Caribbean National Weekly April 6, 2023

Floridians will be able to carry concealed guns without a permit

Floridians will be able to carry concealed guns without a permit under a bill Governor Ron DeSantis signed Monday, giving the governor another legislative victory

The governor signed the bill in a private ceremony in his office His only immediate public comment was, “Constitutional Carry is in the books,” which he reportedly said in a threeparagraph news release

The new law will allow anyone who can

legally own a gun in Florida to carry one without a permit. It means training and a background check will not be required to carry concealed guns in public. It takes effect July 1

A concealed weapon is any deadly weapon, including a firearm, carried on or about a person hidden from the ordinary view of another person

Nearly 3 million Floridians have a concealed weapons permit While a background check and three-day waiting period will still be required to

continues on B3 – Gun Law Passed

Sha’Carri, Briana to face off at Miramar Invitational

The City of Miramar, in partnership with TC Track Management, announced that The Miramar Invitational at the Ansin Sports Complex, presented by The Ansin Foundation will be held on Saturday, April 8, 2023

The press and public are invited to this USATFsanctioned Track & Field event that will feature several international athletes Some of the star athletes who will be competing in the event include:

Ackeem Blake – Jamaica NACAC 100m sprint –gold record champion 2022

Sha’Carri Richardson – 100m sprint- 10 72s 6th fastest woman of all time – 2021

WHAT’S INS

Fraser McConnell signs with Lewis Hamilton’s Extrem E Team

Irregular heartbeat?

Twanisha “Tee Tee” Terry – 100m dash – Set

Meet record in Italy – 2022

Briana Williams – 100m sprint 10 97s Jamaica –2021 Tia Clayton – 100m who ran 10 90s – Women’s 4x100m relay NWR of 42 59 – 2022

Christian Coleman – a former world 100m champion 9 76s – 6th fastest man of all time

Trayvon Bromell – 9 82s, a new NCAA record 100m record

Other athletes participating in the event includ Shericka Jackson, the World’s 200m champion an Ajee Wilson, many times American champion an many times world medalist in 800m

continues on C4 – Miramar Invitational

KC romps home 34th title, Hydel snatches rst on dramatic last day at Champs 2023

Bobby

Commissioners

Jamaican star rallycross driver signs deal with Lewis

X44 Team

he only Jamaican driver in the sport, McConnell fits in l with Hamilton’s X44 team. Hamilton is adamant t playing a strong role in adding diversity to orsports, and is a committed anti-racist activist

n 2020, he launched the X44 team to compete in Extreme E, an allc SUV, off-road racing series The team finished in second place at the ural Extreme E championship, and became the first winner of the me E Sustainability Award in 2022

cConnell is 24-years-old and goes by the nickname Frazzz He was n Bog Walk in St Catherine, Jamaica into one of the island’s most inent farming and manufacturing families, most widely known for r Tru Juice brand At the age of eight, he started karting, motocross, d rally, achieving significant success in his junior career and receiving he title of Jamaican Driver of the Year twice When he was 16-yearsold, McConnell also won at Dover Rack Track, Jamaica’s national competitive venue

Today, McConnell has skyrocketed to fame as the most competitively successful Jamaican driver in the history of internaal rallycross racing

n 2018, McConnell recorded the fastest-out-of-the-box time in his first and went on to win all of his heats By 2019, he won the ARX2 pionship and American Rallycross Championship Then in 2021, he he RallyX Nordic competition Early this year, in February 2023, nnell won his second qualifying event in Calgary, Canada, at pede Park. He currently competes in the Group E class for Dreyer & old

he race car driver carries his Jamaican pride with him across the , donning his country’s flag at every opportunity He also has a strong ase, with some following him around the world at his competitions, g their Jamaican flag from the stands, as well

cConnell has been recognized by Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew ss, has been named Jamaica’s RJR Gleaner National Sportsman of ar Awards, been given the People’s Choice Award and RJR Gleaner nal Sportsman of the Year Awards, and received the award for Athlete Year for Motorsport

Jamaica moves closer to cashless society with MyCash digital wallet

Jamaica is steadily moving closer to becoming a cashless society with the recent official launch of MyCash, a digital wallet by Paymaster

Minister of Science, Energy, and Technology Daryl Vaz hailed the newly confirmed FinTech organization for providing another option for accessing digital financial services

“All Jamaicans need and deserve access to digital financial services to do business, make their everyday lives easier, and contribute to the local economy Congratulations to Paymaster and Digicel on this milestone,” he said

MyCash received the all-clear signal from the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) recently, after completing a mandatory pilot period in the BOJ’s FinTech Regulatory Sandbox

Like other digital wallets, MyCash allows for better financial management by enabling users to keep coupons, cards, and IDs easily accessible in one place

It also facilitates contactless checkout and improves citizens’ economic security by minimizing theft and reducing the need to travel with cards or cash

Individuals can manage their money securely and efficiently anywhere using the

application on a mobile device with an Internet connection, and it secures the user ’ s information

Minister Vaz describes the technology as “ a world-class product that meets local and international standards ”

He reiterated that his ministry is reviewing the Cybercrimes Act and continues to progress towards fully implementing the Data Protection Act, 2020, to protect users of technology such as this

The application is available for download on the Apple and Google Play Stores

New network aims to save migrant lives in the Caribbean

The United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) says a new UN-backed network aims to drive action to save migrant lives in the Americas, including the Caribbean

“Thousands searching for a better life meet their death crossing deserts, rivers, and remote areas in the region,” said the IOM in a statement, adding that its Missing Migrants Project documented 1,433 deaths last year – the highest number since its establishment in 2014

The project is run by the UN agency ’ s Global Data Institute (GDI), which last week launched the first Network on Missing Migrants in the Americas

“The objective is to save lives, improve data collection and support the families of survivors,” IOM said

“When people have access to safe and regular migration pathways, that increases the likelihood that they can contribute to economic prosperity at home and in their places of destination,” said GDI Director Koko Warner

She added that a lack of these regular pathways “often has tragic results and is a lost opportunity ”

The IOM said the network connects civil society organizations, government institutions, journalists, and other key actors

Although the exact number of those who die transiting through the region is unknown, at least 7,495 people lost their lives between 2014 and 2022, according to Missing Migrants Project data

The IOM said the new network will also work to strengthen national and regional capacities for the collection and exchange of data on migrant deaths and disappearances

