February 21, 2024

VOL. XLIII NO. 2155 WEEK OF FEBRUARY 21 - 27, 2024

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NEW YORK STATE

HAITI

WIDOW OF ASSASSINATED PRESIDENT

Indicted in the case along with former Prime Minister and Police Chief

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JAMAICA

DIASPORA URGED IN HELPING GUN TRAFFICKING

By Police Deputy Commissioner wants dialogue to halt the importation of firearms

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TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

RESOLUTION NEEDED FOR REGIONAL ENERGY SECURITY Says PM Rowley - opportunity to combine knowledge and expertise

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HAZEL DUKES

FELLOWSHIP

WASHIGNTON DC

REP. CLARKE OPPOSES ISRAELONLY SUPPLEMENT Supports working with President in finding solutions for lasting peace

Page 3 WOMEN OF POWER & INFLUENCE

ISIAA MADDEN BUILDING SKYSCRAPERS AND CREATING COMMUNITY

ESTABLISHED BY GOVERNOR HOCHUL TO FOSTER EMERGING LEADERS

CONGRESSWOMAN YVETTE CLARKE

In harmony - iconic architect changing the game

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A&E

YALE APOLOGIZES FOR SLAVERY In its historical legacy

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

BOB MARLEY RESOLUTION

IN US CONGRESS TO RECOGNIZE THE ARTIST’S LEGACY

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CaribNews EDITORIAL Vice President Harris’s Fight for Reproductive Freedom

by Ben Jealous - P 9

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 27, 2024

AFRICA UN agencies sound alarm over renewed clashes in eastern DR Congo

Amid reports of a renewed escalation of hostilities in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the UN peacekeeping mission in the country has called on the M23 rebels EDITORIAL to cease its offensive, the UN Spokesperson said on Monday.

WAKANDA FOREVER! How New The UN Mission, MONUSCO, also called on the group to York State is Creating Living History respect the Luanda roadmap, an agreement signed in 2022 by

by State Senator Kevin Parker Angola, DRC and Rwanda that strives for peace in the conflict-affected eastern part of the country.

MONUSCO is carrying out a three-phase process of withHEALTH drawal from the country following a UN Security Council resolution adopted in December that would see the gradual Children’s Lives Threatened by Rising Malnutrition in the Gaza Strip handover of responsibility to the Congolese Government Dust - P 16 later this year.

Indiscriminate bombing Recent fighting between Government forces and the M23 SPORTS group alongside indiscriminate bombing has recently Russell-Rutherford Record Stand strained already limited resources to accommodate 800,000 Hands West Indies Consolation internally displaced people in the region, and 2.5 million Win - P 20 others displaced across North Kivu province.

At the same time, the impact of devastating flooding continues to affect the country, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, reported last week.

Some 100,000 houses, 1,325 schools, 267 health facilities and large swathes of agricultural land have been damaged or destroyed, leaving an estimated two million people – nearly 60 per cent of them children – in need of assistance.

UN committed to help Somalia deliver ‘for its people’

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Somalia remains resilient and strongly committed to state-building but more is needed to sustain the gains made in the fight against terrorist insurgency, the UN Special Representative in the country told the Security Council on Monday.

Catriona Laing, who also heads the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), briefed ambassadors on developments across eight areas, including politics, security, women’s political participation, and humanitarian affairs.

She expressed the UN’s “unwavering support towards the state-building agenda” in Somalia, underscoring that the Council’s support is central to the country’s success.

“Through our collective support, Somalia is demonstrating that a country can emerge from prolonged conflict to one that delivers for its people and acts as a force for good in the region,” she said.

Solid progress UNSOM works with the Federal Government of Somalia and federal member states to support national reconciliation and provide strategic and policy advice on issues such as peacebuilding and state-building, among other mandated tasks.

An African Union (AU) force in the country, ATMIS, is in the process of drawing down. Somalia has requested a smaller AU mission, focused on protection, as well as UN logistics support to strengthen national systems and capacity.

WORLD BRIEFS UN rights office regrets Venezuela’s decision to suspend operations The UN human rights office (OHCHR) is evaluating its next steps while continuing to engage with Venezuelan authorities following the Government’s announcement on Thursday that the office must suspend operations in the country and its staff leave within 72 hours.

Ravina Shamdasani, the spokesperson for OHCHR, said in a statement that the Office regretted the announcement and that it continues to engage with the authorities and other stakeholders.

“Our guiding principle has been and remains the promotion and protection of the human rights of the people of Venezuela,” she added.

Earlier this week, OHCHR said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that it was following up on the detention of human rights defender Rocío San Miguel “with deep concern.”

“Her whereabouts remain unknown, potentially qualifying her detention as an enforced disappearance,” it said, calling for her immediate release and for her right to legal defence to be respected.

Hours before the Venezuelan Government’s announcement, the office said on X: “Following statements by the authorities, we note that Rocio San Miguel’s place of detention – thus her whereabouts – has been confirmed” and that four of her relatives had been conditionally released.

It also called for due process guarantees, including respect for the right to defence representation.

Security Council to vote on ceasefire in Gaza The Security Council is due to meet at 10:00 AM in New York to vote on a resolution on Gaza calling for “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire that must be respected by all parties”. Following all our live coverage here of another day of high stakes diplomacy.

09:30 AM: Tabled by Algeria, the draft resolution would also have the Council reiterate its demand that all parties scrupulously comply with their obligations under international law regarding the protection of civilians.

Threat of veto looms The Council needs at least nine votes to be able to adopt the draft resolution.

Media reports indicate that the United States may veto it, as it has publicly said it would referring to earlier drafts during this weeks-long negotiating process.

The term “ceasefire” has been contentious, with the US having vetoed a previous draft resolution late last year tabled by the United Arab Emirates.

If this happens again today, the General Assembly would again organize an emergency special session through a mechanism set up to examine the use of veto, which is a privilege of the Council’s five permanent members – China, France, Russia, United Kingdom and the United States.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 27, 2024

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Governor Hochul Establishes the Dr. Hazel Dukes Fellowship

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the State University of New York Black Leadership Institute will establish the Dr. Hazel Dukes Fellowship, naming one exceptional individual from each cohort in honor of Dr. Hazel Dukes, President of the NAACP New York State Conference and former member of the SUNY Board of Trustees. Governor Hochul also announced that the next SUNY portrait competition will be held in honor of Dr. Hazel Dukes, and the winning portrait will be displayed in the H. Carl McCall SUNY building in Albany in honor of her service. Governor Hochul made this announcement during her remarks to the 53rd annual conference of the New York State Association of Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislators (NYSABPRHAL) in Albany.

“For her entire career, Dr. Hazel Dukes has been an unrelenting force in the fight for civil rights and equality in New York State,” Governor Hochul said. “Through this fellowship and portrait, we are honoring the legacy

of Dr. Dukes and ensuring her critical work is enshrined for generations to come.”

“Dr. Hazel Dukes has been a tireless champion in the fight for civil and racial justice,” said Lieutenant Governor Delgado. “She has moved mountains in order to further equality and equity in this state. Her achievements will inspire New Yorkers and our SUNY students for generations to come.”

New York State Commission on African American History Vice-Chair and SUNY Trustee Dr. Hazel Dukes said, “I had the privilege of serving on the SUNY Board of Trustees for six years, and I know the commitment of the institution to fostering our leaders of tomorrow. Equally, I know that education can deliver you out of poverty and bring you into another sphere of respect and it changes lives. I’m thrilled to receive this honor to help educate, train and cultivate exceptional students at SUNY, and I thank Governor Hochul for her continued commitment to the next generation of New Yorkers.”

The inaugural Black Leadership Institute (BLI) cohort will begin their program in March 2024. Starting this year, the BLI will honor one exceptional student every cycle as a Dr. Hazel Dukes Fellow who embodies the values, accomplishments, passion, clear thinking, and dedication to the cause of diversity, equity and justice that have defined Dr. Dukes’ career and life. The steering committee will announce their selection at graduation.

The SUNY Black Leadership Institute was established as a part of Governor Hochul’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget to identify, foster, and support the development and retention of current and emerging leaders for an increas-

ingly diverse university system and nation.

Additionally, SUNY will hold its next portrait competition for students and alumni in honor of Dr. Dukes, and the winning portrait will be displayed in the H. Carl McCall SUNY building in Albany. SUNY will launch the competition this fall.

Dr. Hazel Dukes currently serves as President of the NAACP New York State Conference and as a member of the NAACP National Board of Directors, a member of the NAACP Executive Committee, and as an active member of various NAACP board sub-committees. Through her service, advocacy, and mentorship, Dr. Dukes has dedicated her life to fighting for equality and improving the quality of life for New Yorkers.

SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. said, “At SUNY, we believe in the power of representation and the crucial role of diverse leadership in shaping an educational system that truly reflects and serves the needs of all its members. Dr. Hazel Dukes is part of the remarkable lineage of African American leaders who have fought to uplift African Americans, and all Americans. Her work began with fighting housing discrimination in Nassau County six decades ago, continued with her efforts under President Lyndon Johnson to establish and grow Head Start, and is perhaps most notable for her leadership of the NAACP. Honoring a BLI fellow with this award extends this great tradition of leadership and service.”

State Senator Lea Webb said, “It’s important that we foster the development of current and future leaders of higher education in New York.

I’m proud to have sponsored the legislation, along with Assemblymember Jean-Pierre,

that establishes the SUNY Black Leadership Institute. This visionary program will cultivate and support leaders within our state colleges.

