June 19, 2024

CaribNews

EDITORIAL

OPED

On Juneteenth Let Us Remember,

TRAVEL

Caribbean Week Kicks Off to Brisk Start - P 16

SPORTS

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Opens Season with 11.5 Sprint - P 19

AFRICA WORLD BRIEFS

Rights abuses in Ethiopia must end

The head of the UN human rights office (OHCHR) Volker Türk on Friday called for serious measures to be taken to end human rights violations that are jeopardizing reconciliation and peace efforts in Ethiopia.

This call follows an update from OHCHR which analysed the human rights situation in Ethiopia between January 2023 and January 2024.

Mr. Türk urged parties involved in the conflict to “halt” their actions and resolve their differences peacefully.

A bloody civil war between Government forces and northern rebels erupted in late 2020 leading to major rights violations on all sides, including likely war crimes. Despite a 2022 ceasefire abuses in and around the Tigray region have continued.

“It is essential that the authorities take all feasible steps to protect civilians, prevent further violations, and ensure there are full investigations to bring those responsible to justice,” he said.

The update revealed that 1,351 civilians were killed in attacks in 2023 reportedly involving Government forces, Eritrean troops, anti-Government militias, and other unidentified parties.

Sudan: UN relief chief warns of worsening situation

The humanitarian situation in and around El-Fasher in Sudan’s North Darfur region “is worsening by the hour” the UN Humanitarian Affairs chief Martin Griffiths warned on Thursday.

In a post on X, Mr. Griffiths said he hoped Thursday’s Security Council resolution would help ease the suffering of civilians in Sudan. The resolution calls for the paramilitary Rapid Security Forces (RSF) in Sudan to end their siege on Al Fasher.

The RSF have been locked in a battle for control of the country with the forces of the military transitional government since April 2023.

El Fasher is the last remaining city in Darfur in Government hands.

The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator said civilians “must be protected, aid must be able to reach them, and the fighting must stop now.”

Aid access dwindling: WFP

During Friday’s noon briefing at UN Headquarters Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Farhan Haq said that the World Food Programme (WFP) in Sudan is emphasising the need for food delivery to civilians before rains completely restrict their access to remote areas.

He said that WFP reported a convoy with aid for about 160,000 people crossed into Darfur from Chad this week and is headed for Central, East and West Darfur.

Mr. Haq also noted that WFP food distributions for more than 50,000 people in South Darfur and 200,000 in Aj Jazirah State are underway.

Urging Just, Lasting Peace in Ukraine, Disarmament Chief Tells Security Council Weapons Transfer to Warring Parties Must Respect International Law

As the United Nations’ disarmament chief urged just and lasting peace in Ukraine before the Security Council today, its members – meeting again, at the Russian Federation’s behest, on Western arms deliveries to that country – alternately reiterated Kyiv’s right to defend itself, pointed to Moscow’s procurement of arms from third States and called for dialogue ahead of a peace summit that will occur in Switzerland on 15-16 June.

“I reiterate that any transfer of weapons and ammunition must take place consistently with the applicable international legal framework – including, of course, relevant Security Council resolutions,” emphasized Izumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs. Addressing the risk of diversion is also essential, she said, which requires supply-chain transparency as well as cooperation and information exchange between importing, transit and exporting States. Detailing other concrete counter-diversion measures, she also expressed concern over Ukraine’s widespread contamination with explosive remnants of war.

Gaza: UN rights chief slams ‘unconscionable death and suffering’

As the war drags on in Gaza, UN human rights chief Volker Türk on Tuesday condemned Israel’s “relentless” attacks across the war-shattered enclave, while repeating longstanding calls for the release of all remaining hostages.

In his traditional opening address to the Human Rights Council now in session in Geneva, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also reiterated serious concerns raised by his Office that war crimes have been committed by all sides since conflict erupted on 7 October, sparked by Hamas-led terror attacks on multiple targets in Israel.

120,000 killed or injured in enclave

“There has been unconscionable death and suffering,” the UN rights chief told Member States, as he highlighted the widespread destruction caused by more than eight months of heavy fighting.

“More than 120,000 people in Gaza, overwhelmingly women and children, have been killed or injured since 7 October, as a result of the intensive Israeli offensives,” he said.

Rafah fallout

In addition to those maimed or killed by intense Israeli bombardment, Mr. Türk noted that since Israeli forces escalated operations into Rafah in early May, almost one million Palestinians have been uprooted “yet again”, while aid deliveries have been squeezed, affecting humanitarian access even further.

Standing By DEI and Chief Diversity Officers by Earl G. Graves, Jr., Black Enterprise president/CEO, and Michael C. Hyter, Executive Leadership Council, president/ CEO - P 9

Racial Terror Did Not End with Slavery by Ben Jealous - P 9

President Biden Announces New Actions to Keep Families Together

Since his first day in office, President Biden has called on Congress to secure our border and address our broken immigration system. As Congressional Republicans have continued to put partisan politics ahead of national security – twice voting against the toughest and fairest set of reforms in decades – the President and his Administration have taken actions to secure the border, including:

Implementing executive actions to bar migrants who cross our Southern border unlawfully from receiving asylum when encounters are high; Deploying record numbers of law enforcement personnel, infrastructure, and technology to the Southern border;

Seizing record amounts of fentanyl at our ports of entry;

Revoking the visas of CEOs and government officials outside the U.S. who profit from mi grants coming to the U.S. unlawfully; and

Expanding efforts to dismantle human smuggling networks and prosecuting individuals who violate immigration laws.

President Biden believes that securing the border is essential. He also believes in expanding lawful pathways and keeping families together, and that immigrants who have been in the United States for decades, paying taxes and contributing to their communities, are part of the social fabric of our country. The Day One immigration reform plan that the President sent to Congress reflects both the need for a secure border and protections for the long-term undocumented. While Congress has failed to act on these reforms, the Biden-Harris Administration has worked to strengthen our lawful immigration system. In addition to vigorously defending the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood arrivals) policy, the Administration has extended Affordable Care Act coverage to DACA recipients and streamlined, expanded,

and instituted new reunification programs so that families can stay together while they complete the immigration process.

Still, there is more that we can do to bring peace of mind and stability to Americans living in mixed-status families as well as young people educated in this country, including Dreamers. That is why today, President Biden announced new actions for people who have been here many years to keep American families together and allow more young people to contribute to our economy.

Keeping American Families Together

Today, President Biden is announcing that the Department of Homeland Security will take action to ensure that U.S. citizens with noncitizen spouses and children can keep their families together.

This new process will help certain noncitizen spouses and children apply for lawful permanent residence – status that they are already eligible for – without leaving the country. These actions will promote family unity and strengthen our economy, providing a significant benefit to the country and helping U.S. citizens and their noncitizen family members stay together.

In order to be eligible, noncitizens must – as of June 17, 2024 – have resided in the United States for 10 or more years and be legally married to a U.S. citizen, while satisfying all applicable legal requirements. On average, those who are eligible for this process have resided in the U.S. for 23 years.

Those who are approved after DHS’s caseby-case assessment of their application will be afforded a three-year period to apply for permanent residency. They will be allowed to

remain with their families in the United States and be eligible for work authorization for up to three years. This will apply to all married couples who are eligible.

This action will protect approximately half a million spouses of U.S. citizens, and approximately 50,000 noncitizen children under the age of 21 whose parent is married to a U.S. citizen.

Easing the Visa Process for U.S. College Graduates, Including Dreamers

President Obama and then-Vice President Biden established the DACA policy to allow young people who were brought here as children to come out of the shadows and contribute to our country in significant ways. Twelve years later, DACA recipients who started as high school and college students are now building successful careers and establishing families of their own.

Today’s announcement will allow individuals, including DACA recipients and other Dreamers, who have earned a degree at an accredited U.S. institution of higher education in the United States, and who have received an offer of employment from a U.S. employer in a field related to their degree, to more quickly receive work visas.

Recognizing that it is in our national interest to ensure that individuals who are educated in the U.S. are able to use their skills and education to benefit our country, the Administration is taking action to facilitate the employment visa process for those who have graduated from college and have a high-skilled job offer, including DACA recipients and other Dreamers.

Jamaica - Diaspora Disunity Plagues the Operations

Diaspora members came together in worship and thanksgiving at the Burchell Memorial Baptist Church in Montego Bay, St. James on Sunday (June 16), as the 10th Biennial Conference got underway. However, a dissident group of Jamaicans staged a tense demonstration outside the Jamaican Embassy in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, marking the third protest in a series aimed at signaling to the Jamaican Government that all is not well among the Diaspora and demanding greater engagement on critical issues like crime, corruption, and poor health services in their homeland.

The protest leaders, Dr. Rupert Francis, head of the Diaspora Task Force on Crime Intervention and Prevention, and attorney Wilfred Rattigan, a former FBI special agent, stated their goal is to pressure the Government to improve the lives of Jamaicans. “What we are seeking are better governance and a better country and future for our children. We in the Diaspora do not consider ourselves better than our people in Jamaica,” they said, reiterating their call for the Government to collaborate with the Diaspora to build a better country together.