Actions will include issuing recommendations to try and prevent these deaths and disappearances, searching for and identifying the deceased, and providing support and reparation to their families, the IOM said

“It will also facilitate the creation of strategic alliances among participants by conducting joint investigations, among other

measures,” it said

The launching of the network comes as immigrant advocates in New York have described as “unfathomably cruel” a plan by the United States and Canada to limit the entry of Caribbean and other asylum seekers at their borders

This came after reports of asylum entering Canada via unofficial points o

such as Roxham Road along the northern border of the United States

The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), an umbrella policy and advocacy organization that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York, strongly denounced this decision, stating that it “recklessly endangers the lives of asylum seekers,” while demanding expanded protections for asylum seekers

“Asylum seekers flee violent conditions to build better futures for themselves and their families,” Murad Awawdeh, NYIC executive director, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC)

“They undergo extreme journeys across thousands of miles in search of safety and relief

“To now restrict the movement of asylum seekers is to recklessly endanger their lives,” he

Vaz Awawdeh

Caribbean tourism industry leading region’s recovery

but still faces formidable challenges – CHTA Survey

The Caribbean tourism industry continues to lead the region’s economic recovery but faces formidable challenges, according to the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA)

Releasing the results of its annual tourism industry performance and outlook survey on Wednesday, CHTA President Nicola Madden-Greig reported that the pace of the tourism industry recovery may be threatened by rising operating costs, labor shortages, increasing airfares, global competition, economic uncertainty, and pressures from some governments to increase taxes

“Despite these challenges, the industry remains bullish about the future of tourism in the Caribbean,” she said, while underscoring the importance of public-private sector collaboration to address challenges like stimulating greater intra-regional travel

“While we’ve turned the pandemic corner, we ’ re not out of the woods yet Many businesses are still climbing out of massive debts and facing global competitive pressures on price increases Now is not the time to increase taxes as we are hearing from several countries,” added the CHTA leader, who stressed that “addressing our looming labor shortages, climate change and strengthening linkages between tourism and other areas of our economies are critically important ”

The February 2023 survey included just under 100 businesses, with 77 percent representing the accommodations sector and the remaining 23 percent from other tourism-related sectors such as attractions, tour operators and restaurants

The respondents identified the top issues affecting their businesses, including airlift cost and availability, taxes and duties, labor

shortages, crime and safety, and poor infrastructure, among others The industry is also facing challenges from environmental degradation, such as climate change, sargassum, and waste management, which were among the most frequently cited issues

The survey revealed that companies are forgoing higher profits and plowing returns into covering debt incurred during the pandemic and investing in product improvements as capital expenditures soar Pressures are growing to limit rate increases as global competition intensifies and labor and operating costs rise

The non-accommodation tourism sector performance mostly parallels the accommodations sector However, it expects to hire at a

US urges travelers to get ready for spring season arrivals in the Caribbean

ByCMCNews

The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operations in the Caribbean has issued a public recommendation for travelers as an increase in the number of international arrivals is expected to start this weekend as part of the spring travel season.

“With the arrival of spring, and numerous travel experiences across the Caribbean, there is an anticipated increment in the number of international arrivals to its airports, as well as private vessel entries traversing the islands in the West Indies into the United States,” said CBP in a statement

“We ask travelers to be aware and ready in order to avoid long lines and inconveniences at the airports, and warrant boaters to report their entry by sea into US territory,” said Roberto Vaquero, director of Field Operations for Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands

higher rate than the accommodations sector in 2023

“Another key concern of tourism stakeholders is insufficient destination marketing,” said Madden-Greig, noting that concerns still remain about the lack of a more strategic regional marketing approach, something which she said CHTA would take under advisement with its public sector ally, the Caribbean Tourism Organization

Overall, the survey highlights the challenges and opportunities facing the Caribbean tourism industry, and CHTA remains committed to supporting its members and working with governments and other stakeholders to address the issues facing the industry

“Understand that CBP officers can inspect you and your personal belongings, to enforce our laws as well as protect legitimate travelers ”

CBP said, among the things, travelers should be aware of are the required travel documents for the country visiting, as well as identification for re-entry to the United States

CBP said passport books are required for all international travel by air

It said other options, such as the US passport card, trusted traveler cards, border crossing card and permanent resident card, can be used to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at land or seaports

continues on B3 – Get ready

Voters need elected officials they respect

P.O.Box 551712 Davie, FL 33355 advertising@cnweeklynews.com www.cnweeklynews.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EMERITUS

Dr. Garth A. Rose grose@cnweeklynews.com editor@cnweeklynews.com

Andrew Karim akarim@cnweeklynews.com

EDITORIAL

GRAPHIC EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR

Don Anthony sports@cnweeklynews.com

ADVERTISING/CIRCULATION

Hugh Ferguson advertising@cnweeklynews.com hferguson@cnweeklynews.com

Tel: 954-739-6618

Fax: 954-765-6199

Scan the Code to read more.

There are certain kinds of behavior people expect from leaders in their communities. When these behaviors are not realized people lose respect for these leaders.

People expect religious leaders to be true to their faith, and be resistant to sin, especially sins of the flesh When these religious leaders' disappoint and turn out to be sinful and weak, worshipers tend to leave the church

Citizens also expect elected officials who serve in the legislatures of their countries to be individuals of substance, deserving of their respect When these elected officials behave contrary to expectations, especially in the actual legislative assemblies, people tend to become

As the behavior of elected officials in the US Congress and the Jamaican parliament deteriorate, so does the interest of voters. In 2020, despite a keenly contested presidential campaign, only 67 percent of eligible voters voted. Alarmingly, also in general elections held in 2020, just 38 percent of voters in Jamaica voted

disenchanted and gradually refrain from participating in the political process

Increasingly, in recent years, there has been stark evidence of despicable behavior in the Congress of the United States, and in the Jamaican Parliament

There were times, not very long ago, when people elected to serve in the US Congress and the Jamaican parliament related to their opposing counterpart with mutual respect, even as they aggressively debate policy

Legislators are now often demeaned, even threatened by members of opposing parties It has become the norm for politicians to aggressively demean each other personally

As the behavior of elected officials in the US Congress and the Jamaican parliament deteriorate, so does the interest of voters In 2020, despite a keenly contested presidential

campaign, only 67 percent of eligible voters voted. Alarmingly, also in general elections held in 2020, just 38 percent of voters in Jamaica voted

