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Spanish tutoring for all public servants this year
LIAT to cease operations on January 24
(Jamaica Observer) The court-appointed administrator for the cash-strapped regional airline, LIAT, Cleveland Seaforth, says the airline will wind up its operations in its current form on January 24 this year.
In a letter to staff outlining the latest position regarding the Antigua-based LIAT (1974) Limited on Thursday, Seaforth wrote “after careful consideration and evaluation of the present operations, a decision has been taken by the court-appointed administrator to permanently cease all commercial flying operations as of close of business on January 24, 2024.
“As a result of the foregoing, you are hereby notified that your employment with LIAT (1974) Limited (in administration) will be made redundant effective February 4, 2024.”
The move is expected to result in more than 90 employees being made redundant without any payment and a promise that obligations will be met.
The airline is owned by the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
During the presentation of his country’s national budget last month, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne said his government had embraced the responsibility to restructure and resurrect LIAT, “with a vision of returning the airline to the regional skies”.
Browne said the airline, which has been under administration since July 24, 2020, “has long been an essential thread in the fabric of Caribbean connectivity”.
LIAT, prior to entering into administration had been servicing several regional destinations and has since scaled down its operations and is now servicing Anguilla, Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Guyana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Martinique, San Juan Puerto Rico, St Kitts, St Lucia and St Maarten.
“In 2023, despite hurdles, including unserviceable aircraft, unresolved issues for former workers, financial constraints, staff attrition, and disruptions caused by the hurricane season, LIAT 1974 Limited operated a limited schedule, ensuring vital connectivity across destinations with 167 dedicated staff,” Browne said of the airline.
Browne said that the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) will play a critical role in solidifying the arrangement among the governments, adding that this will set the stage for finalising the arrangement with Air Peace, a private Nigerian airline founded in 2013, “so that LIAT 2020 can begin operations, thereby securing a promising future for regional travel”.
Browne said that in 2024, the Antigua and Barbuda government will spend an estimated EC$30 million to “ensure LIAT 2020 Ltd has all the aircraft needed and appropriate maintenance and operational arrangements are in place for the safe, reliable, and efficient delivery of service to the people of the region”.
“In the spirit of optimism and faith in our ability to rise above challenges, we draw inspiration from the words, ‘the glory of the latter house shall be greater than the former’,” Browne told legislators, adding that “just as our nation has overcome adversities in the past, so too shall LIAT 2020 emerge stronger, more efficient, sustainable, and better positioned to serve the needs of our people and our Caribbean neighbours”.
In his letter Seaforth told the staff the company was not in a position to make any severance payments at this stage, but indicated that it would not be shying away from its obligations to them on severance, vacation pay, retroactive pay and any outstanding salaries.
“The company recognises its obligation as it relates to any of the [aforementioned] applicable entitlements, which will be provided to you under separate cover within 45 days of this letter after the respective computations have been completed,” Seaforth said.
“The payment of any indebtedness to you cannot be made at this time. However, every effort will be made by the administrator to secure the best outcome in respect of the indebtedness to all employees in accordance with the company’s legal and contractual requirements,” Seaforth wrote. He thanked the workers for their “valuable contribution” to LIAT (1974) Limited which resumed flying operations on November 1, 2020.
Guyana, Barbados & Trinidad form new company for Caribbean ferry service
contract signing event for the new US$35 million Mackenzie/ Wismar Bridge in Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice), said the company was formed on Thursday.
Through this company, the ferry system is expected to transport passengers and cargo among Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados.
“That will open up massive opportunities,” he said.
Subsequently, Dr. Ali told the News Room that the three governments are still discussing the venture.
“We have to get this going and then we have to work on expanding,” the Head of State said.
Solving intra-regional transportation woes has been a huge focus on the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for years now. With the current revitalised focus on guaranteeing the region’s food security, solving this problem is also in focus.
Last year, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) announced it would finance the consultancy services for a study on the options available to establish a new shipping service across Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago.
In October, when the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum was hosted in Guyana, President Ali said the African Export Import (Afrexim) Bank is keen on supporting a Caribbean private sector proposal for an intra-regional system that could allow the cheaper transportation of goods and people via the sea. As such, he encouraged regional private sector players to form a consortia and get the project going.
Three months community service for man who admits to ganja possession
he was nabbed at a roadblock at Mango Landing in Region Eight. He was found to be in possession of 21.4 grams of marijuana.
