May 31, 2023

GUYANA Page 6

CARICOM NAMES EMINENT PERSONS GROUP

Including three former Prime Ministers to tackle the crisis

BARBADOS

That fire killed 19 students in the school YVETTE

CONGRESSWOMAN

Page 5

HEALTHFIRST ERROL PIERRE ON COMMUNITY HEALTH OUTREACH

Representing the largest non-profit Health planning in NY State shares on reaching the community

ONE OF THE BEST MANAGED COUNTRIES Page 3

JAMAICA

JAMAICANS NEED THERAPY

Claims singer Tanya StephensAdvocate for professional mental health help

VP

CLARKE

OPED

Study finds One Quarter of U.S. Homeowners Struggle With Housing Costs

by Stacy Brown - P 9

OPED

Under Controlled Coal-Fired Power Plants Still Threaten Americans’ Health

by Ben Jealous - P 9

HEALTH

AFRICA WORLD BRIEFS

Anticipatory action helps flood-affected communities in Cameroon’s Far North

Every year, the Far North region of Cameroon is the setting of devastating floods that leave thousands homeless. In the department of Logone-et-Chari, the localities of Blangoua and Makary are among the most affected areas. Torrential rains and rising waters from the Logone, Chari, El beid, Taf Taf and Serbowel rivers destroy homes and crops, jeopardizing people’s livelihoods and food security.

El Salvador: Renewed state of emergency undermines right to fair trial

The decision by El Salvador to extend a state of emergency aimed at cracking down on gangs undermines the right to fair trial, three experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council said on Monday.

The state of emergency was first approved in March 2022, and initially for a month, but has been renewed ever since, generating a wave of mass incarceration.

SPORTS

Since 2021, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been improving the anticipatory action and emergency response system in Cameroon, analysing the food and nutrition security impacts of humanitarian crises. Funded by the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), this project helps governments and communities better prepare, anticipate, analyse and make decisions ahead of a crisis.

In October 2022, FAO’s early warning system showed a high risk of flooding in the Far North region. The project activated the distribution of assistance through four pre-positioned contingency stock warehouses filled with food, tools and other essential items, in each community (Blangoua, Makary, Koza and Mora). FAO also provided 6 000 bags that the communities filled with sand to make protective dykes ahead of the flooding.

UN agencies warn of rising hunger risk in 18

‘hotspots’

Acute food insecurity is set to potentially increase in 18 hunger “hotspots”, comprising a total of 22 countries, according to the report.

“Not only are more people in more places around the world going hungry, but the severity of the hunger they face is worse than ever,” said Cindy McCain, WFP Executive Director.

The Sudan conflict is already driving mass displacement and hunger. More than one million citizens and refugees are expected to flee the country, while an additional 2.5 million inside its borders are set to face acute hunger in the coming months.

The report warned that a possible spillover of the crisis raises the risk of negative impacts in neighbouring countries.  If the conflict continues, it could spark further displacement and disruptions to trade and humanitarian aid flows.

Economic shocks continue

Meanwhile, economic shocks and stressors continue to drive acute hunger in almost all the hotspots, carrying over trends seen globally in 2022, largely due to fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Afghanistan, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen remain at the highest alert level for acute hunger. Alongside Sudan, three other countries - Haiti, Burkina Faso and Mali – also have been elevated to this level because of movement restrictions affecting people and goods.

The experts called for the measure to be lifted immediately and for the Government to review the sweeping new powers introduced to tackle the country’s gang problem.

Trampling on rights

“The state of emergency was declared following a series of gang-related killings. Despite its obligation to protect citizens from such atrocious acts, the Government cannot trample on fair trial rights in the name of public safety,” they said in a statement.

The UN experts urged the authorities to ensure that people are not arrested on mere suspicion of gang membership or association without sufficient legal authorization.

Gaza: Over a quarter of UNRWA centre patients needing mental health support

More than one in four patients screened in violence-afflicted Gaza at UN-run health centres, require mental health and psychosocial support, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said on Tuesday, publishing its annual overview.

This is the highest rate of mental health need ever recorded, across UNRWA’s medical system.

UNRWA’s health programmes support some two million Palestine refugees across Jordan, Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian territory composed of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and Gaza, as well as in Syria.

Immensely challenging year

Speaking to reporters in Geneva, Dr. Akihiro Seita, UNRWA’s Director of Health, highlighted the “immense challenges” faced by the agency’s health programmes in the past year: in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, he listed the devastating cholera outbreak in Syria and Lebanon, regional turbulence and UNRWA’s ongoing funding crisis. He stressed that UNRWA health centres in Gaza and the occupied West Bank continue to provide vital healthcare amid hostilities.

Eight million seen

Last year, the UN agency managed to provide around eight million medical consultations.

That includes around 300,000 people living with diabetes and hypertension or non-communicable diseases and also 90,000 pregnant mothers”, said Dr. Seita.

Celebrating at Wake Eden Church - P 16

Mexico Tops Costa Rica to capture Group B at CWU20 - P 19

Clarke Leads Letter to President Biden Calling for the Exoneration of Marcus Garvey

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY) led 22 of her colleagues in a letter to President Biden calling for the exoneration of Marcus Mosiah Garvey.

“Nearly 100 years ago, Marcus Garvey was convicted of mail fraud in a case marred by prosecutorial and governmental misconduct. The evidence present and available at our disposal makes it

abundantly clear that the charges brought against Mr. Garvey were fraudulent and executed in bad faith. A presidential pardon for Mr. Garvey would not only correct the historical record, but also shift the narrative at a time when African-American history faces the existential threat of erasure by extreme, far-right state legislatures,” said Congresswoman Clarke.

“During President Biden’s inaugural address, he made a promise of delivering on racial justice and equity, and we intend to ensure he keeps his promise. Marcus Garvey’s contributions and works have influenced leaders from Martin Luther King Jr. to Nelson Mandela – inspiring generations and planting the seeds of the civil rights movement. I am proud to be joined by my colleagues to honor

Mr. Garvey’s work and remove this stain on his legacy.”

Reps. Blunt Rochester, Bush, Cárdenas, Carson, Cleaver, Espaillat, Green, Jackson Lee, Johnson, Lee, McGovern, Mfume, Moore, Norton, Payne, Plaskett, Thompson, Torres, Veasey, Watson Coleman, Williams, and Wilson also signed the letter.

VP Harris to Meet Caribbean Leaders on Climate Change

NASSAU, Bahamas, (CMC) – It has officially been announced that United States Vice President Kamala Harris will meet with Caribbean Community (Caricom) leaders in the Bahamas on June 8 to advance efforts to combat climate change.

Press Secretary Clint Watson said that Harris will be the highest US government official to visit the Bahamas since 1973.

Caricom chairman, Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Phillip “Brave” Davis will co-host the US Caribbean leaders meetings with Harris.

“This gathering will convene leaders from Caricom and other key regional stakeholders,” Watson said during an Office of the Prime Minister press briefing.

The agenda for the discussion comprises pressing global concerns including climate change, energy management, food security, and the process of rebuilding in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Watson said that the dialogue will continue to highlight the importance of climate change and mitigation and will address the region’s energy crisis. He noted strategies will also be discussed to reduce the region’s reliance on fossil fuels.