Voters are becoming increasingly apathetic as they witness despicable behavior among those, they elected to represent them, in enacting policies to improve their life

It's very dangerous for governments to be elected without strong mandates from voters But voters will stay away from voting for candidates who ignore policy issues, while behaving badly demeaning each other

It sounds simplistic, but voters, like church congregations, support leaders who earn their respect

Trudeau, Mottley discuss Haiti crisis

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Barbados counterpart Mia Mottley have agreed to “continue to work closely together” on a number of global issues, including the ongoing political, socioeconomic situation in Haiti

A statement issued by Canada’s Office of the Prime Minister noted that the two leaders “spoke” over the last weekend expressing “ concern over the deteriorating security in Haiti and the need to help address the political, security, and humanitarian crises in the country

“They emphasized the importance of Caricom’s (Caribbean Community) role in supporting an inclusive political dialogue and recommitted to working together to help address the urgent needs of the Haitian people,” the statement said

Late last month, Trudeau and the United States President, Joe Biden both expressed concern about the deteriorating situation in the French speaking Caricom country and in a joint statement, pledged to increase community support to the people of Haiti, in particular by offering them security and humanitarian aid and better support for the National Police of Haiti (PNH)

Justin Trudeau said that in order to counter the crisis and support peace and security “Canada is investing an additional CAD$100 million (One

Canadian dollar=US$0 74 cents) to provide enhanced policing support and equipment to the Haitian National Police, to bolster Haitian-led solutions to the crisis and support peace and security,” rather than lead an international force of several thousand men in Haiti”

The situation in Haiti has deteriorated significantly since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise, and opposition politicians calling for fresh elections and the removal of Prime Minister Dr Ariel Henry In addition, armed rival gangs have been terrorizing citizens, engaged in kidnapping for ransom and other criminal activities

The statement said that during their deliberations, both Trudeau and Mottley also discussed “the importance of improving access to concessional financing for countries vulnerable to the impacts of climate change

“They agreed to work together to address today’s global financing needs

of developing countries through innovative and inclusive solutions They also committed to work jointly to advance efforts to reform the international financing system This would ensure equitable access to resources needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” it said

The statement said that the leaders also spoke about their roles as co-chairs of the United Nations SecretaryGeneral’s SDG Advocates group and next steps to advance priorities and to ensure continued progress

“Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Mottley agreed to continue to work closely together,” the statement concluded

Haiti

Haitian-American Commissioner Daniela Jean appointed to the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials

Last month, Haitian-American Commissioner Daniela Jean of the City of North Miami Beach, was appointed to the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO), where she will serve as the Florida Regional Director

NBC-LEO is a group within the National League of Cities, an organization of city leaders that are focused on improving the quality of life for their current and future constituents. NBC-LEO represents the interests of African American municipal officials, and provides a forum for them to share ideas and develop leadership experience

Commissioner Jean brings to NBC-LEO a decade of experience in local government to enhance the quality of life for all residents of North Miami Beach She has served nearly 20 years as a social strategist in her community, and was recently appointed to the National League of Cities as a Transportation and Infrastructure Federal Advocacy Committee Board Member

“I am truly humbled to take on this responsibility as NBCLEO’s new Florida Regional Director This opportunity will allow me to further serve not only my community, but surrounding communities, and to be representing the interests of African American municipal officials and providing a forum to share ideas and develop leadership experience is a privilege that I will not take lightly,” said Commissioner Jean

Commissioner Daniela Jean was born in Paris, France and raised in North Miami Beach, where she attended Fulford Elementary, JFK Middle, and North Miami Beach Senior High School She then went on to Miami-Dade College and Barry University, where she received her Bachelor of Science Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Biology In 2017, she received a Master of Science in Global Strategic Communications from Florida International University

The commissioner has a background in Risk Management and Procurement, and is also an author and social strategist with over 15 years of community work On top of her duties as a City Commissioner, she currently serves as President and CEO of Arts at Work, Inc a non-profit organization which seeks to promote the literary, visual, and performing arts for youth and the community at large

Scan the Code to read more.

Prime Minister Mottley chatting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the UN General Assembly in 2018

Jean

HEALTH

It can be surprising to learn that you have an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), especially if you haven’t had palpitations. But, finding out your heart is misfiring is just the first step in figuring out what’s happening. There are several types of arrhythmias ranging from harmless to severe. Getting a complete workup for a heart arrhythmia diagnosis is essential for knowing how to proceed

How do doctors diagnose an arrhythmia?

First, your primary care provider (PCP) will run some initial tests and likely refer you to a cardiologist Then you’ll go through more diagnostic testing Depending on your test results and diagnosis, your cardiologist may treat your arrhythmia or refer you to an electrophysiologist - a doctor that specializes in diagnosing and treating abnormal heart rhythms, for further care The good news: Healthcare providers can almost always pinpoint the type of arrhythmia you have during the diagnostic process

Diagnostic tests for AFib and other Arrhythmias

The initial step in diagnosing an arrhythmia starts with a physical exam by your PCP They will ask about your medical history, symptoms and lifestyle habits They may also run blood tests to check for electrolyte imbalances or a thyroid disorder Both can cause an irregular heartbeat There are several other tests to determine if you have the most common arrhythmia — atrial fibrillation (AFib) — or another type of abnormal heartbeat You may need to have a number of tests, depending on how challenging your arrhythmia is to diagnose These tests include:

ELECTROCARDIOGRAM (ECG or EKG)

An electrocardiogram records your heart’s electrical activity For the test, your provider attaches electrodes to your chest to track your heart’s rhythm. An EKG can be done at rest or while exercising on a treadmill or stationary bike (stress test)

MONITORING DEVICES

An EKG performed in a provider’s office gives a brief snapshot of your heart’s electrical activity During the test, your heart may not show irregular beats That’s why providers often recommend a monitoring device, which is a portable EKG you can use at home There are a few different options

Holter Monitor: You wear this portable, battery-operated device under your clothes

The Holter monitor continually records your heart’s rhythm while you go about your daily activities. “Even if you have data from a wearable device, like a smartwatch, that’s just the beginning of the diagnosis,” says Daniel Benhayon Lanes, MD, an electrophysiologist (EP) at Memorial Cardiac and Vascular Institute. “We still use a traditional monitor like a Holter monitor to find out how often you have arrhythmia episodes. The consumer wearables just tell you whether you have it ”

