VOL. XLIII NO. 2151 WEEK OF JANUARY 23 - 30, 2024
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UNITED STATES FACES
HAITI
SIX NUNS KIDNAPPED
By gangs while traveling on a bus -Bishop offers himself to release the nuns
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MIAMI
JAMAICA DIASPORA PROTEST Outside the office of the Consul General over corruption and crime
Page 4 NEW YORK CITY
MEDICAL DEBT RELIEF
Of over $2billion for thousands announced by Mayor Adams
Page 3 TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
WORLDWIDE INVITATION TO CARNIVAL
By NCC despite the upsurge in crime in the country
Page 17 CARICOM
DOLLARIZE CARIBBEAN CURRENCY
PROFOUND THREAT TO FREEDOM VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS WARNS AS COUNTRY DEALS WITH DONALD TRUMP
NEW YORK CITY
Tie the various to the US dollar and stabilize exchange
Page 6
ASYLUM SEEKERS
NEW YORK
CLAIRE GORING PASSES
Cultural icon of Grenada
Page 15
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OUT IN THE COLD AS MIGRANTS ARE EVICTED FROM HOUSING PROVIDED
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CaribNews OPINION Power Grids Supplied By Clean Energy Are More Reliable. That Saves Lives. by Ben Jealous - P 9
OPINION Biden Unveils New Sweeping Student Loan Debt Relief Measures, Surpassing 3.7 Million Beneficiaries by Stacy M. Brown - P 9
HEALTH Brooklyn, NY – SUNY Downstate Hospital Set to be Closed - P 16
SPORTS Jewel Andrews Shows Out in Rising Stars Opening Match - P 20
WEEK ENDING JANUARY 30, 2024
AFRICA UN aid official urges increased support for Niger
Epstein files: Nobody should evade justice, say UN rights experts
A senior UN humanitarian official on Thursday called on the international community to step up support for communities in need in Niger, warning that limited funding and access challenges have put lives at risk. Approximately 4.3 million people, over half of them children, have been affected by a multifaceted crisis characterized by conflict, climate-induced disasters, hunger and epidemics. A military coup in July 2023 and the ensuing political instability has further exacerbated their plight. Edem Wosornu, Operations Director at the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), told reporters in New York via video link from the capital Niamey that the people “need help now”. “We need to do more, and we need to do more now, putting people at the centre,” she said. “If we do not help them now, we will miss the planting season [and] we will not be able to support them and lift them out of their vulnerabilities.” Ms. Wosornu has been in the landlocked West African country, since Monday, meeting with authorities, aid organizations and affected communities. She visited Diffa in the remote southeast, where refugees from Nigeria have settled after fleeing Boko Haram militants.
UN independent human rights experts on Friday emphasized no one is above the law, following the unsealing of nearly 1,000 pages of court records in the case of US financier Jeffrey Epstein, which shed light on the disturbing extent of his sexual abuse of teenage girls. The court documents reveal a horrifying list of alleged crimes perpetrated by Mr. Epstein, including sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, rape, sex trafficking, slavery, torture and the forced disappearance of women and children. Mr. Epstein died in August 2019 after prison guards in New York found him unresponsive in his jail cell where he was awaiting trial. In a news release on Friday, Special Rapporteurs Reem Alsalem and Mama Fatima Singhateh voiced deep concern over the vast network of underage victims and survivors lured into the “perverse world” of Mr. Epstein and his now jailed accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell as well as their ability to operate with impunity “for so many years”. “The way in which this case is dealt with by law enforcement and the judiciary will set an important precedent for the future,” they said.
UN expert says human rights violations rage on in Sudan
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The human rights expert appointed by the UN High Commissioner to monitor Sudan, Radhoune Noucier, told UN News on Monday that everything from basic human rights to the economy and the legal system, have been decimated by the on-going war between rival militaries. The independent expert outlined what’s been happening on the ground as violence and displacement continue to ripple across the country following the outbreak of clashes between the national army and RSF militia in April 2023. Out of 45 million people, more than seven million have been displaced, with some seeking safety in neighbouring nations, and half the total population needs humanitarian assistance, according to the UN aid agency, OCHA. More than 13,000 people have been killed and another 26,000 injured since the conflict began, according to the UN agency’s latest situation report published on Sunday. Describing a range of sinister and ongoing violations of basic human rights, Mr. Noucier told UN News’s Abdelmonem Makki why he is calling for an immediate ceasefire and why impunity must end for perpetrators. UN News: The brutal armed conflict in Sudan has entered its tenth month, and you issued a statement on this occasion, deploring the grim human rights situation in the country and urging the leaders of both sides of the conflict to put an immediate end to the violence. Could you elaborate on this? Radhouane Nouicer: We are witnessing all sorts of violations of basic rights in Sudan: extrajudicial killing, indiscriminate shelling of private and public areas, unlawful detention, including over human rights activists and NGO representatives,
Gaza: ‘The siege is the silent killer’ In Gaza, bombs and bullets are far from the only threat to life. Residents lack food and clean water, health facilities are practically nonexistent and communication with the outside world is patchy at best. That’s according to Juliette Touma, Director of Communications for UNRWA, the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees, who spoke in depth to UN News’s Conor Lennon on Monday about her most recent visit to the Strip. “This was my second trip since the war began. I try to go whenever it’s possible to express solidarity with the people there who are severely impacted by this brutal war and also to see our colleagues who continue to serve the communities through their humanitarian mission. This time, however, I visited the middle areas, including Deir al-Balah, and then in the south, I went to Rafah and Khan Younis. It was absolutely desperate. Wherever you looked, there were people who are displaced, people asking for assistance, and people were just very, very exhausted and tired after three and a half months of what has been a very brutal war. I think that what was different to the first visit I took is how congested a city like Rafah has become. Makeshift shelters The population of Rafah in the south has quadrupled since the war began. People kept fleeing, looking for shelter in that part of Gaza, in the hope that they will find safety and protection.
WEEK ENDING JANUARY 30, 2024
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VP Kamala Harris Warns U.S. Freedom is Under ‘Profound Threat’
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Kamala Harris implored African American voters to support Democrats to win the 2024 election and stave off Republican challenges to US democracy, as she believed they would strongly support Donald Trump in Iowa in their first state nomination race. The US vice president, who was the featured speaker at the NAACP’s annual King Day at the Dome event in Columbia, South Carolina, claimed that the country’s freedoms were under “profound threat.” He gave several examples, including the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, lengthy voting lines, book bans supported by Republicans, and the high
rate of gun violence. Citing Coretta Scott King, the late wife of Martin Luther King, she remarked “Freedom is never truly won. You earn it and win it in every generation.” Harris added, “We were born for a time such as this.” Demonstrators were waiting for Harris at the location, some of them carrying Palestinian flags. This is the most recent indication from voters who lean Democratic that the Biden administration’s unwavering support for Israel in its onslaught on Gaza is upsetting some of its most ardent supporters. The Democratic presidential primary in South Carolina, which is home to a signif-
icant Black voting bloc, will take place on February 3. However, there are indications that policy setbacks and economic unease are also undermining Black support: a recent Economist/YouGov study revealed that just 67% of Black US adults thought favorably of Biden. VP Harris stated in her speech, “Today we are witnessing a full-on attack on hardfought, hard-won freedoms.” Speaking in the state that Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley formerly commanded, she offered commentary on Haley’s recent faux pas of failing to mention slavery as a reason for the American Civil War. “They even tried to erase, overlook, and rewrite the ugly parts of our past,” Harris made this statement only hours after the Biden-Harris reelection campaign announced that it had raised almost $100 million for election expenses in the last quarter of 2023. An elite advisor to Harris in her 2020 presidential campaign who will soon be released in The Truce, a book critical of her political acumen. “A lot of us, at least folks that I was friends with on the campaign, all realized that: ‘Yeah, this person should not be president of the United States” ” the assistant said to writers Hunter Walker and Luppe B.
Luppen that her nomination effort was “rotten from the start”. The issues Harris faced with employee morale in 2020 persisted throughout her tenure as vice president, according to the authors. The writers went ahead and wrote, “Harris saw heavy staff turnover, with aides describing a toxic climate riven with factionalism and mismanagement. One source who worked for the vice president declined to go on record or even discuss matters anonymously, due to the heated atmosphere around the office,” the authors wrote. “It was, they said: ‘Game of Thrones’.” Meanwhile, Biden observed the day by volunteering for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s Philabundance, a food relief organization. The president of the United States placed parcels containing milk and fresh fruit onto a conveyor belt in a warehouse. In an audio conversation on SiriusXM with Black civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton, Biden stated that his decision to run for reelection was inspired by Trump, saying: “Trump is just saying things that are off the wall.”
