December 20, 2023

VOL. XLII NO. 2147 WEEK OF DECEMBER 20 - 26, 2023

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CaribNews OPED Common Ground is a Testament to the Power of Film to Change Hearts and Minds

by Ben Jealous - P 9

EDITORIAL Biden-Harris Launches a National Law Enforcement Accountability Database to Advance Police Reform and Strengthen Community Trust

by Stacy M. Brown - P 9

HEALTH

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 26, 2023

AFRICA UN envoy to Libyan leaders: Resolve impasse, do not fail the people

Despite recent legislative progress, Libya’s political landscape remains fraught with power struggles, as key figures attach conditions to taking part in crucial talks, the UN envoy to the north African nation said on Monday.

Abdoulaye Bathily, UN Special Representative for Libya, told ambassadors on the Security Council that the mood in the country “is ripe for a new political deal, a new dispensation for a brighter future”.

“One group of unwilling officials clinging to their seats must not be allowed to fail the people of Libya and put the region at the risk of further chaos,” he stressed.

Clarke Partners with Halle Berry and Prolonged stalemate Women’s Health Advocates on Libya has remained mired in crisis since the postponement of Menopause Awareness - P 16

SPORTS Concacaf President Offers Support to Global Refereeing Community - P 20

national elections, originally planned for December 2021.

The impasse between rivals Government of National Unity (GNU) based in Tripoli (in the west), and the eastern-based Government of National Stability (GNS) which is aligned with the House of Representatives (HoR) and the Libyan National Army (LNA).

The stalemate has been driving the country’s political, security and economic instability, including contributing to the scale of destruction and tragic loss of life caused by Storm Daniel in Derna and surrounding areas in September.

South Sudan: No basis for free and fair 2024 elections, warns Haysom

South Sudan is in no position to hold free, fair, or secure elections slated for December next year, the head of the UN Mission in the country (UNMISS) said on Thursday, stressing that there’s still time to catch up.

Briefing ambassadors at the UN Security Council, Nicholas Haysom outlined key conditions required by April 2024 for moving ahead, according to the agreed timeline.

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All in the details These include a new permanent constitutional framework; voter registration details; an election security plan; well trained, equipped, and unified security forces; and a mechanism for resolving disputes over results.

“A critical mass of these pre-requisites is necessary for creating the conditions for the conduct of elections that are not only free and fair but also deemed credible and acceptable to South Sudanese citizens,” he said.

“We believe that with the necessary political will, a sense of urgency and compromise, the South Sudanese could indeed establish the conditions for elections in December 2024,” he added.

Threat to civilians The head of UNMISS said the dire economic situation, compounded by climate shocks and fragile political environment, suggest that elections will be taking place in an environment of elevated tensions.

WORLD BRIEFS ‘Visible signs of hope’ for Haiti, Assembly President Francis insists “Haiti is not hopeless”, the President of the UN General Assembly said on Monday during a meeting addressing the multiple crises besetting the Caribbean nation, alongside the presidents of the UN Security Council and Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

Dennis Francis, a veteran diplomat from Trinidad and Tobago, said he had returned from a visit to Haiti at the end of last month “with hope and the full knowledge that while Haiti is facing extraordinary challenges, its future holds indomitable promise.”

The country has seen almost 4,000 killed and 3,000 kidnapped in gang-related violence just this year, following a political, economic and security crisis that has left much of the country descend into lawlessness.

Driving in the streets of Port au Prince, I saw visible signs of hope – sustained by the undying resilience and perseverance of the Haitian people – who seem to create inventive ways to meet the daily challenges”, Mr. Francis told the meeting.

‘No shortage of potential’ “There is, in my view, no shortage of potential in Haiti – and it is not too late that, as the international community, we must do something to accompany the Haitian people, further”, he said noting that the most pressing need is for greater security.

Security Council negotiations continue on Gaza resolution Tuesday marks another crucial day again in the Security Council in New York, where diplomatic negotiations are continuing to try and reach consensus on further unified action in response to the crisis in Gaza, more than ten weeks after terror attacks by Hamas plunged the Israel-Palestine conflict into an unprecedented phase of violence and devastation. Follow our live coverage here...

12:07 PM The Security Council has adjourned the meeting and ambassadors have gone back into informal consultations, in a bid to find some consensus that will lead to the passage of a new resolution. We’ll be monitoring the situation throughout the day and resume our live coverage as soon as there are more developments...

The meeting comes on the heels of a resolution adopted with an overwhelming majority of 153 Member States in favour and 10 against, with 23 abstentions at the General Assembly, which met last Tuesday in an emergency special session.

In it, the Assembly “immediate humanitarian ceasefire”, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and well as “ensuring humanitarian access”.

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 26, 2023

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Essequibo – Leaders of Guyana and Venezuela Agree to a Peaceful Solution In a recent declaration, the presidents of Venezuela and Guyana resolved to form a joint commission to resolve their territorial dispute and promised not to use force against one another over a lucrative oilrich tract of Guyanese land.

After a full day of talks on the Caribbean Island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the two nations’ positions on the Essequibo region remained sharply divergent.

A joint statement was released at the end of the meeting, endorsing Guyana’s belief that the International Court of Justice should settle the dispute and Venezuela’s “lack of consent and lack of recognition of the International Court of Justice and its jurisdiction in the border controversy.

The land, which makes up around twothirds of the national territory of the Guyanese, has become more contentious in recent days due to a referendum in Ven-

ezuela where voters approved the establishment of a Venezuelan state inside the disputed area. The action has been referred to by Guyana as an “existential” threat and a step toward annexation.

Both nations concurred in the joint proclamation to “not threaten or use force against one another in any circumstances” and “refrain, whether by words or deeds, from escalating any conflict or disagreement arising from any controversy between them.”

The foreign ministers and technical personnel of each nation will be part of the joint panel, “to address matters as mutually agreed” and indicated in the statement that they will provide an update in three months. Also, both nations decided to get together once more in Brazil in the next months, “to consider any matter with implications for the territory in dispute.”

A video of the encounter at the Argyle International Airport, which is close to Kingston, the island’s capital, shows Nicolas Maduro, the president of Venezuela, shaking hands with Irfaan Ali, the president of Guyanese, and officials from regional Caribbean blocs.

Ali informed reporters at a press conference in between sessions that “there is absolutely no retreat by Guyana in ensuring that this matter is determined by the ICJ and that the outcome of this matter at the ICJ be respected by all.”

“We made it very clear that Guyana is not the aggressor, Guyana is not seeking war,” he stated, “but Guyana reserves the right to work with all our partners to ensure the defense of our country.”

Venezuela has long claimed the Essequibo and denies the borders established by an international tribunal’s 1899 decision.

According to a statement released by the Venezuelan government on X, the presidents of the two nations had conveyed their “willingness to continue with the dialogue” and “resolve the controversy in relation to the Essequibo territory.”

Later, Maduro posted a copy of the proclamation on X and wrote, “Excellent day of dialogue!”

Envoys from the UN and Brazil were present in the room for the sessions, serving as intermediaries, along with the prime ministers of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominica.

In addition, the leaders of Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines now preside over the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), two significant regional blocs.

Guyana/Venezuela – A Relief Says P.J. Patterson Congratulating Guyana and Venezuela on their successful meeting in Argyle, St. Vincent, Jamaica’s former prime minister and senior statesman PJ Patterson called the result “a welcome indication of relief ” for the region.

One of the most well-known voices in the area, Patterson, stated that the summit set several important precedents that should be applauded and that point the way forward.

“It was a Caribbean initiative which demonstrated the intrinsic value of collective regional action. Caricom stepped forward in united efforts to face the challenge of preserving the territorial integrity of Guyana, a founding member State, and headquarters of the Caribbean Community,” he noted.

Patterson stated that the meeting “demonstrated that in a world of unprecedented turbulence, diplomatic skills, and negotiating expertise can still be deployed to avert military conflict”.

Additionally, he mentioned that the meeting “asserts that the Caribbean and Latin America,

despite the colonial rivalry and exploitation by European powers, constitute one hemispheric family”.

He contended that this emphasizes the benefits of our active participation in and current leadership of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).

Both sides promised not to use force to resolve the boundary issue between Venezuela and Guyana after the two-hour conference called by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Gonsalves read a joint statement that the two parties had released following the summit, in which they pledged to settle the disagreement “by international law.” However, the statement also mentioned that although Guyana thinks the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has the right jurisdiction to hear the case, Venezuela has refused to recognize the court’s authority over the matter.

The conference was held in response to months

of growing tension that had stoked concerns about a possible military confrontation in the area over the oil-rich Essequibo region, a remote territory spanning 160,000 square kilometers (62,000 square miles) and comprising two-thirds of Guyana.

Following ExxonMobil’s 2015 discovery of oil in Essequibo, Guyana, which has ruled the region for more than a century, began awarding licenses for oil firms to operate there. This led Venezuela, which has traditionally maintained possession of the Essequibo, to escalate its rhetoric.

With an 800,000-person population, Guyana now boasts the largest oil reserves in the world per capita because of this finding.

According to government officials, 95% of voters in the contentious referendum staged on December 3 by the Maduro administration endorsed the declaration that Venezuela is the legitimate owner of Essequibo.