To further unsettle the Government ahead of the 10th biennial gathering, the dissident group registered the domain name, Global Jamaica Diaspora Council, with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in Florida.

As organizers were finalizing preparations for the biennial meeting in Jamaica’s tourist capital, the conflict escalated

when the group announced it would issue a cease and desist letter to prevent the Government from using the domain name wherever it is registered.

Counter-protestors, including entertainer Mr. Vegas, who appeared in Washington on Saturday, chanted: “Rattigan shame on you” and “One Jamaica, Brand Jamaica”. The Jamaican Embassy, clearly disturbed by the ongoing protests, issued a statement last week condemning what it described as “a flagrant misuse of the embassy’s name to deceive and lure Jamaicans to attend an unsanctioned event at the embassy.” The embassy clarified that no event was scheduled for Saturday, June 15, 2024, and emphasized that the offices are closed on weekends. The statement called the promotion of the unauthorized event disingenuous, misleading, and contrary to the spirit of Brand Jamaica.

Despite the embassy’s statement, the dissident protesters gathered outside, criticizing the Government for “broken promises,” “corruption,” “poor health-care services,” “lack of accountability,” and “poor governance,” among other issues.

The conference, scheduled to run until June 19 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, brings together Jamaicans from over 15 countries to discuss matters concerned with national development and societal progress. Over 1100 persons have registered for the event.

Barbados - Establishes Diplomatic Relations with Palestine

Barbados and the State of Palestine officially established diplomatic relations on Tuesday, June 11, at a ceremony held at the Barbados Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.

This significant move follows Barbados’ decision on April 19, 2024, to recognize the State of Palestine.

The Joint Communiqué was signed by Ambassador François Jackman, Permanent Representative of Barbados to the

United Nations, and Ambassador Riyad H. Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds, commented on the occasion, stating, “Barbados is proud to have reached this milestone in its relationship with the State of Palestine. By formalizing our relationship today, we affirm our support for Palestinian self-determination—the right of the people of

Palestine to their own state, in accordance with their own wishes.”

Symmonds highlighted the broader impact of this decision, noting that Barbados’ recognition was swiftly followed by similar announcements from The Bahamas, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. “As a result of these developments, all CARICOM countries now recognize Palestine,” he added.

Haiti - Police Chief Replaced As Gang Violence Continues

Haitian leaders have dismissed Frantz Elbé, the embattled director of Haiti’s National Police, following widespread criticism over his handling of gang violence and the protection of police officers.

A government official, speaking anonymously, informed on Saturday that former police chief Normil Rameau will return to lead the underfunded and ill-equipped department. A recent

UN report highlighted that Haiti’s police force operates with only around 4,000 officers for a population exceeding 11 million. Rameau had been previously removed nearly four years ago under a different administration.

Gang violence has surged in Haiti, resulting in over 2,500 casualties in the first three months of the year alone. Among the dead are nearly two dozen police officers, overwhelmed by gangs that control 80% of Port-au-Prince and possess superior weaponry. Recently, three officers from an anti-gang tactical unit were killed while patrolling in an armored vehicle, with a fourth officer still missing.

From 2015 to 2024, over 320 police officers have been killed, including 120 during Elbé’s tenure, according to the National Network for the Defense of Human Rights.

Rameau’s reappointment coincides with the formation of a new government led by a newly selected prime minister and Cabinet, supported by a transitional presidential council. Rameau previously served as police director-general under the late President Jovenel Moïse, who appointed him in August 2019. He was removed in November 2020 after Prime Minister Joseph

Jouthe criticized his performance amid escalating gang control.

Neither Rameau nor Elbé responded to requests for comment.

Haiti’s Office of Citizen Protection welcomed Rameau’s return and urged him to swiftly address gang activity and establish a security plan. It also called for investigations into the killings of citizens, including journalists, and the dramatic escape of over 4,500 prisoners in March after gangs attacked Haiti’s two largest prisons, an incident it blamed on Elbé and former justice and public security ministers.

Police unions have repeatedly demanded Elbé’s resignation and arrest, noting that gangs have attacked and burned at least 30 police stations recently. These attacks, which began on February 29, targeted critical state infrastructure and led to the resignation of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

A police union, SPNH-17, recently held a press conference to denounce the state of the department and lament the deaths of officers.

“Look at these young men, hacked to death,” spokesman Garry Jean-Baptiste said, pointing to pictures of fallen officers. On the anniversary

of the police department’s creation, the union criticized its stagnation due to “corruption and incompetence.”

Another union, SYNAPOHA, urged newly installed Prime Minister Garry Conille to prioritize strengthening the police department. Conille recently joined a police patrol, experiencing firsthand the challenges faced by officers.

Elbé was appointed head of Haiti’s National Police in October 2021, replacing Léon Charles. Under his leadership, at least 36 officers were killed in gang-related violence from January to mid-August last year, according to a U.N. report.

Despite international training and resources, Haiti’s National Police struggles with morale and operational challenges. The National Network for the Defense of Human Rights survey, which interviewed 132 officers, confirmed issues such as unpaid salaries, lack of healthcare, and insufficient training. It also highlighted the infiltration of gangs within the police force, contributing to its weakened state.

Haiti - New Government Formed, New Cabinet Named

A new government was formed in Haiti on Tuesday, tasked with restoring security and stability in the Caribbean nation that is ravaged by gang violence and political chaos.

The decree appointing members of the new cabinet was published in Haiti’s official gazette, two weeks after the country’s transitional government council named Garry Conille as interim prime minister. Conille served as Haiti’s premier for a short period in 2011-2012 and was until recently the regional director for the UN aid agency UNICEF. He will now also serve as minister of the interior.

Dominique Dupuy, the current representative of Haiti to UNESCO, will be in charge of Foreign Affairs.

Taking over the finance ministry from Michel Patrick Boisvert is Princeton-educated Ketleen Florestal who will also lead the planning and international cooperation ministry, which oversees development.

Carlos Hercule, a lawyer who formerly headed the Port-au-Prince bar association along with serving as a member of an electoral council set to pave the way for Haiti’s next elections, will head the justice ministry, overseeing a paralyzed judicial system and the country’s embattled police force.

The defense ministry will be led by Jean Marc Berthier Antoine, who will oversee Haiti’s small army that was disbanded in 1995 and reinstated seven years ago.

The education and communications ministries, meanwhile, will be jointly taken over by Antoine Augustin.

Haiti, in serious turmoil for several years, is finalizing its transitional authorities who will seek to pave the way to the first elections since 2016, but their power appears limited in the face of well-armed and lawless gangs.

Former prime minister Ariel Henry, appointed just before the 2021 assassination of President

Jovenel Moise, failed to address the nation’s spiraling troubles. He announced in early March that he would step down and hand

executive power to the transitional council. The job before Haiti’s new leaders is monumental as they confront the crises devastating the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Gang violence has long been widespread, but at the end of February armed groups launched coordinated attacks on strategic sites in the capital Port-au-Prince, saying they wanted to overthrow the unelected and unpopular Henry. The violence has affected food security and humanitarian aid access, with much of the city in the hands of gangs accused of abuses including murder, rape, looting and kidnappings. Last year a UN-backed security force, to be led by Kenya, was promised as a boost to struggling Haitian police, but it has not yet been deployed. Kenya’s President William Ruto has said the deployment would likely start within a few weeks. Kenya is to send 1,000 officers for the mission alongside personnel from several other countries.

CARICOM - Shared Currency System Expected Soon

The pilot for a groundbreaking scheme to allow CARICOM nations to trade using their own currencies, bypassing third-party currencies like the US dollar, is set to begin “soon,” according to Kevin Greenidge, the Central Bank of Barbados governor. Greenidge, who chairs the CARICOM group of central bank governors, announced this development following a recent meeting where regional governors agreed to push ahead with a Caribbean version of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS).

Launched by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in January 2022, PAPSS aims to reduce reliance on hard currencies for transactions between African nations. If successfully replicated in the Caribbean, the system would enable direct payments in the currencies of CARICOM nations involved in trade, reducing transaction costs, minimizing the need for substantial foreign currency reserves, and facilitating smoother intra-regional trade,

potentially lowering retail prices. In October, 11 CARICOM central bankers unanimously decided to adopt PAPSS as the preferred system for settling intra-regional trade transactions. “We just had a meeting in May and agreed to push ahead with the pilot programme,” Greenidge stated. “A technical team is working on the details, and we aim to implement the programme as soon as possible.” PAPSS allows payments across Africa without going through external banks. Greenidge explained that a similar approach would work within CARICOM: “A company in Barbados selling to a Caribbean company wouldn’t need foreign reserves. Barbados dollars could be used in Saint Lucia and EC dollars in Barbados.”