Mayor Adams to Relieve Over $2 Billion in Medical Debt for Hundreds of Thousands of Working-Class NY-ers New York – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan today announced a pioneering medical debt relief program, that will invest $18 million over three years to relieve over $2 billion in medical debt for hundreds of thousands of working-class New Yorkers. Medical debt – the number one cause of bankruptcy in the United States – disproportionately affects uninsured, under-insured, and low-income households, and the city’s program would wipe out debt for up to 500,000 New Yorkers on a one-time basis. The city will partner with RIP Medical Debt, a national, New York City-based nonprofit specializing in buying and ultimately wiping out medical debt to acquire debt portfolios and retiree debt from health care providers and hospitals across New York City. Affected New Yorkers will then be notified that their medical debt has been relieved; there is no application process for this program. The onetime debt relief program, the largest municipal initiative of its kind in the country, will launch in early 2024 and run for three years. “Getting health care shouldn’t be a burden that weighs on New Yorkers and their families,” said Mayor Adams. “Since day one, our administration has been driven by the clear mission of supporting working-class New Yorkers and today’s investment that will provide $2 billion in medical debt relief is another major step in delivering on that vision. Up to half a million
New Yorkers will see their medical debt wiped thanks to this life changing program – the largest municipal initiative of its kind in the country. No one chooses to go into medical debt – if you’re sick or injured, you need to seek care. But no New Yorker should have to choose between paying rent or for other essentials and paying off their medical debt, which is why we are proud to bring this relief to families across the five boroughs, as we continue to fight on behalf of working-class New Yorkers.” “For hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and for millions of Americans, medical debt creates anxiety, uncertainty, and stress,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “It weighs not only on individual and familial balance sheets, but may cause some to put off additional care and limits upward financial mobility. New York City’s investment through this partnership will help working people and families advance their health and financial well-being so they can thrive, instead of just survive. Furthermore, we realize this issue is part of a larger complex health care system and we look forward to continuing to advocate for systemic changes to help New Yorkers avoid medical debt in the future.” “Throughout my career as a doctor, I have seen first-hand how high health care costs and medical debt can force patients to make impossible choices,” said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “No one in New York
City, or in America, in 2024, should have to choose between getting the health care they need and paying their rent or buying food to feed their families. But as a provider, I have seen all-too-often patients who delay or forgo lifesaving care because of fear of high costs leading to debt. Medical debt caused by the exorbitant and ever-rising costs of health care is the number one cause of personal bankruptcy in the United States, and also has our economy on an unsustainable path. As a physician and advocate, I know medical debt is killing New Yorkers and killing our economy, and today, this city is stepping up to say that the people deserve better.” “It’s gratifying to see this collaboration come together since RIP Medical Debt was founded here in New York City,” said Allison Sesso, president and CEO, RIP Medical Debt. “Med-
ical debt is a failing of the system writ large, not people. Beyond creating often unpayable financial burdens, medical debt undermines one’s mental health as well. By making future care more accessible, this initiative aligns well with hospitals and health systems’ community benefit and health equity efforts.” “Medical debt impacts tens of thousands of New Yorkers, preventing them from saving for the future,” said New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga. “This new partnership with RIP Medical Debt will transform the lives of New Yorkers and their families, providing much needed relief and stability. Thank you to the mayor, DOHMH Commissioner Vasan, RIP Medical Debt, and the Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity for prioritizing the needs of some of our most vulnerable neighbors.” “Our unique poverty measure for New York City identifies out-of-pocket medical expenses as a consistent force keeping New Yorkers in poverty,” said Carson Hicks, acting executive director, Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity. “High medical expenses often mean high levels of debt. Our research has found that the pool of people eligible for debt relief includes both low- and middle-income households across all boroughs. Medical debt relief is an important step towards increased economic security for many New Yorkers.”
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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 30, 2024
Haiti - Bishop Offers to Take Place of Kidnapped Nuns
The Bishop of Anse-à-Veau and Miragoâne, Monsignor Pierre-André Dumas is offering to become a hostage in the place of nuns kidnapped in Haiti last Friday. He made the offer as Pope Francis called for the release of the six religious sisters on Sunday.
Monsignor Dumas has condemned the abduction “with vigor and firmness this final odious and barbaric act which does not even respect the dignity of these consecrated women who give themselves wholeheartedly to God to educate and train the young, the poorest and vulnerable in our society”. In calling for the release of the hostages, the senior Roman Catholic Church official said he is ready to “become a hostage in their place”. The authorities said Monday no information or a ransom demand has been made public regarding the release of the eight people, including six nuns, who were kidnapped here last Friday. The gunmen are reported to have intercepted a minibus on Avenue du Chili, in downtown Port-au-Prince, taking all the passengers and the driver hostage. In his Angelus address on Sunday, Pope Francis called for the release of the hostages including the nuns, who are members of the sisters of St Anne congregation. “I have learned with sorrow of the kidnapping in Haiti of a group of people, including six
religious sisters,” Pope Francis said, adding “In my heartfelt plea for their release, I pray for social concord in the country. And I invite everyone to bring an end to the violence, which is causing a great deal of suffering to that beloved population”. The Sisters of St Anne congregation has been present in Haiti for 80 years serving in the fields of education, catechesis, and human development. Although the perpetrators have not been described or identified, the nation’s kidnapping epidemic is attributed to gangs that have become emboldened amid the chaos that followed the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. The nonprofit Assessment Capacities Project, which provides data to humanitarian groups, says gangs have taken over about taken over about 80 percent of the geography of Port-auPrince. Last October, the United Nations Security Council voted to send a multinational armed force led by Kenya to Haiti to help combat violent gangs, marking the first time in almost
20 years that a force would be deployed to the troubled French-speaking Caribbean Community (Caricom) country. Earlier this month, the Belgium-based International Crisis Group (ICG) said the small advance contingent of several hundred Kenyan police due to arrive in Haiti early this year should work with Haitian counterparts to map areas where gangs are dominant, assess their firepower and understand the threat levels in places where the multi-national security support mission (MSS) is expecting to deploy. “The multinational mission’s deployment in Haiti could bring essential relief to a country mired in strife. But bumps in the road ahead pose a major threat to the force’s effectiveness,” the ICG said in a lengthy report. Haiti has been plunged into socio-economic chaos since President Jovenel Moise’s assassination in July 2021, with criminal gangs frequently using rape to terrorize and extort victims, demand money and control food supplies. (CMC)
Scientists - Breadfruit Could Be Answer to World Hunger Northwestern University researchers are delving into the potential of breadfruit as a crucial solution to global hunger, particularly in the face of escalating climate challenges. Described as an unconventional-looking and peculiar-smelling fruit, breadfruit is emerging as a resilient contender amid the growing threat to more delicate crops posed by increasing global temperatures. A Yahoo News report underscores the robust qualities of breadfruit, emphasizing its drought-resistant nature and minimal fertilizer requirements. The researchers at Northwestern have conducted a recent study
affirming the fruit’s exceptional adaptability to rising temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns. In essence, breadfruit proves itself as a hardy and sustainable crop that can withstand the challenges posed by climate change. The article highlights the significance of breadfruit’s ability to thrive in regions most susceptible to the adverse effects of planetary warming, making it a promising option for addressing potential disruptions in our food supply. As the world faces the daunting prospect of climate-induced changes affecting beloved food sources, the resilience of bread-
fruit positions it as a viable and dependable alternative. Moreover, the versatility of breadfruit extends beyond its adaptability, as it can be prepared in various ways, offering a range of culinary possibilities. Boiling, frying, and roasting are just a few of the methods mentioned, emphasizing the fruit’s potential to contribute not only to global sustenance but also to diverse and appetizing culinary experiences.
Guyana – Tourism Authority Commits to North America Market The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) continues to target the international tourist market by appointing market representation firm, Emerging Destinations to promote Guyana in the North American travel markets, specifically in the United States and Canada. According to a release from the GTA, the North American Market Representation Firm will promote Guyana in North American Travel Markets specifically the United States and Canada. “The United States and Canada are Guyana’s core markets in North America, where travelers seek authentic nature, culture and adventure-based experiences. The market representatives will work year-round to raise awareness and establish Guyana’s presence in these markets,
increase demand, and strengthen the direct connections between international tour operators, travelers and the Guyanese travel trade,” the GTA stated. Director of the GTA, Kamrul Baksh noted that 2024 is a year of Strategic Partnerships for the GTA. “As we embark on a new chapter in promoting Guyana as a premier travel destination, the partnership with Emerging Destinations marks a pivotal moment for us. Their expertise in the North American market aligns seamlessly with our vision, and together, we look forward to strengthening our promotional efforts of the beauty that Guyana embodies. Together, we will continue to develop and promote Guyana as a must-visit destination for
travelers seeking authenticity and adventure,” he said The GTA noted too that with the recent increase in airlift options to Guyana from international partners like British Airways, the GTA is also working to secure market representation in the European market shortly. In the recent 2024 National Budget Presentation, the Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance Dr. Ashni Singh, noted that the Tourism sector is poised for a dramatic takeoff this year. He noted increase in airlift and improvement connectivity along with an addition of 1000 world-class rooms will impact this growth in the sector.
WEEK ENDING JANUARY 30, 2024
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Mexico, Chile Take Israel-Gaza Conflict to World Court on Possible Crimes In reference to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on potential crimes, Mexico and Chile voiced “growing worry” over the increasing bloodshed in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza following many months of fighting between Israel and Hamas. Widespread devastation in the densely populated Gaza strip following the surprise onslaught by Hamas terrorists in early October that claimed over 1,000 Israeli lives has raised international outcry and inquiry about the deaths of thousands of civilians, particularly children. The foreign ministry of Mexico stated in a statement that the International Criminal Court is the appropriate venue for determining possible criminal liability, “whether committed by agents of the occupying power or the occupied power.”
