June 7, 2023

ILLEGAL

Of people of color found by federal investigation in attempt to stem gun violence

Page 5

UNITED

JAMAICA

NO MANDATE FOR CASHLESS SYSTEM

Says PM Holness as he assured the country even as digitalization creeps in

Page 3

GUYANA

SEEKS SEAT ON UN SECURITY COUNCIL

For 2024 - 2025 term positioning a Caricom country to play a role in international deliberations

Page 4

NEW YORK CITY STUYVESANT HIGH ADMITTED ONLY 7 BLACKS IN A CLASS

Of 762 students in a city where 70% of students are of color

Page 12

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

HEALTH FORUM HITS THE BRONX

Forum brought health experts to the neighborhood

Page 17

TRINI TO HEAD ASSEMBLY

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO AMBASSADOR DENNIS FRANCIS WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UN SEVENTY-EIGHTH SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

US NATIONAL POLITICS

WEST FOR PRESIDENT

CORNELL WEST, RENOWNED SCHOLAR AND ACTIVIST DECLARED HIS CANDIDACY FOR PRESIDENT

OPED

Historically Black University Discrimination Lawsui Moves

by Stacy Brown - P

OPED

New Fire, Familiar Injustice

By Ben Jealous - P

AFRICA WORLD BRIEFS

Critical humanitarian situation in Central African Republic

The humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) remains critical, with more than half the population, 3.4 million people, requiring assistance and protection, the top UN aid official in the country said on Monday.

Of this number, 2.4 million “have needs so severe and complex that their survival and dignity is at risk,” Mohamed Ag Ayoya, UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the CAR, told journalists in Geneva.

HEALTH

The conflict in neighbouring Sudan has further exacerbated needs, and a $465 million humanitarian plan for the country was amended to include support for some 25,000 Sudanese and CAR nationals fleeing the fighting, as well as local communities hosting them.

SPORTS

“Our priority remains assisting the most vulnerable sections of the Central African society,” he said. “In addition, we will continue to support those suffering from the consequences of the conflict in Sudan, both from the displaced and host community.”

Displacement, floods and underdevelopment

Mr. Ag Ayoya provided a background to the humanitarian crisis in the CAR.

Trafficking in the Sahel: Gas lighting

Kourou/Koualou, a tiny village in a neutral zone straddling Benin and Burkina Faso, was the centre of a one-million-litre-a-year cross-border illicit fuel trade, a snapshot of a phenomenon that spreads far across the 6,000-kilometre-wide African Sahel region.

In this feature, part of a series exploring the fight against trafficking in the Sahel, UN News focuses on the illegal fuel trade in the region.

Transported by criminal networks and taxed by terrorist groups, illegal fuel flows along four major routes snaking across the Sahel towards ready buyers, siphoning millions from nations on the road to stabilizing their security-challenged region, home to 300 million people.

“Fuel trafficking is undermining the rule of law; it’s fuelling corruption,” said François Patuel, Chief of the Research and Awareness Unit at the UN Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC). “It’s also enabling other forms of crime. That’s why it needs to be addressed.”

Demand calls, traffickers answer

Fuel trafficking is big business in the region. A report from the UNODC, Fuel Trafficking in the Sahel, finds that it funds illegal non-State armed groups, terrorist groups, financial institutions, corrupt law enforcement officials, and groups with ties to prominent individuals with interests in retail fuel companies. It is also in high demand among the population. The biggest enablers are low, heavily subsidized gas prices in Algeria, Libya, and Nigeria. UNODC reported that Libyan gas stations charge 11 cents a litre, but across the border, Malian pump prices average $1.94.

US state abortion bans ‘putting millions of women and girls at risk’

Millions of women and girls across the United States have suffered an alarming deterioration in access to sexual and reproductive healthcare, following the US Supreme Court decision overturning the constitutional right to abortion in June 2022, UN-appointed independent rights experts said on Friday.

Since the start of the year, abortion has been banned in 14 states across the country, and the consequences of the Supreme Court decision has reverberated throughout the entire legal and policy system, the Human Rights Council-appointed experts said.

“The regressive position taken by the US Supreme Court...by essentially dismantling 50 years of precedent protecting the right to abortion in the country, puts millions of women and girls at serious risk,” they said. They added that violations of International Human Rights Law had resulted from the landmark decision, which overturned the 1973 Roe vs Wade decisionin effect, returning abortion law to state legislatures.

India train disaster: UN chief deeply saddened by loss of life

The UN Secretary-General has expressed his deep sadness over the loss of life and injuries sustained during India’s worst rail disaster this century, when three trains collided in the eastern state of Odisha on Friday.

Latest news reports said the death toll is at least 275. More than 1,000 people were hospitalised but close to 800 of those involved in the crash have reportedly been discharged.

According to reports, railway officials and India’s minister in charge of the vast network, said on Sunday that a signal fault was the likely cause, which led to a routing error. One of the passenger trains collided with a stationary goods train causing carriages to derail, which in turn struck a second train going in the opposite direction.

In a statement issued on Saturday issued by his Spokesperson, António Guterres, extended his deep condolences to the families of the victims, “as well as the people and Government of India.” He also wished a swift and full recovery to those injured.

Heartfelt condolences

The UN in India also tweeted heartfelt condolences, adding “our thoughts are prayers are with all affected.”

Around 2,000 people were believed to be travelling on the trains. Dozens of the dead have yet to be identified with some relatives still searching for loved ones.

Rescue work was completed on Saturday and work continues to clear the wreckage. A major investigation is underway into the cause of the disaster.

9

Community Health Town Hall Hits The Bronx - P 16

Rodney’s Life Beyond Sports Foundation Scholarship Awards - P 19

T&T – Trini Elected President of UN General Assembly

tion, the option of choice and the capacity to self-actualize for their benefit and that of their communities. This, he insisted, is a compelling argument for an all-out effort to re-energize action to deliver on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Conscious of the Office’s sensitivity and weighty duties, he then pledged to discharge those responsibilities with transparency, accountability, vigour and dedication. He also promised to prioritize meaningful dialogue to ensure the clarity of priorities and the strengthening of common purpose in the interest of coherence.

vision and action. To this end, he pledged to continue promoting science for a “sustainability transformation”, especially in the preparations for the Sustainable Development Goals Summit in September 2023. He also underscored the urgent need to put the 2023 United Nations Water Conference’s gamechangers into action as an answer the unfolding water crisis. “We cannot let the momentum stop,” he asserted, adding that he looks forward to working with the President-elect on a successful handover and continued progress.

work of the United Nations. Following the path of constructive engagement, Trinidad and Tobago has often served as a bridge-builder — its size does not limit the scope of its ambition nor does it constrain its commitment to humanity as it recognizes the giant potential that all nations bring to the Assembly.

The General Assembly yesterday elected by acclamation Dennis Francis (Trinidad and Tobago) to serve as President of its seventy-eighth session, after which its six Main Committees elected their respective Bureaus. In thanking Member States as well as his Government, people, staff and family, Mr. Francis said: “My heart is truly full, even as I remain keenly aware that being called to serve as President of the General Assembly of the United Nations constitutes a weighty responsibility.” Education — a great liberator which lifts people up the socioeconomic ladder and strengthens society in the process — brought him to the United Nations, he pointed out, stressing that his career’s experiences would have never seen the light of day had it not been for his parents and had he not benefited from an enlightened Government policy which democratized education.

In that vein, when the international community postpones or neglects to offer its support to the millions who lack access to quality education, is it not consigning them to an intergenerational cycle of poverty, degradation and misery, he asked. To save those children and young people from near certain defeat, the world must afford them, through educa-

“It is my hope to bring forward, with your help and support, a renewed atmosphere of conciliation, cooperation and shared commitment in addressing the many challenges and seizing every opportunity — however nascent — before the General Assembly,” he said, calling for Member States’ fulsome and good faith engagement as they accelerate action towards sustainable development for all.

Congratulating the President-elect, Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi (Hungary) stressed that Mr. Francis’ vision for the seventy-eighth session — “Peace, Prosperity, Progress and Sustainability” — offers a comprehensive view of the Assembly’s work as it rebuilds trusts, tackles climate change and strives to get the Sustainable Development Goals back on track. With Mr. Francis’ extensive experience — including as Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations — and unique perspective from a small island developing State, the Assembly will be in capable hands during the next session, he said. However, much work remains to be done in the nearly 100 days left until the transition, he emphasized...

However, much work remains to be done in the nearly 100 days left until the transition, he emphasized, underlining that the cascading crises which shepherded the start of his tenure still require solution-oriented approaches. Crisis management and transformation remain the dual approach guiding the Assembly’s

António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General — praising Mr. Kőrösi for his diplomatic skill, stewardship, dedication and commitment to “solutions through solidarity, sustainability and science” throughout his presidency — also congratulated the President-elect. Mr. Francis, he noted, arrives at a deeply challenging moment for the human family amid conflicts and climate chaos; escalating poverty, hunger and inequality; mistrust and division; and the 2030 Agenda — the road map to a better future — in danger as the Global Goals are slipping out of reach. Across all these issues, the world looks to the Assembly to unite Member States around common solutions. In that regard, President-elect Francis brings a wide range of skills, experience and knowledge to this essential task as a respected negotiator and long-serving diplomat with a critical perspective from Trinidad and Tobago.

