June 14, 2023

VOL. XLII NO. 2120 WEEK OF JUNE 20 - 27, 2023

JUNETEENTH - THE LEGACY

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A concert celebration at the White House

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HAITI

NO MORE TIME TO WASTE Says PM Ariel Henry to Caricom stakeholders meeting in Jamaica the people are suffering

Page 7 GUYANA

LEGAL SCHOLAR CLAIMS TRILLIONS IN REPARATIONS For slavery after exhaustive and detailed study

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NEW YORK STATE

PROTESTS THE LACK OF DEPORTATION PROTECTION

By New York Legislature - organized by immigrant rights

Page 5 NEW YORK

NYPD HEAD QUITS

POLICE COMMISSIONER KEECHANT SEWELL RESIGNS AFTER 18 MONTHS OF HER HISTORIC APPOINTMENT

TWO JAMAICANS ARRESTED BY FBI On $14 millon fraud scheme involving COVID money

Page 7 ANTIGUA & BARBUDA

MOM AND DAUGTHER FOR SPACE FLIGHT Won Richard Branson’s competition to join commercial flight - Keisha Schanaff and Anastatia Mayers - the winners Page 13 VISIT US AT NYCARIBNEWS.COM FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL

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TRIBUTE TO FATHERS

THE GUIDING LIGHT - THE FORCE THE COURAGE - THE RESOURCE OF THE COMMUNITY

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CaribNews OPED Nevada Joins Growing Number of States Recognizing Juneteenth as a State Holiday

by Stacy Brown - P 9

OPED Ignoring the Fiction of a Nuclear Silver Bullet

by Ben Jealous - P 9

HEALTH June 14 is World Blood Donor Day - P 16

SPORTS Alick Athanaze Bursts Onto Scene to Help West Indies - P 19

WEEK ENDING JUNE 20, 2023

AFRICA ‘Immense tragedy’ underscores need to address unexploded ordnance danger in Somalia Greater efforts are needed to protect civilians in Somalia from unexploded weapons of war, the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) said on Monday in the wake of a recent deadly incident in the south of the country.

UNMAS issued a statement saying it was “deeply saddened and profoundly alarmed” by the deaths of 27 civilians, including 22 children, in a “tragic incident” involving unexploded ordnance (UXO) that occurred on Friday in the Lower Shabelle region.

Fifty-three people were also injured.

Innocent lives lost “UNMAS expresses its sincere condolences to the families affected by this devastating event and shares in their grief and pain during this incredibly difficult time,” said Justin Smith, the agency’s chief in Somalia.

“The loss of innocent lives, especially children, is an immense tragedy that underscores the urgent need for heightened efforts to address the dangers posed by explosive ordnance in Somalia,” he added.

UNMAS was established in 1997 and its work goes beyond removing landmines from the ground in countries affected by armed conflict.

‘A stark reminder’ Actions also address the problem of UXO, which are weapons such as bombs, mortars, grenades and missiles that failed to detonate. In many countries they pose an even greater threat to safety than landmines, according to its website.

WHO strongly condemns deadly attack in Somalia

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The World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday condemned in the strongest possible terms the deadly attack on the Pearl Beach Hotel and Restaurant in Mogadishu, Somalia, that left 16 dead, including a staff member.

The attack occurred on Friday and left more than 10 people injured at the beachside hotel in Somalia’s capital, the UN health agency reported.

Media reports indicated that the incident took place over several hours and involved armed perpetrators.

“We condemn all attacks on innocent civilians and humanitarian aid workers and express our deepest condolences to the family members of all those who were killed in this attack,” said Malik Mamunur, WHO representative in Somalia.

WHO is committed to continuing efforts to preserve health and respond to emergencies in Somalia, and affirms that the safety and security of its staff is a paramount factor in ensuring ongoing life-saving response operations, he said.

“We are appalled by the tragic loss of life in this senseless attack, including the death of Nasra Hassan, a WHO national female staff member,” said Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean.

WORLD BRIEFS Century-old call for equality resonates today One of the world’s most celebrated poets is also one of the closest to the heart of the UN. Kahlil Gibran wrote The Prophet a century ago, and this mile-stone was marked at a special exhibit at the UN, which is also celebrating 75 years since the adoption of the Univer-sal Declaration of Human Rights. Both share an emphasis on the rights and freedoms of all people.

The exhibit Kahlil Gibran Returns to New York After 100 Years was on display at UN Headquarters in April 2023 to celebrate the Lebanese poet and artist.

Kahlil Gibran Museum The exhibit Kahlil Gibran Returns to New York After 100 Years was on display at UN Headquarters in April 2023 to celebrate the Lebanese poet and artist.

“The Universal Declaration stated that we are all born equal, and this is exactly what Gibran wrote,” observed Shirin Yaseen, an associate spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General.

The Universal Declaration opens with the provision that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

“Gibran emphasizes that we should all treat each other as brothers,” Ms. Yassen pointed out.

Ukraine: Kakhovka dam aid effort reaches 180,000 people Heavy rains and thunderstorms in the area of the Kakhovka dam disaster in southern Ukraine aggravated the humanitarian situation there on Monday, making evacuations and aid distribution harder.

That’s the latest from the UN’s aid coordination office (OCHA), which tweeted that the UN and its humanitarian partners have delivered vital supplies, mainly water, hygiene items and food, to cover the needs of nearly 180,000 people, despite the difficult conditions.

The number of people reached with aid is up five-fold since 9 June.

“Drinking water continues to be an issue”, and long-term solutions are needed immediately, the UN’s top official in the country, Denise Brown, said on Sunday, speaking from an evacuation point in Kherson city.

In a video tweet, she said that it was some solace at least to see “people coming together”, at a humanitarian hub she visited, which is supporting evacuees from the flood zone.

Volunteers, the authorities, agencies and other humanitarians had brought supplies, clothes, support and food, “to ensure that people like the people I have been meeting today…have a safe place to sleep, food to eat and support.”

WEEK ENDING JUNE 20, 2023

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Trillions Owed in Reparations for Slavery Says Report KINGSTON, Jamaica – A study on the quantification of reparations for Transatlantic Chattel Slavery (TCS) in the Americas and the Caribbean has found that trillions of dollars are owed to these countries as a result of the slave trade.

The report was launched here on Thursday identifying at least 31 countries where reparations are due as a result of the slave trade that was abolished in 1838.

Former honorary president of the American Society of International Law and the project’s initiator, Justice Patrick Robinson, speaking at the launch of the report at the Mona campus The University of the West Indies (UWI) said that Britain is required to pay 14 countries a sum of US$24 trillion.

The report notes to assess the reparations that are due, it must be established that the injuries or harm suffered by the enslaved are the consequence of wrongful conduct by those who carried out TCS.

The economic estimations were made in the context of the harms experienced during the enslavement and post-enslavement periods. The calculations in the report were done by a group of US economists from The Brattle Group, guided by a team of lawyers, historians, and history students.

Robinson said that for Spain the amount owed is estimated at US$17 trillion and the United States is required to pay approximately US$26 trillion for its practice of TCS from 1776 to 1865, while France is required to pay approximately nine trillion US dollars and Portugal US$20 trillion to Brazil, which is also required to pay about four trillion dollars in respect to its practice of TCS in Brazil from 1822 to 1888.

The amount for The Netherlands is estimated at five trillion dollars of which three trillion should be paid to Suriname and an estimated $52 billion to Guyana.

Robinson said that the aggregate sum of reparations to be paid by all former slave-owning states totals US$107.8 trillion.

The report stated that the total harm estimated from enslavement is between US$100 trillion and US$131 trillion and Robinson said the committee spent an extended period deliberating on whether the figures should be reduced but later agreed that it should remain on the basis of the figures reflecting the enormity of the unlawful practices of TCS. “Nonetheless, it decided to recommend to countries entitled to reparations that they consider, in consultation with the former slave-owning countries, that reparations may be paid over a 10-year period, a 15-year period, a 20-year period, or a 25-year period,” he said, adding that such an arrangement should be secured through a binding agreement.

Robinson acknowledges that the report

does not address the earnings of plantation owners, banks, insurance companies, and other entities that profit from TCS as the group was still working to access the relevant data to sort out the sum relating to this. (CMC)

NYS – Legislators Create a Commission to Consider Reparations For the Negative Effects of Slavery Albany Dems are slated to pass legislation soon to examine whether black New Yorkers deserve reparations for slavery and other historical wrongs.

