Caribbean American Weekly - Issue 127

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ISSUE 127 VOLUME 21

July 1, 2021

SERVING THE CARIBBEAN AND HISPANIC COMMUNITIES!

Vaccines for the Caribbean: Why It Matters for the United States DA Gonzalez: Flaws in First Step Act Needs Correction ....3

BY LINDA NWOKE SPECIAL TO CAW

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s new variants and mutations of COVID-19 emerge, the need for expedited vaccine access is increasingly becoming more urgent, especially in vulnerable and less fortunate nations. There are projections that the pandemic caused over 5 percent ecocontinued on page 6

Jason Marczak, Director, Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

H.E. Anton E. Edmunds, Ambassador, OAS

Mayoral Count Re-Do — But Race is Far from Over ....4

What to Do If Workers' Compensation Benefits Stop Unexpectedly

BY CHRIS TOBIAS

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orkers' compensation is a government-mandated system that pays monetary benefits to workers who become injured or disabled during their employment. Workers' compensation is a type of insurance that offers employees compensacontinued on page 9

Five Signs Your Partner May Be Cheating On You .... 17

Jamaican Wins Award In Memory of Princess Diana....15

T&T’s Trade Minister Applauds Graduates of ScaleUpTT ....2

Brian Figeroux, Esq., Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association

Advice from the Elderly: How to Age Well & Avoid Regret ....19

Minister Caesar Discusses SVG Food Sector Recovery .... 12

Saving Your Home from Foreclosure & Predators ....11

Bebe Moore Campbell & Minority Mental Health ....22

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CARIBBEAN NEWS ROUNDUP Caribbean Consulates Anguilla 845 Third Avenue New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-745-0200 Antigua & Barbuda 305 East 47th Street, Suite 6A New York, N.Y. 10020 Tel: 212-541-4117 The Bahamas 231 East 46th Street New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-421-6420 Barbados 820 Second Avenue, 5th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-551-4325 Belize 675 Third Avenue, Suite 1911 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-593-0999 Dominica 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400H New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-949-0853 Dominican Republic 1500 Broadway, Suite 410 New York, N.Y. 10036 Tel: 212-599-8478 Grenada 685 Third Avenue, Suite 1101 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-599-0301 Guyana 308 West 38th Street New York, N.Y. 10018 Tel: 212-947-5119 Haiti 815 Second Avenue,6th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-697-9767 Jamaica 767 Third Avenue, 2nd Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-935-9000 Martinique 444 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-838-6887 Montserrat 845 Third Avenue New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-745-0200 Panama 1212 Avenue of the Americas, 20th Floor New York, N.Y. 10036 Tel: 212-840-2450 St. Kitts & Nevis 414 East 75th Street, 5th Floor New York, N.Y. 10021 Tel: 212-535-5521 St. Lucia 800 Second Avenue, 9th Floor New York, N.Y. 10007 Tel: 212-697-9360 St. Maarten 675 Third Avenue, Suite 1807 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 800-786-2278 St. Vincent & The Grenadines 801 Second Avenue, 21st Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-687-4981 Trinidad & Tobago 125 Maiden Lane, 4th Floor New York, N.Y. 10038 Tel: 212-682-7272 For more Consulate information go to www.cawnyc.com/directory

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Trade Minister Congratulates UTC’s First Graduating Cohort of ScaleUpTT

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ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: Senator the Honorable Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry, congratulates the first cohort of Scale Up Trinidad and Tobago (ScaleupTT) for successfully completing its 3-month Program, aimed at providing participants with the tools and know-how to grow their businesses aggressively.

The Program, which Unit Trust Cooperation coordinated, trained 49 business professionals across 11 participating companies from the Food and Beverage, ICT, Technology and Telecommunication solutions and Engineering sectors.

In congratulating the participants at a virtual graduation ceremony held on Tuesday, June 29, 2021, Minister GopeeScoon said, “The fact that you are all here this morning graduating from this rigorous Program demonstrates your commitment. This means that you are now equipped with the tools necessary to be able to turn that desire for growth into reality effectively.” She applauded the participants for having the foresight and drive to take their business to the next level and challenged them to translate the knowledge gained into their business

operation, which will undoubtedly lead to further growth and success.

The ScaleUp Model focuses on the 3Cs, Customers, Capacity, and Cash, and aims to provide companies with practical skills in sales and marketing, organizational development, and entrepreneurial finance to transform businesses to achieve full potential. Participants spoke of their successes within the three-month period, ranging from increased sales, expansion to new markets, and new partnerships. The graduates also presented their succession plans for the next six months to 2 years. Minister GopeeScoon was very encouraged by the tangible outcomes derived in such a short time. She stated that Trinidad and Tobago should position itself as the ideas and entrepreneurial capital of the region and called on graduates to become ‘Trailblazers’ in their field.

The Government has always attached great importance to innovation and entrepreneurship as a critical ingredient for the growth and development of the economy. In this regard, Minister GopeeScoon encouraged graduates to avail themselves of the resources which may

be available to them, through several Ministries and agencies across varied sectors including Manufacturing Sector (such as Food & Beverage); Agriculture & Agro-processing; Information and Communication Technology; Financial Sector; Maritime Sector; Creative Industry; Software Design and Application; and Aviation. Minister Gopee-Scoon and the graduates commended UTC for recognizing the value of ScalingUp and investing in local entrepreneurs and businesses.

Mr. Nigel Edwards, Executive Director, Trinidad, and Tobago Unit Trust Corporation, also congratulated the graduating class noting that there is nothing more rewarding than actual and meaningful results. He said, “UTC is committed to being a catalyst in driving social change, supporting innovation, creating a community of exports and wealth creation at a national level.” He added that an important insight after the last three months is that businesses are stronger working together, collaborating, connecting, and deepening relationships.l —ttconnect.gov.tt

Opposition Says PPP Pushing Nation Into Civil Strife

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EORGETOWN, Guyana: The Opposition APNUAFC has condemned the arrest of opposition parliamentarian Annette Ferguson for allegedly committing a Cybercrime offense and noting that the ruling PPP/C is pushing the country into a state of civil strife.

In a statement Wednesday afternoon, police said that Ferguson was arrested according to a report received against her for allegedly committing a Cybercrime offense by claiming a senior Guyana Defense Force (GDF) officer would be heading a killing squad.

A senior member made the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) report who said the allegation against Ms. Ferguson concerned a Facebook social media post that falsely alleged that he would be in charge of a killing squad.

Investigators are ongoing, and upon completion, the file will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.

In a statement, Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon was condemned as spurious grounds which were used to arrest Ferguson. He said it is a clear case of political persecution.

"I strongly condemn the actions of the Guyana Police Force in arresting APNU+AFC Coalition Opposition Member of Parliament Hon. Annette

Annette Ferguson. Photo: Wiredja.com

Ferguson on spurious grounds of breaching the cybercrime act."

The PPP regime's persecution of the political Opposition continues with wanton disregard for the law, the constitution, and the rights of citizens. The Guyana Police Force has been fully weaponized against the Opposition," Harmon said.

"We appeal to all right-thinking Guyanese, local and international human rights bodies, civil society and all other democracy-loving entities to condemn these dictatorial and authoritarian acts of political persecution being meted out by the PPP to Opposition Members of Parliament.

The PPP is pushing this nation to the brink of civil unrest with its persistent and unceasing attacks on the political Opposition.

We have previously warned of this, and the PPP has paid no heed to such warnings. Instead, it is intensifying its vulgar and grotesque campaign of political persecution against the political Opposition."

He added that "when the people of Guyana react, as they will inevitably do, the PPP will have to bear the full burden of responsibility for whatever ensues.

We demand the withdrawal of these spurious, baseless, and politically motivated charges."

Only recently, Ferguson won a twenty million award in the High Court in a libel case against Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo. The High Court ordered that Jagdeo pay Damages for defaming the opposition politician. Jagdeo, however, has appealed the court's decision.l —Wiredja.com News Team

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THOUGHTS

Congress Must Act to Correct Flaws in the First Step Act

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. —Hosea 4:6

BY ERIC GONZALEZ AND KASSANDRA FREDERIQUE

Managing Editor & Editor-in-Chief

TEAM

Publisher I.Q. INC. Pearl Phillip

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unanimous Supreme Court last week held that people convicted of certain low-level crack cocaine offenses are not eligible for resentencing under the First Step Act, a sentencing reform bill passed in 2018 with bipartisan support that was meant to provide retroactive relief to those serving sentences for crack-cocaine offenses.

According to the court, the result turned on a legislative omission — one that Congress can and must correct immediately in the interest of justice.

