Jamaicans across the d and other tourists tra will have to get famil Finance Minister Dr. N banknotes will arrive i December.
Clarke stated in a Tweet r automated teller machines (AT adapted to facilitate the distrib notes to the public
He also stated that people w aware before the banknotes ar noting that the entire process s months
Earlier this year, it was an
Fully shot in Jamaica, VH1’s Family Reunion: Love & Hip Hop Edition returned on Monday, November 28th for its third season.
As usual, the show promises even more of the drama, rambunctiousness and tension that made the Love & Hip Hop franchise one of the most successful in the history of US television
This season, Family Reunion brings together an all star cast from across the franchise to the five star, adult only, luxury hotel, Ocean Eden Bay, in Trelawny
Grammy-nominated dancehall star Spice and rapper/dancehall artist Safaree Samuels will be representing their
country and culture as the only Jamaican cast members Samuels started his Love & Hip Hop career on the Hollywood series Meanwhile, Spice has become a staple of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta Both Jamaicans, however, starred in the latest Atlanta season, which ended last week with its final reunion episode
This is the second reality TV show to be set at Ocean Eden Bay in recent months The first was Real Housewives of Atlanta, which was hosted by Jamaican cast member, Olympic champion Sanya Richards Ross Marketing the hotel via wildly successful TV shows such as these should be a major boost for the hotel Ocean Eden Bay is a new property that officially opened its doors in late 2021
New episodes of Family Reunion: Love & Hip Hop Edition air each Monday at 8pm EST on Vh1
werful Media has named maica born Paulette Simpson e of Britain's top ten most fluential people of African or ribbean descent.
Simpson, who was raised in Manchester, aica is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of JN k UK- the country's only Caribbean owned k and a member company of The Jamaica onal Group She is highly recognized for her ership and campaigning activities for the rights AME (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic) commus
Simpson is also the executive director of The e, the UK's only black national newspaper, h is also owned by The Jamaica National up Powerful Media publishes the Powerlist each , which honors the 100 most influential black ns and recognizes the accomplishments of the
most influential people of African, AfricanCaribbean, and African American heritage in the UK Simpson was ranked eighth on the Powerlist 2023 She was also ranked on the list in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022; however, this is her first time appearing in the top 10
The deputy chair of the Windrush Commemoration Committee in the UK, Simpson was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 2020
She was also recognized with a Certificate of Commendation from the UK Home Secretary for outstanding contributions to the field of Home Affairs
Simpson is a proud graduate of Manchester High School in Mandeville, Jamaica and received her primary education in both Mizpah and Christiana
Like Simpson, the JN Group's CEO Earl Jarrett was named on the high profile Powerlist ranking making it a double celebration
He was recognized for his visionary involvement in the group's presence in the UK for more than 34 years, as well as the recent foundation of JN Bank UK, among other notable accomplishments She was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2020
Simpson, who is deputy chair of the Windrush Commemoration Committee in the UK, was honoured for her services to the Caribbean community by the late Queen Elizabeth II She was honored along with 1,494 people receiving the Queen's honour, some 96 of whom were conferred with the order CBE
CBE is the highest ranking Order of the British Empire award, followed by Officer of the Order of the British Empire and then Member of the Order of of the British Empire
“Relationships are critical to everything that we do. It’s not about doing something for someone, so that they can do something for you in return. It’s so that people can receive value and appreciate what you do. Networking is about knowing people and creating opportunities for people,” – Paulette Simpson
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley says an estimated TT$500 million (One TT dollar=US$016 cents) is unaccounted for after the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (CBTT) in December 2019 introduced the new bill printed on polymer paper for national security reasons
Addressing a meeting of his ruling People's National Movement (PNM) in Diego Martin on Thursday night, Rowley, said “people in this country had 500 million in cash which they could not bring back and exchange” because they were unable to explain its origin
He said one person had tried to exchange one million dollars in the old notes at a local bank and was told that he should visit the CBTT
“When he got to the Central Bank it moved from one million to 14 million and the bottom line is police hold them Why police holding you for your own money,” Rowley asked, adding they had intended to change significantly much more than what they had taken to the CBTT
“Five hundred million did not come back,” Rowley told DLP supporters as he campaigned ahead of the party's internal elections this weekend where he is being challenged by two other persons for the top position in the 67 year old party
He said his administration had decided on changing from cotton to polymer notes “because we had good reason to believe that in this country there were people who had removed large
The Bahamas government has hinted at the possibility of paying increased salaries to public servants before the start of the Christmas holidays amid concerns raised by the Bahamas Public Service Union (BPSU)
BPSU president Kimsley Ferguson, speaking on a radio program, said the union had sent a letter to the Office of the Prime Minister at the start of the month, however, there has been no response to date
But Public Service Minister Pia Glover Rolle said the government is aiming to roll out the proposed salary increases before the
volumes of cash from the tax payer and had it under their bed, in holes in the ground in barrels and so on “And we knew had the government not taken action they would have benefitted from their thievery. So what did we do?
