WILLEMSTAD – The recent appointment of Joël Felida as President of the Audit Chamber of Curaçao has sparked significant controversy Investigative news outlet Follow The Money (FTM) reports that Felida previously worked for trust firms linked to illegal online casinos targeting gamblers across Europe.  has been appointed for a five-year term to oversee the "legitimacy Felida worked for Curaçao-based trust firms Allyant and eMoore both of which have been associated with unlicensed online gambling platforms.  Links to Illegal Gambling Operations  These casinos were allegedly operated by Delasport a software provider also active in the regulated Dutch gambling market through OneCasino the Bulgarian-Israeli owners of Delasport used these illegal platforms to target gamblers in Spain generating millions in unregulated revenue.  Felida was reportedly involved in managing payment systems and handling customer complaints FTM further revealed that he forwarded warnings from Serbian and Czech authorities about investigations into these gambling operations directly to Delasport.  Curaçao’s Troubled Gambling Sector  Curaçao has long faced criticism for its role as a global hub for illegal online gambling Trust firms like eMoore facilitate these operations by registering companies through shell entities complicating efforts by authorities to trace ownership.  Felida’s alleged involvement with firms such as Bellona N.V eMoore ended its collaboration with Bellona N.V in late 2024 due to insufficient cooperation during an internal investigation following the implementation of Curaçao’s National Ordinance on Gambling (LOK).  eMoore has previously been embroiled in scandals an illegal online casino accused of fraud and money laundering Finance Minister Javier Silvania directed authorities to launch investigations into these practices.  Questions Over Felida’s Appointment  Felida’s selection as President of the Audit Chamber has raised eyebrows with two others reportedly having better qualifications the Curaçao Parliament chose Felida who expressed gratitude for the opportunity and a commitment to promoting transparency and good governance.  The Audit Chamber has not responded to questions about Felida’s appointment or his alleged ties to illegal gambling enterprises the Parks and Nature division will close the main parking lot at Felida Community Park The overflow parking lot along Northwest 122nd Street will remain open The main parking lot will be reopened on April 22 Park users are reminded to stay clear of equipment and crews performing this work This 15.13-acre park was developed in 2003 It features two full-size soccer fields and one mini-mod soccer field that are used by the Salmon Creek Soccer Club Parks and Lands added a new 35 stall parking lot and a new inclusive play area The Children’s Celebration Garden Play Area and parking lot expansion projects have been competed however both the play and parking areas are available for use Felida Community Park master plan (PDF) The Felida picnic shelter can be reserved for a $75 fee Felida picnic shelter (PDF) The picnic shelter can be reserved up to 334 days in advance for events taking place April 1 through October 31 The shelter must be reserved at least seven days in advance first-served basis. All shelters are available on a first-come 中国人 English 한국어 Pусский Español Українська Tiếng Việt Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "ab80d1958b3c07aa9811ff176c7a6c64" );document.getElementById("b3d77ac9ec").setAttribute( "id" Subscribe and receive notifications of new posts WILLEMSTAD – The General Audit Chamber of Curaçao has responded to a publication by the Dutch media outlet Follow the Money which raised concerns about Chairman Joël Felida's professional background The report claimed that Felida had spent much of his career working in the controversial gambling sector on the island The Audit Chamber has denied these allegations and stated that it was unaware of any complaints against Felida at the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (CBCS).  the Audit Chamber clarified that Felida had worked in the trust sector for a relatively short period The statement further emphasized that no complaints or enforcement actions had been taken against Felida by the CBCS related to his work.  The Audit Chamber also pointed out that an independent background check was part of Felida's appointment process and the results of this investigation did not present any obstacles to his appointment.  "The General Audit Chamber (ARC) emphasizes that Felida's appointment was processed without issue and the background check did not hinder the decision to proceed with his appointment," the statement concluded.  The response comes amid ongoing scrutiny over the backgrounds of key officials in Curaçao’s public institutions (KATU) — The Clark County Sheriff's Office is asking for your help to identify a burglary suspect accused of hitting multiple homes The suspect was caught on a doorbell camera in at least one of the burglaries Deputies say he knocks on the door with a paper in hand likely pretending to be selling some type of service Deputies believe he may be traveling in a white or silver sedan A woman around the same age could be with him as well He is suspected of home burglaries in Camas you can call the Clark County Sheriff's Office at 800-833-6388 This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Aristos is a Newsweek science and health reporter with the London He is particularly focused on archaeology and paleontology although he has covered a wide variety of topics ranging from astronomy and mental health Aristos joined Newsweek in 2018 