Caribbean National Weekly March 16, 2023

Ganja farmers in Jamaica get support

Sixteen communities and approximately 128 small traditional cannabis farmers in Jamaica will be targeted for support over the next three to four years under a program that aims to eliminate illicit cultivation of cannabis by transitioning farmers into the legally regulated industry Jamaica's Minister of Industry, Investment, and Commerce, Senator Aubyn Hill says communities participating in the Alternative Development Programme 2 0 will be allowed to cultivate up to 10 acres of land

“Each participating community will be required to sell output to a person who has a license from the Cannabis Licensing Authority, and we expect that to be in place by April 2023,” he said, as he outlined assistance for small farmers in the medical cannabis industry

Senator Hill highlighted further support, through the mother farm concept This is a shared economy approach in which a licensed cannabis cultivator or processor agrees with a small-scale/traditional farmer to cultivate the crop and sell it back to the mother farm/licensee

“ W h e n I l o o k a c r o s s Jamaica you have people with one acre, two acres, three acres, but they don’t have the working capital The mother farm concept allows for a big investor,” the Minister explained

“So, we ’ re finding ways to make sure we alleviate some of the problems We’re looking at very real ways to develop medical cannabis growth in Jamaica ”

A release from the Ministry also stated that efforts are being made to have medical cannabis designated as an industrial/agricultural crop through the amendment of the Agricultural Produce Act

Addressing the importation of cannabis from Canada, which several players in the local industry have expressed concern about, Minister Hill clarified that only 44 pounds of cannabis were imported by Cannaviva Jamaica Limited, and the particular strain, tranquil elephantine, is not found on the island

He added that since 2018, Jamaica has exported 1,608 pounds of cannabis “So, as an exporting country, we have a lot to benefit from, and we want to export more We want this industry to grow more,” Hill said

WHAT’S I

Haitian-Ameri

Mariedriven, a thriving celebr publicist

After

34 years behind bars, Broward Resident

Exonerated

Sidney Holmes, a 57-year-old man who was sentenced to 400 years in prison in a 1988 armed robbery in Broward was set free on Monday after more than 34 years behind bars.

He is to be released from prison following a request from the Broward State Attorney’s Office Conviction Review Unit Reports are that Holmes contacted the unit in November 2020 claiming he was innocent in the June 19, 1988, armed robbery of two people outside a convenience store on Northwest 6th Street in unincorporated Broward Holmes, of Lauderhill, was arrested in October 1988 and

Bob Marley’s Range Rover heads to auction

given a hefty sentence after being convicted in a jury trial in 1989

Prosecutors said Holmes had been accused of being the driver for two unidentified men who robbed a man and woman at gunpoint and stole the man ’ s car

The Conviction Review Unit, working with the Innocence Project of Florida, investigated and found Holmes had a plausible claim of innocence because of how he became a suspect and because of the precarious eyewitness identification that was the principal evidence against him at trial Investigators found the eyewitness identification of Holmes was likely a misidentification partly due to the photo and live lineup practices commonly used by law enforcement at the time, which they said was scientifically unreliable and

continues on B3 – Exonerated after 34 years

Jamaican danceha artiste Spice shoc with ‘baby bump’ p on social media

photo by Al Diaz of the Miami Herald

Hill

(from L-R) Island Hinds, Mireya Arias and Diana Falquez hanging out in the pre show recepon at the “On Your Feet - The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan Show” at the Miramar Cultural Center, last Saturday

(from L-R) Ernisha Randolph- Founder of Sweet Buer Hospitality Group; Alexis Brown - Founder of SocialXChange;Janéy Tate, Publisher of Hy-Lo News and LaJuane Mack-Jack Daniels Region Mulcultural Manager - Central at Brown-Forman. at the Jack Daniels Black Achievers Awards celebrang Black professionals and entrepreneurs in the South Florida market held recently at the Historic Hampton House

Ladies celebrang Dr Allan Cunningham’s birthday at the Zinc Fence in Sunrise recently. – Contributed

Juliet Steadman and Dr. Allan Cunningham at his birthday celebraon. –Contributed

Vice Mayor Yvee Colbourne (center) and Omar Colbourne (2nd from le) with cast of the “On Your Feet” Show, which was held at the Miramar Cultural Center last Saturday – Contributed

Patricia Del Carmen Pooja Uberoi are all smiles at the “On Your Feet” Show. – Contributed

Miramar became the first city in Broward County to hire a Social Worker in its Police Department. The posion will be funded in the first year, by the Office of Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick. L-R Saran Earle Smith (Police Social Worker); Commissioner Alexandra P. Davis who proposed the posion; Mayor Wayne Messam; Vice Mayor Yvee Colbourne; Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick; Interim Police Chief Jose Vargas; Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz were on hand at the official announcement at the grounds of the Miramar City Hall on Tuesday. – Contributed

2023 Jack Daniel’s Black Achievers Honorees. – Contributed

Haitian-American MarieDriven

A Thriving Celebrity Publicist

By CNW Contributor

Marie “MarieDriven” Theodore is a Haitian-American entrepreneur and public relations executive who started in New York City working for prominent music, fashion, and lifestyle companies. Publicists play a crucial role in promoting and advocating for artists, and individuals like MarieDriven, are dedicated to elevating Caribbean talent specifically.

Theodore is the co-founder and Managing Partner of the multi-disciplinary communications firm Playbook MG She manages a base of support and operations for clients from the mainstream to niche categories through strategic relationship building

She is passionate about promoting diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry and is committed to supporting underrepresented communities Marie has worked with popular artists such as Spice, Mr Vegas, Jr Reid, Serani, Lexxus, Yellowman, Dermaco, Future Fambo, Patrice Roberts, Moyann, Marion Hall, and Mr Killa, while taking pride in helping them get the recognition they deserve

Through her work as a publicist, Theodore has helped Caribbean artists build their brands, increase their visibility, and connect with fans and industry professionals This has created more opportunities for artists to showcase their talent and achieve success in their careers By highlighting the talent of Caribbean artists, Theodore has helped to create a more equitable and diverse music industry

As a two-time verified mentor for the Revolt osted “Office participants t speaker in ming

Theodore represents what it means to have a pulse on popular culture while also focusing on establishing a presence in emerging markets Her knack for navigating cultural circles is unmatched, particularly within the Caribbean community

In 2019, Theodore traveled to Germany for the 4th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum as a guest speaker for the Dscvr The Caribbean Showcase The year before, she represented the communication and PR segment at the 2018 Black Web Fest celebrating Black media, tech, and all things digital