Tarahrick Terry was arrested in 2008 for possession of less than four grams of crack cocaine. He was sentenced pursuant to a federal law written in the 1980s, a period often referred to as the “crack epidemic.” As with many issues involving drugs, sensationalized news coverage fed into racial stereotypes.

While the introduction of crack exacerbated preexisting harms of poverty and racism in Black neighborhoods, members of Congress apparently were swept up in the hysteria and relied on the unscientific assumption that crack cocaine was far more dangerous than powder cocaine, even though it is the same drug.

They created a sentencing scheme in which someone would have to possess 100 grams of powder cocaine to receive the sentence that someone with one gram of crack cocaine could receive.

The 1980s also were a time of widespread cocaine use among young, white people with money and privilege, as chronicled in books and films such as “Bright Lights, Big City” and “The Wolf of Wall Street.” Yet if and when these cocaine users, and those who sold them drugs, were arrested, they typically faced much lower penalties than Black users and sellers of crack cocaine.

When the racially disparate impacts of the crack-powder sentences became apparent, the Congressional Black Caucus and criminal justice reform advocates began to call for eliminating the disparity. Bills to do so were introduced nearly every year from 1993 to 2009. In 2010, Congress finally addressed the problem — but merely

Legal Advisor Brian Figeroux, Esq. Assistant Editor Marilyn Silverman Graphic & Website Designers Praim Samsoondar Kenrick Williams

This Congress has a responsibility to correct the mistakes of past Congresses.

That there are still people in prison who were sentenced under excessively punitive drug laws is a disgrace. reduced, and did not eliminate, the disparity. That bill, the Fair Sentencing Act, was not retroactive and the First Step Act was meant to make it so. As Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) stated during congressional hearings on the First Step Act, “Under the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, 21 U.S.C. § 841, thousands of people —‘90 percent [of them] African Americans, 96 percent [of them] Black and Latino’ — received harsh crackcocaine sentences.”

Tarahrick Terry sought to be resentenced under the First Step Act, but the Supreme Court held that the plain language of the act rendered it inapplicable to his case. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, concurring in the unanimous decision, urged Congress to pass legislation to close the gap in the First Step Act that left Terry ineligible for resentencing.

As an elected district attorney and as the executive director of the country’s leading drug policy reform organization, we join together to call on Congress to fix the law immediately and provide the means to undo arbitrary, unjust sentences such as the one imposed on Tarahrick Terry.

During his candidacy, President Biden acknowledged many of the drug war’s mistakes that have harmed countless Americans, especially Black, Latinx and Indigenous Americans. He declared that

“No one should be in jail for a drug problem” and promised to “end, once and for all, the federal crack and powder cocaine disparity.” Biden should make good on that promise and urge Congress to do the right thing.

This Congress has a responsibility to correct the mistakes of past Congresses.

That there are still people in prison who were sentenced under excessively punitive drug laws is a disgrace. Locking up drug users has never made us safer, and racial disparities in sentencing for drug offenses have helped to erode community trust in our justice system.

Lawmakers should have made the Fair Sentencing Act retroactive in 2010. Eight years later, in trying to correct that error, they inadvertently left a loophole that continues to deny relief to some people.

We urge Congress to pass the EQUAL Act introduced by Booker, to end the disparity. Congress should follow the Supreme Court’s direction without delay — it can and must fix this law. l Eric Gonzalez is the district attorney of Brooklyn, N.Y. Kassandra Frederique is executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance.

This OpEd originally appeared in The Hill

Contributors Jennine Estes Erin Telesford Janet Howard Mary Campbell Tarsha Gibbons Travis Morales Email info@myiqinc.com Telephone 718-771-0988 Website www.cawnyc.com

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ELECTIONS 2021

Mayoral Count Re-Do — But Race is Far from Over

BY JOSEFA VELASQUEZ & SAMANTHA MALDONADO THE CITY

E

ric Adams’ lead in the crowded mayoral race narrowed Wednesday as an unofficial tabulation of in-person votes cast put Kathryn Garcia within 15,000 votes — with some 125,000 absentee ballots yet to be counted.

And in the penultimate ranked-choice round, civil rights lawyer Maya Wiley was only 347 votes behind Garcia as both vie to become the first woman elected mayor of New York City.

The afternoon release of the newly crunched numbers mirror previous tabulations that were finished Tuesday by the city’s Board of Election but were retracted after it was revealed that tens of thousands of dummy votes were inadvertently counted.

The snafu threw off the calculations and undermined the city’s first major go at the new ranked choice voting system.

Still to come is a full Board of Elections tally that includes the absentee votes that will be critical in determining the Democratic mayoral nominee — a process that could extend into mid-July.

Even before the BOE released the lat-

Eric Adams. Editorial credit: Ron Adar / Shutterstock.com

Maya Wiley. Photo: Maya for Mayor Campaign

Kathryn Garcia. Photo: Garcia for NYC Campaign

est, incomplete tallies Wednesday, the lawsuits were already flying. Both Adams and Garcia filed pre-emptive lawsuits asking that the courts oversee the ballot count going forward.

we’d have more eyes on it to be able to raise the alarm before the results went out the door.”

The fiasco added fuel to the ranked choice voting dissenters — including Adams — who for months have been warning that the city isn’t prepared to tackle an overhaul on how New Yorkers fill seats from City Council to City Hall.

But complaints about the BOE are perennial and tend to vanish from the consciousness of lawmakers and the public as soon as elections are over. Yet still, state and city elected officials are saying this time is different as they commit to reforming the patronage-heavy board.

“The situation in New York City is a national embarrassment and must be dealt with promptly and properly,” said Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-

Cousins (D-Westchester), who promised to hold hearings in the coming weeks.

‘A National Embarrassment’ Chris Hughes, policy director for the Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center, which supplied the tabulator software to run the count, told THE CITY he’d reached out the BOE repeatedly to offer support without hearing back.

“We wanted to be involved because we knew it was a high-stakes election,” Hughes said. “We had offered to run a parallel counting process as well where we could run the same count ourselves using the same data they were relying on.

We’d get the same results in theory, but

An Early Adams Lead Ranked choice voting allowed New Yorkers to pick up to five candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives the majority of the vote, instant run-offs take place in which the candidates with the least votes are eliminated and their votes then go to their supporters’ subsequent choices, until two candidates remain and one accumulates at least 50% of votes.

Adams emerged as the early leader in the Democratic primary on June 22, securing the most first-place rankings of any contender — nearly 32%, versus continued on page 5

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ELECTIONS 2021 Race Is Far From Over/ continued from page 4 22% for Wiley and 19% for Garcia — based on early in-person votes and those cast on Primary Day. Roughly one-third of in-person Democratic primary voters ranked the former cop and state senator as their top choice, but he didn’t get the more than 50% of first-place votes needed to avoid a run-off under the new voting system.

On Wednesday, the candidates pinned their hopes of winning to the large number of absentee ballots that have yet to be counted — a product of pandemicspurred rules that expanded eligibility for mail-in votes.

“There are still absentee ballots to be counted that we believe favor Eric — and we are confident we will be the final choice of New Yorkers when every vote is tallied,” Adams’ campaign said in a statement.

Garcia and Wiley weren’t counting themselves out yet, either.

In a statement, Garcia said her campaign is “taking nothing for granted” and urged patience as the BOE continues its counting process.

“This election is still wide open,” Wiley said in a statement. “That’s why following yesterday’s embarrassing debacle, the Board of Elections must count every vote in an open way so that New Yorkers can have confidence that their votes are being counted accurately.”

Races Across the City The 13-candidate race for mayor isn’t the only one in play: New Yorkers ranked candidates in races for comptroller, public advocate and borough presidents — plus for 35 open City Council seats throughout the boroughs.

While certain races have been called, such as for Jumaane Williams, who received 70% of initial first-place votes in the public advocate race, others remain in states of indecision.

That included the city comptrollers’ race, in which Brooklyn City Councilmember Brad Lander maintained a slim lead over Council Speaker Corey Johnson (D-Manhattan), 51.9% to 48.1% of the votes after 10 rounds — a difference of just over 21,000 votes.

Once absentee ballots are in, the Board of Elections will redo the ranked-choice count. When the BOE re-runs the rankings using the full vote count, the number of votes each candidate picks up from rivals will shift as the lowest vote-getters get knocked out during elimination rounds.

Final results could be a while away. On July 6, the BOE will run another tabulation that includes some, but not all, of absentee ballots.

Any absentee ballots that have minor errors — such as unsigned envelopes — will be returned to voters, who will be offered the opportunity to “cure” the mistake. Those ballots must be returned to the BOE by July 9 in order to count.

That means official, complete results that include every ballot cast won’t be

Hey New Yorkers, did you know your

available until the week of July 12 at the earliest.

