Caribbean National Weekly September 21, 2022

Overpriced

Florida most overvalued rental market in the U.S.

By Patrick Green

hen Jamaican Shaneeka Robinson jumped on the early Jet Blue flight from New York to South Florida in June, she expected a smooth transition into her one bedroom rental in Fort Lauderdale. She was running from the hustle and bustle in search of a better work life balance

When she reached however, it wasn't what she had expected. “The place looked good, but there was no running water in the apartment. My landlord said he couldn't rent the property anymore and that it would take weeks to fix the issue ”

With that disappointment, Shaneeka rented an Airbnb room, hoping to find something soon. Two weeks later, she got a room in someone's home for $800 00 in Plantation. It's now September, and the 27 year old is still in the one bedroom unit, trying to find an affordable home to rent

Shaneeka's story of finding affordable rentals in South Florida is not unique. The cost of rental properties in the region has gone through the roof. Earlier this year, real estate economist Ken Johnson told ABC News that “Miami metro, which is all the way up through Palm Beach County, is pricing out at roughly 30 percent above this long term pricing trip. Rental markets in Miami are roughly 22 percent above their long term premium. That makes that the most overpriced market in the country ”

In May, Bloomberg reported the findings of researchers at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and Florida Gulf Coast University, which stated that “South Florida is the most overvalued rental market in the U S ” The report said renters are “paying 22% more than they should ”

And according to WPTV, Realtor com reported last year that “the Miami Fort Lauderdale West Palm Beach area is the third fastest growing rental market in the country among metro areas ”

South Florida is the most overvalued rental market in the U.S.

TOP STORIES

Bodies of missing Guyanese men recovered

Jamaican charged in Florida for travelling to meet minor for sex

MIA wins global award for passenger experience innovation

Star athlete Chris ‘Universe Boss’ Gayle celebrates 43rd birthday

DeSantis suspends Miami Dade ofcial Joe Martinez amid corruption case

Taxes and travel, a combination affecting Caribbean tourism

Jamaican businessmen facing US extradition remanded until October 13

WHAT’S INSI

Trinidadian named IDB Caribbean GM and Jamaica Country Representative

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Cayman Islands House Speaker accused of sexua harassment

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Suicide Awareness: Increase in Suicide Rates for Black & Hispanic Adults

Grammy Award

Luis Enrique Performs in Miramar

A bevy of beaues at Shak's Sickle Cell Awareness Brunch held in Davie, FL, last Saturday. –Contributed

(Le to right) Lauderhill Commissioner Denise Grant, Lana Lindo, Ann Lee Armstrong & Allan Cunningham (standing) are all smiles at Shak's Sickle Cell Brunch held in Davie. – Contributed

Jusce Francis of the Florida Supreme Court gave her remarks at the recently held State of the Jamaican Diaspora event, in Hollywood, FL. – Contributed

Lauderdale Lakes Lauderdale Lakes Mayor Hazel Rogers (right), presents the Proclamaon to Dr Alan Cunningham (le), Global Diaspora Council Representave, as they share the moment with his wife, Judith (center) at the State of the Jamaican Diaspora funcon held in Hollywood –Contributed

Mr & Mrs Cook listened intently at the "State of the Jamaican Diaspora" address. –Contributed

Shak's Hope Brunch in Davie offered a fashion show for guests last Saturday. Here we see Nikki grace the runway. – Contributed

Naonal 400m hurdler Ristanana Bailey Cole and men's 100m sprinter Kemar Bailey Cole are expecng a baby. –Contributed

Paul & Andrea Brown organizers of the Shak's Sickle Cell Awareness Brunch held in Davie, FL, last Saturday.

Contributed

Tariq Alli

Trinidadian named IDB Caribbean

GM and Jamaica Co t y R t ti

Tariq Alli, a Trinidadian, has been named the new Inter American Development Bank (IDB) country representative for Jamaica, following his appointment as general manager of the IDB's Caribbean Country Department.

As Caribbean General Manager Alli will be responsible to fulfill IDB's mandate of prioritizing social inclusion and equality; productivity and innovation; and regional economic integration in its development work across Latin America and the Caribbean. In doing so, he will address the cross cutting issues of gender equality and diversity; climate change and environmental sustainability; and institutional capacity and the rule of law

Tariq Alli has over 20 years of extensive experience in corporate finance spanning debt capital markets, deal origination, syndication, and structuring, according to a statement from the bank. He previously held several roles including Assistant Vice President and Vice President across various indigenous financial institutions in Trinidad & Tobago

He was head of Capital Markets and assistant general managerCorporate & Investment Banking Unit at First Citizens Group Tobago before he joined the First Citizens Group in 2011. At the First Citizens Group, he held the positions of Head of Capital Markets, Assistant General ManagerCorporate & Investment Banking Unit, and, before joining the IDB, General Manager - Corporate and Investment Banking Unit where he had overall responsibility for the Unit's Private Sector, LATAM, Government of Trinidad & Tobago and Debt Capital Markets Business Units

Alli, whose appointment took effect on September 1, previously held positions including assistant vice president and vice president across various indigenous financial institutions in Trinidad and Tobago before he joined the First Citizens Group in 2011

Alli has a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of the West Indies and a master's degree in business administration from the Edinburgh Business School of Heriot Watt University in Scotland

Alli, whose appointment took effect on September 1, previously held positions including assistant vice president and vice president across various indigenous financial institutions in Trinidad and Tobago before he joined the First Citizens Group in 2011.

Guyanese Man arrested for attempting to smuggle expensive birds to the US

A man was arrested at the Cheddi Jagan airport last Wednesday for attempting to smuggle expensive birds to the United States.