Under her direction, Playbook MG helped FOX 5 NY NEWS in collaboration with

STUDIO 5 to coordinate a special showcase called “Kings and Queens of Dancehall” featuring talents such as Vybz Kartel, Spice, Protoje, Koffee, and Beenie Man She has also established a wide variety of corporate affiliations in the music and entertainment space

Her corporate clients include mega-giant Warner Brothers Music and subsidiaries such as Atlantic Records, specialized labels like Roc Nation and genre-based heavyweights VP Records, and smaller firms like indie label Ineffable Records, 21st Hapilos Digital Distribution, and streaming platform Audiomack

Theodore found her footing in music working in PR after an immersive experience with renowned celebrity publicist Lizzie Grubman Soon after that, she made headway representing rappers Remy Ma and Papoose before shifting focus to world music and fostering relationships with Marion Hall (aka Lady Saw), Sting Jamaica, and Mr Vegas

In time, she began taking on a broader spectrum of clientele Her celebrity stratosphere roster includes a wide spectrum of heavyweights – from athletes JR Reid and Walter Thurmond III, to reality TV star Karlie Redd, to Peter Gunz, a rapper and TV personality, as well as designer labels like streetwear brand Sprayground, filmmakers and their respective production companies, celebrity doctors, NYC based political candidates, and other highprofile professionals

This Haitian-American has made an indelible mark on the Caribbean community over the past 20 years with an impressive brand and roster of creative individuals

Marie “MarieDriven” Theodore

Trinidad and Tobago actively considering Mexico’s request regarding small arms

Trinidad and Tobago is giving “active consideration” to a request by Mexico to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to pursue legal action in the United States in a bid to have gun manufacturers held responsible for gun-related crimes in the region

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, speaking at a public meeting of his ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) on Thursday night, said Mexico despite having lost an initial approach to US authorities “intends to continue fighting

“Mexico has approached CARICOM asking us as independent sovereign states with the same problem to join the fight to test it in the courts of America to hold the manufacturers and distributors of handguns and assault weapons into our country, to hold them responsible for the mayhem that they have unleashed on our societies,” Rowley said

He told party supporters on the outskirts of the capital that his administration is considering the proposal

“So I can tell you Trinidad and Tobago is actively considering joining that (initiative) to be able to test the legality of those who make those things of war that are destroying our society We have to join that fight”

Rowley said America had passed laws to

prevent gun owners from being sued, adding those who are making those guns knowing where they are going and what they could do, have been insulated from lawsuits

But recently a couple of people had sued the gun manufacturers in America and won So the

dam has cracked,” he said, even as he acknowledged this was a difficult fight because one could buy guns all over America in most states

He said one state was about to change its law to remove the requirement for a license before buying a firearm

“In other words, you could just go and buy a firearm like how you buy bread And once that becomes so, we Trinidadians are all over the place, they (the gun will) come to us from Connecticut, Alabama, Miami, Texas, and Georgia and they end up in Trinidad and Tobago But you know who makes it easier (for the guns to come in)?

Earlier this year, St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves called on the United States to do more to curb the easy access of illegal weapons and their easy exportation to Latin America and the Caribbean

He decried the proliferation of guns manufactured in the United States and violence associated with the illegal drug trade as the main cause for the high rate of murders in some Latin American and Caribbean countries

CTO reports promising outlook for the region in 2023

Despite global pressures such as high inflation, the war in Ukraine, the ensuing energy crisis, and an impending economic recession, the outlook for Caribbean travel and tourism is favorable, according to the Barbadosbased Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO)

Delivering the region’s 2022 “Tourism

Performance and Outlook Report” in Bridgetown today, Neil Walters, Acting Secretary General of the CTO, confirmed that the Caribbean had one of the quickest recovery rates globally in 2022, with 28 3 million

registered tourist visits in 2022 This represents 88 6 percent of the visitors who arrived in 2019, which served as the baseline year for typical tourism activity before the pandemic

He reported that international travel is expected to contribute to the region’s substantial gains already registered thanks to the robust United States market, which continues to drive the region’s recovery

There was an estimated 28 1 percent increase in visitors coming from the U S market in 2022 At the end of the year, 14 6

million American tourists visited the region, 3 2 million more than the 11 4 million in 2021

Arrivals from the European market increased by 81 percent in 2022 when compared to 2021 The 5 2 million tourists from this market were almost double the 2 8 million in 2021 This represented 18 3 percent of all arrivals in 2022, Due to travel restrictions in early 2022, the Canadian market has recovered more slowly at 60 percent, while the lack of availability of intraregional airlift has negatively impacted regional

connectivity

“Nearly 90 percent of the region’s travel demand for 2019 has already been recovered,” reported Walters, with destinations such as Curaçao, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, St Maarten, Turks and Caicos, and the U S Virgin Islands already surpassing their prepandemic levels Caribbean destinations can expect this recovery to continue into 2023, albeit at a

Weapons seized by U S. authorities that had been destined for illegal export to Haiti are displayed during a news conference in Miami, Florida, U S. August 17, 2022 REUTERS/Brian Ellsworth

Bob Marley’s Range Rover heads to auction this month

Reports are that a Range Rover believed to have belonged to Jamaica’s reggae icon Bob Marley is heading to auction in March

Initially in Masai Red, it is said that the car was painted a mixture of black, green, and blue by some of Bob’s eleven children, and could be sold for as much as £150,000 once restored

According to reports, the original registration document bore the name “Robert Nesta Marley” when it was found and the 1980 Range Rover was made just one year before his death in 1981 It is also said to be one of two Land Rovers owned by Marley and is believed to have been acquired through an agent who dealt directly with the Marley family Reports are that it was shipped from Solihull to Germany, then to Jamaica, and was regularly shipped between the U K and Jamaica

Simon Langsdale of Classic Car Auctions, who sourced the car revealed that the ex-Bob Marley Range Rover will be offered at a public auction. The Range Rover is one of many vehicles coming to auction as CCA’s first sale of 2023 at the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show

“This unique opportunity to purchase not only an early

suffix example but one with history linked to the legendary reggae star – I am sure it will attract huge interest Fully restored examples have sold for as much as £130,000 in recent years; but with a celebrity link that can add up to 20 per cent in value so this is a great investment option But for a true Bob Marley fan who is also a petrolhead, owning this Range Rover will be something beyond price and is a once-ina-lifetime opportunity,” Langsdale said

Guyanese jailed for trafficking Jamaicans

A 44-year-old farmer in Guyana has been jailed for four years after he was found guilty of trafficking two Jamaican nationals A Guyana Police Force (GPF) statement said that Tito Browne was also sentenced to one-year imprisonment on the count of withholding the passports of the two Jamaican nationals

