Caribbean American Weekly - Issue 139

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ISSUE 139 VOLUME 22

December 2, 2021

SERVING THE CARIBBEAN AND HISPANIC COMMUNITIES!

Will Omicron – the New Coronavirus Variant of Concern – be More Contagious Than Delta?

BY SURESH V. KUCHIPUDI THE CONVERSATION

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new variant named omicron (B.1.1.529) was reported by researchers in South Africa on Nov. 24, 2021, and designated a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization two days later. Omicron is very unusual in that it is by far the most heavily mutated variant yet of SARS-

Barbados Becomes a Republic ....8

continued on page 18

Commonly Asked Immigration-Related Questions Relating to Child Tax Credit ....10

Broken Promises: Limits of Biden's Executive Order on Private Prisons

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ashington, DC: The Biden administration has failed to deliver on the promise to end the use of private prisons in federal incarceration and immigration detention, according to “Broken Promises: Limits of Biden's Executive Order on Private Prisons” a new report released

by Detention Watch Network and Project South. The report provides an continued on page 13

Sir James Fitz-Allen Mitchell: A True Stalwart of Integration ....9

Call 855-768-8845

Editorial credit: BiksuTong / Shutterstock.com

The ITIN for Undocumented Immigrants ....5

What Happens If You Die Without a Will? ....20

Knowledge is Power when you use it!

Get a FREE Consultation!

Ask the Lawyer:

Rihanna: A National Hero ....15

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

Pace: Equity is the Key to HIV Epidemic Control ....3

Min. Bartlett Elected Chair of the Inter American Committee on Tourism ....2

CARICOM Reparations Commission to Participate in Evanston Symposium ....2

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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 630 Third Avenue, 7th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 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, 4th 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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CARICOM Salutes Barbados as the Country Embarks on New Path

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he Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has congratulated the Government and People of Barbados on the country’s Fifty-Fifth Anniversary of Independence and its transition to Republican status.

CARICOM Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett’s congratulatory message to Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley said the theme for the Celebration “Rebuilding A Nation, Embracing Our Heritage” was most apt given that Barbados has chosen this moment in its history to shift its trajectory and become a Republic.

“This opens a new chapter in the country’s development,” the SecretaryGeneral’s message said.

Dr Barnett

“Barbadians can face the future with renewed pride as this transition closes the circle of independence,” it added.

Dr Barnett noted that Barbados’ progress in the 55 years of nationhood has been most impressive, and its citizens have made the country proud in a variety of areas globally including politics, diplomacy, academia, the arts and

sport.

“The Community is highly appreciative of Barbados leadership which begun as an original signatory to the Treaty establishing CARICOM and continues with its responsibility for the CARICOM Single Market and Economy within the CARICOM Quasi-Cabinet” the SecretaryGeneral said.

“The Community salutes and encourages the Government and people of Barbados as the country embarks on this new path. As you celebrate this milestone, please accept my best wishes and my commitment and that of the Secretariat to assist Barbados in achieving its development goals” Dr Barnett stated. l

Bartlett Elected Chair of the Inter American Committee on Tourism

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ASHINGTON DC: Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, was elected by acclamation as Chair of the Inter-American Committee on Tourism (CITUR) of the Organization of American States in Washington DC. At the meeting Minister Bartlett came out ahead of the candidates from Paraguay and Ecuador for chairmanship.

Both countries will now serve as Vice Chair of the Inter-American Committee on Tourism Making the announcement, Chair of the OAS Inter American Council for Integral Development, Jamaica’s Ambassador Audrey Marks congratulated Mr. Bartlett on behalf of member states.

“Minister Bartlett I congratulate you as Chair along with the members of your

Minister Bartlett

committee and I wish you all much success in the work that you will be leading as we begin deliberation to prepare the draft work plan based on the Declaration of Paraguay towards the reconstruction and rebuilding of tourism post COVID19,” Ambassador Marks said.

In accepting the position, Minister Bartlett called on all member states to work together to complete the plans and

policy programs that they had started.

This he said would require a greater sense of innovation” as we cannot continue with things as they are but move to things as they must be” Bartlett said.

We must now seek to find new ways to deal with new disruptions that seems destined to follow this pandemic,” he lamented as he thanked Member States for the confidence that placed in him by way of his election to the Chair of the committee.

He pledged his commitment to be a strong, fruitful, and vibrant chairman and called for the support of everyone. We have so much to do, and I know the Americas are depending on us to chart the way to recovery and to thrive after recovery,” Bartlett said.l —Wiredja.com

CARICOM Reparations Commission to Participate in Evanston Symposium

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ew York, NY: In a gesture of solidarity and support for the slavery reparations movement in the USA, the CARICOM Reparations Commission (CRC) will participate in a national symposium on municipal reparations in Evanston, Illinois from Dec. 911, 2021.

Eric Phillips, one of the CMC’s three Vice Chairs, will represent the commission. Phillips is also the Chairman of Guyana’s National Reparations Committee, one of ten independent national reparations groups that comprise the Caribbean Commission.

“I am honored to be representing the CRC in this historic symposium and I

look forward to observing and learning about the impressive progress being made by various municipal reparations initiatives in the US,” said Phillips.

“Generational justice and generational wealth creation can only be achieved through reparatory justice which is embodied in the US constitution through the words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness,” added Phillips.

The Symposium will be convened by the National African American

Reparations Commission (NAARC) under the leadership of Dr. Ron Daniels and hosted by FirstRepair, the organization founded by Robin Rue Simmons, the former Alderman credited with being the architect and champion of the Evanston Reparations Initiative.

Evanston has gained national and international attention as the first city-wide reparations program in the United States.

Scores of community-based advocates/stakeholders, elected officials, academic and philanthropic partners working on municipal reparatory justice initiatives across the US are expected to attend the Evanston symposium.l

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3

THOUGHTS

All of Us: Equity is the Key to HIV Epidemic Control

BY LOYCE PACE

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. —Hosea 4:6 ublisher I.Q. INC. Managing Editor & Editor-in-Chief

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he United States government’s theme for Worlds AIDS Day 2021—Ending the HIV Epidemic: Equitable Access, Everyone’s Voice— highlights a critical moment in our domestic and global HIV/AIDS response. Colleagues from across the government will share their reflections, progress, and updates on our journey to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the U.S. and globally.

This year’s World AIDS Day theme is particularly poignant as we currently confront the dual challenges of HIV/AIDS and COVID-19. The lessons learned from the HIV/AIDS epidemic have provided a solid foundation for the COVID-19 response. I recall when global activists marched, protested, and advocated for greater focus on equitable access to life-saving HIV therapies.

During my own experiences as a community outreach worker in Western Africa, and as an advocate in Washington D.C., I witnessed firsthand the impact of everyone’s voice to affect change.

Currently, as the Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), I have the privilege of working alongside dedicated public servants to promote more equitable access to services and ensure that the communities’ voices are heard through HHS’s respective responses to HIV/AIDS and COVID-19. These efforts are made possible by leveraging the lessons learned and best practices from existing HIV/AIDS programs such as the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

We have made enormous progress towards achieving HIV/AIDS epidemic control in many countries around the world. This success has been possible through a whole-of-society, whole-ofgovernment, and whole-of-globe approach – academic institutions, civil society, governments, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and regional and global multilateral institutions have all made valuable contributions. The United States Government has

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Pearl Phillip Legal Advisor Brian Figeroux, Esq. Graphic & Website Designers Praim Samsoondar Kenrick Williams Feature Writers Linda Nwoke Victoria Falk Contributors Jennine Estes Tarsha Gibbons Janet Howard Mary Campbell Travis Morales Chris Tobias

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us that we are an interconnected, interdependent global community. Amplifying global health equity is essential to unlocking opportunity for us all. played a vital role. Since the launch of PEPFAR in 2003, the program has saved more than 20 million lives around the world through support for life-saving antiretroviral therapy and other proven interventions. The United States has invested more than $100 billion to combat global HIV/AIDS through PEPFAR and U.S. contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

However, our work is not yet complete.

Despite our progress towards achieving epidemic control, there are persistent gaps in access to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services to communities that have historically been disproportionately impacted and yet underserved, such as adolescent girls and young women, children, and key populations, such as men who have sex with men, sex workers, transgender people, people who inject drugs, and people who are incarcerated. In sub-Saharan Africa, which continues to bear the greatest HIV/AIDS burden, six in seven new HIV/AIDS infections among adolescents aged 15 to 19 were among girls. Young women in sub-Saharan Africa aged 15 to 24 were twice as likely to be living with

HIV/AIDS than men. Globally, in 2020, key populations and their sexual partners accounted for 65 percent of new infections.