We changed the hundred dollar bill and when we did that of course those who had a problem with it, who had money they could not explain, they were up in arms against us ”
When it announced the switch to the new notes in December 2019, the CBTT said “the new note is part of a national security measure which will assist in the fight against corruption, money laundering, tax evasion and counterfeiting ”
During his address, Rowley referred to a multi million dollar project that was being undertaken by the previous People's Partnership administration of then prime minister Kamla Persad Bissessar, saying he is waiting on the media to ask the main opposition United National Congress (UNC), which had been the major party in the coalition “who had those 500 million dollars
“But we know how they used to do it Just before we came in (2015) there was an election and during the election they were trying to build the Curepe Overpass (and) they were going to award a contract for TT$534 million”
But he said a “scandal broke out in the government among three ministers, each one fighting for a contractor and to deal with that the government decided they will break up the contract into three pieces,” he said, accusing the media of remaining silent on the matter
Rowley said one of the ministers involved was subsequently fired and following the 2015 election when his party came into office “ we canceled the arrangement”
holidays, and it has submitted a proposal to the BPSU and is awaiting a response
“We have submitted a proposal to the BPSU and are awaiting their response The Labor Relations Unit remains ready to sit at the negotiation table with the BPSU so we can finalize the details of an agreement as quickly as possible,” she told The Tribune newspaper
The government is reported to be proposing up to five increments in the first year as a result of the minimum wage increase to an estimated 2,000 public servants
“We remain hopeful that the proposed
increases can be rolled out for public servants prior to the holidays,” Glover Rolle said, adding that the proposal to the BPSU was the best possible offer the government could make at this time
However, Ferguson told radio listeners that the lower end of the scale is going to be disadvantaged
“It's my job and my responsibility to ensure that the entire bargaining unit is dealt with fairly, and not to particularly agitate for one grouping and leave the other grouping undone And so, I need persons to understand
this We don't want to leave our brothers behind,” he added
But he said a “scandal broke out in the government among three ministers, each one fighting for a contractor and to deal with that the government decided they will break up the contract into three pieces,” he said, accusing the media of remaining silent on the matter
Rowley said one of the ministers involved was subsequently fired and following the 2015 election when his party came into office “ we canceled the arrangement”
The Biden administration has congratulated the government of Suriname as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country celebrated its Independence Day
“On behalf of the government and the people of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of Suriname on your Independence Day,” said US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken in a statement on Friday
“Our two countries share strong, educational, historic, economic and cultural ties, and we look forward to continuing our work together to strengthen commercial ties, address the climate crisis, promote accountability in governance, cooperate in the health sector, bolster human rights, and encourage stability in the region,” he added
Blinken said Washington and Paramaribo hope to expand cooperative opportunities in the security and defence arena to jointly fight illicit activity and expand and professionalize the security forces
He also said the United States and Suriname celebrate the people to people professional exchange programs that “strengthen the bonds of friendship between our citizens and look forward to more opportunities in the year ahead
“As we work to make continued progress towards challenges such as climate change in the coming year, including through the US Caribbean
Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis (PACC 2030), the United States will remain a committed partner,” Blinken assured
“Our shared values of democracy and resilience will continue to be cornerstones for our shared objectives,” he added
Considered a culturally Caribbean country, Suriname is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west and Brazil to the south
At just under 64,000 square miles, it is the smallest sovereign state in South America but also regarded as one of the most ethnically diverse
In 1954, Suriname became one of the constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
On November 25, 1975, it left the Kingdom to become an independent state Suriname Independence Day is celebrated
annually on November 25
“One of the segments that has been most affected by this decline in arrivals is the small hotels In its update on member performance, the Intimate Hotels of Barbados reported that members are looking forward to a positive winter period after a very slow summer One member described it as the worst summer they experienced in over a decade,” she said
However, Coppin said bookings for this segment continued to pick up this winter and the outlook from December to April is for improved occupancy levels for many members, ranging from 50 to 90 percent
The BHTA official said the new Minister of Tourism Ian Gooding Edghill has committed to focusing on airlift
Eight months after he was arrested in the United States, former British Virgin Islands Premier Andrew Fahie has written a farewell letter to his former colleagues of the House of Assembly, urging them to keep fighting for the prosperity of the territory and focus on the areas that unite them as Virgin Islanders
In the letter, Fahie called on citizens of the British Overseas territory to be “laser focused on the areas that unite, rather than those that divide ”
He also told his colleagues to create a territory where young people can dream of being the next speaker, clerk, attorney general, director of public prosecution, elected official, minister of government, premier, governor, or governor general
Fahie, who has been accused of knowingly travelling interstate to facilitate a business enterprise involving narcotics, also called his colleagues to, “allow God, through time, to do what only he does best with time — which is to be the only true and fair judge while healing all wounds ”
The former premier also expressed gratitude for the time spent in politics The letter that was addressed to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, serves as Fahie's official resignation from his elected post as first district representative and retirement from representational politics, effective November 24
His resignation comes eight months after he was arrested at Miami Opa Locka Executive Airport on drug and money laundering charges, which has since been upgraded to include racketeering charges
“I, Andrew Alturo Fahie, now respectfully take this time to officially inform you Madam Speaker, through this written notice with effect from 24th November, 2022, of my retirement from serving in the capacity as a member of the House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands and First District representative and from active politics at this time ”
The resignation was submitted just weeks ahead of his next court appearance in the United States that is scheduled to take place in a Florida court on January 9, 2023
