in
All
News / By: Fitsroy Randall on May 19, 2022 at 11:39 AM /
BVI Police Commissioner Mark Collins
As the United
States (US) continues to build its case against disgraced former Premier Andrew
Fahie and his alleged co-conspirators, Commissioner of Police in the BVI, Mark
Collins, has declined to state the extent of the Royal Virgin Islands Police
Force’s (RVIPF) involvement in the investigation process.
BVI News asked
Commissioner Mark Collins if US law enforcement agencies have been in contact
with the RVIPF for assistance into their probe of Fahie and his co-accused.
In response,
the Commissioner said: “That’s not something I would discuss with the media as
the Andrew Fahie investigation is still ongoing”.
Just last week,
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley signalled the government’s willingness to cooperate
with the US officials if assistance is required in further investigations of
alleged co-conspirators of Fahie.
In Fahie’s
charging affidavit, there was mention of a person classified as ‘Government
Official 1” who was described as a high-ranking, corrupt government operative
who has ‘many employers’.
It was
insinuated the person is controlled by drug dealers and facilitates the passage
of illicit drugs through the territory.
Premier
Wheatley maintained the BVI has a strong history of working with officials in
the United States and will continue to do so.
Fahie was
arrested along with Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority, Oleanvine
Maynard at Miami-Opa Locka Airport on April 28. Maynard’s son Kadeem was
arrested in St Thomas, USVI. The three are charged with conspiracy to import a
controlled substance (cocaine), conspiracy to engage in money laundering and
attempted money laundering.
Fahie and Oleanvine are currently being detained in Miami while Kadeem is in detention in Puerto Rico. The three face a possible life sentence if convicted of the alleged crimes.
in All News / By: BVI News on May 19, 2022 at 8:18 AM /
Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley has expressed hopes for an urgent response from the United Kingdom (UK) to a proposal he submitted recently on the way forward for the BVI.
The BVI’s political leaders are hoping to avert direct rule by the UK as recommended in the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report which was released recently.
New Premier Wheatley with BVI Governor Rankin
Premier Wheatley disclosed previously that he had submitted a proposal to the UK on how the locally elected government can address concerns raised in the report and implement suggested reforms on its own.
“I’m hopeful that we would receive a decision within a few days. I’m hopeful. They received our proposal, they’ve said to us they’ve received it. They actually asked a few questions about the proposal, so we know that they are currently considering it and we are hopeful that they will come forward with a positive response to us very soon,” Dr. Wheatley said late last week.
Direct rule by the United Kingdom, as proposed by the COI report, may possibly entail a temporary partial suspension of the territory’s constitutional order and the assistance of an Advisory Council to support the Governor in the execution of his duties and the formulation of policy as the territory’s new leader.
Sir Gary Hickinbottom, who led the COI and authored the report, concluded that this suspension was necessary given that elected officials over the years have deliberately ignored the tenets of good governance.
He said this situation has given rise to an environment in which the risk of dishonesty in public decision-making and funding has continued unabated.
“We are hopeful that they accept [the terms in the proposal]. So I’m pretty sure that they will respond directly to our proposal as to whether they accept it or not accept it,” the Premier stated.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson shake hands during their meeting in Kyiv.
(CNN)The UK is to send 120 armored vehicles and new anti-ship missile systems to Ukraine, Downing Street announced Saturday after Prime Minister Boris Johnson paid an in-person visit to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Johnson and Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer made separate visits to Zelensky on Saturday, the latest in a string of leaders to travel to the country during the ongoing Russian invasion. A photograph tweeted by Ukraine’s Embassy to the UK showed Johnson seated opposite Zelensky at a table in a pink and green stuccoed room. The post was captioned with the word “Surprise” and a winking face emoji.
The Press Service of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine said on its official Twitter account that the two leaders had held talks in Kyiv, posting several photographs of the pair’s previously unannounced meeting. Johnson posted on Twitter that his visit to Kyiv was “a show of our unwavering support for the people of Ukraine” and announced a new package of financial and military aid.
In this image provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, left, welcomes Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Kyiv.
“Ukraine has defied the odds and pushed back Russian forces from the gates of Kyiv, achieving the greatest feat of arms of the 21st century,” the UK PM said in a statement.
He praised Zelensky’s “resolute leadership” and the “invincible heroism and courage of the Ukrainian people,” adding that the UK “stands unwaveringly with them in this ongoing fight … we are in it for the long run.
“Later in his nightly address posted on social media, Zelensky thanked the UK and Johnson.