The police report that the man, Dhanraj Deochand, was held as he attempted to take six finches out of the country stashed in hair curlers

The true finches are small to medium sized birds in the family Fringillidae Finches have stout conical bills adapted for eating seeds and nuts and often have colorful plumage They occupy a vast range of habitats where they are usually residents and do not migrate They have a worldwide distribution except for Australia and the polar regions The family Fringillidae contains more than two hundred species divided into fifty genera It includes species known as siskins, canaries, redpolls, serins, grosbeaks and euphonias

According to the police, there have been several attempts to get the birds out of Guyana and in many cases, the “bird traffickers” are arrested in the United States

The birds sell for as much as US$10,000 in New York where they are used in regular whistling competitions

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Cayman Islands House Speaker accused of sexual harassment

Cayman Islands Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush has been asked to step down from that position following allegations that he sexually harassed at least two women at a recent cocktail party hosted by the Tourism Ministry during a Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) conference Bush was said to be intoxicated when the incidents occurred

In a statement issued late Saturday, Premier Wayne Panton, who is in London for the Queen's funeral, said he asked Bush to resign but he intended to deal with the matter later this week at the end of the official period of mourning

“Prior to departing for London on Thursday afternoon, 15 September, I issued a strongly worded letter to the speaker suggesting that he resign on, or before, Friday, 23 September 2022 Whilst a formal written resignation has not been given, I can confirm that I received several messages from Mr Bush on Friday morning stating multiple times his intention to resign as speaker,” the premier said

Panton said he was forced to address the issue following claims made by Agriculture Minister Jay Ebanks

In an online article, the agriculture minister was credited as the person who revealed information concerning the speaker of the house

Panton noted that he had planned to wait until after Bush had submitted his written resignation to the clerk of Parliament before issuing any further statement on this matter, given that he is in London for the Queen's funeral

“As we conclude the final days of the Official Period of National Mourning, I encourage all residents to show respect and exercise restraint,” the premier said

This is not the first time that Bush has been faced with such accusations, in December 2020 he received a two month suspended jail sentence for assaulting a woman in February that year

Grenada launches spice replanting program

Grenada's Ministry of Agriculture is intensifying its efforts to increase the production of spices on the island with the launch of the Spice Replanting Program.

During the recent launch in the southeastern parish of St David, it was announced that the government wants to have 100,000 spices under production in various locations around the island

Before Hurricane Ivan in 2004, St David cultivated various spices – nutmeg, cocoa, pimento, cinnamon, nutmeg, sapote, and tonka bean, among others

However, the loss of spice plantations, coupled with poor management of existing fields, resulted in a significant decline

“This event indicates the government's serious attitude towards agriculture This will be the first official garden of this project,” said minister of state with responsibility for Agriculture and Lands, Fisheries and Cooperatives, Adrian Thomas, as he underscored the importance of starting the program in St David

“St David is the King of Spice in Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique Clove, cinnamon, sapote, clove, tonka bean, and the likes were all known to be produced in St David ”

The project will not concentrate only on the traditional and locally known spices, it will also allow for the introduction of new spices to Grenada Thomas said it is the government's responsibility to ensure that the “Isle of Spice” is retained and maintained

The Spice Replanting Program will be implemented in every parish in Grenada

Bush

Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness meets with King Charles III

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness was one of five Commonwealth Prime Ministers who met King Charles III, England's newest monarch, at Buckingham Palace on Saturday King Charles and Holness are seen shaking hands and exchanging brief words in a Royal Family YouTube video

During the meeting, Holness hailed the late Queen and expressed the sentiments of Jamaicans

“Jamaicans have a deep love and respect,” he said Other prime ministers who met with the king were Justin Trudeau of Canada, Anthony Albanese of Australia, Philip Davis of The Bahamas, and New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern Prime Minister Andrew Holness along with the island's Governor General Sir Patrick Allen are in London for Monday's funeral of Queen Elizabeth

Jamaica recognized for work in fighting HIV/AIDS

Dr Richard N Amenyah, regional director of the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), has commended Jamaica for its efforts in combating HIV/AIDS

He was speaking at the recent Health Connect Jamaica (HCJ) inaugural dinner and awards banquet

The event themed 'Celebrating Innovation and Achievement,' recognized the HCJ network's triumphs in Jamaica as well as the stakeholders who have worked to provide quick, private, and affordable access to HIV treatment and care services

For the fiscal year 2022/23, the Government is spending $1 billion on the National HIV/AIDS Response in Jamaica Project

This effort seeks to reduce AIDS related morbidity and mortality through effective biomedical and supportive interventions, as well as to reduce new HIV infections among key populations through behavioral and structural initiatives

Dr. Amenyah acknowledged the significant contribution of stakeholders of the private sector in the national HIV/AIDS response, inclusive of the members of the HCJ network

“This is cause for celebration and [augers well] for the future of the HIV response in Jamaica if we have private sector contributing like the way we have today,” he said

The HCJ network comprises private doctors, laboratories, pharmacies, and psychologists who provide clients with HIV clinical treatment and additional support services

Dr Amenyah applauded the award recipients for their professionalism, love, and care for their patients, noting that they are impacting lives

HCJ was established in October 2019, to increase access to HIV specific primary health services and is located in the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus

The condolence book at Lancaster House in London which was opened on Saturday was signed by Holness in tribute to the queen

“As I moved through the city of London and saw the streets lined with hundreds of ordinary citizens, who queued for many hours, many of whom journeyed from all over the country to pay their respects, it was clear that Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, was a profoundly beloved monarch,” Holness tweeted earlier today

“Queen Elizabeth's passing ushers in a new era for both the people of the United Kingdom and for the rest of the world, who knew only one head of the state for 70 unbroken years Her legacy is vast, and her mark on the world will be talked about long into the future,” he added

Shooting in Old Harbour leaves three dead, six injured

Three people were killed, and six others were injured in a shooting in Spring Village in Old Harbour, St Catherine, Jamaica on Sunday afternoon That's according to senior superintendent of police Christopher Phillips

It was reported that a gunman allegedly alighted from one of two cars during a football match and opened fire on the crowd, which included some employees of poultry producer Jamaica Broilers

According to reports, the gunman continued to fire at the crowd after shooting the intended target, identified as Jerome Squire, who was allegedly linked to an illegal firearm that had gone missing

The drive by shooting, carried out by men in a white Toyota Mark X and a Nissan Tiida, was described as an act of terrorism by Fitz Bailey, the Jamaica Constabulary Force's Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the crime and security portfolio, who also referred to the incident as domestic terrorism

In response to the incident, Danah Cameron, public relations and marketing manager at Jamaica Broilers, said the company was saddened by the fatal shooting

“Our condolences go out to the families of those who have experienced the loss of loved ones The matter is being investigated by the police and we trust that justice will be served,” she said in a statement

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Why the high political apathy In Jamaica?

