Andrew Surage is originally from St. Lucia.

CBC NEWS- New surveillance video shows four people of interest in the shooting death of a 47-year-old man last October.

Andrew Surage of Toronto, a father of five, was shot Oct. 5, 2014, outside an unlicensed after-hours club in the Weston Road and Rogers Road area.

Homicide Det.-Sgt. Graham Gibson said on Tuesday it was related to a robbery.

Surveillance video shows four people getting out of a purple Honda sedan and entering the after-hours club, called Whispers, at the time of the shooting. One of the people police would like to speak to is a female.

Police say the video shows the suspect leave the club and go back to the car to retrieve a gun. When the suspect leaves the parking lot in the vehicle, he almost hits two people walking through the parking lot and hits a parked car before exiting onto Weston Road.

Police say Surage was shot in his chest after he came to the aid of a friend who was being robbed.

Surage came to Canada from St. Lucia many years ago. Police are appealing to witnesses and the persons of interest to come forward and assist in the investigation.

A Babonneau man who made the news last year when relatives thought he was brutally murdered in Martinique, is now missing.

Thirty-four-year-old Tony Biscette, also known as ‘Nose’, who lives with his grandparents, has not been seen since Thursday, May 14, 2015, his sister Jolene Florius told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) on Tuesday.

Florius said the grandfather was in his garden when he last saw Biscette. She said they have no idea what he was last wearing.

“His grandfather saw him went to shower but didn’t see what (clothes) he left with,” she said.

In November 2014, relatives received news that Biscette died after he was beaten and then run over with a vehicle on the neighbouring French island. However, the family soon learned that Biscette was still alive.

“We found him. He spent a month in a coma and we brought him down (to St. Lucia),” Florius said.

She said her brother has not fully recovered from the incident.

“He’s got a cracked skull and is not all there. From time he got beaten his mind is not all there,” she said.

Persons who have information regarding his whereabouts are asked to contact the nearest police station.

Police have confirmed that firearms went missing at a police station last weekend, but provided no further details.

Police Press Officer Zachary Hippolyte, who initially did not have the information, has confirmed that the incident took place – after he conducted further investigations.

“There is presently an ongoing criminal investigation concerning missing firearms at the Anse La Raye Police Station,” Hippolyte told St. Lucia News Online (SNO).

“The matter is being handled by the Internal Affairs Unit of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force,” he added.

Hippolyte could not provide any further information at this time.

Several law enforcement sources contacted SNO over the weekend and reported that three occupational firearms disappeared from the Anse La Raye Police Station under the supervision of a corporal.

The homes of police officers were searched but nothing was found, the sources further alleged.

“They remain at the station and get handed over from one shift to the other,” one of the sources told SNO.

Initially, efforts to get this information verified had proven futile.

SNO contacted the Anse La Raye Police Station and was told by an officer to contact the police press office.

Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police for Crime and Intelligence, Milton Desir, also directed SNO to the press office.

However, when contacted, Press Officer Zachary Hippolyte, said he had no information at this time, and he will get back to us. Several minutes later after publication of the story, Hippolyte was able to get the information confirmed.
 

PRESS RELEASE - Thirty six year old Donovan Fontinellea.k.a “Dan” of Belle Vue, Vieux Fort passed away at the St. Jude’s Hospital on Sunday May 25, 2015 about 10:00 p.m.

Fontinelle was discovered in a drain with multiple chop wounds to his body on Wednesday May, 13, 2015 about 7:00 p.m. at Vigier, Vieux Fort.

He was then admitted at the St. Jude’s Hospital.

A post mortem has been scheduled. This is the 9th homicide for the year 2015.

Concerns have been raised by a St. Lucian living in the Diaspora, that a popular man, who is HIV positive, is “deliberately sleeping around” and action is not being taken to put a stop to it.

The man is alleged to be a bus driver in the north of the island.

In addition, one of the women whom he is alleged to have infected, is struggling to survive as she is being shunned by society.

Rohan ‘Roaks’ St. Marthe made the revelations in a video posted on his Facebook profile on Tuesday, as well as in an exclusive interview with St. Lucia News Online (SNO).

In the video St. Marthe said: “Happy Tuesday. It has been a while since I have spoken to you guys. You know something is bothering me a lot and I just don’t know what it is, but I believe after I got off the phone with this person earlier today, this has been on my mid.

“So I spoke to a young lady in St. Lucia who is HIV positive and she needs help, and I am not going to get into the details of who she is, where she is from, what’s her name, because I will not discuss that information. What I can say is that what I know she said to me, is that her boyfriend at the time gave her HIV and she tried on many occasions to reach out to the women who he has slept with to let them know that, look this guy is HIV positive, he gave it to her and that she wanted them to, you know, do something about it.

“In return they are saying that she is harassing them. She said: “Rohan I have had HIV. I know what it is.” She is stressed out, she is sad, she is not taking her medication because she just wants to die, but she has kids to live for and she needs help. She told me who the individual is, she told me all his information. She said she tried to report it to the police but they treat her like a criminal.

“This needs to stop, something needs to be done about it and I am sure that if this is the case, that I will go to the relevant authorities to ensure that this guy is not going around and spreading the virus to every innocent person.

“And that’s all I am going to say for now, but I wanted you guys to note that ladies, fellows be careful of them because there is a particular St. Lucian who is in St. Lucia, who is a very popular person, who is HIV positive and he is deliberately sleeping around. It’s sad, it is true and when the time is right Iwill shed more information on that. Have a blessed day.”

When contacted by SNO, St. Marthe, who is a well-known moderator of popular Facebook group, St. Lucians Aiming for Progress (SLAPS), said he had no choice but to go public with the information out of concern.

St. Marthe

He is particularly worried about the status of the infected female who came forward.

“I had to take it in. She is worried about her kids because her family turned their back on her, and she does not want people to think the kids are positive also, when they are not.”

‘She just said to me, ‘I dislike the treatment given by certain doctors so it’s one of the reasons I stop. I get treated like I went looking for it, by some of the doctors.’”

St. Marthe, who plans to pursue the matter relentlessly, said he has convinced the HIV positive young woman to resume taking her medication.

“She’s promise to go back on her meds after speaking with me, and my goal is to make her the face to encourage other women who are facing the same,” he said.

He added: “We need to start a national campaign around her to cause two things: government to get involved and second, to encourage women who are faced with this same issue to speak out. I’m planning to start a foundation in her name when she is ready to make her identity public and she has promised she will, very soon.”

“It’s a time for all women around the world to rally around her. Anyone who is interested in assisting can contact me rohan@rrmediaconsultants.com”

PRESS RELEASE - On Tuesday, May 26, 2015 a delegation from the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force visited the Boguis Combined School in the observance of Reading Month.

The officers read and performed skits much to the enjoyment of the students of the Boguis Combined School.

The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force also made a generous donation of EC$500.00 towards the construction of a library at the school.

The Royal Saint Lucia Police force continues to be part of such initiatives in keeping with its community policing agenda.

Tashika

For three days no one knew where 13-year-old Tashika Albert of Cacao, Babonneau was – whether she was dead or alive.

However, about one hour after an article about her disappearance appeared on St. Lucia News Online (SNO), she showed up at home.

“She actually just did, thanks for your post. It really did help,” said the teen’s cousin, Sarah Marthe, not long after SNO asked that the family notify us when the missing teen is found.

“She says somebody told her about the post,” the cousin added.

Now, relatives are demanding answers regarding her whereabouts. That information is not yet clear.

“She’s not saying, but I think they will take her down to the police tomorrow … will let you know what the outcome is tomorrow,” Sarah added.

Tashika is a student of Bocage Secondary. This was the first time she had gone missing, a relative said.

National Security Minister Victor La Corbiniere.

Several senior law enforcement sources have condemned as “lies” rumours that police officers are suspected of sending death threats to National Security Minister Victor La Corbiniere.

Reports are that members of the Special Branch have been dispatched to the minister’s house house for his protection, as part of a 24-hour security plan, after the threats were received.

