HAITI
NO MORE TIME TO WASTE
Says PM Ariel Henry to Caricom stakeholders meeting in Jamaicathe people are suffering
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GUYANA
GUYANESE WINS MISS INDIA WORLDWIDE
At international pageant in Pune, India
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JAMAICA PM HOLNESS CALLS FOR HUMANITARIAN ACTION
Saying almost half of the country, 5.2 million persons, are facing acute hunger
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CARIBBEAN HERITAGE TOP CFO JOURNEY BEGAN IN HAITI
Zoetis’
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REP. YVETTE CLARKE JOINS COLLEAGUES TO REINTRODUCE BILL IN CONGRESS TO PROTECT OVER 600,000 PERSONS FROM DEPORTATION
MINISTER ON SEX ASSAULT CHARGE
Sent on leave by President Alipending outcome of charges
GUYANA Page 4
BROOKLYN NEW YORK
‘FE NOEL’ A TOUCH, FEEL, BEAT OF THE CARIBBEAN IN BOUTIQUE RECENTLY OPENED
Speaking via video message as a new temporary ceasefire between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) was coming into effect, the UN chief said that hundreds of civilians had been killed and many thousands more injured since clashes erupted in mid-April.
“These numbers grow by the day. The situation in Darfur and Khartoum is catastrophic. Fighting is raging with people attacked in their homes and on the street,” Mr. Guterres said. “Before this conflict erupted, Sudan was already grappling with a humanitarian crisis. This has now escalated into a catastrophe affecting more than half the country’s people.” The UN Secretary-General insisted that it was the international community’s duty to support the people of Sudan and neighbouring countries. He also condemned violence against aid workers and the looting of humanitarian supplies, appealing to the warning parties to protect civilians and enable humanitarian action, in line with international law.
It is an alarming fact that there are more children engaged in child labour in sub-Saharan Africa than in the rest of the world combined. Nearly 82 percent of them work in agriculture. The majority of these children are assisting their parents in producing crops, rearing livestock or catching fish, mainly for family consumption.
Not all this work is considered child labour. Age-appropriate tasks that are not hazardous and do not interfere with a child’s education can be positive for the family and even contribute to the inter-generational transfer of valuable skills that boost families’ food security. In fact, addressing hunger and poverty, the root causes of child labour, can help tackle the issue.
For too many children though, their work, particularly in agriculture, goes beyond the limits of safety and well-being and crosses into a form of labour that can harm their health or educational opportunities.
As the world marks the World Day Against Child Labour on 12 June, here are four examples of the work FAO is doing to tackle this issue from the field right up to the global level, to ensure that children have a childhood. FAO helped found the International Partnership for Cooperation on Child Labour in Agriculture, with the International Labour Organization, the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations and other partners, and since 2007 has been working with governments to promote policy measures to curb child labour. A major breakthrough in FAO’s advocacy efforts has been the inclusion of ending child labour in agriculture as a top priority in the Durban Call for Action, alandmark document adopted during the Fifth Global Conference for the Elimination of Child Labour...
Afghanistan: Taliban ‘may be responsible for gender apartheid’ says rights expert
The plight of women and girls in Afghanistan featured prominently at the Human Rights Council on Monday where independent UN-appointed rights experts warned of systematic “gender apartheid” and “gender persecution”.
Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed similar concerns on the opening day of the Council’s summer session, adding that the de facto authorities had “dismantled the most fundamental principles of human rights, particularly for women and girls”.
In a joint report presented to the Council by the Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan and the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls, the experts, Richard Bennett and Dorothy Estrada-Tanck, said that their plight was among the worst in the world. Their report calls on the de facto authorities to respect and restore women’s and girls’ human rights. It also urges the international community and the UN to pay greater attention to widespread discrimination against women and girls in Afghanistan.
Israel-Palestine: UN envoy ‘deeply alarmed by continuing cycle of violence’
The UN’s Middle East envoy said on Tuesday he was “deeply alarmed” at the continuing cycle of violence in Israel and Palestine, and “appalled by the continued loss of civilian lives.”
Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland was reacting on Twitter to the news of a shooting attack reportedly by two Palestinian gunmen, who opened fire at a petrol station on a road outside an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank.
News reports quoting the Israeli military said both of the gunmen had been shot dead, one at the scene by an armed civilian and the other by Israeli security forces.
The UN envoy urged “all sides to refrain from steps that could further enflame an already volatile situation.”
Jenin camp raid
Tuesday’s violence followed a day of bloodshed on Monday, when at least five Palestinians were killed by Israeli security forces during an operation inside the Jenin refugee camp prompting Mr. Wennesland to voice his deep concern over the escalating violence. He tweeted that the Israeli operation and ensuing exchange of fire with Palestinian militants in the occupied West Bank city resulted in five dead including a child.
Scores of Palestinians and seven Israeli security personnel were reportedly wounded.
Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, said in a speech that her country was launch of a new centre to coordinate international security assistance to Haiti.
Joly announced, “For Canada’s support to Haiti to be effective, it must be well-coordinated and integrated. The Haitian people deserve no less. That’s why we held a ministerial meeting on Haiti and announced the Canada-led Joint security coordination cell.
Haiti’s prime minister Ariel Henry and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
have called for a new international mission to help stabilize the violence-torn nation.
“This cell will enhance international efforts in security assistance, working closely with the Haitian National Police and the United Nations to foster a sustainable environment for long-term peace and security in Haiti.”
“We also announced new sanctions on 2 additional individuals, imposing a dealings prohibition that effectively freezes any assets these individuals may hold in Canada and bars their entry to Canada.”
“Lastly, we announced $13 million in aid
for Haiti through the UN Development Program and the UN Drugs and Crimes Office, helping to address both immediate and long term concerns.”
“Canada has been a long-time partner and ally of Haiti, and we will continue to work with the international community to advance a Haitian-led solution to the crisis.”
Although the Canada, the US and France have supported the plan for this cell, no one nation has agreed to lead as yet.
at a special meeting in support of Haiti, held at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York on Friday. Nearly half of the population in Haiti does not have enough to eat. In rural areas, 76 per cent of people are affected by food insecurity.
Holness said the humanitarian crisis is compounded by increasing violence and insecurity, forcing many to flee their homes or leave the country, often under unsafe conditions.
well-needed assistance. The resulting vulnerability and weakened resilience have contributed to conditions for ongoing crime. We must break this vicious cycle,” Holness said.
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness, says there is need for urgent action to deal with the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Haiti.
“Almost half of the country, 5.2 million persons, are facing acute hunger, a number that has regrettably grown since the start of the year. It is also deeply alarming that the children of Haiti, the future of the country, are being disproportionately affected, as they face a high risk of malnutrition, underdevelopment, illness and death,” Holness said. The prime minister was speaking virtually
“Health and sanitation have been greatly compromised and education seriously disrupted. The need for action is urgent and compelling and requires concerted attention,” he stated.
The prime minister noted that the multifaceted Haitian crisis requires a multipronged, multinational response “and we need to work on all fronts at the same time”.
He said that while the political challenges require attention, much more urgent is addressing the immediate needs of the population.
“It is of serious concern that humanitarian agencies… have been prevented from clearing shipments and delivering
The prime minister said that Jamaica recognises the importance of collaboration between Haiti and the international community in addressing food insecurity. He said that innovative approaches, including a humanitarian corridor supported by international partners, will assist in unblocking the supply chain and facilitating imports and distribution.
“Support for the overwhelmed Haitian police is, therefore, urgently required so they can assist with the dispensing of goods into and through the ports to communities. Beyond these immediate concerns, we also need to support the development of sustainable solutions for homegrown food production and agro processing,” Holness said. He noted, further, that capacity-building initiatives can focus on strengthening local institutions, farmers cooperatives and extension services to ensure the transfer of knowledge and skills.
He said that farmers will also need assistance in the event of natural disasters. “School-feeding programmes using locally sourced inputs and assisted by relevant international agencies could stimulate the local economy and provide alternative avenues for growth. This could also deter those attracted to crime and violence,” Holness pointed out.
“We, therefore, need to empower local communities and enhance their capacity to address food-security challenges. In these efforts, donor countries, UN systems, international financial institutions, and other multinational organisations, as well as civil society, have a vital role to play,” he added.
The prime minister said that Jamaica welcomes the many commitments of support to the UN Humanitarian Response Plan 2023 and the funds that have been made available for urgent responses. Launched in April 2023, the response plan calls for an unprecedented $719 million, almost double from 2022. To date, the plan is only 20 percent funded.