Harris previously met Caribbean leaders at the June 2022 Summit of the Americas in Los

Angeles.

“The Vice President’s trip delivers on the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to advance cooperation with the Caribbean, pursue shared prosperity and security, and celebrate the common bonds between our nations,” according to a US Embassy statement.

“The Vice President is travelling to The Bahamas during Caribbean-American Heritage Month and will celebrate the longstanding people-to-people ties between the Caribbean and the United States.”

US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, Usha Pitts, said her visit commemorates not just 50 years of Bahamian independence, but also 50 years of partnership between two nations.

“Next year, the embassy team will move into our new US$310 million-dollar complex in downtown Nassau. From this base of operations, we look forward to strengthening our bilateral ties for the next 50 years and beyond. Vice President Harris’ visit demonstrates the value of our friendship and solidifies our commitment to address climate change and advance our shared democratic principles.”

Haiti – CARICOM Eminent Persons Team

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — Caribbean Community (Caricom) leaders have appointed three former prime ministers as members of an Eminent Persons Group (EPG) as the regional integration grouping seeks to extend its Good Offices to the Government of Haiti and other Haitian stakeholders.

A statement issued by the Guyana-based Caricom Secretariat named the the EPG members as former Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie, the former Jamaica Prime Minister Bruce Golding; and their St Lucian counterpart, Dr Kenny D Anthony.

“The group will initiate and oversee the community’s provision of Good Offices support in designated priority areas, including security, governance, the electoral process, and long-term development planning and advocacy. They will also

liaise with key international partners and agencies,” the secretariat said.

It said that a technical team, comprised of experts from Caricom member states, the Caricom Secretariat and regional specialised agencies, will support the group.

At their summit in The Bahamas in February, the regional leaders reiterated that Caricom must play a leadership role in addressing the deteriorating situation in Haiti, “towardswhich there are moral and political obligations”.

In a statement issued at the end of their summit, the leaders “affirmed that decisive action is needed at the earliest opportunity by Caricom in view of the mounting insecurity and its widespread impact on all facets of Haitian life”.

Their statement followed talks with Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. They acknowledged the adoption of the

December 21, 2022 political agreement, the National Consensus for an Inclusive Transition and Transparent Elections, launched by interim Haitian Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry, “but were of the view that it needed to be more inclusive”. The leaders also agreed “to build international partnerships in support of efforts to return Haiti to peace and stability as a necessary precursor for free, fair and credible election”.

Earlier this month, United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, described Haiti as a “tragic situation” and appealed to the international community to do more to help the French-speaking Caricom country overcome its present political and socio-economic conditions.

Guterres said that Haiti faces dramatic humanitarian needs, a political system that

is paralysed and levels of violence by gangs “that are absolutely appalling.

The UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) said in the month of April alone, more than 600 people were killed in violence in the country’s capital. This follows the killing of at least 846 people in the first three months of 2023.

BINUH said that overall, the number of victims of killings, injuries and kidnappings increased by 28 per cent in the first quarter of the year, with a total of 1,634 cases reported.

Guterres told reporters there is also a political problem in Haiti and that there is need to bring the different stakeholders together “to find a political way for a legitimate government to be recognized… and we need to address the violence of the gangs”.

Ban on Height and Weight Discrimination Signed by Mayor

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today signed Intro. 209-A, which will prohibit discrimination on the basis of a person’s height or weight in employment, housing, and public accommodations.

“No one should ever be discriminated against based on their height and weight. We all deserve the same access to employment, housing, and public accommodations, regardless of our appearance,” said Mayor Adams. “It shouldn’t matter how tall you are or how much you weigh when you’re looking for a job, are out on the town, or trying to rent an apartment. This law will help level the playing field for all New Yorkers, create more inclusive workplaces and living environments, and protect against discrimination. I want to thank Councilmember Shaun Abreu for introducing this legislation, and Speaker Adams and Councilmember Nantasha Williams for their support of the bill.”

“The Commission is dedicated to promoting and protecting the rights of individuals and groups that have faced discrimination because of who they are or how they identify,” said New York City Commission on Human Rights Commissioner and Chair Annabel Palma.

“Most forms of appearance-based discrimination have persisted unchecked. The New York City Human Rights Law now makes clear that

no one should be denied an opportunity based on height or weight in employment, housing, and public accommodations. As we have done for decades, the Commission looks forward to working with all stakeholders to cultivate an equitable city for all.”

Intro. 209-A — sponsored by New York City Councilmember Shaun Abreau — will prohibit discrimination on the basis of a person’s height or weight in employment, housing, and public accommodations. This law will also create an exemption for employers needing to consider height or weight in employment decisions only where required by federal, state, or local laws or regulations or where the Commission on Human Rights permits such considerations because height or weight may prevent a person from performing essential requirements of a job and no alternative is available or this criteria is reasonably necessary for the normal operation of the business.

This bill would similarly permit consideration of height or weight by operators or providers of public accommodations. Covered entities under this law would have an affirmative defense that their actions based on a person’s height or weight were reasonably necessary for normal operations.

“Size discrimination is a social justice issue and

a public health threat. People with different body types are denied access to job opportunities and equal wages — and they have had no legal recourse to contest it. Worse yet, millions are taught to hate their bodies. As the global beacon of tolerance, it is only right that New York City is leading the national effort to end size discrimination with the signing of this law today,” said New York City Councilmember Shaun Abreu. “Over fifty years ago, hundreds of body positivity activists gathered in Central Park to protest the daily injustices faced by heavier people. While it took way too long to enact something so basic and widely supported, it is only fitting that the most diverse New York City Council in history is the one to enshrine this anti-discrimination principle into law, in the very city where this movement began. I owe an immense debt of gratitude to all the people who shared their stories of dealing with this silent burden, the organizations who helped spearhead this campaign, and all the advocates who helped push this over the finish line.”

“The RWDSU stands in support of ending all forms of discrimination in the workplace,” said Stuart Appelbaum, president, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).

“Mayor Adams just took a big step towards that goal by signing into law a ban on height and

weight discrimination in the workplace. This law will change countless workers’ lives for the better. As a union that represents thousands of workers in the fashion retail industry, we are acutely aware of how size discrimination impacts workers’ job opportunities, as well as their earning potential and career advancement opportunities. Workers come in all shapes and sizes and that is a good thing. We are pleased to have worked in partnership with Councilmember Abreu, NAAFA and the Retail Action Project to pass this bill. Every single New Yorker deserves the right to a workplace free of all forms of prejudice and discrimination.”

“This is such a powerful moment for anyone who has ever faced discrimination simply because of the size of their body,” said Tigress Osborn, chair, National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA); co-founder, Campaign for Size Freedom. “When the mayor of one the most iconic cities in the world agrees that size discrimination is unacceptable, it sends a message to leaders all over the country, and all over the world, that creating equal opportunities and accessible communities for people of all sizes should be a priority.”

Continued at www.nycaribnews.com

Barbados – One of the Best Managed Countries Says Minister

The Barbados Consulate in Miami, in association with Carrie-Lynn Grazette Cancer Foundation, hosted an outreach program – ‘Barbados Comes to Atlanta’ (BCTA) on Friday, May 26 to Monday, May 29, in Atlanta, Georgia.

