KINGSTON, Jamaica, Friday September 21, 2018 – The House of Representatives has extended the State of Public Emergency in the parish of St. Catherine for another three months.

This follows approval of the Emergency Powers (No. 2) (Continuance) (No.3) Resolution, 2018, during Wednesday’s (September 19) sitting of the House. The security measure in St. Catherine North Police Division, which was slated to end on October 2, will remain in place until January 2019.

All 47 members who were present voted in favour of the extension. Sixteen members were absent.

Addressing the House, Prime Minister Andrew Holness, said the enhanced security measures in the St. Catherine North Police Division have resulted in a 68 per cent reduction in murders and shootings.

“Since the intervention, that is for the period March 18 to September 2, the division has recorded 27 murders and 22 shootings…when compared to the equivalent period of time, prior to the state of emergency,” he noted.

“82 murders and 72 shootings were recorded over a period of 168 days prior to the state of emergency, so that would be from the first of January 2018 to the calling of the state of emergency.”

The Prime Minister said the request for a further extension was based on the recommendation of the security forces.

“This is deemed to be necessary to satisfy the short- to medium-term objectives of the special measure. Importantly, it will reinforce the pillars of transformation that will be seen as part of the long-term results of these actions,” he noted.

He said the security forces are moving to transform their operations to a more “investigation-based strategy”.

“We are gathering greater intelligence; we are building greater networks of cooperation in the communities and, ultimately, it is this better policing that will lead to the sustainable reduction in crime,” Holness noted.

The Prime Minister assured that the state of emergency is not a long-term solution.

“I know that we cannot rely on this forever. There comes a time when the expenditure to have an elevated level of police presence yields little result. What we don’t want, however, is for the criminals to ever get in their minds that the Government will not use extraordinary powers to address the threat that they pose,” he said.

Meanwhile, Holness indicated that the security forces are amenable to making changes to the hours of operation for businesses in the area.

He informed that Minister of National Security Dr. Horace Chang, will provide an update in this regard.

FLORIDA, United States, Friday September 21, 2018 – The son of the former principal of the St Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) has been charged in the United States after allegedly trying to steal an American Airlines plane at an airport in Orlando, Florida yesterday morning.

Nishal Sankat, a 22-year-old aviation student at Florida Institute of Technology (FIT), faces charges of criminal attempt to steal an aircraft, criminal trespassing and visa violation.

According to law enforcement authorities, Sankat, the son of Professor Clement Sankat, jumped the fence at the Melbourne International Airport in Orlando and attempted to steal the commercial airliner, before being wrestled to the ground by a maintenance supervisor and a technician aboard the aircraft and subsequently being arrested.

The authorities said they did not know what Sankat’s motive was.

The incident caused the airport to be on lock down for five hours and all flights were suspended while law enforcement searched the airport and Sankat’s vehicle, which was later taken away.

Professor Sankat is quoted in the Trinidad Guardian newspaper as saying that his son had been “very depressed” earlier this week.

In a statement issued to the Trinidad Express newspaper on behalf of the family, Sankat’s parents said they were not sure what had transpired and the incident “acutely underscores to the family the need to be aware of the challenges young students face, especially those living away from home and family”.

“At this time, they have not yet been able to speak with their son, and since they have limited information, are still trying to ascertain all the facts surrounding the incident, and his well-being. As expected, their focus right now is on providing all the legal, mental, emotional and parental support possible,” the statement said.

The young Sankat has been attending FIT since 2014 and recently petitioned to graduate in 2019, according to university officials. He was been studying aviation management on a part-time basis and had taken part in some flight training.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, Sankat received his commercial pilot’s certification in January, was qualified to fly multi-engine aircraft and was instrument rated.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Friday September 21, 2018 – Rihanna has added yet another job to her ever growing list.

The Barbadian-born singer, actress, designer, makeup mogul and humanitarian has been appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, with specific responsibility for promoting education, tourism and investment for her home island, the government announced yesterday.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley said Government was honoured to be able to confer the title on the outstanding Barbadian who has contributed significantly to raising the island’s profile across the world.

“Rihanna has a deep love for this country and this is reflected in her philanthropy, especially in the areas of health and education. She also shows her patriotism in the way she gives back to this country and continues to treasure the island as her home.

“She has also demonstrated, beyond her success as a pop icon, significant creative acumen and shrewdness in business. It is therefore fitting that we engage and empower her to play a more definitive role as we work to transform Barbados,” Mottley said, noting that Rihanna’s charitable contributions, both locally and internationally, have also been significant.

Rihanna was appointed as one of Barbados’ Cultural Ambassadors in 2008, undertaking promotional work on behalf of the ministry with responsibility for tourism. But her expanded role takes into consideration her multidimensional achievements and global influence across a much broader range of areas.

In accepting her new duties, Ambassador Fenty noted that she was ready to play her part in creating a new Barbados.

“I couldn’t be more proud to take on such a prestigious title in my home country. Every Barbadian is going to have to play their role in this current effort, and I’m ready and excited to take on the responsibility. I look forward to working with Prime Minister Mottley and her team to re-imagine Barbados,” she said.