However, law enforcement sources, who requested anonymity to protect their security and jobs, told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) that there is no evidence that police officers made the threat/s and such rumours are not helpful in boosting the already pale morale of police officers.

“Opportunistic lies,” said one of the sources. “It appears a group of persons are out to tear a part the police force, some being perpetrated by officers. Minister La Cobs and investigators knows that there is no evidence that police officers made the threat. In fact, no one knows who made the threats.”

Another source chipped in: “Why would you call for protection from the same police officers you accuse of threatening you?” Pure lies. The police has had enough of this beat-down by this government. I think we should all pack and go home and let the government pose as police officers.”

A senior officer described the allegations of officers being suspected as “careless”.

“Investigations are not completed and you’re disclosing who the possible suspects are? Makes no sense. Some folks had a slow news day and were looking something to boost their ego… that’s careless behaviour,” the officer said.

The sources told SNO that while no threat should be taken lightly, sources should be careful not to point fingers without solid proof.

The nature of the threats against the minister have not been disclosed, nor confirmed by official sources.

Intentionally or recklessly infecting a person with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) carries a penalty of a maximum of 10 years behind bars on Saint Lucia.

Police Press Officer Zachary Hippolyte confirmed with St. Lucia News Online (SNO) on Wednesday (May 27) that the alleged person who might be going around infecting people could be charged.

However, the man’s identity is unknown and the victim that has come forward to the media has not taken the matter to the police. The man is alleged to be a bus driver, who works in the North of the island.

According to Section 140 of the St. Lucia Criminal Code: “A person who, knowing that he or she suffers from AIDS, intentionally or recklessly infects another person with HIV, whether through sexual intercourse or any other means by which the disease may be transmitted to another person, commits an offence of aggravated sexual assault and is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for 10 years.”

This law was revised on Dec.31, 2005 and again in 2008 and is similar to what obtains in the United Kingdom.

However, proving that someone planned to intentionally give another person HIV is extremely difficult, according to experts. Allegations of this kind are extremely rare and there have been no prosecutions so far in Saint Lucia.

PRESS RELEASE - On Wednesday, May 27, 2015 a post mortem examination was conducted on the body of 36 year old, Donovan Fontinellea.k.a “Dan” of Belle Vue Vieux Fort.

The examination revealed that Fontinelle died as a result of swelling in the brain caused by excessive fluid as a result of a skull injury.

Fontinelle was discovered in a drain with multiple chop wounds to his body on Wednesday May, 13, 2015 about 7:00 p.m. at Vigier, Vieux Fort.

Two individuals are presently in custody assisting with investigations.

DEAD: Donovan Fontenelle.

Police have arrested two men in relation with the recent homicide in Vieux Fort.

The arrest comes almost four days after Donovan Fontenelle, 36, of Belle Vue, Vieux-Fort passed away at the St. Jude Hospital.

The man was discovered on Wednesday, May 13 at around 7:30 p.m. with chop wounds about his body in a banana plantation in Vigier.

He was taken to the hospital and remained there until his death.

Fontenelle sustained serious chops on his head and one of his legs.

Relatives believe the injury to his head is responsible for his death. He was in a coma for over one week.

His brother, Stephen Dornelly, told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) that the police said they have spoken with a few potential witnesses, but they are afraid to come forward.

Dornelly said he is glad that some level of justice is prevailing in the case.

* Not actual drugs.

Two Dominicans were nabbed on Wednesday afternoon with marijuana weighing 60 pounds by St. Lucia Marine Police during a high-speed chase off the coast of Canaries.

Reports are that a search was conducted on the vessel occupied by the Dominicans where the illegal substance was discovered.

The two foreign nationals have been arrested and will be charged shortly.

The Court House which the man appeared before.

SUDBURY STAR - A Saint Lucian man will spend 90 days in a Canadian prison on weekends for stabbing another man in the back.

Lennius Emmanuel, 45, will remain employed, in order to provide care as a single parent of one daughter and help support the mothers of his five other daughters.

