Caribbean National Weekly March 3, 2022

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THURSDAY MARCH 3, 2022

TOP STORIES Controversy Surrounding Paria Divers in Trinidad Continues Historic Vote – NYC Council Conrms Barbados-born as First-ever Counsel

Home At Last!

Jamaican students arrive in Montego Bay after eeing Ukraine

Twenty Jamaican students arrived at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay on Wednesday evening after fleeing war-torn Ukraine. continues on B4 – Home at Last!

Protoje Rocked Afro-Caribbean Music Festival on his Return Home

By Patrick Green Jamaican roots-reggae ambassador Protoje rocked the Afro-Caribbean Music Festival in Miramar on Saturday night, which ended the city's dedication to mark Black History Month. Almost three thousand Caribbean music lovers jammed the Miramar Amphitheater to see Protégé perform, and they were not disappointed.

The roots-reggae artist who once lived in Miramar gave a superb performance during his one-hour set to a crowd that was deeply immersed in his lyrics. Patrons waved and danced as he bellowed one hit after another, including Flames, Criminal, Rasta Love, Blood Money, and Who Knows.

Protoje's hunger to perform was quite evident from the minute he took the stage with his Indignation band.

New Broward Schools Sup. Ofcially Signs Two-Year Contract Witness Tampering Case Against Trinidad’s Former AG Ramlogan Adjourned to July Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Celebrates 55th Anniversary

The performance was filled with high energy and intensity until he exited the stage at 11:15 p.m., leaving the crowd wanting more.

Regarding his performance, he said: “It was good to be here performing. Nuff Jamaica people, nuff Caribbean people. It's good to perform the music from Jamaica to them. I've just been waiting to get back on the road. I dropped an album but didn't get to tour it.

I've been kind of holding off, but it's now time to get back on the road and hopefully play some music and connect with the people.”

Last Friday, Protoje got the news that his 2015 song, Who Knows, with his “favorite artiste” Chronixx, was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). The award was given for sales of 200,000 copies.

Commenting on the designation, Protoje said:

Women in Latin America and Caribbean have fewer legal rights than men – World Bank Spice Releases New Single Titled ‘Po Po’ with Son Nicho

continues on B4 – Proteje

WHAT’S INSIDE NEWSMAKER

CARIBBEAN

HAITI

ENTERTAINMENT

SPORTS

Jamaican-American Susan Collins makes History as CEO of Federal Bank A3

CARICOM Condemns Russian Invasion of Ukraine A4

Haitian Journalist Killed During Protest for Higher Min. Wage A8

Popcaan and Skillibeng Join Forces for Drake's NOCTA x Nike B3

Damion Lowe Included in MLS Team of the Week C3

A2 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 3 – MAR 9, 2022 | CNWNETWORK.COM

PAGE A2

Members of the interna onal Performing Arts Group from Jamaica, ASHE delivered an unforge able performance at the Miramar Cultural Center at the Celebra ng Garvey & Reggae event to close out Black History Month. – Contributed

Reggae star Protoje takes a photo with Mayor of Miramar Wayne Messam (right) a er performing at the Afro Carib Fes val in Miramar on February 26, 2022. – Contributed

Broward County Sheriff suppor ng JIMA. Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony (3rd le ) and his crew at the Jamaica Interna onal Music Awards (JIMA) in Sunrise on February 28. Other members of the department are (L-R) Captain Jamie Smith, Colonel Nichole Anderson and Captain James Jenkins. – Photo: Patrick Green

2017 Miss World Runner-up Davina Benne , enjoying Protoje's performance at the Afro-Carib Fes val in Miramar on Saturday, February 26. – Photo: Patrick Green

Jamaicans Michelle (le ) and Heather posing with their beau ful smiles at the Afro-Carib Fes val in Miramar on February 26.

– Photo: Patrick Green

CEO of the Grace Jamaican Jerk Fes val Eddy Edwards (le ) Eddy Edwards receives his award from Norman' Humble Lion' Lawrence for Long Service & Pioneering Leadership in Entertainment, Marke ng & Events at the Jamaica Interna onal Music Awards ceremony in Sunrise, Florida, on February 28, 2022. – Contributed

Guests come together to celebrate reggae at the Reggae Icon Awards held in Miramar on February 24, 2022. From le : Miramar Commissioner Alexandra Davis, Cedella Marley, her sons Skip and Saiyan Marley, Consul General Oliver Mair, Steve Higgins and Miramar Vice Mayor Yve e Colbourne. In front from le : West Park Commissioner Joy B. Smith, Jamaican social media personality Juliet “Julie Mango” Bodley, Aura Hayles-Thomas and Cheryl Wynter, Community Liaison Officer at the Jamaica's Consulate Office in Miami. – Contributed

Lauderhill Commissioner Denise Grant and her son Joshua take a photo with Jamaican ar stes I-Octane (le ) and Spragga Benz (right) at the Jamaica Interna onal Music Awards ceremony in Sunrise, Florida, on February 28, 2022. – Contributed

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT MARIJUANA.

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NEWSMAKER

SUSAN COLLINS

The First Black Woman To Lead A US Federal Bank “

When Jamaican-American Economist, Dr. Susan Collins assumes her new position as President and CEO of The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston in July, she will become the first Black woman to lead a Federal Reserve Bank in the United States.

This was announced by the federal bank on February 28th.

“It is an honor and an inspiration to serve as the Boston Fed's next president,” Susan Collins said in the press release.

“Throughout my career, I have been driven by a commitment to leveraging research, education, and public service to improve lives. I look forward to helping the Bank and System pursue the Fed's dual mandate from Congress – achieving price stability and maximum employment.”

She continued: “I am also inspired by the portfolio of important and innovative work underway at the Boston Fed I am delighted with the opportunity to lead such a dynamic organization, engage with its talented staff, and work with its constituents – to understand their economic challenges and help explain the work of the Fed in the economy. It will also be a pleasure to return to Greater Boston and New England.”

In congratulating Collins on her appointment, Aaron Klein, senior fellow in economic

Those summer visits [to Jamaica] raised all kinds of questions. Why were living standards so different?