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ince Jamaica gained its independence in 1962, crime has proven one of the hardest problems for the nation to solve
During the first decade of independence crime could be considered routine, consisting mainly of robberies Violent crime was rare When incidents like murder occurred, they made news headlines for days
At face value, it does seem the Opposition is acting hypocritically and using political motives to oppose the government's SOE strategy But at closer analysis it's seen that these several and frequent SOE's have been ineffective in curbing crime long term Moreover, during the latest SOE's, people were still being murdered in parishes with SOE's
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But in the mid 70s crime took a violent turn as it co mingled with politics. It wasn't long before political and other murders became routine news During this period an unfortunate stain blemished the Jamaican society, as some politicians became associated with criminals whose dirty work helped them to attain or maintain power
During the Michael Manley administration of the 1970s as political crime related violence escalated, the administration took the bold step of using the constitutional tool of a national state of emergency to curb the violence, claiming the State was under threat from political terrorists In addition to the SOE, which was renewed several times, the administration created a Gun Court, painted red, to emphasize, as Manley then said, it was “dread ” Anyone caught with illegal guns was tried and subject to be charged and placed into a new detention center at Up Park Camp But despite the often renewed SOE, “dread” Gun Court, and detention center, violent politically related crime continued Several Jamaicans fearing for their lives
migrated in droves in the latter 1970s
Forward to 2022, and violent crime in Jamaica has escalated to a far worse problem than in the late 1970s The nature of this violence is characterized by a peculiar evil and associated brutality Hardly a day passes without news of violent, deadly shootings, rapes, and domestic disputes Jamaicans are living in fear Jamaicans living in the diaspora are afraid to visit Jamaica, and return home to live, as much as they want to Jamaicans home and abroad want solutions They want the government to find these solutions So, when the government announces SOE's in some communities, most people are thankful as security forces patrol the area to eradicate criminals and create a semblance of law and order
The incumbent government, in power since February 2016, has used SOE's several times as a tool to solve crime But violent crime has escalated despite the SOE's The latest round of SOE's was announced and implemented on
November 14 for a 14 day period in five rural parishes with high incidents of crime, and parts of Kingston and St Andrew
According to the Jamaican Constitution the government must get the vote of two thirds of the Legislature to extend SOE's beyond the 14 day period But while the government attained approval in the House of Representative, where it has a vast majority, it failed to obtain the one Opposition vote it needed in the Senate This means, unless the government acts unilaterally, and perhaps unconstitutionally, the latest SOE's couldn't be expanded beyond November 28
In opposing the extension of the SOE's, the opposition claimed they are useless tools to fight crime, which instead of curbing crime are infringing on the human and constitutional rights of law abiding citizens
Likely buoyed by the apparent sense of security created by these SOE's, some Jamaicans have criticized the Opposition for not caring that Jamaicans are being killed daily and are only opposing the SOE's for political reasons
As this editorial space suggested previously, there's urgent need for the Jamaican government and Opposition to stop using crime as a football and collaborate to find realistic, meaningful strategies to curb this plague of violent crime
Earlier this week, Opposition Leader Mark Golding offered a strategy which he seems to believe could help apprehend known criminals, based on “credible evidence ” Under Golding's strategy such violent criminals would be initially detained for seven days, with provision for an additional 14 day extension up to 42 days At each interval, law enforcement agencies would need to satisfy the court that progress was being made in building a case supporting criminal charges
Hopefully, the government will be open to meeting with Golding and his associates to take an objective look at this strategy which seems feasible on paper At least, it's something different from what has become the over used, ineffective SOE's Jamaica desperately needs strategies to curb crime immediately and long term Clearly, SOE's are not the solution
The police in Haiti have launched an investigation following the assassination of the director of the National Police Academy, Commissioner Rigaud Harington who was shot and killed on the grounds of the police training facility on Friday afternoon
According to police spokesman Garry Desrosiers who confirmed the killing, Harington was shot inside an o ffi c i a l p o l i c e vehicle as he was about to enter the police academy Video circulating on social media Friday showed Harington's body stretched out on the ground
Desrosiers was unable to provide further details, but this latest incident took place in the capital, where gangs are estimated to control 60 percent of the city For several months, following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, the crisis has deepened in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member state
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) says children account for roughly 40 percent of the confirmed cholera cases in Haiti, as it appealed for US$27 5 million to save more lives from the disease
The outbreak began two months ago and is unfolding amid an economic crisis and rising insecurity due to gang violence Ninety percent of confirmed cases have been in areas with a high burden of severe acute malnutrition
UNICEF said children suffering from the condition, which is also known as severe wasting, are more vulnerable to cholera and at least three times more at risk of dying from it
“In Haiti right now, there is a triple threat to children's lives malnutrition, cholera and armed violence And sometimes all three together,” said Manuel Fontaine, Director of UNICEF's Office of Emergency Programs, who has ended a four day visit to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country
Fontaine said he was able to view firsthand, how malnourished children are receiving life saving care at UNICEF supported cholera
treatments in the capital, and in Cité Soleil neighborhood
“I was shocked to see many children at risk of dying in the cholera treatment centers In just a few hours, acute watery diarrhea and vomiting dehydrate and weaken them so much they may die without timely and adequate treatment Cholera and malnutrition are a lethal combination, one leading to the other,” he said
The senior official also visited a center which provides medical, psychological, and psychosocial care to survivors of gender based violence
As of Monday, there were 924 confirmed cholera cases in Haiti, more than 10,600
suspected cases, and 188 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health
But Fontaine remained adamant that the “vicious cycle” between malnutrition and cholera can be broken
“Simple, affordable and effective treatment can save Haitian children's lives, as long as we reach the most vulnerable families before it's too late,” he said
