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Hon. Lindsay Grant Attends CARIFORUM Ministerial Consultations in Jamaica

(Times Caribbean) St.Kitts-Nevis Minister of Tourism, International Trade and Industry Hon. Lindsay Grant joined counterparts from throughout Caricom in discussions at two Ministerial consultations of the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, held in Jamaica.

The first meeting dealt with the Caribbean within the framework of the relations between the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). The second will address the future of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), as well as the future of the ACP-EU relations after the Cotonou Agreement expires in 2020. Approximately 10 Ministers and 60 senior officials from across the Caribbean participated in the consultations which were held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston from March 29-30.

The CARIFORUM consultation was held in the context of the ACP Group’s broader reflections on the future direction of the Group, including its relations with the EU. The ultimate aim is to ensure that the ACP Group becomes a more effective global player, with the ability to influence development policy at the global level so that tangible benefits will redound to the peoples of the ACP Member States.

While there is overwhelming support for the continuation of the ACP-EU partnership there is consensus that the ACP must chart its own course and reposition itself in the global arena.

The organisation of the meetings was spearheaded by the CARIFORUM Directorate and the Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, in her capacity as Chair of the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States.

Jamaica’s chairmanship of the CARIFORUM commenced last year July and will end June 30, 2017.

Hon. Grant served as Chairman of ACP Council and ACP-EU Joint Council from 1 August 2016 to 31 January 2017.

Note

The Georgetown Agreement was signed in 1975, and created the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP). The group is composed of 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific States. The Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) refers to the group of Caribbean ACP States that are signatories to the Georgetown Agreement.

All CARIFORUM States, with the exception of Cuba, are signatories to the ACP-EU Cotonou Partnership Agreement (Cotonou Agreement) and the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), respectively.

CARIFORUM States are: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

International Sports, News, Sports

Coe apologizes after IAAF suffers cyber attack

Published: 03 April 2017

By Brian Homewood | ZURICH

The governing body of global athletics (IAAF) said on Monday it had suffered a cyber attack which it believes has compromised information about athletes’ medical records.

An IAAF statement said the hacking group known as Fancy Bear was believed to be behind the attack in February and that it targeted information concerning applications by athletics for Therapeutic Use Exemptions.

The IAAF said it had contacted athletes who had applied for TUEs since 2012 and its president, Sebastian Coe, apologized.

“Our first priority is to the athletes who have provided the IAAF with information that they believed would be secure and confidential,” he said in the statement. “They have our sincerest apologies and our total commitment to continue to do everything in our power to remedy the situation.”

TUEs are issued by sports federations and national anti-doping organizations to allow athletes to take certain banned substances for verified medical needs.

The IAAF said that data on athlete TUEs was “collected from a file server and stored on a newly created file”.

“The attack by Fancy Bear, also known as APT28, was detected during a proactive investigation carried out by cyber incident response (CIR) firm Context Information Security,” the IAAF said

It was not known if the information was stolen from the network, the IAAF said, but the incident was “a strong indication of the attackers’ interest and intent, and shows they had access and means to obtain content from this file at will”.

The attack was uncovered after British company Context Information Security conducted a investigation of the IAAF’s systems at the request of the athletics body.

Context Information Security said in a separate statement that it was a “sophisticated intrusion” and that “the IAAF have understood the importance and impact of the attack and have provided us comprehensive assistance.”

Fancy Bear, widely believed to be from Russia, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Health, Local news, News

PM Harris encouraged by large turnout at his monthly health walk

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, April 1, 2017 (PLP PR Media Inc.) — Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, who is well known for the advocacy role he plays in promoting healthy lifestyles was on Saturday April 1 impressed by the massive turnout by health enthusiasts who joined him for his monthly Constituency #7 Health Walk.

Dr Harris who is also CARICOM’s lead spokesman on human resource, health and HIV matters, and is also the Political Leader of the Peoples Labour Party (PLP) expressed his satisfaction at the awareness that the walk has raised, and the fact that a number of PLP members and supporters from the various constituencies branches joined him for the walk which takes participants from Belle Vue to Ottley’s.

“I thank all the family members of the Peoples Labour Party who came out this morning and made this walk the most interesting and one of the largest we have put,” said the Party Leader at the end of the walk.