Jamaica’s Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith announced that Jamaica has suspended consular services in Haiti, after its consulate in the nation’s capital came under attack Monday night.
Via video message, Johnson Smith she said her government is aware that the Sun Auto Car Dealership, where the Jamaican consulate is located, “was set ablaze and ransacked by criminal gangs.”
She described the attack as “hardened our resolve in returning Haiti to the peace and prosperity, which she and her people deserve.”
Sun Auto is located in the Tabarre area of Port-au-Prince, near the U.S. embassy and in a red zone where a gang has been wreaking
havoc.
She said, “The Consulate of Jamaica was located on the premises and therefore consular services in Haiti are therefore suspended indefinitely.”
Johnson Smith also expressed Jamaica’s sympathies to the owner of the dealership and honorary consul Daniel Rouzier.
The timing of the alleged gang attack has raised suspicions, even bordering on coincidental as Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry and members of his delegation are in Kingston trying resolve a path toward elections, governance, as the continued violence by gangs threatens the future of the country and the lives of Haitians.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke joined Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (D-TX) and her fellow co-author Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) to reintroduce the American Dream and Promise Act which seeks to overhaul our nation’s immigration system by strengthening protections for recipients of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), protecting recipients of TPS and DACA from deportation, and creating a more comprehensive pathway to citizenship. “It has been eleven years since we first gave temporary legal protection to people who were brought to this country as children. And on the anniversary of the Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals program, we have 600,000 people waiting in limbo as a federal judge considers the future of this program. A program, by the way, that helped many of them go to college and grad school to buy
homes and to start businesses. We’re talking about healthcare workers providing critical patient care, educators teaching our children, folks in the food supply chain, as food travels from farms to dinner tables. We’re talking about people already making major economic and fiscal contributions to our nation each and every year. Their contributions as the economy recovers are real,” said Congresswoman Clarke. “But a pathway to citizenship would boost these folks to new heights, especially as the United States tracks its course for economic recovery. To deliver for Dreamers is to deliver for America. I am so proud to stand with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reintroduce the American Dream and Promise Act. Because the greatness of the American Dream is the belief that any single person can come to this land of opportunity that allows the possibility of upward mobility, freedom and equality for people of all races, classes, and religions who work hard and have the will to succeed. It’s
time for real solutions that will invest in America’s immigration system and in our nation’s growth and development, and ensure it remains a bastion of opportunity for all of us. And I’m proud to stand by my colleagues’ sides, demanding that we do just that,” Clarke continued.
“My parents came to the United States In the 1950s as foreign students. My district has many people from around the world. It’s an immigrant portal. I have many Dreamers that are living in my constituency at this very moment who are seeking the opportunity for a pathway to citizenship. We have worked hard and long on immigration in this Congress. We have not met the goal yet. But we are not giving up. We are by no means going to relent. We will not stop until we reach that dream and that promise for each and everyone who has been seeking this and comprehensive immigration reform at the end of the day. It’s my honor and
my privilege to be here with you all today. Let’s keep the pressure on. Let’s go out and get this win.”
Yesterday a release by Advocates for Children of New York (AFC) shows the urgent need to reject proposed cuts and provide targeted investments to support immigrant students and families, including the more than 18,000 new students in temporary housing—most of whom are recently arrived immigrants— who have enrolled in New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) in the past year. This release, Rising Enrollment, Shrinking Support: The Urgent Need to Protect Programs for Immigrant Students Amidst Funding Threats, is timely as the
Mayor’s proposed budget would eliminate funding for two programs that are helping the newest New Yorkers navigate the public school system and access a quality education for their children: the immigrant family communications and outreach initiative, which is using multi-faceted approaches to help ensure parents who speak languages other than English can access timely information about their children’s schools, and Promise NYC, which is providing hundreds of children who are undocumented with access to subsidized childcare and early
learning opportunities for which they would otherwise be ineligible due to immigration status.
“Investments in immigrant students and families are investments in the future of New York City, and right now, the need is greater than ever,” said Rita Rodriguez-Engberg, Director of AFC’s Immigrant Students’ Rights Project. “This year’s budget must restore funding for programs that are on the chopping block and ensure schools have the resources they need to support older newcomer youth.”
As Mayor Adams and the City Council
negotiate the final Fiscal Year 2024 budget, the brief calls for:
Restoration of funding for immigrant family communications and outreach so families can get key information about their children’s schools ($4M); Extension of funding for Promise NYC ($20M to continue serving the same number of children for a full year); and A $3M investment to bring the six new ELL programs at transfer schools in line with best practices for educating older newcomer youth.
into allegations of sexual assault involving him.
“The minister has requested leave for a full probe into the allegations and I have no problem with it. I have agreed,” Ali told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) in a telephone interview.
He made it clear that his administration “will not stand in the way of any probe” insisting also that “I was never ever formally informed of it (the allegation).
“I was never written to, I have never received any formal letter,” said Ali, who is celebrating the birth of his second child on Sunday, Father’s Day.
Ali said there would be “no deadline” set regarding the duration of the probe,” telling CMC that he is also aware of the allegations being made on social media, some of which have now been recanted.
The Ministry of Human Services’ Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) said it is carrying out a “full investigation” into the matter even as the 16-year-old school girl recanted her allegations.
based violence are not to be made lightly, are not usually made lightly and must always be taken seriously. I begin by believing complainants. Always. Every time. Because the statistics are clear.
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Guyana’s president, Irfaan Ali, on Sunday said that he has “no problem” with a request made by his embattled Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Nigel Dharamlall, to proceed on leave to facilitate an investigation
Earlier, Ali told the pro-government online publication, NEWSROOM, that “as a government, we are committed to having any facts fully investigated as we hold dearly our girls and women in every community. And we will continue to do everything to ensure their safety and well-being”.
“The Child Care and Protection Agency is carrying out a full investigation. All support will be provided to the young lady. Our women and girls must be safe and no one is above the law,” said the Minister of Human Services Dr Vindhya Persaud on her Facebook page on Saturday.
Education Priya Manickchand also said that she takes the allegation against the senior government official as serious.
“Allegations of rape and sex assault and gender
Despite the myths, victims of rape and sex assault do not lie about their experiences any more than victims of any other crime. When the complainant is a child the complaint must take on even more urgent dimensions. I have always treated complaints of rape and sex assault urgently. Even more so when a child is involved. And I always will,” she wrote on her Facebook page.
She confirmed that the Chief Education Officer Saddam Hussain had made contact with the teenager and offered her “our full support”. She urged people against publishing the child’s name on social media since it would be in contravention of the Sexual Offences Act .
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced that it is now accepting IDNYC as valid identification to apply for Reduced-Fare MetroCards, or OMNY cards, and for Access-A-Ride service. The Authority’s paratransit service requires ID when customers apply to become a paratransit customer. Once they are an eligible customer, they need to show ID every time they board the vehicle, which can be an AAR ID, a state ID, and now also an IDNYC card.
This latest effort, a recommendation put forth in the Fare Evasion Report released last month, expands the reach of the MTA’s Reduced-Fare program as IDNYC is widely used by lower income New Yorkers from all backgrounds. The comprehensive report to combat fare evasion included taking a look at how to better support New York’s low-income transit riders. Reduced-Fare MetroCard holders are also eligible to receive discounted tickets on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad at all times except weekday morning peak trains.
“Accepting IDNYC is one of the more immediate solutions we can implement that expands the opportunity to offer financial assistance through reduced fares to more New Yorkers,” said MTA Acting Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara. “We receive hundreds of applications daily for reduced fares and expanding this is a great step to making sure that we are doing what we can on our end to better serve transit riders.”
“Having an IDNYC card has already made it easier for New Yorkers to benefit from essential services from the City,” said New York City Transit President Richard Davey. “Now, IDNYC card holders can benefit from the same ease to receive reduced fares as they ride the subway and bus system. Increasing access to Reduced-Fare customers who rely on transit
to get around is a win for the city, the transit system, and the countless customers who will benefit.”
“Access-a-ride provides a critical service for customers who are unable to use our fixed-route system,” said MTA Vice President for Paratransit Chris Pangilinan. “Branching out to customers who use IDNYC as their main source of identification opens the opportunity for them to potentially have access to paratransit service like tens of thousands of New Yorkers who already benefit from it every day.”
“Mobility is a critical piece of delivering equity.
As an immigrant myself and proud supporter of IDNYC, this new policy is a great way to expand transportation access to more New Yorkers,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “We thank MTA Chairman and
CEO Janno Lieber and his staff for taking this important step and look forward to more great partnerships between the City and MTA in the future.”