During the event Noel Lynch, Barbados’ Ambassador to the United States and the Organisation of American States, disclosed that Barbados was described as one of the best black-run societies in the world and a small nation that is becoming a global powerhouse.

He shared an example using the Bridgetown Initiative that is essentially a new deal to restructure the global financial architecture that would not only help Barbados but would also help all other small developing countries like Barbados, to do what is necessary to maintain, sustain and build resilience for future generations.

Lynch also said, “Barbados, like all the

other countries has gone through some difficult times, but we are recovering and we’re recovering maybe better than people didn’t even envision that we would have recovered…. And in a country that is moving ahead and doing the kind of stuff that we’re doing, putting Barbados on the map, we’re showing that a small developing state can be a global powerhouse,” Ambassador Lynch stated. He welcomed decriptions of his work as “the best job in the world”, with the response that “every day I get to articulate the vision of Mia Amor Mottley for the development of a small nation that’s becoming a global powerhouse”. Other Barbadian delegates presented their vision for the island country.

Invest Barbados Consultant, David Rice noted that Invest Barbados’ mission was to seek, secure and support sustainable investments that enhanced the economic and social development of

Barbados, and he further explained why Barbados is a good country for investment opportunities.

Aerospace Technology expert Dr. William Downes spoke about his vision of opening the Barbados Aeronautical Space Agency, which, if successful, would see Barbados having the first space agency in the Caribbean. This vision includes the training of Barbadians in the field of aeronautics, and the creation of jobs. The aim of the event was to provide an atmosphere that establishes and/or nurtures relationships between business and heritage agencies in Barbados and Atlanta; create business opportunities for persons and agencies in Barbados with their counterparts in the USA, and give exposure to Barbadian artistes.

Consul General Rudy Grant who led the Barbados delegation explained that before the COVID-19 pandemic, the “Barbados Comes To” events were traditionally held

First Black Head of US Military –General Charles Q. Brown

T he White House announced that President Joe Biden has chosen US Air Force chief General Charles Q. Brown to become the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, subject to Senate approval.

If appointed, Brown, a former fighter pilot with experience in the Pacific, would be only the second Black officer to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, after General Colin Powell two decades ago, and will follow Biden’s appointment of Lloyd Austin as the first Black US Secretary of Defense, the top civilian position at the Pentagon. Brown would also take on the role at a time of rising tensions with China. His resume is long and his awards are many, proving he may be the right man for the job.

In his recommendation presentation to the White House, Biden said of the General: So, today I have the honor of introducing my nominee to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles Q. Brown, Jr. General, welcome.

“General Brown is a warrior, descended from a proud line of warriors. His father, a U.S. Army Colonel, C.Q. Brown, served in Vietnam. His grandfather, U.S. Army Master Sergeant Robert E. Brown, Jr., led a segregated unit in World War Two. And command pilot General Brown brings to this role more than 3,000 hours of flighting — flying experience, including 130 combat hours. He knows what it means to be in the thick of battle and how to keep your cool when things get hard, like when your F-16 was on fire. (Laughter.) And you returned to the base in Florida in 1991. C.Q. had to eject more than 300 mi- — 300 miles an hour,

landing in the Everglades.”

“General Brown is also a warfighter who has commanded in Europe, the Middle East, and Indo- — and the Indo-Pacific. And he has an unmatched firsthand knowledge of our operation- — our operational theaters and a strategic vision to understand how they all work together to ensure the security for the American people. And while General Brown is a proud, butt-kicking American Airman, first and always he’s also been an operational leader of the joint force.

“He gained respect across every service from those who have seen him in action and have come to depend on his judgment. More than that, he gained the respect of our allies and partners around the world, who regard General Brown as a trusted partner and a top-notch strategist.”

“No matter how complicated the mission, from helping build and lead the coalition now more than 80 nations strong to counter ISIS threats in the Middle East, to positioning our Air Force for the future in Indo- — in the Indo-Pacific, General Brown has built a reputation across the force as an unflappable and highly effective leader; as someone who creates an environment of teamwork, trust and — and then executes with excellence; and someone who smokes a mean brisket.”

Brown’s experiences include overseeing coalition air operations against Islamic State in the Middle East, as well as commanding the US Air Force in the Pacific from 2018 to 2020.

on a biennial basis to engage with the Barbadian diaspora, and have been successful to date.

Guyana – Murder Charges For 15-Year-Old in Deaths of 19 in School Fire

Georgetown – Guyana police on Sunday said that a secondary school girl who allegedly caused the death of 19 of her schoolmates when she set the dormitory of the MahdiaSecondary School, 100 miles west of here, ablaze last Monday, will be charged with murder.

Head of the Criminal Investigations Department, Assistant Police Commissioner Wendell Blanhum, said the department arrived at this decision following legal advice.

“Legal advice was obtained to charge the suspect with 19 counts of murder,” Blanhum said.

Last week, police had alleged that the girl who, government sources say was communicating with a man, started the fire after the dorm mother and a teacher seized her phone Saturday night.

The girl is older than 14 years old and would be charged as an adult, although Guyana’s juvenile law prohibits the naming of accused or convicted children.

DNA results of the unrecognised remains have since been returned, confirming their identities.

Education Minister, Priya Manickchand, has named the victims as Tracil Thomas, Lisa Roberts, Delecia Edwards, Lorita Williams, Natalie Bellarmine, Arriana Edwards, Cleoma Simon, Subrina John, Martha Dandrade, Loreen Evans, Belnisa Evans, Mary Dandrade, Omerfia Edwin, Nickleen Robinson, Sherena Daniels, Eulander Carter, Andrea Roberts and Rita Jeffrey.

The lone male victim was five-year-old Adanye Jerome, son of the dorm mother.

The bodies would be handed over to the families for burial and government has pledged its unlimited assistance to the families and survivors.

President Irfaan Ali has promised a Commission of Inquiry into the fire, and the main opposition party has since demanded that it and other stakeholders be involved in the selection of the members of the Commission and crafting the terms of reference.

But the main opposition parties have called for the inquiry to be fair and impartial. (CMC)

Haiti – Vigilante Movement Sees Decline in Gang Violence

A report titled Impact Of The “Bwa Kale” Movement Over Insecurity And

Kidnapping In Haiti by local human rights research group CARDH suggests that Violence by armed gangs has fallen “drastically” since the emergence of a vigilante justice movement that has seen at least 160 suspected criminals killed in the last month.

The vigilante movement, known as “Bwa Kale”, was created by residents of the capital Port-au-Prince who lynched and set fire to over a dozen suspected gang members in the early morning of April 24.

The report says:

Since the launch of the Bwa Kale movement, on April 24, giving birth to a bipartite collaboration police-population, at least 160 alleged bandits have been chased, lynched and burnt alive all over the country: 134 in the Ouest department, equivalent of 83.75%; five (5) in the Central Department, 3.12% ; nine (9) in Artibonite, 5.62% ; one (1) in the South, 0.62%; nine (9) in Grand’Anse, 5.62% ; one (1) in the North, 0.62%. Beside this, at least 78 more had been executed prior to “Bwa Kale”

This is a popular reaction (natural and conventional right of legitime defense) to face the extreme cruelty of the gangs, given the powerlessness of the police, the incapacity of the State to use its legitimate monopoly over the means of violence, and the international “fiddling around” and getting stuck in the rhetoric of promises…. This citizen’s awakening resulted in a drastic reduction of kidnappings from April 24 to May 24 (almost no cases of abduction reported) and other manifestations of gangs

‘violence (killings, rapes…).

