National Weekly June 11, 2020

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THURSDAY JUNE 11, 2020

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Family Of Jamaican Man Slain by New Jersey Cop Seek Justice

by Sheri-kae McLeod

In the midst of worldwide #BlackLivesMatter protests against police brutality here in the United States, the family of Jamaican-born Maurice Gordon is seeking justice after he was shot dead during a routine traffic stop by a police trooper in New Jersey last month.

Under Fire Lauderhill Vice Mayor Faces Criticism Over Comments About Black Lives Matter Staff Writer

Lauderhill Vice Mayor Howard Berger taking heat over comments he made regarding the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement at the city's virtual commission meeting on Monday.

This, as protests sparked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police continue around the country—and when many legislators, CEOs, and other leaders are taking a stance against police brutality and

systemic racism.

The comments came as Berger defended his position on a resolution Commissioner Richard Campbell proposed, supporting BLM and condemning police brutality. Berger—the sole Caucasian member on the commission in a city with a 78 percent black population—was the only “no” vote on the resolution.

The resolution states that Lauderhill “adamantly opposes the use of excessive force, police brutality and the unlawful killing of black people” and called for Congress and the Florida Legislature “to take immediate action to end the existing police practices that target black people and that result in the unlawful killing of black people.”

Berger, who tried to amend language of the

resolution, called it “adversarial” and “factually misleading in its entirety,” citing news sources which state that “crime and suspect behavior, not race, determine police action” and there's no racial bias in policing. The vice mayor seemed to gloss over the statistic that 1 in 1,000 black men is at risk of being killed by police, 2.5 times as many as whites saying, “Yes, it's greater than whites. But you have to figure out, does the claim in this resolution aptly reflect that statistic?”

Supporting the “few bad apples” narrative, Berger said, “If a person reads this resolution, he or she would think a police officer gets up in the morning, goes to work with the intention of shooting an African-American” and that the resolution does not mention the “99 percent of continues on B4 – Under Fire

The incident occurred on May 23, just two days before the death of George Floyd, also from police action, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Gordon was killed along the Garden State Parkway in Bass River, New Jersey.

Gordon, a 28-year-old resident of Poughkeepsie, New York, was raised in Spanish Town, Jamaica, and at age 19 migrated to the U.S., where his father was living, according to news website NJ.com.

Gordon, who was unarmed, was shot multiple times by a white trooper after he reportedly removed his seatbelt and attempted to leave in the trooper's car in which he was allowed to sit to wait for a tow-truck to remove his car from the highway.

According to Gordon's family attorney, William O Wagstaff III, on the day in question, the Jamaican was stopped by the trooper for reportedly committing a speeding violation. When the trooper asked Gordon to drive his car to a different spot on the highway, the car could not start. The trooper then called for a tow-truck, the attorney stated in an interview with NJ.com.

“Mr, Gordon did not want to remain in his vehicle, so he was invited by the trooper to sit in the back of the trooper's continues on B4 – Seeking Justice

WHAT’S INSIDE NEWSMAKER

CARIBBEAN

ENTERTAINMENT

SPORTS

HARRIS ELECTED FOR SECOND TERM FOR ST. KITTS AND NEVIS A3

DOUGLAS REFUSES TO CONCEDE DEFEAT IN ST. KITTS ELECTION A4

REGGAE SINGER CAUSION DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER C1

RACISM FORCES SOCCER STAR TO SEVER TIES WITH POLISH CLUB C3

A2 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, JUN 11 – JUN 17, 2020

The Protests Continue SCENES FROM PROTESTS IN CITIES ACROSS THE WORLD As the protests continued in the United States for a second week in response to the death of George Floyd, protests around the world are also taking place. From Australia to Africa To Europe, protesters took to the streets to express the need for police reform and racial equality. Many held signs, toppled statues, and kneeled in silence, while others marched for miles. Here a few shots from protests around the globe.

AUSTRALIA

germany

ENGLAND ROME

GHANA

JAMAICA

NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, JUN 11 – JUN 17, 2020 –

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NEWSMAKER

Dr. Timothy Harris

Elected For Second Term As Prime Minister Of St. Kitts and Nevis In the general elections held in St. Kitts and Nevis last week Friday, Dr. Timothy Harris was re-elected to serve a second term as Prime Minister of that Caribbean twin-island nation.

Harris' part, the Team Unity coalition, which is comprised of the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) in Nevis, the People's Action Movement (PAM) and the People's Labor Party (PLP) both in St. Kitts, won nine out of the Federation's 11 constituencies delivering a successive win for the incumbent government.