from IBTimes UK and had previously worked at The World Weekly He is a graduate of the University of Nottingham and City University You can get in touch with Aristos by emailing a.georgiou@newsweek.com. Languages: English either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content A young lioness that was found malnourished roaming the streets of a war-torn village in Ukraine has been evacuated from the country arrived at her forever home—the FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary in the Netherlands which is operated by the international animal welfare organization FOUR PAWS Vasylyna was living in a temporary home near Kyiv after being captured in the streets of Vysoke village she was underweight and in poor health condition as a result of her previous keeping experience The nearly 2-year-old lioness had previously escaped from a private owner who was keeping her illegally in the village the private keeping of wild animals for "entertainment and leisure purposes" is against the law the lioness was captured by Wild Animal Rescue (WAR) and transferred to a temporary home in Chubynske near Kyiv But this was only a temporary solution as the rescue center was not able to keep her permanently Given the impacts of the ongoing war on the big cat's welfare FOUR PAWS managed to organize a transfer to the sanctuary in the Netherlands The FELIDA sanctuary functions as a special care facility for physically and mentally traumatized big cats It is one of multiple FOUR PAWS sanctuaries around the world designed to re-home rescued wild animals There are now five rescued lions living at FELIDA—including Vasylyna—as well as one tiger FELIDA provides the chance for a new life to big cats that were abused neglected or forced to live under poor conditions "We are so happy to finally have brought Vasylyna to the Netherlands and into safety," Magdalena Scherk-Trettin who coordinates FOUR PAWS wild animal rescues "The ongoing war and bureaucratic hurdles have caused several significant delays for this mission Nevertheless we continued working tirelessly together with our partners from Wild Animal Rescue to bring her to FELIDA." The transfer to the FELIDA sanctuary involved a journey of around 1,200 miles Vasylyna was accompanied by a veterinarian along the way and arrived at the sanctuary—located in Nijeberkoop around a two-hour drive north-east of Amsterdam—in relatively good condition on Wednesday She will now receive the care she needs to recover from her ordeal and live a species-appropriate life "An extensive veterinary check will be planned in FELIDA to assess the health condition of the young lioness properly and to plan any individual treatments she needs to recover," Scherk-Trettin said When the door of her transport crate was opened Vasylyna calmly walked out into her specially equipped enclosure with adjustable platforms and a centralized heating system She will spend time acclimatizing to her new home over the next few days while also having access to the more spacious outdoor enclosure we are planning to offer Vasylyna an additional comfort and enrichment that we hope will contribute to her wellbeing the team will introduce her to young lion Nikola who has lived in FELIDA since June 2022 and shares a similar history with Vasylyna," Scherk-Trettin said "He also escaped from illegal private keeping the two brave partners in crime can grow up and live together This is particularly important for social animals like lions." Newsweek has contacted FOUR PAWS for comment via email Do you have an animal or nature story to share with Newsweek Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsletters in your inbox See all This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. The Vancouver Business Journal has been locally owned since 2004 and has been chronicling the Southwest Washington region for more than two decades Contact us at 360.619.2259 or via Email Albania (AP) — Three formerly hungry lions being housed at Tirana Zoo in Albania have been sedated and in about 48 hours will wake up at the Felida Big Cat Centre in the Netherlands said experts put the lions in specially equipped vehicles Tuesday and were driving the animals — named Lenci "They are safe to travel," said veterinarian Marc Goelkel The lions and eight other animals were removed from a private zoo in western Albania last October due to fears they were malnourished They had remained in cages at the public Tirana Zoo while authorities were in a legal dispute with their former owners A Four Paws team has taken care of them during this time Dungler said the lions were allowed to leave after other nations and animal groups put pressure on Albanian authorities She also thanked Tirana Zoo for offering a "temporary solution the whole rescue operation would not be possible" but said they could not stay there permanently I don't think you need to be an expert to understand that this is not the way to keep wild animals," said Dungler the good care of Felida and the grass will make a difference for them." Albania has other wild animals that are being kept privately in unfit places and need "a completely different zoo profile" to live in urging Albanian authorities to cooperate on future animal transfers "We just need their commitment and the proper legislation," said Dungler Four Paws also is assisting Albanian authorities in a feasibility study for an animal sanctuary at Dajti Mountain near Tirana Follow Llazar Semini on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lsemini Felida as both a member and the new chairperson of the General Audit Chamber of Curaçao The ceremony took place in the presence of colleagues and family members.  