Caribbean National Weekly April 14, 2022

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THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2022

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Holness ASKING UNCLE SAM FOR MORE

TOP STORIES Jamaica’s Appeal Court gives green light for parole for pastor convicted of raping teen Bahamas Pastor says justice not served for Azario Major

With COVID-19 recovery a top priority for the Jamaican government, Prime Minister Andrew Holness has urged the United States to invest more in Jamaica. Holness made the plea during a working visit to the United States last week. continues on B4 – Seeks More TALLAHASSEE

Florida Judge upholds Florida's 24-hour wait period for abortion Women will have to wait 24 hours before getting an abortion under a ruling by a Florida judge in a nearly seven-year battle over the waiting period.

Circuit Judge Angela Dempsey in Tallahassee tossed out a lawsuit filed on behalf of a Gainesville women's clinic, saying other medical procedures have similar waiting periods and other important decisions like getting married, getting divorced and buying a gun have longer waiting periods.

“Twenty-four hours is the minimum time needed to sleep on such an important decision,” Judge Dempsey wrote.

The waiting period goes into effect immediately.

Dempsey also added that exceptions for the life of a mother, documented cases of rape and incest,

“

Twenty-four hours is the minimum time needed to sleep on such an important decision,” – Judge Angela Dempsey

and victims of domestic violence and human trafficking support the constitutionality of the law.

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops praised the decision.

“The 24-hour reflection period is a reasonable measure that will empower women to make truly informed, deliberate decisions apart from the abortion industry's pressures,” Christie Arnold, the organization's lobbyist, said in a news release.

The ruling comes a month after the Florida Legislature sent Republican Governor Ron DeSantis a bill banning abortion after 15 weeks.

DeSantis is expected to sign it.

“Since the passage of this law, Florida politicians have continued to place hurdles in the path of people seeking abortion care as part of a larger effort to push care out of reach,” said American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) lawyer Julia Kaye. “The continues on B1 – Abortion wait

WHAT’S INSIDE NEWSMAKER

CARIBBEAN

ENTERTAINMENT

SPORTS

Is Ambassador Audrey Marks Jamaica’s Next Foreign Affairs Minister A3

Ex-premier says independence could end racism in Bermuda A4

Spice Secures Honorary Woman in Media Award

Reggae Girlz Breeze into CONCACAF Final Round

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C3

Trinidad Gov’t rubbishes Opposition allegation of illegally spying on citizens Guyana sacricing billions of dollars to ensure the protection of its forests Beres Mesmerized Love and Harmony Cruise Crowd on Final Night Florida Woman impregnated with doctor’s sperm awarded $5.25m by jury Jamaica Diaspora Members Call for Representation in the Senate

A2 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, APR 14 – APR 20, 2022 | CNWNETWORK.COM

PAGE A2 Kiwanis Club of Lauderhill, members of the Tom Raines Lodge and other volunteers help to beau fy Westwind Park in Lauderhill. – Contributed

Jamaican Circuit Court Judge Maxine Cheesman (le ) and Jamaican Riviera Beach City Commissioner Douglas Lawson were both sworn-in during a ceremony in Riviera Beach last week. – Contributed

Mayor of Lauderhill Hazelle Rogers (le ) and JamaicanAmerican Florida Representa ve Anika Omphroy celebrate the life of late Florida Congressman Alcee Has ngs on April 6, 2022, one year a er his passing. – Contributed

Bahamas-born Miami Gardens Councilwoman Lady Shannan Ighodaro (center) feeds the homeless at the Miami Rescue Mission with SHEAR Inc. and FMU Football. – Contributed

Miramar Chief of Police Lenny Burgess (right) and Chief of Fire Ray Perez pose a er discussing how to keep the City of Miramar as safe as possible. Photo: City of Miramar

Miramar Commissioner Alexandra Davis hangs out with youngsters at the Waterpark at the Miramar Regional Park. – Contributed

Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States, Audrey Marks, says farewell to Jamaica's Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, a er a fiveday working visit to the US Capitol, at the Ronald Reagan Interna onal Airport in Washington DC. Photo: Derrick Sco

Honored finalists for the 2021-2022 Miami-Dade Public Schools Outstanding Support Personnel of the Year. Pictured le -to-right Miami-Dade School Board Members Lucia Baez Geller, Luisa Santos, Board Vice Chair Dr. Steve Gallon III, Board Members Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall and Mari Tere Rojas, Schools Superintendent Jose L. Dotres, AFSCME Local 1184 President Phyllis LeFlore, 2022 AFSCME Employee of the Year Jesús López, and Juan Dominguez of Toyota of North Miami. – Contributed

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT MARIJUANA.

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NEWSMAKER

Ambassador Audrey Marks, Jamaica's Next Foreign Affairs Minister?

With the possibility of Jamaica's current Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith taking on a new role, names are already being touted as to who will replace her as Minister.

Senator Johnson Smith is nominated for the post of Secretary General of the Commonwealth, to be decided in June.

According to the Jamaica Observer newspaper, two senior members of the Jamaica Labour Party want Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States, Audrey Marks to replace Johnson Smith, should she be elected.

“At this stage, and as more days go by, it seems that Kamina could become the next secretary general of the Commonwealth, and that will create a space in the Senate and in the Cabinet. To me, the best person to become foreign affairs minister is the woman that we have in Washington now representing Jamaica's interest, and that is Audrey Marks. If the right moves are made, she could return home and assume a post that will make it good for Jamaica,” read a quote in the local newspaper.

This is Audrey Marks' second term as the Jamaican ambassador. She previously served as ambassador from 2008 to 2012 and again starting in 2016 under Prime Minister Andrew Holness' administration. She is Jamaica's first female Ambassador to the USA and the first individual to hold the position twice in two separate terms.