“But the urban poor areas most affected by the cholera outbreak are also under the control of heavily armed gangs Amid widespread armed violence and insecurity in large parts of the capital, humanitarian teams are walking on eggshells ”
UNICEF said it is seeking funding to ramp up its cholera response over the next five months It said the US$27 5 million will be used to provide humanitarian assistance in the areas of health, water, hygiene, and sanitation, as well as nutrition and protection, for 1 4 million people
Since July, the UN agency and partners have screened and assessed the nutritional status of nearly 6,200 children in Cité Soleil, the largest urban poor area in the capital
The United States Coast Guard on Friday said the crew of its cutter Escanaba repatriated 180 Haitian migrants to Haiti following an interdiction 25 miles south of Rodriguez Key, Florida
According to the Coast Guard, on Monday, a good Samaritan alerted Sector Key West watch standers of an overloaded sailing vessel, following which the Coast Guard responded,
along with Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations crews
At about 7:00 p m the US Coast Guard said the 50 foot sailing vessel hit a sand bar south of Whale Harbor, Florida, “resulting in multiple reports of people in the water ”
“One person was medevac'd to Jackson Memorial Hospital (in Miami) for further evaluation,” said the US Coast Guard, disclosing that 89 men, 55 women, and 46 children were aboard the cutter
“The remaining ten people are still going through a joint interagency process, and
disposition has yet to be decided ”
“These people were packed into an overloaded, unsafe vessel without safety equipment,” said Lieutenant C Box, Coast Guard District Seven “The weather was so bad; these people are lucky we got to them when we did ”
Since October 1, the Coast Guard said its crews have interdicted 585 Haitian migrants compared to 7,175 in Fiscal Year 2022; 1,527 in Fiscal Year 2021; 418 in Fiscal Year 2020; 932 in Fiscal Year 2019; 609 in Fiscal Year 2018; and 419 in Fiscal Year 2017
The announcement by Canada comes as the country announced that three Haitian politicians have been slapped with sanctions for aiding gang leaders and laundering their illicit earnings
The sanctions will freeze any assets held in Canada by Senator Ronny Célestin, former Senator Hervé Fourcand, and former president of the Chamber of Deputies Gary Bodeau
from
Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) is to spend more than J$1 billion to produce the new banknotes
Aiming to heal wounds caused by the civil unrest of the 1970s, Clarke announced that Jamaica's former Prime Ministers Michael Manley and Edward Seaga will appear together on a newly created J$2,000 banknote
He said the country should move from perpetuating strife and division and instead seek constructive, authentic, and symbolic ways of forging unity, noting that “there was no better way to do it than to have the political rivals appearing together on the $2,000 note ” He told the House that the Manley and Seaga families consented for them to appear together
Several national heroes' images were removed from banknotes, as those notes were demonetized over the years However, all seven national heroes and four deceased prime ministers will be featured prominently on the six new notes
Former Prime Ministers Hugh Shearer and Donald Sangster will grace the upgraded 5,000 dollar note
At the same time, national heroes, founding fathers, and cousins Norman Manley and Sir Alexander Bustamante will be the highlight of the upgraded 1000 dollar banknote
National heroes Sam Sharpe and Nanny of the Maroons will share the upgraded 500 dollar note, and national heroes Paul Bogle and George William Gordon will appear together on the upgraded 50 dollar note
Jamaica's first national hero, Marcus Garvey, will appear alone on the upgraded 100 dollar banknote
According to Clarke, the new notes are part of the BOJ's efforts to refresh the currency in circulation to save money by increasing their durability, improving security to reduce the risk of counterfeiting, improving features to better meet the needs of the visually impaired, and ensure that the color and other distinctions between banknotes of different denominations are clear
Seventy one year old Charles Manord Rainey, who was apprehended last week in St. James Jamaica after being on the run for 11 years, has been deported to the US to face multiple child molestation charges.
Rainey was deported from Kingston last Friday to Paulding County, Georgia
He is being held in the Paulding County Jail without bond, according to a statement issued by the Paulding County Sheriff's Office (PCSO)
According to a statement on the PCSO's Facebook page,
Rainey was charged with aggravated child molestation, child molestation, and sexual battery in December 2011
Reports are that on November 15, a raid was carried out by officials of the Lottery Scam Task Force, Fugitive Apprehension Team, Counter Terrorism & Organized Crime Investigations Branch, and the United States Marshals Service Rainey was arrested and taken into custody
The PCSO further said Rainey acknowledged his identity and admitted to overstaying his visa during an interview at the Barnett Police Station in Montego Bay The visa he received in 2011 was valid for only six months
The police in Paulding County are encouraging anyone who was victimized by Rainey to contact detectives at 770 443 3010 or send a tip via the free Paulding Sheriff mobile app
The Sunrise, Florida based Issa Trust Foundation has raised US$417,000 at its first major fundraiser in the United States to construct the first pediatric adolescent health center in the north coast resort town of Ocho Rios in Jamaica
“We are so grateful for everyone ’ s overwhelming support and generosity,” Issa Trust Foundation Jamaica born President Diane Pollard said about the event at the Sony Hall in Manhattan, New York, stating that Jamaica has one of the highest rates of adolescent pregnancies in the English speaking Caribbean
“One out of every four students had considered suicide,” she added “Jamaica lags behind international standards with respect to its capacity to deliver mental health services to its population
“All of these factors should be of a major concern to everyone, and I hope more partners will step up, join forces with us to help our future generation,” Pollard continued
She said since 2005, the foundation has conducted annual
pediatric medical initiatives across the island and treated thousands of children
Pollard said the goal is not only to give free medical care to children but to also mentor with local health care providers, “ so that they can continue to practice in their home countries where their skills are most urgently needed ”
In 2020, Pollard said the foundation responded to the urgent medical crisis due to the COVID 19 pandemic, sourcing US$238,000 in equipment and supplies for Jamaica
She said the donation included two GE ventilators, a new portable X ray machine and a 40 foot container of supplies and equipment
Pollard said the pediatric adolescent health center will be named the Mary Issa Health Center in honor of Mary Issa, the deceased family matriarch who was passionately committed to health care for children during her lifetime
Dr. Robynne Chutkan has spent her career not just defying convention, but interrogating it. While her peers in the gastroenterology field write prescriptions the average patient can barely make out, the four time author has penned four easy to understand books that not only democratize information for the layman, but detail actionable steps and questions to ask your doctor.
