October 4, 2023

Tenth Annual Wrongful Conviction Day Shines Light on Injustice

by Stacy M. Brown

AFRICA WORLD BRIEFS

Tackling fake news in Kenya

Facing down a tidal wave of disinformation ahead of Kenya’s presidential elections in 2022, the Government and the UN collaborated on a national anti-hate speech plan and an innovative consortium of influencers to calm the waters before voters cast their ballots.

Stephen Jackson, the UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya, reflects on the 2022 elections, which saw an effective partnership with the Government and private-sector rise to the occasion to take down fake news.

HEALTH

“No one is born with hate. Hate is taught, and then hate spreads.

Security Council authorizes ‘historic’ support mission in Haiti

In what is being hailed as an historic first, the UN Security Council on Monday authorized the deployment of an international security force to help Haiti’s national police quell surging gang violence and restore security across the strife-torn Caribbean nation.

The mission was requested by the Haitian Government and civil society representatives, following months of chaos and steadily worsening conditions affecting civilians. There have been more than 3,000 homicides reported this year, and over 1,500 instances of kidnapping for ransom.

SPORTS

Over recent years, social media and other digital platforms, amplified by algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI), have enabled vitriolic messages with hatred and disinformation to ‘spread like wildfire’, as the Secretary-General has stated. Stephen Jackson of Ireland is the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Kenya.

United Nations Stephen Jackson of Ireland is the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Kenya. In many countries around the world – rich and less well off – hate speech and disinformation threaten social cohesion, sowing chaos and confusion, polarizing communities, igniting online and sometimes offline violence, and undermining faith in democracy itself.

Sudan: WHO supports battle against cholera in the east

The World Health Organization (WHO) is scaling up support in Sudan, where authorities have declared a cholera outbreak in Gedaref state amid the ongoing brutal conflict between opposing militaries.

The UN agency said on Friday that 264 suspected cholera cases, four confirmed cases and 16 associated deaths werereportedin the eastern state as of 25 September. Investigations are taking place to determine whether the disease has spread to Khartoum and South Kordofan states, which have seen increased cases of acute watery diarrhoea. Sampling

and surveillance

WHO is deploying rapid response teams to the affected localities and is actively supporting the Ministry of Health to transfer samples of suspected cases to the Public Health Laboratory in Port Sudan.

Surveillance is ongoing in affected and high-risk areas to identify and address risk factors. A request is going out to the international body managing emergency vaccine supplies during major outbreaks, the ICG, for oral cholera vaccines. Access amid war

The WHO Representative in Sudan, Dr Nima Abid, visited Gederaf state on 17 September and met with health authorities and partners to coordinate response to the outbreak. He stressed the importance of having unhindered access to the affected areas and nearby locations.

“A cholera outbreak can have a devastating effect in the context of a health system already overstretched because of war, shortages of medical supplies and health workers...

Around 200,000 have been forced to flee their homes while sexual violence and abuse against women and girls at the hands of armed gangs ticks up. Tens of thousands of children are unable to go to school.

Adopting the resolution with a recorded vote of 13 in favour and 2 abstentions (Russia and China), ambassadors in New York also authorized the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to help secure critical infrastructure and transit hubs such as the airport, ports, schools, hospitals and key intersections. They also called on countries participating in the mission to ensure the highest standards of transparency, conduct and discipline for their personnel, and called for an oversight mechanism to prevent human rights violations or abuses, including sexual exploitation.

Confidence building critical to break Syria political deadlock

A comprehensive solution to the Syrian conflict remains elusive, the UN Special Envoy for the country said on Wednesday, calling for “concrete moves” and confidence-building measures to break the impasse.

Briefing the UN Security Council in New York, Geir Pedersen urged political leaders and the international community to act now to “arrest the downward slide in Syria” as suffering and the sense of hopelessness among the population deepens.

Deliver hope

“We cannot simply accept the status quo, because it will get worse and worse, it could well unravel, and this will lead to new challenges” he warned. “We need the political process to start to deliver on the ground and to deliver hope.”

Mr. Pedersen said the deadlock can be attributed to several factors, including “gaps of political will, the distance between substantive positions of the parties, deep distrust, and the challenging international climate.”

Moving forward will require “a shift in mindset”, he said, as “the Syrian parties and all key international actors need to entertain compromise in a more fundamental way”.

The Clean Energy Transition Must Be a Just Transition by Ben Jealous - P 9

Senator Kevin Parker Hosts 5th Annual Edward Swire Memorial Blood Drive - P 16

Concacaf Launches Bigger Game Program in Costa Rica Ahead of 2024 W Gold Cup - P 19

Barbados – PM Mottley Being Promoted as Possible UN Secretary-General

Bridgetown 2.0 in April. Bridgetown 2.0 outlines six development priorities for development finance that will be discussed globally at the COP28 conference in November, the Summit of the Future in 2024, and the annual meeting of the IMF-World Bank group in October.

Numerous diplomats in New York City and other locations have confidence in Mottley’s capability to advocate for matters concerning developing nations in her role as UN secretary-general. They also trust in her leadership style and expect her to bring her unique approach to the position.

under wraps, but in 2016, some transparency was achieved. Candidates must first be nominated by a nation, generally their own, and then the Security Council must propose them to the General Assembly.

An effort to solely submit female candidates is presently being renewed after a number of nations made the commitment during the 2016 selection process. Seven of the thirteen candidates that ran in 2016 were female. But in the end, Guterres, a Portuguese diplomat who had long been seen as the favorite for the position, won.

When asked last week if she would like to compete for the position of the next Secretary General of the United Nations, Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley responded with a smile and a thumbs up. However, UN officials claim that she is a potential front-runner informally.

Though the selection process for 2026 is still a ways off, discussion about who is most likely to receive the important position has already Given that the role has historically rotated geographically, it is probable that the next UN chief will come from the area of Latin America and the Caribbean. Many supporters argue that after 78 years of exclusively male heads, it is time for a female contender.

Mottley is one of numerous names being thrown around as potential candidates in the halls and backrooms of the UN headquarters in New York. Although a spokeswoman for Juan Manuel Santos disputes the rumors, two sources claim that the former president of Colombia and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize will shortly begin a campaign.

Alicia Bárcena, the foreign affairs secretary of Mexico, Rebeca Grynspan, a senior UN official and a former vice president of Costa Rica, and Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, a former president of the UN General Assembly and a former minister of Ecuador, are a few names that frequently come up in discussions about who might succeed current UN SecretaryGeneral António Guterres.

But the name that frequently sparks the most enthusiasm is that of the colorful and outspoken Mottley. Although Mottley has not yet declared her intention to run, a UN diplomat declared that if she did, “I would

jump up and down” with joy. She would have his support if she decided to run for office, according to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines prime minister, Ralph Gonsalves.

“I think she would make a great SecretaryGeneral,” he said, “Whatever she does, I will support her.”

Mottley was elected to a second term as prime minister of Barbados in a landslide four years after taking office.

She has garnered attention on a global scale for severing post-colonial ties between her nation and the British monarchy as well as for her forceful rhetoric on reparations for slavery, climate change, and the necessity of reforming international financial institutions through the International Monetary Fund and other multilateral banks.

When it comes to abilities, Mottley is as uncompromising. In her recent speech to the General Assembly, she questioned: “How is it possible for Chevron and the European Union to access the oil and gas of Venezuela, but the people of the Caribbean cannot access it at the 35 percent discount offered by the people of Venezuela?”

In 2022, Mottley was the driving force behind the Bridgetown Initiative, a political initiative to make the global financial system and the financing of development more equal, particularly in light of the climate problem. The plan would alter how loans are made to poor nations and create a unique emergency fund for natural disasters brought on by climate change.

Mottley also teamed up with the current head of the UN, António Guterres, and unveiled

A UN diplomat stated, ”I don’t think I recall another leader in recent history other than Obama that had the attention of the international community as she does.” However, experts caution that she is running a political risk. Mottley needs to carefully consider her future moves, according to UN expert Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group, because the idea seriously threatens the current state of international finance.

Others have noted that seeking to alter current procedures runs the danger of upsetting at least one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, who have the last say over the Secretary-General selection procedure.

Multiple requests for interviews with Mottley’s staff received no response.

In January 2027, the next Secretary General of the UN would assume duty. Is it too soon to start discussing who the organization’s future leader will be after four years have passed?

Some believe that this conversation is crucial for an organization that is about to undergo a sea change as it struggles to deal with criticism and geopolitical stalemate in the influential Security Council.

According to Valtonen and others, the organization needed its first female head yesterday. However, she added, “This position should very much be merit-based,” she added, “but I think it’d be very remarkable if again, it’s not a woman who is chosen.”

Long secretive, the selection procedure started to become more transparent in 2016. Candidates must first be nominated by a nation, generally their own, and then recommended to the General Assembly by the Security Council.

The selection procedure has long been kept

Ben Donaldson, director of campaigns at the United Nations Association of the United Kingdom, stated “There’s always lots of men that want to run.”

He remarked that hopefully this year “the message is coming through loud and clear from the majority of states and from civil society that no state should be putting forward male candidates. We are all working to increase the stigma around this, hopefully, we can nip it in the bud.”

Former Secretary General candidate Susana Malcorra, who is also the creator and president of the advocacy group Global Women Leaders Voices, is striving to ensure that political pressure will push female candidates ahead in the upcoming round.

She noted, “It’s not so much about talking about a Julie or Anne, or Mary, it is more about talking about a Madame Secretary-General as a general proposition and then making sure that we pave the way to get there.”

However, not everyone supports the initiative. Male candidates shouldn’t be discouraged from running, according to Trinidad and Tobago native and president of the 78th UN General Assembly Dennis Francis. “I believe that men should run next time around as I believe women should run in their numbers,” he noted. “Because what I would want to happen is for a woman to win in those circumstances, not from a field of women. That would be the wrong message.”

And since the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine, the influential Security Council has been deadlocked on a number of topics, making it difficult to envisage its members eventually coming to an agreement on any one candidate. Julia Maciel, a Paraguayan ambassador, stated, “All I have to say is grab your popcorn.”

NYC – New Initiative to Help Asylum Seekers Get Work Permits

On Thursday, I hosted a meeting with Guyanese President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and a delegation of government officials from the Republic of Guyana. Several leading congressional members with expertise in foreign affairs, finance, security, and other critical issues to the Western Hemisphere and the Caribbean-American community in Brooklyn and across the United States also participated.

