Counterfeit EC$20 in circulation

THE Royal Grenada Police Force is advising the general public to be conscious of counterfeit Eastern Caribbean Currency 20 dollar notes bearing serial number MF689861 currently circulating in the country.

In particular, those who are involved in business, bus operators, taxi operators, shopkeepers, business places and the likes are urged to be on their guard.

Persons coming in contact with any counterfeit note are advised to contact the Financial Intelligence Unit at 435-2373/4 or the police immediately.

According to a statement from the police, it is an offence to have in one’s possession or tender any counterfeit money and can be arrested and charged for same. (LS)

Vincentian national charged for drug possession

Police in Grenada arrested and charged two men including a Vincentian national as part of a joint operation by officers attached to the Drug Squad, Special Services and the Grenada Coast Guard Unit, which resulted in the discovery of approximately 395 1/4 lbs of cannabis.

The men – Elconedo Sergeant, a 36-year-old farmer, a citizen of St. Vincent and Albert Henry, a 48-year-old fisherman residing at Telescope, St. Andrew – were apprehended at about 4:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 2, 2013 after they were seen exiting a fishing boat at a beach in Grenville, St. Andrew, during which a search of their persons led to the detection of about 12 pounds of cannabis.

Further investigations led to the discovery of four fine bags and three bales containing 184 pounds of cannabis at Sandy Island and another one hundred and ninety-nine and a quarter pounds of cannabis at Marquis Rocks in St. Andrew.

11-year-old facing three criminal charges for assaulting principal

Police have arrested and charged an 11-year-old student of a secondary school on the western side of the island for physically attacking and wounding his principal.

Reports are that last week Wednesday the principal was struck in the head with a cricket bat by the student who previously threatened to assault him with a knife.

Police were called to the scene and have since charged the minor with wounding, causing harm and using threatening language.

The principal was reportedly immediately rushed to the nearest medical facility where he was treated and later discharged.

Reports also indicate that police have also arrested and charged the uncle of the 11-year-old student, for causing harm, after he went onto the school compound and fought with one of the school teachers.

The minor is reported to be a British citizen of Grenadian parents who returned to the island
recently.

In July 2012, Parliament amended the Criminal Code to make the age of criminal responsibility 12 years old. However, the amendment provides for persons who commit offences under the age of 12.

The legislation states: “It shall be presumed that a child under the age of 12 is not capable of or criminal for an act or omission unless it is proved that at the time of doing the act the person had attain sufficient
maturity or understanding to judge the nature and consequences of his conduct in the matter in respect of which he is accused.”

German-funded environmental project to launch in April

Officials from the German Agency for International Co-operation (GIZ) have been given the assurance from Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell that its four-year climate change programme in Grenada will not be disrupted as it falls within the environmental policies.

Dr. Mitchell met with officials from GIZ and the Ministries of the Environment, Foreign Affairs and Economic Development last week Thursday to discuss the “Programme on Integrated Adaptation Strategies in Grenada”.

The five million euro programme, which was approved by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety in Germany, is a bilateral programme and will be funded by GIZ and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The programme aims to increase resilience of vulnerable communities and ecosystems to climate change risks in Grenada through integrated adaptation approaches. The four key focus areas are: Mainstreaming of adaptation considerations into national development planning; Improve planning, management and efficient use of water and coastal zone resources; Increase adaptive capacity of communities through the implementation of pilot community-based adaptation activities; and Enable access to public and private funding for climate change measures.

Prime Minister Mitchell said that Germany has been a committed development partner to Grenada over the years. “As a result of that support, Grenada became a front runner of climate change issues in the region and demonstrated leadership, especially in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan,” stated Dr. Mitchell.

The programme will be officially launched in April 2013 and delegates are expected from Germany and the region. The programme will be implemented together with stakeholders and as such, is inclusive in its approach.

The German team and the Ministry of the Environment have been meeting with key stakeholders in Grenada throughout the week including the Ministry of Agriculture, NAWASA, GCIC, Ministry of Tourism, Board of Tourism and non-governmental organisations.