As we have learned throughout this journey, HIV/AIDS affects everyone – and we are all in this together. Reducing HIV/AIDS-related disparities and health inequities at home and throughout the world is a public health and moral imperative. HHS is committed to promoting health and human rights for all people, which includes addressing stigma, discrimination and harmful policies that serve as barriers to accessing vital services.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us that we are an interconnected, interdependent global community.

Amplifying global health equity is essential to unlocking opportunity for us all.

As we enter this next phase of the global HIV/AIDS response, we must hold fast to our shared vision, purpose, and determination to end HIV/AIDS. l Loyce Pace is the Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs, Department of Health and Human Services

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4

CIVIL RIGHTS

It’s Time to End the Racist and Unjustified Sentencing Disparity Between Crack and Powder Cocaine

BY CIVIL RIGHTS.ORG

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ctober marked 35 years since President Ronald Reagan signed into law the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, which established a racially discriminatory 100:1 sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine. As a result of this legislation, for example, possession of 5 grams of crack cocaine, which was disproportionately consumed

by African Americans, triggered an automatic five-year jail sentence — whereas 500 grams of powder cocaine, which was mostly consumed by richer, White demographics, merited the same punishment.

The disparity is glaring, especially when considering that White people are actually more likely than Black people to use crack cocaine in their lifetimes. It subverts justice, undermines confidence in the criminal-legal system, and has disproportionately ripped apart Black families and devastated Black communities across the nation.

Twelve years ago, the federal government acknowledged that something needed to change. Shortly after Barack Obama became president in 2009, the Department of Justice, for the first time,

endorsed completely eliminating the sentencing disparity. The following year, President Obama signed into law the Fair Sentencing Act (FSA), which partially addressed the disparity by reducing the ratio from 100:1 to 18:1.

Just before passage of the FSA, 7.3 percent of people sentenced under the federal crack cocaine laws were White, while Black people made up 78.5 percent.

Today, a harmful and racially discriminatory sentencing scheme persists. PostFSA, 6.3 percent of people sentenced under these laws are White, while 77.1 percent are Black.

In 2018, the First Step Act made the ratio reduction retroactive — and as a result, more than 3,705 people serving unjust sentences under the 100:1 sentencing scheme have received reduced sentences, and more than 2,000 people have been released. But advocates and lawmakers continue to call for the complete elimination of the racist disparity.

The Eliminating a Quantifiably Unjust Application of the Law (EQUAL) Act, which the House passed in September with an overwhelmingly bipartisan 36166 vote, would complete the revisions made by the FSA more than a decade

ago. It would eliminate the disparity between crack and powder cocaine altogether and make that change retroactive, providing an opportunity for redress to those serving excessively long sentences.

Momentum continues to build. The Senate version of the EQUAL Act, led by Sen. Cory Booker, D. N.J., already has five Republican cosponsors — with Sens. Lindsey Graham, R. S.C., and Lisa Murkowski, R. Alaska, joining as cosponsors in late October.

While testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee last month, Attorney General Merrick Garland affirmed the Department of Justice’s support for the legislation. When Sen. Booker asked Attorney General Garland if he believed it’s time to end the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine, he replied, “Yes, I do believe that…It clearly does have a disparate impact on communities of color…We should end this.”

And, on the anniversary of the AntiDrug Abuse Act, Booker joined Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin, D. Ill., to speak out on the Senate floor in support of passing the EQUAL Act and ending this disparity.

“We can’t change the past, but we can make for a better future. We can’t undo the disparities that have disproportionately sent African Americans to prison, but we can make for a more equal and more just future,” Booker said while speaking on the Senate floor. “This is our moment. It is a moment of redemption to right past wrongs, to set this nation on a more just course, to bend the arc of the moral universe more towards justice.”

That is exactly what the EQUAL Act would do. The legislation is a bold step that will address the damage wrought by mandatory minimum sentencing and begin to transform our criminal-legal system into one that delivers true justice and equality.

As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law.” That’s why the Senate must pass this important racial justice legislation as soon as possible.l

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is the nation's oldest, largest, and most diverse civil and human rights coalition.

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5

DIASPORA CONCERNS

The ITIN for Undocumented Immigrants

D

o immigrants pay taxes? The basic answer: yes. Immigrants, including those without documentation, pay billions of dollars in taxes to federal, state and local governments every year. Immigrants paid $492.4 billion in taxes in 2020, including an estimated $30.6 billion in taxes paid by undocumented immigrants.

Immigrants have always been, and continue to be vital, to the United States — a country made up of immigrants.

Immigrant taxes support local schools, Social Security, and Medicaid, among other programs. However, immigrants are unable to benefit from programs such as Social Security and Medicaid, which are only accessible to permanent residents and U.S. citizens.

Immigrant tax contributions help establish a robust tax base, which means that mass-deporting immigrants from the U.S. or preventing new migrants from coming would have disastrous effects on the economy.

The data from the New American Economy puts numbers to the important role immigrants play in the U.S. economy. here are some of the highlights: All Immigrants There are some 44.4 million immigrants in the U.S., making up 13.6 percent of the total population. They paid $92.4 bil-

the chief actuary of the Social Security Administration said, “we estimate that earnings by unauthorized immigrants result in a net positive effect on Social Security financial status generally.”

The ITIN for Undocumented Immigrants An ITIN, or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, is a tax processing number that is only available to certain nonresident and resident aliens, their spouses and dependents who cannot obtain a Social Security Number (SSN).

It is a 9-digit number, beginning with the number "9", formatted like an SSN.

lion in taxes in 2020 and deployed $1.3 trillion in spending power. Some 8.5 million people are employed by businesses owned by immigrants. 15.2 percent of nurses in the U.S. are foreign-born, while 25.9 percent of health aides are foreignborn. These are both critical professions for the aging population of the U.S. — especially in less-populated places.

Undocumented Immigrants Undocumented immigrants paid $30.6 billion in taxes in 2020, $11.7 billion of which went to state and local governments, and had a total spending power of $214.8 billion. In 2013, Stephen Goss,

What is the difference between a social security number and an ITIN? The main difference between an SSN and an ITIN is that the SSN is issued to U.S. citizens and authorized non-citizens, while the ITIN is issued to residents with alien status or undocumented immigrants. The latter cannot be issued an SSN, but if they are allowed to stay in the U.S., then they have to pay their taxes.

What an ITIN is NOT used for: It is essential to understand that obtaining an ITIN number does not change your immigration status, which means that you will not be able to obtain a permanent resident card. In addition, the ITIN

is NOT a Social Security number.

Who can apply for an ITIN? •A person who resides in the United States for a period of six months or more and who cannot obtain a Social Security number.

•An investor or entrepreneur from other countries who has money invested in a business in the United States.

•Foreign nationals, non-residents of the United States who can apply for a tax benefit.

What documents do I need to apply for an ITIN? To apply for an ITIN, the applicant's identity and foreign nationality must be proven. The documents are as follows: Passport, identity card, U.S. or home country driver's license, official birth certificate for children under 18, visa, U.S. or foreign military ID, or foreign flyer's card.

How do I apply?

To apply for an ITIN, you must use Form W-7.

How long does the process take?

The process to receive an ITIN takes about 7 weeks after filing the application.

If you need help applying for an ITIN, call 855-768-8845.l

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EDUCATION & FAMILY MATTERS

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Why COVID-19 Must be Included in Safer Sex Messaging on College Campuses

BY TAMRA BURNS LOEB, GAIL WYATT & MICHELE R. COOLEY-STRICKLAND THE CONVERSATION

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ith college students back on campus, and COVID-19 with us for the foreseeable future, it has become increasingly clear that educators need to develop a new definition of safer sex.

Although the virus is not a sexually transmitted infection, students can spread COVID-19 through droplets and particles, especially when within 6 feet of each other. That includes being intimate.

This is why sex education efforts need to inform students not only about sexually transmitted infections, HIV and unintended pregnancy, but also about ways to reduce COVID-19 transmission risk.

As psychologists and educators at the University of California, Los Angeles, who design interventions to promote the health and well-being of college students, we are aware of the work that has gone into reopening campuses during the pandemic. But despite all the effort, some critical health needs of those students have been entirely overlooked.

Much can be done to reduce COVID-19 risk for sexually active students The CDC missed a chance The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention produced a lengthy document, last updated in November 2021, about college campuses and COVID-19 transmission. The document offers suggestions on how to stop the spread of the virus in all kinds of scenarios, from communal eating to sporting events. But stunningly, we could not find a word about the potential for spreading COVID-19 within an intimate relationship.

This is particularly disturbing when one considers that college students could use some expert advice. Their decision-making skills are not fully developed, and many college-age students are impulsive.

Pleasurable and perhaps risky behaviors often win out over possible longterm negative consequences. Just look at the rates of STIs, HIV and unintended pregnancy: Compared with other age groups, the rates are higher among college students.

Ways to avoid COVID-19 The irony is that there is much to say and to promote about reducing COVID-19 risk for sexually active students.

