Caribbean News Roundup – Nov. 30, 2018

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Nov. 30, 2018: Here are the top headlines making news from across the Caribbean for today, Fri. Nov. 30, 2018.

Grand Jury Indicts Botham Jean Shooter On Murder Charge – UPDATED

A Dallas, Texas grand jury just hours  indicted fired Dallas police officer Amber Guyger on a murder charge in the shooting death of Caribbean immigrant and Saint Lucia native, Botham Jean, the 26-year-old man killed at his apartment in September.

The grand jury began hearing the prosecution’s case Monday against 30-year-old former cop, Amber Guyger, who was arrested on a manslaughter charge Sept. 9, three days after killing Botham Shem Jean. She told authorities that she mistook his apartment for hers on the night of Sept. 6 and thought he was a burglar. Continue Reading

Haitian Man Detained By US For Two Years To Be Freed

A Haitian man who was granted asylum but has been in US immigration detention for two years will finally be released.  Ansly Damus, a teacher from Haiti who entered the U.S. in 2016 and sought asylum saying his life was at risk because he criticized a political leader, has been locked up in a windowless room at a jail in Chardon, Ohio, for two years. Judge Judith Levy said Thursday he will be freed after US officials agree to let release him pending his asylum appeal. Damus will, however, have to wear an ankle monitor and live with a couple in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

Former St. Maarten Tourism Official Guilty Of Embezzlement

Former head of the Tourist Board in St. Maarten, Regina Labega along with Fabian Badejo and Erica Fortuno, were on Wednesday found guilty of embezzlement.

Labega was sentenced to 12 months suspended sentence while she has to pay a fine of NAF.300,000,00. Badejo and Fortuno were convicted to 3 months suspended sentence while they each have to pay a fine of NAF. 50,000.00.

All three suspects have a probation period of three years and have been banned from holding public office for a period of 5 years.

The court acquitted the three for money laundering and being part of a criminal organization. Continue Reading

Viola Davis To Star As This Caribbean American Icon

Actress Viola Davis will star as the late Caribbean American Congresswoman and former US Presidential candidate, Shirley Chisholm in  a new Amazon movie. The company said Thursday that Davis has signed on to star in and produce the project about Chisholm, who was the first black woman ever elected to the United States Congress and the first woman to seek the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. Chisholm was born in Brooklyn, NY to a father from then BRitish Guiana and a mother from Barbados.  Chisholm was born Shirley Anita St. Hill. Continue Reading

Kidnapped UWI Staffer Rescued

A Trinidad and Tobago-born US Staffer, kidnapped Wednesday afternoon, has been found and her kidnappers arrested.  Police rescued Maria Dass-Supersad Wednesday night, some five hours after two men forced her in to a car while she was trying to leave The University of the West Indies (UWI) St Augustine campus to pick up her daughter. Continue Reading

Non-Essential US Officials Urged To Leave Haiti

The United States on Thursday authorized non-essential diplomatic personnel and their families to leave Haiti amid tensions in the wake of violent anti-government protests. The move comes as the Caribbean country has been on edge since mass protests against the government of President Jovenel Moise began on November 18th. About a dozen people have been killed since the protests began. Continue Reading

Barbados Enters 52nd Year As Independent Nation

Barbados will today mark its 52nd birthday as a free nation. In a message issued Thursday night, Prime Minister Mia Mottley urged nationals to “remain ever mindful that times of challenges also present windows of opportunity.” And she added that the “new” Barbados her administration intends “to construct must be an ever-welcoming experience for all who visit.”

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