If Garcia or Wiley clinches the nomination, either would likely make history given the overwhelming Democratic majority. Adams or Wiley would become New York’s second Black mayor, after David Dinkins, who won the 1989 election.

The Democratic victor will face the Republican nominee, Guardian Angels founder and media personality Curtis Sliwa, who notched enough in-person ballots to win outright over GOP rival Fernando Mateo, a longtime advocate for bodega owners and livery drivers.

Trump Weighs In Nearly four months will separate the primary results from the November general election, giving politicians a window to work to reform the BOE. State Sen. Zellnor Myrie (D-Brooklyn) who chairs the elections committee, said he plans to hold a hearing this year to discuss how to fix the board. StewartCousins said legislative action would follow hearings.

State Assemblymember Nily Rozic (DQueens) encouraged constituents to urge their legislators to support a bill she and Sen. Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan) are sponsoring that would professionalize the patronage-ridden board.

“Time after time, election after election, the New York City Board of Elections has continued to show us its ineptitude,” Rozic said. “From long lines one year to broken equipment the next to

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accidentally counting thousands of practice ballots this year — these mistakes are so common that they have come to be expected.”

In a statement Wednesday, de Blasio also pushed for the passage of Rozic’s bill or an amendment to the state constitution that would change the BOE’s governance structure.

In the meantime, de Blasio said, “There must be an immediate, complete recanvass of the BOE’s vote count and a clear explanation of what went wrong.”

The BOE’s massive misstep also got the attention from Republicans nationally — including former President Donald Trump who said in a statement that the city should start the process anew.

“Watch the mess you are about to see in New York City, it will go on forever.

They should close the books and do it all over again, the old-fashioned way, when we had results that were accurate and meaningful,” Trump, a Queens native, said.

The City Council’s Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus caucus, whose two top members led a charge last year to delay ranked-choice voting, said in a statement Tuesday that it plans to hold a hearing to “scrutinize the city’s performance.”

The Council members, many of whom are Adams’ surrogates on the campaign trail, also urged lawmakers to “give serious consideration” to a proposal to repeal sections of ranked-choice voting.l This story was originally published on June 30, 2021 by THE CITY.

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CARIBBEAN SPECIAL REPORT Vaccines for the Caribbean/ continued from page 1 nomic contraction in countries across Latin America and the Caribbean. The Caribbean countries are among the hardest hit, recording over one million deaths in the region. A combination of underreporting and vaccine demand by more powerful nations has aided the precarious position occupied by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

In its commitment to save lives and showcase its leadership in ending the pandemic, the United States, under Biden's administration, has committed to sending over 70 million doses of Coronavirus vaccine from the nation's vaccine stockpile to other parts of the world by the end of June 2021.

Distribution will be through a combined strategy of international public health organizations, like COVAX, an initiative supported by WHO to deliver vaccine doses worldwide and direct donations to select nations. A strategic approach to managing a receding pandemic in the country which continues to surge abroad.

Scientists have advised that the spread of the virus mutation remains a threat worldwide, especially for the unvaccinated, with the fear that new variants can return to threaten opening-up economies like America.

Various stakeholders ranging from public health officials, foreign experts, and developing country leaders, have continuously urged developed countries like the US to help boost their local supply and share their extra doses. A case presented urging rich nations like the USA, China, and Russia to secure massive vaccine doses to help the poorer countries struggling across the globe bridge the apparent inequities revealed by the pandemic.

So far, the delivery of over 5 million doses to countries experiencing severe coronavirus outbreaks like India and 4 million doses to partners in Africa through the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Latin America and the Caribbean have received over 5 million doses.

Simultaneously, there is a need to maintain the commitment to vaccine aid to other parts across the continent, especially in countries where a large vaccine donation from the US will go beyond saving lives and mean opening economies, and fostering US geopolitical interests. For the Caribbean, the donation will contribute to helping the country's economies re-open safely, especially in rebooting US-bound tourism, strengthening partnerships with neighbors, and pro-

For the Caribbean, the donation will contribute to helping the country's economies re-open safely, especially in rebooting US-bound tourism, strengthening partnerships with neighbors, and promoting bilateral relationships. moting bilateral relationships.

To discuss the importance and implication of US-vaccine donation to the Caribbean, a virtual discussion, moderated by Jason Marczak, Director of the Atlantic Council's Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center (AALAC) organized with top officials, also served as an avenue to launch the first edition of the Caribbean Initiative brief, "The Strategic Importance of Sending US Vaccines to the Caribbean."

His Excellency Anton E. Edmunds, Saint Lucia's Ambassador to the USA, spoke about the devastating impact of the pandemic on the Caribbean Countries' economy, health system, workforce, and geopolitical relationships. He revealed how the pandemic had forced the region to reallocate funds from their resilience portfolio into health which has left them vulnerable to potential climate-driven natural disasters like tropical storms, hurricanes, and droughts.

Raising some of the effects of COVID on the health system in the Caribbean, Dr. James Fitzgerald, Pan American Health Organization's Director, Systems and Services, clarified that the pandemic had affected various Caribbean country's health systems significantly. Areas such as allocating funds to the purchase of equipment for multiple hospitals' intensive care units, placing a lot of strain on the health workforce, especially nurses and other experts, which is a concern because of the size of the country and limited resources.

Such harsh realities and decisions are of concern for most country leaders, whose priorities focus on the health of their citizens. Discussions on the issue and the announcement by the US government formed part of conversations during the meeting.

Former US Ambassador to the Dominican Republic and co-author of the first issue brief from the Atlantic Council, Ambassador James Brewster, states, "As the deaths are increasing in the Caribbean, so concerns are rising.

The leaders are asking when are we going to actually get the vaccine?" He

further explained that although he recognizes the efforts by the Biden administration, bureaucratic protocol and internal streamlined process have caused the delay. He noted the importance of the vaccine donation to the US-Caribbean relationship in national, health, and economic security. Specifically, the Vaccine donation will benefit both countries- as tourists travel from the US into the Caribbean and vice versa. The economics, especially for the Caribbean, whose economy relies on the travel sector to generate revenue and bilateral trade between the countries, will improve and significantly affect the region. "There are also geopolitical issues to be considered.

Presently the US is not perceived as the best friend to the Caribbean. We must get out there and show that we are the true partners." Despite the counter evidence of slightly strained bilateral relationships, he explained that the issue is not if the US will deliver the vaccines but how quickly the donations will be.

Ambassador Edmunds elaborated on what both countries will gain from the collaboration besides tourism and other forms of trade. "We also travel, Caribbean's travel to the US especially Florida, so there is an economic implication. Every 75cents of a dollar spent gets to the US. However, it is an alliance that has remained under-estimated and requires a more structured approach, especially in banking, and improved recognition between USA's-Florida and the Caribbean," he added.

His Excellency also explained that the effect of COVID and the proposed vaccine donation would help alleviate some of the harm caused by the pandemic, which is of benefits in the long run. For instance, he revealed how the pandemic in the US resulted in fewer remittances from Caribbean's living in the diaspora like the USA, which was a source of revenue for Saint Lucia and others.

Conversely, the economic slowdown and lack of vaccines have also resulted in a rise in crime and criminal elements.

According to him, "…the cost-benefit

analysis must be considered as all have experienced an economic impact across tourism, agriculture, which will take time for recovery especially at the Caribbean, where security is now turning into an area of concern."

The officials acknowledged that most Latin American and Caribbean countries have it under control despite the demanding logistic requirements. Some countries are willing to pay for additional vaccine supplies. Wealthy countries like the USA, China, and Russia are accused of stockpiling, but the primary area of growing concern is 'vaccine hesitancy' observed among the citizens.

Ambassador Edmund clarified that though a problem, "NGOs and others within the community can help the people to go over the bump…."

He explained that he expects a better relationship between the US and the Caribbean despite past treatment, leaving the Caribbean community feeling like an afterthought. "The region often feels that they are an afterthought, with COVID, countries in the region feel like they have found friends and alliances from places least expected. For instance, Thailand has been a helpful alliance, and China has provided some vaccines to other Caribbean communities. However, bilateral engagements need to be deep, consistent, and binding, especially with existing relationships with countries.

That's where the relationship gets stronger. We partner on issues." He ended by stating that "the region has done a great job of putting protocols in place. He believes they will get the vaccine, but "the question is when and will the United States be the partner we seek, …what we are looking for is now, we don't want it later in the year or next year."

Former Ambassador James Walter Brewster Jr. expressed confidence that the US will deliver on time and for the right reasons beyond the strategic gain targeted by other wealthy countries. "We won't have to know the implication of the US not donating the vaccine because we will get the answer quickly."l

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FAMILY MATTERS

Nurturing Dads Raise Emotionally Intelligent Kids

BY KEVIN SHAFER THE CONVERSATION

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hen my oldest son, now nearly 13, was born in July of 2008, I thought I could easily balance my career and my desire to be far more engaged at home than my father and his generation were. I was wrong.

