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PM, Brantley Unaware of Airport Security Breach

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PM, Brantley Unaware of Airport Security Breach

By: Spokesman Newsroom 

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Friday 12th April 2019)- Responding to a reporter’s question about an alleged recent security breach at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport, Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr. Timothy Harris disclosed that he is unaware that such an incident has taken place.   

 “Like the Minister of Aviation [Mark Brantley], I do not know of that, and this is a season perhaps for rumour mongering and for these kind of scandalous and unsubstantiated claims to be put.”

Dr. Harris was at the time replying during the question and answer segment of his live broadcast monthly press conference held on Tuesday 9th April at the Parliamentary Lounge at Government Headquarters on Church Street.

The reporter pointed out that when contacted Aviation Minister Brantley said he was not aware of the alleged incident but was going to take a look and investigate it.

To this end, the National Security was asked whether the incident, which allegedly involved a government official or government minister, happened and what was being done about it.

Credible information reaching this media house indicates that the alleged offender of that incident in question is a certain top ranking male government official of the Team Unity Government led by PM Harris.

 This media house has learnt also that the complainant in the matter is a female employed as a security officer who at the time working the departure lounge area of the airport.

Further details gathered claim that the airport worker informed the official that he was not allowed to go beyond a point which was met with disobedience on his part to make good on such aviation rules. Additionally, it is said that the official  was also vocally defiant while interacting with the security officer.

The day after Dr. Harris’ press conference, his political opponent Leon Natta-Nelson of the opposition St.Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) for Constituency Seven- who is a senior customs officer- chimed in on the widely debated matter during his appearance on the Party’s weekly sponsored ‘Issues’ programme aired live on Freedom FM (106.5) on Wednesday 10th April.

 “”Listening to the Prime Minister’s press conference, the leaders of this government seem to maliciously want to dismiss that there was an incident at the airport where there was a breach of security,” he commented.

According to Natta-Nelson: “National security should be treated with the utmost respect and seriousness and should be dealt with in a proper manner at all times. To dismiss the claims that there was no issue or ‘I cannot recall or the Minister of Aviation did not say anything; did not mention anything to me’, is totally disrespectful to the people of this nation of St Kitts and Nevis. We ought to know better and do better than that.”

Occupational Safety & Health

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Occupational Safety & Health

By: Joseph Jones

Workers (People), this is serious business. Give thanks to the St.Kitts-Nevis Trades & Labour Union. To be envious does not meet our needs at this time.

Listen: Envy is rottenness. We can’t renew our minds by ourselves; it’s the transforming work of this organisation that help us at the workplaces (example: from a peasant economy to major industrial power). Thanks to them it’s the act of merging two or more things to become one workers! Do you hear how confident I am?

Speak up and become a member. Listen to me again: It hurts when one is bullied (persecute and no one will help. That often make bullies more brazen (bold) leading them to apply extreme force at the workplace. Their meanness worsens and it heightens the embarrassment, false shame and loneliness of the worker so it is imperative to speak up against the behavior of some managers and supervisors.

This is the voice of a courageous union.

Let me move on. Despite all precautions, some people can’t get their life in order because others keep messing it up even at the workplaces.

Some of us believe stinking up the surrounding with “garbage”. It is said that nothing outside can condemn or contaminate; only what’s inside, and so what I am saying is that the real attitude that causes us to turn up our nose at a big sniff while ignoring the stench.

Before I close, let me say something to you operators (drivers of trucks and other automotive equipment. Should you use any available helper when backing or making difficult turn or approaches,  hello!, it is the driver’s responsibility to call upon the helper for assistance for any special purpose when that is needed.  Helpers should always be assigned to trucks. Their duties include any and all reasonable help for safe and efficient operation of the job. And to you the driver (1) When parking, shut off motor and set hand brake before leaving vehicle. (2) Switch off engine when filling tank with gasoline (3) Use proper signals when slowing down, turning or stopping.

Thanking you.

*Note well* Our words have the power to build up or tear down.

