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Deadly Bloodshed Valentine’s Day In SKN

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Deadly Bloodshed Valentine’s Day In SKN

By: Spokesman Newsroom

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 15th February 2019)- What should have been a day with an overriding theme of love turned out to be one of deadly bloodshed as the St.Kitts-Nevis recorded its two latest homicides yesterday (Thursday) on Valentine’s Day with three recorded deaths in under 24 hours.

Up to press time last night, the Federation’s homicide count for 2019 stood at seven (six in St.Kitts and one in Nevis) with those in St.Kitts taking place in the space of seven days.

Gavin Rogers

The latest recorded killing-according to credible information-was that of Gavin Rogers of Old Road. Further details reaching this media house indicates that he was shot at his home sometime after 12 noon. He is believed to be in his late 20s to early 30s.

Joel ‘Bouyaka’ Phillip– said to be in his 20s- was shot and killed sometime close to 4 AM at his home in the St. Johnston community that day.

Joel ‘Bouyaka’ Phillip– said to be in his 20s- was shot and killed sometime close to 4 AM at his home in the St. Johnston community that day.

Vere Amory who carries the nicknames of ‘Stiff Jacket’ and ‘Money’ of Ponds Pasture, Newtown-believe to be in his 30s-was fatally attacked sometime after 7:00 PM in Sandy Point on Wednesday 12th February.

At about 10 PM on Monday 11th February, 28-year-old Eric Thompson, also known as Jun Jun, of Ponds Pasture had arrived at his home when he was shot several times about the body by a lone gunman. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Last Friday (8th February), 33-year-old Musa ‘Ziggy’ Warner and 22-year-old Shakeem Stevens succumbed to their gunshot injuries at the hospital shortly after being attacked by masked gunmen sometime after 10PM in the Green Tree area in Old Road.

Both men were shot multiple times about the body.

St.Kitts-Nevis’ first recorded homicide for 2019 was the death of a New Year ’s Day gunshot victim 28-year-old Nevisian Jahziel Jalani Liburd who died on Tuesday 22nd January while warded at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Alexandra Hospital in Nevis.

During the early hours of Tuesday 1st January, Liburd and another young man, 22-year-old Keon Moore of Bath Plain, were left injured following a shooting incident at Stone Grove which occurred at about 6:12 AM.

Preliminary investigations by police revealed that both men were attacked by unknown assailants while in a motor car.

They both sustained gunshot injuries about their bodies and were transported to the hospital.

Double Murder Under 24 Hours

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Double Murder Under 24 Hours

By: Spokesman Newsroom

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts ( Thursday 14th February 2019)- While police have yet to confirm, credible information reaching this media house has indicated that a young man was shot dead early this morning hours after another met the same demise last night.

As gathered a young man who carries the alias of ‘Booyaka’ – believed to be in his 20s- was killed sometime after 2am or 3am in the west Basseterre area while it is alleged that a young man in his 30s nicknamed ‘Stiff Jacket’ was fatally attacked sometime after 8pm in Sandy Point.

More details to be provided in a follow-up report.

UPDATE: Shortly after 8am this morning, a source at the Police Public Relations Department confirmed that the two fatal shootings are currently being investigated.

FATAL SHOOTING INCIDENT AT PONDS PASTURE BEING INVESTIGATED

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FATAL SHOOTING INCIDENT AT PONDS PASTURE BEING INVESTIGATED

Basseterre, St. Kitts, February 12, 2019 (RSCNPF): Police are investigating a shooting incident that occurred on Ponds Pasture in which a man was fatally wounded.

The incident occurred at about 10 p.m. on Monday, February 11. Investigations so far have revealed that 28-year-old Eric Thompson, also known as Jun Jun, of Ponds Pasture had arrived at his home when he was shot several times about the body by a lone gunman. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Members of the Crime Scene Unit visited and processed the scene and collected items of evidential value. Investigations into the matter are ongoing.

