National Weekly March 11, 2021

A2 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 11 – MAR 17, 2021 | CNWNETWORK.COM

PAGE A2 WOMAN IN CHARGE: Jamaican Women of Florida (JWOF) member Adrianna Bentley moderates the JWOF networking event on March 5, 2021, at Island Space Caribbean Museum in the Wes ield Broward Mall.

The event was followed by the Women's Empowerment Conference and Scholarship Fundraiser on March 6. Contributed

PROTECT & SERVE: Lauderhill's Chief of Police, Constance Stanley (center) welcomes new officers Kady LaMaster (le ) and Terrance Kearney to the City of Lauderhill Police Department on Thursday, March 4, 2021. - Contributed

WINNER'S CIRCLE: Miramar Commissioner Maxwell Chambers (center) celebrates a er being re-elected to serve Seat One in the Broward County municipal elec on on March 9, 2021. Pictured by his side are Miramar Commissioners Yve e Colbourne (le ) and Alexandra Davis (right). Colbourne also won her reelec on bid for Seat 2. - Contributed

VIBRANT: Juliet Roulhac, regional director of external affairs for Florida Power and Light (le ), poses for a photo with Dr. Keisha Grey, Jamaican Women of Florida (JWOF) president, during the JWOF networking event held on March 5, 2021, at Island Space Caribbean Museum in the Wes ield Broward Mall. - Contributed

WIN-WIN: Jamaican Americans gather to celebrate Miramar Commissioner Yve e Colbourne, who was re-elected to serve Seat 2 in the Broward County municipal elec on on March 9, 2021. From le : Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness, Omar Colbourne and wife, Commissioner Yve e Colbourne, West Park City Commissioner Joy Smith, and Miramar Commissioner Alexandra Davis. - Contributed

ENGAGING: Members of Jamaican Women of Florida chat during the JWOF networking event held on March 5, 2021, at Island Space Caribbean Museum in the Wes ield Broward Mall. From le : Cheryl Wynter, public informa on officer at the Consulate General of Jamaica; Juliet Roulhac, regional director of external affairs for Florida Power and Light; and Arlene Lewis-Marr, immediate past president of JWOF. - Contributed

A SHOT IN THE ARM: Jamaica's former Prime Ministers PJ Pa erson (le ) and Bruce Golding get their first shots of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at the Gold Samaritan Inn in Kingston, Jamaica on March 10, 2021. - Contributed

PACKAGED WITH LOVE: Jamaican Consul General Oliver Mair (le ) and Pastor Robert Stewart, senior pastor of Pentecostal Tabernacle Church in Miami Gardens, load food packages to be given to needy families at the church's weekly distribu on community program. Some 400 residents from surrounding areas receive packages of food and personal care products through this effort. - Contributed

NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 11 – MAR 17, 2021 | CNWNETWORK.COM –

A3

NEWSMAKER

Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-Mckenzie Jamaica's Chief Medical Officer Managing COVID-19 stress with Calm and Competence Jamaica is in the midst of yet another COVID-19 crisis, which is on the verge of overwhelming the island's already harassed healthcare sector. A massive increase in COVID cases, with an alarming between 20 to 3 percent positivity rate each day, increased hospitalizations, and limited hospital beds have left healthcare professionals and leaders in the government, and the Ministry of Health and Wellness in particular, fatigued.

Despite being overwhelmed, the health ministry's leading trio—Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton, Permanent Secretary Dunstan Bryan and Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-Mckenzie—is the picture of calm authority during the weekly health briefings to the nation.

For Dr. Bisasor-McKenzie, in particular, her demeanor has remained composed, giving an assurance to Jamaicans that the

ministry has a firm grip on the pandemic, despite the grim outlook.

Before March 2020, relatively few Jamaicans had even heard of Dr. Bisasor-McKenzie or the CMO position in the Ministry of Health and Wellness; but now, a year later, Bisasor-McKenzie's name has become a part of health conversations across the island, and in the diaspora.

Jacquiline Bisasor-Mckenzie was born in Trelawny, as the youngest of three children of Vincent Snr, a chemist in the nation's sugar cane industry, and Icylin, a secretary.

Because of her father's job, the family moved regularly across Jamaica to several parishes before finally settling in Clarendon.

Bisasor-Mckenzie was never interested in pursuing medicine while growing up. However, her father's work sparked an interest in the sciences and she completed her first degree in chemistry, with a minor in food processing at the University of the West Indies. After graduating, she worked in the manufacturing industry as a quality control chemist for two years.

Jacquiline's brother, Vincent, on the other hand, had always relayed an interest in pursuing medicine. In an attempt to persuade her to also

After successfully managing crises like ChikV, Zika, Ebola and H1N1, Bisasor-McKenzie became the CMO at the ministry in 2018. Her current focus in the top public health role is continuing to manage the COVID-19 pan demic. Her two oldest children, who are now also doctors, have also joined the ght against the virus at local hospitals.

pursue a medical career, Vincent filled out a medical school application for her, and to her surprise, she was accepted.

She began medical school at UWO in 1988. Her school year started later than usual because of the deadly Hurricane Gilbert that impacted Jamaica that September.

After completing medical school in five years, she got married to Garth McKenzie, whom she met while attending sixth form at St Jago High.

She had her two older children, Jordan and Kristen while completing her internship at the Spanish Town Hospital.

Bisasor-McKenzie

After working at a health center for a few years, Bisasor-Mckenzie returned to the Spanish Town Hospital, this time, to work in the accident and emergency department (A&E). After spending another year in the A&E department, the doctor opened a private practice with a colleague in 1996.

She later returned to college to earn her doctorate in emergency medicine. In her fourth and final year, she got pregnant with her third child, Katherine.