Even wealthier people in Jamaica suffered from water shut-offs or other hardships… It was clear to me very early on that contexts maer. If you grow up with these questions, it's no surprise to become an interna tional economist” – Collins

studies at the Brookings Institution said,“It is a remarkable advancement when you consider that America had a Black president before any of the 12 regional banks had a Black president.

Hopefully Dr. Collins will bring a fresh perspective to the Fed, which could benefit from new thinking.”

In her new position, Collins will oversee the Boston Fed's monetary policy and economic research, its operational role in the US financial payments system, bank supervision, and community development, according to a press release.

The 63-year-old Collins grew up in New York with both parents - a social anthropologist father who worked at the United Nations and university librarian mother who had migrated from Kingston. She became an American citizen in 1997.

According to the American Economics Association (AEA) on whose executive committee Collins served, she came to economics out of curiosity, from observing the poverty in Jamaica which she frequently visited with her parents to see relatives.

“Those summer visits raised all kinds of questions,” she told the AEA newsletter. “Why were living standards so different? Even wealthier people in Jamaica suffered from water shut-offs or other hardships…

“It was clear to me very early on that contexts matter. If you grow up with these questions, it's no surprise to become an international economist,” Collins said, adding that her parents encouraged her to follow her curiosity.

“Jamaica has a tradition of really strong women and so high-powered careers were

supported,” Collins who identifies as a Jamaican-American, told the newsletter.

She graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University in 1980 and earned her PhD in economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1984. She has held various teaching positions at Harvard, Georgetown University and the University of Michigan, and also served on the President's Council of Economic Advisers from 1989 to 1990.

Until her appointment takes effect on July 1, Collins will continue to serve as provost and executive vice-president for academic affairs at the University of Michigan where she has been since 2020.

She is married with two adult children.

When asked by an interviewer where were her favourite mountain and beach, she said Jamaica, boasting that there were mountains which met the beach on her Caribbean island.

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A4 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 3 – MAR 9, 2022 | CNWNETWORK.COM

CARIBBEAN Belize Gives date for British Royals Visit

CARICOM Condemns Invasion of Ukraine The 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping has joined the global community in “strongly” condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine and called for an “immediate and complete withdrawal” of military forces from the Eastern European country.

Prince William and wife Kate

Belize says Britain's Prince William and his wife, Kate, are to make a four-day visit to the country this month, the first stop on their Caribbean tour which they are undertaking in the context of the Queen's platinum jubilee.

A government statement said the British Royals will visit Belize from March 19-22, and during their stay “the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will have an opportunity to see Belize's pioneering work in coral reef restoration and visit the southern part of Belize, where they will visit with Maya and Garifuna communities”.

Last weekend, Jamaica announced that the Royals will visit from March 2224.

It said the visit forms part of the celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary (platinum jubilee) of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and the 60th anniversary of Jamaica's Independence.

The Queen has visited Jamaica on six occasions, the last being in 2002 to mark her golden jubilee.

“Jamaica will be one of three Caribbean countries, including Belize and The Bahamas, which the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit on the 2022 royal tour,” according to the statement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin last week launched the military operation in Ukraine, with explosions heard across the country.

Weeks of intense diplomacy and the imposition of Western sanctions on Russia failed to deter Putin, who had massed between 150,000 and 200,000 troops along the borders of Ukraine.

Russia has demanded an end to NATO's eastward expansion and said Ukrainian membership of the US-led Atlantic military alliance was unacceptable.

CARICOM had urged “all parties involved to act responsibly” and said Moscow should withdraw its troops and the “cessation of any further actions that may intensify the current dangerous situation in that country. continues on B4 – Condemns Invasion

Russian tanks making their way through the Ukranian border – AP Photo

The hostilities against Ukraine go counter to the principles of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, noninterference in the internal affairs of another sovereign state and the prohibition on the threat or use of force, and the peaceful resolution of disputes, which are the bedrock of this Community. – CARICOM statement

John Briceno

Barbados Implements New Measures at Grantley Adams Int’l Airport The Barbados government says with the implementation of new procedures related to accepting a one-day rapid antigen test for entry at the Grantley Adams International Airport, travelers should encounter less congestion.

Speaking on Saturday during a COVID-19 update, Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Lisa Cummins also announced the launch of version two of the online

Embarkation/Disembarkation (ED) form.

She also acknowledged that the previous requirement of a negative PCR test result for entry into the island posed difficulty for persons attempting to access the test in North America.

“Visitors coming from our primary source markets have expressed difficulties with being able to access the appropriate tests to enter Barbados. Barbadians, … returning home …

have expressed difficulty, in particular coming out of the North American markets, in accessing the PCR tests required for Barbados,” she explained.

Cummins noted that the rapid antigen test was generally accepted as the test of choice by many other international markets, among them the United States and the United Kingdom.

She further explained that the difficulty continues on A8 – New Measures

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TALKUP

What are your thoughts on the Russia/Ukraine war?

Are we heading to World War 3?

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It would be very unfortunate if that happens as we are just picking pieces from the pandemic. However I think that we might not see a war for now because Ukraine isn't a member of NATO and I don't think that the other na ons will intervene at this point. I think this is just a show of power at this point.

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A6 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 3 – MAR 9, 2022 | CNWNETWORK.COM

EDITORIAL

Black History Month was Caribbean Alright!

Earlier in the month, we expressed that even though the annual celebration of Black History Month was intricately connected to Caribbean black history, there was not enough recognition of this critical relationship.

We are happy to say hindsight has spoken and some stakeholders have made sure that the massive Caribbean community, especially in South Florida, was part of the celebrations. A few stood out from the pack and must be noted.

The City of Miramar with the most diverse population in South Florida, fused reggae month with Black History, and presented three fantastic events in the last week of February. On February 25, Commissioner Alexandra Davis hosted the “Good Vibes” Concert series The Sound-clash Edition. The event featured food and merchandise vendors who serviced a respectable Caribbean crowd, rocking to rich reggae music.

