Thursday, August 27, 2009

Grenadian charged with alleged drug possession

NEW YORK, Aug 27, 2009 - A 49-year-old Grenadian man has been arrested and charged by Police in Washington, D.C. for the alleged possession of illegal drugs. The Washington Post reported that Winston Williams was earlier this month indicted on charges of unlawfully possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute it. According to the paper, Police seized more than 80 pounds of marijuana and nearly US$40,000 in cash in two separate raids at properties belonging to Williams. Reports in Grenada said that Williams is the brother of Grenada’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Dr. Dessima Williams. In a brief statement on behalf of the family, Ambassador Williams said that the family is shocked and saddened about the allegations but concerned as family about the welfare of his wife and children and about his health. “While we hope he is proven innocent we are also aware that this is a legal matter and as such there will be no further comment," the statement said.

Williams' family issues statement

Grenada's Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Grenada to the United Nations in New York, Dr. Dessima Williams has learned about the unfortunate circumstances surrounding her brother, Winston Williams who has been arrested on drug charges in Washington, D.C.

"The family is shocked and saddened about the allegations but concerned as family about the welfare of his wife and children and about his health. While we hope he is proven innocent we are also aware that this is a legal matter and as such there will be no further comment."

For more information, please contact; Name: Michael Bascombe Email: mbascombe@gmail.com Phone: +1-473-456-9523 or +1-347-549-9293

Monday, August 24, 2009

Shalrie Joseph now holds US Citizenship

Shalrie Joseph on Sunday played his first game in Major League Soccer as an American citizen.

Joseph, who last week took the oath of allegiance, now has dual citizenship in Grenada and the US, where he moved when he was nine.

"I've spent a lot of years waiting and waiting, so it definitely feels good now," said Joseph.

"It makes it easier traveling and everything else, it's a great thing to be able to say you're a US citizen, not everyone gets that privilege. I did a lot of studying, the one thing I didn't want to do was fail the citizenship test. A lot of the guys helped me when we were on the road trips, even Jay and Jeff were doing question and answers. I learned a lot about US history and it definitely helped me with my knowledge." Joseph said he has recovered from the knee injury that hampered him through the summer.

"It’s back to 100 percent," said Joseph. "so now I’m just focused on getting back to the sharpness I had in the beginning of the season.”

Joseph had one assist in New England Revolution's 3-1 win over Real Salt Lake.

Friday, August 14, 2009

IAAF honours Francis in Berlin

by Michael Bascombe

BERLIN, Germany, Aug 13, 2009 – The International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) has honoured sports administrator, Conrad Francis, as the body held its 47th Congress in Berlin, Germany on Wednesday.

The congress was part of activities lined up for the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics. Francis, who is now a retired national athletics coach, was honoured as a recipient of the prestigious IAAF Veteran Pin "for long and meritorious service to the cause of world athletics." The high profile ceremony was held at the Congress Hall, of the Convention Centre at Estrel Hotel, Berlin.

The letter inviting Francis for the all-expense paid ceremony was signed by IAAF's Secretary General, Pierre Weiss, and copied to the Grenada Athletics Association (GAA).

Also from the Caribbean receiving veteran pins were Calvin Greenaway of Antigua and Barbuda and Edwin Skinner of Trinidad and Tobago.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Grenadian footballer could be offered professional contract

LONDON, UK, Aug 13, 2009 - MANAGER John Barnes is looking to Grenada international Kithson Bain to add height and strength to Tranmere's attacking options this season.

The 27-year-old could be en route to Prenton Park if Rovers can secure a work permit for his move from the Caribbean.

Barnes said: "Kithson is a big, strong, quick and very powerful striker - and I think we need a bit of strength up front. We have good strong runners in the squad but we are a little bit lightweight. He would be a good addition for us."

Barnes said he first noticed Bain while he was coaching the Jamaica national team during the Caribbean Cup tournament last season, which Jamaica won.

Barnes explained: "Kithson was a top scorer in the Caribbean Cup. In an average Grenada side he really was the one who carried them.

"When I looked at Kithson in December, I wasn't anticipating getting another job elsewhere. But once I got the job here at Tranmere I have been thinking - and this is not to be unkind - about players we can sign cheaply. That is what we have to look at.

He fits the bill perfectly, not because of the cheapness but because of his ability."