Bisasor-McKenzie gave birth just

before her final exams, and after receiving her results, she was invited back to the Spanish Town Hospital to run its A&E department. From 2005, she managed the department before leaving the hospital in 2014.

That year, she began working in the Ministry of Health, as Director of Emergency Medical Services. Her new role came at a time when the world was grappling with the Ebola crisis. Although there were never any reported cases of the virus in Jamaica, Bisasor-McKenzie got an inkling of what it would be like to manage a national public health crisis.

So, once more she returned to school to enhance her public health education. And, after completing a master's in public health, she assumed the role of principal medical officer and director of emergency disaster management and special services at the ministry in 2016.

After successfully managing crises like ChikV, Zika, Ebola and H1N1, Bisasor-McKenzie became the CMO at the ministry in 2018.

Her current focus in the top public health role is continuing to manage the COVID-19 pandemic.

Her two oldest children, who are now also doctors, have also joined the fight against the virus at two local hospitals.

While battling a national crisis, Bisasor-McKenzie has also had to manage her own struggles. She lost her sister to cancer on February 1, 2020, a month before COVID-19 hit Jamaica. Luckily, she is still supported, both professionally and personally, by her children and her husband of 28 years.

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A4 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 11 – MAR 17, 2021 | CNWNETWORK.COM

CARIBBEAN

Jamaica Receives First Shipment of COVID-19 Vaccines from India Jamaica has received its first shipment of the OxfordAstraZeneca vaccines that were donated from the government of India.

The 50,000 doses of vaccines arrived on Monday, March 8, at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness accepted the vaccines from India’s High Commissioner to Jamaica, Rungsung Masakui. Also on hand were Minister of Health Dr. Christopher Tufton and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith.

Healthcare workers across the island have already begun scheduling their appointments to get

Prime Minister Andrew Holness (second right) makes a point in discussion with Indian High Commissioner Masakui Rungsung (second left). Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith and Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton look on. (Photos: Marlon Reid)

Tourism Leader Lauds Women's Contributions to Fighting COVID-19 Caribbean women are being celebrated for the efforts being made in helping the region's countries and territories combat and recover from COVID-19.

In a statement to mark International Women's Day on Monday, March 8, the acting CEO and director-general of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), Vanessa Ledesma, called for a greater commitment to equality, asserting that Caribbean women have been at the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis, working tirelessly to ensure hotel and tourism facilities and communities remain safe and secure during the

pandemic.

“Our colleagues in the tourism and hospitality sectors are exemplary and effective leaders in protecting our destinations and strengthening our communities during this extraordinary time,” Ledesma stated.

“Many of them worked with significantly reduced resources for much of the pandemic … they should be recognized alongside their colleagues in health care, caregiving, and community organizing for their effective mobilization to resist the pandemic.”

Observing this year's theme, “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 continues on B3 – Women’s Contributions

the shot later this week.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness said it also expects some 14,400 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines on or before March 11.

Another 1.8 million doses are to be supplied to Jamaica, starting in April, under the African Medical Supply platform.

The government also announced, previously, that they have the resources to secure vaccines for some two million Jamaicans. They say they want to vaccinate 65 percent of the population by March 22.

The vaccination program will be rolled out in three phases: phase one is categorized as vulnerable groups; phase two, essential to economic activity; and phase three, the general public.

The arrival of the vaccines come one day after the island recorded 878 new cases of COVID-19, the highest one-day total that has been reported on the island thus far.

CARICOM Congratulates Newly Elected Gov’t in Turks and Caicos CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque has congratulated the premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Charles Washington Misick, and his Progressive National Party (PNP) on their resounding victory in the Territory's recent general election.

The secretary-general also commended the citizens of the Territory for their determination to participate in the polls despite the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Premier Misick's PNP won 14 of the 15 seats contested in the 19 February 2021 election. It captured nine of the 10 electoral districts seats and all five of the at-large seats.

“Premier, your overwhelming victory indicates that you and your team have inspired great confidence in the electorate that your plans for the Islands are in line with their hopes and aspirations,” Ambassador LaRocque said in his congratulatory message.

“As you embark on your term of office, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and its secretariat offer support to you and your government,” he added.

“I look forward to welcoming you to the Conference of Heads of Government.”

The Turks and Caicos Islands are an associate member of CARICOM.

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A6 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 11 – MAR 17, 2021 | CNWNETWORK.COM

editorial

Bipartisanship Anyone?

I

t’s become increasingly obvious that bipartisanship in the current political climate, particularly in the U.S. House and Senate, is fast becoming a pipe dream. With Democrats not securing a single Republican vote in either chamber for the American Rescue Plan (ARP), a bill beneficial to the majority of Americans, irrespective of party affiliation, Biden’s expressed desire to work in a bipartisan way seems dead in the water.

The obvious hardline stance taken by the Republican Party in Congress, which has only intensified since 2008, has transformed any previous semblance of bipartisanship into a rabid parliamentary system, where most legislation can pass only with votes from the party that holds the majority in Congress.

It would seem that a bill to rescue residents enduring tremendous hardship due to COVID-19 should attract Republican support. Unfortunately, it would seem their stubborn resistance to voting for anything proposed by Democrats is stronger than their desire to serve their own constituents.

Several national polls revealed some 56 percent of Republican voters support the ARP—a fact that doesn’t seem to sway Republicans in the House and Senate. Additionally, the few who vote their conscience in support of a bill proposed by Democrats, risk being ostracized by the party brass.

Historically, bipartisanship hasn’t been a regular feature in the U.S. governing system. There were actually violent fights in Congress in the decades before the Civil War, as the parties jostled for bipartisan support for either pro-slavery or antislavery measures. During the dark days of segregation from the 1930s to the mid-60s, there was more evidence of bipartisanship as Democrats from the South voted with Republicans to impose laws that supported the dreaded Jim Crow system.

