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President still in Cuba

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President still in Cuba

Source: guyanachronicle.com

By Staff Reporter – November 12, 2018

PRESIDENT David Granger is still recovering in Cuba following an intensive series of tests by specialist doctors immediately after he arrived in that country two weeks ago.

This means the Head of State will not be here for today’s Local Government Elections. It is unclear whether he has appointed a proxy to vote for him. Both the President and his wife, First Lady Mrs Sandra Granger are in Cuba.

In a statement last week the Ministry of the Presidency said the President is resting comfortably at an official residence and is receiving treatment at the Centro de

Investigaciones Medico Quirugicas (CIMEQ) in Havana. According to the ministry, clinical analyses are still incomplete and it is expected that the Guyana Embassy in Havana will issue a statement when enough evidence is available, the release added. “The Head of State has responded satisfactorily to medical interventions over the past week, however, and is recovering well.

President Granger wishes to assure all citizens that he is receiving the best possible medical advice and attention. The President wishes to thank Guyanese for their expressions of concern,” the release stated.

On October 30, 2018, President Granger and First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger departed Guyana for Cuba where he was expected to undergo a medical investigation. Speaking at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Timehri before his departure, the Head of State said that recently he travelled twice to Trinidad and Tobago and had done his annual medical check-up in May when he had been given a clean bill of health.

“If I take you back over the last six months, I went to Trinidad and Tobago to do my annual medical examination which is normally done in August. I went in May because of the Congress of my party and the impending Local Government Elections,” he said.

However, on his return to work, the President said that he started to experience certain symptoms which were persistent, and took the decision to travel back to Trinidad to revisit the tests that were done in May.

“At that time, they discovered some symptoms which needed further investigation, so I just agreed with that diagnosis and made arrangements to go to Cuba for further investigations. At this time, there is no clear indication of disorder or what the nature of the disorder is. It is a question of investigation and I think I can get the best advice in Cuba,” he said.

While he does not suffer from a particular ailment, President Granger said that out of an abundance of caution, he took the decision to travel to the Republic of Cuba to have the relevant medical investigation done. “The Guyanese public should be assured that once those investigations are complete they would be kept abreast with the health of the President of the Republic,” he said.

Stan Lee Dead at 95

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Stan Lee Dead at 95

Source: tmz.com 11/12/2018 10:39 AM PST 

Stan Lee, the man responsible for much of the Marvel Universe, has died … Stan’s daughter tells TMZ.

We’re told an ambulance rushed to Lee’s Hollywood Hills home early Monday morning and he was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. We’re told that’s where he died.

Lee had suffered several illnesses over the last year or so — he had a bout of pneumonia and vision issues.

Stan started Marvel with Jack Kirby in 1961 with The Fantastic Four. He went on to create Spider-Man, Black Panther, The Incredible Hulk, X-Men, Iron Man and The Avengers.
Stan made cameo appearances in all of the Marvel movies.

Lee had a rocky relationship with Marvel once the company went full-tilt Hollywood. He sued the company in 2002 for royalties he said he was owed for the first “Spider-Man” movie. Three years later he settled the case for $10 million.

“Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse” is the latest installment of the film’s franchise and will be released next month.

Lee is survived by his daughter, J.C. His wife of 69 years, Joan, died in 2017.

J.C. tells TMZ, “My father loved all of his fans. He was the greatest, most decent man.”

Lee was 95.

 

Stolen innocence – Children as young as five years old infected with HIV through sexual predators

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Stolen innocence – Children as young as five years old infected with HIV through sexual predators

Source: jamaica-gleaner.com

Published: Sunday | November 11, 2018 | 12:00 AMNadine Wilson-Harris

A medical review of adolescents with sexually acquired HIV in Jamaica has found that the majority had their first sexual experience between 10 and 14 years old, but in some cases children as young as five years old have also been infected.

This reality is troubling for senior resident in paediatric medicine at the Bustamante Hospital for Children, Dr Kadene Orrigio, who conducted a clinical epidemiology of sexually acquired HIV in adolescents in Jamaica between 2003 and February 2017.

“What was significant is that most of these patients initiated sexual activity between the ages of 10 and 14 years, with the average age being 12.5,” said Orrigio.

