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BUSINESSMAN
ROBBED AND SHOT
Monday 22nd December 2014
Yet another wellknown businessman has
fallen victim to the latest string of armed robbery sweeping across the
A n t i g u a
a n d
B a r b u d a
Vol.3
No.61
$2.00
nation. Reports are that were awakened by three
sometime during the ear- armed, masked, gunmen.
ly hours of Sunday 21st
The victims were
December, Phillip Abbott robbed of an undisclosed
and his wife June Abbott cont’d on pg 2
Governor-General and wife visit
Mount St. John Medical Centre
Sunshine girls stay fit
with mango trek pg 4
Gov’t clarifies CIP, UAE
project relation.....pg 9
Representatives from the Mount St. John’s Medical Centre Health Care Providers and Their
Excellencies Sir Rodney and Lady Williams. Story on page 2
Windies suffer humiliating defeat......pg 22
pg 23 For Voucher
2
Monday 22nd December 2014
caribtimes.com
Governor General Sir Rodney
Williams and Lady Williams visit
Mount St. John Medical Centre
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda – The
Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda, His
Excellency Sir Rodney
Williams
accompanied
by his wife Lady Sandra
Williams, paid their first
official visit to the Mount
St. John Medical Centre
on Friday and participated
in the institution’s annual
Christmas
Programme.
Remarks were given by
Dr. Alvin Edwards, Medical Director of Mount St.
John who spoke of the new
programmes which the
hospital was embarking
upon, the continuing medical education programme
being offered and the high
regard in which the institution is now being held
by other medical bodies,
cont’d from pg 1
regionally and internationally. Health Minister, Hon. Molwyn Joseph
spoke of Antigua and Barbuda’s plans to establish
a facility to handle those
suffering from infectious
diseases as well as an epidemiology centre to track
diseases. He also mentioned a Cuba/Antigua
and Barbuda initiative to
facilitate training of doctors in specialized areas of
medicine in keeping with
the nation’s needs. The
Health Minister declared
that the Government will
be working to ensure that
Antigua and Barbuda will
meet the WHO Health
Standards within two (2)
years.
In his remarks, the
Governor General of
sum of money, cellular phones, jewellery and other items. It was also reported that Mr. Abbott sustained a gunshot
wound to his knee sometime during
the robbery and was taken to MSJMC
where he was treated and is said to be in
stable condition.
This most recent attack has put the
police on even higher alert and has them
following a number of leads which will
hopefully lead to the capture of not only
Gathering at the Christmas Programme of the Mount St.
John’s Medical Centre
Antigua and Barbuda,
Sir Rodney Williams remarked that when persons
are sick, medical care at
the hospital should be designed to deliver the best
possible care because
when people are sick they
are most vulnerable and
health practitioners need
to be understanding, em-
the perpetrators of this crime but also
those attacks which have taken place
over the past couple of weeks.
The police continue to appeal to the
public to come forward and offer any information that may assist in their investigation by going to the nearest police
station or by contacting the Criminal
Investigation Department. The information provided will be kept strictly
confidential and the source anonymous. pathetic and caring. The
Governor General commended all staff at the
hospital for the work that
they do on a daily basis
in helping to maintain the
health and productivity of
our nation. Sir Rodney
added that on many occasions health care workers
go above and beyond the
call of duty for the patients’ benefit. It was underscored the fact that a
good hospital is not just
a building, but the quality
of care given within the
building.
The gathering was entertained by Dr. George
Roberts who played a
musical rendition on key-
cont’d on pg 3
Monday 22nd December 2014
cont’d from pg 2
caribtimes.com
3
board while Mr. Lincoln
Stanislaus Jnr rendered
a Christmas song for the
occasion. Chairman of
the MSJMC Board of Directors Ambassador Bernard Percival welcomed
the guests to the institution and Senior Nurse at
MSJMC, Sister Janet De
Shong chaired the special
programme.
Following the Christmas programme, the Governor General and his
wife visited patients in the
hospital and distributed
Sir Rodney and Lady Williams presenting gifts to the mother of a new born baby at the
Christmas gifts.
Mount St. John’s Medical Centre
4
caribtimes.com
Monday 22nd December 2014
Sunshine Girls Stay Fit with Mango
Trek on the Sixth Day of Christmas
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua
and Barbuda – The eight
girls from the Sunshine
Home undertook a Mango
Trek to Fort Berkeley via
the Middle Ground, on day
six of their “Twelve Days
of Christmas” activity programme. The hike departed from
Pigeon Point, and the group
was enthralled with the
magnificent views of the
Pillars of Hercules, Galleon the way.
dation in conjunction with
Beach , Nelson’s Dockyard
The event was made their partner, Trek Tours. and English Harbour along possible by the Halo Foun- Lady Sandra Williams,
Founder of Halo and Patron
of the Sunshine Home for
Girls, commented: “ This
The Inland Revenue Department extends its activity is in keeping with
ABST Fresh Start Initiative that was launched in the Ministry of Health’s
policy which advocates the
July 2014.
TAX NOTICE
Taxpayers that have arrears for Antigua and
Barbuda Sales Tax (ABST), can have all of their
penalties and interest waived once they make arrangement with the department by close of business on December 31st 2014 to liquidate the outstanding tax amount due to the department.
Taxpayers will have the option of either making one payment to pay off their debt in full, or
entering into a payment plan with the department
to liquidate their debt over time.
The Commissioner invites all ABST taxpayers
who are in an arrears position to take advantage of
this Initiative.
For further information contact the Collections
Unit by calling 468-9488 or 468-9473.
……..Commissioner of Inland Revenue
engagement of preventative health measures, as opposed to curative. We need to address
possible health problems
before they occur, instead
of trying to battle the affliction in a fit of hindsight.
cont’d on pg 5
Monday 22nd December 2014
cont’d from pg 4
One way for our nation to
immerse itself in the prevention of non-infectious
diseases such as hypertension and diabetes is through
a sustainable physical fitness program.