This system could initially facilitate intra-CARICOM trade using domestic currencies, with any residual balances potentially settled in a major reserve currency like the US dollar. Once established, the Caribbean system could

connect with the African PAPSS. Greenidge shared these insights during a panel discussion on economic transformation strategies at Afreximbank’s annual meetings and the third AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF2024) in Nassau, Bahamas. Host central bank governor John Rolle highlighted the potential benefits of replicating PAPSS in the Caribbean, emphasizing its role in making international payment systems more integrated, faster, and cheaper for consumers. “A successful project in the Caribbean could help us conserve precious international reserves and expand intra-regional trade,” Rolle said.

Greenidge stressed the importance of collaboration between the Caribbean and Africa, referring to the Caribbean as the “55th African state.” He urged both regions to speak with one voice on global financial reform, criticizing credit rating agencies for bias against small economies.

“If we unite and advocate for changes in how rating agencies assess our economies, we can make a difference,” Greenidge said, echoing sentiments shared by other panelists, including Afreximbank senior executive vice-president Denys Denya and Nigeria’s former vice-president Yemi Osinbajo.

Greenidge also supported the Bridgetown Initiative, which calls for reform of multilateral development banks and international financial institutions to better support climate-vulnerable countries. He emphasized that collaboration with Africa is crucial for the Caribbean to secure sufficient financing and investment.

“The more we build global partnerships, the better our financing and investment prospects,” Greenidge concluded, highlighting the natural synergy between the Caribbean and the African continent

T&T - US Report on Criminal Gang Activity Given to Minister of National Security

The Ministry of National Security, Fitzgerald Hinds, has announced that a new study by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on crime and criminality in Trinidad and Tobago will be pivotal in shaping strategies to combat criminal gangs in the country.

On Monday, the Minister received the USAID Criminal Dynamics Study for Trinidad and Tobago, along with its key findings, during a meeting at the Ministry of National Security Office in the International Waterfront Complex, Port of Spain.

In a media release today, the Ministry stated that this comprehensive study provides essential insights and recommendations crucial for developing effective strategies against gang-related activities.

The meeting included discussions between Minister Hinds, U.S. Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago Candace Bond, and USAID representatives. The Ministry highlighted that this event was an opportunity to enhance collaboration between Trinidad and Tobago and the United States on mutual crime and security concerns.

Ambassador Bond expressed optimism that

the study would shed light on the root causes of gang activities in Trinidad and Tobago, facilitating the implementation of measures to counter, disrupt, and dismantle gangs. She emphasized the importance of the ongoing partnership between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago, particularly through initiatives such as the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, recognizing the Caribbean as the U.S.’s “Third Border.”

Other initiatives to combat crime and gang-related activities include:

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s suspension of licenses for exporting weapons to non-state civilian dealers, which is expected to reduce firearm exports to the region by 35%, impacting high-risk countries including Trinidad and Tobago.

U.S. support for the Crime Gun Intelligence Unit (CGIU), fostering collaboration with CARICOM IMPACS, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).

Training for CGIU officers provided by agencies such as ATF, HSI, BIS, CBP, Interpol, the World Customs Organization (WCO), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

During the meeting, Mervyn Farroe, USAID’s Regional Representative for the Eastern and Southern Caribbean, reiterated USAID’s commitment to collaborating with the Ministry of National Security to address crime and violence through research that supports policy development. Minister Hinds welcomed the study, expressing gratitude to USAID and Ambassador Bond for their support in Trinidad and Tobago’s efforts to combat crime. He stressed the importance of violence intervention programs to strengthen community resilience against crime and gangs.

Barbados - Newly Crowned Best Rum

Barbados is the undisputed champion this year. Of the 20 best-rated rums tasted by experts,the competition’s No. 1 rum in the world with 99 points is R.L. Seale’s Foursquare 14-Year-Old Equipoise Rum.

For the 2024 IWSC Spirits Judging, around 100 international judges gathered in London to taste over 4,000 spirits entries from around the world. The strong judging team comprised of Master Blenders, Master Distillers, Buyers from on-trade and off-trade, Spirits Educators, Consultants and renowned Spirits Communicators.

Aged rums have historically done well at the IWSC, as judges appreciate the complexity of these rums. However, it still took everyone by surprise when a flight of 11-15 year-old rums were all awarded a medal, but not just any

medal, all rums received either a gold or gold outstanding, something that has never been seen before in IWSC history.

R.L. Seale’s Foursquare 14-Year-Old Equipoise Rum isn’t your typical rum, though. At 61 percent ABV, it can likely be sipped in small amounts rather than combined with mixers. According to the more than 100 expert distillers and blenders and industry professionals gathered for the competition, it also has a unique flavor profile.

The judges were highly impressed by the “enticing aromas of leather and olive oil, leading to a tantalizing blend of citrus peel, cinnamon, oak, dark chocolate, and nutmeg. Plummy, spiced fruit dances on the palate, upon a soft, sweet mouthfeel.”

CARICOM - Diaspora Group Launched

In honor of Caribbean-American Heritage Month and Juneteenth celebrations, the Caribbean Diaspora United, Inc. (CDU) was officially launched on Friday with much fanfare during a gala Prayer Breakfast at Russo’s on the Bay in Howard Beach, Queens.

The event featured performances by former Grenada Independence Calypso Monarch Val Adams and musical renditions by Pursoo’s nephew Jared Moodie and his nieces Jazmyn and Jaidyn.

Pastor Louis Straker, Jr. and Dr. Evette Williams offered the Opening Prayer and Benediction, respectively.

Eugene Pursoo, former Grenada United Nations ambassador and head of the group, described CDU as a “not-for-profit association of people of the Caribbean Diaspora in the U.S.A.” “The overarching purpose of CDU is to facilitate betterment in the lives of people in the Caribbean Diaspora in the U.S.A.,” Pursoo stated.

He emphasized that the mission of CDU is to improve the lives of Caribbean Diaspora members through organized endeavors and community service. Additionally, CDU aims to support development programs in Caribbean states and territories.

Pursoo outlined CDU’s vision of establishing a united Caribbean Diaspora that contributes meaningfully to both community betterment and the Caribbean region. He noted that over 15 million people in the US claim Caribbean heritage, with major Diaspora communities in New York City, Miami, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C.

Individuals from the Caribbean Diaspora in the US hold prominent positions across federal, state, and local governments, as well as in education, business, journalism, engineering, science, law, medicine, film, and fashion.

“We express our appreciation to all attendees of our Inaugural Prayer Breakfast at Russo’s on the Bay,” Pursoo said in the event’s souvenir jour-

nal. “This occasion marks the official launch of our organization.”

He added that the CDU’s Executive Council aims to be geographically representative of the Caribbean region and gender balanced. He praised various national Diaspora groups for their efforts in supporting their respective homelands and promoting Caribbean culture in North America.

“The Caribbean Diaspora United, Inc. provides an opportunity to speak with one powerful united voice and to be a significant force for betterment. We are committed to working in collaboration,” Pursoo continued. He mentioned that CDU is in contact with Caribbean states and territories to build relationships that strengthen Diaspora contributions to the region. The organization plans to organize forums and strengthen relations with all communities where they reside, with a broad-based and simple membership process.

During Friday’s launch, notable remarks were

made by US Rep. Yvette D. Clarke, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, City Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, Nassau County legislator Siela A. Bynoe, and Consuls General Andre Laveau of Trinidad and Tobago, and Alsion Roach Wilson of Jamaica. Pastor Gilford Monrose, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Faith-Based Organizations, also spoke. Williams, the son of Grenadian immigrants, along with Haitian-born Narcisse and St. Kitts-Nevis heritage Bynoe, presented proclamations to Pursoo. “We can make a difference between the United States and the Caribbean,” Clarke said, commending Pursoo. Williams expressed gratitude for the support and prayers for their ancestors’ struggles. Narcisse emphasized the importance of working together for the best education for children, while Bynoe highlighted the power of collective action and voting.

Grammys to Africa a ‘Colonialist Ploy of No Good’ says Blakk Rasta

The Recording Academy, the organization behind the annual GRAMMY Awards, has announced agreements with Ministries of Cultures and key stakeholders across the Middle East and Africa to extend its efforts to support music creators on a global scale. The Recording Academy is working with the Ministries of Culture in Kenya, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Nigeria, the Department of Culture

and Tourism in Abu Dhabi for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), and the Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture in South Africa. Additionally, MOUs have been signed with Ghana and the Ivory Coast.

Through the newly announced agreements, the Recording Academy will collaborate with its partners on a framework to bolster the Academy’s presence and services in these rapidly growing music regions while taking its mission international. Through these collaborations, and in alignment with our mission, the Academy will explore several key initiatives, including:

For the past two years, Recording Academy leaders, including Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. and Recording Academy President Panos A. Panay, have traveled throughout these regions, participated in listening sessions, received high-level briefings, tours, and demonstrations, and obtained insight directly from both the governmental ministries and local music creators driving innovation in these markets.