Voters were also asked to decide whether to

overturn an arbitration tribunal’s 1899 ruling that established the boundary with Guyana, which Caracas maintains was “fraudulently imposed.”

The question of whether Venezuela should refuse the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) jurisdiction to settle the conflict and the issue of Venezuelan citizenship for residents of the Essequibo area were both up for vote.

Although the “far-reaching agreements” reached at the St. Vincent summit do not represent a definitive resolution, Patterson, a former chairman of Caricom, stated that they do offer means of promoting positive, fruitful, and harmonious ties amongst neighbors.

Additionally, he said the summit “constitutes a model for devising consultative approaches to address other long-standing border disputes in south and central America”.

Members of US Congress Want End to Armed Foreign Intervention in Haiti Several United States (US) legislators are calling on the Biden administration to withdraw United States support for an armed foreign intervention in Haiti, as the French-speaking Caribbean Community (Caricom) country gets ready to observe its 220th anniversary of independence on January 1, next year.

Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke and Ayanna Pressley joined four other legislators in also urging Washington to “encourage negotiations for a Haitian-led democratic political transition”.

Clarke is the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, who represents the largely Caribbean 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York, and Pressley, represents Massachusetts’ 7th Congressional District which is home to one of the largest Haitian Diaspora communities in the US.

The United Nations (UN) recently approved a US-drafted resolution supporting a Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) in Haiti after President Ariel Moise urged support to bring about peace and security in his homeland, following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021.

The country has been overrun with criminal gangs involved in murders, rapes, and other criminal activities, while opposition parties have been calling on Moise to name a date for fresh elections.

In their letter to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the US legislators expressed concern that a foreign military intervention further risks destabilizing Haiti “endangering more innocent people and entrenching the current illegitimate regime.

“We are gravely concerned that an armed

foreign intervention will only serve as a tool to buttress an illegitimate leader and undermine efforts by a representative transitional government to define the actual support desired from the international community.

“The State Department should not override the will of the Haitian people,” they urged. “It is clear that a transitional government is the only viable path forward for Haiti to return to stability and democracy,” the lawmakers wrote.

They said to further save the lives of Haitians and reduce violence in Haiti, the Biden administration should “swiftly block arms shipments to Haiti, and hold weapons traffickers and gang financiers accountable for their actions.

“Countering this continued gun trafficking to Haiti is a critical step to the security and s tability of the country,” they wrote.

“We urge you to work with the relevant gov-

ernment agencies, including the Department of Justice, to take the steps necessary to put a robust anti-arms trafficking to Haiti strategy in place. Rather than hastily address this situation by supporting an armed foreign intervention – a strategy that has been tried and failed several times in Haiti – we urge you to take a holistic approach,” the lawmakers said.

In their letter, the legislators said “We believe that a genuine commitment to supporting the Haitian people requires the United States to withdraw support from de facto Prime Minister Ariel Henry and encourage negotiations for a Haitian-led democratic political transition”.

They said that the UN Security Council’s recent approval of the US-drafted resolution supporting a Kenyan-led MSS to Haiti “lacks a clear mission and strategy.”

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CARIBNEWS

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 26, 2023

Africans in Solidarity with Palestinians Testing Ties with Jewish Allies Although her Chicago synagogue would often sing, “Next year in Jerusalem,” Cydney Wallace, a black Jewish community organizer, never felt obligated to visit Israel.

The 39-year-old claimed to have a lot on her plate at home, where she often delivers speeches on combating anti-Black prejudice in the American Jewish community and ending white supremacy in the country.

“I know what I’m fighting for here,” she noted.

This changed when she accepted an offer from a Palestinian American community organizer from Chicago’s south side to travel to Israel and the West Bank, where she met with religious leaders from the Muslim, Jewish, and Christian communities as well as twenty other black Americans.

Starting on September 26, the journey deepened Wallace’s comprehension of the challenges faced by Palestinians living under Israeli military rule in the West Bank. Sadly, though, it was cut short when Hamas terrorists launched an unprecedented series of strikes against Israel on October 7. Activists in the US and other countries have been sparked by horrifying global pictures of death and damage from Israel’s subsequent assault of the Gaza Strip.

Wallace and an increasing number of African Americans saw parallels between the Palestinian struggles in the West Bank and Gaza and their own struggles for civil rights and racial equality. In the US, where systemic racism permeates almost every aspect of society, the recent emergence of protest groups against po-

lice brutality has brought black and Palestinian activists together around a shared cause.

However, the over a century-long collaboration between Jewish and Black revolutionaries is occasionally strained by that closeness. Some Jewish Americans fear that support could increase the threat of antisemitism and erode the bonds between Jews and Blacks that were strengthened during the Civil Rights Movement. Examples of these ties range from black American groups that denounced the US backing of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory to black protestors advocating for the Palestinians’ right to self-determination.

The Center for Shared Society of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York is led by Bob Kaplan, “We are concerned, as a community, about what we feel is a lack of understanding of what Israel is about and how deeply October 7 has affected us.”

“Antisemitism has to be seen as a reprehensible form of hate … as any form of hate is,” he said.

“Antisemitism is as real to the American Jewish community, and causes as much trauma and fear and upset to the American Jewish community, as racism causes to the black community, or anti-Asian feeling causes to the Asian community, or anti-Muslim feeling causes in the Muslim community.”

However, he said, many American Jews are aware that black Americans may have a connection to the Palestinian cause that is not at odds with their support of Israel.

A recent survey conducted by The Associated

Haiti - PM says 2024 is Time to Overcome Nation’s Challenges PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, (CMC) – Haitian President Ariel Henry has told the diplomatic community in the country that the French-speaking Caribbean Community (Caricom) nation in 2024 will seek to “overcome the challenges that remain.”

Ariel, who came to office following the July,7, 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise, has been struggling to prevent the country fall deeper into social, economic and political chaos and has appealed to the international community to send in a multi-national force to help ensure peace and security on the island where criminal gangs have practically taken over.

The United Nations Security Council has approved his request and the multi-national force led by Kenya and involving military and law enforcement personnel from several Caricom countries are due to begin their tour of duty early next year.

Speaking to the diplomats as well as representatives from the private sector and the media Henry said, “I would like, on behalf of my government, to reaffirm our

commitment to peace, stability and progress,” adding “we are aware that our future depends on our ability to work together.”

“In this new year ahead, we must continue to work together to strengthen the private sector-led economy, improve governance and promote stability. The government is determined to implement structural reforms that will promote a climate favorable to investments, job creation and prosperity for all.

“In 2024, we must still struggle to overcome the challenges that remain. Together we can build a better future for all,” he added.

He took the opportunity to wish everyone “a peaceful and perhaps joyful end to the year, as well as in a few days, a start to the year full of achievements and hope.

“May we together write the pages of a bright future for our country,” Henry added.

Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that black individuals were more likely

than white and Hispanic adults to believe that the United States supports Israel too much (44 percent vs 30 and 28 percent, respectively). Black Americans did not, however, have a higher likelihood than any other group of saying that the US does not help the Palestinians enough.

There were also differences in terms of generation: the study found that younger Americans were more inclined to believe that the US supports Israel excessively. Certain younger and progressive Jews tend to be more critical of certain of Israel’s practices, even within the Jewish American community.

Black Americans have long supported Palestine since the Civil Rights Movement, thanks to the efforts of notable left-wing figures like Malcolm X, Stokely Carmichael, and Angela

Davis, among others. The two movements have become closer as a result of more recent violent episodes, including the Israel-Hamas conflict in 2021 and Israel’s current, historic bombing campaign against Gaza, which is being broadcast live on social media.

Ahmad Abuznaid, the director of the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights explained, “This is just the latest generation to pick up the mantle, the latest black folks to organize, build, and talk about freedom and justice.”

Israel freed hundreds of Palestinian inmates and detainees during a week-long ceasefire between Hamas and Israel as part of the recent agreement to liberate dozens of hostages taken

by Hamas terrorists. Many were youths who had not been prosecuted after being arrested in the West Bank for relatively minor infractions like hurling stones.

After learning about Israel’s administrative detention policy—which holds detainees without charge or trial—and seeing the release of Palestinian prisoners, several African Americans compared the Israeli jail system to the US one.

Studies of the American court system show that black people are incarcerated at a rate more than four times higher than that of white people, sometimes for minor infractions, even though almost two-thirds of inmates in the US have never been found guilty of a crime.

Continued on www.nycaribnews.com

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WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 26, 2023

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NY – Rep. Clarke Urges Biden to Reject Trump-era Immigration Policies

NEW YORK, CMC – Caribbean-American Democratic Congresswoman, Yvette D Clarke, is urging the Biden administration to reject any Trump-era immigration policies currently under consideration by Republicans in the Congressional supplemental aid package negotiations.

“For their implicit inhumanity and ineffectiveness, I’ve long maintained that Trumpera policies have no place in our national immigration strategy moving forward,” Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants and vice chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, told the Caribbean Media Corporation.

“As Congressional Republicans, once again, hold Congress for ransom to force through their cruel, callous, and deeply unpopular policy demands, I urge President Biden to refuse to bow to their ultimatums,” added Clarke.

Clarke, who is the representative for the predominantly Caribbean 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, went on to say, “Our immigration system is in desperate need of comprehensive reform, centred around humanity and dignity for all l migrants and asylum seekers.”

