ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Two St. Lucian nationals are due to appear in court this week in connection with the death of Jones Brankar, who was stabbed to death earlier this month. Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police, Jeffrey James, said that Mikhail Carlos Leo has been charged with the murder of Brankar that took place on September 14, near the Roseau Market. He said that another St. Lucan, Christian Mariel has been charged with being an accessory after the fact and that both men are due to appear in court this week on the charges. Police say they are also investigating the discovery of a child’s corpse on the seashore at Penville, on the north coast of the island. The police said that they are soliciting the assistance of the public in identifying the body that was discovered on September 22. Media reports here say that preliminary investigations suggest that the child may have been a passenger on a capsized vessel carrying Haitians, which was en route to the neighbouring French islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe. Meanwhile, a 15-year-old boy remains in custody and charged with attempted murder of a man on September 13. In the statement Monday, the police said that the youth has since appeared at the Roseau Magistrate’s  Court and remanded into custody.

A new initiative is being implemented by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), to teach Barbadians to create their own food security. It’s called backyard farming and the idea is to involve everyone. The programme started yesterday with people in the Christ Church East Constituency. National Programme Technical Officer Damien Hinds says every home has a space to plant and grow some form of food. He believes teaching this to Barbadians will help them save some money. Mr. Hinds says the idea is to attract 15 to 20 people in each constituency. The sessions are expected to last over four days with them being 3 hours a day. He gave some insight into what kinds of crop production they will be teaching in the programme.

Barbados Royals remain in third place, as the battle for playoff positions intensifies in the Republic Bank CPL. Although the Trinbago Knight Riders defeated the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots last night to also move to eight points, the Royals have the superior net run rate. Playing at the Brian Lara Stadium, the hosts sent the Patriots into bat, and they made an impressive 193 for 4. Captain Andre Fletcher topscored with 93 that included 4-fours and 6-sixes, while Kyle Mayers added 60 with 8-fours and 3-sixes. In reply, TKR was even more impressive with 197 for 3 off 18.3 to win by seven wickets. Player of the Match Nicholas Pooran was unbeaten on 93 with 6-fours and 7-sixes while Jason Roy added 64. The updated points standings have St. Lucia Kings first on 12 points. Guyana Amazon Warriors, Royals, and TKR have eight points each, but Warriors have the superior net run rate, followed by Royals, then TKR. Today’s a rest day, the battle for seedings in the playoffs resumes tomorrow, with TKR taking on the Kings at the Brian Lara Stadium.