“This is exciting because music is one of humanity’s greatest natural resources,” Mason

Jr. said in a statement about the Recording Academy’s global expansion. “It is critical that the people who dedicate themselves to creating music have support, resources and opportunities, no matter where they are from.”

“The Recording Academy is dedicated to supporting music creators around the world,” Panay added in a statement. “Our expansion efforts into these fast-growing regions reflect our commitment to fostering a truly global music community, where creators at every stage of their careers and from every corner of the world have the resources and support they need to thrive.”

As the first phase of plans to support music creators abroad, this expansion into the Middle East and Africa comes the same year the Academy celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Latin GRAMMY Awards, taking place this November in Miami, and months after the Latin Recording Academy hosted the 2023 Latin GRAMMYs in Seville, Spain, marking the first-ever international GRAMMY Awards show. This year at the 2024 GRAMMYs, the Recording Academy also introduced the inaugural Best African Music Performance GRAMMY category, which recognizes recordings that

utilize unique local expressions from across the African continent. Also, the Recording Academy last year partnered with the U.S. State Department on an initiative to promote peace through music.

Kenya’s Hon. Ababu Namwamba, EGH, Cabinet secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts said, “Creative Economy is among the key cogs in the wheel driving the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) in Kenya. The country has placed a premium on music, film, theatre, content creation, fashion, pageantry, and other creative industries as a pivot for job creation, revenue generation and economic growth for sustainable livelihoods. With a predominantly youthful population that is well educated, innovative and passionate in stretching the frontiers of imagination, Kenya considers the creative sector as a fitting ignition for lighting and unleashing the full potential of this enormous youth bulge.

However, some critics of the initiative object to the move. Specifically, controversial Ghanaian media personality and musician Blakk Rasta. According to him, the awards are coming to capitalize on African music. He also thinks it’s a colonialist idea.

IMAGINE COOL, BLUE MOUNTAIN WATER CRASHING INTO OUR WARM CARIBBEAN SEA. THAT’S THE SENSATION YOU’LL FEEL WHEN YOU COME SPLASHING INTO JAMAICA.

Guest Editorial: The Diaspora in Context – The Real Potential

by Margaret Reckord Bernal

Current discussion across Jamaica reverberates with the question of the participation of diaspora people, local people, and in what institutional and structural way this will take place.

Is it legal representation? Is it temporary voting rights /partial voting rights? Is it intervention through the government mechanisms abroad – embassy – high commission – consulate –national organizations?

The matter is replete with opinion, comment, dictate , ultimatum.

I wish humbly to suggest that this discussion presupposes a premise which is inaccurate and /or multi-faceted at the very least. Our Jamaican diaspora is not outside of our Jamaican nation. It is an inseparable, integrated, ever existing extension of our island home.

Our diaspora is, was and always will be –Jamaica.

The diaspora is an emotional entity. It is a living breathing life force. It is heart. It is memory. It is our very soul – and it has always been this way. As far as known Jamaican history extends, the people who built this country up, established, planted, created a Nation – a rainbow coloured cosmos of the world’s nationalities. And no sooner done, formed physically and emotionally than the people evinced both an inward and an outward vision.

That is why today when the discussion about diaspora rights and involvement are hotly debated, my suggestion is that the starting

premise needs to be re- focused. Jamaica is both a place and it is a state of mind. The migrant states adamantly: “Anywhere mi is in dis worl, ah Jamaica mi deh!”

He tributes Miss Lou – “Whether you’re in Toronto or London or Canada – ah Jamaica yuh deh!”

That is the power of the diaspora, this compelling self-identification.

The Honourable Lousie Simone BennettCoverley, OM, OJ, MBE ‘Miss Lou’ Artist: Basil Watson

We would not examine, predict and pontificate on the rights of the Jamaican citizen to describe themselves as Jamaican. The diaspora citizen offers an opportunity for us to recognise an audacious, extended, vigorous power to the meaning of the word –” migrant”.

Throughout its history Jamaican migrants have travelled out to build the world. Bluefields, Nicaragua is a place reached by an arduous sea and swampland journey. This has been true since the 1740’s when the area came under the control of colonial Jamaica – in sometime alliance with the indigenous Miskito. Their last king died in Kingston Public hospital in 1908. The destination you arrive at today is Jamaica control reincarnated – a community which could be Little London, Manchioneal, or Sandy Bay, Hanover.

The audacious spirited belly-laugh, the language, the look, the food, the cadence of voice and instrument is the same even though these migrants arrived hundreds of years ago seeking jobs, building communities, drifting in all directions across Central America absorbing new languages, creolising them but keeping home heart-close.

Jamaican migrants have built worlds.

The world of the Panama Canal – in the Culebra Cut where thousands labored and thousands died.

Pres. Theodore Roosevelt in Chicago, 1904 –“The Panama Canal … the greatest material feat of the 20 century – greater than any pre-existing feat in any century”

Jamaican healer, Mary Seacole, learning that there were needs to be met and monies to be made in housekeeping, catering and nursing, arrived in Las Cruces, Panama in 1850. She threw a tablecloth over a tavern table and with her assistant cowering beside – slept out the first night and in the morning, started her

Bowman for Congress

The New York Carib News Editorial Board endorses Jamaal Bowman for the 16th Congressional District of New York representing parts of the Bronx and Westchester. Congressman Bowman has proven himself to be a real leader for his community and the welfare of the United States. Bowman’s mission is clearly articulated for people striving to succeed, the working class the middle class, the immigrant population, the marginalized, and those

small business persons trying to make it and serve their community. He’s bringing hope to people, taking action for the people, and is against anything destructive to all people; he is a fighter for what he sees as right and he will stand up for his people against any forces. He supported the Biden Administration infrastructure bill that is creating wonders throughout the country, he’s a great advocate for Medicare and drug reform and

new life as healer and businesswoman. It was her same migration story 30 years earlier. At 18 years old, Mary Seacole, born on East Street Kingston, equipped with healing skills taught by her mother, practical experience observed in the Up Park Camp military hospital – set off for England. She carried baskets of herbs, medicinal barks, aromatic topical condiments like cinnamon and sage. Later, on the battlefields of the Crimea, she would reunite with soldiers she had first tended in her hometown.

Shirley Nathan Pulliam, born in the rural quietude of Sherwood Content, Trelawny – has been an audacious, strong spirited activist for others all her life. From her early upbringing in rural colonial Jamaica, she moved out in the world, mastering a nursing profession in the UK , and then a political one in the USA.

Continually energised by deep empathy for social justice, health care equity and a phenomenal work ethic – and after a long, illustrious career, Senator Shirley Nathan Pulliam retired from the highest echelons of the Maryland Legislature in 2019. Her autobiography SAVING STELLA was published in MAY 2024, her 85th birthday.

Early migrant entrepreneurs and visionaries went to West Africa in 1780 – established missionary churches, married, set up trading stations, schools and governance institutions and went on to work across the communities of early African kingdoms.

Traveling out from “yard” was never anything new to the Jamaican people. What was remarkable though was that decade after decade, century after century, this energy and enterprise was a consistent, persistent feature of the migrant Jamaican.

Migrants going in their tens of thousands to Cuba, to Panama, to Costa Rica and onward to California, northward to Canada, across the Atlantic starting the Windrush flotilla, docking in the Thames.

Hand carved gourd made by unknown Jamaican craftsman, living in Limon Costa Rica, 1991

The energy of these migrants in nation building was consistent, herculean, underpinned by an unfailing love for their homeland and commitment to building their native Jamaica as well as their current city of abode.

This emotional connection is a remarkable and dearly cherished hallmark of the Jamaican diaspora. It rises to a fever-pitch, at times of deep

necessity. Hurricane Gilbert (1988) impelled a Jamaican nurse in Seattle, to organize and stock a trailer with supplies and drive 3,000 miles down the west coast to Miami to deliver a lorry load of Love destined for her homeland. It drives organisations across northern UK cities to intervene in their workplace when an opportunity for help to their homeland 5,000 miles away presents itself.

In 1950s Nottingham, UK, at the Raleigh Bicycle factory – the Jamaican workforce facing imminent layoffs as sales declined, created a solution. Independent of the factory sales protocols, they reasoned out an intervention, wrote back to Jamaica, amassed an order for hundreds of Raleigh bicycles and saved the day at their new Nottingham workplace and benefited their old homeland.

It is the same emotional intensity of love and connection that drives migrants monthly to collect school bags, computer sets, groceries, clothing, sneakers, track suits and ship a steady stream of small love packages back to Middle Quarters, Windward Road, St. Margaret’s Bay, St. Elizabeth – clinics, hospitals, basic schools, community centres and children’s homes. It is the same connection that has created Jamaica Caribbean student associations on university campus after campus across North America.