She said, from the Republicans’ “badfaith proposal, there is no debate that our colleagues across the aisle are far more interested in making our immigration

system worse. Republicans’ efforts to skirt our obligations to those requesting asylum, refugees, and all others seeking safe haven from political persecution and violence cannot be ignored and their actions must be unequivocally rejected by the Biden-Harris Administration.”

Clarke said the immigration policies of the United States must respect international law and preserve the dignity of migrant families. She added that America was “founded on these principles, and we must continue to adhere to them.”

Meanwhile, chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety, Senator Alex Padilla, and Nanette Barragán, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus – both of California, also urged Biden to reject the Trump-era immigration policies being considered in the ongoing negotiations around the supplemental aid package.

“We are deeply concerned that the President would consider advancing Trumpera immigration policies that Democrats

fought so hard against — and that he himself campaigned against — in exchange for aid to our allies that Republicans already support,” they said in a joint statement.

“Caving to demands for these permanent damaging policy changes as a ‘price to be paid’ for an unrelated one-time spending package would set a dangerous precedent.”

Last month, Padilla led 10 colleagues in issuing a joint statement condemning the proposed threats to the asylum system in the supplemental aid package negotiations.

The Biden administration and Congress are reportedly considering moving forward with new restrictions on the United States asylum system, including an expanded deportation process to be included in the supplemental funding bill to Ukraine, due to Republican pressure and threats to derail the process.

Many of the migrant and asylum seekers arriving in New York from the southern border of the United States are nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela and Guatemala.

Jamaica – PJ Patterson Calls for National Crusade Against Crime PJ Patterson, Jamaica’s former prime minister, has advocated for a nationwide campaign to stem the flow of crime and moral decline throughout society.

Patterson expressed concern about the unchecked criminal activity that has been directed at the most vulnerable members of society, arguing that meaningful change can only be achieved with the collaboration of key stakeholders in tackling this issue.

The statesman supports Howard Mitchell’s suggestion, made last month at an awards luncheon hosted by the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica, that the National Partnership Council (NPC) take the lead in a moral rebirth.

The NPC is made up of partners and representatives from the administration, the opposition in parliament, and other important social organizations.

This strategy, in Patterson’s opinion, would guarantee true bipartisan involvement and deal with one of the most important problems the country is now facing.

“We need a national team, comprising the government, opposition, farmers, teachers, security forces, private sector, trades unions, church, and civil society, to come together against the elements threatening our right to life, justice, freedom, self-worth, and respect,” Patterson stated.

Patterson stated that Jamaica has several difficulties during his speech at the recent Committee of Umpires Association annual dinner, which was held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

“Our nation grapples with crime and violence at intolerable levels,” he stated, pointing to

the horrific crimes, which increasingly target vulnerable groups such as women, children, and the elderly.

According to the most recent police crime figures, there were 1,282 murders in the nation between January 1 and December 2, 2023—a 10.2% decrease over the same time the previous year.

In addition, he drew attention to the alarming patterns of workplace theft, bank robberies, and praedial larceny, as well as the expansion of violence into families, schools, and even the streets.

Referencing Chief Justice Bryan Sykes’s statement that more punitive punishments are not the only way to solve the problem, the former head of state argued for creative and diversified strategies, similar to the array of strategies employed in cricket, including yorkers and googlies. As a metaphor for reinstating the morals and principles that need to govern the country, he emphasized the necessity of going back to the essence of the game.

Patterson also addressed the opposition’s proposal for a ministry of social change at their 2018 annual conference, as well as Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s declaration of a study for a ministry devoted to family and community affairs.

He maintained that the success of these programs depends not on their titles but rather on a comprehensive strategy that includes competent personnel, strong leadership, and the involvement of every department, ministry, sector, and community in the government.

Patterson made the following comparison between the laws and standards necessary

for the country’s well-being and the rules of cricket: “Like cricket, which is bound by rules and standards, every nation must uphold laws and norms.”

Amidst a societal trend towards consumerism and moral degradation, he emphasized the significance of unwavering principles like honesty, truth, tranquility, and mental freedom. “Respect for self, caring for our neighbor, discipline, civility, and just plain decency have been overshadowed by greed, materialism, and a worrying moral decline,” he noted.

The country’s difficulties throughout the previous 20 years were vividly depicted by the former prime minister.

“There has been a constant lament that

our National Consultation on Values and Attitudes hasn’t fully achieved its targets,” Patterson pointed out, emphasizing the common attitude expressed in conversations on a variety of forums, including social media and politics. He emphasized that it is imperative to restore Jamaica’s moral fiber throughout every sector, city, town, parish, district, and household—not only in particular locations.

Patterson seemed to connect with his audience when he called for a national fight against crime and moral decline.

He concluded that “Jamaica cannot afford to lose another day to criminals and wrongdoers. It’s time for a united front to confront and vanquish these challenges, ensuring a future where every Jamaican can live “triumphant, proud, and free”.

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CARIBNEWS

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 26, 2023

New York – Legislators Want to Ensure Right to Counsel for Migrants A group of supporters and three state legislators from New York came together on Thursday to promote legislation that would provide free legal representation for immigrants in detention or facing deportation.

The lawmakers, Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz, state Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, and Assemblywoman Jessica González-Rojas, gathered at lower Manhattan’s Foley Square.

They demanded that the state provide funding for legal services and that a statewide right-to-counsel bill for immigrants, which has been languishing for a long time, be passed.

The first Dreamer to be elected to the state Legislature, Cruz is a Democrat from Queens, a former immigration attorney, and she stated, “Everyone comes here looking for freedom.” Cruz added, “Whether you came five minutes ago, five years ago or 15 years ago, you are a New Yorker, and we are going

to fight for you.”

There has never been a vote on the measure.

However, according to Cruz’s office, the state has doubled its yearly financing for legal assistance for immigrants from $10 million in 2019 to $63 million this year.

The next session of the state Legislature is anticipated to start next month.

The Access to Representation Act, which Cruz originally presented in 2019, aims to provide public support for legal services for all migrant clients in the state. The bill’s text states that there are more than 4 million immigrants living in New York State, including around 1 million who do not have legal status. According to Senate bill sponsor Hoylman-Sigal, a Democrat from Manhattan, “bloated bureaucracy and poor administration of our law has left our immigration courts in disarray.”

According to Hoylman-Sigal, there are more

than 190,000 pending immigration cases in the state; this number has increased in the past year due to an influx of asylum seekers into the five boroughs. According to him, the surge of newcomers makes the pressure even more urgent.

According to Mayor Adams’ administration, over 154,000 asylum seekers have entered the city since April 2022.

As per the American Civil Liberties Union, detained immigrants who have legal counsel have a tenfold higher chance of winning their cases compared to those who do not.

Holyman-Sigal demanded that the state double its yearly funding for immigration attorneys to a total of $125 million.

“The least we can do, folks,” At the rally, he stated, “is provide people facing deportation with a lawyer.

NYC – City’s Largest Union Sues Mayor Adams Over Budget Cuts The largest public-sector union in the city recently filed a lawsuit against Mayor Eric Adams and his administration due to impending budget cuts, as POLITICO can first report. This is the latest indication that the mayor’s political coalition is being harmed by the proposed spending reductions at a particularly trying point in Adams’ term.

DC 37, a prominent and early supporter of Adams in the 2021 mayoral primary, filed a lawsuit in Manhattan’s state Supreme Court, charging the mayor and his administration with inadequately reviewing a decision to eliminate thousands of union jobs as city officials attempt to bridge a $7 billion budget deficit.

The union’s executive director, Henry Garrido, stated in an interview, “The approach to deal with this budget deficit has been short-sighted.”

He added, “When you exclusively cut services to deal with a shortfall and you don’t pursue revenue collection options that you have … the public gets more upset at city workers because

the garbage takes longer to be picked up, it takes longer to take care of their calls and it takes longer to deal with emergencies.” The labor union claims in its lawsuit that the city neglected to carry out the necessary cost-benefit analysis prior to recommending budget cuts that would eliminate 2,300 “job training participants” in the parks and sanitation departments; Garrido believes these positions will now be filled by non-union contractors.

According to Liz Garcia, a spokesman for the mayor, the city has been balancing the budget despite significant economic challenges without having to lay off employees or significantly interrupt services. She also mentioned that Adams had just finished negotiating new contracts with 90,000 DC 37 workers as well as the city’s unionized staff.

“We are confident that we took all appropriate steps in preparing the November Plan, and we will review the complaint.”

Due to COVID-19 vaccination requirements,

DC 37 sued the government of former Mayor Bill de Blasio. However, this is the union’s first lawsuit against the Adams administration, highlighting the financial burden that the mayor’s supporters are bearing.

The general populace is in favor of Garrido.

According to a recent Quinnipiac University survey, 83% of New Yorkers said they were worried about how the mayor’s proposed budget cuts will affect their day-to-day activities.

In that study, the mayor’s job approval rating dropped to a record-low 28%.

Garrido has been raising objections about the city’s $110 billion budget cut, and this lawsuit is the latest example of that. During a City Council session on Monday, he attacked the cuts in a more general way, claiming that the mandate “is not only unfair [and] unjustified, it makes a mockery of the process that we have of the counterbalances in governments in the city of New York.”