I thank Governor Hochul for her leadership and commitment to this initiative. I congratulate Dr. Hazel Dukes for having the institute’s prestigious fellowship and portrait competition named in her honor. Dr. Dukes is a trailblazer for civil rights and a mentor whose legacy will continue to inspire participants of the Black Leadership Institute.”

Assemblymember, Deputy Majority Leader and Chair of the New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus Michaelle Solages said, “On behalf of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus, I commend Governor Hochul for recognizing Dr. Hazel Dukes’ unwavering dedication to equality in New York State. The fellowship and portrait, honoring her legacy, ensure that her transformative contributions will continue to inspire future generations. It is imperative that we honor our civil rights heroes in the present, ensuring their invaluable work is not only celebrated but also preserved for posterity.”

Assemblymember Kimberly Jean-Pierre said, “I was proud to push for the creation of a Black Leadership Institute to support professional growth and leadership development for people of color within the SUNY system. Dr. Hazel N. Dukes is a dynamic leader who has been a tireless advocate for equity and justice in New York State and across the country. It is very fitting to name a fellowship in her honor and my expectation is that fellows who follow in Dr. Dukes footsteps will continue the fight to improve diversity.”

Rep. Yvette Clarke Opposes Israel-Only Supplement Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) issued the following statement on her opposition to Speaker Johnson’s Israel-only supplemental vote: “I stand with President Biden and House Democratic Leadership in the belief that America’s national security interests, and those of our close allies, should never be subject to partisan political games. We must put aside these petty differences and reassert ourselves on the world stage as a nation that does not hesitate to fight against evil and protect those seeking freedom, independence, and self-determination. That’s why I voted in opposition to H.R. 7217. I hope that Speaker Johnson will finally come to his senses and work with Democrats to find common sense, comprehensive, and bipartisan solutions to our national security priorities.

“Instead of serving the interests of our national security, this legislation stands as a cynical ploy that will only worsen the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and benefit terror groups like Hamas, who look to capitalize off of the unfolding chaos. We cannot justifiably ignore the plight of the Palestinian people caught in the middle of a warzone, many of whom are women and children. Furthermore, this legislation would only serve as a direct signal to Vladimir Putin that Ukraine would be left to fend for itself,

potentially emboldening his forces in his war of aggression against Ukraine while undermining the strength of our nation’s reach across the globe.

“At times, many conflicts around the world can seem far away and unrelated to our nation’s future and national security. But we cannot ignore the ills of the world, for these injustices will continue to grow until they spill over onto our shores. Many communities across the country, including those I serve in Brooklyn, represent the unique, diverse American mosaic that makes our nation great.

As a senior Member of the House Homeland Security Committee, I am well aware of the reverberating effect international conflict and terror can have on our communities here at home, particularly with the spread of violent extremist ideologies online and their ability to motivate supporters to conduct attacks in the Homeland.

“It is time for this Congress to work with the Biden Administration, use our collective power and influence to hasten an end to the era of violent terrorist extremism in the Middle East, and work in earnest to realize a two-state solution and lasting peace.”

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 27, 2024

Jamaica - Call on Diaspora to Assist in Gun Trafficking

With the discovery of another significant arms shipment to that country on February 23, 2024, Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey is pleading with interested parties to engage in meaningful dialogue with the Jamaican community residing in the US to assist in halting the importation of firearms into the island.

“Oftentimes we hear about the problem of violence, especially gun violence and murder in Jamaica, and I want to appeal to the Jamaican citizens, who actually are creating the significant problem that we have in Jamaica. They are the ones who are sending the firearms and I am appealing to the diaspora to sort of engage the citizens and encourage them to desist from this type of destructive activity,” Bailey shared.

During an operation at Kingston Wharves, some 64 firearms, approximately 1,000 live

rounds, and 107 magazines were taken into custody.

Bailey stated that the operation started at 8 a.m. and was still going strong as of last night’s press time.

According to reports, two people have been detained thus far in connection with the discovery.

One of the people being detained, a man, reportedly sprang up when he was cornered despite being confined to a wheelchair.

This month’s discovery on the 23rd is the second significant seizure at a Jamaican port in a matter of days.

A large stockpile of guns was confiscated at the Freeport Warehouse in Montego Bay, St. James, on February 9 as a result of another huge operation conducted by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Jamaica

Customs Agency.

In all, 14 guns and 15 magazines were found stashed amid home goods, according to the police.

Customs officials used cutting-edge nonintrusive inspection equipment to find irregularities in the consignment from Florida, USA, during standard scanning processes.

The Contraband Enforcement Team conducted a comprehensive investigation after receiving a suspected consignment, which was a blue plastic barrel addressed to a recipient in Bogue Village, Montego Bay, according to the JCF. Regarding the inquiry, a guy going by the aliases “CJ,” “Fugitive,” and “Shippy” was designated as a person of interest.

Haiti - Wife of Jovenel Moïse Among Three Indicted in Assassination Case

A judge leading the investigation into the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse issued a comprehensive report today, implicating several key figures including his widow, Martine Moïse, former Prime Minister Claude Joseph, and former chief of Haiti’s National Police, Léon Charles, among others.

Charles, who currently serves as Haiti’s permanent representative to the Organization of the American States, faces serious charges including murder, attempted murder, possession and illegal carrying of weapons, conspiracy against the internal security of the state, and criminal association. Meanwhile, Martine Moïse and Joseph are accused of complicity and criminal association.

Efforts to obtain immediate comments from Charles were unsuccessful.

Similarly, there was no response from Joseph or Martine Moïse’s attorney.

Others implicated in the report, charged with offenses including murder, are Christian Emmanuel Sanon, a Haitian-

American pastor who aspired to become Haiti’s next president, Joseph Vincent, a Haitian-American and former informant for the US Drug Enforcement Administration, Dimitri Hérard, presidential security chief, John Joël Joseph, a former Haitian senator, and Windelle Coq, a Haitian senator considered a fugitive. Sanon, Vincent, and Joseph were extradited to the United States, where they face federal charges related to the assassination.

Furthermore, more than 40 suspects are currently in custody in Haiti awaiting trial.

However, it remains unclear when the trials will commence following the release of the judge’s findings.

The indictments revealed in the report are expected to deepen the instability in Haiti, already grappling with a surge in gang violence and recent violent protests demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

The report, spanning 122 pages, sheds light on the intricate involvement and roles played by various individuals in the conspiracy to assassinate President Jovenel Moïse.

The attack, which commenced late on July 6 and continued into July 7, witnessed heavy gunfire before armed men stormed the presidential couple’s bedroom. Martine Moïse recounted hearing the attackers yelling and described their actions, including making a video call to identify their target. She also described discovering her husband’s lifeless body, noting the gruesome extent of his injuries.

Additionally, testimonies from police officers revealed the inadequacy of security measures at the presidential residence on the night of the assassination, with reports of disarmed officers and handcuffing of some personnel.

The judge’s report underscores the gravity

of the situation, highlighting the ease with

which the president was assassinated

despite the presence of security personnel.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 27, 2024

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Brazil – President Lula Accuses Israel of Genocide Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the president of Brazil, charged that Israel was committing “genocide” against innocent Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and likened its actions to Adolf Hitler’s attempt to kill the Jewish people.

“What’s happening in the Gaza Strip isn’t a war, it’s a genocide,” While in Addis Ababa for an African Union conference, Lula informed reporters.

“It’s not a war of soldiers against soldiers.

It’s a war between a highly prepared army and women and children,” the PM added.

“What’s happening in the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian people hasn’t happened at any other moment in history. Actually, it has happened: when Hitler decided to kill the Jews.”

These were perhaps of Lula’s most forceful remarks on the war to date. Lula is a well-

known representative of the global south, and his nation now holds the G20 rotating chair.

The 78-year-old leader denounced as a “terrorist” conduct on the same day that Hamas launched its offensive on Israel on October 7.

Nevertheless, he has recently intensified his criticism of Israel’s military campaign of retaliation.

An AFP count of Israeli government numbers indicates that 1,160 persons in Israel lost their lives because of Hamas’s strike, the majority of them were civilians.

According to Israeli data, militants also seized roughly 250 individuals captive; 130 of them are still in Gaza, including 30 who are thought to be dead.

The health ministry of the Hamas-run territory reports that at least 28,858

individuals have died as a result of Israel’s retaliatory attack on Gaza, the majority of them being women and children.

Lula attacked Western nations for their recent plans to stop funding UNRWA, the UN organization for Palestinian refugees, following accusations by Israel that some of its staff members were involved in the October 7 attack.

During their recent meeting on the fringes of the summit, Lula, the prime minister of Brazil, said that Brazil will be increasing its contribution to the agency and encouraged other nations to follow suit.

“When I see the rich world announce that it’s halting its contributions to humanitarian aid for the Palestinians, I just imagine how big these people’s political awareness is and how big the spirit of solidarity in their hearts is,” Lula said.

“We need to stop being small when we need to be big.”

He once again called for Palestine and Israel to have two states to resolve the problem, “definitively recognized as a full and sovereign state.”

Haiti – UN Reports Gangs Blocking Aid Routes for the Most Vulnerable As violent gang battles exacerbate an already dire humanitarian situation, the World Food Programme (WFP) is unable to provide food to hundreds of thousands of people in Haiti due to a recent uptick in violence in the country’s capital, Port-au-Prince.

Over 370,000 people in the most urgent need of food have not been reached by the UN food agency, which recently stated that the most recent violence, which started in early February and has forced over 10,000 people to evacuate their homes in only 10 days, has stopped them from doing so.

Jean-Martin Bauer, the country director, stated in a statement, “The recent upsurge in violence has blocked cargo routes, restricted movement, and closed schools, forcing WFP to temporarily halt many activities across the country.”

According to the WFP, the organization has been unable to assist in feeding about 300,000 children hot meals because of

school closures, and it is also unable to reach families in the hard-hit Cite Soleil area due to violence.

It said that arrangements to provide food to displaced persons in other parts of the capital through communal kitchens had been difficult.

The organization claimed that in recent weeks, it was unable to get in touch with 56,000 individuals in Cite Soleil, including those who were about to fall back into the WFP’s most severe category of food insecurity, which is characterized by circumstances akin to famine.

Tanya Birkbeck, head of communications for WFP in Haiti, stated, “Interruptions in aid could push them back into what is officially known as ‘catastrophe’ levels of food insecurity.”

According to Birkbeck, the WFP would continue to make efforts to distribute the dry products, which include rice and beans, that

are safely stored in its warehouses.

According to U.N. estimates, 44% of Haitians experience acute food insecurity, and as of January, children made up more than half of the 314,000 people who were forced to leave their homes because of the war.

The deployment of an international force to assist authorities in combating gangs and safeguarding corridors for humanitarian assistance was approved by the U.N. last year.

The United Nations has not disclosed the list of nations contributing voluntarily, nor has a deadline for its deployment been established.

Other humanitarian organizations, such as Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), have been forced to halt clinic operations and close hospitals due to the violence, while the World Food Program had to reduce financing due to underfunded campaigns last year.

US/Haiti – Establish a Joint Criminal Investigation Unit The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency says US Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) International Operations Assistant Director David J Magdycz and Haiti Minister of Justice Emmelie Prophete-Milcé on Wednesday signed a memorandum of cooperation to formally establish the Haiti Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit (TCIU).

The memorandum of cooperation was signed at the HSI headquarters. It provides the framework for TCIU operations and details the responsibilities of both parties.

“The TCIU will facilitate the exchange of

information between law enforcement partners in the United States and Haiti and

will enhance the abilities of Haiti and the United States to investigate and prosecute those involved in transnational criminal activities,” ICE said in a statement.

“TCUIs are a critical component of HSI’s efforts to build partner nation capacity and combat Transnational criminal activity at the source, preventing its entry into the US,” it added.

Magdycz said that establishing the TCIU is “a pivotal moment in our collective efforts to combat transnational crime and ensure the safety and security of both our nations.”

ICE said HSI’s TCIU program currently

partners with 17 countries.

It said TCIUs are multi-discipline units comprising vetted foreign law enforcement, prosecutors, and customs, immigration, and intelligence officials that share information and operational activities.

TCIUs also provide operational support to HSI personnel at foreign posts who do not possess law enforcement authority in their host nations.

“Through this partnership, HSI and TCIUs work together to develop and expand investigations overseas in compliance with host country laws, agreements, treaties, and US mission policies,” ICE said. CMC

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WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 27, 2024

St. Vincent – Court Rejects Challenge to Gay Laws

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is one of the few Caribbean nations that still imposes severe criminal penalties on homosexuals and lesbians after the country’s highest court rejected a challenge to anti-gay legislation that dates back to the British colonial era.

Two homosexual men who had campaigned to decriminalize same-sex relationships, Javin Johnson and Sean Macleish, filed the challenge, claiming their sexual orientation had driven them to flee the socially conservative nation.

Anybody found in a same-sex relationship faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, according to local rules that were reinforced by a 1988 criminal code.

Judge Esco Henry ruled that because Johnson

and Macleish are foreign nationals, they lack the legal standing to contest the legislation. The worry that “an unstemmed deluge of new HIV cases” may overwhelm the healthcare system if the rules were abolished was also acknowledged by her as legitimate.

The two individuals were also ordered by the judge to reimburse the Attorney General’s office, one of the case’s defendants, for over $3,000.

It was unclear at first whether Johnson or Macleish intended to challenge the decision to the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal as Reuters was unable to get in touch with them for comment.

Even while these laws are seldom, if ever, im-

plemented, activists contend that they promote physical violence and discrimination against adults who have consensual same-sex relationships.

Human Rights Watch researcher Cristian Gonzalez denounced the decision in a post on X, calling it a “sad day for human rights.”

Together with Jamaica, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Guyana, and Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is one of the six Caribbean countries that still impose prison sentences on homosexuals and lesbians. The island country has about 110,000 residents.

However, in other Caribbean states, the prohibition on homosexual intercourse was lifted in 2018 in Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, and Barbados.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is one of the few Caribbean nations that still imposes severe criminal penalties on homosexuals and lesbians after the country’s highest court rejected a challenge to anti-gay legislation that dates back to the British colonial era.

Two homosexual men who had campaigned to decriminalize same-sex relationships, Javin Johnson and Sean Macleish, filed the challenge, claiming their sexual orientation had driven them to flee the socially conservative nation.

Anybody found in a same-sex relationship faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, according to local rules that were reinforced by a 1988 criminal code.

Judge Esco Henry ruled that because Johnson

and Macleish are foreign nationals, they lack the legal standing to contest the legislation. The worry that “an unstemmed deluge of new HIV cases” may overwhelm the healthcare system if the rules were abolished was also acknowledged by her as legitimate.

The two individuals were also ordered by the judge to reimburse the Attorney General’s office, one of the case’s defendants, for over $3,000.

It was unclear at first whether Johnson or Macleish intended to challenge the decision to the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal as Reuters was unable to get in touch with them for comment.

Even while these laws are seldom, if ever, implemented, activists contend that they promote physical violence and discrimination against adults who have consensual same-sex relationships.

Human Rights Watch researcher Cristian Gonzalez denounced the decision in a post on X, calling it a “sad day for human rights.”

Together with Jamaica, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Guyana, and Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is one of the six Caribbean countries that still impose prison sentences on homosexuals and lesbians. The island country has about 110,000 residents.

However, in other Caribbean states, the prohibition on homosexual intercourse was lifted in 2018 in Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, and Barbados.

PM Rowley – Collaboration with the Path for Region Energy Security The prime minister stated that the region’s rise to prominence in the energy sector offers a priceless chance to proactively leverage the pooled knowledge and experience to maximize opportunities.

Dr. Rowley stated during his recent speech at the International Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo’s launch in Guyana, “By ensuring our region fully capitalize on its resources, including human and mechanical, we can guarantee the alignment of energy and industrial transformations with a collaborative economic strategy.”

Rowley discussed this nation’s 100-year expertise and experience in the energy sector in front of an audience of policymakers, energy experts, and investors from 21 different countries. He said that other developing oil and gas economies have looked to this nation as a model to build their sectors.

In light of the conference’s theme, “Fueling Transformation and Modernization,” Rowley stated that T&T, the Caribbean’s biggest producer of natural gas and oil, is no stranger to the energy transition, having transitioned from a nation dependent primarily on oil to one that is primarily dependent on natural gas.

The speaker provided instances of how T&T has effectively sustained its standing in a dynamic energy sector by cultivating robust connections with its upstream developers, downstream industry participants, and an energy services sector that is comparable to those of advanced petroleum countries.

But with the mounting pressure on the oil and gas sector from all sides, Rowley stated coop-

eration is necessary for efficient and successful delivery.

About the region’s reliance on oil imports, he alluded to a “hostile global business environment” and suggested that cooperation in the utilization of hydrocarbon resources is the sole means of guaranteeing energy security for the area.

“Collectively, we continue to echo the sentiments of sustained development through the availability of our resources. This availability has been demonstrated by the recent oil and gas findings in Guyana and Suriname.”

He explained, “In order to ensure energy security for the region and combat the negative impacts of climate change, it is imperative that we effectively utilize our resources, whether they be hydrocarbon or renewable, through collaborative efforts.”

Rowley stated that effective utilization of oil and gas resources is necessary to maximize their contribution to sustainable economic growth, pointing out that these resources are squandering assets.

“In the oil and gas sector, collaboration is especially important due to the high cost and long lead times associated with oil and gas advancements.”

He used the example of T&T’s economic growth and capacity to go from being a little country to a major participant in the world via cooperation.

“Only by working together can we attain our objective of fostering productive and resilient economies in what promises to be an increasingly hostile business environment.”

He said the area can ensure the alignment of energy and industrial transformation with a cooperative economic plan by making sure it fully capitalizes on its resources, both human and mechanical.

According to him, the government of a nation that produces oil and gas has included this principle into its current model production sharing contract to ensure the effective management of petroleum operations.

“It is with the recognition that collaboration is an imperative, T&T has stepped up our efforts to formally engage with our regional partners towards development of economic co-operation in the energy sector”.

Dr Rowley stated, “In this regard, the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Suriname and T&T was executed in July 2023. Cross-functional technical teams led by Staatsolie and National Energy have since been established to advance the implementation of the MOU in various key areas such as gas production and export, renewable energy, and capacity building.”

“Notably, we have also actioned our MOU with the government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana through the formation of a high-level bilateral commission between Trinidad and Guyana.”

Rowley stated that establishing economic cooperation in the energy sector has been a top priority. He also mentioned that unitization agreements with the governments of Venezuela, Grenada, and Barbados had been completed, allowing for the exploration of hydrocarbon resources in the shared maritime boundaries

between these nations.

In addition, Rowley discussed a few of the efforts the area has already taken to start the integration process through shared value chains and infrastructure.

“We in the deep southern Caribbean are currently actively engaged in spawning a cargo ferry service which we are confident can grow into a major catalyst for welcomed regional collaboration, development and diversification.”

Regarding the national development strategy 2016–2030 for T&T, “we signaled the Government’s intention to transition towards a more diversified economy, which produces a broad spectrum of export competitive, high-value products and services.”

He referred to the plan created to create a new economy and society, one that is less dependent on oil and gas and more diversified in terms of its sources of income and foreign exchange.

In addition, the government’s aims and efforts were demonstrated by the ultramodern Phoenix Park Industrial Estate, which opened recently.

“These targeted new and increased investments will come from encouraging innovation, entrepreneurship and diversification, inspiring new players in the market to venture into new business and projects such as manufacturing, food processing, insurance, finance and logistics.”

Rowley emphasized that energy is a key component of sustainable economic growth and that changing the energy system to fulfill rising energy demand and reduce global emissions would need unprecedented cooperation amongst all nations and industries.

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Bob Marley Biopic – One Love The Paramount Pictures produced Bob Marley: One Love, came out to an international opening with enthusiasm and a solid welcome by the audience. From Jamaica through UK to LA in the US New York the premier showings have created a strong buzz and a strong box office. Bob Marley is now and once again exposed to a new generation, a new generation to understand his music, his style and his message - that is a good thing.

The Marley family were careful in the portrayal of Bob and one can understand that - it is their legacy, they are the guardian of his spirit and of his message, so we commend the family for this major effort and from all reports, their own involvement from the beginning and commitment to the biopic. It certainly again brings brand Jamaica to the forefront and has brought a historic opening in Jamaica that created this universal attention.

Jamaica has benefited from it and reggae music has also benefited from it in

bringing to light or keeping in the light the very best of that genre. It was clearly a financial success by opening box office numbers it had gone well over 54 million in revenue so far which is pretty close to the 70 million that paramount invested in its production.

The general film critics were not so enthused about it saying it lacks the depth, it lacks a complete portrayal of Bob Marley’s own strength and the general critics felt that the biopic lacked depth and did not fully bring Bob Marley to life even the extent of his own music, his own philosophy and his own bravery and sacrifice, as they would put it, especially organizing a peace and unity council in Jamaica in 1978.

The Rotten Tomatoes, a website for film and television had a current audience approval of about 94% as opposed to the film critics of 44% so the audience liked it, the film critics not so much and the box office is showing some rigorous support.

However we look at it, it was an opportunity for reggae music and Jamaica to be featured in a strong international showcase that certainly brought attention to both the music and the country and to Bob’s life, and so even in death Bob is doing the

work that he loved so much to do in terms of music and country, so we welcome the Bob Marley One Love, and let us look to it as a beginning and a starting point from which we can all learn and grow.

Congratulations to Dr. Hazel N. Dukes

We extend our congratulations to the dynamic leader in New York and around the nation - Hazel N. Dukes, on the occasion of the establishment of the Dr. Hazel Dukes Fellowship, as a part of the New York State University Black Leadership Institute. The Dr. Hazel Dukes Fellowship is to encourage emerging leadership in New York State and around the country.

This is an efficient tribute to a leader who has dedicated her life to the promotion of civil rights, human rights and social justice, but in particular in working with young people to bring them into the fold and to make them be productive in their

personal and professional lives.

This work started way back with President Lyndon Johnson in 1960 and Hazel Dukes was part of the Nassau County Democratic Committee, was on the forefront of establishing a Head Start program back in the 1960s. During Democratic or Republican National Administrations Dr. Dukes was an outspoken advocate for education and civil rights and campaigned relentlessly in those endeavors, so this recognition is very appropriate for the long service that Dr Dukes has given to education and her long history of working with young people in building leadership in the organization

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the NAACP where she has brought young leadership through all levels right through to top leadership. She has advocated up and all levels of the education system the need for the involvement and engagement of young people and young leadership, and she has always had around her a team of young people that she has personally taken charge of to bring them through the system both organizationally, professionally, and personally.

When Governor Hochul speaks of Dr. Dukes as an unrelenting force in the fight for civil rights and equality in New York City, she remarked that through this Fellowship, the legacy of Dr. Dukes will continue in the critical work for generations to come; that is indeed a significant and telling observation and so true and well deserved.

Dr. Hazel Dukes is a woman of great courage, strength, bravery and boldness, and she has through the decades exemplified by her own role in business and in organization, the active and unselfishness devoted to bringing young people and encouraging them to advance in their personal and professional development. We at Carib News are delighted to have worked with Dr. Dukes through the many decades, KARLISA RODNEY VICE PRESIDENT PROMOTIONS/SPECIAL EVENTS CARIB NEWS welcomes letters from readers. Short typed letters stand the best chance of being published. Include your name address and phone number. Names will be withheld at your request.

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and we have seen her work not only in New York State and the United States of America, but the energy and commitment crosses borders and we have seen that same enthusiasm, drive and commitment to young people and to the development of people in general as she has traveled with us through the Caribbean to the many conferences, and has been outspoken and committed to the young people making the necessary steps for advancement, and not just young people, but collaboration between organizations and institutions and government to make sure that this happened. She has been unrelenting, and every occasion that presents itself to make her point or point of view known, and her determination expresses that it is imperative for all of us to work together and in particular, to make sure that the young people are coming along.

This legacy of working and promoting emerging leadership is now fully enshrined in this honor that is being presented to Dr. Hazel Dukes; it could not have been presented to a more deserving person, for her continued and devoted service for so many and for so long.

Congratulations Dr. Dukes!

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

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 27, 2024

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Vice President Harris’s Fight for Reproductive Freedom

by Ben Jealous

It matters deeply that America has a woman as our vice president. That has never been truer than at this moment.

Nothing makes this more clear than Vice President Kamala Harris’s courageous decision to champion reproductive freedom in the midst of a full-on assault on the right to choose.

Right now, Vice President Harris is traveling the country on an extensive Reproductive Freedom Tour.

As noted by the New York Times, “The vice president has been the administration’s most forceful voice for abortion rights in the year and a half since Roe v. Wade fell.”

Even among those of us without a uterus, the impact of the vice president’s courage affects many of us personally in our lives.

It affects me as a girl dad, as a member of this country, and because the person who shaped me most as an organizer is my grandmother, Mamie Todd, who started her career in social change at Planned Parenthood in Baltimore.

Even though abortion was illegal then, the basic mission was the same: reproductive health and freedom. And while the work mainly focused on birth control, education, and some routine healthcare, it was not without its challenges – especially in a Catholic city in a Catholic state.

By the early 1940s when my grandmother was doing this work, things had come a long way since 1916 when Planned Parenthood founder

Margaret Sanger was arrested for opening the nation’s first birth control clinic in Brooklyn.

But the Comstock Act was still on the books and enforced. That law defined contraceptives as obscene and made it a federal crime to send them through the mail or transport them across state lines.

In the pre-Roe v. Wade era, when abortions were illegal in most parts of this country, many still depended on them. Some required them in order to extricate themselves from abusive relationships or avoid other dire consequences. Being illegal, the procedure was risky. Abortions, forced to be conducted in secret, frequently resulted in death or injuries that would leave women unable to bear children.

Adding to the risk back then was that many of the people who performed these abortions were terrible doctors … or not even doctors at all. Yes, there were abortion providers who displayed their own courage, taking great personal risks to ensure that women would not have to stay in dangerous situations. But the reality was the patients were desperate. And there was no system for review of, or accountability for, this type of medical care.

From 1973 until 2022, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v.

Jackson Women’s Health Organization, abortions were safe and legal. Now, the Supreme Court’s decision in the Dobbs case has created a flood of laws threatening to send us back to

the dark ages. This goes for women who are attempting to sever ties with dangerous men and those in other horrific situations many of us can only imagine. And it is not stopping.

Just this month, the Missouri state Senate voted down two amendments to the state’s medieval abortion laws that would have allowed exceptions for rape and incest.

That’s why Vice President Harris’s leadership is so important. It is easy to imagine that whoever was vice president in these times would be fighting these attacks … that a male with a similarly impressive resume as a litigator and advocate could too be a stalwart for this fundamental right. But the difference is evident when you watch Vice President Harris on the stump, speaking against these laws that would deny freedom to women who find themselves in the situation my mother was in back then. You cannot help but sense that she feels the urgency to help those women in her bones in a way that no man could.

Let me clear, however, about the responsibility that men have at this moment to be good allies.

The matriarch of my family, my grandmother, set a powerful example with her fierce advocacy for equality and reproductive freedom. But my parents taught me an important lesson as well. Part of my parents’ bond has always been that my father understood men have a role to play in the fight against gender inequality and sexism. President Biden and Vice President

Harris’s teamwork in pushing back against state-level assaults on the right to choose, to me, echoes that lesson.

It is time for all of us, regardless of our sex or gender, to stand together and push back against the callous disregard for the lives, health, and social equality of those of us for whom abortion must remain a fundamental right. The legions of lawmakers who received, and are now acting upon, the Supreme Court’s signal to eviscerate reproductive freedom will not stop unless we stop them. Thank God we have a courageous woman in the vice presidency fighting to do just that.

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

WAKANDA FOREVER! How New York State is Creating Living History

By State Senator Kevin Parker

Since 1976 we have “officially” celebrated February as Black History due largely in part to the work and teachings of Carter G. Woodson, who in his day dedicated his life to the study of the history of African American people. He viewed this as important because of the blatant attempt to essentially erase our contributions from the face of world history. Due to his efforts, we use this month to celebrate and honor the legacy and contributions of our historical figures in every field of endeavor. However, though it’s wonderful to talk about the people and places of historical significance during this February month I believe it’s far more important in 2024 America to underscore a critical point being neglected especially here in our great Empire State of New York: That Black history is now!

Let’s examine this microscopically and also look at what the conclusion means for us as a society. The foundation for my claim is the fact that at no other point in our history, we have had so much Black political leadership at every level of government in the State of New York. It starts with the Lt. Governor, Antonio Delgado, NYS Attorney General Letitia James, Speaker of the NYS Assembly Carl Heastie and President Pro Tempore, and Majority of the NYS Senate Andrea Stew-

arts-Cousins. Finally, at the State legislature level is the Majority Leader of the Assembly Crystal D. Peoples–Stokes.

When it comes to Mayoral representation, the three top cities in the State – New York, Buffalo, and Rochester all have black Mayors respectively: Mayor Eric Adams, Mayor Byron Brown, and Mayor Malik Evans. The list goes on with the Speaker of the New York City Council Adrianne Adams and the second in line of citywide leadership Jumaane Williams as Public Advocate and Chief Justice of State of New York Hon. Rowan D. Wilson. Borough-wide we have representation of two Black District Attorneys and two Black Boroughs Presidents in the persons of Alvin Briggs Manhattan DA, Darcel Clark, Bronx DA, Antonio Reynoso Brooklyn BP, and Donovan Richards Queens BP. In all of these leaders collectively we have living history. But also on an individual level, we cannot ignore the history makers like Andrea Stewart-Cousins the first African American woman to lead a legislative Conference in the State of New York, and Mayor Byron Brown the longest-serving Mayor of any city. There are many other history-making pursuits among these esteemed leaders but the central point to my argument is clear: Black History is now! So what does

this mean in particular at the societal level?

First and significantly for all of us is that this living history should not be squandered. It is a golden opportunity to make a seismic impact on the advancement in the lives of not just African Americans but all people.

The fact is that historically Black political empowerment has always resulted in the empowerment for other groups as well. The hardcore battles won by African Americans in this country on our journey to self-determination did not just benefit Black people.

The right to vote, to public education, to government services, housing discrimination based on race and national origin, sex and gender discrimination, and workplace sexual harassment are issues that have benefitted marginalized people including but not exclusive to the Latino, Jewish and LGBTQ communities. On record is our history that when we open the doors we hold them open to those who are behind us. This added to the fact that Black leadership has always been a more equitable leadership because we know oppression.

That’s why it is never in question for us of the truth inherent in the statement: stronger together.

In 2018 the blockbuster history making movie Black Panther hit movie theaters

and created a cultural awakening across the world. The late Chadwick Boseman who played the film’s main character had this to say to TIME Magazine prior to its release: “You might say that this African nation is fantasy. But to have the opportunity to pull from real ideas, real places and real African concepts and put it inside of this idea of Wakanda—that’s a great opportunity to develop a sense of what that identity is, especially when you’re disconnected from it.”

I am proud that here in New York we have an opportunity to add one more element to Boseman’s “real list.” And that is real people.

Therefore, it is no fantasy to look at our State this Black History Month and in forging an identity that was hitherto challenged, embrace the notion of: Wakanda Forever!

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Yale University Apologizes for Role in Slavery

Along with releasing a thorough history of the university’s ties to slavery and a list of what it said were the first actions to make some form of reparations. Yale University issued a public apology for the role of its early leaders in slavery.

The decision was made amid heated national discussions about racial justice sparked by the murder of George Floyd, more than three years after Yale launched a significant probe into the university’s ties to slavery, the slave trade, and abolition. Furthermore, it clarifies the school

administration’s stated ongoing commitment to repair.

In a statement to the campus community, university president Peter Salovey and senior board trustee Josh Bekenstein remarked, “We recognize our university’s historical role in and associations with slavery, as well as the labor, the experiences, and the contributions of enslaved people to our university’s history, and we apologize for the ways that Yale’s leaders, throughout our early history, participated in slavery.”

“Acknowledging and apologizing for this history is only part of the path forward,” they claimed. In addition, the institution is developing new initiatives to finance the preparation of public school teachers for its home city of New Haven, Connecticut, which has a predominately Black populace. Additionally, Yale will make a “significant new investment” that will be revealed in the upcoming weeks to strengthen its previously announced research connections with historically Black institutions and universities throughout the nation.In contrast to Harvard, which pledged $100 million in 2022 to a “Legacy of Slavery Fund,” Yale withheld the whole sum for all of its programs.

The goal of the project, according to Yale historian David W. Blight, who oversaw the historical research, was to tell the university’s past truthfully and unapologetic rather than “to cast ugly stones at anybody,” as he stated in an interview.

Blight noted, “What this project shows, as others elsewhere have, is that universities can actually do this.” He added, “You can actually dig out your past, face it, write it up, make changes, and make some degree of recompense.”

The most recent university to openly confront its historical connections to slavery and its part in upholding racial disparities that persisted long after liberation is Yale, which was established in 1701. Similar initiatives have been carried out at other universities in the past few years, including Brown, Harvard, William & Mary, the University of Virginia, Georgetown, and Emory. Administrators didn’t initially support several of those initiatives, which started out as autonomous (and occasionally unwanted) faculty-led initiatives.

At Yale, slavery is seldom a novel subject. A group of graduate students examined Yale’s historical ties to slavery in 2001 in honor of the university’s 300th anniversary. Their research

focused on the fact that several residential colleges at Yale were named for slaveholders.

Some criticized that attempt as a biased attack piece, produced by graduate students affiliated with labor organizations embroiled in a legal dispute with the institution. However, race remained a very sensitive subject at Yale, where ties with the surrounding Black population have sometimes been tense. The controversy over the renaming of Calhoun College, an undergraduate residential institution named for antebellum South Carolina senator and Southern secessionist John C. Calhoun, has thrust the university’s past into the national limelight. (In 2017, it was renamed in honor of the groundbreaking computer scientist, Grace Murray Hopper, who rose to the rank of rear admiral in the US Navy.)

Nevertheless, Blight—a renowned expert on the American Civil War and the writer of a Frederick Douglass book that won the Pulitzer Prize—said he was “stunned” when Salovey contacted him in September 2020 to urge him to take on the project.

“This didn’t come from any yearning on the faculty,” he noted. “It came from the president himself.”

Bronx, NY – Landon Dais Wins Assembly Seat In a largely Democratic district, Democratic attorney Landon Dais successfully defeated Republican opponent and chairman of the Highbridge Houses tenant organization in the NYCHA in a special election for a state Assembly seat in the Bronx.

There was a notably low voter participation in the Assembly race. The New York City Board of Elections reports that as of 6 p.m., just 1,072 of the district’s approximately 69,000 registered voters had cast a ballot. The poll closed at 9 PM calling an end to the district’s election.

Dais, a political consultant who previously ran for office in Harlem, received 74 percent of the vote with 90% of scanners reporting. This was a low-key election in a district that includes portions of the Highbridge, Morris Heights, and Claremont neighborhoods, with few voters turning out to cast their ballots.

After winning, Dais was granted the authority to continue serving until the end of the year, which allowed him to finish the term of former Assemblymember Latoya Joyner, who had unexpectedly quit in January. In November, he will need to

run and win once more to complete his two-year tenure.

The battle for the congressional seat vacated by George Santos, who was expelled from the chamber, was going on at the same time as the Assembly election between Republican candidate Mazzi Pilip and Democrat Tom Suozzi.

However, there is no overlap between the two districts; the congressional seat is in eastern Queens and Nassau County.

NYC – Mayor Adams Enshrines Abortion Care Rights As the right to access abortion care has been stripped away from over one-third of U.S. women, New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the city is further enshrining its commitment to reproductive rights, releasing the Sexual and Reproductive Bill of Rights.

This Bill of Rights defines health as inclusive of access to sexual health care, birth control, gender-affirming health care, and abortion services. He will help ensure that all patients in New York City are protected from discrimination and harassment related to their sexual and reproductive health care decisions. The Sexual and Reproductive Bill of Rights will be distributed to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s (DOHMH) network of healthcare providers, advocacy groups, and partner organizations across the city to share with patients.

“Two years ago, the Supreme Court stripped women of the right to control their bodies, and since then, cities and states across the country have worked tirelessly to limit abortion access to Americans completely,” said Mayor Adams.

“As much of the nation continues its attacks on abortion care, we won’t ever allow this right to

be stripped away here in New York City. We are issuing a Sexual and Reproductive Health Bill of Rights today to do everything in our power to ensure abortion and reproductive health care remain available to residents and visitors alike.

This is about protecting women’s choices and their freedoms.”

“New York City has acted to protect reproductive rights and has strengthened access to services through the Abortion Access Hub and other programs launched by DOHMH and NYC Health + Hospitals,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “With the release of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Bill of Rights, we are com-

municating clearly with providers all across the city about what is right and just in a health care environment. Patients and providers alike can now have more clarity in these care conversations and know that New York City stands with them at each step along the way.”

“While rights to reproductive health for women, transgender, and gender expansive people are eroded nationally, this administration is a leader in ensuring all New Yorkers receive necessary health care,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “This Sexual and Reproductive Health Bill of Rights will enshrine the right to comprehensive reproductive health and family planning, continuing the promise of ‘Women Forward NYC’ to help all women, including transgender and gender expansive New Yorkers, thrive.”

“Abortion care is health care, health care is a human right, and New Yorkers, and all Americans, have a right to exercise their rights by making health care decisions about their own bodies,” said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “Abortion remains legal in New York, but we know that protected rights

are necessary, but not sufficient, to guarantee access to care. Knowing your rights and exercising these rights is just as important.

That is why the city is launching the Sexual and Reproductive Health Bill of Rights and bringing additional abortion services online — to provide support that helps people navigate multiple barriers to care. Everyone deserves to receive reproductive health care in a safe, high-quality, dignified environment.”

“NYC Health + Hospitals is proud to offer safe and legal abortion care,” said Marisa Nádas, MD, MPH, reproductive health clinical lead, NYC Health + Hospitals, and associate medical director, Virtual ExpressCare. “By offering telehealth abortion services and patient navigation support to people seeking abortion care, as well as abortion care at all of our hospital-based clinics, we are overcoming many of the non-medical barriers people face in accessing care. We are committed to striving for reproductive justice for all New Yorkers.”

In 2022, in its Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal right to access safe, legal abortion care nationwide.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 27, 2024

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Harriet Tubman Day of Commemoration New York, NY - On Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 10 A.M., The Black Women’s Leadership Caucus, Inc. will honor the life and legacy of Harriet Ross Tubman with a wreath laying ceremony at the Harriet Tubman Memorial located at 122nd Street/Harriet Tubman Square at Frederick Douglass Boulevard in the Village of Harlem, New York. The Memorial, created by artist/sculptor Alison Saar, was dedicated on November 13, 2008.

On August 27, 2003, then Governor Pataki signed legislation for the Harriet Tubman Day of Commemoration honoring Tubman every March 10 in New York State.

Other states honoring Tubman on March 10 include Delaware, Maryland, Georgia and Texas.

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A WOMAN’S PLACE IS ON THE $20 BILL – in particular, HARRIET TUBMAN. We continue to campaign and urge folks to write/call the Secretary of Treasury, Janet Yellen (the first woman to hold this office).

Meanwhile, in 2023, the U.S. Mint unveiled designs for the 2024 Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Program. Now the silver dollar, uncirculated half dollar and the gold five dollar coins with Tubman’s image are available for purchase on the U.S. Mint website.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 27, 2024

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Guyana Government Criticized for Banning Schoolgirl From Calypso

The Ministry of Education recently ruled that a six-year-old student could not compete in a Mashramani Calypso competition because the lyrics of the song she sang did not follow the rules for songs appropriate for her age group. The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) has publicly denounced this decision.

In a recent press release by the WPA, they noted, “This explanation by the government insults the intelligence of Guyanese. Since when children are disqualified from engaging in social and political commentary?

Which part of the constitution bars schoolchildren from singing songs that comment on topical issues? If children are permitted to sing songs which are considered “jam and wine”, why are they banned from singing songs with serious lyrics?”.

The group questioned if the government could declare what kind of harm, if any, singing a calypso like that may do to the youngster in issue and other kids.“ Finally, if the calypso violated the “guidelines, why it was not disqualified during the preliminary stages of the competition—why now?”

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Jamaica – British Citizen Arrested with $12 Million Ganja at Airport On February 14, 2024, which was torn between Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday, 31 pounds of ganja were found at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St. James, leading to the arrest of a British man.

According to reports, the man was approached by Narcotics officers at around 3:50 pm as he was getting ready to take a flight to Manchester, England.

Following initial inquiries, his bags were examined, and it was discovered that he

had 31 pounds of ganja, believed to be worth JM $12 million.

Due to a plausible suspicion of violating the Dangerous Drugs Act, he was placed under custody.

His name is being kept under wraps as more research is conducted.

Rohan Marley Sexual Harassment Case Will Go Forward A federal judge in California denied Rohan Marley’s motion to have his $18 million sexual harassment case dismissed.

Former worker Chloe Villano, 34, sued Marley and his business, Shashamane Group, in June of last year, claiming that she was fired wrongfully and subjected to sexual harassment for quid pro quo.

Marley submitted a move to have the

charges dismissed in August of 2023.

Based on the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Judge Otis D. Wright II decided last month that Villano’s claims of harassment and a hostile work environment could proceed to trial.

However, he rejected the claim of wrongful termination because the decision to fire her was made outside of California.

Coast Guard Repatriates 33 Migrants to Haiti MIAMI – Coast Guard Cutter Benard C. Webber’s crew repatriated 33 migrants to Haiti, Monday, following an interdiction of a migrant venture near Fort Pierce Inlet, Florida.

A good Samaritan notified Sector Miami watchstanders of a grounded fishing vessel, at approximately 10:30 a.m., on Feb. 3.

The Coast Guard and its Homeland Security Task Force - Southeast partners will continue to be a presence in the air and

on the waters to detect and deter migrants from attempting to unlawfully enter the U.S. by sea.

“U.S. maritime borders are not open to unauthorized entry or illicit trafficking,” said Lt. Cmdr. Sean Newmeyer, Coast Guard District Seven. “Coast Guard and our partners are committed to stopping illegal ventures, preventing unsafe voyages at sea and enforcing U.S. immigration laws and regulations.”

Cuba – Fragrance Made from Home-Grown Ingredients by Perfumist A Cuban businesswoman thinks she has discovered the recipe for a distinctive DIY perfume that she plans to release on the international market eventually.

One of Cuba’s most important and well-known exports is tobacco, which grows abundantly across the western portion of the Caribbean island, particularly in the province

of Pinar del Rio, which produces the greatest tobacco and cigars in the world.

Green and veiny cigar leaves are crushed, and their aromatic fluids are combined with various essences and alcohol, 53-year-old Clara Camalleri told Reuters in her little laboratory adjacent to her family’s house.

The judge also turned down Marley’s plea to have the lawsuit transferred to Florida, where he currently resides, according to an eighteen-page court decision.

51-year-old Rohan is the fourth of reggae musician Bob Marley’s sons. Janet Hunt is his mom.

One day before Bob Marley: One Love opened in theaters, on February 13, Villa-

no used the occasion to address the case in a statement.

“I have experienced significant personal and professional losses due to the abuse, harassment, and discrimination I suffered at the hands of Rohan Marley and his associates,” she stated.

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CARIBHEALTH

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 27, 2024

Children’s Lives Threatened by Rising Malnutrition in the Gaza Strip A steep rise in malnutrition among children and pregnant and breastfeeding women in the Gaza strip poses grave threats to their health, according to a comprehensive new analysis released by the Global Nutrition Cluster.

As the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip enters its 20th week, food and safe water have become incredibly scarce and diseases are rife, compromising women and children’s nutrition and immunity and resulting in a surge of acute malnutrition.

The report “Nutrition Vulnerability and Situation Analysis - Gaza” – finds that the situation is particularly extreme in the Northern Gaza Strip, which has been almost completely cut off from aid for weeks. Nutrition screenings conducted at shelters and health centres in the north found that 15.6 per cent – or 1 in 6 children under 2 years of age – are acutely malnourished. Of these, almost 3 per cent suffer from severe wasting, the most life-threatening form of malnutrition, which puts young children at highest risk of medical complications and death unless they receive urgent treatment.

As the data were collected in January, the situation is likely to be even graver today.

Similar screenings in the Southern Gaza Strip, in Rafah, where aid has been more available,

found 5 per cent of children under 2 years are acutely malnourished. This is clear evidence that access to humanitarian aid is needed and can help prevent the worst outcomes. It also reinforces agencies’ calls to protect Rafah from the threat of intensified military operations.

“The Gaza Strip is poised to witness an explosion in preventable child deaths which would compound the already unbearable level of child deaths in Gaza,” said UNICEF Deputy Executive Director for Humanitarian Action and Supply Operations, Ted Chaiban. “We’ve been warning for weeks that the Gaza Strip is on the brink of a nutrition crisis. If the conflict doesn’t end now, children’s nutrition will continue to plummet, leading to preventable deaths or health issues which will affect the children of Gaza for the rest of their lives and have potential intergenerational consequences.”

Before the recent months’ hostilities, wasting in the Gaza Strip was rare with just 0.8 per cent of children under 5 years of age acutely malnourished. The rate of 15.6 percent of wasting among children under 2 in Northern Gaza suggests a serious and rapid decline. Such a decline in a population’s nutritional status in three months is unprecedented globally.

There is a high risk that malnutrition will

PAHO Partners with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for Medicines for Childhood Cancer in LAC

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has announced a new partnership agreement with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to help strengthen equitable access to cancer medications for children in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The four-year agreement will focus on the provision of quality medicines through the PAHO Strategic Fund and support technical cooperation with Member States to strengthen childhood cancer care services and medicine management systems. It aims to improve outcomes for childhood cancer, which affects more than 47,000 children and takes over 12,000 lives each year in the Region.

In the Americas, “survival rates for childhood cancer vary between countries, highlighting disparities,” PAHO Director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa

said. This is due to differences in quality of treatment and care services, including access to timely diagnosis, and adherence to treatment, he added.

Under the new agreement, the PAHO Strategic Fund will work on the implementation of the World Health Organization-St Jude Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines in Latin America and the Caribbean.

This global initiative will provide a supply of quality-assured childhood cancer medicines to low- and middle-income countries.

The platform will provide end-to-end support for medicine delivery; assist countries with the selection of medicines; develop treatment standards, and build information systems to drive evidence-based innovation. Approximately 120,000 children all over the world are expected to benefit in this first phase until 2027.

“The Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines is an innovative and transformative initiative. It will create a coordinated approach to purchasing and distributing essential medicines for children with cancer, alleviating the financial burden on governments, hospitals and families,” Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo, Director of St. Jude Global said.

The partnership supports PAHO’s broader commitment to tackle complex health challenges, ensure equitable access to essential medicines and build a healthier future for all children in the Americas.

continue to rise across the Gaza Strip due to the alarming lack of food, water and health and nutrition services: 90 per cent of children under the age of 2 and 95 per cent of pregnant and breastfeeding women face severe food poverty – meaning they have consumed two or less food groups in the previous day – and the food they do have access to is of the lowest nutritional value.

95 per cent of households are limiting meals and portion sizes, with 64 per cent of households eating only one meal a day.

Over 95 per cent of households said they had restricted the amount of food adults received in order to ensure small children had food to eat.

“The steep rise in malnutrition that we are seeing in Gaza is dangerous and entirely preventable”, said WFP Assistant Executive Director for Programme Operations, Valerie Guarnieri.

“Children and women, in particular, need continuous access to healthy foods, clean water and health and nutrition services. For that to happen, we need decisive improvements on security and humanitarian access, and additional entry points for aid to enter Gaza.”

Inadequate safe drinking water, as well as insufficient water for cooking and hygiene purposes, are compounding poor nutrition.

On average, households surveyed had access to less than one litre of safe water per person per day. According to humanitarian standards, the minimum amount of safe water needed in an emergency is 3 litres per person per day, while the overall standard is 15 litres per person, which includes sufficient quantities for drinking, washing and cooking.

Hungry, thirsty and weak, more Gazans are falling sick. The report finds at least 90 per cent of children under 5 are affected by one or more infectious disease. Seventy per cent had diarrhoea in the past two weeks, a 23-fold increase compared with the 2022 baseline.

“Hunger and disease are a deadly combination,” said Dr Mike Ryan, Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme. ”Hungry, weakened and deeply traumatised children are more likely to get sick, and children who are sick, especially with diarrhea, cannot absorb nutrients well. It’s dangerous, and tragic, and happening before our eyes.”

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 27, 2024

CARIBA&E

17

Bob Marley Biopic Earns US $80 Million Since Release

After its Valentine’s Day premiere, the biopic Bob Marley: One Love captures the life of reggae sensation Bob Marley and his rise to stardom bringing in an estimated US$80 million worldwide as of February 18, 2024.

History claims that the movie broke the record for a midweek launch in North America with a single-day gross of $14 million.

The $70 million film, which centers on Bob Marley’s life from 1976 to 1978, was

released by Paramount Pictures.

It discusses Bob’s escape from an attempted assassination, the making of the record “Exodus” while living in exile in London, his cancer diagnosis, and the well-known “One Love” performance.

According to AP, the life story of Bob Marley, portrayed by British actor Kingsley Ben-Adir, was passed down via the memories of his wife, Rita Marley (played by Lashana Lynch), and other close

International Soca Star Kes The Band Set To Perform at NYC Summer Stage Central Park

New York, N.Y. - International soca star Kes the Band announced his first headline performance at Central Park Summer Stage on Saturday June 8th. Produced by Live Nation and KES, this concert will kick off the summer and Caribbean Heritage month with a unique blend of Caribbean and contemporary world sounds. Known for his energetic and infectious soca hits, Kes the band has captivated audiences around the world with chart-topping tracks like “Hello,” “Savannah Grass,” “My Love,” and most recently “Miracle”. The Summer Stage at Central Park announce-

ment follows Kes recent festival IzWe, where he announced the release of his highly anticipated album ‘Man With No Door’, set to release on March 29th 2024..

Fans can expect an electrifying performance as Kes brings his signature high-energy stage presence and dynamic vocals to the iconic Central Park Summer Stage venue. With his band backing him up, the concert promises to be an unforgettable night of celebration and non-stop dancing.

Summer Stage Central Park, a renowned outdoor concert series, has been a staple of New York City’s summer entertain-

Black History Month American Masters Shorts Launches with Searching for Augusta Savage

Searching for Augusta Savage, a 22-minute filmthat tells the story of an inspiring and enterprising artist, who in the 1920s and 30s, created a pipeline of creative opportunities for Black artists, will kick off American Masters Shorts, a new digital series from PBS’ flagship biography series, American Masters. Narrated by art historian and curator Jeffreen M. Hayes, Ph.D. (traveling exhibit and book, Augusta Savage: Renaissance Woman), with Lorraine Toussaint (Orange is the New Black; The Glorias, The Equalizer)

providing dramatic readings of the words of Augusta Savage, Searching for Augusta Savage premieres Thursday, February 15 on American Masters YouTube channel, PBS and the PBS App. Searching for Augusta Savage investigates why evidence of Savage’s life and legacy appears to have been erased. Dr. Denise Murrell, Merryl H. and James S. Tisch Curator at Large, and Associate Curator of 19th- and 20th-Century Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, provides analysis in the film about why Savage’s work is missing from most museum collections, stating that, “[In] the museum market, the art market, the galleries, the critical attention was given to male artists.”

Murrell is curator of the Met’s exhibition, “The Harlem Renaissance and Transatlantic Modernism,” which opens February 25, and includes two of Savage’s works of art.

Searching for Augusta Savage is written, produced and directed by Charlotte Mangin and Sandra Rattley, the makers of UNLADYLIKE2020, the award-winning series of animated documentary shorts distributed by American Masters.

ment for decades. Located in the heart of Central Park, this open-air venue provides the perfect setting for Kes the Band to showcase his vibrant and infectious soca tunes.

TICKETS: Tickets will be available starting with a presale beginning Thursday, February 15th at 10 AM local time. General on sale beginning Friday, February 16th at 10 AM local time at Ticket Link.

LET’S GET DOWN to

THE BONE

SoSOBONE.com

18

CARIBTRAVEL

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 27, 2024

Experience ‘Jamaica’s Vibe Getaway’ With Blue Diamond Resorts: Honoring the King of Reggae In tribute to Jamaica’s Reggae legend, Blue Diamond Resorts presents its latest offering: the ‘Jamaica’s Vibe Getaway,’ a six-night immersive experience designed for guests staying at select all-inclusive resorts in this destination. This sensory journey seamlessly weaves together luxury, music, and the vibrant cultural tapestry of the island. The experience is available in February at their Negril resorts, including Royalton Negril and Hideaway at Royalton Negril, as well as in Montego Bay, encompassing Royalton Blue Waters and the newly opened Hideaway at Royalton Blue Waters.

Starting with private transportation from the Montego Bay International Airport to the resort to check in at the lavish Luxury Chairman Ocean Front Suite Diamond Club™ at either Montego Bay or Negril.

These opulent sanctuaries offer a haven of comfort, personalized butler service, and private balconies with panoramic ocean views to soak in the natural beauty that inspired the king of reggae’s timeless melodies.

As the sun sets over the Jamaican horizon, a private concert awaits guests on the beach where talented musicians strum the chords of classic reggae hits, creating an intimate ambiance under the starlit Caribbean sky.

Travelers will also experience a unique culinary journey which includes a private dinner in the Chairman Suite, masterfully curated by the Executive Chef with the flavors of Jamaica’s diverse gastronomy. To accentuate the palate, a rum-tasting odyssey hosted by Appleton Estate will give vacationers a glimpse of the rich history

and flavors of this world-renowned rum.

Exclusive entertainment options will also be available in the Chairman Suite, featuring a curated playlist to unwind to the rhythm of reggae in the intimate luxury of its accommodations, fully embracing the culture of the destination.

Bookings for the “Jamaica’s Vibe Getaway” at Royalton Luxury Resorts and Hideaway at Royalton Resorts in Jamaica are available until February 29, 2024, with a starting price of $2,625 USD per person per night. Travelers embarking on this journey will be able to travel from February 29 – December 23, 2024.

For more information or to book your stay, contact media@bluediamondresorts. com.

French Airline La Compagnie Launches Business Class Service to the Caribbean

Unless travelers opt for private flights, their choices for premium cabins on scheduled carriers to destinations like St. Martin, Anguilla, and St. Barth have traditionally been limited. However, this changed on February 18th with the launch of new service by the French airline La Compagnie from Newark Liberty International Airport to Princess Juliana International Airport in Sint Maarten. This weekly charter, operated on Sundays, is arranged through the travel company E. Clarke Travel and its innovative program, Travel In Style Journeys, which offers personalized services and accommodations in top villas and hotels.

The decision to partner with La Compagnie was driven by Wahid Essafi, CEO of E. Clarke Travel, who sought to bridge the gap between coach and private flying experiences. “A corridor of comfort and trust to bring our existing

clients as well as new clients from New York to Sint Maarten and beyond,” Essafi explains. La Compagnie’s executives saw this as an opportunity to enter the Caribbean market and provide seamless travel experiences. “With leisure travel expected to remain strong, we’re thrilled to partner with Travel in Style Journeys to offer an effortless path to some of the destination’s most sought-after islands,” adds La Compagnie CEO, Christian Vernet.

Operated with La Compagnie’s French crew on an Airbus A321neo, the flights offer a significant upgrade over the firstclass service provided by U.S. carriers on similar routes. The 76 spacious, lie-flat business class seats allow passengers to comfortably sleep on overnight flights, making napping a viable option even on the daytime four-hour journey.

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 27, 2024

CARIBBUSINESS

19

Architectural Visionary: Exploring the Journey of Isiaa Madden, Chief Architect woman in a predominantly male-dominated field, Madden persevered with the unwavering support of her faith.

Looking ahead, Madden approaches the future with gratitude and a sense of living in the present moment.

She says, “I actually live in a moment. I’m so blessed and grateful to be here.”

With a team of six architects under her

Isiaa Madden, Senior Architect & Director of Design at H.Q. Ltd. in Jamaica, boasts over 27 years of experience in architectural design and supervision of construction projects.