During his swearing-in ceremony on Sunday, June 7, Harris pledged to fulfill his campaign promises to people of the twin-island federation. “I promised I would not let you down and promised the administration that I would lead will not let down the people of St. Kitts and Nevis,” he said.

Harris, who hailed the outgoing Team Unity Cabinet, said that it was an honor for him to have the opportunity to be sworn in for a second time as the nation's prime minister.

“We shall create the modern history in St. Kitts and Nevis by making the example of the best managed small island state. That is my pledge. and that is my commitment!” he emphasized.

In addition, Harris also said this would be his last term serving as prime minister, recounting a promise he made in 2015, saying he would only serve two terms if elected. Dr. Harris had initially been elected as the head of state at the 2015 polls, becoming the island's

third prime minister.

Dr. Timothy Harris first entered elective representational politics in 1993 and was elected as a member of parliament on the St. KittsNevis Labor Party ticket in successive parliamentary elections held in 1995, 2000, 2004, and 2010. During his career, he held various cabinet posts, including Minister of Agriculture, Lands and Housing, Minister of Education, Labor and Social Security, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Education and Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, Industry and Commerce.

He served for several years in the Cabinet of former Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas. In 2013 Douglas fired Harris from the cabinet.

Harris had been dismissed because of his opposition to two recent government-

sponsored legislation, including one to increase the number of senators in the National Assembly. Douglas also said that Harris had also refused to indicate how he would vote on the national budget and on an oppositioninspired motion of no confidence in the St KittsNevis Government, which also led to his dismissal.

The move by Douglas did not deter Harris' ambition to serve the people of St. Kitts and Nevis, but instead only encouraged Harris to establish his own political party, guided by his own principles.

Months after being fired, Harris established the People's Labor Party (PLP).

In the buildup to the 2015 general elections, the PLP formed the Team Unity alliance with the People's Action

Movement and the Concerned Citizens' Movement. The alliance won the elections, and although the PLP won only one seat, Harris was named as Prime Minister. He succeeded Douglas, who had served for a historic near 20year tenure.

Prior to his political career, Harris was a thriving scholar, having attended six universities: two in the Caribbean and four in Canada.

Dr. Harris is married and is the father of two girls.

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A4 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, JUN 11 – JUN 17, 2020

Caribbean Shows Solidarity With #BlackLivesMatter Protests The pleading cries of George Floyd for his life, as a white police officer knelt on his neck, caught on camera, have fueled two weeks of worldwide protests. In several Caribbean islands, protestors have also lent their voices in the call for justice.

In Bermuda, thousands took part in a peaceful multiracial Black Lives Matter march through the streets of the capital city of Hamilton on Sunday. Some 7,000 people lined the streets, with placards, flags, signs, and shirts carrying the Black Lives Matter slogan and messages such as “The real virus is racism,” “We will not be silenced,” and “Racism is a pandemic.” The marchers paused outside Hamilton Police Station, where the chant

by Sheri-kae McLeod

As days of Black Lives Matter protests erupted in all 50 states across the United States, the rest of the world, including the Caribbean region, showed their allyship and solidarity by joining the demonstrations against police brutality mostly against members of America's black population.

continues on B1 – Solidarity

Dr. Denzil Douglas Refuses To Concede Guyana's Opposition Defeat In St. Kitts/Nevis General Elections Party Claims Victory BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – Leader of the opposition St. Kitts-Nevis Labor Party (SKNLP). Dr. Denzil Douglas said on Monday that the June 5 general elections had been “hijacked in large measure by the many irregularities and anomalies that took place” and has so far refused to concede that the polls were “free, fair and free from fear.”

Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris led his coalition Team Unity to a 9-2 victory in the elections saying that he was grateful for the support and faith put in his administration by the electorate.

But in his first public statement on the election, Douglas, 67, the Federation's second prime minister, said he was “deeply disturbed that the hope, prosperity, and opportunity that lay in wait under a NextGen SKN Labor Party has been hijacked in large measure by the many irregularities and anomalies that took place in our electoral and voting processes.”

Douglas, who was one of the two victorious

Douglas

SKNLP candidates, said that the irregularities and anomalies were in the works during “the years, months, weeks and days leading to the general election.”

He said that along with the prejudicial environment that sought to give the competitors an unfair advantage, the Team Unity administration committed many irregularities which limited the rights of citizens in the voting process.

“There have been serious, significant irregularities in the process which we believe

have affected the results. We are collating the reports from the various polling agents of the party and will report back in short order. In the meantime keep your chins up, your heads high and rally with your NextGen SKN team,” said Douglas.