“The General Assembly of the United Nations is a symbol of hope in a world where it is so often missing,” he underscored, emphasizing: “Through dialogue and looking for consensus, you demonstrate that we can gather around shared solutions to tackle the challenges facing our world.” On behalf of the entire United Nations system, he wished the President-elect every success and pledged his full support in working to forge a better, more peaceful future for all.

Amery Browne, Minister for Foreign and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago, said that his country’s contribution to multilateralism has shaped the

In describing Mr. Francis as “absolutely respected” at the highest levels, he pointed out that Trinidad and Tobago has never held such a position throughout its history. As such, its people are beaming with pride and enthusiasm as their country continues to ensure that multilateralism prevails. “Let us all work together […] to create a better future for all people and for the generation that will follow us,” he urged. Congratulating the President-elect as well were the representatives of Somalia on behalf of the African States, Syria on behalf of the Asia-Pacific States, Bolivia on behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean States, Norway on behalf of the Western European and Other States and the United States as the host country. In accordance with tradition, the Secretary-General drew lots to determine which delegation would occupy the first seat in the Assembly Hall during the seventy-eighth session, with all other countries following in English alphabetical order. North Macedonia was picked for the first seat and this seating order will be observed in the Main Committees. The Assembly then elected the following Vice-Presidents of its plenary: Bolivia, Congo, Estonia, Gambia, Iceland, Iran, Malaysia, Morocco, Netherlands, Senegal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Zambia. Those elected join the five permanent members of the Security Council — China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and the United States — which serve annually as Assembly Vice-Presidents.

Continued on the website at wwww.nycaribnews.com

Jamaica – No Cashless Mandate says PM Holness

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says there is no attempt from the Government to remove cash from the system or to create a cashless mandate for Jamaicans.

Speaking yesterday at a digital transformation forum of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) at the AC Hotel, in Kingston, Mr. Holness said that citizens will be able to choose whether they participate in the ongoing digital transformation.

“There is no mandate to be cashless. Just be rational – why would the Government spend billions of dollars to change currency to a new durable bank note that we don’t have to change ever so often, only to turn around and take it out of the system,” the Prime Minister reasoned.

He said Jamaicans must responsibly consume information and reminded that, “as your Prime Minister, I have a duty to call it out when I see it”.

“We have spent money to put in place a

new, durable note that accounts for the inflation in the society [and] the convenience of the notes that you need to make payment, and then to just turn around and say ‘no’?” Mr. Holness continued.

He added that while there are concerns about digital currencies, investments continue to be made both in the technology and the currencies themselves and pointed out that some of the threats that exist in digital currency are those that also exist in cash.

The Prime Minister said that, instead, focus must be placed on the strength of the country’s laws to protect consumers and not in fear of the technology. He warned that there is an “unnecessary, unreasonable and dangerous trend” emerging to keep Jamaica out of being on the cutting edge of development by spreading misinformation. Moreover, as the National ID is rolled out, the Prime Minister said that increased focus will be given to the national digital

payment infrastructure.

The Central Bank’s digital currency, JAMDEX, was launched in 2022.

“I want to take the opportunity to assure everyone that neither the digital ID nor digital currency will be mandatory. There will be no compulsion to use them. The reason we are implementing these things is to make the lives of citizens easy. If you

choose to use them, great to you, if you do not use them, that is your choice,” the Prime Minister reiterated. Furthermore, he said the digital transformation is not an exchange of convenience for less rights and freedoms.

“There will be strong safeguards to ensure that your personal data and information is properly secured and used for the purposes that the citizen has provided it for,” the Prime Minister affirmed.

Mr. Holness said that no one will be left behind, pointing out that, “we know that many persons are not digital natives and will require assistance and support in conducting transactions and interfacing with technology, so we have started to put together a strategy as to how we will help those who choose to be involved in this digital transformation”.

He noted that the country’s network of post offices will be used as digital service centres to provide hands-on support for those citizens who need it.

Guyana – Seeking Seat on UN Security Council

NEW YORK, CMC – Guyana is seeking election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2024-2025 term with Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Hugh Todd, saying that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country has always played an active role in the global organization.

Guyana is joined by Algeria in seeking a seat on the UN Security Council and the elections will be held on Tuesday.

Todd, speaking at a ceremony in New York, outlined Guyana’s vision and priorities for membership on the council and expressed his country’s commitment if elected to the Security Council to the rule of law and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

If successful, Guyana will be the second

CARICOM country to serve on the UN Security Council after St Vincent and the Grenadines had a two-year term that ended in 2022.

Todd said Guyana has always played an active role in United Nations and, as a small state, is ready to contribute to the work of the Security Council in partnership with all member countries for peace and prosperity.

Todd met with Algeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad, Ahmed Attaf, in New York on Friday night. A government statement said both ministers said, if elected, they are looking forward to working together on the Security Council.

Todd noted that, as developing countries with a common understanding of the

challenges faced, the two countries can make a valuable and purposeful contribution to the council and the United Nations as a whole.

Attaf, said that, if elected to the council, this will be another opportunity for Guyana and Algeria to work together, noting that the two countries have a shared history in the Non-Aligned Movement and Group of 77 and China. He acknowledged that currently, in the world, there is a complicated international order, including political and economic orders that have been severely shaken by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. He also stated that membership to the council would allow for the promotion of issues of development and international cooperation as well as contributions to peace and security.

Dr. Cornell West Declares Candidacy for President

Renowned scholar and activist Dr. Cornel West declared his candidacy for the upcoming presidential race under the banner of the People’s Party, as announced on Monday. In a compelling video shared on Twitter, West expressed his intention to run for the pursuit of truth and justice, emphasizing that the presidency serves as a means to achieve these noble ideals.

With a strong academic background, including positions at prestigious institutions such as Harvard University and Princeton University, West is recognized for his intellectual activism.

In his Twitter video, West articulated his decision to run as a third-party candidate, citing the reluctance of the established political parties to address critical issues concerning Wall Street, Ukraine, the Pentagon, and Big Tech. He referred to former President Donald Trump, a leading contender for the Republican nomination, as a “neo-fascist” and labeled President Biden as a “milquetoast neoliberal.” West’s educational journey has taken him through esteemed universities such as Yale, Princeton, and Harvard, and he presently holds a professorship in philosophy at Union Theological Seminary.

Throughout his career, he has been known for his progressive activism and his outspoken critique of former President Barack Obama.

Fair wages, affordable housing, abortion rights, universal healthcare, the urgent need to address climate change, and preserving American democracy were some of the significant issues West highlighted in his campaign video.

The platform through which West intends to pursue his presidential aspirations is the People’s Party, which Nick Brana founded after previously working on Bernie Sanders’s campaign for the Democratic presidential

Haiti - Flood Death Toll Rises

At least 42 individuals have lost their lives, and numerous others have been injured or reported missing following severe flooding caused by heavy rainfall in Haiti. This tragic event unfolded over the past few days, resulting in extensive damage to over 13,600 residences.

The civil protection agency provided updates on Monday via Twitter, indicating that the death toll had risen from the previous night. The floods wreaked havoc in various regions across the country, including areas near the capital, Port-au-Prince.

To address this dire situation, Prime Minister Ariel Henry released a statement on Sunday, expressing his government’s commitment to taking immediate action in collaboration with national and international organizations. Aid

nomination in 2016. While the party attempted to recruit Sanders after his 2016 campaign, the senator declined involvement and subsequently sought the Democratic nomination once again in 2020. “Will we succeed? Only time will tell. But some of us are ready to fight until the end,” declared West in his announcement video, leaning towards the camera, his words resonating with determination.

“We will fight passionately, with style, and with a smile.”

organizations have been distributing food supplies to displaced individuals, as officials from the civil protection agency

Slow Start to New York’s Pot Market

Jacobs and over 200 other farmers are struggling to find licensed dispensaries to sell their products. This situation has left them in a financial bind, with last year’s harvest still occupying valuable storage space.

beginning of the year, only one store had opened, with an additional 11 opening since then.

New York’s legal marijuana market is off to a slow start, causing significant challenges for cannabis farmers like Seth Jacobs. With approximately 100 bins filled with marijuana flower and 220 pounds of distillate in storage at his upstate New York farm, Jacobs is facing a major problem— he doesn’t have enough places to sell his products. Despite being part of New York’s first legally grown recreational pot crop,

The difficulties faced by New York’s pot farmers are not unique. Marijuana growers in western states have also voiced concerns about low prices, fierce competition from the black market, high state taxes, and federal restrictions on banking and exporting, all of which have made it challenging for legal growers to turn a profit. However, in New York, the farmers’ predicament can be directly attributed to the slow and bumpy launch of the state’s recreational pot market.

