标签： Asia

Officers from the police and defence forces along with disaster personnel are joining their regional counterparts in a one-week Caricom Disaster Relief Unit (CDRU) training here on island aimed at strengthening their disaster relief response capabilities.

The training, being hosted by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), in partnership with the Regional Security System (RSS), is targeting approximately 40 participants from Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts/Nevis, Grenada, Montserrat, the British Virgin Islands, St Lucia, Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Caricom Disaster Relief Unit serves as a vital first relief mechanism, comprising the military, fire service, and police personnel from CDEMA participating states. This enables the unit to provide immediate humanitarian assistance, facilitate logistics, support emergency telecommunications and coordinate national and regional relief efforts.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop on Monday on behalf of the Executive Director of CDEMA Elizabeth Riley, Programme Director Rasheed Pinder said the training was a critical step in enhancing the region’s preparedness and resilience considering the occurrence of more severe and frequent hazards.

Deputy Director of NODS Craig Cole noted that participants should not just strengthen themselves but the region as well. Lieutenant Colonel Eugene Philip of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force believes camaraderie among participants will enhance teamwork.

Support for the training has also come from the United States Southern Command (US Southcom) represented by Coalition Affairs Director David Greene. US Southcom comprises military and civilian personnel who are responsible for providing contingency planning, operations, and security cooperation in the Caribbean and other regions.

The Caricom Disaster Relief Unit training, being held at Crabbes, will focus on topics such as regional relief and logistics plan, telecommunications, basic safer building and engineering techniques and improved team coordination. – **_the end_** –

Please be advised of single lane traffic on Old Parham Road to facilitate asphalt repairs.

A 16-year-old male of Hatton is currently in police custody, being questioned in connection with the country’s latest homicide.

At approximately 9:10 p.m. on Tuesday, July 29, police and emergency personnel responded to a wounding incident at Grays Farm, in which 17-year-old Vonde Bowers of Liberta Village was reportedly injured during a physical altercation.

He was transported to the Sir Lester Bird Medical Center with multiple stab wounds to his body and was subsequently pronounced dead at 9:36 p.m.

A suspect was arrested shortly after the incident and is currently in police custody, assisting with ongoing investigations.

The Police administration expresses heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Vonde Bowers, as they mourn his tragic death.

The Administration is further appealing to the youths of this country to desist from this deviant type of behaviour and to seek more peaceful ways of resolving their differences without violence.

The Antigua and Barbuda police continue to investigate this matter and are urging anyone with information that may assist in the investigation to contact the Criminal Investigations Department at 462-3913 or call Crimestoppers at 800-TIPS (8477).

UNAIDS celebrates the groundbreaking decision by the High Court of Justice in Saint Lucia declaring sections 132 and 133 of the Criminal Code unconstitutional for criminalizing consensual adult sexual acts in private. This triumph upholds LGBTQ+ people’s rights to protection of the law, privacy, non-discrimination, freedom of expression, and equal protection under the law, as guaranteed by the Constitution.

“This landmark decision underscores the transformative power of the law in protecting human rights and public health,” said Luisa Cabal, UNAIDS Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. “In a region where punitive laws hindered progress towards ending AIDS, Saint Lucia’s High Court has set a powerful precedent. UNAIDS stands ready to support all governments and communities in ensuring everyone can live free from discrimination and access the services they need to thrive healthily and safely,” said Ms. Cabal.

The case is one of the five country strategic litigation initiatives of the Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality (ECADE) which has been working closely with LGBTQ+ organizations, individuals and allies to protect and promote the community’s basic human rights. The case removes outdated, colonial-era barriers that fuel stigma, discrimination and violence. The Court modified the laws relating to exclude private consensual acts between adults (section 132) and those aged 16+ (section 133), paving the way for dignity and equality to be respected.

Saint Lucia now joins Belize (2016), Antigua and Barbuda (2022), St. Kitts and Nevis (2022), Barbados (2022), and Dominica (2024), which decriminalised same-sex intimacy in recent years. This chronology reflects a surging momentum against outdated laws, fostering more inclusive, rights-based societies across the region.

“The ruling in Saint Lucia gives us hope, demonstrating that justice and equality can prevail and that our courts are advancing public health initiatives by protecting human rights,” said Richard Amenyah, UNAIDS Country Director for the Caribbean. “By removing these outdated criminal provisions, we open doors for LGBTQ+ individuals to seek HIV prevention and care without fear, ultimately strengthening our regional fight against HIV and saving lives.”

UNAIDS champions this move as a key stride toward zero discrimination and ending AIDS by 2030. By erasing these discriminatory provisions, the ruling removes an obstacle to HIV prevention, testing, and treatment, vital in a region where gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men and transgender women have disproportionately high rates of HIV and often are kept away from health services for fear of stigma, discrimination and criminalization.

UNAIDS urges remaining countries where these discriminatory laws remain on the books to repeal such laws and prioritize rights-based HIV strategies for healthier futures and more equitable societies.

Machel Montano Pays Courtesy Visit to Prime Minister Gaston Browne

Crews were out in full force today as road improvement works progressed in several communities. Here’s a look at today’s activity on the ground.

Roadworks (photo Credit- Maria Browne) Roadworks (photo Credit- Maria Browne) Roadworks (photo Credit- Maria Browne) Roadworks (photo Credit- Maria Browne) Roadworks (photo Credit- Maria Browne) Roadworks (photo Credit- Maria Browne)