Street Hype Newspaper » Regional

NGOs object to same-sex schools in T&T

Street Hype Webmaster — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 06:17:23 +0000

Agroup of Non-Government Organizations in Trinidad and Tobago is expressing concern about what it says is the government’s rush to introduce same-sex schools in the twin island republic.

The group, the Network of NGOs of Trinidad and Tobago for the Advancement of Women, says enough
consultation has not been done to help to guide the introduction. Education Minister Esther Le Gendre
had announced that 20 schools are to be converted to same-sex schools.

She said that the underperformance of male students was the main reason for introducing this structure into Trinidad’s education system. In a statement, the group said any move to implement same sex schools must take into account the necessary policy framework, including a gender policy.

Dr. Kris Rampersad, the group’s director, said that separating boys and girls in different classrooms or schools will not necessarily solve the problems of male underachievement. She said that this policy must be informed by understanding the gender differences in how boys and girls learn

Garvey’s son heads medical team from N.Y. to St. Ann

Street Hype Webmaster — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 06:13:53 +0000

OCHO RIOS – A team of medical personnel from New York will be making a special visit to St. Ann’s Bay Hospital on Monday, March 21.

The team, headed by cardiothoracicsSurgeon and son of National Hero Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Dr. Julius Garvey, will be meeting with the St. Ann Medical Team (Hospital and Health Department) to discuss an inaugural medical mission to St. Ann. Senior Medical Officer at the St. Ann’s Bay Hospital Dr. Nicole Dawkins,told JIS News that the focus of Dr. Garvey’s team’s visit would be on Dentistry and Ophthalmology.

“However, they have a special interest in pediatrics, especially adolescent medicine and HIV Disease
Management,” Dr. Dawkins said. She added that the team’s postgraduate certificate skills include urology, internal medicine, anesthesiology and cardiothoracic surgery. “Given the historic significance
of National Hero Marcus Mosiah Garvey,in St. Ann, we are honored to be part of the planning for this medical mission and the forging of a long-term partnership,” Dr. Dawkins told JIS News.

Tsunami simulation exercise

Street Hype Webmaster — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 05:10:05 +0000

Caribbean countries will tomorrow participate in a full-scale simulation tsunami alert exercise to test the region’s readiness to respond to a possible disaster. The exercise, dubbed Caribe Wave 11, will be held in conjunction with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency.

It will assess tsunami and other coastal hazard warning systems for the region. Organizers say that as part of the exercise, countries in the Caribbean will receive an alert for a fake 7.6 magnitude earthquake off the coast of the US Virgin Islands. Participants say the exercise is timely, following the devastating tsunami caused by the 9.0 magnitude earthquake in Japan earlier this month.

Bronx man found guilty of armed robbery

Street Hype Webmaster — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 11:00:11 +0000

Twenty-three Anthony Francis of 3605 Mickle Avenue, Bronx, New York was recently found guilty following a jury trial of: two counts of Robbery in the First Degree, class “B” Felonies, ·one count of Robbery in the Second Degree, a class “C” Felony, ·one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon, in the Second Degree, a class “C” Felony, ·one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon, in the third Degree, a class “D” Felony, relating to an armed robbery of a Mount Vernon auto body shop.

On February 18th, 2010 the defendant and an unapprehended accomplice entered an auto body shop on South Fourth Avenue in Mount Vernon pretending to be interested in a car.

While inside of the business the defendant displayed a loaded, defaced and operable .40 Millimeter semiautomatic hand gun and pointed it at victim, while the unapprehended individual went through the victim’s pockets, forcibly removing between $500 and $600 in United States currency, a camera and a car key.

As the defendant attempted to flee, the victim and fellow employees of the shop were able to subdue the defendant and call 911.

Responding police arrested the defendant at the scene. The defendant faces a maximum of eight and one third to 25 years in state prison when sentenced on February 24th, 2011.

Grenada Woman Faces Deportation For squeezing Cop Genitals

Street Hype Webmaster — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 10:58:35 +0000

A46-year-old national of Grenada could be deported back to her homeland for squeezing the genitals of a New York City cop.

Elen Murell faces deportation under U.S. law after she completes a two year jail term under a plea deal. The former home care attendant reportedly attacked Officer Derek O`Sullivan as he tried to arrest her teenage son, Kevon, in her home. She `grabbed, pulled and twisted`his genitals until he passed out inside herCrown Heights apartment on July 25, 2008, according to court papers.

Murell, 46, interrupted jury selection in Brooklyn Supreme Court to accept the deal from Assistant District Attorney Lewis Lieberman.If convicted at trial, she could have faced up to 15 years in prison.

O`Sullivan, who is assigned to the 71^st Precinct, had to undergo surgery to repair a torn testicle. Murell apologized to the cop at her court hearing Tuesday.

Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton may face two more drug charges

Street Hype Webmaster — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 10:57:05 +0000

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Federal prosecutor James Preston is reportedly seeking to lay two more charges against Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton when he is retried next month in Florida.

However, his legal team led by David Oscar Markus is fighting the new indictment on the grounds that it is not permissible for new charges to be brought on old information and the weapons charge was a violation of the Fifth Amendment.

The Jamaica Observer reported that Markus said that the chief danger raised by a multiplicitous indictment is the possibility that the defendant will receive more than one sentence for a single offence.

Markus is contending that an indictment is multiplicitous if it charges a single offence in more than one count. The artiste was tried last September on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, and aiding and abetting the possession of a firearm during a drug-trafficking offence. However, the 12-member panel of jurors was unable to reach a verdict following three days of deliberations. The trial lasted a week in Tampa, Florida.

But should the new indictment stand, Banton will be tried for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking offence, and using the wires to facilitate a drug trafficking offence.

Both sides are now awaiting a ruling from the court on the matter. If convicted, Banton faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment. The United States government would also seek to seize the artiste’s assets. A date for the retrial will be set soon.