Almost immediately, I noticed how social policies, schools and health care systems all make it difficult for dads to be highly involved and engaged at home.

Contradictory expectations about work and family life abound.

As a fatherhood researcher with four kids of my own, I am convinced that fathers are transformative figures for children, families and communities.

But a man’s mere presence, paycheck and willingness to punish misbehaving children is not nearly enough. Many of the benefits of fathering for children come from dads being nurturing, loving and engaged in all aspects of parenting.

Nurturing versus stoic dads Thinking about the broad impact fathers have, I analyzed how fathering affects different social values – such as a belief in gender equality – in May 2021.

Surveying more than 2,500 American fathers 18 and older, I found that involved fathering has a long-lasting impact on the personal principles and cultural perspectives of children.

In my survey, the differences between the least nurturing and the most nurturing fathers are stark.

Surveyed fathers who reported that their own fathers were highly withdrawn tended to be hypercompetitive, emotionally stoic and unappreciative of women’s contributions outside the home.

In contrast, surveyed fathers who said they had highly nurturing dads were much more likely to achieve their goals in a healthy manner, be more emotionally open and believe in equitable partnership.

How dads instill values Several decades ago, many fathers were unwilling or unable to provide their children with emotional support or physical care. Instead, they focused on bread-winning, children’s discipline and simply being present in the home.

These traditional norms left many contemporary fathers ill-equipped for modern parenthood. Contemporary social norms set broad expectations for fathers: rule enforcement and economically supporting the family while also providing for children’s physical and emotional needs.

Broad paternal involvement with kids is important because dads have unique effects on kids. Children’s values, beliefs, emotional expression and social

development are strongly associated with fathering. Kids are better regulated emotionally, more resilient and more openminded when their fathers are involved in their education and socialization.

Boys, for better and worse, often mirror the habits, interests and values of their own fathers.

My colleague Scott Easton and I found that how one’s father behaves is especially powerful given that cultural, social and institutional norms about fatherhood are much weaker than they are for motherhood.

For example, mothers have traditionally been known for showing children affection and providing emotional support. Social expectations for these behaviors are not well defined among fathers.

As a result, dads have a much larger impact on their sons’ fathering behaviors than moms have on their daughters’ mothering behaviors.

Positively, this means that a sizable portion of men replicate the best attributes of their own fathers – such as being loving and affectionate. Negatively, this means bad behaviors – such as extremely harsh discipline – are sometimes repeated across generations. continued on page 8

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FAMILY MATTERS Nurturing Dads/ continued from page 7 However, some men compensate for their own fathers’ poor or nonexistent parenting by forming their own ideas and values about parenting.

Benefits for all The findings from my survey build on decades of research on the benefits of positive fathering. And these advantages aren’t just for children.

Mothers and other parenting partners are healthier and happier when fathers are highly engaged with their kids. Men who care for and support their kids benefit too – with improved self-image, life purpose and relationships. And communities gain increased trust and safety from the relationships built when fathers positively participate in their kids’ activities, schooling and social networks.

Valuing supportive fathers How can American society ensure that healthy competition, emotional openness and respect for women are widespread among future generations of men and fathers? Part of the answer is by valuing loving, supportive fathering.

That means more support for fathers in workplaces, public policy and institutions. Paid family leave, flexible work arrangements and integration of fathers into prenatal and postnatal care are all effective ways to encourage fathers to be more involved.

Many fathers increased their share of child care tasks during the COVID-19 pandemic. These shifts may become permanent, ultimately changing cultural values around parenting and gender roles.

Society also needs to provide clearer messaging to fathers about what does and does not work in parenting. For example, my colleagues and I have shown that men who believe they should be nurturing parents are more involved in their children’s lives. Fathers who demonstrate healthy masculine traits like assertiveness and strong goal orientation also tend to be sensitive, engaged parents.

Thus, there are many routes to transformative fathering. And this is not simply behavior for biological fathers.

Fatherhood is broadly defined, and people often look to nonbiological father figures like relatives, stepfathers, foster fathers and unrelated mentors.

All men who support and care for children have a critical role to play in instilling positive social values in future generations.l Kevin Shafer is an Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of Canadian Studies, Brigham Young University.

8

“Look Before You Lock” – Never Leave a Child Uunattended in a Hot Car

N

EW YORK, NY: As the National Weather Service forecasts an intense heat wave with temperatures climbing well above normal, the NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) is reminding parents to “Look Before You Lock” – never leave a child unattended in a car.

With temperatures forecasted to soar, vehicles can heat up quickly, which can be extremely dangerous for children as their bodies heat up three times faster than an adult’s, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

According to KidsAndCars.org, last year, 25 children nationwide died after being left in hot cars. ACS is urging parents and caregivers to always check the backseat of the car before leaving and locking it.

Throughout the summer, ACS will be sharing important tips with families about how to prevent hot car tragedies from occurring. For instance, to prevent a harried parent from forgetting a child in the back seat of a car, one might leave necessary items in the back seat (purse, wallet, key fob, cellphone, house keys, etc.). Before leaving the vehicle, the driver may check the back seat to retrieve the item before locking the car doors. For other parents, it might help to place a stuffed animal in the front seat of the car every time their child is in the back seat. The stuffed animal will serve as a reminder that the child is in the car.

As always, anyone who sees a child left unattended in a parked car, should notify law enforcement immediately or call 911.

“We want to remind parents and caregivers of the dangers associated with hot temperatures and ensure they take precautions,” said ACS Commissioner David A. Hansell. “Under no circumstance should a child ever be left alone in a car; even if it’s for a short period of

time. As we see intense temperatures forecasted for the next few days, New Yorkers should be aware of the danger of hot cars and the steps they can take to help keep children safe.”

Heat illness occurs when the body cannot cool down. The most serious forms of heat illness are heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat stroke occurs when the body's temperature rises quickly and can rapidly lead to death. Keeping cool can be hard work for the body. This extra stress on the body can also worsen other health conditions such as heart and lung disease.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, heat stroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths in children under 15. Infants and children up to four years of age are at the greatest risk for heat-related illness, according to the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC).

In addition to “Look Before You Lock,” a new report from Consumer Reports revealed that in 2020, almost 38 percent of hot car deaths were children who gained access to a vehicle on their own. ACS is reminding parents to be extra mindful about keeping car keys and key fobs out of children’s reach.

ACS continues to educate parents on ways to keep children in New York City safe and healthy. In addition to its “Look Before You Lock” campaign, ACS continues to promote safe sleep practices for families with infants, and educate caregivers on how to prevent unintentional exposures to high-risk medications and household products in their homes.

Through its primary prevention approach, ACS is working to reach families proactively with educational messages and services that can support healthy children, families and communities.l

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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

9

Workers’ Compensation/ continued from page 1 tion for injuries or disabilities sustained due to their employment. Workers' compensation, insurance, or wage replacement is given to employees injured on the job. Under New York State law, workers’ compensation covers employees working in for-profit businesses and excludes most independent contractors.

Points to remember •Workers' compensation is a form of insurance that pays workers who are injured or become disabled due to their job.

•Accepting workers' compensation benefits means the employee waives the right to sue their employer.

•Most compensation plans offer coverage of medical fees related to injuries incurred as a direct result of employment.

•Workers' compensation is not the same as unemployment benefits or disability insurance.

benefits under certain circumstances.

However, you may be able to get the insurance company to continue providing benefits in several ways.

Oftentimes, if your benefits stop too soon, it's best to speak with a workers' compensation attorney to help you determine your options. With the help of an attorney, you may be able to file issues with your state's workers' compensation commission to reinstate your benefits.

Stopping Workers’ Compensation Benefits There are many circumstances when individuals or companies may stop providing certain services. For example, neglecting to pay monthly utility bills could result in the cessation of electricity and other services.

Similarly, insurance companies may be able to cease payment of workers' comp

Workers' Compensation Benefits Aren't Permanent It's important to keep in mind that workers' compensation benefits are intended to be temporary, with a few exceptions. The main goal of workers' comp benefits is to provide you with the financial support you need to recover and return to work following a workplace accident and subsequent injuries.

Benefits could cover a variety of expenses, including medical bills and lost wages resulting from time taken off from work to heal. Ultimately, workers' comp benefits are intended to help you recover enough to get back to work within a reasonable amount of time following an accident.

In some cases, health care providers may determine that a worker won't recover beyond a certain point and is eligible for permanency benefits. Permanent loss of bodily function and an inability to return to work could also warrant permanent disability benefits.

