Caribbean Times 68th Issue - Wednesday 4th January 2016

Wednesday 4th January 2017 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 7
Protest in Bermuda over refusal by
authorities to renew pastor’s work permit
HAMILTON, Bermuda
– On a day when the new
school term opens and regular
business resumes after
the New Year holiday, Bermuda
is likely to be without
several essential services,
including transportation.
Bus operators advised
last evening that their vehicles
would be off the road
from 8 a.m. as they attend
a meeting called by the
Bermuda Industrial Union
(BIU) for its members. And
according to the Royal Gazette
newspaper, the move
was also likely to disrupt
ferry services and garbage
collection.
Transport Minister Michael
Eahy has hit at the operators,
labeling their action
“irresponsible.”
“Disruption of public
transportation services is totally
irresponsible, especially
since many schools open
on the very day of the meeting
being called. The timing
is obviously designed
to cause maximum disruption,”
he is quoted as telling
the newspaper. “Those
calling for such disruption
should be ashamed of themselves.”
The BIU is peeved at the
Government’s refusal to renew
the work permit of the
African Methodist Episcopal
Church Reverend Nicholas
Tweed.
Ahead of the talks, BIU
President Chris Furbert described
the decision “as a
dark day in Bermuda’s history”,
insisting that while
Tweed was being “seen as a
threat” even though he had
family ties in Bermuda.
The Government’s decision
has also come under
fire from the members of
Tweed’s church who issued
a statement saying the decision
was an “injustice” and
an “attack on the faith community”.
They were also
scheduled to hold a meeting
this afternoon.
However, there were no
signs that the Government
would change its position
on the work permit, which
Home Affairs Minister Patricia
Gordon-Pamplin explained
was denied because
the pastor’s application was
incomplete.
Murders in Jamaica reach double
figures just days into new year
At the centre of the dispute, African Methodist Episcopal Church
Reverend Nicholas Tweed.
KINGSTON, Jamaica – 2017 is only
three days old, but already there have been
11 murders recorded in Jamaica.
And Police Commissioner Dr Carl Williams
– who will go on pre-retirement leave
in just three days – is scheduled to meet this
morning with the heads of the country’s various
police divisions.
The deaths were mostly the result of
shootings, but they also included stabbings
and at least one chopping incident, according
to head of the Jamaica Constabulary
Force’s Corporate Communication Unit Superintendent
Stephanie Lindsay.
“We will re-deploy strategically and
maintain our presence in the areas that we
know we need to cover,” she said, as she
sought to reassure Jamaicans that police will
get on top of the crime situation.
There were 1,350 people murdered in Jamaica
last year – a 12 per cent increase over
2015. (Caribbean360)
Yesterday, Acting Home
Affairs Minister Cole Simmons
in a statement underscored
that Tweed’s application
was not unfairly
handled.
“All that was asked of
the employer and applicant
was to follow the policy
that applies to everyone
else seeking work permit
approval: Advertise the job
and fill out the application
on time, accurately and
completely. People fully understand,
for example, that
if they don’t fill out a passport
application accurately
and completely, it will be
rejected. The same goes for
a business licence, a driver’s
licence or tax returns or
any other paperwork related
to government services,” he
said. (Caribbean360)