Police Investigating Robberies On Both Islands

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Police Investigating Robberies On Both Islands

By: Spokesman Newsroom

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts-(Friday 12th April 2019)-Police are currently investigating two separate armed robberies which took place two days apart on Nevis then on St. Kitts.

According to police on Friday 5th April on Nevis, preliminary investigations have revealed that sometime after 1 p.m., Ralph Ottley of Brazziers had arrived at his home and was about to enter his yard when he was attacked by three (3) armed masked men.

Reportedly, they demanded money and managed to escape with a small sum of cash. They fired several shots before fleeing the scene. Ottley was transported to the Alexandra Hospital where he was treated and discharged for minor injuries.

The scene was visited and processed by members of the Forensic Unit and items of evidential value were taken into custody.

Investigations into the matter are ongoing. Anyone with information about this incident are asked to contact the Criminal Investigation Department by dialling 469-5392 or their nearest police station.

Regarding the incident on St.Kitts, local authorities have reported that investigations so far have revealed that at about 10:30 PM on Sunday 7th April, three masked men entered a restaurant on Wellington Road and demanded money.

Reportedly, one of them had what appeared to be a firearm. They robbed the customers present of their money and also took a sum of cash from the cash register before fleeing the scene. No one was injured during the incident.

Investigations into the matter are ongoing. Persons with information about this incident are asked to contact the Criminal Investigation Department at the Basseterre Police Station by dialing 465-2241, their nearest Police Station or the crime hotline at 707.

Easter Aquatic Sports Back Again

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Easter Aquatic Sports Back Again

By: Precious Mills  

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts-(Friday 12th April 2019)-“Most of the plans have been in place a month and a half ago.”

So said the Event Coordinator of the upcoming 61st annual Basil Henderson Easter Monday Aquatic Sports Meet, Winston ‘Zack’ Nisbett, during a recent sit-down interview with this media house.

The yearly outdoorsy event is slated to take place on Monday 22nd April at the Basseterre Ferry Terminal, starting at 9 AM.

DJ Dice and Vigilante Sounds are included on the entertainment line-up.

As usual, there will be the regular swim races like the freestyle, breast stroke, butterfly, backstroke, long distance underwater dive and long distance swim as well as the greasy pole ham and money fetch competitions.

Nisbett continued: “This year we are having new initiatives, new features; we’ll be focusing a lot on activities of a more indigenous nature such as the lime and spoon , we might be doing some skipping rope too, and apart from the skipping , we’ll be doing the eating the buns off the string contest. 

According to him, there will be activities and other competitions for the ordinary individuals to partake.

“We are creating a lot of mechanisms this year to make people happy done there so even when the ham race and other highly competitive events are finished, were are going to be introducing new measures so that the ordinary people could get a chance to involve themselves in something.” 

Hula-hoop and three-legged races are expected to take place as well.

“We are thinking of the kayaking races this year again so that we have something different. Additionally, pertaining to the boxing, we will try to feature that once more as we trying to get some of the youth involved. We’ll have some youths who are already registered going in pairs so that they could demonstrate their skills.”

Sponsors and contributors include Courts (St.Kitts-Nevis) Ltd. Builders Paradise, Diamond Security, TDC Automotive, Hobson Enterprise, Uncle T’s (Terrence Dolphin), Indigo Yacht, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), Ashbury’s, Letisha (Letty) Ryan, Andrew Miller, Shashamane Bar, Sugar City FM, Family Snackette, St.Kitts-Nevis Brewery Ltd., Koscab, Scenic Railway, SKN Newsline, Warner’s  One Stop, Demerara Distillers, Coury’s Wholesale, Coury’s Hardware, Sun Island Clothes Ltd., TDC Home & Building Depot, Dominos, Island Hopper, Harpers, Roslind Nicholls, ZIZ Radio/TV, RAMS, John Richards, Karen Liburd, Freedom FM, The Democrat, The Labour Spokesman, China Town, Sea View Inn, Coast Guard, Tropical Shipping, Stage Lighting (Loftus Bridgewater), ZanPach, Best For Less, Solomon Sahely, Fancy Loaf Bakery, FLOW, S.L Horsford & Company Ltd., St.Kitts Electricity Company (SKELEC), Red Cross and St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force.