“Boris was among those who didn’t doubt for a minute whether to support Ukraine. The leadership of Great Britain in providing our country help in defense, and also leadership in the sanctions policy, will always be in history.
“Ukraine will always be grateful for this to Boris and Britain,” Zelensky said.
During the press conference, Johnson said the UK will continue to intensify sanctions against Russia. Johnson also said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions have dealt a “crushing blow” to his reputation and the Russian government.
“We will influence Russia’s ability to use its energy resources,” he added.
“The war determines the vision of Ukraine’s future, so our partners and I will supply Ukraine with equipment, technology, and intelligence so that Ukraine never faces the horrors of invasion and blackmail.
” Following the meeting, Downing Street said the UK government would provide armored vehicles and anti-ship missile systems, “in addition to the £100 million worth of high-grade military equipment” announced on Friday.
Zelensky and Nehammer’s meeting was separate to the one with Johnson and happened earlier on Saturday, according to Zelensky’s official Telegram channel.
While several other leaders have visited Ukraine in recent weeks, the trip by Nehammer is significant given his country’s neutral status, which is enshrined in its constitution.
Russia or die: After weeks under Putin’s bombs, these Ukrainians were given only one way out.
Austria is not part of NATO and does not supply weapons to Ukraine. It has, however, provided Ukraine with humanitarian aid and helmets and protection vests for civilian use, according to a statement from the Austrian Chancellery.
Nehammer said Saturday that while his country is militarily neutral, “We understand we have to help where injustice and war crimes take place.
“According to his office, Nehammer was set to meet with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, before returning to Austria on Saturday evening.
Nehammer was also due to visit the Kyiv suburb of Bucha, which endured five weeks of near-constant firefights; after Russian forces withdrew from the town, the bodies of at least 20 civilians were found lying in one street, some with their hands tied.
“We have to make those war crimes known to the UN, and international justice must begin investigating and fight these crimes,” he said during a news conference with Zelensky.
The twin visits by Johnson and Nehammer came a day after top European Union officials made a trip to Ukraine. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Josep Borrell, the bloc’s top diplomat, visited Kyiv and Bucha on Friday, alongside Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger.
During the visit, von der Leyen ceremoniously handed Zelensky an EU questionnaire to complete — a symbolic, but important step towards Ukraine’s membership of the bloc. Tweeting about the move, von der Leyen said: “We will accelerate this process as much as we can, while ensuring that all conditions are respected.”
The prime ministers of the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovenia visited Kyiv last month, at a time when it was still regularly targeted by Russian strikes. Like Johnson’s visit on Saturday, that trip was kept secret until the three leaders were in the country, traveling on a train from eastern Ukraine.
CNN’s Sarah Dean reported from Przemysl, Poland and Ivana Kottasova wrote in London. CNN’s James Frater, Radina Gigova, Alex Hardie, Tara John, Max Foster, Mariya Knight and Maija Ehlinger contributed reporting.
No gathering today would look like this one – the good old days of Plymouth
The following release headed as follows really does little more than remove the requirement to apply for ‘permission’ to enter Montserrat. “It’s still so easy to be a COVID-19 criminal…”
THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTSERRAT RELAXES SOME COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS
No restrictions on the number of persons allowed to gather, Border Reopens, No quarantine period for Fully-Vaccinated Persons among other changes
Thursday, March 31, 2022 – The Government of Montserrat has made some significant relaxation adjustments to the COVID-19 suppression regulations since the implementation of these measures in 2020.
As of today Thursday, March 31, 2022, at 5:00 a.m. the Public Health (COVID-19 Suppression) (No.3) Order, (S.R.O 19 of 2022) took effect bringing an end to restrictions on the number of persons allowed to gather in a public place and removing the ‘Allowed to Enter Category’ which previously stipulated who is permitted to enter Montserrat, among other changes.
Persons traveling to Montserrat are no longer required to fill out an online declaration form for permission to enter. The pre-travel online declaration form is only required to be completed and submitted by non-resident technicians who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated.
As it relates to an individuals’ COVID-19 status, the new regulations maintain the requirements for persons entering Montserrat to present a negative COVID-19 test result. The negative test result document must include all the information previously stipulated regarding the laboratory details; full name, address, and date of birth of the person tested; the date the test was conducted and it must now also include the date the sample was taken.
The pre-entry requirements are as
follows:
A person who intends to enter Montserrat shall take a COVID-19 test no earlier than three days prior to entry into Montserrat.