Walking and hiking
maintains cardiovascular
and respiratory systems,
so that the heart and blood
vessels get stronger and
overall health is improved. It is good that the Sunshine
Girls are now more aware
that exercise can also be
fun, and they are being encouraged to lead an active
lifestyle”.
caribtimes.com
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6
caribtimes.com
Monday 22nd December 2014
Cuba and the US: the long thaw begins
I confess I was surprised when, last Wednesday, announcements from
Washington and Havana
confirmed that the United
States and Cuba had agreed
to restore diplomatic relations and work towards
the normalisation of other
relations, especially trade
and travel between the two
countries.
I did not think that President Barack Obama had
the fortitude to dismantle a
50-plus-year anachronism
that lingered as the last vestige of the Cold War that all
but ended with the collapse
of the Soviet Union in 1991. It is not that Obama was
steeped in the bitterness between the two neighbours or
hoped that he would be the
President that would break
down the communist walls
erected by Fidel Castro
shortly after the triumph of
the revolution in 1959. As
I recall it, when he ran for
office back in 2008, Obama
did mention relations between the two countries as
an item on his agenda.
But so too were Guantanamo prison that he vowed
to dismantle, and bringing
an end to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, all of
which have hardly changed
six years later. US-Cuba
relations is a politically
sensitive issue, a virtual determinant in national and
presidential elections, especially in the state of Florida
where most Cuban-Americans live.
While the older generation émigrés are a dying breed and many of the
younger ones are more re-
ceptive to the restoration of
relations, reality is the Cuba
issue permeates the wider
politics in America, with
the extreme right in both the
Republican and Democratic
parties using it to gain advantage. I sense, though, a
change in thinking among
Americans in general, and
Hispanics in particular,
hence Obama’s bold initiative towards Cuba and
his stance on illegal immigrants.
Still, it’s early days in
a process that could take
years to mature. Havana
clearly welcomes the rapprochement, but is not effusive about it. The official
newspaper, Granma, focussed more on the release
of the “Cuban 5” (prisoners
held in America) as large
numbers of young people
celebrated their freedom.
And President Raul
Castro, in his speech, said,
“I have reiterated on many
occasions our willingness to
hold a respectful dialogue
with the United States on the
basis of sovereign equality
in order to deal reciprocally
with a wide variety of topics
without detriment to the
national independence and
self-determination of our
people.”
In other words, Cuba is
ready to restore relations,
but not to sacrifice its dignity and sovereignty. Put
another way, America has
healthy political and trade
relations with China, but it
dare not tell the ruling Communist party in that country
to “open up the system”. Caricom
countries
should feel a sense of vindication in this development
since most of them, especially Trinidad and Tobago, have long called on the
USA to lift its punitive trade
embargo on Cuba. During
the 1960s and 1970s, when
many repressive US-sponsored regimes in Latin
America waged proxy wars
against Castro, quite literally, most Caribbean countries established and maintained diplomatic and trade
relations with Cuba, defying Washington.
Cuba also enjoyed supcont’d on pg 7
Monday 22nd December 2014
cont’d from pg 6
port from Canada and European countries that, besides
trade, have contributed the
largest chunk of the three
million or so tourists that
visit the country annually. In
fact, at the United Nations
general assembly annually,
when votes are taken on the
issue of lifting the US trade
embargo, only Israel and a
few insignificant countries
vote with Washington.
As the long thaw begins, there will be problems.
Obama and whoever succeeds him in 2016 will face
strong opposition in the legislature in Washington. And in Havana, there
are Stalinist hardliners who
will oppose anything to do
with improving relations
with the USA. Bitter words
will flow from both countries that will seem to threaten the process.
But its inevitability is
writ large on the wall that
will crumble as history takes
its course. America will find
that it can coexist peacefully with a neighbouring
country that operates under
a different political system. And the old guard in
Havana will be compelled
to usher in changes that will
repose sovereignty of the
nation in people, more so
the younger, educated peo-
ple, rather than the tired old
Communist comrades.
As it stands on the
threshold of a new era, Cuba
owes an immense debt of
gratitude to Fidel, Raul, Che
and those brave men and
women who, in the 1950s,
fought and defeated the despicable, repressive Batista.
Ironically, in the wake of
their triumph, hostility from
Washington drove the new
regime into the arms of the
Soviet Union, ushering in
the dictatorship of the party.
Now that Russia, China
and Vietnam have blazed
new trails, experimenting
with new political and economic models that, in large
caribtimes.com
7
measure, bring prosperity to
the people without giving
way to disorder, mayhem
and rampant crime, Cuba
does not need to surrender
its dignity or reinvent the
wheel.
Trade and diplomatic relations with America,
as they progress, if applied
evenly among a people who
are at the higher end of the
discipline, education and
health charts in the world,
can yield untold benefits
to Cuba and its Caribbean neighbours who stood
steadfastly in solidarity with
it through decades of very
trying times. (Reprinted
from the Trinidad Express)
8
caribtimes.com
Monday 22nd December 2014
Feeling the
Christmas Spirit
It’s the Holiday Season, which is
another way of saying that all sorts of
celebrations and observations are in
the air. Tomorrow, Tuesday December 23, one of our happy seasonal
events kicks off: A&B will enjoy the
first of two days of Christmas shopping with the very unpopular but nevertheless very useful ABST reduced
to a mere 5%, as compared to the usual 15% bite.
The more cynical among us may
find it a bit disingenuous for the Finance Ministry to cut the ABST on
two days of the year when the people
are going to shop till they drop, no
matter what: But what the heck? It’s
Xmas – time for goodies of all kind
to make the rounds. I understand that
politicians will be making the rounds
in pursuit of one of their favorite new
Xmas traditions: delivering hams and
turkeys to salivating constituents.
That puts the ABST rebate right
up there with the Dollar Barrel as another feature of the growing list of
voter-friendly initiatives that adorn
the political landscape in our tiny
two-island state of mind.