Prior to assuming her ambassadorial role, Ambassador Marks had several entrepreneur-

from L-R: Ambassador Audrey Marks with U.S. senator Chuck Schumer, Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Jamica’s current Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson-Smith in Washinton D.C. recently. – AP Photo

Marks

ial endeavors, following the path of her Jamaican parents who were both small business owners.

Marks was born in St. Mary in 1968. She attended Marymount High School in Highgate and later attended and graduated from

Immaculate Conception High School in Kingston in 1986. She earned a B.A. in Business Management at the University of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica and later left for Florida, where she completed her MBA at Nova Southeastern University in 1991.

Marks worked for Air Jamaica for 10 years while also studying for her undergraduate degree. She entered the company, working as a filing clerk and rose to the positions of accounting clerk, and assistant to the vice president for marketing and sales. After leaving Air Jamaica, Marks founded six businesses, including a banana plantation, a real estate development firm, a transportation company, and a venture capital operation.

Marks' biggest entrepreneurial success came in October 1997, when she founded Paymaster (Jamaica) Limited, the country's first consolidated bill payment agency. The company later became the first multi-

transaction agency in the Caribbean, with over a million customers and billions in annual revenue. In December 2015, she sold 80% of her ownership in the company to the Digicel Group but remained its chairman.

After selling the majority of her shares in Paymaster, Marks served on the boards of several private and public sector companies in Jamaica, including the Tourism Product Development Company, the Urban Development Corporation, Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI); National Health Fund (NHF); and the University of the West Indies (Mona School of Business), among several others.

In 2003, she became chairperson of the Tourism Product Development Company. She was also the first female President of the American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica, an organization which promotes investment and trade between the United States and Jamaica.

In May 2010, Marks became Jamaica's permanent representative to the Organization of American States shortly after being appointed as Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States by then Prime Minister, Bruce Golding. After the former Jamaican ambassador to the U.S. Stephen Vasciannie stepped down in 2015, Marks was reinstated to her former role by Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

In October 2021, Ambassador Marks assumed the Chair of the Permanent Council for a three- month period.

Marks and her husband, electrical engineering consultant Jassel Dunstan, have two daughters, Morgan, and Madison.

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A4 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, APR 14 – APR 20, 2022 | CNWNETWORK.COM

CARIBBEAN

Ex-premier says independence could end racism in Bermuda Former Bermuda Premier, Dr Ewart Brown, believes independence could be the key to ending racism in the majority-black British Overseas Territory.

Brown

Brown, 75, in an interview with the Royal Gazette newspaper, said Black people, who account for 52 percent of the 64,000 population, are still treated as second-class citizens in Bermuda and racial discrimination was rife. Whites, the second largest ethnic group, make up 31 percent of the population.

But Brown, who was premier between 2006 and 2010, said independence — rejected overwhelmingly by voters in a 1995 referendum — could

change the landscape in an island where the national debt currently stands at US$3.1 billion.

“I do think that people who mature politically are better able to manage their affairs. You have to grow up and do things, so I think 'yeah'.”

“The race situation in Bermuda is as bad as it has ever been. It runs deep and wide and has never been honestly confronted. It's a very sensitive issue and people are reluctant to discuss anything that might result in a reduction in privilege,” Brown said, adding “it is a phenomenon that has been carefully constructed and has been devastatingly impactful.”

The former head of the ruling Progressive Labour Party (PLP) said a frank discussion on the subject is the first step towards a better society.

“For Black people, and white people, it's uncomfortable. But it takes that to take the scab off and release the pus. continues on B4 – End Racism

St. Vincent allows tourists to get married within 24 hours The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Parliament has given the green light to amend the country's Marriage Act as the government moves to take advantage of a growing market for wedding destinations.

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves told legislators that his administration has moved to amend the Marriage Act to facilitate the process of people getting married in one day, joining other Caribbean destinations including St. Lucia, Antigua, and Grenada.

“Compared to several other countries, we make this matter far too difficult,” Gonsalves

said, noting that as St Vincent and the Grenadines is a multi-island state, “there is too much centralization in the city of Kingstown and with the Registrar General and the number of days required are just too many for many persons prior to entering into marriage.”

Gonsalves said if the island is to take advantage of a growing market for wedding destinations, it is important that the government puts the institutional arrangements in place.

“The hoteliers, the Ministry of Tourism, the Tourism Authority have been calling for some

changes and we have made some, and the small ones, on the face of it which we are doing today to the regulations, are important and they may well be others,” Gonsalves said, adding that the amendment would not have an impact on Vincentians, who want to get married.

“Because people who want to get married here will tend to plan their business in advance.

So, these changes are really to facilitate those who would wish to come to the destination to get married and move on, as happens in many countries in the Caribbean and the world.”

Prime Minister Gonsalves said prior to the continues on A8 – Marriage in St. Vincent

Antigua welcomes visitors without COVID-19 vaccination Visitors arriving in Antigua and Barbuda will be allowed to enter the island without proof of having taken a vaccination against the coronavirus (COVID-19) as the island moves towards further reducing restrictions that were aimed at reducing the spread of the pandemic over the past two years.

“All persons entering Antigua and Barbuda, commencing next Wednesday, 13 April 2022, subject to any evidence regarding any new variant, shall be allowed to enter without vaccination,” according to a government statement issued following the weekly Cabinet meeting.

It said, however, all those persons who are unvaccinated are required to submit to a PCR Test, no more than four days old, before boarding their flight to Antigua.

“This rule was already in place for nationals and residents of Antigua and Barbuda. The lifting of the restriction now extends to tourists, visitors, and intransit passengers,” the statement noted.

Antigua and Barbuda has recorded 135 deaths and 7,511 infection cases linked to the pandemic after the first case was detected in March 2020.

Several Caribbean countries have also announced some relaxing of the COVID measures as regional countries report lower death and infection rates.

