulging in consuming substantial amounts of liquor. They fear that the vendors are not putting enough effort into preventing the sale of alcohol to minors.
One man is appealing to Health Minister Dr. Kenneth Darroux, to put measures in place to identify and punish vendors who sell alcoholic beverages to minors, and also to punish the minors themselves, who are found using alcoholic substances. CLIP: Portsmouth Respite Day Care Centre for northern children living with disabilities, which commenced construction in March 2015, is reportedly now complete. It was scheduled to have been opened and operational in October 2015.
The project is located at Chance in Portsmouth, and was approved under the BNTF’s 6thProgramme. It will cater for 30 to 35 children between the ages of 3 and 18.It was funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Government of Dominica,at a cost of one million and forty-three thousand, five hundred and four dollars, and fourteen cents (EC$1,043,504.14). Sources indicate that operations were originally scheduled to open in October 2015, but due to certain setbacks, it is now should to commence operations in January 2016. Meanwhile, stakeholders hope they will soon receive a government subvention that was promised about two years ago. Stakeholders acknowledge their association requires a subvention of at least eighty thousand dollars ($80.000) to meet staff salaries and equipment needed to operate the Centre. Dominica Calypso Hall of Fame Chairman announces names of persons to be honoured/inducted in 201612/29/2015 Meanwhile, Chairman of the Dominica Calypso Hall of Fame, Alex Bruno, says in 2016, the Calypso Hall of fame will be holding an induction ceremony in honour of Ossie Louis, Patrick Pemberton, Mighty Sparrow, Micko, and Ras Kelly, who, in his words have undoubtedly contributed to the development of Calypso in Dominica.
Bruno says the induction ceremony of deserving persons, into the Calypso Hall of Fame, is something that began in 2008, and this year is no different. Bruno appears to be excited about the event, and says it promises to be an exciting one.Here is Alex Bruno with more details on that event: CLIP: Meanwhile, Bruno released details of the 2016 Calypso Queen Show, comprising of several participants vying for that coveted title, along with a cash prize of $5000.00. Bruno is calling on women in Dominica who are interested, to register between 28th and 29th December 2015, so as to qualify for participation in that competition. CLIP: Interested persons are advised to pick up a registration form at the ‘Calypso House’ in Bath estate. Registration closes at 4pm on 29th December 2015. Bruno says the event is carded for 29th January 2016, at the Harlem Plaza. CLIP: 48-year old man of Fond Cole sentenced to 5 months’ jail after pleading guilty to 2 charges of theft12/29/2015 48-year old Michael Alfred of Fond Cole was sentenced to 5 months in jail, after pleading guilty to two charges of theft. He pleaded not guilty to three other charges. Alfred appeared before Magistrate Gloria Augustine at the Roseau Magistrate Court on Monday 28th December 2015.He pleaded guilty to stealing one TCL flat screen television valued at EC $1,199 from Courts Dominica Limited on 9thNovember, and one steam & dry iron valued at EC $74.60 from J Astaphan & Company Limited, on 23 December 2015.
Alfred pleaded not guilty to stealing 1 black Coral cellphone valued at EC $299 on 22ndDecember 2015 at Fond Cole’, 1 iron from a Chinese establishment in Roseau on 23rdDecember 2015, and 1 black bag pack from another Chinese establishment that same day. Police Prosecutor Davidson Cadette told the court thatat about 12:45pmon 9thNovember, Alfred entered Courts Dominica Ltd and proceeded to an area where the TCL televisions were on display. He took one of the TV’s in a box.A customer who witnessed the incident reported the matter. He also said that on 24thDecember 2015, Alfred was interviewed on an unrelated matter, and was questioned about the stolen television set. Alfred stated as follows: “Boy all I can say is frustration. I was working in a place and them people doe want to pay me and that made me revert to my old ways”.Alfred told the investigating officer that he sold the television set to a Haitian man for $400. Alfred told presiding magistrate Gloria Augustine that he tries his best, but when he gets a job, they don’t pay him and that drives him to do the same old things again. Before sentencing Alfred to 4 months in jail for stealing the televisionset, Magistrate Augustine said “you can’t fight fire with fire… two wrongs don’t make a right”.As regards the stolen iron from Astaphan, Police Prosecutor Davidson Cadette told the court that on 23rdDecember 2015 at about 3:30pm, Officer Moses was on duty when he saw Alfred and started a conversation with him. The officer noticed Alfred was carrying a black bag pack, and asked him to have a look inside. Alfred was said to be reluctant, but nonethelesshanded over the bag to the officer. The officer noticed an iron in its original box inside the bag. He asked Alfred where he bought the iron, and Alfred replied, “I didn’t buy it. I take it by Astaphan. Give me a break nah officer”. He was sentenced to one month in jail to run consecutively with the four (4) months sentence he was given for the stolen television.Alfred is to return to court on 18thMarch 2016, to answer to the three charges to which he had pleaded not guilty. |
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