January 1, 2025

VOL. XLIII NO. 2199 WEEK OF JANUARY 1 - 7, 2025

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(OUT OF TOWN) $1.50

FORMER PRESIDENT

CARICOM

COMMITTED TO DECISIVE LEADERSHIP Says outgoing Chairman, Dickon Mitchell

Page 8 TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED

Because of heightened criminal activity which endangers public safety

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NEW YORK

FIRST-IN-THE-NATION PAID PRENATAL LEAVE POLICY Announced by Governor Kathy

Hochul to take effect on January 1

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THE WHITE HOUSE

TRINIDADIAN KHANYA BRANN, ON BIDEN STAFF

After interning becomes Senior Communications Advisor for the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs

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A&E

TERRY SEALES TO BRING GLOBAL SOCA TOURNAMENT

Essential for the country’s creatives to grow

JIMMY CARTER PASSES AT 100 YEARS OLD

PLEA TO BIDEN

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CLIMATE

2024 - SET TO BE HOTTEST YEAR ON RECORD

Capping a decade of unprecedented heat fueled by human activities

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

TO EXONERATE MARCUS GARVEY

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CARIBNEWS

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 7, 2025

Jimmy Carter Passes at Age 100 - A True Friend to Jamaica Former U.S. President James Earl ‘Jimmy’ Carter Jr. died at 100. Immediately after taking power, the Carter administration shifted U.S. policy in the region to one of increased attention, especially towards Jamaica.

Jamaica’s former Prime Minister Mr. Michael Norman Manley democratic socialism and his cordial relations with President Fidel Castro of Cuba are considered non-aligned. Issues between the Soviet Union and the West have been deemed problematic by the Nixon and Ford administrations. The Carter administration regarded Mr. Manley not merely as a Caribbean leader, but as an articulate and effective spokesman for all the developing nations, a rule that was recognized when he was elected Chairman of the group of 77.

President Carter sent his wife, Rosalyn, on her first diplomatic visit to the Western Hemisphere, starting with a visit to Jamaica in May.

63 million package to benefit the lower income groups in Jamaica.

Through the connection with Ambassador Andrew Young Carter’s ambassador to the UN, the Carter administration worked effectively with Michael Manley on international issues of interest to the United States. They were able to mobilize strong support for several issues at the UN and international treaties, particularly that of the Panama Canal Treaty, where Michael Manley’s connection and Jamaica’s interest in the region was very helpful in navigating some of the difficult issues around the Panama Canal treaty.

Andrew Young always commented on the role of Michael Manley, PJ Patterson, and others in Panama Canal and some of these international initiatives that the US was engaged in.

When the Jamaica Progressive League in the US launched a fundraising effort for the Jamaica House project, Mrs. Carter

“I have one life and one chance to make it count for something.” — Jimmy Carter On May 30th, 1977, Mrs. Rosalynn Carter met with Michael Manley in Kingston, Jamaica, where they both discussed finances, Cuba, Panama, and human rights. The discussion was characterized as brisk and very substantive, including trade policy and Jamaica’s financial difficulties.

The Manley administration was under constant attack by the Nixon and Ford administrations, and Michael Manley despised Secretary of State Henry Kissinger because he felt he was untrustworthy.

Violence then started to creep into the local political policy in an ugly manner.

In representing the Carter administration Mrs. Carter made the point that she had studied the president’s basic foreign policy, which he said she would. She would be stressing about her visit with the heads of state and consulting with them to bring their views directly to the president. Manley in addressing Mrs. Carter said, “We have watched with very great Interest the administration of the United States under the leadership of your distinguished husband, the President, Jimmy Carter, and we have watched the new approaches to international affairs and are greatly encouraged to feel that they may have great significance to the people of the world.”

President Carter’s administration looked for a good relationship with Michael Manley. He was the fourth head of government of Latin America to make an individual visit to Washington to meet with President Carter and announced a

lent her name to the project, and the ambassador, Andrew Young, played a significant role in that effort when the organization was fighting racial discrimination, to the owning of properties in New York.

President Carter was a great president, a man of impeccable integrity, one who Jamaica was fortunate to have as a friend.

The significant role he played in the Western Hemisphere and the alliances that he pulled together with Michael Manley and several other Western Hemisphere leaders had brought about an enlightened policy in the region rather than one of fear and suspicion.

President Carter returned to Jamaica as part of the Carter Center, monitoring the elections in the country, and was welcomed. Through the Carter Center, he made special projects in Jamaica to, “strengthen electoral practices and increase government transparency.

Waging Peace,” according to the Carter Center website. President Carter’s work and efforts live on his reputation as one of tremendous admiration and feeling.

