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Child Justice Committee To Address Juveniles Who Stole From Warner Park

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Child Justice Committee To Address Juveniles Who Stole From Warner Park

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 14th February 2020) – Detectives working on the recent break- in and stealing at Warner Park in Basseterre have held and released two minors who are expected to appear before the Child Justice Committee in this matter.

Information coming from the Police Public Relations Department, this week (Monday 10th February 2020), has indicated that the two juveniles were recently held for the offences of Building Break-In and Larceny as well as Building Break-In in relation to two incidents at the park.

Reportedly, the offences occurred sometime between February 05 and 06 in the first instance and on February 07 in the second.

According to police: “In the first incident, a number of items were stolen from a locker room which was being used by the Barbados Cricket Team at the time. Several of those items have since been recovered by the Officers investigating the case.”

It was also told that the juveniles were released into the custody of their parents pending their appearance before the Child Justice Committee.

The Cricket West Indies (CWI), in a press release last week spoke about the break-in which caused a delay in starting of the four-day match schedule of the Hurricanes v Pride West Indies Championship at Warner Park which was slated for Thursday 6th February but was moved to the following day (Friday).

In that match, Barbados Pride won by an innings and 81 runs in beating the Leeward Island Hurricanes.

Sea Vessel Users Urged To Obey Safety Rules Following Deadly Boat Accident Involving US Visitor

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Sea Vessel Users Urged To Obey Safety Rules Following Deadly Boat Accident Involving US Visitor

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 14th February 2020)-Minister of Public Infrastructure, Posts, Urban Development, and Transport Ian ‘Patches’ Liburd is encouraging sea vessel users- particularly small boat operators- to exercise safety according to the maritime requirements especially at nights and early mornings.

His advice- given in Parliament on Wednesday 12th February 2020- comes in light of this this week’s deadly boating accident in the Potato Bay area which claimed the life of a visitor from the US.

Dead is Timothy Doran of New York.

Police are currently investigating the accident which occurred at sea sometime after 7 p.m. on Sunday 9th February 2020.

Reportedly, investigations so far have revealed that a dinghy, which had two occupants, and the MV Caribbean Explorer II collided in the Potato Bay area following which the St. Kitts and Nevis Coast Guard was called and responded.

Police say Austin Edwards, a native of Ohio, U.S.A. who resides in St. Kitts, was taken to the JNF Hospital by members of the Emergency Medical Service and warded in a stable condition.

Doran experienced difficulties at sea and drowned. He was pronounced dead by the District Medical Doctor.

Both men were in the dinghy. 

The occupants of the MV Caribbean Explorer II were unharmed.

The media has been informed that police investigations into the matter are ongoing, and that the Maritime Affairs Department will also carry out an investigation into the incident.

In February 2018, another overseas visitor, 24-year-old Keryan Grimault Queret of France, died following a boating accident that occurred off Pinneys Beach in Nevis at about 4:30 p.m. on Saturday 24th February.

He was pronounced dead on the scene.

Police investigations revealed that Queret was struck by Motor Vessel “Good Luck,” which is owned by Vincent Perkins but was being operated by someone else.

The Coxswain (the person who steers the boat)  in police custody assisting with investigations which are ongoing.

 An autopsy examination done by Resident Pathologist, Dr. Adrian Quintana-Nunez, concluded that the cause of death was due to traumatic shock with multiple traumatic injuries as a result of a collision with a boat.

Minister Liburd, during his presentation, commented that the Department of Maritime Affairs is conducting investigations into “two serious boating accidents.”

He said that department “is working in collaboration with the St.Kitts- Nevis Coast Guard and the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force to establish the cause of these accidents but in the meantime I must implore those boat captains, those fisher folks who are going [to] with their pirogues especially early morning or late night, you have to be conform to the marine requirements.”