(2) The following
persons are exempted from this requirement:
(a) a child under
five years of age;
(b) a person entering
Montserrat in circumstances related to a medical evacuation; and
(c) a person who
has been granted permission by the Minister to enter Montserrat for the purpose
of aiding with preparations for a disaster or after a disaster,
The owner of a vessel or aircraft must ensure that persons traveling are in possession of a copy of a negative PCR COVID-19 test or a negative RNA COVID-19 test or else the owner will be committing an offence.
Persons arriving on Montserrat are required to answer all questions asked by the Medical or Health Officer and may be required to undertake health checks and screenings. Individuals who are fully vaccinated must provide the Medical or Health officer with proof of their vaccination status. If this evidence is not provided, then the individual will be regarded and treated as not being fully vaccinated.
A fully vaccinated person is required to be tested for COVID-19 on entry into Montserrat. If the result indicates that the person is not infected with COVID-19 then the individual is not required to self-quarantine or isolate. However, if the test result is indeterminate (unknown/inconclusive) then the fully vaccinated person must go directly home, place of occupancy, designated quarantine facility, or place of isolation and shall remain there to await the results of further COVID-19 tests.
If further testing reveals that the fully vaccinated person is infected then he or she is required to self-quarantine or isolate until:
(a) he/she is not infected with COVID-19; or
(b) he/she leaves
Montserrat.
The regulations for a fully-vaccinated
person will also apply to a fully-vaccinated non-resident technician.
Persons not fully
vaccinated – entry into Montserrat
Individuals who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated upon arrival after undergoing the necessary COVID-19 screenings are required to go directly to his/her home or place of occupancy, designated quarantine facility, or place of isolation and self-quarantine for 10 days.
Between
eight and ten days after entering Montserrat the individual will be tested for COVID-19
to determine if he/she is negative and can therefore be released from quarantine
on day 10.
If the individual is required to leave Montserrat before the 10 days have elapsed, then he/she
will be allowed to do so.
Not fully vaccinated –
Non-resident technician
The previously established COVID-19 testing requirements for a non-resident technician who is not fully vaccinated to be tested within 24 hours of entry into Montserrat remain in place.
Prior to entering Montserrat, the unvaccinated
or not fully vaccinated non-resident technician is required to apply to the
Minister of Health for approval to enter Montserrat before submitting the
online declaration. To apply for approval, an unvaccinated or not fully
vaccinated non-resident technician should send an email outlining details of
intended travel to Montserrat to mehcsmail@gov.ms.
The non-resident technician who is not
fully vaccinated is not required to self-quarantine but must be guided by the
following:
only be in a public place for the purpose of traveling to and from the place where he is undertaking work as a non-resident technician;
wear a mask at all times while at the place where he is undertaking work as a non-resident technician;
practice social distancing while at the place where he is undertaking work as a non-resident technician; and
remain at his place of occupancy at all times except when traveling to and from the place where he is undertaking work as a non-resident technician.
All persons entering Montserrat are
required to pay the requisite fees for the COVID-19 test(s), where applicable. Additionally, antigen tests have been added
to the list of COVID-19 tests accepted for entry into Montserrat; the other two
are RNA and PCR. However, antibody tests are not accepted.
Persons who enter Montserrat under the current order will not be allowed to switch to the new order S.R.O 19 of 2022.
Protocols for Children
The new SRO also makes amendments to
regulations pertaining to children.
Under the new order, if a child under the age of 18 enters Montserrat,
the child will be treated like the adult who accompanied the child when
entering the island. Additionally, a
child two years and under is not required to take a COVID-19 test.
Protocols-Bus drivers and taxi operators
As it relates to bus drivers and taxi
operators, the new order stipulates that the owner or driver of a bus or taxi
shall place or cause to be placed a hand
hygiene station in a conspicuous (visible) place at the entrance of the bus or
taxi. The owner or driver must also
mandate that passengers use the hand hygiene station before entering the bus or
taxi; ensure regular refilling of containers or regular refilling and
maintenance of the equipment at the hand hygiene station and ensure that a
passenger wears a face covering in a bus or taxi.
Under the new SRO, face-coverings are still mandatory in public places, hand hygiene stations are still mandatory at the entrance of public and private buildings; restrictions on visitations to a patient in the hospital, a residential care facility, and a detainee in prison remain in place, except with permission or prior approval from the Heads of these institutions.
Previously established protocols for the operation of business establishments such as bars, restaurants, religious establishments, hair salons, spas, and other similar businesses, gyms, and sports clubs are no longer in place.
S.R.O 19 of 2022 will expire on Wednesday, August 31, 2022, at 5:00 a.m.