State leaders had intended to gradually develop the market, allowing a diverse range of participants to establish themselves. However, the process of licensing new dispensaries has moved at a much slower pace than anticipated. Governor Kathy Hochul initially anticipated the opening of approximately 20 new shops per month at the start of this year. However, by the

In response to the delay, unlicensed shops have emerged to fill the void, particularly in New York City. However, these outlets do not provide a legal market for the state’s farmers, as federal law prohibits the transportation of their crops across state lines. Consequently, there is limited shelf space to sell the substantial amount of cannabis, weighing approximately 300,000 pounds, that was grown in the state last year. Much of this product was intended for processing into items such as gummies and vape products. The Cannabis Association of New York, a trade group, estimates that there is hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of unsold cannabis statewide, with around 80% of it in the form of cannabis oil. There are also concerns that the smokable flower will eventually become too old to sell.

To protect their products, farmers like Jacobs store their bins of buds in secure and temperature-controlled units at places like Slack Hollow Organics. However, their

main concern is the lack of sales, which poses a significant problem, especially for small farmers who invested heavily in last year’s crop and now need capital for their second year of production. Brittany Carbone, co-founder of Tricolla Farms, another rural New York cannabis farm, echoes the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of more retailers opening to provide a sustainable solution for farmers. In conclusion, the slow rollout of New York’s recreational pot market has created significant challenges for cannabis farmers in the state. With limited licensed dispensaries and a thriving black market, farmers are struggling to sell their products and are facing financial difficulties. The lack of sales is particularly burdensome for small farmers who need capital to sustain their operations. To ensure the success of the legal marijuana market in New York, it is crucial for the state to expedite the licensing process and facilitate the opening of more retail outlets, providing farmers with the opportunity to sell their crops and thrive in the industry.

NYPD Illegal Stops At High Rate, Report Finds

Federal monitors overseeing the NYPD have released a critical report urging the department to address the actions of the Neighborhood Safety Teams, a group tasked with combating gun violence. Based on a random sample of police paperwork and body camera footage, the report reveals that officers from these teams conducted stops without legal justification in approximately 25% of the cases reviewed. Furthermore, over 97% of the individuals stopped by officers were Black or Hispanic. According to the report, officers from the Neighborhood Safety Teams demonstrated an unsatisfactory level of compliance with regards to stopping, frisking, and searching individuals, despite their training and experience. The report states, “Too many people are stopped, frisked, and searched unlawfully.”

The deployment of the Neighborhood Safety Teams to communities with high rates of gun violence last year, by Mayor Eric Adams and Commissioner Keechant Sewell, drew criticism from skeptics who feared that these teams would adopt the aggressive tactics of the department’s controversial anti-crime units. The previous administration, under thenMayor Bill de Blasio, disbanded those units in 2020 after it was revealed that they were responsible for a disproportionate number of fatal shootings and civilian complaints.

Daniel Lambright, a senior staff attorney at the New York Civil Liberties Union, criticized the approach of throwing more police officers at issues, stating that it only leads to unlawful encounters and the dehumanization of young Black and brown men, making them second-class citizens.

The findings of the monitors’ report substantiate these concerns and mirror patterns found in past analyses of NYPD data. The data consistently reveals that people of color are disproportionately targeted for stops,

which are often conducted unlawfully or fail to yield evidence of a crime.

The report highlights the specific case of the 41st precinct in the Bronx, where officers from the Neighborhood Safety Teams could provide legal justification for only 41% of stops, 32% of frisks, and 26% of searches. Furthermore, out of 230 car stops reviewed, only two resulted in the recovery of weapons and two in the recovery of contraband.

Molly Griffard, a staff attorney from Legal Aid, expressed concern about the hyper-aggressive policing tactics employed by the Neighborhood Safety Teams, stating that New Yorkers deserve to live without fear of being targeted. She found the findings of the report troubling and emphasized the need for improvement.

The NYPD responded to the report, stating that it disagrees with some of the conclusions drawn by the monitors regarding the encounters reviewed by the team. The department’s public information office spokesperson stated that the Neighborhood Safety Teams engage with the public lawfully and constitutionally and have contributed to the reduction of shootings and homicides in the city. The spokesperson also emphasized the NYPD’s commitment to accountability and the implementation of multiple oversight measures.

The Mayor’s Office expressed serious concerns about the methodology used in the study, indicating potential reservations about the accuracy or fairness of the report’s findings.

NYPD Unit Illegally Stops People, Report Finds Federal monitors overseeing the NYPD have released a critical report urging the department to address the actions of the Neighborhood Safety Teams, a group tasked with combating gun violence. Based on a random sample of police paperwork and body camera footage, the report reveals that officers from these teams conducted stops without legal justification in

approximately 25% of the cases reviewed. Furthermore, over 97% of the individuals stopped by officers were Black or Hispanic. According to the report, officers from the Neighborhood Safety Teams demonstrated an unsatisfactory level of compliance with regards to stopping, frisking, and searching individuals, despite their training and experience. The report states, “Too many people are stopped, frisked, and searched unlawfully.”

The deployment of the Neighborhood Safety Teams to communities with high rates of gun violence last year, by Mayor Eric Adams and Commissioner Keechant Sewell, drew criticism from skeptics who feared that these teams would adopt the aggressive tactics of the department’s controversial anti-crime units. The previous administration, under thenMayor Bill de Blasio, disbanded those units in 2020 after it was revealed that they were responsible for a disproportionate number of fatal shootings and civilian complaints.

Daniel Lambright, a senior staff attorney at the New York Civil Liberties Union, criticized the approach of throwing more police officers at issues, stating that it only leads to unlawful encounters and the dehumanization of young Black and brown men, making them second-class citizens.

The findings of the monitors’ report substantiate these concerns and mirror patterns found in past analyses of NYPD data. The data consistently reveals that people of color are disproportionately targeted for stops, which are often conducted unlawfully or fail to yield evidence of a crime.

The report highlights the specific case of the 41st precinct in the Bronx, where officers from the Neighborhood Safety Teams could provide legal justification for only 41% of stops, 32% of frisks, and 26% of searches. Furthermore, out of 230 car stops reviewed, only two resulted

in the recovery of weapons and two in them recovery of contraband.

Molly Griffard, a staff attorney from Legal Aid, expressed concern about the hyper-aggressive policing tactics employed by the Neighborhood Safety Teams, stating that New Yorkers deserve to live without fear of being targeted. She found the findings of the report troubling and emphasized the need for improvement.

The NYPD responded to the report, stating that it disagrees with some of the conclusions drawn by the monitors regarding the encounters reviewed by the team. The department’s public information office spokesperson stated that the Neighborhood Safety Teams engage with the public lawfully and constitutionally and have contributed to the reduction of shootings and homicides in the city. The spokesperson also emphasized the NYPD’s commitment to accountability and the implementation of multiple oversight measures.

The Mayor’s Office expressed serious concerns about the methodology used in the study, indicating potential reservations about the accuracy or fairness of the report’s findings.

St. Lucia – Former PM Chastanet Leads March for Democracy

Castries – Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet led supporters through the streets of the capital on Tuesday as the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) staged its ‘March for Democracy’ accusing the ruling St Lucia Labour Party (SLP) government of having has ‘gone rogue’. Chastanet, who reminded supporters that he had been suspended from the Parliament during the last sitting, but has since been reinstated after taking legal action, led the supporters from the Vigie Playing field on the outskirts of the capital to the Parliament building.

“I had no choice but to go back to the courts, and I am very grateful that I was able to win the court case and the government has agreed now to revoke that suspension,” Chastanet said in a video posted on his Facebook page, adding that the motion to rescind his suspension would be placed before the Parliament on Tuesday.

“But this is happening too frequently. This government is doing this with the greatest amount of ease. We’ve seen since they have come into office that on many occasions they have attempted

unsuccessfully to suppress your civil liberties by operating in contravention of our constitution.

“Our constitution is what protects us from being an authoritarian dictatorship,” he adding that while he is grateful to have won in the courts twice, it was also necessary for the people to take to the streets to voice their disapproval of the government’s behaviour.

Chastanet had filed an application asking the High Court to declare that the Parliament had no power to suspend a member for “an indefinite period save and except” in accordance with the St Lucia Constitution and or the House of Assembly Act. He had also asked the High Court to issue a declaration that his May 2 indefinite suspension “was unconstitutional and null and void and of no effect”.

“I will, therefore, be attending the next, and any subsequent, sittings of the House. My substantive claim for a declaration that my suspension and detention were unconstitutional and unlawful, and for damages, has been scheduled for case management and trial later this year,” Chastanet said. (CMC)

UWI – Densil Williams Confirmed as New Principal of Mona Campus

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has announced Professor Densil A. Williams as Principal of the Mona Campus effective August 1, 2023.

He succeeds Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus

Principal, Professor Dale Webber who resumes teaching and research duties as a Marine Biologist after July 31, 2023.

The decision comes after the government asked for more time to consult, deferring for a time to address concerns of leaked reports.