Sound-clash is a foundation feature of Jamaica's vibrant music business and was worthy of the focus.

The following day Commissioner Davis was at it again with the first staging of the Afro-Caribbean Festival. The festival hosted at the beautiful Miramar Amphitheater, brought together AfricanCaribbean music and sounds. Nearly 3000 persons turned out to enjoy the music, food, and festivities. Top reggae

artiste Protoje and his band harmoniously satisfied the significantly black crowd, many of whom had not enjoyed outdoor entertainment for over two years. Commissioner Davis promised that the event would be an annual one, and from all indications, next year should be even more successful.

Black History Month would not be complete without recognizing the people who help the community strive and prosper. Miramar was again host to the Marcus Garvey Community Excellence Awards. Hosted by Commissioner Maxwell Grant, the event brought performances by performing arts group ASHE and reggae artiste Anthony B at the Miramar Cultural Center. Nine community members were honored for their service. The honorees' work exemplified one of the most prominent advocates of black empowerment, and national hero of Jamaica, Marcus Garvey.

On the same night, the city of Sunrise was the location for the first Jamaica International Music Awards (JIMA).

Twenty-eight persons were awarded for their contribution to Jamaica's music and their community. This event was another success and will undoubtedly be highly anticipated next year.

We congratulate the event organizers and hosts who took on the challenge to recognize and show appreciation to the builders of our communities. We hope more people and cities will continue the trend next year, during a month when black people need to use their history to march forward to greater independence of the various facets of human life.

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la section haitienne

Haitian Journalist Killed During Protest for Higher Minimum Wage Haitian journalist Maxihen Lazzare was shot and killed last Wednesday while covering a protest by textile workers calling for a higher minimum wage than was announced by the government earlier in the week.

Lazzare

Lazzare was a photojournalist with Roi des Infos, a local digital media company.

Three other journalists, Sony Laurore of Laurore News TV, Yves Moise of RCH 2000, and Alvarez Destined from Lakay TV, were also injured, two of them by bullets.

Haiti's Prime Minister, Dr. Ariel Henry, has condemned the killing of the journalist.

While committing to guarantee the freedom to demonstrate, in compliance with the law and republican values, the government recalls the responsibility of public authorities to ensure order and security to restore peace.

“I deplore the death of the journalist, which occurred during workers' demonstrations on Wednesday. I also condemn the violence that has caused injuries. I offer my condolences to the family of the deceased, as well as to the other victims of these brutal acts,” Henry said in a statement.

Last Monday, Haiti announced an increase in the minimum wages less than a week after police used tear gas to disperse textile workers who took to the streets to demand an increase in their minimum wages.

The workers were demanding a 300 percent increase in the minimum wage, which is now 500 continues on B4 – Journalist Killed

UN Urges Accountability for Escalating Violence in Haiti The U.N. Security Council has called for those responsible for violence in Haiti to be held accountable and expressed deep concern at the Caribbean nation's “ongoing and protracted crises” including escalating gang violence.

The U.N.'s most powerful body urged all political stakeholders “to engage constructively to address Haiti's underlying drivers of instability (and) to enable a path towards elections.” Council members also expressed concern at Haiti's humanitarian situation and called for continued international support for its people.

The Security Council issued the press statement after a briefing by Helen La Lime, the U.N. special envoy for Haiti, who said the situation in Latin America's poorest country “remains fraught and highly politicized,” warning that “gang violence continues to plunge major urban centers into lawlessness and grief.”

“Criminal armed groups have a stronghold on the economic and social lives of millions of children, women and men,” she said. “Their indiscriminate use of abduction, murder, as well as sexual and gender-based violence as a means

to terrorize local populations in the fight to extend their territorial control is particularly abhorrent.”

La Lime said Haiti's National Police have sought to improve the effectiveness of its antigang operations and adopt a more balanced approach between prevention and repression.

But she stressed that “an over-stretched, understaffed and under-resourced police force cannot on its own curtail the alarming rise in gang-generated insecurity.”

The U.N. envoy said Haiti needs international funding and technical support not only for the police but for projects and activities to promote employment and revenue in the most affected neighborhoods. And it also urgently needs to address impunity and the “grave structural weaknesses” in the country's judicial system.

Haiti has been contending not only with escalating gang violence but the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse last July 7, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake that killed over 2,200 people in the country's south and damaged or destroyed tens of thousands of homes last August, and the

need to restore what La Lime described as “fully functional, democratically elected institutions.”

On Feb. 7, seven months after Moïse was slain at his private residence and the official end of his term, opponents demanded that Prime Minister Ariel Henry step down, arguing that his administration is unconstitutional.

Henry has also faced accusations that he is not a legitimate leader given that Haiti's chief public prosecutor -- whom Henry has since fired -- said the prime minister spoke with one of the main suspects in the presidential slaying hours after it occurred. Henry has said he received multiple calls that day and doesn't remember all of them.

La Lime told the Security Council that the investigation into Moïse's assassination “has stalled, a situation that fuels rumors and exacerbates both suspicion and mistrust within the country.”

Haiti currently has only ten elected officials since it failed to hold legislative elections in October 2019 amid political gridlock and massive protests, with Moïse ruling by decree for more than a year before he was killed. Since

then, numerous opponents have challenged Henry and nominated their own leaders, moves that the prime minister has not recognized.

Henry has promised to hold general elections by the end of this year as his administration tries to improve security conditions.

La Lime said Henry has continued to engage with political actors and “negotiations among proponents of competing transition governance models have now reached the stage where success will be determined by their collective willingness to compromise,” which would mean putting national interests above their own aspirations.

While no electoral calendar has been announced yet, the U.N. envoy said “momentum does seem to be building around an effort to form an inclusive, credible and effective Provisional Electoral Council that would inspire confidence and trust among a critical mass of national stakeholders.”

On a positive note, she said donors pledged $600 million to start rebuilding parts of the southern peninsula destroyed in last August's earthquake.