Here are some evidence-based recommendations: Limit the number of sexual partners. Avoid sexual contact with anyone who has COVID-19 or symptoms.

Use condoms and dental dams. Avoid activities involving transmission of fecaloral material. Wear masks during intimate acts. Avoid kissing.

Also: Wash hands before and after sexual activity. Use clean sex toys. Sanitize areas where sexual activity occurs.

Engage in self-pleasure. And understand that those who are not symptomatic can still transmit COVID-19 and some STIs. Abstinence programs don’t help Many abstinence programs are based on the premise that abstinence until marriage is the acceptable standard of human sexual behavior.

But research has shown that abstinence programs are ineffective and often lead to increased rates of unintended pregnancy and other high risk behaviors. That’s because they limit discussions of STI continued on page 7

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EDUCATION & FAMILY MATTERS Safer Sex Messaging/ continued from page 6 prevention and birth control; this effectively withholds information from young people who are in the midst of making crucial decisions about their health and future.

Instead, research shows that programs that provide accurate information in a nonjudgmental way about abstinence, contraception and STI prevention work better, particularly if they also promote communication, decision-making and negotiation skills.

These same programs could also add information about preventing the spread of COVID-19 while sexually intimate.

How schools can help Instead of ignoring the issue, university administrators should make sure students have the tools they need to avoid both COVID-19 and STIs. For example, with just their smartphones, students can easily schedule COVID-19 tests, get the results and then share them with those they are intimate with. The same can be done with STI, HIV and pregnancy results.

Sharing those results with respect for confidentiality requires widespread promotional campaigns to normalize this new behavior. Schools or campus-based student organizations could ignite a trend on Twitter with a simple but memorable slogan. Here’s one we suggest: “Show

By accessing COVID-19 test results via smartphone, students can easily share them with their intimate partners me yours and I’ll show you mine.” That’s one of many Twitter-friendly lines that would encourage students to exchange electronic health records.

Some campuses already have vending machines that contain free COVID-19 self-test kits. Results are sent to students electronically. At UCLA, the self-test kits are placed near sexual health vending machines, which are stocked with condoms, lubricant, emergency contraception and other reproductive and sexual aids.

Learning to interact again Communication between students is critical, particularly when sharing intimate information. But after 18 months away from campus because of COVID-19,

some have experienced serious social and emotional impacts. For many, peerto-peer communication skills have declined. This awkwardness makes it particularly difficult when discussing sensitive subjects.

Again, the school can help. One way is to offer students breakout sessions in small groups. This could be done in-class or as extracurricular assignments. Either approach gives socially anxious students – or those recovering from COVID-19 isolation – the outlet they need to interact in person with others.

How parents can help Young people have been bombarded with sexual misinformation from both peers and media. But studies show that inter-

7 generational communication about sexual activity can reduce risky sexual behaviors. And while sexual health education is effective at reducing unwanted outcomes, it’s enhanced when parents are involved.

With the widespread impact of COVID19, now is a great time to bring parents into the conversation. But they are often an underutilized resource. Many haven’t had sexual health education themselves, they may not know what’s appropriate to share with their children and they may simply be uncomfortable with sex topics.

We are still in a time of considerable ambiguity, mistrust and confusion. That applies to both COVID-19 and sexual health. But there is one certainty: Young people need responsible adult guidance to secure a healthy future. And the sooner the better. In the grip of a pandemic, their lives may depend on it.l Tamra Burns Loeb is an Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles Gail Wyatt is a Dena Bat Yaacov Endowed Chair and Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles Michele R. Cooley-Strickland is a Project Scientist and Clinical Psychologist, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA School of Medicine

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ISLAND FOCUS: BARBADOS

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Barbados Becomes a Republic

BY PETER RICHARDS

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RIDGETOWN, Barbados, Nov 30, CMC: Barbados Tuesday became the [fifth] Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country to replace Britain’s Queen Elizabeth as its head of state and sworn in Dame Sandra Mason as the island’s first President with a 21-gun salute.

The move to republican status coincided with the island’s 55th anniversary of political independence from Britain and Dame Sandra told the ceremony at the newly renamed National Heroes Square in the heart of the capital, that the new journey has now started “so we may seize the full substance of our sovereignty.

“For decades, we have had discourse and debates about the transition of Barbados to a republic. Today, debate and discourse have become action. Today we set our compass on a new direction, girded by the successes of the last 55 years, buoyed by the confidence garnered by our triumphs and accomplishments, committed to country and each other, and motivated to press confidently and boldly forward for the sake of our nation and for present and future generations,” said Dame Sandra, who was bestowed with the Order of Freedom of Barbados.

Photo: BGIS

The 72-year-old former jurist, who was sworn into office by Chief Justice Patterson Cheltenham, told the ceremony that was attended by the island’s National Hero and outstanding cricketer, Sir Garfield Sobers, as well as the international pop star, Robyn Rihanna Fenty, whom Prime Minister Mia Mottley said would be made a national hero, said the new republic claims its tradition and patrimony on the sweat of its forefathers.

“As we celebrate all that is good in us as a people and travel onward, we must avoid the trap of merely reliving, retelling, and relying on or past achieve-

ments as a nation. Instead, we must seek to refine of the definition of self, of state and the Barbados brand in a more complex, fractured and turbulent world.”

She said that for the formation of “Republic Barbados, out of the structure of independence Barbados is ultimately a call to greatness…which was contemplated by our forefathers and enshrined in the lyrics of our national anthem”.

Britain’s Prince Phillip, along with leaders from some CARICOM countries, were present during the more than twohour gala ceremony at the National Heroes Square, a stone throw away from

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the Parliament building that was constructed between 1870 and 1874 and a former site of Colonial administration of Barbados.

The National Heroes Square, formerly Trafalgar Square, had been the place since 1813, where an impressive statue of Lord Horatio Nelson was erected to celebrate the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

Barbados joins Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, [Suriname], and Dominica in attaining republican status after gaining their independence from Britain.

“The creation of this Republic…also marks a point on a continuum, a milestone on the long road that you have not only traveled but which you have built,” Prince Phillip told the ceremony.

He said from the darkest days of the past and “the appalling atrocities of slavery which forever stains our history, the people of this island forged their path with extraordinary fortitude.

Emancipation, self-government, and independence were your waypoints.

“Freedom, justice, and self-determination have been your guides. Your long journey has brought you to this moment, not as your destination, but as a vantage point from which to survey a new horizon,” said Prince Phillip, who was also bestowed with the Order of the Freedom of Barbados, assuring Barbados that as the island’s constitutional status changes, “it is important for me to …reaffirm those things which do not change.

“For example, the close and trusted partnership between Barbados and the United Kingdom as vital members of the Commonwealth. Our common determination to defend the values we both cherish and to pursue the goals we share and the …connections between the peoples of our countries through which flow admiration and affection, cooperation and opportunity, strengthening and enriching us all,” he said.

The decision to remove the Queen as Barbados’ figurehead had been debated for some time but was announced last year by Prime Minister Mottley, who said the “time has come to fully leave our colonial past behind.

“This is the ultimate statement of confidence in who we are and what we are capable of achieving,” Motley said then.

During the early hours of Tuesday morning, Mottley and senior judicial and security officials took the oath of office in a new Republican Barbados, pledging allegiance to the island.

Barbados once relied heavily on selling sugar to other countries for its economy, but it now relies heavily on tourism and finance.l

More coverage at www.cawnyc.com including the Queen’s reaction.

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CARIBBEAN STAR

9

Sir James Fitz-Allen Mitchell: A True Stalwart of Integration

BY CAW EDITORIAL STFF

K

INGSTOWN, St. Vincent: Sir James Fitz-Allen Mitchell passed away on Tuesday, November 23, 2021, at the age of 90. He was born in Bequia on May 15, 1931. Sir James' death has ended an era in the history of SVG, as he was the last surviving Parliamentarian at the time of Independence on October 27, 1979.

Sir James initially entered politics in 1966 by winning a legislative seat as a St Vincent Labor Party candidate. He was the Minister of Agriculture from 1967 to 1972.

After serving as the second Premier of St Vincent from 1972 to 1974, he founded the New Democratic Party (NDP) in 1975. The party, which is now the opposition, is headed by Godwin Friday. He later became the second Prime Minister of St Vincent, from 1984 to 2000.

Response to his Passing In an immediate response to his death, the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP), which Sir James founded in 1979, issued the following statement on his passing: "We are saddened to hear the news that the founder of the New Democratic Party Sir James Mitchell has

Sir James Mitchell. Photo credit: OECS Pressroom

passed away. He was one of the founding fathers of our nation and served as the second Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines from 1984 to 2000, as well as premier to St. Vincent and the Grenadines from 1972 to 1974."

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) says it has noted with 'profound regret' the passing of former Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines Sir James Mitchell.