New Info Surfaces in Grant, Powell Matter

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New Info Surfaces in Grant, Powell Matter

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 14th February 2020) – “This is an amazing attempt at damage control. It’s an amazing attempt at damage control that I have never seen in my life before that rather than deal with the matter in the court you are now publicly attacking the aggrieved party and the lawyers representing them. Well guess what? You have perhaps made the wrong choice.”

So said lawyer Sylvester Anthony when he called into the weekly sponsored ‘Issues’ programme of the People’s Action Movement (PAM) featuring Chairman Jonel Powell and Parliamentary Representative for Constituency Four Lindsay Grant aired yesterday (13th February 2020) on Freedom FM, hosted by Juni Liburd.

Grant and Powell-both lawyers by profession- are defendants in an ongoing court matter surrounding misappropriating of client’s funds by claimant Tanzania Tobing Tanzil who is being represented by the Law offices of Sylvester Anthony.

“I need to make just two points very, very clearly. Until now we have spoken in my Chambers- my client Mr. Tanzil- have through the filings we have made in court; filings which the two gentlemen on your paid programme had opportunities to respond to. One can judge what the responses have been this far- but we have remained silent in this matter and spoke through our court filings. Now that these two gentlemen have decided to take this matter on the public airwaves and to attack our client and as well as ourselves, my chambers, you can rest assured that we will be responding in due course,” Anthony pointed out.

He continued: “Perhaps, one of the first things they need to explain to the public is what has happened to the criminal complaint filed by client Mr Tanzil and why is it that the police inspector who was investigating that criminal complaint was so merrily transferred out of the unit that was investigating the complaint to an out station. That is a matter that we’ll be following in the next few days so now that they have decided to make this matter a political matter, we will respond in kind since the effort now is to not just attack the client but to attack the firm representing the client. This is an amazing attempt at damage control. It’s an amazing attempt at damage control that I have never seen in my life before that rather than deal with the matter in the court you are now publicly attacking the aggrieved party and the lawyers representing them. Well, guess what? You have perhaps made the wrong choice.”

Following Anthony’s remarks, when asked by the show’s host asked for a response Grant stated “I would not even dignify that with a response to which Powell replied “Agreed. I stick by the judgement of the court.”

Grant while speaking about alleged political nature of the issue before Anthony called in had stated: “ I find this nothing but a political ploy by Mr.Tanzil and his legal team and I hold no water in my mouth  to say that; a political ploy by Mr.Tanzil and his legal team to sully our good names…”

According to Powell: “This thing is nothing more than political propaganda and it goes to show that no matter how they may try to change their name or change a face here or there, it is the same old Labour Party nasty politics and propaganda and I am disappointed that members of the legal fraternity have allowed themselves to get caught up in this.”

Other sentiments linked to the topic saw Powell expressing further sentiments such as “This matter is all about politics. Elections are upon us.” and “The same old nasty Labour politics has reared its head.”

At this week’s court of appeal sitting, Powell explained that as a result of the hearing, their application was dismissed as filed “due to a procedural defect and now we’re at liberty to refile the documents correcting that defect. We have already instructed our legal counsel and hopefully by the end of today that should have been dealt with and refiled before the court of Appeal next sitting hopefully once it is scheduled so.”

He pointed out that he and Grant are confident that they have done “nothing wrong” and that the court will find such in their favour.

Police Looking For Second Man Reported Missing; Update Given On Last Seen Details Of First

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Police Looking For Second Man Reported Missing; Update Given On Last Seen Details Of First

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 7th February 2020)– Police on St.Kitts are currently trying to track down the whereabouts of a second Kittitian male last seen wearing all black clothing, similar to a first reported missing individual not seen over one month to date with updated details regarding when he was last seen.

Reported missing most recently is 36-year-old Jabal Henry of River Ghaut, Upper Cayon.

36-year-old Jabal Henry

Police say he was last seen on the night of Friday 31st January 2020 walking along the Kim Collins Highway wearing a black shirt and a long black pant.

Henry is described to be of a dark skin complexion, 5’ 7’’ in height and a medium built with black eyes and black hair.