Bill A7691 would establish a nine-member commission to offer non-binding suggestions on how cash payments, “laws, policies, programs” or other approaches could address racial inequality.

It relates to acknowledging the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery in the city of New York and the state of New York; establishes the New York state community commission on reparations remedies to examine the institution of slavery, subsequently de jure and de facto racial and economic discrimination against African-Americans, the impact of these forces on living AfricanAmericans and to make recommendations on appropriate remedies; provides for the repeal of such provisions.

Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages (D-Valley Stream), who is sponsoring the bill, said “Reparations is more than just about compensation. I think New York is in a unique spot to really define the conversation around reparations and make sure that it’s not just about compensation, but really about acknowledgment and reconciliation of chattel slavery and its legacies.”

The Assemblywoman said reparations

could take forms other than cash payments.

The proposal pushes New York front and center into the national debate over reparations following similar efforts in places like California.

Other legislators are weighing in on the bill, some willing to give it a chance, while others heavily oppose it.

Sen. Jabari Brisport (D-Brooklyn) said critics ought to give the commission a chance considering how experts might have worthy ideas on addressing the legacies of slavery and systemic racism in New York.

As expected there is opposition to the bill, with some legislators saying “New York doesn’t need a commission to tell us that slavery was wrong” – Assemblyman Matt Slater (R-Yorktown).

Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R-Fulton) dismissed the legislation as an attempt by New York Democrats to “out-liberal” their counterparts in other states.

He said, “This is an unreasonable and unworkable measure, opposed by the vast majority of Americans but still being pushed by radical New York Democrats.”

The bill is expected to pass by Friday before sending it to Gov. Kathy Hochul before the end of the year, who said she would review, consider and think and it.

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WEEK ENDING JUNE 20, 2023

VP Harris, CARICOM Leaders Had Productive Meeting on Critical Issues

CARICOM Heads of Government welcomed the meeting between Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean and the Vice President of the United States. They noted that it presented a useful platform for productive discussions and was indicative of a long-standing relationship characterized by collaboration on many issues of mutual importance, including trade and investment, security, health, energy, disaster management and climate change.

Leaders noted the progress of the work of the High-Level Committee on Food Security between the USA, CARICOM and the Dominican Republic resulting from the Summit of the Americas process. They reaffirmed that the matter of food security must continue to be given priority as part of the enhanced Caribbean-US engagement. They emphasized that, to this end, commitments already made must be

implemented, and that the two sides should examine additional ways to address this challenge, which affects the Region and the global community.

Leaders welcomed the announcement of increased resources to respond to trafficking of firearms and gun crimes.

However, they underscored their grave concern at the continued increase in the illegal exportation of guns from the United States of America, which contributes significantly to crime and violence in the Region, causing death and disabilities, and compromising safety and democracy.

They called on the United States to support efforts to manage porous borders and share intelligence to combat the increasing destabilization due to firearm proliferation and related crimes in the Region.

With respect to the situation in Haiti, leaders underscored that social and eco-nomic development is critical to the

country’s future stability. They outlined ongoing CARICOM Good Offices Initiatives, including appointment of an Eminent Persons Group (EPG) to broker discus-sions with Haitian stakeholders scheduled to formally start with meetings in Jamaica from 11-13 June 2023.

The Caribbean leaders stressed the importance of reform of the global financial system to mobilise short-term liquidity for crisis response and long-term funding for sustainable development, as proposed under the Bridgetown Initiative. They acknowledged the progress made to include Climate Disaster Clauses and noted that support is needed to finance Global Public Goods that address mitigating their vulnerability.

Leaders recognised that to address the challenge of energy security, there must be a balanced approach to develop the region’s hydrocarbon resources and to maximize renewable energy potential.

They agreed that the Caribbean-US engagement must continue to examine areas for deepened collaboration where opportunities exist.

In the context of the bilateral relationship with the United States, CARICOM Heads of Government urged for the removal of sanctions on Venezuela to allow countries in the Region to benefit from the PetroCaribe initiative and for progress on the exploitation of cross-border natural gas fields between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. The leaders also reiterated CARICOM’s consistent call for the removal of sanctions against Cuba.

Both the Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean and the US acknowledged that the Meeting ventilated issues critical to the current and future prosperity and security of the Region and committed to ongoing dialogue and concerted action towards mutual benefit.

NYS – Bill Approved Giving Undocumented Immigrants Healthcare New York State Senate Democrats approved legislation on June 9 for Bill S2237A that provides for coverage for certain individuals under the 1332 state innovation program. The federal government has agreed to provide the cash.

The bill sponsored by Senate Health Committee Chair Gustavo Rivera (D-Bronx) was introduced to improve access to care by expanding eligibility for certain publicly subsidized programs for individuals who currently face barriers to health care coverage due to their immigration status.

The state Senate voted 41-21 on the controversial bill, but has yet to pass the Assembly. Following Friday’s vote, Rivera said,

“The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) responded to a letter that we sent along with 63 of our colleagues asking for clarification on the utilization of the 1332 State Innovation Waiver to provide healthcare to New Yorkers who are otherwise ineligible due to their immigration status. Our letter was written in support of an initial letter sent

by Governor Kathy Hochul’s administration, which was agreed to thanks to strong support from our conference leaders during the budget process, on the potential use of federal funding to expand health coverage to this population.”

“Given the federal government’s clear guidance, it is essential that we pass our Coverage 4 All bill (S2237A / A3020A)

before the end of the legislative session to ensure the Governor has the full authority to pursue approval for use of eligible federal funds under the 1332 waiver program, including surplus pass-through funding. The passage of this bill will secure quality and affordable healthcare coverage for thousands of New Yorkers at no cost to the state. “ Bill supporters note that by cutting down on the costs associated with people needing emergency care, state and local governments could save roughly $400 million per year.

GOP senators expressed concerns over the morality of providing social services to people without legal authorization to be in the county, and question the cost of the program if federal funds dry up.

WEEK ENDING JUNE 20, 2023

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Haiti – 700 Died From Cholera Since Last October PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, CMC – Haitian health authorities Friday confirmed that a resurgence of cholera has resulted in the deaths of several hundred people in the crisis-torn Caribbean country, since the beginning of the year.

They said that as a result, health authorities have had to redouble their efforts to cope with the epidemic that has already claimed thousands of lives since its first outbreak in 2010.

Director for the Epidemiology, Laboratories, and Research Department at the Health and Population Ministry, Dr Samson Marseille, said at least 726 people have been killed by cholera since October 2022, when the disease first re-appeared.

“Since the recent torrential rains that have

caused devastating flooding in the country, we’ve observed an increase in the number of cholera cases; so we are intensifying our efforts aimed at combating the disease,” Marseille told the Haitian-Caribbean News Network.

“We plan to launch new awareness raising campaigns to warn people about the need for behavioral change when it comes to hygiene precautions; anyone with symptoms associated with cholera such as severe or watery diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, or dehydration…should immediately go to one of our Cholera Treatment Centers,” he added.

According to figures released by health authorities, the cholera epidemic that first hit Haiti in October 2010, killed 10,174 people and since October last year, 726 people have died, including 26 from the period June 1 to 5.

The figures show that 24 people died last weekend from cholera. There were also 45,248 cholera suspected cases, 3007 confirmed cases, 41,557 cases of hospitalisation, during the period October 1, last year to June 5, 2023.

The age average for hospitalised cholera victims is 17 years old.

In the aftermath of the first outbreak of the disease, initially brought by international peacekeepers, the United Nations had promised to make funds available to deal with the situation, including purchasing water purification systems to protect the population, many of whom lack access to potable water.

But nothing seems to have been done in that regard.

Jamaica – Host to Haiti Peace Talks

Jamaica will be hosting Haitian stakeholder consultations in Kingston from June 11 to 13.

Prime Minister, the Most. Hon. Andrew Holness, in making the disclosure in Parliament on Tuesday (June 6), said invitations were issued to the stakeholders by Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Hon. Philip Davis, chair of the Conference of CARICOM Heads.

He indicated that as host, Jamaica will be providing the venue for the consultations, as well as arrangements to facilitate the attendees.