Both President Franklyn Roosevelt and President Lyndon Johnson created what appeared to be miracles when, respectively, they secured bipartisan support for the Social Security Act in 1935, and that of 1965, which created Medicare and Medicaid.

Since then, bipartisan approval of major legislation has been few and far between.

Exceptions include in 1997 when Republicans

supported Democrats in approving the Children Health Insurance Plan (CHIP), 2006, when Democrats voted to support President George W. Bush’s Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, and 2020 when bipartisanship was attained in approving the CARES Act. But, in 2009 when President Barack Obama took office, Republicans, led by Senator Mitch McConnell, drew a hard line. McConnell unabashedly vowed to make Obama a one-term president, and accordingly, deliberately denied support for very altruistic bills proposed by Obama.

To get major legislation passed in the U.S. Congress, it’s incumbent on either party to win large majorities in both chambers. With tiny majorities in the Senate and the House, unless the Democrats upend the 60-vote filibuster in the Senate, Biden’s agenda for immigration reform, restoration of voter rights, and even a nationwide infrastructural development plan are at risk.

Several major bills, including the 2009 America Recovery Act, which pulled the nation from economic disaster, like the ARP didn’t garner one Republican vote. Neither did the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA), which benefits Americans irrespective of party affiliation.

To be fair, the Trump Administration didn’t get any Democratic support when Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

Over decades, the Republican and Democratic parties have developed stark differences in policies.

While, in the past, skillful congressional leaders

could broker agreements around the differences, today, the differences are cemented by deliberate political strategies designed to defeat the other party when it attempts to pass major legislation.

When Obama proposed the ACA, the administration made attempts to get Republican support. A model used in drafting the ACA was the Massachusetts healthcare plan implemented by then-Republican Governor Mitt Romney. Obama did not get Republican support because Republicans were determined to oppose and frustrate his legislative agenda. A similar Republican strategy negated Obama’s attempt at immigration reform. Despite general bipartisan support in the Senate, the reform legislation died in the Republican-led House, determined to defeat Obama.

Now, the strategy of the Republican Party is to block the path of the Biden Administration’s legislative process. And, astonishingly, although many Republican voters stand to benefit from Biden initiatives like the ARP, there’s strong support for Republican partisanship. This is buoyed by an ultra-conservative agenda amplified by rightwing media and perpetuated by Republican officials.

The Democratic Party also has its share of liberal, progressive members not easily willing to vote with Republican colleagues, but the party leans more toward moderate members.

To get major legislation passed in the U.S. Congress, it’s incumbent on either party to win large majorities in both chambers. With tiny majorities in the Senate and the House, unless the Democrats upend the 60-vote filibuster in the Senate, Biden’s agenda for immigration reform, restoration of voter rights, and even a nationwide infrastructural development plan are at risk.

This lack of bipartisanship is no good. It is strangling our democracy. The only way this can change is to elect courageous people to Congress—those who put the interests of those who elect them above potential vengeance from party leaders. But in modern-day USA, this seems Utopian. Doesn’t it?

IRISH MOSS BY

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A7

la section haitienne

Human Trafcking Intensies Along Haiti-Dominican Republic Border The trafficking of children and adolescents along the border shared

by Haiti and the Dominican Republic has intensified.

This is according to Jorge Galván, a human-rights activist in the Dominican Republic, who says the trafficking mainly takes place along the border of the province of Dajabon.

According to Galván, when these minors are illegally transferred from Haiti, they are exposed to all kinds of abuse from the traffickers, stressing that the problem is dramatic and that an urgent solution must be sought because more and more of them are arriving every day.

He said most of the children and adolescents spend nights in public places or sleep in abandoned buildings.

“On the day, they walk the streets with shoe polish

boxes, others clean the windows of vehicles, still others devote themselves to begging, collecting bottles, plastics and other objects that people throw away and that they can resell, often on behalf of unscrupulous individuals.”

He added that some victims of mafias operating in Haiti, in collusion with Dominicans, are being exploited and often abused or sold in prostitution networks.

According to Haitian Professor Jean Baptiste, who is also a former leader of Civil Protection in Cap Haitien, child trafficking to the Dominican Republic is serious.

Meanwhile, the vice-president of the Coordinator of Popular Organizations of the South Zone of Santiago, José Alberto Peña, says that along with representatives of other entities, he recently saved seven Haitian children who were residing in the poor area known as 'Cañada del Diablo,' where they were being exploited.

NEW YORK

Racist Attack Against Haitian American Judge Condemned Several Caribbean American legislators and community leaders in New York City have strongly condemned what they described as “vicious and unfounded allegations” leveled against Haitian American Judge Dweynie Esther Paul, a frontrunner in the Kings County Surrogate's Court race in Brooklyn, New York, and her deceased mother.

Leaders expressing outrage over the attacks include Jamaican-American Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke; New York State Senator Guyanese-American Roxanne J. Persaud; New York State Assembly Members JamaicanAmerican Nick Perry, Trinidadian-American Jaime Williams, and Haitian Americans Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn and Mathylde Frontus; New York City Council Member

Esther Paul

Haitian American Farah N. Louis; and Guyanese-Amerian pastor, the Rev Al Cockfield.

Judge Paul – a civil court judge in Brooklyn, one of two candidates seeking to replace retiring Brooklyn Surrogate Court Judge Margarita Lopez Torres – has dismissed allegations that she cheated a home-care worker, recruited to aid her mother, some US$264,000 in wages and overtime.

The 43-year-old judge said the lawsuit, filed by the unidentified home-care worker, was settled for an undisclosed amount in 2017 and the employee never worked for her but for her late mother.