Lestroy Archibald
Man charged for ex-wife’s murder
clubbed his wife to death on Old Year’s day, was charged on Thursday with the indictable offence of murder.
Amanda Persaud, the Parika, East Bank Essequibo woman killed by Lalaram, was beaten with a piece of wood he picked up from the road on December 31, 2023.
Lalaram made his appearance at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul.
He was not required to plea to the charge when it was read to him and was remanded to prison. The matter was adjourned to February 02, 2024.
A video recording of the incident was shared with Police, revealing the horrific details.
Police headquarters said that Lallaram, a 39-year-old mason of Parika Façade, was on an electric scooter when he approached Persaud, 25.
The two got into a heated argument and the man came off of the scooter, picked up a piece of wood from the roadside and lashed the victim to her head, causing her to fall to the ground.
He then allegedly stood over her and lashed her to the face multiple times with the wood, leaving her in a bloodied state.
The entire ordeal was recorded by a resident in the area. The suspect dropped the wood and made good his escape on the scooter, but he stopped a short distance away and hid in a clump of bushes.
The Police were immediately summoned by residents. The man’s hideout was made known and he was arrested and taken to the Parika Police Station. The piece of wood was also collected by Police.
Guyana to host World T20 semi-final and five group games
See below press release issued by Cricket West Indies
The fixtures for the ninth edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup have been revealed with the event to be co-hosted by the West Indies and the USA from June 1-29, 2024.
The pinnacle ICC Men’s T20 event will see a record 20 teams divided into four groups competing across 55 games for the right to be crowned ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Champions 2024, including co-hosts the West Indies and the USA, together with the other qualifiers: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, England, India, Ireland, Namibia, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Scotland, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Uganda.
The 20 teams have been divided into four groups of five, with the top two teams progressing to the Super Eights:
Group A: India, Pakistan, Ireland, Canada and the USA
Group B: England, Australia, Namibia, Scotland and Oman
Group C: New Zealand, West Indies, Afghanistan, Uganda and Papua New Guinea
Group D: South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Netherlands and Nepal
The event commences with the two co-hosts starting their campaigns on the first two days of June.
The USA will take on Canada in the tournament opener at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas on Saturday June 1, while the West Indies will kickstart their campaign against Papua New Guinea at the Guyana National Stadium on Sunday June 2.
One of cricket’s biggest rivalries will take place in one of the world’s most iconic cities, with New York to host India and Pakistan on Sunday, June 9.
The fixture will be played in a cutting-edge 34,000-seat modular stadium just 30 miles east of downtown Manhattan in Nassau County, New York. Eight matches will be played at the venue.
Defending champions England will begin their title defence on Tuesday June 4 in Barbados against Scotland and 2022 finalists, Pakistan, will get their challenge going on Thursday June 6, when they play the USA in Dallas.
Among the plethora of blockbuster match-ups scheduled in the group stage, fans can look forward to Sri Lanka taking on South Africa in New York on Monday June 3, while England will go up against archrivals Australia in Barbados on Saturday June 8.
Another highly anticipated fixture will see the West Indies taking on New Zealand on Wednesday June 12 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad and Tobago.
First-time Qualifiers Uganda will play their first-ever ICC Men’s T20 World Cup fixture in Guyana against Afghanistan on Monday, June 3. Nepal, who qualified for the T20 World Cup for the first time since 2014, will open their campaign against Sri Lanka in one of four matches to be played at Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida.
Upon completion of the group stage, the top two teams from each of the four groups will move into the Super Eight stage of the competition. Teams seeded first and second in their groups in the first round will retain that seeding in the Super Eight, provided they qualify.
Super Eight matches are scheduled to be played in popular Caribbean tourist destinations Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The two top teams from each group in the Super Eight will progress to the semi-finals, which will be held in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday June 26 and Thursday June 27 respectively.
The final will be held at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday June 29.
Public tickets will go on sale via a ballot and fans can register their interest now here. Registering now will ensure fans receive ticket news first to help secure their seat at the World Cup.
Outside of the ballot, fans can guarantee match tickets through the official travel programme, ICC Travel & Tours, where fans will be able to purchase official ticket-inclusive travel packages.