Saturday, August 08, 2009

Grenada breached obligations under the Covenant of Human Rights

31 July 2009 The Human Rights Committee concluded today its ninety-sixth session, during which it considered and adopted concluding observations and recommendations on the reports submitted by Tanzania, the Netherlands, including the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, Chad and Azerbaijan on how those countries implement the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. During this session, it also finalized its concluding observations on the situation of civil and political rights in Grenada, which the Committee reviewed in the absence of a report on 18 July 2007, at its ninetieth session. In concluding observations on the fourth periodic review of Tanzania, the Committee welcomed the enactment of the Spinsters and Single Parent Child Protection Act of 2005 in Zanzibar, abolishing the imprisonment of unmarried women who had become pregnant, as well as the de facto moratorium on the death penalty, which has been in force since 1994. The Committee was concerned at the high number of reported incidents of mutilations and killings of persons with albinism. Other concerns included that the practice of female genital mutilation still persisted and that impunity for perpetrators prevailed and that corporal punishment was still available as part of judicial sentences and was also permitted within the education system. Following its consideration of the fourth periodic report of the Netherlands, including the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, the Committee welcomed, for the European part of the Netherlands, a new law that allowed for the exclusion from the home of perpetrators of domestic violence. It noted with concern, among others, the low participation of women in the labour market and the existing pay gap; the high number of euthanasia cases; and inadequate measures taken to combat child abuse. For the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, the Committee recommended, respectively, that prison conditions be improved and that the duration of pre-trial detention be brought in line with the Covenant. Regarding the initial report submitted by Chad, the Committee welcomed the adoption of a law prohibiting female genital mutilation, early marriage and domestic and sexual violence. Among principal concerns was the impunity with which serious human rights violations were committed, including murder, rape, forced disappearances, arbitrary detention, torture, destruction of property, forced displacement and attacks against the civilian population. The continuing high level of corruption in Chad also concerned the Committee. Among recommendations, the Committee asked Chad to consider abolishing the death penalty or re-implementing the moratorium on it and that it take appropriate measures to enforce the rights of persons in custody. Having reviewed the third periodic report of Azerbaijan, the Committee welcomed, inter alia, the agreement with the International Committee of the Red Cross to conduct regular visits in prisons and detention facilities and the adoption of a national programme to combat domestic violence. One of the major concerns of the Committee remained the extensive limitations to the right to freedom of expression of the media and reports of killings or beatings of journalists. The Committee also expressed concern regarding the persistence of violence against women, in particular domestic violence, and reported incidents of violation of non-refoulement of asylum-seekers. Having considered the situation of civil and political rights in Grenada in the absence of a report, the Committee regretted that Grenada had not submitted its initial report, due on 5 December 1992, which amounted to a serious breach of its obligations under the Covenant. Among positive aspects, the Committee welcomed the abolition of the mandatory death penalty in 2002. The Committee was concerned that corporal punishment, including flogging and whipping, was still administered in accordance with the Criminal Code, the Prisons Act, and the Education Act of 2002. Among recommendations, the Committee said Grenada should provide without further delay for an independent judicial review of the convictions of the 10 members of the “Grenada 17” still in detention. During the session, the Committee considered 34 communications from individuals submitted under the first Optional Protocol to the Covenant. The first Optional Protocol, for the 111 States that have ratified it, allows review by the Committee of complaints from persons alleging violations of the terms of the Covenant. In private meetings the Committee's decided that 9 communications were inadmissible, 14 Views were adopted, 2 communications were deemed admissible and consideration would be discontinued for 9 communications. The Chairperson informed the Committee that 3 new State party reports had been received this week, two of which were initial reports. The Committee also held its fifth informal meeting with States Parties, where States and Experts addressed, inter alia, the harmonization of working methods with other treaty bodies; the complementarity of the work of the Human Rights Committee with the Universal Periodic Review; and collaboration between the Committee and the Human Rights Council. The Committee also held a discussion on human rights indicators and the influence of parliamentarians on the implementation of human rights. Also during the session, the Committee considered progress reports on follow-up to its concluding observations and follow-up to the Committee's decisions on individual communications. During its next session, which will take place in Geneva from 12 to 30 October 2009, the Committee is scheduled to consider reports from Moldova, Switzerland, Croatia, Russian Federation, and Ecuador. Concluding Observations on Grenada under Review Procedure Having considered the situation of civil and political rights under the Covenant in Grenada in the absence of a report on 18 July 2007, the Committee regretted that Grenada, despite numerous reminders, had not submitted its initial report, which had been due on 5 December 1992. The Committee considered that that amounted to a serious breach of Grenada’s obligations under article 40 of the Covenant. Among positive aspects in the review, the Committee welcomed the abolition of the mandatory death penalty by Grenada in 2002. It also welcomed the adoption of the Domestic Violence Act 2001 and the Domestic Violence Summary Procedure Rules, as well as of the Child Protection Act of 1998. The Committee noted with concern that the state of emergency proclaimed in 2004 in Grenada had not been brought to the attention of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Grenada should provide the Committee with more detailed information on the way it ensured that measures derogating from its obligations under the Covenant did not involve discrimination solely on the ground of race, colour, sex, language, religion and social origin. It should also establish a mechanism by which it informed other States parties to the Covenant, through the intermediary of the Secretary-General, of the rights it had derogated from in time of public emergency. Another concern was the potentially overbroad reach of the definition of terrorism under the Terrorism Act of 2003, which might extend to conduct, which, although unlawful, should not be understood as constituting terrorism. The Committee was also concerned at the seemingly mandatory nature of life imprisonment sentences for those convicted of terrorist acts. The Committee was concerned that corporal punishment, including flogging and whipping, was still administered in accordance with the Criminal Code, the Prisons Act, and the Education Act of 2002, and that the law provided for the sentencing of women and girls to solitary confinement in lieu of corporal punishment. It was also noted with concern that, despite indications that the convictions of the “Grenada 17” rested on a trial not respecting all the guarantees of the Covenant, 10 of the original “Grenada 17” remain detained, having recently been re-sentenced to 40-year terms, of which they had already served the majority. Grenada should provide without further delay for an independent judicial review of the convictions of the 10 members of the “Grenada 17” still in detention. The Committee was further concerned about information received according to which overcrowding was a serious problem in places of detention in Grenada, and about reported poor conditions of detention, as well as the fact that, under domestic law, reduction of the diet of a detainee for up to three weeks without even medical supervision might be and had been imposed as a punishment for violation of prison regulations. Other concerns included that the Criminal Code penalized same-sex sexual activities between consenting adults and that libel might be pursued in criminal courts. Members of the Committee The States parties to the Covenant elect the Committee's 18 expert members who serve in their individual capacity for four-year terms. Article 28 of the Covenant requires that "they shall be persons of high moral character and recognized competence in the field of human rights." The Committee members are: Abdelfattah Amor (Tunisia); Mohammed Ayat (Morocco); Lazhari Bouzid (Algeria); Prafullachandra Natwarlal Bhagwati (India); Christine Chanet (France); Ahmed Amin Fathalla (Egypt); Yuji Iwasawa (Japan); Helen Keller (Switzerland); Rajsoomer Lallah (Mauritius); Zonke Zanele Majodina (South Africa); Iulia Antoanella Motoc (Romania); Michael O'Flaherty (Ireland); JosĂ© Luis Perez Sanchez-Cerro (PerĂș); Rafael Rivas Posada (Colombia); Krister Thelin (Sweden); Nigel Rodley (United Kingdom); Fabian Omar Salvioli (Argentina); and Ruth Wedgwood (United States). The Committee Chairperson is Mr. Yuji Iwasawa.

