News Briefs

Six J'cans among migrants held by US Coast Guard

MIAMI, Florida (CMC):

The United States Coast Guard says it has detained 14 Caribbean migrants, including a suspected a Bahamian smuggler, 25 miles east of Miami.

It said the cutter William Trump last Friday detected a westbound 21-foot cabin cruiser heading towards Southeast Florida, and on detection, the cabin cruiser crew reversed their course to go east towards The Bahamas.

The Coast Guard said that on intercepting the vessel, the crew discovered six Jamaicans, six Haitians, a Guyanese migrant and the suspected Bahamian smuggler aboard.

A Coast Guard Station Miami Beach 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew transferred the 11 migrants.

“The Coast Guard continues to maintain a focused and coordinated effort with multiple agency assets to interdict any attempt to dangerously and unlawfully immigrate by sea to the United States,” said Lieutenant Commander Mark Cobb, Coast Guard Sector Miami chief of enforcement.

“These illegal migrant smuggling ventures are extremely dangerous, especially during the hurricane season, and places families in danger of being lost at sea,” he added.

Firearms, silencer seized

Members of the security forces seized two firearms and three rounds of ammunition during an operation in Cornpiece, Clarendon, last Thursday.

Reports are that about 11 a.m., lawmen were on operation at an abandoned building when the firearms, ammunition and a firearm sound suppressor (silencer) was found at the back of the premises. No arrests were made.

In St James, a firearm was handed over to police and one man taken into custody following an incident in Johns Hall, also last Thursday.

Reports are that about 11 a.m., the complainant was leaving a nightclub, when he was attacked by a man who hit him with a firearm. A tussle ensued between the two and the assailant was disarmed. The police were subsequently summoned and the firearm – a .38 revolver – was handed over to them.

The suspect was later taken into custody. His identity is being withheld pending further investigations.

Agreement signed for calypso to be taught in T&T schools

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

An agreement has been signed between Trinidad and Tobago's Ministry of Education and Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO) for calypso to be taught in schools as part of the visual and performing arts curriculum.

“It is incumbent upon us that we ensure that all our youths are exposed to all aspects of our cultural heritage, notably the steelpan and calypso which gave birth to so many subgenres that we enjoy today,” Education Minister Anthony Garcia said after a meeting with TUCO president Lutalo 'Brother Resistance' Masimba last Friday.

During the meeting, there were discussions on the use of calypso as a tool for teaching and learning.

The minister said calypso can be used to teach children to better understand poetry, essay writing, and even mathematics.

TUCO will work alongside the ministry in teaching the art of writing and singing calypsoes from the level of early childhood care and education to primary and secondary schools.

Prince Harry to sue two UK papers over alleged phone hacking

LONDON (AP):

Prince Harry is suing The Sun and the Daily Mirror, two of Britain's most popular tabloid newspapers, over alleged phone hacking.

Buckingham Palace confirmed on Saturday that claims regarding "illegal interception of voicemail messages" were filed on Harry's behalf. The palace declined to say more or provide details "given the particulars of the claims are not yet public".

News Group Newspapers, which owns The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World, acknowledged the prince's High Court action while Reach, which owns the Mirror, said it was "aware that proceedings have been issued" but hasn't yet received notice of them.

The cases comes days after Harry's American wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, sued the Mail last Sunday for alleged copyright infringement, misuse of private information and violating the UK's data protection law after the paper published a letter she wrote to her father.

The prince accused the British media of hounding Meghan the way it did his mother, Princess Diana, who died in a 1997 car crash while trying to elude paparazzi.