Browne, who was arrested by police on April 28, 2021, one day after a wanted bulletin was issued for him, was also fined GUY$200,000 (One Guyana dollar US$0 004 cents) and ordered to pay $6 3M in restitution to the victims

Browne, also known as ‘Tommy’ and ‘Yankee’ appeared before Magistrate Wanda Fortune at the Linden Magistrate’s Court on Thursday He was charged with two counts of trafficking in persons and on each count, he was sentenced to four years imprisonment The sentences will run concurrently

The magistrate handed down the sentences after an eightmonth-long trial that began in December 2021 and concluded

last August

The court was told that in November 2020, one of the victims met an individual in Jamaica, who indicated that Browne needed someone to work on his farm at Kara Kara Creek, Linden, in Guyana, and was willing to pay US$5,000 for the work to be done

The first victim reportedly informed the second victim about the opportunity, and together they arranged with Browne, who promised to facilitate all their travel expenses

Both victims left Jamaica on December 12, 2020, and upon their arrival here, Browne instructed them to inform immigration that they would only be spending two weeks

“The victims were forced to venture from the camp in search of other campsites, walking through bushes and swamp lands until they managed to locate a logger who eventually took them to a village where they related their story and made a police report,” the police said

Schools in St Lucia closed following upsurge in deadly gun violence

The St Lucia government on Friday announced the closure of schools in the southern town of Vieux Fort after three people were shot and killed and a nine-year-old boy injured as a result of gun violence

The Ministry of Education, in a statement, cited ‘the current unstable environment’ in Vieux Fort in announcing the closure of five schools in the area It said that the decision to close down the schools follow discussions with the Royal St Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) and apologized for any inconvenience caused

The ministry advised parents and guardians to make all necessary arrangements to keep themselves and their children safe The authorities said that two men, identified only as “Brico’ and ‘Dylan,” were shot and killed on Thursday afternoon at the fisheries complex A woman was also shot and killed at the complex

Police said that the nine-year-old had sustained injuries from the fisheries complex shooting The latest gun violence upsurge in Vieux Fort has been linked to continuing rival gang activity and media reports say residents in the southern town are bracing for more violence

St Lucia recorded 74 murders last year

Promising Outlook

fromA4

slower rate, Walters explained, predicting that growth will be uneven among the destinations, with additional countries and territories exceeding their 2019 levels

According to STR, the average daily rate at hotels increased by 21 7 percent to US$290 60 in 2022 The revenue per available room surged by 66 4 percent to $176 46, and the number of available rooms (up 4 4 percent), as well as room income (up 73 6 percent), increased After two challenging years for the aviation industry, global air passenger traffic recovered significantly in 2022

It is estimated that visitors to the Caribbean region spent between $36 5 and $37 5 billion in 2022, an increase of 70 to 75 percent compared to 2021

Range Rover believed to have belonged to Bob Marley

EDITORIAL

Homelessness in South Florida begs a strong policy

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

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EMERITUS

There’s a major problem staring Americans in the face that demands clear policies at the local, state and federal level This is the problem of homelessness

Over recent months there seems to be significant growth in the number of homeless persons wandering around city streets of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Palm Beach

credit cards, car loans, and also result in more people losing jobs This is a potential recipe for increased homelessness within the community

At night, more cars are observed still parked in the parking lots of some malls, shopping centers and large stores like Walmart and Target

Andrew Karim akarim@cnweeklynews.com

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

GRAPHIC EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR

EDITORIAL

Don Anthony sports@cnweeklynews.com

ADVERTISING/CIRCULATION

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

Tel: 954-739-6618

Fax: 954-765-6199

Recently, a representative of this newspaper encountered a woman in the parking lot of a Walmart store in West Kendall seeking help to purchase petrol for her car The woman and her three children, a boy and two girls, aged 14 to 5 years, have been sleeping in a Nissan Sentra for the past six weeks, parked at night in the Walmart parking lot

They conduct their hygiene management in the store’s restrooms Ironically, the woman is employed at another Walmart in Miami-Dade, but when her former landlord of three years raised the rent for a two-bedroom apartment by some 40 percent, she could no longer afford living there, and was forced into homelessness, unable to find an alternative affordable rental Sadly, the woman said, she noticed several other families living in cars in the same parking lot that she now calls home

The challenges presented by the US economy is making the phrase “ one paycheck away from homelessness” very real and profound in South Florida and other regions across the US Increasingly, people are finding it difficult to find affordable housing, while buying food and meeting other necessary domestic expenses There are no signs the economic situation will improve significantly soon

Although inflation is gradually falling from the nine percent peak experienced late in 2022, prices for food and rent remain unusually high

The Federal Reserve has been pursuing its

customary policy of increasing interest rates to curb high inflation and bring prices down However, this policy has not worked effectively to date Despite the high interest rates, the US economy continues to run hot, with employment remaining high

But, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell testified before the US Senate Banking Committee last week indicating the Feds could speed up the increase of interest rates Powell said, “If the totality of the data were to indicate that faster tightening is warranted, we would be prepared to increase the pace of rate hikes ”

A more aggressive policy in rising interest rates could likely remove the resistance to the former hikes by consumers and business Many consumers have resorted to using credit cards to charge goods and services, but as interest rates go up it will become harder to pay credit card bills when they become due

When consumers are forced to reduce purchases, the demand for goods and services supplied by business will fall, and force them into laying off workers, in a climate where businesses have to pay a much higher rate for loans to remain open

There's a real possibility that the relentless increase in interest rates will make it more difficult for more people to pay for housing,

Some people believe homelessness in South Florida could get as bad as the situation prevailing in cities like Los Angeles and New York This is a possibility, but there’s little or no evidence of politicians at the city, county, or state level proactively addressing the homelessness situation It seems most South Florida politicians, overwhelmed by the magnitude of homelessness, have resorted to denial and ignore the problem

Thankfully, there are local organizations actively involved in addressing homelessness and trying to assist the homeless However, the efforts of these organizations are not enough An effective policy needs to be formulated by lawmakers in Tallahassee, and passed down to county and city governments that realistically addresses the problem

Since the community knows it cannot depend on the timely actions of politicians to solve problems of significance, it’s also the responsibility of community leaders to collaborate on pragmatic solutions to address homelessness The solution calls for a long-term approach, beyond the traditional assistance given at Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas

While many people are homeless because of financial challenges, others become homeless because of drug addiction So, the solution also involves addressing illicit drug use

While there’s anticipation elected officials in South Florida will take initiatives to address homelessness in the region, it is also anticipated the community recognizes the seriousness of this problem and urgently begins meaningful collaborations to find solutions

Lawyers liken situation in Haiti to Somalia

The Council of the Bar Association of Port-au-Prince is warning that the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country is in the “ process of Somalization ” where armed gangs clash with each other for a piece of the country on a daily basis.