Meanwhile, police continue to search for 21-year-old Charlvin Marks of Verchilds Heights who was last seen on Thursday 19th December 2019.

21-year-old Charlvin Marks

On Tuesday this week (4th February), police issued a missing person poster regarding Henry and also re-issued one for Marks with more details including an updated photo.

Marks’ is described to have a dark skin complexion with black hair and black eyes. Furthermore, he has a medium build with features of a scar on the center of the nose and facial hair.

According to the additional information provided by police, he is 5’ 11’’ height.

As reported by police in the latest poster provided, Marks was last seen leaving home on December 19, 2019 wearing a black sweater and a black sweatpants, with a backpack on his back and a t-square in his hand.

Originally, in the first poster for Marks issued on Thursday 30th December 2019, however, police said he was last seen at about 6:30 p.m. at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College wearing a black sweater and a black sweat pants, with a back pack on his back and a t-square in his hand.

Police are making an appeal for persons with any information regarding the whereabouts of these two men to contact the Criminal Investigation Department at 465-2241, the nearest Police Station or the crime hotline at 707.

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Man Arrested In Murder Investigation Of Kennedy Isles

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Man Arrested In Murder Investigation Of Kennedy Isles

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 7th February 2020)-Detectives investigating the shooting death of national footballer 28-year-old Kennedy ‘K’ Isles- the first recorded homicide victim for 2020-have made an arrest in the case which reportedly saw several persons assisting police.

Charged with murder is 28-year-old K’Shando Saunders of Dorset Village.

Police informed Monday this week (3rd February) that he was charged the day before 2nd February) and is currently in custody.

Initial investigations revealed that Isles of Taylor’s Village, who resided at Sandown Road in Newtown, was outside his home when he was approached by an armed assailant who opened fire at him sometime after 9 p.m. on Friday 24th January.

Reportedly, Isles was wounded several times about the body and succumbed to his injuries at the scene. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the District Medical Officer.

Pathologist Dr. Valery Alexandrov who performed an autopsy two days later on Sunday 26th January 26, concluded that the cause of death was as a result of multiple gunshot wounds to the body.

A police statement dated 30th January, disclosed that several persons had been assisting the police with the investigation into Isle’s death.

 It was reported that two persons were taken into custody on Wednesday 29th January to assist with investigations while another two were recently released from custody after being held on the same grounds.

Additionally, police disclosed then that the investigative arm of the force was following every lead in the case.

Booked Music Festival Artiste Captures Historic Grammy Award

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Booked Music Festival Artiste Captures Historic Grammy Award

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 7th February 2020) – Booked artiste for the June 2020 edition of the annual St.Kitts Music Festival, 19-year-old Jamaican Reggae sensation Mikayla ‘Koffee’ Simpson, has something historically special to toast these days having captured the award for Best Reggae Album at the recent 62nd Grammy Awards in the US, being the only female and youngest solo artiste to do so.

The prestigious yearly star-studded event, featuring some of the biggest names in music, was held in Las Vegas at the Staple Center on Sunday 26th January 2020.

Koffee has won such a high-status  award for her five track debut EP (Extended Play) album dubbed ‘Rapture’- released on March 14, 2019-which includes hits like the title track ‘Rapture” and her first single ‘Toast’.

The other four nominees for the Best Reggae Album Grammy category were Julian Marley (As I Am), Sly & Robbie & Roots Radics (The Final Battle: Sly & Robbie Vs. Roots Radics), Steel Pulse (Mass Manipulation) and Third World (More Work To Be Done).

In her acceptance speech, Koffee thanked the producers and everyone who helped to make ‘Rapture’ what it is today.

Additionally, the young recording artiste saluted the contributions and work of Reggae icons (including fellow Grammy nominees), generations ahead of her “for all of the input they have put in Reggae industry and the music. I’ve learnt a lot from them and from other older people in the industry and that’s why I’m here; that’s what brought us all here so I just want to say that this one is for all of us. This one is for Reggae and this for Jamaica.”