These include representatives from Haiti; the Eminent Persons Group, which was established by CARICOM to oversee the Community’s provision of Good Offices to the Government of Haiti and Haitian stakeholders; the Prime Ministers of The Bahamas and Haiti; the CARICOM Secretary General and representatives from international partners and donor support.

“Prime Minister Davis and I will officially hand over the process to the Eminent Persons Group at the opening event. However, I must underscore and emphasise that notwithstanding any representation from states regionally, the consultations themselves will only involve the Haitian stakeholders, supported by the Eminent Persons Group with their requisite technical personnel,” Mr. Holness said.

He noted, further, that the Eminent Persons Group will update CARICOM as appropriate and necessary.

“It is important that the need for confidence, confidentiality and patience be respected as this necessary but delicate process of consultation is engaged. I urge, therefore, that we allow this to be the basis on which the consultations are held and trust that the relevant information will be made available at the appropriate time,” he said.

“I also underscore that these consultations are for the Haitian people, it is their meeting, as they seek to determine what is in the best interest of their country. While Jamaica and others in the region have a keen interest, it is also incumbent on all of us at this time to adopt a posture of non-interference in the process, while being active in support and allowing the space for the dialogue to be held,” Mr. Holness emphasised.

The Eminent Persons Group consists of Former Prime Minister of The Bahamas, The Rt. Hon. Perry Christie; Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Mr. Bruce Golding; and Former Prime Minister of St. Lucia, Dr. the Hon. Kenny D. Anthony.

Prime Minister Holness explained that the

Group, along with a small team comprising technical experts in mediation, security and political research, supported by the CARICOM Secretariat, has been tasked to facilitate consultations with the Haitian stakeholders.

“These consultations are intended to build consensus and allow for inclusive participation in a neutral environment. Most importantly, a majority of Haitian stakeholders have agreed to this approach in support of finding peace and stability in their country,” he added.

Prime Minister Holness said the Government is hopeful that the consultations to be held next week in Jamaica will be a significant step in the process of restoring stability in Haiti.

“We recognise that it is a process that will need continued support by Jamaica, CARICOM and others to ensure a satisfactory conclusion.

“The people of Jamaica and our brothers and sisters in Haiti can be assured that this Government will do all it can to support this process towards restoration of peace and stability in Haiti,” he told the House.

NYS – Immigrant Rights Advocates Condemn Failure to Pass Deportation Prevention Legislation NEW YORK (CMC) – A coalition of immigration advocates has condemned New York State legislators for their failure to pass legislation that would prohibit local law enforcement and state agencies from collaborating with United States immigration enforcement agencies in the deportation of Caribbean and other immigrants.

The coalition, which includes the New York For All Campaign, the Bronx Defenders, as well as the New York Civil Liberties Union, has expressed its disappointment that the New York State Legislative session is ending without leaders bringing the New York For All legislation to the Senate or Assembly.

In a statement, the coalition said, “This legislation would have protected immigrant

communities and all New Yorkers by prohibiting local law enforcement and state agencies from conspiring with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol.”

They emphasized that ending this collusion would have allowed immigrant New Yorkers to go about their daily lives without the fear that a simple traffic stop or calling 911 in an emergency could lead to being forcibly separated from their families.

“This builds trust between the government and the communities it serves and allows our local economies to flourish by letting people feel safe to participate in daily life,” they added.

The New York For All Act had garnered support with 62 co-sponsors in the New York State Assembly and 32 co-sponsors

in the New York State Senate.

“Once again, Albany [the capital of New York State] has chosen political convenience over protecting New York families by failing to move forward with the New York For All Act. The bill had strong support in both houses and had widespread backing from labour and local elected officials across New York State,” the coalition expressed.

They further noted, “The lack of political courage and moral leadership in Albany—and the failure to take a bold stand in the face of rising xenophobia—means that New York’s immigrant communities will continue to live with the threat that any encounter with government agencies can result in separation from their families.”

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WEEK ENDING JUNE 20, 2023

NYC – NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell Resigns

After a year and a half leading the nation’s largest police department, NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell has announced her resignation.

In an email to NYPD staff, Sewell shared: “I have made the decision to step down from my position.”

She did not provide any explanation for her sudden departure or information on her next steps.

With officer morale as one of her priorities, she said she hoped the changes made under her leadership would be “lasting hallmarks of my focus on your wellbeing.”

Referring to her colleagues as “an extraordinary collective of hard-working public

servants”, Sewell said the department had faced “tremendous tragedy, challenges, and triumphs” during her time at the helm, and is urging them to “do what you do well to secure this city” and thanked them for “stepping forward.” She also told them to “stay safe.”

As of yet, there is also no indication from NYPD on when her last day will be.

In a statement released shortly after news broke, Mayor Eric Adams thanked Sewell for her “devotion” and “steadfast leadership”. He said the commissioner’s efforts had “played a leading role” in the administration’s efforts to bring crime down. He said “New Yorkers owe her a debt of gratitude as she worked nearly 24 hours a day, seven days a week for a year and a half ”.

For the year and a half on the job, the Commissioner is leaving with significant achievements including an 11 percent decrease in homicides, 24 percent decrease in shootings compared to this time last year.

Other major crimes, according to NYPD data, including felony assault and grand larceny auto, are up from the first six months of 2022.Keechant L. Sewell was appointed the 45th Police Commissioner of the City of New York by incoming Mayor Eric Adams in December of 2021. She previously served as the Nassau County Police Department’s Chief of Detectives.

Sewell joined the Nassau County Police Department in 1997 and graduated the

police academy as the Class Speaker. She worked patrol in the Fifth Precinct in Elmont, New York where she was selected to become a School Resource Officer and a police liaison to the Wayside Home for Girls. She worked undercover assignments, promoted to the rank of Detective and assigned to the First Squad in Baldwin where she investigated and assisted with successful convictions in numerous cases.

After being promoted to Sergeant, Sewell was assigned as a patrol supervisor and subsequently became an investigator in the Internal Affairs Unit. Sewell then became a Detective Sergeant in both the First and Narcotics/Vice squads overseeing drug and gun interdiction and suppression initiatives.

She is a graduate of the 235th Session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia where she was selected by her peers to be the Class Spokesperson for the National Academy’s commencement address.

She has attended the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police in Boston, Massachusetts, is a federal Joint Terrorism Task Force executive board member, a Counterterrorism Zone 1 co-chairperson, and is a New York State certified police instructor who develops and presents the department’s strategic communications, interview and interrogation and super-

visory leadership curriculums. She is the recipient of the Meritorious Police Award, numerous community awards, town and county citations, and was selected as the 2021 Person of the Year for the Nassau County Detectives Association.

She is a FBI-trained hostage negotiator and was a negotiator for over twenty years, eventually becoming the lead Chief Negotiator and Commanding Officer of the department’s prestigious negotiation team.

Sewell was requested to participate in the NYPD-sponsored Women in Policing forum in 2018 and was invited to return to address the NYPD’s Women’s History Month celebration at the New York Police Academy, in College Point, in 2019.

Sewell has commanded two detective squads, was the Deputy Commanding Officer of the Fourth Precinct in Hewlett and was the Commanding Officer of the Seventh Precinct in Seaford. Sewell started and commanded the police department’s Major Case Bureau which included the Robbery, Electronics, Burglary, Crimes Against Property, Gang Investigations, Special Investigations, and Narcotics/ Vice squads. She then went on to start and lead the department’s new Professional Standards Bureau with a focus on police accountability and procedures. In September of 2020, she was promoted by Nassau County Commissioner of Police to the position of Chief of Detectives.

Juneteenth Concert Slated for the White House The Biden-Harris administration will host a highly anticipated Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn of the White House on Tuesday, June 13.

The concert, set to coincide with Black Music Month, will showcase a star-studded lineup including renowned artists such as Jennifer Hudson, Method Man, Audra McDonald, Step Afrika!, Colman Domingo, Ledisi, Patina Miller, and the Tennessee State University Marching Band, Aristocrat of Bands Juneteenth, a significant holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, holds even greater importance this year after President Biden signed it into law in 2021, designating June 19 as National Independence Day. The historical origins of Juneteenth trace back to June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce to enslaved individuals that they were finally free.