Cardiac Event Monitor: Unlike a Holter Monitor, a cardiac event monitor only takes readings when you turn the monitor on while you have symptoms, like feeling faint or lightheaded, so that it can record your heart’s electrical activity. This helps your healthcare provider decide if your symptoms are related to heart rhythm changes

Implantable Loop Recorder: An implantable loop recorder is a long-term option for tracking your heart’s activity It’s a chip that’s placed under the skin atop your chest If you wear a Holter monitor for 30 days and it doesn’t find anything, your provider may recommend you wear an implantable device for up to three years “It’s especially helpful if someone has a stroke for no obvious reason,” says Dr Lanes “It’s highly possible that in those situations, the person has an undiagnosed arrhythmia that caused the stroke Arrhythmias can cause clots to form in the heart Clots can dislodge, travel to the brain and block blood flow ”

The implantable loop recorder detects abnormalities and sends data to a remote patient monitoring center

“At Memorial, we regularly check the data, and alerts are sent to the right teams at the right times,” notes Dr Lanes “The data helps to know if there’s an urgent situation or if we need to change the course of treatment ”

IMAGING TESTS

If you ’ re having heart problems, your provider will likely want to look at your heart Imaging tests show whether your heart structure is normal You may have one or more imaging tests, such as:

Echocardiogram: This is an ultrasound

of the heart, which uses sound waves to create images of your heart as it beats

Cardiac CT scan: This is a series of X-ray images put together to create high-resolution, 3D pictures of your heart

Cardiac MRI: This produces highly detailed images of your heart using magnetic fields and radio waves

GENETIC TESTING

Some inherited disorders cause arrhythmias You may need genetic testing if your provider suspects you have one of these conditions The test requires a blood sample and checks to see if you have a gene linked to certain arrhythmias

If these tests don’t find an arrhythmia, your doctor may trigger an arrhythmia using one of the following tests to be able to study your abnormal heartbeat while it’s happening

Stress Test: This test attempts to trigger an arrhythmia by monitoring how much stress your heart can manage while exercising (i e , walking or jogging on a treadmill or pedaling a stationary bike) If these exercises are not an option, medication may be given to increase your heart rate

Esophageal Electrophysiologic

Procedure: This procedure involves inserting a thin tube (catheter) in the nostril down to the esophagus (tube that connects the throat to the stomach), where it takes an EKG reading. This test is more accurate than a traditional EKG because the catheter is positioned closer to the heart The procedure can trigger an arrhythmia

If this happens, your healthcare provider can use it as an opportunity to test which medications will work best to regulate your heart’s

rhythm

ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY STUDY (EPS)

An electrophysiology study is a specialized test performed by an EP to find out where in the heart the arrhythmia begins and to guide treatment You’re given medication to help you relax and feel sleepy, but you won’t be asleep Next, the doctor inserts a sheath through a blood vessel (usually in the leg, arm or neck) to your heart Several thin wires (electrodes) are guided through the sheath to different areas of your heart Your heart receives electric pulses to trigger an arrhythmia so your doctor can study it

TILT TABLE TESTING

For some people, like those with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a change in position can cause fainting The tilt table test replicates this situation to study what happens to your heart when you switch positions For the test, you lie down on a table and get strapped in A healthcare provider attaches a blood pressure cuff to your arm and electrodes to your chest for an EKG The provider gradually tilts the table up The test measures your heart rate and blood pressure as the table rises

If you have an irregular heartbeat, it’s important to get further testing

Memorial Cardiac & Vascular Institute shares diagnoses options DRIVER NEEDED

April is Autism Awareness Month

Autism, which is formally known as Autism Spectrum

Diet Health Myths and Facts

Healthy eating doesn’t have to be overly complicated. If you feel overwhelmed by all the conflicting nutrition and diet advice out there, you ’ re not alone. It seems that for every expert who tells you a certain food is good for you, you’ll find another saying exactly the opposite. The truth is that while some specific foods or nutrients have been shown to have a beneficial effect on mood, it’s your overall dietary pattern that is most important. The cornerstone of a healthy diet should be to replace processed food with real food whenever possible. That being said, here are a few facts and myths about diet health

By Myrna G. Phillips Nutritionist

Consumption Of Olive Oil Can Prevent Heart Disease

Fact: Olive oil has antioxidants that reduce the risk of heart diseases and cancers. These antioxidants are more predominant in virgin or extra virgin olive oil. Ordinary olive oil while useful for cooking, has quite likely been subject to heavy processing which robs it of its antioxidant quality

Consuming Too Much Soda-Drinks Can Cause Diabetes

Fact: Sodas or soft-drinks are sugar laden drinks Research conducted in 2004, indicated that people who drink one or more sodas per day increased their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 83 percent when compared to people who drank less sodas monthly

Eating Too Much Nuts Causes Weight Gain

Myth: Although most nuts consist of a large percentage of fat, it's not eating the nuts that cause weight gain, but rather the quantity of nuts eaten. Nuts have healthy fats but should be eaten in moderation. Nuts are also a very useful source of protein and fiber. Nuts like walnut, almond, and pistachios, are good for countering diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease. Seeds like papaya and sunflower seeds also good for health and are particularly useful for cleansing the colon

Running Is A More Effective Exercise Than Walking

Myth: Effective exercise is not how hard one exercises, but rather how long one exercises. Someone who walks for say 30 minutes a day, may have the same results as one who runs a quarter mile in 2 minutes. Studies have shown that walking at a moderate pace and running produces similar health benefits

Fruit Juice Is A Good Substitute For Raw Fruits

Myth: Although drinking unprocessed fruit juice is better than not consuming any fruit at all, consuming raw fruits provides the body with more calories and nutrition than fruit juices. When fruits are juiced, they have to be peeled, and sometimes the pulp removed. This process removes very important ingredients, like fiber, calcium and Vitamin C, found in the raw fruit. While fruit juice will provide the body with needed calories, for a body to be healthy, significant

consumption of fiber and calcium is also crucial

On the other hand, consuming blended concoction of fresh fruits, and where possible unpeeled, is helpful for those whose lived is so rushed they haven't to time to consume sufficient quantities of raw fruit daily