Garrido said that removing DC 37 employees

completely from some departments while leaving others in the local government unaffected is another insult to his supporters.

“The way [the Office of Management and Budget] is trying to get to a point of reducing the budget is wrong, and is disproportionately hurting some of our members more than other workers,” he remarked.

Still, he refrained from implying that he had completely lost interest in Adams because of the spending reduction.

According to Garrido, he will assist the mayor in his efforts to convince Albany authorities to provide asylum seekers more funds, and he will be meeting with the White House to talk about the matter.

“We’re still supporting [Adams],” Garrido stated. “I don’t think this is directed at him. He has been given a real raw deal with this migrant situation.”

NYS – Four New Laws to Protect Consumers Governor Hochul today signed legislation to protect New York consumers from medicine price-gouging and ongoing financial consequences related to medical debt. Additionally, the Governor signed bills what will curb predatory subscription services, and confusion over the price of many goods and services. Legislation S.608-C/A.5653-B prohibits the sale of medicine for an unconscionably excessive price throughout a drug shortage. Legislation S.4907A/A.6275A prohibits hospitals, health care professionals and ambulances from reporting medical debt to credit agencies. Legislation S.5941B/A.3245D requires companies to notify customers of automatic subscription renewals and

to provide clear instructions for canceling said services. Legislation S.1048A/A.2672B clarifies that merchants must post the highest price a consumer might pay for a product, regardless of payment methods.

“As costs and inflation continue to creep up, consumer protection is one of the ways that our state is giving New Yorkers more purchasing power and keeping hardearned money in their pockets,” Governor Hochul said. “This legislation will help to protect individuals struggling with medical debt, unwanted subscriptions, and confusion over prices at the register. No one should have to jump through hoops to protect their finances and today we’re taking steps to help New Yorkers on their

journeys toward financial freedom.”

Legislation S.608C/A.5653B prohibits the sale of medicine for an unconscionably excessive price during a drug shortage (as declared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration). Generally, an “unconscionably excessive price” may include a gross disparity between the price being charged by the seller during the abnormal disruption of the market, and the price charged immediately prior.

Assemblymember Karines Reyes, R.N. said, “I applaud Governor Hochul for signing this pivotal legislation today. As a health care professional and the representative of a community with a high population of seniors, I am well aware

that the cost of prescription drugs is egregiously high. This legislation tackles the affordability and access crisis in health care by allowing New York State to sue and penalize entities that engage in the price gouging of medicines, due to drug shortages. This new law will allow state officials to analyze, identify and engage bad actors that seek to excessively profit off of high prescription drug prices, leaving seniors, the disabled and the most marginalized without sorely-needed medicine or an ability to pay their other bills. I appreciate Governor Hochul and Attorney General James for their leadership on this issue and look forward to this law’s implementation.”

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 26, 2023

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Tobago – Major Human Trafficking/Child Prostitution Operation Uncovered

Three Latin American nationals were charged with Human Trafficking offenses and an offense under the Children’s Act. The Colombian male and two females from the Dominican Republic were all denied bail when they appeared before a Scarborough Magistrate last week.

DEIVY OSCORO SILVA, 20, DIGNA YULAY LOS SANTOS, 33, and ALEXANDRA CHALAS POZO, 22, all of Riseland Trace Bethel Tobago were jointly charged for Trafficking in Children, when they appeared before Magistrate Christine Charles in the Scarborough Magistrates Court.

LOS SANTOS and POZO have also been charged with Transporting a Person for the Purpose of Prostitution, while POZO faced an additional charge of Inciting a Child to become a Prostitute.

The trio were denied bail and remanded into custody to reappear on 22nd December 2023.

On Monday 27th November 2023, officers of the Counter Trafficking Unit received information of an alleged child prostitution ring where several

minors were being held against their will. Officers immediately transitioned to the sister isle and conducted intense surveillance followed by an immediate police operation. All three accused were arrested by a team of officers from the Counter Trafficking Unit and the Special Investigation Task Force, during the intelligence-led police operation.

Three Latin American female minors were also rescued, and several items of evidential value were found and seized.

The operation was spear- headed by Snr. Supt. Christopher Paponette of the Special Investigations Unit in collaboration with the Director of the Counter Trafficking Unit, with Legal advice being given by TTPS Legal Officer Cpl Zaheer Ali. The operation was supervised by Sgt Walters of the Counter Trafficking Unit and Cpl Antoine of the Special Investigations Task Force, alongside representatives from the Children’s Authority and the Victims and Witness Support Unit.

The charges were laid by WPC Rodriguez of the Counter Trafficking Unit, following advice on Monday 4th December 2023. (TTPS)

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WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 26, 2023

Peace On Earth – Goodwill to All The question can legitimately be asked – how can we appeal for peace on earth when we are watching in real time a nightmare in Gaza, continued war in Ukraine, and tension worldwide. We feel the pain of war and instinct for survival.

But war brings more war and very rarely any solution; it also brings destruction, and devastation. As we look to celebrate the holiday season we must start to contemplate the birth of Christ and the message he represents of Peace on Earth. We have included the lyrics of the Prophet Robert Nesta Marley song “War”, and the appeal of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres.

“War”Bob Marley Until the philosophy which hold one race Superior and another inferior Is finally And permanently Discredited And abandoned Everywhere is war Me say war That until there are no longer First-class and second-class citizens of any nation Until the colour of a man’s skin Is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes Me say war That until the basic human rights Are equally guaranteed to all Without regard to race Dis a war That until that day The dream of lasting peace World citizenship Rule of international morality Will remain in but a fleeting illusion to be pursued But never attained Now everywhere is war War Secretary-General’s remarks to the Security Council - on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question.

Mr. President, Excellencies, I wrote to the Security Council invoking Article 99 because we are at a breaking point.

There is a high risk of the total collapse of the humanitarian support system in Gaza, which would have devastating consequences.

We anticipate that it would result in a complete breakdown of public order and increased pressure for mass displacement into Egypt.

I fear the consequences could be devastating for the security of the entire region.

We have already seen the spillover in the Occupied West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

There is clearly, in my view, a serious risk of aggravating existing threats to the maintenance of international peace and security.

The risk of collapse of the humanitarian system is fundamentally linked with a complete lack of safety and security for our staff in Gaza,

and with the nature and intensity of military operations, which are severely limiting access to people in desperate need.

The threat to the safety and security of United Nations staff in Gaza is unprecedented.

More than 130 of my colleagues have already been killed, many with their families.

This is the largest single loss of life in the history of our Organization.

Some of our staff take their children to work so they know they will live or die together.

Colleagues have shared heartbreaking messages from staff members pleading for help.

The Under-Secretary-General of the Department of Safety and Security has advised me that all possible means of mitigating the risk to staff within Gaza, short of evacuation, are closed off, because of the way this conflict has evolved.

I cannot emphasize strongly enough that the UN is totally committed to stay and deliver for the people of Gaza.

I pay tribute to the heroic humanitarian aid workers who remain committed to their work, despite the enormous dangers to their health and their lives.

But the situation is simply becoming untenable.

This Council called in Resolution 2712 for “the scaling up of the provision of such supplies to meet the humanitarian needs of the civilian population, especially children”.

I deeply regret to inform the Council that under current conditions on the ground, the fulfilment of this mandate has become impossible.

The conditions for the effective delivery of humanitarian aid no longer exist.

The crossing point at Rafah was not designed for hundreds of trucks and is a major bottleneck.

But even if sufficient supplies were permitted into Gaza, intense bombardment and hostilities, Israeli restrictions on movement, fuel shortages, and interrupted communications, make it impossible for UN agencies and their partners to reach most of the people in need.

Between 3 and 5 December – the two days preceding my letter – the UN could only distribute aid in one of Gaza’s five governorates – Rafah.

Elsewhere, access was impossible.

People are desperate, fearful and angry. In some cases, they have expressed that anger towards our staff.

Mr. President, All this takes place amid a spiraling humanitarian nightmare.

First, there is no effective protection of civilians.

More than 17,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed since the start of Israel’s military operations. This includes more than 4,000 women and 7,000 children. Tens of thousands are reported to have been injured, and many are missing, presumably under the rubble.

All these numbers are increasing by the day.

Attacks from air, land and sea are intense, continuous and widespread. So far, they have reportedly hit 339 education facilities, 26 hospitals, 56 healthcare facilities, 88 mosques and three churches.

Over 60 percent of Gaza’s housing has reportedly been destroyed or damaged – some 300,000 houses and apartments.

Some 85 percent of the population have been forced from their homes.

The people of Gaza are being told to move like human pinballs – ricocheting between ever-smaller slivers of the south, without any of the basics for survival.

But nowhere in Gaza is safe.

At least 88 UNRWA shelters have been hit, killing over 270 people and injuring over 900.

Conditions in shelters are overcrowded and unsanitary. People nurse open wounds. Hundreds of people stand in line for hours to use one shower or toilet.

Families who have lost everything sleep on bare concrete floors, wearing clothes they have not changed for two months.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians arrived in Rafah in recent days, overwhelming shelters there.

Many displaced families – including children, older people, pregnant women and people with disabilities – are sleeping in streets and public spaces across the city.

Mr. President, Second, Gazans are running out of food.