Forty-three cases of murders registered. This movement must be framed to give a sustainable security, otherwise the gangs’ retaliations will be worse than the atrocities committed prior to “Bwa Kale”. The massacre orchestrated by the “5 segond” gang in Source Matelas, on April 19, where about 40 people disappeared or were assassinated, was in retaliation against the citizen brigade set up in the aftermath of the 29 November, 2022 attack (at least 12 murders).  It also deems to limit potential abuses (a few cases being under review).

This is the responsibility of central and local authorities, and more generally of the elites, but also of the international cooperation in Haiti having mandates focusing on institutional reinforcement (police / Justice) and the Rule of law (MINUSTAH, MINUJUSTH, BINUH), and on behalf of the responsibility to protect.

The security is before all a question of means (Emmanuel Macron). The police need concrete means (materials, technologies…) to tackle gangs and perform its mission, similar to any other police: “protect and serve”.

Criminological research is important for a better understanding of these new behaviors and prevent their impacts on the future of the country. Institutional measures must be considered to fundamentally tackle this new organization (of the) against criminality, the gangs obviously known (Izo, Ti Lapli….) not being the “bosses”, otherwise, there will be further.

Guest Editorial: A Louder Call for The Exoneration of Marcus Mosiah Garvey

by: Representative Yvette D. Clarke and Dr. Julius Garvey

“If, to please the people, we offer what we ourselves disapprove, how can we afterwards defend our work? Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair. The event is in the hands of God.” –George Washington America must reassess its position on Marcus Garvey, including its role in dismantling the greatest Black movement of the 20th century. And the world will finally come to terms with the enormous contributions and deep significance of the Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey. Marcus Garvey came into this world with a holy mission to change the lives of Black people. He completed his mission. And he didn’t just turn African Americans wishbones into backbones, he ushered in an era of Black consciousness, self-identity, Black pride and strength in the inhumane faces of their oppressors. He gave Black people the courage to stand tall, to love ourselves, to pursue excellence and to dream of Africa, our Mother Land and the cradle of mankind.

It is time to reverse the wrong committed against The Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey.

When Black people were written out of history, Marcus Garvey wrote us back in, reminding us of our contributions to civilization and rightful place under the sun. When Black people were miseducated, Marcus Garvey taught us the truth of our history as a surrogate for the whole Black community, empowering us along the way. When Black people found themselves bound by racism and horrendous treatment of subjugation and lynching, Marcus Garvey freed us from the mental slavery that replaced our physical bondage. He was fierce and loyal in his love for his people. He made Black people believe in their own salvation during unimaginable times. He never abandoned his mission to lift us to higher grounds, and we will never abandon him or this mission to reinstate his good name and rightful place in history. And as such, not reversing the blatant and outrageous wrong committed against a Black leader, amounts to an on-going onslaught on Black conscientiousness. It is time to reverse the wrong committed against The Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey.

Marcus Garvey was born with a sense

of pride and freedom still unmatched in this world. He reminded the world that Africa was for Africans, like Ireland is for the Irish and Japan for the Japanese. He unchained the Black mind from the global European perspective that elevated one group over all others, worked tirelessly to reject European domination, and recalibrated the world for the good of all people. When the world told Black people they were inferior, Marcus Garvey shined a bright light on the actual truth of the matter, reminding us of our unique humanism and that we are all God’s children, equally deserving of the love and peace Africans have given the world. And so, this is another appeal for the awakening of the soul of America. This is another call on behalf of the Black agitator for peace who loved us beyond measure. This is another call for justice. Make no mistake, Black people and all those rooted in this cause, will keep calling for the exoneration of Marcus Garvey until that day arrives. We will never give up on Garvey because he never gave up on us.

It is time to reverse the wrong committed against The Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey.

“Be cool. Let no trouble worry you, keep cool, keep cool,” Marcus Garvey wrote in song to his followers as he languished unjustly in a filthy prison cell after being railroaded by America’s vicious terrorizer of Black people and bona-fide menace to humanity, J. Edgar Hoover. Threatened by the Garvey movement bravely and unapologetically marching toward a Black nation in the making, the Department of Justice (DOJ) created the General Intelligence Division that empowered Hoover to kill the Black revolution for liberation spurred by Marcus Garvey. He had rejected the terror this nation inflicted on Black people and Hoover, deputized by our government, led a national vendetta against the great humanitarian he called, “The Negro Moses.” Hoover’s hatred ran so deep, it led him to hire the first full-time Black FBI agent to spy on Marcus Garvey. But even “Agent 800” couldn’t stop the message of hope and freedom he brought to Black people all over the world. And so, America must reevaluate and reverse his unjust conviction, which stands as a heinous symbolism of Black oppression.

It is time to reverse the wrong committed against The Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey.

Marcus Garvey fought for Black people to have a place under the sun. He wanted Black people to unify and go back to Africa physically, and mentally. He stood at the head of the largest Black movement in America and was persecuted for it. His newspaper, The Negro World, was one of the most popular newspapers in the United States at the time and was even translated to Spanish and French, as his Black revolutionary movement crossed the ocean, rippling fear that broke the shores of Europe. His rising influence made him a target of our government. And when he declared, “Africa for Africans” Europe joined the war to end the global Black liberation movement taking shape. Our government deliberately derailed the salvation Marcus Garvey promised his people. Similar to Black soldiers coming home from war, his movement was not welcomed despite its value and importance. And his unjust conviction, including the symbolism of it, speaks the truth of America’s role in dehumanizing Black people.

It is time to reverse the wrong committed against The Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey.

Every effort was made to sabotage Marcus Garvey. To destroy his just movement on behalf of his people. He was wrongfully accused of mail and wire fraud in 1923, a case that Hoover hung on a blatant lie that he connected to one piece of evidence: a letter from Benny Dancy of 34 W 131st in New York. Today, symbolized with this letter, we are calling for his exoneration. His body may have departed this earth, but his soul, still full of boundless energy, is alive in everything he touched with his love. And so, to deny this call for justice is akin to denying the will of God. It is time to reverse the wrong committed against The Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey.

Marcus Garvey changed the world. His message was revolutionary because he asked Black people to unite and honor their roots. He almost single-handedly changed the image and the souls of Black people because he stood as an equal next to his oppressors. He said the pen is mightier than the sword, but the tongue is

mightier than both of them put together. His contributions to our humanity paved the way for leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X and Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana. And he uplifted Black women to feel worthwhile during a time when it was difficult to do. He celebrated their beauty and highlighted their contributions to society, including their views, in his newspaper. Shamefully, his psychological influence was dangerous to Hoover’s America, making him a prime target for sabotage and wrongful persecution. It is time to reverse the wrong committed against The Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey.