Let the world be a better place because of President Carter and his efforts. The world has lost a truly great man, and Jamaicans and Caribbean members of the Western Hemisphere should pay a particular tribute because he had such an enlightened policy that had a great impact on the region.

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 7, 2025

CARIBNEWS

Plea to President Biden to Exonerate Marcus Garvey the legacy of an American hero. As we approach the conclusion of your administration, this moment provides a chance to leave an indelible mark on history.

We thank you for your time and consideration of this important matter.

In light of President Biden’s decision to commute the sentences of 37 individuals on death row, Rep. Clarke said,”I am pleased to hear the Biden Administration has continued its diligent work in criminal justice reform by reclassifying the death sentences of 37 individuals to life without the possibility of parole...I ask that he continue to review possible pardons and commutations during his remaining time in office, and that he take any additional steps available to further build a nation that upholds its highest ideals.”

We await a response from the White House on this matter.

Over twenty House Democrats, led by Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, have taken a bold step in advocating for justice by urging President Joe Biden to exonerate Marcus Garvey, legendary Pan-African leader and trailblazer in the fight for Black empowerment and self-determination.

In the powerful letter to the president, the legislators emphasized the enduring impact of Garvey’s legacy and the need to right the historical wrong of his 1923 conviction for the fraudulent use of mail, which many believe was politically motivated. This appeal seeks to honor Garvey’s contributions to civil rights and the global Black liberation movement by clearing his name and restoring his rightful place in history.

The letter reads: Dear President Biden, As the historic Biden-Harris administration comes to an end, we respectfully express our strong support for the exoneration of Mr. Marcus Mosiah Garvey’s 1923 conviction for fraudulent use of the mail which was submitted to your administration.

Mr. Garvey was a Jamaican-born Pan-Africanist leader who led one of the earliest Black Civil Rights movements in the Americas. Mr. Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) to challenge racial inequality and inspired millions worldwide as a tireless advocate for Black self-determination and economic independence. Through the UNIA, Mr. Garvey established the Black Star Line, one of the first Black-owned

shipping companies, which connected Black entrepreneurs across the Americas.

Mr. Garvey published the Negro World Newspaper which, at its peak, reached a circulation of 200,000 readers weekly.

Finally, Mr. Garvey authored the “Declaration of Rights of the Negro Peoples of the World” to advocate for better treatment of Black people globally.

Exactly 101 years ago, Mr. Garvey was convicted of mail fraud in a case that was marred by prosecutorial and governmental misconduct. The evidence paints an abundantly clear narrative that the charges against Mr. Garvey were not only fabricated but also targeted to criminalize, discredit, and silence him as a civil rights leader. In response to this blatant injustice, President Calvin Coolidge commuted Mr. Garvey’s sentence upon eligibility. Efforts to clear Garvey’s name have persisted for decades. In 1987, under Congressman John Conyers’ leadership, the House Judiciary Committee held hearings on Mr. Garvey’s exoneration. In 2004, Congressman Charles Rangel introduced a series of resolutions calling attention to the injustice, followed by Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke’s recent efforts to continue these strides. Despite these efforts, Garvey’s name has not yet been cleared.

Exonerating Mr. Garvey would honor his work for the Black community, remove the shadow of an unjust conviction, and further your administration’s promise to advance racial justice. At a time when Black history faces the existential threat of erasure by radical state legislatures, a presidential pardon for Mr. Garvey would correct the historical record and restore

About Marcus Garvey Marcus Mosiah Garvey Jr. was born on August 17, 1887, in Saint Ann’s Bay, Jamaica. His father was a stonemason, and his mother was a domestic servant. As a young man, Garvey travelled and worked in several Latin American countries before relocating to London, England. He studied at Birkbeck College (University of London) and worked as a messenger and handyman for the African Times and Orient Review, a journal that emphasized Pan-African nationalism.

Garvey was known as the founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). Formed in Jamaica in July 1914, the UNIA aimed to achieve Black nationalism through the celebration of African history and culture. Through the UNIA, Garvey also pushed to support the “back

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to Africa” movement, and created the Black Star Line to act as the Black owned passenger line that would carry patrons back and forth to Africa. He also fostered restaurants and shopping centers to encourage black economic independence. In addition to his support of Pan-Africanism, Marcus Garvey was a Black nationalist and believed in racial separatism. This made him a controversial figure in and out of the Black community, especially as he challenged major thought leader W.E.B Du Bois.

