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Liat mum on call to axe management

Published: 4 April 2017

LIALPA President Captain Carl Burke (OBSERVER media photo)

The union representing Liat pilots is calling for the immediate removal of the airline’s top managers, amidst the implementation of a salary deferral system that was rejected by staff and the union, among other issues.

Yesterday, the airline’s communications department shied away from the media when asked to respond to the public call by the Leeward Islands Airlines Pilots Association’s (LIALPA’s) for its senior management team – led by acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Julie Reifer-Jones – to be sacked.

When OBSERVER media reached out to the airline for comment we were told that Liat would issue a response either today or later in the week.

In the meantime, in a press release dated April 2, 2017 LIALPA stated, “Unfortunately it has no other choice but to call on the shareholder governments to remove the current Liat management”.

Then, speaking on OBSERVER Radio on Monday, President of LIALPA Carl Burke said his union was also making a “cry to the public” for what the release termed “public pressure” to be put on the Board of Directors to fire the management.

LIALPA’s ire was, according to it, raised by the fact that the company did not pay salaries on time. The union stated, “When a company cannot pay salaries on time, then management must accept that they have failed and they should be removed.”

Burke said, “It’s not that I can say they can’t pay the staff, but they’ve moved so far down the priority list in terms of who should be paid when and at what time, that the staff is now at the bottom of the priority list.”

The union chief added, “Management refuses to accept responsibility for the sad state of the airline’s affairs, and instead is focusing on making the crew the scapegoats.”

LIALPA also used its release to disassociate itself from what Liat termed as “industrial unrest” that allegedly took place on Sunday. LIALPA’s release stated that the unrest “has nothing to do with LIALPA and we are not involved at all”.

He was referring to an earlier April 2, 2017 release in which Liat said the airline was “currently experiencing a number of delays and cancellations” due to the unrest.

Crime/Justice, News, Regional News

Alleged shooter denied bail

Published: 4 April 2017

Source: winnfm.com

The Greenbay man accused of opening fire on a fellow villager last Friday was denied bail in the St John’s Magistrates’ Court when he was taken there yesterday on several charges.

Andre ‘Belly Man’ Henry appeared before Chief Magistrate Joanne Walsh charged with two counts of shooting with intent to murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of seven .380 rounds of ammunition, discharging a firearm in a public place and malicious damage to a vehicle which was parked in the area.

The charges were laid against 22-year-old Henry who was said to have resorted to shooting at the male villager moments after an altercation with the man’s son.

Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) Inspector Frankie Thomas said no one was injured during the incident.

However, one of the bullets fired struck a silver Toyota Celica that was parked on the side of the road, mere moments after the driver had pulled up outside of his home and exited the car.

Henry was taken into custody around 8:30 am on Friday and spent the weekend assisting law enforcement officers with their investigation.

The Greenbay man has been remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison.

Committal proceedings are set for June 26, 2017.

Local news, News, Politics

MR. DENNIS MICHAEL MORTON C.B.E., J.P DEPUTIZES FOR HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL IN HIS ABSENCE

Published: 3 April 2017

Sir Seaton and Mr. Morton

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, APRIL 3RD, 2017 (PRESS SEC) — Mr. Dennis Michael Morton C.B.E., J.P is serving as Governor-General’s Deputy during the brief absence of His Excellency the Governor-General of St. Kitts and Nevis, Sir S. W. Tapley Seaton G.C.M.G., C.V.O., Q.C., J.P, from the Federation.

Sir S. W. Tapley Seaton G.C.M.G., C.V.O., Q.C., J.P traveled to the United States today, Monday, April 3rd, 2017, and is scheduled to return this Thursday, April 6th to resume his duties as Head of State.

His Excellency the Governor-General administered the Oath of Office and the Oath of Allegiance to His Excellency the Governor-General’s Deputy on Thursday, March 30th, 2017.