The released statement noted, “numerous reports from the United Nations that detail many incidents that could constitute crimes under the ICC’s jurisdiction.” A request for comment was not immediately answered by Chile’s foreign ministry. Mexico further stated that it was closely monitoring the International Criminal Court case that was brought last week, in which South Africa asked that the court impose an immediate halt to Israel’s military operation in Gaza and accused Israel of committing genocide there. Mexico hopes that its call for peace “can pave the way for an immediate ceasefire and contribute to moving toward lasting peace in the region based on a solution of two states which coexist within secure and internationally recognized borders.”
NYC – Asylum Seekers Turned Out of Shelters – Out in the Cold
The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) says the city’s preliminary budget for the fiscal year 2025 has left Caribbean and other asylum seekers “out in the cold”. Many of the migrants and asylum seekers arriving in New York from the southern border of the United States are nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. NYIC’s executive director, Murad Awawdeh, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that Mayor Eric Adams’ budget brief on Tuesday “did not reflect the significant support New York State is committing to address asylum seeker costs to the tune of US$2.4 billion in additional funding. “The mayor’s now-incomplete proposed budget for the financial year 2025 seems to be more of an attempt to improve his polling numbers rather than a considered
plan to meaningfully improve the lives of new arrivals or longtime New Yorkers,” he said. “According to the mayor, this reversal of budget cuts from November was due to increased revenues, downward adjusted census projections for new arrivals, and anticipated cost-savings from things like renegotiating contracts with expensive no-bid shelter operators and moving some social service delivery to nonprofit groups,” he added. Awawdeh said while it was nice to see the mayor seize on good ideas and make them his own, “it would have been better if he had co-opted another good idea: expanding access to housing vouchers to New Yorkers regardless of immigration status, saving the city three billion dollars while getting people out of shelters and on the road to stability and independence. “Choosing to release the fiscal year 25 preliminary budget without reflecting increased resources from the State to support migrant service was an attempt to avoid accountability for the crisis he has manufactured so he can continue to paint himself as a victim with no agency or resources to meet the needs of his constituency.” Awawdeh said the mayor’s “failure to take responsibility for the harm he is actively inflicting on immigrant families and children with his 30 and 60-day shelter restrictions, which risk increasing homelessness in the dead of winter, will only prolong a wholly unnecessary budget crisis at an unprecedented time”. (CMC)
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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 30, 2024
Miami – Jamaican Diaspora Protest Organizers Pleased with Turnout
The head of the Jamaica Diaspora Crime Intervention & Prevention Task Force, Dr. Rupert Francis, stated he anticipated similar results from the seven other scheduled protests around the diaspora after yesterday’s what he called a successful protest outside the Jamaican consulate general’s office in Miami, Florida, United States (US). Francis reports that perhaps seventy people with placards arrived at the location of the protest, which was organized as a demonstration. Speakers at the event included blogger Carlos “Jamaican Carlos” Grey and Wilfred Rattigan, a former
special agent, and attorney for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He added that around 3,000 more people watched the broadcast online. Francis stated, “We thought it was excellent in terms of what we are trying to achieve.” He added, “People took the train, one person came from Chicago, other people came from up St Lucie, Orlando, North Carolina and one other person tried to find the place for two hours, and they still came.” The purpose of the protests, according to Francis, a retired captain in the Jamaica Defense Force, is to draw attention to the government’s mishandling of Jamaica by underlining its inability to rein in corruption and the nation’s high crime rate. Francis added that he will be asking contributors to check the expenses they are paying. The preparations for nationwide protests were announced to Ambassador Audrey Marks, the highest-ranking Jamaican diplomat in the US, last December at events hosted by the Jamaican government in the US. Additional demonstrations are scheduled to take place in New York, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Washington, DC. Identifying himself as just an “advocate for
equal rights and justice”, Francis again dismissed critics, including the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC) and its youth arm, who have accused him of trying to embarrass the Holness-led administration, and others who have labeled his protests as politically motivated.” He added, “The whole idea that we are trying to destroy Jamaica has to be debunked because that has not been the case. In fact, there is some people that came. I’m talking about elderly Jamaicans that came out … and they only came because they love Jamaica and they represented different organizations and parties. So it was not a political thing as they made it out to be, it was simply an expression of solidarity with the other Jamaicans that believe in better for Jamaica, for all Jamaicans.” According to Francis, the task force attempted to address Jamaica’s high crime rate eight years ago by implementing social programs there. But he claimed that their abatement was the consequence of the Government’s reluctant consent. “We proposed that we would use what is called a Safer City Initiative which is to get involved in the cities like they did in Los Angeles and so on and work with the people. We have done that, we have done experiments in Jamaica but it appears as if
this Government does not want to listen to it. That’s half of the problem,” he remarked. In an earlier response, state minister Alando Terrelonge of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade noted that Diaspora members had an “unprecedented” degree of involvement with the government over the past five years, even though he claimed that GJDC members were surprised by and disagreed with the letter to Marks. However, Francis contended that there is a great deal of support for the protesters in Jamaica, even despite the opposition they have encountered. “I get calls from Jamaica from people in various organizations who are supporting me wholeheartedly,” he stated. “There are Jamaicans everywhere who are giving their support and thanking me for standing up… We have to make them understand that it is Jamaica first, second, and third.” The Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (2020) estimates that 1.1 million Jamaicans are residing abroad, with women making up 57.5 percent of this population.
Dollarize Caricom – Use US Currency Regionwide The “greenback” is already the accepted currency among Caricom nations, according to former governor of the Central Bank of Barbados DeLisle Worrell. Worrell believes that these countries should officially adopt the US dollar for everyday transactions, a process known as dollarization, and eliminate their native currencies. The nine different currencies used in Caricom, according to Worrell, should be abandoned. These currencies are the Bahamian dollar, the Barbados dollar, the Belizean dollar, the Eastern Caribbean dollar, the Guyanese dollar, the Haitian gourde, the Jamaican dollar, the Trinidad and Tobago dollar, and the Surinamese dollar. Worrell stated in a recent interview with the Jamaica Observer a local Jamaican newspaper. In response to questions on whether several currencies in Caricom obstruct regional commerce and integration, Worrell told Caribbean Business Report, “I believe that we should get rid of all the local currencies and use the US dollar.”. Worrell pointed out that US$1.57 billion of Jamaica’s US$4.7 billion in foreign reserves— mostly US Treasury bills—are maintained as foreign security assets, “It doesn’t take anything off of us. In fact, we are harming ourselves by having domestic currencies because to protect the value of the domestic currency, we all have to keep huge amounts of foreign reserves.
Those foreign reserves are not available to us to do investments locally. We have to keep them in the US, basically as a loan to the US Government because we have most of them as treasury bills with the US.” According to Worrell, he is certain that Caricom, the regional commercial bloc consisting of fifteen nations, should adopt the US dollar as its official currency— was the best course of action following the Caribbean nations’ repeated failures to cooperate on topics like a common currency, which would, among other things, facilitate commerce throughout the region. According to Worrell, the Barbados dollar is currently worth less in Jamaica and vice versa, as the Caricom countries trade in US dollars with one another. He continued by noting that, in the Caribbean, a Jamaican who wishes to attend a carnival in Trinidad would not be able to purchase Trinidad and Tobago dollars in Jamaica; instead, he would need to purchase US dollars to use in Trinidad and Tobago. “We have to accept the reality and the reality is that the US dollar is the common currency. And I would go so far now as to say, having had the experience over many decades of failure, to have a common currency amongst ourselves, we have to accept the reality that the US dollar is the common currency.” He made the point that Caribbean nations, such as his own Barbados, whose currency is linked to the US dollar at a rate of BB$2 to
US$1, must locate sizable foreign reserves to maintain it, wasting resources that could be used to further the development of the nation instead. He refuted claims that each nation would lose authority over its monetary policy if Caricom accepted the US dollar as its official currency. “The truth of the matter is, none of our countries have [an] independent monetary policy
because everything we produce or consume has an import element. And the only thing we can do is to make sure we don’t aggravate the import price by devaluing our currency. And that’s why I am saying, we pay a high price to protect the currency because the scarce US dollars that we have, we take a big chunk of it and we lend it back to the US, just to protect the value of our currency. Panama doesn’t have to do that,” he added. In 1904, Panama made the US dollar its official currency. In September 2000, Ecuador became a dollarized nation; El Salvador did the same in January 2001. Javier Milei, the recently elected president of Argentina, has promised to do away with the central bank and dollarize the nation’s economy. The goal of dollarization for countries contemplating it is to promote economic development and stability by doing away with their currencies and substituting the US dollar. According to Worrell, if Caricom decides to make the US dollar the official currency, the central banks of each member nation would utilize a portion of the foreign reserves kept at the Federal Reserve to redeem all local currency holdings before depositing US dollars equal to that amount into individual bank accounts. According to him, if the nations dollarize, they would have to maintain less foreign reserves with the US than they do currently to conduct daily business.
WEEK ENDING JANUARY 30, 2024
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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 30, 2024
US Freedom is Under Profound Threat Vice-President Kamala Harris, in a recent speech on Martin Luther King’s birthday drew attention to the issue of the threat by Donald Trump to freedom in the United states, and she made a plea to black voters that they must work with the Democratic Party to stave off this threat that is proposed by Republicans who have now overwhelmingly backed Donald Trump to be the next nomination for President in 2024. Vice President Harris went to South Carolina to make this speech reminding the crowd or the audience that freedom is never truly won; you must earn it and win it in every generation. She is urging voters to roll up their sleeves, saying, we were born for a time such as this. Vice President Harris went on to talk about witnessing a full-on attack on hard fought hard-won freedom; they even tried to erase, overlook, and rewrite the ugly parts of our past. We agree with Vice President Harris that yes we indeed face a real threat to freedom and in particular freedom of black people in the United States; everything that the Republicans stand for currently leads to the reduction of freedom to vote, to earn a living, to have equal justice, freedom of choice-- and so Trump does present, as it would appear, a danger to freedom and democracy. But talking alone cannot be the solution, the Democratic Party must see, respect and support
the black voters and create a particular outreach to the issues that they are concerned with, and of course the businesses that propel the black communities. The black vote which has been so supportive of the Democratic Party through the many decades cannot be taken for granted by the Republican Party and visit just the churches to seek the black vote; they must commit to resources and understanding that the black vote is critical to their survival and indeed needs their attention. According to a study by the Pew Research Center, black eligible voters could swell to some 34 million this year. The Pew Research Center is a prominent and very reliable demographic research group and their numbers need to be respected. This study shows that a rematch of Trump and Biden the black voters could once again play a key role in determining the winner as in the 2020 presidential race, and pointed out that Biden is losing support among blacks many of whom are drifting away, some remaining neutral, and some drifting to Trump. The rising number of black voters, particularly in southern and swing States has the ability to flip a number of these states from red to blue and should be a significant part of the democratic strategies and the Biden Administration, so it came as a surprise when the NNPA, the National Newspaper Publishers Association – (the National Association of black-owned
media)- reported that the Democrats have allocated some 35,000,000 million for outreach but had overlooked the black press in a bid for a more diverse voter support. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (the DCCC) has announced a 35 million investment in a comprehensive outreach initiative targeting Latin, Black, Asian, Asian-American Pacific Islanders, native Hawaiian voters, called power to the people, aim to persuade, organize, welcome, educate and reach voters from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Given the pressing need to engage AfricanAmerican voters effectively, the Democratic party, including the DCC-the Democratic National Committee- and the Biden Re-election Campaign have thus so far ignored criticism for overlooking the influential Black Press . It is argued that the omission is particularly striking during what is widely acknowledged as modern history’s most crucial and transformative election, an election where black voters can make the difference. This, at a time when the policies of the Biden Administration are under real scrutiny by black voters around issues important to the black voters. Younger black voters are very skeptical of the Democratic Party and are drifting away from them. Biden, in his speech at Mother Emanuel AME Church, was faced by protesters in the audience rallying against US policies toward the
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humanitarian issue surrounding Gaza. This demonstration, while peaceful and respectful in the church, shows the extent to which black voters are concerned about the direction of US policy. Vice-President Kamala Harris, who was the headliner for the NAACP King Day Celebration in South Carolina, also faced a demonstration, again questioning the Biden Administration’s policy on humanitarian issues for the Palestinians and in particular the Gaza war that is currently being waged. There is no question that Donald Trump and his policies are repulsive to black voters in general. His racist policies over decades, his continued embrace of white supremacists, his embrace of violence, and his threat to real democratic freedom is real, and that is in fact helping the Democratic party to sway back voters – but much more has to be done, and the Democratic Party, the Biden/Harris team and the bureaucrats around them must come to the realization that there are these issues that are going to be impactful to bring the level of participation that will be needed for any kind of Biden victory, and attention ought to be paid to it now. The black vote cannot be taken for granted. Black votes matter!
KARL B. RODNEY PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF TONY BEST SENIOR EDITOR KARLISA RODNEY NEWS EDITOR MELL P MANAGING EDITOR
WEEK ENDING JANUARY 30, 2024
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Power Grids Supplied By Clean Energy Are More Reliable By Ben Jealous
February, 2021. A rare Valentines Day winter storm wallops Texas with snow and a deep freeze. The storm will knock out power for at least 69 percent of people across the state. Hundreds will die. That was Winter Storm Uri. Many of us probably remember it as the storm that sent Senator Ted Cruz packing for a vacation in Cancun while his constituents suffered. Captain Selena Xie, president of the Austin Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Association, was enraged when she read from a local reporter at the time: “One reader who emailed me about the issue described the power and water outages as a ‘minor inconvenience’ for most Texans.” One of Xie’s first calls the morning after the storm was for a man who had planned to die at home, peacefully and surrounded by loved ones. That didn’t happen. Xie recounted, “When his oxygen, that was making him comfortable, went out, he started making awful grunting sounds. It is not acceptable to die like that, in agony. We had no other options at the time than to take the person to the hospital to keep him comfortable, but not before we let his wife cry against his chest for 5 minutes, which was all we felt comfortable sparing at the time.” Emergency responders started receiving carbon monoxide calls that evening. With the power out, people were so desperate for heat they burned furniture in their
homes to keep their families warm. That caused carbon monoxide poisoning. Much of the country is now getting pummeled with below-freezing temperatures and winter storms. Many are rightly nervous about the reliability of their power grids. When grids fail, people die. Medical equipment like dialysis machines and oxygen pumps cannot run without power. The best way to protect grids and make them more reliable? Power them with renewable energy sources like solar and wind, which are far more resilient than coal, oil, and gas. The five winter storms we have had since 2011 that knocked down power grids should be a lesson to us all. Fossil fuel power plants are prone to mechanical and supply failures in extreme cold when energy demands are often at their highest. Just look at what happened during December 2022’s Winter Storm Elliott in the eastern and central US. In the mid-Atlantic, nearly 90% of the power plant outages when demand was highest were coal and gas plants. In the central region, coal and gas plants accounted for 75% of the power plant outages during peak demand. In Kentucky alone, more than 1.5 million homes lost electricity in sub-zero temperatures due to coal and gas failures. Increasing the use of renewable energy sources is one part of the solution. Incorporating green technologies in demand response, energy efficiency,
storage, and upgrading our transmission grid is the other. Together, they offer us the chance to make our electric grids more reliable and resilient than ever. But we need to deploy them at scale to receive these benefits. If we choose not to do this, we need to understand the human toll. As she has reflected on the events from Winter Storm Uri – and storms that have knocked out or threatened to knock out power since then – Selena Xie worries about unhoused populations. When the shelters and businesses where unhoused people typically seek refuge are without power, the consequences for this already vulnerable population are lethal. There is more: “When we have our 9-1-1 system completely overwhelmed by calls from the housed population, the unhoused population gets overlooked. EMS and other emergency workers are aware of people living on the streets or in the woods and would be checking on those at-risk people. But we end up beyond our capacity, responding to calls for emergencies – and some less-than-emergencies – at people’s homes, delivering charging sticks and other relief, while unhoused people are suffering hypothermic events and dying.” Xie also says that while reporting often focuses on death tolls during these emergencies, the high number of amputations from conditions like frostbite go underreported and underappreciated.
“People are often able to protect their cores but not their extremities. Not having adequate gloves or footwear means more amputations. These create lifelong disabilities that continue to haunt both the people suffering from them and the public health and emergency response systems that need to provide for their care and services.” Emergency responders should not have to choose between who they can help and who will be left on their own. Families should not have to choose between freezing to death or risking their health by burning furniture for heat. There is a way to help ensure the power stays on during harsh winter storms. It is a future powered by clean energy. Ben Jealous is the Executive Director of the Sierra Club and a Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania.
Biden Unveils New Sweeping Student Loan Debt Relief Measures, Surpassing 3.7 Million Beneficiaries By Stacy M. Brown
President Biden continues to make significant strides in alleviating the student loan debt crisis, announcing the approval of debt cancellation for an additional 74,000 student loan borrowers. The latest action contributes to the record-breaking relief the administration has provided to more than 3.7 million Americans. Earlier this month, Biden announced the accelerated implementation of a crucial provision under the Student Aid for Voluntary Education (SAVE) plan, which the administration said has helped 3.6 million Americans by canceling their student debt. Biden said the plan aims to create a more affordable student loan repayment structure while providing life-changing support to students and their families. “Today, my administration approved debt cancellation for another 74,000 student loan borrowers across the country, bringing the total number of people who have
had their debt canceled under my administration to over 3.7 million Americans through various actions,” Biden said in a statement on Jan. 19. The beneficiaries of the latest round of relief include nearly 44,000 teachers, nurses, firefighters, and other public service professionals who have earned forgiveness after a decade of dedicated service. Additionally, close to 30,000 individuals who have been in repayment for at least 20 years without receiving relief through income-driven repayment plans will now see their debts forgiven. Biden credited the success of these relief efforts to the corrective measures taken to address broken student loan programs. He asserted that these fixes have removed barriers preventing borrowers from accessing the relief they were entitled to under the law. The president outlined the broader
achievements of his administration in supporting students and borrowers, including achieving the most significant increases in Pell Grants in over a decade, aimed at assisting families with incomes below approximately $60,000 per year. Other accomplishments include fixing the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program and introducing the most generous income-driven repayment plan in history, known as the SAVE plan, he said. Borrowers are encouraged to apply for this plan at studentaid.gov. In response to challenges, including the Supreme Court’s decision on the student debt relief plan, Biden affirmed the administration’s commitment to finding alternative paths to deliver relief to as many borrowers as possible, as quickly as possible. “From Day One of my administration, I vowed to improve the student loan system
so that higher education provides Americans with opportunity and prosperity, not the unmanageable burdens of student loan debt,” Biden asserted. “I won’t back down from using every tool at our disposal to get student loan borrowers the relief they need to reach their dreams.”
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Photos by Leonard McKenzie
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Atlanta – Spelman College Received Largest Donation Ever The women’s school at Spelman Institution in Atlanta has announced that a rich couple has made the largest-ever single contribution to a historically Black college or university, amounting to $100 million. Ronda Stryker and her husband William Johnston recently announced the contribution. Her grandfather, who founded Stryker Corp. and is currently head of the money management company Greenleaf Trust, is a billionaire who is also her grandchild. They call Michigan home. Spelman stated that $75 million will be utilized for scholarship endowments. The remaining funds will go toward other initiatives, like as strengthening student housing—a sensitive issue for Spelman students in recent years—and fostering an academic focus on public policy and democracy. “It’s a transformational gift to any institution, period,” According to trustee Lovette Russell. Compared to other universities, HBCUs have smaller endowments, but since the racial justice demonstrations sparked by George Floyd’s death in Minnesota, more money has been donated to them. With 2,400 students, Spelman has been comparatively well-funded; as of 2021, the school reported having an endowment of $571 million. As a component of the
Atlanta University Center, an alliance of four historically Black universities, it is one of just two historically Black women’s institutions. “I think it says that it’s worth investing in HBCUs more broadly, schools that have been far too under-invested in,” a news media house was informed by Spelman College President Helene Gayle. During a CBS broadcast, the college made the donation announcement in its chapel. Since 1997, Stryker has served as a trustee for Spelman. In 2018, she and Johnston gave Spelman $30 million. In 2011, they also donated $100 million to Western Michigan University to establish the Homer Stryker Medical School. The United Negro College Fund announced a $100 million commitment from Lilly Endowment Inc. one week before the Spelman bequest. To enhance the long-term financial stability of the 37 historically Black colleges and institutions that make up UNCF’s membership, including Spelman, that donation will go into a pooled endowment. $370 million is being sought after by the fund for a shared legacy. In 2020, MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos, contributed $560 million to 22 Black universities, UNCF, and another fundraising arm, the Thurgood Marshall College
Fund. These are just a few of the significant gifts that prominent figures have made to HBCUs recently. $120 million was divided between Spelman, Morehouse College, and the United Negro College Fund by Netflix founder Reed Hastings
and his wife, Patty Quillin. Michael Bloomberg, a businessman and former mayor of New York, promised to donate $100 million to the four historically Black medical institutions as student aid.
Dr. Gail Kerr, UWI Alumna, First Black Woman as Master of the American College of Rheumatology
The University of the West Indies (UWI) graduate Dr. Gail S. Kerr has been named a Master of the American College of Rheumatology. She is the first woman of color to be awarded this accolade. Dr. Kerr’s accomplishment was announced by Celia Davidson-Francis, Director of Alumni Relations at UWI, who also included a statement from Sir George Alleyne, Chancellor Emeritus of UWI. The announcement of Dr. Kerr’s new title
was warmly received by Sir George Alleyne, who described her as an exceptional student who achieved honors in many areas and was awarded the clinical gold medal in medicine in addition to the Allenberry Prize. He continued by saying that Dr. Kerr “never lets you forget” how proud she is to have graduated from the UWI medical school in 1981. Sir Alleyne claims that Dr. Kerr completed her postgraduate studies in internal medicine at the Mona campus in Jamaica and in the United States. She was awarded a DM degree in internal medicine. Although praising her academic accomplishments, Sir Alleyne pointed out that her “persistence and dedication” stemmed from her skill as a field hockey player. She captained the Jamaican squad from 1976 to 1985. Her appointment to the Mastership of the American College of Rheumatology, according to him, is a “fitting recognition” of her outstanding contributions to the specialty of rheumatology as well as her support of patients, other professionals, and students. He sent Dr. Kerr his “sincere personal congratulations” as he wrapped off his remarks. Washington, DC’s Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Howard University Hospital both employ Dr. Gail Kerr as Chief
of Rheumatology. She has clinical professorships at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, as well as positions as an adjunct medical professor at the Georgetown and Howard University Hospitals. She is particularly interested in studying gout, spondyloarthritides, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic vasculitis. Dr. Gail Kerr is the co-principal investigator of the Ethnic Minority Rheumatoid Arthritis Consortium, a clinical database created from various clinical practices, and founded the VA Rheumatology Consortium, an organization dedicated to offering cutting-edge rheumatoid arthritis treatment to veterans of the armed forces. She was a member of an expert team that developed ACR recommendations for gout therapy and reviewed many clinical rheumatology publications. She also serves on the DC VAMC Institute of Clinical Research board of directors. Apart from her medical duties, she engages in consistent physical activity, such as running the Boston Marathon three times. Dr. Kerr has received many honors in recognition of her contributions as a renowned and skilled rheumatology specialist. She is
especially proud of the work she has done to lessen the injustices that ethnic minorities must endure. She continues to provide various forms of assistance to both UWI and Kingston’s St Andrew High School for Girls, where she first gained her education. Her address at Medical Grand Rounds in 2019 was titled “Reducing ethnic disparities in rheumatoid arthritis: using EMRAC as a roadmap.” She was also granted the Johns Hopkins Distinguished Visiting Professorship in Diversity.” She is a participant in the USP Rheumatology Expert Committee and the FDA Arthritis Advisory Board. In addition to being a board member of the VA Institute of Clinical Research, she chairs the VA National Rheumatology Consortium and is on the steering committee of the Caribbean Rheumatology Association. The American College of Physicians, the Royal Colleges of Physicians, and the American College of Rheumatology have all elected her to fellowship. Her peers have ranked her as one of the top 21 physicians in the Washington, DC, Baltimore, and Northern Virginia region.
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Haiti – Guy Philippe’s Supporters in Widespread Protest Proponents of former rebel commander Guy Philippe have called for Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s resignation and have started rallies that have shut down many cities in Haiti. Local media sources recently stated protesters forced the closure of government offices, schools, and commercial enterprises inside several locations, including the
Dominican Republic-bordering northern city of Ouanaminthe and the southern cities of Jeremie and Miragoane. Les Cayes, a city in the south, was reported to have hundreds of protestors, and more are predicted in the next few days. After spending years in jail in the US, Philippe was deported to Haiti last month.
WEEK ENDING JANUARY 30, 2024
T&T - PM Rowley Blasts Opposition on Call For SOE The opposition’s demand to impose a State of Emergency (SoE) in response to the present spike in criminal activity has drawn criticism from Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley. Recently speaking at a United Nations Convention on Crime (UNC) conference at the La Joya Complex, Kamla Persad Bissessar, the political head of the party, supported Dr. Indira Rampersad, a political scientist, who had earlier called for
a State of Emergency. She stated, “Everything else had been tried.” Even though the administration had already promised to meet with the opposition, Rowley said during a post-cabinet media briefing earlier today that they were not sincere about wanting to hold scheduled joint crime discussions. T&T Prime Minister noted, “Two points came out of their (the UNC’s) crime talks- solution...
Jamaica – Clarendon Teacher Named Champion of Education by International Group Donovan Rattray, a teacher in Clarendon, says working with atrisk adolescents at a high school in St. Catherine sparked his enthusiasm for teaching. As the 2023 Association for Supervision and
Curriculum Development (ASCD) champion educator, he attributed his success to this dedication. Having around 115,000 members from more than 128 countries, ASCD is a global community ded-
Kenya Force for Haiti Completes Training Before a significant court decision about the plans, Kenyan police officers who were scheduled to be sent to Haiti had finished their training. On January 4, the teams from the Anti-Stock Theft Unit, General Service Unit, Border Patrol Unit, and Rapid Deployment Unit finished their training.
According to officials, the squad was instructed to take a little break and await the court’s decision about their scheduled deployment. “The team is now ready for deployment after rigorous training,” stated an official who wished to remain anonymous.
OECS Condemns Moves By BVI for More Power CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC): The leaders of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) on Tuesday expressed their “alarming concern” at the current situation in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) where the governor of that British Overseas Territory, John Rankin, is moving to implement the recommendations of a Commission of Inquiry(COI) for governance reform. The OECS groups the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St
Kitts-Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla and the BVI. In a statement, the leaders said that they have noted “the request by the governor for additional powers which will allow him to bypass the Territorial Government, and implement unilaterally, the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) for governance reforms in the BVI”. The group said it condemned “strongly any efforts to undermine the legitimate Government of the BVI and expressed solidarity with the Government...
icated to the pursuit of excellence in learning, teaching, and leadership. A wide range of professionals are included in ASCD, including advocates, teachers, principals, and superintendents. The ACDC seeks
to honor teachers who do very well in regular classroom settings as well as outside of them.
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CARIBNEWS
Claire Goring, Guyanese Cultural Icon, Passes With the unexpected death of 72-year-old Claire Ann Goring, a respected cultural champion and community leader, the Guyanese-American community in New York and its larger diaspora is in deep sorrow. On MLK Day, January 15, 2024, Goring passed away peacefully in Brooklyn. She went to Bishop’s High School in Georgetown and was from Victoria Village, Georgetown, in Guyana. Goring worked with Solo Power’s late Neil Chan to promote tourism and cultural activities in Guyana. During the 1970s and 80s, she made history by being the first woman to present a costume band under Solo Productions Mas in Guyana. Her commitment to excellence was recognized by several organizations. After relocating to the US, Goring carried on her cultural activism, winning prizes at different events and garnering recognition for her amazing costume creations. A collection of handcrafted greeting and inspirational cards was developed by artist and CEO of Hybiskus Creations, Claire Goring, out of her studio in Canarsie, Brooklyn, New York. She was capable of creating graphic design, magazines, newspapers, brochures, and advertising
campaigns. Numerous initiatives were inspired by her ability and dedication to promoting and maintaining Guyana’s culture. Recognized for his winning costume designs in Guyana and at the Brooklyn Labor Day Carnival, Goring also created productions using talent from the Caribbean. She was instrumental in setting up events like KweKwe Night and the Guyana Folk Festival/ Family Fun Day over Labor Day weekend in Brooklyn as the Cultural Director of the Guyana Cultural Association of New York. She also held the position of Friends of Victoria Village Diaspora President. The Guyana Cultural Association presented Goring with the Lifetime Achievement Award on August 31, 2016, during the 13th Annual Awards event held at Brooklyn Borough Hall. Additionally, she received a citation from NYC Mayor Eric L. Adams, who was the president of Brooklyn Borough at the time. Those who knew and appreciated Goring will always cherish her legacy as a cultural icon and her commitment to protecting Guyana’s cultural heritage.
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Brooklyn, NY – SUNY Downstate Hospital Set to be Closed
Brooklyn’s University Hospital at Downstate, the only state-run hospital in New York City, is set to close or be significantly reduced by the state. The plan was presented to physicians this week by hospital management and is the result of several worries, including a declining hospital facility, a shortage of patients, and yearly operating deficits of over $100 million. The plan’s impact on central Brooklyn residents’ and other residents’ access to healthcare has yet to be discovered. The hospital, located in East Flatbush, is right across the street from Kings County Hospital, a city-run public hospital, so the shift wouldn’t result in a large portion of the city losing access to a local hospital. However, downstate offers some specialist medical care that is not offered in Kings County. For instance, hospital authorities expressed doubts about the program’s viability even though it is the only kidney transplant facility in the borough. SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, a significant medical school and research facility, is home to the hospital. SUNY chancellor John B. King Jr. stated in a Friday interview that the inpatient care at Downstate would be moved to other Brooklyn institutions. He intended, for example, to relocate a large portion of the inpatient services at Kings County Hospital to a wing across the street.
In actuality, the idea would create “a SUNY Downstate wing at Kings County” with as many as 150 beds, according to Chancellor King. Chancellor King stated that Downstate planned to use the additional state cash that would result from closing inpatient services to establish a new urgent care facility, an ambulatory surgery center, and to expand primary care. An institute that investigated health inequities and a student center would also benefit from the financing. According to him, the suggested modifications will “strengthen” Downstate as a whole. When asked if the plan would result in decreased access to healthcare in East Flatbush and other neighborhoods, he claimed that the reverse would occur. “This will lead to increased care,” he said, adding that the inpatient services would be preserved at other hospitals and that urgent care and other services would come. “This isn’t a cut,” he noted. However, the union that represents many SUNY Downstate healthcare employees claimed that outsourcing services to other hospitals will cause the institution to deteriorate. Frederick E. Kowal, president of United University Professions, stated in a statement, “Let’s call this what it is: SUNY is closing
Dr. David Walcott Shares Tech-Driven Healthcare Vision
Motivated by the advancements achieved in his enduring goal of eliminating health-related problems in developing regions such as the Caribbean and Latin America, Jamaican physician and healthcare entrepreneur Dr. David Walcott has been invited to share his story in Davos, Switzerland, for the fourth time in a row, where the 54th WEF Annual Meeting is taking place. Held from January 15–19, the conference will be attended by more than 1,000 forum partners, leading international organizations, leaders of civil society, specialists, representatives from youth organizations, social entrepreneurs, and media outlets. A news release states that Dr. Walcott is still the only Jamaican invited to the function. On January 16, 2024, Dr. Walcott, who also founded Novamed, will participate in a panel discussion sponsored by Northwell Health, the largest healthcare provider in New York, alongside Mary Carbajal, CEO of B1OS; Sandra Lindsay, VP of Public Health at Northwell Health; Smriti Kirubanandan, Executive in Robotics and Public Health; and Megan Greenfield, Healthcare Partner at McKinsey
and Company. Delivering a speech on “Healthcare Technology and Equity.” The topic is relevant to Dr. Walcott, who was instrumental in Caribbean Health Systems Limited’s purchase of Medical Associates Limited, a venerable medical facility in Kingston, Jamaica. Since then, the hospital has implemented a progressive change in a few medical procedures with the goa ls of cutting expenses, increasing efficiency, and enhancing patient outcomes. Dr Walcott stated, “In under-resourced environments like Jamaica, it’s important for us to be creative and flexible in how we deliver healthcare. Good healthcare services usually come at a high cost, but we can minimize the costs to the patient by equipping our medical facility with the appropriate technology that will lead to greater efficiencies in our business.” In line with the directors’ goal of making Medical Associates a first-rate facility, he continued, the parent company of CHS has so far made technological investments to maximize electronic medical records in addition to general hospital upgrades including the lobbying area and departmental upgrades. In March 2023, CHS, a joint venture between Novamed, FirstRock Real Estate Investments Limited (FRRE), and Health Ventures Limited, successfully acquired Medical Associates. Dr. Walcott and his business associates are still looking for new methods to integrate state-ofthe-art technology into the renovated Medical Associates facility. Continued at www.nycaribnews.com
Downstate.” He stated that the strategy “will undoubtedly harm the health of the central Brooklyn community.” In recent months, two hospitals in New York City have announced plans to discontinue or drastically reduce their operations. Mount Sinai Health System applied for state clearance late last year to close Mount Sinai Beth Israel, a large hospital predominantly serving lowerclass patients on Manhattan’s East Side. Several patients with low incomes are also treated at University Hospital. Although the
hospital has beds for more than twice that many, on an average day it admits roughly 144 patients. That’s not out of the ordinary for Brooklyn; certain hospitals have significantly lower occupancy rates. A decade or two ago, there were waves of hospital closures and consolidations in New York City, partially due to high vacancy rates at certain hospitals. Due to advancements in medicine, an increasing number of treatments are being carried out in ambulatory surgery facilities or as outpatients. However, the coronavirus pandemic has shown how important hospital beds are during emergencies: Many New York hospitals were overrun with more sick patients than they could properly care for during the fatal first wave of 2020. Hospital closure plans usually spark disputes in the community, with unions and community organizations uniting to keep the hospitals functional. There are still a lot of unanswered questions regarding the planned makeover, including possible plans for the hospital’s main structure. Chancellor King claimed, “We want to gather input from the community in the coming weeks.” He went on to say that it was feasible that homes would be constructed on the site of the hospital.
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T&T - World Invited to Carnival by NCC Chair Despite Crime Wave Winston “Gypsy” Peters, chairman of the National Carnival Commission (NCC), has extended an invitation to everyone both local and abroad to attend this year’s event, even though travel warnings have advised residents of the US and Canada not to go to Trinidad and Tobago. During an interview over the phone with a local news outlet, Peters stated that there would be more security leading up to Carnival on February 12 and 13. The Canadian government revised a bit of travel advice on January 10th, advising its nationals to go to Trinidad and Tobago with extreme care due to violent violence. It said that violent crimes, including armed robberies, assaults, and sexual assaults, happen often, particularly in Port of Spain, under the subhead of safety and security. It claimed that kidnappings for ransom have escalated since 2018 and that tourists have been singled out for attack. Passengers on cruise ships were instructed to use extreme caution when moving about. The advisory claimed, “Shootings, kidnappings, and other gang and drug-related violence also occur. There is a risk of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Although opinions about Carnival and T&T’s crime rate have been voiced, some individuals think the event shouldn’t happen at all given the crime rate, according to Peters. Even in the
absence of crime, some people in the nation think Carnival ought to end the chairman shared. Peters stated, “We were taught and made to believe that Carnival was the worst thing to ever happen to this country, it belongs to the devil, it is a devil thing and it is against God. Without all the crime publicity, we are having, there are people who will say that anyway.” The NCC Chairman added, “I don’t take on that kind of thing. We were taught in this country to hate ourselves. Hate Carnival, hate calypso, hate steelpan, hate mas.” He claimed that while they are in the minority, many of them are aware of the importance of Carnival. “Fortunately, the Government of T&T understands that and so we continue to propagate our Carnival all over the world,” he said. According to Peters, crime has little bearing on Carnival, “Around Carnival, it don’t have any crime. We should probably have Carnival every day….Everybody, even the criminal-minded people, take time off to participate in their Carnival activities.” He declared that precautions would be made to guarantee public safety throughout Carnival. When asked if he thought the travel advisories would have a substantial negative impact on the T&T Carnival offering, Peters said that he did not think so. “It will have some kind of impact on some-
T&T - Hennessy Special Edition Launched for Carnival
In celebration of its rich Carnival history and its strong links to the Caribbean, Hennessy VS has introduced a festive bottle. According to a press release from Hennessy VS, the limited-edition Carnival bottle injects color into its classic design codes by bringing back foil elements in the striking blue of the Caribbean Sea, adding an iridescent sheen to the brass armé emblem, and swapping out the gold grapevine scrollwork for a vibrant feather motif.
Distributed by AS Bryden & Sons (Trinidad) Ltd., the Hennessy VS Spirit of Carnival was introduced at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain. According to the statement, it will make its debut in T&T before expanding to Carnival events throughout the globe all year long. The chairman of AS Bryden & Sons (Trinidad) Ltd., David Franco, stated: “Hennessy has enjoyed tremendous commercial success in T&T, due not only to the legendary quality of the liquid but more importantly, because the brand has, throughout the years, found a way to be culturally relevant and become deeply rooted in the hearts and souls of the consumers here.” Franco added, “The limited-edition presentation is yet another perfect example of this. This idea was solidified when the global brand team visited Trinidad for Carnival in 2023 and recognized the emotional response our people have to all things Carnival and knew that Hennessy had to be a part of this powerful force. The response has already been overwhelming with consumers clamoring to get their hands on these limited bottles for their enjoyment and for their collections.”
thing, but I do not believe it is going to be any significant impact.” According to Peters, the commission has acquired a share of the $146 million subsidization and aims to spend an additional $146 million on the event this year. “It is never that you get all of the funds that you are actually allocated at one time...We get those things in tranches.” The money that has been collected thus far has been used for ongoing projects, particularly those at Port of Spain’s Queen’s Park Savannah. Although some have voiced worries over the expansion of other regional carnivals such as those in Jamaica, Peters stated that T&T has generally been collaborating with these nations. He added that members of the Jamaica Carnival Stakeholders Committee will be his guests during the carnival this year and that they should arrive in Trinidad and Tobago by February 7. “This is the Caribbean, and T&T is the mecca of Carnival. We are the ones who created this type of carnival. So, we are always in collaboration with a lot of people, whether it is in New York, Miami, London, Canada, Jamaica, and other Caribbean islands.” He stated that while none of these carnivals pose a danger to T&T’s Carnival, the nation should exercise caution because it is already operating in a “competitive business.” “We have exported Carnival so much to the
rest of the world, we have to make sure that whatever we are doing is done in a way that makes us keep our status.” He claimed that because there is demand in other areas like Ghana and the Emirates city of Dubai, the Carnival T&T brand is growing even further. On January 18, he said he was “dribbling” into those markets and that there had been discussions between NCC representatives and Dubai officials. “We are going to continue these talks by Monday or Tuesday (January 22 or 23) to take a contingent there.” He claimed that exporting T&T’s Carnival would result in more foreign currency. When asked if the nation received any sort of consulting fee from these talks, he replied, “No,” yet in the end T&T got paid. “When we go out there and export this and people see it and like it, where it comes from and people come to T&T, it redounds to the exchequer.” According to Peters, he is happy with the direction Carnival 2024 is taking and the commission is working hard to iron out any wrinkles. “T&T’s Carnival is safe. I want to tell people, ‘Feel free to come to T&T’s Carnival. It is a safe place to be. No one is going to harm you. No harm is going to come to you. Come to T&T’s Carnival, you are well protected.’”
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CARIBTRAVEL
WEEK ENDING JANUARY 30, 2024
Jamaica - 43 U.S. Radio Stations Join Broadcast to Promote Tourism Forty-three radio stations from key markets across the United States are currently on the island participating in a Sandals Resorts radio remote, reaching millions of listeners and giving Jamaica’s tourism a massive boost. Dubbed ‘Broadcast Paradise’, the event, which will last from January 13 to 21 at the Sandals Dunn’s River Resort, Mammee Bay, St. Ann, will see representatives of Sandals, the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) as well as other local stakeholders being interviewed on everything tourism and allowed to sell Jamaica to the island’s biggest source market (the USA). “It is truly great that Jamaica will be hosting 43 radio stations out of the United States, which is our main source market. These live broadcasts, which will be in some of our key areas of connectivity, like Miami, Denver, and Philadelphia, will amplify the island’s tourism offerings to keep us at the top-tier level as far as destinations go in the Caribbean,” Senior Strategist and Senior Adviser in the Ministry of Tourism, Delano Seiveright, told JIS News in an interview.
“Media partnerships like these are critical to promoting and presenting Jamaica in a positive light,” he added. Senior Adviser and Senior Strategist in the Ministry of Tourism, Delano Seiveright. Mr. Seiveright said that the high level of visibility that Jamaica will receive as millions tune in to listen to their favorite disc jockeys from several top-rated radio stations in the United States, is not only “priceless” but comes at a time when the country needs to continue the momentum and the bar set in 2023 as it relates to visitor arrivals. “A joint partnership between Sandals Resorts and the JTB, the event will also include live interviews with key tourism stakeholders, such as Dunn’s River Falls and Park, Scotchie’s Jerk, Miss T’s Restaurant, Worthy Park Estates, Pure Chocolate Jamaica, Chukka Caribbean Adventures, Devon House, Kingston Creative Artwalk, and Bob Marley Museum,” he said. “The radio personalities will also get a chance to experience the island’s vaunted culture, visiting several local attractions and historical
landmarks when they are not on air, and with Jamaica’s tourism sector projecting unprecedented growth, the radio remote is part of Sandals and the JTB’s efforts to promote the island in the USA and to remind travelers that we remain open for business,” he noted. Mr. Seiveright said that with Jamaica’s close proximity to the US, the country will benefit greatly from the exposure and will now have the opportunity to cement its claim as the number-one destination in the region. “Having the media here from the United States is fantastic for us and we are going to continue to find opportunities to bring them here and to give Jamaican companies a chance to sell their brand in that forum,” he continued. “To have the radio stations staying at Sandals Dunn’s River is truly special because the resort is the newest in the chain. We love new brands and products and we must help tell the world that this is absolutely one of the places you must visit. We are also not just focusing on just one brand. We are telling the story that paradise is not being in just one place in Jamaica,
but exploring its countless attractions as well,” he said. The Tourism Official noted that the radio remote is just one example of “our unbeatable, worldwide marketing efforts, which have never been more important considering the competitiveness of the tourism industry worldwide and the need to separate ourselves from our competitors”.
Royalton CHIC Antigua Unveils Exclusive Chairman Overwater Bungalows for a Luxurious All-Inclusive
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua: Anticipation is building as Blue Diamond Resorts’ Royalton CHIC Antigua, poised to be the newest and most coveted All-Inclusive Resort in the Caribbean, set to open in spring 2024, reveals an extraordinary addition to its offerings—twelve luxury Overwater Suites. This announcement enhances the already exceptional “Party Your Way” vibe synonymous with Royalton CHIC Resorts. The Overwater Suites at Royalton CHIC Antigua will mark the second set of these type of luxury suites in the Blue Diamond Resorts portfolio, building upon the remarkable success of their initial six Chairman Overwater Bungalows at Royalton Antigua in 2019. Set to open its doors in late April of this year, this upcoming adults-only all-inclusive property will feature twelve additional overwater suites available in three different categories, Chairman, Presidential, or Junior Suite and they will feature the Diamond Club™ amenities that guests have come to love. “This is a milestone, not only for Blue Diamond Resorts but also for the AllInclusive industry and the island of Antigua,” said Jordi Pelfort, President of Blue Diamond Resorts. “We have proven to ourselves and our guests that our All-Inclusive offering continues to provide unique experiences. We strongly believe that the addition of these Overwater Suites to the upcoming Royalton
CHIC Antigua will make this resort one of a kind in the region.” While the Presidential Overwater Bungalow will offer a spacious 1,912 ft² one-bedroom haven with state-of-the-art amenities and a generous living room area featuring a glass floor providing stunning views of the ocean, the Luxury Junior Suite Overwater Bungalow will be a perfect blend of comfort and sophistication. This fully equipped 1,138 ft² suite over the ocean boasts a private terrace, plunge pool, and direct access to the ocean. For an unparalleled experience, the Chairman Overwater Bungalow Two Bedroom Suite will provide an expansive and luxurious retreat featuring two rooms, terraces, two separate plunge pools, overwater hammocks, and direct access to the sea. Positioned directly above the ocean, it includes a living room with a crystal floor for mesmerizing sea views, a bar, kitchenette, dining area, three bathrooms, and cutting-edge technology in a 3,049 ft² space. All Overwater Suites will include access to an upgraded Diamond Club™ with features and amenities such as seamless check-in, access to exclusive areas, and the coveted personal butler service to further enhance your stay. “These elevated spaces will showcase luxurious and vibrant features that seamlessly align with the ‘Party Your Way’ concept, which has made our Royalton CHIC Resorts brand so popular among travelers,” Jordi Pelfort added. Blue Diamond Resorts invites travelers to embark on an effervescent journey of luxury and relaxation at Royalton CHIC Antigua, where they can join the “Party Your Way” experience, embracing it as wildly or mildly as they choose.