Why an Insurance Company Might Stop Paying Workers' Comp Benefits Some of the reasons why an insurance company could cut off benefits include: •A healthcare provider determines that a worker has reached a level of maximum

medical improvement, which means that the worker won't recover any further and won't benefit from any additional treatment.

•The doctor designated by the insurance company determines that a recipient suffers from a pre-existing medical condition that doesn't warrant compensation benefits.

•The employer's insurance company determines that the worker didn't suffer an injury as a result of a work-related accident.

•A healthcare provider provides a written report that indicates a worker is capable of returning to work.

Regardless of the circumstances, you may be able to file issues with your state's workers' compensation commission to appeal the decision to cut off benefits. From there, the commission will schedule a specific hearing date to discuss your case.

Consult with a Workers' Compensation Attorney If you are cut off from workers' compensation benefits and believe that you still qualify to receive them, you should speak with an experienced workers' comp attorney who can provide some additional advice on these matters. A reliable attorney will help determine if you have a case and may be able to help you seek reinstatement of benefits from an insurance company. l

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10

EDUCATION

Mayor and Chancellor Announce Record Number of 3-k for All Offers

N

EW YORK: Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter announced 33,131 families are receiving offers to free, full-day, high-quality 3-K for All across all 32 community school districts following an historic expansion of the program – up from 17,455 in 2020 and 9,518 in 2019.

“By expanding 3-K to every district across our city, we’re bringing a record number of families access to a free, high-quality, early education for their child. As we build a recovery for us all, 3-K and Pre-K will continue to lead the way in supporting New York City’s children and working families,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“Access to free, high-quality early education has transformed the lives of so many families across New York City, and today a record 33,000 children are receiving offers to a 3-K for All program,” said Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter. “Our expansion to every district this fall will provide even more students with a strong start in school and life, and we’re conducting outreach over the summer to encourage additional families

to sign up!”

Across the city, 92 percent of families who applied to 3-K for All received an offer and a record 76 percent of families received an offer to one of their top three program choices. A total of 33,208 families across all 32 community school districts applied to 3-K for All, demonstrating high demand as the City works towards universal access by September 2023.

As announced this spring, 3-K for All will be available in every community

school district in the 2021-22 school year, and families can continue to enroll.

Offers were made to as many families as possible in the twenty new districts.

There is a 3-K seat for every three-yearold in districts 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 19, 23, 27, 31, and 32.

3-K for All is the nation’s most ambitious effort to provide universal, free, full-day, high-quality early childhood education for every three-year-old child and builds on the success of Pre-K for All. High-quality 3-K helps to make sure

children are prepared for kindergarten and have a strong start in school and life.

Like Pre-K for All, 3-K for All relies on the partnership of community-based organizations, including Head Start programs, child care agencies, and family child care providers. The timing of the fall 2021-22 expansion aligns with the culmination of the City’s historic commitment to achieve pay parity for certified early childhood education teachers

by October 2021, a goal which is on track to be met. Achieving a pathway to pay parity between early childhood educators in community-based organizations and those working in district schools completes the promise made by the Mayor and City Council to the provider community during summer 2019, as part of agreements with District Council 37, the Day Care Council of New York, and the Head Start Sponsoring Board Council, as well as a commitment to non-represented teachers. Certified teachers saw phased-in wage increases beginning in October 2019. Non-certified teachers and support staff have also seen increases in compensation. l

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HOME OWNERSHIP

11

Saving Your Home from Foreclosure and Predators

BY ERIN TELESFORD

T

he greatest financial crisis in the United States was the last recession which spanned from December 2007 to June 2009. During this time, unemployment rates were raised by about 6.1% resulting in a loss of consumer spending and business investments. Before the recession, many Americans bought houses using mortgages they couldn’t afford, eventually causing them to fall into poverty and their homes into foreclosure. The effects of the Great Recession did not recover once the economy stabilized in 2009. According to The State of Working America, “In October 2010, 16 months after the official end of the recession, the economy still had 5.4% fewer jobs than it did before the recession started.” The unemployment levels are little to no better in 2019, and speculation that another economic collapse has come into the news.

The devastation of the Great Recession implored many people to take better action with their finances and mortgages in fear of another financial crisis that could cause them to lose their homes. However, many Americans lack knowledge on the options available for them in lieu of another recession and end up needing to file for bankruptcy when financial hardship arises.

Much of the recent financial problems lower-income individuals and families face are a result of their inability to afford or deal with unexpected major expenses such as job loss or medical bills. When these expenses become detrimental, one decision could be to file for bankruptcy.

According to a study published recently, 46 percent of bankruptcies were related to outstanding medical conditions. The major cited reasons in this category included injury or illness, medical expenses not covered by insurance or losing at least two weeks’ worth of work because of illness.

Other causes of bankruptcy include reduced income, job loss, credit debt, illness/injury, unexpected expenses and divorce. In the same time period, the percentage of filers age 55 or older more than doubled; those filers now account for about 20 percent of all bankruptcy petitioners.

The study also found that 60 percent of bankruptcy filers have salaries of less than $30,000.

Bankruptcy is not a moral decision. It is a legal choice made when the debt situation is hopeless. Filing for bankruptcy can save your home and also stop wage garnishment. This can be troublesome due to the racial inequality involved with lawyers who specialize in bankruptcy.

In an interview with Brian Figeroux, Esq., on the radio show, Ask the Lawyer, he stated that you must ”know the motives of the person giving you advice. There have been cases where people of color in America, specifically black Americans, encountered lawyers and investors who claim to want to help them save their homes when, in reality, 10 out of 10 times, they are trying to hoodwink you.”

DON’T LET SOMEONE STEAL YOUR HOME. Figeroux also warned about a New York Times article which stated that white attorneys were not giving the best advice to black clients.

According to the New York Times article, “Blacks Face Bias in Bankruptcy,” by Tara Siegel Bernard, blacks are about twice as likely as whites to wind up in the more onerous and costly form of consumer bankruptcy as they try to dig out from their debts, a new study has found. The disparity persisted even when the researchers adjusted for income, homeownership, assets and education. The evidence suggested that lawyers were disproportionately steering blacks into a process that was not as good for them financially, in part because of biases, whether conscious or unconscious.

The vast majority of debtors file under Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy code, which typically allows them to erase most debts in a matter of months. It tends to have a higher success rate and is less expensive than the alternative, Chapter 13, which requires debtors to dedicate their disposable income to paying back their debts for several years.

The study of racial differences in bankruptcy filings was written by Robert M. Lawless, a bankruptcy expert and law professor, and Dov Cohen, a psychology professor, both with the University of Illinois; and Jean Braucher, a law professor at the University of Arizona.

A survey conducted as part of their research found that bankruptcy lawyers were much more likely to steer black debtors into a Chapter 13 than white filers even when they had identical financial situations. The lawyers, the survey found, were also more likely to view blacks as having “good values” when they expressed a preference for Chapter 13.

As communities of color, we have to be aware of what is happening. Persons are coming into our communities, offering to purchase our homes for cash. These persons are not trying to help you. Your property is an investment. It is the path to wealth-building and transferring wealth from one generation to another. Do not be fooled.

Figeroux's real estate office, Equity Smart Realty, Inc., was created because he “saw how our people suffered” from these types of scams and wants to be truthful with the black community in order to prevent the wrongful foreclosure of our community’s houses through bankruptcy consultation.

For a free bankruptcy or save your home from foreclosure consultation with the Law Firm of Figeroux and Associates, call 855768-8845.l

Criminals prey on unsuspecting homeowners to illegally transfer property deeds.

Anyone can be a victim. Be on the lookout: check the status of your property with the NYC Department of Finance and sign up for alerts on any changes to your property documents.

Act now to check your deed!

Visit www.nyc.gov/deedfraud or call 311 for more information.

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ISLAND FOCUS: ST VINCENT & THE GRENADINES

12

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, On the Road to Recovering Its Food Sector

B

rasília, Brazil: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has been recovering from the strong impact that the eruption of the La Soufriere volcano in April had on its agricultural sector, but it still needs the help and solidarity of the countries of the Americas and the rest of the world.

This was stated by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry and Labor of this Caribbean country, Saboto Caesar, in an interview given to the Brazilian TV Channel AgroMais.

“These are definitely challenging times, with many changes for our people and for our agricultural sector, which is central to the country. One of the biggest impacts was the excessive ash fall in areas used for food production, some of which lost 100% of their vegetable production," said the minister.

Minister Caesar also explained that the work of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) was of great importance in securing the support of organizations and governments in Latin America and the Caribbean and expressed his gratitude for the solidarity received.

The volcano had its first major eruption on April 9, followed by 32 other erup-

Minister Saboto Caesar

tions. Some 30,000 people had to be evacuated from their homes, most of them farmers, since the land closest to the volcano is used mainly for agricultural production. Today, the social situation is still delicate, and the authorities are concerned about the approach of the hurricane season which could further complicate the scenario.