No Sentence Reduction For Kevon Hamilton Despite Good Behaviour

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No Sentence Reduction For Kevon Hamilton Despite Good Behaviour

By: Spokesman Newsroom 

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 12th April 2019)-A 25-year-old man who recently received a life imprisonment sentence for a 2015 murder has been labelled for having committed the worst of worst crime despite his good conduct while behind bars.

Following a 10-2 Guilty verdict in November 2018, Kevon Hamilton of St. Paul’s learnt his fate on Friday 5th April regarding the shooting death of businessman Ernest ‘Grey Patch’ Hendricks of Palmetto Point during an armed robbery incident which took place on Wednesday 24th June 2015 at the deceased’s bakery.

Hendricks, who was hospitalised following the shooting, died some 13 days after on Tuesday 7th July at the Joseph N. France General Hospital.

A spokesperson at the Police Public Relations Department following the sentencing at the high court in Basseterre said “The court commented that murder with a firearm places that type of murder into the worst of the worst. The court further argued that his seemly good character or attempt at rehabilitation whilst in prison cannot overshadow what he did.”

On the day in question in June 2015, the Violent Crime Unit (VCU) responded to the shooting incident which occurred just before 6:00 am Hendricks’s small business place located at Palmetto Point.

Initial investigations revealed that an armed masked assailant entered the bakery and attacked Hendricks and injured him during the attack.

As understood from sources, Hendricks’ attacker demanded money to which he resisted, and was shot in his stomach. 

Hendricks was transported to the hospital by the EMS (Emergency Medical Services) for medical attention and was warded in critical but stable condition before his health took a turn for the worst. Hamilton was charged in December 2015.

Interschool Championship Title Back In SP

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Interschool Championship Title Back In SP

By: Spokesman Newsroom

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Friday 5th April 2019) – For the sixth year in a row, the Charlestown E. Mills Secondary School (CEMSS) in Sandy Point has copped the TDC interschool Championships with an overall medal count of 79 following three days of athletic completion (Friday 29th to Sunday 31st March) at the Kim Collins Athletic Stadium in Bird Rock.

With 29 gold, 27 silver and 23 bronze medals, the Eagles team soared above the competition yet again, beating 10 other schools.

Taking the second place was the Basseterre High School (BHS) with 24 gold 25 silver and 14 bronze followed by Charlestown Secondary School (CSS) with 21 gold, 15 silver and 16 bronze.

The other results are as follows:

The Washington Archibald High (WAHS) – 15 gold 9, silver and 16 bronze

Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) – 7 gold, 5 silver and 5 bronze

Immaculate Conception Catholic School (ICCS) – 4 gold 2 silver and 1 bronze

Advanced Vocational Educational Centre (AVEC) -2 gold, 0 silver and 0 bronze

Verchild’s High School (VHS) – 1 gold, 9 silver and 10 bronze

Saddler’s Secondary School (SSS)-  1 gold, 2, silver and 4 bronze

Cayon Hig School (CHS)- 0 gold, 5 silver and 11 bronze Gingerland SecondarySchool (GSS)-0 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze

Public Wants Rape Accusers Names

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Public Wants Rape Accusers Names

By: Spokesman Newsroom

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Friday 5th April 2019)-To date, two mean have been charged by police regarding two separate sexual violence incidents involving a teenager and a child, and members of the public have been questioning why the identities of the accusers are not known after being charged by police.

A source at the police public relations department has given a reminder that there is an Act which protects the names of the victims and the accusers from being released. To this end, however, unless an accuser has been convicted at the court, his/her information cannot be publicised while the victim’s identity remains protected.

Such legal framework is extended to news reporting also as reporters have to their part in responsible reporting as it relates to crimes of such sensitive nature, and most recently the relevant information surrounding the act was disseminated to members of the media in 2018 in light of a highly controversial matter in the public domain which saw fingers being pointed as a particular official regarding an alleged incident.