Douglas, who was returning to Parliament after he was removed from the National Assembly earlier this year after the Harris government objected to him obtaining a diplomatic passport from Dominica, said the will of the people is the only source of authority of government and no right-thinking person can objectively declare that Friday's general election was conducted based on the standards, principles, and ethics of good governance.

Meanwhile, Harris, who was sworn into office on Sunday, continues to receive congratulations with Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro praising “the successful electoral process” that led to his victory.

After First Stage Of Vote Recounting Ends

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Guyana moved into the next stage of the verification of the disputed March 2 regional and general elections on Sunday after the final ballot box in the recount exercise was completed and the main opposition People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) claimed victory.

“I want to make it very clear that this phase of the exercise is not over until the declaration is made but the recount is over and we have inputted all the SORs (Statements of Recount) and the results are showing exactly what we said with our SOPs (Statements of Poll), the PPP/Civic, would win these elections by well over continues on B4 – Guyana Elections

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Talk UP

Talk UP What does Caribbean American Heritage Month mean to you?

David: Jamaica-American/Miami – Caribbean culture is a rich one, and it's important for us to know our history, like Marcus Garvey once quoted “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” We should always celebrate our Caribbean heritage but it shouldn't stop there. Our ties and origin to Africa is a deeper understanding of our place in human history and all of our countless contributions to civilization.

Annejeanette: Bahamas/Pembroke Pines – It means celebrating my culture and personally for me, to teach my 5th grade and college students the beautiful cultures of the Caribbean (as well as) our contributions to American history. It is important that our culture is taught to our children and ALL students so that Caribbean American History is represented in every domain of American everyday life. Proud of my Caribbean roots! #Bahamas.

Larson: Trinidad/Coral Springs – Caribbean immigrants throughout the years, have been playing a major role in shaping society as it exists in America today. West Indian Americans share a common Caribbean culture, and recognizing the significance of Caribbean people and their descendants in the history and culture of the United States, I hope that the US will take into consideration that its greatness and uniqueness lies in its diversity, with Caribbean immigrants.

Cleve: Trinidad/Miami – As an American of Caribbean descent, it is always an honor to celebrate Caribbean American Heritage Month. We highlight our cuisine, art, literature, music and other aspects of the Caribbean. It is also an opportunity for the Diaspora to engage and acknowledge positive contributions made to our communities.

Furthermore, this month is a great time for the Caribbean American youths to experience, reflect, and feel the pride and value of their heritage.

Sade: Jamaican-American/Port St. Lucie – To me, (this) is extremely important because it promotes panCaribbeanism in communities worldwide. For descendants and the younger generation, it allows the culture from past generations to be acknowledged and remain strong and true by upholding its authenticity. It creates an atmosphere to celebrate and to appreciate cultural aspects of food, music, languages, and style. It also allows each nation of the Caribbean to uplift one another and be proud of our contributions.

Nicole: US/Weston – I am so thankful that my children have the opportunity to be part of the West Indian culture and this month especially, it’s important because it reminds us of our roots and our wings; and with my children, there's always that connection to Jamaica, their family, their friends that they developed when we were living there, but also it provides the opportunity to grow and to thrive. Now that we're here in the US, they now have stronger connections and this month allows us to focus on old and new relationships.

Jephtah: Jamaica/Plantation – It recognizes people from Caribbean countries, giving us a voice wherever we are, for example, we are here in the United States and for Caribbean people to be recognized in a foreign country, that's very outstanding. It gives us a voice that we can be heard, be seen, and at least be recognized. It also helps us to find ourselves wherever we are in society, gives us a strong footing so that we can be outspoken, stand up for our rights, protect, and see ourselves as competitors in the world.

Mark: Jamaica/Miami Gardens – Caribbean Heritage Month is a time for me to appreciate my culture, a time to understand and appreciate other Caribbean islands.

It's a time for the United States to showcase and grasp the various flavors of the Caribbean, a time for me to be proud and showcase what our culture has to offer. The Caribbean, several islands with its various beautiful blue beaches, rich spice foods, great musical reggae and soca sounds, various English dialects. The Caribbean, the land of my birth!

Jason: US/Pembroke Pines – To me, it means that I am able to learn about a culture that's not mine, and appreciate it because I have a lot of very close friends who are from the Caribbean islands, so it gives me insight into their lives and things that they do with their families that's different from things that I do. I also really enjoy learning new things, and when I'm learning about a new culture, one of my favorite things to learn, to gain knowledge on, is the food.

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A6 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, JUN 11 – JUN 17, 2020

Reallocate Some Police Funds To Community Enhancement Relentless protests for well over two weeks, in the wake of George Floyd's death—and even his after his final memorial service on Tuesday—is evidence the movement sparked by his horrendous killing is showing no signs of letting up.