Although there have been no new eruptions recently, the minister explained that the ashes fell on the slopes of the mountains and, every time it rains heavily, they are washed away towards the valleys and crop fields, thereby deteriorating lands that until now had not been affected.

“In my country,” Caesar explained, “agriculture is basically run by small producers who work under the family

farming regime. We have approximately 8,000 farmers and 1,500 registered fishermen. Our greatest pride is that, despite the food security emergency that was declared, we were still able to produce enough food for our population and have already resumed exports to other islands.”

Caesar explained that his ministry sent a budget readjustment project to the Parliament, in order to provide financial aid to farmers and fishermen and thus assist in their recovery. In addition, the State bought food from producers who had available products and distributed it among those affected by the disaster.

They are also beginning to distribute seeds among farmers so that they can plant their crops.

“Many farmers,” he acknowledged, “lost their crops. We are sending tractors to the different communities to plow the land, so that it can be sown again.

Farmers who work close to the volcano will receive financial aid until the end of the year and also in 2022. We will rebuild the agricultural sector, and we will do it better than before.”

The Minister explained that the forests of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines were also affected, and that the country is receiving help from governments and

international organizations to restore them.

Minister Caesar went on to say that, due to the impact of the ash fall on the fields, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is facing vulnerabilities in certain crops important for food, such as aubergines, lettuce, cucumbers, carrots and tomatoes.

In contrast, other agricultural products have not been affected, and are even being exported again. These crops include ginger, bananas, coconut and turmeric.

"We will focus on the crops of which there is a shortage,” he announced, “and in order to increase production, we will bring agriculture to the backyard gardens of our homes."

AgroAmerica is a program on the Brazilian TV channel AgroMais, belonging to the Bandeirantes Communication Group, which is the result of an alliance with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).

The show features the current situation of the agricultural and rural sectors in the member countries of the IICA, with the aim of promoting the exchange of experiences and a discussion on challenges and opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean in the area of agricultural and rural development.l

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13

Supreme Court Denies Bond Hearings to People Pursuing Protection Claims Who Have Prior Removal Orders

BY ALEXIS TURNER-LAFVING

T

he Supreme Court issued a decision on June 29 in the Johnson v.

Guzman Chavez case. The majority of the justices determined that people with prior removal orders are subject to mandatory detention, even while they pursue proceedings to stop their deportation to a country where they established they have a reasonable fear of persecution or torture.

Without the opportunity to be released on bond, these individuals face months and even years in detention as they pursue protection in what are known as withholding-only proceedings.

Withholding of removal is a form of protection that prohibits the U.S. government from deporting someone to a country where they will be persecuted or tortured.

At issue in the case was which of two sections in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) apply to individuals with prior removal orders who are waiting to appear before an Immigration Judge to argue their claim for protection.

Editorial credit: Bob Korn / Shutterstock.com

The Supreme Court sided with the government. In his opinion, Justice Samuel Alito concluded that the provision—8 U.S.C. § 1231 of the INA—that subjects individuals to mandatory detention applies to those with prior removal orders who are pursuing withholding of removal because the prior removal orders are “administratively final.”

Lawyers for the individuals seeking protection argued that another provision—8 U.S.C. § 1226—that provides the opportunity for release from detention on bond should apply to individuals with prior removal orders who are in withholding-only proceedings because a decision on whether an individual will be deported remains pending.

Individuals with prior removal orders

who return to the United States unlawfully are not eligible for certain forms of protection, such as asylum. But if someone is not eligible for asylum, they can still seek withholding of removal.

Therefore, even if the government would otherwise be able to remove a noncitizen with a prior removal order, it may not do so until a court reaches a decision on the protection claim.

The American Immigration Council, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and co-signatories filed an amicus, or friend-of-the-court, brief in support of those seeking protection. The brief highlighted stories of individuals in withholding-only proceedings that demonstrate why denying such individuals the opportunity to seek release from

detention on bond serves no purpose.

For example, in one case, an individual spent eight months in detention while pursuing protection, only for the government to ultimately grant withholding of removal in the case and release them from detention.

In another case, an individual spent seven months in detention pursuing their protection claim before the detention conditions became so unbearable they abandoned the claim just to be released.

In addition, mandatory detention makes it much harder for people seeking protection to get an attorney to represent them.

Data shows that lack of access to counsel makes it harder to pursue protection claims and to win them.

Mandatory detention threatens the ability of those who have established a reasonable fear that they will be persecuted or tortured if they are removed pursuant to a prior removal order to pursue their protection claim. It is now more important than ever to ensure our country’s commitment, enshrined in U.S law, to protect this vulnerable population.l

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SHAQUANA CAN'T WAIT 9 out of 10 people with hepatitis don’t know they have it. They could be one of them, and so could you.

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World Hepatitis Day 28 July 2021

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nHEALTH

nENTERTAINMENT

nRELATIONSHIPS

nRECIPES

nSPORTS

nHOROSCOPE

Jamaican Jénine Shepherd Wins a 2021 Legacy Award In Memory of Princess Diana

BY STEPHANIE KORNEY JAMAICANS.COM

J

amaican Jénine Shepherd, 22, is the recipient of the Diana Award for 2021. The award is given to a young person who continues the legacy of the United Kingdom's Princess Diana by "going above and beyond the expected in their local communities." The award seeks to highlight the voices of young people and to empower them to change the world. The award was established in 1999 by the British Government and became an independent charity in 2006.

The new status allows the organization to create a full-fledged youth-led movement. In 2011, the world-famous AntiBullying Program was established, and in 2012, the Mentoring Program was initiated. The organization's focus continues to be young people and change.

Shepherd is a student at Amherst College, pursuing a double major in neuroscience and economics. At age 17, Shepherd founded Youths For Excellence Limited, a nonprofit that provides innercity children in Jamaica with food, school supplies, tutoring, and healthcare with the aid of 24 corporate and Government sponsors, including KFC, Grace Kennedy Limited, and Digicel.

The organization also provides families of the children with opportunities for career and personal development. She currently serves as the organization's director. She is expanding her company to the United States with the US govern-

Kitchen Corner

H

amburgers? Yes. But basic fare? Definitely not! What a treat they are, and the wise cook will make up a dozen or so for the freezer. If you like blue cheese, you'll never forget these burgers.

—Quiksmyle, Allrecipes.com Ingredients 3 pounds lean ground beef 4 ounces blue cheese, crumbled ½ cup minced fresh chives ¼ teaspoon hot pepper sauce

Jénine Shepherd. Photo:: Jamaicans.com

ment's support, education economics researchers at Columbia University, and the United Nations. She is also establishing community centers throughout the Caribbean region with the support of the Caribbean Examinations Council, the largest exam body in the region.

While at Campion College, Shepherd attained 15 distinctions for CSEC, ranking tenth in Jamaica for Additional Mathematics and 6 Cape Unit one ones and 6 Cape Unit two ones. In her senior year, she and her team won the $J1 million the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica's Science Competition in the 1619 age category by creating a solar water pump to alleviate the water crisis at her high school and could be integrated into a more extensive solar circuit to power the school.

A proud Jamaican, Shepherd has

worked with the nation's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade to develop the core policy for the Global Jamaica Diaspora Youth Council. This ensures that 3.5 million Jamaicans in the US, UK, and Canada have a voice on matters of cultural estrangement and other issues relevant to restoring confidence in Jamaica for Vision 2030.

She was appointed president of the New York-based nonprofit, the Jamaican American Youth Alliance (JAYA), which supports Jamaicans in the USA with the endorsements of the US and Jamaican governments. JAYA worked with the American Friends of Jamaica to host a virtual benefit concert in Europe to aid the COVID-19 relief effort in Jamaica and help the Embassy of Jamaica in Brussels and European Diaspora groups raise funds and support repatriation flights for Jamaicans stranded in France

by COVID-19.

In 2020, Shepherd, who received the Prime Minister's Youth Award for Excellence in Nation Building, was chosen to represent Youths for Excellence Limited at the inaugural YOUNGA™ Forum—organized by BridgingTheGap Ventures. This was a unique, virtual takeover of the United Nations that focused on what future youth want and the actions required to get there. With VR and XR technology, 1,500 youth delegates met with high-level decisionmakers to develop solutions to global challenges.

Upon winning the award, Shepherd

posted to her Facebook page, "I am deeply humbled to have been selected from across the world as a 2021 Diana Award Recipient. In honor of Princess Diana of Wales, this award is the most prestigious award in the world a young person can receive for social and humanitarian work.

As always, I want to give praise unto God for allowing me to do the work I do.