This momentous event occurred nearly two and a half years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.

Speaking at the bill signing ceremony, Vice President Kamala Harris emphasized the day’s significance, stating, “We have come far, and we have far to go. But today is a day of celebration. It is not only a day of pride but a day to rededicate ourselves to action.”

The Juneteenth concert will serve as a festive celebration and pay homage to Black Music Month.

The White House said it intends to uplift American art forms that resonate with the soul of the American experience.

Among the featured artists, Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, singer and talk show host Jennifer Hudson, and Cliff “Method Man” Smith, a member of the legendary hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, will grace the stage with their extraordinary talents.

Juneteenth’s historical significance as the day when the last enslaved individuals in the United States learned of their freedom holds a deep and powerful meaning.

“This is a day of profound weight and profound power, a day in which we remember the moral stain and the terrible toll that slavery took on the country and continues to take,” President Biden remarked.

He said with Juneteenth solidified as a federal holiday, commemorations and celebrations are poised to grow and evolve, as exemplified by events like the White House concert.

Biden also noted that the concert will serve to highlight Black Music Appreciation Month.

Earlier this month, the president issued a proclamation highlighting Black entertainers in the music industry.

“Much of Black music is rooted in African rhythms, coupled with the experience of slavery and struggle in America,” the president asserted.

“Barred from expressing themselves in their native tongues, enslaved people developed a language to articulate their hopes, dreams, sense of loss, and tenacity to overcome the harrowing nature of their lives.”

He concluded that all should celebrate the music and artists “that challenge us to think critically, stand up to injustice, and believe in ourselves.”

“We recommit to expanding the promise of dignity and opportunity for all Americans,” Biden insisted.

“And we revel in the sounds, spirit, and soul of some of the very best music ever created.”

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WEEK ENDING JUNE 20, 2023

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Haiti – No More Time to Waste, Says PM Henry Speaking at the opening ceremony for consultations with Haitian stakeholders being hosted in Jamaica from June 11 to 13, Prime Minister, Dr. Ariel Henry expressed gratitude to all the stakeholders for facilitating the discussions, and said there is no more time to waste.

“So many people of our population have been adversely affected. We do not have any more time to waste, we need a national effort to take our country out of this infernal spiral. We have to start once again to become a normal country.”

“We all know that no sustainable solution to Haiti’s problems will come from outside, neither can it be imposed by others whether they be from CARICOM or elsewhere. It is up to us, the people of Haiti to together, amongst ourselves, through our own efforts, find a common national project which will bring us together and to have a rebirth of our nation,” he said.

He noted that this is critical in rebuilding the country’s democracy.

“It’s high time for us to start the process that will lead us to free democratic and

inclusive elections,” he said referring to the almost two-year transition that the country has been in since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021.

He ensured that the country will be holding elections soon.

“We have…made the commitment to have a reshuffling within the government and the promise was done to have reforms for the civil service and that was done.

Significant changes have been announced to bring order to diplomacy, and that will be done,” he said.

Two Jamaicans Arrested by FBI in US$14 Million COVID Fraud Scheme Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced last week the unsealing of a Complaint charging GLENROY WALKER, GARY WHEELER and four others with conspiring to commit wire fraud by submitting fraudulent applications for loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) administered

by the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”). WALKER and LEVY are also charged with aggravated identity theft.

The defendants were arrested this morning and were presented this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy in White Plains federal court.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, the defendants schemed to steal millions of dollars from a program Congress created 9.875 in.to help struggling small businesses weather the COVID-19 pan-

demic. As we continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, this Office will pursue and prosecute the fraudsters that took advantage of a global emergency to greedily line their own pockets.”

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Michael J. Driscoll said: “As alleged, the defendants conspired to fraudulently obtain more than $14 million from the Paycheck Protection Program through applications containing sham documents. This unfortunately is another example of individuals

attempting to scam a program that was designed to help Americans during unprecedented upheaval. Ensuring that fraudsters who abused the Paycheck Protection Program are brought to justice remains a priority for the FBI.” According to the Complaint unsealed today: Continued at www.nycaribnews.com

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CARIBEDITORIAL

Juneteenth: The Holiday Juneteenth holds a promise for all Americans and a lesson that we can all learn from If we could only embrace the significance of this historic day, when the last enslaved people in the United States learned that they were free. This freedom is commemorated each year on June 19th because it was on June 19th, 1865 two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, takes place annually on June 19. The holiday is a combination of the words “June” and “nineteenth.” On January 1, 1863, ahead of the third year of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared all enslaved people in the rebellious Confederate states—Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia—were free. But Lincoln’s executive order did not fully abolish slavery in the U.S., as it didn’t apply to those held as property in bordering states who were loyal to the Union.

Despite the proclamation, in Texas, slavery was largely unaffected. The confederates considered the state a safe space for slaveholders, as it remained generally unoccupied by Union Army soldiers during the war.

But on June 19, 1865, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, and just two months after Confederate Gen.

Robert E. Lee surrendered, with the Union Army winning the war, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston; he issued General Order No. 3 to inform enslaved people that they were free and that the Civil War was over.

For generations Black Americans have recognized the end of one of the darkest chapters in US history with the joy of knowing of their freedom and have over these many decades celebrated Juneteenth.

The US government has been slow to recognize and embrace this occasion; it was only in 2021 that President Biden signed a bill passed by Congress to set aside Juneteenth (June 19th) as a federal holiday. The fight for this federal holiday was one that took several years, and one of the key people credited for this achievement was Sheila Jackson Lee, the Congressmember from Houston, Texas. Sheila Jackson Lee is known as a fighter for human and civil rights.

She also has Caribbean roots that go deep, and found the fight for freedom as a common cause with people of all color from whatever area or region they might be from. The Juneteenth celebration holiday is a celebration for truth, justice, freedom for all, and it’s a direction that is unstoppable as enslaved people, colonialized people and people who are oppressed continue in their battle and struggle for freedom.

It was on Juneteenth that more than 300,000 persons enslaved in Texas were advised that

WEEK ENDING JUNE 20, 2023

the war had ended and slavery was no longer the law of the land. The celebration of Juneteenth goes to the core of what it means in this country to be an African American and goes to the core of what freedom means and how the promise is still yet to be fully realized.

Juneteenth is a strong signal in that direction; it is important to recognize the institutional and systemic bias and discrimination that led up to Juneteenth’s creation.

It was the government’s effort to keep people uninformed and unengaged; they were left behind by an institution that failed to inform and to protect them. Today, many of the freedoms being fought for or realized in the spirit of Juneteenth are under attack. There is an outright effort to suppress the votes of black people throughout this country.

It takes form in different levels of suppression, but all lead to a way of denying votes to black people. Our voter rights are under attack and it’s the same institutional and systemic operation that kept black Americans in slavery without their knowledge for so long. It’s the same institution that is now trying to deny your right to vote, your sacred right, your voice.

Our votes are our voice, and we need to proclaim loudly the importance of voting in spite of all the efforts that are being made now to suppress our votes.

Just like the Union forces, we need the power

for voices of our votes to create a more perfect union for all. The next area that is under systemic and institutional attack in this country is the ability to educate our people, our children, as to the evil and destructiveness of slavery.

Books are being banned and removed from shelves in libraries and in schools, that talk of the horror of slavery under the criticism of the critical race theory. They are now attacking the education of our people, the knowledge base that every American should know on the darkest side of this country of its darkest history, and of the fight for freedom and the values of that fight and the true history, and that is under severe attack around the country. So as we celebrate Juneteenth, we must remember the history, we must be alert to the forces, systemic, institutional, and otherwise that are at work even today to disenfranchise us as a people, to miseducate us as a country, and to keep us in the darkness away from Freedom, Liberty, and Justice.

Juneteenth represents the hope, the change and the future of this country. It appeals to the best in the United States in all of us. It represents what can be looked at as what is right in America. While racism is still strong and alive in the United States against black people, proactive measures such as Juneteenth and the significance provide the fuel to continue the struggle that we must win.