Arecent political poll conducted in Jamaica should be cause for concern for both leading political parties in the country

The reason for concern is not the support voters have for either the governing Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) or the Opposition People's National Party (PNP), but the high percentage of apathy found among voters An astonishing 38 percent of those polled indicated they have no interest in voting in the next general election, while 17 percent suggested they were not sure if they would vote

This poll mirrors the dismal voter turnout in the 2020 general election when only 37 85 percent of voters cast votes Although that low turnout was concerning, since the election was held during the height of the covid pandemic it was assumed voters stayed home because of health concerns

However, the recent poll shows there is a real sense of political apathy in the country which is a reflection of the low esteem thousands have of politics and politicians in the country If the people have declining interest in their political leaders, then the political leaders won't get a meaningful mandate from voters to lead them, and there is the risk that policies being made by the government for the people not being accepted or appreciated

There must be serious introspection among the two parties why there is this high sense of political apathy If the policies being implemented by the ruling JLP, or the opposing policies being postulated by the PNP, were resonating with voters as much as both parties want Jamaicans to believe, there should not be this apathy among voters

This apathy leads to two crucial assumptions The first, is there is a gap between what voters are expecting from their political leaders, especially the political party in power, and what their political leaders are offering them Secondly, the political leaders, although aware of the needs of

the people, are unable, for whatever reason, to meet their demands

There is no secret one of the greatest needs by Jamaicans, including the diaspora, is for a strategy to counteract the violent crime wave currently consuming the country Almost daily the Jamaican media offer frightening and depressing reports of people being slain by acts of violence, particularly gun violence

But despite pleas from residents in those communities impacted almost daily by violent crime; despite the pleas from Jamaicans, and the Jamaican diaspora, there definitely seems to be an inability for the government, or the opposition for that matter, to put a comprehensive counter strategy in place

Violent crime has become so serious, with murders over 1,000 since January that it is a major disappointment that a meeting between the government and the Opposition, led by the leaders of both parties, has not taken place Instead, the parties are using crime as a political ball. Violent crime in Jamaica is a national crisis, not a political issue over which the parties should be trying to score points No wonder the Jamaican minister of national security is regarded in another poll as the worst performing minister

Should the parties be able to come together to put in place a consensual strategy to deal with the

violent crime wave, this could go a long way in building voter confidence in political leadership

There are several other areas that have totally turned off Jamaicans and left them totally disconnected from their political leaders These include the frequent reports of corruption among some politicians, glaring deficiencies in the areas of healthcare, unaffordable housing, high cost of living, education, crumbling infrastructure, high cost of energy, and unreliable water supply It is clear Jamaicans, especially the masses living in low income and rural communities, are tired of the persistent trend of politicians visiting their communities occasionally with glowing promises, but when elected to public office suffer from pollical dementia, forgetting the promises, and those to whom the promises were made

There is need for fundamental change among Jamaica's political parties They must reconnect with voters, must develop policies that meet the core demands of voters It is extremely dangerous to be elected to govern the entire nation with a minimal mandate If the elected party does not have a strong mandate to lead, the government it forms risks having a weak foundation in governing Moreover, if the Opposition party also cannot mobilize a mandate to replace a flailing government, the country risks being controlled by those who consider the political system irrelevant

An astonishing 38 percen of those polled indicated they have no interest in voting in the next genera election, while 17 percen suggested they were no sure if they would vote.

Haiti Police suspend all firearm licenses amidst protest

The National Police of Haiti (PNH) has suspended all firearms licenses until further notice as the country tries to combat the social unrest and growing calls for the removal of the government and Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry.

Acting PNH Director General, Frantz Elbé, in a statement, said it had “noted that a climate of tension exists in the metropolitan area and its surroundings, and in some provincial towns for several days

“As part of its mission to protect the lives and property of citizens, the PNH informs everyone that, as part of the management of this climate of unrest, all firearms licenses are suspended until further notice ”

Opposition groups as well as civil society organizations have been organizing protests and the PNH said it is urging all demonstrators to respect the limits defined by law

It said while it recognizes the right of people to make their voice heard, the police will never tolerate any attack on human life or any act of robbery and attack on human and state property

The PNH said arrangements are being put in place to allow security companies to carry out their work

Meanwhile, UNESCO and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Haiti have “strongly condemned” the murder of

The two journalists were killed by armed bandits operating in the area, while they were in full exercise of their profession

United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres Friday said he is “deeply concerned” at the current situation in Haiti where civil unrest has brought the country to a standstill

“The secretary general is particularly preoccupied with the safety of all Haitians including the most vulnerable and calls for calm and maximum restraint He urges all relevant stakeholders to take immediate

steps to de escalate the situation, avoid violence, and allow the Haitian National Police to fulfill its role to protect the population,” said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for the Secretary General

“The Secretary General reiterates his strong call for all stakeholders to rise above their differences and to engage, without further delay, in a peaceful and inclusive dialogue on a constructive way forward ”

He warned that if the current circumstances continue, the already dire humanitarian situation faced by Haiti's most vulnerable people will deteriorate even further

US urges Haitians to express their views in a peaceful manner

The United States Embassy has condemned the acts of violence, looting and destruction that have taken place in Haiti as a result of protests and has called for the country to express their views in a peaceful manner.

The recent protests in the Caribbean country comes on the heels of Haitians demanding that Prime Minister Ariel Henry step down, which was further fueled by the Minister of Communication, Emmelie Prophète's announcement that the government had increased the price of petroleum products

As such, in a statement, the US Embassy, while acknowledging that the right to gather and protest is fundamental in any democracy, cited that it remains a steadfast partner to Haiti and is also committed to supporting the Haitian people during this challenging time

But the embassy also said it chastises the acts of violence, looting, destruction, and those who have instigated the violent protests for their own means The recent protests in Haiti have forced schools and businesses, including banks, to close

Subsequently, the US is calling on all Haitians to act in a manner which is right according to the law

“We call on Haitians to express their views in a peaceful manner that respects humanitarian actors and law enforcement and allows unfettered access to Haitians in need in order to provide food, water, and medical care,” the US Embassy said

Washington stated that since December, international partners and organizations have mobilized more than US$294 million in new commitments for Haiti

However, additional support is urgently needed, including contributions to the UN Security Basket Fund recently established by Canada

“We continue to encourage Haitian interlocutors to reach agreement on an inclusive political accord that will allow elections to take place as soon as conditions permit,” the US Embassy said

journalists Tayson Latigue and Frantzsen Charles, on September 11, in Cité Soleil

“As part of its mission to protect the lives and property of citizens, the PNH informs everyone that, as part of the management of this climate of unrest, all rearms licenses are suspended until further notice.” – Elbé

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LEGALADVERTISEMENTREQUESTFOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) FOR PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES

District-Wide Facilities Upgrades, Renovations & New Construction

Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) will consider engaging one or more Program Management Support Services (PMSS) firm(s) to act as agent(s) of the School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida (Board). M-DCPS intends to hire PMSS firm(s) that will work in tandem with, and under the direction of, in-house staff on the management of projects as may be assigned by M-DCPS.