Speaking on the appointment of the Campus

Principal Designate, Dr. D. Maurice Smith University Registrar, The UWI, stated, “At

its last meeting on April 26, the University Council deferred its decision to appoint a Principal for the Mona Campus as the Government of Jamaica requested additional time to consult. Having completed this process and consequently advised the Chancellor of the outcome, Council proceeded to appoint Professor Williams on the recommendation of the Vice-Chancellor in keeping with the University’s Statutes and Ordinances.” Dr. Smith continued, “the University community thanks Professor Webber for his stewardship and sterling service and welcomes Professor Williams to his new role as head of the Univer-

sity’s largest and oldest campus.”

Professor Williams is currently Pro ViceChancellor and Campus Principal of The UWI’s Five Islands Campus in Antigua and Barbuda. He has built a career in business and academia for over 22 years, and held a remarkable record of public service, research and scholarly work serving on a number of boards of state entities, private sector organizations, committees, as well as regional and international editorial boards.

Another Dormitory Fire in Guyana

Georgetown, Guyana – Another girls’ dormitory was destroyed by fire on Thursday.

According to police reports, early Thursday, shortly before 3 a.m. local time, the blaze destroyed another dormitory, this time in Karasabai, Rupununi, in Region 9, to the south of here, but so far, there are no reports of injuries. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

According to government officials, “a full team of technical officials and a cabinet member are enroute to Karasabai, Region Nine, where a dormitory was destroyed by fire”.

This incident follows last month’s tragedy in which a fire at the Mahdia Secondary School’s female dormitory killed 20 students.

A 15-year-old student has been charged with murder during the course of arson. (CMC)

Proposed Changes to MTA Fares

Hearings will be held on proposed changes to fares virtually via Zoom and in person at the locations, dates and times noted below. The public is invited to comment on the proposed changes, which are summarized below and pertain, as applicable, to the fares of the New York City Transit (NYCT) and its subsidiary, the Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority (MaBSTOA), the MTA Bus Company (MTA Bus), and the Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority (SIR); Long Island Rail Road (LIRR); and Metro-North Railroad (Metro-North).

The fare proposals allow for a range of options to be considered and fare increases may be less than the maximum amounts specif ied. Following the hearings, after considering public comment, the Board of the MTA and its affiliated agencies will decide which potential fare changes to adopt.

Space limitations prevent newspaper publication of each proposed new fare. For more details on these potential changes, please visit https://new.mta.info/2023-farehearings, consult information posted at MTA stations and on digital display boards, or call the Public Hearing Hotline at 646-252-6777.

Following the hearings, one or more of the proposed changes listed below may be adopted:

NYCT, MaBSTOA, MTA Bus, SIR

Fares for Subway (NYCT), Local Bus (NYCT, MaBSTOA, and MTA Bus), and SIR: Base Single Ride Fare (currently $3.00 for Single Ride Ticket and $2.75 for cash payment or Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard and OMNY):

•Increase the base fare for cash payment and/or Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard and OMNY by up to 15¢ and increase the base fare for Single Ride Ticket by up to 25¢.

Unlimited Ride Passes:

•Increase the price of a 7-Day Unlimited Ride (currently $33.00) to as much as $34.00.

•Increase the price of a 30-Day Unlimited Ride (currently $127.00) to as much as $132.00.

•Increase the price of a 7-Day Unlimited Express Bus Plus (currently $62.00) to as much as $64.00.

Fares for Express Bus (NYCT and MTA Bus):

•Increase the single ride Express Bus fare (currently $6.75) to as much as $7.00. Fares for Paratransit Services (currently $2.75):

•Increase the NYCT Access-A-Ride Paratransit Service one-way fare by up to the amount of the increase, if any, of the Subway Pay-Per-Ride Base Fare

Discount Policies:

•Seniors/Customers with disabilities/Paratransit Zero Fare discount policies (except as otherwise noted) remain unchanged.

LIRR and Metro-North

Monthly, Weekly, and Other Ticket Types:

•Increase Monthly and Weekly ticket prices up to 4.5%

•Increase the price of all other ticket types up to 10%

•Special discounted fares, supplemental step-up on-board fares, and ride extension fares may be subject to percentage increases higher than the maximum authorized increases to base fares due to rounding.

UniTicket and One-Way Connecting Fares:

• Increase weekly connecting fares for Hudson Rail Link by up to 50¢, for Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry by up to 50¢, and for Newburgh-Beacon Ferry by up to 25¢.

•Increase monthly connecting fares for Hudson Rail Link and HaverstrawOssining Ferry by up to $1.75 and Newburgh-Beacon Ferry by up to 50¢.

•Increase one-way fares for the Hudson Rail Link by up to 15¢, one-way connecting fares for the Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry by up to 25¢ and increase Seniors/Customers with Disabilities fares by up to 10¢.

•Increase weekly fare for connecting local NYC bus service (NYCT, MaBSTOA and MTA Bus) by up to 25¢ and monthly fare by up to $1.75.

•Increase weekly fare for Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE) Bus UniTicket by up to 50¢ and monthly fare up to $2.25.

Dates and Times of Hybrid Public Hearings

There will be four (4) hybrid Public Hearings to provide information and receive comments on the proposed changes to MTA fares at the dates and times below. Those interested in speaking will have two (2) minutes to speak.

Thursday, June 22, 2023, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Thursday, June 22, 2023, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Friday, June 23, 2023, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Monday, June 26, 2023, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Location of the Hearings

All public hearings will be held in-person at MTA Headquarters, 2 Broadway, 20th Floor – William J. Ronan Board Room, New York, NY 10004, and via Zoom and livestreamed at https://new.mta.info/2023-fare-hearings.

Subway: R W to Whitehall St, 4 5 to Bowling Green (accessible station), to South Ferry (accessible station), J Z to Broad St

Bus: M15, M15 SBS, M20, M55, SIM1, SIM35

Staten Island Ferry to South Ferry Terminal

Registering for the Public Hearings

To register to speak at the hybrid public hearings, please register online at https://new.mta.info/2023-fare-hearings or call the Public Hearing Hotline at 646252-6777. Telephone agents are available from 6a.m. to 10p.m. Eastern Standard Time daily. Registration for each public hearing will open on Friday, June 2, 2023 and will close at the start of the hearing. All comments will be transcribed and made part of the permanent record.

You must pre-register to speak at a hybrid public hearing. Oral comments are limited to two (2) minutes for each speaker. Hearings are scheduled for three or four hours. For each public hearing, registrants will be accepted up to 240 minutes (4 hours) of scheduled public speakers. In the event that there are registered speakers remaining after the hearing reaches 240 minutes of public speaker comments, only the remaining registered speakers who have not previously spoken at another 2023 fare public hearing will be given the opportunity to speak. In addition, at all hearings, speakers who have not previously spoken at another 2023 fare public hearing will be given priority in speaking order.

Joining the Public Hearings Virtually

If you are registered to speak and joining the public hearings virtually, you may join the Zoom meeting at the scheduled hearing time either online or by phone following these instructions:

Join Zoom Online: To access the Zoom meeting online, visit the website: https://mta.zoom.us/j/82020291036. You can also enter the URL zoom.us/join and enter the Meeting ID 820 2029 1036.

Join Zoom by Phone: To access the Zoom meeting by phone, please call +1 646 518 9805. Then enter Meeting ID 820 2029 1036 followed by the pound (#) sign.

View-Only Online: Members of the public who wish only to view the hearings may access the event live at https://new.mta.info/2023-fare-hearings.

To submit questions during the hearings, you must join the hearing through the Zoom online platform. You may submit questions at any other time in the ways listed below (see “Additional Ways to Comment or Request Information”). Questions after the proposed fare changes may be responded to by staff during or after the hearing.

Additional Ways to Comment or Request Information

Online: https://new.mta.info/2023-fare-hearings

Mail: MTA Government & Community Relations, Attn: Fare Hearings, 2 Broadway, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10004. Phone: (646) 252 6777, Telephone agents are available from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Accessibility and Language Assistance Services

American Sign Language and CART Captioning Services will be available.

Members of the public who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing can use their preferred relay service or the free 711 relay service, and then ask to be connected to the Public Hearing Hotline at (646) 252-6777 to speak with an agent.

Members of the public who are Blind or have Low Vision can request accommodations on or before June 15, 2023, by submitting a request online at https://new.mta.info/2023-fare-hearings or by calling the Public Hearing Hotline at (646) 252-6777.

Members of the public who do not have access to a computer or who do not have access to the Internet can listen to each of the hearings by calling the Zoom meeting at 1-646-518-9805 (toll-free). Then enter Meeting ID 820 2029 1036, followed by the pound (#) sign.

If language assistance or any other accommodations are required, please submit a request at least five (5) business days before the scheduled hearing date in one of the following ways: online at https://new.mta.info/2023-fare-hearings, by calling the Public Hearing Hotline at (646) 252-6777, or by sending a letter to MTA Government & Community Relations, Attn: Fare Hearings, 2 Broadway, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10004.