A8 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 3 – MAR 9, 2022 | CNWNETWORK.COM A D V E R T I S E M E N T

THE SCHOOL BOARD OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION BIDS FOR LEISURE CITY K-8 CENTER The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida (Board), intends to award one Construction firm for the following General Obligation Bond (GOB) project:

PROJECT NO. 01529100 LEISURE CITY K-8 CENTER RENOVATIONS & NEW P.E. SHELTER 14950 S.W. 288TH STREET MIAMI, FLORIDA 33033 BIDS DUE: Sealed bids will be received by The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida, for the project listed herein, until 1:00 P.M. local time, Thursday April 21, 2022, at 1450 N.E. Second Avenue, Lobby in the N.E. Fifteenth (15th) Street entrance, Miami, Florida, following which time and place, or as soon there-after as the Board can attend to the same, the said bids will be publicly opened, read and tabulated in the Board Auditorium, Miami-Dade County School Board Administration Building, by an authorized representative of the Board. Award of the contract will be made to the lowest, pre-qualified responsible and responsive bidder for the actual amount bid considering base bid and accepted alternates (if any) as listed in the bidding documents. The Board will award the contract based upon the results of the tabulations as covered by applicable laws and regulations.

Bidders desiring to participate in this solicitation must be pre-qualified by the Board prior to submitting their bid in response to this solicitation. Contact the Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) Office of Economic Opportunity at (305) 995-1307 or via email at oeo@dadeschools.net for information regarding Contractors' Pre-qualification procedures.

QUESTIONS: Written questions regarding this project will be accepted. All written communications must be sent to the Project Architect/Engineer, Ana Alleguez (ana@alleguezarchitecture.com), Alleguez Architecture, Inc., 7294 S.W. 48th Street, Miami, FL 33155. Questions will be accepted until 5:00 pm on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. Answers will only be issued to the Contractors who attended the mandatory Pre-bid Conference MANDATORY PRE-BID CONFERENCE: (Leisure City K-8 Center): Tuesday, March 15, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. local time, at Leisure City K-8 Center, 14950 SW 288TH Street, Miami, Florida 33033. There will be a sign-in period from 10:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Potential bidders arriving after the fifteen (15) minute sign-in period will not be allowed to participate in this solicitation. Proposals submitted by firms not represented at the Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference will not be considered.

BOARD POLICIES: Cone of Silence A Cone of Silence, pursuant to Board Policy 6325, shall commence with the issuance of this Legal Advertisement and shall terminate at the time the item is presented by the Superintendent to the appropriate Board committee immediately prior to the Board meeting at which the Board will award or approve a contract, reject all bids or responses, or take any other action that ends the solicitation and review process. Any violation of this rule shall be investigated by the Board's Inspector General and shall result in the disqualification of the potential applicant from the competitive solicitation process, rejection of any recommendation for award, or the revocation of an award to the vendor as being void, rendering void any previous or prior awards. The potential vendor or vendor's representative determined to have violated this rule, shall be subject to debarment.

General questions regarding the legal advertisement will be sent to the Office of Capital Improvement Projects via email at ocip@dadeschools.net, and a copy filed with the Clerk of the School Board at celiarubio@dadeschools.net, who shall make copies available to the public upon request.

Lobbyist Lobbyist requirements, pursuant to Board Policy 8150, shall be applicable to this solicitation and all proposers and lobbyists shall strictly conform to, and be governed by, the requirements set forth therein. Contact the Clerk of the School Board for additional information.

Vendor and Employment Preference Local-Vendor Preference, pursuant to Board Policy 6320.05, shall apply to this solicitation. Based on Board policy, Local Business means a vendor or business that has a valid business tax receipt, issued by a jurisdiction located in MiamiDade County, that has either (1) its headquarters, manufacturing facility, or locally-owned franchise located within the legal boundaries of Miami Dade County, for at least twelve (12) months, or (2) has an office with a street address within the boundaries of Miami-Dade County for at least twenty-four (24) months, calculated from the bid or proposal opening date. Post office boxes are not verifiable and shall not be used for the purpose of establishing said physical address. In order to be considered for local preference, vendors must provide a copy of their business tax receipt and the Local Business Affidavit of Eligibility with their proposal. Proposers who fail to submit the required documents will not be considered for Vendor Preference.

Jessica Lunsford Act The successful proposer(s) shall fully comply with the State of Florida's House Bill 1877 “Jessica Lunsford Act” (JLA); FS 1012.465, 1012.32, 1012.467 & 1012.468 and Board Policy 4121.01, Employment Standards and Fingerprinting of all Employees (also refer to Board Policy 8475).

Ethics, Conflict of Interest and Anti-Fraud Proposers responding to this solicitation shall comply with the following ethics, conflict of interest and anti-fraud policies: - Board Policy 6460, Business Code of Ethics; - Board Policy 6460, Disclosure of Employment of Former School Board Employees; - Board Policy 8700, Anti-Fraud; and all related Board policies and procedures, as applicable Contractor Debarment Procedures Pursuant to Board Policy 6320.04, Contractor Discipline Procedures, debarred contractors are excluded from conducting business with the Board as agents, representatives, partners, and associates of other contractors, subcontractors or individual sureties.

Commercial Anti-discrimination, Diversity, and Inclusion Proposers responding to this solicitation shall comply with the following anti-discrimination policies: - Board Policy 6465, Commercial Anti-discrimination, Diversity, and Inclusion (proposers shall be required to certify compliance with Board Policy 6465); - Board Policy 1362.02, 3362.02 and 4362.02, Anti-discrimination/Harassment Complaint Procedure; and - all related Board policies and procedures, as applicable Protest Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed and in the manner specified in Board Policy 6320 (Purchase Approval and Competitive Bidding Process Requirements) or in accordance with FS Section 120.57(3) shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under FS Chapter 120.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The proposer acknowledges that all information contained in their RFQ Response is part of public domain as defined by the State of Florida Sunshine Law. Therefore, any information received is subject to public inspection and copying in accordance with FS 119. No action on the part of the proposer would create an obligation of confidentiality on the part of the School Board including, but not limited to, making a reference in the RFQ Response to trade secrets FS 812.081 and FS 815.045. It is recommended that potential proposers exclude from their response any information that, in their judgment, may be considered a trade secret.