SCOPE OF SERVICES:

PMSS scope of services may include, but are not limited to, procurement of design and construction professionals (in accordance with governing state law and board policy), contractor prequalification, project scoping, scheduling, estimating and project management at the various stages (design, construction, closeout, warranty and/or related services). All services must be conducted within M-DCPS procedures, standards/guidelines, Board policies, state laws and codes. The specific services to be provided by the PMSS firm(s) will be set forth in Work Order(s) issued by M-DCPS, as it deems needed. The Board intends to hold the contracts with design professionals, construction firms, and support consultants.

The District reserves the right to identify existing employees that may be required to remain with the commissioned Project Manager, to ensure continuity of services.

The successful Project Manager shall indicate prior to commissioning, the time required to complete a transition period from the current management provider

RFQ PROPOSAL DEADLINE:

Firms or companies desiring to participate in the RFQ PMSS selection process shall respond with the entire proposal packet electronically via the e-bidding platform DemandStar All proposals must be neatly typed on 8 1/2” X 11” page size, with normal margins and spacing.

For more information on how to register on DemandStar, please refer to the instructions set forth in the attachment.

Proposal response submission to the Procurement Management Services via Demandstar on or before the stated time and date will be solely and strictly the Proposer's responsibility. M-DCPS will not in any way be responsible for delays in Proposer's submission of their proposal.

All electronic submissions are due no later than 1:00 p.m. local time, October 28, 2022 to the attention of:

Miami-Dade County Public Schools Procurement Management, Charisma Montfort, Interim Chief Procurement Officer 1450 NE 2nd Avenue, Room 650 Miami, Florida 33132 (305) 995-2364

The bid opening will take place virtually at 2:00pm via zoom. October 28, 2022 EST 2:00pm via Zoom Meeting ID: 963 8325 8347 Passcode: 978824

One tap mobile +16468769923, 96383258347 # US (New York) +13017158592, 96383258347 # US (Germantown)

The Board-approved “Procedures for Selection of Construction Management (CM), CM at-Risk & Program Management Services” (Selection Procedures) with all pertinent information, instructions and forms are available on-line at: http://solicitations.dadeschools.net/ae_solicitations/sp/CM.pdf

MANDATORY PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE:

A Mandatory Pre-proposal Conference will be held at the School Board Administration Building Auditorium, 1450 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami, Florida 33132, on September 27, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. There will be a signin period until 9:15 a.m. Potential proposers arriving after the sign-in period will not be allowed to participate in this solicitation. Due to space limitations, please limit attendance to a maximum of 1 representative per firm. Proposals submitted by firms not represented at the mandatory pre-proposal conference will not be considered.

QUESTIONS: Written questions regarding this solicitation will be accepted via e-mail as noted below under the Cone of Silence until 4:00 pm local time, Thursday, September 29, 2022. Questions and Answers (Q&As) will be posted as an addendum on DemandStar and on procurement.dadeschools.net.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Ÿ Proposers must submit in the format and with the forms prescribed in the Selection Procedures in order to be considered.

Ÿ Proposers must be authorized to do business in the State of Florida and must possess all required registrations, certifications and licenses in accordance with all applicable Florida statues, ordinance, regulations and/or Board policies, at the time of the proposal submittal.

Ÿ Proposers must have been in business for a period of no less than five (5) years.

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If the applicant is a joint venture, an executed copy of the joint venture agreement must be submitted with the application.

Percentages of participation of fees must be clearly stated for each joint venture partner

Only one RFQ response submittal will be accepted per applicant, either as a single prime firm or as part of a joint venture.

The successful firm(s) will be required to sign an agreement that contains the following insurance coverages.

Professional Liability Insurance Practice Policy with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence/annual aggregate with a deductible not to exceed $50,000;

Commercial General Liability Insurance – The minimum limits (inclusive of any amount provided by an umbrella or excess policy) shall be $1,000,000 per occurrence/annual aggregate;

◦ Automobile Liability Insurance – Such insurance shall be no more restrictive than that provided by Section II (Liability Coverage) of the most recent version of standard Business Auto Policy (ISO Form CA 00 01) without any restrictive endorsements, including coverage for liability contractually assumed, and shall cover all owned, non-owned, and hired autos used in conjunction with the performance of the contract. The minimum limits (inclusive of any amounts provided by an umbrella or excess policy) shall be $1,000,000 Each Occurrence - Bodily Injury and Property Damage; and

Workers' Compensation/Employer's Liability Insurance – Such insurance shall be no more restrictive than that provided by the Standard Workers' Compensation Policy, as filed for use in Florida by the National Board on Compensation Insurance, without restrictive endorsements. The minimum amount of coverage (inclusive of any amounts provided by an umbrella or excess policy) shall be:

Part One: “Statutory”

▪ Part Two: $100,000 Each Accident

$500,000 Disease - Policy Limit

$100,000 Disease - Each Employee

Ÿ Proposers shall comply with all applicable federal, State of Florida, local laws, and Board policies in the performance of its obligations under this RFQ and in providing the proposed services.

Any firm or individual, whose contract has been terminated by the Board, with cause, within the last three years, shall not be considered under this RFQ.

Ÿ Pursuant to Chapter 287.133(2)(a) Florida Statutes, a person or affiliate who has been placed on the convicted vendor list following a conviction for a public entity crime shall not be considered under this RFQ.