“Our City is constantly seeking innovative solutions to bridge resources and services to immigrant communities,” said Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Manuel Castro. “Adding IDNYC as an accepted document will increase the accessibility of NYC transportation and services to many New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status or income.”
“In choosing to accept IDNYC as a valid identification, the MTA continues to strengthen access to critical reduced-fare and paratransit programs for vulnerable New Yorkers while simultaneously bolstering the utility of the IDNYC card,” said New York City
Department of Social Services First Deputy Commissioner Jill Berry. “We are committed to ensuring that every New Yorker has access to the resources and services they deserve, and we are again thrilled to partner with the MTA on efforts to make public transit more equitable and accessible.”
“I applaud the MTA for accepting IDNYC when applying for Reduced-Fare MetroCards, OMNY cards, and Access-A-Ride service,” said NYC Majority Whip Selvena N. BrooksPowers, Chair of the Council’s Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. “This policy change will improve access to critical reduced-fare and paratransit programs for riders who rely on our mass transit system every day.”
“For thousands of immigrant New Yorkers, IDNYC opens doors to essential City resources. Now with this new partnership with the MTA, it’s also a gateway to accessing our entire transit network,” said New York City Council Member Shahana Hanif, Chair of the Immigration Committee. “I’m deeply grateful to the MTA for expanding this essential program and providing access to affordable fares for our immigrant neighbors. Through continued work with the Council, my hope is we can expand this important program to incomes up to 200% above the federal poverty line to ensure nearly a million New Yorkers can access discounted transit passes.” For subways and local buses, the reduced fare is $1.35, compared with the base fare $2.75. Reduced fares are available for riders who are 65 or older or have a qualifying disability. Customers can apply online, apply by mail, or in person at any Customer Service Center or a MetroCard Bus or Van. For a list of location of mobile sales vehicles, see here. For more information about IDNYC, visit About – IDNYC.
A wide cross-section of Haitian stakeholders, a microcosm of Haitian society, met in Kingston, Jamaica, at the invitation of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on 11-13 June 2023. Stakeholders welcomed the inclusive nature of the meeting. The meeting sought to facilitate inclusive dialogue among Haitian stakeholders in an effort to find a solution to the protracted multi-dimensional crisis in which the country has been mired.
Stakeholders addressed the core issues of the interim governance measures needed to restore confidence in the transition and to ensure that the government could deliver its commitments. These commitments include the critical issue of security and stability; the organisation of credible general elections to choose a legitimate and representative government; constitutional reform; and the pursuance of fundamental reforms required to preclude a repeat of
the current crisis.
Stakeholders widely expressed that there was a need to build confidence and trust in the interim administration in order to effectively address the security crisis and for preparations for elections to commence. In this regard, there was widespread stakeholder support for modification of the structures of government in the interim period.
The Interim Prime Minister, Dr Ariel Henry, committed to greater inclusiveness in governance through the establishment of a government of national unity, beginning with working with the partners of the December 21 Accord to increase the number of members of the High Transition Council (HCT) in order to include representatives of a wider group of stakeholders. In this regard, the Prime Minister made a statement to the meeting, which is attached.
Several other suggestions were made of mechanisms reflecting the spirit and intent of the Haitian constitution by implementing a governance structure based on a presidency and a prime minister. Additionally, this structure should adhere to the constitutional requirement that a minimum of 30 percent of decision-making positions be held by women.
The Eminent Persons Group was urged to continue to use CARICOM’s Good Offices to work with all stakeholders to find a definitive solution to the crisis.
The Eminent Persons Group committed to go to Haiti to continue these consultations within the next several weeks.
CARICOM reiterated its commitment to provide support for the elections including assessment of preparations for and observation of the elections.
Participants thanked CARICOM for initiating this meeting. They also expressed
gratitude to the Prime Minister and People of Jamaica for their warm hospitality and committed to continuing the dialogue as the CARICOM Good Offices process progresses.
The African Export-Import Bank, often known as Afreximbank or Banque Africaine d’Import-Export, is a pan-African supranational multilateral financial institution founded in 1993 by the African Development Bank.
Mottley will join Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and other leading African and Caribbean figures at the 30th Annual Meetings of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) taking place in Accra from 18 to 21 June 2023.
Prime Minister Mia Mottley stated on Tuesday that the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) will establish its regional headquarters for the Caribbean and the Americas in Barbados next month.
Mottley was on a trip with Frans Timmermans, the European Commission’s Executive Vice President for the European Green Deal.
She said, “It is a significant signal of confidence that they have chosen us to be that location from which to do the work.”
According to a provisional program, both will be among a set of high-profile leaders, comprising heads of state and government, former heads of state, other political leaders, business leaders, African trade practitioners, trade finance experts, members of the academia and senior public figures, scheduled to address participants at the Afreximbank Annual Meetings (AAM2023).
Other confirmed speakers include Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria; Dr. Donald Kaberuka, Chairman of the Board of Directors, SouthBridge Group and Former President of the African Development Bank (AfDB); Wamkele
Mene, Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat; Ambassador Albert Muchanga, Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Minerals, African Union Commission; Antonio Pedro, Acting Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa; Strive Masiyiwa, Founder and Executive Chairman, Econet Global and Cassava Technologies; Arnold Ekpe, Former Group CEO, Ecobank, and Chairman, the Business Council of Africa and Baobab; Dr. Vera Songwe, Board Chair, Liquidity and Sustainability Facility; and David Coffey, CEO, African Association of Automotive Manufacturers.
Also confirmed to speak are Ahmed El Sewedy, President and CEO, Elsewedy Electric of Egypt; Oussama Kaissi, Chief Executive Officer, Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit; Florie Liser, President and CEO, Corporate Council on Africa; Kayode Pitan, CEO, Bank of Industry of Nigeria; Hani S. Sonbol, CEO, International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation; Simon Tiemtore, Chairman and CEO, Lilium Capital, and Group Chairman, Vista Bank
Group; Samaila Zubairu, President, Africa Finance Corporation; Rosa Whitaker, President and CEO, The Whitaker Group; Adam Molai, Chairman, TRT Investment; and Dr. Mima Nedelcovych, Chairman, AfricaGlobal Schaffer.
The four-day AAM2023, being held under the over overarching theme, Delivering the vision: Building prosperity for Africans, will feature keynote addresses, panel discussions, plenaries and fireside-type conversations focusing on African trade, trade finance and development issues, including the implementation of the AfCFTA. Some of the topics listed for discussion include:
Turbo-Charging Implementation of the AfCFTA; Building Prosperity for Africans: The Challenges of Peace and Security; What would it take for Africa to feed itself—Overcoming the challenges of food security for sustainable development in Africa; Building Prosperity: African Culture and Literature as a Foundation for African Renaissance; Delivering the Vision—Corporate Perspectives; and The Future of Integration in Africa.
NEW YORK – Con Edison has invested a record $2.4 billion in its electric delivery system to keep service reliable ahead of the sizzling summer heat.
The company is maintaining the reliability of its system while leading the region’s clean energy transition. Con Edison helps customers connect solar projects, offers incentives for the electrification of buildings and transportation and is deploying battery storage projects.
Con Edison has achieved several clean energy milestones recently. The company has helped customers connect more than 57,000 solar projects with the combined capacity to produce 517 megawatts. Customers in the energy efficiency programs for small and medium-sized businesses have saved more than 1 million megawatt hours of power.
The company also completed construction of a transmission line in Queens, one of its Reliable Clean City projects. The Queens line and associated substation upgrades enabled the retirement of an inefficient, polluting power plant in Astoria.
The pre-summer upgrades will help keep service reliable across the service area. They include 61 underground transformers, 100 transformers on the overhead electric delivery system, 148 spans of overhead wiring and 198 poles.
“New Yorkers count on Con Edison to keep the power on in every season and that’s why we have made record investments this year in advance of summer heat waves,” said Matthew Ketschke, the president of Con Edison. “We thank our talented workforce for completing these infrastructure improvements, as we build a cleaner, greener, and more resilient grid.”
The investments are among the improvements Con Edison is making to fortify the grid against extreme weather resulting from climate
change. Specific projects Con Edison has undertaken for this summer include:
· Manhattan: Installation of new transformers and cable to improve reliability in the Harlem and Yorkville neighborhoods.
· Staten Island: New substation equipment in Grant City and additional switches with remote control and data monitoring in Castleton Corners, South Beach, Willowbrook, Woodrow and Annadale.