Board policies, as amended from time to time, can be accessed and downloaded at: https://go.boarddocs.com/fl/sbmd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=BK6KUF4FFE14.

The successful proposer(s) shall fully comply with the State of Florida's House Bill 1877 “Jessica Lunsford Act” (JLA); FS 1012.465, 1012.32, 1012.467 & 1012.468 and Board Policy 4121.01, Employment Standards and Fingerprinting of all.

Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed and in the manner specified in Board Policy 6320 or in accordance with §120.57(3). Fla. Stat. (2014) shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under Chapter 120, Florida Statutes.

Pre-qualified bidders may obtain the documents for construction or a full set of printed documents for construction at the bidder's expense from the office of Go Green Document Solutions, Inc. on 3715 Grand Avenue, Coconut Grove, Florida 33133 on and after, February 28, 2022.

OFFICE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY Small/Micro, Minority/Women-Owned, and Veteran Business Enterprise Programs, Board Policy 6320.02 Awarded firms will be required to comply with Board Policy 6320.02 and submit a monthly report via the Online Diversity Compliance System for compliance with Small/Micro, Minority/Women and/or Veteran sub-consultant goals, subcontractor goals, local workforce information, and/or any affirmative procurement initiatives. Awarded firms will be required to submit monthly compliance reports online at: http://miamidadeschools.diversitycompliance.com. Please note that the “Small/Micro Business Enterprise Program Administrative Procedures Manual”, Board-approved January 15, 2020, shall be applicable to this solicitation. Please contact the Office of Economic Opportunity at 305-995-1307 or via email at OEO@dadeschools.net for additional information.

Assistance levels, as established by the Goal Setting Committee: Leisure City K-8 Center: S/MBE Mandatory Subcontracting Goals: 7.94% Construction and 20% Local Work Force, within a County-wide radius.

Mandatory M/WBE Subcontracting Goals: 12.06%- Non-minority women, African American, Native American and Asian American-owned firms.

The Board reserves the right to waive informalities and to reject any and all bids.

THE SCHOOL BOARD OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA By: Dr. Jose L. Dotres Superintendent of Schools

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COMMUNITY

9 Stalwarts Received Marcus Garvey Excellence Awards

THE STALWARTS

Nine community stalwarts continuing the legacy and works of Jamaica’s National Hero, Marcus Mosiah Garvey, were recipients of the Community Excellence Award celebrating Black History Month from Miramar Commissioner Maxwell Chambers and Jamaica’s Consul General Oliver Mair. The event was the finale of the Black History Month activities “Celebrating Garvey & Reggae” at the Miramar Cultural Center on Monday (Feb. 28). Along with the outstanding awards presentation, the highlight of the evening was what can be described as an unforgettable performance by internationally famed performing arts group ASHE. The three-hour presentation was a full night of entertainment to a jam-packed audience in the 700 seat theater.

Other performing artists included tenor Steve Higgins and one of Jamaica’s premier performing artists, Bunny Rose. Mistress of Ceremonies was South Florida’s Jamaica Diaspora cultural entertainer, Sophia Nicholson.

Jamaican Man Arrested in Lauderhill for Lottery Scam Another Jamaican has been arrested in Florida for running a lottery scam operation that defrauded elderly victims from New York, Arizona, and Texas of over US$500,000.

Linton Roberts, 50, was arrested in Lauderhill last week. He faces 21 charges, including money laundering, grand theft, larceny, exploitation of the elderly, and fraud. His bond has been set at US$1.1 million, but he remains at the Joseph V Conte Facility in Pompano Beach.

According to the Sun-Sentinel, the scams from April 2018 through as recently as last month were primarily carried out the same way. Elderly victims in New York, Massachusetts, California, and elsewhere received calls from someone using

different names and told them they were lottery winners.

To claim their winnings, the victims were told they needed to mail cashier's checks to a Lauderhill address, later determined to be Roberts'. Roberts scammed victims out of hundreds of thousands of dollars for four years.

Upon realizing they were scammed, his victims, with ages ranging between 75 to 83 years old, contacted the Lauderhill Police Department.

According to an affidavit, Roberts also received over $12,930 after fraudulently applying for a Paycheck Protection Program loan, despite never owning a business.

Roberts is just one of several Jamaicans to be

arrested for lottery scamming and fraud in Florida since the start of the year.

Also last week, a South Florida grand jury indicted a Jamaican veteran police officer for importing cocaine into the United States with the intent to distribute it. 42-year-old Shelian Cherine Allen was caught with several packages of cocaine in various parts of her body at the Fort Lauderdale Airport. If convicted, she faces up to 40 years in prison on each count.

A week before her arrest, another Jamaican, Richard Morgan, was arrested by the Bay County Police in Florida for allegedly scamming a 92year-old woman out of US$54,000 (approximately J$8.5 million).

New Measures from A4

experienced in identifying testing sites overseas for a PCR test led to the second issue, the congestion at Gates 14 – 16 on arrival in Barbados.

“Persons were found to have an unacceptable test, and that resulted in retesting at Grantley Adams International Airport at Gates 14 -16.

By transitioning under the direction of the EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) and the Ministry of Health to accepting Rapid Antigen as is done in countries all around the world, that immediately eases that challenge, and travelers can avoid now incurring the cost in some instances of accessing, first of all, a PCR test and in some instances, having to repeat that test on more than one occasion. We're very happy to be able to afford visitors that ease of entry to Barbados while maintaining the safety at our borders,” the Tourism Minister reported.

Cummins said passengers would return to walking from their aircraft via the footpath from Gate 13 to nine through the Arrivals Hall to ease congestion further.

However, travelers arriving at gates above number 13 would still have to use transportation.

Concerning the updated online [Embarkation/Disembarkation] ED form, the Minister reported: “The new version two is being prepared. I believe that over the course of this weekend, that draft is going to be presented to Mr. Abrams, Minister of Home Affairs, for review.”