RFQ RESPONSES MUST INCLUDE (refer to the Selection Procedures):

Ÿ A brief Letter of Interest with an organizational chart clearly identifying the proposed team/functions (including staff and any sub-consultants) in response to this RFQ solicitation. The Letter of Interest shall be signed by a Principal of the firm and shall include a statement that the proposer has not divulged, discussed, or compared their proposal with any other proposer and that the proposer has not colluded with any other proposer in the preparation of their proposal in order to gain an unfair advantage in the commission of the required services.

Ÿ A separate list of sub-consultants, (FM-7550) indicating how the prime firm intends to meet the following Mandatory Small Business Enterprise/Micro Business Enterprise (SBE/MBE) and Minority/Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) subconsultant Participation Goals:

Program Management Support Services

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MANDATORY SBE/MBE SUB-CONSULTANT GOALS

15%

MANDATORY M/WBE SUB-CONSULTANT GOALS (African American, Native American, Asian American and Non-Minority Women Owned Firms ONLY)

10%

Proposers shall submit a detailed proposed approach to schedule control, cost control and contract compliance to successfully achieve the proposed projects/assignments under tab “O” of the RFQ response.

Related Project Experience Form (FM-6686) one form for each contract submitted

Proposed Staff Form (FM-6687) one form for each staff member submitted

Ÿ Company Summary Form (FM-7416)

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Local Vendor Affidavit of Eligibility (FM-7138), if applicable (refer to Board policies, below)

FM 7516 Project Reference Form

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FM 7553 CMR - List of Sub-Consultants

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FM 7685 Related Contract Experience Form (A.3)

Failure to comply with any requirements in this solicitation and Selection Procedures may disqualify proposals from consideration. M-DCPS reserves the right to request clarification of information submitted and to request additional information of one or more proposers, utilize an alternate delivery method (with or without PMSS services) to accomplish the requested work, waive any formalities and, in the best interest of the Board, accept or reject any or all proposals.

BOARD POLICIES:

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

◦ All written communications must be sent to and a copy filed with the Clerk of the School Board at (or at 1450cmontfort@dadeschools.net, Dllopiz@dadeschools.net and celiarubio@dadeschools.net NE 2nd Avenue, Room 311 Miami, Florida 33132), who shall make copies available to the public upon request.

Lobbyists, pursuant to Board Policy 8150, shall be applicable to this solicitation and all proposers and lobbyists shall strictly conform to, and be governed by, the requirements set forth therein.

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Ÿ Local-Vendor Preference, pursuant to Board Policy 6320.05, shall apply to this solicitation. Based on Board policy, “Local business means the vendor has a valid business license, issued in Miami-Dade County, with its headquarters, manufacturing facility, or locally-owned franchise located within the legal boundaries of Miami-Dade County for at least 12 months (or having a street address for at least 24 months), prior to the bid or proposal opening date...” Proposers claiming local-vendor preference for this RFQ must submit a Local-Vendor Affidavit of Eligibility with their RFQ proposal. Proposers who fail to comply with this requirement will not be considered for local-vendor preference.

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

These, and all related Board policies, can be accessed and downloaded at: https://go.boarddocs.com/fl/sbmd/Board.nsf/Public?open&id=welcome

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Proposers responding to this solicitation shall comply with the following ethics, conflict of interest and anti-fraud policies:

▪ Board Policy 6460, Business Code of Ethics;

▪ Board Policy 6460, Disclosure of Employment of Former School Board Employees; Board Policy 8700, Anti-Fraud

▪ Board Policy 6465 Commercial Anti-Discrimination in Business Operations and Practices

▪ Board Policy 6320.06; Diversity, Equity, and inclusion in Business Operations and Practices

▪ Board Policy 6320.02 Small/Micro, Minority/Women and Veteran Business Enterprise Programs, and

▪ all related Board policies and procedures, as applicable

Ÿ

Pursuant to Board Policy 6320.04, Contractor Debarment Procedures, debarred contractors are excluded from conducting business with the Board as agents, representatives, partners, and associates of other contractors, subcontractors or individual sureties.

Ÿ

Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed and in the manner specified in Board Policy 6320 (Purchase Approval and Competitive Bidding Process Requirements) or in accordance with FS Section 120.57(3) shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under FS Chapter 120.

Ÿ The District shall resort to the use of race-conscious and gender-conscious means for addressing disparities only when it is apparent that the use of neutral means alone will likely be insufficient to remedy the effects of identified discrimination. The determination of when to use race-conscious measures will be made on a project-by-project or contract-by-contract basis.

Ÿ

SMALL/MICRO, MINORITY/WOMEN, AND VETERAN BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAMS

The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida, has a strong commitment to participation by businesses certified by the M-DCPS Office of Economic Opportunity, as part of all District contracting. The School Board has active certification programs to increase contracting opportunities for local businesses. Pursuant to School Board Policy 6320.02, the Goal Setting Committee may apply scoring incentives and/or other affirmative procurement initiatives for firms responding to this solicitation.

The application may be accessed through the following link: https://miamidadeschools.diversitycompliance.com/FrontEnd/StartCertification.asp?TN=miamidadeschools&XID=8687

All certifications must be completed online using the following link: http://oeo.dadeschools.net/certification.asp

Furthermore, vendors certified as a small/micro, minority/women, veteran and/or other qualifying certifications with any entity or agency other than The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida, should contact the OEO. Proposers with certifications from other entities or agencies must contact the OEO for additional information on the M-DCPS shortened interlocal certification agreement.

A current list of certified firms can be found online at: https://miamidadeschools.diversitycompliance.com/FrontEnd/SearchCertifiedDirectory.asp?https://miamidadeschools.diversitycompliance.com/FrontEnd/SearchCertifiedDirectory.asp?TN=miamidadeschools&XID =9602

All vendors must comply with Board Policy 6320.02 and the procedures described in the OEO Administrative Procedures Manual in effect at the time the vendors enters into an agreement with the Board. All vendors will be required to submit a monthly compliance report via the M-DCPS Online Diversity Compliance System for compliance with use of certified subcontractors and/or any affirmative procurement initiatives. All vendors will be required to submit monthly compliance reports online at: http://miamidadeschools.diversitycompliance.com. Please contact the Office of Economic Opportunity at 305 995-1307 or via email at OEO@dadeschools.net for additional information on getting certified and/or submittal of the monthly compliance reports. This needs to be replaced with the goals set by the GSC committee for this procurement

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

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

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

ATTACHMENT – DEMANDSTAR REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS

To register for free as a vendor in the DemandStar Platform, you must complete the registration form.