During the meeting, we discussed several critical issues, including regional and energy security, the climate crisis, and the importance of an inclusive society in Guyana that

involved full economic participation and civic engagement by Guyanese-Africans and Guyanese-Indians. We also discussed electoral reform, strengthening democratic institutions, and the need to bolster access to banking and financial services in the Caribbean region.

In the next few weeks, a delegation of House Members, myself included, will meet with leaders of the Guyanese opposition party to continue our dialogue about the opportunities and challenges confronting the Republic of Guyana and other nations within the African diaspora in the Western Hemisphere.

We will continue to encourage the government and the opposition to work together to ensure that all Guyanese citizens, regardless of race or ethnicity, benefit from the economic growth underway in the South American nation.

Members in the meeting were:

Rep. Maxine Waters, Ranking Member, Committee on Financial Services

Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member, Foreign Affairs Committee; Member, Committee on Financial Services

Rep. Steven Horsford, Chair, Congressional Black Caucus; Member, Financial Services

Committee; Member, Armed Services Committee

Rep. Yvette D. Clarke, First Vice Chair, Congressional Black Caucus; Member, Committee on Energy and Commerce;

Member, Committee on Homeland Security

Rep. Stacey Plaskett, Ranking Member, Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government;

Member, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

US/Haiti – Suspend Deportation to Haiti

A letter was sent to the US Department of Homeland Security by several immigration advocate groups and organizations regarding Haitians being deported to Haiti. An impoverished nation that is in a catastrophic state. The Caribbean nation has suffered immensely since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise which urges gang members to inflict torment on the nation.

The full letter was published on the Human Rights.

It read:

Dear Secretary Mayorkas,

Since November 2022, when the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) called on all governments to “suspend the forced return of Haitians to their country,” the U.S. government has sent nine deportation flights to Haiti. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continues to schedule deportation flights to Haiti despite the serious risks to the life, liberty, and physical and mental integrity of the people being deported.

As you know, the United States already bars

the deportation of Haitians to Haiti who qualify for temporary protected status (TPS) because “Haiti is experiencing extraordinary and temporary conditions resulting from grave insecurity and gang crime, as well as socioeconomic and humanitarian conditions, including those resulting from environmental disasters aggravating food insecurity.” As you are also aware, the US embassy on August 30 called on all Americans to leave Haiti “as soon as possible” because of the worsening security situation.

The following day, August 31, a charter flight landed in Port-au-Prince, reportedly carrying more than 50 persons deported from the United States, despite the known danger and overwhelming evidence of escalating violence and insecurity there.

Given this evidence, and UNHCR’s warning in its non-return advisory for Haiti that “the forced removal of people to a place where they may face risk of persecution, torture or other serious or irreparable harm would amount to ‘refoulement,’ which is explicit-

ly prohibited under international refugee and human rights law,” these forced returns appear to conflict with the United States’ legal obligations.

The undersigned organizations call on you to suspend the scheduled September deportation flight to Haiti and all future U.S. deportation flights to Haiti until the United States, in consultation with UNHCR, the International Organization for Migration, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, is assured that generalized conditions of violence and insecurity in Haiti no longer represent a credible risk of serious harm to anyone forcibly returned to that country. We further call on you to investigate possible harms that people deported from the United States to Haiti since November 2022 may have experienced since their deportation, and to rectify, to the extent possible, those harms, including by facilitating humanitarian parole applications for those having experienced harm.

Continued at www.nycaribnews.com

Jamaica – Mass Prayer Rally in Halfway Tree

when we need to touch Heaven,” and expressed her happiness to be there.

“We want quietness and we want peace. Bless the Lord!” she exclaimed while quoting 1 Timothy 2:1-2 as the justification for the JUGC’s decision to reinstate the yearly prayer rally as a Jamaican church calendar event.

Bishop Dr. Rowan Edwards offered one of the most moving prayers of the evening, expressing his hope to see Prime Minister Andrew Holness evangelizing as a Christian.

“Lord Almighty, as we lay hands on each other’s shoulders, let Prime Minister Andrew Holness start preaching the gospel!” Bishop Edward expressed.

The Jamaica Umbrella Group of Churches (JUGC) head, Dr. Elaine McCarthy, praised the hundreds of people who attended the resumption of the yearly mass prayer gathering in Half-Way Tree Square on Sunday to pray for the country’s political leaders.

McCarthy referred to the church leaders, followers, and supporters that congregated in the plaza from Corporate Area communities and other parishes around the island, despite the danger of rain, as “watchmen” during the event, which had the theme “Jamaica Pray.” She noted, “As we take our positions as watchmen for our nation, let us hold up our leaders perpetually before God in prayer so that He will be able to do mighty works through them.”

In support of the proposal of their religious leaders, worshipers raised their voices in prayer for four hours, transforming the capital into a hallowed space.

For many meters, traffic on the typically busy street was stopped. Alongside the famous clock at Half-Way Tree, an altar was erected.

McCarthy said in response to the National Anthem’s lyrics that the churches desire God to embrace Jamaica in a way that has never been possible so that all difficulties and problems will be “leveled at the foot of the Cross.”

She praised her fellow Jamaicans and joined them in prayer, calling it a tool “that we use

He remarked, “The sight that will be if Andrew Holness stands up on a stage and preach ‘for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish’! What a sight! And then save the leader of the Opposition, too, and make him make an altar call! Mighty God, what a sight that would be! Jamaica needs righteous leaders who will preach the gospel of Jesus Christ!.”

In support of the prayer rally, he quoted 1 Timothy 2:1-2, which instructs us that “… supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving be given for kings and all in authority”.

“As we lift up this man, the Right Honorable Andrew Holness, before God, I love both Mr. Mark Golding and the prime minister of Jamaica. I love both leaders, but I’ve been asked to pray for the prime minister, and that’s what I’ll do,” Edwards noted. He prayed for the prime minister’s wife Juliet Holness and their sons as well.

The bishop said that men are being sent out as butchers to slit people’s throats as if they were pigs or cows, that youngsters are being handed guard rings, and that 7,000 satellites are feeding Jamaica with demonic energies.

The Portmore Holiness Christian Church provided live streaming of Jamaica Pray on YouTube.

Dominica- First Woman Head of State Sworn In

minister, diplomat and trade unionist, who served a two five-year term, said she was asking for the prayers of the nation as she embarks upon the largely ceremonial position. She quoted from The bible “if we have faith the size of a mustard seed nothing will be impossible and with the blessing of your prayers, I promise that I will serve you with the empathy which have nurtured over the years the value of my journey.

“I will serve you with the courage of my ancestry and most importantly, I will serve you with dignity and honor as together we rise to face a future, though uncertain, one that is ripe with potential and expectant with opportunity”.

wisdom and understanding as I have done at other critical junctures in my life.”. She said Dominica is facing a number of challenges including climate change, artificial intelligence as well as global economic instability.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit told the ceremony that the election of Burton to the position of President “must be viewed as a “gesture of hope and optimism”.

Dominica’s first woman head of state, Sylvanie Burton, was sworn into office on Monday promising to serve all members of the population as the island moves forward in an uncertain global environment.

“Fellow citizens, as I begin this new chapter of my journey, I am very aware that my election to the Office of President of the Commonwealth of Dominica, has sparked unprecedented dialogue because I am Kaliangoo and a woman,” she said, soon after taking the oath of office before High Court judge, Justice Jacqueline Josiah-Graham.

Burton, 58, dressed in the national wear, is

from the Kaliango Territory, where the descendants of the country’s indigenous people, the Caribs, still reside.

“So let me assure the nation that I will be a president for all Dominicans…both here and abroad, not only for the Kaliangoo, not only for women, but I will be a President for all and let me emphasize all the citizens in our beloved Dominica,” said Burton, who on Sunday was given the island’s highest national award, the Dominica Award of Honor.

The former senior public servant, who became the island’s tenth head of state, replacing Charles Savarin, the former government

Burton told the ceremony that she is reminded of the “struggle and sacrifice of all our ancestors, but in particular, I am reminded of the courage of my Kaliangoo ancestors who shed their blood and gave their lives in defense of this majestic land so that I can stand here today.

“Let me assure you that the gravity of this moment is not lost on me. This is a joyful moment for me on two counts. Not that of just a Kaliangoo native, but also that of a woman being sworn in as the tenth President of the Commonwealth of Dominica”. But she said her joy is tempered by the enormity of the moment, praising her husband, children and the members of the Kaliangoo territory, saying “I will continue to pray for

He said her background “tells a story of someone who has struggled and triumphed. Today, we have sworn in a leader who will serve as a source of inspiration to us all. And again, I say this day belongs to the Lord, let us celebrate and be glad.

“I want us to be inspired by what is taking place here today, ladies and gentlemen. I wish you God’s blessing and guidance in the execution of your duty. You were this government’s nominee, but you are the people’s President. “I want you to shine a light for little girls and boys in Dominica to follow. I pledge to you my support and that of the party and government I lead. I may [say] to you that I may not see you through the end of your term, but you can rest assured of my very best wishes in whatever capacity I serve from this day forward,” said Skerrit, saying he remains confident that Burton ‘will serve our beloved country with pride and distinction’. (CMC)

UN – To Authorize One Year Deployment of Armed Forces to Fight Gangs In Haiti

An international force would be sent to Haiti for a year to help stop a spike in gang violence and restore security so the troubled Caribbean country could hold elections, which have been postponed for a long time.

The U.N. Security Council is scheduled to vote on this proposal on Monday.

Kenya’s offer to command the multinational security force is welcomed in the U.S.-drafted resolution that The Associated Press obtained on Saturday. It is made clear that this would be an independent army supported by donations.

A nine-month review would follow the resolution’s one-year authorization of the deployment.

The force would be permitted to assist the underfunded and underequipped Haitian National Police, which has only around 10,000 active officers in a nation with more than 11 million inhabitants.

The resolution states that the force would assist in boosting local police capabilities. “through the planning and conduct of joint security support operations as it works to counter gangs and improve security conditions in Haiti.”

Moreover, the force would aid in securing, “critical infrastructure sites and transit locations such as the airport, ports, and key intersections.” Roads connecting Haiti’s capital with the north and south have been taken over by strong gangs, preventing the movement of food and other supplies.