“For those who we were able to document the age of their partner, 16 per cent reported that their partners were older males who were greater than 16 years of age,” added Orrigio during the Dr Leila Wynter Commemorative Conference last week at the Bustamante Hospital for Children.

The medical dockets of 53 adolescents who received treatment for sexually acquired HIV at the University Hospital of the West Indies and the Comprehensive Health Centre’s Paediatric and Adolescent Infectious Disease Clinic were reviewed. Of this number, 44 were females and nine were males.

“Of the total number of females that were in the study, 60 per cent had been pregnant once or more, and of note is that several of these patients were diagnosed with HIV after presenting for routine antenatal care,” she said.

“If we are seeing this number of females only presenting at this point in time, then we can be led to infer that there may be several other adolescents out there with HIV, because we don’t routinely do HIV testing in our adolescent population,” added Orrigio.

LIVING ARRANGEMENTS

Only 20 of the adolescents infected with HIV were living with their parents, 10 were living in a children’s home and 15 were living with persons who were neither considered family nor friends. Some lived with an associate of their boyfriend.
“Unprotected sex was seen in approximately 75 per cent of the population, so even though these patients were diagnosed with HIV and they were aware of their status, 75 per cent were still engaging in unprotected sexual activities,” noted Orrigio.

The study indicated that a few of those who acquired HIV had been sent out by their parents to have sex with older men for money.

“Of note is that approximately 50 per cent reported that sexual initiation was forced,” added Orrigio.

The health and well-being of the children under review was given consideration by the senior resident, given that HIV/AIDS is a primary cause of morbidity and mortality in the paediatric population.

According to Orrigio, “The psychological effects were marked in these patients with approximately 50 per cent of our patients exhibiting depressive symptoms and a quarter of the total cohort exhibiting suicidal ideation.”

Immunisation Status

A look at the immunisation status of the patients noted that only six of them had any documentation of receiving the hepatitis B vaccine and none had received the HPV vaccine.
“In reviewing the dockets, there were several persons with early cervical changes that could predispose them to cervical cancer in the long term,” she said.

The adherence of patients to their antiretroviral therapy was also of concern since a review of the clinical data showed that the majority had viral loads more than 10,000.

Only 29 per cent of those whose cases were reviewed are known to be alive while four died based on complications from HIV. About 20 patients had defaulted on their follow-ups.
This concern is compounded by the fact that many of the teens are having unprotected sex.

“In Jamaica, acquisition of condoms by teens are frowned upon as persons are seen as promiscuous and this deters adolescent from buying condom,” said Orrigio, as she noted that, “Being an adolescent, they are not at the point where they can bargain condom use with older partners because it might be seen as a sign of infidelity.”

Based on her findings, the doctor is calling for early and ongoing social intervention for teenagers living with HIV.

nadine.wilson@gleanerjm.com

Gun Shot Wounded Home Intruders Caught On Boat Bound For SK

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Gun Shot Wounded Home Intruders Caught On Boat Bound For SK

By: Spokesman Newsroom

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Friday 9th November 2018)-Two of the four  men caught by police while trying to escape following yesterday’s bloody home invasion at Jones Estate were found to have gunshot injuries on a boat bound for sister isle St.Kitts.

The victim, John Yearwood, was able to shoot both intruders during the incident, police say.

Both men are currently receiving treatment at the Alexandra Hospital for their wounds.

 

The local authorities have indicated that acting quickly on information received, the police, along with members of the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force in Nevis, were able to intercept a vehicle on a boat that was preparing to leave for St. Kitts.

The four persons were inside the vehicle and two of them had injuries consistent with gunshot wounds. Following a medical examination, the wounds were confirmed to have been gunshot wounds.

 

Investigations into the matter are ongoing. An appeal is being made by the Police for persons with information regarding this incident to call the Charlestown Police Station at 469-5391/5392 or their nearest Police Station.

 

Children Taught The Art Of Conkie Making

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Children Taught The Art Of Conkie Making

By: Precious Mills
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 9th November 2018)– Helen Tully of Conaree, who describes herself as one who is active in the field of making conkie (a popular west Indian traditional treat), recently conducted interactive sessions in passing on her cultural culinary knowledge she inherited from her mom with some of the nation’s youth.

The setting was at The Zack’s Historical-Cultural Museum and Library situated at Buckley’s Estate.