At this point the second best thing
we can say about the ABST rebate is
that according to the Finance Ministry the proposal promises to be at
least revenue-neutral, if not an actual
positive. That should figure, since everybody who can will be out spending
our filthy lucre like it’s going out of
style anyway, rebate of not!
Speaking of money going out of
style … has anybody seen any lately?
All joking aside, the best thing we
can say about the ABST rebate is that
the gambit should spur the people to
loosen our purse strings just that bit
more – enough to give the commercial sector a real boost at this very
critical season of our annual economic cycle.
Heaven knows our parched
economy could really handle a bit
of homegrown stimulus right now. A
taxi-driver of my acquaintance tells
me that he can feel the economic tide
rising under his sector; so perhaps
the inflow of foreign exchange right
where the rubber meets the road will
elevate public confidence to a level
that will catapult us all handsomely into a bright and prosperous New
Year.
There is absolutely no way on this
Planet that Yours Truly is going to find
anything to say that will bring down
the Christmas Spirit at this extremely sensitive moment in our Country’s
evolution into a modern democratic
state (hopefully).
Heaven knows we all could use a
little Christmas Spirit, after the bruising year just past – and the equally
bruising years before that. A hefty
dose of catharsis would do this Nation
a whole lot of good, and Christmas
(“Xmas”, if you wish) is tailor made
for that kind of thing.
Killjoys who have difficulty enjoying the forest because all the trees
get in the way will point out that what
we somewhat deceptively celebrate
as the Birthday of the Christ is actually an observance superimposed
over the old pagan celebrations of the
Winter Solstice. It takes little analysis
to understand why the early Christian Church chose to take that route.
With New Year observances of all
stripes already thoroughly entrenched
in World religious culture, it made
sense for the NKOTB to aim straight
for the top – trump the opposition by
employing the time-honored strategy:
If you can’t beat them, join them – or
better still, take it all over and make
it your own. This, by the way, is why
the early Church took care to extend
the Christmas observances well over
into the New Year: That move covered the entire Saturnalia holiday
quite handily.
So we have Christmas in December (when the snow lay all about).
Scholars say the Baby Jesus caught
his first whiff of fresh cow dung in
September-October, around the time
of the Festival of Succoth, a feast
honoring the times when the Children
of Israel dwelt in booths in the wilderness.
The Birthday of the Baby Jesus is
the birthday of the New Year: the start
of a new Solar cycle; the beginning of
a new circle of life. To people living
in northern climes it was the promise
that fertility would return after the
long frozen months, seen as a type of
death. The Birthday of the Baby Jesus took over as the counterpart to the
ultimate symbol of Salvation, Rebirth
and Resurrection, which is Easter …
or the Spring Equinox, if you will.
Let us all therefore resolve to remember that Christmas is for the kid
in all of us; and seek to live the fantasy of Love, of Peace of Earth and
Goodwill to all Men (Okay … Women too), if even only for a season.
So tomorrow and Christmas Eve …
Shop till you drop, or run out of surplus cash – whichever comes first.
caribtimes.com
Monday 22nd December 2014
9
Gov’t clarifies relationship between its
Citizenship by Investment Programme &
Sweet Homes’ Ajman Uptown Project, UAE
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda – The Government of Antigua
and Barbuda has clarified the relationship between its Citizenship
by Investment Programme and the
Sweet Homes’ Ajman Uptown Project in the United Arab Emirates,
following misleading media reports
suggesting that purchasing homes
in the project automatically qualifies persons to become citizens of
Antigua and Barbuda.
In a diplomatic note sent to its
international partners, the Govern-
ment of Antigua and Barbuda made
it clear that as it relates to the Sweet
Homes’ project, there is no automaticity whatsoever between persons
purchasing such homes and the acquisition of Antigua and Barbudan
citizenship. The note pointed out the arrangement between the government
of Antigua and Barbuda and Sweet
Homes’ as follows: 1. The agreement with
Sweet Homes’ allows the company Prime Minister, the Hon., Gaston
cont’d on pg 10
Browne.
10 c a r i b t i m e s . c o m
cont’d from pg 9
to draw to the attention of
its clients the possibility
of applying for Antigua
and Barbuda citizenship
under the legislated terms
of the CIP. Should any
of Sweet Homes’ clients
apply for such citizenship each of them will be
subject to the legislated
terms and conditions, including a high level of
due diligence inquiry by
the CIP that relates to all
other applicants, before
being accepted or rejected. In the event that any
of applicants from Sweet
Homes’ data base successfully meets the high
due diligence criteria established by the CIP and
Monday 22nd December 2014
are awarded citizenship,
Sweet Homes’ is then paid
a commission by the Government of Antigua and
Barbuda, and
2. Sweet
Homes’ has no authorising or approval authority
whatsoever for Antigua
and Barbuda citizenship,
and no one who purchases
a Sweet Homes’ property
qualifies, in any way, for
Antigua and Barbuda citizenship. Sweet Homes’
clients are given nothing
more than the opportunity to apply for citizenship
and to subject themselves
to the CIP scrutiny process
so as to discern whether
or not they are acceptable. The Government of
Antigua and Barbuda is
merely using the database
of Sweet Homes’ to widen
awareness of its CIP.
The Diplomatic Note
also pointed out that since
coming into office in June
of this year, the Government of Prime Minister
Gaston Browne has taken constructive measures
to guard the security of
Antigua and Barbuda and
all other countries, particularly its partners in the
Caribbean
Community
(CARICOM), Canada, the
European Union and the
United States of America.
“The Citizenship by
Investment Unit (CIU) application assessment process is based on the evaluation of objective and
verifiable documentation
relating to the identity and
background of applicants
which broadly mirror the
practices of Canada, Australia and other immigration programmes.
“The evaluation process includes a ‘background check’ to identify
potentially
undesirable
applicants who could
bring the Programme and
Country into disrepute.
“This includes the
use of independent international due diligence
service providers who
conduct searches of public sources and as re-
quired can do on site field
checks. The CIU performs
the qualitative analysis to
support its recommendation to approve or deny
the application,” the note
made clear.