White Bread Is Not A Source Of Good Health

Myth: It's that not all white bread is unhealthy. However, nutritionists encourage people to eat more bread made from whole grain or wheat as they provide more fiber than plain white bread. But not all so-called “Brown Bread” is healthy, as some of these breads are brown not because of the grain/wheat content, but because of coloring. It's best to consume bread consisting of five or more multiple grains

Consuming Too Many Eggs Promotes High Cholesterol Levels

Myth: While the yolk of eggs are a definite source of cholesterol, this does not contribute to bad cholesterol (LDL) High cholesterol levels are more attributed to saturated fat found, for example, in processed foods than natural foods like eggs

Drinking Too Much Water Is Unhealthy

Myth: Water is the most important fluid one consumes It's needed to flush the liver and mobilize waste through the colon regularly. The more water one drinks, the healthier one is. However, there is a limit to how much water one should drink. More than eight pints of water daily can dilute the concentration of sodium in the blood. People who work in the heat or play energy consuming games like basketball and soccer, usually demand much water. It's recommended they drink fluids with electrolytes, as too much water can lead to nausea, confusion and seizures

It's also a myth that tap water is unsafe. While bottled water is very convenient to travel around with, once tap water comes from a safe public water supply properly treated for contaminants, it is good to drink several times daily

Food Should Not Be Heated In Plastic Containers In The Microwave

Myth Fact: And Cheap plastic containers tend to melt and can taint the food in them when placed in the microwave to heat. However, it's safe to heat food in containers labeled "microwave safe " This label meets standards tested by the U S Food and Drug Administration. It is not safe to microwave foods in the container in which they are packaged as usually these containers are not microwave safe

Disorder (ASD) is often described as resulting from a neurological disorder that has an effect on normal brain function, during the first three years of a child This often affects development of the child's communication and social interaction skills Children with autism generally have problems with a wide range of social interaction, and communication, is restricted by restricted and repetitive behavior and being involved in group activities like games Children with ASD prefer to adhere to specific behavior patterns and stubbornly resist any change in their daily activities They tend to response to change in behavior when they know well in advance that changes are coming Symptoms of autism are usually noticed first by parents and other caregivers sometime during the child's first 3 years Although autism is present at birth (congenital), signs of the disorder can be difficult to identify or diagnose during infancy Parents often become concerned when their toddler does not like to be held; does not seem interested in playing certain games, such as peekaboo; and does not begin to talk Sometimes, a child with autism will start to talk at the same time as other children the same age, then lose his or her language skills Parents also may be confused about their child's hearing abilities It often seems that a child with autism does not hear, yet at other times, he or she may appear to hear a distant background noise, such as the whistle of a train

With early and intensive treatment, most children improve their ability to relate to others, communicate, and help themselves as they grow older Contrary to popular myths about children with autism, very few are completely socially isolated or "live in a world of their own ” As early as infancy, a baby may be unresponsive to people or focus intently on one item while excluding to others for long periods of time A child with ASD may appear to develop normally and then withdraw and become indifferent to social engagement

Children with an ASD may fail to respond to their names and often avoid eye contact with other people They have difficulty interpreting what others are feeling because they can't understand social cues, such as tone of voice or facial expressions, and don't watch other people's faces for clues about appropriate behavior

Many children with an ASD engage in repetitive movements twirling, or in self-abusive behavior such as biting or head-banging They also tend to start speaking later than other children and may refer to themselves by name instead of “I” or “ me ” Children with an ASD may not understand how to play interactively with other children, and sometimes Have scant regard for the interests of the person to whom they are speaking

The more blatant signs of autism include

Problems Socializing

It's hard for children with autism to talk with other people and express themselves using words, and when they do they can seem unmannerly or offensive Kids with more serious autism problems tend to keep to themselves, not socializing, unable to communicate without special help, and are described as shy Some children express frustration on wanting to express themselves verbally and partake in social activities, but lack the skills to do so Some children also have problems understanding words expressed by others

The worse the autistic affliction is the more difficult it is for the child to speak Some autistic children keeps on repeating words and phrases they hear from others

Some autistic children also dislike being hugged or touched, as this makes them feel uncomfortable, another example of the withdrawal syndrome

Intolerance to Sounds

A prominent symptom among some autism sufferers is intolerance to sounds Loud sounds make them want to retreat from social contact and stay in quiet rooms alone Also some children react negatively to brightly lit places, and certain scents

Slow Physical Development

In the more serious cases autistic children may display problems in the coordination of their movements and have difficulties in physical sports Some either have effective motor skills, but are slow in speech and social interaction skills Others may be effective in their language and learning skills, but have problems with their mobility skills, reluctant to partake in physical activities

Limited interests in activities or play.

Children with Autism ten to have an unusual focus on pieces Younger children with autism often focus on parts of toys, such as the wheels on a car, rather than playing with the entire toy

These kids also have a need for sameness and routines

A child with autism, for example, may always need to eat bread before salad, insist on driving the same route every day to school, or will have a set time to do specific activities

Consider the importance of geographical diversification when investing

By Keisha Bailey CNW Contributor

We all grew up hearing the old saying “ never put all your eggs in one basket,” so back in the day, I would hide my little savings all over the house, and even in the backyard, just in case my siblings found it I knew there would be a low chance of them finding my “ money stash” and my savings wouldn’t all be gone if they did

Well, it worked! My complete money stash was never fully discovered and I was able to have a good amount of money in savings by the time I was a teenager

Never put all your eggs in one basket If you want to be wealthy and create financial freedom for yourself and your family, then your money needs to be put into multiple “baskets ” You

need to have, at the very least, your daily transactional savings account, an emergency fund, and most importantly, your investment portfolios

Starting your investment portfolio

As you set out to build your investment portfolio, it is good to start with what you know This means choosing solid companies with great fundamentals These are companies that you grew up hearing about and seeing, and these are the same companies that will outlast you These are reputable companies, and they make the most fantastic domestic investments These companies form what will be your core portfolio – your first investment basket

As you seek to grow your wealth you can then begin to start thinking broader by getting investments outside of your home country in order to create your second investment basket The secret sauce in doing this successfully is a concept called geographic diversification

Geographic diversification is a drastically underrated investing strategy, yet this is a key motivating factor for most wealthy investors who buy stocks in foreign companies

