Caribbean News
Why Didn’t TCI Police END Rumours about Police Woman? She says she is cleared
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, December 20, 2022 – A former woman cop who had public allegations made against her regarding involvement with alleged “gang leader”, Brandon Rahming has spoken out after weeks of silence saying she has been cleared by the TCI Police.
The Royal TCI Police have however not informed of the conclusion in the probe into the former member of the Force.
Former police officer Leonie Higgs-James, who is married, had a criminal investigation opened against her after the allegations that she had a relationship with Rahming and may have been tipping him off, surfaced on social media.
Higgs-James’ attorney Lara Maroof-Misick said her client had resigned before the rumors which had occurred in early December and before Rahming’s death.
“Please be aware that these claims are all completely FALSE. Mrs. Higgs was not in any form of relationship with wanted criminal Brandon Rahming. Mrs. Higgs had never spoken to, communicated with, or met Brandon Rahming.
The claim that there was an internal police email stating that messages were found between her and Brandon Rahming was a totally false claim.”
Her attorney said that the police had conducted its investigations and found there were no messages between the “gang leader” and Higgs-James and she was not a suspect in the case.
She described the social media claims as “malicious”.
“Her resignation had nothing to do with Brandon Rahming and in fact she gave notice of resignation weeks before his death. It is believed that a malicious person created and posted these false claims in order to have the community turn on Mrs. Higgs and to destroy her reputation; these claims gained momentum as people shared these posts over and over without knowing whether they were factually correct.”
Now that the former officer has been cleared of any wrong doing, according the media statement, her attorney said a criminal investigation has been launched into the origin of the rumors.
“These false social media posts have caused immense distress for Mrs. Higgs and her family and caused them to fear for their safety. We hope that this press release will help to clarify the true position for the public. We also hope that those responsible are held accountable for their actions which have caused so much unnecessary distress,” the attorney said
Notably the rumors contained allegations that evidence had been found and shared between the police on their internal servers. In announcing that they were launching a criminal investigation against the officer they did not clear of these rumors. They have also not taken the chance to address the public and clear Higgs-James’ name despite finding no evidence of her being involved with the gang leader
The attorney described this as regrettable and expressed hope the Police would address it soon.
Bahamas News
Work of NAECOB critical in ensuring high standards in education, says Minister Hanna-Martin
“We’re the Ministry of Education and they’re our schools. We are accountable to NAECOB. They ensure that what is happening on the campuses throughout the nation meets the physical standards and the qualitative standards of education. You would have heard classroom size and teacher/student ratio. We may have challenges, and we do at the Ministry of Education but when these issues are brought to our attention we are obliged and compelled to seek resolution to ensure that the standards are met.
the criteria to offer an educational service in The Bahamas as outlined in the Education Act. She said it is mandatory that all educational institutions/provider offering/proposing to offer an educational service in the Bahamas must be registered according to the NAECOB Act and the Education Act.BIS Photos/Mark Ford
Header: Seated at the table, from left: – Lorraine Armbrister, Permanent Secretary; Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin; Dominique McCartney Russell, Acting Director; Cassia Minnis, Registration Officer; Thelma Grimes, Council Chairperson; Howard Newbold, Inspector, Council Member; Shena Williams, Council and Inspector; Dorothy Anderson, Inspector; T. Nicola McKay, Deputy Chairperson; (seated behind) Willard Barr, Council and Inspector.
1st insert: Thelma Grimes, Council Chairperson
2nd insert: Howard Newbold, Inspector and Council Member
3rd insert: The Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Training
4th insert: Cassia Minnis, Registration Officer
#TheBahamas, March 27, 2023 – As the 50th anniversary of our nation’s independence approaches, Bahamians everywhere are teeming with excitement and expectancy around the year-long celebrations set by The National
Independence Secretariat.
Yesterday, the Prime Minister joined H.E Leslia Miller Brice, Chair of The National Independence Secretariat to unveil the Calendar of Events for the 50th Independence celebrations.
The calendar comprises a host of events, initiatives and recommendations for celebrations throughout all 33 islands of The Bahamas.
At this jubilant occasion the PM stated, “Celebrating independence is about acknowledging the greatness around us, the greatness within us, and the greatness ahead of us.
We are Bahamians. That identity is special.”
View the newly released calendar of events here:
#Kingston, March 28, 2023 – There are currently 12,362 seniors registered under the Government’s new Social Pension Programme.
Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Karl Samuda, made the disclosure during the sitting of the Standing Finance Committee of the House on March 2, at Gordon House.
The initiative targets all Jamaican citizens 75 years and older who are not currently in receipt of a pension (overseas or local) or any other retirement, old-age or disability benefit or regular income, and are not living in a government
institutionalised care facility.
“We are evaluating the manner in which we qualify persons to go on the programme. This is a discussion we will have to have, as some people fall through the cracks simply because they might have a refrigerator, or they might be lucky enough to have a television at home,” Mr. Samuda said.
“The direction in which we are heading, to have those things, does not move you from poverty to prosperity. So, the Government has an obligation to do everything possible to improve their quality of life, and so we will be looking at that,” the Minister added.
Mr. Samuda said between March 2022 and January 2023, the programme disbursed $446 million.
To register for the social pension programme, persons may visit any of the Ministry’s parish offices islandwide.
They will be required to complete a social pension application form, accompanied by their Tax Registration Number (TRN), National Insurance Scheme (NIS) card, and proof of age in the form of a birth certificate or a valid passport.
They should also take along a valid identification (ID), such as a driver’s licence, passport or voter’s ID, proof of bank account and any other document that may be required to process the application, for example, proof of citizenship.
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