Tully was a specially invited facilitator of the museum’s keeper, cultural preservationist Winston ‘Zack’ Nisbett, as part of his recently concluded Independence 35 Exhibition which was extended to accommodate the growing list of interested visitors, both old and young alike.

On Friday 26th October, during a chit-chat with this reporter, Tully informed that “My participation was to demonstrate to the children the way conkie is done because you know nowadays we don’t do these kind of things because we want fast so it’s just to demonstrate to them and hoping that one day they would take it up and run with the mantle.”

Students of the Dr. William Connor Primary were on the receiving end of the hands-on demonstration and had a bite to eat which saw some of them liking it immediately while others who tried it for the first time ate slowly in deciding whether they liked it or not.
Commenting on what the response from the children was like she said: “Very well, very well. (They had) many questions.”

Her listed conkie ingredients are sweet potato, coconut, cornmeal, sugar, flour, nutmeg and pepper.

For the cooking event at the museum, Tully did not do her conkie from scratch at that venue but instead prepped at home.

“I prepped from home because it is time consuming so we prepped but I showed them (the children) and I had them interacting like putting into the container to prepare it,” she explained.

What is more, the students were able to experience outdoor cooking on a three-stone fireplace for the boiling of the conkie.

Asked how important it is to pass on such cultural cooking lessons to today’s youth, Tully replied: “Well, I just pray that it would be important to them because trust me it’s hard work and young people don’t like to do anything that is constraining.”

Reflecting on her young days of learning to make conkie in her original home community of Dieppe Bay, she told: “I learnt how to make conkie from my mother. She was one who used to prepare for the church actually in Dieppe Bay…and so I decided to take it over because she is getting down in age and one day she will not be there so that’s how I came about it.”

Tully also remembers the steps involved in making conkie to be hard back then.
“I remember it being hard work. It was discouraging but people appreciate it and love conkie so that gave me the nudge because at least you are feeding somebody.”
Although most people in St.Kitts-Nevis mostly make conkie around the Easter period, Tully does so throughout the year.

According to her: “I make conkie at different times of the year because people order conkie so you find that I’m active in making conkie.”

On the topic of wrapping conkie, she said: “When it comes to wrapping, there is almond leaves, banana leaves and sometimes people use the ‘chiney’ leaves. I like to use almond because it is easier to wrap. The banana leaves tend to strip so I avoid that to get through much faster.”

Asked if the aluminum foil is a cultural no- no for her personally, she responded: “Yes of course because it doesn’t have any flavour.”

Upon observation of this reporter’s facial expression at hearing such wrapping details for the first time, Tully added: “Yes, the leaves you use give off that flavour.”

Notably, another conkie tutorial was conducted on Monday and Tuesday of this week (29th and 30th October) which included a visit from the Seventh Day Adventist School and on Wednesday 31st October, students from the St. Paul’s Primary stopped by.

Earlier in the month of October saw cassava bread making workshop with facilitator Katherine Pemberton imparting her skills and knowledge with students from the Sandy Point Primary School.

Meanwhile Nisbett, better known as the Doctor of Culture, has highlighted the significance of such cultural aspects being shared with the youths.

“It is important that our children, who are our future leaders, are aware and have the hands on knowledge to keep our cultural heritage maintained. We have to pay attention and take it upon ourselves as adults to positively shape their young minds because they are the ones who will have to help keep our culture alive for generations to come.”

 

Hotelier And Wife Targeted By Home Invasion Gunmen

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Hotelier And Wife Targeted By Home Invasion Gunmen

By: Spokesman Newsroom

BASSETERRE,St. Kitts (Thursday 8th November 2018)- A well-known Nevisian hotelier is currently nursing a gunshot wounds after an encounter

Police have taken four persons into custody to assist with investigations into an armed robbery in Nevis in which a businessman was shot and injured.

Preliminary investigations so far have revealed that at about 1:45 a.m. on November 08, 2018, two armed, masked individuals entered the home of John Yearwood in the Jones Estate area. Yearwood shot both intruders, and received a gunshot wound to the leg from one of them. Police understand that the assailants escaped the scene with a sum of cash using Yearwood’s motor pick up.

Yearwood was transported to the Alexandra Hospital where he is listed as being in a stable condition. The vehicle was later recovered by Police in the Mount Nevis area.