ICC Chief Executive, Geoff Allardice said:
“The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 marks an exciting expansion of our sport with more teams than ever before set to compete in this event. It’s going to be an incredible spectacle bringing together 20 international teams from Africa, the Americas, Asia, East-Asia Pacific and Europe. “The release of the fixtures is made even more exciting for fans as we enter a new frontier, with the USA hosting a major ICC event for the first time. With 16 matches being played across three venues in the USA, it allows us to make a statement in the world’s biggest sports market. “It will also be great to have an ICC event back in the West Indies, which has such a rich history of the game. It has hosted World Cups with great success in the past and this tournament will certainly provide a boost to the game there, especially with the final being played in Barbados.”
CWI Chief Executive Johnny Grave said:
“The announcement of the match schedule for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 marks a significant milestone in our preparations for this year’s tournament. We know that teams, fans and cricket enthusiasts worldwide have been eagerly awaiting this announcement, and now that it is available, it provides a roadmap for the thrilling journey that lies ahead. “In addition to the match fixtures, the announcement also highlights the host countries and iconic venues that will set the stage for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Each host country and city will bring its own unique flavour to the tournament, and fans from every corner of the globe can expect an exciting blend of T20 cricketing entertainment, local culture and warm hospitality. “From classic rivalries to history making upsets and continental showdowns, fans can start looking forward to an action-packed month of games at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup next June, and we encourage everyone to get tickets as soon as they go on sale as we expect the demand to be high.”
The Chair of T20 World Cup Incorporated, the entity established in the USA to deliver the event, Peter Hutton said:
“The USA is already one of cricket’s biggest audiences for ICC events and bringing the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to New York City, Dallas and Florida is a massive opportunity to exponentially grow the sport. We’ve got three fantastic venues to host matches and we strongly encourage fans in the USA and around the world to start planning to secure their tickets for what will be a unique cricket spectacle featuring the best players in the world.”
Vijay Srinivasan, co-Founder, Major League Cricket said:
“Major League Cricket is delighted to host the marquee opening match for the biggest-ever ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the premier MLC venue, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in North Texas. “We know that cricket fans from across the country will be out in force on June 1 as the United States hosts Canada in the curtain-raiser for the tournament. The match will mark a new chapter in a rivalry dating back longer than any other in international cricket, all the way to 1844. “In addition, we can’t wait to welcome fans from Pakistan, the Netherlands, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to the Lone Star State for a further three matches at Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium where many of the stars of Major League Cricket will be playing for their countries.”
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Strict monitoring needed to ensure adequate materials to complete new harbour bridge – Edghill
The temporary bridge for the construction of the new four-lane high-span bridge has been completed. (Photo: News Room/January 4, 2024)
Minister Edghill and the contractors inspected one of the main towers connecting the western and eastern sides. Steel piles have already been installed on the western side.
“As it is right now, with the concerns we would have had and expressed to the Chinese contractor [the delays], there has been a significant movement in terms of making up of time, the significant movement is they are able now to work day and night,” Edghill related.
Concrete will be poured into the 38 piles on Friday, marking a significant milestone. Despite shipping challenges via the Panama Canal for construction materials, the contractor was able to successfully use a longer route through Cape Verde.
Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill during the visit on Thursday (Photo: News Room/January 4, 2024)
“This bridge, apart from its transformational nature, is also tied into a time-bound, time-specific contract arrangement and that means that we have to be able to meet significant milestones to ensure that we are keeping the progress going.”
Minister Edghill also noted that the necessary arrangements with the Maritime Administration Department and river users have been completed to ensure safe transit while the construction is ongoing.
Last year, the Ministry’s Project Engineer Patrick Thompson, along with a team including representatives from Politecnica, the consultancy supervising the project, travelled to China to inspect all materials and parts being fabricated for the bridge.
Steel piles have already been installed on western side. (Photo: News Room/January 4, 2024)
Currently, 378 persons are working on the site on a 24-hour basis to ensure that the December 31, 2024 deadline is met.
In May 2022, the government signed the US$260 million contract to construct the new bridge.
The hybrid-designed bridge will feature a modern four-lane structure, cycle lane, with a 2.65 kilometers length, driving surface of about 23.6 meters and will have a lifespan of some 100 years.
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contract signing event for the new US$35 million Mackenzie/ Wismar Bridge in Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice), said the company was formed on Thursday.
he was nabbed at a roadblock at Mango Landing in Region Eight. He was found to be in possession of 21.4 grams of marijuana.
Lestroy Archibald
clubbed his wife to death on Old Year’s day, was charged on Thursday with the indictable offence of murder.
The temporary bridge for the construction of the new four-lane high-span bridge has been completed. (Photo: News Room/January 4, 2024)