“I have a fancy medical practice, and it's fairly limited as to who can see me,” Chutkan explains, describing the contents of her latest book, The Anti Viral Gut: Tackling Pathogens from the Inside Out, “but, I can put information out there for the price of a book ”
Chutkan credits this emphasis on approachability to her family Throughout our interview, she ties together the importance of her familial foundation, her Jamaican roots, and how they helped her escape the gravitational pull of colonialism with her professional success. Chutkan is Afro Indian and like many Jamaicans of African descent, her roots become impossible to trace past the horrific Middle Passage Still, she has great reverence for her familial legacy, of which she doesn't simply cling to, but drapes around herself with pride
The doctor spent most of her childhood split between Kingston and her grandfather's farm just outside of Spanish Town, St Catherine “Running around the sugarcane fields, swimming in the canal in the viaduct, riding on the tractor with my grandfather – I
lived a very close to the ground life,” she reminisces “I didn't realize it at the time, but really what I was doing was exposing my body to soil microbes, and building strength and immunity ” This realization became one of Chutkan's guiding mantras in her life and work, “live dirty and eat clean ” She advocates for a closer relationship with nature and a move away from processed foods
She remembers a bamboo pole on her grandfather's farm On top of it was this red flag, or a Jhandi flag, that let travelers know that this was a spot they could rest, get a drink of water, or a plate of food She also remembers
– Dr. Chutkan
trailing behind her father in the city By this point, he had established himself, against all odds as a boy born and raised on a plantation, as one of Jamaica's first orthopedic surgeons Former patients would stop him to shake his hand, hug him, and thank him for changing their lives
It seems Chutkan was destined for a career in medicine She received her bachelor's degree from Yale University before earning her medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Like many who emigrated from Jamaica, attending Yale came with growing pains At the time she
attended there was little diversity on campus, and she was the only person of color on the squash team Moreover, she was not used to thinking racially “In Jamaica, I had friends from all over,” she explains “I had friends who were mixed like me, friends who were Chinese, Lebanese, Black I was struck here that people needed to know who you were, 'what' you were, and felt this need to categorize you ”
Chutkan is sure this would have affected her more if she was not lucky to be raised in Jamaica “If you already feel limited and put down, it's harder to ascend to something,” she reasons.
“I grew up in a country where a lot of the people in charge looked like me I say that not just about race, but also in terms of gender I grew up with women doing really important things, including my mom ” Her mother was many things – she attended law school, taught at the College of Arts, Science and Technology (now known as UTECH), and represented Jamaica in squash, tennis, dance, and bridge She vividly remembers beaming, watching her mother soar across the stage She hopes to be a similar figure for her daughter as she is preparing for the college application process
Medical school was competitive, but Chutkan thrived nevertheless, holding on to those same principles of empowerment and confidence “I feel like I bring value I don't mean that in a conceited way I'm going to bring value, I'm going to work hard, I'm going to represent your institution well,” she says She completed her residency at Columbia and became the first chief resident of color in 1995, a fact she only realized last year when it was pointed out to her on a reunion Zoom call
This colorful one way street on the outskirts of Bridgetown has two lines of houses lining the now busy street. Of course, one would wonder why such a small street attracts so much traffic; but it is due to a green and yellow house three quarters down the road that brings the pilgrims
Before Rihanna became a global pop superstar and successful businesswoman, she was known simply as Robyn The little girl from Charles F Broome Memorial Primary School who lived in one of the colorful houses along Westbury New Road in St Michael
Robyn Rihanna Fenty used to ride her bicycle up and down Westbury New Road, she used to listen to Bob Marley music on this very street as she drew inspiration from another Caribbean star who became a global icon Long before the Grammys and the platinum records and the fashion empire before Westbury New Road received its current name: Rihanna Drive, this for Rihanna was simply home
On the country’s Independence Day in 2017, the government of Barbados renamed that stretch of street Rihanna Drive. Every year, visitors flock to the modest but brightly painted green and orange house on a blue surface to see where Barbados’ biggest star grew up
There are two rum shops at the end of the road, and if you go to either, you are sure to find a neighbor who was there in the beginning
“My whole life was shaped on this very road,” Rihanna said at the renaming ceremony “I was just a little island girl riding bikes, running around barefoot, and flying kits in the cemetery, but I had big dreams Dreams that were born and realized right here ”
Barbados like many other Caribbean islands has a legacy of sugar cane production embedded in its history It was out of this rich heritage coupled with the ideal tropical weather conditions for rum production that Mount Gay Distilleries was formed
Founded in 1703, the most renowned spirits producer is the world’s oldest commercial rum distillery Its signature tasting explores Barbados’ history as the birthplace of rum From the founding in 1703 to the legendary leadership of Sir John Gay Alleyne To the digging of the first and only well The well still operates to this day, over 300 years later To the single strand fields of cane, planted at the estate today It’s all part of Mount Gay A story you can taste in every bottle
And a heralded rum heritage To the people of Barbados, this is more than a rum
You may visit the original landscape and buildings where it all began on the Historic Distillery Tours that take you through their fully operational rum making headquarters Steeped in over 300 years of heritage and expertise, the experiences are tales to be told forever and a rum lover’s paradise
You will be guided through an in depth tasting session with rum experts, followed by an interactive cocktail session led by an award winning mixologist who will provide you with all the tips, tricks, techniques, and recipes as you shake, stir and muddle!