“My administration
proactively adjusts the
Programme, which we
inherited on June 12 to
strengthen its integrity. Most recently the Cabinet reconfirmed that passports will be only issued
consistent with the applicant’s original passport of
nationality and that name
changes will not be accepted. We also excluded
nationals from Iran, Iraq,
Afghanistan,
Somalia,
Yemen, and North Korea from the Programme
except where such applicants hold permanent
residence or citizenship in
the USA, UK or Canada,”
Prime Minister Browne
recently stated.
Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment Programme is
designed to attract foreign
direct investment into key
sectors of the economy
such as tourism, financial
services, marine services,
information
technology and IBC formations. Once investors meet the
required
qualifications,
they become eligible for
citizenship.
Monday 22nd December 2014
caribtimes.com
11
Fool’s Paradise - Mockery Of Law
- Implications
[Section 17: Police Act:
Continued from last Chapter 330].
Friday’s issue
INFORMED
DAREDEVIL
DECISIONS
DRIVERS
Respecting “...Public
Parliament anticipat- Safety,” a Traffic Comed that “...Daredevils” missioner, for reasons of
will have driven their “...responsibility; ...acmotor vehicles in a man- countability and liabilner that may “...endanger ities
(criminally/civillife and property.”
ly),” is deemed to know
The Parliamentarians or reckless not to know
may have been strong those “...events and/or
in their collective views activities with foreseeand wisdom that the “... able catastrophic consePublic roads were not to quences or with potential
be used for any danger- for “...freak accidents.”
ous sports,” be it “...recIt was the knowlreational; ... competitive edge that those who had
or commercial.”
made “...uninformed deHence, a Traffic cisions” had experienced
Commissioner was to difficulties in (a) ...Justiensure, inter alia, (i) “... fying their decisions; (b)
Free or unimpeded pas- ...Escaping responsibilisage; and (ii) ...Where ty for public liabilities.”
public safety was under
Hence, only “...inthreat by “...unlawful ac- formed decisions” may
tivities or other impedi- stand the litmus test
ments, without compro- of
“...appropriateness;
mise and/or hesitation,” ...reasonability, lawfulhe was obliged to enforce ness and justification bethe law.
fore “...Public Inquiries.”
While there may
Therefore,
Traffic
be dire need for “...Re- Commissioners shall alfresher Courses,” Law ways be mindful that
enforcement personnel decisions
expediently
need no reminders of taken had brought unthat which is contained imaginable consequencin the “...Oath of Office” es.
WATCHDOG
PROVISION
An interesting insertion into the Traffic
law is a “...Watchdog
Provision.”
Evidently,
Parliament anticipated
that some Traffic Orders
might be suspect, and
therefore,
necessitate
Cabinet’s approval.
Therefore, prudence
may have dictated its
embodiment for the purposes of addressing decisions by the Traffic Commissioner that may have
implications for public
safety.
cont’d on pg 12
12 c a r i b t i m e s . c o m
cont’d from pg 11
It states “...Any such
order shall not come into
force until it has been
approved by the Cabinet
and published in the official Gazette” [Section 2
(2): Chapter 299].
Monday 22nd December 2014
Evidently this proviso may have been “...
inadvertently overlooked
and/or omitted.”
It is, therefore, binding upon the Cabinet to
ensure that “...Orders
made for the control of
vehicular traffic” shall
be (i) ...reasonable and
in the interest of public
safety; (ii) ...That they
may not cause unnecessary difficulties or inconvenience to the general
public; (iii) ...That they
provide for the elimination of dangers, hindrances, obstacles and/or
hurdles to the roadway;
and (iv) ...Generally, that
such Orders are for the
greater public good.”
PUBLIC LIABILITY
Clearly, when the
Traffic
Commissioner had conscientiously written to the Public Safety Minister, he
was obviously aware of
his responsibilities for
(i) ...Public Safety” (ii)
...Duty in enforcing the
law.”
Thus, there was no
duty to point out infractions to the Minister of
Public Safety.
His primary responsible was “...initiating actions that were required
in eliminating danger to
the public and/or averting catastrophe.”
The owners of participating vehicles were
well ahead of the Police.
In keeping with the law,
they had obtained the “...
normal insurance coverage” for use of their
vehicles on the public
roads.
In anticipation of
tragedy, several had “...
indemnified themselves
against driver injuries
and/or death.” Contrastingly, the Traffic
Monday 22nd December 2014
caribtimes.com
13
14 c a r i b t i m e s . c o m
Monday 22nd December 2014
Over-reaction to reports of plan to
assassinate St Lucia PM – Chastanet
CASTRIES, St. Lucia,
CMC – The leader of the
main opposition United
Workers Party (UWP),
Allen Chastanet, says the
ruling St. Lucia Labour
Party (SLP) is overreacting to reports that young
people, frustrated by the
economic situation, were
entertaining the idea of
killing Prime Minister Dr.
Kenny Anthony.
The SLP had called on
Police Commissioner Vernon Francois to investigate
the report made during a
television programme earlier this month.
The SLP’s public relations officer, Winston
Springer, said during the
programme two of the
guests revealed how they
were frustrated at not
being able to find employment and generally
survive in the current economic environment, and
that they at times felt like
killing the Prime Minister.
Police have since interviewed Lashawn Lambert, who publicly spoke
of the matter on the television show.
But Chastanet said
while he thinks the threat
“is an extremely serious
matter,” he did not think
that when the young man
made the claim, he was
threatening the prime
minister.
Allen Chastanet, says the ruling St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP)
is overreacting to reports that young people, frustrated by
the economic situation, were entertaining the idea of killing
Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony.
“I think he was crying
out to the young people
who are being marginalised and have lost hope,”
the UWP leader said, adding the unemployment fig-
ure for young people is as
high as 44 per cent.
“That to my mind
is what the government
should have been reacting
to,” Chastanet said.
Trinidad health authorities say Nigerian
student has malaria, not Ebola
PORT-OF-SPAIN,
Trinidad,
CMC – The Trinidad & Tobago
Ministry of Health said that a Nigerian national was suffering with
malaria fever and not Ebola after he
was admitted to the Port of Spain
General Hospital on Friday.
