On April 11, authorities apprehended and formally charged Junior Morgan, a 70-year-old retired electrician from Diamond, with the offense of wounding. According to a press release from the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) issued on April 16, it was alleged that Morgan unlawfully and maliciously injured a 14-year-old student from Brighton by striking him on his right forearm with a piece of board. The incident occurred in Brighton on April 2, 2024, at noon.

Morgan subsequently appeared before the Calliaqua Magistrate Court, where he entered a plea of guilty. As a result, he was fined $1300.00 Eastern Caribbean dollars, with the alternative of serving one year in prison if unable to pay the fine.

Residents in St. Vincent and the Grenadines are grappling with water shortages caused by drought conditions, leading to water rationing in certain areas. The Central Water and Sewerage Authority (CWSA) has implemented increased rationing for select communities on the Montreal Water Supply System, effective April 9 until conditions improve.

The affected areas include Richland Park, Hopewell, Simon, Mespo, Glenside, Freeland, Caruth, Montaque, Mt Pleasant, Carierre, Collins, Evesham, La Croix, Ginger Village, Belmont, Pomsette, Chile, Top Victoria Village, Akers, Calder Ridge, South Wood, Glamorgan, Enhams,Top Carapan and Diamond Estate follows a separate schedule.

The CWSA has issued a Code Orange alert, urging residents to conserve water and minimize non-essential usage. They advise that disruptions may occur outside of scheduled times due to fluctuating demand and reduced river flow.

Source: Loop News

St. Vincent and the Grenadines will next week be represented at a Cyber Security workshop as participating states of the OECS continue to build capacity in Cyber Security, a critical component in the digital transformation process taking place in the region.

Project Coordinator of the SVG Digital Transformation Project, Winston George, Caswallon Duncan, Assistant Director, Network Systems and Service Support, Information Technology Services Division, Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning, and Information Technology, Sgt. Syon Shoy of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) and Communication Officer at the NIS, Stephen Dantes are slated to represent this country at the Computer Incident Response Team (CIRT) workshop to be held in St. Lucia from April 15th to 17th, 2024.

The main objective of the workshop is to develop a Computer Incident Response Team establishment plan for the use of Organization of Eastern Caribbean States’ members, specifically Grenada, Dominica, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the countries that are currently involved in the Caribbean Digital Transformation Project (CARDTP).

The Plan will reflect the common needs, requirements, and objectives of the beneficiary countries and will detail the services a national CIRT in the region should provide, its governance and organizational structure, its constituency, and necessary resources.

The onsite mission will allow organisers to hold a series of interactions and discussions with relevant stakeholders to assess the level of readiness for creating a national CIRT. Other objectives of the onsite visit are:

· To present the main features of the national CIRT based on international good practise.

· To discuss the existing situation (existing needs, gaps, and possible solutions).

The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is currently working towards the digital transformation of the public sector through the Caribbean Digital Transformation Project (CARDTP). The project is being funded by the World Bank to the tune of US$30,000,000.00 and is expected to significantly impact the private sector while making it easier for citizens to safely access government services online on a 24-hour basis.

Charges have been filed in the Park Hill incident by the Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF), marking a significant breakthrough in the investigation. Aldon Thomas, a Park Hill resident, has been arrested and charged with the murders of Brenton Barker and Kelvert Smart.

The alleged offenses occurred between April 6 and April 9, 2024, within the second magisterial district of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Thomas is accused of unlawfully causing the deaths of Mr. Barker and Mr. Smart, as per Chapter 171, Section 159, subsection 1 of the laws of SVG, 2009. He is expected to appear before the Serious Offences Court today to face these charges, while a post-mortem examination on the deceased bodies is scheduled for today, April 11, 2024, to determine the cause of death.

The RSVGPF is committed to a thorough investigation and urges anyone with information to come forward via Police Emergency at 999/911 or contact the Criminal Investigations Department, Georgetown Police Station, or Colonarie Police Station. All information will be treated confidentially, and updates will be provided as the case unfolds.

PRESS RELEASE

In a strategic operation conducted on 9th April 2023, the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) of the Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) executed a search which resulted in the seizure of illegal weaponry and ammunition at the Campden Park Port. This operation highlights the proactive and dedicated efforts of our specialized units in combating illegal arms trafficking.

The seized items include:

One (1) .38 Special Revolver

A comprehensive assortment of ammunition totaling 2,538 rounds, covering calibers such as

40mm, 9mm, .380, FN 5.7 x 28mm, and .22. ammunition.

Additionally, an extended magazine and a quantity of fireworks were also seized.

This successful operation reflects the RSVGPF’s strong and unwavering commitment to combating illegal ams trafficking and ensuring the safety and security of our nation. We remain dedicated to our mission of preventing, disrupting, and dismantling illegal activities, reinforcing our resolve to protect and serve our nation.

The Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force also wishes to remind

the public of the ongoing Gun Amnesty, which commenced on March 1st 2024 and will conclude on May 31st 2024.

During this period, individuals are encouraged to surrender any illegal firearms and ammunition they may possess without facing prosecution, no questions asked.

We also encourage the public to continue providing valuable information that assists in our collective security efforts.