B2 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 3 – MAR 9, 2022 | CNWNETWORK.COM

HEALTH & WELLNESS

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CNWNETWORK.COM | NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 3 – MAR 9, 2022 –

B3

HEALTH & WELLNESS

by Sharon Robinson

COVID Cases, Deaths Continue to Fall Globally, WHO Reports The number of new coronavirus cases reported globally dropped by 16% last week, marking a month-long decline in COVID-19 infections, according to figures from the World Health Organization.

In its weekly report on the pandemic issued late Tuesday, the U.N. health agency also said deaths fell by 10%, continuing a drop in fatalities first seen last week.

WHO said there were more than 10 million new cases and about 60,000 deaths globally. The Western Pacific was the only region where COVID-19 increased, with about a third more infections than the previous week.

Deaths rose by 22% in the Western Pacific and about 4% in the Middle East, while declining everywhere else.

WHO said the omicron variant remains overwhelmingly dominant worldwide; among virus sequences shared with the world's largest publicly accessible database, more than 99.5% were omicron while only 0.3% were delta. In the last month, none of the other worrying variants — including beta, gamma, lambda or mu — have been reported, although WHO said there were surveillance challenges in many countries.

Numerous countries across Europe including Britain, Sweden and Denmark, have released nearly all their COVID-19 restrictions as cases have fallen dramatically while immunization campaigns have progressed. In the U.S., scientists have estimated about 73% of the population is now immune to omicron and that any future spikes of disease will require far less disruptive interventions to control epidemics.

Still, WHO has repeatedly said it is too early to declare the pandemic over and warned that if the coronavirus is allowed to continue spreading, it will have further chances to mutate into a potentially more deadly or transmissible version.

B4 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 3 – MAR 9, 2022 | CNWNETWORK.COM

CONTINUATIONS

Journalist Killed

from A7

Gourdes per eight-hour working day in addition to other social benefits, such as transport and food subsidies.

The Council of Ministers met last Sunday and agreed to increase the minimum wage for different categories of workers ranging from 440 to 770 Gourdes.

The textile workers have refused to accept the minimum wage of 685 Gourdes demanding a minimum daily wage of 1,500 Gourdes.

Media reports said heavily armed men in a vehicle opened fire on the demonstrators. There were also reports that several people were injured by gunfire from individuals wearing police uniforms and traveling in a vehicle without license plates.

Before the shooting, police had used tear gas to try and push back protesters who were throwing stones.

Wednesday's protest was the third consecutive day that the textile workers took to the streets barricading the main roads with piles of burning tires.

Secretary-General of the Autonomous Center of Haitian Workers Fignolé Saint Cyr said the minimum wage in Haiti had not been readjusted since November 1, 2019.

Economist Joseph Harold Pierre said while he believes the daily minimum wage should be between 900 and 1,700 Gourdes, he also acknowledges that the state cannot meet such an increase.

Condemns Inavsion

from A4

“The recognition by The Russian Federation of the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk represents a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine,” CARICOM said. It added that “the hostilities against Ukraine go counter to the principles of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference in the internal affairs of another sovereign state and the prohibition on the threat or use of force, and the peaceful resolution of disputes, which are the bedrock of this Community.

“CARICOM maintains that the principles of universal respect and adherence to these norms and principles of international law are fundamental to the maintenance of the international system and global peace and security.

“CARICOM calls on all parties involved to urgently embark on intensified diplomatic dialogue to immediately deescalate hostilities and work towards a sustainable peace,” the statement added.

LEISURE

Home at Last!

from A1

Twenty Jamaican students arrived at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay on Wednesday evening after fleeing war-torn Ukraine.

Jamaica's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said of the remaining four students, two have made other travel arrangements, one has arrived in Poland from Kharkiv, while the fourth travelled to Romania and will receive assistance from Jamaican contacts.

The students who were studying in Ukraine when Russia invaded the county on February 24, fled to Poland in their bid to escape. Initially, the students were hesitant to leave Ukraine as the Jamaican government offered the option of a loan to fund their passage back to Jamaica.

Following backlash from the diaspora, and on social media, the Jamaican government backpedalled and decided to fund the students' passage home.

On Monday, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith said the government would absorb the travel costs for the students. She explained that the government would underwrite all the students' transportation and accommodation costs until they arrive in Jamaica. “There is no loan involved,” she said while adding that Jamaica is working with contacts in Ukraine and Poland to ensure that all the arrangements were made.

President of the Opposition People's National Party President Mark Golding also announced that the party established a U.S. $10,000 emergency fund for the students.

Golding said he also made a personal donation to help the students and secured the commitment of a group of psychiatrists to provide counselling services to students when they arrive in Jamaica.

Prior to the Jamaican government's decision to fund the students' travel, a Florida-based Jamaican organization Jamaican Men of Florida (JMOF) offered to assist the Jamaican students by underwriting the Jamaican government loan or providing the tickets for the students to travel home.

Jamaican Men of Florida President Dr. Rupert Francis said the students should not have had the added burden of having

Proteje

to secure a loan to leave the war-torn country. “The safety of the students should be first and foremost. Getting them out of Ukraine must be the highest priority. And, they should not have to deal with getting loans to be able to get home. Loans to which they do not have full details about repayment and interest rates to be charged,” he said.

Dr. Francis pointed to the fact that several countries worldwide are offering to get foreign nationals and Ukrainians out as a matter of priority. He said that the Jamaican government should seek to have the students travel freely.

“The number one priority of any government is the safety of its citizens. Especially in this instance, the students are caught in a situation not of their making. Therefore, the government's prime focus should be to get them out safely,” he said.

On arrival at the Polish border on Sunday night, the Jamaican government, and Chargé d' Affaires, Deniese Sealey, arranged for the students to be accommodated at a hotel in Poland. The students also received subsistence to purchase personal items.