If approved by the Security Council, the

force would be permitted to “take urgent interim actions on an extraordinary basis” in order to avoid casualties and assist law enforcement in maintaining public safety. Before a complete deployment, mission leaders would have to brief the council on the mission’s objectives, rules of engagement, funding requirements, and other issues.

The administration did not immediately have a statement, according to a spokeswoman for Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who claimed he was unaware of the proposal or the impending vote.

The resolution is critical, “the increasing violence, criminal activities, and human rights abuses and violations which undermine the peace, stability, and security of Haiti and the region, including kidnappings, sexual and gender-based violence, trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants, homicides, extrajudicial killings, as well as arms smuggling.”

If approved, it would be the first time since the United Nations authorized a stability mission in June 2004 that was tainted by a sexual abuse scandal and the spread of cholera that a force has been sent to Haiti. Its mission was completed in October 2017.

The potential Kenyan-led operation has drawn criticism as well, with detractors pointing out that the nation’s police have long been charged with utilizing torture, lethal force, and other atrocities.

The resolution emphasizes that everyone taking part in the proposed mission must take the appropriate precautions to stop sexual exploitation and abuse as well as conduct thorough background checks on all individuals. Additionally, it calls for prompt inquiries into any accusations of malfeasance. The resolution also cautions mission participants to implement wastewater management and other environmental controls to stop the introduction and spread of water-borne illnesses like cholera. The size of the force, if authorized, was not immediately known, however, the government of Kenya has previously suggested sending 1,000 police personnel. Additionally, Antigua & Barbuda, Jamaica, and the Bahamas have committed to sending people.

U.S. President Joe Biden’s government pledged last month to help a Kenyan-led force with $100 million in logistical support. The resolution states that further measures would be imposed by the Security Council

on those who fuel the violence in Haiti. Jimmy Chérizier, often known as “Barbecue,” is the leader of the largest gang coalition in Haiti and has previously been sanctioned by the U.N. Former police officer Chérizier recently issued a threat to confront any armed force seen to be mistreating its members. The proposed resolution was made about a year after the prime minister of Haiti and other senior government figures asked for the immediate dispatch of a foreign armed force. At the time, the government was battling violent gangs that were thought to control up to 80% of Port-au-Prince.

According to the most current U.N. figures, more than 2,400 persons were reported dead in Haiti between January 1 and August 15, along with over 950 kidnappings and 902 injuries. After gangs pillaged their villages, more than 200,000 people were forced to flee due to violence, with many of them being squeezed into improvised shelters

T&T – Preservation of Eric Williams Legacy

The first prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Eric Williams, left a legacy that belongs to everyone, even his critics, according to his daughter Erica Williams-Connell. She was speaking at a gathering called Preserving the intellectual legacy of Dr. Eric Williams through digitization at the Central Bank in Port of Spain.

Williams-Connell thanked Patricia Raymond, a public worker, who had carefully stored a collection of Williams’ speeches for 20 years up to their digitization by Caroline Kangalee, a librarian at Nalis.

Williams-Connell cited Williams’ autobiography Inward Hunger to argue that history was more of a chronicle of human progress than a catalogue of wars, dates, and politicians.

“On this auspicious occasion we are indeed making history in the long overdue website launch of 238 of my late father’s speeches.” She said that she had looked in vain for her father’s speeches for years, but unbeknownst to her, a clerk/typist had secretly preserved them. “This person who wished to remain anonymous but who has been outed had literally kept these documents in safekeeping

for more than two decades,” she said, “waiting for the opportunity to deliver them into competent and appreciative hands, those

of Caroline Kangalee in 2008, so that we might arrive at this juncture of preservation, politics and history.”

“It matters not if you are an aficionado of Eric Williams, his committed opponent, or just indifferent.

“This treasure trove of documents is our history, for better or worse – all of our history, both the good and the bad.”

She claimed that these works were a part of the national heritage.

“It deserves to be safeguarded, if only so that future generations can choose to utilize it as guideposts or warning signs against the same steps.

“If we don’t pay attention to the past, the future begins to lose its point of reference. That’s one of my favorite quotations.”

Williams-Connell then moved her focus to another nation, one that she said had formerly been a vibrant first-world democracy and was now subject to daily attempts to shamelessly rewrite history, claiming, “T&T would do well to avoid such blunders.”

She said that efforts to rewrite history in that foreign nation were not haphazard; rather, they were calculated, immoral, and purposeful.

She turned her focus back to T&T and related, “As an aside, during a previous administration, one top official in the Ministry of Information seemed to take a special delight in informing me when asked, that in terms of video material, edited versions of Eric Williams’ administration were being erased so that the tapes could be ‘re-purposed’. “Imagine my incredulity, my utter disbelief. This is a lesson I have never forgotten.”

She bemoaned the fact that despite being hailed as the Father of the Nation, there were still rumors that Williams had not merited special treatment.

.Otherwise, she was grateful for the occasion since it would allow T&T’s children to learn about and debate Williams’ records. She thanked everyone who had contributed to the initiative, including permanent secretary Marie Hinds and planning minister Pennelope Beckles, who had taken over from Camille Robinson-Regis.

“As a late-comer to the benefits of history, indeed as a daughter, I am deeply grateful. Thank you.”

NYC – Mayor Adams Issues Ultimatum to Asylum Seekers

alternative housing after their current 60-day notice has expired, and who subsequently return to the Asylum Seeker Arrival Center, will receive a placement with an additional 30-day notice, coupled with further intensified casework services,” Adams said.

The city has since released “The Road Forward: A Blueprint to Address New York City’s Response to the Asylum Seeker Crisis,” detailing how it will continue to manage the influx of asylum seekers and advocate for support from federal and state partners. But immigrant advocates in New York have condemned the mayor’s initiative to expel Caribbean and other asylum seekers from shelters after 30 days.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced 30-day notices for adult Caribbean immigrants to “take the next step” as the number of Caribbean and other asylum seekers in New York City’s care tops 60,000.

Many of the asylum seekers arriving in New York from southern United States border states are nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, and Guatemala and Adams said New York City has made “every effort to continue serving” the more than 116,000 asylum seekers who have arrived last spring.

However, with an average of between 300 and 500 people still arriving in the five boroughs asking for shelter on a daily basis, and 60,000 migrants currently in the city’s care, he said New York City is “full, having responded without all the substantial state or federal support needed to manage a national crisis.”

Over the past two months, the mayor said the city has distributed a significant number of 60-day notices to adult asylum seekers, with intensified casework services, to help these individuals reach their final destination and transition to alternate housing.

“As the city still seeks further and timely support from federal and state partners, adult asylum seekers who have not secured

“Staying in a shelter is nobody’s idea of home, but rather a necessity until unhoused individuals and families can get on their feet. Instead of complicating an already arduous system, Mayor Adams should alleviate the shelter crisis by getting both long-term shelter residents and asylum seekers into permanent housing …which will ultimately save the city three billion US dollars per year,” Murad Awawdeh, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition, told the Caribbean Media Corporation.

“Doubling down on bad ideas, and making vulnerable people jump through bureaucratic hoops in order to wear them down, is just cold-hearted – and does nothing to solve our shelter crisis,” he added. “This is not the type of leadership we expect from the Mayor of New York City.”

Natalia Aristizabal, deputy director of another immigrant advocacy group, Make the Road New York, said the mayor is “legally and morally obligated to provide proper solutions for unhoused people.

“Removing recently arrived asylum seekers from shelters after 30 days is cruel, unreasonable and unlawful,” she said. (CMC)

Black Doctor Sues White Neighbor in Queens

Dr. Yves Duroseau, a prominent Black New York City physician and head of emergency medicine at Manhattan’s Lenox Hill Hospital, sued his white neighbor for allegedly spraying dinner party guests, who were primarily Black or Latino, at his home with a hose, The New York Post reports.

Duroseau and his guests – including music executive Rigo Morales – also sued an unnamed woman who allegedly threatened them with a dog during the festivities. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Duroseau, 52, made national news when he became the first doctor in the United States to receive a vaccine against the coronavirus.

The lawsuit filed earlier this month stated that on Sept. 17, 2022, Duroseau hosted a lavish nine-course meal for 19 guests in the backyard of his Queens, NY home - a surprise birthday party for his 48-year-old sister Rosevony Duroseau - when a white woman with a German Shepherd came to Duroseau’s house at 9:50 pm and demanded that he turn down the music. They told her the celebration was winding down and asked her to leave.

After that encounter, they returned to the backyard and continued the party, which was also a celebration of Rosevony’s engagement to attendee William McBorrough, the lawsuit stated. That’s when

Duroseau’s neighbor, Marcus Rosebrock opened a high-pressure hose on the group that “was extremely powerful and stinging in nature.”

Rosebrock’s act was similar to what “White law enforcement officers did to civil rights pioneers in 1960s Birmingham, Alabama,” the lawsuit states. Someone in attendance intervened in an attempt to calm the situation, but Rosebrock drenched her “from head to toe.”

Duroseau and all his guests both sued Rosebrock and the dog owner, alleging battery, assault, trespassing and related violations.

Derek Sells, lawyer for the plaintiffs told The Post, “Our clients deserve justice. Their civil rights have been violated through no fault of their own.”

In response, Rosebrock’s lawyer, Brandon Gillard, said the lawsuit has no merit, his client receives threatening phone calls that make him fear for his family’s safety.

“The actual facts will be borne out in a court of law – not the court of public opinion. Mr. Rosebrock rejects any characterization that he is racist or that his actions were racially motivated.”

©2023 New York Lottery | MAGIC 8 BALL™ © 2023 Mattel

Guest Editorial: Courage to be Harvard

Family, friends, colleagues, students and postdocs, alumni, distinguished guests.

I stand before you today humbled by the prospect of leading Harvard, emboldened by the trust you have placed in me, and energized by your own commitment to this singular institution and to the common cause of higher education.

I am grateful beyond measure to the Governing Boards for placing their confidence in me; to my predecessors for offering their perspectives, their wisdom, and their support; to my colleagues and mentors, from this University and beyond, for leading in ways that continue to guide and inspire me.

I am thankful to the many members of our campus community who have worked so hard, for so many months, to make today’s event possible.

And, most of all, I am uplifted by love, love that has empowered and sustained me for as long as I can remember, love that has made me who I am.