CNWNETWORK.COM | NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, APR 14 – APR 20, 2022 –

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TALKUP

CONSULATE GENERAL OF JAMAICA MIAMI The Consulate General of Jamaica, Miami invites applications from suitable candidates for the position of:

Telephone Operator / Receptionist Key Responsibilities: • Provide general information to the public • Refer queries to appropriate officers • Respond to passport application queries • Provide general information to email queries • Route email queries to appropriate officers • Log and retrieve correspondence • Prepare Appointment Schedule The ideal candidate must possess: • Good communication skills • Strong customer service skills • Good interpersonal skills • Knowledge of computer applications including excel, Microsoft word, internet use and email use Minimum required qualification and /or experience: • High School Diploma • Previous experience in Customer Service will be an asset Interested persons may submit their application and resumé to:

JamConMia@JamaicaCGmiami.org no later than April 22, 2022

A6 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, APR 14 – APR 20, 2022 | CNWNETWORK.COM

EDITORIAL

Is Compulsory Military Service the Answer to Jamaica's Crime Problem?

In a recent address marking the groundbreaking ceremony of a police station in Jamaica, Prime Minister Andrew Holness touted the use of a “national compulsory service program” to radically “change the trajectory of youth-generated crime.”

The Prime Minister's speech comes on the heels of reports from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) that 405 murders have been recorded in Jamaica since the start of the year.

Mr. Holness was referring to compulsory military service, a system that is used by over 80 countries around the world with varying degrees of compulsion. This is probably the most radical measure being considered as part of the country's crime plan to date.

While the idea of having our youth enlist in military service has good intentions, the foundations of compulsory service were not built to curb crime but to increase military power in the event of war. It is typically used in militaries with the greatest need or by the most autocratic leaders.

Jamaica does not have a military problem; it has a youth problem. Youth with needs that are not being satisfied. Youth who can't argue and disagree without a fight, and youths whose greed causes them to act without care for the lives of their brothers and sisters.

Mr. Holness said it is clear to him that “part of the solution to our problem is that we must be out there, literally, recruiting the young men before the gangs recruit them.” Would it not make sense then to go after the gangs? What is so enticing in these gangs that cause them to be such good recruiters?

The Prime Minister also said in his address that: “In as much as the crime is driven by economic consideration, the truth is, it is more driven by social considerations — how they have been socialized and how they have been cultured.”

One problem with the mandatory military solution is that unless there is a program to address the fundamental needs of these recruits when they graduate, life will be the same for them as it was before they get militarized. The economic

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MANAGING EDITOR conditions will still exist, and the social problems will show themselves again. We have seen evidence of how financial needs can turn disciplined individuals to activities of crime. Just look at the actions of some members of the JCF. Another concern with mandatory military service in a “free” society is that parents and potential recruits are likely to devise ways to beat the system, as we have seen in the United States, where a “draft” service exists in law but is not implemented. Therefore, it means that the rich and famous will likely be excluded from “mandatory” service because they have the means and the contacts.

There is no doubt that the training while in the military creates more disciplined citizens. One cannot argue that having more disciplined youths especially males, could result in a more conscientious society.

Any solution to reduce the crime rate in Jamaica should be considered. But is the Prime

Minister sending the right message to a free democratic society that ended “forced labor” in the land 188 years ago?

If economics, social and cultural issues play a role in Jamaica's crime problem, why not create a master plan to tackle those problems?

The Prime Minister was right when he said: “We are not going to change the trajectory of the society without taking this kind of action to radically shake up the system to bring those young men, in particular, who went to school and achieved nothing [and] will never achieve anything in their lives other than to brag about notches on their pistols and the number of children they have but didn't father.”

Jamaica needs to ensure that all our youth achieve something in school and life. That should be part of the emphasis and the plans, ensuring that Jamaica is the best place to be born, live, enjoy life, and retire happily.

Hugh Ferguson hferguson@cnweeklynews.com

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la section haitienne

Several Policemen accused of corruption after gang leader released Haitian authorities have detained several officials from the Fort-Liberté Prison as well as a court bailiff after one of the country's most wanted prisoners walked out of the jail last weekend.

The authorities said the head of the FortLiberté Prison, two police officers and the bailiff of the First Instance of Fort Liberté, had been detained after gang leader, Jean Samy Dorvil also known as “Ti Samy” was allowed to leave the prison on a promise of providing US$80,000 to them. The authorities have since launched a manhunt for Dorvil.

Those detained are accused of using forged documents to ensure the release of Dorvil, who

had been accused of murder, armed robbery, rape, and illegal possession of firearms.

The Government Commissioner of FortLiberté, Eno Zephyrin said that the investigation was ongoing, and that other people might be implicated in the matter.

Last February, the United Nations Security Council published a report indicating that the Haitian judicial system “continues to present serious structural weaknesses and deep-rooted corruption remains a major obstacle.”

Meanwhile, the United States has maintained its maximum Alert level 4 for Haiti, warning that kidnapping is widespread, and victims regularly include US citizens.

“Kidnappers may use sophisticated planning or take advantage of unplanned opportunities, and even convoys have been attacked. Kidnapping cases often involve ransom negotiations and U.S. citizen victims have been physically harmed during kidnappings. Victims' families have paid thousands of dollars to rescue their family members,” the United States Department of State said.

It said violent crime, such as armed robbery and carjacking, is common. Travelers are sometimes followed and violently attacked and robbed shortly after leaving the Port-au-Prince international airport. Robbers and carjackers

Israeli medical team heads to Haiti to help burn victims The Director of Israel's National Burn Center at the Sheba Medical Centre, Professor Josef Haik, arrived in Haiti earlier this week to help patients who were severely injured when a fuel tanker crashed in the north of the county last December.