 

Police Investigating Attempted Murder Of Car Wash Owner

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Police Investigating Attempted Murder Of Car Wash Owner

By: Spokesman Newsroom

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Thursday 8th November 2018)-Police are reporting that a young man was shot and injured following an incident in Lower Monkey Hill, St. Peter’s around midnight, and that the matter has been ruled an attempted murder.

Injured is 32-year-old Ian Pemberton.

Reportedly, police received information regarding a shooting incident at about 12:40 AM today.

The officers visited the scene as well as the JNF Hospital where they met  Pemberton with multiple gunshot wounds about the body.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that Pemberton was inside a building on the premises where his car wash business is located when an unknown armed assailant approached the building and fired a number of gunshots at him.

Reportedly, he was shot several times about the body. He was transported to the JNF Hospital here he is listed as being in a stable condition.

Police are making an appeal to anyone who might have any information in relation to this incident to call the Violent Crimes Unit at 467-1887, 467-1888, or 662-3468 or their nearest Police Station. Investigations into the matter are ongoing.

This media house understands that in the two-storey building which houses the young man’s business at the downstairs level, the constituency office of political candidate Dr. Terrance Drew of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party is situated at the top level.

UPDATED: Workers’ Union Installs New Executive Committee

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UPDATED: Workers’ Union Installs New Executive Committee

By: Spokesman Newsroom

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Tuesday 30th October 2018)-Under the theme, ‘Strength Of The Past-Empowerment For The Future’, the St.Kitts-Nevis Trades & Labour Union held its 79th annual conference on Sunday 28th October which saw the election of the body’s new executive committee.

The session, held at Masses House on Church Street in Basseterre, saw workers and Union members from all walks of life in attendance.

Joseph O’Flaherty Jr. has been returned as President along with other fellow colleagues including First Vice President Sydney Bridgewater, Second Vice President James Pemberton, Treasurer Frank Farrell and General Secretary Batumba L. O. Tak.

Acting Editor of the Union’s media entity-The Labour Spokesman- Precious Mills was voted Assistant Secretary having previously held the position of Staff Representative; a position now held by immediate past Assistant General Secretary Mitchel Slader.

Others representative of the executive committee also include: Basseterre Clerical Workers- Georgina Henderson, Basseterre East Agriculture Sector- Charlotte Salters, Rural Area (Western Side) – George Dixon, Industrial Sector- Stanley Franks, Agriculture-Ernest Wigley and Food and Beverage- Lorinston Jenkins

O’Flaherty, during his presentation, highlighted that over the past twelve (12) months, the Trade Union has been vigorously representing the causes of workers of St. Kitts-Nevis on the local, regional and international arenas.

“The Union has positioned itself firmly in a posture of strong leadership where it has proven itself a relevant institution which continually serves the contemporary challenges of the world of work in our federation,” he remarked.

He added: “The Union represents workers and protects the rights of all workers of our beloved federation regardless of national origin, gender or age.”
O’Flaherty stated that the Union will continue its course forward into the future to empower our workers for the future of work.

He informed that strategies for implementing training in industrial relations in such areas as Occupational Safety & Health, Gender and poverty assessment and mitigation strategies are currently being developed.

Additionally, he said that the Trade Union sectors are being reviewed and will be made relevant for current and future workforce.

According to the Union President: “The management of the Trade Union and the Labour Spokesman operations shall be reviewed shortly into the new term of the next executive. This process shall seek to optimise business operations in an effort to serve our members more effectively.”

Guest Speaker Dr. Terrance Drew, Chairperson of the St.Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP), in saluting the founders and contributors of the Union of the past, described them to have been of were men and women of impeccable integrity, dedicated, hardworking and selfless among other qualities.

He has applauded such individuals for having been able to make achievements in areas such as comprehensive secondary education, universal health care, housing, the right to vote, the establishment of the foundation of our democracy and the improvement of our people.

He outlined: “What lessons can be learnt from such a strong past to empower us for the future. What is empowerment? It is power given to someone to do something. The movement has to be empowered in order to empower people. The empowerment does not have to be in the future; it has to start now. You have had a good start…”

“Is the Union relevant? Yes, it is! If not then who would fight on the behalf of the people,” Dr. Drew pointed out.

SKNLP Opposition Leader and Immediate former Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas, in giving fraternal greetings, commented that this year’s conference theme is “very relevant and timely.”