Regarding the most recent incidents, one week after the teenage female was raped on Saturday 23rd March, police say a man from the Basseterre area was charged on Saturday 30th March.

In the other matter, local authorities have reported that a man from the western side of the island has been charged for three (3) counts of Unlawful Carnal Knowledge and one (1) count of Indecent Assault for incidents involving a minor.

He was charged on Saturday 30 March also.

In relation to the teen victim, the incident reportedly occurred in the Basseterre area sometime after 8 PM on the day in question.

Preliminary reports indicate that the assailant was following the young lady and forced her to a vacant lot of land where he assaulted her.

Shaping Youth Development And Growth Through Art

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Shaping Youth Development And Growth Through Art

By: Precious Mills

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Friday 5th April 2019)-On Saturday afternoons, Sue Woodard assembles at Mr. X Shiggidy Shack located on the Frigate Bay strip for her Kreative Kids session which is an art painting class for children.

In an exclusive interview, she informed that classes have been in operation for just over two years to date and was initially carried out at Olivia’s at South Friar’s Bay before the business place closed.

It is in such a forum that children learn about shading, blending and how to construct. Additionally, they do basic shapes like triangle and circle which are then used to create figures such as fish and boats using acrylic paint.

Woodard, who originally hails from the US, highlighted that the source of inspiration and exposure came from Donna Leonhardt, another American, who visited the island during the winter season and did painting at South Friars on the beach which attracted many tourists coming off the cruise ships.

Having taken classes with Leonhardt, it was upon thinking that ‘Well, children deserve to have a painting classes also” which led to the start-up of Kreative Kids.

Originally Woodard wanted to become an artist and so she took a commercial art course in college in her homeland. Her life, however, took a different turn and she ended up becoming a registered nurse as she did not complete the art course.

Nonetheless, she considers her interest of desiring to pursue a college degree in art as a “good background” regarding her present status.

After remarrying, Woodard and her husband ended up in St.Kitts and got into a catering business specialised in baking tall column wedding cakes. Some individuals would be familiar with the couple going back to the days of Wednesday nights Karaoke hosted at former business place Sugars in Frigate Bay.

In speaking about the environment of the Kreative Kids session, she talked the benefits of the youngsters’ participation which includes problem solving skills and boost in pride.

“First thing, in art, you can’t make a mistake. If something goes wrong, I ask them to slow down and take a look to see how we can fix it.”

In that seemingly error scenario, the youngsters are encouraged to change a shape into something else or quickly wipe off the paint if it is still wet.

“As part of a problem solving skills, we encourage them to carry in real life to look for a solution instead of a problem in saying ‘the world is coming to an end’,” Woodard commented further.

She shared that “one of the kids in my class has a talent show coming up and is going to show it, and so there is the bolster pride of going to showcase these things.”

Woodard also conducts adult classes. 

She has made an observation that as people grown older, they tend lose confidence in their creative ability.

“It’s a funny thing in adults” she expressed before pointing out that if a study done among little children asked if they were creative, about 95% would say ‘Yes’ and for those in grade four then about 50% will say ‘Yes’ while in high school some 25% will say ‘Yes’.

According to Woodard, “By the time they graduate high school, only 5% will feel creative at times maybe because a teacher has said something to them.”

At present, she credits Leonhardt for still being a “wonderful source of information and construct.”

Currently, Woodard is doing a one year online course in Art Therapy, and she has gotten requests to work with children with autism at a centre in St.Kitts.

As understood from her, art is an outlet that can assist those children to develop and assimilate into society.

Woodard pointed out that typically autistic children would need more work as it relates to socialisation  and that “art us a good way  to bring out the quiet parts of a person.”

“A part of the brain and heart realize more things [and can expand] a lot in art therapy. It (art) helps to overcome fears, gives a sense of accomplishment and have fun,” she added.

Woodard can be contacted at 1-869-762-3967.