The Animal Flower Cave is a premier tourist attraction and authentic restaurant that has been proudly serving Barbados for decades The most important mission of this unique restaurant has been to provide an enjoyable experience and high quality food for all those who wish to combine fun and enjoyable ambiance with skillful cooking into one extraordinary day
The sea cave has been in the Ward family since 1927 Short, guided, cave tours are available Above the cave is a cliff side restaurant bearing the same name and known for its homemade, authentic dishes and hand squeezed, fresh lemonade
Encapsulated by fresh air and outdoor spaces you will find a nature lovers’ paradise at Animal Flower Cove. No enclosed AC areas, just open windows, and cool breezes blowing all your worries away
Animal Flower Cave is perched on the tip of the northernmost part of Barbados in St Lucy parish The restaurant sits on a spacious seven acres of land which gives visitors all the room they need for a memorable experience
Inside you will find reflective pools and several large, jagged openings that act as windows looking out over the ocean and offering enough natural light to ward off claustrophobia
The best time to visit is between February and April when you stand a better chance of seeing the humpback whales from an open deck viewing area above the restaurant
Christ Church is one of the best known neighborhoods in Barbados
The Gap, as it’s known locally, is less than a mile long but is the hub for nightlife Found between Oistins to the east and Worthing to the west, Saint Lawrence Gap features a stretch of bars, hotels, dance clubs, restaurants, inns, resorts, and shops along a white powdery sand beachfront
It’s just about 20 minutes outside of Bridgetown in the Christ Church parish The small street comes alive at nighttime, particularly on the high octane west side where you will find the bulk of eateries and nightclubs
The east end is populated with residential homes as well as hotels and guesthouses for every price point including a Sandals resort and other large hotels such as the Divi Southwinds, Hilton, and Turtle Beach
The area features fancy restaurants and bars, but there are a few bars with a noticeably more laid back vibe Whichever you prefer before your trip is over, please ensure you grab some local street food and coconut water from one of the multiple vendors in the area and head to the short boardwalk to enjoy a front row seat to a glorious sunset
Mount Hillaby, situated in the parish St Andrew, is the highest point of the and – at 1,115 ft or 343 meters above a level! Barbados is a relatively flat ndmass with very little mountainous rrain Mount Hillaby is the exception
Naturally, this site is the optimal spot r the best scenic lookouts in Barbados, rticularly of the eastern and northern ctions of the island With many rolling ls, a few cliffs, and some open areas of ather many have said it resembles the ghlands of Scotland except the island has an amazing climate, and great aches to visit all year round
Hikers of all skill levels will apprecie the low intensity trek up Mount llaby’s trail Look out for the white ral stone and volcanic rock Unlike ighboring islands, Barbados has no lcanoes, so this is the only area on the and with this type of rock The area is a t tricky, so it is wise to book a tour ide
If you follow the narrow road rough the village of Hillaby, you will be treated to captivating views that get even more beautiful if you get to the peak of Mount Hillaby from there, you can see the very beautiful beaches of Bathsheba, its famous soup bowl, one of the places to surf in the Caribbean and the distinctively white Chalky Mountain
Fans are in for a treat this new year for reggae legends Buju Banton and Beres Hammond's concert dubbed Intimate
It will indeed be an intimate experience for fans of the artistes who will get to see the two musical giants on stage, thrilling the audience with their expansive catalogue
Set to take place at Grizzly's Plantation Cove in St Ann the event is expected to pull a large crowd on New Year's Day as anticipation mounts for this historic event
Even though both artistes have appeared on each other's sets, the two have never held a joint concert Fans can expect a night filled with jumping, dancing and encores The show will find Beres Hammonds' Harmony House Band and Buju Banton's Til Shiloh Band pumping hits for in excess of two full hours
Intimate is brought to you by two of the industry's finest event producers, FYVE Events & Talent Limited as well as A Team Management
FYVE Events & Talent Limited was founded in 2020 by managing director
Marlon Burke, who has over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry Burke also stems from a family deeply rooted in Jamaican entertainment and was one of the driving forces in the production of the historic Buju Banton concert, Long Walk To Freedom
A Team Management has been established for over 20 years The entertainment management company was started by Joseph "Budafuco" Louis and Steven "Jabba" Beckford and is known for staging premiere events and global music festivals
Mark Anthony Myrie, professionally known by his stage name Buju Banton, is widely considered one of the most significant and well regarded artistes in Jamaican music. Banton released a number of dancehall singles from as early as 1987 but came to prominence in 1992 with two albums, Stamina Daddy and Mr Mention, the latter becoming one of the best selling albums in Jamaican history upon its release That year he also broke the record for No 1 singles in Jamaica, previously held by Bob Marley and the
Wailers His 2010 album, Before the Dawn, won a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards
Hammond has poured his smoky sweet voice over every kind of riddim track over the course of five decades
From the funked up reggae jams of the '70s fusion band Zap Pow to the lush instrumentation of his 1976 album, Soul Reggae, to the spare digital beat of his 1985 dancehall breakthrough What One Dance Can Do
Hammond started building his home studio in the early '90s before it became the trend among successful reggae artistes to take over their own production duties Although the trend of self production as a whole has, at times, diluted the quality of music coming from isolated individuals, Hammond's music room attracts a steady stream of Jamaica's most talented musicians