S.R.O 19 of 2022 is available on the
Government website, under the Attorney General’s page. The S.R.O. can be
accessed at the following direct link:
Follow the links; the misinformation or disinformation, stay abreast. Supposedly the rest of the world will feel its share but not as the severe impact that Russia will endure!
One more gone – (CC), young! Could this kind of negligence be the underlying cause? We have hinted at this before. An honest (would probably have to be independent) investigation is needed. Should this not take place, there may be tens, even hundreds of the early group of takers, who can be suspects. The problem can surface several months later, according to the experts. Due diligence, responsibility, care, and indeed honest management are in question.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana – The CARICOM Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) held a Special Meeting on 16-17 2021, hosted by the Consul General of Jamaica in Miami, Florida, USA. It was the first in-person meeting of the COFCOR since the onset of the COVID 19 Pandemic in January 2020, bringing together Ministers who had assumed office over the past eighteen months and their colleagues.
The Meeting was strategic in intent and provided the opportunity to define common positions and to thereby strengthen the coordination of approaches on foreign policy matters. Views were expressed on a CARICOM Vision 2050 and Strategic Positioning of the Community in that regard. Threats and opportunities were outlined and discussions centered on the web of relations with international partners, Third States, as well as regional and international organisations which would help to shape a strategic foreign policy agenda for the Community.
The Meeting’s agenda also included the multifaceted effects of COVID 19 including inequitable access to vaccines and the emerging two-tiered system of vaccine approval related to international travel, as well as the barriers to access to concessional financing and other obstacles to economic recovery. Attention was paid to bilateral and multilateral relations within the Western Hemisphere, as well as to concerns arising from areas of political instability in the wider Caribbean region. Discussions on the Community’s relations with regional and hemispheric organisations was also undertaken with a view to strengthening that interface.
The situation in Haiti was discussed and possible modes of intervention by CARICOM to assist a Haiti-driven solution were explored. Deliberations also took place with regard to extra-regional partnerships with focus being placed on the recent strengthening of relations with Africa and the required follow-up to the first Summit last month. Relations with the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the Commonwealth were also discussed. With regard to the latter where the issue of the renewal of the term of office of the Secretary-General remains pending, the Council reiterated its stance that the incumbent, Baroness Scotland, enjoys the broad support of the Community.
TWENTY-FOURTH MEETING OF THE COUNCIL FOR FOREIGN AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS (COFCOR) VIRTUAL 6-7 MAY 2021
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Twenty-Fourth Meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was held virtually on the 6-7 May 2021, under the Chairmanship of the Honourable Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belize.
The COFCOR was attended by Honourable E. P. Chet Greene, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Trade of Antigua and Barbuda; Senator Dr. the Honourable Jerome Walcott, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados; Honourable Dr. Kenneth Darroux, Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Business and Diaspora Relations of the Commonwealth of Dominica; Honourable Oliver Joseph, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and CARICOM Affairs of Grenada; Honourable Hugh Todd, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Guyana; His Excellency Dr. Claude Joseph, Prime Minister a.i. and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of the Republic of Haiti; Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson-Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica; Honourable Mark A.G. Brantley, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Aviation of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis; His Excellency Albert Ramdin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation of the Republic of Suriname; and Senator the Honourable Dr. Amery Browne, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
His Excellency Reuben Rahming, Ambassador to The Bahamas to CARICOM, represented The Bahamas; Her Excellency Elma Gene Isaac, Ambassador to CARICOM to Saint Lucia, represented Saint Lucia; and His Excellency Allan Alexander, Ambassador of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to CARICOM represented St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
OPENING CEREMONY
Remarks were delivered by Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community, His Excellency Dr. Claude Joseph, Prime Minister a.i and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of the Republic of Haiti, outgoing Chair of the COFCOR, and the Honourable Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Immigration of Belize, the Chair of the COFCOR. (The statements are available at www.caricom.org)
COORDINATION OF FOREIGN POLICY
CARICOM Foreign Minister re-emphasised the importance for the Region to speak with one voice through the coordination of foreign policy, and the need to find new and more effective ways to strengthen the existing coordination mechanisms while recognising the sovereign right of Member States. It was noted that there continues to be successful coordination but the increasing complexity of international issues requires that it be enhanced. In that regard, the COFCOR agreed to increase the frequency of its meetings. This would enable Ministers to address in a timely fashion new developments and challenges facing the Community and to shape Community responses and policies.
CANDIDATURES
The COFCOR reiterated the importance of CARICOM’s effective participation in international fora, including through the pursuit of increased CARICOM representation in relevant organisations. In this regard, Foreign Ministers considered and endorsed a number of CARICOM candidatures to the United Nations (UN), the Organisation of American States (OAS) and other international and regional organisations. They also deliberated on the requests from Third Countries for CARICOM’s endorsement of their candidates to multilateral bodies.
BILATERAL RELATIONS
The COFCOR noted the progress made in the strengthening of relations with a number of Third States and groups of states since its last Meeting. In so doing, it reaffirmed the importance of CARICOM’s relations with its traditional partners and the need to continue to expand the Community’s outreach to other regions and so develop its relations with non-traditional partners and groupings.
The devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and addressing its public health and economic effects, in particular the need for equitable access to vaccines and to economic recovery financing, were among the Community’s priority concerns discussed and for which assistance was sought.
Ministers discussed relations the African Union. They reaffirmed their readiness for a CARICOM-AU Summit as soon as practicable.
The COFCOR expressed its continued concern that the US embargo against Cuba has a significant adverse impact on the socio-economic development of Cuba and the well-being of the Cuban People. Foreign Ministers reiterated CARICOM’s support for the termination of the long-standing US economic, financial and commercial embargo against Cuba and agreed to continue to advocate in this regard.
MULTILATERAL AND HEMISPHERIC RELATIONS
United Nations (UN)
The COFCOR noted the developments regarding pursuit of the Financing for Development (FfD) agenda and the challenges associated with expanding public health expenditures while applying fiscal containment measures in line with the economic downturn arising from the COVID-19 Pandemic. Foreign Ministers commended the Honourable Prime Minister of Jamaica who joined with the Prime Minister of Canada and the UN Secretary-General to launch an initiative that has resulted in a menu of over 250 policy options to address Financing for Development in the Era of COVID-19 and beyond.
The COFCOR agreed on the need for global solutions to the various challenges facing Small Island and Low-Lying Coastal Developing States, particularly in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The COFCOR also agreed that the Community should continue to prioritise the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway in a robust manner, including the launch of a strong COVID-19 economic recovery related appeal to the international community and, in particular the G20, asking for the expansion and extension of the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI). The COFCOR encouraged the consideration of innovative debt relief measures such as debt swaps, debt buybacks, and State Contingent Debt Instruments to ease the economic fallout of the pandemic. They also agreed to continue to advocate against –
the designation of CARICOM Member States as high-risk territories
thereby resulting in the ongoing loss of correspondent banking relationships
(CBRs); and
the unilateral actions to blacklist some Member States as
non-cooperative tax jurisdictions.
The COFCOR welcomed the convening of a Food Systems Summit as part of the Decade of Action to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) being hosted by the UN Secretary-General in October 2021 and encouraged the highest level of participation from Member States.
The COFCOR agreed to continue to advance a common regional position, at the fourth and final Inter-Governmental Conference for the development of an Internationally Legally Binding Instrument on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity Beyond Areas of National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) scheduled for 16-27 August 2021.
Organisation of American States (OAS)
The COFCOR received an update on the issues of strategic importance to the Caribbean Community before the Organisation of American States (OAS). Foreign Ministers welcomed the CARICOM Framework Strategy entitled Vulnerability to Resilience put in place by the OAS Secretary-General with the assistance of the CARICOM Caucus. Ministers expressed concern over the limited resources allocated to areas identified as priority to CARICOM and agreed that every effort should be made to ensure that adequate resources are allotted to these areas. Foreign Ministers agreed to raise this matter at the Fifty-First OAS General Assembly, scheduled to be hosted this year by Guatemala. They also reiterated their commitment to the work of the hemispheric body. The COFCOR commended the work of the CARICOM Caucus in Washington D.C.
Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) The COFCOR reviewed a synopsis of the 2021 Work Programme of the CELAC PPT Mexico and commended the PPT Mexico and CELAC for advancing priorities related to recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic on the health and economic fronts.
Association of Caribbean States (ACS) The Council welcomed the assumption to the office of His Excellency Rodolfo Sabonge as the new Secretary-General of the ACS and agreed that CARICOM Member States should continue to act strategically within the Association. Foreign Ministers commended the coordination efforts in the Greater Caribbean in response to the pandemic.
CLIMATE CHANGE The COFCOR agreed that COP26 should be the COP of Ambitious Action and that it must result in greater speed in scaling up climate finance flows to SIDS via the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) finance mechanisms, the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund. Foreign Ministers also reiterated their support to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda as Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).
In preparation for COP26, the COFCOR emphasised the need for the Member States to engage in wide-ranging consultation with stakeholders at the national and regional levels.