My dad, Sony Gay, is unmatched in his optimism and in his curiosity about people and the world, twin gifts that he passed on to my brother and me.

My mom, Claudette Gay, passed away earlier this year but not before learning of my election and smiling broadly at the news. I wish very much that she were here, if only for the chance to hear her say, “I told you so.”

Both of my parents, each on their own, left everything they knew in Haiti to forge new lives in the United States. And because they understood that coming to America was not enough, they eagerly sought college education—to ensure the future they wanted for themselves and for their family.

That future came to include my best friend and my wonderful husband, Chris Afendulis. Marrying Chris remains the best decision I ever made. He has always put our family first. He makes this day—and every day to come— possible for me.

And our beloved son, Costa. In moments big and small, and with the many gifts he has already begun to share with the world, he reminds me of the meaning of the work before me, the work before all of us, and our responsibility to the future.

For nearly twenty generations, Harvard presidents have upheld that precious trust. I feel the presence of those twenty-nine predecessors here today. And the three former presidents sharing the stage with me, no strangers to this podium, have set a high rhetorical bar. Though Drew Faust helpfully pointed out in her address that “inaugural speeches are a peculiar genre… by definition pronouncements by individuals who don’t yet know what they are talking about.”

I claim no exception for my remarks today. But I will attempt to defy the genre by talking about one thing I do know—and that is the importance of courage, without which my presence here today would not be possible.

Not four hundred yards from where I stand, some four centuries ago, four enslaved people—Titus, Venus, Bilhah, and Juba—lived and worked in Wadsworth House as the personal property of the president of Harvard University. My story is not their story. I am a daughter of Haitian immigrants to this country. But our stories—and the stories of the many trailblazers between us—are linked by this institution’s long history of exclusion and the long journey of resistance and resilience to overcome it. And because of the collective courage of all

those who walked that impossible distance, across centuries, and dared to create a different future, I stand before you on this stage—in this distinguished company and magnificent theatre, at this moment of challenge in our nation and in the world, with the weight and honor of being a “first”—able to say, “I am Claudine Gay, the president of Harvard University.”

Their courage, that courage, is what I want to reflect on today: The courage of this University—our resolve, against all odds—to question the world as it is and imagine and make a better one. It is what Harvard was made to do. John Adams drafted it right into the Massachusetts Constitution, to ratify our charter, celebrating the “university at Cambridge” where “wisdom and knowledge…diffused generally among the body of the people” could “preserv[e]…their rights and liberties,” spread “the opportunities and advantages of education,” and “inculcate the principles of humanity.” By continually recommitting ourselves to our central purpose, with renewed vision and vigor, we advance the prospects of humankind.

And, as every generation must believe of its own time, never have those tasks felt more urgent.

What we offer to the world will depend on Harvard’s courage—our courage—to ask two questions that propel our work—Why? and Why not? And it will depend on the courage to answer, with confidence, two others: Why here? and Why now?

Why? is a question that comes to us early in life. If you know a young child, you know this well: Why are we here? Why is the moon out during the day? Why can’t I eat ice cream for breakfast? Why is she talking so much? We may be tempted to stop asking why when we accept the default answers around us, until something sparks us to question those answers. Harvard has always been a place to ask Why? It animates our research and teaching.

Why? is the question of scientific breakthroughs, archival discoveries, fresh artistic forms, new remedies for physical and social ills. Why? rights wrongs, overturns conventional wisdom, and opens the blue sky of human pursuit and possibility.

Why? is how students and faculty move toward discovery and challenge each other to push to the next levels of understanding and insight. This simple query is the very basis of academic life.

Ideally, we shouldn’t need courage to ask Why?

We should feel no more danger of recrimination or risk of censure than a young child. But Why? pokes at things. It raises doubts and raises eyebrows. It clashes with those who may prefer, as President Kennedy once said, “the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.” To persist with Why? is to give up the safety of silence, the ease of idle chatter, the satisfaction of an echo chamber. The goal of Why? is not comfort, it is knowledge. Knowledge is what transforms lives. Knowledge is our purpose.

We serve that purpose best when we commit to open inquiry and freedom of expression as foundational values of our academic community. Our individual and collective capacity for discovery depends on our willingness to debate ideas; to expose and reconsider assumptions; to marshal facts and evidence; to talk and to listen with care and humility, and with the goal of deeper understanding and as seekers of truth. The political philosopher John Rawls—who spent 30 years on the Harvard faculty—would teach his magisterial work, A Theory of Justice,

alongside the works of those who most powerfully disagreed with him, encouraging his students to “listen for the music”—harmony, counterpoint, and all.

In that same spirit, when we embrace diversity—of backgrounds, lived experiences, and perspectives—as an institutional imperative, it’s not with a secret hope for calm or consensus. It’s because we believe in the value of dynamic engagement and the learning that happens when ideas and opinions collide. Communities that welcome diverse perspectives thrive not because they endorse all as valid but because they question all on their merits.

Now, all of this is easy to salute in the abstract, especially from these rarefied heights. But it is hard to protect in practice. Debate and the inclusion of diverse viewpoints and experiences, while essential for our work, are not always easy to live with. They can be a recipe for discomfort, fired in the heat of social media and partisan rancor. And discomfort can weaken our resolve and make us vulnerable to a rhetoric of control and containment that has no place in the academy. That is when we must summon the courage to be Harvard. To love truth enough to endure the challenge of truth-seeking and truth-telling. To love truth enough to ask Why?

The desire to understand the world urges us to ask Why? The hope to improve the world compels us to ask Why not?

Why not? is a call to action, the aspiration to do what might seem impossible: Why not improve health care in Haiti and Rwanda?

Why not get the innocent off death row?

Why not map the 100 billion neurons of the brain or close persistent gaps in education from pre-K to adult learners?

Why not fight the climate crisis on every front or keep lit the flame of exploration—in the darkest depths of the sea and the furthest reaches of space-time?

Asking Why not? should be a Harvard refrain—the willingness to sound foolish, risk ridicule, be dismissed as a dreamer. We’ve seen it time and again—the courage to take a chance, even when success seems beyond reach. And the courage to collaborate, to listen, to compromise, to grow. To bring our imaginations and talents together in a different way. I witnessed the power of asking Why not? as dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences when this space was largely emptied by a pandemic and quieted by uncertainty. We might have faltered. Many did. But we dared to work together—faculty, staff, students. Schools across the University shared ideas, resources—and our strength. We set aside long-held assumptions about teaching and research, we rethought the nature of our community, we broke down barriers to collaboration. We acted quickly and decisively, with a strong sense of shared purpose, and became a model for others. I had never been prouder to be part of this University. When I envision Harvard on our 400th anniversary, just 13 years away, I see an institution that connects in new and expanded ways, among ourselves and with society—an institution whose people ask Why not? as eagerly as they ask Why?

Why not improve people’s lives everywhere through our scholarship, outreach, and partnerships?

By building new coalitions with citizens, industry, and government, we can accelerate the discovery and dissemination of new knowledge and effective ideas to serve the public good. On

every matter of consequence, from disorders of the mind and body to disorders of the body politic, we have work to do.

Why not reach as many people as possible through our educational programs?

By using new forms of how and where we teach, hard-won during the pandemic and boosted by new technologies, we can reach more learners, change more lives, and bring the power of education to communities far beyond our campuses.

Why not open our treasure troves of books, objects, and artifacts to the world?

By increasing access to our magnificent collections, verging now on half a billion items, we cast the myriad elements of civilization into the living world—in all their error, and wisdom, and beauty—to be reconsidered, remade, and remembered by the next generation.

When we summon our courage to ask Why not?, to join new ways of thinking with new ways of acting, we expand the possibilities of what Harvard can be and what Harvard can do for the world.

We also foster the courage of those who dare to ask Why not me? A simple question that can spark profound change. The moment Margaret Fuller talked her way into the Harvard library, when women were excluded from the entire institution, and went on to publish foundational works on feminism and human rights. The day Ralph Bunche sought a graduate fellowship to Harvard’s government department and went on to help dismantle colonialism and arrange a cease-fire in the Middle East that would win him the Nobel Peace Prize. There are many among us here today whose presence would be unimaginable were it not for their courage to ask Why not me?

Which leads us, finally, to Why here? and Why now?

Harvard is blessed with outsized capacity to seek truth and to do good, imbued with awesome potential to change the lives of individuals and the prospects of communities. This means that asking Why? and Why not? is not enough—can never be enough. Harvard has a special responsibility.

A responsibility to help anchor our democracy—by cultivating norms and values essential to a free society and by ensuring the free flow of knowledge not only among students and faculty but to all citizens to enable them to make informed decisions.

A responsibility to explore, define, and help solve the most vexing problems of society—the struggle against tyranny, poverty, disease, and war; the challenge of protecting a planet and its people from the devastation of climate change. A responsibility to create opportunity—by identifying talent and promise wherever it resides and bringing that talent to Harvard. We are still on a journey that began in earnest with President Conant—to draw from a deeper pool of talent and provide our institution with the excellence it deserves and our diverse society with the leaders it needs and expects.

Of course, we cannot do these things alone. Joining us today are delegates from institutions representing states and nations near and far, and our trusted partners from state and local government who make possible our collective contributions to the country and to the Commonwealth. I hope that today strengthens our connections. You give us courage. The most compelling answer to Why here? can be found in the way we work together to help others thrive.

Continued on website at www.nycaribnews.com

The Clean Energy Transition Must Be a Just Transition

When General Motors, Chrysler, and Ford – the “Big Three” American automakers –were close to extinction 15 years ago, their workers and the American people stepped in to save them. The United Auto Workers (UAW) gave back wages and benefits they had every right to get under a contract they had negotiated just a year before. Now, rather than being paid back, union workers face getting left out of the future of the car business. And the rest of the country is being told we have Hobson’s choice when it comes to electric vehicles –we can have them, but only at a cost to our neighbors who build them.

We see this when Ford announces its slowing construction of a battery plant in Michigan. And when Donald Trump, who leads Republican presidential primary polls, goes to a non-union company outside Detroit to claim that “the auto industry is being assassinated” by the move away from dirty fuels.

Neither auto workers nor the climate can

afford for us to fall for this false narrative. If anything, we should see that momentum is moving squarely and more rapidly in the other direction. That’s what President Biden means when he says that talking about the climate is talking about good jobs.