Joël Felida and the Governor of Curaçao Seven lions have been rescued from a Romanian "Joe Exotic"-style breeder who made global headlines when he was forced to perform in a music video in poor physical condition Four Paws said the lions were being kept in unsafe conditions at a breeding center in Picior de Munte The rescue was complicated by the fact that all but two of the lions were kept in the same unsafe enclosure "Our team of vets had to put several lions under anesthesia at the same time in order to get them out," said Ioana Gabriela Dungler director of the Wild Animals Department at Four Paws but was also involved in illegal trade and abuse for entertainment productions Since the owner refused to part with the parents of the seven rescued lions they had to stay behind," said the organization Dungler hopes supporters will help choose the rest "The conditions we encountered were challenging even for our experienced rescue team and required maximum security measures are kept in inappropriate cages only secured by a questionable fence the safety situation remains concerning," Dungler said Although the owner had previously agreed to permanent contraception for the lions that stayed behind he changed his mind during the mission — and Four Paws was not allowed to treat the male lion "The female lion received anti-conception to temporarily stop the breeding on-site allowing Four Paws to continue negotiations with the owner to end the inappropriate keeping for good and hand over the last lions into species-appropriate care," Four Paws said where they can keep living as one group in spacious surroundings." Simba was in the news in 2020 when he was used in "a music video of a Romanian musician visibly in poor condition and with multiple injuries on display." This led to a public outcry resulting in the authorities seizing Simba "Simba could not be reunited with the other lions as his father rejected him and was kept alone in a tiny enclosure Romania banned the keeping of big cats and other wild animal species in circuses in 2017 and private keeping is only allowed with a special permit," Dungler said "Simba is only one sad example of thousands of wild animals that are exploited and abused for commercial trade, such as entertainment, in the EU and beyond "Romania has taken important steps by regulating the keeping of big cats but as long as animals are suffering and private persons are allowed to keep and exploit them in inappropriate conditions The FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary in the Netherlands is one of multiple Four Paws sanctuaries worldwide for rescued wild animals It functions as a special-care facility for physically and mentally traumatized big cats "The big cats that recover from the hardships of their past can be transferred to LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa Animals that need lifelong intensive and special care stay at FELIDA." claimed he was the most prolific tiger breeder in the U.S .and one of the world's top experts in caring for big cats He is serving a 22-year prison sentence after being found guilty of murder-for-hire and animal abuse Netflix announced the TV show Joe Exotic will return for a second season on Nov This story was provided to Newsweek by Zenger News — Several car tires were slashed overnight Sunday in the quiet Felida neighborhood north of Vancouver A total of nine tires were slashed on NW 113th Street Desirae Jones said the person slashed one tire on each of the three cars parked in her driveway up close to my house," saidDesirae Jones Jones' motion sensor surveillance camera on her front window captured the person coming into her yard but believes its an adult man wearing dark jeans and a grey hooded sweatshirt or jacket "It picks up a guy slinking around my house in the dark," she said ."At one point you can see his knife it's long and at least an inch wide." She said her son was awake inside the house at the time but he told her he didn't see or hear anything one tire from Wendy Conley's Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang was slashed She said she also expected it to be a teenager "Security cameras are going to be installed and more lighting," Conley said Both neighbors told KATU News they filed a report online with the Clark County Sheriff's Office {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}Your submission failed. The server responded with {{status_text}} (code {{status_code}}). Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. Learn More{{/message}} {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}It appears your submission was successful. Even though the server responded OK, it is possible the submission was not processed. Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. Learn More{{/message}} Please enter the details below to sign up for Just Business a local craft brewery with a taproom in downtown Vancouver and a production facility opening soon in Portland will open its first restaurant in Vancouver’s Felida Neighborhood next year Log in to leave a comment Contact us at 360.619.2259 or via Email Deputies in Clark County are looking for the vandals responsible for doing donuts on Felida Elementary School fields in Vancouver The March 18 evening joy ride was caught on surveillance camera released by the Clark County Sheriff's Office two people can be seen standing outside a white Dodge pickup near where the concrete meets the grassy field KATU News has contacted both the school district resource officer who provided deputies with the surveillance image and a spokesperson for Vancouver Public Schools for a copy of the complete