There's absolutely no better way to ring in the new year than with A class performances from these two musical icons
It was nothing short of excitement at Mega Yush on Saturday when American superstars Ja Rule and Ashanti came and dominated the stage, which left many patrons in awe
Known globally for songs like Always on Time, Mesmerize, What's Luv and Down 4 U the pair performed all their major hits
Grammy Award winning singer Ashanti, who has in the past expressed deep love for Jamaica and dancehall music, wore a sexy one piece outfit consisting of a black, green, and gold leotard with fishnet stockings, thigh high boots, and a ponytail Her backup dancers also wore outfits in the rich gold color, to represent the Jamaican national flag
When the pair walked on to the stage, the audience sang every tune word for word along with them As Ashanti and Ja Rule alternated time on the stage, they gave the crowd a full package Ashanti, along with her backup dancers, used the entire stage to ensure partygoers would not be disappointed She showed off her vocal talent on her tracks such as Into You, What's Luv, Rain On Me and The Way That I Love You
Ja Rule, said he was happy to be back performing in Jamaica after having been banned for ten years for profanity
Ja Rule who was feeling the crowd and his performance took off his shirt while performing This was one of the highlights during his performance as screams and cheers echoed through the venue from adoring female fans The men totally enjoyed Ashanti's performance and her two backup dancers who never missed a beat
Both Ashanti and Ja Rule continuously expressed their joy at sharing a stage on the island for the first time during their performance For almost two decades, YUSH has been a calendar 90s and 2000s event This year, the mega version is aimed at raising proceeds for the UWI scholarship fund
The
Tagenarine
Saturday
The 26 year old son of Test legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul top scored with 56, leading the touring side's pursuit of a target of 309 at Manuka Oval, which also saw Devon Thomas punch a confident 55 and wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva, a confident unbeaten 52
Chanderpaul's knock came on the heels of his first innings 119 and earned him Man of the Match honours, most likely also sealing his Test debut in the opening Test at Perth starting
next Wednesday
West Indies appeared poised to win the day/night contest at 177 for three but lost a cluster of wickets to see their challenge derailed, finishing on 277 for eight
“I'm not happy with the result; we should've won it,” head coach Phil Simmons said “We had a few misplaced wickets in the middle there where we were controlling the game so that's the only little disappointment I had about today But the way the guys fought at the end there is very encouraging always ”
Captain Kraigg Brathwaite was an early casualty, adding only one to his overnight 19 before finding himself trapped on his crease and bowled by seamer Michael Neser (2 43)
The left handed Chanderpaul then carried
his side's chase, stroking five fours and a six off 138 balls as he put on 46 for the second wicket with Nkrumah Bonner (12) and a further 34 for the third wicket with Thomas whose 93 ball innings included four fours and a six Chanderpaul was eventually third out, left arm seamer Joel Paris earning an lbw decision against him, but Thomas picked up the mantle, adding 58 for the fourth wicket with left hander Kyle Mayers (20)
West Indies were eyeing victory when Mayers fell to a catch at the wicket off Neser, triggering a slide which saw the Caribbean side lose three wickets for 44 runs, the innings quickly declining to 221 for six
The unflappable Da Silva then anchored perhaps the key stand of the innings when he
posted 48 for the seventh wicket with Alzarri Joseph, whose 31 came from 73 deliveries and included four fours and a six Da Silva faced 124 deliveries and counted half dozen fours in the partnership which took crucial time out of the final session and frustrated the hosts
By the time Joseph steered pacer Mark Steketee (3 56) to gully and Kemar Roach gloved the same bowler to first slip 11 balls later without scoring, the end was already in sight and Da Silva partnered with the injured Raymon Reifer (0 not out) to keep out the last 55 deliveries of the game
The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida (Board), intends to award one Construction firm for the following General Obligation Bond (GOB) project:
PROJECT NO. 02117500
SOUTH MIAMI MIDDLE SCHOOL GENERALOBLIGATION BOND RENOVATIONS PROJECT th 6750 SW 60 STREET SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA33143
th BIDS DUE: Sealed bids will be received by The School Board of Miami Dade County, Florida, for the project listed herein, until 2:00 PM local time, Thursday January 19, 2023, at 1450 N E Second Avenue, Lobby in the N E Fifteenth (15 ) Street entrance, Miami, Florida, 33132 following which time and place or as soon there after as the Board can attend to the same the said bids wll be publicly opened read and tabulated in the BoardAuditorium Miami Dade County School Board Administration Building, by an authorized representative of the Board Award of the contract will be made to the lowest, pre qualified responsible and responsive bidder for the actual amount bid considerng base bd and accepted alternates (if any) as listedinthebiddingdocuments TheBoardwillawardthecontractbasedupontheresultsofthetabulationsascoveredbyapplicablelawsandregulations Bidders desiring to participate in this solicitation must be pre qualified by the Board prior to submitting their bid in response to this solicitation. Contact
995 1307 or via email at oeo@dadeschools net for nformation regarding Contractors Pre qualification procedures
QUESTIONS: Written questions regarding this project will be accepted All written communications must be sent to the Project Architect/Engineer, Lourdes Rodriguez (lourdes@rodriguezarchitects com), Rodriguez Architects, Inc , 2121 Ponce De Leon Blvd. Suite 1010, Coral Gables, Florida 33134. Questions will be accepted until 5:00 pm on Friday, December 23, 2022 Answers will only be issued to the Contractors who attended the mandatory Pre bid Conference th