Marcus Garvey’s vision for Black people still lives, just like the love his people have for him. Look for him all around us. He is here spiritually, still encouraging us to claim our, “I am”, without apology. Marcus Garvey erected our spine to claim our humanity and rightful place in mother’s earths bosom, and beside God. He enlarged our vision of self and gave us the spiritual embodiment of Africa, our ancestral home. “I want no mercy. Only justice, justice, justice. I would not betray my struggling race. If I did, I shall be thrown into the nethermost parts of hell,” he boldly declared during his trial. Marcus Garvey gave us Black pride and his legacy, despite it being tarnished by the worst of mankind, deserves a course correction in the pages of our American history. Although this is not the first petition calling for the exoneration of Marcus Garvey, it is the loudest because the time to do the right thing is always now. A great and shameful wrong, in the name of America, was committed against one of the greatest human-beings the world has ever known. And it’s time to break the symbolic chain made in America to finally bring justice to the Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey. “The sum of all is, if we would most truly enjoy the gift of Heaven, let us become a virtuous people; then shall we both deserve and enjoy it. While, on the other hand, if we are universally vicious and debauched in our manners, though the form of our Constitution carries the face of the most exalted freedom, we shall in reality be the most abject slaves.”

Samuel Adams

Study Finds Over One Quarter of US Homeowners Struggle with Housing Costs

by Stacy Brown

A recent study conducted by the  Chamber of Commerce, a product research company specializing in real estate, revealed that more than 25% of homeowners in the United States are burdened by housing costs, spending over 30% of their income on their homes. The study utilized data from the U.S. Census Bureau, analyzing monthly housing costs and median household income in the 170 most populated cities nationwide.

The findings indicate that 27.4% of all homeowners are considered “costburdened.”

Miami, Los Angeles, and New York City are leading the list of cities with a significant number of financially strained homeowners, where more than four in 10 feel stretched beyond their means due to housing expenses. Interestingly, all but one of the top 10 cities for cost-burdened homeowners are in California or Florida. In the District of Columbia, 26.3% of homeowners also grapple with the weight of housing costs.

The rise in mortgage interest rates is one factor that contributes to the financial strain homeowners experience. At the pandemic’s beginning, rates hit

historic lows but surged past 7% in 2022, reaching the highest levels since 2002. While rates have cooled slightly since early 2023, new homeowners still face significantly higher monthly mortgage payments compared to those who locked in lower rates.

Combined with skyrocketing inflation and stagnant wages, Americans now owe trillions more than before the pandemic. The higher housing costs are eating into savings, spending, and emergency funds. The impact of rising housing costs is not limited to homeowners alone. Renters also bear the brunt of this trend, as escalating housing expenses increase rental rates.

It means that renters and homeowners feel financially strapped by growing housing costs.

The study sheds light on the long-standing personal finance guideline known as the “30 percent” rule. This rule advises individuals to ensure that their housing expenses, including rent or mortgage payments, property taxes, and utilities, do not exceed 30% of their monthly income.

However, with the current housing affordability challenges, many individuals

need help to abide by this rule. The study also reveals a concerning trend.

From 2015 to 2019, the percentage of financially burdened homeowners in the United States decreased annually, dropping from 29.4% in 2015 to 26.5% in 2019.

However, the pandemic has begun to reverse these gains, with cities like Los Angeles and New York experiencing an upward trend in cash-strapped homeowners.

In Los Angeles, almost half of homeowners are considered “house poor,” despite a four-percentage-point decrease between 2015 and 2019. Similarly, in New York City, the percentage of house-poor homeowners increased to over 45% in 2021, up from 41.3% in 2019.

On the other hand, Miami bucked the trend, as the percentage of house-poor homeowners dropped by two and a half points to 44.6% in 2021.

The Federal Reserve, faced with the uphill battle of fighting inflation, has raised interest rates monthly since March 2022.

Although the Fed does not directly set

mortgage rates, its actions often influence home loan rates.

However, there is now a glimmer of hope on the horizon as the central bank signals a potential break from the consecutive rate increases that have taken place over the past year.

As the housing affordability crisis deepens, policymakers and stakeholders must address the mounting challenges homeowners and renters face.

“It is imperative to find sustainable solutions that alleviate the burden of housing costs and promote financial stability for all Americans,” said District of Columbia Realtor Piper Alford. “It’s never ideal to spend more than 30 percent of your income on housing,” Alford insisted. “But today’s market, prices, inflation, and greed has caused many to find basic living unaffordable.”

Under Controlled Coal-Fired Power Plants Still Threaten Americans’ Health

by Ben Jealous

Tatum is an East Texas town of about 1,300 people, closer to Shreveport than Dallas. It’s on the north shore of Martin Lake. Across the water sits a coal-fired power plant named after the lake that happens to be the single largest sulfur dioxide polluter in the United States. Paulette Goree, who has lived in the area her entire life, gets a daily reminder of the Martin Lake Power Plant. “I use a personal air monitor every day to figure out if I should spend much time outdoors.”

She thinks the air pollution contributed to the deaths of family members and the respiratory problems she and her husband have. A Sierra Club report estimated that, in the two counties surrounding Tatum, coal plant pollution contributes to two premature deaths every year. That’s a fraction of the 154 people who die annually in part due to what’s spewed out of Martin Lake’s smokestacks, according to Clean Air Task Force.

It’s why Paulette and other volunteers

across the United States are fighting for the federal government to enforce clean air standards already on the books and to strengthen those requirements to reflect what technology can do now to make the air breathable again.

“It just isn’t right, and the EPA needs to do better,” she said. “It’s too late for me and my generation, but we need to improve the air for our younger generations.”

It’s a fight I’ve been part of for more than a decade, one that led me to launch the Climate Justice Program at the NAACP. It’s still true that these coal powered killers and other industrial polluters more often than not sit in communities of color and where residents have the least economic power. Thankfully, we’ve been able to get hundreds of those power plants retired.

The unmistakable injustice is that nearly two thirds of the remaining coal-fired power plants in this country could and would have to address their deadly

pollution if we were enforcing and strengthening the Clean Air Act, as the Sierra Club’s report showed. Effective pollution control technology exists. But instead of taking on the expense of controlling their damage, plants are forcing Americans to bear higher healthcare costs from coal pollution. We should no longer subsidize coal generation, and the electric bills of some Americans, with the lungs of Americans who live in Tatum or Cheshire, Ohio, or New Madrid, Missouri – anywhere the remaining 158 coal plants operate.

And we don’t have to. The cost of coal power generation is rising while the cost of electricity from renewable solar and wind farms is falling steadily. Only one coal plant nationally operates for less than a clean energy alternative that could replace it. It’s one reason why the historic clean economy funding that President Biden and Congress approved in 2021 and 2022 is vital. We have the money to

put an end to coal power once and for all. There are 154 people who live downwind of Martin Lake who can’t afford a delay of another year. And 154 the year after that. For them it’s a matter of life and death. We have proven ways to make the air cleaner and we have a law that demands that. We need to act now.

Ben Jealous is executive director of the Sierra Club, the nation’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization. He is a professor of practice at the University of Pennsylvania and author of “Never Forget Our People Were Always Free,” published in January.

Caribbean Food Delights Inc. US$17 Million Expansion

As part of the 45th-anniversary plans for Jamaican-owned Caribbean Food Delights, Inc., the company an US$17 million expansion of its Rockland County food manufacturing facility located in Tappan, New York.

Founded by Jamaican-born businessman and philanthropist Vincent HoSang, the expansion to its frozen food operations would see a 15 percent increase in production of patties, the company’s flagship product item.