Carib News, through the years, has made a special effort to pay tribute to fathers and the significant role they have played in our community, the role of being a guiding light to their families and the community, the force of their presence in providing resources and direction, the resolve of overcoming challenges and being available in different circumstances, to the wellbeing of our community. We see this as a quality that should be recognized and celebrated; and so as we celebrate Father’s Day this

year, we come to again pay tribute to the fathers in our communities. We have called them Fabulous Fathers, Men of Distinction and various other titles, but they are all there working to advance the well-being of a community and working to provide for families and communities. Former president of the United States, Barack Obama launched in his time in the White House, The White House Fatherhood and Mentoring initiative, a program to support fathers and fatherless families.

The White House recognized Carib News and its program of tribute to Fathers, and the Obama Initiative recognized what he called fathers as agents of change and he wanted to celebrate and define them, define the critical roles that fathers play in their children’s lives and in their children’s relationship with others.

The President’s initiative was saluted and welcomed because of what has been sometimes the negative outlook of Black fathers.

Despite all the articles and stories to the contrary, black fatherhood and its role on children and family, there is no doubt that Black Fathers matter to their families despite biased research and studies that may

say differently. The general idea that black families without fathers are a common occurrence and a typical stereotype of black men absent in their family, the truth is, according to the National Institute of Health, the majority of black fathers live with their children.

The same studies show that black fathers are more likely to feed, bathe, dress, and play with their children on a daily basis than their white counterparts. Moreover, the reason for the absence of Black fathers is yet another result of the systemic racism that we have been faced with since slavery.

Black men are overrepresented in jails and imprisoned across the country because while black men and women make up 20% of the population in the United States, black men make up over 35% of incarcerated persons.

Not to mention the issue of police brutality on black men and women and the impact it has on black families. The systematic structural racism is yet another factor that helps to promote the issue of families being raised by single mothers with the absence of black fathers. So rather than examining the systemic white supremacy system that

is so often imposed on the composition of the black family, the absence of black fathers, that the issue of black fathers within the community is one that shows by all studies that there is a high quality of relationship between black fathers, their children and in their household, and remains a key part of the child’s welfare and the community wellbeing.

So as we celebrate Father’s Day, let us celebrate our own Black fathers with the highest respect and the highest regard for their resourcefulness, persistence and determination in overcoming many of the challenges that they face on a day-to-day basis that is not imposed upon white fathers, black fathers today are engaged with their children and their families and are examples of wellbeing within our communities. Black Fathers matter today and need to be celebrated, and so we take time out to celebrate outstanding fathers.

We believe it’s vital to say thanks and to celebrate the outstanding contribution of fathers, not just to their children’s lives, but to their community, to the city, state, and country.

Happy Father’s Day.

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CARIBOPINION

WEEK ENDING JUNE 20, 2023

9

Nevada Joins Growing Number of States Recognizing Juneteenth as a State Holiday

by Stacy Brown

Nevada has officially declared Juneteenth a state holiday, joining a growing list of states commemorating the last enslaved individuals in the United States learned of their freedom.

The state’s Republican Governor, Joe Lombardo, signed the bill into law on Thursday, elevating June 19 from a day of observance to a full-fledged state holiday.

The legislation means that many state employees can now take the day off to celebrate the holiday.

Juneteenth now stands alongside other recognized holidays in Nevada, such as New Year’s Day, Veterans Day, July 4, Labor Day, Nevada Day, and Christmas.

The bill received overwhelming support in the state Assembly and Senate, with votes of

40 to 1 and 19 to 2, respectively.

Democratic Assemblywoman Claire Thomas, one of the bill’s sponsors, highlighted Nevada’s historic commitment to civil rights as the first state to ratify the 15th Amendment, granting African Americans the right to vote.

“By designating Juneteenth as a state holiday, Nevada continues to honor that legacy and celebrate the progress that has been made in the fight for equality,” she expressed.

The significance of Juneteenth lies in its origin, which dates to 1865 when news of the abolition of slavery finally reached Galveston, Texas.

The momentous announcement came two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation officially ended

slavery in the United States and five months after the 13th Amendment was signed, legally declaring all enslaved people free.

Initially observed in Texas, the Juneteenth celebration spread as Black Texans migrated to other parts of the country.

In recent years, numerous companies have also recognized the importance of this day by granting their employees time off to commemorate it.

The federal recognition of Juneteenth as a national holiday came in 2021 when President Joe Biden signed a bill that Congress had passed.

Biden’s action solidified Juneteenth’s status as a pivotal moment in American history, and its significance continues to grow as more states follow suit in honoring this important

day.

With Nevada officially recognizing Juneteenth as a state holiday, it stands as a testament to the state’s commitment to equality and commemorating the progress made in the ongoing fight for civil rights.

Ignoring the Fiction of a Nuclear Silver Bullet A growing chorus in Washington equates weaning our country off energy from killer fossil fuels to relying more heavily on new nuclear power plants. The same debates are happening in state capitals from Richmond to Raleigh, Springfield to Sacramento. This chorus distracts from the real work ahead of ensuring clean, renewable, affordable energy for every community.

The risk of nuclear energy is an easy dividing line. To opponents, names like Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima are all the evidence we need that a catastrophic event is unavoidable and unacceptable. For supporters, those events are a sign that disasters are few.

Both are right – they happen infrequently, and when they do occur, they are cataclysmic.

The more compelling reasons we should drop the silver bullet thinking about nuclear power are its cost and its reliability.

Since the mid-20th century when nuclear power entered the public imagination, the belief has been that energy is “free” – start the

chain reaction make electricity. It’s not, and it never has been (uranium must be mined and reactor fuel is consumable). We’ve reached a point where renewable sources like wind and solar power are cheaper, in part because they are quicker to come online.

Lazard, a global investment bank and financial consultancy that reports annually on the “levelized cost of energy” from various sources, found that nuclear power is two to six times more costly per megawatt hour than wind and solar (which now cost the same per megawatt hour). The capital cost of large scale solar and wind is at least eight times lower.

The time to get new wind and solar into the electricity grid is at least half the time for a new nuclear plant; history shows that anyone who estimates the completion date for a new nuclear plant is wrong.

Unlike most industries that rely heavily on science and technology, the cost of building nuclear plants is rising over time. In Silicon Valley, they call it a reverse learning curve.

Supporters of nuclear power like to argue that nuclear plants are required for reliability, and that they can operate all the time.

This ignores nuclear’s vulnerability to climate change: severe weather, extreme temperatures, and both floods and droughts have forced nuclear plants to shut down unexpectedly in recent years. Additionally, a reactor goes offline for routine maintenance at least every two years, which means a plant must have more total capacity to cover that maintenance routine. By comparison, wind and solar farms have much fewer operational problems. And battery backups have gotten faster than the gas power generation that nuclear plants often turn to meet peak demand.

It’s time to confront nuclear’s challenges uranium mining, accident risk, cost, and climate vulnerability - and double down on the solutions we know will be central to our shift away from fossil fuels.

We can’t afford the distraction of a fiction

by Ben Jealous

around nuclear power when burning fossil fuels threatens the health of millions around the world annually. Our focus must be on bringing the clean air, cost saving, and economic benefits of clean energy to communities across the country as quickly as we can. From home energy retrofits and rooftop solar to wind energy and battery storage, we have more and better ways than ever before to transform our energy systems from fossil fuels to energy that’s actually clean, reliable and renewable.

Skate Park Dedicated to Tyre Nichols, Honoring a Life Cut Short In a heartfelt ceremony, officials unveiled a newly renovated skate park on the outskirts of Sacramento, dedicating it to Tyre Nichols, a young Black man who tragically lost his life earlier this year to police violence.

Nichols, an ardent skateboarder who spent his youth frequenting the park, was killed during a fatal encounter with Tennessee police in January.

City representatives and a diverse group gathered to pay tribute to Nichols’ memory and attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The park, once a cherished sanctuary for Nichols, will now bear his name as a testament to his passion for skateboarding and impact on the community.

Nichols, a resident of Memphis, Tennessee, relocated there with his mother

by Stacy Brown

and stepfather just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

An aspiring photographer, he found solace and inspiration in capturing the beauty of landscapes and sunsets through his lens.

On his website, where he showcased his photography, Nichols expressed how the art form allowed him to perceive the world profoundly and creatively, conveying emotions that words alone could not capture.

According to a lawsuit his family filed against the Memphis Police Department, tragically, Nichols was the victim of a brutal assault by several police officers on January 7 while returning home after taking pictures of the sky.