Understanding geographic diversification

While living in Jamaica, personally I would do investments in Jamaican companies and only considered some investments in other Caribbean companies because as a portfolio manager we were focused a lot on Jamaican Stock, Jamaican Bonds, Jamaica Corporate Bonds and some Caribbean investments This was mostly because of the BOJ regulations where local companies were not allowed to invest too much money internationally, as such, I didn’t know much about investing internationally

However, when I moved to Canada and started investing as a portfolio manager on a more global scale, that’s when I was able to realize how broad investments can be When you begin investing globally, that is really when you get to experience the benefits of diversification and start building consistent lasting returns in your portfolio

Consider globalization

These days, due to the pandemic and overall globalization, it is much easier to invest outside of your country Information is readily at your fingertips because of the internet, and you have a lot of financial educators and influencers, like myself, who are providing you with a lot of information about financial news and updates outside of your country

Diversifying your investments from a geographical perspective, means that your investment portfolio is spread across many different regions in the world which reduces risk, improves returns, and allows for even greater exposure to investing opportunities

Another amazing benefit to a geographic diversification of assets has to do with the way it allows you to mitigate risk by taking advantage of more stable economies and currencies elsewhere in the world I show people how to create an international portfolio and to look at investing, especially in the US stock market given that it is a very liquid market with access to many more types of investment securities

The future of investing

Going into the future, the investor who is going to be extremely wealthy is the investor who has investments across the world, because some countries now are in very rapid growth

Taking full advantage of geographical diversification is one of the best ways to generate peace of mind when investing, because in doing this you would have done your part in not only creating financial freedom for yourself and your family, but you have also secured it for your future generation Consider rethinking and repositioning your investment portfolio so you can strategically maximize and protect your wealth

Keisha Bailey is the CEO of Profit Jumpstarter, where she works with investors to create highly profitable portfolios so they can build wealth faster. As an experienced wealth coach, she teaches how to earn passive income, create wealth, reclaim time and reach financial freedom by investing

Caribbean legislators comment on indictment of President Trump

By CMC News

Caribbean American legislators on Friday said “ no one is above the law” as they commented on the decision by a New York grand jury to indict former United States President, Donald J. Trump, for his alleged role in a hush money payment scheme and cover-up involving adult film star Stormy Daniels that dates back to the 2016 presidential election

US Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that it is “ a sad but significant day in America’s history

“Our nation’s judicial system was founded upon the belief that everyone deserves due process and equal protection under the law, but no one, including a former president, is above the law

“Mr Trump’s indictment is a testament to the fact that every American should be treated fairly and equally under the laws of the United States,” said Clarke, the representative for the predominantly Caribbean 9th Congressional

District in Brooklyn, New York

“As this process continues to develop, I believe the American people will see that the core values of our democracy still stand true ”

New York City Public Advocate, Jumaane Williams, the son of Grenadian immigrants, told CMC “this is not a day of triumph, except for the rule of law which governs all of us, including disgraced former presidents

“I commend Manhattan District Attorney

Gun Law Passed

purchase a gun from a licensed dealer, they are not required for private transactions or exchanges of weapons

DeSantis has said he thinks Florida should go even further and allow people to openly carry guns While some lawmakers have pushed for open carry, it doesn’t appear the Legislature will pass such legislation this session

The bill signing comes five years after thenGovernor Rick Scott signed a bill creating gun restrictions Under DeSantis, momentum has swung back toward expanding gun rights rather than placing limits on them, which has earned him praise from gun rights advocates

fromA1

Bragg for courageously leading a thorough investigation to this point Donald Trump must be held accountable, not only for the financial charges he’s been indicted on today but for his efforts to undermine our democracy, which are still under investigation and which still reverberate dangerously throughout our country

“We will now undoubtedly see conservative hypocrisy, lies, and dangerous rhetoric as some

put not only party but person, over the wellbeing of our country and the people within it,” Williams added

He said the indictment is part of a process that will continue to move forward, uninhibited by the former president’s attacks or incitements to action, and unwavering in a commitment to justice for the unprecedented conduct of Trump in his efforts to grab and hold onto power and relevance at the expense of all

New York State Assemblywoman, Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, the daughter of Haitian immigrants, who represents the 42nd Assembly District in Brooklyn, noted that “for the first time in the history of the United States, a President (past or current) is facing criminal charges

“We don’t take solace in this blemished record added to our great nation’s history, but we are pleased to see Donald Trump finally facing consequences for his despicable actions,” the chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party told CMC

Get Ready

“For citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries travelling to the US, make sure that you have an approved Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before boarding,” CBP warned

“Upon reaching CBP processing declare everything you are bringing from abroad, even if it is from a dutyfree shop

fromA5

difference between prohibited merchandise (which is forbidden by law to enter the US) and restricted merchandise (items needing special permit to be allowed into the US) ”

“Government will not get in the way of law-abiding Americans who want to defend themselves and their families,” Senator Jay Collins, who sponsored the bill, said in a news release

“Know that things bought abroad for personal use or as gifts may be eligible for duty exemptions,” it added “If you are bringing them back for resale, they are not Know the

CBP said all agriculture items must be declared and are subject to inspection by a CBP Agriculture Specialist at ports of entry to ensure they are free of plant pests and foreign animal diseases

“Travelers are encouraged to plan their trips during periods of lighter traffic or to use an alternate, less heavily travelled port of entry ”

Clarke Williams

DeSantis

Crossword Puzzle Across Down

1. Actor Pitt

2. Toy bricks brand

3. Whitish gemstone

4. Hammer's target

5. Very energetic worker

6. Most Saudis

7.

Indian Astrologer & Spiritual Healer

Sudoku

He can read your Past, Present and Future about Family Life, Children’s Problems, Love Life, Business, Health, Financial Issues, Court Case Matters, Lucky Numbers, & Sexual Problems.