For those who request language assistance, the MTA will provide translated information about the hearing process and ensure that any public comments received in a language other than English are translated, included in the hearing transcript, and summarized for the MTA Board.

Trini Elected to be President of the United Nations General Assembly

Congratulations to Ambassador Dennis Francis on being elected as the 78th President of the United Nations General Assembly.  Ambassador Francis made history when he became the first Trinidad and Tobago  President-elect of the General Assembly. He was unopposed.

Congratulations to the government of Trinidad and Tobago for selecting an outstanding diplomat to represent the country at the International body - the United Nations, a diplomat who is respected and brings credibility to the organization, the country, and the region. It shows the necessity for Caribbean countries to select our very best as we look for representation from the Caribbean, to these international organizations.

Congratulations to CARICOM and the CARICOM Minister, Dr. Avery Brown, who was a part of the campaign bringing the full weight of the CARICOM Member Nations of the United Nations to support  Ambassador Dennis Brown’s candidacy to a successful conclusion.

Browne, Minister for Foreign and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago, said that his country’s contribution to multilateralism has shaped the work of the United Nations. Following the path of constructive engagement, Trinidad and Tobago has often served as a bridge-builder — its size does not limit the scope of its ambition nor does it constrain its commitment to

humanity as it recognizes the giant potential that all nations bring to the Assembly.  The result augurs well for the region because it shows the high esteem in which the nation of Trinidad and Tobago is held and certainly the Caribbean Region and its significant role on the international stage. Ambassador Francis has taken as his mantra, his priority - peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability.

A diplomat with a nearly 40-year career, he was elected by acclamation in the General Assembly Hall of the United Nation’s headquarters in New York. The General Assembly consists of all 193 UN Member States, all of which have an equal vote; its duties include appointing the Secretary-General on the recommendation of the Security Council and approving the organization’s annual budget.

Ambassador Francis says he will prioritize encouraging and facilitating meaningful dialogue. He said, “ “It is my hope to bring forward, with your help and the support of a renewed atmosphere of conciliation, cooperation and shared commitment in addressing the many challenges and seizing every opportunity — however nascent — before the General Assembly,” calling for Member States’ fulsome and good faith engagement as they accelerate action towards sustainable development for all.

He spoke of the prominent role of education in his life and career and upheld the need to ensure all people have the chance

to learn, in line with the sustainable development goals, which call for ending extreme poverty and other deprivations by 2030.

Ambassador Francis’ vision for the 78th Session -peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability, offers a comprehensive view of the work of the General Assembly as he looks to rebuild trust in and within the institution to tackle climate change and to strive to get the organization back on track.

António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General commenting on Mr. Francis’ appointment noted that the tenure comes at a deeply challenging moment amidst conflicts and climate chaos, escalating poverty, hunger and inequality; mistrust and division; and the 2030 Agenda — the road map to a better future — in danger as the Global Goals are slipping out of reach. Across all these issues, the world looks to the Assembly to unite Member States around common solutions.  In that regard, President-elect Francis brings a critical perspective on many issues to be addressed by the General Assembly, possesses a wide range of skills, experience and knowledge for this essential task as a respected negotiator and long-serving diplomat from Trinidad and Tobago.

“The General Assembly of the United Nations is a symbol of hope in a world where it is so often missing,” he underscored, emphasizing: “Through dialogue

and looking for consensus, you demonstrate that we can gather around shared solutions to tackle the challenges facing our world.”  On behalf of the entire United Nations system, he wished the Presidentelect every success and pledged his full support in working to forge a better, more peaceful future for all.

Ambassador Francis brings to this job a wealth of experience; during four decades of his diplomatic career, he has worked as Ambassador for 18 consecutive years and Trinidad and Tobago’s longest serving Ambassador. This distinguished career will serve him well, serve the Caribbean community and the world because of his perspective on the value and purpose of the United Nations and the role it can play in the development of large and small countries, so his ascendance to the presidency of the General Assembly is welcomed. A key focus for Ambassador Francis will be this year’s assembly of world leaders coming to the UN in September to reenergize the actions of the UN and the UN goals for 2030.

Our heartfelt congratulations to Ambassador Francis and those of us in the diaspora in the New York area should embrace this appointment and provide whatever support that can be given as he undertakes a very ambitious international program, but one that will benefit all if we come together and provide a united front in support of his priority.

New York City Elite High School - Abysmal Enrollment Rate

The numbers are in and they’re not pretty when it comes to the admission of Blacks and Latinos into the city’s eight elite schools, schools that in fact are organized to produce excellence, to  develop leadership in areas of business, professions and even politics. The students  traditionally form a network of support that lasts throughout college and into their chosen careers. In fact, it is a network for leadership, and if these schools are not enrolling Black and Latino students, denying them the opportunity for this elite experience then we are sadly losing the very best for our students and certainly a dearth of

leadership quality.

This year,  Stuyvesant High School admitted 762 new students - only seven were Blacks. But this is not unusual because back in 2019, the same high school admitted 895 new students, and there again only seven were Blacks. So this has been a pattern over the years, a lack of diversity pattern in the enrollment of the school and a representation of the real percentage of the diversity of New York City,   a city with a student population of close to 70% Blacks and Latino has an abysmal negligible rate of admission into these elite schools. Something must be done,

there has  been debate around admission reform, preparations for admission. A visionary policy and enlightened policy would want to pursue, that the population of the city and the diversity in these schools represent an opportunity for all, not just a few, to advance and develop into a strong leadership core. What is clear is that  the current policy is not working, has not worked, and certainly, if it remains in place, will only be aggravating the situation and providing no path for the talented  in our community.

For a city like New York to be so segregated in its elite schools is troubling and

it creates disillusionment among students with ambition and drive when these elite schools are off limited or unavailable to them.  We cannot ignore the problem. We have to face the problem,  and as James Baldwin said, “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it’s faced.” The problem of the issue of admission to elite schools must be faced in an attempt to make the necessary change to bring about equality and diversity.

Historically Black University Discrimination Lawsuit Moves Forward in Florida

by Stacy M. Brown

A class-action lawsuit accusing the state of Florida of discriminating against a historically Black university while favoring its predominantly white counterpart has been allowed to proceed by Judge Robert L. Hinkle of the Northern District of Florida.

The lawsuit, filed in September, marks the first court test in this case, and although the judge dismissed the state’s request to dismiss the suit, he did request revisions.

Six Florida A&M University (FAMU) students filed the lawsuit, alleging that the University of Florida receives a higher state appropriation per student than FAMU.

For 33 years, from 1987 to 2020, this discrepancy amounted to approximately $1.3 billion, according to the complaint. Despite both universities being the only public land-grant colleges in the state, FAMU claims that it has been unfairly disadvantaged.

According to a 2022 study by Forbes, FAMU received $2,600 less in funding per student in 2020 than the University of Florida, which supports FAMU’s claim.

Additionally, Forbes highlighted that FAMU relies more heavily on state funding than its white counterpart.

Last year, The New York Times reported on the challenges faced by FAMU’s football players, including inadequate practice equipment and understaffed support for students.

One of the accusations made in the lawsuit is that the state allows Florida State University, also located in Tallahassee, to duplicate over 40 programs offered by FAMU.

This duplication makes it difficult for FAMU to attract prospective students interested in their fields of study.

Civil rights attorney Josh Dubin, representing the plaintiffs, emphasized the failure to provide FAMU with equitable funding in proportion to traditionally white institutions.

He argued that this lack of support hampers FAMU’s ability to establish its identity and maintain its facilities adequately.

Dubin stated in an interview, “We’re talking about segregating African American students from white students. This obviously has racism at its core.”

The plaintiffs demand that the state commit to equity in its support of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and seek injunctive relief under various laws, including Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits racial discrimination in federally funded programs.

While not dismissing the case, Judge Hinkle has requested attorneys to amend the lawsuit for clarity.

The defendants named in the lawsuit are the state of Florida, the board of governors and chancellor of the State University System Ray Rodrigues, the State Board of Education and its commissioner Manny Diaz Jr., and Republican Governor Ron DeSantis.

Spokespeople for the Board of Governors and the State Board of Education have declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.

According to the organization’s statement, the hearing coincided with the NAACP issuing a travel advisory for Florida due to Governor DeSantis’s “aggressive attempts to erase Black history and to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion programs” in the state’s

New Fire, Familiar Injustice

by Ben Jealous

A lightning strike and a small fire are all it took this weekend to remind residents in South Louisiana – across much of the Gulf Coast really – that some people consider them disposable.

A thunderbolt reportedly hit an oil refinery in Lake Charles, causing a fire that sent up a toxic, black plume visible from 40 miles away, an evacuation nearby, and a shelter-in-place order with a three-mile radius. It’s not yet known what exactly was released into the air or how much of it.