On December 14 when the fuel tank truck crashed, it then exploded, killing more than 65 people and burning dozens of others as residents rushed to collect the leaking gas.

Haik is leading the mission in corporation with the United States Burn Advocates Network (BAN) to the hospitals here that are still overwhelmed with the wounded.

Prior to departing Israel, Haik said the team is prepared to help as many burn victims as possible.

“Unfortunately, a few months ago they had a big fire disaster, and they still have injured patients that we need to treat. We're going to do as many surgeries as we can to try and help their wounds. We will [also] bring equipment they are lacking and teach them how to use it and leave it there so they can continue rehabilitating Haiti,” he added.

Haik, who also heads Sheba's division of plastic surgery and is a professor at Tel Aviv University, has previously brought his expertise to Haiti.

also attack private vehicles stuck in heavy traffic congestion and often target lone drivers, particularly women.

“Protests, demonstrations, tire burning, and roadblocks are frequent, unpredictable, and can turn violent. The US government is extremely limited in its ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Haiti – assistance on site is available only from local authorities (Haitian National Police and ambulance services). Local police generally lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents,” Washington said.

End Racism from A4

“What we have done over the years is cover it up and allow scarring to occur. Every now and then it flares up, you give the patient an antibiotic and it quietens down. But we haven't done the required surgery, which is really to open and release.”

Sir John Swan, who headed the now-defunct United Bermuda Party, pushed for independence in 1995, but he was rebuffed and almost threequarters of voters rejected cutting ties with Britain.

Then PLP leader Frederick Wade urged his supporters to boycott the referendum, saying the PLP wanted independence on its terms.

There has been no further attempt to change the status quo in the intervening 27 years with opinion polls regularly showing the majority still opposed to independence.

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A8 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, APR 14 – APR 20, 2022 | CNWNETWORK.COM

COMMUNITY

Jamaican Wanted for Nashville Murder Arrested in Florida Authorities Nab Brandon Swaby at Ft. Lauderdale Airport A Jamaican man wanted by the Nashville police in connection to a murder was arrested on April 10 in Florida.

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department say homicide suspect, 20-year-old Brandon Swaby was arrested at the Fort Lauderdale airport. He was attempting to fly home to Jamaica.

A Nashville arrest warrant charging Swaby with criminal homicide in last Tuesday's murder of 22-year-old Christopher Brandon McCabe on Donelson Pike near the Nashville International Airport was issued.

Swaby

The investigation, being led by Detective Myriah Iles, shows that McCabe arranged through Facebook Marketplace on April 4 to trade his BMW sedan for Swaby's Dodge Charger.

The following morning, the BMW broke down on Donelson Pike. McCabe drove to Donelson Pike in a relative's SUV. A dispute reportedly ensued with Swaby, and McCabe was fatally shot inside the SUV. Swaby traveled to Atlanta at some point after the homicide. He flew from Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale on Sunday morning where he was taken into custody by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agents with assistance from federal partners.

Swaby will be held in the Broward County, Florida jail pending his return to Nashville.

M-DCPS Honors 2022 AFSCME Support Personnel of the Year Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) Superintendent Jose L. Dotres and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1184 President Phyllis LeFlore honored the finalists for the 20212022 outstanding Support Personnel of the Year last night at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Miami Airport & Convention.

Jesús López, a head custodian at the English Center, an M-DCPS Adult Education Center, was named the AFSCME Support Personnel of the Year.

Also honored were finalists:

Marriage in St. Vincent amendment, the law required a declaration by the applicants that they had been resident for at least three days prior to the date of the application for the marriage license.

“I don't think that this should be particularly controversial and wherever we have to make any further amendments to facilitate this particular process so that we can get an increased part of the business, in our beautiful islands,” Prime Minister Gonsalves said.

Tourism Minister Carlos James supported the amendment, telling legislators that the Attorney General Chambers will bring supporting marriage delegation of powers notice.

This will allow for the governor general, who grants marriage licenses under Section 23 of the Marriage Act, to be able to delegate this

General Services: George Nieves, Security Specialist, Robert Morgan Center and Technical College

from A4

particular power to district officers and revenue officers in the Grenadines.

“It has proven to be a bit inconvenient to those persons who are coming to our destination and who may have a preference for the Grenadines as a particular choice for their destination weddings,” James said, adding that the island had been a leading wedding destination.

“We have fallen off for a number of years primarily because of these challenges that persons would incur when they come to St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” he said, noting that globally, destination weddings are a US$16 billion sector.

“It's a huge, huge market. And we're talking over 25 percent of Americans travel for destination weddings, and 2.4 million weddings

are performed,” James said.

Opposition Leader, Dr. Godwin Friday, in supporting the amendment, said “I have listened to the description and the promises that this seemingly very small amendment may have for the tourism sector, that is, the specific niche market of wedding destinations tourism.”

He said he remains supportive of the initiative that could lead to more visitors coming.

“It's not a foregone conclusion, necessarily, that the amendment would bring more people here because everybody else is upping their game and trying to provide more services and make things more user friendly and easier to access and so forth.”

Transportation: Saundra Gause, Field Operations Specialist, N.E. Transportation Center Food and Nutrition: Kimberly Bailey, Food Service Manager III, Miami Beach Senior Maintenance Operations: Lydia Sprauve, Foreperson-Work Order Clerk, Maintenance Service Center 3.

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COMMUNITY

Trial opens in Florida’s opioid lawsuit case against Walgreens

By Santana Salmon CNW Reporter

A trial opened Monday in Florida’s opioid epidemic lawsuit against the Walgreens pharmacy chain, which state officials accuse of prioritizing profits over health by improperly dispensing millions of powerful painkillers that caused tens of thousands of deaths.