“We walk in solidarity with each other, and we walk to improve on our wellness and on our health. So I would want to encourage all of us to continue doing as much physical exercise as we can; to eat healthy foods so that we could live longer and more successful lives.”

The walkers had been flagged off at 5:30 am, and the first group of walkers to get to Ottley’s arrived a few minutes to 7:00 am. Dr Harris promised the walkers that the next health walk will be held at the end of April and will be done again each month thereafter in succession. A healthy breakfast prepared and served by Ms Shirley Williams warmed up the exhausted walkers.

“I extend an invitation to all the groups to come and invite someone at your next occasion on which we will be having this health walk,” advised the Prime Minister. “I thank all of you for the tremendous support at our first convention. We feel we are strong, we feel we are positive about the future, and we will continue to build the PLP as the strongest political party there is, to serve all the people in Team Unity.

“The stronger we are together, the better we will be, and so I want to wish you well, stay strong, stay healthy. Your Party Leader, your Team Unity Leader will stand firm with you and I want you to stand firm with your Team Unity Movement.”

Prime Minister Harris, who was mobbed by persons who took part in the walk and others who were waiting for them at Ottley’s Village, took time to commend the oldest walker, 64-year old Mrs Sylvia Berridge of Phillips Village who arrived at the finish point at 6:56 am a few minutes before the Prime Minister and his entourage who arrived at 7:02 am.

“I also want to thank the Deputy Party Leader, Senator the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett for making her first walk and she did it in style,” added Dr Harris. “I want to thank all the branch leaders who came out from Number 1, Number 2, Number 3, Number 4, Number 5, Number 6, and Number 8.”

PLP’s Deputy Political Leader Senator the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett, and who represented Number 3 expressed that it was a pleasure walking with the Peoples Labour Party family.

“We had a lot of persons represented from all the constituencies and of course a lot of young people also representing all the constituencies here today,” said the Hon Byron-Nisbett. “We are looking forward to every one – come on out end of this month, next month and every month after and come exercise with us. Make sure you keep healthy, strong and you know, a stronger PLP is a stronger Team Unity.”

From Number 5 (Sandy Point), Ms Marsha Lewis said that she enjoyed the walk and was looking forward to the one that will be held at the end of April and certainly the one to be held in May. “Next month May is my birth month, I am looking forward next month to do this walk over and over again.”

Others who spoke on behalf of their Constituency Branches were, Mr Glenville Mills of Number 5; Ms Shazell Bergan of Number 4; Mr Cante Bowry Chairman Constituency Branch, Constituency Number 1 PLP; and Mr Damien Weekes of Number 3, all who said that they will return and bring more people when the next health walk is held.

A notable finisher was five-year old Miss Briannae Richardson a pupil at the Beach Allen Primary School, who arrived at 7:19 am in the company of her mother. Along the route she changed guidance from her father to her mother periodically and at one time she complained of being tired, but her parents encouraged her on.

Crime/Justice, Local news, News

DPP Drops Attempted Murder Case Against Jamal Heath

Published: 30 March 2017

St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN); Jahmal Heath has been freed of charges of attempted murder and wounding with intent after the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew the matter on Thursday (Mar 30).

Heath was charged with the offences in December 2011 when he allegedly shot at and wounded another young man in the Bird Rock area. He was represented by defense attorney Dr. Henry Browne QC and his team.

DPP Valston Graham told the magistrate that he was discontinuing the matter as three of the main witnesses who dealt with the identification evidence were police officers at the time but they are no longer with the Police Force and appear to be out of the jurisdiction as all efforts to locate them proved futile.

The DPP said the offence took place in 2011 and it is now 2017, therefore the unavailability of the witnesses meant he had no choice but to discontinue the prosecution. He asked that the accused be discharged, which the judge granted

Crime/Justice, Local news, News

Shot Fired At Suspected Burglar Near Pelican Mall

Published: 30 March 2017

St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN); Police have confirmed a shooting incident near the Pelican Mall in Basseterre early Thursday morning Mar 30).

Information reaching WINN FM is that a law enforcement unit responded to a report of a possible break in at the Pelican Mall around 4am and when they arrived, saw an individual running towards Independence Square. The officers gave chase and in the process fired one shot, however the individual managed to escape the area.

There were no reports of injury.

WINN FM understands that the person who discharged his weapon is a member of the Defense Force.

Up until press time, it was not revealed which store in the mall had been targeted by the would-be burglar.