'Take 6' to perform at Sankofa Jazz Fest

The Sankofa Jazz Festival is slated for April 15 at the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center in the heart of Liberty City. The festival will feature award-winning R&B group Take 6

The eighth annual, traditional outdoor event is presented by the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center (AHCAC)

Part of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs (MDCDCA), AHCAC was founded in 1975 to serve as the nesting ground for emerging talent in the performing and visual arts in Liberty City By providing quality instruction, inspiration, and encouragement to young people within the community, the AHCAC has fulfilled its mission for more than 40 years

“We are thrilled to feature the extraordinary Grammy Awardwinning Take 6 this year The band will delight festival-goers with amazing vocals,” said Marshall Davis, Managing Director of the AHCAC Davis noted that songs well-loved, and a few neverperformed live, will be included in the group ’ s performance

This is the first performance of Take 6’s special project, "Join The Band " The title comes from an album with the same name, where instrumentalists join the legendary group as part of their repertoire Take 6 is an a cappella group heralded by Quincy Jones as the “Baddest vocal cats on the planet!"

The group has received many accolades, including 10 Grammy Awards, 10 Dove Awards, 2 NAACP Image Awards, a Soul Train Award, and more Take 6 features Claude McKnight, Mark Kibble, Joel Kibble, Dave Thomas, Alvin Chea, and Khristian Dentley In addition to Take 6, Kizie The Violist is also slated to perform As in past years, Sankofa Festival participants will be able to see and experience art at its finest in AHCAC’s gallery This year ’ s exhibit is entitled "Ancestors by Macedonian" by artist and filmmaker Kiro Urdin Urdin is an award-winning multi-media artist

Romain Virgo credits Don Corelon, Keely Keyz for success of latest single “Driver”

By Micaiah Morgan

Jamaican recording artiste Romain Virgo attributes Don Corelon and Keely Keyz to the success of his most recent single, “Driver ”

The song, which was released on March 24 and directed by Sameel “SAMO” Johnson, features Virgo courting his love interest across the idylls of eastern Jamaica, while he expands his vocal range and packs tender romance and sensual flair into smooth melodies

The reggae star is well-loved for his sweetsounding music and captivating lyrics, but for his latest production, he was able to push himself to best convey the intended mood and message of the song

“I was basically just letting go of my way of singing, and allowing Don and Keely to produce I was doing more listening and then trying to capture the mood of the song just the way it was meant to be recorded,” Virgo told CNW

The artiste further said it was an honor working with Corelon

“He’s someone who genuinely loves what he does and over the years it has been that same kind of dedicated energy, so it’s a blessing every time to be honest,” he said

According to ReggaeVille com, Corleon has contributed significantly to the development of several Billboard chart-topping albums Among these are the songs Rise To The Occasion by Sizzla, The Trinity by Sean Paul, A Girl Like Me by Rihanna, among others Don Corleon is an undeniably accomplished engineer and veteran producer who spends a lot of time working with

potential superstars

In sharing how the song “Driver” came about, producer, songwriter, and singer, Matthew Keaveny, also known as Keely Keyz, in an interview with VP Records shared

“Before I even got to a concept for the song I had to figure out melody construction and ‘feel,’ so I drew off of all the songs Romain did previously that did well like ‘Stay With Me’ and ‘Soul Provider,’ and then I drew for a song in the reggae market that did well prior to this and that was Estelle and Sean Paul,” he said

“I liked the feel of that record – I always did So I merged all them vibes together and then next concept, what does every woman want from a man more than love, time and money?! They want leadership so me seh cool ‘Driver’ and just took my time and worked on the song and when I sent it to Don he had no complaints, which is surprising cause he’s a hard marker when it comes to music,” he added

With this collaboration, Virgo “made that record his own,” according to Keyz, who added

that it was a great experience collaborating with him and his team

Describing the message behind the song, Virgo says, “On ‘Driver,’ I’m captivated by everything about her I’m reassuring her that, if given a chance, I’ll prove to her that I want to be in it for the long run ”

Romain Virgo finds joy in delighting live audiences He has released three albums to date; ‘Romain Virgo’ (2010), ‘The System’ (2012), and ‘Love Sick’ (2018), as well as nineteen singles including his hits “Soul Provider,” “Stronger,” “Beautiful To Me” and “Star Across The Sky ”

His music has also been streamed more than 57 2 million times on YouTube, 4 5 million times on Spotify, and 24 2 million streams on Pandora

The Jamaican artiste is ranked in the top 100 most popular from Jamaica and receives radio play worldwide in key markets in the United States, the UK, the Caribbean, and Canada

TRACK & FIELD / CHAMPS 2023 / JAMAICA

KC romps home 34th title, Hydel snatches first on dramatic last day at Champs 2023

ByIanBurnettCNWSportsWriter

Kingston College (KC) streaked away to comfortably win their 34th Mortimer Geddes Trophy, but it went down to the last girls’ race of the 2023

ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and

Girls’ Athletics Championships for Hydel High School to narrowly secure its first-ever title

At the end of the 42 events scored, KC widened the lead to 67 points to finish on 366, with Jamaica College (JC) ending on 299, followed by Calabar High School on 207, St Jago High School on 118 5, and St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) rounding out the top five on 116 points

On the girls’ side after 46 events scored, Hydel High School who first entered Champs in 2010 ended with 279 points, followed by dethroned champions Edwin Allen High School on 277, followed by Holmwood Technical High School with 202, St Jago High School on 178 and St Catherine High School completing the top five on 116 points

The five-day championships were held inside Kingston’s National Stadium and KC’s head coach Leaford Grant had no doubt his team would have walked away with the main prize despite the many predictions which claimed a close title fight

“Well, I don’t know about it being close, what we have seen is that it was not close I don’t understand all these predictions so far,” noted Grant

He added: “We calculated a certain amount of points and never thought that it would have been a two-point [result], I don’t know where they got that from ”

Grant said the aim was to score over 350 points and “ we knew any other team covered more than that we suspect that we would just have said they won the championships”

The head coach added that this year ’ s win was “ a more challenging one for us as we had to make some crucial decisions at certain times of the track season Gibson Relays was one of them and we had to pull some teams and managed our boys properly going through the season, so we had some quality but we never had a lot of quantity in terms of the boys that we had this year so we had to manage them properly at these championships”

For Hydel’s head coach Corey Bennett, who has been with the team since it started participating in the competition in 2010, it was all the work of the Almighty

Miramar Invitational

fromA1

Miramar City Manager, Dr Roy Virgin stated, “We are thrilled to be hosting this world class event again In 2021 we watched as Sha ‘Carri Richardson broke the U20 world record with a stunning 10 72 seconds to win the 100m This performance moved her to the 6th on the world all-time list