Friday, August 07, 2009

YOUNG BOXER FOR INTERNATIONAL CAMP & CHAMPIONSHIPS

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, Aug 7 – The Grenada Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) is pleased to announce that Imrod Bartholomew has been selected to participate in the International Amateur Boxing Association - AIBA Training Camp and World Boxing Championships to be held in Italy, August 10 to September 12, 2009.

Bartholomew, 23, is a Light Heavy (178 lbs or 81 kgs) and won the silver medal at the 2008 OECS Boxing Championships. He is unbeaten so far this year with wins over Jamie Bullen of Carriacou, Karim De Allie and Jewel Lewis.

The young boxer leaves Grenada on Sunday to participate on the training camp ahead of the Championships in Milan which starts on September 1.

As part of the programme, AIBA has selected young talented boxers from the countries and coaches having financial difficulties to develop boxing. This programme will not only provide crucial training experience but also support them for the entire period of the AIBA World Boxing Championships Milan 2009.

AIBA said it will continue this important development programme after Milan by selecting the best 10 boxers among the boxers from the "Road to Milan" training camp at the end of the AIBA World Boxing Championships Milan 2009 and will support their continuous training from 2010 and participation in various events to qualify for the 2012 London Olympic Games and to earn the medals they deserve.

The programme, called "Road to London," will maximize the facilities and programs in the AIBA Boxing Academy.

“We were given very little time to have all his documents ready but we couldn’t allow this opportunity to pass us,” said GABA’s President Ralph James.