In a message to Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, CARICOM SecretaryGeneral Dr. Carla Barnett extended condolences to the Government and People of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Sir

James' family.

"The Region has lost a true stalwart of integration…May he rest in peace", the Secretary-General said.

"He was a one-of-a-kind leader who became Premier in the most unique way," Dr. Barnett noted, adding that he proceeded to make an indelible mark on the development of his country and the Community.

"Sir James was an ardent integrationist and fully supported the initiatives of both the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and CARICOM," the Secretary-General noted. An agronomist by training, Sir James was involved in

forming the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI).

Reflecting on the former Prime Minister's esteemed tenure, Dr. Didacus Jules, OECS Director General, lauded Sir James as one of the elder stalwarts of regional integration.

"He proudly championed the OECS and will forever be enshrined in the pantheon of the historic greats of our region. One of Sir James's most notable moments was at the 25th Meeting of the OECS Authority in 1995, when he championed as Chairman the idea of the inclusion of Barbados, signaling his ambitious aspiration for the expansion of the Caribbean family."

An official statement from the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines read: Sir James will be accorded a State Funeral, details of which will be provided in a subsequent announcement. As a mark of respect, all flags throughout the State will be flown at half-mast on the day of the funeral. The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines takes this opportunity to extend sincere condolences to the family of the late Sir James Fitz-Allen Mitchell.l

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TAXES & MONEY MATTERS

10

2021 Child Tax Credit, Advance Child Tax Credit Payments and Commonly Asked Immigration-Related Questions

T

he Child Tax Credit is typically a credit parents with dependent children receive on their income tax return. In 2021, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan, which made a one-time in-crease in the credit for the 2021 tax year and provided for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to pay half of the credit to taxpayers in equal monthly payments from July through December.

Children ages five and younger qualify for up to a $3,600 credit, while children ages six to 17 qualify for up to $3,000.

The full credit is available to taxpayers who make less than $150,000 for married filing jointly or qualified widows or widowers; $112,500 for head of household, and $75,000 for single and married filing separate. The credit phases out by $50 for every $1,000 over those limits.

The new law made the credits fully refundable, so even those who don’t owe taxes can get the credit and receive a refund. Nearly 90% of children in the U.S. qualify for the advance payments, according to the IRS.

payments will be made for each qualifying child who has an SSN that is valid for employment in the United States.

The Catch The payments could cause some confusion in 2022, because when taxpayers file their tax return for 2021, they will need to reconcile the advance payments with the actual credit they are entitled to receive. In addition, some upper-income families do not qualify for the increased credit, creating some confusion among taxpayers.

Immigrants’ Concerns Immigrants have specific concerns. Here are answers to the frequently asked questions, according to the (IRS):

I don’t have a Social Security Number (SSN), but I have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) from the IRS. Am I eligible for the Child Tax Credit?

Yes. You — and your spouse, if married filing a joint return — must have a Social Security number (SSN) or an IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to be eligible for the Child Tax Credit. You would receive advance Child Tax Credit payments only if you used your correct SSN or ITIN when you filed a 2020 tax return or 2019 tax return. Advance Child Tax Credit

Does my child need to have a Social Security Number (SSN) to qualify for the Child Tax Credit?

Yes. For your child to qualify you for the Child Tax Credit, your child must have a Social Security Number (SSN) that is valid for employment.

Therefore, if your child does not have an SSN that is valid for employment, you are not eligible to receive advance Child Tax Credit payments for that child.

What does it mean for the Social Security Number (SSN) to be valid for employment?

For qualifying children, a valid Social Security Number (SSN) is one that is valid for employment in the United States and is issued by the Social Security Administration (SSA) before the due date of your 2021 tax return (including extensions). continued on page 11

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TAXES & MONEY MATTERS

Coping With Debt

H

aving trouble paying your bills?

Getting dunning notices from creditors? Are your accounts being turned over to debt collectors? Are you worried about losing your home or your car? You’re not alone. Many people face a financial crisis at some point in their lives. Whether the crisis is caused by personal or family illness, the loss of a job, or overspending, it can seem overwhelming. But often, it can be overcome.

Your financial situation doesn’t have to go from bad to worse.

Bankruptcy Personal bankruptcy also may be an option, although its consequences are long-lasting and far-reaching. People who follow the bankruptcy rules receive a discharge — a court order that says they don’t have to repay certain debts.

However, bankruptcy information (both the date of the filing and the later date of discharge) stay on a credit report for 10 years and can make it difficult to get credit, buy a home, get life insurance, or sometimes get a job. Still, bankruptcy is a legal procedure that offers a fresh start for people who have gotten into financial difficulty and can't satisfy their debts.

There are two main types of personal bankruptcy: Chapter 13 and Chapter 7.

Each must be filed in federal bankruptcy

court. Filing fees are several hundred dollars. Attorney fees are extra and vary.

Both types of bankruptcy may get rid of unsecured debts and stop foreclosures, repossessions, garnishments and utility shut-offs, as well as debt collection activities. Both also provide exemptions that let you keep certain assets, although exemption amounts vary by state.

Personal bankruptcy usually does not erase child support, alimony, fines, taxes, and some student loan obligations. And, unless you have an acceptable plan to catch up on your debt under Chapter 13, bankruptcy usually does not allow you to keep property when your creditor has an unpaid mortgage or security lien on it. l —FTC

11 Advanced Child Credit/ continued from page 10 advance Child Tax Credit payments for that child.

What does it mean for the Social Security Number (SSN) to be valid for employment?

For qualifying children, a valid Social Security Number (SSN) is one that is valid for employment in the United States and is issued by the Social Security Administration (SSA) before the due date of your 2021 tax return (including extensions).

If an individual was a U.S. citizen when he or she received the SSN, then it is valid for employment in the United States. If "Not Valid for Employment" is printed on the individual's Social Security card and the individual's immigration status has changed so that he or she is now a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, ask the SSA for a new Social Security card.

However, if "Valid for Work Only With DHS Authorization" is printed on the individual's Social Security card, the individual has the required SSN only as long as the Department of Homeland Security authorization is valid.

Will receiving the 2021 Child Tax Credit or Advance Child Tax Credit payments affect my immigration status or ability to get a Green Card?

No. Under current law, receiving the Child Tax Credit or other Federal tax credits that you are eligible for will not affect your immigration status, your ability to get a green card, or your future eligibility for immigration benefits. Use of Federal tax credits is not considered for purposes of a "public charge" determination by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

As a recipient of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), am I prevented from claiming the 2021 Child Tax Credit or receiving Advance Child Tax Credit payments for my qualifying child?

No. Having DACA does not affect your eligibility. If you and your child satisfy all eligibility requirements, you can claim your child for the 2021 Child Tax Credit and receive Advance Child Tax Credit payments.

My child is a DACA recipient. Can I still claim my child for the Child Tax Credit and receive Advance Child Tax Credit payments?

Yes. Your eligibility is not affected by your child being a DACA recipient. If your child has a Social Security Number (SSN) that is valid for employment, and you and your child satisfy all other eligibility requirements, you are eligible for the Child Tax Credit and advance Child Tax Credit payments.l

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12

IMMIGRATION

Over 250,000 Young People Are at Risk of Deportation When They Turn 21

BY KATY MURDZA

A

lesser-known group of young people who grew up in the United States with immigration status—typically the children of noncitizens who entered the U.S. on temporary work visas—is increasingly at risk of deportation.

They are known as Documented Dreamers, and when these young adults turn 21, they “age out” of their previous lawful status, which was tied to their parents’ visas. They are then required to seek and obtain immigration status on their own or to depart the country. If they fail to depart, they run the risk of being subjected to immigration enforcement and potential deportation.

If a parent can adjust to Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status, also known as a green card, before their children turn 21, the children are eligible to obtain permanent residency through the same process. But many temporary workers are not eligible to adjust their status. And others are trapped in yearslong green card backlogs, like many immigrant workers from India and China who must wait for years to adjust status

due to per-country caps. One study found that some Indian nationals would have to wait up to 89 years to receive a green card.

In April 2020, there were an estimated 253,293 children waiting to obtain a green card through their parents’ employment-based immigrant visa petitions. It is estimated that over 100,000 of them will age out before their families can adjust.

Many undocumented Dreamers have been eligible for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status. But one of DACA’s requirements is that the individual must have “had no lawful sta-

tus on June 15, 2012,” leaving most Documented Dreamers ineligible.

Documented Dreamers have recently garnered more public attention.

Documented Dreamer Pareen Mhatre testified at a Congressional hearing on barriers to legal immigration in April 2021. Proposed legislation that would provide relief to some Documented Dreamers remains pending.

The Dream Act might provide a path to citizenship for certain Documented Dreamers, depending on which version of the bill passes Congress. The American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 (H.R. 6), which is currently pending in the U.S. House of Representatives, would provide a path to citizenship for most Documented Dreamers currently in the United States, and some who have already had to leave the country.