“The life of the simplest citizen is daily put in danger, not even sparing parents and their children front the schools,” the lawyers said

“The horror, barbarity, and monstrosity of these acts of banditry are not able to move the Government in place, clinging to a purposeless power, always inclined to show expressions of sympathy for tragedies abroad but stubbornly disconnected from the suffering of the local population ”

The Council said kidnappings have become part of their daily lives “to the point that this crime has become normalized ”

Alarmed by the “ process of Somalization of the national territory”, the Council “condemns the casualness of the authorities responsible for public security and tranquility while taking note of the immobility of international institutions whose vocation is to contribute to the establishment of the rule of law in Haiti”

Somalia is a country in the Horn of Africa where an ongoing civil war and drought, displacement, and conflict have increased protection risks for children, including early marriage, gender-based violence, child labor, and child recruitment Approximately 4 8 million Somali children remain out of school, representing a 15 per cent increase over the previous year

The Council also expressed concern “ by the routine adoption of public acts devoid of

any constitutional basis, particularly with regard to the appointment of judges to the Court of Cassation, challenged by the general dysfunction of national institutions and the growing devaluation of rule of law ”

“The failure of the current State mainly affects the judiciary which seems to have renounced its prerogatives in the administration of justice” it said recalling that “for more than four years, mainly in the jurisdiction of Port-au-Prince, justice has been regularly disrupted, even completely paralyzed at times, especially after the perimeter of the Palais de

Armed groups vandalize electricity substation in Haiti

The Electricity of Haiti (EDH) has apologized to consumers in various communities as well as in the capital after their electricity supply had been disrupted due to the actions of “heavily armed individuals”

In a statement, the EDH said that the armed persons had invaded its CarrefourFeuilles Substation, on the pretext that their zones were not being supplied with electricity

But it said that once inside the building they threatened security guards and service technicians, who were forced to flee the premises, and that the building was looted and operating equipment vandalized

Justice was declared a lawless zone

“The normalization of the functioning of the Court of First Instance of Port-au-Prince has never taken place,” the Council said reminding the various stakeholders who hasten “to maliciously evoke the virtue of dialogue with outlaws with a view to their reintegration, that in view of the seriousness of the crimes committed over time, including in particular rape, torture, the forced displacement of populations, impunity cannot be the condition of forgivenes”

The situation in Haiti where political instability has rocked the country since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenelle Moise will be among matters discussed when leaders from the United States and Canada meet in Ottawa next week ”

The White House said in a statement that President Joe Biden will travel to Ottawa from March 23-24 and will reaffirm the United States’ commitment to the U.S.-Canada partnership and promote our shared security, shared prosperity, and shared values

EDH said as a result, the substation has become inoperative and that several areas of the capital are no longer being supplied with electricity It said subscribers in a number of communities, including Carrefour-Feuilles, Savanne Pistache, Decayette, Route des Dalles, Rue Fouchard, and Fort Mercredi, are also affected

“Such actions, far from satisfying the electricity needs of local residents, only make EDH’s difficulties more complicated because the operating equipment of the substations is expensive and difficult to repair or replace,” the EDH said, assuring subscribers of its willingness to resume service as soon as possible

Haiti’s Prime Minister Dr Ariel Henry has called on the international community to support efforts to deal with the ongoing socioeconomic and political situation in his country

He said to deal with this situation, his administration urged the international community to participate in a specialized multinational force to help the Haitian security forces to fight against the proliferation of organized crime, the illicit trafficking of arms and ammunition, and eradicate the gangs that have held the country, hostage

STRICTLY LEGAL

What is Attorney-Client Privilege?

By Attorney Wolde Rose

With the Federal Bureau of Investigation, (FBI) raiding the offices and homes of a prominent officials and attorneys, there has been some debate over the issue of attorney-client privilege. It has been generally taken for granted that whatever information is relayed by a client to an attorney is private. But is this really so?

The attorney-client privilege is a rule that preserves the confidentiality of communications between lawyers and clients Under that rule, attorneys may not divulge their clients' secrets, nor may others force them to The purpose of the privilege is to encourage clients to openly share information with their lawyers and to let lawyers provide effective representation

The attorney–client privilege is a legal rule, and one of the oldest recognized privileges for confidential communications The United States Supreme Court has stated, that by assuring confidentiality, this privilege encourages clients to make "full and frank" disclosures to their attorneys, who are then better able to provide candid advice and effective representation

Generally, the attorney-client privilege applies when: a client communicates with an attorney on a legal matter, and the lawyer is acting in a professional capacity, rather than as a friend, and the client intends and understands that the information given is given and will remain private and the attorney will act accordingly

Attorneys are obligated not to disclose oral or written communications with clients that clients expect to remain private An attorney who has such confidential information cannot repeat them to anyone outside the legal team

without the client's consent In essence, the privilege of confidentiality is the client's, not the attorneys Only the client can decide to waive the confidential privilege The attorney cannot

The attorney-client privilege generally stays in effect even after the attorney-client relationship ends, and even after the client dies Under this rule, an attorney can never divulge the client's confidence or secrets without the client's permission, unless some kind of extraordinary exception

In a legal case, the attorney-client privilege gives attorneys the right not to testify or be forced to testify, about information provided by their clients Under the rule, every attorney is duty bound to their client by confidentiality

This duty of confidentiality prevents attorneys from discussing any aspect of a client's case with anyone, except with the client's permission In fact, the attorney must keep private, almost all information related to representation of the client, even if that information didn't come from the client

The attorney-client privilege is so strong that even if someone clandestinely recorded a private conversation between an attorney and his client while that client is providing with information related to a case in which the attorney is contracted to represent, that recording would be rejected in court as 'inadmissible' evidence

There are and will be occasions when someone with a legal problem provides confidential information to an attorney; but for whatsoever reason, decides not to retain that attorney to solve that legal problem Even in such a situation, the attorney, although he was not retained, is nonetheless bound to adhere to the attorney-client privilege rule and cannot reveal or disclose the information revealed by the client

An attorney who publicly discloses a client's confidentiality can be reprimanded by the bar and/or disbarred, even if that attorney no longer represents the client

It must be emphasized that no one with a

legal issue should disclose any information to an attorney in public place where the information is likely to be overheard by third parties It would be unprofessional for an attorney to take such information in a public place If such information is unwisely related to an attorney in public and is overheard, the person or persons who overheard the information will be allowed to testify in a court of law It is the responsibility of an attorney to assure the client that their conversation is being made in strict confidence