· Brooklyn and Queens: Improvements to increase reliability and resiliency and meet growing demand in Red Hook, Sunset Park, Williamsburg and Gravesend in Brooklyn and in Ridgewood, Middle Village, Maspeth and Richmond Hill in Queens.
· The Bronx: New conductors in Mott Haven, Hunts Point, Soundview, and Parkchester.
· Westchester: Smart switches that reduce the number of customers who lose service when a tree or branch hits a power line. Con Edison projects that the demand for power this summer will peak at 12,990 megawatts. Last summer’s peak occurred at 5 p.m. on Aug. 9 when the company provided 12,424 megawatts. The record is 13,322 megawatts, which occurred at 5 p.m. on July 19, 2013. (One megawatt is equal to 1 million watts.)
Reliable Service
Con Edison’s preparation for summer includes emergency drills that help workers across the company stay sharp in responding to heat waves and other weather events.
Thanks to Con Edison’s robust investments over many decades, the company’s service is among the most reliable in the world. The system contains myriad redundancies, meaning that if a piece of equipment fails, customers will
be served by another component.
The New York State Public Service Commission measures utilities’ reliability with a metric that shows the average number of times a customer is interrupted for five minutes or more. Con Edison’s number is .15. The outage frequency for the rest of the state was more than seven times higher than in Con Edison’s area. A typical Con Edison customer goes about seven years without losing power. This does not include outages due to major storms and certain other events.
During heat events, the company’s operators can reduce voltage on the system to take stress off equipment. Workers also cool transformers to keep them in service during extreme heat. New technologies help Con Edison maintain the reliability of its service. The company’s operators can open switches on the 4-kilovolt overhead system in areas of Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx to prevent power from shifting from failed cables and onto other cables that remain in service. That prevents the cables still in service from becoming overloaded. Operators can also use the smart meter system to shut off the flow of power in a targeted way when delivery equipment in an area is under stress. The shutoff will affect only residential customers who are served by the specific equipment that is becoming overloaded. These temporary interruptions prevent larger outages that would take longer to restore.
Commercial customers remain in service because it is important for public safety that businesses like gas stations, grocery stores, pharmacies and others stay open.
Critical customers such as hospitals, fire stations and police stations, will also remain in service. These interruptions also will not affect households that have registered as having a resident who depends on life-support
equipment.
Enrolling in the LSE program is convenient via My Account, by downloading the life-support equipment form, and returning it to Con Edison, or by calling 1-877-582-6633. Conserve to Save
While increased supply costs continue to affect bills, customers may see an increased delivery cost by summer’s end. An investment plan is pending before the New York State Public Service Commission. The best way for customers to save on their bills is to manage their usage. Con Edison offers a range of energy efficiency programs that pay customers who make energy saving upgrades.
Programs are available for residential customers, those with low incomes, small businesses, large commercial and industrial properties, and multi-family buildings. Business customers can also earn incentives from Con Edison’s smart usage programs under which they agree to conserve at times when the demand for power is high.
Black people in general have had to overcome tremendous obstacles to acquire the right to vote; we have seen thousands sacrifice their lives, and our leaders murdered in the struggle to vote; systems have been organized to suppress the Black vote and continue to this day. So it is critical when we have an opportunity that we take that opportunity to vote. We must vote. We must exercise our privilege as a citizen, and we must know that our vote has consequences.
New York City is faced with a primary election on June 27th, 2023, and we are urging all citizens eligible to vote to do so. Vote because voting makes a difference; vote because it’s a right that you have and should exercise, and voting is in the interest of the overall community’s ability to access government services and benefits. So we are urging all eligible citizens to vote in your primary elections, and we are also urging those who will vote to take your vote seriously. Your vote has consequences and it should not be frivolously used; we are urging our voters to look beyond the soundbites and some of the speeches that are given that sound good, but have no substance. We have to be careful about deliverables and record of accomplishments and community engagement, knowledge of our community, its needs, and some record as to how the candidates have already shown an interest and have already participated in community activities. We must be wary of just promises, and we must be wary of fancy speeches. We have seen the consequences of careless voting and what it can mean for a country, so we must take our vote seriously. In that regard, Carib News has made endorsements with this in mind, in the quality of
the candidates and their proven achievement and abilities.
In New York City, Manhattan District nine, we are endorsing Inez Dickens for the City Council. Dickens is a seasoned and proven legislator who has the discipline to work within the legislative body, to craft legislations and programs that benefit the community in so many ways, and has a noted record of achievement in the Harlem community and city wide; this is no time to experiment with fancy speeches and or promises. Inez Dickens has delivered and delivered well, and has the foresight, energy and passion for her community that is needed in the City Council, experience and commitment that we know will be evidenced in substantive programs and directions.
In the Bronx, District 12, that is highly Caribbean in its population, we are endorsing Council member Kevin C. Riley. He has in his first term in the City Council demonstrated a maturity, commitment and sophistication around issues of home ownership, affordable housing and community services. Here is a young man who has strong experience, a record of community engagement, working in the legislatures and working with nonprofits, and has proven his worth in the Council and deserves to be encouraged and supported because he has signaled that he will deliver and deliver well.
In Brooklyn 41st District, we are endorsing Darlene Mealy. Again, a dependable, responsible community representative for decades. She knows and loves the community, is deeply engaged in its activities and has proven over the years to be a steady
and reliable hand in providing services to the community in so many ways, from affordable housing to job creation, to healthcare provision, she is always there, and again, a proven hand - and this is no time to experiment.
In the 42nd District in Brooklyn, we are endorsing Charles Barron, a fierce fighter for freedom for decades, a community activist that is drawn to the issue with passion, one that can be relied upon to confront inequities and inequalities, one that is of the community in a passionate way, and one that has the courage to stand up and demand services for the community successfully in education, in job creation, in healthcare, and one whose ability to deliver cannot be questioned. Here again, we are suggesting we need the reliable proven hands, in these times of multiple issues, multiple problems and multiple challenges.
For District Attorney in the Bronx, we are endorsing Darcel Clark. Clark made history as the first woman to hold the position of District Attorney, and she has shown her ability to administer that office with legal integrity, and pursuing justice in an innovative way. She has worked to provide access of support for victims and also worked to provide alternatives to incarceration for individuals who might show some promises; she has worked to reverse the injustices that might have happened in the past, and has brought to the office a modern criminal justice system that is leading the way in how DA’s across the country should perform, and is looked at as a strong innovator in this area. We need this kind of sensitive balance support to the criminal justice system and DA
Darcel Clark, in leading that organization has shown the kind of strong leadership that is needed, and should continue in that position.
In Queens, we are endorsing candidate George Grasso, a seasoned criminal justice expert, one who has lifted himself up from patrol in the New York Police Department to Deputy Commissioner, to a lawyer and a criminal court judge. He has been on both sides of the legal system and has demonstrated his independence and his experience in administering justice. He is considered to be a seasoned legal professional, not beholden to the politics of the day, but to the criminal justice system providing the community with the kinds of public safety programs and reducing gun violence that is so very necessary in the community today.
Whatever your choice, we urge you to make it consequential - Do go out and vote, Do participate in the system and do let your voice be heard and your vote be counted. It is important - each vote has value and voting has consequences. So please do not dismiss these primaries as elections that are without importance or your local elections without value. These are the elections that make a difference. These are the elections that build individuals and community, and these are elections that are very close to home. An election that we should be engaged in. So whatever your choice, vote. We have an endorsement and a recommendation, and we would hope that that would be part of your consideration. Vote!
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a member of the illustrious Kennedy dynasty, is making an unlikely run for the Democratic presidential nomination and has declared that he is steadfastly committed to continuing his family’s enduring legacy.
In a one-on-one interview with the Black Press of America, Kennedy spoke about his relentless focus on combating environmental racism, ending qualified immunity for law enforcement officers, and addressing the alarming racial disparities within the American medical system.
The 69-year-old District of Columbia-born candidate said he’s championing causes that have plagued marginalized communities for far too long.
His mission, he insisted, extends beyond rhetoric, seeking to dismantle systemic barriers and usher in a brighter, more equitable future, particularly for African Americans who have borne the brunt of injustice, including the problematic issue of maternal mortality.
As he steps onto the political stage where his uncle, John F. Kennedy, counts as one of the most popular presidents in American history and where his father had all but sewn up the Democrat nomination before his assassination in 1968, Kennedy’s audacious bid could challenge the status quo and spark a transformative movement that reverberates through the nation.
“Black Americans are going to be a principal priority for me, particularly in ending that fear of dangerous interaction with law enforcement,” Kennedy asserted.
He also pledged a move to end qualified immunity, which protects police officers from personal liability in the event of a lawsuit.