1. Navigate to the DemandStar page by going to: https://www.demandstar.com/app/registration.

2. On the Get Started! Create your free DemandStar account page, fill in your E-mail address and your Company Name

3. Read and accept the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

4. Choose your Free Agency: Please type Miami-Dade County Public Schools and select it, click next.

5. Input your Company Contact Information and click Submit.

6. Input your Contact Information and click Submit.

7. An email will be sent for you to confirm your account.

8. If you need further assistance, please contact DemandStar Support at support@demandstar.com or call (206) 940-0305

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

student wins

Son of a terrorist denied entry into Trinidad and Tobago

The Barbados based CTO said in her winning presentation on Experiential Tourism, Brathwaite articulately outlined three strategies that would help Tobago meet the growing demand of the millennials and Generation X market

Brathwaite pointed to immersive museums, digital marketing of user generated content, and augmented reality tours as initiatives that could further market Tobago and enhance visitor experience

“I'm still in a daze because I still can't believe it When I heard my name called as the winner, I literally wanted to melt away,” said an emotional Brathwaite

“It was a lot but I know that I put in a lot of hard work I know that my teachers were continually there, and my family was always supporting me regardless of the time and circumstance ”

Tobago's Tourism and Culture Secretary, Tashia Burris, said she was “absolutely elated” by her island's success at the Youth Congress

“We certainly see this as a demonstration that our programs in the education system are working,” Burris said, adding “ we are trying to invigorate our island post COVID and one of the strategies we ' re using is to really start with the young people and I'm happy to see this bear fruit ”

Seventeen year old Marika Baptiste of St Vincent and the Grenadines placed second while 16 year old Kelvin Archer of The Bahamas was third

A 17 year old American was denied entry into Trinidad and Tobago to visit his Trinidadian mom because his father and brother are currently listed as terrorists in the US and Trinidad.

High Court Judge Justice Ricky Rahim dismissed the application to have the court review a decision by the immigration department to issue a rejection notice without a special inquiry Attorneys for the teen also sought an interim application to compel the chief immigration officer to hold the inquiry

The US family court had given the teenager permission to visit his mother for two months

In his ruling, Justice Rahim said the teenager had the opportunity to let the

immigration officer know he wanted to challenge the rejection notice since the procedure is set out on the order He said if he had done so, it would have led to the special inquiry he wanted and also given him an opportunity to provide further proof he was entitled to enter the country

But on Friday, Justice Rahim said it was in the teen's interest that the “ process of return not be unreasonably delayed so that the trauma of the event may be brought to an end sooner (rather) than later ”

He also suggested the immigration division allows the boy a supervised visit with his mother before he leaves the island, even as he agreed that the teenager had not successfully argued he was a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago by descent

The judge also made reference to the boy's travel to Syria at the age of seven and the “not so subtle inference that he is also trained in or participated in warfare and terrorism,” even as

he maintained that this had no bearing on the denial of entry

“As far as the court is concerned, the relevance of the information lies more with the hardship and indescribable long lasting trauma that the minor must have endured having been plucked from normal living at the age of seven and placed in a country ravaged by a war in which he may have been made to participate

The court heard that the boy had traveled to Syria with his father and siblings in 2015, aged seven, and when the father and an older brother were captured in 2019, they were returned to the US, where the latter two were convicted and jailed

The teenager was put in foster care and his mother was deported to Trinidad and Tobago

Six killed during a robbery in south Trinidad

BySantanaSalmonCNWReporter

Police said two security officers attached to the firm, Allied Security Limited, were killed when the bandits fired on them after they had picked up the sales money at Pennywise Super Centre

The authorities said that armed gunmen fired several rounds of gunfire into the security van, killing the two security officers at the scene, while the other, a female, had been taken to the

Police later engaged the four bandits who were killed during an exchange of gunfire A fifth suspect is in custody while another suspect is

being sought

The authorities have not yet indicated if any of the sales money stolen had been recovered

The robbery forced the store’s management to close the building with shoppers and staff inside awaiting the arrival of police officers

Head of the Southern Police Division Snr Superintendent, Richard Smith, confirmed that four of the suspected bandits were killed by police inside a house

He said the bandits had abandoned their initial getaway car and robbed a passing motorist of his vehicle

Acting Commissioner of Police McDonald Jacob in a television interview on Monday night said three AR 15 firearms and one pistol were recovered following the shootout with the bandits

J'nae Brathwaite a 17-year-old student at Signal Hill Secondary School in Tobago has won the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Tourism Youth Congress which was held in the Cayman Islands on Thursday

Six people were killed, including four by police following a daring heist at a major store in La Romaine, Trinidad late Monday, September 20

San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) Their names have not yet been released

A primary school child was also grazed on the face by a bullet during the rapid gunfire and was treated at the hospital

Jacob

Increase in Suicide Rates for

By Robin Schupper, PsyD, Licensed Psychologist

In July of this year, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline was launched Since it was activated, there has been an increase in recorded calls to crisis lines of 45 percent This may be at least partly due to the fact that the previous crisis line contact number was far lengthier

The pandemic has no doubt been another major factor in the increase in calls Yet, the number of those in distress has been growing steadily for far longer than COVID 19 has been a global issue According to the U S News & World Report, between 2000 and 2018, suicides in America increased 30 percent, but declined in both 2019 and 2020

Despite the decline, the American Psychological Association (APA) reports that suicide is the second leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 10 and 34 Of note is that the highest rate of suicide is among those who are 85 years or older Moreover, there is an alarming rise in suicide risk among Hispanic and Black adults A study published in the journal, Psychological Medicine in September indicated that ethnic minorities are less likely to share suicidal thoughts and more likely to report suicide attempts than white adults Hispanic and Black adults are also far less open to seeking mental health services