Their ongoing remittances and Western Union emergency monies are legendary. As are the continuous streams of barrels and love and goodwill, and the picturesque varieties of homes sprouting across every parish. And grandchildren with varying world accents who populate deep rural Jamaica at holiday time.  This is a remarkable population. Our diaspora people who have never separated from their homeland. Let us never consider separating from them.

There is no separation. Space and time are illusionary when love and heritage is the binding force. We should frame discussions about these shining pioneers in this light – Our family, Our folk. And pay tribute and give thanks.

Margaret Reckord Bernal, an independent Heritage consultant, sociologist and poet has worked locally and internationally with Jamaican communities and creatives to document and promote Jamaica’s cultural heritage – especially during her 11 year tenure at the Jamaican Embassy in Washington DC. Contact artsjamaica@gmail.com

the Green New Deal looking at climate change and its impact on the community he serves. Corporate and special interest groups have singled him out for disagreeing with their policy. The disagreement is met not with understanding or reasoning but with a vengeance to remove him. We are urging all of the communities to stand and vote for Jamaal Bowman on June 25th because we know what happens when our leaders are brought from outside

of the community and who will be the victims.

Jamal Bowman is from the community, understands the community, is committed to the community and knows the real needs of the community; he is genuine as a voice in Congress and we are urging voters to go out and vote for Jamaal Bowman for Congress, a voice of the people.

Standing By DEI and Chief Diversity Officers

by Earl G. Graves, Jr., Black Enterprise president/CEO, and Michael C. Hyter, Executive Leadership Council, president/CEO

This week in New York City, BLACK ENTERPRISE hosted its second annual Chief Diversity Officer Summit and Honors, presented in partnership with Fidelity Investments, Merck, and The Executive Leadership Council, the preeminent organization representing senior Black executives in corporate America and corporations throughout the globe.

The event’s purpose is to highlight the contributions of great champions of corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), including impactful industry leaders such as trailblazer James Lowry, former Dell EMC CDO Jacqueline Glenn, and the dynamic duo that designed and drove the inclusive culture at PepsiCo, Ronald Parker, and Maurice Cox.

Perhaps more critically, the summit serves as a platform for conversation about the status and future of DEI as it faces withering attacks on all fronts. Indeed, DEI needs its champions now more than ever.

It was just four years ago when the murder of George Floyd and the galvanizing global protests that followed seemed to inspire a racial reckoning focused on the systemic discrimination of African Americans, and corporate America was very much a part of it.

Corporations across industries declared their renewed commitment to DEI goals with grand pledges of support for equity and fairness. We seemed to be on the precipice of great change. We were, but it was not the change we’d hoped for or anticipated.

The landscape has shifted dramatically in recent months. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down affirmative action in college

admissions has opened the floodgates for legal challenges to DEI policies in the workplace.

A federal appeals court’s recent ruling to end Fearless Fund’s grant program for Black women entrepreneurs could potentially set a chilling precedent that undermines measured and effective efforts to level the economic playing field.

And in March, another federal ruling similarly gutted the Minority Business Development Agency, a potentially devastating blow to minority businesses that have long struggled to overcome systemic barriers to advancement.

As political pressure on companies to abandon DEI has intensified, the chief diversity officer role in the corporate hierarchy is being increasingly marginalized or eliminated altogether.

And those lofty statements of commitment to DEI that beamed so proudly from company websites in the wake of the Floyd protests have quietly vanished.

Is this how DEI ends? Are we about to lose the chief diversity officer permanently? Or will corporate America come to its senses and acknowledge the value of equity and inclusion in its growth and profitability?

To answer that question, it’s important to remember that the business case for DEI has been made and reaffirmed in study after study, contrary to the hyperbole of its critics. Chief diversity officers have redefined how companies recruit and develop talent. They have elevated the profile of HBCUs as a rich, viable, and long-underutilized recruitment resource and demonstrated the importance of mentorship in opening the leadership pipeline

beyond the traditional white male boy’s club. Most significantly, the rise of the CDO helped countless corporations establish profitable relationships with diverse suppliers, identifying growth opportunities that allow companies to capitalize on emerging trends. This kind of collaboration leads to new and wider access to unexplored markets and untapped talent.

On another front, the CDO role provides governance and practices that underscore the necessity of DEI in the workplace. Studies show that 41% of Black employees say they have experienced discrimination at work, from the hiring process to being passed over for promotions to disproportionate compensation.

For CEOs, these numbers represent a genuine threat to a company’s health and stability, leaving the firm open to damaging and expensive lawsuits. The CDO’s role ensures compliance and mitigates risk.

Bottom line: CDOs make companies more agile and responsive to marketplace trends and, yes, better places to work.

Corporate America cannot—must not—sacrifice progress to short-sighted political pressures. It’s simply a bad business strategy.

Rather than running from controversy, our leading corporations should proudly own DEI’s successes within their organizations and the contributions of their CDOs.

Moving forward, it’s essential for corporate leaders to recommit to DEI and the CDO role substantively, not in name only. If not properly championed and supported by leadership from the top down, DEI will continue to prove vulnerable to the kind of coordinated, negative

attacks we’re witnessing.

BLACK ENTERPRISE was launched 55 years ago to ensure that African Americans become full participants within the economic mainstream and gain unfettered access to equal opportunity in corporate America with the ability to rise as high as their talents can take them—including the C-suite, boardroom, and the CEO’s chair.

The Executive Leadership Council was founded 38 years ago to develop Black executives for the highest business echelons and simultaneously eliminate institutional barriers or excuses that denied them power positions as corporate decision-makers.

So, it falls upon Black senior executives and corporate directors to use their positions to be proactive and ferocious voices in protecting and advancing CDOs, DEI policies and practices, and the elevation of current and future generations of Black professionals. BE Founder and Publisher Earl G. Graves, Sr. continuously asserted that we can ill afford high-ranking Black executives willing to accept the role of “window dressing” for their respective companies but need Black men and women of position and influence to “stand in harm’s way” to ensure that all Black professionals gain opportunities across the board in corporate America.

Black C-suite executives must stand firm and uphold DEI, challenging corporate leadership to be accountable to their diversity statements and create a more equitable organization where all employees can thrive.

Continued online at www.nycaribnews.com

On Juneteenth Let Us Remember, Racial Terror Did Not End with Slavery

by Ben Jealous

When Terence Crutcher, a father of four who sang in his church choir, was shot and killed by the police in 2016 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, his twin sister Dr. Tiffany Crutcher saw history repeating itself.

Terence, who had his hands up, needed help but instead received a bullet. It was fired by the same police department that 95 years earlier had deputized members of the lynch mob that started the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. It reminded Dr. Crutcher of perhaps the most prominent victim of that Massacre, the renowned surgeon Dr. A.C. Jackson. Dr. Jackson was shot leaving his house, also with his hands in the air.

The Crutchers are direct descendants of a survivor of the 1921 Massacre, which destroyed Tulsa’s historic Greenwood District. Dr. Crutcher is also a leader of the movement to get official recognition of and restitution for that destruction. I was honored to stand with members of that movement in Tulsa this past week to commemorate the Juneteenth holiday. The Tulsa Race Massacre was probably the single worst incident of racial violence in American history post-slavery. Over an 18hour period, as many as 300 Black residents were murdered. More than 10,000 others were displaced as refugees in their own country. Over 1,250 Black homes and hundreds of Black businesses and gathering places were burned. Last week, the Oklahoma Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit seeking reparations for the last

known living survivors of the Tulsa Massacre (ages 110 and 109). But another important fight continues. That is the fight to create a national monument where the Greenwood District once thrived. A bipartisan bill to do that has been introduced in Congress by Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.). President Biden could also establish the monument with executive authority under the 1906 Antiquities Act.

A similar movement is underway to establish a national monument to the 1908 race riot in Springfield, Illinois. That riot, in the hometown of Abraham Lincoln, shocked the nation and was a major catalyst for the creation of the NAACP six months later.

Just one generation removed from slavery, Tulsa’s Greenwood District was a 35-square-block bastion of Black prosperity. It was nicknamed “Negro Wall Street” by Booker T. Washington. An especially prosperous section of a thriving boomtown, it was seen as a Promise Land for the Black people who flocked there. In the age of lynchings and race riots, it seemed like an exception to the rule. During Red Summer in 1919, when at least 26 cities across the country experienced intense racial violence, Tulsa remained peaceful.

But the peace did not last. Resentment of the famed “Black Wall Street” and its residents’ success simmered among white Tulsans. As Dr. Crutcher notes, “in an era when white supremacy ran rampant, Black people were

not supposed to thrive … if you tried to live free, tried to vote, or even looked at someone the wrong way, it was an excuse to destroy and lynch Black people.”

The spark that lit the powder keg in Tulsa was the same that ignited so many other examples of racial violence in America. A Black boy was accused of assaulting a white girl. A lynch mob formed. And when the mob was rebuffed, all hell broke loose.