Training for poultry processors

THE first in a series of workshops targeted at improving the contingent conditions under which poultry is produced locally for sale was held at the Conference Room of the Grenada Bureau of Standards on Tuesday, March 5, 2013.

This workshop, which was funded by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, will provide training to poultry processors in Good Manufacturing Processes and will introduce them to the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) System. Participants were also exposed to the standard necessary for poultry to be traded locally.

A similar workshop for egg producers was expected to be held on Thursday, March 7, 2013, also at the Conference Room of the Bureau of Standards. (LS)

Caribbean tourism seeing positive movement

CHAIRPERSON of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), Beverly Nicholson-Doty says that overall there has been some positive movements as it relates to the tourism industry within the Caribbean.

She was speaking during the re-launch last week Thursday of the CaribbeanTravel.com website, which is a joint partnership between the public and private sector.

The CTO Chair said that in her opinion there are certainly destinations that are doing better than others.

“Our goal as the Caribbean Tourism Organisation is to make sure that ‘high tide floats our boats’ so we really want to make sure that all of our destinations are doing well. I think the stronger ones help some of the weaker ones and I think that is one of the premise that we have, the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, along with the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association come in together under CTDC and the marketing opportunities to ensure that we have strength throughout the region,” she stated.

According to her, there are several strong markets across the region. However, she feels that Jamaica continues to be one of the leaders, as well as the Bahamas.

“I think the numbers for the US Virgin Islands are creeping up back to the strength of 2008. You also have some of the smaller markets where you’re seeing significant growth that had normally been on the radar where you’re seeing that increase in travel, so that’s good. And that is the goal of the Organisation – to bring all of our members along.”

She went on to highlight that a key amount of visitors come from the United States. Also pointing out that the region has seen a significant fall off from the United Kingdom, stating that she feels it is closely tied to the Air Passenger Duty (APD).

As it relates to the region’s progress in its negotiations with Britain, she stated: “I think that as recently as two weeks ago, there were debates that were occurring and we continue to keep it front and centre. I think the Caribbean Tourism Organisation has been very vigilant in our messaging on the impact, not just to the region but also within the British economy of what the removal of this tax or at least the re-bonding of this tax could be to the economies of the UK as well as to our region.” (TL)

GCIC President and Sandals LaSource General manager to address Leadership seminar

“UNDERSTANDING and applying innovative communication skills for effective leadership and enhanced organisational communications,” is one of the topics that will discuss next week Tuesday in a one day leadership seminar aimed at providing decision and policy makers with guidelines for improving their outlook for 2013.

Under the theme: “Streamlining for Success in 2013”, the seminar at the National Stadium is an initiative of CILG&R – an organisation comprised of a network of experienced consultants and leaders, which provides innovative and high quality consultancy services and training for public, business and civil society sector organisations, with a view to raising their capacities, creativity, implementation and outputs and building a local and regional network hub.

It is being held in collaboration with the Business Support Centre (BSC), a one-stop business development and support facility, which will provide existing and future business owners with an integrated range of business development and support services.

Other topics will include: Setting clear goals for personal and organisational success in 2013; Preparing leaders to pilot their organisations past challenging seasons; Communicating for success using both the traditional and new media; and Identifying current and local socio-economic conditions that hinder organisational success with a view to addressing them.

Presenters include President of the Grenada Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Mrs. Aine Brathwaite; General Manager of Sandals LaSource, Mr. Winston Anderson; Mr. Barry Collymore and Ms. Carole Noble.

There will also be a round table discussion on ‘Different aspects of leadership: Focusing on leadership qualities’. The panel will include Dr. Lawrence Joseph, Mr. Richard Strachan and a representative from the Grenada National Organisation of Women.

“2013 promises to be an interesting year for Grenadian organisations, therefore the focus of the Workshop is to encourage solutions oriented dialogue on addressing and navigating the socio-economic conditions that will define the level of success they will enjoy,” said Principal of CILG&R, Mrs. A. Anande Trotman-Joseph.