In 1922, Marcus Garvey was charged with mail fraud in connection with a ship on the Black Star Line, Orion. Further pressure from J. Edgar Hoover and his department’s investigations, negative press, and complaints from stock holders soon led to Garvey gaining a reputation as a swindler. He also gained much criticism when he met with white supremacists like the Ku Klux Klan. Garvey was convicted of the mail fraud charges and sent to Atlanta Federal Penitentiary. While serving his prison sentence President Calvin Coolidge commuted his remaining time amidst protests from Black Americans. In 1927, he was deported from the United States to Jamaica, where he continued his UNIA work and political activism before moving to London in 1935. He died on June 10, 1940, after multiple strokes.

Despite his controversial reputation, Garvey’s legacy continued to instill pride and inspiration among many black people throughout the diaspora. His ideology has influenced members of the Nation of Islam, the Black Power movement, and the Rastafari movement.

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 7, 2025

T&T- State of Emergency Declared Due to Ongoing Increase in Murders A state of emergency has officially been declared in Trinidad & Tobago. Just a short while ago, the administration announced it. The state of emergency has been imposed because of “heightened criminal activity which endangers public safety,” according to a press announcement.

At least three people were recently slain in Prizgar Lands, Laventille, marking another multiple homicides in the nation.

More than 600 people have already been murdered, making it the highest number ever. The last time a state of emergency was imposed was in May 2021 to stop the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, and it ended in November 2021.

Prior to that, the People’s Partnership Government had imposed a state of emergency in 2011 because of the crime situation; however, the precise details of the state of emergency, including curfew hours, have not been made public.

An official from the government stated, “The regulations will

be communicated shortly.”

The complete statement declaring a state of emergency is provided below: “Pursuant to section 8 of the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Her Excellency Christine Carla Kangaloo, ORTT, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and Commander-in-Chief, has, on the advice of Dr the Honorable Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, declared a state of public emergency, being satisfied that the circumstances of section 8(2)(c) of the Constitution exist.”

It added, “The circumstances warranting the declaration of the public emergency are based on the advice of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service to the National Security Council regarding heightened criminal activity which endangers public safety.”

Haiti – Minister of Health Fired Because of Deadly Attack on Hospital by Armed Gangs \

The main public hospital in the city, Portau-Prince, was the target of a violent gang attack, which led to the removal of Haiti’s health minister.

According to a statement released Thursday afternoon, Haiti’s transitional council designated Justice Minister Patrick Pelissier as the country’s acting health minister until Duckenson Lorthe, the departing minister, is replaced.

Gang members recently broke into the General Hospital and opened fire on reporters covering the facility’s reopening, killing two of them as well as a police officer. Among the worst assaults on Haitian media in recent history was this one. There were seven additional journalists injured.

The health ministry had welcomed media to the hospital, but there wasn’t much protection at the location, according to photographer Jean Feguens Regala, who escaped the attack.

Regala stated, “The fact that the minister of health invited us, you feel that preparations have been made already.” Adding, “When we made contact with a police unit, the police told us they were not aware

of the event.”

For unspecified reasons, the health minister did not attend the function.

Johnson “Izo” André, a member of the Viv Ansanm gang, which has taken over most of Port-au-Prince, is regarded as Haiti’s most powerful gang boss. He released a video on social media shortly after the incident, claiming credit for it.

According to the video, the hospital’s reopening was not approved by the gang alliance.

With planned gang assaults on jails, police stations, and the main international airport paralyzing the nation’s capital and causing an unprecedented crisis, gang violence in Haiti has gotten worse.

It is estimated that 85% of Port-au-Prince is under gang control.

The Caribbean nation, which is now run by a transitional council composed of members from political parties, business associations, and civil society organizations, has had difficulty holding an election that would reinstate democratic governance.

DR – Network of Trafficking Haitians Busted by Police The Army of the Dominican Republic (ERD) has dismantled an alleged network dedicated to the trafficking of undocumented Haitians after arresting the suspected ringleader among others in an operation carried out in the community of Las Guanábanas in the southern town of Azua.

Police report that Felix Leonardo Alcantara Severino, known as “Leonel” or “El Presidente,” the alleged leader of the group, was arrested while escorting a bus carrying 70 undocumented Haitians.

The operation, conducted on the weekend, included the

capture of other Dominicans linked to the case. During the operation, authorities also located a Mercedes Benz GLE 450, allegedly used in previous smuggling operations.

The army said the detainees would be handed over to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for prosecution, while the seized vehicles and the undocumented Haitians were transferred to the 13th Infantry Battalion of the ERD. (CMC)

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NYS - New Prenatal Benefits Start in 2025

Governor Kathy Hochul kicked off a statewide campaign to raise awareness of New York’s first-in-the-nation paid prenatal leave policy, which takes effect on January 1, 2025. This nation-leading policy, proposed in Governor Hochul’s 2024 State of the State and signed into law in April, gives workers the ability to take paid leave for any pregnancy-related medical appointments. In the past year alone, Governor

Hochul has made New York more affordable for working families by investing $1.8 billion in child care, delivering $2.3 billion in property tax relief, brokering a landmark affordable housing deal and more.