New York’s city council voted unanimously to move its fleet of more than 30,000 municipal vehicles – the largest in the country – to buy only zero emissions cars and trucks beginning in 2025, and heavier vehicles after 2028. By 2035, the entire city fleet will be zero emission.

That’s the same year that California, New York and 14 other states will require all cars and trucks sold to be zero emission vehicles. The standards they’ve agreed to ask carmakers to increase the share of electric vehicles they sell slowly and continuously over the next 13 years.

This isn’t a rash rush to abandon the internal combustion engine and gas pumps overnight, even if our warming planet may

need quicker action. That fearmongering is inaccurate and misplaced. It’s a measured, unmistakable direction that UAW leaders see clearly. Their members must benefit from that, they told me when we met in Detroit last month.

Instead, the Big Three have been pushing battery making and electric vehicle assembly to states that don’t offer union workers protection or to plants created through joint ventures that allow them to operate outside the UAW’s deal.

This is an all-too-familiar pattern in this country’s history -- corporations, billionaires, and the politicians representing their interests pitting poor and working Americans who actually aspire to the same future against each other. They do it with hyperboles like assassination and altering established expansion plans. We’re well beyond 2008. Profits for the Big Three are soaring. Consumers want electric vehicles, and as a nation we’re encouraging them to buy them through

tax credits passed last year. It’s those cars and trucks that we’ll drive into a livable future. We must ensure that clean energy transition is a fair one to the people who will make it possible.

Ben Jealous is executive director of the Sierra Club, the nation’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization. He is a professor of practice at the University of Pennsylvania and author of “Never Forget Our People Were Always Free,” published in January.

Tenth Annual Wrongful Conviction Day Shines Light on Injustice

Founded by the Innocence Network, a collective of organizations dedicated to offering pro-bono legal and investigative services for those seeking exoneration, Wrongful Conviction Day aims to rectify the root causes of these miscarriages of justice while also providing support to the exonerated as they reintegrate into society.

October 2, 2023, marks the Tenth Annual Wrongful Conviction Day, a global initiative to raise awareness about the pervasive issue of wrongful convictions and its profound impact on innocent individuals and their families.

Founded by the Innocence Network, a collective of organizations dedicated to offering pro-bono legal and investigative services for those seeking exoneration, Wrongful Conviction Day aims to rectify the root causes of these miscarriages of justice while also providing support to the exonerated as they reintegrate into society. Since its inception in 1989, over 3,320 wrongful convictions have been unearthed nationwide, resulting in a staggering cumulative loss of 29,500 years for those unjustly incarcerated. Today, it remains impossible to ascertain the exact number of innocent individuals still languishing behind bars. However, experts estimate that between 2% and 5% of the nearly 2 million incarcerated in the US are victims of wrongful convictions, indicating that anywhere from 40,000 to 100,000 people are presently suffering this grave injustice. Recent studies show a 70% increase in

wrongful convictions in five years. Analysis of those cases showed race is a significant influence in wrongful convictions.

Race and Wrongful Convictions in the United States 2022 examined 3,200 innocent people exonerated in the U.S. from 1989. They concluded that Black Americans are seven times more likely than white Americans to be wrongfully convicted of severe crimes. This applies to all significant crimes except white-collar crime.

White homicide victims are roughly twice as likely to be wrongfully convicted. Black people are eight times more likely to be wrongfully convicted for sexual assault than white people. White victims are much more likely to be wrongfully convicted than Black victims.

Drug offenses show the most significant racial differences. African Americans are 19 times more likely to be wrongfully convicted of drug crimes. Wrongfully convicted Black persons serve harsher sentences than innocent white people in all crime categories.

Organizers at The Innocence Network

noted that this Wrongful Conviction Day is a rallying call to educate and disseminate knowledge about this pressing issue. The Innocence Network, a loose coalition of independent innocence organizations, has remained at the forefront of the battle, working tirelessly to combat wrongful convictions globally and advocate for systemic reform in the criminal legal system.

While most Network members focus on providing legal representation for the wrongfully convicted, a select few are exclusively dedicated to aiding and assisting those exonerated, helping them transition back into society.

As the Tenth Annual Wrongful Conviction Day unfolds, the Network said they are urging individuals worldwide to join the cause, advocating for justice, and supporting the fight against wrongful convictions,

ultimately striving to ensure that every person receives the fair and just treatment they deserve under the law.

“The number of innocent Americans in prison or jail is disturbing,” NBA coaching legend Doc Rivers, an advocate of the Innocent Project, stated. “Our system fails too many of us, and any person who has been wrongfully convicted deserves justice.”

CMBC 28 - 2023 Unveils Conference Discussions

The 2023 Caribbean Multi-National Business Conference will resume its in-person conference from November 16 - 19, 2023, at Sandals Ochi Beach Resort Conference Center in Jamaica. The theme for this year is “Global Innovation, Driving Change, Collaboration and Growth” promises to address the dynamics of this changing world.

Since the launch of the annual Carib News Business Conference 27 years ago, the world has experienced life-altering changes. Significant, rapid, and impactful innovations have been seen in technology, politics, global demographics, world system integration, climate change and, of course, public health.

The 2023 conference distinguished guest speakers will include Global Private Sector

Industry Thought Leaders and Innovators,  Prime Ministers, Presidents, members of the US Congress, members of the UK Parliament, and Cultural Ambassadors all of whom are impacting meaningful collaboration and leading game changing  efforts in the frontier markets Ambassador Andrew Young calls the “Golden Triangle” of people of color: Africa, the Caribbean, and the United States. Some of the highlight discussions you can expect for 2023 include:

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16

Golden Triangle – Communities and Countries of Color - Caribbean, African, and African American Realizing the Promise & Potential

Golden Triangle – Communities and Countries of Color - The Garveyism Alive

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 17

Connecting Global Businesses in the Heart of the Caribbean - Premier Event of International Business Leaders

Keynote Address - “The Value of the Golden Triangle – Collaboration - Partners Investment - Fostering Economic Development

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 18

Africa, Caribbean, US - A Necessary Path to Development - A Strategic Alliance

The PJ Patterson Center at UWI - For Advocacy to Advance the Economic and Cultural Development of Africa, The

Caribbean and the Diaspora Leadership Forum - Urgent Need of Collaboration to Strengthen the Golden Triangle - Communities and Countries of Color

See www.cmbc2023.com for the full schedule.

When: NOVEMBER 16 - 19, 2023

A weekend that changes lives. Celebrating 28 years of cultivating excellence.

Where: SANDALS OCHI BEACH RESORT CONFERENCE CENTER Jamaica.

The Caribbean’s only luxury 5 star inclusive resort.

2023 Speakers -Lorna Mae Johnson & Amir Windom

Lorna Mae Johnson

President of CribMD

Lorna Mae Johnson is an immigrant of Cuban and Jamaican descent, an Olympic qualifying athlete who competed alongside famed US Sprinters – Alice Brown, Florence Griffith-Joyner, and Evelyn Ashford. She is also a medical midwife, health expert, and philanthropist with several global businesses. She graduated from the University of Southern California (USC), and a Clinical Professor and Lecturer at UCLA School of Medicine.

She is a fierce and proven successful business leader and philanthropist. She is a member of President Biden’s National Finance Committee and served as Chair of the Biden Presidential Inaugural Committee. She was appointed by President Obama to serve on his Advisory Committee on the Arts at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She also served as a member of President Obama’s Advisory Board on Healthcare and on his National Finance Committee. Continuing the legacy of her mother, Johnson has been a dedicated philanthropist and community

leader. As the CEO of AFC Management Company and CFO for AFC Medical Group, I provided maternal healthcare in East Los Angeles, serving women who all too often were suffering from a lack of proper maternal healthcare. The serial real estate investor worked to build the business for a community in need. She is the Founder and CEO of the LMJ Global Foundation (formerly Compassion for Teen Life), a non-profit organization providing supportive services focused on living healthy lifestyles and the importance of continuing education to low-income children and their families globally. She is also the President of CribMD, offering low-cost medical services from online to door-step outreach. She now invests in communities both locally and around the world, from East Los Angeles to Jamaica, Malawi, and beyond. She hosts a Virtual Town Hall, “Live with Lorna.” Lorna, alongside Melinda Gates, is an Essayist with the UN Foundation for Women and Girls, and a globally recognized speaker on issues surrounding women, girls, and finance.

Amir Windom

Grammy Award Winning Record & Entertainment Executive

Amir Windom is regarded as one of the nation’s top young leaders and creative minds of his generation. He has accumulated success in the world of entertainment, media, business, and marketing by asserting his skills in the music, film and television industry.

An Atlanta native, Amir has worked in all aspects of the music business working at historic record labels particularly in the brand marketing and A&R divisions. As an executive of A&R/Creative Services, Amir has been a key piece in the careers of some of today’s biggest stars, including Bruno Mars, Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Lupe Fiasco and Trey Songz, to name just a few. Amir’s distinguished career has provided him opportunities to creatively contribute to numerous GRAMMY Award-winning artists, songs, albums and film soundtracks that have sold millions of records and won many awards.

Amir is currently a television and film music supervisor, producing and placing music, as well as creating original scores and designing creative strategies for major film companies, such as Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures and Lionsgate Films. His projects include feature films like Despicable Me 2, Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man; Why Did I Get Married 2; Bad Dad Rehab; and Stomp The Yard 2 to name a few. Amir’s projects also include highly-rated network and cable television series like Insecure (HBO), Bigger (BET) Being Mary Jane (BET), ALPHAS (SyFy), and Entourage (HBO).

Amir executive produced and music supervised the critically-acclaimed film Canal Street, starring lead actor Bryshere Gray of FOX’s Empire, Mykelti Williamson, Mekhi Phifer, Lance Reddick and Woody McClain to name a few.

Amir has also helped develop global marketing campaigns for major brands like The Co-

ca-Cola Company (Summer Olympics 2016 & Respect Your Verse), Kodak (So Kodak feat Drake & Rihanna), ESPN, and more.

In February 2020, Amir made history as he was a part of a collective that launched Black News Channel, the first major tv network that airs 24 hour news and original programming specifically catered to the African American audience. The network launched to over 80 million homes and devices via DirecTV, Comcast, Dish, Charter/Spectrum, Roku and Amazon Prime.