On Monday 3rd February, Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness, via his social media page Twitter, PM Holness shared that he received a courtesy call from Koffee that afternoon.

He had this to say: “I am extremely proud of Koffee’s historic achievement; having someone as youthful and creative as her with such powerful melodies that are appealing to everyone is impeccable for our music and culture.”

The other acts announced in December 2019 are Jimmy Cliff, Chronixx, Whiz Kid and Kollision Band.

In other related the St. Kitts Music Festival news, the final lineup for the 2020 St. Kitts Music Festival is scheduled to be revealed tonight (Friday 7th February) at Splash Bar  located at the Royal St. Kitts Hotel in Frigate Bay.

The festival’s organising committee issued a statement this week advising the public that it is aware that a flyer is being disseminated that incorrectly states that a few artistes were “just released”  noting that such advertisement is “illegitimate”. 

The fake flyer included three acts namely Cardi B, Meek Mill and DaBaby.

Break-In At Warner Park Throws Off Regional Match Start Schedule

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Break-In At Warner Park Throws Off Regional Match Start Schedule

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 7th February 2020)- This week, a break-in on the compound of the Warner Park Cricket Stadium has caused a delay in starting the four-day match schedule of the Hurricanes v Pride West Indies Championship.

As a result, yesterday’s planned first day game is slated to take place today (Friday 7th February 2020) instead.

This media house has gathered that some of the equipment for team Barbados were stolen.

The Cricket West Indies (CWI) via a press released yesterday revealed that: “Due to an overnight break-in at the players pavilion at Warner Park, St. Kitts, the scheduled start of the fourth round match of the West Indies Championship on Thursday has been delayed by one day. The match will now start on Friday at 10am (9am Jamaica Time).”

According to the sports source, local hosts Leeward Islands Hurricanes and the St. Kitts Cricket Association have confirmed to Cricket West Indies that local police are investigating the matter and that all necessary steps are being taken to mitigate against such a situation recurring.

As communicated further, the delayed start to this fixture is not expected to have any significant impact on the ongoing series of matches across the region.

Guyana Jaguars vs Jamaica Scorpions at Guyana National Stadium Windward Islands Volcanoes vs Trinidad & Tobago Red Force at Windsor Park, Dominica are the other matches ongoing in the fourth round.

A longstanding cricket supporter, in sharing some sentiments on the break-in incident, is hoping that the incident will not spoil the Federation’s venue as a top selection over the years for regional and international levels of the game.

Speaking under the condition of anonymity (name withheld), that individual commented: “well I would like to say I am disappointed at what happened [and] I hope the perpetrators are captured. This, I hope, will not stain our legacy as host of many levels of cricket and I hope the authorities make changes to ensure such an incident never happens again.”

Top Health Official Confident SKN Can Handle Coronavirus If It Gets Here

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Top Health Official Confident SKN Can Handle Coronavirus If It Gets Here

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 7th February 2020)-Quizzed about whether the Federation has health workers trained to care, individuals, if they become infected with the Coronavirus here in St.Kitts-Nevis, Chief of Staff at the Joseph N. France General Hospital Dr. Cameron Wilkinson has publicly given a positive response.

“The answer is yes. We deal with respiratory diseases all the time and as I mentioned the preventive measures are the measures we use for the common cold flu influenza and so these are procedures that we would have been familiar with.”

Dr. Wilkinson, at the time, was responding during the question and answer segment of a press conference put by the Ministry of Health on Monday 3rd February 2020 at Government Headquarters.

New Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Dr. Delores Stapleton- Harris disclosed that the main objective of the press conferece was to provide the Federation with a comprehensive update on the novel Coronavirus that was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

According to WHO, the current outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was first reported from Wuhan, China, on 31 December 2019.

To date- as gathered by this media- more than 28,000 people have now contracted the virus with the vast majority of cases in China where there is a death toll of 618.