In a statement, the Ministry said
that it “wished to advise that there is
no suspected case of Ebola in Trinidad and Tobago at this time”.
It said that on Friday, the Nigerian student was seen at the Accident & Emergency Department of
the St James Medical Complex and
was transferred to the Port of Spain
General Hospital for further management.”
The Ministry of Health said that
the student had complained of fever
and vomiting but he had not travelled outside of Nigeria for over one
year prior to arriving in Trinidad
earlier this month.
“The patient is suspected to have
malaria and is stable and investigations were performed to confirm
this diagnosis,” the statement said,
reminding locals that the World
Health Organisation (WHO) had
declared Nigeria to be free of Ebola.
It said that restrictions on persons travelling from Nigeria to Trinidad and Tobago were lifted since
October 22, 2014.
“Travel restrictions, however,
remain in effect for countries with
widespread Ebola” and also assured
that “health personnel at points of
entry and medical institutions remain vigilant for imported cases of
cont’d on pg 15
Monday 22nd December 2014
caribtimes.com
15
Rihanna named new creative
director for Puma brand
HERZOGENAURACH, Germany – Barbados’ pop princess Rihanna
has been named the new
creative director for lifestyle and activewear brand
Puma.
The multiple Grammy
award-winner will oversee
the company’s women’s
line, including footwear
and clothing, during her
“multi-year partnership,”
according to a report in
Women’s Wear Daily.
The 26-year-old singer
will also star in the brand’s
autumn 2015 advertising
campaign, and will be one
of its global brand ambassadors alongside Jamaican
sprint sensation Usain Bolt
and Argentine soccer player Sergio Agüero.
Rihanna’s new role
will see her working with
Puma “to design and customize classic Puma styles
as well as create new styles
to add to the product portfolio,” according to a press
cont’d from pg 14
Ebola.
The Ministry of
Health also wishes to reaffirm our commitment
to collaborating with
other stake-holders with
the common goal of pro-
release.
The
“Diamonds”
singer flew to the firm’s
headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany, this
week for her first design
meeting, and followed up
by posting pictures from
the trip to Instagram. In all
of the images, her white
Puma sneakers are prominently displayed.
In an uncaptioned
tecting the health of the
people of Trinidad and
Tobago”.
There is no known
cure for the Ebola virus
which has killed more
than 7,000 people mainly
in West Africa.
photo, she unveiled the
“Rihanna x Puma” logo,
moving on to add her own
inimitable style with a picture showing just her shoes
with the caption “Creep”
and the Puma hashtag.
Puma, the world’s
third-largest
sporting
goods brand after Nike and
Adidas, said partnering
with Rihanna was a logical
decision.
“Signing Rihanna is a
fantastic step for Puma,”
said the company’s CEO
Bjørn Gulden. “Her global
profile, her charisma and
individuality, her ambition
– all these things make her
a perfect ambassador for
our brand.
“With a strong portfolio in football, running
and motorsport, finding
an inspiring partner for
women’s training was very
important. Rihanna was
a natural choice for us.
We’re delighted to have
her as a partner, and we’re
looking forward to what’s
to come.”
The move comes as
Puma, which is owned by
French company Kering,
is trying to re-position itself as a lifestyle and activewear brand, rather than
the latter alone.
Rihanna will reportedly start influencing product
collections as early as next
year.
16 c a r i b t i m e s . c o m
Monday 22nd December 2014
Killer of two New York City
officers had long criminal history
NEW YORK (AP) -- The gunman who fatally ambushed two police officers in their squad car had
a long criminal record, a hatred for
police and the government and an
apparent history of mental instability that included an attempt to hang
himself a year ago, authorities said
Sunday.
Moments before opening fire,
Ismaaiyl Brinsley approached people on the street and asked them to
follow him on Instagram, then told
them, “Watch what I’m going to do,”
Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce
said.
A portrait of the Brooklyn-born
gunman emerged as big-city police departments and union leaders
around the country warned officers
to change up their routines and insist
on extra backup a day after Brinsley
carried out what he portrayed online
as retaliation for the slayings of black
men at the hands of white police.
Brinsley was black; the slain officers were Asian and Hispanic.
Investigators were trying to determine if Brinsley had taken part
in any protests over the deaths of
Michael Brown and Eric Garner,
whose names he invoked in his on-
line threat, or simply latched on to
the cause for the final act in a violent
rampage.
They said he traveled frequently
between the South and New York,
where he fathered a child in Brooklyn, and had been in the city earlier
in the week.
Brinsley, 28, had at least 19 arrests in Georgia and Ohio, spent two
years in prison for gun possession
and had a troubled childhood so violent that his mother was afraid of
him, police said. He ranted online
about police and the government and
cont’d on pg 17
Monday 22nd December 2014
cont’d from pg 16
expressed
“self-despair
and anger at himself and
where his life was,” Boyce
said. Boyce said Brinsley’s
mother believed he had
undiagnosed mental problems and may have been
on medication at some
point, but detectives were
still trying to determine if
he had a mental illness.
On Saturday afternoon, Brinsley approached
a squad car from behind in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant section
and fired four shots, killing
Officers Rafael Ramos and
Wenjian Liu. He then ran
into a subway station and
committed suicide.
Hours earlier, Brinsley
had shot and wounded his
ex-girlfriend at her home
outside Baltimore, then
made threatening posts online, including a vow to put
“wings on pigs” and references to the Brown and
Garner cases.
Baltimore-area police
warned the New York department that Brinsley was
in the city and bent on violence. But New York police were still getting the
word out when Brinsley
struck.
The slayings dramatically escalated tensions
that have simmered for
months over police killings of blacks.
The siege mentality was evident in several
memos circulating among
the rank and file at the
35,000-officer New York
Police Department, the nation’s largest.