security camera video still stretch across the adjoining fields behind Felida Elementary School Thomas Jefferson Middle School also sits next door which are met by a track and nearby playground are a popular walking spot for people in the surrounding neighborhoods "It's two public schools that sit here and that damage is going to have to be taken care of by the community and the school district and is going to be expensive It's terrible to see someone get some kicks just by coming out and doing donuts in the grass and someone is going to have to clean it up and pay for it," Ryan Lounsbury it makes me sad because my kids do come to the school and play and stuff and now it's just mud," Nathan Marinez Anyone with information is asked to call Deputy Scott Bain at 360-397-2211 ext Subscribe Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our user agreement rescued lion couple and best friends Nikola and Vasylyna got acquainted with their forever home in South Africa at LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary A tale of two lonely lions who found companionship in each other Nikola and Vasylyna’s story began a few years back both lions had escaped their lives as privately kept cubs which led them to wander through the streets of the great unknown… lost Young Nikola was discovered wandering the village of Budva in Montenegro malnourished dehydrated and in dire need of veterinary assistance in February 2022 while Vasylyna paced through Kharkiv in Ukraine in August of the same year unable to run or climb due to underdeveloped muscles With the support of local organisations and authorities FOUR PAWS took both lions into its expert care at FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary in the Netherlands—a sanctuary that specialises in providing care for physically and mentally traumatised big cats Once the lions recover from their injuries they have the opportunity to move to other FOUR PAWS sanctuaries (such as LIONSROCK) while those that require lifelong intensive care remain at the Dutch sanctuary both recovered well and soon began expressing their individual personalities But Nikola and Vasylyna – lovingly nicknamed ‘Nikolyna’ – are proof that the hard work paid off When the time came to transfer them from the Netherlands’s FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary there was little doubt that the two had to head off to South Africa together their guardians were sure the lion couple would get to live their happily ever after in a species-appropriate environment boasting a vast habitat to explore alongside each other “We are happy to see that Nikola and Vasylyna have arrived at their forever home at LIONSROCK after their long journey the lions wasted no time in venturing out to investigate their new surroundings Nikola and Vasylyna have had a turbulent start in life now they have the chance to thrive in a species-appropriate habitat that allows them to express their natural behaviours They can enjoy their companionship under the African sun in even vaster surroundings than before,” says Patricia Tiplea Head of Wild Animal Rescue & Advocacy at FOUR PAWS the experts at FELIDA have patiently prepared Nikola and Vasylyna for their journey to ensure their comfort and safety they familiarised the lions with the routines of the transport Nikola and Vasylyna participated in this training without any issues With FOUR PAWS experts supervising their wellbeing at all times both the flight to Johannesburg and the transport to LIONSROCK went smoothly many suffer a lifetime in captivity and cruel keeping conditions that hinder them in living out their natural behaviour crucial for their wellbeing FOUR PAWS is currently campaigning to ensure that the EU Tiger Guidance is implemented in all EU Member States and that captive tigers are better protected This could have a knock-on effect on other species like lions “Nikola and Vasylyna are two lucky lions who got a second chance at a better life unlike thousands of other big cats still suffering in private captivity Their stories serve as a stark reminder that big cats are not pets The improper private keeping and commercialisation of big cats causes immense suffering for animals worldwide and persistent stress shape the lives of these captive sentient beings eventually leading to premature and pointless deaths FOUR PAWS remains dedicated to advocating for the proper protection and species-appropriate care of big cats under direct human influence Accredited facilities and sanctuaries must be the only places entrusted with the care of wild animals to finally end this needless suffering,” says Josef Pfabigan It is currently home to over 100 rescued big cats zoos or conflict zones all across the globe The sanctuary encompasses a total area of 1,250 hectares The land is also inhabited by other typical South African species that live freely like zebras and antelopes as well as a wide variety of bird species that have found refuge on the property Ashleigh Nefdt is a writer for Good Things Guy Ashleigh's favourite stories have always seen the hidden hero (without the cape) come to the rescue her labour of love is finding those everyday heroes and spotlighting their spark - especially those empowering women sustainability shakers and creatives with hearts of gold she's dedicated to her canvas or appreciating Mother Nature "a0407c5539d68cbe2c606233b99853b9" );document.getElementById("d2d9e305b5").setAttribute( "id" and website in this browser for the next time I comment Would you like to receive truly phenomenal inspirational and good thing stories right to your inbox Then subscribe to our weekly GoodThingsGuy newsletter today