The trial, in Pasco County north of Tampa, comes after other defendants in the Florida lawsuit including the CVS drug store chain settled for an estimated $870 million. The state could seek similar massive damages from Walgreens in the jury trial expected to last a few weeks.

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma has a tentative nationwide deal that includes $6

billion in cash from members of the Sackler family who own the company. In all, settlements, civil and criminal penalties around the country since 2007 have totaled over $45 billion, according to an Associated Press tally.

In Florida, the state’s case hinges on accusations that as Walgreens dispensed more than 4.3 billion total opioid pills in Florida from May 2006 to June 2021, more than half contained one or more easily recognized red flags for abuse, fraud, and addiction that the company should have noticed and acted upon.

“The evidence will show Walgreens

knowingly profited from the opioid crisis,” said attorney Jim Webster for the state in an opening statement, which was attended by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody.

“Walgreens wasn’t just greedy. It was fueling the opioid crisis that was killing people.”

Walgreens is based in Deerfield, Illinois, and operates more than 9,000 stores in all 50 states, according to the company website.

About 820 of those locations are in Florida.

Walgreens attorney Steve Derringer told jurors they should focus on how manufacturers such as Purdue Pharma misled pharmacies on opioid addictive properties. He also noted that Florida did little as the opioid epidemic arose, particularly the predatory “pill mills” that proliferated in the state before a crackdown finally ended them.

“Walgreens had nothing to do with any of that,” Derringer said in his opening statement.

“They (drug makers) caused this epidemic by misrepresenting the risks and benefits to pharmacies.”

The opioid epidemic has been linked to more than 500,000 deaths in the U.S. over the past two decades, counting those from prescription painkillers such as OxyContin and generic oxycodone as well as illicit drugs such as heroin and illegally produced fentanyl.

In Florida, Webster said, more than 39,000 Floridians died from opioid abuse or related problems between 1999 and 2020. Walgreens, he said, sold about one of every four opioids in the state over a similar time span often under questionable circumstances, such as a shady doctor, fake prescriptions, or huge amounts of drugs obviously far in excess of what was necessary for a given patient.

“Walgreens was the last line of defense,” Webster said. “Walgreens failed its duty to investigate suspicious prescriptions.”

Florida has spent some $14 billion over the last 20 years for multiple opioid-related costs, ranging from criminal justice to drug rehabilitation for addicts to treatment for opioid-addicted infants, Webster said. The state will seek billions of dollars in damages in the Walgreens case.

In the same case, Moody said CVS Health Corp. and CVS Pharmacy Inc. will pay the state $484 million. Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. agreed to pay $195 million and Allergan PLC more than $134 million.

Florida has previously obtained millions of dollars in opioid settlements involving McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health Inc., Johnson & Johnson Inc., and AmerisourceBergen Corp.

Abortion Wait from A1

state legislature took its most extreme step yet in attacking reproductive freedom earlier last month.”

The ACLU is evaluating its next steps in the legal battle.

Former governor and current Senator Rick Scott signed the bill into law in June 2015. The ACLU of Florida and the Center for Reproductive Rights filed the suit the next day on behalf of the Bread and Roses Women's Health Center in Gainesville.

The lawsuit argued that many women will have a difficult time scheduling an appointment on two consecutive days because of work or school schedules, childcare availability, and the need to travel, especially if they have a low income.

It also said the exceptions in the law such as rape and incest are meaningless because they require documentation and the majority of victims do not report such crimes. The creation of a two-day process also increases the chances that a woman's abuser will discover the pregnancy and force her to not have the abortion, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit has been dragged out for nearly seven years. A trial court initially threw it out without a full trial, finding it unconstitutional. In a 2-1 ruling, the 1st District Court of Appeal sent the lawsuit back to the circuit court, saying the state had built evidence that supports the constitutionality of the law. The court also lifted an injunction that was temporarily blocking the law from taking effect during legal proceedings.

The state Supreme Court quickly put the injunction back in place while the case continued.

An abortion clinic in Jacksonville began implementing the 24-hour waiting period last week in anticipation of the judge's ruling. Amber Gavin, head of advocacy and operations at A Woman's Choice, said the clinic didn't want patients to suddenly have to change travel plans to quickly adhere to the law.

“This is incredibly hard on some of them.

They come to us and have already taken the day off from work, arranged childcare,” she said.

“Some of them had not realized this was going to happen, so it's really painful and hard for our staff to tell the patient that the state is mandating this.”

Gavin said it will also require more staffing hours, and for physicians to be at the clinic longer than before.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Spice Secures Honorary Woman in Media Award First-time Grammy nominee Grace 'Spice' Hamilton has secured the honorary Woman in Media Award for her outstanding contributions to music and entertainment.

The annual Black Women in Media (BWIM) Awards celebrate the accomplishments of women of color who have made exceptional contributions to communications, media, entertainment, literature, publishing, TV and film, technology and so much more.

Over the weekend, Spice was one of several Grammy nominees and women in entertainment honored by the BWIM Group.

Spice, in reflecting on her accomplishments, which includes her first Grammy nomination for her album 'Ten,' shared that she is grateful that her hard work has paved the way to her success.

“I am super happy and grateful for this award; it is truly an honour and an outstanding achievement for me and my fans. It is a joy to be recognized for my hard work, but I owe it all to God and my support team. My loving partner Justin, my beautiful children, family, friends, VP Records, and my Magnum family.

Thanks to Magnum for flying all the way out here with me to follow my journey. They have been getting all the exclusive details so that I can share this experience with my besties. I also want to thank the Black Women in Media group for this award it means a lot to me,” she said.

Through the years, Spice has been a trail-blazing force in the dancehall industry and as the years go by her accolades continue to grow.

The dancehall queen is the CEO of Graci Noir, a lounge wear and clothing brand as well as Faces and Laces, her luxury hair and beauty brand.