She told CMC she was “deeply saddened that an unfounded allegation filed against my

deceased mother targeting me is being used to assassinate my character”.

“It was my duty to protect my elderly mother,” said the daughter of Haitian immigrants. “A family decision was made to resolve the case in to allow us to enjoy our time with her until she passed in 2019 with dementia. This matter was disclosed in detail to the judicial screening panel. I never employed the complainant.

“As a Black woman, raised in a union household, I personally understand, respect, and stand for all workers in the fight for strong labor laws,” Judge Paul added. “I am running to reform our Surrogate Court. I know voters will judge me on my judicial merits, integrity, and character.” continues on B4 – Racist Attack

A8 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 11 – MAR 17, 2021 | CNWNETWORK.COM

COMMUNITY

Miami-Dade Commission for Women Celebrates Women's Day with Unveiling of Art Installation On Monday, at the Stephen P. Clarke Center in Miami, the MiamiDade County Commission for Women, under the Office of Community Advocacy, celebrated International Women's Day and Women History Month with the official unveiling of an art installation curated by MUCE (Miami Urban Contemporary Experience).

The event featured addresses from Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. Chairman Jose “Pepe” Diaz, and Vice-Chairman Oliver Gilbert, and other commissioners will offer remarks.

The art exhibit features multimedia work by local artists, focusing on the complexities of motherhood, particularly during the pandemic. It will be on display during the entire month of March. The ceremony was sponsored by the

Commission for Women, Planned Parenthood, and the League of Women Voters of Miami-Dade County. More events to honor women will take place throughout the month of March.

Since 1995, presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as Women's History Month. These proclamations celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields.

The Miami-Dade County Commission for Women was created in 1971 as an advisory board to the Board of County Commissioners, the County administration, and the public at large about issues pertaining to improve their quality of life.

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Miami-based Strong Girls Inc. is Now Girls Inc. of Greater Miami Miami-based Strong Girls Inc. announced it is affiliating with Girls Inc., the national organization that inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.

Girls Inc. works with schools and in communities in 350 cities across the U.S. and Canada providing more than 134,000 girls each year with mentoring relationships, safe spaces, and evidence-based programming proven to help them succeed.

The organization also serves the Caribbean-American population in South Florida, providing “a village” to help raise young CaribbeanAmerican girls.

Makeisha, a full-time educator and the mother of two girls, enrolled the younger of continues on B4 – Girls, Inc.

Rev. Dr. Karen Green Appointed Vice-Chair of Florida Democratic Party Jamaican-American, Reverend Dr. Karen Green has been appointed one of four vicechairs of Florida’s Democratic Party Green, along with former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, Green, SEIU FPSU President Alphonso Mayfield and Orange County Property Appraiser Amy Mercado, was appointed by the party chair, Manny Diaz.

Diaz said, “I am excited that these four great leaders have agreed to join our team. They are going to be an invaluable help in building a yearround grassroots organizing program, rebranding the state party, and electing

Democrats up and down the ballot—I can't wait for us to get to work.”

Dr. Green was born in Jamaica and attended the St. Hughs High School, the University of Technology and The University of the West Indies.

Before going to London, England to study, Green developed an interest in politics working as a young intern at Jamaica's Ministry of Youth.

She migrated to the United States in 1990 and continued her interest in politics.

She most recently served as the Florida

Democratic Party's Chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee and is a humanitarian religious ambassador-at-large with the United Nations.

She served as the Caribbean Coalition director for a number of presidential campaigns, liaison for Democrats Abroad, and as an advance speaker to President Clinton and First Lady Michelle Obama at political rallies.

The Florida Democratic Party, in a news

release, stated that “Dr. Green, a proud Jamaican-born Caribbean American, is a respected political strategist, party activist, social justice advocate, mediator and humanitarian.

“She has consistently demonstrated leadership in addressing the pressing sociopolitical agendas of our time, including but not limited to securing civil liberties for immigrants and minority communities, women's rights, youth development and religious freedoms.”

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A D V E R T I S E M E N T

B1

B2 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 11 – MAR 17, 2021 | 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 NORTH GLADE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida (Board), intends to award one Construction firm for the following project:

PROJECT NO. 01510200 NORTH GLADE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PHYSICAL EDUCATION SHELTER & RENOVATIONS 5000 NW 177 STREET MIAMI, FLORIDA 33055 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 15, 2021, at a location to be determined, 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 at the same location, 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, Matthew Polak (mpolak@chisholmarchitects.com), R.E. Chisholm, Inc.; 782 N.W. 42nd Avenue, Suite 650, Miami, FL 33126. Questions will be accepted until 5:00 pm on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. Answers will only be issued to the Prime Contractors who attended the mandatory Pre-bid Conference.

MANDATORY PRE-BID CONFERENCE (North Glade Elementary School): Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at North Glade Elementary School, 5000 N.W. 177 Street, Media Center, Miami, Florida 33055. Due to site gathering limitations, any Prime Contractor who would like to attend is strongly encouraged to submit an email request to R.E. Chisholm, Inc. (see instructions below) to do so, and will be scheduled in the order of when said request is received. There may be up to four sessions scheduled (based on quantity of requests): Session 1: 8:30 AM to 10:15 AM Session 2: 10:30 AM to 12:15 PM Session 3: to be scheduled as needed Session 4: to be scheduled as needed Each session will be restricted to one representative from Prime Contracting firms only, limiting each group to a maximum of seven potential bidders for each of the proposed conferences. All attendees must always wear face masks and maintain a minimum of 6 feet distance from all other persons. Gloves are optional but recommended.