It should also be explained that the client has a responsibility to adhere strictly to the attorney-client privilege The client can forfeit the privilege if he divulges the confidential conversation held with the attorney with other parties But, even if the client, wittingly, or unwittingly, divulges the information, the attorney must still uphold the attorney-client privilege and not disclose the information

There are general exceptions to the attorney-client, when the information was related to an attorney for the purpose of committing a future crime, or the client deliberately waived the privilege by publicly disclosing the information

There are specific legal cases, such as those involving the probate of a last will and testament, where the attorney client privilege will be exempted In such cases, with the client deceased, it may be necessary for the attorney to disclose previous confidential attorney-client information and conversations to explain the deceased various bequests to his/her beneficiaries, including those who may be questioned because they were not members of the deceased immediate family

The United States Supreme Court has stated, that by assuring confidentiality, this privilege encourages clients to make "full and frank" disclosures to their attorneys, who are then better able to provide candid advice and effective representation.

Why women should take the lead ESTATE PLANNING

By Renee Kendall CNW Contributor

A wise person once said “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children ” But, what does this mean for the many families that are headed by women? Within the Caribbean diaspora population, there are more households headed by women than men. However, most of these very women do not have an estate plan in place, though it is particularly important for them and their families.

Here are a few key reasons why.

Women often bear the weight of responsibility with regards to financial, physical, emotional and all other areas of care taking. These responsibilities will include our aging parents, spouses, children, adult siblings and other extended family

There is often no one left to take over the immense level of responsibility we carry during our lifetime and a wealth of information can die with us, leaving our loved ones “uncovered ”

Statistically, women outlive men, so proper estate planning is more important for the surviving spouse, who will likely be the woman Estate planning is of even greater importance for women living with men to whom they may not be legally married, since there is limited protection under the law for the surviving women, in such circumstances

Consider the following common scenario: An elderly person, living alone, becomes increasingly confused or forgetful as they age They begin to neglect bills, medical appointments and basic security measures like locking their front doors Their adult child, usually a daughter, steps in to help mom or dad and is met with great resistance

Without proper planning, your mom ’ s bank, union, landlord or mortgage lender does not have to talk to you, even if you explain that your mom is sick, becomes confused, or is unable to handle her own affairs So how can you help or avoid the above scenario? An estate plan

LEGAL NOTICE

TO: The 1st Defendant GR. Group International LLC Suite 210C, 1400 NE Miami Gardens Drive North Miami Beach Florida 33179, U S A

Notice is hereby given to you that a Fixed Date Claim Form dated December 21. 2022, an Amended Fixed Date Claim Form dated February 6, 2023 and the Affidavit of Colett Grandison sworn to on December 30, 2022 were filed by Samuda & Johnson, Attorneys-atLaw of 15 Trinidad Terrace, Kingston 5, Jamaica, W I. on behalf of Andropov Jamaica Limited in the Supreme Court of Judicature of Jamaica, King Street, Kingston, Jamaica, W I in Claim No. SU 2023 CD 00001, Andropov Jamaica Limited v GR. Group International LLC , The Registrar of Titles and The Attorney General For Jamaica

By the Order of the Honourable Mrs. Justice C. Brown Beckford made in the Supreme Court of Judicature of Jamaica on February 8, 2023 Andropov Jamaica Limited is permitted to serve the Fixed Date Claim Form, Amended Fixed Date Claim Form, Affidavit of Colett Grandison all statement of case, prescribed notes and form documents and all other court documents in these proceedings on GR Group International LLC by Publishing Legal Notices of these proceedings for the attention of GR Group International LLC in the National Weekly Newspaper, Florida

If you GR. Group International LLC intend to dispute the claim being advanced in the Fixed Date Claim Form and Amended Fixed Date Claim Form you are required to complete and return an Acknowledgment of Service stating this intention to the Registry of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Jamaica within twenty-eight (28) days of the Publication of the Legal Notice of these proceedings in the National Weekly Newspaper, Florida. If you GR Group International LLC wish to dispute the claim and rely on written evidence in response, you GR Group International LLC are required to file and serve an affidavit containing such evidence within fifty-six (56) days after service of these proceedings by Publication of the Legal Notice of these proceedings in the National Weekly Newspaper, Florida

FILED by MESSRS. SAMUDA & JOHNSON of 15 Trinidad Terrace, Kingston 5, whose telephone numbers are (876) 929-4727, (876) 754-5637-8 facsimile (876) 929-7002, e-mail thefirm@samuda-johnson com, Attorneys-atLaw for and on behalf of the CLAIMANT herein

What is an estate plan?

An estate plan is a detailed description of a set of instructions you give during your lifetime about what you want done with your assets in the event of your death, or should you become ill or incapacitated, or as you age An estate plan can include a will, a trust or a living will, but should also include some important tools like a Power of Attorney and Health Care Proxy designations

What an estate plan is not?

Purchasing life insurance, listing a beneficiary on your bank accounts or telling someone in the family, “When I die, the house is yours,” is not an estate plan While taking any of these actions may be a good idea, they cannot replace a well written and well thought out estate plan, because they can leave family members uncovered in cases of emergencies, at the mercy of lengthy court proceedings or fighting among each other about who is entitled to what

What’s more, the actions above do not include the often-overlooked Power of Attorney A Power of Attorney is a document whereby one person can empower another to act on their behalf in the event of illness, incapacity or absence

A Power of Attorney can be a valuable tool for someone who is taking care of an elderly parent or loved one, when properly planned and executed It can enable you to conduct banking, contact government agencies or handle your affairs for an aging parent, even in cases when that parent lives ‘back home’ in a Caribbean country

The Caribbean diaspora and estate planning

The Caribbean diaspora is a multinational organism, which means that we are likely to have family members, property, assets, bank accounts and other affairs, in both the countries where we currently reside, and also in our native or home countries

So, what happens when a person with multinational interests dies without an estate plan in place? And how does a surviving loved one begin to settle an estate that may be scattered or concealed?

The answer is that loved ones are left scrambling, because settling an estate will often require tracking down immediate family members and obtaining copies of birth records, marriage records, land deeds or bank statements - any or all of which could be in one or several other countries The circumstances can turn what should be a time for grieving and reflection, into a multinational scavenger hunt, amidst squabbling families. The result is chaos amidst sadness

Failure to have a proper estate plan can also present a unique set of challenges when we attempt to make funeral arrangements For example, did you know that many Caribbean countries require you to produce a passport for a deceased person, when you are trying to fly a deceased loved one back home to be buried?

