News Briefs

Phillips to meet Bunting today

Returned People’s National Party President Dr Peter Phillips has indicated that he will be meeting with the man he defeated in last Saturday’s poll, Peter Bunting, too.

Yesterday, Phillips revealed that his council of spokespersons will be reorganised after the party’s annual conference ends on September 22.

“Following my re-election as president of the People’s National Party last Saturday, a number of members of the shadow cabinet, consistent with tradition, have tendered their resignation as shadow ministers,” Phillips said in a statement yesterday afternoon.

Following last Saturday’s election results, Phillips’ challenger, Peter Bunting, has resigned.

His campaign manager, Dr Dayton Campbell, and campaign chairman, Mark Golding, have also quit the Opposition’s council of spokespersons.

Phillips said it was his intention to shake up his team of spokespersons, but said that the exercise was delayed as a result of the presidential election.

 

 

Seven to face courts over gun, ammo seizures

Seven persons are to face the court to answer to charges of illegal possession of firearm and illegal possession of ammunition following the seizure of one firearm and 26 rounds of ammunition in two separate incidents.

The first seizure took place on August 30, in Zion on the outskirts of Falmouth, Trelawny.

The police were on mobile patrol when the driver of a Toyota Premio motor car was signalled to stop. After the vehicle stopped, the officers reportedly observed an object being thrown from the vehicle. It was found to be a Taurus 9mm pistol containing fifteen 9mm rounds of ammunition.

Five persons were subsequently charged in connection with this seizure.

In the second incident on September 3 in Yallahs, St Thomas, a man and a woman were arrested following the seizure of ten 9mm rounds of ammunition in their house.

Court dates are being finalised.

 

 

World Bank names new resident representative for Jamaica

WASHINGTON (CMC):

The World Bank has named German national Ozan Sevimli as its new resident representative for Jamaica and Guyana.

He will be based in Kingston and replaces Galina Sotirova, who held the position for the past four years.

It said that Sevimli’s top priorities will be to lead the World Bank policy dialogue and manage the country programmes and teams to support the development strategies of Jamaica and Guyana, working closely with government, private sector and civil society.

“I feel honoured by this opportunity to help further expand and strengthen our excellent partnerships with both Guyana and Jamaica. I look forward to supporting both countries on their development priorities for boosting growth and prosperity and reducing poverty,” Sevimli said.

 

 

Former T&T minister makes court appearance

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

The state intends to call at least 22 witnesses when the preliminary inquiry into the fraud-related charges against former Trinidad and Tobago public administration minister Marlene McDonald and four other accused gets under way later this year.

McDonald; her husband, Michael Carew, former chairman of the National Self-Help Commission Edgar Zephyrine; and contractors Wayne Anthony and Victor McEachrane appeared before Chief Magistrate Maria Busby Earl-Caddle yesterday.

They will return to court on November 4.

McDonald and her co-accused face a total of 49 charges, ranging from conspiracy to defraud, money laundering and misbehaviour in public office.

A police statement last month had said that the investigations were into the allegations of corruption committed during the period 2008 and 2009 and commenced in 2016.