The America’s CHILDREN Act of 2021 (H.R. 4331) is the first proposed legislation focused on Documented Dreamers to have broad bipartisan support in both chambers. It would also provide a path to citizenship for certain Documented Dreamers and has several advantages over H.R. 6.

First, the bill includes the children of

parents who entered the country with several additional types of temporary work visas. H.R. 4331 would also create a permanent path to citizenship for current and future Documented Dreamers, instead of a one-time protection for a certain group of them. The bill would also prevent Documented Dreamers from aging out as long as an immigrant visa petition or labor certification application is filed on their parent’s behalf before the child turns 21. Finally, H.R. 4331 would not exclude people based on criminal history, except on grounds of national security. The bill would require Documented Dreamers to have graduated from an institution of higher education.

For many Documented Dreamers, the United States in the only country they know. Like other immigrant youth, many do not speak the language or fully understand the culture of their countries of birth. Years-long green card backlogs are forcing them into the impossible choice of separating from their families and communities or risking deportation.

Congress and the executive can and should work to correct this injustice.l

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13

IMMIGRATION Broken Promises/ continued from page 1 overview of progress towards that unfulfilled promise, explores a troubling trend of detention expansion, and outlines the steps the administration must take to end the federal use of private prisons and phase out the use of immigration detention entirely.

“As a Presidential candidate, Biden promised to end the use of private prisons claiming that the federal government should not use private facilities for any detention, including immigraiton detention,” said Setareh Ghandehari, coauthor of the report and Advocacy Director at Detention Watch Network.

“Instead, the administration has increased the number of people in detention, doubled down on anti-immigrant Trump-era deterrence policies, and expanded detention capacity in direct conflict with its own promises to end for profit incarceration and bring fairness to the immigration system.”

The immigration detention system is made up of a network of approximately 200 jails across the country with funding from Congress for the detention of 34,000 people in Fiscal Year 21. Today about 22,000 people are detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). At the beginning of 2021, the number of people in detention was at a historic low not seen in decades, largely due to the Trump administration’s cruel anti-immigrant policies including the

“Remain in Mexico” program and the Title 42 expulsions of migrants, as well as state and local sanctuary policies that limited interior enforcement.

“The incoming Biden administration had a unique opportunity to reduce reliance on the immigration detention system as capacity far outweighed use,” said Priya Sreenivasan, co-author of the report and former Justice Catalyst Legal Fellow at Project South. “Instead, the number of people in detention has skyrocketed under President Biden, the administration has requested funds well above current numbers, and ICE has renewed or negotiated new detention contracts.”

The report details how local governments and private prison corporations are in talks to convert Department of Justice contracted private prisons to ICE detention centers to expand capacity.

These efforts are under way at facilities

including the announced reopening of a former Bureau of Prisons (BOP) prison in Moshannon Valley, Pennsylvania as an ICE facility, which will become the largest detention facility in the Northeast.

“The reopening of Moshannon as a privatized ICE detention facility contradicts the spirit of the Biden administration’s executive order and is at odds with its stated goal of phasing out the use of privately operated facilities and reducing reliance on immigration detention,” said Bob Libal, co-author of the report and Texas-based immigration and criminal legal reform advocate and policy analyst.

“Today, contracts with three federal agencies — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), and the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) — account for more than half of all revenue for the two largest private prison corporations — CoreCivic and GEO Group. Detention contracts incentivize the incarceration of immigrants as a money making scheme.”

“Many USMS contracts also include riders that allow ICE to use the facility for immigrant detention, which often also involve private prison companies.

These contracts should be phased out as part of the existing executive order,” added Ghandehari. “Overall, we’re seeing a pattern of detention expansion, inconsistent and disappointing implementation of the DOJ executive order, and continued reliance on immigration detention from the Biden administration

which equates to broken promises and continued human suffering. The Biden administration must reverse course now by phasing out the use of detention in the immigration system by ensuring that the executive order on private prisons is followed in both letter and spirit and by extending the order to include immigration detention.”

The report specifically calls on the Biden Administration to: •Phase out the use of immigration detention: release people from detention, cancel ICE detention contracts, decline to renew contracts, and halt all expansion efforts.

•Fully implement the executive order on DOJ privately operated prisons: allow contracts to expire and ensure they are not renegotiated as intergovernmental agreements or with ICE as immigration detention facilities.

•Extend the executive order: include ICE contracts with private prison corporations and local governments.

•Immediately cease intervention in litigation against state laws: do not interfere with communities banning the use of private prisons in California and other states.

•Cut funding for ICE detention: reduce funding by 50 percent in the President's proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2023.

•Restore access to asylum at the border: repeal MPP and end Title 42 without the use of detention. l Read the report at www.cawnyc.com

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14

JOBS & RECESSION

Goal for 2022: Become a Paralegal attorneys, opposing counsel, vendors, staff members, clients, and others. The work is varied, and each day brings new challenges.

BY THE CHAMBER COALITION

A

career as a paralegal (also known as a legal assistant) can be a wonderfully fulfilling profession. Paralegals perform legal, regulatory, and business-related research for lawyers working at their organization.

Most of the time, paralegals work for law offices, non-profits, corporations' legal departments, or courts. These professionals also provide legal support services to attorneys. They assist lawyers in filing motions, memoranda, pleadings, and briefs in various court systems and accompany lawyers to see clients and go to court. Here are five great things about being a paralegal: 1. Rise in Pay Paralegal compensation has risen steadily in the past decade. As paralegals perform a broader and more complex range of tasks (paralegals even represent clients in court in certain countries and administrative tribunals), their earnings continue to rise. The average paralegal salary hovers at around $50,000 per year, but paralegals often make more through bonuses. Overtime hours can also add significant cash to a paralegal's paycheck.

2. Explosive Employment Outlook The paralegal field is one of the fastestgrowing professions on the globe. The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, predicts the employment of paralegals and legal assistants by over 25 percent, much faster than the average for all occupations. Among the factors driving this growth is client demand for cheaper, more efficient delivery of legal services. Since hourly rates charged by attorneys are typically double or triple the rates of paralegals for the same task, law firm economics mandates the increased use of paralegals to minimize costs. As a result, a paralegal career is one of the hottest non-lawyer jobs in the legal industry.

3. Easy Career Entry Unlike lawyers who must complete seven years of formal education and pass the bar exam to practice law, you can become a paralegal in as little as a few months of study.

4. Intellectual Challenge Paralegal work is intellectually challenging and involves a range of high-level skills. The most successful paralegals are problem-solvers and innovative thinkers.

Paralegals must become subject matter experts in their specialty areas and master legal procedure, research, drafting, and other skills. They must stay on top of ever-changing laws and new legal trends and developments while interfacing with

5. Rising Prestige As paralegals perform more complex and challenging work, paralegal prestige is rising. Paralegals are no longer simply lawyer's assistants; they assume corporate management roles, leadership roles in law firms, and entrepreneurial roles in independent paralegal businesses. Over the years, paralegals have transcended the image of glorified legal secretaries to become respected legal team members.

Ready to Take the Leap?

A career as a paralegal can be rewarding professionally and personally and offers a unique opportunity to help others; options vary, depending on the paralegal's practice area. Paralegals in the public interest sector help poor and disadvantaged segments of the population with legal issues ranging from protection from domestic abuse to assistance preparing wills. Ready to take the leap, the next step? Call us at 718-722-9217 or visit www.freeparalegal.org to complete your registration which includes payment.l

Need Assistance? Call 718-722-9217.

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nHEALTH

nENTERTAINMENT

nRELATIONSHIPS

nRECIPES

Rihanna: A National Hero

nSPORTS

nHOROSCOPE

Kitchen Corner

Caribbean Jerk Stir-Fry

BY CAW EDITORIAL STAFF

I

t’s definitely, again, the Year of Rihanna. In August, Forbes reported Rihanna had become a billionaire with a net worth of $1.7 billion—a testament to the success of Rihanna's businesses Fenty Beauty and Savage x Fenty in addition to her illustrious music and acting career. As Barbados officially became a Republic on November 30, Rihanna was proclaimed a national hero by the Barbadian government and bestowed with a title, "the right excellent," as the island bade farewell to Queen Elizabeth II as head of state and celebrated becoming a republic for the first time in history. Rihanna became the 11th person in Barbadian history to be given the distinction, the first time in more than 20 years. Former cricket player Sir Garfield St. Aubrun Sobers was the last person to receive the title.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley, the first woman elected as Prime Minister of Barbados, presented Rihanna with the honor. Ironically, Rihanna was born less than a mile from where the ceremony occurred. Encouraging Rihanna to join her on stage, Mottley stated, "On behalf of a grateful nation, but an even prouder people, we, therefore, present to you the designee for national hero of Barbados, Ambassador Robyn Rihanna Fenty," the Prime Minister said. "May you continue to shine like a diamond and bring honor to your nation by your words, by your actions, and to do credit wherever you shall go. God bless you, my dear." She further congratulated the singer for "commanding the imagination of the

Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

world through the pursuit of excellence with her creativity, her discipline and above all else, her extraordinary commitment to the land of her birth."