I accept GTG’s Privacy Policy GoodThingsGuy is the home of everything good and those are the things that really matter We believe that there is good news all around us and over 1 million readers a month agree with us GoodThingsGuy was officially launched on the 1 August 2015 in order to only promote good news inspirational stories and promote only positive multi-platform media company that distills unique content across multiple media platforms We consider individual and corporate contributions through the website 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Be sure you have your GPS enabled and try again South Africa (13 August 2022) – In September 2021 global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS rescued seven lion siblings from inappropriate and unsafe private keeping in Romania The lions were brought to FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary in the Netherlands for treatment Now the five youngest lions have arrived at their forever home LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa need specialised care and will stay at FELIDA FOUR PAWS keeps fighting for their parents and a one-year-old cub named Aslan Aslan recently appeared in a shocking music video FOUR PAWS fears that the owner will violate prior agreements to end breeding and urges the Romanian authorities to help prevent wild animals from such exploitation On-site in Picior de Munte in Southern Romania FOUR PAWS encountered unsafe keeping conditions that prove a danger not only for the animals but also for humans in case of an escape as well as a lack of professional and veterinary care While the former owner gave up seven of his lions last year he was not willing to part with three of his lions and forbade the FOUR PAWS team to vasectomise the adult male lion The team provided temporary birth control to the lioness uncontrolled and possibly incestuous breeding can resume “The fact that these lions keep appearing in music videos is outrageous the uncontrolled breeding and the inappropriate keeping conditions are clear signs the owner should not be allowed to keep lions It’s a shame that Romania’s animal welfare laws even allow this The owner keeps refusing to hand over the animals or to at least allow a vasectomy of the male to stop the breeding We will do everything in our power to prevent any further animals from suffering the cruel fate of inappropriate keeping or commercial exploitation We urge the former owner to respect the agreement signed with us and prompt the Romanian authorities to help us give these lions a better life,” says Ioana Dungler Director of the Wild Animals Department at FOUR PAWS While FOUR PAWS continue to fight for their family members that had to stay behind in Romania the seven rescued lions have found species-appropriate homes Simba and Elza receive all the care they need at FELIDA Ellie and Geena have arrived safely at LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary after a long journey “None of these lions had experienced a species-appropriate life in Romania where they can live as a group according to their instincts and individual personalities in spacious roam around and play but will also have a place to hide if they want It is bittersweet that these five lions get this opportunity but that their little brother is still stuck being kept as a pet and abused for video clips,” says Barbara van Genne responsible for Wild Animal Rescue and Advocacy at FOUR PAWS and private keeping is only allowed with a special permit thousands of lions and other wild animals are exploited and abused for the commercial wildlife trade “Despite positive steps in and outside of Europe towards better wild animal protection laws many lions and other wild animal species are kept and bred privately in inappropriate conditions in circuses for photo ops or in private yards around the world They are cruelly abused for their body parts as pets and for entertaining humans,” says Dungler Brent Lindeque is the founder and editor in charge at Good Things Guy Recognised as one of the Mail and Guardian’s Top 200 Young South African’s as well as a Primedia LeadSA Hero "ab890fb1d7bad53cea4b156e8b228b3a" );document.getElementById("d2d9e305b5").setAttribute( "id" Your GPS did not respond. Be sure you have your GPS enabled and try again. 2021 Photo: Felida/Four PawsPhoto: Felida/Four PawsAn animal shelter for big cats has taken in seven lions from Romania where they were kept by a private owner in poor living conditions The animals, which were both neglected and traumatised, arrived at the Felida shelter in Friesland last week and are doing ‘as well as might be expected’, manager Simone Schuls told broadcaster NOS ‘The plan is to keep them here for a few months to give them the extensive care they need,’ Schuls said ‘Then at least five of the lions will be taken to a shelter we have in South Africa where they live in a semi-wilderness.’ The animals were brought to the attention of international animal rescue group Four Paws when a video clip by a Romanian artist featuring one of the lions was criticised on social media The animal appeared to have lesions to its feet prompting the Romanian authorities to take the lion only to return it to its owner later The man turned out to have nine lions which he kept in small cages with hardly any water Two other lions and a cub had to stay behind because the owner would not part with them ‘We help the animals to regain their hunting instincts but Simba would not survive in the wild His back is deformed and his mane has not developed He will live his life out here here in Friesland.’ ‘The trade in wild and  protected animals… is a worldwide problem and it is bigger than you might think,’ said Petra Sleven director of Four Paws in the Netherlands ‘We estimate that in Europe alone at least 600 big cats need our help.’ The trade in wild animals is prohibited in many countries but is not sufficiently policed We could not provide the Dutch News service without the generous support of our readers Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days We could not provide this service without you Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey Former Chairman of Association of Community Newspapers Delta State Chapter and Founding member/Public Relation Officer (PRO) of South-South Women Organization Comrade Felida is passionate about the development of Isoko Ethnic Nationality and has been showcasing the developmental potentials of Isoko land through articles and interviews she published a book titled: The Historical Facts on the Isoko People and Communities and hails from Uzere and Olomoro both of Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State and has won many Awards to me I took it as a joke because the plan I had in 2005 was to take a television production course at ITPAN (Independent Television Producers Association of Nigeria School) Ofo met me at a party in January 2005 and said “Felida we must have a newspaper in Isoko with your experience of Managing Isoko Times after the demise of the Publisher late Patricia Akpavie coupled with your experience in Isoko News Chief JAD Iboma came and repeated the same thing saying it is not acceptable for Isoko not to have a voice after the defunct of four Newspapers he gave me 30,000 to start saying get somebody else to also invest in this project Even as I tried to explain how capital intensive it was he was not ready to listen “I know your capability I know you can make it” I went to work with the assistant of my friend in the Media in the person of Fidelix Umukoro of Urhobo Voice at the end of March 2005 Before the 2nd edition came out Iboma had already made the money up to N100 the founder died and Isoko Times which I later managed for some months after the lady publisher’s demise But you also worked with Isoko News why did you leave It was too stressful especially as I was the only lady among so many men I could not cope with them so I went back fully to the Movie Industry I joined Isoko News in the year 2000 on part-time bases What type of exclusive stories brought Isoko Mirror to limelight Because I chose not to be a political paper we spoke with Late Chief James Ekpre Otobo Late Senator Okpozo and non Isoko Indigenes we had interviews with Olorogun Otega Emerhor They were dishing out information that enlightened our people.    What is the most traumatic experience you have ever had since Isoko Mirror inception by SARS for a story that was first published by Daily Independent before Isoko mirror which is a monthly Newspaper published it we even took our time waiting for his response we would have been the first to publish the story it was a traumatic experience to be travelling to SARS in Abuja though it gave us a lot of publicity just like the OC SARS asked then why did you petition your constituency Newspaper only and left out the State and National papers What plan is in the Pipeline to ensure that the Newspaper becomes one of the best’s grassroots Newspaper in Delta State We will continue doing our best by reporting the oppressed and less privileged Educating our people of latest happenings in other developing countries to help our people keep abreast of what is happening in the country showcasing the ordinary people doing extra ordinary things unlike before when we were being oppressed for publishing facts Are you planning to add greater value to the Newspaper We will continue dishing out Developmental Interviews and Stories to change the mindset and orientation of some of our people With God helping us we shall be organizing educative programs from time to time How will you describe the readership base and circulation of the Newspaper we act as a bridge between the government and those at the grassroots encouraged me to vie for a position in Association of Community Newspapers of Nigeria (ACNPN) according to him government like working with Newspaper like Isoko Mirror as it is rated one of the best among the community Newspapers in Delta State because of our policies That is why I contested as Vice Chairman of the State and I won Something happened less than 3 months and the Chairman was impeached and I became the Chairman You do celebrate Isoko Mirror anniversary annually with an award and lecture we won’t be celebrating 5th edition of Heroes and Heroine of Development Awards on the 12th Year of Isoko Mirror on the Newsstand One of our policies is to educate our people to change for the better in other to attract development to the land Isoko is so blessed we have resources we don’t see nor feel the impact we should be educated on reasons why we must preserve our language it is our policy and calling to continue to educate our people and to keep record of happenings Who are the eminent personalities that ensure that the newspaper remains afloat Do you know apart from Chief JAD Iboma who funded Isoko Mirror I was in a party some time ago where they were having a discussion about how she forced the Newspaper on people to buy “if you can buy National paper you must buy Isoko Mirror I don’t even know how much commission she is getting” I smiled because most people didn’t even know that she was the one who talked me into it before Iboma came with funds was the one who recognized that I was sent on a mission.  