The incident occurred a mere stone’s throw away from his mother’s residence.

After enduring the assault, Nichols was

rushed to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries three days later.

As a result of extensive investigations, five Memphis police officers, all of whom are Black, were terminated from their positions and now face charges including second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct, and official oppression.

The Nichols family’s lawsuit, filed in April, seeks $500 million in damages, shedding light on the profound impact of this tragedy and the urgent need to address issues of police violence, particularly against unarmed Black men.

Family lawyers representing the Nichols family have revealed that video footage of the incident captured Tyre pleading to be allowed to return home, emphasizing his proximity to his mother’s house, a mere

100 yards (90 meters) away.

The haunting words echo the experiences of countless other Black individuals who have faced unjustified violence at the hands of law enforcement, sparking renewed conversations and calls for systemic change.

Officials said the dedication of the skate park in Nichols’ name not only serves as a tribute to his love for skateboarding but also stands as a reminder of the ongoing struggle against racial injustice and police brutality.

They said it symbolizes a community’s commitment to ensuring that his untimely death does not fade into obscurity but fuels a movement for meaningful change and the pursuit of justice.

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CARIBAROUND

WEEK ENDING JUNE 20, 2023

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CARIBAROUND

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CARIBNEWS

WEEK ENDING JUNE 20, 2023

The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth

On “Freedom’s Eve,” or the eve of January 1, 1863, the first Watch Night services took place. On that night, enslaved and free African Americans gathered in churches and private homes all across the country awaiting news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect. At the stroke of midnight, prayers were answered as all enslaved people in Confederate States were declared legally free. Union soldiers, many of whom were black, marched onto plantations and across cities in the south reading

small copies of the Emancipation Proclamation spreading the news of freedom in Confederate States. Only through the Thirteenth Amendment did emancipation end slavery throughout the United States.

But not everyone in Confederate territory would immediately be free. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation was made effective in 1863, it could not be implemented in places still under Confederate control. As a result, in the westernmost Confederate state of Texas, enslaved people would not be free until much later. Freedom finally came on June 19, 1865, when some 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas. The army announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state, were free by executive decree. This day came to be known as “Juneteenth,” by the newly freed people in Texas.

Publishers throughout the North responded to a demand for copies of Lincoln’s proclamation and produced numerous decorative versions, including this engraving by R. A. Dimmick in 1864.

Publishers throughout the North responded to a demand for copies of Lincoln’s proclamation and produced numerous decorative versions, including this engraving by R. A. Dimmick in 1864.

Emancipation Day celebration, June 19, 1900 held in “East Woods” on East 24th Street in Austin. Credit: Austin History Center.

National Museum of American History, gift of Ralph E. Becker The post-emancipation period known as Reconstruction (1865-1877) marked an era of great hope, uncertainty, and struggle for the nation as a whole. Formerly enslaved people immediately sought to reunify families, establish schools, run for political office, push radical legislation and even sue slaveholders for compensation.

Given the 200+ years of enslavement, such changes were nothing short of amazing.

Not even a generation out of slavery, African Americans were inspired and empowered to transform their lives and

their country.

Juneteenth marks our country’s second independence day. Although it has long celebrated in the African American community, this monumental event remains largely unknown to most Americans.

The historical legacy of Juneteenth shows the value of never giving up hope in uncertain times. The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a community space where this spirit of hope lives on. A place where historical events like Juneteenth are shared and new stories with equal urgency are told.

CARIBNEWS

WEEK ENDING JUNE 20, 2023

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T&T – PM Rowley Sets August 14 for Local Elections Port of Spain, Trinidad – Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley on Tuesday named August 14 as the date for the Local Government Elections, less than two weeks after he told Parliament that the date would be announced after the necessary legislation was passed in keeping with the ruling of the London-based Privy Council.

In its ruling last month, by a 3-2 majority, the Londonbased Privy Council, the country’s highest court, had ruled that while the extension of the life of local government bodies last December by one year was unlawful, it was not a constitutional breach and did not deprive people of their right to vote.

Rowley said late last month that the legislation to validate all acts of the various corporations from December 2022 up to the May 18 this year and for the further three month period from that date would be presented to Parliament before the LGE is held.

A brief statement from the Office of the Prime Minister Tuesday noted that Rowley had advised the President Christine Kangaloo of the date for the LGE and that Nomination Day will be Monday June 26.

Rowley had said last month that the time for calling an election had now past and that the government was

duty-bound to call an election in accordance with the statutory procedure prescribed in the Act and the Representation of the People Act. On Monday, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar led an opposition walk out of the Parliament as legislators debated amendments to the Municipal Corporations (Extension of Terms of Office and Validation) Bill 2023.

Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC, introduced the bill but made no statement.

Last week, the bill was passed in both houses with additional amendments.

Persad Bissessar said that since the Attorney General “stayed totally silent, we cannot debate this matter to give our support to it or not give our support…”

The Opposition Leader clashed with the Speaker, Brigid Anisette-George, after claiming that the opposition was not being allowed to speak to which Anisette-George said that was not true and asked Persad Bissessar to stay within the confines of the Standing Orders.

“I take total objection to this course of action and I will not partake in this debate,” Persad Bissessar said, who had been calling on the government to name the date for the LGE or face the possibility of legal action. (CMC)

Antigua and Barbuda – Mother and Daughter Ready for Trip Into Space

A mother and daughter from Antigua and Barbuda will be the first from the country to embark on a once in a lifetime trip to space.

The mother, Keisha Schahaff, won the prize worth almost $1 million after entering a fundraiser sweepstakes organized by Virgin Galactic on the Omaze platform, which raised $1.7 million. Virgin Galactic said in a statement that the drive attracted nearly 165,000 participants in eight weeks.

Schahaff, a health and wellness coach will be taking her daughter, 17-year-old Anastatia Mayars, an aspiring NASA Engineer living in Britain, along for the ride.

Branson surprised Schahaff at her home in the Caribbean.

She said, “When I saw Richard Branson walking in I just started screaming! I couldn’t believe it. This is a great opportunity for me to feel alive and to just make

the greatest adventure ever.”

Although no date has been set for the trip, the two have been preparing for the flight doing different trainings, traveling to the UK to undergo a full medical examination. Both are set to travel to New Mexico to undergo a five-day in person training session.

Schahaff said, “I have been very lucky that I have been maintaining a healthy lifestyle so that worked to my advantage.”

Part of the training is preparing them for their minds’ to handle space travel, and the mother and daughter duo Keisha have met with Maja Muric, the Director of Galactic Unite to help with that.

Schahaff said she is looking forward to the after. “I’m very encouraged to inspire others to also live their dream.”

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CARIBNEWS

WEEK ENDING JUNE 20, 2023

WEEK ENDING JUNE 20, 2023

CARIBBRIEFS

15

Cuba – US Confirms China Spy Base in Country According to a Biden administration official, China has been operating a spy base in Cuba since at least 2019, part of a global effort by Beijing to upgrade its intelligence-gathering capabilities.

Apparently, the US intelligence community has been aware of China’s spying from Cuba for some time. A Biden administration official confirmed that Chinese spy base or facilities in Cuba that could intercept electronic signals from nearby U.S. military and commercial buildings have been up and running since before 2019.

The White House previously confirmed the report as inaccurate.

The spy base was an issue that the Biden administration had inherited from former President Trump, and after taking office President Biden and his administration were briefed about the base in Cuba as well as plans China was considering to build similar facilities across the globe.

More confirmation came after The Wall Street Journal and other media outlets reported last Thursday that China and Cuba had reached an agreement in principle to build an electronic eavesdropping station on the island. The former

plans to pay the cash-strapped country billions of dollars as part of the agreement.

A Cuban official have refuted the report, issuing a statement via social media saying, “The slanderous speculation continues, evidently promoted by certain media to cause harm and alarm without observing minimum patterns of communication and without providing data or evidence to support what they disseminate.” (Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío) According to an offical familiar with the matter, the Biden administration has stepped up efforts to thwart the Chinese effort to expand its spying operations. The administration believes it has made some progress through diplomacy and other unspecified action.

US-China relations became further strained early this year after the US shot down a Chinese spy balloon that had crossed the United States.

On Friday, Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, in response to the reports said, “The U.S. is the global champion of hacking and superpower of surveillance.”