Minister Johnson-Smith noted that some of the students were concerned about their future and their studies. “As you know, most of them were hesitant to leave because they were worried about their studies. We had engaged UWI early in this process, we'll re-engage them to see if there is any possibility at all of accommodation, and we'll also reach out to our bilateral partners to see if they have any programs in place which will be seeking to accommodate the students who have been disrupted from their students in Ukraine,” she said in a video message posted to social media on Monday night.

According to the Associated Press, more than half a million people have fled the country since the Russian invasion. The U.N. believes up to four million refugees could leave Ukraine if the war intensifies. The U.N. human rights office said on Tuesday that it had recorded the deaths of 136 civilians, including 13 children. The actual toll is likely far higher.

from A1

“It means a lot because we put in a lot of work in that song, and it was released independently. So, for it to sell 200,000 copies, I am very grateful. It somewhat validates the work we've been doing. We are happy that it happens and look forward to doing more things like that.”

Who Knows appeared on Protoje's third album, Ancient Future (2015), which spent 17 weeks on the Billboard Chart and

peaked at number one. The song currently boasts over 165 million views on YouTube.

Regarding working with Chronixx, he told CNW, “Me and Chronixx coming together was very special. We have nuff more works coming out that I believe can rival that. Chronixx is like a brother. We've been working since he started. He is a genius and one of my favorite artists. He is brilliant!”

CNWNETWORK.COM | NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 3 – MAR 9, 2022 –

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ENTERTAINMENT

Dancehall Queen ‘Spice’ took the Coveted Prizes at Jamaica International Music Awards

Popcaan and Skillibeng Join Forces for Drake's NOCTA x Nike

By Jovani Davis

T

he queen of dancehall music, Spice, walked away with the most coveted prizes at the first Jamaica International Music Awards ceremony in Sunrise, Florida, last night. The Grammy nominee took the Best Female Reggae Dancehall Album trophy with “10,” moments after her single “Goh Down Deh” won Song of the Year.

Spice was not present to accept her award but provided thank you speeches via video to her fans and the organizers.

Other notable awardees include Kevin Downswell – Best Gospel Artiste; Shaniel Muir – Best New Artiste, Danger Kid – Best DJ in South Florida; and Kurt Riley – Best DJ in Jamaica. Best Male Reggae Dancehall Album of the year went to Mascika’s “438.”

The inaugural Jamaica music awards show was an overall success.

MC Kadene Chambers’s smooth voice, punctuated with intermittent humor, kept the proceedings exciting and the crowd engaging.

The chief organizer of the event, Norman Lawrence, was very pleased with the outcome. “We are ecstatic at how JIMA has come to life. Last year, it was just a thought in our minds, and through the hard work and long hours dedicated by the committee, we delivered a show that did what we intended – ‘owned & honored our music.’ However, the true mark of a successful event is the impact on the audience. By that standard, Jamaica International Music Awards was a resounding success as the ‘what a great evening’ and ‘make sure you keep it going!’ comments received from attendees were too numerous to count. I am proud of the work that our team did. Planning for next year’s event will begin immediately, as it will

be bigger & better.

Several pioneers and prominent ambassadors of Jamaica’s music were honored. Byiome ‘I-Octane’ Muir, who provided entertainment for the evening, was recognized for his humanitarian efforts. Eddy Edwards was honored for his Long Service & Pioneering Leadership in Entertainment, Marketing & Events for over 20 years. Carlton “Spragga Benz” got a lifetime achievement award for his contribution to Jamaica’s music industry.

One of the best speeches came from Richard Mark ‘Honorebel’ Bailey, recognized for his contribution and work in the reggae & dancehall music industry. Industry stalwart awards were presented to Stone Love and Metro Media, while Ricardo’ Supa Twitch’ Sanchez got recognition for his 33 years of worldwide involvement in the music industry.

Jamaican dancehall superstars Popcaan and Skillibeng have joined forces with international shoe giant Nike for Drake's NOCTA shoe line.

The Unruly Boss shared a short video clip on Instagram of the Nike promotion starring himself and Skillibeng, previewing Drake's upcoming Nike NOCTA in the two available colors, black and white.

The teaser, shot in downtown Kingston, shows the brand's deliberate push to involve the Jamaican culture while merging Drake's love for the music with his style and taste.

The footwear, apparel, and equipment company posted a series of snippets with the deejay wearing the new all-white NOCTA x Nike' Hot Step' Air Terra shoes.

With a following of over 201 million users on their official Instagram account, Nike tagged the Unruly Boss in one of their stories slides, asking fans in a poll, “Which Color Will You Cop?” The official release is set for a March 3 drop, according to the official NOCTA Instagram page.

Over the years, Drake has been representing the Jamaican culture through his music, whether in patois, sampling riddims, or features.

Popcaan has influence in some of Drake's slang and a general understanding of the Jamaican lifestyle, so it came as no surprise that Popcaan, the resident dancehall representative, would be an ambassador on his shoe line.

The Unruly Boss proves that his music influences the international scene after his 'Firm and Strong' track was featured in the popular Power series, Book IV: Force, last Sunday.

The Nike Hot Step Air Terra design is similar to the iconic Air Max 97. The sneaker comes with a visible Air bubble in the heel and sports the signature NOCTA logo along with the metallic Nike tick.

Drake first debuted the triple white colorway of the NOCTA x Nike Hot Step Air Terra in a photo of himself in the studio last year.

In the meantime, Popcaan, born Andre Sutherland, is signed to Drake's OVO label while Skillibeng seems to be the rapper's favorite, having received a shout-out from him last year for his “Crocodile Teeth” song.

C2 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 3 – MAR 9, 2022 | CNWNETWORK.COM

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CNWNETWORK.COM | NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 3 – MAR 9, 2022 –

SPORTS

SOCCER

If Reggae Girlz fail to qualify, blame the JFF There is an English saying, “If you play with fire, you get burned.” Well, that appears to be exactly what the Vin Blaine-coached Reggae Girlz are doing after two games in the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign.

The Reggae Girlz, who created history by qualifying for the FIFA World Cup Finals in France in 2019, have been drawn in a fivenation Group C in the preliminary phase of the qualifiers, where only the group winners advance.