Fifty miles south, a blaze in Cameron at an electric substation fueled by liquefied fossil gas prompted an evacuation as well, including residents of several RV parks who said they weren’t aware they were living across the street from explosive gas tanks. Substations like the one that caught fire dot that part of the state, remnants of a power grid never fully rebuilt after Hurricane Laura. Reporters covered both fires, but they weren’t really news to residents. With dozens of oil, gas and petrochemical plants and pipes littering Cameron and Calcasieu parishes and dozens more

planned, it would be notable if lightning didn’t hit something explosive or an industrial fire didn’t demand an evacuation. An explosion at one plant and a fire at another just last year caused major pollution events.

It’s story that’s familiar to many communities across the country – the ones in the cancer alleys along the Mississippi River, those that sit alongside coal-fired power plants that spew pollution that contributes to higher death rates. They are places that carry a disproportionate burden when it comes to the byproducts of our gas and oil-fueled economy. It’s sad but apt that we frequently call places like this “frontline” communities as their residents are at risk like the soldiers and sailors who so frequently are recruited from the same places.

What these communities have in common is that they are where people with the least economic and political power reside. They have people who have had to make an impossible choice between the air they breath, the land they inhabit, and the water they enjoy and putting food on the table. And they share the

damaging consequences of bordering sites that spew pollutants as part of doing business.

“The stress these toxin-releasing events has on everyone living in this area causes mental and physical health problem,” Cynthia Robinson, a local faith leader who runs the Micah 6:8 Mission outside Lake Charles, said this weekend. “Those of us living here in an area where climate change has added to the magnitude and frequency of hurricanes add that burden also.”

The historic clean energy package passed by President Biden and Congress in 2022 includes $3 billion in environmental justice grants for communities like these that have borne an unfair share of the damage caused by fossil fuels and other chemicals. It’s an unprecedented direct commitment to those places.

More can be done even now. Louisiana residents have been pressing federal energy and pipeline regulators to do more to enforce regulations, starting with equipment and facilities being subject to more than self-inspection by the

schools.

The DeSantis administration previously blocked offering an Advanced Placement course in African American studies in Florida high schools earlier this year.

Historically Black colleges and universities were established to provide Black students with opportunities for higher education and upward mobility during segregation.

However, these institutions have faced numerous challenges, including decades of underfunding, and housing issues, contributing to their current crises and resource limitations.

companies that own them.

As a nation, at moments when communities like Lake Charles and Cameron are on fire, we need to acknowledge that our continued reliance on fossil fuels is subsidized by the physical and mental health of other Americans. We have to ask ourselves why we let our neighbors make that kind of sacrifice when fossil fuel companies are making billions in record profits. We need to act on the reality that for them environmental damage isn’t a far-off threat. It’s a daily part of their lives.

A Proclamation on National CaribbeanAmerican Heritage Month, 2023

During Caribbean-American Heritage Month, we celebrate the achievements and dreams of the millions of people of Caribbean origin now living in the United States while honoring the shared history of joy and perseverance that has united and enriched life across our region for centuries.

There is no single Caribbean American identity. The mix of cultures, languages, and religions alive across the United States and the islands reflects the diversity of spirit that defines the American story. Meanwhile, our countries are bound by common values and a shared history — overcoming the yoke of colonialism, confronting the original sin of slavery, and charting new opportunities across borders and generations.

Since our founding, Caribbean Americans from Alexander Hamilton to Colin Powell have contributed to the United States in the most profound ways. Today, pathbreak -ers like Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor continue advancing our work toward a more perfect Union. I am especially proud of the extraordinary leaders of Caribbean heritage now serving in my Administration -- from Vice President Kamala Harris to Secretary of Education

Miguel Cardona, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, and White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. And I take equal pride in the generations of Caribbean Americans who literally built this country — bringing tremendous hope and energy to bear as small business owners, teachers, health care workers, military service members, union organizers, community leaders, and so much more. For too long, too many have faced systemic barriers to success. As President, I have issued two separate Executive Orders to change that, pushing to advance racial justice across every policy that my Administration pursues. As we have passed historic laws to rebuild our Nation’s infrastructure, lower prescription drug costs, create a clean energy economy, and transform American manufacturing to once again lead the world, we have done so with an eye for equity, rebuilding our economy from the middle out and bottom up. As a result, we have created 12.7 million jobs — bringing Black and Latino unemployment to record lows — and we have helped millions to start and grow their own businesses. At the same time, we are using all the tools we have to make our Nation’s broken immigration system

Stuyvesant High Admits Only 7 Blacks

Even as education officials announced last week that 10 percent of offers to New York City’s most elite public high schools went to Black and Latino students this year, the actual numbers have been low for years and show the vast disparity in the eduction system here in New York.

Numbers polled from various schools tell a ghastly tale.

The New York Times reported that at Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan, the most selective of the city’s so-called specialized schools, seven of the 762 offers made went to Black students, down from 11 last year. Latino students were offered spots at Stuyvesant, as were 489 Asian students and 158 white students. The rest went to multiracial students and students whose race was unknown.

The numbers at other high schools are just as stark. For example, at Staten Island Technical High School, two Black students were accepted, a change from last year where none were accepted, along with seven Latino students.

New York city has the nation’s largest school system, and elite schools here matter for several reasons. They provide access to rigorous academic programs and prestigious networks that can open doors to future opportunities. They also offer a diverse student body and resources that encourage personal

growth and development. However, it is important to note that a quality education can be obtained at many institutions, not just elite schools.

Gaps at many of the other schools were also stark. Of the 26,000 eighth graders who took the test last fall, just under 4,000 were offered seats, determined by how well students do one entrance exam.

Many years ago specialized schools tended to offer places to many more Black and Latino students, however today the numbers are so drastically low, that it becomes a political game - some blaming Mayors to expand efforts to help Black and Latino kids gain more.placement.

Plans in Albany to end the tests in 2019 ultimately died. Free test prep and ther efforts have not helped the numbers move. When Bill de Blasio was Mayor, he proposed replacing the entrance exam with a system that would have raised the share of Black and Latino students accepted to more than 40 percent, but this move came under fire by Asian lawmakers and many parents, who heaviuly cvriticised the plan.

Mayor Adams has not attempted to address these moves by Blasio. In fact, he has reversed them, focusing insttead on raising reading levels and acess to the the gifted and talented programs.

as orderly, safe, and humane as possible, sending support to the border while expanding lawful pathways for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans — among others — to come to the United States without taking the dangerous journey to our southern border. What we really need is for the Congress to finally pass comprehensive immigration reform, including a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, farm and essential workers, and temporary status holders, many of whom are from the Caribbean. I will not quit pressing the Congress to act. Beyond our borders, we are working with our Caribbean partners to expand opportunity and keep the region safe so more of our neighbors can build lives at home. We partnered with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in November 2022 to launch the Crime Gun Intelligence Unit and disrupt firearms trafficking in the region. We are also working to improve access to development financing and advance clean energy projects across the Caribbean through the United States-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis 2030.

A central promise of this country is the idea that everyone is created equal and

deserves to be treated equally throughout their lives. It is a cornerstone of our common heritage in this hemisphere, even as we keep striving to finally make that vision real. Caribbean-American Heritage Month is a chance to celebrate the rich diversity that covenant has brought us and to renew its promise for future generations of Caribbean Americans and for us all.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2023 as National CaribbeanAmerican Heritage Month. I encourage all Americans to join in celebrating the history, culture, and achievements of Caribbean Americans with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twentythree, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

Barbados – To Establish Air Bridge with Ghana

the interest of Barbadians with respect to wanting to find out more about Africa,” Mottley said, as she held discussions with Ghana’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Ibrahim Awal, and his delegation.

A government statement said that there is a firm commitment from the two countries to work on making the much-talked-about air bridge a reality.

The statement said Awal has pledged to see how best he could fast-track the talks with his Barbadian counterpart, Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill.

It said that during the discussions, Prime Minister Mottley expressed her deep appreciation for the provision of pharmaceuticals on the African Medical Supplies Platform to assist CARICOM countries with accessing therapeutics, equipment and vaccines at low cost during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“And that is the benefit of what we bring together and there are so many functional opportunities that only require us sitting down together.”

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley says she does not anticipate any problems getting 600 to 800 people every month to make the journey between her island and Ghana

“On our side, I know that we have been able to awaken

The statement said that discussions were also held on the establishment of an Afreximbank headquarters in Barbados, as well as other global issues including the upcoming COP 28 summit in Dubai.

Barbados and Ghana established diplomatic ties in 1994. (CMC)

©2023 New York Lottery

Haiti – Businessman Gets Life Sentence in US for President’s Assassination

A 51-year-old Haitian-Chilean businessman was sentenced to life in prison on Friday for his role in the July 7, 2021 assassination of 53-year-old Haitian President Jovenel Moise, and injuring Moise’s wife, Martine. The judgment against Rodolphe Jaar was imposed by Federal Judge José E Martínez for helping Colombian mercenaries access weapons to carry out the killing.

Jaar is the first of the conspirators to be convicted and sentenced. US prosecutors said he was part of a plan in Haiti and Florida to reap lucrative contracts under a new administration. Court documents showed that the conspirators initially planned to kidnap Moise, but later changed the plan to kill him instead.