According to the World Food Programme, there is a serious risk of starvation and famine.

In northern Gaza, 97 percent of households are not eating enough. In the south, the figure among displaced people is 83 percent. Half the people of the north and more than one third of displaced people in the south are simply starving.

WFP’s own food stocks are running out.

In the north, nine out of ten people have spent at least one full day and night without food.

The last functioning flour mill in Gaza was destroyed on 15 November.

WFP has provided food and cash assistance to hundreds of thousands of people across Gaza since the crisis began, and is ready to scale up its operations.

However, that would require effective access to all people in need, and at least 40 trucks of food supplies every day – many times the current level.

Mr. President, Third, Gaza’s health system is collapsing while needs are escalating.

At least 286 health workers have been killed.

Hospitals have suffered heavy bombardment.

Just 14 out of 36 are still functioning. Of these, three are providing basic first aid, while the others are delivering partial services.

The European Gaza Hospital, one of the two main hospitals in southern Gaza, has 370 beds.

It is currently housing 1000 patients and an estimated 70,000 people seeking shelter.

There are critical shortages of drugs, blood products and medical supplies. Fuel to run the hospitals is severely rationed. Many patients are being treated on the floor and without anesthetics.

As patients with life-threatening injuries continue to arrive, wards are overflowing and staff are overwhelmed.

At the same time, the unsanitary conditions in shelters and severe shortages of food and water are leading to increases in respiratory infections, scabies, jaundice and diarrhea.

Everything I have just described represents an unprecedented situation that led to my unprecedented decision to invoke Article 99, urging the members of the Security Council to press to avert a humanitarian catastrophe, and appealing for a humanitarian ceasefire to be declared.

Mr. President, We are all aware that Israel began its military operation in response to the brutal terror attacks unleashed by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups on 7 October.

I unreservedly condemn those attacks. I am appalled by the reports of sexual violence.

There is no possible justification for deliberately killing some 1,200 people, including 33 children, injuring thousands more, and taking hundreds of hostages.

Some 130 hostages are still held captive. I call for their immediate and unconditional release, as well as their humane treatment and visits from the International Committee of the Red Cross until they are freed.

At the same time, the brutality perpetrated by Hamas can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.

And while indiscriminate rocket fire by Hamas into Israel, and the use of civilians as human shields, are in contravention of the laws of war, such conduct does not absolve Israel of its own violations.

International humanitarian law includes the duty to protect civilians and to comply with the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution.

The laws of war also demand that civilians’ essential needs must be met, including by facilitating the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian relief.

International humanitarian law cannot be applied selectively. It is binding on all parties equally at all times, and the obligation to observe it does not depend on reciprocity.

Mr. President, The people of Gaza are looking into the abyss.

The international community must do everything possible to end their ordeal.

I urge the Council to spare no effort to push for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, for the protection of civilians, and for the urgent delivery of lifesaving aid.

While we deal with the current crisis, we cannot lose sight of the only viable possibility for a peaceful future: a two-State solution, on the basis of United Nations resolutions and international law, with Israel and Palestine living side-by-side in peace and security.

This is vital for Israelis, Palestinians, and for international peace and security.

The eyes of the world – and the eyes of history – are watching.

It’s time to act. Thank you.

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 26, 2023

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Common Ground is a Testament to the Power of Film to Change Hearts and Minds

by Ben Jealous

Soil. It’s where our food comes from and the foundation of all life on land.

The way human beings have traditionally farmed in the modern era devastates the soil. It impacts the quality of the food that people and farmed animals eat, and thus our collective health. It’s not sustainable, vastly reducing the amount of farmable land available to us and our ability to continue to feed the planet.

There’s a solution. One that we need to consider carefully, that offers a path towards sustainability and environmental health. It’s called regenerative farming.

The recent documentary film Common Ground provides a groundbreaking look into this critically important crisis and how we can fix it with regenerative farming. Normally when I’m asked to watch the latest “environmental documentary,” I admit to being susceptible to that mild sense of dread we all get when we’re about to be presented with the problems of the world further solidified before our eyes.

But Common Ground is anything but bleak. To the contrary, it offers desperately needed hope at a time when environmental degradation, the climate crisis, the extinction crisis, and threats to our natural resources are driving cynicism among even the most optimistic.

Common Ground explores how, as Gabe Brown, a Bismarck, North Dakota regenerative rancher featured in film, puts it, the current dominant system industrial

agriculture, “is working to kill things,” while regenerative agriculture “works in harmony and synchrony with nature, with life.”

The status quo system of industrial agriculture abuses and degrades our soil with tillage, synthetic substances, monocultures – that is, the cultivation of just one crop in a given area – and not sequestering carbon. Regenerative agriculture, in short, doesn’t rely on these things. In contrast, it relies on methods that protect the soil and offers a sustainable, healthy alternative.

Even before today’s high-tech agribusiness, industrial farming methods used by small and large farmers alike were causing devastation to our topsoil. Brown points out that the Dust Bowl of the 1930s wasn’t caused by drought alone but by “copious amounts of tillage.”

Common Ground uses historical examples in its storytelling that, as a lifelong student of history, I love. One highlight is a newly told account of the revolutionary agricultural genius, George Washington Carver (told by Leah Penniman, herself a farmer and author of the book, Farming While Black). While Carver is known in history books as “the peanut guy,” he was far more.

Carver understood that to take farmers out of poverty, you had to build healthy soil. Peanuts, it turns out, put nitrogen into the soil. Using peanuts and various techniques he developed by studying nature, Carver taught an entire generation

of Black farmers how to farm in harmony with nature, like the indigenous peoples of America.

Common Ground also strikes an important chord in addressing climate. Healthy soil has the potential to sequester tremendous quantities of CO2. From large farms to urban gardens, the care-taking of soil can produce more profitable and more nutritious food and help mitigate the climate crisis.

The entertainment industry, through film and television, can be a powerful catalyst for change. It can motivate, enlighten, and inspire us to tackle daunting challenge.

“The slap heard around the world” by Sidney Poitier’s character in 1967’s In the Heat of the Night was an important symbol of the right and need to stand up for Black dignity. And, of course, how can we forget the societal impact of the TV shows like All in the Family, The Jeffersons, and Good Times, created by Norman Lear – my dear friend who recently passed away at the age of 101.

Common Ground’s celebrity narrators open the film by passing on reflections in the form of a letter to current and future generations. One of them, Woody Harrelson, mentions that what viewers are about to receive are “hard truths.” I couldn’t help but think of Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth, which was instrumental in sounding the alarm and raising global awareness about climate change.

The impact and influence of An Inconvenient Truth got an important cultural boost when the film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature of 2006. It would benefit all of us for Common Ground to gain similar recognition (for the Academy’s and America’s consideration).

To borrow a phrase from Woody Harrelson, “the one thing that’s keeping us all alive is that soil you’re standing on.”

Let’s get hopeful again about environmental solutions (including soil). Let’s work to find our common ground.

Ben Jealous is executive director of the Sierra Club, professor of practice at the University of Pennsylvania and author of “Never Forget Our People Were Always Free.”

Biden-Harris Launches a National Law Enforcement Accountability Database to Advance Police Reform and Strengthen Community Trust

by Stacy M. Brown

In what the White House called a significant step towards enhancing police accountability and rebuilding trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris announced the establishment of the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database. The initiative marks the first-ever federal database designed to track official records of law enforcement officer misconduct.

“Every person in our nation has a right to be safe. And trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve is essential for public safety,” Harris asserted. “Police misconduct undermines that trust and threatens the right to equal justice under law.”

The database aims to provide federal agencies with readily accessible records

of serious misconduct when hiring federal law enforcement officers. The White House said the move is part of a broader effort to strengthen the bonds of trust and accountability within law enforcement agencies nationwide.

“Protecting public safety depends on trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve,” Biden remarked. “By building trust, we can strengthen public safety and more effectively fight crime in our communities.”

The initiative is an outgrowth of the Executive Order Biden signed in May 2022, focusing on police reform—the most significant in decades. The order mandated federal law enforcement agencies to ban chokeholds, strengthen use-of-force policies, and restrict no-knock warrants, among other critical reforms.

“As part of my administration’s executive order on policing, we committed to create a first-of-its-kind database to track records of law enforcement misconduct so that agencies are able to hire the best personnel,” Biden affirmed. “I am fulfilling that promise by launching the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database.”

The president and vice president stressed their dedication to advancing police accountability, renewing their call for Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Harris, pivotal in authoring the act as a United States Senator, reiterated the administration’s commitment to fostering nationwide transparency and public trust in law enforcement.

Biden also urged Congress to act swiftly. “I urge Congress to pass the George

Floyd Justice in Policing Act to advance accountability, transparency, and public trust in law enforcement across the nation,” Biden insisted. “Send it to my desk, and I will sign it.”

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THE CITY OF NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DIVISION OF BRIDGES CONSULTANT PROGRAMS REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS The City of New York has Request for Proposals available for qualified Consulting Engineering Firms interested in the following Proposed Contract.