In a continued effort to normalize relations with China after a protracted period of heightened tensions, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken is now scheduled to travel to Beijing for meetings that begin June 18. These new confirmed spy reports of collusion between Cuba and China could complicate those plans.

T&T – SpaceX Gets 10-Year License for Starlink Call to get an ADT Security System + Get a $100 ADT Visa Reward Card FREE* ADT’s 24/7 monitoring plus top of the line security cameras help ensure your loved ones are safe – whether you’re out and about or in the next room.

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Trinidad and Tobago awarded SpaceX a 10-year license to provide Starlink Internet across the Islands. The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) announced this week, marking a further expansion of its presence in the Caribbean. TATT has granted Starlink a “Type 2 Concession for the Provision of a Public Domestic Fixed (via satellite) Telecommunications Network and Public Domestic Fixed Telecommunications Services on a National Geographic Scale.” This concession is valid for a decade. Starlink is poised to launch the satellite service by the second quarter this year. Trinidad and Tobago residents can check if the service is available in a specific address at SpaceX’s official Starlink.com website.

Starlink will be a game-changer in rural communities across the two islands, especially during harsh tropical weather seasons when terrestrial internet infrastructures can be affected in the ground.

Starlink works even during bad weather because the user terminals directly receive signal from over 4,200 Starlink satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and do not largely

depend on ground base infrastructures like fiber-optic cable internet does.

This recent license acquisition in Trinidad and Tobago adds to Starlink’s rapidly growing portfolio of operating licenses in more than 50 countries worldwide. Starlink is already available in multiple islands in the Caribbean, including: Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, French Islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe, Barbados, and Starlink is also beaming internet to two of the world’s most remote islands – Pitcairn Island and Easter Island. Just last week, the company obtained a license to operate in Costa Rica, further strengthening its presence in Central America, as previously reported by TESMANIAN. With these expansions, Starlink continues to make significant strides towards its goal of providing reliable and high-speed satellite internet access to underserved regions across the globe. The company’s innovative LEO satellite network holds immense potential to bridge the digital divide and revolutionize connectivity for millions of people.

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CARIBHEALTH

WEEK ENDING JUNE 20, 2023

WHO and the Global Fund Announce Commitment for Enhanced Collaboration

the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund) signed a new and revised Strategic Framework for Collaboration, designed to build stronger and more resilient health systems and maximize collaboration and impact in support of country, regional and global responses to major communicable diseases.

The new five-year framework builds on the previous agreement signed in 2018. It aligns with the 2023-2028 Global Fund Strategy and the WHO General Programme of Work, which put communities at the centre of the health response and also address pandemic preparedness and challenges posed by climate change.

The framework fits with broader collaboration platforms to accelerate support to countries to achieve the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

“As health budgets globally are strained and under pressure, it is imperative for our two organizations to continue to work together to support countries to expand access to services for the three diseases as part of their journey towards universal health coverage,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director -General. “In light of slowing progress towards ending the AIDS, TB, and malaria epidemics,

coupled with emerging health challenges, stronger collaboration between WHO and the Global Fund is needed more than ever.”

With WHO and the Global Fund’s common mission and commitment to serve countries, the new Strategic Framework for Collaboration will further strengthen and extend collaboration.

“At a time when the world is beset by interlocking and intersecting crises, from conflict to climate change, the partnership between the Global Fund and WHO is more critical than ever,” said Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “Crises shock global systems and roll back gains, with the world’s most vulnerable people bearing the brunt. Organizations like ours are most effective when we collaborate closely with national governments and other trusted partners to strengthen local, community-driven systems for health.”

Continued collaboration over the past years has contributed to significant achievements at country level: Rapid scale-up of differentiated service delivery (DSD) across a range of countries to improve access to HIV prevention, testing, care and treatment, including 18 countries currently receiving intensified support through the Global Fund/WHO collaborative DSD Strategic Initiative to increase efficiencies and cost-

June 14 is World Blood Donor Day

Every year countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day (WBDD). The event serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood.

A blood service that gives patients access to safe blood and blood products in sufficient quantity is a key component of an effective health system. The global theme of World Blood Donor Day changes each year in recognition of the selfless individuals who donate their blood for people unknown to them.

The slogan for 2023 World Blood Donor

Day campaign, celebrated on 14 June 2023, is “Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often.” It focuses on patients requiring life-long transfusion support and underlines the role every single person can play, by giving the valuable gift of blood or plasma. It also highlights the importance of giving blood or plasma regularly to create a safe and sustainable supply of blood and blood products that can be always available, all over the world, so that all patients in need can receive timely treatment.

The objectives are to: celebrate and thank individuals who donate blood and encourage more people to become new donors; encourage people in good health to donate blood regularly, as often as is safe and possible, to transform the quality of life for transfusion dependent patients and help to build a secure blood supply in all countries in the world; highlight the critical roles of voluntary non-remunerated regular blood and plasma donations in achieving universal access to safe blood products for all populations; and mobilize support at national, regional and global levels among governments and development partners to invest in, strengthen and sustain national blood programmes.

effectiveness in DSD. Collaboration has enabled early guidance and surveys on dual testing for COVID-19 and TB, allowing for improved detection of people with TB through the innovations adopted during and after the COVID-19 emergency.

Strategic initiatives on malaria enabled accelerated progress towards malaria elimination.

Since 2018, eight countries have been certified malaria-free by WHO, with five more preparing for certification in 2023 and 2024.

The partnership also provides the foundation to accelerate the implementation of innovative approaches, such as the new WHO Insecticide Treated Nets Guidelines for malaria and the scale-up of new, shorter treatments for multi-

drug-resistant TB. Valuable support was provided in the development of 50 evidence-based and costed national strategic plans aligned to the latest WHO guidelines, serving as a basis for high-quality funding requests to the Global Fund.

Global health financing remains an important area for continued collaboration to help countries develop stronger, more sustainable and efficient health financing systems. WHO’s work to track health expenditure in 59 lowand middle-income countries, has informed national health policy dialogue. Joint work to support cross-programme efficiency analysis in 13 countries has reduced fragmentation and duplication.

Even with this level of progress, much work remains to be done in countries to accelerate progress towards ending AIDS, TB and malaria epidemics and to build strong health systems that are also capable of responding to the next emergency.

Through this new framework, WHO and the Global Fund will be leveraging their comparative strengths across 35 areas for collaboration divided into 4 categories: Health policies and normative guidance Advocacy and health governance Health products and innovations Technical support and capacity building

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Buju Banton Releases New Single “Coconut Wata (Sip)” Gearing up for another momentous era, GRAMMY® winning, multiple Billboard chart-topping artist, and international reggae icon Buju Banton returns to the dancehall on his intoxicatingly catchy new single entitled “Coconut Wata (Sip)”—out now via Gargamel Music/ Roc Nation Records / Def Jam Recordings.

A vibrant and catchy dancehall track that encourages listeners to stay positive and resilient in the face of challenges, “Coconut Wata (Sip)” showcases Buju’s distinctive dancehall style, evolution, and lyrical prowess. Slinky keys set the tempo as Buju urges us to take a break from the stress life can bring and find joy and peace in the simple things: “While we a sip coconut water/Well them jus a trip/ We look on them and notice/ How them ship Jus a dip.” The buoyant dancehall beat brushes up against swaggering verses backed by string samples and sun-soaked sonic flourishes.

“Coconut Wata (Sip)” notably arrives on the heels of the global banger “High Life”

featuring Snoop Dogg. With over a million total streams, “High Life” has garnered widespread critical acclaim. In addition to plugs from HYPEBEAST, TMZ, and more, REVOLT hailed it as “perfect for the stoners’ holiday,” and HotNewHipHop proclaimed, ‘High Life’ is a perfect combination of their respective styles.”

Rap Radar attested, “the Kingston-native and the O.G. from the L.B.C. spread good vibes with the finest herbs,” and Rolling Stone summed it up best as “Bumping.”

Buju continues to pave the road towards a full-length follow-up to 2020’s universally acclaimed Upside Down 2020, which garnered a GRAMMY® Award nomination in the category of “Best Reggae Album” and earned rave “4-out-of-5 star” reviews on both sides of the pond from The Guardian and Rolling Stone, respectively.