Jaar was responsible for supplying weapons to Colombian mercenaries for the operation and several of them stayed at a property that Jaar controlled.

Haitian lawmakers had said 26 Colombians and two Haitian Americans were among the heavily armed commando unit that assassinated President Moïse.

Jaar was detained in the Dominican Republic and arrived in South Florida in January 2022. He pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy to commit murder or kidnapping outside the United States, and to providing material support resulting in death.

Judge Martínez handed down the sentence at the federal court in downtown Miami. Jaar received the maximum sentence he faced despite his guilty plea and agreeing to cooperate with investigators in hopes of receiving a lighter sentence.

Other defendants in Miami include former Colombian soldiers Mario Palacios and Germán Alejandro Rivera García; former Haitian Senator John Joel Joseph; Haitian-Americans James Solages, Joseph Vincent, and Christian Emmanuel Sanon; American Federick Joseph Bergmann; Colombian Arcangel Pretel Ortiz; Venezuelan-American Antonio Intriago, and the Ecuadorian-American financier Walter Veintemilla.

Duprey Ordered to Pay US $139 Million for Sale of Shares

Port of Spain, Trinidad – The former executive chairman of CL Financial (CLF) and CLICO director, Lawrence Duprey, has been ordered by the High Court to reimburse more than US$139 million to the companies for facilitating a deal to sell shares in what was then called CLICO Energy to Proman Holdings (Barbados) Ltd in February 2009.

The order was handed down on Friday by Justice Devindra Rampersad in the multi-million-dollar claim brought by CL Financial and CLICO.

It was also ruled that 17 per cent of the US$139.4-million that Duprey was directed to pay is to be held in trust for Colonial Life Insurance Company (Trinidad) Ltd, one of the claimants in the matter.

In October 2021, Justice Rampersad had found that Duprey acted oppressively,

unfairly and with prejudices to the companies by selling the shares.

CL Financial and CLICO together owned a majority 51 per cent stake in CLICO Energy, which was sold to Proman Holdings on February 3, 2009 for US$46.5 million.

In his October 2021 ruling the judge did not immediately make an assessment of the money to be paid by Duprey to the companies but instead invited submissions from attorneys representing the various sides to file submissions on the issue.

While Justice Rampersad had ruled against Duprey, the former CL Financial chairman did not appeal the findings of the judge.

Duprey did not file an appeal so this was what cleared the way for the judge to deliver the order. (CMC)

Community Town Hall Hits The Bronx with Warm Welcome

This past Saturday Carib News hosted a Community Health Town Hall at the Wake Eden Community Baptist Church in the Bronx.

The event was indeed a successful one, proving that New Yorkers are definitely concerned about their health.

The event sponsored by Healthfirst, 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 highquality healthcare.

The Town Hall was an attempt to share the recent changes in the Medicare Savings Program that Governor Hochul announced in December 2022.

Missed it? No problem. These are the changes:

Since January 1, 2023, New York State expanded the Medicare Savings Program by raising the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) eligibility requirement.

What this means for you?

If you made too much to qualify for

financial help in the past, you may now be eligible. With a new, increased income limits, you may now qualify for extra assistance through the Medicare Savings Program and/or Medicaid.

Speakers from several organizations came out to support the event and share quality and relevant information - including employees from Healthfirst, representatives from JASA, and the Medicare Rights Center.

The 90-minute program was both educational and informative, and engaged attendees on different fronts, from health concerns to insurance benefits.

Reverend Frank I. Williams, Senior Pastor of Wake-Eden Community Baptist Church was in attendance, along with members of his congregation who showed much gratitude for the shared information.

The packed agenda included Miguel Centeno, VP Community Engagement who gave opening remarks, talked about Healthfirst, and Pastor Phillip Falayi, Manager Faith-Based Initiatives, Health-

Reduced Wait Time for DV Shelter Residents Seeking Mental Health Appointments

The City announced the Domestic Violence Shelter Mental Health Initiative, which will increase access to mental health services for families residing in the city’s domestic violence shelters. The $5.8 million initiative will support more than 10,000 adults and children who receive services at the city’s 55 domestic violence shelters. It will bring mental health services – screenings, individual and group sessions, medication management – directly on-site to adults and children in domestic violence shelters, decreasing wait times. Counseling is provided at no cost to the resident. Initially starting at 9 shelters, the initiative will expand to all shelters by early 2025. The Domestic Violence Shelter Mental Health Initiative is a multi-agency collaboration between NYC Health + Hospitals, the NYC Department of Social Services/Human Resources Administration, the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence, and the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health.

“We want survivors of domestic and gender-based violence to know that that they are not alone, and New York City is here to help and support them,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “With this new initiative, domestic violence shelter residents will have access to therapy appointments, trauma-informed care, and ongoing support, marking a significant step in our work to expand and strengthen care for survivors.”

“This specialized initiative focusing on children

and families living in domestic violence shelters provides mental health supports at a crucial moment and time in their lives,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “Additionally, having those supports provided within the first weeks of entering a shelter helps build a foundation for a better path forward for every child, family, and individual that is a survivor of domestic violence. Thank you to all the agency partners that have come together to make this initiative possible: NYC Health + Hospitals, DSS, ENDGBV, and OCMH.”

“The Domestic Violence Shelter Mental Health Initiative exemplifies our commitment to serving New Yorkers where they are,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Co-Deputy Chief Medical Officer and System Chief of Behavioral Health Omar Fattal, MD, MPH. “When you need support from a mental health professional, you should be able to get it quickly and in your community. NYC Health + Hospitals, the city’s largest provider of behavioral health care, is proud to support residents in domestic violence shelters with immediate screening for mental health needs, a first appointment within weeks, and ongoing care if needed.”

“Trauma recovery is critical to one’s mental wellness, stability and security,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Director of Domestic Violence Mental Health Initiatives Obianuju Berry, MD, MPH.

first, shared on the company’s faith-based initiatives.

Emily Whicheloe, Director of Education, Medicare Rights Center, presented on Medicare Savings Plan.

Gilberto Ron, Director Navigator, Community Engagement at Healthfirst preented on Medicaid Recertifications and the changes that are happening post-COVID.

Dr. Karen M. Costley MD, MPH, AVP, Medical Director Healthfirst presented on Health and Wellness, and answered direct questions on health.

Takai Forde, Associate Director of Gov’t Affairs and Florian Edwards, Senior Director of Protective Services at JASA, shared on Elder Justice.

The combination of topics made for an interesting event intersting and led right into the Q&A portion, which was very welcomed by the audience. The event was Carib News’ first, but will definitely be followed up with several more.

If you missed this event, please stay tuned

to find out when we will visit your borough. Also, follow our Youtube channel for video recaps.

Looking for more info on the Medicare Savings Program, check out the link below https://healthfirst.org/medicare-savings-program-eligibility

Caribbean Week in New York Off To A Strong Start

performance.

The Caribbean Diaspora Forum

Taking place from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, June 4 at the Wyndham New Yorker, the Caribbean Diaspora Forum engages New York’s Caribbean-American community via an informative discussion between members of the Caribbean Diaspora, regional tourism officials and other industry and civic leaders.

Trade Show and Educational Forum for Travel Agents

to communicate the allure of the Caribbean as well as destinations that develop successful campaigns to attract visitors to the region.

Rum & Rhythm Benefit

The long-awaited 2023 Caribbean Week in New York, the first in three years, commenced in midtown Manhattan today. Kicking off with the CTO Executive Committee meeting this afternoon, the week’s itinerary features an exciting array of events. Highlights include the tourism marketing conference on Wednesday and Thursday’s Media Marketplace, where esteemed tourism executives will engage with international media, showcasing the captivating charm and remarkable resurgence of the Caribbean.

Sponsors of Caribbean Week in New York include ADARA, a RateGain company; Airbnb; Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation; Cayman Islands Department of Tourism; interCaribbean Airways; Internova Travel Group; Jamaica Tourist Board; MunaLuchi Bridal; Tobago Tourism Agency Limited; and the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. Event partners for 2023 include the Caribbean Broadcasting Union, MMGY, Strategic Partnership Advisors, Susan Black Associates LLC, and Trove Tourism Development Advisors. Funds raised during Caribbean Week will go towards scholarships and grants for Caribbean students in the region and the diaspora.

What Attendees Can Expect

Celebrity Chefs Program

Taking place at various locations in New York throughout the week, Caribbean celebrity chefs will prepare authentic Caribbean dishes at highly visible, upscale locations whose customers match the profile of Caribbean vacationers.

Tourism Industry Workshop

Taking place from 9 a.m. to noon on Monday, June 4 at the Wyndham New Yorker Hotel, government and travel industry representatives will receive valuable insights on “Employing Successful Sales Strategies” to increase confidence and

Taking place from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, June 5 at Wyndham New Yorker, Caribbean Week New York’s “Trade Show and Educational Forum for Travel Agents” is designed to provide travel retail professionals with tools and information to keep the Caribbean’s diverse product at the forefront of the warm weather vacation industry with a focus on wellness and rejuvenation.

