PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – A High Court judge has sentenced a 79-year-old man, who is  suffering from stage four esophageal cancer to five years in jail after he was convicted of the sexual penetration of a 14-year-old girl in August last year. Justice Lisa Ramsumair-Hinds, in sentencing Lloyd John Williams, said “the just desert is for him to serve the entirety of the term I have calculated unless death visits upon him soon”. Blair has also been ordered to register as a sex offender. Justice Ramsumair-Hinds began with a sentence of 17 years and after several discounts for his guilty plea and other mitigating factors, the convicted man was left with a total of  seven years and two months to serve. But the judge brought it in line with a maximum sentence indication (MSI),  sentencing him to five years. The judge said that a non-custodial sentence would not suffice for his “predatorial conduct,” nor would it be expedient to release him on probation. “He has received substantial benefit from the court because of his circumstances,” she said, adding “the court’s duties in sentencing are clear”. The court heard that after he was arrested in August 2023, Williams confessed to the police and in indictment was filed on April 18. The judge rebuked him for attempting to suggest his victim manipulated the situation, which led to the offence, adding “the disturbing reality is he was diseased with cancer and old at the time he committed the offence.” “Neither the disease nor his age discouraged this crime,” the judge said, noting that Williams  is no longer receiving treatment as “there is nothing they can do for him at this stage”. Justice Ramsumair-Hinds said Williams should  be registered as a sex offender, report to the police station seven days after he is discharged from prison for registration on the National Sex Offender Register. He is also to report once every six months for five years with the judge further ordering the Commissioner of Police to publish Williams’ name and information on the Public Sex Offender Registry within 14 days of her order. “May God have mercy on you,” the judge told  Williams.

Excessive rainfall today, Wednesday, October 2, 2024, could generate flooding across low-lying areas in the vicinity of central and southwestern districts. Therefore, the Barbados Meteorological Services has issued a Flash-Flood Watch. These conditions are predicted to peak this afternoon with some improvement tonight. Light winds, strong daytime heating and available moisture will generate localized activity across some districts of Barbados. Mostly cloudy with breaks of sunshine, the occasional scattered moderate to heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms are forecast with rainfall accumulation of 20 to 40 mm. Take note of the following possible impacts:-There is the medium possibility of significant flooding which may result in soil erosion on bared or scarred land surfaces -Water settlements on roads and fields which may lead to commuting delays and possible isolated diversions -Increases in water levels of existing water bodies. The public should follow recommendations from the Department of Emergency Management and monitor BMS, DEM and GIS websites and their respective social media pages along with the local media networks for further updates. A Flash-Flood Watch is issued when heavy or excessive rainfall in a short period of time (generally less than 6 hours) could result in flash flooding within the watch area. It does not mean that flooding will occur, but it is possible. This alert was issued at 10:00 a.m. today and will be terminated at 6:00 p.m. or sooner if conditions warrant.

“I’m a mother, a grandmother, a scientist and a woman of faith, and from today, by the will of the Mexican people, the president.” Those were the words of Claudia Sheinbaum, delivering a speech Tuesday after she was sworn in as the first female president of Mexico. Sheinbaum made promises to limit prices for gasoline and food, expand cash hand-out programs for women and children, support business investment, and crack down on the drug cartels that have strengthened their hold over much of the country.