CEO Sabrina HoSang Jordan said, “The planned expansion comes at a time when product sales are at an all time high, as the company has seen sales growth of approximately 40 percent since 2019, which has allowed us to embark on this timely expansion.”

She also revealed that part funding is from a US$2.75-million grant from the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council that played a major part in the decision to pursue the expansion “sooner rather than later”. This expansion would be the second in the company’s history. In 2019 they added two production lines and a

second floor addition.

Caribbean Food Delights, Inc. began its operations in 1978 on Dyre Avenue in the Bronx from humble beginnings by Vincent and Jeanette HoSang and is now located at its 103,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Tappan, New York.

The company is privately owned and operated and is rooted in its motto, “Quality is Our Priority.”

According to their website, this obsession with quality and safety has earned the company the coveted Safe Quality Food Institute’s highest achievement award – SQF Level 3. The company boasts numerous other distinctions, awards and accolades from prestigous local and international organizations.

CFD products are available at several big box retailers including Walmart, Sam’s Club, BJ’s, Costco, Price Rite, HEB and Publix, Winn Dixie and Harris Teeter Supermarkets, local grocery stores and Commissaries worldwide.

Charlie’s Records Seeks Redress From Angostura Trinidad Limited

the Angostura White Oak commercial, to undoubtedly trigger such reaction.

Relentless in his pursuit, Rawlston Charles who still operates a thriving Charlie’s Records, home to a state-of-the-art recording studio in New York, is prepared for the long haul. “They never sought the rights, never cared to do it, never did their research. In the US, if something like this happened, those who committed the illegal act, would try to iron out the situation out of court, before it had to reach the court,” he highlighted, lamenting that since this situation surfaced, no one at Angostura has contacted him.

Rose, Lord Kitchener, Maestro, Ras Shorty I, Explainer, Super Blue, David Rudder and Charlie’s Roots, which was formed by Charles, among countless others, have all been produced under the Charlie’s Records Label. “The Soca genre started under my umbrella with Ras Shorty I, and Machel Montano still records at my studio. He recorded last year and the year before that,” said Charles.

Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago - A video and audio commercial done by alcohol brand, White Oak during Carnival 2023 has triggered an avalanche of sorts, as New York city based, Charlie’s Records is now taking Angostura Trinidad Limited, to task over it.

‘Taxi, Taxi. Airport Kennedy,’ a familiar sample created as an impactful and easily remembered line to introduce Calypsonian Explainer’s ‘Lorraine,’ is owned by Charlie’s Records’ Rawlston Charles. He owns the synchronization rights for that simple sample, and was never approached by Angostura or anyone acting on the company’s behalf, for permission to use his work.

Efforts to deal with the matter privately, have proven ineffective as according to Charles, after more than five calls to the Copyright Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago, most of which went unanswered, he was met with a lackluster response by

one of the company’s employees. ““But that’s just a little part of the song,” she said to me,” said Charles. Since that time, Charles and his team in Trinidad and Tobago, have submitted a letter to the advertising agency tasked with creating the advertisement. Charles, a music producer who has been responsible for most of the calypso hits known and loved from the mid 60’s onward, has made clear his terms, informing of his right to compensation.

The advertisement, used primarily as a Carnival 2023 product campaign, was aired on radio, television and certainly multiple digital platforms. As such, a global reach in the millions, is estimated.

“Many times, what we put into the song, as music creators, is done to attract people so that when they hear the beginning of certain songs, they then drop what they’re doing and react,” explained Charles. That simple line at the top of ‘Lorraine’ has always had such an impact. It was used in

A veteran and certainly a pioneer in the Caribbean music business, Rawlston Charles and his business namesake, Charlie’s Records is deserving of the respect of even major companies like Angostura Trinidad Limited. Major Calypsonians like Sparrow, The Black Stalin, Christopher Tambu Herbert, Calypso

His hope is that those responsible for this act of theft, will acknowledge their misdemeanor and in turn contact him to avoid litigation proceedings. “Many times these issues must have attorneys involved and I am cognizant of that. I am seeking redress via compensation because Angostura used my sample to sell their product. I will not stop until the matter is fairly addressed and compensation is received,” said the record executive.

One of the RAF’s last black World War II veterans received a resounding sendoff after a campaign was launched to search for relatives in order to honor his contributions in the Royal Air Force. Hundreds of mourners gathered for the funeral of Flight Sergeant Peter Brown who passed away aged 96 in Maida Vale, West London in December. He had no known relatives, prompting an appeal to find the RAF pilot’s family. Flight Sergeant Brown was believed to be one, and perhaps the last, of the so-called “Pilots of the Caribbean”. He came to the UK from Jamaica as part of the Windrush generation.

His funeral service was initially scheduled to be held at a chapel in Mortlake, southwest London, with a capacity of 140, but an overwhelming appeal brought hundreds who wanted to give him a hero’s farewell, and so his funeral service was

moved to the RAF Central Church, St. Clement Danes, in Westminster. 600 mourners turned out to bid adieu to Brown, including film star Colin McFarlane, BBC journalist Clive Myrie, Top Boy actor Michael Ward and Coronation Street’s Trevor Michael Georges. Representatives from Caribbean community groups and those who helped in the search for his relatives were present as well.

His cousin, Brooke Alexander who traveled all the way from Jamaica said he “dedicated himself to the protection of people and because of this we will remember him. His legacy will live on in the minds and hearts of people who have connected with this story.”

Born in Jamaica in 1926, he signed up for the RAF Volunteer Reserve in September 1943, and after training as a wireless operator/air gunner he served in Lancaster bombers during WWII.

After the war ended he re-enlisted in the air force, working as a signaler.

UK – Tribute Paid to Jamaican WWII RAF Vet at Burial Named Storms Forecast for 2023 - 12 to 17

and NOAA’s critical investments this year in scientific and technological advancements in hurricane modeling, NOAA will be able to deliver even more accurate forecasts, helping ensure communities have the information they need to prepare for and respond to the destructive economic and ecological impacts of Atlantic hurri canes,” said Secretary of Commerce, Gina M. Raimondo.

The experts say that the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be less active than recent years, due to competing factors, some that suppress storm development and some that fuel it, driving this year’s overall forecast for a near-normal season.

Miami – The US-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting a near-normal hurricane season in the Atlantic this year which begins on June 1.

According to the NOAA forecasters with the Climate Prediction Centre, the outlook for the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, which ends on November 30, calls for a 40 per cent chance of a near-normal season, a 30 per cent chance of an above-normal season and a 30 per cent chance of a below-normal season.

NOAA is forecasting a range of 12 to 17 total named storms with winds of 39 mph or higher. It said of those storms, five to nine of them could become hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or higher, including one to four major hurricanes with winds in excess of 11 mpg or higher.

“Thanks to the Commerce Department

After three hurricane seasons with La Nina present, NOAA scientists predict a high potential for El Nino, which is a warming of the ocean surface, or above-average sea surface temperatures, in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, to develop this summer, which can suppress Atlantic hurricane activity.

El Nino’s potential influence on storm development could be offset by favorable conditions local to the tropical Atlantic Basin.