Although women are far more likely to attempt suicide, men are significantly more likely to end their lives In part, this is because they use more lethal means, particularly firearms According to the Centers for Disease Control, almost 70 percent of suicide deaths in 2020 were of white adult males, and over 50 percent of suicide deaths that year involved

guns

Children and teens have a lower risk of suicide compared with adults In a 2019 survey of students in ninth through twelfth grades, however, about nine percent acknowledged having attempted suicide at least once in the past year Females were nearly twice as likely as males to report suicide attempts American Indian and Alaska Native teens had the highest rate of all those surveyed at over 25 percent

While certain individuals are at increased risk for suicide, it is important to remember that anyone can be vulnerable The best way to determine if someone is feeling depressed and having thoughts of suicide is to ask them Contrary to widespread belief, you will not be planting the idea in someone's head if they have not been thinking about it You may instead help them talk about emotional pain they have not felt comfortable sharing

If you know someone who is experiencing loneliness, hopelessness, or helplessness, starting a conversation about their feelings and whether they are thinking of killing or harming themself could help to save their life If you are uncomfortable with starting a conversation about this topic or do not know what to say,

seizetheawkward org

The next step is to connect those who are struggling emotionally with mental health resources If you or someone you know needs help, you may call 988, 211, or the Veterans Crisis Line, or text HOME to 741741 for the crisistextline org You may also want to check out warning signs for suicide as well as the site

recent study, over 99 percent of callers to a crisis line reported it was beneficial

LEISURE

Sudoku Crossword Puzzle Across Down

But what is causing the rental cost to skyrocket? The answer lies in the basic economic principle that prices will increase when demand is more than supply And when prices rise, consumers are forced to demand alternatives which also increase prices if there is less supply for the alternative

There is an influx of national and international migration to the area, and these people need housing. This demand has increased the price of homes in the area because the housing inventory is low The higher prices cause homebuyers to demand more rental units as alternatives, and with less supply of such housing solutions, rental prices hit the roof

People move to Florida because of the beautiful weather, cultural diversity, lower cost of living, and zero income tax policy The New York Post reports that “21,546 New Yorkers swapped their driver's license for the Sunshine State” for the first four months of this year This is a 12 percent increase over 2021 figures for the same period 61,728 New Yorkers moved to Florida in 2021

Florida was also the final destination for 38,590 immigrants, according to data from The Census Bureau, reported Florida Politics

Another factor that keeps housing solutions high is the impact of real estate investors These buyers don't usually live in the home purchased They just buy, fix and sell/rent, being quite aware that they can set high prices to satisfy the market demand

The impact of the Airbnb business has also pushed down rental inventory, causing a supply problem

Apartmentlist com reports that Miami rental prices have increased 66 percent from last year's rates, where a one bedroom runs for $2,700 If you need two bedrooms, expect to

pay around $3,600

In Fort Lauderdale, rentals have increased by 41 percent year over year A one bedroom could set you back $1,975, and a two bedroom goes for $3,024

Realtor Andre Barrett who has been in the business for 20 years, believes the current rental challenge will continue for another 24 to 36 months “Rentals are based on supply and demand Currently, the supply is very short, and the demand is very high It is strictly a supply and demand issue, and I see nothing on the horizon that will affect the supply side in the near future,” he indicated

He has not done a lot of rentals in recent times because of the current market conditions “It is a very competitive market, and we have to ensure that we pre qualify the clients we invest our time in to secure a property It is getting increasingly difficult with time,” he told CNW

With the market being in the hands of property owners, they have the power to decide who qualifies to rent their property Barrett said in some cases, landlords are accepting the highest down payment over the standard minimum renters are used to “There are property owners who will accept up to six months' rent up front as a qualifier to rent their homes And in some cases, it is the prospective renter who is making the offer Not many people can afford several months' rent as an advance payment, but there are some out there who can When a landlord sees up to 50 offers, it is the best one that wins,” he said

But with this trend expected to continue over the next three years, according to most experts, how what can realtors say to their clients?

Barrett said he explains the market conditions and how an offer has to be presented to be accepted “We explain the

reality of the South Florida rental market and how an offer has to be structured ” He also tries to gather intelligence from the renter's agent “How many offers and showings have they had? What is important to the landlord? This is trying to gauge the overall climate of the situation ”

The Barret Group CEO believes for this situation to end, it will need more inventory in the system “We need more apartment complexes and more funding for housing programs to keep rents low for some time The bottom line is more inventory ”

Special Services

For renters facing hardships and eviction, there may be resources at the county and city governments to help

The county of Palm Beach community service program is still accepting applications but is temporarily closed due to the “high volume of applications,” according to the website www rentalassistancepbc org/ The portal will reopen on October 3, 2022

In Broward County, rental assistance is available from the Broward Emergency Rental Assistance Program In May, the county received $22 million in federal funding to assist persons behind in rent or unable to pay

Cities in Broward with specific rental assistance programs include:

Lauderhill and Lauderdale Lakes

If you live in Miami Dade, the city of Hialeah has two programs to help:

The Housing Assistance Network of Dade (HAND) Program is one of several communities to receive the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) The funds help individuals and families impacted by the COVID 19 public health emergency The city

also has an Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) to help individuals

The county of Miami Dade has two programs that offer assistance to renters:

The Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program was closed on August 8 due to available funds, but they have applied for more funding

The county is accepting applications for its Emergency Rental Program 2 4 (ERAP 2 4) Be mindful that there are requirements to get help from these programs, and assistance is given as long as funding is available The Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) offers advice and help on its website if you face eviction

Grammy Award Winner

Luis Enrique Performs in Miramar

Toots Hibbert's daughter Jenieve Hibbert triumphs at concert launch of new album

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the City of Miramar has a series of events planned to spotlight the various aspects of the Latin and Hispanic cultures from September 15 through October 15.