Special mention as well to my mother for supporting me in chasing this path I've chosen. This work has NOT been easy, not in the slightest. I also want to thank my teams over at Youths For Excellence and at Jamaican American Youth Alliance for working alongside me.

Special mention must be given to Tessy Ojo, @sussexroyal, and The Diana Award team for providing the space for young people who do this kind of work to be recognized for their efforts. I also want to highlight Nathaniel Peat, Board Chairman of Youths For Excellence, for deciding to nominate me and The Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr, Minister of Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment, and Climate Change, for recommending me.

Thara Johnson-Reid, thanks for having my back! My thank yous wouldn't be complete without mentioning the various school principals (special highlight to Principal Findley) across the Caribbean.

They added their voices to my nomination for the impact I have had on their students.

Glad I could represent Jamaica and the Caribbean in this cohort."l

Blue Cheese Burgers 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper 1 ½ teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon dry mustard 12 French rolls or hamburger buns Directions Step 1 In a large bowl, mix the ground beef, blue cheese, chives, hot pepper sauce, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, salt, and mustard. Cover, and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Step 2 Preheat grill for high heat. Gently form the burger mixture into about 12 patties.

Step 3 Oil the grill grate. Grill patties 5 minutes per side, or until well done. Serve on rolls.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 348 calories; protein 27.2g; carbohydrates 19.6g; fat 20.5g; cholesterol 81.1mg; sodium 765.4mg.l

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17

LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS

Five Signs Your Partner May Be Cheating on You within the relationship.

BY MARY CAMPBELL 311DIVORCE.COM

N

obody wants to be cheated on.

However, if you start to notice your partner displaying any of the following signs, it may be time to start wondering if they are sneaking around behind your back: 1. Secretive phone use A partner who is cheating will try and hide their phone use from you. In addition, they may hang up calls quickly whenever you walk into a room or even go into a different room to receive calls and send messages. Deleting messages, clearing browser history, and changing passwords are also signs that something nefarious might be going on.

2. Improved appearance If your partner suddenly develops exemplary grooming habits, changes up his wardrobe and begins to look more like a male model than a regular guy, it may be time to wake up and smell the coffee.

The same logic also follows for a girlfriend who suddenly loses weight, has a makeover and changes the hairstyle she has had for the last five years.

3. Unexplained spending Unexplained purchases on your credit card or a larger number of cash withdrawals can be a sign of cheating. This is especially true if your partner has not informed you of these transactions. A cheating partner might even try to stop you from viewing financial statements by intercepting them at the mailbox or deleting them from your inbox before you get a chance to review them.

4. Lack of interest in sex or unusual sex requests If your partner suddenly loses interest in sex, it may be an indication that they are having their needs met elsewhere. On the other hand, if your partner is suddenly exhibiting unusual behavior during sex

or asking you to do things they never have before, it may be time to think about where they learned about these new activities. Was it simply some online research? Or did they learn from a new sexual partner?

5. Hostility If your partner barks at you when you ask questions or acts as if they would rather be anywhere but near you, then they might be cheating. Hostility is a sign that they may want to leave the relationship or are feeling guilty for cheating on you. You may also find yourself constantly getting criticized for the way you look and how you do things. Of course, even if they are not cheating, this constant hostility is still a sign of a problem

Moving On It can be tough to think about the possibility of your partner cheating on you.

However, if you notice the signs outlined above, it is probably a good idea to investigate a little further.

It is important to note that an affair will likely have little to no impact on your divorce proceedings unless there is a prenuptial. So, whether your spouse had an affair or you suspect your spouse of having one, it is unlikely that those extramarital activities will influence matters like alimony, division of assets, or child custody arrangements. However, in situations where the affair had direct harm on your children, or if you wish to allege dissipation against your spouse, be sure to consult with a qualified divorce attorney. Get a free, confidential consultation from the Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates Call 855-768-8845. You will get the expert advice you need to determine whether or not these issues are worth pursuing and how they might influence the outcome of your divorce.

Remember, the lawyer you hire does make a difference.l

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18

TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE

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hether you're on a road trip or plane ride, every parent knows the journey can be a challenge. Long hours waiting or riding can test any kid's - or parent's - patience.

With a little preparation, however, you can ensure your family (and you) will be happier throughout your trip.

"One major challenge can be making sure your family members are well fed and hydrated while you travel, to prevent them from getting 'hangry' or resorting to high-sugar, low-nutrient snacks," says nutritionist Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RDN of Quest Nutrition."Planning snacks and drinks ahead is worth the effort for a happier, healthier trip."

Here are some travel hacks to make the journey almost as much fun as getting to your destination.

1. Car hacks The best way to prep for a car trip is planning age-appropriate activities and packing essentials - like snacks and water bottles. Keeping toys reserved only for trips will also make them special, giving kids something to look forward to.

Drinks and snacks A small cooler can help keep drinks and fruit chilled during your ride. "You'll also want to pack snacks that aren't too messy, including some with protein to keep your family fueled up," says Kirkpatrick.

On-the-road games Some old classics don't need prep, but a little planning can create new spins on old games to keep them fun and challenging. * Track your map: Print a map of your route and post on the back of the front seats so kids can follow along. Use colored markers to indicate the route and use a dot for snack stops or other locations. At each stop, have kids mark where you are on the map. * The license plate game: Kids spot license plates of cars to identify the states. They could write them down, or you can create bingo cards with states you're most likely to see (like neighboring states). * Scenery bingo: You could also create bingo cards with landmarks or scenery you'll see on your route.

2. Plane hacks The hardest part about plane journeys is waiting at the airport. Planning games and snacks ahead will result in much happier kids once they're on the plane and distracted by the interesting surroundings (and hopefully views out the window).

Bring a snack bag Avoid high prices and unhealthy snacking on the plane and in the airport by packing your own snacks in your travel bag.

Pack an empty water bottle It's easy to dehydrate while flying, and bringing an empty bottle helps avoid the temptation of sugary drinks, giving you the chance to fill up in the airport before you get on the plane.

Airport and airplane games * I spy: This classic takes no preparation, and many ages can play. One player says, "I spy with my little eye ..." and gives clues about something they can see around them (without staring at it).

Everyone else guesses, and the winner is the next to play. This game can also be played in the car. * Continue a story: For longer waits or trips, make up a "continuing story," taking turns, using something you see around you as inspiration are up to you!

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19

GENERATIONS

Advice from the Elderly: How to Age Well and Avoid Regret

BY JANET HOWARD WILLSAND ESTATES.NYC

A

ging is inevitable. We're all growing older all the time.

Fortunately, those who have gone before us, our elders, really enjoy giving advice. Reading and listening to what they have to say about how best to grow old is a smart way for those of us in our relative youth to take stock of our lives and avoid common mistakes that will only magnify as we grow ever closer to the end of our own lives.

Focus on the big picture Much of the advice we're given by people in their golden years is to focus on what really matters in life. When you pay attention to the advice senior citizens want us to have, two themes emerge. The first is to take care of your relationships.

Set yourself up for happiness by very carefully choosing a partner. Common wisdom tells you to choose a partner who is liked by your friends and family--as many survivors of divorce will tell you, it's better to be alone than to be married to the wrong person. Then, do your best to keep in touch with old friends, and do

whatever you can to resolve family estrangements—certain family members may drive you crazy now, but always try to keep in mind that you have a finite amount of time with that person, and any time lost can never be regained.

The other theme is to be true to yourself. Live the life you want to live and say what's on your mind. Also, take more chances in your career and try to travel more. Learn about yourself and express yourself. Figure out who you really are while you're still around. When a person knows he's coming closer to the end of his days, all the small unimportant things

tend to fade away and his focus is on the people that populate his life and his memories: his friends, his family, and finally himself.

Don't sweat the small stuff, but pay attention to the details In addition to looking at the bigger picture, our elders also remind us that health precedes happiness—we need to take care of our bodies. More specifically, seniors often tell us to focus on teeth and joints, parts of the body that tend to cause older people a lot of grief, and make a lot of money for dentists and orthopedic sur-

geons. Older people also remind us to manage our weight when we're young, pointing out that as we age, losing weight becomes more and more difficult. Taking care of these things is less a matter of big actions, but rather the small habits that fill a day. For the sake of your joints, don't sit too much and try to get at least moderate exercise most days. To keep all of your teeth, floss and brush them regularly. Practice portion control and always be looking to add more fruits and vegetables into your diet. Advice from the elderly tends not to steer anyone into trying to look like a fitness model--instead the advice reminds us that a healthy lifestyle is key to enjoying life.

Try comparing your average day against the advice you're given by your grandparents. How do your habits help or hurt you in living up to these life lessons?

What habits can you change or add to today that will pay off in your future?