Amir has been honored with the prestigious “40/40” award by his alma mater, Florida A&M University, solely given to alumni under the age of 40 who’ve made outstanding career strides and achievements. He was named one of Black Enterprise Magazine 50 Top Business and Modern Man, was penned as a “Young Leader to Watch” by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and named one of the “Top 35 Millennials” in the country by the Next Big Thing Movement.

Keeping in stride with his efforts to give back, Amir has been a featured speaker around the globe on numerous tours and conferences, as well as at various colleges and universities, including Harvard University, University of Southern California, Howard University, New York University, University of Kentucky, Operation Smile Global Conference-Ireland, South Africa Music and Entertainment Symposium, Empower Me Tour, Radio One Music Summit, Steve Harvey’s Mentoring Summit, the GRAMMY Foundation, and more.

Amir loves all things creative, but he also loves improving the quality life around him. For this reason, Amir worked very closely with numerous national organizations, such as 100 Black Men of America, Operation Smile, and Grammy Foundation to create mentoring and leadership programs. Amir serves on the board of ZT Corporate/Altus Foundation, the Grammy Foundation, and the FAMU Board of Visitors for the School of Journalism.

Nareb Launches 60-City Building Black Wealth Tour With 10/7 Event In Houston To Bring Critical Information To Communities

WASHINGTON – The National Association of Real Estate Brokers(NAREB) holds its initial Building Black Wealth Tour event in Houston on Saturday, October 7, kicking off activities in more than 60 cities nationwide. The events, which include festive activities for youths, will empower Black communities with steps towards homeownership, property investment, starting a business, and other wealth-building opportunities.

Working with the African American Mayors Association and the National Bar Association, NAREB will sponsor the events in cities nationwide over the next two years. Each event will include classes, workshops, and one-on-one counseling on homebuying, investing, credit, and careers in real estate. The tour will include Birmingham (11/11/23), Charlotte (3/2/24), Mt. Vernon (4/13/24), Little Rock 6/8/24), New Orleans (8/3/24), Atlanta (11/9/24), Miramar (3/25), Beverly Hills, MO (6/25) and Los Angeles (8/25).

“The time for action on Black Wealth is now,” exclaimed NAREB President Dr. Courtney Johnson Rose. “NAREB is urging our Black communities to take the journey towards wealth. Come to our

events in your city and learn what you need to purchase a home. We are helping Black families overcome the biased public policies and private practices that created the vast wealth gap in America today.”

Dr. Rose noted that the Federal Reserve says, on average, Black families own about 24 cents for every $1 of White family wealth. Homeownership, a critical component of Black wealth, declined for Blacks every quarter since the pandemic, leaving Blacks with the lowest percentage of homeowners in America. Despite the contributions of the 1968 Fair Housing Act, 55 years later, the racial homeownership gap has widened. In 1960, 38% of Blacks owned homes, while White homeownership was 65%, a 27-point gap. Today, the gap is nearly 30%, the most extensive spread since 1890.

Yet, the NAREB State of Housing in Black America (SHIBA) report says there are more than two million mortgage-ready Black Americans. These families and individuals have the credit and income to qualify for a home mortgage. The NAREB Building Black Wealth Tour will go to communities nationwide, find these families and individuals, educate them,

and inspire them to build wealth. “Systematic racism has plagued our communities and impeded our ability to gain wealth,” Dr. Rose said. “but we can overcome these challenges by working together.”

NAREB hosted a Building Black Wealth Tour rally at the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Caucus last month. “When talking about owning a home and fighting for Black homeownership, you’re not just owning a home. We’re owning a part of the future,” Van Jones, author and political commentator, said at the rally. “We need to own the future in this totality. We need to stabilize our communities, own our communities, bring proper education for the 21st century to our community so that our kids are not just downloading apps that somebody else made and moving their thumbs around on somebody else’s app.”

NAREB signed agreements with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity at the event to support the tour.

“We’re excited to launch this new partnership, which furthers our Financial Fortitude initiative and elevates the work we do to empower our communities through economic development,” said Delta Na-

tional President Elsie Cooke Holmes. Also speaking was Dr. Joseph Lonzer, General President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; Mayor Shawn Howard Patterson, President of the African American Mayors Association; Phyllis Dickerson, Chief Executive Officer of the African American Mayors Association; Dr. Meghan Venable-Thomas, Director of Birmingham Community Development; Bobby Henry, Board Chair, National Newspaper Publishers Association; and Dominque Calhoun, President of the National Bar Association. “The Black community has lacked the resources of other communities, and our goal is to end disparities and help Black communities thrive,” Dr. Rose said. “The Building Black Wealth Tour will provide critical data, information, and advice to community members. We will ensure that community members know about homeownership opportunities, heirs and estate property, and real estate investing. And cutting-edge tools that can help them take the next step.”

T&T – President for Autonomy for Tobago

nians buzzing.

For years, people have been working to give Tobago autonomy. The Tobago Self Government Bill 2021 and the Tobago Island Government Bill 2021, which would amend the constitution, will be discussed during the current legislative session.

Guyana – MP Stopped at Airport, Prevented from Attending US Black Caucus

President Christine Kangaloo unexpectedly called for the independence Tobago has been clamoring for, saying the moment had come for it to be done once and for all. This has Tobago-

When Kangaloo made her first trip to Tobago and met with Farley Augustine, the chief secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly, she said that it was time to move legislation ahead to grant Tobago autonomy. She claimed, “I believe the time has come for there to be a new, and it is hoped, a final legislative push to secure autonomy for Tobago. That time is now and history will not absolve us if we, those who sit in this time in our nation’s history, do not do that which is required to secure Tobago’s autonomy once and for all.”

The measures are now in committee and need a special majority in Parliament to pass.

The Guyana Police Force released a statement in an effort to apologize that noted, “The Guyana Police Force would like to apologize to Member of Parliament Mr. David Patter-

son, whose name inadvertently remained on an Immigration Department’s watchlist. Mr. Patterson’s name was placed on the watchlist in July 2023 during an ongoing investigation by the Police into accusation of indecent exposure. The Guyana Police Force has internal SOPs to deal with such issues, and a full probe is underway by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) as to why Mr. Patterson’s name was not removed earlier from the list. Mr. Patterson’s name has since been removed from the watchlist.”

Patterson’s Attorney noted in a statement, “APNU+AFC Member of Parliament David Patterson was last night blocked at the CJIA from attending a meeting with the US Black Congressional Caucus in Washington despite having clearance from a court to travel.”

Dominica – Gov’t Amnesty for Guns and Ammunition

The Dominica government last Thursday announced a month-long gun and ammunition amnesty ahead of going to parliament and significantly amending legislation allowing for stiffer penalties for gun-related crimes. National security minister Rayburn Blackmoore told a news conference that the amnesty would begin next month.

He also disclosed that the proposed legislative changes would allow for persons to be denied bail while awaiting trial on gun charges. Blackmoore recalled that a similar amnesty was offered in 2007. He said that based on the current situation he felt the need to propose that another gun and ammunition amnesty “be offered to the nation for a short period.

Guyana – US$14 Million Regional Food Hub

Guyana says it is moving ahead with plans to establish a US$14 million regional food hub to become a primary food production center for the Caribbean.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, who met with the President of the Islamic Development Bank, Dr.Mohammed Sulaiman, emphasized Guyana’s desire to become the regional food hub.

“We want Guyana to be the food hub, the primary production hub of the Caribbean so that we could supply the Caribbean. What we have,

our colleagues in the Caribbean don’t have. We have arable flat land and abundant fresh water. Now with the investment coming on board, we can modernize the infrastructure, and start ramping up the productions,” he said. The facility has already been identified on the Soesdyke /Linden Highway in the country.

Guyana is the leading Caribbean Community country pushing ahead with plans to reduce the multi-billion-dollar regional food import bill by 25 percent by 2025.

Jamaica – Juliet Holness to be Speaker of The House

ity” party won with a resounding victory, she has served as deputy speaker.

Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert abruptly resigned, and the Speaker’s post fell empty. In the wake of the Integrity Commission’s leaked report, which recommended eight criminal charges against Dalrymple-Philibert for the omissions she made on her statutory declarations for the years 2015–2021. Dalrymple-Philibert also stepped down as the Member of Parliament for Trelawny Southern, due to growing concerns that urge the speaker to resign.

“Let me just say that a gun and amnesty program is a period for non-prosecution that allows people to surrender their illegal firearms or unregistered firearms without fear of legal jeopardy or being charged or prosecuted. “This amnesty therefore is directed to two distinct sets of people. Firstly, those who know

that they are in possession of illegal firearms or ammunition, and secondly, those who are perhaps innocent custodians of a weapon, or component of ammunition and possibly even unsure as to its legal status but are too frightened to do anything about it.”

Since

Heroy Clarke, a representative for St. James Central, was named deputy speaker as a result of Holness’ promotion.

Juliet Holness, a representative representing St. Andrew East Rural, was recently appointed Speaker of the House of Representatives.

the re-election of the Jamaica Labour Party in September 2020, when the “Prosper-

Sandals Resorts is Giving Away a Free Vacation to a Summer Romance that Became the Real Thing

Ahead of ‘Cuffing Season,’ the Caribbean’s leading resort brand is giving newly committed couples the chance to win an intimate escape

With the summer season coming to a close, “cuffing season” is quickly approaching - the period from October to just after Valentine’s Day when summer romance turns into real relationships as the heat fades to welcome winter weather. The Caribbean’s leading all-inclusive resort brand, Sandals Resorts, is celebrating new found love by giving away one free honeymoon period to a newly official couple. Through December 1, couples can fill out a brief questionnaire sharing the story of how and when they met, for a chance to win a free three-night stay at one of Sandals’ 18 island resorts.

“We have long championed the search for real, genuine, storybook romance, and believe that all relationships, whether time weathered and stable or newly sparked and riveting, should be celebrated,” said

Marsha-Ann Donaldson-Brown, Sandals Resorts’ Director of Romance. “This is why we are eager to give one lucky couple the chance to experience what Sandals does best: provide quality time in a captivating setting, giving couples an opportunity to take their relationship to the next level of connection in a place where they can return to year after year.”

A recent survey conducted by the Sandals Institute of Romance cited beach vacations (67%) and secluded places (57%) as the preferred settings for connection among adults, giving all the more reason for newly committed couples to solidify their relationship with a tropical escape to any one of Sandals’ all-inclusive resorts – from the newly opened Sandals Dunn’s River in majestic Ocho Rios, Jamaica, to the soon-to-open Sandals Saint Vincent and The Grenadines (coming March 2024) and beyond.