There will be a sign-in period for each session of 15 minutes from the start time scheduled. Potential bidders arriving after the 15-minute sign-in period (of the final scheduled session) will not be allowed to participate in this solicitation. Prime Contractors without a reservation who arrive prior to the end of the 15-minute sign-in period of the final session will be accommodated at the discretion of the Project Team, on the same day. Proposals submitted by firms not represented at the Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference will not be considered.

SUBMITTING REQUEST TO ATTEND PRE-BID CONFERENCE: All Prime Contractors wishing to attend are strongly encouraged to submit an e-mail to R.E. Chisholm, Inc. (mpolak@chisholmarchitects.com), confirming their attendance by no later than 5:00 pm on Monday, March 22, 2021. A Pre-Bid Conference reservation email containing a scheduled time will be sent by the Project Architect/Engineer, to each potential attendee, no later than Tuesday, March 23, 2021. Reservations received after March 22, 2021 will be accommodated at the Project Team's discretion.

Prime contractors will be instructed at the Pre-Bid Conference of the procedure to follow to schedule any additional site visits and/or walkthroughs, as needed.

Please note that the District and R.E. Chisholm are adhering to all CDC and DOH COVID-19 recommendations by limiting the number of persons at a site to a maximum of ten persons at any one time (Project Architect/Engineer, Project Manager, a school representative to facilitate opening of the site, and seven Prime Contractors), and requiring the use of Personal Protection Equipment.

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 Miami-Dade 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 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 a CD of the documents for construction or a full set of printed documents for construction at the bidder's expense from the office of Espirito Santo Marketing Solutions on 2655 S Le Jeune Road Suite 319, Coral Gables, Florida 33134 on and after, March 8, 2021.

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, sub-contractor 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: North Glade Elementary School: S/MBE Mandatory Subcontracting Goals: 14.16% Construction and 20% Local Work Force, within a 10-mile radius.

Mandatory M/WBE Subcontracting Goals: 10.84%- African American, Native American and Asian American 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: Alberto M. Carvalho Superintendent of Schools

NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 11 – MAR 17, 2021 | CNWNETWORK.COM –

B3

ENTERTAINMENT

Popular Dancehall Producer Papi Don Arrested for Scamming in South Florida Jamaican dancehall producer Donte Johnson, widely known as Papi Don Muziq, was last week arrested and charged for scamming in South Florida. The 25year-old hitmaker was taken into custody on Wednesday after being accused of running an elaborate scam operation in the state.

In a news release, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office said they arrested Johnson on fraud charges after he conned an 88-year-old Sarasota resident out of $63,000 through a Publishers Clearing House scam.

Detectives began their investigation in October when family members of the 88year-old filed a report with the sheriff's office. The victim believed he was paying taxes for Publishers Clearing House winnings in advance and deposited $63,000 into two separate bank accounts.

Through investigation coupled with video surveillance, detectives identified Johnson, a resident of Plantation, Florida, as the suspect using the victim's identity to withdraw funds.

On Wednesday, March 3, with assistance from the Broward County Sheriff's Office and Plantation Police Department, a search warrant was executed on Johnson's home.

During the search, detectives recovered more than $17,000 in cash, a stolen firearm, and several electronic devices. Detectives identified at least 17 additional elderly victims and believe there may be others who fell victim to Johnson's scam. In total, detectives estimate Johnson stole approximately $300,000 from the 17 victims who live in areas all over the country.

Johnson was taken into custody by the Broward County Sheriff's Office charged with Criminal Use of Personal Identification, Bank Fraud, and Grand Theft of a Firearm. He has since been released. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are pending.

“It is with credit to our Special Victims Unit that this criminal is behind bars,” commented Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman.

“These detectives work hard to protect our most vulnerable populations, but it is on all of us to look out for our elderly, and one another. The message here is, take caution for both yourself and the ones you love. Remember, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

Papi Don has worked with a slew of dancehall talents including Teejay, Chronic Law and Shaneil Muir. The producer is a native of Montego Bay, Jamaica's second city, which is the birthplace and center of the lottery scamming industry on the island.

Papi Don

It is with credit to our Special Victims Unit that this criminal is behind bars. These detectives work hard to protect our most vulnerable populations. The message here is, take caution for both yourself and the ones you love. – Sheriff Hoffman

Jamaican Consular General Awards Scholarship for Reggae Studies The Consulate General in Miami and the Louise Bennett-Coverley Heritage Council have awarded a scholarship for a student to attend the Reggae Studies Unit at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus.

Oliver Mair, Jamaica's consul general to Miami, said details of the scholarship are not yet available, but talks between the consular office and the UWI are advanced.

Partial funding for the scholarship is derived from sponsors for Reggae Strong Celebration, a concert held in South Florida during February to celebrate Reggae Month.

“We want to give back to the (music) industry. We are putting on a concert, but we also want to give back,” said Mair.

Launched in South Florida 14 years ago, the Louise Bennett-Coverley Heritage Council's primary objective is to help preserve the legacy of the legendary folklorist who died in 2006.

An initiative of Professor Carolyn Cooper, the Reggae Studies Unit was officially launched in 1994 to, among other things, “increase reggae-related research and teaching in diverse areas such as film studies, musicology and dance in the Faculty of Humanities.”

The consul general's office teamed with Reggae Global Entertainment and International Celebration of Reggae Music to stage the inaugural Reggae Strong Celebration on February 28 in Dania Beach.

The show included performances from reggae acts based in South Florida including Ed Robinson, Wayne Armond, A J Brown, Pluto Shervington, Steve Higgins, Michael Harris, The Tennors and Sons of Mystro.

Women’s Contributions world,” Ledesma noted that while the tourism sector in the Caribbean has made strides in recognizing the value of women, more remains to be done to build an effective enabling environment for women to assume more leadership positions.