“Imrod is an intelligent young man with 11 CXC subjects and the future looks good for him. He is always punctual, disciplined and his work ethics is exemplary. Imrod is the ideal athlete for any coach and will be an excellent ambassador for Grenada.

The XV edition of AIBA World Boxing Championships will be attended by 700 Athletes and 400 Team Officials representing 143 Countries, with the presence of over 300 accredited media.

During the 11-day competition period over 500 matches are scheduled for the awarding of 11 world titles, one per weight category: 48, 51, 54, 57, 60, 64, 69, 75, 81, 91 and +91kg. Bouts are composed of 3 rounds of 3 minutes each, with one-minute break between one round and the other.

GABA is very grateful to his employer – the National Water and Sewerage Authority (NAWASA) for granting him leave.

“We will also like to express our thanks to Mr. Joseph "REDS" Perreira and the St. Lucia Amateur Boxing Association for assisting with ground transportation and accommodation in St. Lucia, the Italian Consulate in Grenada, the French Embassy in St. Lucia and the Grenada Olympic Committee”.

Wednesday, August 05, 2009

TEAM GRENADA FOR IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

by Michael Bascombe

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, Aug 5 – Four (4) Olympians are included in a six-member Grenada team for the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Berlin, Germany, August 15-23.

The Grenada Athletics Association (GAA) has released the names of the team members who will compete in five events.

The team also includes two athletes who have competed in the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki – Triple Jumper Randy Lewis and Neisha Bernard-Thomas in the 800m.

The other members who are all making their World Championships’ debuts are Rondell Bartholomew, Joel Redhead, Trish Bartholomew and Patricia Sylvester.

Lewis and Bernard-Thomas have been competing in Europe over the past few months and should be competition ready for Berlin. Lewis’ best effort in the triple jump for the year has been 17.17m in June while Bernard-Thomas clocked 2:02.02 at the Jamaica National Championships in Kingston in late June.

Rondell Bartholomew, who only last week copped bronze at the Pan-American Junior Track and Field Championships in Trinidad, will be hoping to better his season’s best of 45.58 seconds in the 400m when he finished runners-up to Kirani James at the Junior CARIFTA Games in St. Lucia in April.

Redhead had an outstanding outdoor season for Bethune-Cookman University in South Florida and clocked a personal best of 20.49 seconds in the 200m at the NCAA Championships in Fayetteville, Arizona in June.

Trish Bartholomew posted a season’s best of 52.01 seconds in the 400m in May bettering her Beijing Olympic Games’ performance of 52.88 seconds while Sylvester will compete in both the triple and long jump events. She had season’s best performances of 6.43m in Belem, Brazil and 13.76m in La Habana, Cuba.

Roster – 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Berlin, Germany

Men

200m: Joel Redhead

400m: Rondell Bartholomew

Triple Jump: Randy Lewis

Women

400m:

Trish Bartholomew

800m:

Neisha Bernard-Thomas

Triple & Long Jumps:

Patricia Sylvester

Coach:

Albert Joseph


Tuesday, August 04, 2009

Grenada bagged two medals at Pan-Am Jrs.

by Michael Bascombe

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, Aug 4 – Grenada returned with two medals from the Pan American Junior Track and Field Championships at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Trinidad.

World Youth 400m champion, Kirani James continued his dominating form over the one-lap event with a comfortable victory in 45.43 seconds on Friday. Rondell Bartholomew picked up the bronze in 46.61 seconds.

The other competitors – Akim Bowen, Josh Charles and Shakir Simmons – didn’t medal in the weekend championship.

Bowen was 15th in the 100m preliminaries in 10.76 seconds and didn’t qualify to the next round; Charles also failed to advance in the 200m finishing in 22.68 seconds while Simmons was 9th in the shot put with a distance of 16.75m.

The 400m relay team of James, Bartholomew, Bowen and Charles finished 5th in 3:11.91 (3 mins 11 point nine one seconds) behind winner the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada and Jamaica.

The United States easily dominated the tournament with 21 gold medals, 22 silver and 13 bronze medals, followed by Cuba (6-0-0), Mexico (3-4-2), Jamaica (3-3-8) and Canada (3-3-7).

Brazil (2-6-5), Colombia (2-1-1), Argentina (1-1-0), Grenada (1-0-1), Chile (1-0-1), Panama (1-0-0), Trinidad & Tobago (0-4-1), Puerto Rico (0-1-0), Venezuela (0-0-1), the Bahamas (0-0-1), Barbados (0-0-1) and Paraguay (0-0-1) completed the standings.