After the 3rdedition so I had to go back to my original plan of taking up a course at ITPAN hence I went to him Opa to sign as a guarantor to enable me take the course I had in mind but he said “where are you running to I just want to take a course on TV production because I had a dream of having a TV program I was shocked when he said I have been sent on an errand how those whom God chooses for a mission but refused and suffered the consequences “If you refuse to continue with the Newspaper we shall make sure you are not in the movie industry he said He asked for the price of the bottom strips of Isoko Mirror he wrote a cheque of sixty thousand naira for a year for the advert: ‘ISOKO MAN WHY WON’T YOU HELP ISOKO MAN’ Go and continue with the project you are given God knows you are qualified that is why he choose you We shall be calling you for recordings” I left Opa Willaims office with a heavy heart I was sad because he has committed me and because I have integrity Comrade Joseph Evah saw it and invited me over God has used him immensely to breath live into Isoko Mirror Mr Jevi Eduzuka saw the paper at Irri and that was it Sir Simon Uchenunu (Planet Press) Chief Lucky Esigie (ESCO Superstores) Chief Barr the Odiologbo of Okugbe Isoko Kingdom in Bayelsa former publisher of Isoko News and my former boss keyed in These people have been wonderful aside from adverts This is the 2nd time your event is taking place in Warri I don’t know the bad belle people who usually destroy my posters and banners in Isoko each time I am having programs To an extent they would be calling my invitees not to waste their time attending because I have postponed the event while some of my guest will call to know why without informing them or why I shifted the program there is a particular Isoko Community who gave order that Isoko Mirror must not be sold in their town that Isoko Mirror is an Isoko South Newspaper first they informed my crew during a research on a program we were carrying out to mark Isoko at 50 years I went into the matter I was informed by a learned man  ( I mean a Lawyer) that it is true such a meeting was held and that he tried to disabuse their mind that we are reporting the whole Isoko but they refused to listen and they attached a fine to it Till date our Newspaper is not on the Newsstand in that town even the vendors who showed interest This is only happening at home not in Diaspora the great speaker amplifies that “I will never waste time to be jealous of any man or be intimidated by anybody’s achievement God gave us various talents on this earth and no one person can fulfill the purpose of God for this earth.” So I leave them to God to deal with but deliberately refused to pay for services rendered What are your special messages to your readers I want to say a big thank you for being there for us always thanks to our vendors for selling our Newspapers thank you to my associates and co-publishers As ISOKO MIRROR marks 15 years on the news stand goes down memory lane with tales of the hurdles the struggles and the feats recorded so far Because of the feat recorded in the dissemination of information across the globe she was honoured with Doctorate Degree (D.D) she gives an insight to the factors that shaped the Isoko Mirror brand and advises upcoming journalists on the key to succeeding in the profession is Isoko Mirror has spent 15 years on the newsstand when Chief JAD Iboma pushed me into being the pilot of the ship I just wanted to please my kinsman's wish of having a newspaper in Isokoland Did you ever picture yourself becoming a journalist and then publisher of a newspaper I never knew I would go this far but I loved writing It was by chance I came across an Isoko newspaper in 1999 at Ajegunle where I went for a visit I was the coordinator of an Isoko movie "Kenoja," which was about to be launched into the market It (newspaper) was very interesting and I was fascinated about it Ijaw news and some other grassroots newspapers I became very excited because the "Kenoja" meeting I was called for was already completed Becky Wiliky and Fred Amata into the film to boost its standard When I visited Isoko News office for an appointment Come and contribute your quota to the print media don't remain in the movies only..." I laughed By the way Ogbeta was a role I played in "Royal Tears" which was aired on AIT and MBI (Minaj broadcasting international) TV I agreed to be their advert executive on part-time basis I had a column titled 'you and your health' there till 2004 before going back to the movie industry fully I was not back to Nollywood up to four months before late Patricia Akpavie publisher Isoko Times came to look for me at the national theatre she had earlier called me to give me an offer which I declined I agreed to it to be on part-time and N7,000 transport for which she later beat it down to N5,000 with commission I only worked with her for 3 months before her sudden demise and I only got paid twice The journey into being a publisher started when one chief Godwin Ighodeme assisted me with the newspaper He chose to sponsor the printing of the newspaper saying that Isoko must not lag behind and there must be a newspaper to present our aspirations to government and to also have a voice I agreed to manage the paper pending when the Akpavie family will show up They never did so I quit the management of Isoko Times and went back to nollywood late Chief JAD Iboma came with his own Isoko project Even when I tried convincing him that I can't That is my journey into becoming a publisher What are some of the challenges you encountered along the way the issue of debt is one of the major problem We have some who boasted that if they pay