“There is no incentive for individuals to change bad behavior,” Kennedy remarked.
“We need systemic changes. We need to remove qualified immunity, which would make it necessary for an individual to consider his liability with every interaction. Every good economic system [should] incentive good behavior and punish bad behavior. We need to have that.”
Kennedy added that there’s a need for a reorganization of police to understand the mission of protecting and serving “instead of being in combat mode when they come into the Black community.”
One of the children of the late Sen. Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968, Kennedy announced his presidential candidacy earlier this year. His father and uncle, John F. Kennedy, both demonstrated a desire for a united a nd strong America, which he said inspired him.
Despite his anti-vaccine views that have caused controversy, some surveys have giving Kennedy as much as 20 percent support among Democrats. His unlikely challenge to the incumbent President Joe Biden has gained steam.
A poll by The Economist and YouGov showed that Kennedy was viewed favorably by 49% of respondents and unfavorably by just 30%, leaving him with a net rating of 19 points—higher than any
other candidate in the poll, which surveyed 1,500 adult respondents from June 10 to 13.
Further, Biden had a negative 9-point net favorability rating, with 52% of respondents viewing him somewhat or very unfavorably.
In comparison, 45% have very or somewhat favorable impressions, and Trump had a negative 10-point net rating, with 53% viewing him unfavorably and 43% favorably.
“Could Bobby Kennedy catch a spark? Maybe,” Michael Novogratz, a billionaire Democratic donor who supported Biden in 2020 but has pledged not to back any candidate older than 72, told the New York Times.
“He’s alienated himself because of some of the anti-vax positions, but he is a bright man, articulate, eloquent, connected, has the Kennedy name, and would pull a lot of the Trump voters.”
Meanwhile, Kennedy said he’d also work to end medical racism “entrenched in our medical system in this country.”
He noted a recent video he created about medical racism, where health experts have concluded that Black Americans are less likely to receive quality medical care than whites.
During the pandemic, Kennedy noted that African Americans were dying at 3.6 times the rate of whites.
Regardless of their income or social status, Black mothers suffered maternal mortality alarmingly higher than any other race.
“If you’re Black in this country, you’re
getting third-world style medical care,” Kennedy insisted.
“The medical system is not attuned to taking care of Black patients. Being a Black patient in this country is almost as dangerous as being a Black prisoner. You won’t get good medical care, which will be one of my priorities.”
Kennedy also noted food deserts are plentiful and the quality of meals is “horrible” in most Black communities.
“Environmental issues plague Black America,” Kennedy stated. “Four out of every five toxic waste structures are in Black communities.
“The highest concentration of toxic waste is on the south side of Chicago and look at all the food deserts. And the food made available in many Black communities is highly processed and loaded with chemicals and hormones.
“It’s making African Americans sicker. We need children who have good health and healthy brains, and they need to be able to access the best medical care, but the system is predatory toward Black Americans.”
The interstates built in the 1950s and 1960s killed the vitality of the communities where people of color and the poor lived, from Overtown in Miami to the Hill District in Pittsburgh to the South and West Sides of Chicago. The disruption and segregation of those communities happened by design.
The harm continues to this day for the residents who remain in those neighborhoods. Because the highways run through their backyards, those people are at point blank range for the pollution from the millions of vehicles driving the interstates burning fossil fuels. Transportation accounts for more than a quarter of the climate damaging gases this country makes, more than any other sector. An estimated 72 million Americans live in close proximity to trucking routes and they are disproportionately people of color or living with low incomes.
We have an unprecedented chance to change this longstanding disregard for so many Americans’ health and well-being, and we must grab that chance if we want to reduce vehicle pollution enough to reach our goal of cutting carbon emissions in half by 2030.
While heavy duty vehicles – think delivery trucks, garbage trucks, buses, and tractor trailer trucks – are only 6 percent of the vehicles in the United States, they produce a third of the climate pollution from transportation. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed new rules that would sharply reduce the carbon dioxide that heavy duty vehicles will be allowed to belch in their exhaust and pave the way for more trucks and buses that have no emissions.
The comment period for these new rules ended Friday, so the EPA needs to finalize them quickly. As we saw last year with other common sense air pollution standards for trucks that the EPA adopted, special interests and the politicians they support will oppose any regulations that have a chance to avert climate disaster. The EPA must stand up for communities most damaged by truck and bus pollution. The stricter rules should add momentum to changes already happening in that part of the economy. Manufacturers like Daimler, Ford, Navistar, and Volvo have pledged to increase the number of zero emission trucks they sell and big volume shippers including Amazon,
FedEx, and Walmart have said they will cut their air pollution.
The available models of zero emission trucks are up more than a quarter from three years ago, and their cost is expected to drop 40 percent in the next four years. Seventeen states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have agreed to a plant to boost zero emission truck sales with an initial target of 30 percent by 2030.
Beyond the new federal rules, we have extraordinary incentives that are part of the historic infrastructure and clean energy packages that President Biden and Congress approved over the last two years. We’ve pledged to spend $1 billion by 2031 on zero emission heavy duty trucks and another $5 billion by 2026 on clean school buses. We must have the bigger stick of tougher regulation, but for the first time we have meaningful carrots from these incentives. We’ve finally as a nation started to acknowledge the scope of the change it will take to preserve our fragile and already damaged planet. But the interest in the status quo is strong among those who gain from it like Big Oil companies reporting record billions in profits. We can’t turn our
attention away now, assuming that recognizing the problem will undoubtedly lead to the right actions to address it.
Sixty years ago, neighborhoods in Manhattan, Washington and New Orleans fought back successfully against being divided and paved over by interstates. Finishing the job of ending the pollution from those highways’ traffic will take that same commitment on our part.
Ben Jealous is executive director of the Sierra Club, the nation’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization. He is a professor of practice at the University of Pennsylvania and author of “Never Forget Our People Were Always Free,” published in January.
NEW YORK (June 13, 2023) – Kenneth Bryan, Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), described the first post-pandemic Caribbean Week in New York as a success as public and private sector leaders and stakeholders addressed priority issues impacting the region during various meetings and activities.
The week’s events in New York comprised business meetings; an informative tourism marketing forum, during which speakers examined current travel trends and future projections for the region’s main economic driver; and a bustling Media Marketplace, where officials shared travel and tourism updates with the members of the working press.
Speaking at a press conference on the final day of Caribbean Week, Chairman Bryan, who also serves as the Minister of Tourism and Ports for the Cayman Islands, stated that
the CTO was committed to continuing the development of research, knowledge, and information. This approach is intended to guide its members on “how best to be effective in the tourism industry, but also to help us market what we do as a region.”
A critical issue discussed during the ministerial meetings was the persistent problem of sargassum washing up on the region’s beaches, damaging foreshores and negatively impacting tourism. Suggesting the phenomenon was caused by global warming, Bryan stated that the CTO was endeavoring to identify strategies to manage the onslaught of the malodorous seaweed, such as implementing preventative measures or collecting the sargassum for positive uses. Air connectivity was a significant point of discussion for the assembled tourism directors, ministers, and commissioners of tourism. Bryan acknowledged the challenges
destinations are facing due to the high costs associated with airline operations, saying “There’s no easy solution.” In addition to dialogue with the World Bank, CARICOM and the Caribbean Development Bank, studies are underway to explore solutions for financing increased connectivity in the short- and medium-term.
Chairman Bryan revealed that destinations with their own airlines, such as the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas, “are trying to work on ways of helping our brothers and sisters with connectivity.”
During the meeting, the CTO officially welcomed Bermuda back as its 25th member.
Chairman Bryan expressed his ambition to increase the membership to 30. The CTO recently celebrated the U.S. Virgin Islands’ return to its fold.
Discussing the organization’s financial condition, Bryan reported improvement as mem-
ber countries and territories continued to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. Many destinations, he noted, were performing better than they were in 2019 with average daily rates “through the roof”. “So our finances are back (on stream),” he said, enabling the organization to restructure and adapt its marketing strategies to the evolving landscape.
“Marketing today is totally different than it was even five years ago,” Bryan asserted, citing strategies such as leveraging influencer marketing and using artificial intelligence to maximize arrivals and revenue.
Bryan disclosed that the CTO is also exploring ways to augment revenue through data sharing and data research. Furthermore, progress has been made in identifying a candidate to fill the position of Secretary General and the Chairman said he anticipates an announcement in the near future.
18th, 2017. The joint toast did not just perform beyond this record, but also served as a unique welcome cocktail for passengers of the world’s largest cruise ship, hoping to leave a lasting impression of the “Friendly Island”. The collaboration with Royal Caribbean went flawlessly and their efforts to get passengers to participate in the record made it a successful event.
this success in the region and beyond will make sure St. Maarten remains high on the agenda of “foodies” on the road to November”
Besides SHTA, STB, Port St. Maarten Group, CLT and PDG Supplies, the St. Maarten Flavors Appeteaser Week is actively supported by EZ shop powered by Prime, Sol Gas, ORCO Bank,
VISIT Magazine, Island 92 Radio, SXM Talks, Sotheby’s International Realty, Dock Maarten and Sound 2000.
Foodies interested in staying up to date with June Appeteaser Week and St Maarten Flavors November can visit www.stmaartenflavors.com or subscribe to our newsletter.
St. Maarten visitors and residents jointly broke the current world record in “simultaneous cocktail tasting” as an official start of this year’s “St. Maarten Flavors” campaign. 483 participants enjoyed a joint welcome cocktail “Sweet SXM” provided by Caribbean Liquors & Tobacco at the Sharkey’s venue at Port St. Maarten. With this effort, destination St. Maarten broke a Russian record of 354 cocktail enthusiasts dating back to 2017.
The World Record attempt, organized by the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA) served as the official kick-off of the 2023 St. Maarten Flavors Program. In the runup to the St. Maarten Flavors prix fixe month of November, it organized “Appeteaser Week”, taking place June 15 – June 24. during this week, a selection of restaurants already offers a preview of their “signature dish” designed for that month. Restaurants offering a 3-course signature dish for $49 for June Appeteaser Week are Emilio’s, Jai’s Contemporary Cuisine, La Perle Bleu, Roma and Mr. Chow at Oasis, Ocean Lounge, Pure Ocean and TJ’s Cassava Coal Pot. Those restaurants offering a one course signature dish for $17.50 are Aziana, Nola Bayou Bistro, The Captain’s Rib Shack, The Pier Beach Bar & Restaurant and The Tavern.
A symbolic toast after a countdown, signaled the moment that locals and visitors took up their cocktail and jointly opened the St. Maarten Flavors 2023 food events. Next to official witnesses, international media were present at the event. Till date, the largest registered cocktail tasting event comprised of 354 participants and was recorded by Wild Turkey Jazz Festival in Moscow, Russia on November
Port St. Maarten Group CEO Alexander Gumbs, host and co-sponsor of the event, thanked all present. “St. Maarten has been awarded best port of call in the Caribbean many times and as recent as 2022 awarded the Readers Choice Awards for Best Caribbean
Shopping Port 2022 by Porthole Cruise & Travel. That can only be done in conjunction with the many partners on island that help the destination stand out. St. Maarten’s vast array of food and beverage tastes is one of the most famed aspects of our destination’s offer, and we as Port St. Maarten are happy to support this unique feature on this special occasion. Though our port boasts many activities, hosting a successful World Record attempt is a new and unique achievement for our resume – we thank all involved for making this happen, including the great passengers of Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas”.
Signature Cocktail “Sweet SXM” was a specially designed cocktail for the occasion by Caribbean Liquors and Tobacco (CLT), making use of two of its key brands El Dorado and Amaretto Di Saronno, and poured in recyclable glassware made available by PDG Supplies.
St. Maarten Flavors’ main sponsor, the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau (STB), also spoke of a successful means to put St. Maarten in the culinary spotlight. Director May-ling Chun: “The goal of the St. Maarten Flavors program is to put St. Maarten on the map of food lovers around the world, invite visitors and locals to immerse themselves in the dynamic food scene of the “Culinary Capital of the Caribbean” at an accessible price point and to give local restaurants a platform to showcase their diverse creations. Last but not least, events serve as a fundraiser to get a national St. Maarten culinary talent team to the prestigious Taste of the Caribbean competition in Miami. Celebrating
Countries of the World Health Organization (WHO) have moved forward negotiations on a global accord on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, with a view to presenting a draft accord to the World Health Assembly in May 2024.
Ending yesterday, discussions on the draft pandemic accord took place during the fiveday resumed session of the fifth meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), which includes WHO’s 194 member countries. Discussions were based on the text prepared by the Bureau of the INB and distributed to all WHO’s Member States in May 2023 (the “Bureau’s text”), first through an open plenary session where Member States and relevant stakeholders provided their general comments, followed by a closed session in the Drafting Group.
The Drafting Group discussed Chapter II, addressing Articles 9 (Research and development), 10 (Liability risk management), 11 (Co-development and transfer of technology and know-how), 12 (Access and benefit-sharing), 13 (Supply chain and logistics), and 14 (Regulatory strengthening), where participants engaged and exchanged views.
The meeting then agreed to continue consideration of several of these articles through informal meetings of the Drafting Group. As a pilot, informal meetings on Article 9 (Research and development) of the Bureau’s text were held twice on the sidelines of the Drafting Group meeting.
The INB agreed to a series of intersessional informal meetings for Drafting Group participants in advance of the sixth meeting of the INB:
Article 9 (Research and development)
Article 12 (Access and benefit-sharing)
Article 13 (Supply chain and logistics)
The sixth meeting of the INB will be held from 17–21 July 2023 and the Drafting Group will be invited to continue its work with consideration of the Bureau’s text, continuing with the remaining articles of Chapter II and thereafter Chapters III and I.
It was noted that a joint plenary session of the INB and the Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (WGIHR) would be held on the afternoon of 21 July and morning of 24 July 2023.
Mr Roland Driece, Co-Chair of the INB Bureau, from the Netherlands, said: “Countries from all parts of the world were able to discuss their ideas, concerns and suggestions for consensus in a wide-ranging forum for everyone to
hear and consider. We are grateful for the spirit of collaboration and forging consensus that we witnessed during the interactive informal meetings of the Drafting Group.”
INB Bureau Co-Chair, Ms Precious Matsoso of South Africa, said: “There was an excellent spirit of collaboration amongst the countries’ representatives. When there are 194 countries sharing their views, it will, of course, take time and much discussion to come to agreement on the many important issues concerning pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. I am confident that we now have the working arrangements in place to do so.”
According to the process agreed by governments at a special session of the World Health Assembly in late 2021, negotiations on the draft pandemic accord will aim to produce a final draft for consideration in 2024.
that NCDs and mental health conditions cannot be properly addressed without responding to the climate crisis.
mitments align with WHO’s ‘best buys’ – a set of cost-effective, evidence-based interventions to tackle NCDs.
Bridgetown, Barbados – The 2023 Bridgetown Declaration on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health was launched, to address some of the world’s deadliest diseases in Small Island Developing States, which are especially at risk. The declaration is a key outcome of the SIDS Ministerial Conference on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health, running from 14 to 16 June, co-hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Government of Barbados. SIDS are disproportionately impacted by NCDs – which cause 74% of all deaths globally – due to their reliance on imported food, commercial influences and the climate crisis. A new WHO report shows that 8 of the 15 countries with more than a 30% risk of premature death from cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, or chronic respiratory disease are SIDS. The 10 countries with the highest obesity rates globally are all SIDS in the Pacific, where over 45% of adults live with obesity. Mental health conditions are common in SIDS countries, affecting an estimated 15.2% of the population in the Caribbean and 11.2% of the population in the Pacific. People with mental health conditions face a higher risk of premature mortality, including from unaddressed physical health conditions and from suicide. Stigma, specialized staff shortages and the impact of climate change contribute to a challenging situation in SIDS that requires immediate attention.
The 2023 Bridgetown Declaration outlines bold steps to address the range of social, environmental, economic and commercial issues that lead to NCDs and mental health conditions.
Developed through an inclusive process led ‘for’ and ‘by’ SIDS, the declaration highlights
“Bold action for our climate, good health, and wellbeing relies on redressing and reorganizing global financing to unlock billions in investment, while making it less punishing for developing countries to pay their debts,” said Her Excellency Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados. “Funding for climate change adaptation and mitigation in the most vulnerable countries is also key, with noncommunicable diseases and mental health accounted for.”
“The challenges faced by Small Island Developing States are interconnected and multifaceted. Climate change, environmental degradation, social and economic inequalities, and the commercial determinants of health exacerbate the burden of NCDs and mental health conditions,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Despite their limited resources and geographical constraints, these nations have shown remarkable resilience in the face of adversity. Together, we must forge a path that is based on equity, resilience, and sustainability. We must strengthen health systems, enhance prevention and early detection measures, and prioritize the integration of NCD and mental health services into primary health care.”