“No pregnant woman in New York should be forced to choose between a paycheck and a check-up — and that’s why I pushed to create the nation’s first paid prenatal leave policy,” Governor Hochul said. “From raising the minimum wage to investing in affordable child care, we’re making New York the best and most affordable place to raise a family.”

Led by the State’s Department of Labor, New York’s statewide public awareness campaign is aimed at promoting New York State’s groundbreaking Paid Prenatal Leave policy.

The campaign will officially kick off with the unveiling of subway ads. The goal of the awareness campaign is to educate New Yorkers and businesses about the new law and to remind pregnant women in New York State that they never have to choose between a paycheck and prenatal care.

Additional campaign efforts will include social media outreach, a dedicated webpage, newsletters, a virtual media tour with New York State

Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon, and collaboration with various stakeholders and influencers to raise awareness throughout 2025.

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “With Paid Prenatal Leave, New York is not only taking care of pregnant women, but also future generations of our workforce. I applaud Governor Hochul’s ongoing commitment to New York State families.”

Effective January 1, 2025, any privately employed pregnant New Yorker will now be able to receive an additional 20 hours of paid sick leave for prenatal care. The New York State Department of Labor estimates that about 130,000 pregnant women per year will be eligible for this benefit, with about 65,800 of those being hourly workers.

Pregnancy-related health care includes: Physical examinations Medical procedures Monitoring Testing Discussions with a health care provider needed to ensure a healthy pregnancy Fertility treatment

NYS – Grants to Help New Homeowners Governor Kathy Hochul announced that 1,060 households will benefit from $51 million in grants to support affordable homeownership.

The awards will help low- and moderate-income families make repairs, accessibility modifications, or safety upgrades to their homes, replace manufactured homes, and provide down payment assistance for first-time buyers. The recent announcement complements Governor Hochul’s $25 billion comprehensive Housing Plan which is on track to create and preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.

“This investment will make the dream of homeownership attainable and manageable for more than 1,000 households, allowing families and individuals across New York to live safely and affordably in homes of their own,” Governor Hochul said. “My administration is committed to increasing affordability for families and putting every tool at our disposal to work to address our housing crisis.”

The grants — administered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s Office of Community Renewal — were awarded to nonprofit organizations and localities to help preserve affordable housing, support veterans and older New Yorkers, increase access to homeownership, and strengthen local economies.

A summary of awards by region is below: Region Amount Awarded Housing Units Assisted Capital Region $9,205,500 217 Central NY $6,145,000 104 Finger Lakes $2,338,444 64 Long Island $2,300,000 64 Mid-Hudson $5,267,000 127 Mohawk Valley $6,703,777 70 New York City $600,000 44 North Country $6,343,600 86 Southern Tier $7,597,480 144 Western NY $4,560,000 140 Total $51,060,801 1060 The awards are made through state and federally funded programs including NYS

HOME, NYS Community Development Block Grant, Access to Home, Access to Home for Heroes, Access to Home for Medicaid, Mobile and Manufactured Home Replacement, and RESTORE. Each program accepts applications in an annual competitive funding round.

NYS HOME Program funds can be used to acquire and/or rehabilitate single-family housing, provide down payment assistance, replace dilapidated mobile and manufactured homes as well as provide tenant based rental assistance to households with incomes at or below 80 percent of Area Median Income.

NYS Community Development Block Grant Program provides federal funds to help localities with projects that improve communities and benefit their residents. Housing grants can be used to rehabilitate owner-occupied or renter-occupied homes, down payment assistance for low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers, and private water/wastewater system assistance for low- and moderate-income homeowners.

Access to Home program provides financial assistance to make homes accessible for lowand moderate-income persons with disabilities so that they can continue living safely and comfortably in their residences or return to live in their residences instead of in an institutional setting.

Access to Home for Heroes provides financial assistance to make homes accessible for lowand moderate-income veterans with disabilities.

Access to Home for Medicaid provides financial assistance to make residential units accessible for Medicaid-eligible persons with disabilities.

Mobile and Manufactured Home Replacement program assists low- and moderate-income homeowners to replace dilapidated mobile or manufactured homes that are sited on land owned by the homeowner with a new manufactured, modular, or site-built home.

Continued online - www.nycaribnews.com

End of pregnancy care No pregnant woman in New York should be forced to choose between a paycheck and a check-up” The paid prenatal leave benefits are in addition to New York State Paid Family Leave, existing employer-provided leave and existing sick leave benefits, ensuring workers can receive the health care needed to address all pregnancy related care to create healthy outcomes without jeopardizing their employment or finances.

