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JAMAICA: Correction Officers and Inmates to Benefit From Training and Certification

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#Kingston, October 5, 2018 – Jamaica – The National Security Ministry and the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) have signed a second memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the HEART Trust/NTA to continue and expand the vocational training and certification of DCS staff, wards and inmates.  The agreement, which commences on October 3, 2018 and expires on May 31, 2020, will also provide technical support for the ‘We Transform’ programme, including the training of mentors.

We Transform links wards under the care and supervision of the DCS with positive, caring role models, who will help them overcome their personal risk factors and guide them through the process of resocialisation, transformation and reintegration into their communities.  Funding for the partnership will come from the operational budget of the HEART Trust, with the Ministry and the DCS to provide monitoring and coordination.

Addressing the signing ceremony at the Ministry’s Oxford Road offices in Kingston on October 3, State Minister for National Security, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, said, the provisions under the MOU will change people’s lives.  He noted that the development of inmates and wards is a priority of the Ministry.

“We are on a journey of creating a set of people who [upon] their release will be going back into their communities; some might even be going on to tertiary institutions. We are sure that they will be better coming out than when they are going in… . As much as we can, we have an obligation to assist these people,” he said.

First signed by the three entities in December 2015, the MOU has an overarching aim of empowering inmates and wards with the skill sets to become productive, self-sufficient citizens upon their release.

Commissioner of Corrections, Ina Hunter, informed that under the initial agreement, approximately 700 inmates benefited from training, and 153 DSC staff were certified in various areas.  She noted that 63 correctional officers received a diploma in business management, and 12 have received Level 1 certification in air conditioning and refrigeration.

Mrs. Hunter expressed appreciation for the opportunity to expand the training and certification of staff and inmates under a new MOU.  She said that the signing “signals a more strategic and far-reaching approach in responding to the needs of offenders and building the capacity of staff to deliver our mandate”.

For his part, Chairman of the HEART Trust/NTA, Edward Gabbidon, said that “this agreement is very special because it [enables us] to help reform those who have been incarcerated and also the people who work with them”.

“The Board of Management of HEART is focused on “uplifting, empowering and providing lifelong skills, so that people will be able to learn, earn and give back to society,” he added.

 

Released: JIS

 

 

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CARPHA Progresses to Eligibility for the First Disbursement of Pandemic Funding

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Following a landmark Public Signing Ceremony for the Pandemic Fund (PF) Technical Cooperation Agreement (“Reducing the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Prevention, Preparedness, and Response” [RG-T4387] Project) on December 14, 2023, in Trinidad, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) continues to progress towards the start of implementation.

 CARPHA fulfilled the IDB’s nine conditions prior to first disbursement, achieving full eligibility on March 15, 2024, and is now eligible for the first disbursement. This milestone achievement in just 3 months after the signing speaks to the commitment of both CARPHA, the Executing Agency, and IDB, the Implementing Entity, toward the regional PF project with the objective of supporting the reduction of the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean by building pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPR) surveillance & early-warning systems (EWS), laboratory systems and workforce capacity, regionally at CARPHA and in countries.

Since the signing of the Technical Cooperation Agreement and as part of the conditions prior to first disbursement, CARPHA has achieved the following key outputs (i) the development of the PF Project Operations Manual, Multi-annual Execution Plan, Procurement Plan, Financial Plan, Procedure for CARPHA’s Financial Reporting System; (ii) vacancy announcements for two tranches of consultants with the subsequent hiring of five (Technical Coordinator, Financial Specialist, Procurement Specialist, Operations Officer and Project Operations Coordinator) and (iii) the establishment of the Project Execution Unit (PEU) and Project Execution Steering Committee (PESC). The dedicated PEU will be responsible for execution according to its planned timelines, which will be led by the Dr. Lisa Indar, the Project Director (CARPHA’s Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control Division).

 CARPHA, as the lead regional public health agency and an expression of Caribbean Cooperation in Health is mandated by its Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) to support its 26 CARPHA Member States (CMS) in bolstering national systems and coordinating regional response to public health threats. The Agency works closely with regional and international agencies and uses regional mechanisms, surveillance systems, and networks for coordinating its public health response work.

In July 2023, the PF Governing Board announced that CARPHA’s regional entity proposal, entitled ‘Reducing the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Strengthened Integrated Early Warning Surveillance, Laboratory Systems and Workforce Development’ was successfully selected for the first round of financing. It was one of only 19 proposals selected from over 300 submissions and the only regional project. The three priority areas in the proposal are: (i) Comprehensive disease surveillance and EWS, (ii) Laboratory systems and (iii) Human resources and public health and community workforce capacity.

This project is expected to begin implementation in March 2024, starting off with a blended onboarding session. A Stakeholder Meeting with countries is tentatively planned for July 2024.

CARPHA remains dedicated to working together with the IDB, CARPHA Member States and the Pandemic Fund to successfully implement the regional proposal geared toward reducing the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean.

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Men who had Murdered Man, Marley Higgs’ cell phone face Court

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Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Correspondent

The prosecution intends to try two young North Caicos men, both age 21 for the offense of possession of property of a murdered man, property that was stolen and landed in their possession.

The phone belonged to Peureton ‘Marley’ Higgs, who is believed to have been an innocent gunned down at his apartment complex in the Glass Shack area in a spray of bullets on February 2 that killed another man and wounded two others, including a ten-year-old little girl.

The cell phone was described as white in colour, an iPhone, in a hard black case. 

On Monday, March 18th, JEFFVANO HANDFIELD of North Caicos pleaded not guilty to the offense, and the matter was adjourned to April 2024. He was granted bail in the matter.

A second North Caicos man was charged similarly.  

SARENO CAPELLAN aka, Kino Williams is the second individual brought before the court pertaining to the said cellphone. He appeared in court a week after JEFFVANO HANDFIELD, the date being Monday March 25th 2024.

The case for the Crown is that both men sometime in February of this year possessed the cellphone knowing or suspecting it to be stolen property.

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Caribbean News

Supreme Court Closed for Easter

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NOTICE is hereby given that the Easter Recess shall commence on Friday 29th April, 2024 and end on Friday 5th April, 2024. During the Easter Recess Judge Selochan will be available to deal only with matters that are urgent or require prompt attention.

Court Business During the Easter Recess

A person who wishes to have a matter heard during the recess must file a certificate of urgency along with an affidavit, which must set out the reasons why the matter is urgent or requires prompt attention. The matter will not be listed during the recess unless the Judge deems it fit for urgent hearing.

Opening Hours During the Easter Holiday

The Supreme Court’s last sitting day for the first term is Thursday 28th March, 2024. The Court will officially resume sittings on Monday 8th April, 2024. The Supreme Court Offices in both Grand Turk and Providenciales will continue to operate while the Court is not sitting during the recess.

The Court Office will be closed on the following public holidays:

  • Friday 29th March, 2024 (Good Friday) CLOSED
  • Monday 1st April, 2024 (Easter Monday) CLOSED

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