A
union-generated
message warned police
officers that they should
respond to every radio call
with two cars - “no matter
what the opinion of the patrol supervisor” - and not
make arrests “unless absolutely necessary.” The
president of the detectives
union told members in
a letter to work in threes
when out on the street,
wear bulletproof vests and
keep aware of their surroundings.
“Cowards such as yesterday’s killer strike when
you are distracted and vulnerable,” the letter read.
Another
directive
warned officers in Newark,
New Jersey, not to patrol
alone and to avoid people
looking for confrontations.
At the same time, a memo
from an NYPD chief asked
officers to avoid fanning
rage by limiting comments
“via all venues, including
social media, to expressions of sorrow and condolence.”
The slayings come at a
tense time. Police nationwide are being criticized
for months for their tactics,
following Garner’s death
in a New York officer’s
chokehold and Brown’s
fatal shooting in Ferguson,
Missouri. Protests erupted
in recent weeks after grand
caribtimes.com
17
Police officers leave candles at an impromptu memorial
near the site where two New York City police officers were
killed in the Brooklyn borough of New York, yesterday.
juries declined to charge
the officers involved.
New York City Police
Commissioner
William
Bratton and Mayor Bill
de Blasio attended Sunday Mass at St. Patrick’s
Cathedral, where Cardinal
Timothy Dolan called for
calm. Bratton later visited
the families of both officers and laid flowers at a
makeshift memorial at the
site of the slayings.
“It’s a reflection that
the community cares about
the cops,” said Bratton,
adding that the memorial
was “very appropriate.”
Brooklyn
Borough
President Eric Adams also
visited the memorial, calling on protest organizers
to “hold off on any type of
protest until these officers
are laid to rest in a peaceful
manner.”
The family of slain
Officer Rafael Ramos also
appealed for peace in the
days ahead.
Cousin Ronnie Gonzalez said the family has
already forgiven the gunman. “He’s in the hands
of God now,” he said.
“We don’t believe in vengeance; we just forgive.”
At an appearance with
the Rev. Al Sharpton, Garner’s mother expressed her
dismay over the killings of
the officers.
“I’m standing here in
sorrow about losing those
two police officers. That
was definitely not our
agenda,” Gwen Garner
said.
“We are going in peace,
and anyone who’s standing
with us, we want you to not
use Eric Garner’s name for
violence because we are
not about that,” she added.
“These two police officers
lost their lives senselessly
and our condolence to the
family and we stand with
the families.”
18 c a r i b t i m e s . c o m
Monday 22nd December 2014
“The Inter-School Recycling Competition starts again in
January 2015! Interested schools may contact the Environment Division at 562-2568 by January 10th, 2015. Remember Recycling is a good habit! Pick it up!”If you have any
questions please feel free to contact me at 464-8157.
“The life you save could be someone you know”
Antigua & Barbuda Red Cross Is Offering Certified FIRST
AID/CPR Training Course Mondays and Thursdays 5:00pm
to 8:00pm Starting on Thursday January 12th, 2015 For Further Information: Call Tel # 462 0800/ 771-8253
St. Paul’s Christmas Schedule
It’s that time of year (again) when the children of the St.
Paul’s constituency are treated to our annual Christmas
Party and our elders, sick and shut ins to the joy of Christmas through gift baskets and food hampers.
Below is a list of activities for the entire season sponsored
by the Hon. E.P. Chet Greene
Friday 19th
Distribution of Ham & Turkey
Saturday 20th Carolling on the Bloc at Yasoso Corner and
Community Awards Ceremony 7 – 11:00 p.m.
Sunday 21
Children Christmas party at Yasoso Corner
from 2:00 p.m.
Monday 22nd Distribution of packages to the elderly
Thursday 25th Bloc Party (all day)
Friday 26th
Bloc Party (continued)
Thursday 1st January 2015
Bloc Party (all day)
Employment
Cashier/ Administrative Assistant needed. Must be fully
qualified with cxc subjects including math and English.
Apply in person at Shoe Palace on Redcliffe Street with
resume. Tel number 462-2362.
Domestic helper needed. Must have experience in similar
job. Apply in person at Shoe Palace on Redcliffe Street or
call 726-0374.
Sale
Annette’s Orchids! Wishing ALL of our customers and
friends A Very Merry Christmas And a Happy New Year!
We thank you for your continued patronage and it has
been Our great pleasure serving you! Drive carefully and
stay safe!
Service
Barbuda Express is sailing everyday except Mondays &
Wednesdays. Tours available 4 days a week, For more
info and reservation, please call 764-2291. You may also
visit our website http://www.barbudaexpress.com.
For Rent
For rent: Two Bedroom unfurnished apartment quiet
neighbourhood, hot and cold water in Belmont New Extension Tel: 460-8471.
The Ministry of Education wishes to advise the General
Public of its closure of the Ministry’s Headquarters from
23rd December 2014, to accommodate minor repairs and
the spraying for termite infestation. Normal operations will
return on Monday 29th December, 2014. Please be guided
accordingly.
caribtimes.com
Monday 22nd December 2014
Friday’s Sudoku Solution
19
SUDOKU
C R O S S WO R D
Across
1. A driver may change one
5. Performs ‘’Stairway to
Heaven,’’ e.g.
10. Southwestern desert feature
14. Semester ender
15. ‘’Christ Stopped at ___’’
16. Like a Southwestern desert
17. Warm and friendly
18. One pointing at a target
19. Love potion’s number
20. TV producer’s hot daughter?
23. Some sorority women
24. Means of escape
25. CPR givers
27. Mediterranean resort site
31. Carnival city
34. Hot item in the alley?
36. Type of history
38. ‘’Full Metal Jacket’’ setting, briefly
39. Little Joe’s brother
40. Hot Far East place?
45. Leamington’s attraction
46. Trap
47. Type of link
49. Scala in ‘’Don’t Go Near
The Water’’