Occupational Safety and Health

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Occupational Safety and Health

By: Joseph Jones

Workers (People), we have lived in this old world so long that we may have stopped to noticing how much stress we feel over world conditions. Similarly, people like me who live near the airport may no longer notice the noise and those who live near a garbage dump may no longer notice the smell.

Hello! Take away all those negative factors (an element that contributes to a result). What relief! What will replace the stresses we feel now? THE AWARENESS. Does not the word ‘awareness’. Does not that word impact your mindset? Workers, we need to meditate on what we read; it is very important and that is why I write every week on this topic.

Hear this: At times, very powerful forces tried to keep us down but the St.Kitts-Nevis Trades & Labour Union, very sincerely, stood up to such opposition. For many of us today, money is the big issue. We are focused on accumulating wealth or holding on to what we have. For this union, the biggest issue is better working conditions-health and safety, and personal accomplishments.

As I continue to write, my eyes have seen the needs of you (the workers) in these difficult times.

Mark you, moving forward would be difficult and would require uncomfortable work, perhaps even facing family problems or finding ourselves in unexpected places; places we never planned nor wanted to be. We may be drowning in debt or to prevent by physical barriers or suffering under the weight of consequences at the workplace (to accept whatever result from one’s action) whether you find yourselves in a prison or palace.

My advice to you all is to forget what lies behind and press forward. The past is no barrier to moving forward with occupational safety and health.

Before I close let me say two (2) things: Use all safety devices when necessary safety equipment is more effective before an accident occurs than afterwards, and to you the electricians, in handling any circuit known to be ‘alive’, whenever possible use only one hand. It is best to keep the other hand behind the back. The most dangerous shocks are those from hand to hand.

Continue reading these weekly articles.

‘Small but tallawah’ Praise For New Primary School Champions

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‘Small but tallawah’ Praise For New Primary School Champions

By: Spokesman Newsroom

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Friday 29th March 2019)-‘Small but tallawah’ was quite applicable for team Dieppe Bay Primary School for its victory in securing the 2019 Rams Primary School Championships back-to back athletic days (Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th March) at the Kim Collins Athletic Stadium in Bird Rock.

Athletes of the winning school dashed away with 9 Gold medals, 5 Silver medals, and 4 Bronze medals beating 16 other schools including the three-peat competitors Dr. William Connor Primary.

This media house understands that Dieppe Bay Primary which has school population of about 93 student- with an athletic squad of about 30 members-was an underdog team compared to the bigger schools.

Following in second position was Cayon Primary School with 7 Gold medals, 10 Silver medals, and 8 Bronze medals and taking the third spot- the Dr. William Connor Primary School with 6 Gold medals, 9 Silver medals, and 8 Bronze medals.

The other results are as follows:

George Moody Stuart Primary School – 6 Gold; 2 Silver; 1 Bronze.

Sandy Point Primary School – 5 Gold; 8 Silver; 6 Bronze.

St. Paul’s Primary School – 4 Gold; 4 Silver; 2 Bronze.

Tucker Clarke Primary School – 4 Gold; 3 Silver; 4 Bronze.

Beach Allen Primary School – 4 Gold; 1 Silver; 4 Bronze.

Joshua Obadiah Williams Primary School – 3 Gold; 0 Silver; 3 Bronze.

Tyrell Williams Primary School – 2 Gold; 6 Silver; 5 Bronze.

Estridge Primary School – 2 Gold; 0 Silver; 0 Bronze.

Saddlers Primary School – 1 Gold; 2 Silver; 4 Bronze.

Edgar T Morris Primary – 1 Gold; 0 Silver; 0 Bronze.

Newton Ground Primary School – 0 Gold; 4 Silver; 2 Bronze.

Irishtown Primary School – 0 Gold; 1 Silver; 0 Bronze.

Deane- Glasford Primary School – 0 Gold; 0 Silver; 1 Bronze.

Immaculate Conception Catholic Primary School – 0 Gold; 0 Silver; 1 Bronze.

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