Project or Contract Title: Request for Proposal – REI Services in Connection with Replacement of East 14th Street Pedestrian Bridge over Belt Parkway, Borough of Brooklyn Contract No. HBKA23308 PIN: 84124BKBR633 Expected Contract Term:

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Description of Services Required: The services to be procured is the REI Services in Connection with Replacement of East 14th Street Pedestrian Bridge over Belt Parkway, Borough of Brooklyn A Pre-Proposal Conference (Optional) has been scheduled for December 28th, 2023, Time: 10:00 AM through Zoom. Proposers who wish to attend the virtual meeting can access by using the Link provided in the "Prepare RFX" Section - SETUP Tab - Pre-Proposal/Pre-Bid Conference Section in PASSPort.

This Procurement is subject to participation goals for Minority-Owned Business Enterprises (MBEs), as required by Section 6-129 of the New York Administrative Code. The M/WBE goal for this project is 30%.

This Request for Proposals (RFP) is released through PASSPort, New York City’s online procurement portal. Responses to this RFP must be submitted via PASSPort. To access the RFP, vendors should visit the PASSPort public Portal at https://www1.nyc.gov/site/mocs/systems/about-goto-passport.page and click on the “Search Funding Opportunities in PASSPort” blue box. Doing so will take one to the public portal of all procurements in the PASSPort system. To quickly locate the RFP, insert the 84124P0006 into the Keyword search field. To respond to the RFP, vendors must create an account within the PASSPort system if they have not already done so.

Release Date: December 20, 2023 Pre-Proposal Conference: December 28, 2023, at 10 AM Submission of Request for Proposals are due on or before 2:00 PM on January 22, 2023

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 26, 2023

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Dominica - Investigation into Antigua to Revive LIAT Firearms at Police Station Minister of National Security and Legal Affairs, Rayburn Blackmoore, has announced that independent investigators from the Caribbean Community ( CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), will oversee the investigation regarding the burglary and theft of nine firearms at the St. Joseph Police Station.

Between December 5 and 6, 2023, a burglary occurred at the armoury of the station which is located west of the island, resulting in the theft of a significant arsenal. The stolen items included a total of nine firearms: six assault rifles,

comprising three M6 rifles and three 7.5 rifles, along with one shotgun and two pistols. Additionally, a quantity of ammunition in various calibres was also taken from the St. Joseph Police Station during this incident.

The recent burglary has sparked outrage and concern among citizens and government officials alike. In response to this alarming incident, the security minister has voiced his deep dismay and highlighted the gravity of the situation.

t John’s, Antigua – The Antigua and Barbuda government Friday said it has embraced the responsibility to restructure and resurrect cash-strapped regional airline, LIAT, with a “with a vision of returning the airline to the regional skies”.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne, delivering the EC$1.3 billion (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) national budget to Parliament, said that the airline, which has been under administration since July 24, 2020, “has long been an essential thread in the fabric of Caribbean connectivity”.

LIAT, prior to entering into administration had been servicing several regional destinations and has since scaled down its operations and is now servicing Anguilla,

Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Guyana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Martinique, San Juan Puerto Rico, St Kitts, St Lucia and St Maarten.

“In 2023, despite hurdles, including unserviceable aircraft, unresolved issues for former workers, financial constraints, staff attrition, and disruptions caused by the hurricane season; LIAT 1974 Ltd operated a limited schedule, ensuring vital connectivity across destinations with 167 dedicated staff,” Browne said of the airline, whose major shareholders are the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Canada to Establish Citizenship Path for Undocumented The Canadian government plans to create a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, including a broad program.

The decision aims to open the doors to those who have lived and worked in Canada without legal status for an extended period, ranging from individuals in the construction industry, reports say.

As local media report, this announcement aligns with Canada’s ambitious immigration goals, which target welcoming 500,000 immigrants annually by 2025. The

country’s population expansion has been primarily driven by immigration, catalyzing economic growth in recent times.

In this regard, the country’s Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, estimated that the number of individuals residing in Canada without proper documentation ranges from 300,000 to 600,000.

A significant portion of this population has contributed to the labor force for long periods, raising families in the country, yet faces the dangerous threat of deportation due to their lack of formal immigration

T&T Fugitive Extradited to US On December 13, Trinidad and Tobago national Kim Maharaj was extradited to the United States. He will begin serving his 12-year sentence for a 1998 gang assault in the State of New York on December 14.

Marshals from the United States Marshals Service (USMS) and Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) agents assigned to the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy

Port of Spain escorted Maharaj from Port of Spain to the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the U.S. Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also played critical roles in the extradition.

The Trinidad and Tobago Court of Appeal dismissed Maharaj’s challenge to his extradition...

Haiti Prepares for Deployment of Haitian Forces

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said a Kenya-led, international security mission to Haiti could deploy “in months”, urging the United Nations Security Council to authorise the deployment as soon as possible.

Speaking on Friday morning at a start of a UN meeting in New York on the situation

in Haiti, Blinken said the United States would supply “robust financial and logistical assistance” to the proposed mission.

“We urge the international community to pledge additional personnel, as well as equipment, logistics, training and funding.

We cannot be successful without these contributions,” the top US diplomat said.

status – a situation he regards as “absolutely meaningless”.

As Miller explains, the initiative is designed to enable individuals who need proper documents, including those who initially entered the country legally as temporary workers or international students but stayed beyond the expiration of their visas, to apply for permanent residency.

Miller intends to present a formal proposal to the cabinet in the spring.

Despite these economic considerations,

the government has maintained existing immigration targets for the next two years. Starting in 2026, there will be a pause in the gradual escalation of immigration numbers, with Canada aspiring to welcome 465,000 new residents in 2023, 485,000 in 2024, and reaching its target of 500,000 stable at the level of 2020.

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CARIBHEALTH

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 26, 2023

Clarke Partners with Halle Berry and Women’s Health Advocates on Menopause Awareness After introducing the bipartisan Menopause Research and Equity Act of 2023, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) met with menopause advocates, Let’s Talk Menopause and award-winning actress and activist Halle Berry, to discuss further initiatives to improve menopause awareness.

“For too long, menopause has remained stigmatized, or even ignored entirely.

Women facing this common, natural condition are told to be silent and hide their struggles, only because they may make men uncomfortable. We are told these life changes are just the burden of being a woman. All the while, the nation-wide attack on women’s bodies has only continued to erode our rights,” said Congresswoman Clarke. A woman’s value should not be defined by the end of her fertility. It’s Congress’ responsibility to support the millions of women facing menopause to confront their new nor-

mal, as well as to help them thrive and reach their full potential in mid-life and beyond. And the meaningful resources within my legislation will do just that.”

Photographs from Rep. Clarke’s meeting with Halle Berry and menopause advocates, Let’s Talk Menopause are available here.

Specifically, the Menopause ]Research and Equity Act of 2023 would: Direct the National Institutes of Health to evaluate current menopause-related research and submit a report to Congress on its findings.

Identify the total amount of funding allocated by the National Institutes of Health for the conduct or support of menopause-related research, and research on midlife women’s health over the preceding 5 fiscal years.

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WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 26, 2023

CARIBA&E

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Jamaican Jazz Icon Dr. Monty Alexander To Spread Holiday Cheer With NYC And D.C. Performances

Renowned Jamaican-born Grammy-nominated jazz legend, Dr. Monty Alexander, CD, O.J, is set to once again infuse the holiday season with his soulful rhythms and positive vibes in New York and Washington, D.C. Dr. Alexander will return to grace the stage at Birdland Jazz in NYC from December 21st to 25th for twice nightly shows that promise to uplift the spirits of jazz fans everywhere in what has become an annual performance.

For show times and ticket reservations, visit HERE and at https://www.birdlandjazz.com/ tm-event/monty-alexander-holiday-show-2/ Nestled at 315 West 44th Street, New York, NY

10036, Birdland has been an integral part of New York City’s musical heritage since 1949, hosting jazz legends like Tito Puente and showcasing iconic big bands including those led by Chico O’Farrill, Duke Ellington, Toshiko Akiyoshi, and Maria Schneider.

To close out the year, Dr. Alexander will again enchant audiences at Blues Alley in Washington D.C., with performances from December 27th to 31st. These twice nightly shows at Blues Alley are once again bound to be unforgettable, and tickets can be secured HERE and at https:// www.instantseats.com/?fuseaction=home. venue&artistID=2145&venueID=3 Located at 1073 REAR Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007, Blues Alley has held its reputation as the nation’s premier jazz and supper club since 1965.

Dr. Alexander’s holiday repertoire will draw from a rich tapestry of musical experiences with American entertainment luminaries such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole, and Quincy Jones. He will also pay homage to jazz giants like Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Milt Jackson, and Ray Brown. Moreover, he will hark back to his pioneering role in Jamaican popular music during the late 1950s and his profound friendship with the late Jamaican American icon and freedom fighter, Dr. Harry Belafonte.

Joining Dr. Alexander on stage will be accom-

BPM to Premiere Three Vaccine Equity Projects As COVID-19 and seasonal flu activity is on the rise, Black Public Media (BPM) is set to release two projects it commissioned targeting vaccine hesitancy in Michigan and North Carolina. The short film A Little Off the Top: Vaxxed Up by William D. Caballero and the three-episode Spanish language podcast Me Vacuno Porque… (I got vaccinated because…)

by Antonio Alanis will premiere Monday on the Black Public Media (BPM) YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/@BlackPublicMedia.

BPM media is a national media arts nonprofit dedicated to creating and producing media content about the Black experience.