What should you do?

A woman who is the head of a household should create a plan for herself, her aging parents or in-laws, as well as for her spouse or partner. Why? Because, failure to plan will fall squarely on her shoulders or that of her children. Proper planning is key to avoiding the chaos and frustrations described above

Renee Kendall is a practicing attorney specializing in estate planning, administration and real estate

She’s also the founding partner of Caribbean Legal Solutions - a multinational legal services company with practicing attorneys throughout the USA, the Caribbean, UK and Canada

Abysmal turnout in South Florida municipal elections

In one of the lowest, if not the lowest, turnout of voters, City of Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam was overwhelmingly reelected for a third term in municipal elections held in Broward County on Tuesday, March 14

Messam, of Jamaican descent, defeated his lone challenger Rudy Theophin by winning 90 61 percent of the votes cast However, only 3,548 voters turned out to vote, representing just over 5 percent of the voters in the City of Miramar

The abysmal low turnout prompted Audley Beckett, a veteran resident of Miramar since 1982, to comment, “This low turnout of voters is disgraceful The people of Miramar waste no time in criticizing city politicians when things go wrong in the city, but yet they can't even take the time to cast votes to make sure they are well represented in the city It's a shame man Mayor Messam has

done, so much for Miramar, especially in attracting large and small businesses to the city, you would imagine more people would turn out to vote for him, although he still won ”

In general, just 7 percent of the voters of Broward County voted in the municipal elections also held in Deerfield Beach, Coconut Creek, Hillsboro Beach, North Lauderdale and Pembroke Park According to a representative of the Broward Supervisor of Elections office, the low voter turnout was not a surprise, as new state regulations affected one of the latest popular mode of voting – voting by mail The new regulations which now require voters to reapply for a mail-in ballot every two years, apparently took voters off guard, resulting in some voters who would have voted not having ballots to do so Prior to the new regulations, ballots were mailed out automatically to voters who

previously received ballots by mail

In other municipal races, Jamaican American Darrel Lewis-Ricketts won the seat in the City of North Lauderdale District D Commission seat

In the City of Pembroke Park, Ashira Mohammed, a woman of Trinidadian descent, won the District 5 Commission seat Also in this city, Musfika Kashem, a 32-year-old young woman who hails from Bangladesh, made history in winning the District 4 seat

City of Miramar Commissioner, Alexandra Davis, a Jamaican American, who recently was commended for her initiative in the historical hiring of a social worker in the Miramar Police department, was reelected unopposed to the District 4 seat on that city's Commission

Exonerated, after 34 years

contrary to modern-day best practices

They also found that there was no evidence tying Holmes to the robbery, other than the flawed identification of him as a suspect

A civilian investigation, launched by the brother of one of the victims, had caused Holmes to become the only suspect, but it was based on some similarities between his extremely common Oldsmobile and the car used by the robbers, prosecutors said The investigation overlooked differences between the two cars and was likely a misidentification of the vehicle

In addition, the Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies who did the original investigation expressed shock that Holmes was sentenced to and had served so much time in prison, prosecutors said Prosecutors added that they don’t believe there was any intentional misconduct by witnesses or law enforcement as the identification practices and technology have vastly improved since 1988 and

Attorney General ghts to protect DACA for Caribbean immigrants

N e w Y o r k A t t o r n e y General, Letitia James, has coled a coalition of 22 attorneys general in pushing back against the ongoing effort by Texas to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program for Caribbean and other immigrants

In the amicus brief filed before the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas, the coalition asserts the “critical importance” of DACA for states across the country and the hundreds of thousands of Dreamers and their families who depend on the program

The action is part of Letitia James’ ongoing effort to protect DACA, including her defense of the program in the US Supreme Court

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deputies followed the accepted standards at the time

“We have one rule here at the Broward State Attorney’s Office – do the right thing, always As prosecutors, our only agenda is to promote public safety in our community and to ensure that justice is served I commend the victims, witnesses, and law enforcement officers for their candor and assistance in reinvestigating a crime that occurred more than 34 years ago ”

Florida Department of Corrections records had listed Holmes’ release date as April of 2232 Sidney Holmes was moved from the Everglades Correctional Institution to the Broward County Main Jail earlier this month

Broward Circuit Judge Edward Merrigan signed an order Monday morning approving the request from the Broward State Attorney’s Office and the Innocence Project to throw out Holmes’ conviction and sentence

Merrigan has scheduled a court hearing for 2 p m

Monday to officially dismiss the charge

According to the National Immigration Forum (NIF), a Dreamer is an undocumented immigrant who came to the United States as a child It said DACA is a deferred action policy implemented by the Obama administration policy in June 2012 that is aimed at protecting Dreamers NIF said DACA is not lawful status nor does it provide the opportunity for Dreamers to s t a y p e r m a n e n t l y , b u t temporarily shields Dreamers from deportation and provides them work authorization with possible renewal every two years

There are as many as 3 6 million Dreamers residing in the United States, but only continues on B4 – DACA

DIASPORA

DACA from B3

about 610,000 of them are currently protected under DACA, NIF said, adding that the average DACA recipient arrived in the United States at age seven and has lived here for more than 20 years

“Every American, no matter their immigration status, deserves a chance to achieve the American Dream For thousands of New Yorkers who have known no other home than our welcoming state, DACA has meant they are able to stay with us and contribute to our communities,” James said

“When other states try to tear down this successful program, they are trying to rip families apart and remove New Yorkers from our state, and that I will not allow I will continue to fight for all New Yorkers, and I am proud to lead my colleague attorneys general in this must-win effort,” she added

The New York Attorney General said DACA has allowed recipients to live, study, and work across the United States free from the fear of being forcibly separated from their families and communities

Since 2012, she said more than 825,000 young immigrants have been granted DACA protections after completing applications and passing a background check, including nearly 41,000 New Yorkers James said Dreamers come from almost every country in the world, but many have never known any home other than the United States and that the program has enabled hundreds of thousands to enroll in colleges and universities; start businesses that help improve the economy; serve in the military; and give back to communities as teachers, medical professionals, engineers, and entrepreneurs

FoodPar celebrates culinary nostalgia through food

The newly launched paper and home goods brand, FoodPar, turns one Jamaican-born, Toronto-based illustrator’s culinary enthusiasm and nostalgia into products that help people connect and celebrate their special occasions

“FoodPar is for those whose love language is food It reminds us to celebrate the smallest moments, which often have food at the center,” said founder and product designer, Rachel Osbourne “Every design is tied to a moment of nostalgia for me, whether it's shelling and cleaning ackee picked from my backyard tree as a child, or sharing a plant-based meal with friends in my home Illustrating food has gotten me through one of the hardest years of my life, and I'm excited to share my newfound joy with people who love celebrating life through culinary treasures as much as I do "