This month, as we celebrate Juneteenth, which marks the end of chattel slavery in the U.S., Dr. Crutcher reminds us that “we celebrate an idea that has yet to become a reality.”

That is because when it comes to reckoning with and healing the wounds of our nation’s history with race, we still have a long way to go. For many decades following the Massacre, the history of that terrible event was buried in what Dr. Crutcher calls a “conspiracy of silence.”

Dr. Crutcher grew up in Tulsa just a few blocks from historic Greenwood and even attended school in Greenwood. Yet she was never taught this history that so impacted her community –and her own family. She first heard mention of the Massacre and Black Wall Street when she went away to college and would tell people she was from Tulsa.

Home from college one weekend, she asked her dad about it. Dr. Crutcher learned not only about the Massacre but that her great-grandmother, Rebecca Brown Crutcher, had barely escaped it. She found out her father had only

learned about it himself when, amidst the assassination of Dr. King and the riots that followed in the late 1960s, “Mama Brown,” as the family called her, whispered to him, “Something like that happened here.”

She whispered because all those years later she was still afraid. Survivors were told if they talked about the events, they would be lynched or bring on another massacre. So for decades, the history was not only scrubbed from textbooks and schools, but even from families’ oral traditions.

One reason a national monument is so important is the need to protect and learn from our history. As we commemorate Juneteenth, we must not just remember the history and end of slavery. We must remember the long shadow cast by the dehumanization of Black people in this country. And we must recognize that we still have not fully stepped out of that shadow and into the light.

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

Juneteenth - Museum Celebrating a Black Inventor to

Reopen

The Lewis Latimer House Museum is reopening after months of renovation.

Lewis Latimer is one of the most pivotal American inventors you’ve likely never heard of. A Black inventor, Latimer was instrumental in developing the telephone with Alexander Graham Bell and the lightbulb with Thomas Edison. He also pioneered early versions of the modern air conditioner and improved mechanisms used in train bathrooms.

The Lewis Latimer House Museum temporarily closed to install a new exhibit, which you can explore starting Saturday, June 15. The reopening celebration, from 1-4pm, features a marching band, sculpture-making station, ceramics workshops, an African drum and dance circle, and more.

The museum has five galleries, including:

“Light up the World”: Showcasing Latimer’s impact on modern technology and culture.

“A Definite Purpose”: Exploring Latimer’s life within historical context and the challenges he faced due to his Black identity.

“A Legacy of Imagination”: Highlighting Latimer’s family history and their involvement in the Civil Rights Movement.

“Community at the Center”: Examining Latimer’s role in the Harlem Renaissance.

For younger visitors, the Latimer Lab offers hands-on lessons in science, technology, and engineering.

After the reopening, the Latimer House Museum will be open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11am to 5pm. Admission is pay-as-you-wish, with a suggested donation of $5 per person. For more information, visit the museum’s website.

Posthumous Honor for ‘Father of the Juneteenth Holiday’

Albert “Al” Ely Edwards the “Father of the Juneteenth

The late Albert “Al” Ely Edwards, Former Texas State Representative has been honored by the Atlanta City Council and named, “Father of the Juneteenth Holiday.” Councilman Michael Julian Bond presented the award to his son Jason K. Edwards. Juneteenth will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

“Yesterday the City of Atlanta and Councilman Michael Julian Bond recently honored dad for his work,” said Jason K. Edwards, the son of the Juneteenth champion and Chairman of Juneteenth USA, a nonprofit started by his late Father in 1979. “It was a wonderful honor for my dad and our family for the City of Atlanta to honor his work that started in Texas.

Juneteenth USA is profoundly thankful to Councilman Bond and the City of Atlanta for making this day possible!” In May of 2024, Juneteenth USA, which is

the oldest Juneteenth organization in the United States, acknowledged the reference from the White House about Texas State Representative Al Edwards, known affectionately as the “Architect and Father of Juneteenth” and his efforts to make Juneteenth a true federal holiday. Juneteenth reminds the country of Americans’ national responsibility to honor the history of enslaved people and celebrate the freedom and rights U.S. citizens count on. Edwards, a prominent member of the Alpha Eta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., was recognized for advocating to countless state legislators to pass Juneteenth in their state to create a state-led and state-celebrated national holiday, with unwavering commitment for almost four decades to transition

June 19th from a Texas state holiday to a respected national holiday. According to the late State Legislator’s son Jason Edwards, “Official recognition of the Juneteenth holiday lends profound significance to June 19, 1865. His political work with the 45 states that recognized Juneteenth by 2014, was aided by community activist like Opal Lee who in 2016 took his state-led efforts and started her push for Juneteenth to become a Federal Holiday. My father dedicated his life to ensuring that Juneteenth would finally join the revered national holidays here that recognize major historical days in our country’s history.”

Juneteenth: What to Know About the Historical New Federal Holiday

Three years after becoming a federal holiday, Juneteenth 2024 stands as a day of celebration and education. Known as “Second Independence Day,” this federal holiday commemorates the moment the last African American slaves learned of their freedom, according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Dr. Tim Goler, a professor of urban affairs and sociology and the director of research for the Center for African American Public Policy at Norfolk State University, told USA TODAY that Juneteenth, also known as “Freedom Day,” showcases the “beauty of our culture” and is a celebration for everyone to partake in. The origins of Juneteenth date back to June 19, 1865. This was more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation when Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and declared the end of the Civil War and the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Goler explained that the delay in enforcement of the emancipation in Texas was due to a lack of enforcement until Gen. Granger’s arrival. Thus, Juneteenth became a powerful symbol of freedom and the long struggle for civil rights.

The Juneteenth National Independence Day Act was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate in June 2021. President Joe Biden signed the bill on June 17, 2021, officially making Juneteenth a federal holiday.

Juneteenth is now becoming an integral part of discussions around Black History, a topic that was once largely overlooked in educational systems. Dr. Alan Singer, a professor at Hofstra University who writes about the history of slavery and racism, noted that he only learned about Juneteenth as an adult in the 1990s. As a teacher, he felt a responsibility to educate his students about the African American civil rights struggles, which he began studying in depth to incorporate into his lessons. Singer, who attended high school during the Civil Rights Movement, said he was never taught about Black History. He became a political activist in college and sought to educate himself more thoroughly to present a more accurate picture of U.S. history to his students.

Dr. Goler pointed out that Juneteenth has been celebrated for years within the Black community but has gained wider recognition recently. “In recent years, Juneteenth has gained much

wider recognition. It’s only been since 2021 that it became a designated federal holiday,” he said. “Many Black people and Black communities around the country have celebrated Juneteenth. It’s just becoming much more visible now.”

Caribbean Week Kicks Off to Brisk Start

by Dave Rodney, Carib News Writer

Perfect weather in the New York City region with abundant sunshine and blue skies formed the backdrop to the start of the annual Caribbean Week revelry in New York for 2024.

The annual celebration which takes place under the umbrella of the Caribbean Tourism Organization brings together several travel destinations from the region to showcase their very diverse allure- from cricket and carnival to lavish resorts to pristine beaches to gastronomic adventures, and more. The week began with a church service on Sunday at the Lennox Avenue Baptist Church on Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn. This was followed by a sumptuous outdoor country brunch in Stamford, Connecticut hosted by travel marketing executive Noel Mignot and and Jacqueline Johnson, Jamaican-born CEO of mycaribbean.com, widely considered as a primary portal for planning and booking weddings, honeymoon and romance holidays.

Among those attending the brunch were

Hon. Haydn Hughes, Anguilla’s minister of tourism. Also there were commissoner for tourism for French St. Martin Valerie Dameseau, Joy Rilu , CEO of Nassau Promotion Board and Colin James, CEO of Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority.

During the upcoming week, a number of topical issues will be discussed. Among them, artificial intelligence and travel, building bridges between the Caribbean and the African American markets and the challenges of airline connectivity within the Caribbean.

Various tourism ministers and tourism directors will have closed door meetings during the week to address issues relating to their specific countries.

Jamaica’s Tourism Minister, Hon. Ed Bartlett will make a guest appearance on Monday on the.PIX 11 TV morning show in New York, and Antigua and Barbuda’s Colin James will be a guest on PIX network on Tuesday. The festivities end on Thursday June 20.

Tourism Minister Congratulates Romardo Lyons for Best News Reporting on “Coffee Crisis”

Morgan Safoah Martinez - Business Executive

Morgan Safoah Martinez was born in Ghana and has lived in the United States for 38 years.

She is an entrepreneur with over 25 years of Information Technology industry experience and she has over the years, built deep expertise in infrastructure design and deployment, quality management, and IT services for large organizations with both domestic and global footprints across six continents. She has built multiple businesses within and outside the shores of the United States with particular interests in Africa where her investment interests can be felt and seen in major cities on the continent for the sole reason

of employment generation and social re-engineering in Africa.