The sentence was handed down by Ontario Court Justice Guy Mahaffy on Wednesday.

Mahaffy also issued a five-year weapons ban and ordered Emmanuel, who now lives in Toronto, to provide a genetic sample to the national DNA databank.

Lennius had pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm.

The Crown dropped a second charge, assault with a weapon.

The court heard that about 10 p.m. Dec. 14, 2013, a man whom Emmanuel knew knocked on the door of his Paris Street apartment.

When Emmanuel opened the door, he struck the man in the face, producing swelling to the right eye and lower lip.

Emmanuel then pulled out a knife and stabbed the man in the lower back.

Defence lawyer William Beach said the man had sexually assaulted Emmanuel’s girlfriend on an earlier date and had grabbed Emmanuel’s young daughter that day.

Emmanuel had a prior criminal record, but it was dated.

Beach noted Emmanuel, who is originally from St. Lucia, but is now a landed immigrant, is providing care to one of his six daughters as the mother was deported to Grenada last year.

Emmanuel will serve his intermittent sentence in the Toronto area.

Sahab Jamshidi.

A date was set today for a Canadian man to face trial for the death of a four-year-old St. Lucian boy.

Sahab Jamshidi is committed to stand trial for the offence of manslaughter on November 23, 2015.

However, both the defendant and plaintiff will attend a conference on October 19, 2015, before the commissioning of the trial.

The Canadian doctor however remains on bail.

Jamshidi’s lawyer Alberton Richelieu told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) that master has suggested that the submission presented by the defense should be left for the trial.

“All is not lost there because it does not prevent me to make a no-case submission at the trial. In fact it gives me sufficient ammunition to make a no-case submission at the trial and succeed,” he explained.

Richelieu told SNO that he will have the opportunity to cross examine the witnesses, which will make the situation far easier, because there is low “standard of proof.”

He continued, “In other words at this point in time the prosecution can provide the most minimum amount of evidence and that can be sufficient to have the person committed to trial.”

The attorney said if the court is satisfied that the defendant has been complying with all his bail conditions, there is a possibility that a necessary application can be made to allow him to travel.

Richelieu said he plans to make an application on behalf of his client.

Jamshidi recently graduated from medical school and was about to secure his Canadian citizenship.

The child’s mother, Joella Roserie, also spoke with SNO and said that she misses her son a lot and cannot stop crying. She said while she was not present when her son died, she still believes based on the evidence put forward in the court that the doctor has some responsibility for her son’s death.

The boy’s family has accused Jamshidi of taking Terrell kitesurfing without their permission and losing him in the process, while the former medical student said he was kitesurfing when he saw the boy drowning and tried to rescue him.

The incident occurred on Bois Shadon Beach in Vieux Fort on Independence Day. The boy was on the beach with family during a church outing.

PRESS RELEASE - On Friday, May 29, 2015 at about 2:05 a.m. officers attached to the Gros Islet Police Station responded to reports of a shooting incident in which three individuals sustained gunshot wounds on Dauphin Street, Gros Islet.

Seventeen-year-old Ricky Maynard a.k.a “Bug” of Gros Islet sustained a gunshot wound to the left shoulder and is listed as being in critical condition at the Victoria Hospital.

Twenty-seven-year-old Lyle Auguste of Gros-Islet sustained a gunshot wound to the right side of his waist and 19-year-old Javene Cools a.k.a “Angus” of Massade, Gros Islet sustained a gunshot wound to his left thigh. Both are listed as being in stable condition at the Victoria Hospital.

Two suspects sustained gunshot wounds when confronted by the police. One suspect sustained a gunshot wound to his left calf and is listed as being in stable condition at the Victoria Hospital. The other suspect sustained a gunshot wound to his stomach and is listed as being in critical condition at the Victoria Hospital.

The police also discovered one .38 revolver on the scene.

Investigations are continuing into the matter.

Members of the opposition United Workers Party (UWP) met with a group of about 20 students involved in the Lambirds Academy affair on Thursday, at the Pastoral Centre at Marisule.