money owed Some time ago one woman boasted that her husband had given her the money for the second time but she would not give it to me; that if she does We have some recorded interviews with their voice and when the publication comes out they denied At times when we approach some of them to hear their part they call us "local newspaper," but when we hit the newsstand It has been God fighting our battles and some few well-meaning sons of Isoko nation and non-indigenes How have you continued to sustain the newspaper which started about the same time with Isoko Mirror have closed down or stopped printing hard copies Like I said earlier it has been God and the few well-meaning progressive indigenes and non-indigenes who feel we are doing a great job most especially our board of directors who says the Isoko project must not die and have been supporting us financially I want to specially mention late Chief Rex Azere who sponsored the first Heroes and Heroines of Development projects in 2008 We have taken loans with interest just to keep the newspaper afloat Organisations such as yours do come under criticisms and legal battles Can you mention some criticisms and legal fights you have experienced in the course of the years Some of our people who owed and don't like paying resort to blackmail The biggest of the problem we have encountered is some elites and so who believe that by colonizing our people saying that Isoko Mirror is an Isoko South newspaper so it shouldn't be sold in the North especially in Ozoro I always educate our people on this Isoko South and North thing We have just two local government area yet we are divided late Chief JAD Iboma from Uzere in Isoko South had the dream and he needed someone to actualize it and I was chosen to pilot the ship gave us an advert for one year and said I should run the newspaper for one year and if our people are not ready for change Isoko South started it and Isoko North cemented it I would have gone with the N60,000 Opa gave me in 2005 I have always had a name and my late parents always advised to choose good name above riches saying “when there is no money you have your name and it will take you places” to journalism I have gone through a lot of phases I resigned from Isoko News because of integrity So some of my colleagues then fought with me physically when I was the chairman of the publishers in Delta state I stood my ground and rented an office and for the three years of my reign as chairman of the publishers They nicknamed me "Iron Lady." I did not care all I wanted was our comfort In everything I give God all the glory because His grace Any regrets that you ventured into journalism is there something you wish you could change I don't have regrets because God has been my drive force I may have had hard times in my journey of life I still give God the glory for enabling me move from one stage to another in the spheres of life One must know and believe that we are created for a purpose So whatever talent God has deposited in you must be carried out and with God on your side you eventually succeed What are some of the landmark achievements you have accomplished as the publisher of Isoko Mirror but I have established that when you set out to do something and you're focused My major achievement is sustaining the newspaper for 15 years and to have discovered an Isoko talented youth in 2002 who could assemble speakers at the age of 24 with only a primary school leaving certificate It is a great feat and to have sent him to school to upgrade his talent at Ogor technical college without any help from our people except for one person who supported us with N50,000 Isn't that limiting your readership and scope we arrived at the name Isoko Mirror because of the aims and objectives yearnings and activities happening in Isokoland and environs to the world and to also import news from across the world to the Isoko people So even when investors came and said we should change the name from Isoko Mirror I said we cannot because other tribes are promoting their brand so why should the name "Isoko" die However, what the man who had the dream, late Chief JAD Iboma, had in mind is to place Isoko in the map of the world and the man who cemented it Chief Dr Opa Williams had Isoko at heart. So what we did was to rebrand our online name to imirroronline.com.ng What matters most is the concept of the brand which is educating What are your hopes and expectations for the newspaper in the coming years the man who had the dream got discouraged because our people were not encouraging the man who had the dream is dead even while he was alive he did not believe we will go this far I look forward to when I will retire and rest while the newspaper continues I believe God will bring the right people who will invest in this Isoko project The first newspaper in Nigeria is Iwe Iroyin founded in 1859 by a missionary It is not a political paper that is why it survived I am looking forward to Isoko patriots who will invest in the project and keep the brand and the flag flying What advice do you have for upcoming journalists My advice for upcoming journalists is to be creative focused and dedicated in their line of job but most importantly they should have passion passion is the driving force behind every success How are you celebrating the Isoko Mirror 15th year anniversary we have special programs lined up for this special anniversary We shall be celebrating the entrepreneurs in Isoko who have made Isoko thick and mentors who are role models and have inspired and shaped our people a lecture will be part of the events coming up in December Date and venue will be made public soonest.