BORDER ISSUES Belize-Guatemala Dispute The COFCOR received an update on developments between Belize and Guatemala, including in respect of the case, arising from Guatemala’s territorial, insular and maritime claim, that is now before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for final and definitive resolution, in accordance with the Special Agreement to Submit Guatemala’s Claim to the ICJ.
The COFCOR urged Belize, Guatemala and the OAS to respect and implement fully the Confidence Building Measures as agreed under their Framework Agreement of 2005, pending a resolution of the case before the ICJ. They further urged both countries and the OAS to reinvigorate their efforts to engage in the design and development of a mechanism of cooperation for the Sarstoon River, which remains outstanding.
The COFCOR recognises and supports the OAS’ crucial role in the process aimed at resolving the dispute, arising from Guatemala’s claims on Belize, and called on the international community to continue supporting the OAS Office in the Adjacency Zone.
The COFCOR reaffirmed its unwavering support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of Belize.
Guyana-Venezuela Controversy Foreign Ministers received an update on the most recent developments in the controversy between the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. They noted that Guyana had begun to prepare its Memorial for submission on 8 March 2022 in accordance with the schedule set by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to hear the case on the merits of Guyana’s application concerning the validity of the Arbitral Award of 1899 and the related question of the definitive settlement of the land boundary between the two countries.
Foreign Ministers reiterated the expression by CARICOM Heads of Government of the Community’s full support for the ongoing judicial process that is intended to bring a peaceful and definitive end to the long-standing controversy between the two countries and urged Venezuela to participate in the process.
Foreign Ministers remained very concerned about the threatening posture of Venezuela and reaffirmed their consistent support for the maintenance and preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana.
ADVANCNG REGIONAL PRIORITIES: CARICOM AGRI-FOOD AGENDA The COFCOR affirmed the strategy adopted at the Thirty-Second Inter-sessional Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government (February 2021) for the advancement of the CARICOM Agri-Food Systems Agenda with priority attention to regional food and nutrition security. Ministers agreed to include the Agenda among the priority issues for engagement with relevant partners and in international fora, including the UN Food Systems Summit and the Summit of the Americas.
UNCTAD XV The COFCOR received a report from Barbados on preparations for UNCTAD XV and noted that the Conference, which was scheduled to be held in Barbados in 2020, will now be held virtually on 3 October 2021.
Foreign Ministers commended Barbados for its continuing efforts to convene this important Conference and affirmed their commitment to work collectively with Barbados in ensuring that CARICOM SIDS specific issues are reflected in the outcome of UNCTAD XV.
It doesn’t matter as it never makes sense when this happens, but at that level in the circumstance? While this in our view just adds to the evil deaths that surround us.
I N S I D E R
British Conservative lawmaker dies after being stabbed multiple times while meeting constituents
MP Andrew Rosindell who is an OT’s promoter was among those quickly commenting on the sad occasion, said on Twitter: “I am utterly devastated. David was my oldest friend in the House and a close friend for four decades. I feel sick inside at what has happened. We’ve all lost a very special person in our lives. My thoughts and prayers are with Julia and the family on this tragic day.”
One person responding to Rosindell’s tweet noted what is sure to be an immediate reaction to what is difficult to understand took place: “Sir David Amess death: Priti Patel orders immediate police review of MPs’ security arrangements. Maybe Priti Patel should do an immediate review on illegal immigrants breaking into the country and security arrangements Along the coast…”
I am utterly devastated. David was my oldest friend in the House and a close friend for four decades. I feel sick inside at what has happened. We’ve all lost a very special person in our lives. My thoughts and prayers are with Julia and the family on this tragic day. ✝️ pic.twitter.com/9UnYznE6Fb
Are FaceBook’s
“Independent Fact-Checkers” the last word on the Covid-19 vax facts?
BRADES, Montserrat,
June 5, 2021 – Obviously not.
But, why that is so important, is especially if we value our freedom (and so,
too, the independent media).
Yes, the Facebook warning label we can see was recently
used to dismiss the sober concerns by New Zealand Doctor, Damian Wojcik;
which TMR brought to the attention of
Montserrat and its huge global readership, hence their
effort. So, it is time to use the right of reply to set the matter
straight.
As, whenever there is a crisis, officials and other
power brokers try to keep a lid on it.
