标签： Saint Lucia

Minneapolis is grappling with profound tensions following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by federal agents on Saturday, marking the second such incident involving immigration enforcement personnel this month. The event has triggered a major clash between federal authorities and local leadership, with starkly contradictory narratives emerging about the circumstances.

Pretti, a US citizen and intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, was killed during what officials described as a targeted operation in the Whittier neighborhood. The confrontation occurred at approximately 9:05 a.m. near the intersection of Nicollet Avenue and 26th Street, though accounts of what transpired diverge dramatically.

According to federal authorities, Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino stated that Pretti approached agents brandishing a 9mm handgun and exhibited violent resistance during attempts to disarm him. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the agents’ actions, characterizing their response as appropriate to an assault situation and consistent with their training protocols.

Contradicting this official version, multiple eyewitness videos and testimonies present a different sequence of events. Footage indicates Pretti was filming agents with his phone while attempting to direct traffic near the operation area. Witness accounts suggest he intervened to assist a woman who had been shoved to the ground by an agent. Video evidence shows Pretti being pepper-sprayed and physically subdued by at least six agents while positioned between the woman and law enforcement. Critical footage captures an officer removing a handgun from Pretti’s waistband moments before another agent discharged their weapon. Audible gunshots are heard while Pretti remained pinned to the ground.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara expressed significant skepticism toward the federal account, noting Pretti was a lawful firearm owner with a permit to carry and no criminal history beyond parking violations. Chief O’Hara further revealed that federal agencies have withheld specific incident details from local police. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz denounced the federal narrative as containing falsehoods and demanded an independent investigation by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Judicial authorities have intervened with a temporary restraining order prohibiting federal agencies from destroying or altering evidence related to the shooting.

Saint Lucia is confronting a severe road safety crisis in early 2026, prompting Prime Minister Philip J Pierre to issue an urgent call for action against reckless driving behaviors that have turned the nation’s roads into “death traps.” With over ten major accidents recorded within the first 26 days of the year—including four fatal collisions—the Prime Minister has directed law enforcement to implement stringent measures against traffic violators.

The human toll of this crisis was underscored by the recent death of businessman Leslie Clarke, franchise owner of Domino’s Pizza Saint Lucia, who became the latest road fatality statistic. Prime Minister Pierre, addressing journalists at a January 26 pre-Cabinet briefing, identified excessive speed as the predominant factor in these tragedies, while acknowledging that road infrastructure requires improvements.

“If we drive within the speed limit, people will not die. There may be accidents, but people will not die. People die because of the speed we drive at,” Pierre stated emphatically. He referenced several heartbreaking incidents, including a crash involving a baby on Corinth road, to illustrate the devastating consequences of irresponsible driving.

The Prime Minister dismissed suggestions to raise the legal driving age, asserting that responsibility transcends chronological age. “Young or old must exercise responsibility,” he noted. “You don’t need to be a certain age to be responsible for your actions.”

Pierre warned that persistent reckless driving could trigger increased insurance premiums across the board, potentially rendering some motorists uninsurable and affecting even cautious drivers. While acknowledging that reckless drivers constitute a minority, he emphasized their actions produce disproportionately devastating outcomes.

The government’s approach will prioritize public appeals for responsibility followed by stricter enforcement if voluntary compliance proves insufficient. Prime Minister Pierre has called upon media organizations to collaborate in highlighting dangerous driving practices as part of a comprehensive road safety campaign.

Four primary schools and two secondary institutions have secured their places in the upcoming finals of St. Lucia’s annual Sagicor Schools’ Choir Competition following rigorous auditions held from January 12-16. The primary division finalists include Augier Combined, Babonneau Primary, Canon Laurie Anglican Primary—the defending champions from last year’s competition—and Ave Maria Primary. In the secondary category, Sir Ira Simmons Secondary and Jon Odlum School of Arts, Media and Design will compete for top honors.

Event organizer Jason ‘Bachelor’ Joseph, who transformed the traditional music festival into a competitive choir format four years ago, reported mixed developments in this year’s proceedings. While the number of participating schools declined from 16 to 12, Joseph observed significant qualitative improvements in musical arrangements and vocal techniques. ‘Teachers are arranging well now, the students are singing in parts compared to a lot of unison singing before,’ Joseph told St. Lucia Times, acknowledging the competition’s positive impact on choral education standards.

However, Joseph identified persistent challenges, particularly regarding adherence to musical scores. ‘Some schools are not paying enough attention to the test piece. There is a score that goes with it, and they don’t study the music sheet,’ he noted, indicating room for growth in musical literacy.

The competition format has adapted to this year’s participation patterns, with four primary schools and two secondary schools set to perform at the National Cultural Centre on February 4—a deviation from the traditional three-school-per-category structure due to one secondary school’s failure to qualify.

Joseph attributed the overall participation decline to systemic challenges facing school music programs across the island. Transportation limitations and scheduling conflicts have particularly affected choir rehearsals, as larger groups struggle with after-school commitments that individual instrumentalists can more easily navigate. ‘To work with the larger groups, the teachers have been unable to rehearse after school,’ Joseph explained.

In response to these challenges, Joseph is considering a return to the music festival format for future January events, which would accommodate both solo and group performances while providing broader representation of school music programs. This potential shift remains contingent on sponsor support, with Sagicor continuing as primary sponsor alongside the Nobel Laureate Festival Committee and the Ministry of Education.

The Caribbean nation of Saint Lucia is grappling with the sudden loss of prominent entrepreneur and community benefactor Leslie Clarke, who passed away following a traffic collision on January 25th. The tragic incident occurred on the John Compton Highway between the Choc and Sunny Acres roundabouts, where Clarke, aged in his early eighties, was operating one of the vehicles involved in the accident.

As the proprietor of Saint Lucia’s Domino’s Pizza franchise, Clarke had significantly expanded the business footprint across the island, most recently extending services to the Choiseul community in September 2025. During the opening ceremony, he had enthusiastically committed to fostering stronger ties with southern residents, demonstrating his enduring dedication to regional development.

Beyond his commercial achievements, Clarke maintained an extraordinary legacy of philanthropic engagement, particularly in youth sports development. His support encompassed boxing, swimming, and lifesaving programs, with foundational roles in establishing both the Saint Lucia Lifesaving Association and the Saint Lucia Swimming Association during the 1980s.

Clarke’s distinguished public service included leadership tenures as both General Manager and later Chairman of the National Development Corporation (now rebranded as Invest Saint Lucia) during the early 1990s. His professional trajectory reflected a deep commitment to national economic advancement.

An accomplished cricketer in his youth, Clarke remained actively engaged in sports throughout his life, maintaining regular swimming routines until his final days. He leaves behind a legacy of community service and business acumen, survived by his four children and extended family members. Local authorities continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision.