February 14, 2024

VOL. XLIII NO. 2154 WEEK OF FEBRUARY 14 - 20, 2024 NEW YORK CITY

MAYOR ADAMS IMPOSES CURFEW ON MIGRANTS

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GRAMMY AWARDS

In shelters in wake of shootout in Times Square - migrants must be in from 11 pm - 6 am

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BARBADOS

NEW LEADER OF OPPOSITION Ralph Thorne crosses the floor leaving the BLP to become the Opposition

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GUYANA/VENEZUELA

CARICOM TO DISCUSS ESSEQUIBO

In light of the military build up of Venezuelans along its borders

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SNUBBED BELAFONTE

HAITI

THE MOST VIOLENT MONTH In two years, says the UN, as the country spirals out of control

Page 5 BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

FORMER PREMIER GUILTY IN US

Of drug-related trafficking charges - facing 20 years

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A&E

RITA MARLEY THE “ONE QUEEN”

Say her children in clapback to Cindy Breakspeare’s tribute to Bob

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FAMILY AND COMMUNITY OUTRAGED AT ABSENCE OF TRIBUTE TO ONE OF WORLD’S GREATEST ENTERTAINERS AND HUMANITARIAN

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO CARNIVAL

MACHEL CALYPSO MONARCH 2024

VISIT US AT WWW.NYCARIBNEWS.COM FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL

MEMBER, NATIONAL NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION (NNPA) BLACK PRESS OF AMERICA GATEWAY TO 20 MILLION READERS WEEKLY

PERFORMING “SOUL OF CALYPSO”

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CaribNews EDITORIAL Big Polluters vs. Our Kids

by Ben Jealous- P 9

EDITORIAL Disturbing Disparities in Homicide Rates Highlight Urgent Need for Action on Black Women’s Safety

by Stacy M. Brown

HEALTH CARPHA : Take Action to Avoid the Harmful Effects of Saharan Dust - P 16 SPORTS Jamaica – Shelley-Ann to Retire After Paris Olympics- P 20

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 20, 2024

AFRICA

WORLD BRIEFS

‘My eggs are too expensive to eat’ (and that’s a good thing)

Gaza: UN rights chief warns against potential ‘carnage’ in Rafah

Small-scale chicken farmers in the south of Madagascar are hatching a plan to boost their incomes and improve the stock of local poultry breeds, thanks to support from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Over 80 chicken rearers in Anosy Region have so far received the possibly life-altering birds, which originate in India but which are now thriving in Tanzania.

FAO brought eggs from the East African country to hatch chicks in Madagascar.

Lucette Vognentseva, one of the new owners, spoke to UN News at her home in Ifotaka town.

“I received five chickens, three females and two males, from FAO last November and so far, two of the hens have laid 46 eggs. The other one is yet to produce..

These are Kuroiler chickens and they are good for laying eggs and for meat. They are better than our local chickens because they grow faster, are bigger, produce more eggs and are more resistant to harsh conditions.

I can sell one of my eggs for 2000 ariary [$0.45] which is four times more than the value of a local chicken egg. My eggs are too expensive to eat; instead, people come to me to buy one egg to hatch in the hope it will be a male which they can cross with their indigenous hens. This will improve the stock of their chickens and will be more profitable for them.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Monday appealed for restraint in the face of an Israeli military incursion in Rafah, warning of the risk of further atrocity crimes in the Gaza war.

Nearly 1.5 million people are now crammed into the southern city on the border with Egypt, and with nowhere further to flee.

‘Terrifying’ situation A potential full-fledged incursion in Rafah “is terrifying, given the prospect that an extremely high number of civilians, again mostly children and women, will likely be killed and injured,” Mr. Türk warned.

“Today, sadly, given the carnage wrought so far in Gaza it is wholly imaginable what would lie ahead in Rafah,” he added.

Aid delivery at risk The incursion may also mean the end of the “meager” humanitarian aid entering Gaza, with huge implications, including for hundreds of thousands of people in the north of the enclave who are at grave risk of starvation and famine.

“My Office has repeatedly warned against actions that violate the laws of war. The prospect of such an operation into Rafah, as circumstances stand, risks further atrocity crimes,” Mr. Türk said.

UN appeals for $4.1 billion in aid for war-torn Sudan and refugee-hosting countries

Address root causes of Ukraine war, UN official urges, as anniversary of Russian invasion approaches

The United Nations on Wednesday urged countries not to forget millions of people caught up in the war between rival militaries in Sudan, calling for $4.1 billion to help stave off famine and assist those who have fled into neighbouring countries.

“Half of Sudan’s population, 25 million people, needs humanitarian assistance,” Martin Griffiths, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, told journalists in Geneva.

He emphasized that far too many of those in need were children, and that 18 million people were acutely food insecure amid one of the world’s largest displacement and protection crises.

The appeal comprises two key components: a $2.7 billion Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan targeting 14.7 million people within Sudan and a $1.4 billion Regional Refugee Response Plan aimed at assisting 2.7 million people in five neighbouring nations.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) will manage the response in Sudan while the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) will lead the regional initiative.

Pervasive conflict The escalating conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has expanded to critical regions, including Gezira state, the nation’s breadbasket, heightening concerns of famine.

“If we start seeing famine in Sudan – and it won’t be the first time we’ve seen famine in Sudan – to add to the violence...

As the second anniversary of Russia’s fullscale invasion of Ukraine approaches, a senior UN official on Monday voiced deep concern over the escalatory trajectory of the war with intensifying attacks on civilians.

Miroslav Jenča, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Europe at the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), warned that the fighting risked “further diminishing the prospects for a just and lasting solution”.

“The approaching anniversary of the invasion is not only an occasion to recount the horrors of the past two years, but also a reminder that the armed conflict in Ukraine did not begin on 24 February 2022, but has been ongoing in the country’s east since 2014,” he said, briefing ambassadors in the Security Council.

Mr. Jenča briefing the Security Council.

“The United Nations has been, and will remain, fully committed to the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” he added.

Mr. Jenča noted that though the UN was not formally part of any mechanism related to the peace process in Ukraine, over the years it had expressed “full support” to all diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict, in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions.

Address root causes He also underscored the need for peace processes to address the root causes of the conflict.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 20, 2024

CARIBNEWS

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NYC – Mayor Adams Imposes Curfew on Migrant Shelters

Following an incident in Times Square, New York City decided to act and curtail access to twenty migrant shelters. More migrant shelters in the city are going to have curfews because of the Eric Adams federal response to a recent Times Square robbery and shooting that included a 15-year-old migrant.

Migrants housed in 20 respite centers managed by the Housing Preservation and Development must report by 11 p.m. on Monday and remain there until 6 a.m.

Over 3,600 migrants will be affected by the new regulations; over half are unmarried adult men.

The curfew regulation’s purpose is to manage bed capacity better; it is akin to the one already implemented at city homeless shelters.

A spokesman for City Hall in a statement, “New York City continues to lead the

nation in managing this national humanitarian crisis, and that includes prioritizing the health and safety of both asylum seekers in our care and New Yorkers who live in the communities surrounding the emergency shelters we manage.”

The statement noted, “Beginning this week, we will be instituting a curfew policy at our HPD emergency sites, in line with curfews already in place at traditional DHS shelters and NYCEM respite sites that serve migrants and longtime New Yorkers experiencing homelessness. This policy will allow for more efficient capacity management for migrants in the city’s care.”

Curfews were going to be enforced, as the Adams administration had long planned, and in January they had already been implemented at four shelters.

Mayor Eric Adams’ decision was a crucial

first in addressing the complaints of locals who say they have been harassed by desperate asylum seekers begging for food and clothing from door to door.

The extension of the curfew comes soon after a Brazilian tourist was allegedly injured in the leg by a migrant youngster living in a Manhattan shelter during a robbery at the Times Square JD Sports shop. After that, he allegedly opened fire on NYPD police who were pursuing him through the congested streets.

Prosecutors said that Jesus Alejandro Rivas-Figueroa, the suspect, and his m

other stole their possessions and fled to Yonkers, where they were apprehended the next day.

Many of the shelters impacted by the curfew are in Manhattan, including the Redford Hotel, The Gatsby Hotel, and The Imperial Hotel. Nearly half of the migrants who would be impacted by the new regulations are adult males who are single and reside exclusively in five of the shelters.

Machel Montano Calypso Monarch 2024 Freshly crowned Calypso Monarch Machel Montano has set his sights on defending his title in 2025 after clinching victory at the Dimanche Gras show on Sunday night.

The 49-year-old emerged triumphant, outshining former Monarchs Kerene Asche and Roderick “Chuck” Gordon, who secured second and third place respectively.

Montano’s illustrious career already boasts titles such as Soca Monarch, Road March, Young Kings, and Junior Calypso Monarch. Moments after his latest win, he wasted no time in signaling his intent for future competitions, declaring, “You must defend your crown, with honor... I will be here, and I encourage all to get involved.

Come to me. I’m ready for it.”

His winning performance, “Soul of Calypso,” featured guest appearances

by Cro Cro, Rio, Terri Lyons, and Super Blue. Despite criticism labeling the song as a “primary school calypso,” Montano defended its simplicity, emphasizing its

profound message of unity: “The main message of this song is all of we is one.”

For Montano, this victory holds special significance, ranking it as the pinnacle of his four-decade-long career. He expressed gratitude to the staff and students at the UTT Carnival Studies program for their role in crafting “Soul of Calypso.”

Montano’s commitment to his studies is evident, as he is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Carnival Studies at UTT, following his earlier receipt of an Honorary Doctor of Arts in 2018.

Looking ahead, Montano revealed plans to delve into the realm of pan in his thesis, aiming to contribute to his community and the nation at large. Despite his academic pursuits, he teased the possibility of competing in the Extempo Monarch competition, playfully warning 2024 champion Gypsy, “I’m a great extemporaneous calypsonian. Gypsy, watch out.”

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CARIBNEWS

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 13, 2024

Caricom Heads Concerned About Venezuela Action Along Guyana Essequibo Area The Essequibo issue is expected to be discussed during the 46th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) in Georgetown, which is scheduled for February 25–28, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Amery Browne.

This coincides with news from around the world indicating that Venezuela is stepping up border military activities.

Browne added that T&T is one of Caricom’s continuing diplomatic initiatives in a recent statement to a media house. “(The actions) remain geared toward the avoidance of any increase in tensions regarding the Essequibo region of Guyana. Much of these actions occur behind the scenes which is where a significant portion of diplomacy and dialogue normally occurs. Caricom Heads will be engaging further on this matter in the last week of February during the 46th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in Georgetown,” Browne stated.

The Venezuelan military facility on Ankoko Island looks to be expanding, according to satellite images obtained between October 2023 and January by the Washington, DC-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

As part of an arbitration ruling from 1899, the island was given to Guyana; however, Venezuela reclaimed it in 1966 and it is still under their jurisdiction.

According to the CSIS, on January 13th Maxar satellite imagery of the region also revealed the clearing of a new area north of the facility, building equipment, armored personnel carriers, and a large river ferry, “likely where Venezuelan military engineers intend to build a Mabey Compact 200 bridge to the island.”

Additionally, it stated that recordings from Venezuelan stations showed its military exercising on the island concurrently with the two nations’ foreign ministers meeting in Brasilia, Brazil, on January 25 to discuss peace.

The US-based organization’s announcement was made just two days after US oil giant Exx-

onMobil declared that it intended to search for gas and oil in the seas surrounding the disputed region.

Venezuela has long claimed territorial claims to the Essequibo area, which is now in Guyana.

Tensions increased in December 2023 when President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela offered his people an optional vote to Venezuela claims that the people over acquire the province. whelmingly backed the referendum.

The Argyle Accord was signed on December 14 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines during a meeting called by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, who was leading the Community of States of Latin America and the Caribbean, amidst the escalating war tensions in the region. Maduro and President Irfaan Ali of Guyana (CELAC).

With this agreement, the parties agreed not to escalate the situation further until an international arbiter could resolve it.

T&T – US Citizen Beaten to Death

Hyacinth Gardner, 72, of Santa Rosa, is thought to have been killed by a bandit, according to police. On the morning of February 5, 2024, police and a laborer discovered her corpse in her Santa Rosa, California, house on Lime Boulevard.

Hours after the murder, the Santa Rosa Community Council released a statement

calling Gardner “a cherished member of the community” and stating that the area was disturbed by the occurrence.

The statement further noted, “While the council has been in talks with the police about revitalizing the neighborhood watch groups, it hurts that the initiative did not bear fruit in time to possibly alleviate the incident.”

Gardner employee visited her house that day at 8:30 am, he discovered that her car was gone and that someone had tampered with the CCTV system.

Upon entering the house with his keys, the man saw that various items were gone.

When Gardner did not pick up when he tried contacting her, he grew concerned and went to the Pinto Police Post to file a report.

Accompanied by the police, they broke through a bedroom door and discovered Gardner’s lifeless body.

Her silver Subaru was discovered wrecked and left behind near Wallerfield.

Gardner immigrated to the US some decades ago, and after spending the previous

several years traveling back and forth between the two nations, he came home in December 2023.

She planned to remain in T&T while finishing up the repairs at her Lime Boulevard residence.

The Santa Rosa Community Council president, Keifer Rodriguez, told reporters the day following the event that the community and the Santa Rosa police station have been in discussions over the police council’s resuscitation.

Rodriguez stated, “The issue really is how we, as a group, move forward to get more resources, to access more resources for the area. The police post itself is so small for the geographical area that it really serves.”

While adding, “There’s not enough resources to really cover the entire jurisdiction adequately.

So I think that’s where the problem really lies.

In terms of deferring criminal activity, the (police) presence is not really felt as it should.”

He added that police officers had concurred with them and informed them that the proper authorities had been informed of their concern.

According to Rodriguez, the council is also

working to increase locals’ trust in the T&T Police Service (TTPS).

“We are trying to build confidence between the TTPS and the police post and the community itself because in the past residents felt a bit scared to report anything or to say anything. So the initiative also is to try and let them know they can feel free to call the police and if they see something, say something.”

Given Gardner’s dual US and T&T citizenship, police are reportedly following leads into the incident, but there has been no news yet on whether the US embassy has offered to help.

The US State Department advised US citizens to reevaluate their travel plans to T&T because of violence when it revised its travel recommendation in July 2023.

A Carnival safety advisory was also sent by the embassy on January 24, alerting people to a “heightened risk of criminality during Carnival.”

It also asked residents to “be observant” and warned of an uptick in home invasions.

Sandals Foundation Reaffirms Commitment to Paediatric Cancer Care MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica — The Sandals Foundation has once again demonstrated its dedication to childhood cancer research and treatment by donating CA$ 50,000 to the SickKids-Caribbean Initiative (SCI).

Over the years, the Sandals Foundation has contributed over CA$ 1 million to support the program, which focuses on advancing the study, diagnosis, and treatment of pediatric cancer and serious blood disorders in children across the Caribbean.

In a news release on Monday, it was highlighted that the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is making significant strides in

improving outcomes for children diagnosed with cancer and blood disorders in the Caribbean. This is achieved through the collaboration of medical professionals across six countries to study, consult, diagnose, and treat pediatric cancer, as well as serious blood disorders like sickle cell disease.

During a cocktail reception for the SickKids-Caribbean Initiative at Sandals Montego Bay Resort on February 8, Adam Stewart, President of the Sandals Foundation and Ambassador for the program, presented a CA$50,000 cheque to the SickKids-Caribbean Initiative Dr. Victor

Blanchette Caribbean Endowment Fund.

Stewart expressed his honor in presenting the donation, stating, “I am honored to present this cheque as an indicator of the Sandals Foundation’s continued commitment to supporting the health of our region’s most vulnerable and cherished population—our children. In a region like the Caribbean, where the dedication and professional expertise of every medical practitioner are unparalleled, access to information, facilities, and the experience of an international network in diagnosing and treating pediatric cancer and serious blood disorders saves lives.”

Jennifer Bernard, President and Chief Executive Officer of SickKids Foundation, emphasized the impact of the SCI since its inception in 2013, stating, “Our partnership with Sandals Foundation reinforces our commitment to improving the lives of children diagnosed with cancer and blood disorders across the Caribbean. At SickKids, we strongly believe where you live shouldn’t determine if you live. This new gift from Sandals will help us move the dial in providing quality pediatric cancer care locally, allowing us to see more children with cancer and blood disorders live fuller, happier, and healthier lives.”

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 13, 2024

CARIBNEWS

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Haiti – January Most Violent Month in Two Years says UN According to the UN human rights High Commissioner Volker Turk, January was the bloodiest month in Haiti in the country’s two years of turmoil, with over 1,100 people murdered, maimed, or kidnapped.

He noted in a recent statement, “The already dire human rights situation has deteriorated even further, amid unrelenting and expanding gang violence, with disastrous consequences for Haitians.”

According to the rights office, around 300 gang members were murdered or injured in January, while at least 806 non-participants in violent exchanges were slain, injured, or abducted.

As per the statement, this raises the overall number of impacted individuals to 1,108, which is more than three times the amount noted in January 2023.

UN rights office spokesperson Marta Hurtado stated that 266 people were abducted and 547 people died during the month-long crisis.

The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti, has been in chaos for years due to violent gangs that have taken over portions of the country and left the public health system and economy in ruins.

The nation descended into even more anarchy following President Jovenel Moise’s death in 2021. Since 2016, there have been no elections, and the president is still unfilled.

Large portions of the nation are now overrun by gangs, and a new UN study states that the number of killings in Haiti more than quadrupled to about 4,800 last year.

The rights office stated that since 167 children were shot and murdered by gunfire in the previous year, the effects of the violence on young people were especially concerning.

“Some were executed by gangs or so-called ‘self-defense’ groups for their suspected support for rivals,” the statement stated, emphasizing that “the recruitment of children into gangs

remained extremely worrisome”.

The office said that gang violence was affecting every commune within the Port-au-Prince metropolitan region and that gang activity was intensifying beyond the city.

The statement revealed that “The intensity of clashes which, in some cases, have lasted several hours, may indicate that some gangs have recently received new ammunition.”

“People in areas controlled by gangs have been targeted directly. Gangs also continue to use sexual violence against women and girls as a weapon and spread fear by sharing on local social media gruesome photos and videos of killed individuals and women being raped.”

Since February 5, 2024, hundreds of protesters in Port-au-Prince and around the nation have been calling for Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign in accordance with a political deal made in 2022, which has also caused turmoil in Haiti.

Turk emphasized how urgent it is to send a

Haiti PM Calls For Calm

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry delivered a message of calm in a public address during the early hours of Thursday, amidst three days of intense protests that have gripped the nation.

The demonstrations, marked by widespread unrest, call for Henry’s resignation as thousands voice their discontent.

Despite Henry’s plea for calm, delivered in the pre-dawn hours, tensions remain high among the populace. Frustration mounts over persistent gang violence, worsening poverty, and the absence of a clear electoral plan.

“I believe the time has come for us to unite and find solutions to save Haiti,” Henry expressed, though he refrained from offering specific measures. He called on Haitians not to view the government or the national police as adversaries. Those resorting to violence and destruction to seize power do not serve the interests of the Haitian people, he emphasized.

Henry has called for calm amid escalating protests demanding his resignation, following days of unrest and violence in the country.

With the legislature vacant since January 2023, and the absence of scheduled elections in 2019 and 2023, Henry assumed power in the wake of President Jovenel Moïse’s assassination in July 2021.

Despite Henry’s plea for peace, protests continue across Haiti, fueled by grievances over rampant gang violence, deepening poverty, and the lack of a clear electoral roadmap. Demonstrators have taken to the streets, blocking roads with barricades made of tree branches, vehicles, and burning tires. Some clashes with law enforcement have turned violent, leading to casualties and property damage.

The ongoing protests have disrupted daily life in Haiti, forcing the closure of schools, banks, government offices, and businesses. The humanitarian situation has worsened, with critical aid delivery impeded, and food prices soaring by over 20% in certain areas due to blockades, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

In a recent incident, police reportedly shot and killed five armed environmental protection agents in Port-au-Prince, exacerbating tensions.

The confrontation underscores existing friction between law enforcement and environmental agencies since January, prompting Henry to announce a restructuring of the environmental agency.

Former rebel leader Guy Philippe, who recently resurfaced in Port-au-Prince, criticized the international community for supporting Henry’s government. Philippe urged environmental protection agents to assert control over their regions and called for unified action against the government.

Amid escalating violence, Haiti’s Office of Citizen Protection condemned the killings of environmental agents and called for an independent inquiry. The office also highlighted attacks on journalists covering the protests, denouncing them as assaults on press freedom.

In his address, Henry emphasized the need for peace, security, and economic opportunity for Haitians. He pledged to hold general elections once security concerns are addressed and reiterated his commitment to collaborating with stakeholders to navigate the crisis.

Despite Henry’s assurances, many Haitians remain disillusioned, demanding his resignation by February 7, a significant date in Haiti’s history symbolizing political change.

As Haiti grapples with deep-rooted challenges, including political instability and socioeconomic disparities, the path forward remains uncertain. Haitians are calling for leadership

multinational team, authorized by the UN Security Council in October of last year, to assist Haiti’s overburdened police force.

However, this month, a Kenyan court rejected Nairobi’s proposal to lead the operation with up to 1,000 people, casting uncertainty on that force.

that prioritizes their well-being and addresses the root causes of their grievances, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable solutions to secure a brighter future for the nation.

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CARIBNEWS

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 20, 2024

Barbados – New Leader of the Opposition

Prime Minister Mia Mottley has sought to downplay the decision by one of her legislators to leave the ruling Barbados Labor Party (BLP) and become the island’s new Opposition Leader.

Mottley, who led the BLP to a clean sweep of all 30 seats in the January 2022 general elections, confirmed late Friday that she had received correspondence from the president indicating that Ralph Thorne, a government backbencher had quit to become the new Opposition Leader.

This is the second successive occasion that Mottley has had to face the situation of a government legislator leaving to become

the head of the Opposition in the Parliament.

Following the 2018 election when the BLP again won all 30 seats, Bishop Joseph Atherley quit and subsequently formed a new party that failed to win a seat in the 2022 general election.

Thorne has not made any public statement regarding his decision, but Mottley, 58, said “Well, these things happen, it is what is, it may be a case of easy come, easy go.

“But whatever happens we will see and we will move forward. Mr. Thorne must know; he has not communicated with me, nor has he communicated with the general

secretary of the Party, but I wish him all the best,” she added.

Thorne, the parliamentary representative for Christ Church South, was first elected in 2018 during the BLP’s historic sweep of the elections. The attorney was not appointed to a ministerial portfolio.

Thorne retained his seat in the 2022 elections with 2229 votes, amassing 70 percent of the votes, and was again not included in the Cabinet. However, he was nominated to be the Chair of a standing committee on matters pertaining to the Governance of both Houses of Parliament. CMC

Guyana – Striking Teachers Won’t Be Paid Warned Government

The Guyana government warned teachers who are on the second day of a nationwide industrial action on Tuesday that they would not be paid for participating in what it termed an illegal strike.

“The Ministry of Education has accepted the opinion of the Ministry of Labour that it is illegal to pay teachers who do

not report for duty without a legitimate reason,” the Ministry of Education said in a statement.

The ministry said that through its statistical analysis, most teachers had ignored the call by the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) for them to participate in the “illegal” strike on Monday, promising that those who reported for duty and delivered lessons “will be recognized” for their dedication towards ensuring the nation’s children receive the education they rightfully deserve.

The Ministry of Education declined to provide a figure on the number of educators who responded to the strike call and the GTU said at least 58.16 percent of teachers stayed away from schools on the first day of the industrial action.

GTU president Dr Mark Lyte dismissed the threat of teachers’ salaries and wages being withheld as a result of their participation in the industrial action, saying “We hold our ground that the strike is legal so let’s see.”

Chief Education Officer of the Ministry of Education, Saddam Hussain, said

teachers who locked up schools would be recommended for disciplinary action by the Teaching Service Commission or the School Boards Secretariat.

In its statement, the Ministry of Education said it was “appalled at the illegal locking of schools by head teachers and the barring of students and teachers from entering some school buildings.”

It said it strongly condemned threats meted out to teachers through incendiary voice notes, text messages, phone calls, and through cyberbullying.

“The Ministry reiterates that the threat of the union and its acolytes that teachers who do not turn up to strike will not be on ‘the benefits list’ is empty. Particularly, the threat to withhold duty-free concessions cannot be realized as the Ministry is now administering that process.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education said that “those students who are most affected” by the industrial action would be academically engaged via a number of learning platforms and that educational content across grades and particularly for exam classes is available on the Ministry of

Education’s website, the Guyana Learning Channel and its recently launched app, EDPal as well as on the radio, EdYou FM. “These are timetabled and schedules of topics and times are published on the individual pages.”

On Monday, GTU Secretary General Coretta McDonald, said “We submitted a proposal since 2020 and this is 2024. But what we’ve recognized they’ve been doing over the years is that they’ve been pulling from the conditions we’ve been asking for, tweaking them and my good friend [the Chief Education Officer] Saddam Hussain is putting out all kinds of things suggesting that the GTU is asking for 41 things, and they’ve already been satisfied 21 or 27 things, something like that”.

Last year, the government ignored repeated calls for collective bargaining and instead engaged a cross-section of teachers to hear their grievances and requests.

Senior Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh,

Housing Justice for All Response to Historically Tight Housing Market

NEW YORK - Housing Justice for All, a statewide coalition of more than 80 organizations representing tenants and homeless New Yorkers, released the following statement from Campaign Director Cea Weaver in response to the 2023 Housing and Vacancy Study.

“The data shows what New Yorkers across the income spectrum know: it is nearly impossible to find an affordable apartment.

“The rent stabilization system was created for just such a moment: with so few apart-

ments available, tenants are being price gouged by landlords taking advantage of their desperation. Thousands of working class families are being forced to leave the city due to sky-high housing costs, and tens of thousands more are pouring more and more of their earnings into rent, at the expense of food, health care, and other necessities. Strengthening and expanding rent stabilization – as well as passing universal Good Cause Evictions – is the best way to combat rampant price gouging and evictions.

“In the face of a historic housing crisis, New Yorkers need ambitious solutions to preserve and build the housing we need.

Giveaways to private developers to subsidize market rate housing and carrots for municipalities to loosen zoning restrictions won’t deliver housing for those who need it most. It’s time for the state to take an active role, through the Social Housing Development Authority, to create the permanently affordable, sustainable housing New Yorkers deserve.”

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 20, 2024

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CARIBEDITORIAL

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 20, 2024

Harry Belafonte Snubbed by The Grammys Harry Belafonte’s famous quote is “Artists are the gatekeepers of truth; we are civilization’s anchor, we are the compass of humanities conscience”, so it is indeed a disgrace and a shame when the Grammy Awards, in their memorial segment of 2024 failed to recognize or to pay tribute to one of the world’s greatest artist entertainers and one of the greatest fighters for humanity of this century. It is unbelievable that the ignorance is so deep within an organization such as the Grammy Awards that they would fail to recognize and pay tribute to Harry Belafonte who has done so much for the industry and for humanity. Right after the memorial section, phones were ringing as to what could have happened and why this is so, and clearly there was this buzz on social media as to this omission of Belafonte from the tribute that he so truly deserved, and we join with members of his family in expressing their disgust and outrage, and that disgust and outrage is throughout the international community who knows not only Harry Belafonte’s talent but his commitment and work in the area of

human and civil rights.

For the Grammys to miss the first recipient of any color, the first record to sell over 1,000,000 copies is difficult to even comprehend. For them to miss the first black man to ever win the Emmy is hard to understand and for them to overlook an entertainer artist that has won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony, not to mention the numerous Grammys, and not to pay proper tribute to this individual is beyond comprehension. It is beyond just plain ignorance and it is incomparable in and difficult to understand what ever reason there might be, one cannot suggest ignorance, and it is difficult to even suggest racism or lack of full appreciation for Belafonte’s contribution.

The very movement that was celebrated at the Grammy in We are the world, and it’s value and impact internationally was the idea of Harry Belafonte. It was not just an idea but he used his influence, connections and funds, time and talent to see to it that this concept We are the world came to fruition and indeed provided hundreds of millions of dollars to help starving

children in Africa; that is the measure of the man, not to mention his early support of the civil rights movement where he contributed constantly and was the first to put down over $60,000 then, it could end up a half $1,000,000 today, to fund the start of costs of the civil rights movement and to embrace Dr. Martin Luther King and his drive and commitment to justice and freedom. Here again he organized and reached out to artists performers and laid his own influence on the line to bring about resources for the plight of black people and the fight that was to take place in the United States, and stayed with that up to his death. It was his fight too for the elimination of apartheid and he brought artists and athletes together to achieve this goal and of course he brought to the entertainment platforms many international talents such as Odetta, Miriam Makeba and so many, selling out houses in Germany, Japan, and was always a pioneer in bringing in new talent and new ideas to the entertainment front. Many of the artists receiving Grammys today got their start because of Harry Belafonte. The

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Grammy cannot be silent on this oversight, and should immediately apologize to the family of Belafonte with a commitment for a full recognition of his contribution to the entertainment industry and in fact to the Grammy itself and to his impact internationally, from UNESCO to civil rights to abolishment of apartheid, to feeding hungry children in Africa, should commit themselves to providing the proper tribute that the next generation will fully understand the width and breadth of this man and his contribution to the world’s development. We are not questioning the tributes being made to the other performers/ entertainers, but if you put them all together they would not collectively have the impact and the contribution that Belafonte has made to the entertainment world and to the world of human kindness. The Grammys can make this commitment now and not stay silent on this outrageous and shameful omission of this great man’s name, Harry Belafonte

KARL B. RODNEY PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF TONY BEST SENIOR EDITOR KARLISA RODNEY NEWS EDITOR MELL P MANAGING EDITOR

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Big Polluters vs. Our Kids

by Ben Jealous

Far too often, big polluters feed us the lie that we have to choose between clean air or a healthy economy. Last week, the Biden-Harris administration made a big move that shows Americans do not have to choose. The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) released updated protective air quality standards that will save both lives and money.

Simply put, if you work outdoors, have a child with asthma, or an elderly family member with a cardiopulmonary disease, this new standard will make it easier to breathe.

The new National Ambient Air Quality Standards for fine particulate matter, or soot, are a big deal. Soot is one of the most dangerous and prevalent air pollutants. It enters the deepest parts of our lungs and bloodstream where it causes asthma, heart attacks, and premature death.

Moms Clean Air Force, a self-described “Mompartisan” group founded to protect children from air pollution and climate impacts, notes that “air pollution can lead to premature births, lower birth weight, and neurocognitive impacts as particulate matter can reach the developing fetal brain.”

Soot is created by coal plants, diesel vehicles, and factories. And this new rule is expected to clean up the air for the 91 million people

who live in counties that experience unhealthy spikes in daily soot pollution.

The most impacted communities? You guessed it: communities of color and low-income communities.

It is the same old awful yet unsurprising story: redlining, racist zoning practices, and other factors have put Black and low-income neighborhoods near or downwind from the sources of air pollution. Fenceline communities near ports, highways, and power plants are disproportionately exposed to higher-than-average levels. Addressing soot pollution in our air has a unique urgency for these communities that bear the hardest brunt.

The new EPA standard will directly save an estimated 4,500 lives per year. It will prevent 5,700 new cases of asthma each year. As for the economic benefits, it will result in 290,000 fewer lost workdays per year and bring as much as $46 billion in net health benefits in 2032, when the standards are in full effect.

Reducing air pollution and protecting the air we breathe are moral obligations not just to our children but to future generations. EPA Administrator Michael Regan recognized as much when he told reporters the new stan-

dard would “shape the world our children will inherit tomorrow.”

Given the undeniable health and economic benefits of stronger soot standard, and the moral imperative of protecting our kids’ health and futures, you would expect passing the new standard to have been a slam dunk.

But the updating of the soot standard faced fierce opposition. We must recognize that opposition for what it was: outrageously immoral.

Big polluters and their allies fought tooth and nail against the improved soot standard.

They relied on the same misinformation they have used for years, which has never once come true. They made up fake obstacles to complying with improved standards. For example, they tried to use wildfire smoke as a reason why certain jurisdictions would not be able to comply with the new standards.

But the EPA has clearly stated that soot from wildfires can be discounted from regulatory decisions.

The fossil fuel industry and other polluters grasped at every straw they could. But we know that protecting clean air leads to stronger economies, better health outcomes, and is simply the right thing to do. More than 600,000 people submitted public comments

to the EPA last year in support of stronger standards. The Biden-Harris administration deserves credit for heeding the call.

The opposition from big polluters is a reminder that there will always be those who try to stop us when we reach for a better future. That even goes for something as basic as cleaner air and the longer life expectancies, economic opportunity, and healthier bodies that come with it.

It is also a reminder of our moral obligation to keep fighting to make sure the benefits of the new EPA standard reach the communities that need them most.

Ben Jealous is executive director of the Sierra Club and a professor of practice at the University of Pennsylvania.

Disturbing Disparities in Homicide Rates Highlight Urgent Need for Action on Black Women’s Safety

by Stacy M. Brown

The startling and enduring differences in murder rates between Black and white women in the United States have been highlighted in a new analysis published in the Lancet medical journal, which serves as an eyepopping reminder of Malcolm X’s wellknown observations on the struggles Black women in America endure.

In one of his most famous lectures delivered over sixty years ago, Malcolm X declared, “The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black woman.” Those words continue to echo today and is especially meaningful as this new data has revealed disturbing trends in violence against Black women.

The Lancet’s report, released as African Americans observe Black History Month 2024, analyzed homicide rates among Black women aged 25 to 44 across 30 states. The study, based on data collected between 1999 and 2020 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, highlights a stark reality: Black women in this age group are disproportionately murdered compared to their white counterparts.

In 2020, the homicide rate among Black women was 11.6 per 100,000, a stark contrast to the rate of 3 per 100,000 among white women. Shockingly, this inequity has remained virtually unchanged since 1999,

prompting concerns about the efficacy of ongoing efforts to address racial and structural inequities.

The study revealed disturbing trends at the state level, with racial inequities in homicide rates increasing in 11 states since 1999.

Wisconsin emerged as the state with the highest racial inequity, where Black women aged 25–44 were 20 times more likely to die by homicide than their white counterparts in 2019–20.

In Alaska, Black women had three times the homicide rate of white women in 1999–2003, and twice the homicide rate of white women in 2019–20. Of the 30 states included in the analysis, eight states (Oklahoma, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Florida, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Texas) had no change in the disparity across the 20 years of inclusion. In six states (Indiana, Georgia, Maryland, Nevada, Alaska, and Virginia) the disparity decreased, with the largest decrease in Maryland, where the homicide rate among Black women was 4 times higher than among white women in 1999–2003, decreasing to 2 times higher in 2019–20.

For ten states (Arkansas, Kansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Missouri, New York, South Carolina, and Wisconsin), the disparity increased.

One of the key findings of the research is the alarming increase in firearm-related homicides, with women in the USA having

2.44 times the odds of firearm-involved homicides in 2019–20 compared to 1999–2003.

This trend is disproportionately concentrated among Black women in every region of the country.

“Notably, Black women are murdered 6 times more often, on average, than their white peers,” the researchers wrote. “Further, Black women residing in the Midwest and Northeast were more likely to be killed with a firearm than Black women residing in any other area of the country. Importantly, we found the greatest inequities are in areas of the country where concentrated disadvantage is pronounced. This finding is a crucial initial step towards developing targeted solutions to reduce inequitable homicide rates among Black women.”

The researchers stressed the urgent need for action to address these disparities, suggesting that enacting federal legislation to reduce gun access is a crucial step. Additionally, they have urged policymakers to tackle long-standing structural factors contributing to elevated gun violence by implementing sustainable wealth-building opportunities, developing mixed-income and affordable housing, and increasing green spaces in communities where black women predominantly reside.

Lead author Bernadine Waller, a postdoctoral psychiatry research fellow at Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center, expressed

her disappointment at the lack of comprehensive research on this issue. Waller emphasized the devastating impact of high homicide rates on families, especially considering that many Black families have women as heads of households.

Approximately 45% of black women have experienced stalking and physical and sexual violence in their lifetimes, with an estimated 51% of black female adult homicides related to intimate partner violence, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The Lancet’s report underscores the urgency of addressing these deeply entrenched issues to ensure the safety and well-being of Black women in America.

“Our findings underscore pervasive racial inequities in homicide rates among Black and White women aged 25–44 years across 30 US states between 1999 and 2020,” the authors concluded.

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 20, 2024

Belafonte Snubbed by Grammys – Family and Community Outraged

Shari and Gina Belafonte, the late Jamaican-American singer’s daughters, criticize the Grammy Awards for not doing more to honor their father during the 2024 event.

In the In Memoriam section, Tina Turner, Tony Bennett, Sinead O’Connor, Clarence Avant, and other notable figures were honored with moving performances by Jon Batiste, Fantasia Barrino, Stevie Wonder, and Annie Lennox.

Batiste sang “The Best Is Yet to Come” while pictures of other musicians who passed away last year appeared on screen behind them including singer, actor, civil rights activist, and author Harry Belafonte.

Both daughters agreed that the “Jump in the Line” singer should have received a special Grammy homage, similar to Tina Turner, Bennett, O’Connor, and Avant.

Shari took to Facebook through a post, “While the folks who had a bit more of a

#shoutout on the #GrammyAwards this year were absolutely deserving of accolades, I’m a bit appalled that our father was not included in a #SpecialTribute and I’m not just saying that because he was our father.”

“HarryBelafonte was the very FIRST recipient of a platinum record. Was the very FIRST Black man to get an #Emmy. Is one of 20 people to have an #EGOT. Harry is THE one who created #WeAreTheWorld, and yes, I was at the table when he first pitched the idea to Ken Kragen.”

She continued, “While no doubt, Tony Bennett and Tina Turner were special indeed, Harry contributed far more to society and the music industry than those two put together, in my humble opinion. The Grammys missed a major moment.”

Along with criticizing the Grammy Awards, Gina posted a picture of her father on Facebook and said, “Love @itstonybennett Love

@tinaturner Love @sinadeocconor. Why the @recordingacademy Cho see not to do a special tribute to you I will #never understand! So here is my Grammy tribute to you dad! So many winners you’ve mentored! So many winners you shared your stage with.

You are the winner @theharrybelafonte and we are better because of your contribution!

Belafonte’s career breakthrough album Calypso (1956) was the first million-selling LP by a single artist.”

According to veteran spokesperson Ken Sunshine, Belafonte passed away in April 2023 from congestive heart disease. Belafonte popularized calypso music with his song “Day-O,” also known as “The Banana Boat Song.” Belafonte music is loved and appreciated by many and is captured in hit movies and animations including, “Beetle Juice”.

T&T – 1,000 Volunteers to Clean Up Oil Spill Before Carnival

After a mystery vessel grounded close to the Caribbean island, causing a major oil leak and dampening the mood for Carnival visitors, emergency personnel in Trinidad and Tobago are working feverishly to clean it up.

Farley Augustine, the chief secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly, informed reporters that at least 15 km (about 10 miles) of the country’s coastline had been impacted and that officials were prepared to declare a national emergency.

The damage caused by the leak, according to environmental experts, to a reef and Atlantic beaches portends badly for the island’s resorts and hotels, which are essential to the local economy during Carnival season.According to Augustine, the government may classify the incident as a Level 3 catastrophe, “everything indicates that we are going in that direction”.

On February 7, 2024, the unidentified yacht, named The Gulfstream, overturned near the Cove Eco-Industrial Park in southern Tobago. The boat was pulled towards the beach by the currents.The ship was flying an unknown flag when it was seen, and it had not made any emergency calls.

The ship’s cargo was first thought to be made up of wood and sand, but the island’s Emergency Management Agency reported that there were no signs of life on board.

Photographs of almost a thousand volunteers wearing protective white jumpsuits clearing oil off beaches were made public by the organization.

A recent official source claims that “all the coastguard’s efforts are aimed at containing the oil spill”.Speaking anonymously, the insider stated that it would take “some time” for investigators to ascertain the ship’s ownership, origins, and ultimate destination.

Augustine stated that offers of aid had been received and the island was prepared to welcome assistance from other nations.

After visiting Tobago, Trinidad’s Energy Minister Stuart Young declared that the main island was prepared to provide “any assistance that can be provided”.

The accident occurred on the eve of Carnival, and opposition MP Dave Tancoo predicted that tour operators would suffer significant losses during a period when their earnings are often at their highest.

“This opportunity was cruelly taken away from them,” he remarked.

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Black History Month - Maya Angelou’s Caribbean Connection Leads to T&T

Celebrated poet, novelist Dr. Maya Angelou, best known for her series of seven autobiographies. Through her work, she collaborated with Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X during the Civil Rights Movement. In 1993, she recited her Poem “On the Pulse of Morning” at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration. She died on May 28th, 2014 at the age 86.

While she is still celebrated, what you may not know is that she had a direct connection to the Caribbean via her grandfather.

Yes, she did!

Her mother’s family hails from Trinidad, and Angelou, originally named Marguerite Johnson, was born to Vivian Baxter Johnson. Vivian’s father and grandfather immigrated to the United States from the islands of Trinidad and Tobago, arriving in Tampa, Florida, on a banana boat.

Angelou’s grandfather, proud to be an American, made it known to everyone, unaware that mere desire did not grant citizenship. Angelou humorously remarked that had Donald Trump been president at the time, he might have deported them as illegal immigrants.

Angelou’s parents’ tumultuous relationship led to their separation, described by Angelou as akin to “matches and gasoline.” After the divorce, she experienced a strained relationship with her mother, exacerbated when she was raped during that period. Subsequently, her mother sent her and her brother to live with their paternal grandmother, who raised them for several years before their mother reclaimed them. During ages 7 to 13, Angelou chose to be mute, communicating

only with her brother. It was during this period that she began to express herself through writing, a journey she recounts in her book “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.”

While Angelou didn’t directly attribute her Caribbean heritage to her career’s trajectory, her familiarity with calypso and her transformation into an exotic persona on stage likely contributed to her fame in the 1950s. Calypso was popular with white audiences during this era, though African-American performers faced limited acceptance. Angelou released her album “Miss Calypso” in 1957, featuring compositions and performances infused with island beats. She also collaborated with Harry Belafonte on calypso stage shows.

Despite some critics’ lukewarm reviews, her presence and stage charisma garnered attention.

Blues legend Billie Holiday, upon witnessing Angelou’s performance, predicted her future fame wouldn’t be tied to singing— an assessment that proved accurate. While Angelou’s singing voice received mixed reviews, her stage presence and persona

were undeniable. Her album “Miss Calypso” was reissued in 1995 on CD. Reflecting on her Trinidadian heritage, Angelou shared in a 2010 interview with the Trinidad Express Newspaper that she learned much about the country from her mother, including cooking traditional dishes like codfish, okra, and greens. She also mentioned her close friendship with acclaimed writer Paule Marshall, who shares West Indian roots.

She would have been 95 years old this year.

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BVI – Former Premier Guilty of Drug Trafficking

T&T - 65% of Murder Victims Afro-Trinidadian

Former British Virgin Islands (BVI) premier, Andrew Fahie, faces the possibility of life imprisonment after he was found guilty late Thursday evening on drug and racketeering-related charges. The sentencing is scheduled for April 29, 2024.

Fahie was convicted after a trial that lasted eight days, with the 12-member jury returning guilty verdicts of conspiracy to import a controlled substance, conspiracy to engage in money laundering, attempted money laundering, and interstate and foreign travel in aid of racketeering.

The jury deliberated for just over four hours returning unanimous decisions in

More young Afro-Trinidadian males are experiencing fatalities compared to males of any other age group or ethnicity.

In 2023, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) reported that 136 Afro-Trinidadians (aged 30 and under) fell victim to homicide, while the number for Indo-Trinidadians in the same age bracket stood at 23.

This stark contrast translates to a 491 percent higher mortality rate among Afro-Trinidadian males (aged 30 and under) in comparison to their Indo-Trinidadian counterparts.

According to Guardian Media’s analysis of

the case that was brought by United States prosecutors, who during their opening arguments, described the matter as a straightforward case.

The prosecution relied on the information provided by a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) informant, who had initially made contact with Fahie’s co-conspirators, Oleanvine and Kadeem Maynard – the British Virgin Islands’ former head of ports and her son.

The conspiracy’s objective was to bribe BVI authorities to ignore the movement of cocaine-laden ships using the Tortola coastline as a transient haven...

the 2023 data, on average, an Afro-Trinidadian male in this age group was tragically lost every three days, while an Indo-Trinidadian male faced a similar fate approximately every 16 days.

When considering all age groups and genders, the statistics reveal that an Afro-Trinidadian succumbs to homicide every day, whereas an Indo-Trinidadian faces this grim reality every three-and-ahalf days.

The comprehensive data requested from the TTPS, covering races, genders, ages, and locations of all murder victims in 2002 and 2023, paints a concerning picture.

Bahamas Resort Disputes Sexual Assault Victims’ Claims Officials at a Bahamas resort are disputing the claims made by two Kentucky women who allege they were raped during an off-shore cruise excursion, stating that the security camera footage contradicts their accounts.

Amber Shearer and Dongayla Dobson asserted that they were assaulted by resort staff members in broad daylight after being served drugged cocktails during a

beach outing while on a stopover from their Carnival cruise last weekend. They recounted losing consciousness after being directed to search for sea shells on the beach, only to awaken to their assaults in progress by two resort employees.

A spokesperson for the resort has countered these allegations, asserting that the women’s version of events does not align with the evidence captured by their

SVG - Manhunt For Man Who Slit Throat of Baby KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, CMC – The police have launched a manhunt for a resident from the town of Rose Hall in St Vincent who allegedly slit the throat of a one-year-old infant on Saturday.

The Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) was reliably informed that the suspect said that the baby and his father are demon possessed and must be killed to cleanse the village.

The suspect is said to have climbed through a window when the child’s

mother was in the shower and slit his throat. She did not suffer any physical harm.

The baby was rushed to a health facility, where he was pronounced dead.

The Rapid Response Unit of the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines police force is leading the search for the suspect and the police are hoping to apprehend him before villagers do, as police fear vigilante justice in the case.

T&T – Rocked by Strong Earthquake An earthquake magnitude of 5.2 rocked Trinidad and Tobago on February 5, 2024.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

The Seismic Research Centre at the St Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) said the quake, the second in the last three days, occurred at 10:18 (local

time) while many people attended various activities as the Carnival celebrations continued.

Many people took to social media to report feeling the quake, while others said they were unaware until friends told them.

The SRC said that the quake was located at latitude 11.01N and Longitude: 62.06W

security cameras.

Shearer and Dobson, accompanied by their legal representative, expressed frustration with local authorities.

They claimed that the authorities failed to conduct proper sexual assault examinations and treated them as suspects rather than victims when they reported the assaults. Toxicology tests revealed the presence of benzodiazepines and other

drugs in their systems.

Shearer and Dobson previously shared photos of cuts and bruises on their legs.

The women are also upset because they say they were never warned there was a travel advisory for the Bahamas from the U.S. State Department due to increased violence and assaults.

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CARIBHEALTH

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 20, 2024

CARPHA : Take Action to Avoid the Harmful Effects of Saharan Dust The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is urging persons to protect themselves against adverse health effects of a Saharan dust plume, which has covered many parts of the Caribbean.

The Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) in a Dust Bulletin dated February 9th, 2024 stated, “it is highly likely that particulate matter levels will be above the 24-hour outdoor air quality guidelines” as established by the World Health Organization (WHO).Dr Joy St John, Executive Director, CARPHA, explained “Saharan dust worsens air quality and increases the levels of particulate matter in the air.

This can be hazardous, especially to small children, older adults and people with underlying lung conditions and chronic cardiopulmonary diseases”. Dr St John

added, “Saharan dust can also worsen the health symptoms of those who suffer from asthma, allergies and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)”.In light of the poor air quality levels, CARPHA is encouraging persons to take steps to avoid the harmful effects of Saharan dust. These include: Stay indoors as much as possible and when outdoors, wear a dust mask (eg. KN95) Utilise a HEPA filter indoors to purify air in individual rooms Persons who use medications for pulmonary conditions should carry them at all times and use as prescribed At the first sign of difficulty while breathing, seek professional medical advice immediately For less severe symptoms, standard allergy medications such as antihistamines and

steroid nasal sprays may alleviate symptoms.

Putting Survivors at the Forefront of the Global Movement to End Female Genital Mutilation

On the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, we reaffirm our dedication to the girls and women who have been subjected to this grave violation of human rights. Every survivor’s voice is a call to action, and every choice they make in reclaiming their lives contributes to the global movement to end this harmful practice.

More than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation. This year, nearly 4.4 million girls will be at risk of it. This equates to more than 12 000 cases every day.

In keeping with the commitments outlined in the Beijing Declaration and platform for action, those agreed during the 25th Anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD25), Generation Equality, and other normative frameworks including The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and their general recommendations, as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (target 5.3), we reiterate our commitment to prevent and respond to female genital mutilation.

Female genital mutilation is a violation of women’s and girls’ rights, one that endangers their physical and mental health and limits their potential to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. It increases their risk of serious pain, bleeding and infections and the likelihood of other health complications later in life, including risks during childbirth, which can imperil the lives of their newborns.

That is why, in our pursuit of a world free of discrimination and practices that harm girls and women, it is imperative that we turn our attention to the voices that matter most – the voices of survivors.

We must amplify the voices of survivors to raise awareness and inspire collective action, and promote their power and autonomy by ensuring they have an active role in prevention

and response interventions.

Survivors have first-hand knowledge of the challenges and the tools needed to eliminate the practice. It is crucial that we invest in survivor-led movements, especially at the grassroots level, by dedicating resources that will advance their efforts.

We also must ensure that comprehensive and culturally sensitive services are available and accessible. This includes strengthening the provision of health care and social and legal services to support survivors.

UNFPA and UNICEF, as the lead agencies of the Global Joint Progamme on Eliminating FGM, OHCHR, UN Women, WHO, and other United Nations entities remain steadfast in partnering with survivors as community champions and leaders, while ensuring their voices and perspectives inform programmes to prevent and respond to FGM. Indeed, investing in movement-building and promoting girls’ and women’s agency is at the core of the UN Joint Programme on Eliminating FGM. We celebrate progress that has been achieved: The practice of FGM has been declining over the last three decades, and in the 31 countries with nationally representative prevalence data, around 1 in 3 girls aged 15 to 19 today have undergone the practice versus 1 in 2 in the 1990s.

As of last year, the Joint Programme supported more than 11 000 organizations, of which 83 per cent were grassroots organizations partnering with coalitions and survivor-led movements, advocating for changes in policies and laws, and championing changes to social and gender norms.

Yet there is an urgent need for even more targeted, coordinated and sustained efforts if we are to achieve our common goal of ending female genital mutilation by 2030. Together, led by survivors, we can consign this harmful practice to history, once and for all.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 20, 2024

CARIBA&E

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T&T - Phylicia Rashad on Visit to Country

American actress Phylicia Rashad, best recognized for playing Clair Huxtable on The Cosby Show, is now on holiday in Trinidad.

On February 7, Rashad took a quick cultural vacation arranged by Tourism Trinidad to Chaguaramas, where she saw the Bamboo Cathedral, the golf course, and U-Pick Farm.

On February 6, she went to a Phase II Pan Groove pan yard and had her first taste of the local corn soup. she visited the Caroni Bird Sanctuary and was serenaded to calypso and got a taste of calypso and ole mas by students of St. Francois Girls College and Queens Royal College.

Rashad says her visit to Trinidad has opened her eyes.

After a conversation with Soca King Machel Montano about the origins of Carnival and what he is currently

taking time out to study, the actress vowed to take a piece of this country with her just before her departure from this country on Saturday. She said in an interview that although Carnival is celebratory in Trinidad, it was “a form of resistance from the very beginning, where people owned themselves and claimed themselves and made fun of that”.

She continued by saying, “There’s something inside Trinidadian people. Life is a celebration.” She said it can be seen in how we prepare for mas.

Simone Frederick, wife of former Howard University President, Dr. Wayne Frederick, where Rashad serves as Dean of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts, traveled with Rashad.

Rita Marley – The ‘One Queen’ says Her Children

Ziggy Marley accorded his mother Rita the titles “Bob’s ride or die wife” and “an African Monarch”, calling her the “Real Queen,” in what some of their supporters have referred to as a “clap back” against former Miss World 1976, Cindy Breakspeare.

Ziggy sister, Cedella Marley also praised her mother by calling her “the one and only” in a remark on Rita’s Instagram page. The former Reggae Girlz Global Ambassador added, “Many were called but you were chosen. Go deh Mrs. Marley.”

The story started when Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley’s mother, Cindy Breakspeare, posted a birthday message to the late reggae hero.

Shakespeare’s insight on their romance while the Marley matriarch was still alive was a point of contention for the memorial. Others chastised Rita for continuing the marriage and providing backing vocals for the songs Bob composed for the 1976 Miss World pageant, such as “Waiting in Vain” and “Turn Your Lights Down Low.” Despite his hectic schedule promoting Bob Marley: One Love, the biopic, all around the world, Ziggy Marley had time to publish a regal account of his mother’s choices on Instagram.

“When a woman tek a bullet in her head because she loves and stands with you, and still show up days after to stand by your side again with no concern about her own safety, it does something to a man,” the Grammy-winning vocalist penned. “It tells a man something he will never forget and forever cherish. A woman like that is impossible to find, one in a billion.”

He continued his homage in the comments after characterizing his mother as a “ride or die” in a hashtag.

“I admire @officialritamarley strength, courage and dignity,” he noted. “She is truly from a lineage of African Queens and it’s not just because

she is my mother. I have truly seen and every one who knows her how royal she is. I’ve got stories from my childhood of her standing up under threat that, to this day, is etched in my memory. This woman is no ordinary woman.”

Also commenting was his sister Sharon Marley: “No woman can walk in my mother’s shoes.

She is the real QUEEN 👑. Thats just facts. No hard feelings.” slideshows featuring her, Marley, and their son, along with information on the many locations where they made memories.

“Bob, on what would have been your 79th Birthday, I celebrate the incredible impact you’ve had globally, cherish our amazing son Damian, and reminisce about the beautiful times we shared,” Breakspeare wrote. “From 56 Hope Road to your mother’s home in Delaware and Miami, New York, Oakley Street in London, The Bahamas, Trinidad and beyond. The memories are countless, but our love for you is endless. Happy Birthday to the people’s hero, loved and revered by all.”

Rita and Bob were struggling ambitious musicians when they first met. They married in 1966 after quickly falling in love for a reason other than music.

The Voice said that the singer, born in Cuba, claimed that before becoming famous, her spouse “never really checked for girls.”

“He was shy and he was very…I would say snobbish…so I was very surprised when he started having all these women, because that really wasn’t him – that was not his lifestyle…” she noted.

“In fact, it was a very long time before I was able to even touch his hair. That’s how serious he was, not against women, but he was just so focused on making something of his career. So back then, there was no notion of him being about girls, girls, girls. That only came after fame, popularity, and stardom.”

In addition to becoming the mother of one of their adopted children, Rita inspired him to use her gift in his backing group, the I-Threes, to make a good difference in the world. Sadly, Rita’s devotion to Bob also led to her being a victim of gun violence in 1976 when she was shot in the head during an unsuccessful attempt to kill Bob. Fortunately, the bullet was successfully extracted during the procedure.

“He didn’t want to see any other man look at me; he was very jealous… That gave me an assurance that he really did deeply, dearly love me, and he still does because his spirit remains with me… I find it amusing sometimes the way

the other women threw themselves at him…

Deep down in his heart, he maybe only had one love. The other things were like a fling, or a period of time that created that sense of fantasy that comes with show business.”

Though she said in a 2014 Bob Marley lecture that she didn’t realize he was still married until she gave birth to their son Damian “Jr Gong,” his “fling” with Breakspeare began a year before she was crowned. The women stood by him during his battle with cancer, which he finally

lost in 1981. After Bob’s death, Rita enhanced his legacy even more by growing his $250,000 state into a multimillion-dollar enterprise that brings in at least $20 million annually, as reported by Forbes. Bob’s brand grew to include a museum, recording studio, vinyl and CD pressing factory, record stores, book division, and a variety of family-friendly merchandise and items including coffee, headphones, and CBD products under her direction and that of her right-hand daughter Cedella.

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 20, 2024

NYPD Deputy Commissioner – Jamaica is Safe to Visit Tarik Sheppard, a Deputy Commissioner in the New York Police Department, has refuted the US State Department’s most recent travel warning, stating that visiting Jamaica is quite safe for visitors from the US. Perception is crucial, according to Deputy Commissioner Sheppard of the NYPD Public Information Department, and the travel advice conveys the idea that it is risky for visitors to travel to Jamaica.

“Come to Jamaica for your visit. It is very safe here,” he stated.

Deputy Commissioner Sheppard, accompanied by Jamaica’s Police Commissioner Major Anthony Anderson, spoke to the press during a Zoom meeting. Sheppard is leading a delegation from the New York Police Department to Jamaica for discussions with the Police High Command.

The level three travel alert, according to Deputy Commissioner Sheppard, may discourage tourists from visiting the island.

Sheppard added that there is no need to be afraid of traveling to Jamaica for a vacation, and that message is direct-

ed towards Americans as well as other tourists, including Jamaicans living in New York.

“Everything that I have seen and from my discussions with the Jamaican Police High Command, it is very safe to visit Jamaica,” he stated.

The country’s poor health care system, high rate of violent crime, and frequency of sexual assaults of tourists are all depicted in the level three travel alert, which advises US travelers to rethink visiting Jamaica. Additionally, it indicated which areas of the island were off-limits to tourists.

Sheppard claims that the advice is equivalent to telling people not to go to Times Square because there was a killing in East New York.

Given the downward trend in crime in Jamaica, Police Commissioner Anderson stated that the travel alert was unexpected.

“It came out of left field,” he remarked.

Since it was released, the government, tourism, and authorities of Jamaica have been resisting the travel recommendation.

St. Vincent and The Grenadines – Spring Break Destination for 2024

For 2024, St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) is already one of the most sought-after spring break locations.

SVG’s debut in this market coincides with the US government’s call for its residents to think twice before traveling to the Bahamas and Jamaica, two popular spring break destinations that the US recently released a travel advisory warning travelers of the increase in violence and the number of deaths in both countries.

According to the U.S. government, St. Vincent has a “level one” travel alert, so visitors need to take the standard precautions they would on any trip.

Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, British Virgin Islands (Tortola,

Anegada, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke), Cayman Islands (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman), (St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas), Curacao, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Sint Maarten, and United States Virgin Islands are some other nations that are deemed safe for travel during spring break.

When the Colgate College spring team started coming to Fort Lauderdale for training in the early 1930s, that is when spring break first appeared. Soon after, swimmers started traveling from around the nation to compete in events held in and near Florida. College students from throughout the nation began to go south in the 1950s to spend their summers close to the seaside.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 20, 2024

CARIBBUSINESS

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Con Edison Provides $5 Million for Largest Residential Electric Vehicle Charging Project in NYC

New York City’s largest residential electric vehicle charging project has found its home at Hilltop Village Cooperative, an apartment complex in Queens, through Con Edison’s PowerReady program.

Exhaust from cars, trucks, and buses represent one of the largest sources of carbon emissions across the country. Through Con Edison’s PowerReady program, and in partnership with DVM Industries, the incentives will support upgrading Hilltop Village Cooperative’s electric infrastructure and make the site suitable for 423 Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations.

Level 2 chargers can charge a battery overnight.

Overall, these upgrades will help make the transition to electric vehicles more affordable for station operators and drivers.

“As more of our customers adopt electric vehicles, Con Edison is thinking more boldly about ways to serve increased demand and strengthen the sustainability of our energy grid,” said Raghu Sudhakara, Vice President of Distributed Resource Integration at Con Edison. “We are proud to support New York City’s

largest residential electric vehicle charging site as we work with our community partners to transition away from fossil fuels and toward a cleaner energy future.”

PowerReady is currently the largest utility EV charging infrastructure program in the country. It will provide up to $585 million of customer incentives with a goal to support the connection of about 25,000 EV charging plugs to the grid through 2025.

“With the rapid expansion of electric vehicles across our city and the nation, I am pleased to see the installation of charging stations for residents at the Hilltop Village Community,” said New York City Council Member Linda Lee. “As a driver of an EV myself, I look forward to seeing more electric vehicles on the road, and even more charging stations, as residents across the city commit to the sustainability of our environment. Thank you to the team at Con Edison for your work to ensure the energy efficiency of our neighborhoods.”

“This exciting and challenging project pieces together multiple trades- electrical, excavation/

sitework, engineering, as well as significant coordination with the building staff spanning across nine buildings,” said James Justice, executive vice president, DVM Industries – an energy solutions company that installs electric vehicle chargers. “DVM, Con Edison, and the Hilltop team worked cohesively from start to finish and we are extremely proud of the result.

Establishing this infrastructure equips Hilltop for today’s needs and they are well positioned for a more energy-efficient future!”

“With EV charging infrastructure, we expect to see higher EV adoption here in the community and we are another step closer to our sustainability goals,” said Jay Strobing, AKAM Management Property Manager for Hilltop Village Co-Op. “Thank you to DVM for doing such a great job and Con Edison for their support throughout the process!”

“We thank the collaboration of DVM and Con Edison for successfully retrofitting our buildings with electric vehicle charging stations,” said Sandra D. Aikens, president of Hilltop Village Co-Op #One, Inc. “With this project’s

completion Hilltop Village has met a milestone towards its goal to reduce carbon emissions. Our charging stations provide shareholders with convenience and safety as they transition from gas to electric vehicles. Hilltop Village is proud to enhance our community’s participation in the advancement towards a sustainable future for all.”

Enterprise Mobility Fuels Global Growth, Entering New Markets in Latin America and the Caribbean

ST. LOUIS, Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Enterprise Mobility is expanding its growing footprint in Latin America and the Caribbean to provide more vehicle rental and mobility options for both business and leisure travelers across the region.

Today, Enterprise Rent-A-Car branches open for the first time ever in Chile – and National Car Rental and Alamo branches are open once again since exiting during the pandemic – through franchise partner Mediterraneo Automotores S.A., part of Circulo Autos.

Circulo Autos is a family-owned holding company with more than 30 years of experience in the mobility industry including a car dealership group that operates 18 locations across four cities in Chile.

Enterprise, National and Alamo brands will be available in five locations including two in the capital city Santiago as well as Talca, Linares and Antofagasta. Franchise expansion plans include introducing service to additional airports in Chile along with adding branches in other major city centers.

“Circulo’s robust infrastructure – dealerships, body shops, maintenance centers and more – provide an excellent foundation for future growth and expansion,” said Paulo Rodriguez, AVP of Global Franchising – Latin America and the Caribbean at Enterprise Mobility. “Expansion into Chile is an important part of our global growth plan, which is designed to ensure our customers

have greater access to the brands they know and love, no matter where they travel.”

The opening in Chile is just one of numerous recent franchise openings across the region with Enterprise, National and Alamo branches being introduced for the first time ever in the U.S. Virgin Islands last month.

Following the opening of its first location at the Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas, the largest international airport in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the business plans to open more franchise branches and provide service on the other two main islands of St. Croix and St. John.

The Cayman Islands also welcomed the Enterprise Rent-A-Car brand last month, with a new branch that services the Owen Roberts International Airport in Grand Cayman being established to complement the National and Alamo branches that were already in operation. Future plans in the region include a new tri-branded airport location featuring Enterprise, National and Alamo that will service the island of Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands.

Enterprise Mobility, through its franchisees, now operates in more than 30 countries and territories in Latin America and the Caribbean, covering the vast majority of countries in the region. Established in 1957, the business has a global presence with a network of more than 9,500 neighborhood and airport rental locations in more than 90 countries and territories and 90,000-plus global team members.

“All of our partners provide the world-class customer service and operational excellence that our customers have grown to know and love,” said Rodriguez. “We’re thrilled to deliver more unforgettable customer experiences for business and leisure travelers across the region.”

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Jamaica – Shelley-Ann to Retire After Paris Olympics In an interview that was released on the 8th of February 2024, Jamaican sprint phenomena Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and ten-time world champion, said that she will retire following the Olympics in Paris this year.

Fraser-Pryce who gained ambassadorship for many brands and organizations such as Adidas, Richar Mille, Grace, UNICEF, etc., stated in an interview with Essence magazine that she is pressuring herself to retire at age 37 to spend more time with her family.

“My son needs me,” Fraser-Pryce shared. “My husband and I have been together since before I won in 2008. He has sacrificed for me. We’re a partnership, a team.”

“It’s because of that support that I’m able to do the things that I’ve been doing for all these years. And I think I now owe it to them to do something else.”

Fraser-Pryce stated that she is preparing hard

for her final opportunity to win an Olympic medal in France and that she wants to “show people that you quit when you decide” in addition to “pushing boundaries.”

“I want to finish on my own terms.”

Fraser-Pryce has eight Olympic medals, including gold in the 100 meters in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012, as well as an Olympic victory in the 4×100-meter relay for Jamaica in Tokyo.

She also won silver in the 100 and 200 meters in London, as well as a bronze in the 100 meters in Rio in 2016.

She won gold in the 4×100 relay in 2009, 2013, 2015, 2022, and a 200-meter world championship in 2013. She also won championships in the 100-meter world in 2009, 2013, 2015, and 2022.

“There’s not a day I’m getting up to go practice and I’m like, ‘I’m over this,’” Fraser-Pryce remarked.

Official Rosters Confirmed for 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup advance to the Quarterfinals.

In the competition’s official draw, the Group Stage’s 12 teams were divided into three groups of four as follows: Group A: United States, Mexico, Argentina, and Prelims Winner 3 Group B: Brazil, Panama, Colombia, and Prelims Winner 1 Group C: Canada, Costa Rica, Paraguay, and Prelims Winner 2 The Knockout Stage will commence with the Quarterfinals at BMO Stadium on March 2 and 3, followed by the Semifinals

Miami, FL – The 15 national teams participating in the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup have submitted their Official 23-player rosters ahead of the start of the competition on February 17.

The inaugural edition of the region’s new flagship competition for women’s national teams will be played between February 17 – March 10, 2024, across four venues in three US metropolitan areas and includes the participation of Concacaf ’s and CONMEBOL’s best women’s national teams and some of the world’s top players.

To download the official 23-player rosters, click here.

Tickets for all matches, including the Final at Snapdragon Stadium on March 10, are still available at Concacaf.com/WGoldCup/tickets.

The rosters have been selected and submitted by each national team and are published as such. To be eligible to play in the 2024 W Gold Cup, all players are subject to and must fully comply with the criteria stipulated in the applicable FIFA player eligibility regulations.

Changes to the official rosters will be allowed in case of serious injury or

approved medical reasons up until 24 hours before each team’s first Preliminary Round (Prelims) and Group Stage match.

All changes must be approved by Concacaf, and the replacement player must also come from the announced provisional lists.

The 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup will begin with a Prelims at Dignity Health Sports Park Track and Field Stadium on February 17. After single-match elimination play, the winning team in each match will advance to the Group Stage. The three pairings for the Prelims are as follows (highest-ranked teams versus the lowest-ranked teams): P1: Haiti (1) vs Puerto Rico (6) P2: El Salvador (2) vs Guatemala (5) P3: Guyana (3) vs Dominican Republic (4) A 12-team Group Stage will be played between February 20 and 28 at Dignity Health Sports Park (Group A), Snapdragon Stadium (Group B), and Shell Energy Stadium (Group C). After round-robin play, the group winners, runners-up, and the two best third-place finishers will

and Final at Snapdragon Stadium on March 6 and 10, respectively.

Fans will be able to follow and enjoy the competition through the Confederation’s TV partner networks, including CBS | Paramount+ (USA-English), ESPN (Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, and South America), and the Concacaf Official Platforms for all other territories (subject to territory restrictions).

To download the 2024 W Gold Cup Match Schedule match schedule, click here, or visit Concacaf.com/WGoldCup.