“The responses of the region's tourism sector to the crisis reinforce our contention that the different experiences, perspectives and skills women bring to the table strengthened markedly the Caribbean containment of the novel coronavirus,” she said.

According to the United Nations, the majority of countries that have been more successful in stemming the tide of COVID-19 and responding to its health and broader socioeconomic impacts are headed by women.

For instance, heads of government in Denmark, Ethiopia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, New Zealand and Slovakia have been widely recognized for the rapidity, decisiveness and effectiveness of their national response to COVID-19, as well as the compassionate communication of fact-based public health information.

Despite these impressive facts, women are

from A4

heads of state and government in only 20 countries worldwide, with only a handful of women holding such positions in the Caribbean.

Ledesma noted that gender diversity at all levels of management and leadership positions also provides competitive advantages.

“This has been confirmed during the pandemic response, so we need to create the right conditions to ensure the outstanding contribution of women to the health and safety of the region will be enlisted and installed in the highest executive levels of hospitality and tourism organizations,” she stated, adding that CHTA continues to invest in the next generation of female leaders through its Young Leaders Forum initiative.

According to the CHTA leader, it is time to move “forward together” beyond COVID-19.

“We have to tap into the wealth of experience and strength women have displayed during this global crisis, and we must ensure the perspectives of women are integrated into the formulation and implementation of policies and programs at all stages of the ongoing pandemic response as well as our recovery,” she said.

B4 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 11 – MAR 17, 2021 | CNWNETWORK.COM

CONTINUATIONS

Rescue Plan

from A1

The 220-211 approval of the Act, with only one Democrat voting against it, came on the 50th day of Biden’s presidency, and four days after it was approved, also along strict party lines, in the U.S. Senate. Republicans in both chambers argued the amount included in the Act was too large, and it was not directed solely as providing relief to Americans because of COVID-19, but that it was laden with funds to fill the Democrats’ “leftist” agenda.

Several polls consistently showed the majority of Americans, across party lines, support the bill. Those earning up to $70,000, and their children, will receive a one-time direct stimulus payment of $1,400. The payments will be prorated for those earning over $70,000 and capped for people earning $80,000 and above.

The Act also includes emergency unemployment benefits of $300 weekly which will continue from March 15 to September 6.

Another direct help contained in the bill for South Florida, and families throughout

Those earning up to $70,000, and their children, will receive a one-time direct stimulus payment of $1,400. The payments will be prorated for those earning over $70,000 and capped for people earning $80,000 and above.

America, is a tax credit of $3,600 for children under 6 years of age, and $3,000 from 7 to 18 years.

The bill will provide a source of well-needed funding to ailing small businesses, including $29 billion for the struggling restaurant industry.

Billions of dollars are provided for COVID19 vaccines and treatments, schools, state and local governments, and ailing industries from airlines to concert halls. There is aid for farmers of color, pension systems, and student borrowers, as well as subsidies for consumers buying health insurance and states expanding Medicaid coverage for lower-income earners.

Included in the funds earmarked to help states meet the economic challenges created by the pandemic, is some $10.9 billion for Florida.

In addition, each county in Florida will receive up to $4.1 billion and each city $1.3 billion.

Just before the vote in the House was taken, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, “today, we

have a decision to make of tremendous consequence...a decision that will make a difference for millions of Americans, saving lives and livelihoods.”

Rep. Jared Golden of Maine was the lone Democrat to vote against passage of the Act, claiming in a written statement that some of the expenditure identified wasn’t urgent.

Many progressive Democrats in the House and Senate were disappointed the Act did not include a $15 minimum wage increase through to 2025. This was originally approved by the House but was not allowed to be even considered by the Senate, according to the rules set by the Senate parliamentarian.

President Biden will be expected to sign the Act into law on Friday. And the $1,400 checks could begin being disbursed to Americans, through the IRS, as early as the end of next week. Americans with bank deposit information at the IRS are expected to get their payments the soonest.

Racist Attack from A7

from A8

However, Caribbean-American elected officials have described as downright racist the resurfacing of the allegations in an online article and on social media.

“Paul's accomplishments on and off the bench demonstrate her character, integrity, compassion, and fairness,” Perry, who represents the 58th Assembly District in Brooklyn, told CMC. “No longer will the estates of lowincome and minority individuals be treated as income creators for a select group of wealthy lawyers.”

Congresswoman Clarke, who represents the 9th Congressional District, said she found it “truly disturbing that despite the harm we've all experienced in this era of misinformation, deception, and distraction, we continue to see these tactics weaponized and brandished to derail, destroy, and deter women from seeking to serve the public.

“As Black women seek to advance, especially in public service, I've noticed an alarming trend: the impugning of their character by accusations largely unrelated to their duties,” said Clarke, who heads the Brooklyn Black Elected Officials Coalition.

“Judge Dweynie Esther Paul has diligently served our beloved city, and I am confident she'll continue to do so,” she added. “Judge Paul, currently a civil court judge and George Washington University Law School graduate, was found qualified by an independent judicial screening panel composed of practicing lawyers from various Bar associations.”

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her two daughters in the afternoon program.

“They act as a second parent, and nurture the girls when we can't be there due to work,” she said.

The expansion of the organization comes at a time when over half of girls enrolled in Miami-Dade Public Schools are economically disadvantaged, and 72 percent who are not enrolled in school and don't have a high school degree are also unemployed.

A pro-girl, safe, and affirming environment is also critical as the number of girls in Florida who express feeling unsafe at school or going to or leaving school has nearly doubled over the last 10 years.