The Director-General also pledged that WHO would work to mobilize financial resources to develop climate resilient, environmentally sustainable health care facilities in the SIDS. WHO will also continue to advocate for ‘loss and damage’ funding for climate change adaptation and mitigation investments in lower income countries.
As part of agreeing the declaration, SIDS signed up to undertake a suite of actions, covering areas such as engaging all of society, accelerating implementation, securing investments, aligning across governments and accounting for progress. The conference also showcased specific commitments by SIDS on NCDs and mental health, including to improve access to mental health care in primary care facilities, update tobacco control legislation to cover e-cigarettes and vaping, and reduce populations’ salt and sugar intake. These com-
The list of best buys was recently updated at the World Health Assembly in May to include secondary prevention for rheumatic fever, acute and long-term management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as well
as several interventions for cervical, breast, colorectal, liver and childhood cancer, and the comprehensive treatment of cancer for those living with HIV.
The conference and the declaration will inform and shape forthcoming UN General Assembly High-Level Meetings on universal health coverage in September 2023 and on NCDs in 2025.
Miss India Guyana, the stunning Aruna Sukhdeo, was crowned Miss India Worldwide 2023 on Sunday in Pune, India – the second Guyanese to win the prestigious crown in 30 years.
The last Guyanese to have won the international pageant was Alana Seebarrran back in 2012.
Sukhdeo also copped the special prizes for Miss Beautiful Hair. She is a third year
Economics Student at the University of Guyana (UG).
Miss Teen India Guyana, Netu Lall was placed first runner up in the Teen category and she was awarded ‘Miss Congeniality’.
Mrs. India Guyana contestant, Reanna Arakhan, made it into the top five. The competition is brought via local franchise holders are Hashim Ali and his wife, Melicia Pertab-Ali. Ali said, “We are very
excited to be bringing home the title this year… we have not won the international title since 2012 and we all excited. From the moment we arrived in India, the three delegates started to adjust to the environment while at the same time keeping their eyes on the prize.”
The newly crowned queen and the rest of the team is expected to travel to New York later this week before they head home to Guyana.
The Louis Armstrong House Museum has announced the opening of the Armstrong Center and its newest exhibition, Here to Stay, curated by award-winning pianist, composer and Kennedy Center Artistic Director for Jazz, Jason Moran.
The museum is located in Corona, Queens.
Here To Stay will look at Louis Armstrong’s five-decade career as an innovative musician, rigorous archivist, consummate collaborator and community builder. For Moran, the exhibition is “a declaration of Louis Armstrong’s infinite love of music and humanity.” The Center will be a permanent home for the 60,000-piece archive of Louis and Lucille Armstrong, and it will house house a 75-seat venue offering
performances, lectures, films, and educational experiences.
Caples Jefferson Architects designed the 14,000-square-foot building, staying mindful of the Armstrongs’ love for their community and their neighbors on the block.
“In a neighborhood comprised of modest two-story houses, we wanted to keep the building in the scale of its surroundings while creating an urban precinct that notes the singular work of the man whose music underlies so much of what we listen to today,” explain Sara Caples and Everardo Jefferson of Caples Jefferson Architects. “The design of the museum is simultaneously exuberant and restrained, and is, in every way, a celebration of the legacy of
NEW YORK — The Harlem-based national media arts nonprofit Black Public Media (BPM) has received a $40,000 award from the National Endowment for the Arts’ Grants for Arts Projects program. The award will support its fellowship and residency program for new works in immersive, interactive and emerging media at the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The initiative is a part of BPMplus, Black Public Media’s program designed to increase Black participation in emerging tech storytelling, which was founded in 2018. The BPM project is one of 1,130 projects across the country, totaling more than $31 million, that were selected during the NEA’s second round of Grants for Arts Projects FY2023 funding cycle.
“The National Endowment for the Arts is pleased to support a wide range of projects, including Black Public Media’s BPMplus fellowship, demonstrating the many ways the arts enrich our lives and contribute to healthy and thriving communities,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “These organizations play an important role in advancing the creative vitality of our nation and helping to ensure that all people can benefit from arts, culture and design.”
“We are again delighted for the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts for Black Public Media initiatives,” said Leslie
Fields-Cruz, executive director of BPM. “With this funding we will be able to steep creative technologists in powerful storytelling mediums so they may bring myriad Black stories into the future.”
Four creative technologists will receive professional and project development support at the three-week BPM & Carson Center for Emerging Media Residency, where they will have access to computers with virtual reality (VR) software, production equipment, VR headsets, a motion capture studio, technical support, production assistants and workspace to develop their emerging technology skills and projects. During the program, the artists will be required to teach a workshop or give a talk to students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The residencies will take place in July. Upon completion of their residency, the artists will then be invited to receive additional training in preparation for BPM’s PitchBLACK Forum — the largest U.S pitch competition for independent filmmakers and creative technologists developing new projects about the global Black experience in the United States — and present their VR/XR/AI projects. The winner of the PitchBLACK Immersive Forum will receive up to $50,000 in funding for their project. For more information on other projects included in the NEA grant announcement, visit arts. gov/news.
Louis Armstrong.”
We invite musicians, jazz fans, scholars from around the world–and our closest neighbors here in Corona, Queens–to discover Louis and Lucille Armstrong’s story from a new perspective.
Thanks to our longstanding partners, Queens College and the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, and with a growing list of members, supporters and programmatic collaborators, we look forward to the Center becoming a hub for inspiration and learning, economic development and tourism.
The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation donated the Armstrong archives in the 1980s and provided the funds to purchase the lot on
which the new Center sits. CUNY and Queens College officials, working with state and city legislators and executive offices, led the advocacy for the funding of the $26 million building across the street from the original Armstrong home. Funds were awarded by the Office of the Governor, the New York State Senate, New York State Assembly, Office of the New York City Mayor, Office of the Queens Borough President, and the New York City Council. The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) led the construction project. The staff and board of the museum for the past 15 years, including former Director, Michael Cogswell, worked tirelessly to ensure the new building’s success.
JUNE 19 - 25, 2023
Aries (Mar 20 - Apr 19)
Please consider any financial advice you are given but rely mainly on your instincts when making investments and important purchases. This is a good time to clear out your cupboards, both the inner and outer ones! Making a clean sweep will help you become more effective in your daily activities.
Lucky numbers: 24, 30, 33, 37, 27, 18, 38
Taurus (Apr 20 - May 20)
Finances are improved through the good fortune of a loved one. One of your greatest skills is perseverance, which will stand you in good stead for the future. If you’re single, an introduction may lead to a love that is different from anything you have known in the past.
Lucky numbers: 15, 43, 42, 22, 47, 11, 33
Gemini (May 21 - Jun 20)
Don’t ignore the issues that come up at home. This is a good time to discuss problems with your family and put them behind you once and for all. You will have the chance to expand your horizons at work over the next few months. Intimate discussions with a romantic partner are set to improve.
Lucky numbers: 22, 10, 29, 16, 32, 33, 7
Cancer (Jun 21 - Jul 22)
Keeping the lines of communication open about finances will ease the strain in a relationship. You’re being tested at work. Don’t lose your focus now, Cancer. Guard your valuable possessions and assets, or ensure you have sufficient insurance during loss. Friends who are unsure of their future will require your valuable input.
Lucky numbers: 14, 8, 27, 19, 7, 48, 12
Leo (Jul 23 - Aug 22)
There’s someone in your life who is pushing your buttons and you’re getting more and more irritated by the minute. If you can’t distance yourself from this person, then you may need to confront the situation. See the humor in your everyday activities if you find yourself becoming too serious.
Lucky numbers: 42, 5, 2, 27, 25, 43, 47
Virgo (Aug 23 - Sep 22)
You have positively impacted another’s life and your deeds will not go unnoticed. A debt may need to be paid before due date, putting a strain on your budget. You may feel tired for no good reason. Do something different that adds some spice to your routine.
Lucky numbers: 46, 5, 3, 25, 39, 29, 35
Libra (Sep 23 - Oct 22)
Feelings of restlessness may motivate you to change your direction in life or pursue new interests. Although financial matters may concern you, there is light at the end of the tunnel over the next few months. Keep your feet firmly on the ground and avoid setting unrealistic goals in love.
Lucky numbers: 12, 29, 35, 15, 14, 48, 8
Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21)
You have a better idea of what you want from relationships and may let someone go so that you can follow your dreams. A misjudgment about a co-worker will lead to conflict and confusion. Make your peace with the necessary parties and put the past behind you and move one.
