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Cuban Authorities Report on Efforts to Combat Drug Trafficking
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HAVANA, Cuba — Cuban authorities are reporting the seizure of four tons of illegal drugs over the past six months as efforts continue to combat the international drugs trade. An official statement said that 98 per cent of the drugs were confiscated through multilateral work done by the Cuban state organizations. The statement made no mention of arrests but pointed out the 86 percent of the drugs seized was marijuana, with a lesser amount of cocaine and other drugs also confiscated.
During the six-month period, there was an increase in sea and air incursions of drug traffickers that led to the seizure of 196 parcels thrown into the sea, 154 of which contained marijuana, the statement added.
Mayor to Stand Trial for Ballot Box Tampering in Trinidad
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PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — The newly elected Mayor of the town of San Fernando, east of here, was on Friday ordered to stand trial on charges of ballot box tampering during last year’s general election.
Acting Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington made the ruling against Mayor Ian Artherly at the end of the preliminary inquiry into the charges on Friday. The magistrate had earlier ruled against a no-case submission filed on behalf of the Mayor, who came into office following the July 14 Local Government elections here.
Artherly, 48, was granted bail in the sum of TT$4,500 (US$750). He was charged with interfering with the special ballot box without lawful authority in the lead up to the October 7 general elections last year. The box was in use on the day special electors voted.
If found guilty, Artherly, who was campaign manager for the victorious San Fernando West candidate Dianne Seukeran when the incident occurred, could face up to two years in jail and fined TT$20,000 (US$3,333).
MONTSERRAT HOUSING: Second Phase of Housing Project Launched
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BRADES, Montserrat — Minister of Housing Margaret Dyer-Howe turned the sod, signaling the start of the second phase of a significant project to provide permanent housing solutions for displaced residents on volcano-ravaged Montserrat.
“It was agreed that this was an appropriate time to develop longer-term housing, and for the past two years the Government of Montserrat with the assistance of the UK Department for International Development (DFID) has been seeking to develop what we term Lookout Phase II Infrastructure Development. This is why we are here today to signal the official start of this important project,” said the Minister. She said the main aim of the project was to construct quality infrastructure facilities for approximately 122 residential and commercial lots.
She added that the Lookout II project will facilitate the provision of permanent housing solutions to approximately 25 percent of those indicated by the Comprehensive Housing Needs Assessment to be in need of housing. The total figure was not given. However, only the northern half of the island is considered safe, with the entire southern portion uninhabited due to the presence there of the rumbling Soufriere Hills volcano. The development will include roads, drains, utilities and landscaping.
Minister Dyer-Howe noted that the “goal is to assist displaced residents of Montserrat in the rebuilding of the community, by providing long term accommodation and sustainable livelihoods within a time frame of 15 months”.
According to the Minister, the project will be divided into phases, with the first phase releasing approximately 80 lots, a road leading to Brimms Ghaut and the construction of the sewage collection system and waste stabilization ponds. She said the sizes of the lots have been based on “our strong cultural preference for backyard production”.
“Plots will be released to facilitate the delivery of different range of housing opportunities including the construction of houses by the European Union, materials grant recipients and for housing of the mentally ill,” she said.
Ian Young, DFID representative said the project was a signal not only to Montserrat but to the rest of the Caribbean that regardless of the ash that fell on the island a month ago “here we are with other projects starting again.”
“This is once again a sign that Montserrat can recover from whatever is given to them, get back online and start work very, very quickly,” said Young.
Also present at the groundbreaking ceremony was acting Governor Professor Sir Howard Fergus, as well as senior government officials and representatives of the Lookout Community.
NJ Assembly Speaker Sires to Support New Hispanic Business Group
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Paramus, NJ — Assembly Speaker Albio Sires met with leaders of the newly formed Hispanic Business Council of CIANJ (HBC) at a business breakfast and pledged to work with the group on behalf of the state’s growing Hispanic population. He told HBC leaders that their new affiliation with the prestigious Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey would give the Hispanic business community a strong voice in Trenton.
“This group is needed, and I hope you will work together and lend your voice to issues that are important to the Hispanic community—education, jobs, and leadership within community and government organizations,” said Sires.
The Mission of the HBC is to significantly increase the visibility, influence and stature of the Hispanic business community for the purpose of creating a dynamic business environment that will foster increased economic and educational opportunities for Hispanic entrepreneurs, professionals and Hispanic-owned businesses.
“As Speaker, I will do everything I can to help this group, including helping you get time with the Governor to discuss Hispanic business issues,” he told HBC leaders. “I am working to get Hispanic leaders appointed to positions in the state government, and want to see the Hispanic community better represented on state commissions, boards, courts and in leadership roles in general.”
Sires called for greater participation in the political process by Hispanic professionals, noting that while the population has increased significantly, the group’s political influence has not increased in proportion to it’s growth. “The only way our community is going to grow in influence is events like this, and groups like the HBC,” he said. HBC Chairman Richard Garcia agreed. “The historic merger of the Bergen County Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce and the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ), which created the HBC, opens the door to all businesses, Hispanic and non-Hispanic, and breaks down the barriers that often keep like-minded businesses from finding each other. Two worlds have been brought together, and the result is a larger universe for Hispanic businesses to grow, plus new customers for non-Hispanic businesses in the fastest growing population in the state.”
The Hispanic business community is seeking a strong voice to represent its interests in Trenton and CIANJ is honored to be the vehicle, CIANJ President Richard Goldberg said. “We need to work together,” Sires said. “I look forward to helping the Hispanic community through this new group.”
OTHER TOPICS AROUND THE REGION
Q & A's at the Immigration Corner: questions & answers from qualified immigration attorneys and advocates lobbying for the U.S. immigration cause
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