The law applies to all private employers in New York State, with no minimum employee threshold, and is applicable to both full-time and part-time employees.

New York State Health Commissioner James McDonald said, “Governor Hochul’s unwavering commitment to protecting pregnant workers in New York is critical to ensuring access to quality care throughout their pregnancy.

Giving pregnant people paid leave for pregnancy-related care will protect their health, the health and safety of their unborn children and improve health outcomes.”

Continued online - www.nycaribnews.com

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WEEK ENDING JANUARY 7, 2025

Trinidadian, From Intern to Biden White House

The White House, where the US president resides, was the last place Khanya Brann anticipated finding employment.

Most immigrants from Trinidad and Tobago never know where life will take them or what kind of work they will undertake.

During a mid-December WhatsApp chat while organiz-

ing an interview for her week-long Trinidadian Christmas break, Brann stated, “Oh, President (Joe) Biden just walked by.”

The excitement in his voice outweighed any possible worries about an uncertain future as Biden’s presidency drew to a conclusion, and seeing President Biden never became old.

Brann, 28, has never really stopped moving. When asked where she’s from, she naturally responds, “Trinidad.”

Born in London, she lived there for a year before moving to Montreal, Canada, and then to Mount Hope, Trinidad, where she attended St. Xavier’s Private School in St. Joseph, for seven years. Her family then moved back to Montreal for another year before moving to the US, thanks to her father Stacey’s work as a surgeon.

Her family relocated to Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, 20 minutes from Philadelphia, in 2009 when she was nine years old, and she attended Temple University to study journalism, graduating in May 2019.

Brann shared, “I wanted to be a feature writer and work at the Philadelphia Enquirer, but they weren’t hiring.”

When the Biden campaign headquarters in Philadelphia began hiring in July 2019, Brann accepted the position as a paid communications intern for $15 per hour. It was an exciting, fast-paced position that called for communica-

tion and organizational abilities.

“It involved a lot of media monitoring, compiling media lists and daily media clips, and transcribing Biden’s speeches,” noted Brann.

Brann added, “When Biden began his bid for the presidency, there was a lot of work to do from the ground up.

It was fun, certainly stressful, and a steep learning curve because I had no political experience. I got a good foundation for the work I do now.”

The internship was from July through November 2019.

Brann served as a communications fellow for Philly Counts, a project related to the city’s census, from January to July 2020.

“We needed to make sure everyone got counted in that census to get a clear idea of programs needed.”

Brann then returned to the Biden/Harris campaign, this time as a communications associate for Pennsylvania.

Brann received a text message from White House communications director Kate Bedingfield on New Year’s Eve, 2019, while she was at home with her family. The text asked if she would be interested in working at the White House.

“I said, ‘Yes, absolutely.’ When I showed the message to my mom (Karen), she was speechless.”

Continued online - www.nycaribnews.com

CARICOM - Committed to Decisive Leadership says Outgoing Chairman The outgoing chairman of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Dickon Mitchell, in his end-of-year statement, says the regional body has held true to the commitment to decisive leadership and collective action as intrinsic pillars to propel the prosperity and well-being of citizens of the region.

Mitchell, who is also the prime minister of Grenada, noted that Caricom’s strong sense of community was especially evident during this year’s Atlantic Hurricane Season, “when Caricom member states rallied to support those who were adversely affected by Hurricane Beryl and other weather systems”.

Concerning Haiti, he said the leaders also focused on resuming functional governance and security in the French speaking Caricom member state, through engagement with Haiti’s political leadership and facilitation with political, religious, private sector and civil society stakeholders by the Caricom Eminent Persons Group (EPG).

“These engagements with key Haitian stakeholders led to consensus on the formation and installation of a Haitian-owned and led Transitional Presidential Council; selection of a prime minister and a cabinet of ministers; and the arrival of the first troops of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission. The consensus remains very delicate and will require much effort in 2025.”

He noted that this year, Antigua and Barbuda hosted the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) from May 27-30, where a new ten-year program of action, the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS, was articulated.

There were also key high-level international meetings to address the ongoing challenges

of the impact of climate change.

“On digital resilience, I was pleased to champion the Strategic Digital Resilience Framework 2030 at the July Meeting of Caricom Heads of Government. This was supported by existing plans for the Caricom Single ICT (information and communication technology) Space, including digital skills and artificial intelligence. Further bold and decisive action is particularly crucial as we prepare for 2025 and beyond, where the pace of regional and global change will demand a Caricom that is digitally capable and resilient.”

In the area of food and nutrition security, the Grenadian Prime minister said a regional agricultural insurance product was launched to assist Caricom farmers.