Local health officials in St.Kitts-Nevis maintain that the risk of the coronavirus to the people of the Federation is low.

In further responding to another question posed about the newness of this particular coronavirus and the potential challenges as it relates to health care, Dr. Wilkinson stated: “Let me put things into perspective, as it relates to the flu, last year we had about 19 million cases in the United States  and about 180 persons were  hospitalised and about 10,000 deaths, and globally we have about three to five million persons who were severely ill from the flu with about 250, 000 deaths  and the reason what we’re talking about the coronavirus is not that it’s the most deadliest virus that has come around but because it is novel…it is new to us and we’re putting mitigation measures in place but it’s not that we have not dealt with diseases that were more deadly than this before and that is the reason why we’re saying there should be no panic and we’re trying to contain it.”

The Ministry of Health recommends good personal hygiene practices to prevent the common cold/flu:  Hand-washing; – Covering the nose and mouth with tissue or flexed elbow when coughing and sneezing; – Avoiding close contact to anyone with cold or flu symptoms; and – Remaining at home from school if one has a cold or flu. 

Meanwhile, a caller to the live broadcasted ‘Health Wise’ show-hosted by the St.Kitts Medical and Dental Association that night on ZIZ TV- asked the panel if the Ministry of Health has guidelines to address the coronavirus illness if it reaches St.Kitts-Nevis.

Former Chief Medical Officer Dr. Patrick Martin, in responding, informed that general public health guidelines were developed since 2002 when the Federation had to prepare for Sars.

“Those guidelines were then updated for Cricket World Cup 2007 because we were preparing for an influx of hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Caribbean and as you know when people travel, they travel with their credit card and they travel with diseases.”

Dr. Martin went on to say that such guidelines were amended in 2009 for the H1N1 influenza commonly known as Swine Flu and amended again for Ebola, Zika and Chicken Gunya.

“Public health measures are fairly standard, you just have to rest them for the particular infection. The guidelines exist and specifically what facilities are ready and stuff like that. The questions are better addressed by our colleagues who are managing the Ministry of Health…”

He said such public health guideline information can be found on the websites of CARPHA (Caribbean Public Health Agency) and PAHO (Pan American Health Organization) noting that there is “total transparency” as it relates to such.

Multiple Gunshots Claim Life Of National Footballer Kennedy ‘K’ Isles

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Multiple Gunshots Claim Life Of National Footballer Kennedy ‘K’ Isles

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 31st January 2020)– An autopsy report has revealed that homicide victim national footballer 28-year-old Kennedy ‘K’ Isles died from multiple gunshot wounds following a shooting incident outside his home over the past weekend.

Police are reporting that several persons have been assisting the shooting death investigation, and that one of two individuals taken into custody has been released to date.

“Several persons have been assisting the Police with investigations into the death of Kennedy Isles who was fatally wounded on January 24, 2020. Two persons were taken into Police custody on Wednesday to assist with investigations, while another two were recently released from custody after being held on the same grounds. The investigative arm of the Force is following every lead in the case,” a police statement issued yesterday (Thursday 30th January 2020) read.

Investigations so far have revealed that the Taylor’s Village resident, who resided at Sandown Road in Newtown, was outside his home when he was approached by an armed assailant who opened fire at him sometime after 9 p.m.

Reportedly, Isles was wounded several times about the body and succumbed to his injuries at the scene. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the District Medical Officer.

Pathologist Dr. Valery Alexandrov who performed an autopsy two days later on Sunday 26th January 26, concluded that the cause of death was as a result of multiple gunshot wounds to the body.

 Police are making an appeal to anyone who might have any information to call the Violent Crimes Unit (VCU) at 467-1887, 662-3468, their nearest Police Station or via using the crime hotline 707.

Isle’s death is the first recorded homicide for 2020.