Life advice from our predecessors is a powerful reminder that now is the time to take care of the details and stay focused on the bigger picture. We remember that life is for the living and we need to enjoy the present and do our best to always live well.l

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20

HEALTH

I’m Fully Vaccinated – Should I Keep Wearing a Mask for My Unvaccinated Child? to keep a loved one safe. Reasoning along these lines, one might hold that parents have a duty to lay down the law when it comes to masking.

Yet a potential snag in this line of thinking is that it is at odds with other decisions people make for their children – like routinely letting kids do risky things such as climb trees or ski down slopes.

What’s more, keeping children safe is complicated. Presumably, it includes protecting children’s mental health and social development. A masked summer could frustrate such efforts.

BY NANCY S. JECKER THE CONVERSATION

F

ully vaccinated adults are celebrating their new freedom and removing their face masks. Yet for parents of children under age 12, the rejoicing might be short-lived.

Since children that age do not yet have access to vaccines, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says they are better off staying masked when in public and around people they don’t live with.

Now what? Do “good parents” keep their child’s face shield on at playgrounds, barbecues and play dates, teaching health and safety above all? Or do they “let kids be kids” and tell their child it’s OK to take the mask off? What if a child’s circle includes unvaccinated people at high risk of serious disease?

With summer fast approaching, parents of youngsters must face these questions head-on.

As a moral philosopher and bioethicist,

I analyze ethical dilemmas, and lately I’ve thought a lot about ethical dilemmas raised by the COVID-19 pandemic. I’ve also written about a little-known field – ethics and the family – which asks what parents owe their children, what children owe their parents, and what spouses owe each other. There are a few tools in my ethics toolkit that might help with the mask question.

Protecting safety at all costs There’s an ethical view that holds that people are not just driven to do more for their family members, but have a special moral duty to do more. This special duty arises by virtue of the relationships of love and affection in which families ideally stand.

On some accounts, a special duty might even require doing “everything possible”

Letting kids be kids A different way of thinking is that unmasking is justified to let kids be kids.

The Swiss enlightenment philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau might have supported this view. He held that childhood is valuable for its own sake, and that the best way to bring up children is to let them develop naturally.

Too often, parents bring to parenting their own “life-stage bias,” which occurs continued on page 21

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21

HEALTH Masking in solidarity Parents who choose to keep their unvaccinated child masked might ask the child if it would help them if they masked too.

Masking with a child conveys appreciation and recognition that, for some kids, keeping a mask on is a big ask. Such a move throws a wrench in parents’ own unmasking celebrations. But parents can celebrate later, after their child gets vaccinated, and when their child can celebrate too.

While these decisions can be tough for parents and kids alike, the good news is that children ages 2 to 11 will probably have access to vaccines in September.

Fully Vaccinated/ continued from page 20 when ethical concerns – such as safety – that are prominent at one life stage are generalized and assumed to be central for all life stages. While children should, of course, be kept safe to prepare them for adulthood, preparing for adulthood should not crowd out all other values, or keep children from the joys of childhood.

The point here is that childhood is a one-of-a-kind experience. For example, childhood friendships differ from adult ones, and childhood play calls upon a child’s ability to become absorbed in make-believe worlds and entertain radically different worlds.

To the extent that children miss out on healthy childhood experiences, they cannot readily make them up. For example, having more adult friends will not compensate for lacking childhood ones, and playing more as an adult will not replace childhood play. The window closes.

Whether masking interferes a lot or only mildly with childhood fun will depend on a number of factors, such as the child’s age (a 2-year-old may have a harder time than a 10-year-old), activity (wearing a mask while playing dolls may be easier than while playing basketball) and aversion to masking (which may vary based on the child’s personality or whether their friends mask).

Civic responsibility Of course, the other reason for children

to mask is that this prevents them from transmitting the coronavirus to others.

Especially if a child’s circle includes someone with heightened risk of severe disease and death from the virus, this consideration will be overriding.

For example, if a child’s neighbor is a 5-year-old with Down syndrome, or their best friend has asthma, or they have a family member who is vaccinated but whose immune system is suppressed by drugs or disease, they should keep their mask on. In these situations, it is important for parents to acknowledge that masking is not what the child wants to do, but that putting others’ health and safety first sometimes matters most.

The upshot Parents and caregivers have made so many sacrifices over the course of the pandemic to keep kids safe.

Summertime, typically a period of carefree play, promises long-awaited relief.

For some families with small children, the masks are coming off and they’re headed to Disney World, which no longer requires masks outdoors. For other families, all their prior efforts might feel wasted if they didn’t go the last mile and wait a bit longer.

Whatever parents decide, they should communicate their message in a way that shows love and support for their child.l

Nancy S. Jecker is a Professor of Bioethics and Humanities, School of Medicine, University of Washington.

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22

CONVERSATIONS

Homecare Workers Saved Us During Covid. It's Time to Save Them Back.

July Is Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

BY THOMAS RYAN

D

octors, nurses, and the scientists who created COVID-19 vaccines have all emerged as heroes during the pandemic. But there's another, underappreciated group that's been crucial to the country's pandemic response — those who provide home-based medical equipment, services, and care.

Without fanfare or headlines, home medical equipment providers saved thousands and improved millions of lives.

And they could transform the way we care for our elderly and infirm — for the better. In order to fulfill that promise, home medical equipment providers must be paid commensurate with the value they deliver for their patients and the broader healthcare system.

The people most vulnerable to the coronavirus are the elderly. And the most vulnerable among them, tragically, have been those living in nursing homes.

By treating people at home, home medical equipment providers kept millions of seniors safe from COVID-19.

Home-based care also relieved pressure on frontline healthcare workers and clinical facilities, which have been nearly overrun several times during the pandemic.

As the pandemic begins to wane, homecare's importance will not. Rather, it will join remote work and contactless delivery as one of the staples of modern life.

The COVID-era surge in homecare is only an acceleration of long-developing trends. First, our society is aging. Seniors are living longer, more active, and independent lives than ever before.

Second, homecare is less expensive — often considerably so — than institutional care. So it represents a promising strategy for tackling our nation's health cost crisis.

Photo By AALBC - Original publication: 2004

F In recent months, hospital discharge rates have started returning to pre-pandemic levels. But when seniors leave the hospital, they're increasingly going home, not to a nursing facility.

Doctors, too, are becoming more supportive. According to a 2020 survey by William Blair, the proportion of doctors preferring to send patients to home health agencies over nursing homes rose from 54 percent to 81 percent during the pandemic.

All told, more than three in four seniors view homecare as the preferred way to age, according to an AARP survey.

Families should be able care for their loved ones in the setting that works best for them — and fosters the highest quality of life.

Unfortunately, bad policy stands in the way of this vision. While our aging population and its preference for homecare should mean that home medical equipment suppliers are thriving, nearly 40 percent of them have closed their doors over the last decade.

Why? A faulty Medicare program is unsustainably cutting their reimbursement rates.

Congress and the Biden administration must update these rates without delay. An increase that considers increased product

costs and new operational requirements is long overdue. The industry needs to be able to guarantee salaries for its skilled workers. Otherwise, we're setting seniors up for failure.

COVID-19 taught us that home may be the safest place to receive care. But policies that don't reflect the true cost of care for life-saving equipment represent a failure to heed that lesson. Without properly funded homecare, we can expect lower-quality outcomes for patients, increased hospital readmissions, and an overall increase in health costs.

The trend toward home-based health care is only going to accelerate. The underappreciated heroes who helped us through the pandemic will now pivot to helping Baby Boomers age and helping their families care for them. Homecare is good for patient wellbeing, family happiness, and government budgets.

Washington needs to find a way to make the system take care of homecare providers as much as they take care of us.l Thomas Ryan is president and CEO of the American Association for Homecare.

This piece originally ran in the International Business Times.

ormally recognized in June 2008 (and currently designated as), Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month was created to bring awareness to the unique struggles that underrepresented groups face in regard to mental illness in the US. Bebe Moore Campbell was an American author, journalist, teacher, and mental health advocate who worked tirelessly to shed light on the mental health needs of the Black community and other underrepresented communities.

To continue the visionary work of Bebe Moore Campbell, each year Mental Health America (MHA) develops a public education campaign dedicated to addressing the mental health needs of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).

This year’s theme is Strength in Communities, where we will be highlighting alternative mental health supports created by BIPOC and queer and trans BIPOC (QTBIPOC), for BIPOC and QTBIPOC. Our 2021 toolkit will examine community-developed systems of support created to fill in gaps within traditional systems that may overlook cultural and historical factors that impede BIPOC and QTBIPOC mental health. It will explore three topic areas: community care, selfdirected care, and cultural care and why these types of care are valid and valuable choices people can make for their mental health.l

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