WEEK ENDING JANUARY 30, 2024
CARIBBUSINESS
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Business - Digicel to Be Taken Over by Private Equity Group Legal documentation released by Digicel Group and its affiliates states that the transfer of majority ownership must be finished by month’s end. Recently in Dublin, Ireland, the paperwork was presented to founder Denis O’Brien and other directors for signature. The entire purchase is expected to be completed “approximately” on January 26. This month, O’Brien submitted several additional papers to the US Securities and Exchange Commission about the debt-conversion plan, which calls for him to cede primary ownership and control of the telecom company, which was founded in Jamaica and is headquartered in Kingston. Consequently, two investment managers will own nearly two-thirds of Digicel’s voting rights. According to the amended documents, Contrarian Capital will control 16.2 percent and PGIM Inc. 48.4 percent. GoldenTree Asset Management, a third private equity fund, will also have an unidentified position. Although O’Brien will still hold a minority position, it is not clear how much of a minority
owner he will have once the deal concludes. Gregory Cass, the principal of PGIM, Pat Dyson, the partner of GoldenTree, and Xiao Song, the managing director, oversee Contrarian Capital Management. Digicel’s borrowings will drop from US$4.7 billion to about US$3 billion because of the debt conversion deal. Following the transaction’s conclusion, O’Brien’s exact holdings were not revealed. Rajeev Suri will take over as chairman in his place, but that previously planned change was not mentioned in the latest documents. Beginning in Jamaica in 2001, Digicel used debt primarily to fund its operations as it grew throughout the Caribbean, Central America, and the Pacific. Over time, around US$5 billion was invested in the telecommunications network. A start-up company effectively contested the well-established Cable & Wireless. Digicel’s debt burden finally got out of hand, and its creditors had to restructure the company because of its inability to make bond payments.
Jamaican Diaspora Urged to Invest in the Country
The Hon. Alando Terrelonge, MP, State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaican nationals living overseas are being encouraged to take advantage of the sustained growth in the economy by investing in the country. Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Alando Terrelonge, in making the call, said that the country is experiencing unprecedented growth and development and “it is a great place to make some money.” Terrelonge, who was speaking in an interview on Irie Jam Radio, which is based in New York City, highlighted opportunities in various sectors such as construction, which he noted is a booming industry. “For the first time in some 40 years, our exports in Jamaica have exceeded our imports. The Jamaican economy is growing, the rest of the world is doing great
business in Jamaica and we are saying to members of the Diaspora, this is your opportune time to come home and invest in Jamaica,” he said. He cited the Jamaica Social Stock Exchange (JSSE) as an avenue for persons to support community development. The JSSE ensures that people interested in contributing and improving the quality of life in Jamaica are enabled to invest in wholesome projects that promote the socio-cultural economy and the protection of the physical environment. “It is a great way to tie your funding to social projects,” Terrelonge said, noting that persons can invest from anywhere in the world that they are located. Terrelonge said that the Government sees the Diaspora as a strategic partner in building a “very strong Jamaica, for all Jamaicans,” and is urging persons to participate in the upcoming 10th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference. The four-day event is scheduled to take place from June 16-19 in Montego Bay, St James. “We are encouraging all Jamaicans; Montego Bay is the place to be for the Conference because it is your country and your voice,” Terrelonge said. The event will provide an inclusive platform for enhancing and propelling development, with special attention to and regard for critical sectors of Jamaican life, especially health and education. (JIS)
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20
CARIBSPORTS
WEEK ENDING JANUARY 30, 2024
Jewel Andrews Shows Out in Rising Stars Opening Match The West Indies Rising Stars Under-19 Men’s team lost their opening match of the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup by 31 runs to home team South Africa in a thrilling encounter in Potchefstroom. A brilliant century from Jewel Andrew was not enough to save the Rising Stars, as a top-order batting collapse left the Rising Stars well short of their 286-run target. Winning the toss and sending the home team in to bat first, the Rising Stars prided themselves with a strong bowling attack. Opening batsman Lhuan-Dre Pretorius took charge with a flurry of boundaries, as South Africa looked anchored to set a formidable total, despite the losing a couple wickets. Oliver Whitehead came in at number five, and after surviving a close call, helped South Africa rebuild their innings. Along with David Teeger, he added 48 runs for the fourth wicket. However, he was caught at mid-on after he tried to charge James down the wicket. Nathan Sealy
struck twice in his ninth over, removing Romashan Pillay and the set Teeger to put West Indies ahead. Dewan Marais helped the skipper Juan James to settle in and the duo added crucial runs towards the end of the innings. Marais’ impressive fifty came off merely 33 balls. He finished as the innings top-scorer with 65 from 38. Nathan Sealy had the best bowling figures for the West Indies of 10-2-34-3. In response, the Rising Stars found the going tough against the young Proteas. Leftarm pacer Kwena Maphaka ran through the top-order, picking Adrian Weir, Pascal and Joshua Dorne in the first 12 balls of his spell. An aggressive Jordan Johson tried to counter-attack but eventually fell to Riley Norton. At the end of 10 overs, the Rising Stars were scoring at a healthy pace of 7.3 but had lost five wickets. Jewel Andrew and Nathan Sealy made their intentions clear by going for their shots, ensuring that West Indies moved ahead at a brisk pace. In the next 15 overs,
the duo added nearly 100 runs to keep the Rising Stars side in the game. Andrew struck the first century of the tournament and just when it looked like the two had done enough to take the game away from South Africa, Sealy was run out from the deep by a direct hit at the score of 190 to add intrigue to the contest. Andrew kept going with assistance from Tarrique Edward and Nathan Edward. However, Maphaka and Norton struck in the later overs to run through the West Indies lower order. Andrew’s dismissal on 130 off 96 deliveries which included three magnificent sixes and fourteen boundaries, all but sealed the game for the Proteas. The Rising Stars were all out for 254 in 40.1 overs. A match-winning bowling performance from Kwena Maphaka with figures of 9.1-1-38-5 earned him the Player of the Match Award. The Rising Stars take on Scotland in their second match on 24 January. All matches start at 4am Eastern Caribbean/3am
Jamaica time. Fans in Caribbean can watch all the matches live on ESPN and access live ball-by-ball scoring here in the Windies Cricket match centre.
Endrick Discusses His Role in the Brazil Side Aiming to Reach the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament
Endrick began 2024 as one of the hottest properties in Brazilian football, after recently winning the league with Palmeiras and becoming the fourthyoungest player in the history of Brazil’s senior team. If that were not impressive enough, he will join Real Madrid in July when he turns 18. Though fully aware of the responsibility he now shoulders, the teenager rejects the idea of being the potential star of the CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament. In his view, it is the team itself that has to be centre stage. “The Brazilian national team need to be in contention at every tournament they play, so nothing but winning this event matters to me,” he told FIFA ahead of their opening game against Bolivia on 23 January.
With the tournament contested by national U-23 teams, Endrick is by two years the youngest member of the Brazil squad. Yet despite his tender years, expectations surrounding his potential contribution to the side are understandably high. “Given the position I play in, I know what’s expected of me, but the squad also knows that you only win games by playing for each other at all times,” he said. “I’m therefore aware that I’ll also have to help the others with their tasks.” Attacking link-up At Real Madrid, Endrick will have the chance to play alongside Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo. Ahead of that, however, he will likely be John Kennedy’s strike partner as Brazil aim to secure their place at Paris 2024. By all accounts, the pair have forged a harmonious understanding in training and enjoy each other’s company off the pitch. “I really like his style of play,” said Endrick “He was one of the strikers I followed most during my time at the academy. Training alongside him has been really good, but I hope that playing with him during these games will be even better and help take Brazil to the Olympics.” The Pre-Olympic Tournament Played between 20 January and 11 February, the CONMEBOL PreOlympic Tournament offers two berths for the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024. Brazil have been drawn in Group A with hosts Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia and Ecuador. The remaining five teams – Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay – are in Group B. The tournament will have two round-
robin phases but no knockout round. The five teams from each of the two groups face each other initially, with the top two from each section progressing to a final four-team group stage, from which the top two qualify for the Olympics.
Brazil’s fixtures: Tuesday 23 January: Bolivia v Brazil Friday 26 January: Brazil v Colombia Monday 29 January: Brazil v Ecuador Thursday 1 February: Venezuela v Brazil