The winning couple will enjoy luxury accommodations with views of the bright blue Caribbean sea, an array of culinary

experiences, unlimited watersports and scuba diving for certified divers, complimentary green fees at select Sandals locations, and more – all complemented by the Caribbean’s most beautiful sunsets.

*Restrictions and limitations may apply.

To enter to win, visit https://sandals.com/ justcuffed. Entries must be made from October 1 to December 1, and the sweepstakes winner will be announced on December 5, 2023.

Caribbean Region- Strategy To Improve Mental Health - PAHO

WASHINGTON – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on Wednesday approved a new regional strategy aimed at improving mental health and suicide prevention in America, including the Caribbean, and mobilizing resources to respond to the demand for care.

Delegates attending the PAHO 60th Directing Council meeting said the new strategy responds to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the increased prevalence of mental health problems and related disruptions in essential services. The “Strategy for Improving Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in the Region of the Americas,” aims to guide PAHO member states in their efforts through an equity- and rights-based approach to mental health care, taking into account the national context, needs and priorities.

“Even before the pandemic, we were already facing a significant burden of mental illnesses with inadequate care for those affected, which was further exacerbated by COVID-19 pandemic. This

strategy aims to support countries to prioritize mental health by integrating it into all policies,” said Dr. Anselm Hennis, PAHO’s director of the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health.

According to the document, the pandemic has worsened pre-existing mental health conditions, such as major depressive and anxiety disorders, which increased by 35 and 32 percent, respectively during 2020 in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The most recent data show that each year almost 100 000 people die by suicide in the Americas, making it the only World Health Organization (WHO) region where the suicide rate is on the rise.

Women, young people, indigenous populations, Afro-descendants, and members of other ethnic groups, as well as people living in poverty and those with pre-existing mental health disorders, are among the most severely affected.

PAHO said despite the high costs associated with mental health issues and suicides in the region, care is not always priori

Senator Kevin Parker Hosts 5th Annual Edward Swire Memorial Blood Drive

the incredible dedication of community members who understand the importance of giving back. Together, we have made a difference and saved lives.”

tized, and the funding for addressing mental health is insufficient, with only a small fraction of national health budgets, around three percent allocated to this area. The regional strategy establishes six lines of action to address this issue. They include building mental health leadership, governance, and multi-sectoral partnerships, integrate mental health in all policies; improving the availability, accessibility, and quality of community-based services for mental health conditions, and supporting the advance of deinstitutionalization and advancing mental health promotion and prevention strategies and

activities throughout the life course. In addition, it calls for reinforcing the integration of mental health and psychosocial support in emergency contexts; strengthening data, evidence, and research and making suicide prevention a national whole-of-government priority and build multi-sectoral capacity to respond to people affected by suicidal behaviors. In June 2023, the PAHO High-Level Commission on Mental Health and COVID-19 published its final report on how to move forward on mental health in the region, whose recommendations underpin the new strategy. (CMC)

Brooklyn, NY – State Senator Kevin Parker proudly hosted the 5th Annual Edward Swire Memorial Blood Drive in partnership with Sons of a King Lodge #123 on Saturday, September 23. The event, held at Vanderveer Park United Methodist Church, was a resounding success, bringing the community together to support a crucial cause and save countless lives.

“We are honored to have organized such a meaningful event in memory of Edward Swire,” said Senator Kevin Parker. “The blood drive’s success is a testament to

The 5th Annual Edward Swire Memorial Blood Drive saw an overwhelming response from residents, with a recordbreaking number of 38 participants, resulting in 40 life-saving donations. Mark Alexander, Worship Master from Sons of a King Lodge #123, expressed his appreciation for the community’s support. “It is through the sweat and tears of the members of any organization that keep it going,” said Alexander. “The blood donated at our 5th Annual Edward Swire memorial blood drive will help so many people that are in dire need. This is one of the highest forms of charity.”

The event brought together individuals from all lifestyles who recognized the importance of blood donations and understood their potential to save lives. As a result of their combined efforts, the event surpassed previous years in terms of the amount of blood donated to the community’s blood supply.

Sean Paul Unveils Explosive Remix of “Summa Hot”

New York, NY – Global dancehall icon Sean Paul is set to elevate the summer season to new heights with the scorching remix of his hit single “Summa Hot.” Collaborating with legendary rap artist Busta Rhymes and dancehall sensation Skillibeng, this highly anticipated release is guaranteed to ignite dancefloors worldwide. The “Summa Hot” remix is available for streaming and download.

Building on the foundation of the original track that is seeing great traction on the airwaves globally, Sean Paul decided to reinvent “Summa Hot” by enlisting the lyrical prowess of Busta Rhymes and the infectious energy of Skillibeng. This remix showcases not only their formidable talents but also pays homage to the everlasting confidence of women who radiate an unparalleled heat and are simply ‘eva hot’.

Produced by the eminent Suku Ward and the renowned Dutty Rock Productions, the “Summa Hot” remix exemplifies the undeniable musical chemistry between the artists involved. Boasting a captivating fusion of reggae, dancehall, and hip-hop elements, this collaboration pushes boundaries and blurs genres, making it a must-listen for music enthusiasts across the globe. In his illustrious career spanning over two decades, Sean Paul has consistently delivered chart-topping hits that have transcen-

ded borders. His ability to adapt and evolve while staying true to his Jamaican roots has cemented his status as a trailblazer within the industry. With the release of the “Summa Hot” remix, Sean Paul celebrates the longevity of the song, which has become synonymous with the summer season.

Joining forces with Busta Rhymes, an icon synonymous with impactful verses and fiery delivery, adds a new dimension to the remix. Known for his distinctive style, Busta Rhymes brings his unparalleled charisma and lyrical dexterity to the track, leaving listeners craving for more.

Rising dancehall sensation Skillibeng, known for his raw lyricism and innovative sound, injects his signature flavor into the remix, complementing the vibrant energy of Sean Paul and Busta Rhymes. Together, these musical powerhouses create a sonic masterpiece that is destined to become an instant hit. The “Summa Hot” remix, distributed by the esteemed music platform ONErpm, promises to captivate fans with its pulsating rhythm and infectious melodies. This release undoubtedly sets the stage for a scorching end to the summer season, providing a much-needed musical escape and pure enjoyment for listeners worldwide.

Don’t miss out on the explosive collaboration that is set to heat

up your playlists; be sure to stream or download the “Summa Hot” remix by Sean Paul featuring Busta Rhymes and Skillibeng on all major music platforms.

Bounty Killer: Dancehall Needs to Improve ‘Production Wise’

noted.

Producer JonFX claimed in October of last year that the rise of the internet had led to the exclusion of seasoned producers from the music-making process, which in turn had resulted in the majority of Jamaican songs being of poor quality.

“Social media gave us a lot of ego. That’s one. There was a time when artists use to be humble, wait at the studio. Now you have a guy send them a speaker with a laptop, they have a studio. That’s another issue that we have. We have to get into the humility,” he remarked.

bers,” and the producer who serves on the Florida Chapter Board of the Recording Academy (GRAMMYS) agreed, noting as well that some artists even misunderstand streaming services like Spotify.

“I hear an artiste seh to me that you muss

put out a bunch a songs to trigger the Spotify algorithm. What are you talking about? Those records from Jamaica that hit, they are being in the United States for 57 weeks. That’s more than a year. And the records have to grow,” the mega hits producer explained.

Dancehall legend Bounty Killer whose real name is Rodney Price expressed worry about the proliferation of “disposable” tracks and the poor mixing and production of a large portion of the new music being created in Jamaica.

In a recent interview with CVM Television, Bounty discussed his new Moment Bomb EP, which he co-produced with producer Dave Kelly and fellow musician Cham. Bounty added that the time has come for Dancehall to step up, especially in light of persistent rumors that the genre is “leaning on death’s door.”

The “Look into My Eye” singer noted, “At this stage of the game, we have to move to another level. Because we are having a lot of disposable music, and people are saying the music deteriorating, and we don’t have a stance on the global stage anymore and Afrobeats take Dancehall spot… We have to make our presence felt right now. We need to step up to the plate.”

“Production-wise, our music is off-par. Music [is] not mixing properly and the production is not done properly. And is not just voicing a good song; is putting a production together. It have to properly produced, and market and promote. And we jus waan voice a bad song an give it an think seh ‘oh das how it work’,” he

The renowned entertainment journalist Anthony Miller and the award-winning producer were speaking about the state of Jamaican music production at the time. Miller had earlier said that “new artistes will tell you they not going back to where the producers call the shots and tell us what to do.” This prompted the award-winning producer’s remarks. A well-structured song and potential success depend on learning and understanding the fundamentals of music, according to the producer.

In addition to encouraging young Jamaicans to use their own music methodologies and sounds, endorse their own culture, go to the studio, protege and learn from these experts like he did, JonFX attributes his own successes, including his net worth, to the techniques he learned as a child from Jamaican music producers, whom he refers to as “the masters.” He noted, “I use these techniques to constantly get those platinum records. And I constantly get them now.”

One of Jon FX’s major Dancehall achievements was producing Sizzla Kalonji’s I’m Yours album. Jon FX has long said that the poor quality of local music productions is to blame for Jamaican music’s lackluster performance on overseas charts and in GRAMMY nomination pools. He had noted that this frequently leads to sound equalization issues and improper mixing and mastering of songs, which causes the midrange to be too loud when music is played on sound systems.

Miller said that “the sound of the music has got to be a little bit more sophisticated, better mixed, better mastered to rack up the num-

For SANDALS® Guests, A New Wonder: A First Look at SANDALS SVG Opening Spring 2024

BUCCAMENT, SVG – Tucked away against a rainforest backdrop between lush green mountains that meet a cobalt blue sea, Sandals® Resorts’ newest all-inclusive resort in Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, will mark the ninth Caribbean destination and 18th Sandals Resort for Sandals Resorts International (SRI) when it welcomes its first guests on March 27, 2024. Now open for reservations, the more than 50-acre sprawling resort unlocks an entirely new island experience that invites guests to bask in its unspoiled beauty with Two-Story Overwater Villas, meandering rivers, and other sensational “Sandals Firsts.”