“Far too many girls in Miami face significant social barriers that, without the right tools and support, threaten their ability to achieve success in school, life, and work,” said Virginia Akar, founder and president of Strong Girls Inc. “We are ecstatic to join the Girls Inc. network, which will allow us to strengthen our capacity and deepen our impact in the Miami community.”

“Girls are innately powerful.

When provided the right opportunities and supports, girls become change agents for themselves and others,” said Stephanie J. Hull, Ph.D., President and CEO of Girls Inc. “We look forward to partnering locally to develop the talent and potential of girls in Miami and help strengthen this diverse and vibrant community.”

Founded by Akar in 2017, Strong Girls Inc. provided after-school programming to 180 girls in Title 1 elementary, middle, and high schools in Miami-Dade county. Girls Inc. of Greater Miami will continue these partnerships to help girls gain the skills, knowledge, and attitudes they need to thrive now and as adults.

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NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 11 – MAR 17, 2021 | CNWNETWORK.COM –

C1

ENTERTAINMENT

Papa Michigan Song Serves as Musical Textbook for Wisconsin Students A song and video recorded by veteran Jamaican dancehall artist Papa Michigan have been selected by an elementary teacher in Racine, Wisconsin as teaching material for his students at the Gifford School.

Jack Serzig, the music teacher at the elementary school, said in the process of searching for happy, quality music and videos to use in the creative process and cheer up his 225 grades 3 to 5 students, who gave up a lot during the COVID-19 pandemic he thought of Jamaican music. So, he decided to research Jamaican music on YouTube where he found Papa Michigan's video/song “Jamaican Dance.” Instantly he liked the up-

Papa Michigan

tempo dancehall song and messaged Michigan asking him if he could edit the video to meet the needs of his students. And he received permission from Michigan's manager.

Papa Michigan told the Sunday Gleaner he was pleasantly surprised when Serzig contacted saying it was like he had won the Jamaican

Festival Song Competition, in which he placed second to Buju Banton in 2020. “When the teacher contacted me initially, he said he liked the song, but it talks about drinking rum, so I explained that it actually says don't drink rum, and he said good,” Michigan said. The singer said he also felt very humbled as the teacher could

have selected more popular artists, like Bob Marley, for example.

Serzig said his students were tasked with understanding why the video was created and why Papa Michigan made the creative choices about purpose, setting, time, actions, emotion, and target audience that he did.

“Papa Michigan's video was their textbook. Clearly, it was made for a Jamaican cultural festival. The iconic street art where the video was set showed that this was a Jamaican song. The social-distanced dancing and face masks set it forever as a song during the pandemic. The music and dancers brought joy to their audience.

People dressed in everyday clothes, on their phone, hanging out, showed that the target audience was everyday Jamaican people,” Senzig explained.

The background of the “Jamaica Dance” video used the Kingston Art District in Water Lane as its

backdrop. The video showed dancers enjoying themselves despite being in a pandemic, and wearing masks and social distancing. The video was shot

by Juice Productions, with Richard Lim credited as director of photography.

Senzig thanked Michigan for providing “great teaching material,” for his students who used excerpts from the Jamaican Dance video to produce their own class videos., and requested to produce a special video for the students.

Papa Michigan confirmed to the Sunday Gleaner he has been requested to make a short video telling the students about his creative choices, why he selected the Water Lane location and choreography for the video and who was his target audience. He said he would be returning to Kingston Art District to shoot the new video for the students.

Plans Underway for Another Bob Marley Movie Yet another movie about the life of reggae legend Bob Marley is being planned.

It was announced last week that Paramount Pictures has engaged the services of Reinaldo Marcus Green to direct the movie which Marley's life and career.

Those behind the production include Rita Marley, the reggae icon's widow, and two of their children, Ziggy and Cedella Marley. They will produce the movie on behalf of Tuff Gong,

the music label and studios founded by Marley.

Robert Teitel will also produce the movie.

Green said audiences want to know the real Bob Marley, the man as well as the legend.

“I trust this film will bring us closer to understanding his journey, his music, and continue to carry the torch of his legacy with humility and grace, and most of all, love,” Green said.

“It's a true honor and privilege to work with Ziggy and the Marley family, and Paramount Pictures to bring his story to life. Audiences want to know the real Bob, the man as well as

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The date of production of the movie and the cast members, particularly the actor who will play the role of Marley, are still to be announced.

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the legend. I trust this film will bring us closer to understanding his journey, his music, and continue to carry the torch of his legacy with humility and grace, and most of all, love,” he is quoted as saying in an interview with Deadline.com.

Ziggy Marley said the film will be like “opening a window” that has never been open before.

“It's an incredible responsibility that we take on with Reinaldo and the team at Paramount to tell the story of our father in a way that truly honors him and will also

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C3

SPORTS

Jamaican Alexis Nunes Breaking Barriers for Women in Sports Ten minutes in and the interview hasn't really started.

Instead of the prepared questions, we're talking about the English Premier League, and this being Alexis Nunes, we're talking about Manchester United. "It's a weird season," she laments the inconsistency of her favorite team.

“It's disheartening to see how many people don't accept that women can know as much, if not more than a man..... I always knew this was what I wanted to do.” – Nunes

For any mega soccer fan, the face of this woman in sports is a staple from their many soccer binge-watching sessions. She's the widely known, very successful (and still steadily rising in her career), Jamaican reporter and host at ESPN FC and ESPNcricinfo.

Born to an El Salvadorian mother and a Jamaican dad, Alexis says her love of sports came from her father. "Growing up, he controlled the remote, and he always wanted us to watch something 'sensible.'" In the Nunes household, sensible often involved a ball. Her father would also take her to cricket matches.

Alexis proudly identifies as both Latina and Jamaican. She grew up in Jamaica with her parents and Hispanic grandparents, and effortlessly ingested a lot about her Salvadoran roots. In Jamaica, she says her multicultural identity was no big deal and widely accepted.