Over the years, Morgan has worked with various for- profit and non-profit organizations including various government organizations and agencies around the world but more specifically, her business interests and experiences are:

– IT Infrastructure & Software Development

– Business development

– Sales & Marketing

– Product Development

– Project Management

– Funding and Investment Procurement

– Real Estate Development

– Aviation

– Music, Arts & Entertainment

– The Automotive Industry

– Manufacturing & Production

Morgan Martinez has over the years been able to connect beyond the corridors of business to the unique problems, crises, and difficulties facing men, women, and children across the globe and this passion for going beyond the surface laced with her love for humanity has continued to fuel her support for different charities and non-profits around the world supporting the development of youth populations in Africa and developing nations.

Jamaica - Diaspora Conference Claims Largest

Number of Registrants

The Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference, currently taking place at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James, has reached a record-breaking number of registrants, according to Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith.

Johnson Smith announced that over 1,100 individuals have registered for the event, surpassing the government’s target of 1,000 participants.

Addressing attendees at the welcome cocktail reception, Johnson Smith celebrated the milestone and highlighted the event’s significance. The conference, now in its 10th staging, will run until Wednesday.

“This is our largest number of sponsors ever and our largest marketplace ever,” Johnson Smith stated. “The continued growth and expanded support from our nationals at home and abroad is something we can all be collectively proud of.”

The minister expressed gratitude to the diaspora members present and encouraged their active participation in the conference sessions and nation-building efforts. Echoing similar sentiments, State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Alando Terrelonge, emphasized the conference’s theme, calling

it a significant opportunity for Jamaicans worldwide to unite for a better Jamaica.

“This conference reaffirms that regardless of when you left Jamaica, you remain a part of our community. It is a celebration of our shared heritage and a testament to the enduring bonds that unite us across borders,” Terrelonge said.

Legacy sponsors VM Group, GraceKennedy, and the Jamaica National Group also underscored the importance of strengthening ties with the diaspora, highlighting the benefits of deeper collaboration.

Courtney Campbell, president and CEO of VM Group and chair of this year’s conference, described the diaspora’s participation as essential for achieving greater outcomes for Jamaica.

“[It] is a display of unity, and with unity comes peace, greater productivity, and empowerment for our young people,”

Campbell said, aligning with the conference theme, “United for Jamaica’s Transformation: Fostering Peace, Productivity, and Youth Empowerment.”

Grace Burnett, CEO of GraceKennedy Financial Group, remarked that the conference presents an opportunity for Jamaica to leverage unity and collective action to shape a brighter future.

Claudine Allen, General Manager of the JN Foundation, representing the JN Group, invited the diaspora to engage in philanthropic activities to uplift local communities. She highlighted the JN Circle, a network of volunteers established by the JN Group in 2020, with chapters across all parishes in Jamaica, the UK, and Canada.

“Wherever Jamaicans come together, we are interested in building their capacity and preparing them for prosperity,” Allen assured the audience.

CARIBNEWS

PDPA Women Celebrating Women Emerald Award

On Friday, May 31st at the elegant El Carib Country Club, in Brooklyn, PDPA Women Celebrating Women held its Spectacular Emerald Award Ceremony, commemorating the amazing women and our elected officials’ contributions to our community. This event was beautifully presented by the PDPA Executive Team under the leadership of Rose Graham, Wayne Ragguette, Thelma Moore, Andrea Dawes and Rt. Rev. Sylveta A. Hamilton- Gonzales. Women their families and friends came together to celebrate their various achievements; in the fields of Education, Health, Business, and Politics. Women elegantly adorned in fashions that reflected their personalities and culture danced to old-school Caribbean and American music under resounding applause to celebrate great women who have accomplished so much adversity.

Congresswoman Barbara Lee, a Democrat from California, was the distinguished guest of honor and keynote speaker. The illustrious event was highlighted with a beautiful speech presented by Congresswoman Lee, a protege of the Honorable Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman in Congress, from Central Brooklyn. Chisholm was the first black woman to run in the Democratic Presidential primary race to be President of the United States.

Congresswoman Barbara Lee, the eminent keynote speaker, opened the nostalgic door in her

speech about her mentor and friend, Congresswoman Chisholm, one of the renowned female legends of our time. Rep. Lee captured the pivotal moments of Chisholm’s extraordinary performance in Congress, her trailblazing legislative tenacity, and her audacious leadership that changed our world. Rep. Chisholm was the founder of the National Women’s Political Caucus.

She was a strong supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment and legalized abortion. Rep. Chisholm in her quest to be President of the United States had Lee as her campaign manager and her Chief of Staff. It was an amazing speech riveted with enthusiasm and empowerment to the young intergeneration women in the audience. To hear the words “Unbought and Unbossed” is this mantra that encourages our next generation of women leaders to rise to the occasion and bring their own chairs to the table for change. In addition, Congresswoman Lee celebrated the great accomplishments of the awesome women being honored with the distinctive Emerald Awards in the ballroom. Political leaders such as Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, Democratic leader of the Ninth Congressional District, in Central Brooklyn, and her mother Matriarch and founder of PDPA Una S. T. Clarke, other guests, and elected officials praised the honorees for their profound contributions to society.

In her motivational speech Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, leader of the Ninth District who is currently sitting in Shirley’s chair, stated that she was the youngest black member in Congress on her arrival to Washington DC. Rep. Clarke painted a picture of her experience when she arrived.

Rep. Clarke explained she was considered to have a “safe seat.” Consequently, she did not receive any assistance to navigate her trajectory in Congress until the empathic leader Congresswoman Barbara Lee pulled her under her wings, and mentored her, emulating the mentoring Barbara Lee received from Hon. Shirley Chisolm. Congresswoman Yvette Clarke connected the historical times that tied the knots, past to present intertwining Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s leadership within a magnificent complete infinite circle with Rep. Chisholm, Rep Lee and herself in a singular outstanding leadership as change agent for our community, in her inspirational speech. Her speech touched and inspired many of the young women in the room who hoped to be in her shoes.

Among the young guests were students and alums of the M.A.C.A.D.E.M.Y School of Science and Technology. Student Gov. President Skie DeGale and Journalist Quinn Stewart were sponsored by President Sabrina HoSang-Jordan and the Caribbean Food Delights Foundation. Seniors Nile Anderson, Brook McKenzie, and

alumni Daylon Bacchus, Ashley Hamilton, Patricia and Shianne Smith and 4th Grade student Christian Howe were all participants. They handed the Emerald Awards to our Matriarch and founder of PDPA Dr. Una S. T. Clarke, who presented to all the honorees encircled by some of Brooklyn’s finest elected officials. Alumni Cerena Parkinson, on her way to Oxford University, in England, to study Fine Arts, displayed her extraordinary talents evident in her paintings with vibrant Caribbean colors and imagery to add to the ambiance of El Carib. A country club engulfed with crystal chandeliers and fine draperies, a feast for the human eyes. After these academically astute and gifted students contributed to the successful PDPA Women Celebrating Women Emerald Awards presentation, they enjoyed their evening with a motivational blend of old and new music, delicious gourmet foods, and intergenerational socialization.

The PDPA Women Celebrating Women Emerald Award Event was an amazing opportunity for women to come together and enjoy the immense contributions they have made to the community’s education, health, business, and political development and advancement.

See photos on website at nycaribnews.com

Largest Caribbean Pop-Up Market Comes to Chelsea Market

Carib Biz Network (CBN), a Caribbean small business development platform will again host the largest pop-up collection of 50+ Caribbean makers representing 7+ Caribbean islands.

Curated by Carib Biz Network, Eyeland Fest is the third annual installment of a month-long series of 10+ events. In particular, CBN’s pop-up market will be housed for the first time at Chelsea Market for a 2-day shopping experience.

“We are so incredibly honored and excited to be back this year hosting Eyeland Fest during Caribbean American Heritage Month. For the past two years, the response has  been overwhelmingly positive and exciting.’’ said Carib Biz  Founder, Dr.

Nicole Grimes. “We are fully focused on growing this special community, fostering economic development for our brands and looking forward to curating a space for families and the greater community can come to support Caribbean culture and small businesses.

CBN Momentum Marketplace will feature:

- Over 50 small businesses selling items across varied sectors: beauty, jewelry, clothing, accessories, home decor, art, kids and more!

- 12+ brands directly from the Caribbean islands including award-winning makers like Aya Styler, 1ndividual, Membete and more!

Jamaican Woman Stabbed to Death in US

GEORGIA, United States — A Jamaican woman, originally from Ballard’s Valley, St Elizabeth, was found dead on Father’s Day in her Georgia apartment after she failed to show up for work.

Investigators theorise that 42-year-old Dr Samantha Banton Woolery had been stabbed to death the day prior.

According to co-workers of the deceased, Woolery’s failure to show up for work was

cause for concern, leading them to contact the police.