“In these challenging times, trade union leaders must play the role of change agent as exemplified by our forebears. The goals that were set for the organisation and its members were always forward-looking in orientation and always sought to empower the people beyond the limits of traditional norms and practices. It is because of their vision that our Federation moved to another level of development which is better than many countries around the world and why the generations which followed them were able to live in a society that is more advanced on every level than anything our forerunners could have ever imagined,” he said.

Workers’ Union Installs New Executive Committee

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Workers’ Union Installs New Executive Committee

By: Spokesman Newsroom

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Monday 29th October 2018)-Under the theme, ‘Strength Of The Past-Empowerment For The Future’, the St.Kitts-Nevis Trades & Labour Union held its 79th annual conference yesterday (Sunday) which saw the election of the body’s new executive committee.

The session, held at Masses House on Church Street in Basseterre, saw workers from all walks of life in attendance.

Joseph O’Flaherty Jr. has been returned as President along with other fellow colleagues including First Vice President Sydney Bridgewater, Second Vice President James Pemberton, Treasurer Frank Farrell and General Secretary Batumba L. O. Tak.

Acting Editor of the Union’s media entity-The Labour Spokesman- Precious Mills was voted Assistant Secretary having previously held the position of Staff Representative.

More details in this weekend’s paper.

THE ST. KITTS NEVIS NATIONAL CARNIVAL COMMITTEE HOLDS SUCCESSFUL CALYPSO JUDGES AND CALYPSONIAN’S WORKSHOP!

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THE ST. KITTS NEVIS NATIONAL CARNIVAL COMMITTEE HOLDS SUCCESSFUL CALYPSO JUDGES AND CALYPSONIAN’S WORKSHOP!

Saturday 27th October, 2018 (St. Kitts & Nevis) – The St. Kitts Nevis National Carnival Committee hosted a Calypso Developmental Seminar on Saturday October 27th in delivering on its commitment to the holistic advancement of Calypso and by extension, National Carnival. The Event was held at the NEMA Headquarters Conference Room from 9 am to 5 pm.

The morning session examined the Metrics of Assessment as applied between and within Judges. The afternoon session was facilitated by Ambassador Dr. Anthony “King Gabby” Carter, who hails from Barbados.

Gabby has been in Calypso and Soca since the 1960’s and has been a prolific writer, title-holder, and global performer. He has traveled the World with some of the best Performers in the World including Sparrow, Gypsy, Duke, David Rudder, Rose, Short Shirt, Black Stalin, Shadow, Kitchener, etc.

His first National Calypso Crown was in 1968, with his Composition, “Heart Transplant” Other Tiles won in:
• Calypso Monarch: 1968, 1969, 1985, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2010
• Crop Over: 1976, 1977, 1985
• Folk Singer of the Year: 1977, 1978, 1979
• Crop Over Road March: 1979, 1982

Some of his Calypso Hits include “Jack”, Government Boots”, Cadavers”, The List, and “Licks Like Fire”. Gabby delivered on topics related to Identifying the DNA of Calypso; Composing Winning Calypsos; Performing to win Calypso Competitions; Performing to entertain Audiences; understanding Calypso Judging; and the Business aspect of Calypso, Explicating Calypsos, just to name a few. Two added value-adding components of his presentation included him walking with his Guitar, which he used to add musical substance and depth to his Presentation. Secondly, he performed a Verse and a Chorus of one of his Mega Hits, “Government Boots”, which had the Attendees singing aloud.

What was rewarding was the make-up of the Attendees. The Audience of over 30, included Judges, Musicians, Junior Calypsonians, Senior Calypsonians, and members of each of the three (3) Sub Calypso Committees; Senior, Junior, Female and Best of the Rest, plus the Judges’ Coordination Committee.

In speaking to the National Carnival Chairman, Noah Mills, he noted that the Session is the first of three (3) Calypso Training Sessions that will be held this year.

The Second will investigate some key Hurdles that affect Judging Calypso and explore Judging Models and Scientific Biases. The final Seminar will see Calypsonians and Judges meet to discuss judging criteria, expectations, and methods to decrease statistical variance in judging Competitions.

The Carnival Committee uses this medium to thank all supporters and contributors to the success of this Project.
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Culture, Competitions and Fetting for Sugar Mas 47.

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