"I always knew this was what I wanted to do," Alexis says. A graduate from the University of the West Indies, she landed her first job in broadcasting at a local TV station, SportsMax. She'll stress she wouldn't be where she is today, if not for her time at SportsMax. She credits legendary broadcaster and personality Simon Croskill for mentoring her. His advice was clear—never change and never compromise.

She took those words to heart.

Now, an interviewer [presenter, host, and commentator] at ESPN, she gets to tell her the story her way. “I like to find a new angle...I like to play games,” her voice sparkles over the phone. From cooking challenges to getting shoved into the pool by your favorite football player—she's decidedly relaxed and game for

SPORTS COMMENTARY

“In the Caribbean, everyone's a little mixed at some point,” she says, arguing that growing up elsewhere would have probably been more challenging.

But, back to sports, Alexis says… With a love of sport, comes a love of story. Between the superhuman feats, our favorite athletes regularly perform, we cling to the bits of personality that fill out the gaps. Alexis understands this. When she wasn't absorbing every sport she could find, “except golf,” she grew up watching documentaries, and stories of how great athletes would transcend their sport.

almost anything.

After another 10 minutes of talking about Jamaican patties and high school, Alexis speaks about the unique challenges she has faced as a woman of color in a field dominated by white men. Each one of those descriptions is another layer of marginality she's faced. “[The] number one reason people come at you is that you're a girl,” she explains, sounding disappointed. “It's disheartening to see how many people don't accept that women can know as much, if not more than a man.”

Of course, COVID-19 is another recently added challenge. While she's grateful to work in an industry that could readily adapt to remote working conditions, it's not without its pain points. “I have more respect for the guys behind the scenes,” she says with a chuckle.

Working from home has turned Alexis from strictly on-air talent to doing production in her home. On any given day, she can be found setting up lights and managing her sound levels, and rearranging her “set”—shifting flowers, changing pictures in the background—to bring some of that studio dynamism home. She's itching to get back out there, she says.

Contributed by Nicanor Gordon – AllAboutTheCulture.com

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Reggae Boyz, JFF Must Let Good Sense Prevail

By L. Bronson Unlike a week ago when the Jamaica Football Federation and its senior Reggae Boyz appeared miles apart, news emerging this week suggest that they are now closer than ever to a settlement in their negotiations over appearance fees and other emoluments relating to their services on international duties.

For those who might have forgotten, negotiations broke down at an early stage last week after reports emerged that the players, through their attorney, had tendered the first request for appearance fees of US$7,000 for each of the 14 FIFA World Cup qualifying games, besides, to win and draw bonuses.

They had also asked for other exorbitant amounts for Nations League and friendly internationals, plus 75 percent of any earnings from FIFA for qualifying for the World Cup Finals.

The JFF had offered US$2,000 for appearance fees plus additional sums in bonuses for a win and draw results.

This opening salvo was never going to fly with the JFF or any other respectable governing body for that matter.

It was just unsustainable and suicidal for a

company with many national teams to provide for that is mired in almost J$300 million in debt.

Reggae Boyz captain Andre Blake has repeatedly stated on numerous media platforms, that the players have now reached a position where they don’t trust the JFF, and that they believe there is a lack of respect from administrators toward them.

Even then, it is understood that the players are now asking for appearance fees of US$3,000 for each of the World Cup qualifiers, plus win and draw bonuses, in addition to 50 percent of any earning from FIFA. Head of the JFF Technical Committee Rudolph Speid, who is also one of the members of the JFF’s negotiating team alongside former Cricket West Indies president Dave Cameron, confirmed to a Jamaican television channel earlier this week that the players had softened their stance and the federation would take another look at their proposal.

“The players made a late submission to us yesterday (Monday). They are our players, we are not enemies, so we want to have a peaceful resolution,” Speid told the TV network. “…We are willing to listen to the players and we are going to be meeting with them again.”

Outside of the World Cup qualifiers, which kick off in September, the Reggae Boyz are down to contest the CONCACAF Gold Cup in the summer, and Blake’s statement regarding the players’ mistrust of the JFF leadership cannot and should not go unnoticed.

For any relationship to survive, there has got to be trust, and no Band-Aid treatment will cure this problem. There has got to be an honest and frank discussion by both sides in the pursuit of mutual respect.

And cannot be faulted to assume that at the core of that mistrust is the limited or total lack of transparency, because the JFF has said that it had presented audited financials to the players ahead of the negotiations.

The senior men’s team is the primary source of funding for the JFF and the players ought to be treated with the utmost respect. But that respect is a two-way street. It has to go the other way.

From where I stand, for wounds to heal, and they must if the program is to succeed and the team qualifies for Qatar next year, then there has got to be an atmosphere of inclusiveness where the players are kept in the loop as it pertains to the business aspects of the football.

The JFF can come out of this messy affair as the big winners, and leaders, by co-opting a players’ representative to their finance committee, so that the players can be confident that they are indeed in the know where the federation is concerned.

That way they would never have even contemplated such outrageous appearance fees, and they would be less selfish and more sympathetic to the needs of the many other teams of both genders.

What if the Reggae Girlz and the other teams started to make outlandish claims for appearance fees and other emoluments.

The administrators ought to be reminded that they work for the players, all players, and both administrators and players should bear in mind that the sport of football belongs to the people of Jamaica and not an exclusive right to any of them.

The majority of football pundits believe that the quality is there for Jamaica to make a serious bid to repeat the success of 1998, but good sense must prevail and all parties must pull in the same direction.

C4 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 11 – MAR 17, 2021 | CNWNETWORK.COM A D V E R T I S E M E N T