MANDATORY PRE BID CONFERENCE: (South Miami Middle School): Tuesday, December 13, 2022, at 10:00 a m local time, at South Miami Middle School, 6750 SW 60 Street, South Miami, Florida 33143 There will be a sign in period from 10:00 a m. to 10:15 a m. Potential bidders arriving after the fifteen (15) minute sign in period wil not be allowed to participate in this solicitation. Proposals submtted by firms not represented at the Mandatory Pre Bid Conference will not be considered
Cone of Silence A Cone of Sience, pursuant to shal 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 Board Policy 6325, prior to the Board meeting at which the Board will award or approve a contract, reject all bds 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 disqualfication of the potential applicant from the competitive solcitation process, reection 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 vendors representative determined to have violated this rule, shall be subject to debarment General questions regarding the legal advertisement will be sent to the Office of Capital Improvement Projects via email at ocip@dadeschools net, and a copy filed with the Cerk of the School Board at celiarubio@dadeschools net, who shall make copies available to the public upon request
Lobbyist requirements, pursuant to shall be applicable to this solicitation and all proposers and lobbyists shall strictly conform to, and be governed by, the requirements set forth theren. Contact the Clerk of the School Board Policy 8150, Board for additional information
Local Vendor Preference, pursuant to shall appy to this solicitation. Based on Board policy, Local Business means a vendor or business that has a valid business tax receipt, issued by a jurisdiction located in Miami Board Policy 6320 05, Dade County, that has ether (1) its headquarters, manufacturing facilty, or locally owned franchse ocated within the egal boundaries of Mami Dade County, for at least twelve (12) months, or (2) has an office with a street address within the boundaries of Miami Dade County for at least twenty four (24) months, calculated from the bid or proposal opening date. Post office boxes are not verifiable and shall not be used for the purpose of establishing said physical address. In order to be considered for local preference, vendors must provide a copy of their business tax receipt and the Local Business Affidavit of Eligibility with their proposal. Proposers who fail to submit the required documents will not be considered for Vendor Preference
The successful proposer(s) shall fuly comply with the State of Florida's House Bill 1877 “Jessica Lunsford Act” (JLA); FS 1012 465, 1012 32, 1012 467 & 1012 468 and Employment Standards and Fingerprinting of all Board Policy 4121 01, Employees (also refer to Board Polcy 8475)
Proposers responding to this solicitation shall comply with the following ethics, conflict of interest and anti fraud policies:
- Board Policy 6460, Business Code of Ethics; - Board Policy 6460, Disclosure of Employment of Former School Board Employees; - Board Policy 8700, Anti Fraud; and all related Board polcies and procedures, as applicable
Pursuant to Contractor Discipline Procedures, debarred contractors are excluded from conducting business with the Board as agents, representatives, partners, and associates of other contractors, subcontractors or Board Policy 6320 04, individual sureties
Commercial Anti discrimination, Diversity, and Inclusion
Proposers responding to this solicitation shall comply with the followng anti discrimination policies: Commercial Anti discrimination, Diversity, and Inclusion (proposers shall be required to certify compliance with Board Policy 6465); - Board Policy 6465, Anti discrimination/Harassment Complaint Procedure; and - Board Policy 1362 02, 3362 02 and 4362 02 - all related Board policies and procedures, as applicable
Protest
Failure to file a protest wthin the time prescribed and in the manner specified in (Purchase Approval and Competitive Bidding Process Requirements) or in accordance with FS Secton 120 57(3) shal constitute a waiver Board Policy 6320 of proceedings under FS Chapter 120
The proposer acknowledges that all information contained in their RFQ Response is part of public domain as defined by the State of Florida Sunshine Law Therefore, any information received is subject to public inspection and copyng in accordance with FS 119 No action on the part of the proposer would create an obligation of confidentiality on the part of the School Board including, but not limited to, making a reference in the RFQ Response to trade secrets FS 812 081 and FS 815 045. It is recommended that potentia proposers exclude from their response any information that, in their judgment, may be considered a trade secret Board policies, as amended from time to time, can be accessed and downloaded at: https://go boarddocs com/fl/sbmd/Board nsf/goto?open&id=BK6KUF4FFE14
The successful proposer(s) shal fully comply with the State of Floridas House Bill 1877 “Jessica Lunsford Act” (JLA); FS 1012 465, 1012 32, 1012 467 & 1012 468 and Employment Standards and Fingerprinting of all Board Policy 4121
diversitycompliance com that the “Small/Micro Business Enterprise Program Administrative Procedures Manual”, Board approved January 15, 2020, shall be applicable to this solicitation. Please contact the Office of Economic Opportunity at 305 995 1307 or via email at OEO@dadeschools net for additional information
Assistance levels, as established by the Goal Setting Committee: South Miami Middle School: S/MBE Mandatory Subcontracting Goals: 8 72 % Construction, and 20% Local Work Force, within a 10 mile radius
Mandatory M/WBE Subcontracting Goals: 11 28%- Based on the M DCPS 2020 Comprehensive Disparity Study only Non minority Women, Afrcan American, Native American, and Asian American owned firms are eigible to meet the M/WBE goals on this solicitation
The Board reserves the right to waive informalities and to reject any and all bids
THE SCHOOL BOARD OF MIAMI DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: Jose L. Dotres Superintendent of Schools