Dominica last week

Businessman charged with manslaughter

The death of a 31-year-old Roseau woman which was initially being investigated by the police as possible electrocution has resulted in the arrest of a popular deejay in Dominica for manslaughter.

Albert "DeeJay Alfie" Raffoul appeared before the Roseau Magistrate court on August 11, 2022, where the charge was read to him.

According to information obtained from Nature Isle News, the charge which was read to the accused in court states, that on August 8, 2022, at Gommier Stewart Estate, Raffoul did unlawfully kill Louisa Dorothy Prince.

An initial report from Acting Inspector Fixton Henderson stated that Prince was found at about 6:30 p.m. on August 8, unresponsive in a greenhouse at the back of the house where she resided in Beau Bois.

"She had apparent burns to her abdominal region and her knees; she appeared to have been electrocuted," he explained.

At the court hearing, Raffoul was not required to enter a plea since the matter is an indictable offence and is expected to be heard at the High court before a Judge and jury.

The police also charged Raffoul with the cultivation of 41 plants of cannabis at Gommier Stewart Estate on August 8, 2022, to which he pleaded not guilty.

On the charge of manslaughter, Raffoul was granted bail in the sum of $62,500.00 and $20,000.00 for the offence of the cultivation of cannabis.

He is expected to return to court on November 25, 2022, for the trial of the drug-related offence while the Preliminary Inquiry on the manslaughter charge is set for December 5, 2022.

Road accident claims life of 20-year-old

Twenty-year-old Sherissa Bougounou of Morne Prosper is the latest ill-fated victim to lose her life as a result of a traffic collision.

According to reports from Acting Inspector Fixton Henderson, on Wednesday, August 10, 2022, at about 11:30 pm 36-year-old- male, Emanie Prentice of Massacre was riding motorcycle registration number PZ940 in a northerly direction along the E.O. Leblanc Highway under the Canefield cliff and Bougounou at the time was the pillion rider when the motorcycle collided with the sea wall on the western side of the highway.

He said both riders appeared to have been catapulted off the motorcycle over the wall.

"The rider, who already had an amputated left leg prior to the collision, was found alive and responsive on the rocks of the seashore with multiple fractures including an open fracture to his right ankle," Henderson revealed.

He continued, "The pillion rider was found unresponsive with multiple injuries, including an opened wound to her forehead and a crushed right leg. She appeared to be dead."

The Inspector said they were both transported to the emergency department of the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital (DCFH) where Bougounou was examined and pronounced dead by a medical doctor.

Henderson further reported that her body is being kept at a funeral home awaiting an autopsy, while Prentice was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Investigations into the fatal collision continue.

Electricity bills reducing

As of this month, Billing Supervisor of the Dominica Electricity Company (DOMLEC), Mrs. Solange Eustache- Aaron is assuring customers that they will see a saving on their electricity bill.

According to the representative of the electricity company, the reduction in electricity bills across the island has already become more evident as the government has removed the value-added tax (VAT) on fuel surcharge.

Providing a review of the month thus far, Aaron highlighted that charges for the customer have already begun to decrease from over 70 cents per KWh in July to 66. 87 cents for August.

Additionally, she said that the threshold for VAT-free electricity has increased from 100 units to 150, which she pointed out was a further testament to a significant decrease. Three million Massacre sports complex officially opened

Parliamentary Representative for the Mahaut Constituency Rayburn Blackmore believes that the recently commissioned Massacre indoor sports are a "manifestation of the deep commitment by your government to invest in communities or mobilize its people for a higher purpose and higher calling in life."

Speaking during the official opening of the over 3.7 million dollar building which is expected to accommodate not only basketball games but volleyball and netball as well, the Minister said Government intends to upgrade, renovate and better equip all sporting infrastructure in the constituency.

The fully enclosed sports facility comprises two changing rooms to accommodate two teams, each with washrooms and showers and also public washrooms for male and female patrons. According to Sports Minister, Roselyn Paul, to enhance user comfort, the facility is fitted with industrial ceiling fans and heat extractors.

"In keeping with modern day standards where such facilities are made multi-use we have ensured that the sitting is movable and we have placed movable aluminum seats, five bleachers with a sitting capacity of a little over 500," Paul stated. "A state-of-the-art electronic scoreboard and clock [are] also in place and there is also a box office at the concession area."

Another Dominican earns a PhD

Dr. Joffrey Lionel Leevy, son of former principals of the Dominica Grammar School and Convent High School Alfred and Dorothy Leevy, is yet another Dominican national who has earned a Ph.D. in Computer Science at Florida Atlantic University (FAU).

Dr. Leevy successfully defended his dissertation in May 2022 entitled "Machine Learning Algorithms for Predicting Botnet Attacks in the Internet of Things (IoT) Networks".

Dr. Leevy, a former student of the Convent Preparatory School and Saint Mary's Academy attributes his success to hard work, remaining focused, caring teachers and mentors over the years, and tremendous support from family.

Before obtaining his Ph.D., Dr. Leevy received his Bachelor of Science Degree (BSc) in Civil Engineering from the University of the West Indies – St Augustine Campus in Trinidad, a Master's Degree in Business Administration (MBA) at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, and a Master of Science Degree (MSc) in Management Information Systems from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

He presently resides in South Florida with his wife Caryl and son Jaden and is currently conducting Research in Machine Learning at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in Boca Raton, Florida.