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6 nationals from a cruise ship test positive for COVID-19

Minister of Health, Terrence Deyalsingh

Six nationals on board Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment of the Seas cruise ship, have tested positive for the corona virus.

The six are among 306 nationals now in quarantine on board the ship, which is docked in local waters.

The new infections bring to 123 the number of positive cases in the country.

Minister of Health, Terrence Deyalsingh said last evening the six have been taken to the Caura Hospital while the other nationals remain on board the ship.

He assured there is no threat to members of the public.

The cruise ship brought the nationals home last week.

As scores of nationals return home, the Minister said there is no need yet to be concerned about capacity.

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Fuad Abu Bakr says no tension between him and his father

Fuad Abu Bakr, political leader of the New National Vision

The leader of the Jamaat al Muslimeen, Imam Yasin Abu Bakr has removed his son as Public Relations Officer.

Fuad Abu Bakr says he was notified that a meeting of the organisation took the decision to remove him from the post.

Mr. Abu Bakr says change is essential for growth.

In recent times Fuad Abu Bakr has been involved in some public situations, the latest was the Black Lives Matter protest opposite the US Embassy in Port of Spain.

Before that Mr. Abu Bakr was in a conflicting situation regarding his bid to be screened by the ruling Peoples National Movement for the Port of Spain south constituency.

Speaking with Newscenter 5 earlier Mr. Abu Bakr was not convinced those were factors in the decision to remove him as P.R.O.

His father Imam Abu Bakr has also been reported as making statements, which appear to contradict his son during the screening matter.

Mr. Abu Bakr is denying that there are tensions between himself and his father.

Mr. Abu Bakr feels this change will allow him to spend more time on building his political party, the New National Vision.

The party is planning to contest the upcoming General Election.

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Police turn down a request for BLM rally in St. Lucia

St. Lucia’s Acting Police Commissioner, Milton Desir

The police have turned down a request for a “Black Lives Matter” rally to be held in St. Lucia today.

St. Lucia’s Acting Police Commissioner, Milton Desir on Wednesday said no to the request by the Goodwill Ambassador, Taj Weekes – who was helping to facilitate the rally.

The Acting Police Commissioner, pointed to the Emergency Powers Disasters COVID-19 Order, which places restrictions on social activities.

But Prime Minister Allen Chastanet is supporting the planned rally.

In a Facebook post yesterday the Prime Minister said he had discussions with all sides, which have clearly articulated their respective positions.

The Prime Minister said while he fully appreciates the concerns about security, health and safety, especially while the country remains under a State of Emergency, it is his view that St. Lucia must show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.

Prime Minister Chastanet said he has requested that all parties concerned pursue every possibility, which would permit the Black Lives Matter activity to go on without contravening the established protocols.

However, he said the final decision is the responsibility of the relevant authorities.

Before the rejection by the Commissioner, BLM St. Lucia organiser, Aaron Alexander said the planned event was hoping to welcome everyone.

Opposition leader Phillip J. Pierre supports the demonstration.

The advocacy group Black Lives Matter, St. Lucia, says the peaceful protest was planned as a show of solidarity with those against police violence and racial injustice,

Demonstrations triggered by the police killing of African American, George Floyd have spread throughout the US and parts of the world.

A St. Lucian national, Botham Jean was shot and killed at his Texas home in 2018.

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Sitting judge receives death threat

Justice Frank Seepersad

A sitting judge receives a threat on his life and the Law Association calls it an attack on the Judiciary and the democracy.

On Wednesday this week the controversial Justice Frank Seepersad received an envelope, which carried a note and a bullet.

Apart from the 9mm bullet there was a written warning telling Justice Seepersad he should resign or the bullet would look good between his eyes.

Police say the note was written on a red triangular piece of wet paper and there was also writing around the bullet but police were unable to decipher what was written.

The envelope and its contents were handed over to AG CPL Taikan and have been taken for analysis.

The Law Association sees the threat as an attack on the Judiciary.

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Belmont man to appear in court today for setting fire to booths at Queens Park Savannah

The man who is alleged to have set fire to the vendors’ booths at the Queens Park Savannah is expected to appear in court today.

He was charged earlier this week after the blaze destroyed 6 of the booths on Tuesday.