The St.Kitts-Nevis Football Association (SKNFA), in a social media post on Facebook expressed condolences saying: “The SKNFA and the entire football family in St. Kitts and Nevis is saddened by the news of the death of Senior Men’s Team and Newtown United player Kennedy “K” Isles last evening, Friday 24 January 2020. We take this opportunity to extend our condolences to the family of Kennedy and the members of the Newtown United Football Club. Our prayers and our thoughts are with his family and the members of the Newtown United FC during this time.

Internationally-recognised footballer from St.Kitts-Nevis Atiba Harris, too, has conveyed sympathies while applauding the athletic abilities of his former national teammate.

“Rest easy my brother Kennedy Isles. Condolences to the family and friends. As a friend and a former national teammate, I’ll miss you. You were one of those players who could have done anything with the ball and blessed with natural ability. You were a game changer. You had personality… You brought life to our training camps on national team but also made it known when you weren’t pleased with what was going on. You’ve lived your life your way and I’m happy to have known you. It’s truly sad that you have departed from us this way but your memories will surely live on… Rest Easy Baller K ️🇰🇳… Condolences to your family again…” he remarked in a Facebook post.

In other gun-related news, on Monday 20th January 2020, police responded to a report of gunshots being fired in the vicinity of the Golden Grove Projects in Nevis at about 10:15 p.m.

Investigations so far have revealed that two juveniles and two adults were in a yard when two masked assailants approached them and fired several shots in their direction before fleeing the scene.

No one was injured.

Police are making an appeal to anyone who might have any information in relation to this incident to call the Violent Crimes Unit (Nevis) at 469-5269 or their nearest Police Station.

CMO: Coronavirus Risk To SKN Low

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CMO: Coronavirus Risk To SKN Low

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 31st January 2020) – Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Hazel Laws says the health risk from the coronavirus to the Federation of St.Kitts-Nevis is low.

“The health risk from this new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) to the people of the Federation and the wider Caribbean is still deemed to be low. However, we must take proactive preparedness precautions,” she informed in a statement issued on Friday 24th January 2020.

In touching on the Federation’s preparedness precautions, Dr. Laws said the Ministry of Health (MOH) continues to recommend good personal hygiene practices to prevent the common cold/flu: – Hand-washing; – Covering the nose and mouth with tissue or flexed elbow when coughing and sneezing; – Avoiding close contact to anyone with cold or flu symptoms; and – Remaining at home from school if one has a cold or flu. 

 Secondly, she disclosed that it must be noted that all incoming air travellers to the Federation must complete question # 17 of the “Welcome to St. Kitts and Nevis” Immigration/Customs Form. 

“This question requires a listing of all countries travellers may have visited in the past six (6) months.  Incoming travellers from Mainland China will be asked to provide travel history, history of exposure to the virus, and contact information,” Dr. Laws informed.

According to this top health official, the Federal Ministry of Health wishes to inform the public that there will be increased surveillance of all incoming travellers at our ports of entry (POEs), particularly involving all international flights and the following three (3) regional hubs – Antigua, St. Maarten and Puerto Rico.

In providing some background information on the virus, she shared that there is an outbreak of a new coronavirus respiratory infection taking place on Mainland China.

“It started in Wuhan City, China, which is the epicentre, and as of today Friday, January 24, 2020, over eight (8) countries have reported confirmed cases to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The latest two countries to report confirmed cases are the United States of America (USA) and France.  Thus far, there are over 830 cases (suspected and confirmed) and approximately twenty-six (26) deaths,” she stated.

Dr. Laws went on to point out that person to person transmission is occurring and older persons with chronic diseases are seriously impacted. Symptoms, she said, include fever, chills, runny nose, muscle pains, and difficulty breathing and coughing which may signal that the person has a lower respiratory illness.

As told, the office of the CMO  has stressed that The National Pandemic Influenza/Virus Preparedness Plan is being updated and that the public will be updated on this new coronavirus infection as often as may be required.

To this media house’s knowledge, there has been no change nor update in regard to the content of this most recent information.

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