Opposition Leader Dr Gale Rigobert said that Thursday’s visit was to check on the students condition, as a previous visit was made to that centre a couple of weeks ago.

She was joined by UWP Leader Allen Chastanet, Castries South East MP Guy Joseph and opposition Senator Mary Isaac who all rose concerns about the welfare of the students.

Reports are that the health of two female students who are pregnant has deteriorated. One of them t has been taken to the hospital.

Meanwhile, two male students have issues with their kidneys and appendicitis. The UWP is said to be arranging for the students to receive medical attention.

Dr Rigobert has expressed concerns for the implications of the administration of justice as a result of reports that the students will be repatriated.

She is also concerned those to date the students have not been provided with legal advice and remains in the dark.

Two Bulgarian men who were arrested by local police in connection with an alleged ATM scam have been released.

This was confirmed with the Police Public Relations Officer Zachary Hippolyte, who said that the men have also been repatriated.

A date for the men’s release was not provided.

The men were arrested in Soufriere earlier this month and were said to be staying in Saint Lucia legally.

They were found with electronic gift cards in their possession, which were used to access peoples savings at local banks. They were also carrying EC$4000 with them.

Police were trying to obtain the services of a translator, who will read the charges to the men. It is unclear whether the police were able to acquire the services of a translator.

It is unclear which banks were targeted by the foreign nationals.

The popular Gros-Islet street lime will still go on as usual tonight, despite rumors that it might have been cancelled, due to this morning’s shooting between police and a few gunmen in the area.

However, the local City Council has made arrangements with the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) to increase police presence at the event, which is usually attended by many tourists.

At about 2:05 a.m. officers attached to the Gros Islet Police Station responded to reports of a shooting incident in which three individuals sustained gunshot wounds on Dauphin Street, Gros Islet.

Two suspects sustained gunshot wounds when confronted by the police. One suspect sustained a gunshot wound to his left calf and is listed as being in stable condition at the Victoria Hospital.

The other suspect sustained a gunshot wound to his stomach and is listed as being in critical condition at the Victoria Hospital.

Action from Exercise Tradewinds 2014.

PRESS RELEASE – Beginning Sunday, May 31, military and security forces from Caribbean nations will join the United States, Canada, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mexico, and the United Kingdom for maritime security and disaster response training at Camp Springfield in St. Kitts as part of Exercise Tradewinds 2015.

This year’s Exercise Tradewinds will be conducted in three phases: Phase I will include maritime and land operations, and it will take place in St. Kitts and Nevis through June 9; Phase II will include maritime and land operations, including U.S. Marines in Belize June 15-24; Phase III, a Key Leader Seminar, will be conducted July 14-16 in Miami for key stakeholders and decision makers from the region.

Exercise Tradewinds supports the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), a U.S. Department of State regional security partnership. Phase I and II are designed to conduct joint, interagency capacity building exercises for participating nations. Those exercises focus on increasing regional cooperation in complex, multinational security operations, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response operations.

“Tradewinds provides the opportunity to develop and strengthen our partnerships and allows all the participants to collaborate together to ensure regional security,” said General John F. Kelly, Commander of U.S. Southern Command, adding, “Like the other countries participating in Tradewinds, we value this collaboration as well as the awareness and teamwork it cultivates.”

Military and police personnel from 13 CARICOM member states (Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago) will join military personnel from the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the Dominican Republic for Phase I of Exercise Tradewinds 2015.

Participating regional organizations include the Regional Security System (RSS), Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Caribbean Disaster Response Unit (CRDU), CARICOM (IMPACS), and the Regional Intelligence Fusion Center (RIFC).

ANNOUNCEMENT - An initiative will be undertaken by the Dennery North Constituency Council whereby discussions will be held with the public on parenting.

As a result of this, Council in collaboration with the Dennery and Richfond Police Station and the Planned Parenthood Association has planned a series of community visits to host these discussions.

The discussions are scheduled for the month of June to July, 2015 at various venues in Dennery North. It is expected to commence at 6:00 p.m. on respective days.

Find below a list of the communities and venues: