Arpil 3, 2024

WWW.NYCARIBNEWS.COM

VOL. XLIII NO. 2161 WEEK OF APRIL 9 - 16, 2024 NEW YORK

JEFFRIES ENDORSES BOWMAN

(OUT OF TOWN) $1.50

HAITI

In tight Democratic primary fight was challenged for his criticism in Gaza war

Page 12 GUYANA

UN SAFEGUARD JUDICIARY

Warning to country to maintain its independence and to reduce backlog of cases

Page 4 JAMAICA

JCC CALLS FOR JUSTICE, INTEGRITY AND TRANSPARENCY In annual Easter message to the nation

Page 4

PANIC & FEAR

T&T

PM ROWLEY CALLS ON SPIRITUAL BAPTISTS To help fight crime, break the cycle and raise children with moral and spiritual values

Page 7

UNITED NATIONS

REPARATIONS FOR SLAVERY TO OVERCOME ‘Generations of Discrimination’ appealed for by the SecretaryGeneral Page 6

JAMAICA

BUJU BANTON SON DIES Myles Myrie dies at the age of 20.

No cause of death was announced.

Page 18

GRIP THE COUNTRY - WILD SHOOTING AND VIOLENCE IN THE CAPITAL CANADA TO TRAIN TROOPS JEFFRIES - HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY

CULTURAL BREAKTHROUGH ASHLEY JAMES JAMAICAN HERITAGE

CURATOR

‘GOING DARK’ VISIT US AT WWW.NYCARIBNEWS.COM FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL

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

MAJOR SHOW AT GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM OVER 100 WORKS BY 28 ARTISTS MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE BLACK AND WOMEN

CARIBNEWS

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CaribNews OPED Tireless Activism and the Latest Region to Go Coal-Free

by Ben Jealous - P 9

OPED A SEAT AT THE TABLE A Salute to Women in Government

by Senator Kevin Parker - P 9

HEALTH PAHO Calls for Collective Action in Response to Record Increase in Dengue Cases in the Americas - 17

SPORTS British Virgin Islands, Anguilla Make History in Qualifying - P 20

HOW YOU CAN HELP HAITI Haiti’s security issue is a US National Security problem.

Congressman Mike Johnson and Michael McCaul please vote to fund the international security mission to Haiti to avoid a genocide.

National security is not a partisan issue. People are dying every day in Haiti, show your humanity!

Call to Action, please call, urgent action is needed now.

Hon. Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House (202) 225-2777 Hon. Mike McCaul, Chairman House Foreign Affairs Committee (202) 225-2401

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WEEK ENDING APRIL 9, 2024

AFRICA New $1.4 billion plan to support South Sudanese refugees The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, and partners on Thursday appealed for $1.4 billion this year to support more than two million South Sudanese refugees in five African countries and local communities hosting them.

Since the start of the conflict in South Sudan over 10 years ago, growing humanitarian needs compounded by dire food shortages, continued insecurity, and the impacts of climate change, have kept refugees in exile and prompted new displacement.

Four consecutive years of flooding have also destroyed homes and livelihoods, sparking further cross-border movements.

Scattered across the region South Sudan remains Africa’s largest refugee crisis, UNHCR said.

While the war in neighbouring Sudan has forced nearly 200,000 South Sudanese to relocate to safer areas within the country, and hundreds of thousands of others to return to their homeland prematurely, over two million across the region remain in need of international protection.

The South Sudan Regional Refugee Response Plan will meet the needs of 2.3 million citizens now living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda.

A similar number of people in local communities in the five countries will benefit from services and support.

‘We had to avoid stepping on the bodies in the streets’ in Darfur A former UN staff member who worked for a decade in Sudan’s Darfur region for the African Union-United Nations mission, UNAMID, has told UN News how she had to “avoid stepping on the bodies in the streets” as she fled for her life to neighbouring Chad.

Sudan, and Darfur in particular, are facing a humanitarian and security crisis after a war broke out in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), although ethnic conflicts in Darfur date back more than two decades.

Fatima*, a resident of the city of El Geneina in West Darfur state, where thousands of people have been reportedly killed, escaped with her family across the border as rival militias battled for control of her city.

“We were trapped inside our house for more than 57 days while militias systematically targeted and killed people based on their ethnicity. They did not spare women, children or elders.

Snipers were hiding on the rooftops and were targeting everyone they saw. There was death in a way I can’t describe.

Thousands of people have been displaced by over 20 years of conflict in Darfur and many move regularly between camps and El Geneina, especially at the beginning of the year or during Ramadan when killings, displacement and destruction occur.

Life is disrupted during this time, and markets, schools and government institutions are closed.

WORLD BRIEFS From desperation to determination: Indonesian trafficking survivors demand justice Working abroad can be a way for Indonesians to earn much more than they could at home, and provide for their families.

However, for some the journey can turn into a nightmare, with long hours, wages withheld, and abuse. The UN is working closely with the government to help bring trafficked workers home.

Rokaya needed time to recover after illness forced her to quit as a live-in maid in Malaysia and return home to Indramayu, West Java. However, under pressure from her agent who claimed two million Rupiah for her initial placement, she accepted an offer of work in Erbil, Iraq.

There, Ms. Rokaya found herself responsible for taking care of a family’s sprawling compound—working from 6 a.m. until after midnight, seven days per week.

As exhaustion worsened the headaches and vision problems that had originally forced her to leave Malaysia, Ms. Rokaya’s host family refused to take her to a doctor and confiscated her mobile phone.

“I was not given any day off. I barely had time for a break,” she said. “It felt like a prison.”

Israeli strike on NGO aid team widely condemned as humanitarians repeat calls for access The killing of seven aid workers from the NGO World Central Kitchen in Israeli military airstrikes in central Gaza has been strongly condemned by senior UN humanitarian officials who on Tuesday reiterated repeated concerns that “there is no safe space left in Gaza”.

“This is not an isolated incident,” said Jamie McGoldrick, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). “As of 20 March, at least 196 humanitarians had been killed in the OPT since October 2023. This is nearly three times the death toll recorded in any single conflict in a year.”

Mr. McGoldrick repeated appeals to “all parties to the conflict, including the Government of Israel”, to respect international humanitarian law, which prohibits the targeting of humanitarian personnel.

“The role of aid workers is to alleviate the suffering of people in crisis. Their safety, along with that of the civilians they serve, must be guaranteed,” he said.

The senior UN official’s comments came after World Central Kitchen reported that an Israeli airstrike was responsible for the deaths of its aid workers in Deir Al-Balah. Following those reports and images of the non-governmental organisation (NGO) vehicle showing a large hole in its roof, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths expressed his outrage at the attack and described the victims are “heroes, killed while trying to feed starving people”.

WEEK ENDING APRIL 9, 2024

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Canada to Train Caribbean Troops for Haiti Kenya declared this year that it will take command of the group, which is meant to support national police in combating strong gangs in Haiti, where a humanitarian crisis has been exacerbated by rising violence.

But ever since, the program has been mired in legal disputes in Kenya, essentially putting

the goal on pause. As part of a U.N.-approved mission to Haiti, Canada has dispatched some seventy soldiers to Jamaica to train troops from the Caribbean region, according to the Canadian military ministry.

According to a statement from the defense ministry, the Canadian troops, who are from

the mostly French-speaking province of Quebec, would offer training in combat first aid and fundamental peacekeeping techniques.

One of Haiti’s two official languages is French.

Approximately 330 troops from Jamaica, Belize, and the Bahamas will get training from the military during their initial month-long stay in

Jamaica.

Last month, Canada announced that it would provide $80.5 million to help with the mission’s deployment under Kenyan leadership.

Washington DC – Hakeem Jeffries says Haiti Crisis is a Human Rights Emergency

US Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has issued a warning, citing the increasing gang takeover of Haiti as “a human rights emergency.”

Representative Jeffries, whose district includes portions of Brooklyn and Queens and is home to a sizable Haitian immigrant population stated, “The security situation in Haiti is unpredictable and dangerous.”

“The humanitarian catastrophe unfolding represents both a human rights emergency for people in Haiti and a pressing threat to security and stability across the Western Hemisphere,” he stated.

In a letter to Republican Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Jeffries also expressed concern about the

“humanitarian catastrophe” that is occurring in Haiti.

“Recognizing the imperative to engage with our Caribbean neighbors on issues related to our geopolitical and national security, I was honored to lead a bipartisan Congressional delegation to participate in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government Conference last summer. It became all the more evident there that our collective future will be safer and more prosperous because of the multilateral partnerships that bind CARICOM and our Hemisphere together,” Jeffries told Johnson.

In light of the escalating turmoil in Haiti, he pointed out that CARICOM countries had collaborated with Haitian stakeholders to develop a “responsible course toward political transition and, eventually, free and fair elections.”

Jeffries also mentioned that the Biden-Harris administration has backed the establishment of a Multinational Security Support (MSS) operation in Haiti to safeguard the Haitian people from an increase in violent crime and establish the security conditions required for Haitian self-determination.

He noted that with assistance from countries like Canada, Germany, France, Spain, and Benin, as well as Caribbean nations like Jamaica and Barbados, the Kenyan government has

“admirably stepped up” to enable the MSS. “It is imperative that the United States ensures they have the resources to complete the mission,” stated in Jeffries’ letter to Johnson.

“However, months have passed since Secretary (of State) Antony Blinken notified Chairman Michael McCaul of his intent to support the MSS effort.”

He continued, “The situation on the ground in Haiti has rapidly deteriorated, while House Republicans have refused to deliver the resources necessary to carry out this mission.”

“Now is the time to release the full US$50 million in security support.”

“It is not in America’s national security interests to hold up the transfer of funds that support security stabilization in Haiti, particularly given the present crisis on the ground,” also stated by the Democratic Leader of the US House that Blinken has “heeded the urgency of recent events” and worked with regional authorities to address the issue last week in Jamaica.

Johnson heard Jeffries say that the US “Congress must join the Biden administration in their crucial work and meet the moment by fulfilling our essential responsibility to ensure security in the Western Hemisphere and release the full $50 million funding allocation forthwith.”

A security alert was just sent out to US nationals who are now in Haiti by the US Embassy in

Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

“Do not make plans to travel into Haiti,” the Embassy noted. “For US citizens currently in Haiti, the US government is arranging departures from the US Embassy in Port-au-Prince to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic via helicopter.”

“Travelers will need to make their own onward travel plans from the Dominican Republic,” it noted. “The overland trip into Port-au-Prince is dangerous. The Embassy recommends you consider the US Embassy Port-au-Prince flights only if you believe you can reach the embassy safely.”

The United Nations claimed that relief workers are still in Haiti, where political unrest and growing gang violence have left Port-au-Prince under tense and unstable conditions.

According to the UN, since early March, more than 242,000 gallons of water have been distributed by UNICEF and its partners, while more than 146,000 hot meals have been provided by the World Food Program (WFP) and its partners.

The UN noted that psychosocial treatment is being provided to those who have been affected by recent events.

Continued on website at www.nycaribnews.com

PJ Patterson Sees Hope for Haiti with Proposed Solution

Former Jamaican prime minister PJ Patterson is optimistic that the newly put forth solutions to the problem in Haiti would be effective and provide that nation the best chance to go ahead.

“I think what they have proposed is logical, it is feasible only if the conditions on the ground allow for its implementation,” In an exclusive interview, Patterson revealed to the neighborhood newspaper.

Ariel Henry, the prime minister of Haiti, announced his resignation after crisis talks in Kingston a little over two weeks ago. The transitional presidential council will oversee selecting an interim prime minister before a national election to select a new head of state.

“There is a very encouraging signal in that the parties mentioned in that agreement, save one, have already nominated someone to serve on the presidential council. Let us hope that the presidential council will be able to meet in a reasonable time because that is necessary to put into effect the resignation of the prime minister which will be finalized when there is a constituted authority in place,” Patterson made this claim just hours before the council released its initial formal statement, which promised to assist as soon as members are formally appoint-

ed, “put Haiti back on the path of democratic legitimacy, stability, and dignity”.

The heads of state of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) spearheaded the negotiations in Kingston, which also featured envoys from the United Nations, France, Canada, and other important nations. Patterson expressed his satisfaction that the leaders of the area are leading the charge in efforts to support Haiti by holding talks with both the international community and Haitians.

Ever since President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in 2021, Haiti has been shattered by extreme violence. When the nation’s gangs orchestrated a concerted assault in late February, they broke up a jail and freed hundreds of prisoners while demanding Henry’s resignation, which further intensified the problem.

Amidst the political turmoil and urban violence, there is a growing sense of desperation over food. The UN said this week that over five million people, or roughly half of Haiti’s population, face “crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity”.

More than 33,000 people have left the capital city of Port-au-Prince, where a state of emergency has been imposed until April, due to the rapidly deteriorating circumstances.

“Haiti is a member of Caricom, and Caricom has to demonstrate the will and the determination to help the most populous state in the region to achieve a level of democratic stability and economic development,” said Patterson, who retired from representation politics in March 2006 and is respected worldwide as an astute statesman.

“I brought Haiti into the Caribbean Community… and it was a calculated decision because Haiti deserves a very special place in the history of mankind [because] of its peculiar and unique significance in the struggle against slavery and the building of an independent

State,” Patterson told the local news.

“For that sin, they have paid an enormous price, beginning with the refusal of the developed world to recognize them as an independent country unless they paid France reparations for the slaves that had been freed,” he said.

He asserted that the circumstances in Haiti are based on the “extortion that France imposed and the repeated invasions by the United States of America, both of which have prevented Haiti from developing a free and democratic society”.

While noting that Haiti lacks political and governmental institutions, which has made it challenging to reach an agreement on the best course of action, Patterson said that the international community must play a significant role in aiding that nation in resolving its current crisis.

“Like the World Bank, the IDB (Inter-American Development Bank), the IMF (International Monetary Fund), together with nations which have done the damage, USA, France and, by extension, the European Union, [and] Canada which has benefited from considerably from Haitian expertise, all have to come together,” remarked Patterson...

Continued on website at www.nycaribnews.com

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CARIBNEWS

WEEK ENDING APRIL 9, 2024

Guyana – UN Wants Safeguard of the Judiciary A call to action has been issued by the UN Human Rights Committee (HRC) (CCPR) for Guyana to resolve the backlog of cases in the system and preserve the judiciary’s independence.

As per the Guyana Government’s complaint, the HRC’s concluding observations

failed to address its reservations. The HRC expressed concern about the roles played by the legislature and the executive branch in appointing judges and Chancellors, who are appointed directly by the President with the consent of the opposition leader

by Article 127 of the Constitution. The

President appoints judges after consulting the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

Convening in Geneva, Switzerland, the Committee expressed concern over the JSC’s appointment process, which involves the President consulting the opposition leader before making the appointment.

The practice of selecting “acting judges,” which does not ensure the independence or competency of the court, is another issue that worries the Committee.

Guyanese Protest Clinton’s Visit Because of His Role in Haiti

Civil society activists demonstrated their public dissatisfaction with former US President Bill Clinton’s visit to Guyana outside the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

This is Clinton’s first official visit to the Caribbean country. Nonetheless, a significant portion of civil society, such as members of Red Thread and the Haiti Support Group (Guyana), are very opposed to the visit.

Protesters assembled outside the ACCC to voice their concerns over both Clinton’s visit and the presence of Ernesto Torres-Pereyra, the Dominican Republic’s ambassador.

The Haiti Support Group (Guyana) released a statement in which the activists stated, “We picket to demonstrate solidarity with the people of Haiti and their right to self-determination, free movement, and national sovereignty.”

It further noted, “We picket to denounce the racist and discriminatory policies of the Dominican Republic against Haitians, as well as the Government of Guyana’s violation of the Treaty of Chaguaramas with regard to Haitians’ right of free movement throughout the Caribbean….Today [yesterday]’s picket is also against former US President Bill Clinton for his role in contributing to the corruption and destabilization of Haiti.”

The organization pointed out that while Mr. Clinton was US President, he compelled Haiti

to remove tariffs on American rice imports, which helped farmers in his home state of Arkansas find a profitable market for their produce but devastated the local Haitian rice farming industry.

According to the support organization, recent research by the University of Michigan revealed that arsenic and cadmium, heavy metals that might raise the risk of cancer and heart disease, are present in American rice, which Haiti is currently one of the major importers of.

Charlene Wilkinson of Haiti Support Group told reporters “… It shows a clear prioritizing of business and friends and family politics over respecting a nation’s sovereignty and the lives of its citizens; this is not something we want or need more of here in Guyana.”

Danuta Radzik, a Guyanese activist who was also present on the picket line, asserted that the Clintons had an extremely negative history with Haiti.

“This has to do with the level of corruption…

The Clinton Foundation has also been accused of widespread corruption and disempowerment of the Haitian people for their role in projects such as the Caracol Industrial Park which displaced over three hundred Haitian families and prioritized profit and cheap labor for multinational companies instead of providing proper employment and a living wage for

Haitian workers,” Radzik stated.

As chairman of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC), which was established following the devastating 2010 earthquake to aid and assist the Haitian people, the group clarified in the statement that Clinton continued to exhibit his disrespect and disregard for Haitian sovereignty and lives, as well as his preference for profit over people, even after leaving the White House.

The organization stated, “Less than 1% of the billions of dollars collected by the IHRC went to Haitian businesses and Haitian non-governmental organizations; most of the money went to international aid agencies, international NGOs, and for-profit businesses. Less than 10% of the funds went to the Haitian government.”

They added, “We will continue to express soli-

darity with the people of Haiti as their struggle for self-determination and recognition of their rights is one that resonates with us as Indigenous and descendants of formerly enslaved and indentured persons. We stand against business and economic policies which prioritize profit over people, rights, and justice, especially when championed by persons and institutions that espouse racist ideology and disregard for human rights.”

The support group also expressed its goal for a unified Caribbean where “our Haitian cousins can enjoy free movement throughout the region, without fear of discrimination, persecution, or forced deportation, where their rights are equally upheld, their lives and livelihoods safeguarded, and their national sovereignty respected by foreign forces.”

Furthermore, the local human rights organization brought attention to the fact that the Dominican Republic (DR), a neighbor of Haiti and organizer of the United Caribbean Forum, has been discriminating against Haitians on a systematic basis for decades.

“The DR has enacted and maintained a policy of denying the right to nationality to persons of Haitian descent, in an attempt to intimidate and expel Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent,” the body declared, denouncing the Dominican Republic’s conduct.

Guyana – Calls on International Communities to Condemn Venezuela

Guyana called on global legislators to condemn new moves by Venezuela to gain control of the Essequibo region that makes up about twothirds of the CARICOM country and is home to 125,000 of its 800,000 citizens.

Addressing the 148th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly here, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, said that while time would not permit delegates “at this conference to condemn the actions of Venezuela collectively, there is still much to be

done.

“I appeal to each of you to use the theme of this conference and the platform of your respective Parliaments to condemn the actions of Venezuela; demand compliance with international law; and call for diplomacy to be used as a bridge for peace and understanding.

“This is not a favor to Guyana, but it is discharging a duty we owe to ourselves and indeed the world, if we are to be true to the founding principles of this organization,” Nandlall said.

He told the conference that parliaments across the world bring together the largest number of the most powerful elected leaders on the planet and that this “mighty army can easily be the greatest global human agency of change, including, procuring lasting peace and understanding.

“The IPU, being the largest global association of parliaments, with its grounding principles that dialogue is central to the peaceful resolution of conflicts, is ideally poised to achieve this objective. “ But he said unfortunately “we failed to harness this energy and marshall our thoughts to

condemn the worst human rights tragedy in the world – Gaza and the lack of democracy in Venezuela.

“These horrendous events, although occurring on opposite sides of the globe, together manifest the deadly havoc that armed conflicts wreak and the social disorder and human sufferings that the absence of democracy produces,” the Attorney General said, adding that “more than 30,000 are dead in Gaza and nearly eight million refugees have fled Venezuela”.

He told the IPU assembly that there is another dimension of Venezuela that continues to claim two-thirds of the sovereign territory of Guyana unlawfully.

“This claim by Venezuela was finally and conclusively settled by Arbitration in 1899. Venezuela accepted and acted upon this Arbitral Award for six consecutive decades thereafter. It was not until in the early 1960s when Guyana was about to gain independence from Great Britain that Venezuela made the outrageous claims that the Arbitral Award was unlawful.”

Nandlall said that the South American country continues to make “this outrageous claim to

date without producing a scintilla of evidence to substantiate.

“Right here in Geneva, in 1966, Venezuela signed an Agreement with Guyana, inter alia, empowering the United Nations Secretary-General to take steps to resolve the controversy. In 2018, exercising those powers, the UN Secretary-General referred the matter to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) where it remains pending.

“Thus far, Venezuela has refused to accept the court’s jurisdiction or to be bound by any order the court makes. Venezuela has threatened physical invasion and in December 2023 moved a referendum to annex two-thirds of Guyana’s sovereign territory. The ICJ has issued interim measures restraining Venezuela from taking further steps in its declared intention.”

Nandlall said that every major international organization in the Western Hemisphere has condemned Venezuela’s actions and has called upon Venezuela to respect the jurisdiction of the ICJ, to comply with international law, and to employ diplomacy in resolving this alleged dispute. CMC

WEEK ENDING APRIL 9, 2024

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Jamaica - JCC Calls for Justice, Integrity, and Transparency

Jamaicans are being urged by the Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC) to look forward with hope instead of being fixated on the past by drawing inspiration from the account of Jesus Christ’s resurrection.

In its Easter greeting, the JCC stated, “The historical fact and pronouncement of our faith is that Jesus has risen from the dead and become the first of those who have fallen asleep to make an appearance. This reality points our attention to a world that is shrouded in the shadows of past injustices, falsehood, abuse of power, the neglect of human beings, hostility, and violence.”

“Therefore, as the people whose faith is in the Resurrection, we cannot close our ears to the many cries that rise from the cracks of our nation, seeking, calling, crying, ‘Save Us! Indeed, the Church, as representatives of the Risen Christ, has been

called to be beacons of light, ambassadors of truth, the voice of the voiceless, and the physical embodiment of the love and compassion demonstrated by Christ on Calvary’s Cross,” the JCC noted.

“Asking whether it’s nothing to you that Jesus died?” The number of spectators who assembled at the foot of the cross was seen by the JCC to be considerable.

“For us, however, this is a posture and approach that must be rejected, for we cannot be mere spectators to the plight of the oppressed. Ours is a call to righteous actions, truth-telling, and holy living in nation-building. The Church must stand as a beacon of hope and light, as we call for justice, integrity, and transparency in the corridors of power, with our politicians and within the Church, ‘so that Jamaica may under God, increase in beauty, fellowship, and prosperity, and to play her

part in advancing the welfare of the whole human race.’”

The JCC added: “Our race is not a mad rush to the finish line of personal accomplishment; instead, it is a race that patiently bears with the poor and marginalized.

It is a race that seeks the lost and dying, that bears with understanding the plight of fellow human beings.”

According to the JCC, Jesus’ resurrection is not just a historical occurrence but also a timeless message of transformation and hope that inspires us to promote peace and foster community.

“So, this Easter Sunday, let us proclaim hope and pursue holiness with the knowledge that the seeds we sow today through our words and actions will profoundly impact the destiny of generations to come.

May we together join hands across this nation and be integral instruments of God’s

grace and presence as we seek to build ‘Jamaica, the land we love.’”

Dominica - Civil Servants Want Salary Increase DON’T JUST KINDA TV. DIRECTV.

The Dominica Public Service Union says it is seeking a 15 percent salary increase for its members over three years. General secretary Thomas Letang told a meeting of the union’s membership that “we have looked at the rate of inflation… and we are proposing to the government that for the 2021-22 financial year that public officers be paid a four percent salary increase.

“For the year 2022-23, we are proposing a five percent salary increase [and] for the year 202324, your executive is proposing a six percent salary increase.

“So in all, brothers and sisters, we are proposing a total of 15 percent salary increase over a three-year period. We will be told that the government embarked on a re-classification exercise, we have always said to you that a re-classification exercise, especially one where large groups of public officers are disadvantaged, is not a salary increase.

“So when we decide brothers and sisters to stand and to send that message that we want a salary increase and we want something that is reasonable and fair, my expectation is that whatever dream that you now have, will become a reality.”

Letang said members should also stand in solidarity with workers at two state-owned entities, where in one case the employees have not received a salary increase for decades.

“We should have dreams and visions to work in solidarity with our members at DASPA [Dominica Air and Seaport Authority] because these employees are the very same people who forfeited a salary increase because of COVID and they are now being offered increases that do not take the rate of inflation into consideration,” he said, adding “we have to be in solidarity with them.

“We have to be in solidarity with our members, our brothers and sisters, at Discover Dominica because what has been told to them is that they will not be getting a salary increase after they have not received a salary increase for over a decade,” Letang said.

Meanwhile, the president of the Civil Service Association in St Lucia, Cyprian Montrope, who also addressed the meeting, urged members to support the public service union in its quest for increased salaries.

“Too often we allow the executive to do all the hard work, but we the members only want to know what the percentage increase would be and not necessarily give them the support that would cause that increase to be what you expect to be…and also the conditions of work.

“I urge you the members to give all support.

Support means not only coming to meetings but support also means you have to speak to every member and non-member wherever you work,” the trade unionist said. (CMC)

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CARIBNEWS

WEEK ENDING APRIL 9, 2024

UN - Secretary-General Calls for Reparations for Slavery

Antonio Guterres, the head of the UN, recently demanded compensation for the

transatlantic slave trade to address the legacy of this practice in modern society, which includes institutional racism.

At least 12.5 million Africans were taken captive, forced to travel by European ships and traders, and sold into slavery between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries.

After enduring the grueling journey, those who made it to the Americas were forced to work on plantations, primarily in Brazil and the Caribbean, while others made money from their labor.

In his address on the United Nations International Day of Remembrance of the Slavery Victims, Guterres stated that the past “laid the foundations for a violent discrimination system based on white supremacy.”

“We call for reparatory justice frameworks to help overcome generations of exclusion and discrimination,” Guterres explained.

A U.N. study from September recommended that nations think about making monetary reparations to make up for slavery. Although the concept of making restitution for slavery, such as paying reparations, has a long history, the movement has recently gained international traction.

During the United Nations General Assembly, Hilary Beckles, the head of the Caribbean Community political and economic union’s reparations panel, remarked “This is the movement that will signal, finally, the collective victory of humanity, of good over evil.”

In order to get reparations from former

colonial powers like the United Kingdom, France, and Portugal—along with assistance in addressing public health crises— the Caricom Reparations Commission was established.

In a poll conducted on March 25, 2024, The Repair Campaign—which is creating socioeconomic restoration plans for Caricom countries—found that four out of ten British respondents thought the Caribbean should get monetary compensation, and three out of five said a formal apology was overdue.

It is time for “Britain and other former and current colonial powers to own up to their responsibility,” according to Verene Shepherd, head of the University of the West Indies’ Center for Reparation Research.

T&T – Dr. Tewarie says The Caribbean is Very Important to China

During a virtual seminar about economic relations between China and the Caribbean, former government minister Dr. Bhoendradatt Tewarie stated that although China views the Caribbean as one of many places in the world that are important to the development of its global agenda, he considered whether the Caribbean leaders would seize the chance to fortify their ties with China.

Tewarie mentioned that the ruling Communist Party of China released a document in 2008 outlining its views on Latin America and the Caribbean in connection to Chinese foreign policy.

“That was the beginning, you might say, of a very focused interest by China in our part of the world. Today, China is a major presence in the Caribbean and Latin America in trade, investment, and development.”

According to Tewarie, this relationship is still developing. He cited the 2013 visit

by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the

Caribbean as a significant turning point in the development of China-Caribbean ties.

Xi met with Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the current leader of the opposition, in Port of Spain on that tour. Tewarie said that during that visit, Xi “met with every leader of Caricom that was not aligned to Taiwan and each engagement was reported on the Chinese government website.” These three nations are Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, and St. Kitts & Nevis.

China and T&T have maintained diplomatic relations since 1974. During Xi’s visit to T&T, a memorandum of understanding was signed, allowing T&T and China to collaborate in fields like infrastructure and energy that interest both parties. Tewarie went on to say that in 2013, Xi traveled to the US, Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Caribbean. “The Caribbean visit, you might say, was a kind of initiation for Xi Jinping to this part of the world, but to also give him a sense of the countries that China considered important

in the (Western) Hemisphere.”

According to Tewarie, China has invested more than $10 billion in various Caricom nations. “There can be no question (that) China’s interest in the region in trade, investment, finance, and projects has increased.” Tewarie said that interest is

visible “from Cuba, Jamaica, and the Bahamas in the north to T&T, Guyana, and Suriname in the south and every country in between.”

China is now Latin America’s largest (financial) lender for energy and infrastructure projects, according to him, surpassing the combined efforts of the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, and International Monetary Fund. According to Tewarie, countries like Brazil, Chile, Cuba, and Uruguay have China as one of their main export markets.

He continued by saying that the Caribbean must be aware of these trends.

According to Tewarie, the Caribbean can preserve its relationships with the US and Europe while fortifying ties with China.

Tewarie thinks the Caribbean hasn’t taken full use of the prospects for growth provided by the US’s Caribbean Basin Initiative and comparable paths through accords with the European Union.

Immigration – Boosting US Economy says J.P. Morgan Joyce Chang, chief of global research at JPMorgan, claims that despite many global issues, the recent spike in immigration into the U.S. is supporting the economy.

The United States Federal Reserve increased its forecast for U.S. GDP growth in 2024 to 2.1% on Wednesday from 1.4% in its December outlook. This is because the economy is still showing signs of resilience despite high interest rates, which the central bank is using to control inflation.

Despite tighter monetary policy, the labor market has remained reasonably hot, as seen by the 275,000 new jobs the economy created in February and the unemployment rate being below 4%.

Additionally, the Fed increased its forecasts for core personal consumption expenditure, which is its favored inflation indicator. It raised

its expectations for the core PCE from 2.4% to 2.6% after the inflation data for January and February dashed expectations that price hikes were completely contained.

The volatile food and energy costs are not included in the core consumer price index, which increased 0.4% in February and 3.8% year over year—a marginal increase over projections.

“We are still seeing the phenomena around the globe that services inflation is still well above where it was before the pandemic, so we’re looking at 3% for core CPI, but I think one thing that was really underestimated in the U.S. was the immigration story,” Chang recently shared with CNBC’s “Squawk Box Europe” in an interview.

“The U.S. population is almost 6 million higher than it was two years ago or so, and so that has accounted for a lot of the increase in consump-

tion when you see the very low unemployment numbers as well.”

She pointed out that the Fed is “not out of the woods yet” in terms of inflation given the increasing pressure on salaries and housing expenses as well as the return of energy prices thus far this year.

According to a recent analysis by the Congressional Budget Office, net immigration to the United States was expected to reach 3.3 million in 2023 and stay there through 2024, then decline to 2.6 million in 2025 and 1.8 million in 2026.

One of the most hotly debated subjects in the lead-up to the presidential election in November is immigration, specifically border crossings. Chang suggested that further events, notably the developing circumstances in Haiti, would make the problem worse.

She did, however, contend that immigration is “a good thing” in terms of its overall effects on the economy.

“From everything that we have seen, the revenues that are generated exceed the expenses.

Now it is a political issue, not just here in the U.S. but you look at Europe, it’s also probably the No. 1 issue right now, but we do think that when you look at the unemployment numbers, the strength of consumption, the immigration was a big part of that,” Chang remarked.

According to Chang, the U.S. economy has outperformed other economies due to several other reasons, including its large budget deficit and energy independence. In recent times, Europe has faced challenges in eliminating its dependence on Russian energy supplies.

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T&T – PM Rowley Calls on Spiritual Baptists to Help in the Fight Against Crime The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago is pleading with the Spiritual Shouter Baptist community to assist in putting an end to the menace of crime and violence.

“I want to say to you, the Spiritual Baptists, as I call out to parents across the nation, to try and break the cycle of what is happening now by paying attention to raising your children. If there is anything you can teach the people of Trinidad and Tobago, you the Spiritual Baptist, you can teach the people how to raise their children with moral and spiritual values.”

During the PNM Spiritual Baptist Liberation Day Celebrations at Balisier House in Port of Spain, he stated that since he was one of the greatest examples of overcoming obstacles, people should be encouraged to take personal responsibility for changing their circumstances and encouraging young people to take advantage of the opportunities that are available to them.

According to PM Rowley, up to the removal of the religion’s prohibition in 1951, the Spiritual Baptists were subjected to state persecution. Thus, it was appropriate

that the State fulfilled its 2020 pledge to provide them with government support so they might better themselves to settle their debt.

He stated that land in Balmain, Couva, and a $20 million gift were intended to constitute the support. According to him, the reason they received just half of the funds was that their differences made it appear improbable that they would be able to form an institutional framework.

“The Cabinet said we will give you assistance of $10 million and some land in Balmain and see what you will do with it.

I’m pleased to receive the invitation today to come down and officiate in opening a structure because you have built the headquarters in Balmain.”

In addition to having designs for a cathedral drawn up, he claimed the Spiritual Baptists also acquired ten acres of property at Rivulet Road, Couva, for a memorial site, and they constructed a headquarters and parking lot in Balmain. The government was willing to assist them more consequently.

“It is the first time I have heard from a

Bahamas – Former Legislator Shot and Killed in Robbery Attempt

Former Member of Parliament (MP) Donald Saunders became the 35th murder victim in the Bahamas when he was gunned down on the outskirts of a club on the evening of March 27, 2024.

Saunders, an attorney turned politician, was the MP for Tall Pines and deputy speaker of the House of Assembly in the country from 2017 to 2021.

The police report that Saunders, 49, was outside the club when at 9:15 pm (local time) two armed men approached him and other patrons and demanded cash.

“About five to six patrons were sitting out

in the yard when two armed men, both were masked, held all the patrons at bay and demanded cash. The patrons panicked and everybody ran in different directions,” said Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander.

He added: “Shots were fired. After a short while, the patrons who ran to the front realized that one of the adult males was not seen, and when they came back to check they met the lifeless body of an adult male lying face down.”

The police believe that Saunders was not specifically targeted. (CMC)

patriarch that the Spiritual Baptists are not scattered all over the place because they want to be leaders in every community but because they want to be evangelists in every community…I intend to ask the Cabinet, at the next session, having got confirmation that you have made full use of the first half, to get you the second half.”

To discover a means to better the lives of its citizens, he also noted that Caricom was holding another meeting on Saturday

to discuss the situation in Haiti.

He said that the oppression of the Haitians was similar to that of the Spiritual Baptists, with the exception that the former were slaves who battled for their liberation using iron and blood.

However, they were forced to make restitution to their oppressors rather than receive aid.

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CARIBEDITORIAL

WEEK ENDING APRIL 9, 2024

Celebrating Dr. Ashley James - A Visionary with a Focus, With Receptive Eyes, Ready for Real Engagement The Caribbean iconic thought leader Professor Rex Nettleford commented that it is necessary for some of us to leave the field and make the way to the Great House, to be able to find out what is happening in the Great House, and how it can be used to advance the people, the people who have been kept in the field for so long. He also warned against reaching the great house, we have to be careful not to mimic those who are there or to get caught up in the grandeur of being there.

The purpose must be remembered and action taken for the privilege of being in a position in the great house. It is a great cultural house, The Guggenheim Museum, that has imposing architecture and a reputation for some of the greatest cultural events in the United States.

In 2019, the Guggenheim hired its first black permanent curator, Dr. Ashley James, who happens to be of Jamaican heritage. Both her parents migrated from Jamaica to the United States, and she grew up in a Jamaican home. Dr. James was given that privilege by the work she has

done, her academic achievements, and her own ability to navigate the world of high visibility culture. She came to Guggenheim after her successful stint at Brooklyn Museum where she led the well-accepted presentation “Soul of a Nation - Art In the Age of Black Power”. Dr. James also served as a Mellon Curatorial Fellow at the Museum and Modern Art and held positions at the Studio Museum in Harlem. So she came to the position well prepared and she started at the Guggenheim around the time of the George Floyd situation, Black Lives Matter movement, and high visibility of the black movement, let’s say, the black revolution. And although she will tell you that her own positioning of her work was not necessarily a reaction to but certainly an awareness of the ongoing racial situation.

James’ first show for the Guggenheim, `Off the Record’ was a very bold one and you can see the courage she brought to the job with the effort to bring material that literally governs as she says all of our lives in some form, as we deal with records at

various levels and in many, many ways and literally, a daily basis. James featured the work of 13 artists which she remarks speaks back to a dominant history that is reflective of specific people in power, the victors specific institution and all of the values that they carry. And the current Show - Going Dark - The contemporary figures at the edge of visibility.

Here, Dr. James is bringing to a consciousness or the consciousness of museum goers, the systemic tension between surveillance over visible and Going Dark.

Going Dark is a strategic move of the movement itself. All this in Sculpture, Photography, Painting, and Video brings a wide experience to the show. The show in a way explores the tension and the friction between the desire for recognition, the frustration of distortion, and the need for self-preservation when necessary. It brings to the Guggenheim Museum some of the complexities of the day to day consideration, in a large part of their population, that is for the museum goers unrecognized or even been unaware. So, for the Guggen-

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heim Museum goers, this is quite a departure where you have such a Focus is an expansive approach to this question and to have this taking over the iconic Rotunda of the museum with over 100 pieces, 28 artists, most of which are black is a revolution in itself and the cultural world. A revolution led by Dr James, a relatively young curator, but with the vision, bold and keen, and bringing an understanding to these contemporary issues that sometimes gets lost in the glitzy world of museum.

Dr. James has used this platform in a way that is engaging, impactful and historic and has set the pathway to an understanding of the full complexity of life that culture needs to address, and that museums such as Guggenheim need to be engaged with. This is truly a moment to celebrate. As we watch and experience this exhibition, this show, with the story told in so many ways and on so many levels that it can no longer be hidden. It demands our active participation.

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

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Tireless Activism and the Latest Region to Go Coal-Free

by Ben Jealous

Jerry Curran has been organizing to retire the Merrimack Station coal power plant in Bow, New Hampshire for 17 years. He is one of many local activists who have brought inspiring tenacity and creativity to the fight to make New England coal-free.

Last week, that goal was realized. After lengthy negotiations with the Sierra Club, The Conservation Law Foundation, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Granite Shore Power announced it will retire Merrimack and Schiller Stations’ remaining coal units by 2028 and 2025 respectively. That means the end of the last coal power plants in New England, which will now join the Pacific Northwest as the second major region in the country to be free of one of the dirtiest energy sources known to humanity.

I am personally elated. My father’s family has been in New England since 1624. I have family in New Hampshire now – the kind of outdoors enthusiasts who helped instill in me my own love of nature.

We never could have gotten to this point without years of activism calling attention to the harm caused by coal. In addition to the economics of clean energy, the incremental wins by activists along the way – including hard-won legislation and safeguards – are what ultimately made it impossible for the last coal plants to continues.

Curran has examples to share: “Around 2008, New Hampshire ranked in the top four states in the country for childhood asthma rate. We worked with schools to encourage kids to make those paper dolls that link up and make a chain. They created 18,000 of them – representing the 18,000 children in New Hampshire living with asthma. We hung the chain of paper dolls across the statehouse in our grassroots lobbying to pass tougher pollution standards for coal plants.”

And about that same time period, activists recruited local hairdressers for an event at the state capital in which more than 100 legislators had hair samples taken to be tested for mercury. Most of the results were positive. No level of mercury poisoning is safe.

In 2008, the biggest single-point mercury polluter in the state was Merrimack Station.

Merrimack has also consistently been one of the state’s top polluting power plants, period.

And it has continued spewing high levels of pollution even in its final years, when it operated only about 50 days a year. It is a so-called “peaker” plant, only supplying energy during times of peak demand for the power grid.

While Merrimack’s outsized pollution is a testament to the dangers of coal, it is also a very troubled plant. In February 2023, the New Hampshire Department of Environment

Services found the coal plant’s particulate matter emissions exceeded EPA limits by 70 percent. Since then, it has operated more than 500 hours in violation of its permit, according to the state.

But this new agreement with Granite Shore Power offers the chance for a drastic change in direction. Jim Andrews, Granite Shore’s CEO, said of Merrimack and Schiller, “I think we’re undertaking a bold step forward and making good on a promise to transition our coal fired plants to clean energy facilities. I think these facilities will pave the way for New Hampshire to be a leader in the clean energy economy.”

Those words are refreshing. And we will hold Granite Shore Power to them.

Too much is at stake for us not to.

In the last 14 years, communities across the country have mobilized to retire 381 coal plants. That has meant over 54,000 lives saved, 84,000 heart attacks prevented, and nearly 900,000 asthma attacks averted. Moving beyond coal means fewer lives lost to preventable illnesses.

We risk backtracking on this progress, however, if we replace coal plants with gas. The future is clean energy like wind, solar, and battery storage. Gas development, extraction, shipping, and burning all offer intolerable health risks for people.

Moreover, transitioning to clean energy isn’t just the moral choice for our people and our environment; it is the smart one economically.

While the closure of these New Hampshire coal plants may not immediately affect energy costs in New England, the long-term benefits of clean energy are undeniable. Fossil fuels like coal and gas create an unbearably volatile landscape for energy costs. That is a burden households should not have to bear.

Ben Jealous is the Executive Director of the Sierra Club and a Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania.

A SEAT AT THE TABLE A Salute to Women in Government

By State Senator Kevin Parker

Every March, we celebrate women by recognizing their importance and contributions to society. In these closing days of this year’s Women’s History Month, I turn my focus not so much on the historical women figures (though their contributions are invaluable) but on those -- Black women in particular -- whose hands are not just rocking the cradle but ruling the world in the seat of government. For this opinion, I am talking about women leaders like Kamala Harris, the first female Vice President, the highest-ranking female official in U.S. history, and the first African American and first Asian American. Currently in New York Governor Kathy Hochul is celebrated as the first female governor of this State. We are also privileged to have influential women leaders like the New York State Attorney General, Letitia James, the first African American woman elected to that position. In the Senate, Andrea Stewarts-Cousins is doing a masterful job in her history-making position as President Pro Tempore and Majority Leader.

Also of note is that there are more women in the NYS Legislature than ever in its history.

Locally, at the city government level, the New York City Council comprises a majority of women and is led by Adrianne Adams, the first African American speaker on this body.

However, while it’s necessary to celebrate these women and their achievements, we need to also view their rise in leadership as much more than

a marker in the sands of history. Their presence on the local, state, and national stage must be upheld for the importance it brings to our way of life and our world at such a time as this.

Because here’s the thing: juxtaposed to the many historic firsts of women currently in high offices is the sober reality of issues like gender pay equity and domestic violence. It has been said that the COVID-19 pandemic not only fueled a health and economic crisis but a caregiving crisis that magnified the challenges that women and girls - especially those of color-- have long faced.

I assert that with so many women rising to leadership positions, we have a unique opportunity to right some of the wrongs of the past, especially in these areas.

A White House report on a National Strategy for Gender Equity and Equality conducted during the pandemic spotlighted what it called a “shadow pandemic” of gender-based violence in the United States and around the world. As an example, in the area of domestic violence, 4.6 million intimate partner-related physical assaults are perpetrated against women every year. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that the cost of domestic violence – which includes medical care, mental health services, and lost productivity - runs over $8.3 billion. Moreover, the gender pay gap – the difference between the earnings of men and women – has barely closed in the United States in the past two decades. In 2022, American women typically earned 82 cents for every dol-

lar earned by men. That is about the same as in 2002 when they earned 80 cents to the dollar.

However, beyond the static words in a report or the poetic musings of a hand rocking the cradle, many more evidence- based facts support the argument that these women in power are critical to affecting change.

And that is their track record of service and life experiences. In every instance, these women have attended public school, lived in public houses or urban centers, been public defenders, have family members who were incarcerated or launched domestic violence initiatives, among other social justice issues. In other words, their power and influence come from much more than just being a woman. They have lived lives that support their innate “motherhood,” thus having the sensibility and sensitivity to be the preeminent force for change. As such, each and every one of them has earned their seat at the table.

It was Shirley Chisholm, celebrated as the first Black Congresswoman and Presidential Candidate, who advised her contemporaries: “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” Thankfully, in death, Chisholm’s voice has been amplified. With what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called the “fierce urgency of now,” women have packed up their folded chairs and are rightfully taking their seats at the table. It is more than past the hour when we must not only advance women into leadership; we must now level the playing field to the point where their presence in positions of power is

no longer “the first.”

Coretta Scott King, as the wife and soulmate of Dr. King, was a preeminent example of “rocking the cradle while ruling the world.”

During her lifetime, she encouraged women’s leadership this way: “Women, if the soul of the nation is to be saved, I believe you must become its soul.”

Indeed, women leaders in government have emerged as the soul of this nation, and so it is urgent that we do not fall asleep in protecting all their rights. In the remaining days of Women’s History Month, I urge you, as we celebrate our past and present women history makers, let’s take it a little bit further this year and honor the women who personally inspire us every day, including our mothers, nieces, sisters, and neighbors. Honor each woman who provides an essential and loving role model for our next generation of outstanding women, even if their seat is at the kitchen table.

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NY – Hakeem Jeffries Endorses Jamaal Bowman in Congressional Primary

Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s official endorsement by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has put an end to months of conjecture over the beleaguered progressive’s status inside the Democratic Party as a result of his vocal criticism of Israel.

In his bid for reelection, Bowman must contend with a fierce primary in the 16th Congressional District. The Democrat running against him, Westchester County Executive George Latimer, is more moderate and backs Israel’s continuous onslaught

on Gaza. Before Jeffries’ support, prominent Democratic figures in Washington had mostly remained silent on the contest.

In a recently issued statement, Jeffries, together with Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar of California and Minority Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, stated as much, “We stand together to endorse our colleague Jamaal Bowman for re-election.”

“Rep. Bowman’s life experiences – raised by a single mom in public housing and founding a public school serving low-income children in the Bronx – have shaped him into a public servant who fights for economic justice and in defense of historically underrepresented communities.”

For Bowman, who only covers a small portion of the southern Westchester and northern Bronx, Jeffries’ support is an important addition. Bowman has persisted in calling for an ongoing cease-fire and has been under fire from supporters of Israel as well as from voters since Latimer is supported by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a notorious figure within the left side of the party. Over the years, AIPAC has also supported Jeffries.

With a $1.4 million harvest driven by

Council Member De La Rosa’s Statement in Response to the Preliminary Budget Response

New York, NY – “With a more optimistic revenue stream in our City’s budget, now is the time to restore funding for critical services and end this cycle of austerity.

I thank Speaker Adams and the Budget Negotiation Team for prioritizing housing, job creation, and education in the Council’s Preliminary Budget Response.

As Chair of the Civil Service and Labor

Committee, I am dedicated to fighting for our municipal workforce. The Council has repeatedly called out the negative impacts of delayed services due to vacancies.

We must prioritize the optimization of our municipal workforce if we want our City to run efficiently.

The City Council’s preliminary budget also makes significant investments in stable, dignified housing. We need a holistic approach to address the current housing crisis and meet the needs of New Yorkers on the margins who are most at risk of falling through the cracks in the system.

I am excited to see the budget response prioritize education funding from 3K to CUNY. Access to quality educational opportunities is essential to working- and middle-class families.

We cannot afford to balance the budget on the backs of the neediest New Yorkers.

Today, under the leadership of Speaker Adams, we took a positive step towards an equitable and balanced budget.”

AIPAC outreach, Latimer outraised Bowman almost two to one in the most recent quarter. Bowman has been fiercely defended against accusations by an antiwar faction both inside and outside the district, although he is preferred by people who are outraged by Bowman’s remarks regarding the war.

Notably, in Israel, Jeffries is on Bowman’s right and is a Brooklyn native. However, Jeffries has supported several progressive incumbents this election cycle who are up against strong primary opponents. These include Representatives Summer Lee of Pennsylvania and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, who are both under criticism for remarks they made against Israel.

On October 7, Hamas militants broke into Israel, causing 1,200 deaths and kidnapping over 200 people, according to Israel.

In response, Israel invaded Gaza, resulting in more than 32,000 deaths overall, with women and children accounting for more than two-thirds of the casualties, according to the health ministry in Gaza. Hunger is a serious issue and may strike Gaza “anytime,” according to UN warnings.

Bowman declared himself “proud” to receive the backing of House Democrats.

Bowman remarked in a statement, “Together, we’ve stood up against powerful special interests and extreme MAGA Republicans to deliver much-needed progress for poor and working people everywhere.” He added, “We have more work to do and I’m excited to continue working with the House Democratic leadership to defend our democracy, protect our rights, and fight for the people.”

The more established members of the community, such as Democratic city and town committees and former Representative Eliot Engel, whom Bowman defeated in the 2020 Democratic primary, have endorsed Latimer.

Latimer maintained his confidence in his chances in a statement sent by his team.

“As a former leader of a legislative body, I understand that it is normal for leaders to support incumbent members of that body,” Latimer stated. “My support base is strong in the district among Democrats where the primary will be decided. I look forward to voting for [House Minority] Leader Jeffries for speaker next January.”

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CARIBNEWS

13

Going Dark. The Contemporary Figure at the End of Visibility.

by Basil Roman

magazines and catalogs, including publications on Charles White, Palmer Hayden, and Howardena Pindell.

James holds a Ph.D. from Yale University in English Literature and African Studies.

Both of James’ parents are Jamaican and she is proud of her Jamaican heritage. The show closes on April 7th, too soon. We urge anyone who has the opportunity to make the time and effort to see the show. It is well worth it and an experience to take away.

A show now at the Guggenheim Museum and will be closing in a few days, is a mustsee for those of you who can make it in the next couple of days. Curated by Ashley James, a Jamaican, and the first black fulltime permanent curator at the Guggenheim, has taken over the rotunda of the museum with the show; Going Dark: The Contemporary Figure at the Edge of Visibility presents a work of art that features partially or hidden figures, thus positioning them at the edge of visibility. In this art context, the common phrase going dark is understood as a tactic whereby artists visually conceal the body to explain a key tension in contemporary society. It desires to be seen, and it desires to be hidden from sight.

Artists in the show articulate ‘going dark’ by way of formal strategies that may include literally darkening methods like shadowing, rotating the body, novel material, printing methods and post-production tools that blur or brighten - some of the most recent work that will be seen will draw upon digital technology such as chroma key green or blue screen. These were moved fluidly between figuration and abstraction, and many of the artists inventively manipulated color and light also to obscure optical perception, challenging the very biology of vision.

The New York Times critic Aruna D’souza suggests, appropriately, that the show asks what it means to be seen and to see each other, especially when the seeing takes place across racial and other forms of differences, what does it mean, especially for people of color, to be hyper-visible and subject to increased surveillance, while at the same time erased from the field of vision, forgotten in social and political landscapes. How does looking at each

other through these layers of stereotyping and misunderstanding distort our perception of the world, if being visible is a trap is there solace found in invisibility?

These are the questions of the day and the show in a subtle and also in a forceful way raises and answers some of these questions. The show occupying the Guggenheim Museum’s iconic rotunda, Going Dark presents more than 100 works by a group of 28 artists, the majority of whom are blacks and more than half of whom are women. While most of the work dates from the 1980s to the present, a selection was created in the 1960s and 1970s by three iconic artists David Hammons, Faith Ringgold, and Charles White, suggesting that the development of conceptual art during these decades launched new pathways of expression that laid the groundwork for contemporary artists tackling the age of visibility today.

Ashley James, Associate Curator of Contemporary Art, joined the curatorial department in 2019. Her work merges curatorial practice with an academic background rooted in African American studies, English literature, and Women’s Gender and Sexuality studies. Prior to joining the Guggenheim, James served as senior Curator for Contemporary Art at the Brooklyn Museum, where she was the lead curator for the museum presentation of Souls of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power, 2018 to 2019. Organized

by Eric Mark, Lemme Walk Across Your Room 2019, and co-curated John Edmonds A Sidelong Glance 2020-21. James also served as a Mellon Curatorial Fellow in Drawing and Prints at the Museum of Modern Art, where her work focused on the groundbreaking retrospective of Adrian Piper 2018 and Charles White

2018 to 2019, and has held positions at Studio Museum in Harlem and at the Yale University Art Gallery, where she co-organized an exhibition Old Volumes book art from Allan Chasanoff Collection. She has contributed essays and research for books,

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WEEK ENDING APRIL 9, 2024

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CARIBBRIEFS

15

US Coast Guard Repatriates UN - Sir Hilary Beckles Calls for Justice for Haiti 65 Haitians Back to Haiti After a 60-day Caribbean patrol during which 65 Haitian migrants were repatriated, the crew of the US Coast Guard’s cutter Venturous has returned to its home port in St. Petersburg, Florida, according to the USCG. The Venturous aided Joint Interagency Task Force-South and US Homeland Security Task Force-Southeast in their counterdrug operations, according to a statement released by the Coast Guard.

“The migrants were safely transferred to Venturous from Coast Guard cutters Dauntless, Forward and Vigilant. Aboard

Venturous, the migrants were given food, water, and basic medical care before being repatriated to the Haitian Coast Guard in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti,” stated the US Coast Guard.

According to the report, the Venturous was assigned to the Coast Guard Seventh District and was responsible for monitoring the South Florida Straits and Windward Passage in the Caribbean Sea, “to conduct maritime safety and security missions while working to detect, deter, and intercept unsafe and unlawful migrant ventures bound for the United States.”

Sir Hilary Beckles, the vice chancellor of UWI, claims that the continuous political unrest in Haiti is proof that the world community is not doing enough to solve the problems caused by the transatlantic slave business.

Beckles gave a speech on March 25 at a program honoring the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade that was organized by the UN General Assembly in New York.

Beckles bemoaned the fact that, although Haiti was the first country to break free from slavery in 1804, its citizens had never

been able to reach the degree of development that ought to have followed such an accomplishment.

“We are calling for justice for the people of Haiti, who should have been held aloft for being the first nation to end the evil of slavery.”

Ambassador Dennis Francis of the United Nations General Assembly concurred with Beckles that the current state of affairs in Haiti is proof of a long-standing crime against humanity.

Francis said that prejudice against persons of African heritage persisted worldwide.

St. Kitts Moving to Ban Single-Use Plastics BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – The St. Kitts-Nevis government is moving to ban single-use plastics, implementing a threephase structure that will affect the importation, sale, and distribution of several items.

Environment, Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment Minister, Dr Joyelle Clarke, told Parliament that the first phase

involves the ban on importation of T-shirt plastic shopping bags as of 31 December 2024.

She said this will be followed by a ban on the sale and distribution of these bags by March 31, 2025.

Under the second phase, there will be a ban on the importation of Styrofoam food containers and plastic straws effective

Gang Leader Demands Role in Transition Talks Port-au-Prince’s capital is mostly under the influence of groups commanded by Jimmy Chérizier, popularly known as Barbecue. He said that the violence that has engulfed Haiti in recent weeks may worsen in the days ahead.

Despite this, he told the media. “We are ready for solutions.” More than 11 million people live in the poor Caribbean country of Haiti, where there hasn’t been a prime minister since March 12.

After signing an agreement to bring in a multinational security force in an attempt to reestablish law and order, Ariel Henry

resigned from his position because armed gangs were preventing him from leaving Kenya.

Because of the authority vacuum, gangs have taken advantage of it and increased their influence over large regions of the nation, making certain areas essentially lawless.

With support from the US and other Caribbean countries, a Presidential Transitional Council has been formed to develop a strategy to bring back democratic governance in Haiti.

US Arms Fuel Gang Violence in Haiti

Human rights defenders and civil society organizations have made a clear demand for years, while armed groups have driven Haiti into greater turmoil.

Stop the supply of illegal guns, particularly those coming from the US, to criminal organizations.

Their plea is being heard again as a wave of fatal gang attacks engulfs Port-au-Prince’s metropolis.

“Haiti has no weapons or ammunition factory,” the National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH), a well-known organization for Haitian rights, has a

lawyer named Rosy Auguste Ducena as its program director.

“So the weapons and ammunition that circulate in Haiti and that sow mourning in Haiti are coming from elsewhere and, for the most part, from the United States.”

Due to poor state institutions, corruption, and difficulties in policing the country’s enormous coastline, the variety of weapons and ammunition that flood into Haiti is mostly unregulated. These include pistols, semi-automatic rifles, and even military-style weaponry.

April 30, 2025.

The government said that the sale and distribution of the same items will be banned as of July 31, 2025.

The final phase involves banning the importation of single-use plastic cups, plastic plates, and plastic utensils as of August 31, 2025, followed by a ban on the sale and distribution of the same products as of

November 30, 2025.

Clarke told legislators that the ban on single-use plastics is a “decisive step” towards the government’s unwavering commitment to protecting the natural environment and towards fostering a sustainable future for the twin-island nation.

The single-use plastic ban is also part of the government’s commitment...

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CARIBBRIEFS

WEEK ENDING APRIL 9, 2024

WEEK ENDING APRIL 9, 2024

CARIBHEALTH

17

PAHO Calls for Collective Action in Response to Record Increase in Dengue Cases in the Americas Washington, DC (PAHO) - The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) today warned about the surge in dengue cases in the Americas. As of March 26, 2024, over 3.5 million cases and more than 1,000 deaths have been reported in the region.

“This is cause for concern, as it represents three times more cases than those reported for the same period in 2023, a record year with more than 4.5 million cases reported in the region,” PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa said during a press briefing.

While dengue is on the rise throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, the hardest-hit countries are Brazil (83%), Paraguay (5.3%), and Argentina (3.7%), which account for 92% of cases and 87% of deaths. This increase is attributed to the higher transmission season in the southern hemisphere, when the Aedes aegypti mosquito vector of dengue thrives due to warm and rainy weather.

However, Dr. Barbosa cautioned that “we are also seeing an uptick in cases in countries such as Barbados, Costa Rica,

Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Martinique and Mexico, where transmission is usually higher in the second half of the year.”

The PAHO Director also noted the presence of the mosquito vector and cases in new geographical areas, raising concerns that some countries may not be prepared to face an increase in transmission.

Several environmental and social factors contribute to the spread of dengue, including rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and the El Niño phenomenon.

Rapid population growth and unplanned urbanization also play a crucial role: poor housing conditions and inadequate water and sanitation services create mosquito breeding sites through discarded objects that can collect water.

PAHO maintains a rigorous surveillance of dengue in the region and has issued nine epidemiological alerts in the past 12 months, providing essential guidance to Member States on disease prevention and control.

The presence of all four dengue serotypes in the region increases the risk of epidem-

Haiti - Hunger Crisis Caused Death of Thousands of Children

PORT-AU-PRINCE (CMC): The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has voiced concern about the health and nutrition of Haitian children, following recent findings from analysis conducted by the Integrated Food Security Classification Framework (IPC).

The report points to a 19 per cent increase in the number of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition so far this year in the French-speaking Caribbean Community member state.

The analysis also shows that 1.64 million people face critical levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 4), increasing the risk of wasting and malnutrition among children, particularly in eight regions of the country.

It added that armed violence in the Artibonite and Ouest departments, which encompass the capital, Port-au-Prince, has hampered the delivery of aid and shaken an already- fragile health system, posing a serious threat tothe lives of more than 125,000 children at risk of severe acute malnutrition and related diseases.

“Violence and instability in Haiti have consequences that go far beyond the risks associated with the violence itself. The situation is creating a health and nutrition crisis that could cost the lives of countless children,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

“Thousands of children are on the brink, with vital supplies ready to be delivered if the violence stops and roads and hospitals reopen. This nutritional crisis is entirely man-made. Basic security conditions are urgently needed for the people of Haiti, for the vital services on which they depend to function, and for humanitarian workers to reach the children and families who desperately need them,” she said.

Since January, the deterioration of security in Haiti has continued to worsen, with UNICEF being unable to store, deliver and resupply much-needed aid to the population; and earlier this month, one of 17 UNICEF containers was looted from the Caribbean Port Service in Port-au-Prince.

ics and severe forms of the disease. The simultaneous circulation of two or more dengue serotypes has been observed in 21 countries and territories of the Americas.

Dr. Barbosa emphasized the importance of taking prompt action to prevent and control dengue transmission and avoid deaths, noting that “despite the record increase in cases in 2023, the dengue case fatality rate in the region remained below 0.05%.” This, he noted, “is very encouraging, considering the spikes in cases we have seen since then.”

This accomplishment has been possible thanks to PAHO’s support to countries since 2010 through a comprehensive strategy to control dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases. This strategy includes strengthening surveillance, early diagnosis, and timely treatment, and has contributed significantly to saving thousands of lives.

The PAHO Director called for action, urging intensified efforts to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and protect against mosquito bites, increase preparedness in

health services for early diagnosis and timely clinical management, and continuous work to educate the population about dengue symptoms and when to seek prompt medical attention.

“Facing the dengue problem is a task for all sectors of society,” Dr. Barbosa said, calling for “community engagement in order to succeed in our efforts.”

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CARIBA&E

WEEK ENDING APRIL 9, 2024

Virgin Islands to Honor Reggae Legend Vaughn “Akae Beka” Benjamin with Monument and Park

The contributions of Vaughn “Akae Beka” Benjamin to reggae music will be immortalized in Virgin Islands’ history as lawmakers on the Senate Committee of Government Operations have voted to commission a monument and name a park in his honor.

If successfully signed into law, Bill 35-0030 will appropriate $45,000 to the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation for the design and construction of the “Vaughn Benjamin Monument, and the naming of the waterfront park west of Marley Homes in Frederiksted “The Vaughn ‘Akae Beka’ Memorial Park”.

The bill was sponsored by Senator Novelle Francis, who told his colleagues that “Akea Beka’s life cannot be measured by his industry awards and record sales. He was more than that. He was a lifelong learner, an avid reader,

a prolific writer, and poet. He was a spiritual teacher, and a leader to many in the Rastafarian faith and a global icon in the Rastafarian movement.”

Niani Benjamin, an invited testifier, told committee members that “this bill is befitting of Vaughn Benjamin due in part to his legacy as an artist and his encouragement for lifelong learning and civic engagement.” Dale Wathey, a longtime friend of the deceased, agreed with Ms. Benjamin that he was a “suitable recipient for this honor.” Mr. Wathey, in his testimony, told lawmakers that “it’s an honor that y’all are honoring Vaughn Benjamin.”

Similar sentiments were shared by Phil Codrington who testified on the local branch of the Ethiopian World Federation (EWF). He affirmed that the EWF supported the move to

“ give Vaughn [the] recognition due to him in perpetuity.” Mr. Codrington remembered the many years spent as a friend of the man of the hour, who was also the lead vocalist of the band Midnite.

Bevan Smith, who introduced himself as a reggae music enthusiast, asserted that Mr. Benjamin was “the most prolific, globally accomplished and widely respected musician [to] ever come out of the Virgin Islands.” He commended Akea Beka’s dedication to his craft and unwavering humble demeanor.

The proposed legislation received overwhelming support from all five present members.

Senator Alma Francis Heyliger considered Mr. Benjamin’s skills to be “astronomical,” while Senator Javan James Sr. admitted he was a big fan. The potential honor to be bestowed

on Vaugh “Akea Beka” Benjamin will be next considered within the Committee on Rules and Judiciary.

Shaggy on Billboard Afrobeats Chart for the First Time Reggae and Dancehall international icon “Mr. Bombastic” Orville Richard Burrell popularly known by his stage name “Shaggy” reaches new heights by appearing for the first time in his career on Billboard’s US Afrobeats Songs list.

After being released in October of last year, his duet with Bruce Melodie, a Rwandan musician, titled “When She’s Around (Funga Macho),” has now made its chart debut.

On the March 30 Billboard World Digital Song Sales list, the song also made its debut at No. 8.

A combination of African rhythms and reggae vibes, “When She’s Around (Funga Macho)” was created by AJR and released by S-Curve Records. Since its debut, a humorous music video directed by Jay Will and filmed at Miami Beach has received over 5.3 million views on YouTube.

“Bruce’s talent is undeniable, and this collaboration opens up new horizons for both of us,” Shaggy had said in a statement in an interview with a local entertainment news media.

He concluded, “I’m thrilled to be a part of this project and hope it spreads joy and happiness the world over.”

The same was said by Bruce Melodie who

formula incorporating official streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of leading audio and video music services, plus download sales from top music retailers.”

Legend: The Best Of Bob Marley and the Wailers is at number one on the Billboard Reggae Albums list as of March 30, marking the 219th non-consecutive week at the top for Bob Marley and the Wailers.

Sean Paul’s Dutty Classics Collection comes in

LET’S GET DOWN to

remarked, “Collaborating with Shaggy has been a dream come true.” He further expresses excitement as it relates to the collaboration, “It’s an incredible opportunity to bring our distinct styles together. ‘When She’s Around (Funga Macho)’ is a fusion of our worlds and I’m excited for fans around the world to hear it.”

First released in early 2022, the Afrobeats Songs Chart lists the top 50 Afrobeats songs in the US each week, “based on a weighted

Jamaica – Miles Myrie, Son of Buju Banton, Dies

According to reports, Miles Myrie, the 20-yearold son of legendary reggae-dancehall performer Mark “Buju Banton” Myrie, was pronounced dead.

Jahazeil Myrie, another Banton son, verified the report’s accuracy with a local publication, “It is not my thing to say, it is not my job personally to give out any personal information about

at number three, and Shaggy’s Best of Shaggy: The Boombastic Collection is at number two.

Stick Figure’s albums Wisdom, Set in Stone, and World On Fire are ranked Nos. 4, 5, and 8, respectively.

At number six is UB40’s Greatest Hits, while at number seven is Sean Paul’s Dutty Rock.

The Wailers and Bob Marley albums Exodus and Rastaman Vibrations are ranked ninth and tenth, respectively.

Miles, my father is the one who should share any details, but Miles is a hortical yute, his soul was clean, so I had to say something.”

According to Jahazeil, Miles was residing in the US at the time of his passing. He withheld information about his brother’s illness or the reason for his death.

Jahazeil shared a glance of what brotherhood was like with Miles who had urged him to press on, “We grow up together one ah the time dem, and he always would motivate me to never give up. He was a very motivational person no matter wah. When he was younger, he wanted to be a judge but as he got older, he got to love the rapping so he wanted to be a rapper.”

Jahazeil appeared to be grieving the loss of his sister when he posted a picture of the two on his Instagram Stories on April 1, 2024. The tweet included a broken heart emoji and Popcaan’s melancholic song, Only Jah Know.