Since all the officers were eventually arrested and charged, one with secondary murder and manslaughter, and the others with aiding and abetting in second-degree murder, it was assumed the protests would wane. But what began as a call for the arrest of the officers involved became a demand for changes in policing here in America.

Indeed, there is a growing call among protesters, and many who support alternatives to policing, to defund the police. This isn't a new call, but up to now, that call was barely a murmur. Now, it is a howl.

It is very important that calls for defunding the police not be confused with calls proposing that police forces be disbanded altogether. Defunding doesn't mean police services will no longer exist. It means police budgets would be reduced, and the funds saved redirected to improving social services in communities, especially in poor, marginalized areas where much of the policing in America occurs.

For years sociologists have argued that society should focus on, and correct, the issues that spawn crime and create the necessity for building prisons and intense policing in marginalized communities.

The communities where over-policing usually occurs are characterized by large, mostly poor black populations with high unemployment, low income, poor healthcare, domestic violence, sub-par and overcrowded housing, and high incidences of drug use and mental health problems.

Like the sociologists, citizens calling for defunding the police force, want to see less city and county budgets going to policing, and larger budgets dedicated to improving the quality of life in these communities. This is proven to serve as a deterrent to crime and would require less policing, similarly to how it works in the suburbs.

American suburbs are not characterized by police mobile and foot patrol on every street, or frequent incidents of police accosting residents standing in groups or simply walking down a street.

Contrary to the arguments being made by those opposed to defunding the police, defunding doesn't mean communities won't have police services. This is an absurd interpretation. For centuries, police have been preserving, and are still needed to preserve, law and order in communities. But, if more money and focus is spent on improving the social conditions of communities, there will be less need for the police to be the over powerful, enforcer of law and order, actions which too often leads to brutal police actions against residents.

The sounds of police sirens are rare, and incidents of police brutality against residents, even rarer.

The reason for less policing in the suburbs is that most residents are employed with satisfactory living wages, there are good public schools, decent healthcare, parks and other recreational facilities for teenagers, almost no need for people to peddle drugs to make a living, and relatively little stress from the inability to provide for their families.

It's generally accepted that communities with fewer social problems are better equipped to

protect themselves with community patrolling and require less formal policing patrols.

Better socially served communities also reduce the need for high funding of city and county police forces to hire more police officers, and purchase more police equipment, vehicles, etc.

Contrary to the arguments being made by those opposed to defunding the police, defunding doesn't mean communities won't have police services. This is an absurd interpretation. Police are needed to maintain an orderly society, but allowing the police to be the overpowering response to societal issues, much of which they are ill-equipped to handle, often leads to forceful response and brutal police actions against residents.

History recalls during the era of slavery in America, especially in the south, policing was used mainly for controlling slaves, and recapturing those that escaped. After slavery was abolished policing was used to aggressively enforce Jim Crow laws during the bitter era of racial segregation.

Segregated communities were mainly poor, lacking necessary social services, and anger was mutual between police and residents, and policing typically brutal. Unfortunately, it seems some police officers today are socialized to function as if they are policing segregated communities—using brutality as their preferred method of enforcing the law against people living in poor black and brown communities.

This is 2020. Time has changed. There's no need to apply this intense type of police brutality to control residents in any community. Legislators need to get to work putting funding in communities But there's an urgent need to improve the quality of social services in several communities. There's strong reason to believe, and evidence to indicate, that if minority communities have better social services and quality of life for residents, there'll likely be less need for heavy policing. This outcome would provide justification for reducing, defunding, the budgets of most police departments.

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NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, JUN 11 – JUN 17, 2020 –

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LA SECTION HAITIENNE

Haiti Receives Health Supplies As Prisons Record COVID-19 Cases PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti – The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS) has responded to a request from Haitian prison officials for “urgent assistance” as the number of prisoners contracting the coronavirus (COVID-19) reached 26 at three prison facilities.

“Over 10,000 prisoners are currently housed inside Haiti's penitentiary facilities which [are] almost eight times the holding capacity making it the most overcrowded in the Caribbean,” CARICOM IMPACS said in a statement, adding that with the support of the United Kingdom, it has immediately provided urgent assistance of basic sanitation supplies and other COVID related supplies to the prisons.

It said earlier this week, the supplies arrived at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport, and were delivered to Louis Guerro Plancher, Chief of Staff, Department of Penitentiary Administration (DAP).

“The materials will strengthening [sic] the capacity of the Department of Penitentiary Administration in Haiti to implement its plan to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, in a context where resources are lacking and cases of infection in prison are of concern to national authorities,” he said.