An appeal is being made to anyone who might have any information regarding this incident to contact the Violent Crime Unit by dialing 467-1887 or 467-1888, 662-3468 or by calling the crime hotline at 707.

Wrensford Worried About Old Road Bay Construction

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Wrensford Worried About Old Road Bay Construction

By: Precious Mills

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 8th February 2019)- Steve Wrenford, a resident of Old Road and the Opposition St.Kitts-Nevis Labour Party’s (SKNLP) fresh candidate for Constituency Four has shared concern over the land reclamation aspect of the government’s proposed $31 million Old Road Rehabilitation Project in light of the community’s history of threat from coastal erosion.

To this end, he is calling on the government to facilitate discussions with residents of Old Road and nearby villages.

“Old Road has a history of threat from coastal erosion. Over the last ten years or so, a number of families in Old Road, Half Way Tree and Verchilds had to be removed from the coast resettled further inland. This threat becomes much greater during hurricanes. I’m seriously disturbed by the lack of consultation and the lack of proper planning that would cause or end up doing serious damage to people’s hard earned property or even threaten people’s lives,” he stated while speaking on the Party-sponsored weekly ‘Issues’ session aired on FreedomFM on Wednesday 6th February.

“Again, I want to stress that this is no small problem. This is a problem of monumental proportion for the people of Old Road, Verchilds, Middle Island, Godwin Ghaut and Half Way Tree. We are calling on the government to come to the table of consultation with the people of the constituency about the matters that have been raised here,” he added.

According to Wrensford: “When I was studying in the Virgin Islands and I was doing my Masters, we were asked to do a project, and one of the things that I learnt (is that) most of the failures of projects throughout the world came about because there was never any consultation with the residents of the area and so where the residents would have certain unique information that would not be readily available by the naked eye but they would have seen it because they live there, and the so-called engineers with all their accolades would not know the residents were never consulted…”

The rehabilitation road design was put together by ADeB Consultants of Jamaica to be undertaken by local contractor Rock & Dirt Ltd.

Layout of the proposed design of the Old Road Rehabilitation Project (Spokesman Snap)

Public Works Director Cromwell Williams, at last week’s contract signing ceremony, highlighted features for the construction of a new road of approximately 1.2 kilometers long with aseaward displacement of around 30 feet and at an elevated level of about six to eight feet while the entire length of the road would be protected by rock armouring ranging up to 20 tons.

The SKNLP Constituency Four candidate said the people of Old Road learnt about details of the project in the news.

“It was banded about and eventually there was a signing ceremony so the people of Old Road have learnt in the news just like everyone else that the government has awarded [near] 40 million contract to someone to rehabilitate the Old Road Bay.”

He continued: “The People of Old Road were never consulted at the conceptualisation phase of  this project and they have not been properly informed  or well-positioned to take advantages  of any opportunities  which may arise from the project  but the greater concern for the people of Old Road and  the nearby villages is that this reclamation of land in the Old Road area will disperse the power waves that  normally hit the bay and this would be further affecting those further down the coast. Once rocks and dirt are dumped in the Old Road Bay, houses further down the coast will be threatened by powerful waves that will now bounce off the new manmade barrier and move down the coast.”

Following the recent contract signing ceremony for the project, a town hall meeting was held for the residents of challengers and surrounding communities the next day (Thursday 31stJanuary) at the Challengers Community Centre.

Wrensford is also of the view that the rehabilitation project would worsen traffic congestion in Old Road.

“Throughout the Federation Old Road is known as a town that never sleeps so indeed there is always something happening in Old Road. Unfortunately because of the economic hub, the narrow streets are unable to take care of the traffic. This affects the people of Old Road significantly and it also affects the travelling public who often spend precious time in traffic in Old Road.”

He is of the view that such traffic concern “is a problem that will be exasperated by the Old Road Reclamation project. It does not to solve the problem. If anything it makes the problem worse.