As part of that, they establish a dominant narrative, put
out by their favoured voices. And, yes, historically, you can safely bet your last $5
in your back pocket, that that narrative will at most give half the truth, will
promote power agendas, typically reflects someone’s business selling point, and
too often will be dangerously manipulative. If they can get away with it, anyone
who refuses to toe the line will be smeared as an irresponsible, incompetent
misleader of the public, etc, etc. And, far too often, that is utterly
unfair to voices trying to warn about overlooked issues and concerns.
Another direct Facebook attachment to (vaccine) video posted
Montserrat’s history since 1989 is littered with cases in point, but that’s just because we have been hit, literally, by crisis after crisis since Hurricane Hugo struck thirty-two years ago.
TMR response:Ah yes! Hmmm, the lack of announced ‘Treatment’ and lack thereof? Consider how this fact has been suppressed and scandalised for over a year, and then ask yourself the question why? That note by Facebook should direct to their claim comparing the “harm” from the vaccine i.e. number of deaths therefrom and the number of “harm” specific caused from the treatment of Ivermectin. Recall their famous ploy of benefits vs risk – where do they bother to apply that? The absence of that answers any suspicions.
A glance at scripture, say, Acts 27 will show this
problem is as old as the hills. As regular TMR readers are doubtless familiar
with, Mr. Moneybags had his bought-and-paid-for “techie” persuade the Centurion
and the passengers to ignore that crazy Jew in chains over there muttering
about dangerous sailing conditions. All that was needed to slip forty miles
down the coast to a fine harbour was a good afternoon’s breeze.
Ah, there it is, a gentle South wind. Let’s go.
Halfway there, of course, a wicked nor’easter struck, instantly reducing the ship to sinking condition. By the time it was over, it was through intercessory prayer and the grace of God that they were glad to shipwreck at St Paul’s Bay, Malta.
That’s a bit of history that needs to be regularly
expounded from our pulpits.
For sure, Dr. Damian Wojcik
deserved a fairer hearing for his sober, quietly presented fifteen-minute,
well-researched word of counsel[1]:
He is a General Practitioner with twenty-seven years of experience in a practice that includes nutrition and environmental medicine. He is also a Forensic Physician, trained to give expert testimony, and having twenty-seven years’ experience as a Police Doctor.
He speaks as spokesman for a circle of other doctors concerned about how the vaccines for Covid-19 are being rolled out; they shared their concerns through an open letter to the NZ Medical Council, Medsafe, and the Royal College of GP’s. (So, yes, this is a case where experts disagree, so it is unjustified to claim that the voice of officialdom and its favoured spokesmen decisively represent THE Science.)
He speaks in the name of the famous Hippocratic Oath,[2] which constituted Medicine as a responsible, trustworthy profession, 2400 years ago. The key ethical commitments are, first, do no harm; next, cure if you can; and last, care for always. (Our own doctors take that same oath. If they haven’t our Governments are committing a travesty and worse)
He counsels that “there is emerging evidence that Covid-19 vaccines carry a risk of severe adverse reactions and death.” He points to over 4,000 deaths listed by the American registry for such over the past five months, relative to 259 million vaccinations (most vaccines require two “jabs”). This is a fact from a standard source; the issue is the balance of risks and benefits, as well as reasonable alternatives.
He then highlights that CDC calculations show this exceeds the total for vaccines over the preceding ten years and it is also over a hundred times higher than the rate for influenza vaccines, signs that this is significantly riskier than is generally acceptable for vaccines.
He is concerned that patients are individuals, not Lab Rats to be “sacrificed in a global vaccine experiment,” at least, not on his watch for his patients. This is controversial of course but it is a values statement informed by the fact that the vaccines were sharply expedited and would normally require several further years of tests before general approval.
He cites the conceded point as of May 2021, that there is no conclusive evidence that the vaccines prevent infection or transmission of the disease. The hope has been that they will reduce the intensity of disease, hospitalisations, and fatalities.
He speaks to the Nuremberg Code,[3] created in 1947 after Nazi Doctors abused patients through dangerous or often fatal medical experiments. This requires that participation in medical experiments must be based on voluntary informed consent.
The pivot here is that in his opinion [which is a matter of ethical judgment], the emergency approvals and riskiness of the vaccines constitute a global experiment that requires balanced informed consent rather than coaxing. (Fair comment: if there are significant, widespread long-term problems from the vaccines this may become a serious legal issue.)
He specifically speaks of mRNA vaccines such as Pfizer and Moderna, as gene therapy, a controversial opinion, but one linked to the role of mRNA as carrying the genetic code out to cellular machinery for building protein molecules, etc, here, viral spike proteins intended to spark an immune response. (However, on fair comment: there are concerns tied to earlier animal trials with adverse outcomes and even to apparent damaging effects caused by spike proteins in the body.)