Police visited Woolery’s apartment in Marietta, a city northwest of Atlanta, where she was found unresponsive with

visible bruises.

The police have reportedly taken her ex-husband, 49-year-old Mickey Anthony Woolery, into custody.

Brooklyn, NY – Ponzi Scheme Targeting Haitians

At the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Frantz Simeon was sentenced by US District Judge Brian M. Cogan to 24 months in prison for his operation of a fraudulent scheme that used his company, First Black Enterprises, Inc., to target members of the Haitian American community in Brooklyn and

Queens. As part of the sentence, Simeon was ordered to pay over $200,000 in restitution. The defendant pleaded guilty to mail fraud in February 2023.

Breon Peace, US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Daniel B. Brubaker, Inspector-in-Charge, United States Postal

Inspection Service (USPIS), announced the sentence.

“Today, Frantz Simeon learned the consequences for exploiting his position of trust in the Haitian American community,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Simeon lured his victims with false promises of substan-

tial returns on investments so that he could fleece them for his own benefit, until his scheme collapsed. This Office will aggressively prosecute perpetrators of affinity fraud schemes, and this case alerts investors to be wary of community members touting investments that sound too good to be true.”

Barbados – Top Cop says Plans in Place to Tackle Rise in Crime

The Barbados Police Service is taking decisive action to address the recent surge in violence. So says Commissioner of Police Richard Boyce in an attempt to reassure Barbadians.

During a press briefing at Police Headquarters in Roebuck Street, Bridgetown, Boyce outlined the measures being implemented

to combat the rise in crime. He stated, “The rampant use of firearms has led to the untimely deaths of four citizens and injuries to others. Our goal is to remove these weapons from the hands of young men and restore normalcy to our communities, allowing residents to go about their lives without fear.”

Boyce reported that, so far this year, the police have confiscated 27 firearms and 262 rounds of ammunition. “Our officers have been working tirelessly around the clock to address this firearm issue, particularly when someone’s life is in imminent danger,” he added.

He noted an overall increase in crime

compared to the previous year. “In 2023, we recorded nine murders, whereas 2024 has seen 16 so far. Robberies have decreased from 69 in 2023 to 58 in 2024. Rape cases rose slightly from 21 last year to 22 this year. Aggravated burglaries dropped from 32 to 28, and theft from a person fell from 32 to 29 cases.”

T&T - Rum to be Named for Mighty Sparrow

Mighty Sparrow Premium Spiced Rum is a bold new entry into a category desperate for an upgrade. In partnership with a legacy award winning Caribbean distillery, we’ve created our own Proprietary Blend Rum that’s aged up to ten years in ex-Bourbon American Oak Casks. The artisanal recipe is made with indigenous spices, dried fruits and other natural flavors; the formulation has been handcrafted by a former head for over two decades of R&D @at Diageo.

The AUTHENTIC, Caribbean Rum is named after our partner, the legendary Cultural and Musical icon, MIGHTY SPARROW, the King of Calypso. For over six decades, Mighty Sparrow recorded and toured the Caribbean and the world. Along the way, he single-handedly transformed Calypso from its rural folk music

origins into a powerful international art form that laid the foundation to the massively popular Soca music.

As Bob Dylan said, “ As far as concept and intelligence and warring with words and beat, Mighty Sparrow was and still is, the King.”

Mighty Sparrow Premium Spiced Rum at 40% ABV, has a bold, velvety smooth taste. It’s instantly flavorful and delicious, from lips to liquid, straight through to the finish.

Mighty Sparrow Premium Spiced Rum is meant to be sipped over a cube of ice or a splash of water, in addition to its primary use as a mixer for cocktails and mixed drinks. It’s spicy and sweet, much like the supreme Serenader himself, the King of Calypso, Mighty Sparrow.

Romain Virgo Closes Out US Tour - Thanks Fans and Organizers for a Resounding Success

Over four electrifying nights, fans flocked to three venues across the Northeastern U.S. for Romain Virgo’s “The Gentle Man Tour.”

The tour is in support of this latest album, which features Masicka, Patoranking, Capleton, and Jesse Royal.

The Jamaican reggae artist who specializes in the lovers rock style of reggae music delivered stunning, career-spanning performances at Toad’s Place in New Haven, CT, back-to-back shows at the Crown Hill Theatre in Brooklyn, NY, and The Ave in Philadelphia, PA, all in support of his new album, “The Gentle Man”.

Each night, Virgo captivated audiences with hour-and-a-half-long sets, seamlessly blending new material with beloved classics. The energetic and enthusiastic crowds chanted and jumped along, creating a communal atmosphere that felt like a homecoming for Virgo.

The performer was quite grateful thanking his fans and organizers for the successful event.

He said, “Thanks to the fans and everyone involved in making this tour a success. I’m

overjoyed to have been able to bring this experience to my supporters. I can’t wait until next time.”

Virgo was supported by his seven-piece band and vocalists Janeel Mills and Tori Lattore, who served as opening acts, winning over the crowd with a mix of original songs and classic reggae covers.

Each show began with early evening jugglings from various DJs:

- DJ Buck & Bojangles in New Haven,

- Platinum Kidz on the first night in Brooklyn

- Rory Stonelove on the second night in Brooklyn

- Young Genna and Solomonic Sound System in Philadelphia.

Richard Lue of VP Records thanked the sponsors and Virgo’s team.

He shared, “It was an incredible honor to work with professionals like Romain and his team to put these shows together. He deserves all the success that comes his way.

I would also like to thank the sponsors: Jamaica Tourist Board, Victoria Mutual Money Transfer, and Victoria Mutual Building Society.”

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 - Super 8 Teams, Match Dates Confirmed

ST. JOHN’S – ANTIGUA: The groups and schedule for the Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 have been confirmed with both co-hosts West Indies and USA making it through to the second stage that will see the eight teams battle for a place in the semi-finals.

Super 8 qualifiers are:

Group A: India and USA

Group B: Australia and England

Group C: West Indies and Afghanistan

Group D: South Africa and Bangladesh

The eight teams will be divided into two groups:

Group A: India, Australia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh• Group B: USA, England, West Indies, South Africa

Four of the Super 8 qualifiers have won the World Cup previously, India, England, West Indies and Australia. Super 8 matches will be played across four West Indies venues: Antigua and Barbuda (four matches), Barbados (three matches), Saint

Lucia (three matches) and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (two matches). Full fixtures available HERE.

Each team will play every other team in its group once, with the top two sides in each group qualifying for the semi-finals, to be played in Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana on 26 and 27 June, respectively.

The Super Eight stage commences in Antigua on Wednesday 19 June with a clash between USA and South Africa at 10h30. That same evening West Indies take on old rivals, England in Saint Lucia. The two sides have a prolific cricketing history, with the Men in Maroon ensuring a dominant display at home against England in recent years.

Tickets for Super 8 matches are on sale now at tickets.t20worldcup.com and at box officesacross the Caribbean. A limited number of Party-Stand tickets are on sale for the final, as part of a ticket bundle with Super 8 matches in Barbados. To purchase a Party-Stand ticket for the final, you will be required to purchase a Party Stand tick-

et for any one of the three Super 8 matches at Kensington Oval.

Stadium Clock

Tickets are available at tickets.t20worldcup.com. Click on the “Buy Hospitality” tab on the Barbados page on the website.

Fawwaz Baksh, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Tournament Director said: “We are getting down to the business end of the tournament and fans can look forward to an exciting Super 8 stage. It is also great to see the two hosts, West Indies and USA qualify for the Super 8, and especially the USA, which is competing in an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup for the first time. With other tournament favorites such as India, Australia, England and South Africa also in the mix, together with the impressive Afghanistan and Bangladesh teams, the next couple of weeks promises to be a cricketing spectacle.”

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Opens Season with 11.5 Sprint

Three-time Olympic gold medallist ShellyAnn Fraser-Pryce made a triumphant return to the track with a controlled sprint of 11.15 seconds at the French Foray Meeting held at the National Stadium on Saturday night. This performance comes less than two weeks before the start of the Jamaica national championships, which will determine the team representing Jamaica at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 38-year-old sprinting legend, who boasts a lifetime best of 10.60 seconds, was making an extraordinarily late start to her season. Despite this, Fraser-Pryce, running with her right knee and lower-thigh strapped with kinesio tape, demonstrated

her enduring talent by shaking off the rust and securing victory against a competitive field. Jodean Smith, clocking in at 11.20 seconds, finished second, while schoolgirl Sabrina Dockery took third place with a time of 11.46 seconds.

In the men’s sprints, Bouwahjgie Nkrumie emerged as the fastest athlete of the night with a time of 10.21 seconds. Sandray Davison was close behind, recording a time of 10.25 seconds, while De Andre Daley achieved a season-best of 10.26 seconds to finish third. Notably, Ackeem Blake, despite stumbling out of the blocks in Nkrumie’s heat, managed to recover and post a respectable time of 10.30 seconds.