19/12/2014
THE EVENING NEWS
On the local scene
The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment is continuing to implement surveillance and vector control activities to control the spread of the Chikungunya virus.
A release from the Ministry says although there has been a decrease in the number of reported cases since the outbreak in April of this year, the virus remains prevalent here in St Vincent and the Grenadines and also throughout the region.
It said persons who have not yet contracted the disease are still at risk of contracting the virus. The Ministry says the fight against Chikungunya is also a fight against Dengue and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever.
It said it is therefore, appropriate and necessary for everyone to protect him or herself from mosquito bites and to avoid harbouring conditions which cause mosquitoes to breed.
According to the Ministry of Health, to date, 173 Laboratory confirmed cases and 1220 epidemiology-linked cases have been reported.
The Ministry says there have also been reports of 2 possible deaths as a consequence of Chikungunya. It said these cases have, however, not been confirmed by Laboratory tests.
According to the Ministry the deaths both occurred in elderly patients who died at home. The Ministry says it is currently investigating these cases to ascertain the cause of death.
And
The ministry of foreign affairs, foreign trade, commerce and information technology is planning to undertake an essay writing competition targeting Vincentian students and the general public alike, as part of its new public democracy initiative it has embarked on to enlighten the public on the roles and functions of the ministry of foreign affairs and the importance of public diplomacy within society.
The launching of the competition is scheduled to take place on the 1st of February 2015and the prize giving ceremony on the 12th of March 2015. The competition is strategically positioned to coincide with the activities to mark national heroes month.
The target group will be split into 3 categories and prizes awarded accordingly. Group 1 comprises of 4th and 5th form students, group 2 the SVG community college students and group 3 the general public between the ages of 21-25.
Each group will receive a designated topic. Prizes to be awarded include trophies, smart phones, tablets and cash.
More on the local scene
Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves said law enforcement officials remain resolute in their efforts to address issues of criminality throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
He made the point while responding to a question in Parliament on Wednesday, in relation to the government’s efforts to deal with the upsurge in gun violence here.
This year, 37 persons have been killed here, registering the largest number of persons to be killed in one year in the history of this country. Noting that the upsurge in gun-violence is the result of
drugs-related activity, Dr. Gonsalves said measures are being put in place to improve the capacity of the police force. He said the police have also increased its surveillance of high crime areas.
On the regional scene in
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad-Minister of national security, Senator Gary Griffith, has stated that there is no evidence that there is illegal wiretapping by Trinidad and Tobago’s Strategic Services Agency.
He also noted that should it be proven that any illegal wiretapping activities are in fact taking place or have at any time taken place they will be dealt with.
The SSA is the country’s central coordinating agency for the suppression of illicit drug traffic. Griffith stated that, following the last government’s illegal wiretapping, the current government has implemented stringent measures to ensure that such breaches of privacy do not again occur.
Griffith noted that, if and when this type of activity takes place, it is done under the remit of the law and is done for the protection of citizens and to aid law enforcement officers.
The minister’s statement followed a news story on Tuesday regarding the possibility of unlawful monitoring by members of the SSA of the phones of public officials, media workers and other persons.
Griffith reminded members of the media and the public at large that, under the new legislation, there are specific requirements that must be met before a warrant can be issued to facilitate such activities, and anyone circumventing those measures risks prosecution.
And in
KINGSTON, Jamaica-Chairman of WISYNCO Group, William Mahfood, was Thursday elected the 17th president of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica at a council meeting held at the organization’s Hope Road office.
Mahfood succeeds Christopher Zacca who did not seek re-election after having served a total of five years, over two separate periods, as president.
Joining Mahfood are vice presidents, Christopher Barnes, managing director of the Gleaner Company; Dennis Cohen, deputy group managing director of NCB;
and Gary ‘Butch’ Hendrickson, managing director of Continental Baking Company. Frank James, group chief financial officer at Grace-Kennedy was elected honorary treasurer.
Seven associations were elected to the executive committee as follows: Jamaica Bankers Association, Jamaica Exporters’ Association, Jamaica Employers’ Federation, Jamaica Hotel and
Tourist Association, Jamaica Securities Dealers Association, MSME Alliance and the Women Business Owners Jamaica Ltd. The executive committee comprises the president, three vice presidents, CEO, honorary secretary, honorary treasurer and seven association members.