Spice is also the brand ambassador for the official drink of dancehall, Magnum Tonic Wine, where she has her own talk show called Magnum Spice It Up, which explores topics relevant to the dancehall community which connects her to her fans.

Regional Marketing Manager for Magnum, Kamal Powell, says the team is proud of Spice and her accomplishments.

“We are extremely proud of Spice not only as our brand ambassador but as a talented stalwart in the industry. Her

St. Vincent Gov’t gives green light for Vincy Mas Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves says “Vincy Mas” will return to St. Vincent and the Grenadines cultural calendar in June this year but cautioned that the coronavirus (COVID19) vaccination rate will determine the size of the festival.

Spice

contribution to this esteemed genre is extraordinary and we are proud of her success and will continue to support her on this exciting journey, Road to the Grammy's as we call it! This Black Women in Media award is not only important to Spice but her fans around the world and her homeland Jamaica,” he said.

As an active face of the brand, the Magnum team provided support for Spice on her journey to the Grammys recently.

In March, Magnum hosted a nomination party for Spice in Atlanta, Georgia, to celebrate the historic moment with her friends and well-wishers.

Spice is the first female hardcore dancehall artiste to be nominated in that category. She was nominated for her debut album 'Ten,' produced by dancehall legend Shaggy.

American reggae band SOJA took home the Grammy award for Best Reggae Album at the 64th annual Grammy awards ceremony on April 3.

Even though Spice did not win, she was grateful to be nominated and thanked her fans for their continued support.

“It was decided clearly that we will have Carnival this year,” Gonsalves said on a radio program on Sunday, telling listeners that health authorities will ramp up their vaccination effort over the over the next two months, with the hope of vaccinating 70 percent of the 80,000 people who are 12 years and older.

As of Sunday, 63,669 doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered.

Vincy Mas had not been held over the past two years because of the coronavirus pandemic. Gonsalves said the decision to hold the festival this year was made at Cabinet last Wednesday, after a two-hour discussion with the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC).

He said there are three basic functions of Carnival, including that Vincy Mas is a mass cultural event that showcases talent in mas, calypso, pan, and other areas as well as it being an economic activity.

“Every society needs occasions when you have releases. It's a catharsis. You're doing work all the time and you have to have something which you let off your energy; you release it. There are all sorts of events, you do that with sports, you do it with cultural events.”

Carnival, he said, is one such activity, with thousands of persons involved “and those who don't come out enjoy it at home and, increasingly, on various Internet platforms. And the public sector and the private sector are very much engaged.”

Prime Minister Gonsalves noted that in addition to the pandemic, St. Vincent and the Grenadines has been affected by the explosive eruption of La Soufriere volcano and the impact of Hurricane Elsa last year.

“It has been a difficult time for our nation. And in addition to the cultural dimension, and in addition to the continues on B4 – Vincy Mas

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CONTINUATIONS

Vincy Mas

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economic, there is a need for some kind of collective relief. At least so we think in Cabinet. I'd be interested to hear what people think about this,” Gonsalves said, adding that the CDC's proposal was “reasonable” and took into account the existing COVID-19 protocols and levels of vaccination.

“So naturally, I raised the question what kind of carnival would we have if we go for 70 percent vaccination by the end of March.

“So, we try and do that in February and March — we do an all-out bigger campaign than ever. This is not just a question of getting the vaccine rate up, that's one thing, but really, we need something bigger than this slimmed-down version of Carnival,” Gonsalves said, adding that linking the size of Vincy Mas to the vaccination levels is not an opportunistic move.

“This is something which is strategic, both in terms of health, and for us, as a people to have this release after this tremendous strain and pressure and part of our quest to repair — fresh hope in life and living and for us to feel better,” he said.

Prime Minister Gonsalves said Cabinet has asked the CDC to provide data as the government might not know until April “whether we're going to have something big, or something scaled down.”

He said some Carnival makers may begin planning, and, for example, mas bands wanting to compete in the King and Queen of the Band competition may wish to start making their costumes.

He said some mas bands may be even cynical about whether the government will reach the vaccination target.

“Well, I want to know, what the sums involved are, if we have to provide a reimbursement in whole and substantial part for work which people do in the artistic creative field, in the months of February and March, or even into April, which they may not be able to use if the format is more constrained.

“You have to do these things simultaneously.

And you have to hope that the best results come in each and every little thing that you're doing towards this grand goal of a pretty normal Carnival,” he added.

LEISURE

Seeks More Money His delegation included Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States Audrey Marks, and Finance Minister Dr. Nigel Clarke.

During a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, Holness said the relationship between Jamaica and the US has always been mutually beneficial, given the high level of migration from the island to the United States.

“Jamaica has been a net exporter of talent to the United States, and I think our longstanding people-to-people relationship with migration back and forth would have been mutually beneficial. But Jamaica is in a state now where its growth potential could be limited by human resource development,” Holness said.

The Prime Minister said the island is now at a point where “we can pivot to other areas of our economic and social development.” He said the US investing more in Jamaica could boost both economies.

“I think for small island developing states like Jamaica, a small shift in [US] economic policy could result in gains that are significant for our economy, but for your economy as well,” he told Blinken.

“Jamaica considers itself to be a friendly near-shore destination for investment and production capacity, and I think that it would be in the US interest to look at countries like Jamaica to position strategic production capacity which would be beneficial for the stability of production

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chains and the supply of goods and services,” added Holness.

Prior to meeting with Blinken, Prime Minister Holness has met with US Vice President Kamala Harris, who announced a US$20-million investment in Jamaica to boost commerce and US$10 million towards investment in human capital and a violence-reduction programme for at-risk youth.

Harris had also announced investments in energy security, climate security and resilience to extreme weather conditions, plus assistance towards health and COVID19 recovery.

After the meeting, Prime Minister Holness thanked the Vice President for prioritizing the meeting with Jamaica.