“We ensured the involvement of women and young people with Caricom BOOST, a twoyear, $1.6 million project to enhance sustainable production, climate resilience, and profitability for women and youth farmer groups across ten Caricom member states; and with a Regional Youth in Agriculture Strategy focusing on education, capacity-building and market linkages.”

“Allied to the objective of reducing our food import bills has been our effort to increase air and maritime connectivity to support, among other things, the regional transportation of food.”

He noted that the Multilateral Air Services Agreement (MASA) is now in force in almost all member states and there has been significant increase in regional airlift and connectivity.

In addition, progress has been made on sea transportation following the announcement from Guyana, Barbados and Trinidad and

Tobago of a new ferry service.

The outgoing chairman said that underpinning all these activities has been attention to health and well-being, human and cultural capital development, youth participation, empowerment and development, and crime prevention and justice reform.

He said that key activity was the Second Regional Symposium on Crime and Violence, hosted by Barbados in Guyana in November, which advanced critical knowledge sharing on successful preventative interventions for crime and violence in the Caribbean.

In the area of partnerships with third states, Mitchell pointed to the hosting of several successful high-level engagements to discuss cooperation including a Summit with the Republic of India, an engagement with Brazil, meetings with Canada and Japan,

and representation in critical international fora such as the Fourth International SIDS Conference, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, COP29 in Azerbaijan, the United Nations Summit of the Future, and the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

“Through it all, our modus operandi has been to speak with one voice and to premise all our interactions on the vision of a Caribbean Community, which is truly “a community for all”.

“I extend my sincere appreciation to my colleagues of the conference which now includes the new premier of Montserrat and the prime minister of Curaçao, the newest associate member of the community, for their unstinting support and commitment.

Thanks, are also due to public and private sector leaders of the community, representatives from labor and civil society, regional institutions, international development partners, my team in Grenada, and the secretary-general and staff of the Caricom Secretariat for their commitment to the vision of an integrated and thriving Caribbean Community.”

Mitchell who is passing on the chairmanship to the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, said he has every confidence that “she will enjoy the same stellar support that I have received, and that under her astute leadership, our community will decisively further our integration goals”.

“I wish for all Caricom a happy and meaningful holiday season, and peace and prosperity in 2025.” (CMC)

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 7, 2025

CARIBA&E

T&T - Pannist, Joshua Regrello, Sets Guinness World Record with 31 Hours of Pan Playing Trinidadian Joshua Regrello on December 28, 2024, set the Guinness World Record for the longest steelpan-playing marathon after an entertaining 31 hours on the country’s national instrument.

The 27-year-old the set 30-hour mark around 12:30 p.m. but continued for another hour as thousands of viewers tuned in and encouraged him on YouTube and Facebook.

“This is not just a victory for myself, it’s a victory for everybody who was a part of this – from planning to being here,” Regrello said in a brief comment to friends, family, ministers, and other officials gathered in the studio of WACK 90.1FM in San Fernando where he created history.

He thanked teams from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, Fire Service, and timekeepers from the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation who witnessed the process for Guinness World Record verification. The organizations sent individuals to do four-hour shifts.

Though admittedly and understandably tired, Regrello made a point to single out those individuals whose presence he had only requested on Christmas Eve. “I want to pay special notice to these witnesses…. These

are really objective people who had to endure hours of pan,” he said. “The one thing we need to make this validated by Guinness is independent witnesses. We have to submit evidence, but we could not do that without them witnessing and sending evidence. So big shout to all the witnesses and the organizations for sending you all on short notice.”

Regrello, who recently became the first person to perform steelpan on the Great Wall of China, began his Guinness World Record mission around 6:30 a.m. on Friday, starting off playing Josh Groban’s You Raise Me Up. Throughout the 31 hours, several artists joined him, including singers and other instrumentalists.

He was allowed to take a five-minute break for every hour of continuous playing but he only took a half-hour break, at times playing with one hand to drink or get a quick bite.

At the end of his record-breaking performance, Regrello asked the studio audience to stand and played Trinidad and Tobago’s national anthem. (CMC)

Soca Artist Seales to Bring Vibes to T&T Carnival 2025 Soca Competition

For Carnival 2025, Terry Seales, a soca performer, is hopeful that an international soca tournament will be held. According to him, it’s long overdue and essential for Trinidad and Tobago’s creatives to grow.

According to a press statement, Seales will release a new track on the Jam and Move riddim, which was created and worked on in collaboration with other artists Yohan Popwell, better known as Dna 868 Muzik, and Chenko.

In the press release, Seales stated, “My single Jam and Move brings all the elements of Carnival together in one road-ready single.”