Those conditions include the potential for an above-normal west African monsoon, which produces African easterly waves and seeds some of the stronger and longer-lived Atlantic storms, and warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea which creates more energy to fuel storm development. (CMC)

Errol Pierre On Why He’s In a Unique Position to Serve

Haitian American Errol Pierre is the Senior Vice President of State Programs at Healthfirst Inc, one of New York’s largest not-for-profit health insurance companies, has earned the trust of more than 1.8 million members by ensuring access to affordable and high-quality healthcare.

In a recent interview with Carib News, Pierre shared his foray in healthcare, how he stays connected to the community, and some of his many accomplishments in the health industry.

From hearing his story, one would conclude that Errol Pierre was destined for the healthcare industry. As a boy, he had an unfortunate experience with a root canal at a dentist’s office when his medical coverage ran out, and this helped shape his decision to pursue a career in health.  He knows firsthand what it feels like to not to have complete, adequate, comprehensive healthcare.

As he would tell it,

at the upper echelons of many corporations, and so I’m uniquely positioned in being African American, Haitian American at a high level role.”

For more than 20 years, he’s lived on the Bronx, until recently moving to Brooklyn. He has also chosen to live in the communities that he serves, always interacting with Healthfirst members at the local grocery store or elsewhere in his neighborhood.

As SVP of State Programs, he runs product and sales for the Medicaid line of business. They cater to individuals making below roughly $20,000 a year. The long-term care line of business caters to individuals who are seniors in the home and need an aid to help them with activities of daily living, like washing, cooking, cleaning, and then there’s the commercial line of business. In this role, he oversees sales, retention, and community engagement across the company’s Medicaid and Long-Term Care

people they love. It made usage of public benefit programs that help families thrive–programs like Medicaid, SNAP food assistance, public housing, among others – a potential disqualifier for immigration.  The result: a sicker, hungrier, poorer nation, and an enormous step backwards from achieving health equity. Healthfirst led the charge in education as there was a lot of misinformation, a lot of confusion, and there was a lot of fraud. Another opportunity arose during the pandemic. He recalled that his team “did so much to try to help members navigate the craziness of COVID. We booked appointments for them. We helped them get transportation to get vaccinations. We booked appointments for them on the website because the websites were confusing and they were in English only...it was very hard for Caribbean populations to book their own appointments. We did community education. The company did their share of myth busting to make sure people had the right information. They also worked with City Harvest to bring food pantries to food deserts so that

Healthfirst members could access food. In discussing the biggest challenge to the healthcare industry at present, Pierre suggested that engagement is lacking. He says, “Trying to keep it in the forefront of people’s minds that health is your wealth… engagement piece is the toughest part. And doing it in language and doing it culturally competent.”

He says, “I understand the population we serve” and is constantly working toward meeting people where their needs are. Watch the entire interview via our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=qtNSPxxJdic

This Saturday June 3, Errol Pierre will join Carib News at the Wake Eden Baptist Church in the Bronx from 12pm to 2 pm for a Community Town Hall to discuss how the new federal changes in Medicare that may help you benefit from more coverage, and share how you can save money on prescriptions.

We hope to see you there!

More information at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/health-wellness-town-hall-tickets-622450735907

Understanding his parents’ plight as non-English-speaking immigrants who worked in the industry also helped to shape his decision.

Pierre’s father worked in the kitchen of a nursing home, while his Mom became a pharmacist.

He is currently the Senior Vice President of State Programs for Healthfirst, and is proud to represent the largest nonprofit health plan in New York State that was founded 30 years ago this year. The company provides low cost, high quality benefits to all walks of life.

His background places him in a unique position to serve. During our chat, he shared that “there’s not a lot of diversity

product portfolios, specifically for people who require Obamacare plans or small business coverage.

Before joining Healthfirst, Errol served as Chief Operating Officer for the commercial business unit of Empire BlueCross BlueShield, where, over the course of his 12-year tenure, he held various leadership roles in Sales, Product Development, and Strategy.

Some of his major accomplishments at Healthfirst have called upon his leadership.

He recalled in 2019, President Donald Trump’s administration revised immigration rules that forced families to choose between the things they need and the

“I stumbled into healthcare, but then I found out I loved it...and then I connected my own story with my tooth to what I could do to try to bring healthcare to other people, especially people that look like me.”

Amanda Gorman’s Inauguration Poem Banned by Florida School

Last week, the poem written by Amanda Gorman for President Joe Biden’s inauguration was placed on a restricted list, along with other books at a South Florida elementary school after one Mom complained about the material.

As it turns out, the Mom has revealed that she only read parts of the material she objected to.

Daily Salinas fueled a firestorm last week at the Bob Graham Educational Center, a public school in Miami-Dade County, which later agreed to restrict access to

“The Hill We Climb” and three other books a school panel decided were better suited for middle-school students. She complained about Gorman’s poem and the books because they did not support the curriculum. She continued to defend her stand saying “I’m not an expert. I’m not a reader. I’m not a book person. I’m a mom involved in my children’s education.” Via a Facebook post on Tuesday, poet Amanda Gorman vowed to fight back.

“I’m gutted,” she wrote. “Robbing children of the chance to find their voices in

literature is a violation of their right to free thought and free speech.”

Gorman, 25, became the country’s National Youth Poet Laureate at 17, said she wrote the poem The Hill We Climb, so “all young people could see themselves in a historical moment”, and that she’s received countless letters and videos from children who were inspired to write their own poems.

In response, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has invited Gorman to perform a reading of her poem in the county.

Queen Ifrica, Tony Rebel Split After 23 Years

Jamaica’s Ventrice Morgan, aka Queen Ifrica, took to TikTok on Saturday to announce that she has split with Tony Rebel after 23 years together.

The pair is known for the Rebel Salute, one of Jamaica’s biggest music festivals, which they co-produce.

The popular singer/toaster known for her dancehall-influenced style said “One year and six months now mi not together with him and they would have loved to see me spiraling on here. They would have loved to see me come out bawling ‘domestic violence’.”

During the live stream, Ifrica shared the reason that brought the split. She said, “Him never waan unite inna him family; him never waan

bring him family together but him know weh fi do fi bring people fi come mek money dung a Salute.”

Apparently, ongoing disharmony in Rebel’s family continues to play out on social media over the last few years. His daughter Davianah hurtled physical abuse claims at him in 2019, while also painting Ifrica as a hypocrite.

However, Ifrica reiterated that she’s still not ready to open up about the alleged domestic violence claims made by her friend, Minister Marion Hall.

“We a go deal with the domestic violence side when dah part deh come because some of we did haffi survive fi can tell the tale…” she said.

“One of the woman dem did haffi come tell

Actress Angelina Jolie at Calabash Literary Festival

the tale without hatred. One of we, as black women, had to come stand up and say, ‘Yes, I’m coming from a very dark place, but I’m coming with a light, so, that I can show you how to walk through those dark places.’”

Ifrica’s presence on social media follows an almost three-year hiatus, and the break-up announcement comes after weeks of Ifrica pro

moting unity among Jamaicans and in the local music industry, ruffling feathers along the way, and paralleling the alleged abuse she endured to her belief that Jamaicans are being battered into submission and silence by government systems.

Tony Rebel has not responded to allegations against him.