Jamaica started with a 4-0 victory over Bermuda at home, then labored to a 6-1 win over Grenada on Sunday. Though gaining a maximum of six points from the two games, Jamaica sits in second place on goal difference behind the Dominican Republic, who have also registered two wins.

The Dom Rep defeated Grenada 9-0 then followed up with a 4-0 defeat of the Cayman Islands to lead the group with a positive 13 goal difference. At the same time, Jamaica has a positive nine goal-difference.

On April 9, Jamaica visits the Cayman Islands and hosts Dom Rep three days later.

Being four goals behind on goal difference, the Reggae Girlz could find themselves in a situation where they could need a win against Dom Rep on April 12. In contrast, the Spanish-speaking nation could require a mere draw to embarrass the Girlz, dumping them out at the first qualifying

Blaine

phase.

Since their historic journey to the France World Cup Finals, the Reggae Girlz have shown steady improvement, especially with several of them finding employment in professional clubs all over the world. Now they are expected to make another serious bid to repeat that historic feat by qualifying for the 2023 edition of the FIFA Women’s showpiece event.

Hugh Menzies, who was head coach of the team in 2019, was replaced by his assistants Lorne Donaldson and later Hubert Busby. Busby has since been accused of sexual misconduct by a player during his days as a club coach in North America.

Busby has been sidelined by the Jamaica Football Federation since, with Blaine, a former coach of the Reggae Girlz, being given the job to guide them to another World Cup. But after two games, Blaine’s team has not looked the part at all, leaving many to

worry about the team’s future.

The Girlz look disorganized, disjointed, and unconvincing against much weaker rivals, a far cry from when Menzies, Donaldson, or Busby had control of the team.

Based on the structure of the qualifying format, group winners stand a great chance of qualifying for the World Cup, so the Reggae Girlz needs to advance from this round.

No one can deny the upward trajectory of the Reggae Girlz since the World Cup. So, it came as a major surprise when Blaine was given the job ahead of Donaldson, who had made progress with the team during his brief stint in charge.

Should fate deal the Girlz a major blow at the first hurdle, one cannot help but place serious scrutiny on the JFF’s Technical Committee, who would have selected Blaine ahead of Donaldson.

Considering that the same committee recommended the firing of Theodore Whitmore as Head Coach of the men’s team, despite the opposition to do so due to the delicate position of the Reggae Boyz at the time, its competence would be on the line, and that of the JFF leadership as well.

Everybody within the federation must be held accountable for their actions, and the leadership “should use sleep to mark death.”

CRICKET

Cricket West Indies Hails Sonny Ramadhin as Pioneer Trinidadian off-spinner Sonny Ramadhin has been hailed as one of the great pioneers by Cricket West Indies. The legendary spinner died on Sunday at age 92.

Ramadhin formed a now storied partnership with left-arm spinner Alf Valentine which famously led West Indies to a 3-1 series win against England in 1950.

The partnership became immortalized in song when calypsonian Lord Beginner penned and sang “Cricket, Lovely Cricket” in tribute to that Test series victory.

All told, Ramadhin played 43 Tests, claimed 158 wickets at an average of almost 29, and featured in 184 first-class games, picking up 258 wickets at a shade over 20 apiece.

“On behalf of CWI, I want to express our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Sonny Ramadhin, one of the great pioneers of West Indies cricket,” said CWI president Ricky Skerritt.

“Mr. Ramadhin made an impact from the moment he first stepped on the field of world cricket. Many stories are told of his tremendous feats on the 1950 tour when he combined with

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Ramadhin

Alf Valentine to form cricket’s ‘spin twins’ as West Indies conquered England away from home for the first time.

“This iconic tour is part of our rich cricket legacy, which was pioneered by Mr. Ramadhin and others of his generation. His English exploit was celebrated in a famous calypso – and is still remembered more than 70 years later. Today, we salute Sonny Ramadhin for his outstanding

contribution to West Indies cricket.”

Born in Trinidad in 1929, Ramadhin made his Test debut against England at Manchester in 1950, in a squad headlined by the legendary Three Ws – Sir Frank Worrell, Sir Everton Weekes, and Sir Clyde Walcott.

He finished with two wickets in each innings. Valentine grabbed eight in the first innings as England wrapped up a 202-run win. However, Ramadhin snatched five in the first innings of the second Test at Lord’s and six in the second innings to help West Indies win by 326 runs before dominating the series.

Damion Lowe Included in MLS Team of the week Inter Miami CF defender Damion Lowe has been named to the bench of the Major League Soccer (MLS) Team of the Week for week one of the 2022 season, following his strong debut in Inter Miami’s season opener against Chicago Fire FC on Saturday.

Lowe

Inter Miami CF kicked off the 2022 MLS campaign with a point and a clean sheet in a scoreless game at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

The Jamaican international played for 90 minutes, recording his first clean sheet before an electric home crowd. Additionally, the center-back clocked in an 80% aerial duel win rate, recorded eight clearances, and had three key interceptions.

Lowe also aided in pressing the attack, entering the opponent’s final third seven times with one recorded shot attempt. Lowe’s inclusion is his first appearance in the Team of the Week and the first for an Inter Miami player this season.

Lowe was satisfied with his performance.

“I look forward to continuing my high work rate and just helping my teammates and Inter Miami to achieve a lot in the MLS this season. In terms of personal goals, I want to solidify myself as one of the best in the league, so this is a good start.”

The scoreless draw saw several players making their MLS debuts for Inter Miami, including the Heineken Man of the Match Clément Diop, who kept the shut out in his first start goal.

Other Inter Miami debut players were DeAndre Yedlin, Jairo Quinteros, Christopher McVey Mo Adams, Jean Mota, and Leonardo Campana.

Next, Inter Miami will hit the road for its second match of 2022, traveling to Texas to take on Austin FC on Sunday, March 6 at 4 p.m. ET.

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C4 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 3 – MAR 9, 2022 | CNWNETWORK.COM A D V E R T I S E M E N T