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Grenada ready to bring home students from crisis-torn Venezuela ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada – The Grenada government says it’s ready and willing to bring home Grenadian students from Venezuela as that South American nation continues to face financial and other challenges. In a statement issued Monday, the Keith Mitchell administration said it has communicated to the students, its readiness to facilitate their return home. However, it noted, “the majority of students, for now…have indicated a willingness to complete their studies, in spite of those challenges”. The government said the Ministries of Education and Foreign Affairs are in constant contact with the students and Grenada’s Ambassador to Venezuela, Ambassador Hassan Hadeed, continues to visit them and provide the needed material and other support. The parents of the students have also been fully engaged and kept abreast of the situation. Last Monday, a meeting was convened by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs
Keith Mitchell and Education to brief the parents and guardians of the students and to assure them that the Government of Grenada is prepared to take necessary action, at any given time, to ensure the wellbeing of the students, the government said. “The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela remains a friend and ally of the Government of
Grenada and its people. In this regard, we are hopeful that there will be a peaceful resolution to the current political challenges,” the statement ended. Oil-rich Venezuela is in the midst of a crisis that has stemmed from the fall in global oil prices. There have been reported shortages of food and other basic supplies. (Caribbean360)
Maduro calls ‘rebellion,’ tells OAS to ‘shove it’ Caracas (AFP) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called for a “national rebellion” against alleged in-
Wednesday June 01, 2016
Kaieteur News
ternational threats yesterday and told the head of the Organisation of American States (OAS) to “shove it” in
an escalating war of words. The verbal barrage came after OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro called for an urgent meeting on the Venezuelan crisis, warning democracy was at risk in the country. In a 132-page letter to the president of the OAS Permanent Council, Almagro requested a meeting of the Wa s h i n g t o n - b a s e d organisation’s 34 member states from June 10 to 20. “The institutional crisis in Venezuela demands immediate changes in the actions of the executive branch,” Almagro wrote, adding that the socialist nation is “at risk of falling immediately into a situation of illegitimacy.” Venezuela’s oppositioncontrolled legislature had requested that Almagro invoke the Inter-American Democratic Charter — which regulates government behaviour — to assess whether the Maduro government violated standards. “Mr Almagro, you can take your Democratic Charter... put it in a skinny little tube and shove it wherever it fits,” Maduro fired back at a rally of thousands of his supporters in Caracas.
PJ Patterson To Speak In UK On Uniting The Caribbean The Gleaner - Former Prime Minister, P.J. Patterson, will be the keynote speaker at two events in the UK starting on June 7 in Great Barr, Birmingham. His second talk will take place on June 9 in Camden, London. The events, titled Caribbean Diaspora Borderless Possibilities, is part of a drive across 16 Caribbean countries considering building a united region, so that economically and politically, they can become stronger and less dependant on other countries for support. The vision is that by helping each of the islands in the region to build positive partnerships, this will stimulate growth and long-term stability. With support from Grace Kennedy Ltd and Western Union Ltd, the project management team in the Caribbean have organised and delivered five town hall events across the USA in 2015 to engage people who have an interest in the Caribbean. The response to the meet-
P.J. Patterson ings in Miami, New York and other states, which attracted an average of 1,500 people per event, were overwhelmingly positive. The UK leg of the tour will kick off on June 7 at the Badshah Palace Conference Centre, Walsall Road, Great Barr, Birmingham B42 1LR at 7pm. At 6pm will be a Caribbean style welcome reception. The second leg of the tour will be on June 9 at Camden Town Hall, Judd Street, London WC1H 9JE also starting
at 7 p.m. A welcome reception will get underway at 6 p.m. Patterson will supported on the panel by executives from Grace Kennedy Ltd and Western Union and one local speaker from Birmingham and one from London. The Local Speaker in Birmingham is Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council Councillor Ian Lord and the local speaker in London will be Mr Ansell Wong of the Windrush Foundation and a Carnival Arts pioneer. The event will be blessed by Bishop Derek Webley in Birmingham and by Mrs Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Chaplin to the Queen in London. Entrance to the events is free, but early arrival will guarantee the seating, which will be available. The organisers are keen to ensure people from all sections of the community, including churches, are able to engage with this event and are encouraging the sharing of this information with Caribbean organisations, friends and family who are welcome to attend.
Police group backs PM on Minister…
Dillon not at fault for escalating crime Trinidad Guardian - The Police Service Social and Welfare Association has applauded Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley for his declaration that National Security Minister Edmund Dillon will not be dismissed. President Insp Anand Ramesar said Dillon was not at fault for the escalating crime situation in the country. He said Government is responsible for implementation of policies and had no part to play in the operational aspects of crime fighting which is solely the responsibility of the Police Service. “The call for the removal of the National Security Minister appears to be a bit premature. There are many other considerations that must be factored in before such a decision is even considered,” he said. In fact, Ramesar commended the minister for keeping his promise to absorb some 1500 special reserve police officers (SRPs) into the Police Service. He said the association is due to meet with Dillon in the first week of June to set the criteria for the selection of the SRPs into the Police Service.
The rebranding of the service, including new uniforms for officers, is on-stream, Ramesar said, and a committee, including two representatives from the association, has already been put in place. Ramesar who also commended the minister for initiating a manpower audit into the Police Service added: “We are aware that the ministry will involve personnel from the UK and that in recent times those persons would have come to Trinidad to have preliminary considerations on the issue. “These particular initiatives triggered under Dillon need to be allowed to have an impact before any call for his removal.” There have been calls for Dillon to be fired because of the country’s abysmally low crime detection rate and high homicide rate. However, speaking to members of the media over the weekend during the People’s National Movement (PNM) sports and family day at Mt Pleasant ground, Tobago, Rowley expressed confidence in Dillon, who has held the post since the PNM took office last September. “I have absolutely no
such thought to dismiss Minister Dillon. As a matter of fact, the National Security Minister is working very, very effectively in ensuring that we put the country in a position to respond to the crime challenges. “It is not just a question of changing a minister,” Rowley had said. Ramesar has expressed concern over the “very delayed” process for the selection of a permanent Police Commissioner. With the latest six months extension granted to acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams expiring at the end of June, Ramesar lamented the lack of proper stakeholder participation in the process. “In the first instance one needs to look at the performance of the Police Service Commission in relation to national security. The selection process for a police commissioner must be expedited and the public must be informed every step of the way.” Ramesar said he would also be applying for the post of Commission but could only do so when the position was advertised. To date there has been no advertisement for the post.