He said the SKNLP proposes to construct a bypass road from the Stone Fort area down to Brimstone Hill in Sandy Point.

Additionally, he pledged to make that project a reality should he be elected as the next parliamentary representative after the upcoming general election.

“This [bypass road] would reduce the congestion in Old Road and create a highway that gets people to and from their destinations in quick time. This highway would also bring safety and security and bring much needed relief to the people of Old Road and the nearby villages.”

Unconfirmed Political Candidate Returns To Court Tomorrow

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Unconfirmed Political Candidate Returns To Court Tomorrow

By: Precious Mills

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Sunday 10th February 2019)- Lawyers representing Leon Natta wants the court to make a declaration that the well-known senior customs officer is entitled to contest the upcoming general elections, and come tomorrow (Monday) Justice Eddy Ventose is expected to make a judgment in the matter.

On Friday 8th February, legal teams involved in the Leon Natta (the claimant) vs the Attorney General (the respondent) case assembled at the high court for arguments mostly surrounding the Public Service Code.

The session spanned more than one and a half hours, with a 20-minute break, resulting in the judge reserving his judgment.

Sylvester Anthony of Natta’s legal team argued that rules 36 and 38 of the Public Service Code 9 are unconstitutional because they seek to prohibit public servants from expression of their rights to freedom of speech and association and assembly as provided in the constitution.

Such documentation restricts all public servants from engaging in political activity and from involving themselves in political organisations.

Anthony was persistent in highlighting that there is no statute providing for that class. He also added that such class has not been determined by Parliament.

According to him, due to the action taken by the executive “the claimant thinks he’s disqualified” while also stating that those of the executive “believe (Natta) has a duty of loyalty.”

As understood, Natta’s legal team wants the court to make that declaration of entitlement so as to address the “contractual arrangement to bind him.”

Even though both side agree the Code rules are unconstitutional, Natta’s team is of the view that it is “necessary” for the judge to make the declaration.

The claimant’s team is of the opinion that the other side does not want the court to make that declaration because it “would open the flood gates” for all public servants who wish to become involved in political activity.

Anthony, in further supporting his team’s request spoke about it being important “so that it cannot be left to each claimant to figure out if [he/she] can or cannot run [for elections].”

Douglas Mendes of the Attorney General’s legal team spotlighted the code of ethics which speaks to how public servants conduct themselves which raises the questions if the declaration can be granted.

In speaking to Natta’s work function in the public, he listed certain areas such as impartiality, mutuality and neutrality as it relates to his visibility and interaction in the public.

He outlined that Natta “accepts that he is part of management…he makes recommendations…”

Mendes, in trying to make his point about Natta being part of management, talked about his blue customs officer uniform which makes such distinction including components such as the “swords.”

However, Anthony in his rebuttal to Mendes’ managing position argument told the judge that Natta’s “rank is in civil service not customs” while stating further that “none of that is in the Customs Act about uniform and so on. The Customs Act does not have class ranking.”

He stressed the point that the Code does not categorise public servants.

Natta’s legal team is of the view and that the Attorney General’s legal team is asking the court to put him (Natta) in a particular class and to determine that such class of public servants ought  to be restricted from involvement in political activities.

In October 2018, in a letter addressed from the Office of the Prime Minister, Natta was suspended from his job on the grounds of participating in party politics having introduced himself as the next candidate to individuals.

In response, Natta’s legal team took the issue to court.

Natta is expected to run on a St.Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) ticket in the next general elections going up against Prime Minister and Leader of the People Labour Party Dr. Timothy Harris of Constituency Seven.

At one point during his presentation, Anthony told the judge: “This is not about him (Natta) standing on the corner canvassing people; this is about him going to run against the Prime Minister.”

In court that day showing support to Natta were the SKNLP Deputy Leader and Parliamentary Representative for Constituency Two Marcella Liburd and fresh candidate for Constituency One Dr. Geoffrey Hanley.          