“We are proud that the City of Miramar is the track and field destination in South Florida boasting a FTX Mondo Olympic style track at Ansin Sports Complex which makes it the perfect venue to host international athletic meets ”

The event is sponsored by the Ansin Foundation and Hazen and Sawyer Gates at the Ansin Sports Complex, located at 10801 Miramar Boulevard, Miramar, FL 33025 will open at 8:00 a m The event will be live streamed starting at 1 p m

For more information and tickets visit Miramarinvite com

“I am really lost for words, God is good and he has been with us all along and even though we never believed we could have, things just kind of went our way and I asked the girls to just dig a little deeper, perform a little better,” said the man who this season also assumed responsibility for the Calabar High School track program

“We got some great performances that you would have seen from some of our athletes We started in 2010 and now 2023, 13 years later, yeah, God is good ”

Hydel received a gift entering the last race, the 4x400m relays, after Edwin Allen who had romped home to victory in the Sprint Medley Relays, was disqualified, thus losing out on 12 massive points

An Edwin Allen athlete had infringed on the inside lane on the curve and thus ran afoul of the rules, hence the disqualification

This scenario left Hydel four points ahead, instead of eight points behind, and Bennett was quick to pounce and ensure that his charges did

not throw away the gift

“You don’t need to push for the win, but don’t come less than third We did our math so don’t come less than third because where it was at sometimes when you try to push for the ultimate sometimes you lose all, so it was just some safe runs and our captain [Oneika McAnnuff] was supposed to lead that charge,”

Bennett explained

“She has been such a wonderful young lady from first form she came to us and we just asked them to be safe based on how the championships have been going, we got disqualified from two races, two relays in the week, this is just God’s work ”

The head coach also dedicated the historic win to his mother and the school’s founder

“Hyacinth Bennett, our founder, she’s always wanted this and she’s unable to be with us physically here, she’s not as well as she would like to be, this one is for Hyacinth Bennett, I really just want to dedicate this one to her ”

In the final girls’ event, Edwin Allen won

comfortably but Hydel did what was necessary by finishing second with McAnnuff running a brilliant leg to get her school into a comfort zone from well off the pace

There was one record on the day and it went to Britannia Johnson of Camperdown High School who heaved the shot put to a new record 15 33m in Class One She broke the previous record of 14.93m set by Fiona Richards of Edwin Allen High School back in 2018

JC won the 4x400m relays Open in 3:09 31 minutes ahead of Edwin Allen and KC, but KC won the Sprint Medley Open in 3:26 98 minutes ahead of JC and Titchfield High

The Class Three 4x100m relays was won by St Jago, Class Two by Calabar and Class One by KC in 40 01 seconds

Demario Prince of St Jago won the Class One 110m hurdles in 13 42 seconds ahead of teammate Andre Harris in 13 79 seconds and JC’s Daniel Beckford in 13 83 seconds

Calabar’s Shaquane Gordon won the Class Two in 13 42 seconds ahead of the KC pair of Kahiem Carby (13 59) and Daniel Clarke (13 80)

Mount Alvernia High School won yhe Class Four 4x100m relays, Wolmer’s won Class Three, and Hydel won Classes Two and One

Alexas James of Petersfield High won the Cass One 100m hurdles in 13 39 seconds (3 1mps) ahead of Asharria Ulett of St Catherine in 13 59 seconds and Toni-Ann Forbes of Edwin Allen in 13 61 seconds

Jody-Ann Daley of Hydel won Class Two, Tiana Marshall of Wolmer’s won Class Three 80m hurdles and teammate Jadea Morris won Class Four 70m hurdles gold

Malique Smithband of JC won the Class One 200m gold in 20 90 (-2 7mps), KC finished first and second in Class Two with Tahj-Marques White and Nyrone Wade, respectively, while Shaun Lewis of STETHS won Class Three Alana Reid completed the sprint double gold for Hydel when she won Class One 200m in 23 08 seconds (-2 0mps), teammate Shemonique Hazle won Class Two, Wolmer’s Natrece East who was second in the Class Three 100m, stepped up to win gold in the 200m, while Kayla Johnson of Immaculate completed the sprint double in Class Four

The boys’ Class One 800 m was won by Kemario Bygrave of JC in 1:51 84 minutes, Yoshane Bowen of Maggotty won Class Two, and teammate Jayden Brown won Class Three On the girls’ side, Amoya Jameison of Edwin Allen won the Class One 800m gold, teammate Monique Stewart won the Class Two, and ST Jago’s Kededra Coombs won Class Three

India set to play two T20Is in USA on West Indies tour

Looks like an American stopover is unmissable for the Indian team during a Caribbean tour. Like last year, the Indian team will have a couple of Twenty20 Internationals against the West Indies at the Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida, this year too

The two games are the planned add-on matches to the eight-game series that were originally scheduled in the ICC-approved Future Tours Programme (FTP) In all there will be two Tests, three ODIs and five Twenty20 Internationals in July-August Cricbuzz on March 25 reported about the two additional games that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Cricket West Indies (CWI) agreed upon during recent ICC meetings in Dubai

A CWI member confirmed the Florida

schedule to this website on Wednesday (April

5) "That is the plan Unless there is an unavoidable situation, the two extra games will be played in Florida, like last year," the official said The CWI will entirely conduct the matches with a none to minimal role of USA Cricket, the governing cricket body in the United States

"No to USAC The CWI is the event host with special commercial relations and arrangements for local operations at the Broward Stadium This is very similar to how the 2024 World Cup will operate for the US matches," a CWI official said A USAC official did not offer a comment

A similar arrangement was made last year, and they almost got derailed because of visa problems, something this website had highlighted at that time A last-minute intervention by the President of Guyana averted the looming crisis of that time

"The visa appointments in Trinidad were messed up beyond our control and, at great cost and inconvenience for all concerned, we had to rearrange to fly those without visas to Guyana,

in between the St Kitts and Florida matches It also included some West Indians," the CWI official said, throwing light on the matter with the hope that such a last-minute rush will not be required this time around The two matches were played on August 6 and 7 last year

India will start the 10-game series with Tests upfront in the second week of July, followed by three ODIs and then five T20Is From the US, India will travel to Ireland where they have agreed to play three Twenty20Is in the third week of August Cricbuzz understands that the West Indies tour schedule has been shared with the BCCI and it will be announced once the Indian board gives the go-ahead