Over the past two weeks, CARICOM IMPACS has donated supplies to the correction and prison services in 10 CARICOM countries, including Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, St. KittsNevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

“This assistance package is part of an ongoing project funded by the UK government to support the prevention and mitigation of COVID-19 in CARICOM prisons. St. Lucia is expected to receive similar assistance on Friday,” the CARICOM IMPACS statement noted.

It said the Barbados-based Regional Security System (RSS) is a key partner in this collaborative initiative by providing airlift and logistical support for the distribution of

supplies to some CARICOM Member States.

The French Forces in the Caribbean also provided airlift to The Bahamas and Belize.

“Prisons are generally considered to be amplifiers in the spread of infectious diseases and pose a great challenge for authorities working to prevent and contain COVID-19.

The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies people in prisons as more vulnerable to COVID-19 than the general population because of the confined conditions in which they live, and proximity with one another – conditions that facilitate transmission of diseases,” the statement said.

Earlier this year, during a meeting between CARICOM IMPACS and heads of Corrections and Prison Services, proposals were advanced to reduce COVID-19 in prisons.

These include the early release of nonviolent sick and elderly inmates who pose absolutely no threat to society but only serve to increase the concentration of persons in prisons; increased screening of staff and prisoners; limiting unnecessary in-person visitation so as to reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure in facilities and the development of national prison pandemic plans.

Haiti Records More Than 3,000 COVID Cases In One Month PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti – Haiti has recorded more than 3,000 cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) during a one month period.

The Ministry of Public Health said 294 cases reported on Monday, more than 100 percent on the previous day, bring the total to 3,334 since the first case was detected on March 19.

It said that in the past 30 days, there had been 3,205 positive cases more cases and that the death toll had increased by one to 51. The Ministry of Health said that there were 3,259 active cases, an increase of 261 in the past 2 hours while the number of suspected cases since March 19: is 7,351 cases.

Meanwhile, the group, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said that it believes the real figures regarding the number of

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FEATURE

Marcus, Martin, and Minneapolis

By Sir Hilary Beckles Vice-Chancellor - UWI Martin Luther King Jr., when he felt he could not breathe, came to Jamaica. When the threats to his life were constant and closing in around his neck, he took this measure to maintain his life.

His visits to Jamaica's north coast filled his lungs with the 'freer' air of our space. He returned to the mainland more battle-ready for the struggle to achieve the God-given right to the dignity of black life.

Island and mainland have always been a common survival space. Borders cannot contain consciousness nor isolate the intellect.

Martin was retracing the footsteps of Marcus, his mentor, the incomparable Mosiah Garvey who also traveled from this north coast—his ancestral home—to Harlem, there to dedicate his life to the struggle for the dignity of black life.

Marcus Garvey

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Garvey's Jamaican voice was heard in every American community where the dignity of black life was denied. He would have flown to the side of George Floyd and embraced his forlorn family while preparing to prosecute those who demeaned his dignity and denied his 'livity.'

Bob Marley, the Buffalo Soldier from this said north coast, was idolized by every African-American who was empowered by 'old Marcus Garvey' to get up and stand up and defend their right to life with dignity.

Malcolm, socialized as an X West Indian, took up the struggle of the islands on the mainland, connecting the legacies of Marcus and Martin to the West Indian commitment to rightness, fairness, and dignity in plantation America.

Where once there were plantation overseers there are now police officers.

Through them, black life remains prime for deletion as if on the plantation.

This Minneapolis fight was Marcus Garvey's fight; it was Martin's fight; it was Malcolm's fight; it was Marley's fight. It's a Caribbean fight and it's a global fight.

West Indians have been in it all along.

Professor Orlando Patterson, Harvard don, but bred and adorned at the Mona Campus of the UWI, told his MSNBC interviewer that what we have seen is a special breed of evil from the depth of hell. We must exorcise it, he said, and return it from whence it came.

Patterson spoke as a Caribbean scholar in America, the finest sociologist they have, on loan from us to them. His classic work, The Sociology of Slavery, shows us how history can haunt communities; how privileges from the past become the pain of the present.

From that horrible history when Europeans stole 15 million of our ancestors from Africa and scattered them across plantation America—the Caribbean getting the lion's share—shattering family bonds, the future was cast in the concrete again, in which the face of George was crushed.

From that moment, when the British government in 1636, took the first step to legally classify all blacks in their colonies as non-human, chattel, property, and real estate and proceeded with their European partners to build and manage with it a global business model for 400 years, the greatest 'financial juggernaut' of world history, humanity was poisoned with the toxic pandemic of race hatred.