The Fayetteville, North Carolina-raised Caballero, now a Los Angeles resident, created a hip hop-infused animated digital short — part narrative, part documentary — about a group of Black and Latino barbers offering words of encouragement to a vaccine-skeptical teenage client; A Little Off the Top: Vaxxed Up is the second webisode in a series, which is also funded by Black Public Media.

Alanis, a Mexican-American artist from Durham, North Carolina, directed a visual podcast series featuring Hispanic/Latinx community members and leaders from across the state discussing myths as well as true information about vaccines and offering solutions on how to increase vaccination rates in North Carolina’s Spanish-speaking Latinx community.

The film Well by Michigan-based filmmakers Toni Cunningham and Eden Sadolboro of Reel Clever Films LLC premieres on the BPM YouTube channel in early 2024. The project depicts one Black family’s fight to remain healthy through a half century of crises in America, including the Tuskegee experiment, Flint water

crisis and COVID-19.

The creatives were awarded a total of more than $160,000 in funding after participating in BPM’s Black Media Story Summit - Michigan and North Carolina in March. BPM story summits bring together creatives, film and television industry executives, thought leaders, community stakeholders, and others to explore innovative approaches to media story development on critical issues facing Black people in America. Past summits have covered such issues as mass incarceration, environmental justice, health and immigration.

This year’s summit grew out of the threeyear partnership (begun in the fall of 2021) between BPM and the National Network to Innovate for COVID-19 and Adult Vaccine Equity (NNICE). NNICE, which is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as part of the National Partnering for Vaccine Equity Initiative, engaged BPM through its grantee, Michigan State University, to host virtual Black Media Story Summits on vaccine equity and to award production grants to media makers with the most compelling production proposals.

“These artists have created some compelling and informative work for their communities that I hope will support the local community health professionals in their mission to get more Black and brown people vaccinated,” said Qiona Woffard, BPM special programs manager.

plished musicians Luke Sellick on bass and Jason Brown on drums, while the special feature guest for the nights of December 21/22 and 23 in NYC will be the celebrated hand drummer/ percussionist extraordinaire, Bobby Thomas, Jr. These performances follow the completion of his highly anticipated upcoming studio album, ‘D-DAY,’ which features Sellick on bass and Brown on drums.

As he approaches his 80th birthday, Dr. Alexander continues to mesmerize global audiences with his infectious energy and heartfelt messages during his worldwide tours. Currently in production, “The Monty Alexander Movie,” a documentary filmed in Jamaica, the United States, and Europe, directed by Academy Award-winning cinematographer Jefferson Miller and veteran filmmaker Arthur Gorson, promises an insightful glimpse into Dr. Alexander’s artistic journey.

Since his move from Kingston, Jamaica to the United States almost six decades ago, Alexander has remained an iconic figure in American jazz. His captivating energy, boundless melodic creativity, effervescent rhythms, and sophisticated artistry span jazz, blues, gospel, calypso, reggae, and the American songbook.

Boasting an extensive discography of over 75 albums and recognized as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, Alexander received the esteemed Commander in the Order of Distinc-

tion in 2000. In 2022, the Jamaican government honored him with the national distinction of the Order of Jamaica for his outstanding contributions to Jamaican music and his remarkable interpretations of jazz on a global scale.

Additionally, he holds an honorary doctorate (DLitt) from the University of The West Indies.

Alexander’s virtuosic piano skills and his unique fusion of jazz with Caribbean musical influences continue to captivate global audiences. His performances are marked by infectious energy, soulful improvisation, and an innate groove. Whether interpreting jazz classics, reimagining popular tunes, or showcasing his own compositions, Alexander’s expressive playing leaves an indelible mark on listeners.

Beyond his musical achievements, Dr. Alexander takes immense pride in representing Jamaican culture on a global stage, infusing the spirit and vibrancy of his homeland into his performances. As a respected figure in the jazz world, his music transcends borders, forging connections among people and leaving an enduring impact on all fortunate enough to witness his extraordinary talent.

For more information, visit his YouTube channel or his official website at https://montyalexander.com/. You can also follow him on Facebook at facebook.com/officialmontyalexander or stay updated on his performances through his Twitter handle, @montyHKE.

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CARIBTRAVEL

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 26, 2023

St. Kitts Welcomes Celebrity Beyond on its Inaugural Cruise Call, Fueling The Destination’s Luxury Market The pristine shores of St. Kitts are abuzz with anticipation as we welcome the globally renowned Celebrity Beyond to our Caribbean Island. With her grand arrival today, the stunning vessel will showcase a new standard in luxury cruising, leaving a lasting impression on both discerning travelers and St. Kitts locals alike.

As the third of the iconic Edge-class series developed by Celebrity Cruises, Celebrity Beyond redefines the boundaries of contemporary ship design and innovation. This vessel embodies the epitome of elegance, seamlessly fusing ultra-modern interiors, extraordinary craftsmanship, and the latest technology to create an unparalleled luxury experience for guests.

With a length of 1,082 feet and a passenger capacity of 3,260, Celebrity Beyond offers a myriad of cutting-edge amenities. Guests stepping aboard this floating haven will

be treated to a wide array of world-class dining venues, including Michelin-star Chef-designed restaurants, sleek cocktail lounges, and trendy bars. Moreover, Celebrity Beyond takes indulgence to new heights with its soothing spa and wellness facilities, rejuvenating lounges, glamorously curated boutiques featuring designer brands, and captivating entertainment options that cater to every taste.

Hon. Marsha T. Henderson, Minister of Tourism, expressed her enthusiasm, exclaiming, “The arrival of Celebrity Beyond marks a significant milestone in our flourishing partnership with Celebrity Cruises. We are delighted to introduce our island paradise as a premier destination on this ship’s itinerary. St. Kitts boasts an unparalleled combination of natural beauty, rich heritage, and warm hospitality, and we look forward to showcasing the best

that our island has to offer to all Celebrity Beyond passengers.”

Celebrity Beyond’s inaugural cruise call to St. Kitts today heralds the beginning of a fruitful relationship between this visionary vessel and St. Kitts. Furthermore, the St. Kitts Tourism Authority is elated to confirm that Celebrity Beyond will return to St. Kitts three more times over the course of the 2023-2024 cruise season, underlining the enduring appeal of the destination.

As St. Kitts proudly welcomes Celebrity Beyond, the Authority eagerly embraces this exciting chapter in the destination’s thriving tourism industry. The arrival of this flagship vessel symbolizes our commitment to offering unforgettable experiences and fostering lasting connections between visitors and St. Kitts.

CTO Secretary-General Receives 2023 CMEX Leadership Award The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is exceedingly proud to announce that Secretary-General and CEO Dona Regis-Prosper has been honored by the Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) with its 2023 Leadership Award.

At the awards luncheon and fundraising event, held on Saturday, December 2, 2023, Regis-Prosper was celebrated for more than two decades of leadership in a broad range of tourism- and hospitality-related positions, including being selected as the first female to lead the CTO, which serves as the tourism development agency for the Caribbean region.

Over the past nine years, Regis-Prosper has deftly overseen the management of new organizations as well as projects in several islands and territories, elevating their prominence in the Caribbean tourism landscape.

Her career has included roles as Director of Marketing and Product Development at the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority, which she helped to transform into a more service-oriented organization while developing a customer service culture at the destination’s port facilities; Director of Business Development for Margaritaville Caribbean Group in Jamaica; CEO of the Tortola Pier Park in the British Virgin Islands, where she was responsible for the launch of the new cruise and shopping center facilities; and General Manager of the Antigua Cruise Port, overseeing the launch of the facility.

Joining Regis-Prosper in being honored at the 2023 CMEx Leadership Awards and Fundraiser, held at the Loews Coral Gables Hotel in Miami this past weekend, were individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the Caribbean tourism, hospitality and communications sectors, including: Ewald Biemans, Owner/CEO, Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort in Aruba Rosa Harris, Director, Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, and Chairman, CTO Board of Directors

Stan Hartling, Owner and CEO, The Hartling Group Joy Jibrilu, CEO, Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board Nicola Madden-Greig, OD, President, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Pat Montague, President/CEO, Pat Montague Marketing & Promotions Beverly Nicolson-Doty, CEO, Figment Design and former CTO Chairman Kevin O’Reggio, Strategic Account Director of Global Sales, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Michele Paige, CEO, Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association Julian Rogers MBE, Founder, MEDIAROGERS GROUP Reflecting upon the day’s events, Regis-Prosper stated: “Today, I was filled with immense pride as I received the 2023 Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) Leadership Award in Miami.

I am truly humbled to be recognized among a group of distinguished professionals who are working collaboratively to shape the future of Caribbean communications, tourism and hospitality. This event not only celebrated our achievements but also fostered deeper connections and ignited new conversations as we rally around the Caribbean.”

Regis-Prosper’s determined commitment to strategic planning, business development, policy formulation and implementation initiatives, and the development and execution of innovative strategies to enhance the competitiveness of Caribbean tourism on a global scale represent the core values of progress and sustainability for which CMEx is known.

CMEx was established to facilitate the exchange of best practices among communicators in the media and members of the public and private sectors, in collaboration with non-governmental organizations, academia, community groups, and the youth.