[AstraZeneca inserts spike proteins into a Chimpanzee virus which is injected to spark an immune response, however the spike protein itself apparently can cause damage to the lining of blood vessels. We all know of the blood clotting concerns.]
Again, he speaks to a climate of fear, pressure, and state over-reach, having already noted that vaccine manufacturers are indemnified and insurers will not pay out in case of vaccine-related adverse events. These are again summaries of fact and statements of linked controversial but legitimate opinion or concern.
He goes on to call for respectful, courteous dialogue.
He reports the current global fatality rate as 0.15%, comparing to the typical infection [not case] fatality rate for seasonal influenza, 0.10%. Such rates seem to be responsible estimates and are clearly comparable. We do not go into a global lockdown with a “warp speed” operation to provide vaccines for the annual flu. Similarly, he suggests that over the past year, as physicians have learned what treatments work, hospital fatality rates have fallen. In this context, he pointed to supplements such as Zinc, Vitamins C and D, adding that “there are at least eighteen randomised clinical trials to support the use of oral Ivermectin in hospitalised patients; which results in significantly reduced mortality.” He suggests that “this information should be more widely applied and not suppressed.”
There is, again on final fair comment, manifestly nothing in this that warrants branding his remarks as “False Information.” Facebook’s fact-checkers themselves need to be fact-checked.
Olivia Gimeno Zimmerman disappeared on April 27 alongside her one-year-old sister Anna. Today, authorities confirmed a body found off the coast of Tenerife was hers mirror
TMR: This and all like this, can get you to feel feelingless. But just imagine this could be happening to hundreds of thousands and millions around the world, straight in our faces, to our most elderly, elderly and, not so elderly; moving on to some vulnerable youths!
Olivia and Anna went missing on April 27 (Image: SOLARPIX.COM)
A six-year-old girl who was allegedly kidnapped by her dad weeks ago has been confirmed as being a body found on seabed.
Olivia Gimeno Zimmerman disappeared alongside her one-year-old sister Anna on April 27.
Their
father Tomas Gimeno went to pick Anna up from the home of his former
partner, Beatriz Zimmerman, and then collected Olivia from an
after-school German learning centre before they went missing.
Search teams yesterday located a body more than 3,300ft underwater in a sports bag weighed down with an anchor off the coast of Tenerife.
Following fingerprint tests, authorities have today confirmed the body was that of Olivia.
A
spokesman for the investigating judge in charge of an ongoing court
probe said: “Fingerprint tests carried out this morning on the body
recovered yesterday in the sea off Tenerife have confirmed beyond any
doubt that the body is that of Olivia’s.”
Tomas Gimeno allegedly nabbed the two girls (Image: SOLARPIX.COM)
The girl’s sister Anna and dad Tomas Gimeno, 37, are yet to be found nearly two months after the trio vanished, sparking an international manhunt.
A
child safety car seat was also found floating in the sea and the Civil
Guard has confirmed that it belonged to Anna, according to the Spanish
newspaper.
An international search was launched after the two girls disappeared
(Image: SOLARPIX.COM)
Overnight Spanish media reported claims investigators suspect Gimeno drugged and killed his daughters at his home before putting them in separate bags, taking their bodies out to sea and throwing them into the ocean with the anchor attached.
Opened medicine packets containing sedatives and muscle relaxants were allegedly discovered in his living room, Catalan newspaper El Periodico reported.
Gimeno had allegedly been seen on CCTV loading several bags onto his boat at Marina Tenerife in Santa Cruz the night the girls went missing.
A security guard said he had seen a man fitting his description alone, with no sign of the youngsters, the report claimed.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s partner Georgina Rodriguez was among celebs who highlighted the girls’ disappearance in the days after they went missing.
Georgina, 27, said in an emotional post to her 24 million Instagram
followers shortly after the mystery disappearance: “I hope with all my
heart that the girls are found safe and well and can hug their mum again
soon.”
Santa Cruz mayor Jose Manuel Bermudez reacting to the discovery on Thursday, saying: “There are no words to express the terrible desolation I feel. From respect at the mother’s pain and with all the caution the terrible news that is reaching us deserves, I want to express to the family all the solidarity of the citizens of Santa Cruz.”
Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez tweeted: “I cannot begin to imagine the pain of the mother of little Anna and Olivia, who disappeared in Tenerife, following the terrible news we have just heard.
“I send a hug and my love and that of my whole family, who today show solidarity with Beatriz and her loved ones.”