And from that date in 1783, when Chief Justice Mansfield of England, in the Zong Trial, boldly proclaimed that the blacks in the

case before him are no different from so many horses, sheep, and goats, the poison had permeated every community in the western world.

It is this culture of centuries upon which the American nation is built that continues to choke the air from black lungs. The Americans won their national independence from Britain but proceeded to retain slavery as the development model of the nation; the same model in which the western world defined and treated black people as animals. It is the legacy of this model, embedded in a national security institution that took the life of “Big Floyd.”

It is this license to treat animal life as dispensable that led the pack of hunters to pin a citizen to the concrete, using the knee like a blunt knife to the throat for almost nine minutes, while posing and posturing like a fisherman in triumph over his catch of the day for all to see!

It is this cultural triumphalism of killing black prey that has caught afire the heart of a hitherto race-hardened world made to participate virtually in an actual live extinction of life; typified by a dying man calling out for his deceased mother who at the moment answered her son because she knew it was time to call him home.

The UWI, too, has heard the call of George. We wish to invoke the memory of Marcus and Martin to bring to the islands young African-Americans, here to breathe before returning to the mainland fight for dignity. We owe it to Martin, to Marcus, to Malcolm, and to Marley; and to all the ruptured minds of Minneapolis.

This is our cause. Every university that stands for freedom, justice, and the celebration of human dignity must stand up like a gorilla for justice for George.

Minneapolis is just another place where our eyes have detected evil, beyond hate, that has erupted from the depth of hell.

It's not only the souls of black folks that have been scarred forever by this latest event in the genocidal war against young black men; the soul of the world is awakened.

This week, every person on the planet who carries a spirit of love for humanity has become a protesting priest. We need our prophets now more than ever. The 'old pirate has robbed I' once again. And yet we shall rise! *Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, is the ViceChancellor of The UWI, President of Universities Caribbean, and Chairman of the CARICOM Reparations Commission.

Solidarity

from A4

changed from “I can't breathe,” a reference to the desperate words spoken by George Floyd as he died from the pressure of the police officer's knee on his neck, to “We can't breathe.” Reports said it was the largest turnout on the streets of Bermuda they can remember, in as many as 40 years.

Protests also took place in Trinidad and Barbados over the weekend, near the U.S. embassy in both countries. The streets were transformed into a sea of black, as people dressed in black, lined the sidewalks in solidarity with other protestors across the world. Both protests were peaceful and organized as the islands' law enforcement maintained their presence at the demonstrations.

In Jamaica, several demonstrations have emerged over the last week, as residents have not only protested the killing or George Floyd but also called for the justice of their own Jamaican residents who have died at the hands of local police.

On June 4, a small group of Jamaicans gathered outside of the United States embassy to protest police brutality. While the protesters expressed their outrage over the killing of George Floyd, they also cited Susan Bogle, the 44-year-old disabled woman killed by a soldier in August Town, St. Andrew in May. The group individuals were later joined

by United States Ambassador to Jamaica Donald Tapia, who has endorsed peaceful protesting. Tapia's presence seemed to surprise the protesters, whose numbers increased when residents of the Standpipe community, which is located across the road from the embassy, heard he was there and decided to join the group.

On June 6, a larger, much more diverse crowd gathered outside of the embassy, highlighting the death of several other black people: Americans- Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, and Jamaicans Mario Deane and Michael Gayle, who all died as a result of racial and/or police injustice. On the same day, in the vicinity of the Emancipation Park in New Kingston, a second protest involving dozens of residents also took place.

Residents blasted the recording of the hit song “Murderer” by Buju Banton over and over as they lined the sidewalk with #BlackLivesMatter signs.

As the death of a Jamaican-native killed by a police trooper in New Jersey gains global attention, Caribbean nationals have begun to realize that the #BlackLivesMatter fight is also their fight. As one protestor told CNW, “No longer should African-Americans feel like they have no genuine allies when blacks around the globe are privy to similar injustices.”

B2 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, JUN 11 – JUN 17, 2020 A D V E R T I S E M E N T

THE SCHOOL BOARD OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION BIDS FOR DR. TONI BILBAO PREPARATORY ACADEMY PHASE II ADDITION OF MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES 6-8 The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida (Board), intends to award one Construction firm for the following General Obligation Bond (GOB) project:

PROJECT NO. 01999900 DR. TONI BILBAO PREPARATORY ACADEMY PHASE II ADDITION OF MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES 6-8 NEW ADDITION 8905 N.W. 114th AVENUE DORAL, FLORIDA 33178 BIDS DUE: Sealed bids will be received by The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida, for the project listed herein, until 1:00 P.M. local time, Thursday, July 16, 2020 at the M-DCPS Stores and Mail Distribution Main Office located at 7001 S.W. 4 Street, Miami, Florida 33144, following which time and place, or as soon there-after as the Board can attend to the same, the said bids will be publicly opened, read and tabulated at the same location, by an authorized representative of the Board. Award of the contract will be made to the lowest, pre-qualified responsible and responsive bidder for the actual amount bid considering base bid and accepted alternates (if any) as listed in the bidding documents. The Board will award the contract based upon the results of the tabulations as covered by applicable laws and regulations.