Lucky numbers: 23, 33, 17, 28, 29, 4, 43
Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21)
You want to be the life and soul of the party, but your low energy levels may prompt you to stay at home. You may have to give tender loving care and consideration to a loved one who feels neglected. This is a good time to get issues out into the open.
Lucky numbers: 18, 46, 37, 14, 34, 36, 4
Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 20)
This is an excellent time for catching up on neglected chores and duties. Forgotten bills may increase, but you can pay these with spare cash. If you are in a close relationship, a partner may be more in tune with your needs. Make sure you set aside time for yourself this month.
Lucky numbers: 18, 46, 37, 14, 34, 36, 4
Aquarius (Jan 21 - Feb 18)
The friends you meet this week will give you a new perspective on life. By pacing yourself carefully you can work smarter and not harder during this busy period. Physical exercise will help to keep energy levels at a peak. Waiting for money is a cause for concern if debts are to be paid.
Lucky numbers: 44, 14, 34, 42, 11, 49, 35
Pisces (Feb 19 - Mar 19)
You can pat yourself on the back for your accomplishments. It is time to reap the benefits for past efforts. Difficulties in communication may lead to feelings of isolation within an existing relationship. Do what you can to build bridges, instead of breaking them down. Come down to earth and make dreams a reality.
Lucky numbers: 19, 16, 37, 22, 18, 41, 5
One look at Felisha Noel’s (Fe Noel) designs – the vibrant colors, rich textures – and you know that her work is influenced heavily by her Caribbean heritage. There is no doubt. So it is only fitting that the Grenadian designer should open her first brick and mortar in Brooklyn, her hometown, aptly named Fe Noel Little Caribbean. It’s a celebration of her label’s 10th anniversary. The store opened on June 15 at 1133 Nostrand Avenue, Brooklyn, NY.
Fe Noel Little Caribbean is a stand alone experiential boutique in the heart of Brooklyn’s Little Caribbean neighborhood, and will operate as the brands official designer outlet. Fe Noel promises: “With sustainability at the forefront, we will continue to strive towards our “no fabric waste” commitment by making use of our dead stock fabrics.” The store will offer limited / small runs, discounted items from past seasons, guest brand collaborations and much more. Her website says, “This is a celebration of Caribbean artisanship, a homage to the neighborhood where Felisha Noel spent many years developing Fe Noel and a testament to the cherished legacy we hold dear”. She invites you to indulge your senses and discover a world of and pulsating energy –“Come shop, wine, and lime with us”.
Fe Noel is a womenswear designer from Brooklyn, NY with a passion for travel, a love of vibrant colors, and a penchant for bold prints. She entered the industry at 19, opening a brick and mortar boutique for vintage lovers and trendsetters in Brooklyn. That boutique served as a catalyst for today’s namesake clothing and lifestyle womenswear brand ‘Fe Noel’ and further stimulated her desire to help women embrace their femininity.
Noel is heavily influenced by her Caribbean heritage and large, close-knit family. She especially holds her mother and grandmother in high regard, crediting them for showing what drive, determination and humble hearts will earn you. Aside from designing, she enjoys helping other young women start their own businesses, which she is able to accomplish through the Fe Noel Foundation, a program for young girls who are passionate about entrepreneurship.
became evident early in the first innings after new-ball bowlers Saurabh Netravalkar and Kyle Phillip began with consecutive maidens before two wickets across the next four overs pinned West Indies down at 14 for 2. But a 115-run partnership between Johnson Charles and Shai Hope ensued. It highlighted how badly USA missed key strike weapon Ali Khan, who was forced to sit out while serving the first of a two-match ban.
USA’s fielding effort also did not compensate for Khan’s absence, as four fairly straightforward chances were shelled across the innings. The first came when Charles was on 12 in the eighth over as a top-edged heave against Phillip swirled behind slip where Steven Taylor was unable to corral a juggling effort and allowed Charles to top-score.
45th overs. Holder got two lives on 24 and 27, and he stayed until the final over to forge a momentum-shifting 56 off 40 balls. His late burst meant 297 was plenty to defend and was deemed vital enough to garner Player-of-the-Match honours.
USA got off to a modest start in the chase, reaching 35 in the eighth over before the wheels fell off. Sushant Modani fell for 14 slashing Holder to deep third before Taylor’s impetuous charge down the pitch four balls later to Kyle Mayers resulted in an edge behind for 18 to a ball that seamed away.
West Indies left no doubt as to who is the big brother in the Americas region, coasting past USA in the first ever ODI between the sides in what was also the first ever ODI staged at the Takashinga Sports Club in Harare.
USA were competitive for fits and spurts, but lacked the nous and stamina to maintain pressure for lengthy periods. This
However, West Indies left the door ajar for USA to stay in the match with some self-inflicted wounds. The century stand ended when Hope played a reckless one-handed slap to sweeper cover on 54 to gift a wicket to left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige. With left-hand batter Nicholas Pooran arriving, Steven Taylor was brought on to bowl offspin and he wound up bagging not just Pooran but two right-hand batters as well - Charles and Rovman Powell to a golden duck - all caught playing overeager shots as West Indies tried to continue bullying their Associate opposition.
But at 192 for 6 after 36, USA’s sloppy fielding reared its ugly head again as they committed three drops across the 44th and
USA captain Monank Patel became Mayers’ second victim four overs later for 6, slicing a drive that was intercepted brilliantly by Roston Chase reaching up at backward point, a moment that once again highlighted the gulf in fielding quality between the two sides. Saiteja Mukkamalla fell for a three-ball duck strangled down the leg side by Joseph in the following over before Aaron Jones was run out dramatically as both he and Gajanand Singh ended up at the non-striker’s end after Jones attempted to dab a single behind point, to make it 97 for 5.
With 201 runs still to get across the final 30 overs, USA showed little intent for the remainder of play. Gajanand, who once represented West Indies at the 2006 Under-19 World Cup, lasted to the end to bring up his maiden ODI century, providing a silver lining to the day for USA while also mitigating their net run rate hit in case the tiebreaker comes into play later on. He celebrated his century in emotional fashion
Miami, FL - The men’s senior national teams participating in the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup Group Stage have submitted their final rosters ahead of the start of the Group Stage on June 24. The 17th edition of the Confederation’s flagship competition for men’s national teams kicked off on June 16, and will crown the region’s best on July 16, 2023.
Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance of the Gold Cup Group Stage. Tickets are sold out in Houston for the July 4 doubleheader at Shell Energy Stadium, as well as both dates at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey (June 30 and July 4). Tickets remain available for the newly crowned 2022/23 Concacaf Nations League Champions, the United States Men’s National Team, in their opening game against Jamaica in Chicago. The rosters have been selected and submitted by each of the teams and are published as such. To be eligible to play in the 2023 Gold Cup, all players are subject to and must fully comply with the criteria stipulated in the applicable FIFA player eligibility regulations.
Changes to the final lists will be allowed in the event of serious injury or approved medical reasons, up until 24 hours before each team’s first group stage match. All changes must be approved by Concacaf, and the replacement player must also come from the teams’ provisional lists. Tickets to all matches are available to the public at GoldCup.org.
The 2023 Gold Cup started on June 16, at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, FL, with the Preliminary Round’s first matches. Following Round One, the Prelims 12 participants have been reduced to
six. Round Two matches will be played on June 20, with the three matchup winners advancing to the 2023 Gold Cup Group Stage.
Group Stage action will take place between June 24 – July 4 and will feature 16 nations divided into four groups.
After Round-robin play, the top two finishers in each of the groups (eight teams) will advance to a Knockout Stage.
The Knockout Stage will be comprised of Quarterfinals, to be played on July 8 and 9, Semifinals on July 12, and Our Final at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, July 16. The complete match schedule for the 2023 Gold Cup is available here.
Matches will be available for fans across the region to view on Fox Sports | Tubi (USA-English), TUDN | ViX (USA-Spanish), Televisa | ViX and TV Azteca (Mexico), OneSoccer (Canada), and ESPN | Star+ (Caribbean, Central, and South America). For other territories, they will be available on Concacaf GO, Concacaf’s Facebook page, and Concacaf’s YouTube channel (all subject to territory restrictions).
Matches will also be available on multiple radio partners, including Futbol De Primera (USA), Teletica Radio (Costa Rica), Monumental (Costa Rica), Deportes Unidos (Costa Rica), Medcom Radio (Panama), TVN Radio (Panama), Emisoras Unidas (Guatemala), La Red (Guatemala) and others.
The 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup is sponsored by BMO, Gatorade, Modelo, Qatar Airways, Ticketmaster, Toyota, Unilever, and Valvoline.