To date, the SKNLP is just one candidate short of its eight member slate to context the next general election constitutionally due 2020.

Rumours are abuzz that the approaching elections would be called earlier, and as close as March this year.

Masked Gunmen Fatally Attack Relatives

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Masked Gunmen Fatally Attack Relatives

By: Spokesman Newsroom

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Saturday 9th February 2019)- Two relatives left wounded following a shooting executed by masked gunmen in Old Road last night have succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.

Dead are Musa “Ziggy” Warner and 22-year-old Shakeem Warner, said to be cousins.

Police say the incident took place sometime after 10PM in the Green Tree area whereby both men were shot multiple times about the body.

They were transported to the JNF Hospital by the Emergency Medical Service, where they later died.

Members of the Crime Scene Unit visited and processed the scene. They collected items of evidential value.

Investigations into the matter are ongoing. Persons with information regarding this incident are urged to contact the Violent Crime Unit by dialing 467-1887 or 467-1888, 662-3468 or by calling the crime hotline at 707.

This latest shooting brings the recorded homicide count for 2019 to three; one in Nevis and two in St.Kitts.

Boys and Adult Men Charged With Gun Possession Following Vehicle Search

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Boys and Adult Men Charged With Gun Possession Following Vehicle Search

By: Spokesman Newsroom

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Thursday 7th February 2019)– Two teenage boys have been charged this week in relation to the first two illegal firearms found for 2019 following vehicle search operations, and are among four accused adult males.

Police are reporting that an adult and a teenager have been charged for the second illegal firearm recently discovered.

Michael Phillips of Molyneaux and a 15-year-old juvenile were charged on Monday 4th February for the offences of Possession of Firearm and Possession of Ammunition for a shotgun and four (4) matching cartridge rounds that were found in a vehicle last week.

Following a vehicle search operation on the outskirts of Sandy Point on Friday 1st February, a shotgun with four (4) matching cartridge rounds were found, and the two occupants of the vehicle were both taken into police custody.

Additionally, to date, police have arrested and charged a fourth person in relation to the first illegal firearm that was found during a stop and search operation on Saturday 19th January.

New Road resident 27-year-old Nyon Dasent was charged on Tuesday 29th January for the offences of Possession of Firearm and Possession of Ammunition.

He became the fourth person-including a juvenile- arrested and charged in relation to this incident which saw an early morning search operation, resulting in one Smith and Wesson pistol with five (5) rounds of ammunition being found in a vehicle along Victoria Road in Basseterre.

After a wanted poster was issued on Friday 25th January, Dasent turned himself into police custody days later on Monday 28thJanuary.

Pertaining to this matter, Isaiah Ritchen of East Street, New Town was the first to be charged  while two additional persons who were taken in custody-one being the juvenile believed to be 15 to 17 years old- were charged on Monday 4th February.

POLICE INVESTIGATING SHOOTING INCIDENT IN SHADWELL

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POLICE INVESTIGATING SHOOTING INCIDENT IN SHADWELL

Basseterre, St. Kitts, February 08, 2019 (RSCNPF): Police are investigating a shooting incident that occurred in the Shadwell area in which one person was shot and injured.

Police received the report of the incident at about 8:22 a.m. Friday morning (February 08) and responded immediately. Investigations so far have revealed that 25-year-old Kareem Hendricks was shot in his forearm by a lone gunman.

The scene was processed by members of the Crime Scene Unit and items of evidential value were taken into Police custody.

Investigations into the matter are ongoing. Persons with information regarding this incident are urged to contact the Violent Crime Unit by dialing 467-1887 or 467-1888, 662-3468 or by calling the crime hotline at 707.

Child-Friendly Advice On Balancing Books And Fun

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Child-Friendly Advice On Balancing Books And Fun

By: Precious Mills

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 8th February 2019)-Young scholar 11-year-old Leandro Peets has some advice for his peers and children in general as it relates balancing school work and having fun.