Bidders desiring to participate in this solicitation must be pre-qualified by the Board prior to submitting their bid in response to this solicitation. Contact the Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) Office of Economic Opportunity at (305) 995-1307 or via email at oeo@dadeschools.net for information regarding Contractors' Pre-qualification procedures.

QUESTIONS: Written questions regarding this project will be accepted. All written communications must be sent to the Project Architect/Engineer, Laura Perez (laura1@lmptc.com), Laura M. Perez & Associates, Inc., 2401 N.W. 7 Street, Miami, Florida 33125. Questions will be accepted until 5:00 pm on Thursday, July 2, 2020. Answers will only be issued to the Prime Contractors who attended the mandatory Pre-bid Conference.

MANDATORY PRE-BID CONFERENCE (Dr. Toni Bilbao Preparatory Academy School): Thursday, June 25, 2020 at Dr. Toni Bilbao Preparatory Academy School, 8905 N.W. 114th Avenue, Doral, Florida 33178. Due to site gathering limitations, any Prime Contractor who would like to attend must submit an email request to Laura M. Perez & Associates, Inc. (see instructions below) to do so, and will be scheduled in the order of when said request is received. There will be up to four sessions scheduled (based on quantity of requests): Session 1: 8:00 AM to 9:45 AM Session 2: 10:00 AM to 11:45 AM Session 3: 1:00 PM to 2:45 PM (as needed) Session 4: 3:00 PM to 4:45 PM (as needed) Each session will be restricted to one representative from Prime Contracting firms only, limiting each group to a maximum of seven potential bidders for each of the proposed conferences. All attendees must always wear face masks and maintain a minimum of 6 feet distance from all other persons. Gloves are optional but recommended.

There will be a sign-in period for each session of 15 minutes from the start time of that session. Potential bidders arriving after the 15-minute sign-in period (of the session they are scheduled to attend) will not be allowed to participate in this solicitation. Proposals submitted by firms not represented at the Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference will not be considered.

SUBMITTING REQUEST TO ATTEND PRE-BID CONFERENCE: All Prime Contractors wishing to attend are to submit an e-mail to Laura M. Perez & Associates, Inc. (laura1@lmptc.com) confirming their attendance no later than Tuesday June 23, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. A Pre-Bid Conference attendance confirmation email containing a scheduled time will be sent by the Project Architect/Engineer, to each potential attendee, no later than Wednesday, June 24, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.

Prime contractors' will be instructed at each session of the procedure to schedule any additional site visits and/or walkthroughs as needed.

Please note that the District and Laura M. Perez & Associates are adhering to all CDC and DOH COVID-19 recommendations by limiting the number of persons at a site to a maximum of ten persons at any one time (Project Architect/Engineer, Project Manager, a school representative to facilitate opening of the site, and seven Prime Contractors), and requiring the use of Personal Protection Equipment.

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

General questions regarding the legal advertisement will be sent to the Office of Capital Improvement Projects via email at ocip@dadeschools.net, and a copy filed with the Clerk of the School Board at celiarubio@dadeschools.net, who shall make copies available to the public upon request.

Lobbyist Lobbyist requirements, pursuant to Board Policy 8150, shall be applicable to this solicitation and all proposers and lobbyists shall strictly conform to, and be governed by, the requirements set forth therein. Contact the Clerk of the School Board for additional information.

Vendor and Employment Preference Local-Vendor Preference, pursuant to Board Policy 6320.05, shall apply to this solicitation. Based on Board policy, Local Business means a vendor or business that has a valid business tax receipt, issued by a jurisdiction located in Miami-Dade County, that has either (1) its headquarters, manufacturing facility, or locally-owned franchise located within the legal boundaries of Miami Dade County, for at least twelve (12) months, or (2) has an office with a street address within the boundaries of Miami-Dade County for at least twenty-four (24) months, calculated from the bid or proposal opening date. Post office boxes are not verifiable and shall not be used for the purpose of establishing said physical address. In order to be considered for local preference, vendors must provide a copy of their business tax receipt and the Local Business Affidavit of Eligibility with their proposal. Proposers who fail to submit the required documents will not be considered for Vendor Preference.