On Wednesday, December 1, Rihanna was officially honored in a separate ceremony where she received a large medal emblazoned with the outline of Barbados and blew a kiss to the cheering crowd.

"This is a day that I will never, ever forget. It's also a day that I never saw coming," she said in a brief speech in which she encouraged the youth to continue pushing Barbados forward. "I have traveled the world and received several awards and recognitions, but nothing, nothing compares to being recognized in the soil that you grew in."

Since 2018, Rihanna has held the title of ambassador for culture and youth in Barbados, and many on the island celebrate "Rihanna Day" on February 22. It's now the Right Excellent, Robin Rihanna Fenty, Recognize. l

T

his combination of Asian stir-fry and fiery Caribbean seasoning makes sweet and spicy dish. Serve over hot cooked white rice.

By Clifford Randall Lyde AllRecipes.com Ingredients 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 green bell pepper, seeded and cubed 1 red bell pepper, seeded and cubed ¼ cup sliced sweet onions ¾ pound skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into strips 2 ½ teaspoons Caribbean jerk seasoning ½ cup plum sauce 1 tablespoon soy sauce ¼ cup chopped roasted peanuts Directions Step 1 Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir the bell pep-

per and onion in the oil until slightly tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove pepper and onion from the skillet and set aside. Add the chicken to the skillet; season with jerk seasoning; cook and stir chicken until no longer pink inside. Pour the plum sauce in with the chicken; add the bell peppers and onions; toss to combine.

Cook until the peppers and onions are heated completely, 3 to 5 minutes.

Sprinkle with soy sauce and chopped peanuts to serve.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 549 calories; protein 44.3g; carbohydrates 41g; fat 21.4g; cholesterol 103.7mg; sodium 1620.6mg. l Prep: 15 mins Cook: 20 mins Total: 35 mins Servings: 2

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16

TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE

Who’s In? Who’s Out? The Ethics of COVID-19 Travel Rules

BY NANCY S. JECKER & CAESAR ATUIRE THE CONVERSATION

O

micron, the latest COVID-19 variant dubbed a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization, has prompted new travel restrictions in many nations. Although little is known about omicron, scientists have expressed concern that it may be more transmissible or vaccine-resistant than previous variants.

On Nov. 26, 2021, the United States joined a growing list of nations banning travelers from countries in southern Africa, where the variant was first identified. The U.S. decision followed another recent change, which went into effect on Nov. 8, 2021, requiring non-citizens entering the U.S. by plane to be fully vaccinated, with limited exceptions.

Everyone entering by plane, including citizens, must provide a negative COVID-19 test.

As bioethicists based in the U.S. and Ghana, we explore the intersection of global health and ethics in our research.

In the U.S. government’s recent rules for entry, we see far-reaching consequences that should prompt policymakers to consider not just science, but ethics.

Buying time?

There are multiple arguments to support travel rules imposing bans or requiring full vaccination. U.S. policy aims to “prevent further introduction, transmission, and spread of COVID-19 into and throughout the United States,” President Joe Biden said as he introduced the vaccination requirement. He noted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “has determined that the best way to slow the spread of COVID-19, including preventing infection by the delta variant, is for individuals to get vaccinated.”

Ethically, the reason to contain the spread is to protect health and save lives.

It could be argued that a country’s first duty is to keep its own people safe.

However, many countries manage to protect their people while building in flexibility, such as by testing and quarantining visitors in lieu of travel bans or strict vaccination requirements. France, for example, tailors requirements to infection rates. It considers the U.S. an “orange” country, meaning unvaccinated Americans must show negative COVID19 tests and self-isolate for seven days.

One argument in favor of travel bans holds that they could slow the spread of the virus and buy time while scientists learn more. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government’s top infectious disease advisor, reportedly told the president it would take two weeks to have definitive answers about omicron. A travel ban gives scientists more time to assess how well existing vaccines fare against new variants, and to begin reformulating vaccines if needed.

An ethical argument for vaccine requirements is that people should be held accountable for their choices, including refusing vaccination. Yet throughout much of the world, particularly poorer regions, people cannot access vaccines.

On average, only 6% of people in lowincome countries have received a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, compared to 74% in rich countries.

Science in flux Critics of travel bans and vaccine requirements point out that such controls are hardly foolproof. There is scant evidence that travel restrictions reduce disease spread, particularly if they are not timed right and paired with other prevention strategies. Meanwhile, many studies have highlighted the negative consequences of international travel restrictions, such as xenophobia and mental health concerns.

Vaccines are currently highly effective at preventing hospitalization and death from COVID-19. But vaccinated people can still be infected and transmit the virus, although they are less likely than unvaccinated people to be contagious, and less likely to get COVID-19 in the first place. Vaccines could also become less effective if undercut by new virus variants, though it is not yet clear if omicron reduces vaccine efficacy. Finally, there is uncertainty about how long vaccine protection lasts.

Banning travelers in response to omicron is intended to keep people safe. But bans could backfire if they are seen as punitive, and could make countries less likely to share information about new continued on page 17

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17

TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE Ethics of COIVID-19 Travel continued from page 16 variants. After South Africa reported the omicron variant, its health minister said travel bans had made the country a scapegoat for a “worldwide problem,” while the foreign ministry claimed, “Excellent science should be applauded and not punished.” Targeting African countries with travel bans “attacks global solidarity,” the World Health Organization’s Africa director said in a statement.

Health and justice Travel bans and vaccine rules also raise equity concerns, given the dramatic disparity in vaccination rates across the globe. Travel restrictions disproportionately impact people from low-income nations where few vaccines are available.

It might appear that requiring vaccination for entry would not leave many people worse off, if people in poorer countries can rarely afford travel. Yet many people traveling to wealthier countries do so for jobs. Pre-pandemic, in 2019, the U.S. issued more than 900,000 work-eligible visas.

Many opponents of travel restrictions emphasize that new variants are not surprising, given how unequally vaccines have been distributed around the globe.

When nations in southern Africa protested the new travel ban, they pointed to previous warnings that the delay in rolling out vaccinations there would

increase the risk of new variants.

Equity concerns are intensified by wealthy nations’ partial responsibility for poorer nations’ difficulty accessing vaccines. Early in the pandemic, rich countries struck advance market agreements and secured as much as 500% of their predicted vaccine need, exacerbating global vaccine scarcity and bidding up prices.

Wealthy nations pledged 1.8 billion doses of vaccine to low-income nations through COVAX, a global initiative to equitably distribute vaccines. Yet only 14% of them have been delivered, according to The People’s Vaccine, an alliance calling for equal access to COVID-19 vaccines.

Some ethicists have argued that governments should hold off on vaccination requirements for international travelers until there is more universal access to

vaccines, or allow alternatives, such as testing or vaccination upon arrival. The U.S. vaccine requirement for visitors does make humanitarian exceptions for travelers from countries where fewer than 10% of people are fully vaccinated.

Still, it bars entry to people on a tourist or business visa, and citizens of many lowand middle-income nations where vaccination rates are low, but just above the bar.

Do as I say, not as I do?

The U.S. vaccination requirement also sounds hypocritical, because it does not apply to Americans. Unvaccinated citizens are allowed to reenter the country with a negative test result. Though free COVID-19 vaccines are widely available, just 58% of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated.

In addition, U.S. rules exclude unvacci-

nated foreigners from countries with far lower COVID-19 rates. The U.S. has about 210 confirmed cases per million people, but excludes unvaccinated people from countries including India (6 per million), Paraguay (8 per million), Cambodia (2 per million) and Zimbabwe (3 per million), although lack of testing may contribute to low case counts.

In our research, we argue global health can be protected by more equitable methods, like following the WHO’s recommendation to delay booster shots until 10% of people in every nation have received first shots; expanding vaccine manufacturing through waiving vaccine patents; and showing solidarity in the global distribution of vaccines by prioritizing countries with low ability to obtain vaccines.

Ultimately, the best way for wealthy nations to protect their own citizens is to vaccinate people across the globe. “If the variant shows up anywhere in the world, you can pretty much count on it being everywhere in the world,” as infectious disease specialist Michael Osterholm told the New York Times. Vaccinating more people reduces the chance of new variants appearing that are impervious to vaccines.l Nancy S. Jecker is a Professor of Bioethics and Humanities, School of Medicine, University of Washington Caesar Atuire is a Lecturer in Philosophy, University of Ghana

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HEALTH

18 mutations in the omicron variant make it very different from all other SARS-CoV2 strains, which raises questions about how it came about.