Her illustrations have made their debut in FoodPar’s signature greeting card collection featuring fruits that have deeper nostalgic meaning for Osbourne: ackees, oranges, otaheite apples, and plantains in varying stages of ripeness The patterned cards, which she sells in her online store, are blank inside so they can be used for any occasion

The brand is embarking on its first partnership, a collaboration with CaribbeanAmerican greeting card writer and comedian, Onicia Muller, celebrating friendship and womanhood for Women’s History Month and Mother’s Day Muller has been writing for American Greetings and Papyrus Recycled Greetings since 2018 Cards featuring her prose have appeared in Target, Walmart and other national retailers. She has created card concepts for campaigns for an African American niche, including collaborations with Jay-z's RocNation and American Greetings

Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke wants citizenship for individuals previously excluded

Caribbean-American Congresswoman, Yvette D. Clarke has introduced the Equal Citizenship for Children Act in the House of Representatives that would amend the Child Citizenship Act (CCA) to automatically provide US citizenship to eligible individuals previously excluded by the CCA

North Carolina Congresswoman, Alma Adams, supports her in the move

“Our vital fight for substantial immigration reform necessitates that we look towards all forms of meaningful progress whenever possible,” Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, who represents the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC)

“I’m proud to join Congresswoman Adams to introduce common sense solutions, such as the Equal Citizenship for Children Act, that will not only provide lifelong Americans with the citizenship they deserve but reaffirm our commitment towards a fair and equitable immigration system,” she added Adams said that comprehensive, commonsense immigration reform is a priority for House Democrats

“The Equal Citizenship for Children Act amends the Child Citizenship Act to keep families together and automatically provide citizenship to eligible individuals previously excluded by the CCA

“I’m proud to join Congresswoman Clarke in introducing this bill and taking us one step closer to immigration reform that makes sense for everyone who lives in our country,” she added

Since 2001, Clarke said the Child Citizenship Act has helped preserve family unity by allowing foreign-born children to acquire US citizenship when their custodial parent naturalizes to US citizenship, or when they are adopted by a US citizen

“Thanks to the CCA, most of these children automatically become citizens when they reside with their parent(s) in the US and meet certain other requirements,” Clarke said

“However, despite having a US citizen parent, many individuals who have lived in the US since childhood and who would be citizens under today’s law, are being deported well into adulthood – and in many cases to countries where they have no family, support, or community ties

“For far too long, many individuals, who have resided in this country since childhood and who should be citizens under today’s law have been living under the fear of deportation

“These deportations have lasting, devastating consequences for individuals and their families,” the Congresswoman added

The vision for FoodPar’s catalog does however go beyond greeting cards Osbourne told us, “I’ve started product development on notebooks, notepads, a wall calendar, and gift wrapping paper My ultimate goal is to create collections and products that lovers of Caribbean food, culture, and stories can bring into their everyday lives and share with their loved ones for small and big occasions ”

The Jamaican-Canadian Casting Director and former Content Marketing Strategist sees storytelling at the heart of her career and every brand

Osbourne is taking the strategies that have worked with past clients who are makers and retailers, and is implementing them in her first product business She believes an investment in consistently finding the stories in your brand is the key to longevity She harkens it to shifting your mindset as a founder to a focus on selling stories rather than being purely product or service focused in your marketing

"When we talk about selling stories, we ’ re talking about building relationships with customers through entertainment, education, or a combination of the two," she said "In a sea of digital noise surrounding commerce and products, stories are the biggest drivers of making a real connection with customers "

The FoodPar story is layered with personal and cultural experiences that are anchored in one universal truth: food brings us together in truly special ways From concept to delivery, Osbourne considers what food as a love language looks like for her ideal customer and aims to deliver an experience that honors those feelings

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Miramar to be rst city in Broward County to hire police social worker in police department

The City of Miramar and Police Department hosted a press conference on Monday, March 13, to announce the hiring of Broward County’s first social worker to aid in community policing

The new position will be funded in the first year, by the Office of Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, the 1st HaitianAmerican Democrat elected to Congress

Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick shared that community project funding was included in the Federal 2023 budget, which has allowed Members of Congress to respond directly to the district’s most pressing issues

“I proudly requested this funding for the City of Miramar – Public Safety and Mental Health Program to ensure trained crisis mental professionals collaborate with law enforcement to reduce tragic encounters,” she said

“We must increase efforts to improve officer crisis intervention training and mental health outreach programs Our law enforcement is a cornerstone of public safety and something we must work to improve throughout our communities,” she added

The social worker’s role is to evaluate and defuse situations that necessitate a noncombat reaction to 911 calls Also, the social worker will not operate like a police officer, will not be the first to arrive, has no authority to make arrests, and does not have access to a firearm

Commissioner Alexandra P Davis noted that while there have been cries by many to defund the police, those in the City of Miramar believe hiring a police social worker will act as an “additional tool in the police department’s toolbox ”

“It will help Miramar Police handle calls related to mental health, substance abuse, and other social/domestic issues A social worker is trained to deescalate situations from a social service standpoint and recommend the corrective course of action in an effort avert undue injury,” he said

Meanwhile, interim Police Chief Dr Jose Vargas expressed excitement about the new Police Social Worker position, stating that he hopes it enhances the Police Department’s relationship with the community

Osbourne

New Caribbean-Canadian comedy web series, Garvey’s Ghost, released

him around the world He is well known as half of the Bello and Blakka comedy duo One of his best-known works is The Gateman

In Garvey’s Ghost, young Denham Jolly arrives in Toronto in 1955 and rents a room in Miss Violet Williams’ boarding house As the “Lady President” of the Universal Negro Improvement Association, Violet struggles to keep the organization afloat, ably assisted by the ghost of her mentor, the famed Black leader, Hon Marcus Mosiah Garvey

The six-part series is supported by the Bell Fund, Ontario Creates, and the Canada Media Fund

CaribbeanTales Media Group

(CTMG) has announced its new comedy web series, Garvey’s Ghost, the creation of showrunner and award-winning Director, FrancesAnne Solomon

The series features Canadian icon and national treasure, Mary Walsh, as the evil, but loveable white woman, Mrs. Murphy

Actor, writer, comedian, director, activist, and mother, Walsh is best known for creating the role of Marg Delahunty, a housewife who became famous for buttonholing politicians and submitting them to satirical interviews intended to humiliate them by providing criticism and grandmotherly advice Sometimes Marg

appeared as Marg, Princess Warrior

“I am excited to represent the whole of white supremacy and colonialism in this show,” said Walsh “It’s a huge responsibility, but I’ll try my hardest to do it justice ”