50. Delineated
54. Cinderella’s hot benefactor?
59. Deafening sound
60. ‘’The Gold Bug’’ writer’s
signature, perhaps
61. Earth’s center
62. Noted star followers
63. It’s spoken from the hip?
64. Sills solo
65. ___ gin fizz
66. Old wives’ forte?
67. Began a golf game
Down
1. Slow, to a conductor
2. Self-evident truth
3. Mother-of-pearl
4. Come to the fore
5. Regales with a story, perhaps
6. ‘’The Mikado’’ wraps
7. Provide for free, informally
8. Swiss painter Paul
9. Steak choice
10. Winnipeg’s province
11. ‘’___ Brockovich’’
12. Warble
13. Orange or lemon end
21. Poetic foot
22. It’s breathtaking
26. Subsequently
27. Impersonate
28. Physics units
29. Thank the singer
30. ___ mater
31. You may find a judge in it
32. Qom locale
33. Twelve ___ (‘’GWTW’’
plantation)
35. ___-di-dah
37. Victoria’s not-so-secret
Secret
41. Alternative to a Lady
Schick
42. Most in need of a dye job?
43. Eggnog spices
44. Big do
48. One with megabucks
51. Household task
52. Hair-raising
53. Great fear
54. Farm delivery?
55. Shakespearean villain
56. Charity festivity, e.g.
57. Whitish gem
58. Out of the oven
59. Apt. divisions
20 c a r i b t i m e s . c o m
Monday 22nd December 2014
Monday 22nd December 2014
caribtimes.com
21
DEAR LADY X HOROSCOPE
I have decided that when
I have kids I don’t want to
do the whole “Santa” thing.
I’d rather tell them about the
real St. Nicholas and what
it means to give rather than
to receive. Even though I’m
not religious, I’ll tell them
about the birth of Jesus (even
though he wasn’t born in December), and tell them about
the winter solstice.
After working years of
retail, I have seen firsthand
what people can be like
around the holidays, especially parents buying expensive,
high-demand/low-supply
things for their kids, and parents who put themselves in
debt to make their kids happy. I am saddened by stories
of kids writing to Santa and
asking him to get their unemployed parents money for
food.
Most people I have spoken with disagree with my
decision. They call me a
Scrooge or say I’m “taking
my kids’ innocence away.”
What do you think?
Do you think I’m awful for
wanting to teach them about
charitable St. Nick, instead
of commercializing Santa
Claus? -- SANTA-LESS
DEAR SANTA-LESS: I
agree you should talk to your
children about the birth of Jesus, as well as the pagan festivals that Christmas replaced,
if you wish. While you’re at
it, also stress to them what
the spirit of Christmas is supposed to be -- even if it seems
sometimes lost in the commercialism of the holiday.
However, wait until your
children ask you about Santa. When they do, tell them
the truth. That way, they will
learn that when they ask their
mother something, they will
always be given an honest
answer.
Friday’s Crossword Solution
ARIES (March 21-April 19).
The ones who seem extremely different from you are not
really. Relating to others is
simply a matter of staying
clued in to your surroundings
and to what people are doing
in the moment.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20).
People in their right minds
don’t usually forget details
about what and whom they
love, though such a thing
may happen today. If so,
don’t take it personally. Let
the small grievances go.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21).
It’s a beautiful day when you
experience reciprocal energy,
as you will today. You can’t
help but treasure and admire
those who treasure and admire you!
CANCER (June 22-July 22).
It doesn’t matter whom or
what you love; the effect is
the same: Loving makes you
beautiful. Your whole being
becomes a graceful testament
to your adoration.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You
weren’t trying to make yourself happy; you were just
following your interest. And
yet the pursuit of that made
you very happy indeed. The
pursuit of happiness is rarely
direct.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).
Security, quite simply, isn’t.
The ability to feel secure in
uncertain circumstances (and
pretty much all circumstances are uncertain) is a talent
few possess. Celebrate this
part of yourself.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).
It’s easier to be critical than
it is to be creative. When the
work is done by someone
else, you give credit. When
it’s done by you, you’re hard
on yourself. Don’t be.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov.
21). Mark Twain said that a
lie can travel halfway around
the world while the truth is
putting on its shoes. Today
it won’t matter how true or
false the news is — it will
spread.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22Dec. 21). Don’t worry about
how useful your afternoon efforts are. Playfulness is function without purpose. What
you do in the moment that
doesn’t matter will train you
for the moment that does.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19). Success isn’t about winning every medal. Today,
more than likely, it’s about
awarding medals to others.
You have a way of making
the moment more important
and special, and you’ll love
their reaction.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18). Not a lot of good will
come of thinking your work
is very important. This evening, logic will prevail, and
in a strange way life will
prove, for once, quite fair.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March
20). Doctors take an oath to
do no harm, but occasionally
it happens that the remedy is
worse than the disease. This
is a metaphor to take quite
seriously this week, as you’ll
be weighing options that
are more complex than they
seem.
22 c a r i b t i m e s . c o m
Monday 22nd December 2014
West Indies suffer humiliating defeat
in first test against South Africa
CENTURION, South
Africa, CMC – West Indies suffered their heaviest ever defeat in South
Africa, when they were
humiliated by an innings
and 220 runs, 70 minutes
before lunch on the penultimate day of the opening Test here Saturday.
Resuming at 76 for
two in their second innings still requiring a further 275 runs to avoid an
innings defeat, the Caribbean side capitulated inside just 15.3 overs to 131
all out, to fall behind 1-0
in the three-Test series.
They were ripped
apart by the ruthless Dale
Steyn who snatched six
for 34 to trigger the collapse that saw the last
eight wickets tumble for
55 runs at SuperSport
Park.
Fellow fast bowler
Morne Morkel picked up
two for 43.
Leon Johnson, unbeaten on 33 overnight,
top-scored with 39 but
once he fell in the sixth
over of the day, no other
batsman passed 20.
Kemar Roach did not
bat because of an ankle
injury.
The emphatic nature
of the victory was emphasized in the fact West Indies were dismissed twice
in four sessions, following the wash-out of the final session on Thursday’s
second day.
For the hosts, it was
also their second largest
margin of victory in Tests.