Angelina Jolie, the famed Hollywood actress known for her roles in SALT and Tomb Raider was spotted at the Calabash Literary Festival in Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth on Saturday. The Gleaner yesterday shared a short video clip on social media showing the actress walking into the venue.

Jolie apparently spent the day walking through the festival without much fanfare, sitting in the audience applauding, treated like anyone else in attendance shocked most. She was also seen snapping pictures with Jamaican dub-poet and radio personality, Mutabaruka.

The Calabash International Literary Festival

was last held in-person in 2018. It was cancelled twice in 2020 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The festival was founded in 2001 by novelist Colin Channer, poet Kwame Dawes and film producer Justine Henzell.

It’s a three-day festival of readings and music with other forms of storytelling.

The aim of the festival was to create a worldclass literary festival with roots in Jamaica which branched out to the world. The events are free and open to the public, and, according to the organizers, “passion is the only price of entry, but voluntary contributions are welcomed”.

Clergy Council 49th Pct 10th Anniversary Gala

Pastor Jay Gooding Sr. and the Clergy Council 49th celebrated their 10th Anniversary Gala Banquet at Maestros Catering Hall, on Thursday April 20, 2023. The keynote address was given by NYS Attorney General Letitia James. The musical guest was the legendary voice of Ms. Melba Moore.

This year’s honorees were NYPD Chief Jeff Maddrey, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, NYS Attorney General Letitia James, Speaker Carl Heastie, Rev David Hernquist and Rev. Patricia Iriebi. They were all chosen due to their active involvement with the clergy council, during uncertain times in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. A few people who were in attendance included NYPD Dep. Commissioner of Community Affairs Mark Stewart, NYS Senator Jamaal Bailey, AM John Zaccaro Jr., Councilwm Althea Stevens, Fernando Cabrera (NYC Mayors office of Faith Based and community partnership). For the past 20 years the Clergy Council 49th has been actively involved in building the community and Police relationship in the Borough of the Bronx. Pastor Jay Gooding Sr. has served as President and Coordinator for these 20 years.

The council became officially incorporated in 2012 and it’s executive board includes a diverse ecumenical leadership with Rev David Hernquist, Sheik Hamud Alsilwi, Rabbi Keith Thompson, Rev Norman Coleman,Rev Louis Riddle and Rev. Rhonda Brissett.

51st Anniversary of Wake-Eden Community Baptist Church and 10th Anniversary for Rev. Frank Williams and Lady Tisha Williams, as Senior Pastor and First Lady

Mexico Tops Costa Rica to Capture Group B at CWU20

Dominican Republic – Mexico defeated Costa Rica 3-0 to capture the top spot in Group B in Monday’s action at the 2023 Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship in the Dominican Republic.

The day at the Estadio Panamericano in Santo Domingo started with host nation Dominican Republic rallying from a one-goal deficit to earn a 2-1 victory over Puerto Rico.

Kennedy Garcia scored in the 37’ to hand the Boricuas a 1-0 lead at the break that held going into the second half. But a nine-minute stretch in which the home side notched two goals served as the decisive moment. First it was Angelina Vargas scoring the 1-1 equalizer in the 57’, followed by Alexa Castro tallying the winning score in the 65’ to give the Dominican Republic their first three points of the Championship.

In the decisive nightcap, Mexico completed a perfect group stage campaign with a 3-0 triumph over Costa Rica. Maribel Flores scored goals in the 16’ and 20’ to hand Mexico a commanding 2-0 lead, and then Montserrat Saldivar tacked on the third goal right before the halftime whistle.

From there, the Mexico defense took over to nail down the clean sheet victory and the full three points. The group stage in Group A will wrap up on Tuesday with the United States taking on Canada, while Jamaica will meet Panama, both at the Estadio Olimpico Felix Sanchez in Santo Domingo.

The U.S. hold a one-goal edge on goal difference in the table over the Canadians, so a draw would be enough for the defending champions to nail down the first-place position.

Either Jamaica or Panama would earn their first points of the Championship with a victory.

Sammy’s Checklist: Get Russell, Narine, Hetmyer Back and Rise in Rankings

made himself available for West Indies selection until after CPL 2023. Russell hasn’t played for West Indies since the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE while Narine’s last appearance for West Indies was way back in August 2019.

In an interview with The Cricket Monthly last year, Narine, though, had said that he hadn’t shut the door on a West Indies return. Haynes: Hetmyer available but ‘fair to stick with the guys’ who did well in SA

line with themselves in [it].

leadership of Simmons and Sammy.

West Indies’ newly-appointed white-ball coach Daren Sammy has had “in-depth conversations” with Shimron Hetmyer, Evin Lewis, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine about their reintegration into the national side.

Hetmyer had recently made himself available for selection for the upcoming 2023 ODI World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe, but he was left out of the squad because the management wanted to give a longer run to the players who had performed well in South Africa, where West Indies drew the ODI series 1-1 and took the T20I series 2-1. As for Lewis, he hasn’t

“Well, first thing I’d like to make it known is everyone who plays regional cricket is available or is indicating that they’re available for West Indies selection,” Sammy said in his first press conference as the white-ball coach. “I’ve had conversations with both Hetty [Shimron Hetmyer] and Evin Lewis. Having played not too long ago and understanding the complaints of players - and the lack thereof of communication - I think it’s important for us to communicate. It sounds simple but I understand that just clear communication makes the process better and it gives you a better understanding. So, yes, I’ve had in-depth conversations with Shimron and Evin Lewis about their mindset, their plans, and where they see West Indies cricket in

“I must tell you that the feedback has been positive and I’ve also reached out to guys like Andre Russell. I’ve reached out to Sunil Narine and all these guys, too, to hear what their thoughts are. Because they still take part in some of our domestic competitions. But it takes honest and mature conversations, which is one I’m not afraid to have with the players. I’m encouraged by the discussions that we’ve had when it comes to West Indies cricket, outlining clear plans as to how we reintegrate because these players….look at the caliber of Shimron…I’m sure it hurts fans to see him perform elsewhere and not in the maroon.”

Sammy has been in charge of the St Lucia and Peshawar Zalmi franchises in the CPL and PSL respectively, but this West Indies assignment is his first as a coach in international cricket.

Sammy hopes to draw from his experiences of having worked with former West Indies coaches Phil Simmons and Ottis Gibson.

Under Gibson and Sammy, West Indies lifted their first T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka in 2012 and four years later in India in 2016, West Indies won another T20 World Cup under the

Sammy also has a good working relationship with current West Indies red-ball coach Andre Coley, who had been an assistant to Simmons, when West Indies clinched that T20 World Cup title seven years ago.

“For someone who didn’t have the desire to go into coaching, they’re more of coaches I’ve worked with - whether in franchise cricket or the West Indies team or the different teams I’ve played,” Sammy said. “I’ve garnered so much knowledge that I could implement for myself. Ottis Gibson and I are quite close. We’ve always been in contact from way before he came into the set-up and we had a very good relationship, in terms of planning our cricket and how we presented to our guys.

“I also worked with Phil and we won a championship together, so everybody has their own styles. For me, all what I’ve garnered and now putting all this into my style but my way is not the highway. It’s incorporating everybody to pull in one direction and try to get results for our team. And try to inspire the next generation of cricketers and our fans.”