This is not the first time that Mr. Dennis Michael Morton C.B.E., J.P has deputized in the Governor-General’s absence. Previously, Mr. Morton was administered the requisite Oaths on Thursday, October 8th, 2015 and again on Tuesday, March 15th, 2016 at Government House in the presence of members of his immediate family, including his wife, Mrs. Cynthia Morton.

Crime/Justice, Local news, News

CDM ON THE AGENDA FOR COP’s MONTHLY LECTURE SERIES, MARCH

Published: 3 April 2017

Members of the Rank and File of the St. Christopher and Nevis Royal Police Force said that they benefited from a presentation on Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) held last month at NEMA HQ, Lime Kiln, as part of the Police Commissioner’s monthly Lecture Series.
CDM is a strategic effort spearheaded by CDEMA in collaboration with regional and international stakeholders, to strengthen regional, national and community level capacity for mitigation, management and coordinated response to natural and technological hazards and the effects of climate change.

Deputy National Disaster Coordinator, Mrs. Claricia Langley-Stevens, made the presentation
In attendance were men and women ranging from Corporals to Assistant Commissioners of Police and also the Commissioner of Police, Ian Queeley, who was present for much of the seminar. The interaction was lively and well received by all, with questions coming from the entire audience, throughout the session.

In her presentation, Mrs. Langley-Stevens placed great emphasis on what she termed “key stakeholders”, which she said defines the critical partnership between NEMA and those agencies that provide First Response and Security during an event.
“Everything begins with the police,” she stated, “especially as the Tsunami Warning Focal Point (TWFP) for St. Kitts-Nevis.” is based at Police Headquarters.

This arrangement, Langley-Stevens added, encapsulates the 24/7 nature of the Police Force, in the event that a Tsunami or other seismic event occurs after normal work hours or at night.

“It is true that we are in the process of addressing the need to have a ‘National Multi Hazard Early Warning System’ but until that is achieved, the police will play a key role in helping to alert communities about threats or potential impacts, assist with evacuations if necessary, also crowd and traffic control. They also provide critical support during exercises,” she said, “when the NEMA conducts drills in communities in order to test capacity.”

She added that the Fire and Rescue Services and St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force, will collaborate with the police in such events.
“Even in the midst of chaos and disaster,” she said, “there still has to be control.”

Local news, News

LABOUR DEPARTMENT TO FOCUS ON BOOSTING YOUTH EMPLOYMENT

Published: 3 April 2017

Acting Labour Commissioner, Shernel James.

Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 03, 2017 (SKNIS): Strategies to boost employment for young people and to enhance the quality of jobs that come to the Department of Labour are key areas that will be addressed over the next six months.

Acting Labour Commissioner, Shernel James, said that the department will receive assistance in this regard and more having won the call for proposals from the Bilateral Cooperation through the Inter-American Network for Labour Administration (RIAL).

Ms. James said she was pleased that the federation was successful in formulating the proposal that will receive support from the Department of Labour in the United States (U.S.)

“I am proud,” she stated, noting that a lot of hard work went into preparing the proposal. “It gives us a great sense of satisfaction knowing that we were able to beat out other countries from the Caribbean, Central and South America.” She said this speaks to the quality of the proposal.

The 10th RIAL Call for Bilateral Cooperation ran from January 16 to March 15, 2017 and received 41 proposals involving 20 Ministries of Labour from countries including Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Jamaica, Mexico, Paraguay, and Suriname to name a few.

Two persons from the Department of Labour in St. Kitts and one from Nevis, will travel to the U.S. for one week to observe operations of the Job Corps, which according to its Department of Labour website “is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive residential education and job training programme for at-risk youth, ages 16 through 24.”

Commissioner James added that officials will also seek to explore ways that they can boost employment for young people and also study best practices to increase the number of skilled job vacancies that are sent to the Labour Department to fill via its Employment Services Unit. The visit is expected to take place in the third quarter of this year.

Funding for the visiting team will be provided by the Organization of American States (OAS).