THE BONE

SoSOBONE.com

WEEK ENDING APRIL 9, 2024

CARIBTRAVEL

19

Caribbean Tourism Experiences Strong Growth in 2023, Recovery to Continue into 2024

Continuing its positive recovery trend, Caribbean tourism grew in 2023 with an estimated 14.3% increase in international stay-over arrivals to the region, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has reported.

Delivering the “Caribbean Tourism Performance Review 2023” in Bridgetown today, Dona Regis-Prosper, SecretaryGeneral of the CTO, shared that last year’s growth was in line with CTO’s forecast for the year, and attributed the outcome to sustained demand for outbound travel from the United States – the Caribbean’s main source market, enhanced tourismrelated infrastructure within the destinations, the fulfillment of strategic marketing initiatives, and augmented airlift capacity between the region and its source markets, albeit unevenly distributed among the destinations.

The recovery of global tourism has been resilient, despite variability in the regional performances, according to Regis-Prosper, with the Caribbean surpassing pre-pandemic arrivals by a modest 0.8%, outperforming most of the main global regions in terms of recovery.

“Based on preliminary data provided so far by the destinations in the Caribbean, tourist visits were approximately 32.2 million – about four million more than in 2022,” stated Regis-Prosper, who noted that the data showed that each month’s arrivals exceeded those of 2022 thus establishing a continuous growth trend over the past 33 months as tourism steadily rebounded toward pre-pandemic levels.

Arrival levels amongst Caribbean destinations either significantly recovered or moderately exceeded the benchmark numbers of 2019, with 11 destinations, Anguilla, Aruba, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, Turks & Caicos Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands performing better than in 2019. The majority of those recovered greater than 50% of their 2019 arrivals. In addition, multiple destinations registered new record levels for tourist arrivals in a single year.

United States and Canada Markets For the Caribbean, only the U.S. market has fully recovered, while the recovery rates of arrivals from Europe and Canada reached 88.2% and 88.1%, respectively. An estimated 16.3 million stay-over arrivals to the region came from the United States, representing an annual growth rate of 12.7%. The performance here established a new record level of arrivals from this market and surpassed the pre-pandemic arrivals by 4.2%. The performance of the Canadian market resulted in an estimated three million Canadian tourist visits by the end of the year, an increase of 46.1% compared to 2022. Increased air service from major Canadian cities to Caribbean destinations played a pivotal role in driving up visitor numbers.

Europe, Caribbean and South America Markets Regis-Prosper noted that arrivals from Europe to the Caribbean region were stagnant in 2023. A total of approximately 5.2 million trips originated from the market. In 2023, travel among Caribbean residents to destinations within the region increased by approximately 3.6%, a total of 1.6 million trips, which was 0.3 million more compared to 2022. This also indicated a recovery of 62.5% from pre-pandemic levels. “Despite this positive outcome, intra-regional travel remained expensive due to fragmented air service and reduced air capacity,” said Regis-Prosper. By the end of the year, trips from South America to the region surged by an estimated 14%, totaling 1.7 million trips.

Caribbean Hotel Performance The Caribbean hotel sector experienced a remarkable turnaround in 2023, including a surge in the establishment of new hotels and resorts. According to STR, throughout the Caribbean, average room occupancy grew to 65.6% in 2023 from 61% in 2022.

The average daily rate (ADR) experienced a considerable increase of 11.8% with the region’s ADR reaching US$329.37 while the revenue per available room (RevPAR) jumped 20.2% to US$215.97.

Cruise Tourism Performance Preliminary data for 2023 showed that Caribbean destinations received an estimated 31.1 million cruise visits, reflecting an increase of 11.3 million visits or 56.8% compared to 2019. This level established a new record for the regional cruise sector, surpassing the previous record of 2019 by 2.4%. Pent-up demand and the resumption of operations drove strong bookings for Caribbean cruises, along with improvements in cruise infrastructure such as larger ships, enhanced facilities, itineraries, and shore excursions.

Projections indicate that the cruise sector will continue its upward track, with an estimated 34.2 million to 35.8 million cruise visits expected in the Caribbean in 2024.

This anticipated expansion falls within the range of 10% and 15%.

Remarkable Resilience Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Council of Ministers and Commissioners of Tourism, Kenneth Bryan, who also serves as the Cayman Islands’ Minister of Tourism and Ports, noted the remarkable resilience of the tourism industry and its ongoing recovery and growth in 2023. However, he emphasized that the industry and the region will continue to face an array of challenges, including the high cost of travel, ongoing conflicts, heightened geopolitical tensions, and their anticipated impacts, in 2024.

“Caribbean destinations remain adaptable and responsive, and the region is still highly desired by travelers for its safety and diversity of tourism products,” stated Chairman Bryan, adding that the region will also be positively impacted by key developments in 2024, including increased air capacity throughout the year, which

will facilitate greater access between the destinations and some of their legacy and emerging markets.

Chairman Bryan also pointed to “intensive strategic marketing initiatives” that are being executed to attract visitors to the region to enjoy its culture and heritage, including its carnivals and festivals.

He noted that the CTO is pleased that the ICC (International Cricket Council) Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 is being hosted in several destinations bringing not only teams but also their loyal followers to the region and further raising awareness and promoting the diverse offerings of Caribbean destinations to global audiences.

“Hence, the Caribbean’s prospects appear highly promising, with more regional destinations poised to either match or surpass the arrival figures recorded in 2019. Anticipated growth is forecast to range between five percent and 10 percent, potentially welcoming between 33.8 million and 35.4 million stay-over tourists,” concluded Chairman Bryan.

20

CARIBSPORTS

WEEK ENDING APRIL 9, 2024

British Virgin Islands, Anguilla Make History in Qualifying

MIAMI, Florida – The First Round of Concacaf Qualifiers for FIFA World Cup 2026 concluded on Tuesday with British Virgin Islands and Anguilla each advancing to the next stage for the first time in their respective histories.

British Virgin Islands 0-0 US Virgin Islands (BVI advance 4-2 in PKs) The day started with a dramatic second leg between the British Virgin Islands and the US Virgin Islands at the A.O. Shirley

Recreation Ground in Road Town, BVI, where the hosts won a penalty shootout 4-2 following a 0-0 draw in the match and 1-1 on aggregate.

The two sides played to a 1-1 draw in the first leg in USVI, and the margins were just as thin in the second leg.

Each team generated scoring chances in the first half, including a USVI shot that flashed just wide midway through the half, while a BVI header right before halftime bounced wide of the post.

Back and forth they went in the second half, with each side knowing that a single goal could well make the difference. The defenses stood tall, however, and after 90 minutes there were still no goals, resulting in extra time.

In the additional frame, BVI had the majority of the scoring chances but could not find a way through, so matters had to be settled from the spot.

In the penalty shootout, BVI GK Frankie Beckles came up big with two saves and Azarni Callwood converted the winning kick to send BVI to the Second Round of qualifying for the first time in their

history.

BVI advance to Group E of the Second Round of qualifying where they will face Jamaica, Guatemala, Dominican Republic and Dominica.

Turks and Caicos Islands 1-1 Anguilla (Anguilla advance 4-3 in PKs) For the first ever, Anguilla have reached the Second Round of qualifying after defeating Turks and Caicos Islands 4-3 in a penalty shootout following their 1-1 draw in the second leg at the TCIFA National Academy in Providenciales, Turks and

Caicos Islands.

After the 0-0 draw in the first leg in Anguilla, Tuesday’s 1-1 draw after 90 minutes resulted in extra time and eventually penalty kicks, where Anguilla proved superior from the spot.

Turks and Caicos Islands were first to take the lead, as all-time top appearances and goalscorer Billy Forbes scored his second career World Cup Qualifying goal in the 23’ for a 1-0 lead.

But Anguilla would not be denied, and right before halftime Luke Paris converted from the penalty spot to even the score at 1-1. It was Anguilla’s first goal in qualifying since 2000 against the Bahamas.

No other goals could be found in regular time nor in extra time, so the teams went to spot to determine the winner. In the end, Anguilla emerged victorious 4-3 with Kian Duncan converting the winning penalty to send Anguilla to Group E of the Second Round of qualifying where they will take on El Salvador, Suriname, Puerto Rico and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Cricket West Indies Announces Upcoming Strategic Plan for 2024-2027 Season: “The Long Run”

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua - Cricket West Indies (CWI) is set to unveil its new four-year strategic plan for 2024-2027, titled “The Long Run”. Recently presented to the Board of Directors during a board meeting in Antigua and discussed with shareholders at the Annual General Meeting, this strategic blueprint marks a pivotal juncture for the organization and West Indies cricket.

Reflecting on 2023 as a year of recovery and describing it as crucial in laying the groundwork for this ambitious plan, CWI Chief Executive Officer, Johnny Grave, provided insight stating, “We are excited to present “The Long Run”, our strategic roadmap for the next four years. This plan sets a clear and ambitious

path for CWI, focusing on strengthening our cricket system at all levels and maximizing our commercial value on the foundation of stable finances.”

Grave underscored the importance of stakeholder involvement in shaping the organization’s future direction.

“Having presented the strategic plan to our Board of Directors and shareholders, we are now preparing to circulate it for wider discourse. It is essential that our stakeholders not only understand but also actively engage with the strategic plan as we move forward into another four-year cycle.”

“The Long Run” will outline key objectives and initiatives aimed at fostering growth, sustainability, and excellence in cricket.

It will encompass measures to enhance governance, player development, grassroots programs, fan engagement, and commercial partnerships, aligning with CWI’s overarching vision to elevate West Indies cricket in the region and on the global stage.

The strategic plan, developed internally, represents a collaborative effort by the CWI management team. It includes extensive consultations and valuable insights from staff and players. Business Planning Manager Lynford Inverary led the process, with input from the wider cricket stakeholders’ group.