Another possible source of variants could be through animal hosts. The virus that causes COVID-19 can infect several animal species, including mink, tigers, lions, cats and dogs. In a study that is not yet peer-reviewed, an international team that I lead recently reported widespread infection by SARS-CoV-2 in free-living and captive white-tailed deer in the U.S. Therefore, we also cannot rule out the possibility that the omicron variant emerged in an animal host through rapid evolution.

Omicron/continued from page 1 CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

The omicron variant has 50 mutations overall, with 32 mutations on the spike protein alone. The spike protein – which forms protruding knobs on the outside of the SARS-CoV-2 virus – helps the virus adhere to cells so that it can gain entry. It is also the protein that all three vaccines currently available in the U.S. use to induce protective antibodies. For comparison, the delta variant has nine mutations. The larger number of mutations in the omicron variant may mean that it could be more transmissible and/or better at evading immune protection – a prospect that is very concerning.

I am a virologist who studies emerging and zoonotic viruses to better understand how new epidemic or pandemic viruses emerge. My research group has been studying various aspects of the COVID19 virus, including its spillover into animals.

Why do new SARS-CoV-2 variants continue to emerge?

While the unusually high number of mutations in the omicron variant is surprising, the emergence of yet another SARS-CoV-2 variant is not unexpected.

Through natural selection, random mutations accumulate in any virus. This process is sped up in RNA viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. If and when a set of mutations provides a survival advantage to a variant over its predecessors, the variant will out-compete all

other existing virus variants.

Does the omicron variant’s greater number of mutations mean it is more dangerous and transmissible than delta?

We simply don’t know yet. The conditions that led to the emergence of the variant are not yet clear, but what is clear is that the shear number and configuration of mutations in omicron is unusual.

One possible explanation for how viral variants with multiple mutations emerge is through prolonged infection in a patient whose immune system is suppressed – a situation that can lead to rapid viral evolution. Researchers have hypothesized that some of the earlier SARS-CoV-2 variants, such as the alpha variant, may have stemmed from a persistently infected patient. However, the unusual constellation and numerous

How the delta variant became dominant worldwide Delta is between 40% and 60% more transmissible than the alpha variant and nearly twice as transmissible as the original SARS-CoV-2 virus first identified in China. The delta variant’s heightened transmissibility is the primary reason why researchers believe it was able to out-compete other variants to become the dominant strain.

A key factor in viral fitness is its replication rate – or how quickly a virus can make more copies of itself. The delta variant replicates faster than previous SARS-CoV-2 variants, and a not-yetpeer-reviewed study estimated that it produces 1,000 times more virus particles than its predecessors.

In addition, people infected with the

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delta variant are making and shedding more virus, which is another potential mechanism for its increased ability to spread. Research suggests that a possible explanation for the delta variant’s heightened ability to replicate is that mutations in the spike protein led to more efficient binding of the spike protein to its host, via the ACE-2 receptor.

The delta variant has also acquired mutations that would allow it to evade neutralizing antibodies that serve a critical role in the body’s defense against an invading virus. This could explain why, as multiple reports have shown, the COVID-19 vaccines have been somewhat less effective against the delta variant. This combination of high transmissibility and immune evasion could help explain how the delta variant became so successful.

Studies also show that people infected with the delta variant have a higher risk of being hospitalized compared to those infected with the original SARS-CoV-2 and early variants. One particular mutation on the spike protein of the delta variant – the P681R mutation – is thought to be a key contributor to its improved ability to enter cells and to cause more severe disease.

Will omicron replace delta?

It is too early to say if the omicron variant is fitter than delta or if it will become dominant. Omicron shares some mutations with the delta variant but also possesses others that are quite different. But one of the reasons why we in the research community are particularly concerned is that the omicron variant has 10 mutations in the receptor-binding domain – the part of the spike protein that interacts with the ACE-2 receptor and mediates entry into cells – compared with just two for the delta variant.

Suppose the combination of all the mutations in omicron makes it either more transmissible or better at immune evasion than delta. In that case, we could see the spread of this variant globally.

However, it is also possible that the unusually high number of mutations could be detrimental to the virus and make it unstable.

It is highly likely that the omicron variant is not the endgame and that more SARS-CoV-2 variants will emerge. As SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread among humans, natural selection and adaptation will result in more variants that could plausibly be more transmissible than delta.

We know from influenza viruses that the process of viral adaptation never ends. Lower vaccination rates among many countries means that there are still a lot of susceptible hosts out there for the virus, and that it will continue to circulate and mutate as long as it can spread.

The emergence of the omicron variant is yet another reminder of the urgency to vaccinate to stop the further spread and evolution of SARS-CoV-2. l

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Suresh V. Kuchipudi receives funding from the U.S National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S National Science Foundation.

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HEALTH

Five Ways to Take Care of Your Mental Health This Holiday Season

stress and anxiety, and improve longterm mental wellbeing.

BY MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID

W

e all feel stressed from time to time during the holiday season – there is pressure to attend social events, give gifts, travel and more that can take a toll on one’s mental health. In fact, a poll conducted by the American Psychological Association found that nearly a quarter of Americans report feeling extreme stress during this time of year and 45% of Americans would prefer to skip the holidays entirely to avoid the associated stress.

Another study, this one from from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), found almost two-thirds (64%) of people with mental illness report the holidays make their conditions worse.

Stress or anxiety associated with holiday activities can contribute to worsening symptoms.

This year may feel especially challenging, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The loss of loved ones, financial stress from lost jobs, and feelings of anxiety because of the uncertainties associated with the pandemic – these are all impacting the way people feel.

If you feel anxious about finding a new

19

Make time for yourself. Spending time with family or friends, especially if you have not seen them in the last few years, can be overwhelming. If you need a moment to yourself, try sneaking away to a quiet room or going for an early morning walk.

Create new traditions. It may feel challenging to revert to holiday traditions from 2019, and that’s OK. Create new traditions that work for you and prioritize your mental wellbeing. “normal” this holiday season, that’s OK. It’s important that you adjust at your own pace and take care of your mental wellbeing along the way. Here are a few tips from Mental Health First Aid to help you take care of your mental health this holiday season: Focus on what you can control. The pandemic has changed a lot around us, and it’s OK if you feel anxious as a result. Control what you can to take care of your physical and mental health. If

you are nervous about travel requirements, research them in advance so you feel more prepared. If you’re feeling stressed by the media, take a digital break for a few days.

Ask for help if you need it. If you are feeling especially sad, stressed, anxious or depressed, ask for help. Talk to someone you trust, a mental health professional or a primary care physician for guidance and support.

Keep healthy habits. It’s important to keep healthy habits in place no matter your holiday plans. This may include going on a daily walk, getting a good night’s rest or staying hydrated. Taking care of your physical health can help stabilize your mood, reduce feelings of

Whether you feel excited, nervous, anxious or stressed (or all of these!) about the coming holiday season, you are not alone. By taking small actions each day, you can #BeTheDifference for yourself and make your mental wellbeing a priority.l

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20

GENERATIONS

What Happens If You Die Without a Will? executor/executrix to a position of authority to administer your final wishes, which may include instructions for your desired funeral arrangements and interment, the distribution of personal items of great sentimental but minimal monetary value, or your choice of a guardian for your young children.

Without a doubt, dying without a will robs you of your right to have a say in the settling of your affairs and creates unnecessary hardship for those closest to you, as they are left to deal with the legal technicalities on their own.

BY MARY CAMPBELL

Y

ou know you should make a will, but you never seem to be able to drum up much enthusiasm for the idea. It seems like a big, complicated pain-in-the-butt undertaking and you’re not planning on dying anytime soon anyway. You know that lawyers cost a fortune, and who knows if you really can legally use one of those online will kits?

Differing opinions abound. So, you wonder, what does happen if you don’t make a will? Can the government really take all your possessions that the bank doesn’t already own most of?

The short answer is probably not.

Unless you are truly completely alone in the world with no blood ties whatsoever, there is likely a relative somewhere that is eligible to inherit, if they can be found. In fact, British television has aired a program called Heir Hunters, which is described as “a series following the work of heir hunters, probate detectives looking for distant relatives of people who have died without making a will”. In the U.S., private investigation firms will attempt to find a potential heir, but someone presumably must hire them before they will begin to look. Of course, if the estate is large, anyone may undertake to

find lost relatives in hopes of receiving a commission for the information from a grateful heir. In the end though, it is possible that if an heir cannot be found after a reasonable length of time has passed, then yes, eventually your estate will escheat (pass) to the appropriate governing body.