“This resort is a dream more than two decades in the making – from the moment we laid eyes on Vincy, as the locals lovingly call her, and felt this sense of magic and wonder and awe so palpable you could almost touch it,” said Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International.

Belonging to the lesser Antilles and neighboring Saint Lucia and Grenada, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines is home to a collection of 32 islands and cays that offer exotic landscapes

with natural delights, from its rushing rivers to the rolling highlands and volcanic peaks –coveted as a secluded Eastern Caribbean gem. Originally conceived as a Beaches Resort –SRI’s family friendly brand – the resort’s very location within a serene valley revealed its adult appeal and destiny to join the Sandals family.

“A true diamond of a place, she meets every possibility to deliver an exceptional experience worthy of her very site. Handpicked for its stunning location within an alluring west-facing valley, mere moments away from untouched cays, cliffside caves and coves, our guests will soon loll in the beauty of Sandals Saint Vincent and The Grenadines,” Stewart said.

“In Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, travel advisors will find a true partner, as her beauty goes far beyond a stunning landscape,” said Gary Sadler, Executive Vice President of Sales and Industry Relations for Unique Vacations, Inc. (UVI), an affiliate of Unique Travel Corp., the worldwide representative of Sandals® Resorts. “Here, visitors will be enveloped by a local culture that radiates warmth and exudes

an inspiring joy of life. We are confident that Sandals Saint Vincent and The Grenadines will captivate guests and look forward to working with travel advisors to showcase this untouched destination.”

‘Next Level’ Accommodations

Sandals Saint Vincent and The Grenadines will offer 301 superbly appointed rooms and the portfolio’s most expansive suites to date, with Two-Bedroom Butler Villas spanning across the waterfront - a “Sandals First.” Interiors throughout feature special biophilic elements and the warmth of local volcanic materials, and views intentionally framing the unique flora. Vincy Overwater Two-Story Villas reimagine Sandals’ iconic suites, with an evolved design across two stories built directly atop the sea, complete with a rooftop outdoor lounge with views as far as the eye can see. Select villas and suites throughout the resort up the ante with a dedicated space for movie nights in, and private fitness rooms with Technogym equipment, athletic programming, and an assortment of free weights.

Dining: All That’s Fresh

Surrounded by bountiful local fresh herbs, produce, fish and even one of the largest cattle farms in the Caribbean, dining at Sandals Saint Vincent and The Grenadines will bring the local agriculture forward for guests to savor across 16 food and beverage concepts. As the brand’s first communal-style restaurant, Buccan’s menu of seasonal platters meant for sharing will be complemented by an action-packed open kitchen. Imoro, an all-new grab and go concept named for the local indigenous word for ‘green,’ will serve healthy bowls best enjoyed waterside. Local materials, playful patterns, and tropical plants will adorn Three Jewels, a rum bar (and ode to the flag of Saint Vincent and The Grenadines) serving Eastern Caribbean rums as well as new creations ranging from zero-proof to spirit-forward, all served to the sounds of Caribbean vinyl classics.

Continued on website at www.nycaribnews.com

Routes Introduces New Tours Ahead of the Upcoming Winter Season

Island

MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA - Award-winning travel company Island Routes, which has made authentic discovery of the Caribbean its mission, announces 22 new tours across five island destinations including Barbados, Curaçao, St. Lucia, the Bahamas and Jamaica, available for guests to book now.

“Demand for authentic exploration of the Caribbean continues to grow, with bookings on par and better than 2019, a record-breaking year for Caribbean tourism,” said David Black, Head of Global Sales for Island Routes. “From high-spirited adventure and water-based fun to culinary pursuits and fine art, our tours are led by true destination experts, giving guests the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the local culture of the unique destinations we serve.”

Island Routes’ new tour highlights include:

- Taste of Barbados Culinary ExperienceSpend an evening at the renowned Worthing Square, enjoying the incredible flavors and aromatic spices of freshly cooked Bajan-style seafood and other island delicacies, complemented by reggae and calypso music.

- Barbados Obstacle Course & Zipline Experience - Adventurous travelers can take on the Caribbean’s largest obstacle course and zipline over 100 feet above the lush tropical greenery, followed by the Mount Gay History Experience, diving into the birthplace of rum.

- Harrison’s Cave & Zipline ExperienceExplore one of Barbados’ most unique natural phenomena at Harrison’s Cave, formed over thousands of years with glistening stalactites and stalagmites, running streams, and underground waterfalls led by an expert guide, followed by an exhilarating zipline experience.

- Curaçao Catamaran & Shipwreck Snorkel Cruise - Journey to Curaçao’s most iconic underwater sites and experience some of the best snorkeling on the island, including a tugboat wreck and colorful reef, followed by a barbeque lunch with Caribbean-favorite cocktails and

tropical fruits.

- Curaçao Chichi Doll Painting ExperienceTake a guided walk through some of the most beautiful visual art projects made by talented artists in Curaçao’s colorful Kaya Kaya District, then visit the home of the world-famous Chichis, Serena’s Art Factory. There, travelers will have the opportunity to paint their own Chichi doll for an authentic and personalized souvenir.

- Nassau Power Catamaran Cruise & Beach Break - Cruise along the gorgeous turquoise waters of Nassau’s coastline aboard a stateof-the-art catamaran, stopping at some of the island’s best snorkeling and beach spots including Athol’s Island and Rose Island. Onboard, guests can enjoy appetizers, rum punch and plenty of dance music.

- Luxury Catamaran Evening Charter St. Lucia

- Spend an evening admiring the fiery St. Lucia sunset on a luxury catamaran. Guests will cruise smoothly out to sea with a perfect evening ambiance, complete with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, Caribbean music and a captivatingly colorful backdrop.

In addition to exciting new experiences, Island Routes is offering new transportation options that make it easy for guests to fast-track through the airport and enjoy top attractions and tours across three islands. This includes airport transfers to and from NMIA to Kingston and Ocho Rios; Barbados airport transfers with fast track and lounge services; Barbados transfers to Silver Sands, Eco Stables, Speightstown and Barbados Golf Course, Freight Bay; and a departure helicopter shuttle to Hewanorra Airport in St. Lucia.

Island Routes’ excursions are available in eight Caribbean destinations including Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Curacao, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Lucia and Turks & Caicos.

For more information about Island Routes and to learn more about the new tours, visit islandroutes.com.

All-Inclusive Fun: Blue Diamond Resorts Takes the Lead With Pickleball Courts

engaging activities.

This addition to their fitness portfolio is an integral part of the Royalton FIT and PUMPED programs, available at Royalton Luxury Resorts and Planet Hollywood Beach Resorts, respectively. These programs are comprehensive entertainment packages with a strong fitness focus, offering a diverse range of workout options to ensure that travelers can stay active and engaged with their fitness goals even while on vacation.

Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort, and after the huge success on guests’ satisfaction, it was expanded to all other selected properties. The response from guests has been overwhelmingly positive, with a significant number of them eager to participate in this activity during the 13 hours the courts are open for service. Guests can also anticipate spirited matches at all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Antigua, Saint Lucia, and Grenada.

Blue Diamond Resorts is showcasing its dedication to guest well-being with the introduction of Pickleball as a highlight in its innovative fitness programs, Royalton FIT and PUMPED. Having successfully launched this popular sport at its all-inclusive properties in Cancun, the hotel management company is now poised to extend this trend-setting entertainment option to its resorts in the Caribbean by the end of this year, further solidifying its commitment to providing guests with

“The introduction of Pickleball courts to our resorts, along with modern facilities and state-of-the-art equipment and instructor-led activities, reflects our dedication to staying at the forefront of the industry, ensuring that our guests can both relax and maintain their workout routines during their getaway,” said Jurgen Stutz, Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Distribution for Blue Diamond Resorts. “By having a dedicated space for this sport, which has rapidly gained popularity in the United States and Canada, we not only adhere to the latest trends but also meet our guests’ demand and exceed their expectations,” he added.

The hotel management company initially introduced this trendy sport at its newest resort, Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun, An

As part of the all-inclusive experience, guests are provided with all the necessary equipment for Pickleball, including paddles and balls, and can participate in sessions and classes by appointment.

Blue Diamond Resorts’ indoor and outdoor fitness program stands as one of the most comprehensive in the hotel industry. With Royalton FIT & PUMPED programs, they continually innovate, transcending traditional offerings to provide an extensive array of options tailored to diverse preferences and goals. The introduction of new activities like Pickleball further underscores their commitment to creating unforgettable vacation experiences.

Concacaf Launches Bigger Game Program in Costa Rica Ahead of 2024 W Gold Cup

A promising future for women’s football unfolds as Concacaf launches the transformative Bigger Game program at the Costa Rican Football Federation (FCRF). The initiative seeks to bolster the forthcoming 2024 W Gold Cup by fostering football festivals for girls throughout the region. The launch comprised an enriching workshop for budding women’s football instructors, featuring participants who are active players in the national tournament, followed by a festival attended by 125 young girls representing various clubs across Costa Rica.

Elieth Artavia of FCRF’s Development Unit remarked, “We are very excited because the work that has been done in development in the minor categories has been seen in the area and they see us as an example country of how women’s soccer really develops. That is why Concacaf is

committed to launching this program with us.”

A highlight of the launch was the interaction between workshop instructors and young participants, showcasing the creation of a supportive community and the sharing of essential values.

In addition to the coaches’ education workshop and festival, Concacaf facilitated two generous sets of equipment donations to local girls’ clubs, Dimas Escanzu and CODEA. The Football Festival was a 2-hour session and included refreshments and boxed lunches.

“The Bigger Game program showcases Concacaf’s commitment to growing women’s football in the region. We are investing in the future and creating opportunities for young girls to shine both on and off the field. Costa Rica’s vibrant football community is ideal for this trans

formative journey,” said Janelle Prieto, Senior Manager of Social Responsibility and Corporate Communications at Concacaf.

Concacaf facilitated donations of vital sports equipment, including balls, vests, and discs, which were employed during the festival and subsequently distributed among the participating clubs.

The historical debut of the Women’s Gold Cup in February 2024 demonstrates the

progressive strides made by Concacaf and epitomizes the ascension of women’s football in the region. The Bigger Game program symbolizes hope and growth, representing a continuous effort to build a brighter, inclusive future for women’s football.

For more information about Concacaf’s Bigger Game and to learn how you too can join the winning team visit www.Concacaf.com/BiggerGame.