“VP Harris expressed agreement for the establishment of a working group between Jamaica and the US to discuss issues unique to Jamaica and to continue dialogue. I thank the VP for prioritizing this meeting with Jamaica and I welcome her announcements to provide greater support through investments,” Holness tweeted.

He is the first Jamaican leader to visit the White House since a 1995 visit by former Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson.

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BUSINESS

CDB starts second stage of procurement reform in the EC The Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Wednesday said it has started a new phase of its public procurement reform programme which is helping Eastern Caribbean countries to increase efficiency and effectiveness in government procurement.

It said the second stage of the programme, which will include finalising legal reforms and establishing electronic systems, started off with a 47-participant workshop, held recently in the Virgin Islands.

“Better expenditure management provides a foundation for building stronger and more inclusive economies. This can be achieved through robust public procurement that provides transparency and accountability by promoting civil society participation, stimulating private sector growth and investment, and encouraging wider improvements in governance,” said CDB head of Procurement, Douglas Fraser.

The bank said before the procurement reform started in 2018, CDB-financed assessments showed that few countries had dedicated procurement legal or regulatory frameworks. In addition, existing systems relied on outdated financial and administration Acts.

“Often appropriate institutional structures were not in place to undertake and oversee procurement and almost none of the public servants were dedicated to procurement whilst those involved in procurement lacked suitable qualifications.

“Typically, public procurement can account for more than 10-15 per cent of a country’s gross domestic product (GDP), but the amount can

be considerably higher for small island developing states such as those in the Caribbean where between eight to 11 billion US dollars is spent every year on public procurement,” the CDB said, noting that consequently, there is significant need for it support its Borrowing Member Countries (BMC)’ development objectives in this area.

In the past four years, with support from the Bank, legal and regulatory reform took place in Antigua and Barbuda and the Virgin Islands, and is at an advanced stage in Anguilla, Dominica, Montserrat and Saint Kitts and Nevis.

The bank said across the member states of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), chief procurement officers and other senior procurement officials were appointed, often in newly created posts.

In addition, 20 senior officials from across Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent received diplomas in Procurement and Supply, accredited by the Chartered Institute of

Procurement and Supply (CIPS), through the Caribbean Procurement Training Programme, after long-term study.

CDB said it has also actively advocated for all of the OECS countries to join and participate in the Inter-American Government Procurement Network to share technical knowledge and best practice, with the result that for first time all the OECS procurement leads had a venue to meet and build technical relationships.

The second phase of the procurement reform, estimated to last until mid-2024, will involve the completion of the outstanding legal and regulatory reforms, the formation of dedicated procurement institutions in the countries, the development of standard procurement documents and support for the introduction of electronic procurement to provide for greater transparency and efficiency.

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OECS supports Saudi Arabia’s bid for hosting World Expo 2030 The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has given its support and endorsement for the bid by Saudi Arabia to host the World Expo 2030.

The St. Lucia-based OECS Commission said that the World Expo has increasingly become a major global opportunity for international cooperation, for showcasing scientific/technological innovation, and for displaying the diversity of cultures, languages and accomplishments of the human family.

“World Expo has become a platform for expressing the highest aspirations of humanity’s conception of its future,” it said, adding that the 2030 event will be held under the theme “The Era of Change: Leading the Planet to a Foresighted Tomorrow.’’

Saudi Arabia launched its bid to host the World Expo 2030 in October 2021 and in its bid letter, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman noted “we live in an era of change, and we face an unprecedented need for humanity’s collective action.

“It is clear that the whole world, as a collective, needs to work together to foresee the future and address, with its brightest minds, the challenges and opportunities that emanate from this change,” he said, adding “the World Expo 2030 will represent an extraordinary opportunity to share with the world our lessons from this unprecedented transformation”.

The OECS, which groups the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, Str. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts-Nevis, Montserrat, said it is “confident that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has sufficient capabilities to present a distinguished edition and experience of the world expo consistent with the highest standards of innovation and the finest expressions of hospitality”.

DJ FERGIE

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SPORTS TRACK & FIELD / BOYS AND GIRLS CHAMPS

Easy does it for KC, Edwin Allen at Champs 2022 Kingston College and Edwin Allen High School ran out easy winners of the 2022 edition of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Track and Field Champs which ended at the National Stadium on Saturday.

Reggae Girlz breeze into CONCACAF Final Round Thrash Dominican Republic 5-1 at Sabina Park, Jamaica Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz Captain Khadija “Bunny” Shaw struck a brace to help her team spank the Dominican Republic 5-1 in their decisive CONCACAF Women’s Championship Group C qualifier at Sabina Park in Kingston on Tuesday evening.

Shaw, the Manchester City Football Club striker, hit the target in the 79th and 90th+3 minutes to seal Jamaica’s place in the Final Round of the FIFA CONCACAF Women’s Championship slated for Mexico in July.

It was Jody Brown who gave Jamaica the lead in 16 minutes, only for Kat Gonzalez to pull the Spanish-speaking Dominican Republic level after 24 minutes.

Trudi Carter put the hosts back in front on 40 minutes to take her team to halftime in control.

After the break Tiffany Cameron made it 31 on the hour mark, before skipper Shaw stepped up to notch her 50th and 51st goals for Jamaica, as she extends her tally as the leading all-time scorer for Jamaica in either men’s or women’s competition at the senior level.

The Vin Blaine-coached Reggae Girlz thus settled all arguments to top Group C with maximum 12 points, while relegating the Dominican Republic to second place on nine points. Bermuda were third on six points after blanking Grenada 6-0 in Tuesday’s other Group C encounter.

The Cayman Islands were fourth on three points with Grenada pointless after four games.

Jamaica had defeated Bermuda 4-0, Grenada 6-1 and the Cayman Islands 9-0.