West Indies were
hopeful when Johnson
and stroke-maker Marlon
Samuels, on 13, navigated
the opening moments of
the day’s play, to stretch
their third wicket stand to
35 runs.
However,
Johnson
perished to the 88th deliv-
Stiaan van Zyl of South Africa drives during day 2 of the 1st
Test match between South Africa and West Indies.
ery he faced in just under
two hours at the crease,
nicking behind one from
Steyn that moved away
just enough, to leave West
Indies on 87 for three.
The visitors’ hopes
then rested squarely on a
significant stand between
Samuels and veteran lefthander Shiv Chanderpaul
but this never materialized.
Chanderpaul
faced
just nine balls before fall-
ing to Steyn in the bowler’s next over, gloving a
lifter to wicketkeeper AB
de Villiers, to fall for four.
Samuels hung around
for 70 minutes overall
for his 17 before finally
departing with the score
on 101 for five, getting
a leading edge to Dean
Elgar at cover off one
that bounced sharply and
forced the right-hander to
defend.
cont’d on pg 23
caribtimes.com
Monday 22nd December 2014
23
Wins for Sap and Parham in ABFA
Premier Division matches on Saturday
By Vanroy Burnes
Defending
ABFA
Premier Division Champions Hadeed Group of
Companies Sap in determines to retain their title
by chalking up another
victory on Saturday. Playing in the first match of
a double header, the men
from round south beat
their neighbors the Golden Stars of Urlings 4 goals
to 2.
cont’d from pg 22
The Match which
viewed as one of the better
games played by Urlings
for the season was based
on Sap experience that
makes the difference, Ika
Codrington opening the
scoring for Sap in the 3rd
minute followed by Peter
Byers in the 20th minute as
Sap leads by 2 goals going
into the half.
On resumption, Francios Joseph pulled a
Struggling badly and needing a gallant inings to survive until lunch, West
Indies’ desperate search for a hero bypassed captain Denesh Ramdin again.
For the second time in the match,
the right-hander failed to cope, falling
to a superb diving catch by de Villiers
after fending off a quick short-of-alength delivery from Steyn two balls
after Samuels’s demise.
He made just four, and has now
made only 23 runs from his last five
Test innings.
22 December 2014
goal back for his team in
the 50th minute, but Ika
Codrington quickly extended the lead in the 54th
minute to make it 3-1.
Tishawn Joseph scored for
Urlings in the 82nd minute
to narrow the gap to 3-2,
but with just two minutes
remaining, Jeroy Jeffery
seals the win for Sap in
the 88th minute.
The win for Sap put
them on 22 points, while
The end came swiftly. Jermaine
Blackwood lashed three fours in his
17-ball stay before gloving Morkel to
substitute Temba Bavuma at short-leg
for 15 and Steyn removed Jerome Taylor to a catch at first slip by Man-ofthe-Match captain Hashim Amla for
nine.
Fittingly, Steyn finished off the innings when he had Sheldon Cottrell
caught at mid-wicket by Kyle Abbott,
for four.
The second Test bowls off Boxing
Day in Port Elizabeth.
Until 27 December 2014
Urlings remains on 4
points at the bottom of the
10 team’s standings. Asot
Arcade Parham they move
to 26 points after that victory while Sani-Pro Fort
Road remains on 5 points.
In Sundays Matches, Bassa beat Lime Old
Road by a goal to nil,
Lennox Julian scored the
lone goal. In the second
match of the triple header
Otto’s Rangers beat Jennings Grenades 2 goals to
nil. Albert Michael scored
in the 41st minute and Junior Benjamin in the 90th
minute, while in the third
match of the day Five Islands and Hoppers played
to a goalless draw. Otto’s
Rangers with their victory
moves to 11 points, Bassa moves also moves to
11 points, while Hoppers
moves to 22 points and
Five Islands to 6 points.
29 December 2014
24 c a r i b t i m e s . c o m
Monday 22nd December 2014
West Indies Cricket Board name
new ODI cricket captain
By Vanroy Burnes
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has
named All-Rounder Barbadian born Jason Holder
as the New ODI Captain
for the ODI Series in South
Africa.
There is no word on
what is the position of former Captain Dwayne Bravo weather he was sack of
not available, however neither of the Bravo’s are in
the West Indies ODI Squad
for South Africa.
There is also no room
for Kieron Pollard, Sunil
Narnia of Ravi Rampaul,
Kirt Edwards, Nikita Miller or Andre Fletcher. Narsingh Deonarine is making
a comeback after his good
forms in the WICB four
day competition, Lendl
Simmons is returning after
injury; the rest of the Squad
includes Jonathan Carter,
Carlos Brathwaite and Andre Russell.
The Duo of Chris Gayle and Dwayne Smith will
open the innings, Sheldon
Cottrell, Jerome Taylor,
Suleiman Benn and Current Test Captain Denish
Ramdin makes up the 14
players while the 15th player will be named shortly.
Chairman of Selectors
Clyde Lloyd said Holder
is one of the good young
players who we believe
will form part of the long
term future of West Indies
Cricket and we expect him
to be around for a very long
time.
The Chairman of Selectors also noted that he is
very young and has a very
bright future that is why
we invested in him. He
was part of the high performance center and he has
demonstrated leadership
Jason Holder
qualities and he also has a
very good Cricketing brain.
Lloyd said the panel
of selectors decided that
now is the time to make the
transition. Holder’s first appointment will be the West
Indies five ODI Series
against South Africa which
follows the current Test series. The first ODI will be
on January 09th 2015 at the
New Lands ground in Cape
Town.
Holder has played 21
ODI’S for the West Indies
and captured 29 wickets, he
was also the Vice Captain
of the West Indies A Team,
and he has also played
one test and one t-20 for
the West Indies. Holder is
presently in South Africa
with the test team. In the
meantime, the Board has
thanked Dwayne Bravo for
his services as Captain of
the West Indies ODI Team
after taking over from Darren Sammy a year ago.
Caribbean Times is printed and published at Woods Estate /Friars Hill Road By Kimon Drigo who is also the Editor and resides at
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