Igniting 2023 with a bang, Buju joined Beres Hammond in concert on New Year’s Day at Grizzly’s Plantation Cove in Priory, St. Ann, Jamaica. It stood as the first time these two reggae stars headlined a concert

together on the island. Plus, it followed his return to the worldwide stage with a much-lauded performance at Kingston’s Famed National Stadium. The Long Walk to Freedom Concert was one of the biggest music events in Jamaica’s history and was the launching pad for the tour of the same name. Relive the monumental moment from the history-making Long Walk to Freedom Concert here: https://bujubanton.me/lwtf In 2020, he signed to Roc Nation and dropped “Steppa” and “Trust,” paving the way for Upside Down 2020. The latter featured collaborations with Stephen Marley, John Legend, Pharrell, and Stefflon Don. Making waves worldwide, he notably notched his fourth career GRAMMY® nomination for the album.

Buju’s GRAMMY® winning album Before the Dawn was released in 2010. Prior, he unveiled records at a prolific pace, beginning with his debut in 1992. Among many highlights, 1995’s Til Shiloh was certified Gold by the RIAA. He has been described

by the Associated Press as “one of the most respected acts in reggae.” Moreover, The FADER hailed him as “a national hero,” going on to elaborate, “Buju Banton, born Mark Myrie, is more Jamaican than jerk chicken, Red Stripe beer, and a croaking lizard combined. He’s as much a singer as he is a hallmark of Jamaican culture.”

Dancehall Star Kranium Drops New Single “Vibes Weekend” and Announces New York Show LET’S GET DOWN to

New York, NY - Chart topping, dancehall star Kranium is back with a new single “Vibes Weekend”, a catchy and upbeat tune that celebrates the joy of living in the moment. The song, which features his signature smooth vocals and infectious melodies, is available on all streaming platforms and attaining great global buzz.

Accompanied by the release of a video “Vibes Weekend” showcases Kranium unique ability to deliver a Dancehall/Reggae sound which resonates with fans worldwide.

Shot in Jamaica, W.I.and directed by 300K, the video showcases the essentials of a great weekend: great

energy and good friends.

Kranium, who has collaborated with artists such as Ty Dolla $ign, Major Lazer, Ed Sheeran and Tory Lanez, is also gearing up for his first live New York performance in five years. He will be hitting the stage at the Gramercy Theatre on June 14 with his band Melody Gad, bringing his fans a night of pure energy and dancehall vibes.

“I’m always excited to perform in my hometown, New York, share my new music and hold a vibes with my fans. The delivery of my music is always unpredictable, which is why I will have my band and also my DJ accompanying me for this show, you never know what may happen or who may appear” Kranium said.

“Vibes Weekend is all about having fun and enjoying life, and that’s what I want to bring to the stage.

I can’t wait to see everyone at the Gramercy Theatre and make it a night to remember.”

Tickets for Kranium’s show are on sale now at www.gramercytheatre. com.

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Alick Athanaze Bursts Onto Scene to Help West Indies

Alick Athanaze has admitted to being nervous before making his international debut, but he shook it off quickly and went onto make it a memorable one by slamming the joint-fastest half-century on ODI debut.

Athanaze’s 65 off 45 balls, including 51 which came in the powerplay alone, set the tone for West Indies’ successful chase of 185.

“I was a bit nervous actually, but the nerves went away when I got my first runs and it was good,” Athanaze told CWI media after West Indies swept UAE 3-0 in Sharjah. “It was a really good experience [on debut]. [I] haven’t batted much in the night, so it was a first for me actually. But normally that’s how I play in the powerplay - I always look to get the team off to a good start.”

Athanaze grew up idolising Brian Lara and more recently when he was with West

Indies’ Test side in South Africa, he worked with Lara, who was on tour as the team’s performance mentor. Athanaze said that the conversations with Lara have had a positive influence on his batting approach.

“For me, it has been really good,” Athanaze said. “Basically, what we spoke about was judging lengths and trying to get ahead of the bowler. It worked really nicely, and I got myself into some good positions and it was really good to bat out there tonight.”

Athanaze put left-arm fingerspinner Aayan Afzal Khan out of the attack in the powerplay with a brace of sixes. Then when UAE’s seamers bowled into the Sharjah pitch, Athanaze countered them with a variety of pulls, including the short-arm jab.

India to begin next WTC cycle with twomatch series in Caribbean.

Athanaze was the top run-getter in the 2018 Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand, ahead of Shubman Gill, but it has taken him five years to make the step-up to international cricket. Athanaze isn’t part of West Indies’ ODI squad for the upcoming ODI World Cup Qualifier but could get a run in the following home series against India. Spinner Kevin Sinclair, who had been part of the Under-19 and West Indies A set-ups with Athanaze, was impressed with Athanaze’s fearless strokeplay on debut.

“For me, I’ve always known Alick since Under-19 [cricket],” Sinclair said. “He’s a

Haiti Heads to Women’s World Cup Despite Not Having Sponsorship

Back in February, Haiti beat Chile 2-1 in their Group B 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Playoff match on Wednesday to advance for their first-ever appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup which will be hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

Haiti’s national women’s team beat Chile 2-1 in their Group B 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Playoff match on Wednesday to advance for their first-ever appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup which will be hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

Haiti, which will contest the game’s showpiece this summer in Group D with China, Denmark and England, join Jamaica as the only two teams from the Caribbean at World Cup.

Midfielder Danielle Etienne before the February match told the press, “There’s a lot of unhappiness in the country and football is the joy.”

This is a sense of pride for Haitians at home who continue to strive among upending chaos, and despite having no corporate or government sponsors and being unable to play at home due to security concerns.

The entire squad currently lives abroad.

Every player at the Women’s World Cup will be paid at least $30,000 by FIFA, and the 23 players in the title-winning team will each get $270,000, an amount we are sure the team will welcome warmly.

The details confirmed Wednesday by FIFA fulfills a promise made in March to financially reward the 732 players taking part in the July 20 – Aug. 20 tournament hosted

by Australia and New Zealand.

It means more than half of FIFA’s total prize money fund of $110 million must be paid to the players in the 32 team squads.

Players from the 16 teams that do not advance from the group stage are still guaranteed to get $30,000 — more than the annual salary many get from their clubs.

good player and a good batsman. To watch himself express himself tonight at a higher level is something really good to see from the sidelines. I always knew he could bat and he did bring form from Bangladesh and he did very well.”

Athanaze also spoke of how the new team management, under the leadership of Daren Sammy and Shai Hope, has encouraged the youngsters to play with confidence and freedom.

“The team did really, really well,” Athanaze said. “One thing the captain stresses about is always improving and as you saw right throughout the series, we improved - not just on the batting but fielding as well and bowling. As a young player, it’s always good to be in a winning team and it gives you the confidence to go out and express yourself.”

Kevin Sinclair brought out his signature celebration during his four-wicket haul Kevin Sinclair brought out his signature celebration during his four-wicket haul•AFP/ Getty Images Sinclair dedicates Player-of-the-Match award to his grandfather Friday’s match was a special one for Sinclair, too, who marked his international return with figures of 4 for 24. Carlos Brathwaite, who was on TV commentary, noted that Sinclair is now getting his offbreak to grip and turn more than he did in the past. This has in turn made his slider more effective

and put him in West Indies or West Indies A contention across formats.

“We were in a bit of a bother, so my thing was just to keep it simple and keep it as tight as possible,” Sinclair said. “Hence, getting a breakthrough as well, and that was really good for myself.”

Sinclair credited former Guyana allrounder and coach Esuan Crandon for his recent progress. During the Headley-Weekes tri-series, Sinclair also benefitted from working with Nikita Miller.

“As I mentioned I couple of weeks ago, Esuan Crandon,” Sinclair said. “The support he has given me and every time I step out [onto the field], I try and do what I can do with the bat, ball and in the field as well.

“It’s all about consistency and I just want to take that moving forward and try to be consistent in what I do.”

After winning the Player-of-the-Match award, Sinclair dedicated it to his grandfather Carlton, who was employed as a security guard. Carlton has doubled up as Sinclair’s mentor over the years.

“Just want to mention that two days ago was my grandfather’s birthday,” Sinclair said. “It was his 75th birthday. He has been behind me since my tender age of seven, so I want to say this performance is for him.”

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