Estimated damage is put at $70,000.

The fire was reported at around 12:45pm.

Security officers noticed the smoke coming from the area of the booths and a bucket brigade was formed before fire fighters arrived on the scene.

The National Carnival Commission’s Chief Executive Officer Colin Lucas says there was nothing in the booths, because they were cleared some time ago.

The booths were to be dismantled weeks after carnival this year, but because of the restrictions triggered by COVID-19 the project was put on hold.

The man held in connection with the incident lives in Belmont.

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Police seize guns, ammunition and drugs in northern division

Guns, ammunition and drugs have been seized during a police exercise in the northern division.

Sixteen people were also arrested.

Police say the exercise was conducted yesterday morning between 4 and 9 o’clock.

Among the 16 people held is a man wanted for murder.

According to police the items seized include an AR-15 rifle and 53 rounds of five point five six ammunition, two Taurus pistols, one Gluck 19 pistol and one-drop barrel magazine.

Sixty-four grams of cocaine and 134 grams of marijuana have also been seized.

Senior Superintendent Sheldon David and Superintendent Edwards led the exercise.

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Recount of ballots signed off by political parties in Guyana elections

The recount of the ballots in Region 4 has been certified and signed off by the political parties, which contested the elections in Guyana.

The ruling party, A Partnership for National Unity Alliance for Change coalition did not sign off on the recount in the region.

APNU-AFC coalition has been refusing to sign off on the recount documents, claiming multiple cases of electoral fraud.

APNU AFC Tabulation Agent and Candidate Charita Furnance told reporters now that the ballot counting and tabulation phase of the process is over, the Elections Commission has to act on the anomalies uncovered.

Meanwhile, Peoples Progressive Party, Candidate and Tabulation Agent Dr. Frank Anthony does not believe the observation reports can cast any shadow over the results of the recount.

Undeclared tabulations show the PPP civic got 233,336 votes while its closest rival A Partnership for National Unity got 217,920 votes.

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Suspect arrested for setting fire to booths at Queens Park Savannah

A suspect is arrested in connection with the blaze that destroyed six Carnival vendors’ booths at the Queens Park Savannah.

The man is reported to be a resident of Mc Shine Lane, Belmont.

Police suspect the blaze, which gutted the booths, may have been deliberately set.

The fire started just before 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon.

Officers from the Belmont Fire Station responded.

The owner of the booths is the National Carnival Commission.

CEO Colin Lucas estimates the damage to be in the area of $70,000.

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PAHO warns Mexico about opening economy too fast cause of Coronavirus infections

Mexico has reported 1,092 novel Coronavirus deaths for the past day.

It is the country’s highest daily toll so far, taking the total fatalities to 11,729.

Daily infections are also at an all-time high of 3,912.

The overall number of confirmed infections now stands at 101,238.

Officials have said that the real numbers are expected to be much higher and the government is facing growing criticism for opening up parts of the economy over the past days.

The car industry, mining and construction workers have all returned to work this week.

The Pan American Health Organisation has asked Mexico not to open its economy too fast because of the risk of accelerating infections.

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Organisers of BLM protest says there was no riot

Muhammed Muwakil

One of the organisers of the Black Live Matters protest says there was no unrest or riot during the demonstration at the Queens Park Savannah.

Muhammed Muwakil says it was a peaceful demonstration in support of the movement against the death of George Floyd in police custody in the United States.

He says there was one incident in which one of the demonstrators snatched the cap of a police officer that was recording the demonstrators without their consent.

Mr. Muwakil is condemning the man now identified as Ian Smart, the son of former Attorney General Anthony Smart.

Mr. Smart has apologised for his actions saying he is bipolar.

On the TV6 news yesterday, Mr. Muwakil said Mr. Smart was selfish in his behaviour.

But he also had an issue with the media only focusing on that very small part of the demonstration.

Mr. Muwakil insisted the protesters did not wish to be video taped because they do not trust the police.

Yesterday Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith told a media conference there are some who joined the protest with ulterior motives.

He said there are people who just wanted to star at a time when all eyes are focused on the demonstration.

Commissioner Griffith said they were in a public space and there was no need for anyone, including the police to seek permission to record

He also said the police will have a talk with Ian Smart.

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