This reporter had a chit-chat with the grade 6 student of the Tucker-Clarke Primary School (formerly New Town Primary) on Monday this week (4th February) at the school following a ceremony for graduates of the Hour of Code Competition organised by the Junior Achievers programme in December 2018 featuring title sponsor Insurance Company of the West Indies (ICWI).

More than 80 students ages 7 to 11 participated in the first time computer science activity. Each were awarded certificates of completion.

Programme Coordinator and teacher Yvette Ross seen with some of the students who took part in the Hour of Code Competition (Spokesman Snap)

Peets, in giving his take on the technological exercise, told: “This coding competition was a great event. It inspired me to code more and we’re very grateful at the Tucker Clarke Primary School and I think it needs to be implemented more in schools.”

He pointed to the understanding of the coding competition which involved “the formulation of games such as Subway Surfers.”

Quizzed on what advice he has for his schoolmates and other children in balancing school work and having fun, Peets said: “I think we need to focus on our school work because there is a time and place for everything; a time to speak, a time to wake up and there is a time play so I think we have to have a limit on how we play games. We need to focus more on our school work in order to be a great scholar. I think we need to be more disciplined and we need to know when to play and when to do our school work.”

ICWI Business Development Officer Nordia Dobbs highlighted the good corporate citizen duty of the company in ensuring that the children of the Federation of St. Kitts- Nevis and by extension the Caribbean region are on the same level with other countries around the globe as it relates to technological advances as she applauded the youngsters for having now “been exposed to one of the most exciting and important fields that exists in the world today.”

According to her: “This, as it has been proven by new social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snap Chat and WhatsApp, is also the one industry that is best driven and led by young people the world over. Before your entry into the programme, none of you had any knowledge of coding but now that the exercise is over, you have become part of a small elite group of Kittitians and Nevisians with skills and competencies in coding.”

Programme Coordinator and teacher Yvette Ross, during an interview with this reporter, said the initiative was successful.

“It was successful programme; the students did enjoy it and they even went about telling their other peers and they did the activity at home. It boosts children creativity and it helps them not to just think inside the box but also outside of the box,” she outlined.

She said also that “the next step is to introduce other students to the coding skill because it’s only a few of them who did it and so the other children were eager to do it. They’ve come daily asking ‘When are we going to do it again?’ and so the next step is to introduce it to the school on a whole.”

Asked to give a comment on the advantages of children being exposed to that aspect of computer science at such young ages, Ross had this to say: “In doing things constructive with technology, it helps to boost children’s creativity because we have children who are just blunt when it comes to solving issues and in dealing with this code, it helps them to form their thinking and helps them to want to do it because number one- they wanted to finish before their peers and number two- they wanted to see what the end result would be like and it was success. In this coding, they were able to use dance  that children are familiar with so even some dance moves that I wasn’t sure about , I was able myself as a teacher to  interact with the coding game and  find myself doing the dance at home to so it was fun.”

In giving advice to parents and guardians, she talked about enhanced learning in the field of computer technology.

“Parents, I’m asking you to allow your children to broaden their horizon, don’t just stick to the book; technology is improving. Yes, there is negative and positive but more so we want to encourage them to dwell upon the positive things that will enhance their learning and even build better student character within them,” Ross stated.

SEARCH OF ABANDONED HOUSE YIELDS RESULTS

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SEARCH OF ABANDONED HOUSE YIELDS RESULTS

Basseterre, St. Kitts, February 08, 2019 (RSCNPF): A quantity of drugs were seized by the Police during a joint search operation Thursday morning (February 07).

Officers from the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and Soldiers from the St. Kitts and Nevis Defense Force uncovered 325 grams of cocaine and 111 grams of cannabis that were hidden in an abandoned house in the Newtown area. No one was held accountable for the find, but Police investigations into the matter are ongoing.

The Police have pledged to continue their efforts to eradicate the trade of illegal firearms and drugs from communities within the federation.

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