Currently serving as the Chief Architect for The Pinnacle Jamaica, Madden leads the design efforts for this ambitious project, which comprises four exquisitely designed towers, villas, and The Mangrove Club. The project recently commenced construction earlier this month.

A passionate lover of art since her early days, Madden always harbored a creative inclination. She fondly recalls her high school days spent in art studios during lunch breaks, where her artistic talents blossomed.

She says, “From ever since I can remember I was artistic, both in 2D and in 3D, and wanted to be an artist.”

Madden’s journey into architecture began at the age of 14 when she interned at Carl Simpson & Associates, an architectural office led by the renowned architect, Carl Simpson. It was during this internship that Madden discovered her love for designing buildings, with a particular emphasis on the principle of form follows function.

She said, “I actually loved designing buildings and my way of designing is form follows function. I always thought of what I want the building to look like first.”

Throughout her college years at Howard University, Madden engaged in lively discussions about the relationship between form and function in architecture. While many architects adhere to the principle of function follows form, Madden’s approach has always been rooted in creating inspirational designs that reflect her love for

art, shapes, and forms. She finds immense fulfillment in witnessing her designs come to life in three dimensions, from initial concepts on paper to tangible structures.

After leaving Howard University, she struggled with to do next.

She said, “Picture a 26-year-old girl, who had just left school, and came back to Jamaica. I went online to try out the whole Master’s thing, but that didn’t work out and I came back home and got a job with Duncan Sharp & Associates to do my three-year internship.”

She attributes her success to divine guidance and the mentorship she received from industry veterans like Mr. Duncan Sharp.

Under Sharp’s tutelage, she learned the administrative side of the business and left three years later to start her own firm.

“Mr. Sharp was a lovely boss. He taught me the whole administration aspect of the firm and then I left him to start my own little firm, H.Q. Design Ltd., which was in a small room underneath my parents house.

This is when she began working with schools. She says just her and her computer.

After establishing her own firm, H.Q. Design Ltd., Madden’s career trajectory soared as she secured prestigious projects such as RIU Hotels. Despite facing discrimination and harassment along the way, Madden remained resilient, focusing on her work and pushing through adversity.

Madden’s professional experience spans a wide range of projects, including residential developments, commercial properties, medical facilities, churches, and hotels.

Despite the challenges of being a Black

leadership, Madden cherishes the intimate setting of her boutique firm and remains committed to delivering exceptional designs. She emphasizes the importance of faith and encourages aspiring women architects to pursue their dreams, finding fulfillment and joy in the dynamic field of architecture.

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20

CARIBSPORTS

WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 27, 2024

Russell-Rutherford Record Stand Hands West Indies Consolation Win Andre Russell and Sherfane Rutherford shared a record sixth-wicket T20I partnership before spinner Roston Chase produced a magnificent spell to sink Australia as West Indies enjoyed a consolation victory at Optus Stadium.

West Indies were in big trouble at 79 for 5 after winning the toss in the third and final game, but Russell and Rutherford completely dominated the second half of the innings with a hard-hitting 139-run stand.

They slaughtered Australia’s attack and combined for 12 sixes, but West Indies’ total of 220 for 6 was under threat by a rampant David Warner, who struck 81 off 49 balls in possibly his last international match on home soil.

Australia nosedived after Warner’s dismissal as they ended the home summer on a sour note, but still recorded a 2-1 series victory.

Rutherford and Dre Russ rescue West Indies Captain Rovman Powell decided to switch strategies and bat first after his attack had leaked huge totals in the opening two matches.

But it appeared to not make a difference with West Indies’ top-order unable to handle the extra bounce as they spiralled to 17 for 3 in the third over.

West Indies as expected did not go into their shell with Powell and Chase leading a recovery, but their dismissals before the halfway mark left the tourists in familiar woe.

A brute of a delivery from left-arm quick

Spencer Johnson delivery whacked Russell on the glove with the painful blow requiring medical attention. But he continued and cracked another short Johnson delivery for six.

It got him going and also ignited Rutherford, who had started slowly before putting the foot down to reach his half-century off 33 balls. But he was overshadowed by Russell, who was in a mood as he motored to a 25-ball half-century with a six off legspinner Adam Zampa as West Indies lifted past 200.

Russell wasn’t done as he monstered an unusually sluggish Zampa for three consecutive sixes in a penultimate over of the innings that yielded 28 runs.

Russell was throwing so much force into his strokes that a slew of fielders lost sight of the ball as it continually soared mightily high in the air and into the crowd.

He finally holed out in the last over and walked off the ground to a standing ovation from the 17,018 crowd.

Bartlett stars early in T20I debut, Zampa cops flogging.

With Josh Hazlewood rested, Xavier Bartlett made his T20I debut after his incredible initiation into international cricket with consecutive four-wicket hauls in the ODI series between the teams.

Bartlett opened the bowling and immediately was on the money with a back-of-a-length out

swinger that beat Johnson Charles. He relished the extra bounce on the renowned pacy Optus Stadium deck and hit Charles on the helmet with a fierce short delivery.

Bartlett’s magical start to his international career continued when on the last ball of the first over he had Johnson nicking off before adding another after recalled Kyle Mayers succumbed to the sharp bounce and played onto his stumps.

But Bartlett cooled off after Chase decided to counterattack as West Indies met fire with fire.

Bartlett’s figures nosedived to finish with 2 for 37 from 4 overs, but he was spared from the punishment compared to Zampa, who in a rare off night finished with 1 for 65 in the worst bowling figures in Australia’s T20I history.

Warner smashes half-century but lacks support Australia reshuffled their batting order with

skipper Mitchell Marsh elevating a spot to open alongside Warner. But Marsh couldn’t get going and was overshadowed by Warner, who overcame a rough start when a short delivery from Alzarri Joseph banged into the grill via his shoulder.

After smashing a rapid 70 in the series opener, Warner was shackled in game two by a West Indies attack bowling a straight line. But they couldn’t maintain their discipline and Warner capitalised by swinging hard and racing to a half-century off 25 balls.

Warner seemed set to reach his second T20I century, but he became bogged down in the middle overs before holing out in the 14th over as Australia’s chase fell away.

Chase halts Australia in the middle overs West Indies’ attack, which had struggled mightily in Hobart and Adelaide, appeared in jeopardy of being unable to defend their massive total. But Chase proved an inspired selection as he dominated the middle overs to frustrate Warner and Aaron Hardie, who batted at No.3, with deliveries that darted into them.

He removed Warner and then had Josh Inglis, who shifted from opener down to No.4, with a return catch to finish with the excellent figures of 2 for 19 from 4 overs. Chase was well supported by seamer Romario Shepherd as West Indies recorded a convincing victory

Group A Kicks off action in W Gold Cup Group Stage The 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup now knows all of the teams that will fight to become the first champions. Group A will continue the action at the Dignity Health Sports Park on Tuesday evening, with the kick-off of the group stage.

Mexico vs. Argentina Mexico and Argentina will be the first teams to take the field to start the matchday in the first clash of Group A. They are familiar with each other, having shared the pitch at the Pan American games, the latest encounter being the 2023 semifinals, with Mexico getting a 2-0 win to improve to an overall record of 4W-0D-1L against Argentina.

Under Head Coach Pedro Lopez, Mexico had a record of 4W-0L-0D in the Road to W Gold Cup, winning Group A of League A. As they were not part of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the team has a mission to take advantage of any chance to grow and show their game.

Players like FW Maria Sanchez, who scored two goals and had the most shots (13), and FW Natalia Mauleon, who made an impression with the U-17 and U-20 National Teams, will be ready to make an impact as they did in the Road to W Gold Cup. Argentina will debut after having been part of the 2023 WWC and finishing third at the CONMEBOL Copa America Femenina in 2022, recording a 4W-0D-2L record. Head Coach German Portanova will try to replicate their style of play to get a win on North American soil.

La Albiceleste has generational talent in players like FW Yamila Rodriguez, who was the top scorer of the 2022 Copa America with six goals.

Another Argentinian sensation is DF Sophia Braun, who knows what it means to be present

in the area as well as scoring, having one goal at the 2023 WWC. Game Notes, Stats Mexico vs Argentina United States vs. Dominican Republic On Saturday, the Dominican Republic became one of the winners of the Prelims and will face the four-time World Champions and current Concacaf W Championship champions, the United States, on Tuesday.

The most decorated team in the world qualified to the W Gold Cup after lifting the CWC trophy in 2022 with a 5W-0D-0L overall record.

They’re returning to the main stage after leaving the 2023 WWC in the Round of 16 and will be under interim coach Twila Kilgore, who will manage the side until new Head Coach Emma Hayes takes over afterward.

With this new leadership, the USWNT will try to get another Concacaf trophy under their belt, having the help of game-changing players like FW Sophia Smith, who has 15 goals within major tournaments like the WWC and the CWC. They’ll also have goals in midfield in the form of MF Lindsey Horan, who captained the team in Australia/New Zealand, scoring two goals, and being one of the difference-makers at the CWC, having played in all five matches.

The Dominican Republic will make their debut in the group stage after getting through the Prelims, downing Guyana 1-0 on Saturday afternoon.

The Quisqueyanas have been putting on a show since they were part of the Road to W Gold Cup, amassing a record of 5W-0D-1L in six games played, with 24 goals to their name to win their group in League B. Players like FW Kathrynn González, who scored the banger against Guyana in the Pre-

lims, and FW Mia Asenjo, who had nine shots on Saturday, are responsible for finding the back of the net.

Another key component of their success in

the Prelims was GK Paloma Pena, who made key saves against Guyana to keep a clean sheet going into the group stage.