He can’t wait to be heard once more. This time, along with Chenko and Dna 868 Muzik, he is hopeful that the music will eventually speak for itself.

“Chenko’s single is called Greater Dan Dem, and Dna 868 Muzik brings a tune called Mash Up. With my single, Jam and Move, the idea is to create the nostalgic energy of what many Carnival revelers know in their

hearts, is true, about this season,” Seales said, adding, “The music must bring the vibes.”

The team has previously collaborated, and Seales finds the camaraderie and musical unity especially energizing.

“We worked together last season and the music we delivered was excellent I believe.

The aim is to maintain that level of consistency. This time around, we’re promoting using all the tools that are available to us, because ultimately, we just need the music to reach the people.”

When it comes to the upcoming worldwide soca tournament, Seales says he hopes that there will be fairness in both the selection process and the competition itself.

“I think the competition should be fair and the people should be the final judge,” he stated.

Groovy soca makes sense financially, according to Seales, who claims to have seen the evolution of the genre over the years and to be comfortable with its general trajectory.

“The grooves are hitting better because on the international market, it’s more laid back, slower, more lyrics, better hooks. Internationally, they cannot understand the speed of the power soca.”

He mentioned that Cocoa Tea by Kees Dieffenthaller is setting the standard for Carnival 2025, “Mical Teja won Road March with a groovy soca song. The energy of that slower groove is much stronger now than the power soca and the power soca is more seasonal.” said noting that Kees Dieffenthaller’s Cocoa Tea is leading the way into Carnival 2025.

Seales is getting ready to make the most of the season and will be releasing a second song in the coming weeks.

“I’d really like the public to be given the chance to hear the music and decide whether they like the songs or not.”

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CARIBCLIMATE

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 7, 2025

2024 The Hottest Year On Record time to lose,” he gravely emphasised.

WMO will publish the consolidated global temperature figure for 2024 in January and its full State of the Global Climate 2024 report in March 2025.

The year 2024 is set to be the warmest on record, capping a decade of unprecedented heat fuelled by human activities, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

“Today I can officially report that we have just endured a decade of deadly heat. The top ten hottest years on record have happened in the last ten years, including 2024,” said Secretary-General António Guterres in his message for the New Year.

“This is climate breakdown — in real time. We must exit this road to ruin — and we have no

Climate catastrophes Throughout 2024, a series of reports from the WMO community highlighted the rapid pace of climate change and its far-reaching impacts on every aspect of sustainable development.

Record-breaking rainfalls were documented as well as catastrophic flooding, scorching heat waves with temperatures exceeding 50°C, and devastating wildfires.

The organization found that climate change added 41 days of dangerous heat in 2024, harming human health and ecosystems in their report When Risks Become Reality: Extreme Weather.

Climate change also intensified 26 of the 29 weather events studied by World Weather Attribution that killed at least 3700 people and displaced millions.

Celeste Saulo, the WMO Secretary-General, described the year as a sobering wake-up call.

“This year we saw record-breaking rainfall and

flooding events and terrible loss of life in so many countries, causing heartbreak to communities on every continent,” she stated.

“Every fraction of a degree of warming matters, and increases climate extremes, impacts and risks,” she underscored.

Hope amid crises Despite the grim realities, the year 2024 saw notable advancements with the adoption of the Pact for the Future - a landmark agreement to promote disarmament, financial reform, gender equality, and ethical technological innovation.

The COP29 UN climate conference also recently discussed ways to increase finance for poor countries to support them in coping with the impacts of extreme weather.

Developing countries are responsible for a small amount of historic carbon emissions, but as WMO research has highlighted, are being hit the hardest by extreme weather.

Moreover, in response to the SecretaryGeneral’s Call to Action on Extreme Heat, a targeted group of experts representing 15 international organizations and 12 countries convened at WMO headquarters in December to advance a coordinated framework for tack-

ling the growing threat of extreme heat.

2025: A pivotal year With 2025 designated as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, WMO and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) aim to prioritise efforts to protect the cryosphere - the Earth’s frozen regions, critical to regulating global temperatures.

Additionally, WMO is advancing initiatives like the Global Greenhouse Gas Watch which aims to improve the monitoring of greenhouse gas (GHG) net fluxes globally.

By 2027, the organization also aims to ensure universal protection from hazardous environmental events through life-saving anticipatory systems currently developed in the Early Warnings for All programme.

Reflecting on WMO’s upcoming 75th anniversary, Ms. Saulo reinforced the shared responsibility to act.

“If we want a safer planet, we must act now. It’s our responsibility. It’s a common responsibility, a global responsibility,” she firmly stated. (UN)

The Climate Crisis: Five Things to Watch Out For in 2025 The Amazonian city of Belém, Brazil, will be the global focus of efforts to tackle the climate crisis in November 2025, when it hosts one of the most significant UN climate conferences in recent years.