As a result of Tuesday’s result, the Girlz secured qualification to the final phase, along with the winners of the other five groups, A, B,

D, E and F – Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago, respectively.

They will join the US and Canada, the two seeded teams from the region who received byes to the final phase.

Mexico won Group A with maximum 12 points and a goal difference of 34. Costa Rica did likewise in Group B with a goal difference of 22. Panama were also imperious in Group D where they won all four games and boasted a goal difference of 24, whole Haiti massacred the opposition in Group E where they came away with a healthy goal difference of 44.

Trinidad and Tobago topped Group E with ten points after three wins and a draw by scoring 19 goals and conceding three.

The top four teams from the final eight will qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Finals in Australia and New Zealand in 2023.

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NETBALL

Sunshine Girl Jhaniele Fowler helps West Coast Fever maintain unbeaten start Jamaica's Sunshine Girls captain and goal shooter Jhaniele Fowler powered West Coast Fever to a good win over Queensland Firebirds to maintain their unbeaten start to the Australian Super Netball Championship.

Fever found themselves down 36-34 at the half but out-scored Firebirds in the second half thanks to the near-perfect efforts of the 32-yearold Fowler, clawing their way back to win 77-69 at Nissan Centre on Sunday.

Fowler sank 51 goals from 52 attempts, carrying her tally for the young season to 174 points already from just three games.

She was supported by 23-year-old six-footer Sasha Glasgow who netted ten from 14 attempts.

For Firebirds, 28-year-old Donnell Wallam – who has replaced veteran Jamaican Romelda Aiken who is on maternity leave – scored 39 from 41 attempts while Gretel Bueta chipped in with 12 from 18.

The first quarter was a competitive affair, finishing tied at 18 but Firebirds pulled away in the second half to lead at the break.

However, a massive third quarter made the difference for Fever as they outscored the hosts 23-14 to lead 59-48 heading into the final quarter which proved another keenly contested

stanza.

There was no such luck for Fowler's Sunshine Girls teammate Shimona Nelson as her Collingwood Magpies crashed to a 75-64 defeat to New South Wales Swifts, who were still without injured Trinidadian shooter Samantha Wallace.

At the Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney on Saturday, the 23-year-old Nelson scored a perfect 26 from as many attempts while Sophie Garbin supported with 19 goals also from as many attempts.

Goal attack Helen Housby led the winners with 39 goals from 44 attempts, helped by 16-

year-old goal-shooter Sophie Fawns with 24 from 27.

Magpies edged ahead in the opening quarter to lead 19-17 but suffered from a poor second quarter to trail 30-37 at the half.

There was no comeback, however, Swifts surging in the third quarter to out-score them 23-17 before closing out strongly in the final quarter.

Fever tops the standings with 12 points, only ahead of Melbourne Vixens on goals scored, while Magpies lie bottom without a win in three outings.

Kingston College (KC) stormed to a whopping 372 points to claim the Mortimer Geddes Boys' Championships trophy for the 33rd time, while Edwin Allen, in claiming their eighth-straight crown and ninth overall, tallied 352 points.

Defending boys' champions Jamaica College (JC) finished second with 300.33 points, followed by Calabar High with 170, St Jago High with 147, Edwin Allen High, 95, St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) 88, Excelsior High 56, Wolmer's Boys' School 55, Herbert Morrison 35.33, and Manchester High, 32, rounding out the top 10.

The Michael Dyke-coached Edwin Allen won by 57 points over Hydel High, with St Jago next on 249, followed by Holmwood Technical on 174, Excelsior High 107, St Catherine High 83, Immaculate Conception 76, Alphansus Davis 23, and Clarendon College on 22, to complete the list of top 10 teams.

On a day when almost 40 finals were contested, nine records were broken, four of them in girls' action. Arguably the most outstanding was Brianna Lyston's smashing 22.53 seconds (-2.2mps) to land the Class One 200m.

The pint-sized Lyston, who finished a close second to World Under-20 100m gold medalist Tina Clayton in Wednesday's short sprint final, broke the 22.71secs set by Simone Facey in 2004.

Second place went to Vere's Kayla Kelly in 23.59 seconds and third was Shenesse Walker.

All four of the girls' short sprint hurdles ended in record-breaking form.

Oneka Wilson won the Class One 100m hurdles final in 13.0 seconds to break the 13.21 seconds set five years ago.

In Class Two, Kerrica Hill of Hydel pulled her teammate Shania Myers across the finish line in a one-two finish in 12.71 seconds and 13.27, respectively.

For Class Three 80m hurdles, St. Jago's Camoy Binger (10.87secs) won ahead of teammate Bryana Davidson in 11.06 seconds.

In the Class Four 70m hurdles Hydel's Malayia Duncan ran 10.38 seconds (-1.0 mps). The previous record was 10.41 seconds.

The last record on the girls' side came in the Class One 4x100m relays where Edwin Allen parading the twin sisters Tina and Tia Clayton - smashed the record by posting a first-ever sub-44second event at the high school level in Jamaica. Edwin Allen won in 43.28 seconds.

Meanwhile, the three records on the boys' side were achieved by Jvoughnn Blake of JC equaling the Class One 800m record of 1:48.58 minutes. The old mark was set last year.

Blake teammate Handal Roban ran 1:48.72 minutes for second place, with Giovouni Henry finishing in third place in 1:50.79 minutes.

Aaron McKenzie of KC won the Class Two high jump with 2.11m. The old mark was 2.10m. JC's Chaven Penn was second with 2:00m and KC's Aaron Thomas with 1.95m.

And in the Class Two discus throw, Zachary Campbell of JC broke the old record of 55.70m with a 56.49m display.

Calabar's Matthew Blake was second with 49.91m and Antwon Walkin of KC, third with 47.78m.

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