Degrassi’s Richard Walters will play Young Denham Jolly and The Wire’s Melanie Nicholls-King as Miss Violet Williams

The star-studded cast also includes Peter Williams as famed Black activist Harry Gairey; actor and critically acclaimed filmmaker, Valerie Buhagiar as the troublesome neighbor Maria; and Jamaican King of Comedy, Owen “Blakka” Ellis, as Marcus Garvey

The multi-talented artist known as “Blakka” is a writer, educator, director, and comedian whose legendary career has taken

It is one of two CTMG projects going to camera this year that are inspired by the 2017 Toronto Book Award-winning memoir of Denham Jolly, one of Canada’s most respected entrepreneurs, activists, and philanthropists

The second is the feature film IN THE BLACK, which tells the story of Jolly’s incredible twelve-year struggle to create Canada’s first Black radio station, Flow 93 5 FM

CTMG Productions has made its name in Canada and abroad as a producer of highquality and entertaining film and television content for, by and about, Blacks and People of Colour These include the sitcom Lord Have Mercy (2004), feature films A Winter Tale (2008), Kingston Paradise (2013), HERO: The Extraordinary Life of Mr Ulric Cross (2019), and the documentary series Heartbeat and Literature Alive (2006-2012)

Jamaican dancehall artiste Spice shocks fans with ‘baby bump’ photo on social media

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Popular Jamaican dancehall artiste Spice, who lives in Atlanta, Georgia, surprised her fans on Tuesday after posting a photo of what appeared to be a baby bump

The mother of two received several congratulatory messages from her followers in reaction to the post

The photo captures the artiste decked in her signature blue with the photo captioned: “God has been so good to me ”

This shocking news comes after rumors began about why she was inactive on social media late last year There were many theories, however, Spice broke the silence and shared that she experienced a health scare, explaining that she had developed sepsis after a damaged hernia

“Thank you, Jesus, for saving my life Hey, besties I’m in a better space today to properly update you on my current health situation I suffered a damage hernia a few days ago that sent my body into sepsis, as a result, I was rushed to the hospital for immediate surgery,” she posted Spice, whose real name is Grace Hamilton, had shared that she was taking a break from social media

Spice

The cast of the comedy web series, Garvey’s Ghost

Reggae Boyz, Soca Warriors share the spoils

Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz and Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca Warriors played to a goalless result in the second of their two-game Friendly International series inside Kingston’s National Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Trinidad and Tobago had edged Jamaica 1-0 through a Reon Moore second-half strike in the first game inside the Montego Bay Sports Complex at Catherine Hall in St James last Saturday evening

Both teams made a number of changes from the first game in a genuine effort to make the contest a practice game, but it largely followed the pattern of the first game with Jamaica trying to impose itself in an attacking threat with Trinidad and Tobago content to play on the counter-attack

Matthew Woo Ling curled a left-footer wide of Jahmali White’s far post on the half-hour mark, which gave the home side a scare

However, Jamaica responded quickly and should have opened the scoring when Jamoi Topey picked out Demario

Phillips, the diminutive midfielder, who ran beyond the Trinidadian defence line and into the penalty area

The Mount Pleasant FA ace got the ball tangled beneath his legs and the chance went begging as the retreating defenders cleared their line

In a phase of dominance, Jamaica’s Lamar Walker slipped in the ever-running Collin Anderson with a defencesplitting pass behind the defensive line, but the Cavalier front man failed to take the ball cleanly in his stride and Marvin Phillip advanced well to avert the danger

For the rest of the game, it was more nip and tuck, though the visitors saw more counter-attacks opening up for them

The twin-isle republic is down to face The Bahamas in Nassau on March 24 and Nicaragua three days later at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet, Tobago, on March 27 in the Nations League, while Jamaica has an important visit to Mexico City to face the regional powerhouses on March 26 before hosting Guatemala on April 15

Balanced workload critical for all-formats trio, says Coley

Interim West Indies head coach Andre Coley says players competing in all formats for the regional side must be managed carefully to ensure their continued freshness

Three players – all-rounders Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers, along with fast bowler Alzarri Joseph – all featured in the two-Test series against South Africa earlier this month, and are also in the West Indies squad to face the hosts in the white-ball series starting here Thursday

The trio also campaigned in the inaugural SA20 hosted by Cricket South Africa back in January

“It’s important for us to find that balance for the players,” said Coley

“Yes, I know they want to play for West Indies and we want our best players to play for West Indies but the balance is important and it’s also their livelihood

“So if we can – over the next 12 months –plan out with the key members of the different

squads to work out how we can best manage the load, not only in international cricket but in franchise cricket to keep everyone as fresh as possible, I think we have a better chance of being more competitive ”

Former Test captain Holder featured in seven matches for Durban Super Giants in the SA20 before turning out in both Tests for West Indies in the recent series, gathering 118 runs from four innings with one half-century, and taking seven wickets

The 26-year-old Joseph, meanwhile, also turned out in seven matches in the SA20 for Joburg Super Kings and then led West Indies’ Test attack earlier this month with 12 wickets at 18 apiece

Mayers struggled in the Test series on the back of a heavy schedule in the SA20, the lefthander gathering only 54 runs even though he picked up seven wickets

“Jason is always someone who gives their

all, like the majority of the players I knew [on the final morning of the last Test] he was one fume Literally,” Andre Coley said

“He’s always someone who has raises their hands up and says ‘coach, I’m going to give you everything today’ He continues to be a valuable member of our team ”

“Because of the volume of bowling he’s required to do occasionally, he ends up batting at number eight and then has to have a heavy

workload, batting, and bowling ”

He continued: “I believe Jason has a lot of value to add not only in Test cricket but across all formats As you know he’s in the three squads so it becomes important for us to manage him or to help him manage himself, not just physically but mentally, because he –just like some of the other players – put in a lot

“Alzarri plays franchise cricket around the world and is also in the three squads He’s also a young person that we ’ re looking to be a leader in the future So definitely, just managing those players [is important] ”

The white-ball series against South Africa, comprising three One-Day Internationals and three Twenty20 Internationals, wraps up March 28 – three days before the start of the Indian Premier League where Holder will feature for Rajasthan Royals, Joseph for Gujarat Titans and Mayers for Lucknow Super Giants

Jamaica’s Tyler Roberts (right), a second half substitute, being challenged for possession of the ball by Trinidad and Tobago s Matthew Woo Ling during their friendly international inside the National Stadium on Tuesday evening. The game ended 0-0

Coley