However, throughout the years there will be plenty of opportunities to make important progress on several climate-related issues, from the staggering levels of plastic pollution to financing the shift to a cleaner global economy.

1 Can we keep 1.5 alive?

“Keep 1.5 alive” has been the UN’s rallying cry for a number of years, a reference to the goal of ensuring that average global temperatures don’t soar beyond 1.5 degrees higher than pre-industrial levels. The scientific consensus is that a lack of action would have catastrophic consequences, not least for the so-called “frontline States”, such as developing island nations which could disappear under the ocean, as sea levels rise.

A man fishes sitting on sandbags which protect the Pacific Ocean island nation Tuvalu against sea erosion.

At COP30, the UN climate conference scheduled to take place between 10 and 21 November 2025, mitigation (in other words, actions and policies designed to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to rising temperatures) is likely to a key focus.

The nations of the world will arrive with upgraded, more ambitious commitments to lowering greenhouse gases. This is both a recognition that existing pledges are wholly inadequate, in terms of getting temperatures down, and part of the deal that Member States signed up to in 2015 at the Paris COP (nations are expected to “ratchet up” their commitments every five years. The last time this happened was at the 2021 Glasgow COP, delayed by one year because of the COVID-19 pandemic).

2 Protecting nature Holding COP30 in the Amazonian rainforest region of Brazil is of symbolic importance. It harks back to the early days of international attempts to protect the environment: the pivotal “Earth Summit”, which led to the establishment of three environmental treaties on climate change, biodiversity, and desertification, took place in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

The location also highlights the role that nature has to play in the climate crisis. The rainforest is a massive “carbon sink”, a system that sucks up and stores CO2, a greenhouse gas, and prevents it from entering the atmosphere, where it contributes to warming.

Unfortunately, rainforests and other “nature-based solutions” face threats from human development, such as illegal logging which has devastated huge swathes of the region. The UN will continue efforts begun in 2024 to improve the protection of the rainforest and other ecosystems, at biodiversity talks due to be resumed in Rome in February.

3 Who’s going to pay for all this?

Finance has long been a thorny issue in international climate negotiations. Developing countries argue that wealthy nations should contribute far more towards projects and initiatives that will enable them to move away from fossil fuels, and power their economies on clean energy sources. The pushback from the rich countries is that fast-growing economies such as China, which is now the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, should also pay their share.

At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, a breakthrough of sorts was made, with the adoption of an agreement to triple the amount of climate finance paid to developing countries, to $300 billion per year, by 2035. The deal is a definite step forward, but the final sum is far less than

Over a two-week period, 96 countries and 11 regional organizations took part in public hearings before the Court, including Vanuatu and a group of other Pacific islands States, and major economies including China and the USA. The ICJ will deliberate for several months before delivering its advisory opinion on the subject. Although this opinion will be non-binding, it is expected to guide future international climate law.

the $1.3 trillion that climate experts say these countries need in order to adapt to the crisis.

Expect more progress to be made on financing in 2025, at a summit in Spain at the end of June. The Financing for Development conferences only take place once every 10 years, and next year’s edition is being billed as an opportunity to make radical changes to the international financial architecture. Environmental and climate concerns will be raised, and potential solutions such as green taxation, carbon pricing and subsidies will all be on the table.

4 Laying down the law When the attention of the International Court of Justice turned to climate change in December, it was hailed as a landmark moment with regards to States’ legal obligations under international law.

Vanuatu often experiences destructive extreme weather, such as typhoons, which are being exacerbated by climate change.Vanuatu, a Pacific island state particularly vulnerable to the crisis, asked the court for an advisory position, in order to clarify the obligations of States with regard to climate change, and inform any future judicial proceedings.

5 Plastic pollution UN-convened talks on getting to grips with the global epidemic of plastic pollution edged closer to a deal during negotiations in Busan, South Korea.

Some key advances were made during the November 2024 talks – the fifth round of negotiations following the 2022 UN Environment Assembly resolution calling for an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.

Agreement on three pivotal areas needs to be ironed: plastic products, including the issue of chemicals; sustainable production and consumption; and financing.

Plastic bottles are collected for recycling in India.

UNDP India Plastic bottles are collected for recycling in India.

Member States are now charged with finding political solutions to their differences before the resumed session begins, and with landing a final deal that addresses the full lifecycle of plastics and delivers on the growing global momentum to end plastic pollution.

“It is clear that the world still wants and demands an end to plastic pollution,” said UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Inger Andersen. “We need to ensure we craft an instrument that hits the problem hard instead of punching below its potential weight. I call on all Member States to lean in.”