Caribbean Students Colloquium

From 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 6 at the Wyndham New Yorker, the Caribbean Students Colloquium will see “Students Taking Centre Stage” in a program designed to serve as a catalyst for creativity while engaging future tourism leaders of the Caribbean.

CTO Press Conference

Members of the press will gather from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 7 at the Wyndham New Yorker to learn about the latest developments originating from the CTO Board of Directors meeting along with Caribbean tourism performance data and forecasts predicting future growth in the region.

Caribbean Media Marketplace

Set to take place for 9:30 a.m. to noon on Thursday, June 7 at the Wyndham New Yorker, a broad section of television, radio, print and digital media will gather to network with top representatives from CTO-member governments and the private tourism sector, including high-level tourism officials and industry executives who will be on-hand to showcase their respective brands and influence the media narrative on the regional tourism industry.

Caribbean Tourism Industry Awards

Dinner

Set to run from 6:30 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, June 7 at the Wyndham New Yorker, an expanded awards program will feature a dinner presentation honoring journalists and influencers who have made an impact on Caribbean tourism.

With digital media radically altering the way information is shared on social platforms, this expanded event will recognize journalists who utilize innovative ways

Taking place from 6:30 to 11 p.m. on Friday, June 8 at Capitale, the CTO Foundation will celebrate the diverse sights, sounds and flavors of the Caribbean at the seventh annual “Rum & Rhythm Benefit – the Ultimate Food and Rum Experience in New York City,” the signature flagship event of Caribbean Week New York open to the public with tickets on sale at the early bird rate of $80 until March 31.

Participants will enjoy authentic Caribbean entertainment as they sample the region’s cuisine in support of a scholarship program for Caribbean nationals pursuing studies in tourism, hospitality and language training.

Musical on Calypso Rose to Debut in Canada

Veteran actress Rhoma Spencer is finally ready to reveal her latest project - a musical tribute to Calypso Rose, titled “Queen of the Road: The Calypso Rose Musical”. The event will take place on June 17 presented by the Queer and Trans Research Lab at the Mark S Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies, University of Toronto, in Partnership with Tobago Performing Arts Company and the Canadian Caribbean Arts Network, is scheduled for the Hart House Theatre, Hart House Circle, Toronto. She has been working on this project since 2019 and focuses on the Tobago singer’s struggle to carve a calypso niche for herself in a patriarchal environment and how, through her tenacity, she overcomes it all. She said, “This musical was to happen in 1996, the year after I did Bassman—The Mighty Shadow Musical in Tobago and Trinidad...the inspiration to finally get on to writing it came when (Rose) won The Victoire de la Musiq Award (French

Grammy) in 2017, and what seems like a revival of Calypso Rose and her music in the past ten years.”

Needing funding, she sought help from Canada but hit a roadblock in figuring out how to tell Rose’ story when she is not a Canadian.

It turns out that the album which earned Rose the French Grammy, was actually produced in Toronto, and some of the back-up vocalists on the album are also Canadian. Bingo!

When the University of Toronto, Mark S Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies put out a call for its Queer and Trans Research Lab Artist in Residence for its 2022-23 semester, Spencer had an ‘Aha’ moment, knowing then she would use the residency to create the Rose musical. The project fit the brief as rose is a queer musician who came out in her 70s. She enlisted Trinidadian locals Michelle Walker, her Trini-Canadian colleague, to play Rose’s adopted mother, and Stacey

Sobers-Abraham, 2018 NWAC Calypso Queen, for the role of Rose. The Tobago House of Assembly sponsored four artists’ travel to Canada to be a part of this historic occasion.”

Charlie Wilson Among Headline Acts For Groovin In The Park

the Groovin In The Park brand but the calls we have been getting from fans here in New York and other states and even Jamaica, have been truly phenomenal,” he told OBSERVER ONLINE. “And it is not just patrons that we have been hearing from; many A-list reggae and R&B stars have been calling, asking how they can be a part of the festival this year.”

This year marks the 10th anniversary of ‘Groovin’ which was first held in 2011. It consistently attracts over 25,000 fans, mainly Jamaicans and fellow West Indians from New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut, Philadelphia and Toronto, Canada.

It has become a calendar event, with top reggae acts such as Beres Hammond, Marcia Griffiths and Busy Signal appearing alongside R&B and pop heavyweights like Patti LaBelle, Michael Bolton and Babyface.

Charlie “Uncle Charlie” Wilson, whose vocal phrasing inspired singers from the 1990s New Jack Swing movement, is among the headliners for Groovin In The Park which takes place June 25 at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens, New York. Wilson is part of a cast that includes former Mad House Records members Wayne Wonder, Cham and Frisco Kid, Tarrus Riley, Minister Marion Hall and British sound system legend, David Rodigan. It will be the first time in three years that the event will be held. Its CEO, Christopher Roberts, is anticipating a massive comeback.

“We have long known the popularity of

Wilson, former lead singer of The Gap Band, is this year’s R&B guest act. His smooth sound on that trio’s hit songs like Yearning For Your Love and Outstanding influenced New Jack Swing vocalists like Aaron Hall and Keith Sweat.

In April last year, Wilson traveled to Jamaica where he recorded songs with Hammond and Jamaican musicians.

The 2023 Groovin In The Park also comprises a Four Continent Sound System Showcase featuring Dynamq from Africa , Bass Odyssey, who will represent The Americas, Sir David Rodigan, representing Europe and Yard Beat from Japan.

Spencer is known for Scarborough (2021), HERO Inspired by the Extraordinary Life & Times of Mr. Ulric Cross (2019) and Sound of Tears (2014).

Rodney’s Life Beyond Sports Foundation Scholarship Awards with Brendon Rodney

imum GPA of 2.0, and exhibit financial need. Rigorous selection processes will be implemented to ensure the most deserving candidates are chosen. The scholarship awards aim to provide financial assistance and recognize exceptional talent within the student community at GC Foster College.

Kingston, Jamaica: The High Commission of Canada, in collaboration with Canadian Olympian Brendon Rodney and his Rodney’s Life Beyond Sports Foundation, proudly announced the launch of the inaugural Rodney’s Life Beyond Sports Foundation Excellence Scholarship Awards. This ground-breaking initiative aims to foster excellence in sports and education by providing scholarships to tertiary students at the GC Foster College of Physical Education and Sport in Jamaica.

The High Commission hosted a prestigious event in honor of Brendon Rodney to recognize his outstanding achievements and officially endorse the scholarship program. Distinguished guests, including Denzil Thorpe, Permanent Secretary representing the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, Maurice Wilson, Principal of the G.C. Foster College of Physical Education and Sport, and high-level representatives from the sporting industry and media, graced the occasion, amplifying its significance.

“Today, we are thrilled to support the

launch of the Rodney’s Life Beyond Sports Foundation Excellence Scholarship Awards in partnership with Olympian Brendon Rodney. This collaboration is a great example of Canada’s unwavering commitment to fostering excellence in sports and education. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the deserving awardees and wish them continued success in their educational and athletic endeavors,” said Canadian High Commissioner, Her Excellency Emina Tudakovic.

Brendon Rodney, a passionate advocate for sports education, firmly believes in the transformative power of combining sports and education. Drawing from his personal experiences, he credits his success and countless opportunities to the synergy between these two elements. Through the Rodney’s Life Beyond Sports Foundation Excellence Scholarship Awards, full-time GC Foster College students from all program will have the opportunity to be considered for a scholarship of JMD 250,000. These scholarships are open to second, third, and fourth-year students between the ages of 17 and 25 who demonstrate a strong sports orientation, maintain a min-

During the launch event, three outstanding scholars were presented with the inaugural Brendon Rodney Excellence Scholarships. Shantel Munroe, a student pursuing an Associate Degree in the Recreation & Sport (Coaching) Programme; Selvin Stewart, a Bachelor of Physical Education student; and Toni Ann Lindsay, a Bachelor in Education student, exemplify the dedication, perseverance, and commitment to both academics and sports that Brendon Rodney himself embodies. In his address, Brendon, who attributes his athletic abilities to his Jamaican heritage, emphasized the importance of optimizing He expressed deep gratitude towards the

supportive community that has played a support for athletes to pursue opportunities beyond their athletic careers. He expressed deep gratitude towards the supportive community that has played a pivotal role in his success, as well as the invaluable guidance he has received from his family and his coach, Mr. Maurice Wilson.

The High Commission of Canada continually seeks opportunities to strengthen the profound people-to-people ties between Canada and Jamaica. Education, tourism, and sports are pivotal sectors that manifest the strength of the Canada-Jamaica relationship. Brendon Rodney, a prominent figure in both countries, was born in Canada to Jamaican parents. As he competes competitively for Canada in athletics, Brendon frequently travels between the two countries, cultivating the development of the sport and utilizing GC Foster College as his training ground.