A kick off event will be held Thursday, September 15 from 4:00 p m to 7:00 p m at Juana's Latin Sports Bar, located at 11602 City Hall Promenade, Miramar, FL 33025, to announce the various activities planned for the month

The city's signature event for Hispanic Heritage Month, the Latin Music Festival took place on Saturday, September 17, 2022, at the beautiful amphitheater at Miramar Regional Park. It was a free outdoor concert event headlined by Latin Grammy Award winner, Luis Enrique

Other events planned will cater to health and fitness enthusiasts, business owners and families, and there will be indoor concerts and an art exhibit on display at the Miramar Cultural Center The City of Miramar is one of the most diverse communities in South Florida with approximately 37 percent of the population being of Hispanic heritage

“Diversity is one of our greatest strengths here in Miramar and Hispanic Heritage Month is definitely a time to celebrate Hispanics and the role that Hispanics have played in our country's history and vibrant culture as a whole,” stated Vice Mayor Yvette Colbourne

Celebrate with the City of Miramar at one (or all) of the events shown:

The concert was held Saturday August 27 before a large and enthusiastic audience at Deeper Life World Outreach Ministries in Valley Stream, Long Island, New York

Following opening acts by solo artiste Ryan Berry and the gospel group Driven Praise, Hibbert took to the stage at approximately 10:00 p m and for just over an hour, holding the capacity crowd's complete attention as she performed several songs from her repertoire in general and from the album in particular, including I'm Blessed, A Song for The Free and Jesus on Your Side

Her rendition of the song Hallelujah on which she worked extensively with her father before his passing in 2020, and which features strains of his popular hits Bam Bam and 54 46 - was especially well received, with the audience eagerly singing along with Hibbert for much of the performance

The night was the culmination of a particularly hectic week for Hibbert and was nearly marred by family tragedy just days prior to her taking the stage

After rousing and widely acclaimed performances at the Jamaican Consulate's Diamond Jubilee Independence Ball at the Marriott Marquis Hotel on Saturday August 20 - and at the official press launch of the Jamaican Music Experience and True Tribute Awards in Queens on Tuesday August 23, Hibbert was blindsided by disturbing news that she received on Wednesday evening, three days before her launch

A packed bus carrying a large contingent of her family and friends back to New York from a church trip to Canada was run off the road near Buffalo and overturned into a deep precipice, injuring many of its passengers

Although no fatalities occurred, several members of Hibbert's family were seriously injured and consequently, she was told, would not be able to attend her launch concert

Best Friend For Life is dedicated to Toots Hibbert, who mentored Jenieve and her sisters, Leba and Melanie from an early age, eventually forming them into his backup vocal group, 54 46 They toured the world with the senior Hibbert for many years starting when Jenieve was in her mid teens

“My dad would be so proud,” these are the words of gospel artiste Jenieve Hibbert, the daughter of Grammy Award winning reggae legend Toots Hibbert, following her triumphant performance at the recently held concert to celebrate the launch of her first solo album, Best Friend For Life

Reggae Boyz Coach Heimir Hallgrimsson recalls Andre Blake

Looks to hit ground running in friendly with Argentina

New Reggae Boyz head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson has recalled captain Andre Blake to the Jamaican squad to face Argentina in a friendly international at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, on September 27.

Blake, the outstanding goalkeeper of the Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer, was omitted from the squad after he made a social media posting criticizing the competence of Jamaica Football Federation operatives

The Icelandic coach, who was unveiled at a press conference at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Friday, revealed that he had contacted the player after seeing news of the “embarrassing” episode

“I hope we can start with everyone with a clean slate This is not only an exciting project, but I know all projects have their problems from the past, but I hope all the things that have happened from the past are in the past. I hope when we start, we don't take problems from the past to the present,” Hallgrimsson told the media

“Now in the press there is a lot written about Andre Blake, the captain of the team For me it's in the best case scenario a little bit

West

West Indies Women suffered a narrow defeat in the opening of the One Day International on Monday, to fall behind in the three match series at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground

In a rain marred contest reduced to 35 overs per side due to protracted delay at the start, West Indies Women gathered 168 for seven with Chinelle Henry top scoring with 44 batting at number seven and Kyshona Knight hitting 36

In reply, Player of the Match Suzie Bates top scored with 51 from 65 deliveries while Amelia Kerr chipped in with an important 47

to

pool and be brave and start from day one and we decided to do this,” he said

He added: “But I totally admit that I don't know that much about Jamaica's football yet but for sure I will try to do my best to know a lot more next time ”

He said he decided to start working and the first thing was to select a squad, for which he had good help from the technical staff The criteria for the group in the first camp was to try to have the players playing at the highest level start to look at them

The third ranked Argentina, unbeaten in more than 30 games, will be led by the inspirational Leo Messi, playing against the 64th ranked Jamaica, and Hallgrimsson says he's seen more quality strikers in the Jamaican pool of players than defenders

“It's a great opportunity because they will expose all of our weaknesses, especially defensive weaknesses,” he said

Next year will be huge for the national team starting with the Nations League match against Mexico and then next summer in the Gold Cup

CNW Network understands that the Reggae Boyz could next be in action in Africa to oppose Cameroon ahead of the African team's departure to the Qatar World Cup Finals The match may not be played during the FIFA Window

in

opener

Off-spinning all-rounder and captain Hayley Matthews captured three for 28 but when bad light ended play abruptly, the visitors were 159 for five off 33 overs – five runs ahead on Duckworth Lewis Stern

Sent in, West Indies Women made a steady start through the recalled Natasha McLean (20) and Rashada Williams (19) who put on 29 for the first wicket

However, once the partnership was broken, the home side lost five wickets for 45 runs to collapse to 74 for five in the 21st over, before Henry and Knight patched up the innings with an 83 run, sixth wicket stand

Henry faced 34 balls and struck four fours while Knight played the supporting role in a 61 ball knock which included a single four

In reply, Bates anchored two key stands up front to put New Zealand in control of the chase First, she put on 54 for the first wicket with captain Sophie Devine who made 25 from 24 balls, before adding a further 47 for the second wicket with Kerr

Bates counted half dozen fours in a 65 ball stay at the crease before falling in the 21st over while Kerr faced 67 deliveries and lashed four fours in posting another 31 for the third wicket with Maddy Green (18)

A collapse where three wickets tumbled for 18 runs made the finish interesting before bad light became the ultimate factor

embarrassing, but I can tell you here we had a talk, the case is settled, he's in the squad and hopefully me as a coach can start this cooperation with the captain in the team ”

Though fairly new to his four year job as

head coach of the team, Hallgrimsson says he made the decision to start right away instead of watching the game from the stands

“I had to take a decision maybe to sit in the stands and watch the game or just jump in the

Kazim Richards

“Probably, we will be defending more or less, most of the game so it's really a good chance to see where we are when we compare to the best in the world.”

Hallgrimsson