Regional News | Buckie Got It

Business, Economics, Local news, News, Regional News, Travel

Customs Department to take over alleged money laundering incident

Published: 4 April 2017

The Custom and Excise Division will be taking over the investigation into an alleged case of money laundering involving a male and a female who were intercepted at the VC Bird International Airport last Friday evening.

Lev Josiah of Paynters and Erica Thomas of Mount Joy were arrested by police and taken into custody.

They were intercepted by Airport Security, with over US $20,000 and almost EC $3,000 in their possession. The monies were seized and the matter handed over to the Customs department and the police.

Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) Inspector Frankie Thomas told OBSERVER media yesterday that Erica Thomas was released pending further investigations, while Josiah remains in custody and will have to answer to the comptroller of Customs today.

Airport Security was conducting one of their routine security checks when they found Josiah with over US $18,000 and EC $785.

Thomas, on the other hand, was caught with the lesser amount, of over US $2,000 and EC $1750.

The two were booked to travel to St Maarten

Business, News, Regional News, Travel

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.

International news, Local news, News, Politics, Regional News

US Ambassador Offers Advice To Caribbean States

Published: 3 April 2017

St Kitts and Nevis (WINN): St Kitts and Nevis and other Caribbean nations are getting some advice on measures that should be taken in their quest to strengthen their economies.

US Ambassador Linda Taglialatela, who heads the American Embassy in Bridgetown, says regional states are having a hard time like the rest of the world.

She is of the view however, that there are measures that can be taken to help islands she labels very proud Caribbean nations move forward economically despite existing hardships.

“Each island needs to have a long term plan, I think first they need to not only look at building additional hotels and attracting more tourism but look at infrastructure. Work on their roads, work on their schools, look at ways to diversify out of the tourism sector. I realize that’s probably the biggest and primary source of revenue but they need to look beyond that. I know that St Kitts and Nevis is looking at geothermal energy, I think they do need to diversify to get their energy costs down and they need to find ways to attract business, both private and foreign investors in their country. There are some issues with youth unemployment which leads to the risk of youths turning to crime, I think you need to address how we’re going to deal with it but I think on a whole, each of them has a plan it’s just a matter getting to the point of implementing.”

Ambassador Taglialatela is expecting continued good relations between the Caribbean and the United States.

“I think that the Caribbean has a lot to offer to the world and has a lot to offer the United States as far as a partnership goes. I think that we will continue to have a good relationship and I think that there has to be a good partnership and collaboration between the United States and the Caribbean. We have over 2 million Americans coming to the Caribbean every year and a number of dual citizens living both in the United States and here in the Caribbean and there will always be a close tie between the two areas.”

Crime/Justice, News, Regional News

United Nations Warns Staff in Barbados About Crime

Published: 3 April 2017

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Monday April 3, 2017 – The United Nations (UN) has its eye on the crime situation in Barbados, and has issued a security advisory to its staff in the island following a string of recent robberies.

The UN’s Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) has advised personnel to increase their vigilance following “credible reports that a number of recent robberies are believed to be committed by a group of five armed men”.

It is believed the men are travelling in one vehicle and targeting both businesses and individuals. They attempt to trick victims into stopping or exiting their vehicles by driving behind them and flicking their headlights.

“All UN personnel and family members are reminded to always lock your car doors, keep your windows up, only pull over in well-lit populated areas, and to remain aware of your surroundings at all times. Avoid driving alone at night,” the UNDSS advisory added.

It offered UN employees further advice on how to deal with any such encounter.

“If you detect that you are being watched or followed do not panic and drive to your nearest ‘safe haven’ (UN office, police station…). Try to collect as much information on any suspect vehicle such as make, colour, licence plate, identifying marks, description of occupants, etc. If someone tries to bump your car, honk the horn, put on hazard lights and continue driving quickly,” the UNDSS urged staff.

“If you are hit from behind and have to stop, do not get out of the vehicle or unlock it until you have called the police. Check the mirrors to observe the situation and if you see something suspicious like a pair or group of men descending all at the same time, try to rush to a ‘safe haven’. If you have a driver, instruct him accordingly. It is illegal to leave the spot of an accident but safer to go away straight to the closest police station. The CSFP [Common Foreign and Security Policy] and UNDSS will assist you with the police if necessary.”

Last month, the Royal Barbados Police Force confirmed that it was investigating several crimes which may have been committed by a group of five men travelling in a vehicle.