However, for an average individual with no shortage of relatives in line to legally inherit your worldly goods, the application of the relevant inheritance laws certainly doesn’t mean that your estate will be distributed in a manner that you would approve of. Intestacy (the legal term for dying without a will) laws vary widely, depending on where you live. Your

spouse, for instance, may find that the laws of your state are not altogether favourable to him or her when you have children involved, perhaps from a previous marriage. Common law and same sex partners may or may not be recognized as eligible to inherit. A close relative you cannot stand the sight of may be first in line if you have no spouse or children. Read our informative website at www.willsandestates.nyc Finally, it is important to note that in addition to the disposition of your estate, regardless of the value, your will also functions as the vehicle through which you will make your final wishes known.

You will appoint a trusted

Changes in Tax Laws It can be hard to stay up-to-date on constantly changing tax laws, but it’s necessary to keep your final document in good legal standing. Especially if your will takes actions to address estate tax issues, it’s a good idea to receive periodic reviews by an attorney.

Ask for Advice A will is your ironclad way to disperse your assets to loved ones as you wish.

Don’t be afraid to ask your legal expert for advice on other moments that may benefit your last will and testament.

Remember, this document is incredibly important to keep accurate as it articulates your vision and solidifies your legacy.l

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21

LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS

Single During the Holidays? How to Stay Merry

BY SARAH O’LEARY ESTESTHERAPY.COM

R

omance and the holiday season seem to go hand in hand.

Practically every holiday movie is focused on a love story, and there are plenty of commercials depicting families and romantic partners. During the holidays, people celebrate with various types of get-togethers and celebratory parties.

Each commercial or movie can be a reminder that you don’t have a partner; and each invitation a reminder that you are going alone. The lack of a romantic partner can be painful and the feeling of loneliness gets stronger and more overwhelming.

Being single can often be overlooked and not discussed during the holidays.

People may not mention to their friends that they aren’t attending the party because they don’t have a date. The emotions of fear, shame, or loneliness are extremely painful for those without an intimate partner.

1. Don’t Turn Down Invitations Just because you don’t have a date doesn’t mean you can’t attend holiday parties! In fact, a party might be just the place to meet someone special. Even if

you don’t meet any other singles, you can still relax with friends and family and share some memories. It’s important not to let your singlehood hold you back from socializing – there’s no rule that says single people can’t have just as much fun, if not more, at holiday shindigs.

2. Focus on the Positive Rather than focusing in on what you perceive to be the negative aspects of being single during the holidays, think about the good things. For instance, when you’re single during the holidays you can attend all of the parties and celebrations that you want to go to…no missing your best friend’s dinner party because you get dragged to a boyfriend’s boring office party. You can also spend the actual holiday with your own family, with no discussion about splitting time with someone else’s family. Not buying gifts for a significant other means you can spoil your friends and family that much more!

3. Take Care of Yourself Use the holidays to build a stronger you.

Don’t tear yourself down for being single. Instead, make a conscious effort to remind yourself about your good quali-

ties and spend your free time doing things that make you physically and emotionally stronger. Take up yoga, get massages, and volunteer your time to a worthy cause. Feeling good about yourself will make you the ultimate partner when someone special does come along!

4. Laugh Off Pushy Relatives If you have a nosy aunt that is always asking when you’re going to get married, or siblings that give you a hard time about being single, make an effort to smile through it. Chances are, the quicker you assert that you’re happy and change the subject, the sooner the awkward moment will pass. If your family just can’t take a hint, tell them directly to stop asking about it. Overall, the easiest way to get through it is just to laugh it off as nosy relatives and not take it to heart.

Your family means well, it might just come out in an annoying way! Make a game of it, counting how many times someone asks you if you’re still single, and write funny texts to your friends about it to keep your mood light.

The holidays should be a happy time, whether you’re single or in a relationship. If you find yourself without a significant other during the holiday season, focus on the positive, and you can still have a blast!l Sarah O’Leary, AMFT#123449 was supervised by Nicole Asencio, PsyD, LMFT#99795. Reprinted witht the kind permission of Estes Therapy.

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22

CONVERSATIONS

How a Supreme Court Decision Limiting Access to Abortion Could Harm the Economy and Women’s Well-being

BY MICHELE GILMAN THE CONVERSATION

their lifetimes, as well as boosting college completion rates.

Not surprisingly, in a 2016 survey, 80% of women said birth control had a positive effect on their lives, including 63% reporting that it reduces stress and 56% saying it helps them to keep working.

T

he Supreme Court on Dec. 1, 2021, heard oral arguments in a case that may result in a ruling that overturns Roe v. Wade.

But reproductive health isn’t just about abortions, despite all the attention the procedures get. It’s also about access to family planning services, contraception, sex education and much else – all of which have also been under threat in recent years.

Such access lets women control the timing and size of their families so they have children when they are financially secure and emotionally ready and can finish their education and advance in the workplace. After all, having children is expensive, typically costing almost US$15,000 a year for a middle-class family. For low-income working families, child care costs alone can eat up over a third of earnings.

And that’s why providing Americans with a full range of reproductive health

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options is good for the economy, at the same time as being essential to the financial security of women and their families.

As a law professor who represents people experiencing poverty, I believe doing the opposite threatens not only the physical health of women but their economic well-being too.

The economics of contraception A Supreme Court majority acknowledged as much in 1992, stating in its Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey decision: “The ability of women to participate equally in the economic and social life of the nation has been facilitated by their ability to control their reproductive lives.”

But in recent years, the right to control their reproductive health has become increasingly illusory for many women, particularly the poor.

Given their focus on limiting access to abortion, you might assume that conservative politicians would be for policies that help women avoid unintended pregnancies. But conservative attacks on birth control are escalating, even though 99% of sexually active women of reproductive age have used some form of it such as an intrauterine device, patch or pill at least once.

In addition to its widely recognized health and autonomy benefits for women, contraception directly boosts the economy. In fact, research shows access to the pill is responsible for a third of women’s wage gains since the 1960s.

And this benefit extends to their kids.

Children born to mothers with access to family planning benefit from a 20% to 30% increase in their own incomes over

Disparities in access Still, there is a class divide in contraception access, as evidenced by disparities in the 2011 rate of unintended pregnancies – the latest data available.

While the overall rate fell to 45% that year from 51% in 2008, the figure for women living at or below the poverty line, although also decreasing, was five times that of women at the highest income level.

One reason for this disparity is the cost of birth control, particularly for the most effective, long-lasting forms. For instance, it typically costs women over $1,000 for an IUD and the procedure to insert it, amounting to about one month’s full-time pay for a minimum-wage worker lacking insurance coverage.

These costs are significant, given that the average American woman will have about two children and will thus need contraception for at least three decades of her life. Unfortunately, publicly funded family planning meets only 54% of the need, and these funding streams are under constant attack by conservatives.

Not surprisingly, health insurance makes a difference, and women with coverage are much more likely to use contraceptive care. And yet about 6.2 million women who need contraception lack insurance coverage.

Further, this coverage can be denied to millions of employees and their dependents who work for employers claiming a religious or moral objection under a Supreme Court ruling in 2020.

Sex education and the economic ladder Another key to reproductive health – and one that isn’t discussed enough – is sexual education for teenagers.

For years, the public has spent up to $110 million a year on abstinence-only programs, which not only fail to reduce teen birth rates but also reinforce gender stereotypes and are rife with misinformation. Low-income minority teens are par-

ticularly subject to these programs.

Teens without knowledge about their sexual health are more likely to get pregnant and less likely to work, spiraling them to the bottom of the economic ladder.

Access to abortion Then there’s the issue of abortion. Let’s start with the cost.

Half of women who obtain an abortion pay more than one-third of their monthly income for the procedure.

The longer a woman must wait – either because state law requires it or she needs to save up the money, or both – costs rise significantly.

Studies show that women who cannot access abortion are three times as likely to fall into poverty than women who obtained abortions.

In addition to the financial burden, many states are enacting laws designed to limit abortion access. These laws hit low-income women particularly hard.

Since Roe was decided, states have enacted 1,320 restrictions on abortion, including waiting periods, mandatory counseling sessions, and onerous restrictions on clinics. In 2021 alone, states passed 90 such laws.

Hyde and health Another way in which U.S. policy on abortions exacerbates economic inequality, especially for women of color, is through the ban on federal funding.

It has been so since the 1976 enactment of the Hyde Amendment, which prevents federal Medicaid funds from being used for abortions except in cases of rape or incest, or when the life of the mother is at risk.

Denying poor women coverage for abortion under Medicaid contributes to the unintended birth rates that are seven times as high for poor women as for high-income women.

If Roe v. Wade is overturned by the Supreme Court, poor women would be affected the most. Women who are denied abortions are more likely to end up in poverty, be unemployed and turn to public assistance.

By contrast, economists have established that the legalization of abortion led to improved educational, employment and earnings outcomes for women, as well as for their children.

Politicians cannot promise to grow the economy and simultaneously limit access to abortion, birth control and sexual education. America’s economic health and women’s reproductive health are linked. l This is an updated version of an article originally published on April 27, 2016.

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The lawyer you hire, does make a difference!

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