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 26, 2023

CARIBSPIRITUALITY

Giving Peace a Chance

By Rev. Teresa Burton

up my internal agitation. But lately, I’ve noticed something. I’m carrying feelings of annoyance and disturbance even when I do not see him, even when there is no noise. Even during long periods of quiet, there is a cacophony roiling me from within as I ruminate over my feelings of righteousness and my inability to control someone else’s behavior to get what I want.

Of course, this was not a comfortable realization to make.

Look within to embody peace in any circumstances I have an annoying neighbor. To be fair, I’m pretty sure my neighbor would say the same thing about me. We’ve clashed a few times over noise levels, each of us explaining our position to the other and feeling strongly about being right. So far, nothing has changed.

It’s gotten so that I dread seeing him because I don’t want to talk with him and stir

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Choosing Peace I realized I needed peace more than I needed quiet. I knew what I had to do, and it wasn’t pleading my case or avoiding my neighbor. I had to find the peace I was seeking within myself. Simply acknowledging that truth helped me relax as I remembered that all I have complete control over is myself and my reactions.

My dilemma is a common one. It’s only natural to look for reasons in our outer lives when we wonder why peace eludes us. It’s also natural to think the way to

peace is trying to change other people or forcing our will upon unwanted situations.

We learn—over and over again—this approach only drives peace further away.

Wanting to find peace this time, I remembered two key spiritual truths. First, everything comes to pass. Reviewing other troubling circumstances over the years, I recalled other annoying situations and interpersonal conflicts that always resolved in one way or another. Like those situations, this one, too, shall pass. Until it does, I can find peace in understanding my conflict with my neighbor is temporary.

Second, any troubling situation can be used for spiritual growth. Investing emotional energy in what I don’t like is only going to keep me tethered to what is bothering me and prolong my discomfort. But if I use it as an opportunity to deepen in peace, my energy and attention are helping me grow. There may always be unwelcome developments, but my peaceful consciousness can influence how often they happen

and how long they last. As I focus more and more on the divine life within me, I attract myself to the people and situations I want to have in my life.

Giving the Gift of Peace This Sunday as we meditate upon peace along the Advent journey, let’s claim it by being the peaceful presence we have been praying for. When we embody peace instead of wishing or waiting for it, we are no longer at the mercy of outside circumstances. In this way we claim our spiritual power, which is so much more potent than any worldly power we could hope to assert. Like a tree with deep roots anchoring it in place, our peaceful bearing similarly anchors us. When the winds of discord and disagreement whip around us, we stay rooted in peace.

This is the gift we give to ourselves, one another and the world. This Christmas let’s discover the peace of God where it quietly resides—in every wise and loving heart.

Woman of Faith to Embark on Inspiring and “Woman Pray” City Tour (Houston, Texas) – Pastor Qwynn Gross, a passionate woman of faith and an inspiration to many, is set to embark on her remarkable Woman Pray Intensive City Tour, spreading hope, love, and prayers to communities across the nation.

The Woman Pray Intensive City Tour, organized by Hope Cathedral, will kick off on November 17-18 in Houston, Texas, and will continue through to North Carolina, and the final city to conclude the tour will be announced in 2024.

With a mission to unite women from all walks of life, backgrounds, and faiths, Pastor Qwynn will engage in heartfelt prayer sessions, motivational talks, and powerful testimonials during each tour stop. The tour aims to create a positive impact on individuals and communities, providing them with hope, inspiration, and encouragement amidst challenging times.

Pastor Qwynn is an exceptional woman of faith who has touched the lives of many with her unwavering devotion and empowering message. The Woman Pray Intensive City Tour is a manifestation of her commitment to spreading hope, love and prayer to all corners of our nation," said Kolanda Colson, Program Director.

Woman Pray Intensive City Tour schedule is as follows: 1. Houston, Texas  Tour Date: November 17-18 th , I Believe Church, Houston, Texas  Address: 11011 Brooklet Drive, Suite 260, Houston, TX 77099 2. North Carolina:  Tour Date: [Tour Dates??], (Church Name), North Carolina  Address: (Church Address)

3. Third City:  Tour Date: To Be Determined (TBD) in 2024  Address: Venue (TBD) Pastor Qwynn invites women, regardless of their beliefs, to join her in this journey of faith, unity, and hope. Attendees can expect an unforgettable experience that will uplift their spirits and leave a lasting impact on their lives.

The Woman Pray Intensive City Tour will strictly adhere to all local health and safety guidelines to ensure the well-being of attendees. In-person attendance will be limited, and live streams of each event will be available for those unable to join physically.

Pastor Qwynn, an exceptional woman of faith known for her unwavering devotion and empowering message, is gearing up for the upcoming 2024 Empower Me Conference scheduled for March 15-16 th . This conference is a testament to her commitment to spreading hope, love, and prayer to every corner of the nation, leaving a profound impact on all those she touches.

For more information about the Woman Pray Intensive City Tour, including upcoming tour dates, locations, and how to participate, please visit HOME | WOMAN PRAY or contact Kolanda Colson at Woman Pray at admin@ womanpray.com. Additionally, for more details on the Empower Me Conference, including registration details, please visit EMPOWERME | WOMAN PRAY or contact Kolanda Colson for inquiries.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a transformative and empowering event led by Pastor Qwynn, a beacon of faith and inspiration in our community.

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CARIBSPORTS

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 26, 2023

Concacaf President Offers Support to Global Refereeing Community Following a shocking incident in Turkey that saw a referee attacked on the field of play FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani, who also serves as Chair of the FIFA Stakeholders Committee, has called on the global football family to support and respect referees at all levels of the sport.

President Montagliani said: “I want to offer my full and wholehearted support to Turkish referee Halil Umut Meler following the awful attack he experienced earlier this week. While this did not occur in our Concacaf region, I believe it must serve as a wake-up call to global football at all levels of the game.

“Referees play an essential role in football, and they need our encouragement and our support. I know from my leadership roles at Concacaf and FIFA that they work extremely hard to reach the top level of the international game. Just this week, four of our Concacaf referees represented the region at the highest

level at the FIFA Club World Cup, officiating the opening game of the tournament. We are proud of them, and they are a hugely positive example to the next generation of referees coming behind them in Concacaf. However, the all too frequent attacks and abuse referees suffer risks doing irreparable damage to the future of refereeing and to the future of our game.

“I know that our friends at UEFA are doing positive work in Europe to raise awareness of the importance of referees. When the global football family comes together as a positive force, it can achieve so much. Let us all come together to show even more support and respect to referees at all levels of this great game.”

The FIFA Club World Cup 2023 opening match {Al-Ittihad vs Auckland City} was officiated by an all-female team of Concacaf referees. The Head Referee was Tori Penso (USA), the Assistant Referees were Brooke Mayo and Kathrynn Nesbitt (both USA) and the VAR was Tatiana Guzman (Nicaragua).

West Indies Names Squad for ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup in South Africa

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies (CWI) today announced the West Indies Rising Stars Men’s Under 19s squad for the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup. The 15th edition of the tournament will be played in South Africa from 19 January to 11 February 2024.

Top-order batter Stephan Pascal has been named as Captain with Nathan Sealy, the slow bowling allrounder as Vice Captain.

The 15-member squad features most of the players who toured Sri Lanka for three Youth One-Day Internationals (50-over matches) and two four-day “Test” matches in August and September.

The squad includes three players who played in the 2022 ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup which was staged in the West Indies. They are: fast bowler Isai Thorne, left-handed allrounder Nathan Edward and left-handed batter Jordan Johnson.

Thorne made his first-class debut for the

West Indies Academy against Emerging Ireland last month and impressed with his pace. He took 12 wickets in two matches at an average of 6.16 per wicket. Johnson joined the West Indies A Team on the recent tour of South Africa where he made his first-class debut in the third and final four-day “Test” match.

The squad has assembled in Antigua for a one-week camp at the Coolidge Cricket Ground. During the camp, they will have training and fitness sessions along with planning sessions and personal development workshops.

Lead Selector Robert Haynes said: “We have named a balanced squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup and we expect them to do very well in this prestigious international event. We had a good tour of Sri Lanka in August and September where the players gained valuable experience. This helped to prepare them for the upcoming assignment.

Since that tour, we also had a camp in Trinidad where we played against the USA Under-19 and the Trinidad & Tobago Under-23 teams. They will be match-fit and mentally fully prepared when they journey to South Africa.”

Haynes added: “This is a fantastic opportunity for these young men to represent the West Indies and showcase their talent, playing against their peers, in front of a global audience. This is a crucial stage in their development. They have received excellent preparation, help, and guidance from the coaches and support staff, and we expect to see them do very well.”

For the tournament, the West Indies have been drawn alongside hosts South Africa, Scotland, and England in Group B for

their first-round matches. All three matches will be played at the J.B. Marks Oval in Potchefstroom. Before that, they will have warm-up matches against New Zealand and Nepal in Johannesburg.

India, who won the tournament in 2022 and are placed in Group A with Bangladesh, Ireland and the USA. Group C features Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, while Group D is made up

of Afghanistan, Pakistan, New Zealand and Nepal. The top three sides from each group will progress to the Super Six phase to be played from 30 January to 3 February. The Semi-Finals will be on 6 and 8 February and the Final is on 11 February at Willowmore Park in Benoni.