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

Ethics, Conflict of Interest and Anti-Fraud Proposers responding to this solicitation shall comply with the following ethics, conflict of interest and anti-fraud policies: - Board Policy 6460, Business Code of Ethics; - Board Policy 6460, Disclosure of Employment of Former School Board Employees; - Board Policy 8700, Anti-Fraud; and all related Board policies and procedures, as applicable Contractor Debarment Procedures Pursuant to Board Policy 6320.04, Contractor Discipline Procedures, debarred contractors are excluded from conducting business with the Board as agents, representatives, partners, and associates of other contractors, subcontractors or individual sureties.

Commercial Anti-discrimination, Diversity, and Inclusion Proposers responding to this solicitation shall comply with the following anti-discrimination policies: - Board Policy 6465, Commercial Anti-discrimination, Diversity, and Inclusion (proposers shall be required to certify compliance with Board Policy 6465); - Board Policy 1362.02, 3362.02 and 4362.02, Anti-discrimination/Harassment Complaint Procedure; and - all related Board policies and procedures, as applicable Protest Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed and in the manner specified in Board Policy 6320 (Purchase Approval and Competitive Bidding Process Requirements) or in accordance with FS Section 120.57(3) shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under FS Chapter 120.

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

Board policies, as amended from time to time, can be accessed and downloaded at: https://go.boarddocs.com/fl/sbmd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=BK6KUF4FFE14.

The successful proposer(s) shall fully comply with the State of Florida's House Bill 1877 “Jessica Lunsford Act” (JLA); FS 1012.465, 1012.32, 1012.467 & 1012.468 and Board Policy 4121.01, Employment Standards and Fingerprinting of all. Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed and in the manner specified in Board Policy 6320 or in accordance with §120.57(3). Fla. Stat. (2014) shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under Chapter 120, Florida Statutes.

Pre-qualified bidders may obtain a CD of the documents for construction or a full set of printed documents for construction at the bidder's expense from the office of Go Green Document Solutions, Inc. on 3715 Grand Avenue, Coconut Grove, Florida 33133 on and after, June 8, 2020.

OFFICE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY Small/Micro, Minority/Women-Owned, and Veteran Business Enterprise Programs, Board Policy 6320.02 Awarded firms will be required to comply with Board Policy 6320.02 and submit a monthly report via the Online Diversity Compliance System for compliance with Small/Micro, Minority/Women and/or Veteran sub-consultant goals, sub-contractor goals, local workforce information, and/or any affirmative procurement initiatives. Awarded firms will be required to submit monthly compliance reports online at: http://miamidadeschools.diversitycompliance.com. Please note that the “Small/Micro Business Enterprise Program Administrative Procedures Manual”, Board-approved June 20, 2018, shall be applicable to this solicitation. Please contact the Office of Economic Opportunity at 305-995-1307 or via email at OEO@dadeschools.net for additional information.

Assistance levels, as established by the Goal Setting Committee: Dr. Toni Bilbao Preparatory Academy School: S/MBE Mandatory Subcontracting Goals: 20.17 Construction and 20% Local Work Force, within a County-wide radius.

Mandatory M/WBE Subcontracting Goals: 4.83%- African American, Native American and Asian American firms.

The Board reserves the right to waive informalities and to reject any and all bids.

THE SCHOOL BOARD OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA By: Alberto M. Carvalho Superintendent of Schools

NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, JUN 11 – JUN 17, 2020 –

Sheriff Tony Dedicates $1M to Racial Equity Training Program

Tony

The Broward County Chiefs of Police Association (BCCPA), on Friday, held a news conference at the Broward Sheriff's Office Public Safety Building to show their solidarity against the in-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and to announce a plan of action.

In light of the tragedy, law enforcement agencies across Broward County will join BSO in participating in the countywide Racial Equity and Implicit Bias Training Program for law enforcement officers which aims to combat racism.

“I'm committing $1 million to fund the launch of this program,” Sheriff Gregory Tony said.

This is an increase in the $500,000 that was initially committed to this initiative in 2019.

Standing together to ensure a safer Broward, Sheriff Tony and BCCPA routinely discuss concerns in the community and work toward the best solutions.

Governor DeSantis Announces Phase 2 Reopening Florida But South Florida Excluded going to work with the three southeast Florida counties, as we go forward,” DeSantis said.

“Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach may seek approval to enter Phase 2 with a written request from the county mayor,” a post by DeSantis read.

Notwithstanding, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Giminez has authorized the opening of several facilities. On Monday, gyms, yoga studios, dance studios, tattoo shops, massage parlors, and martial art studios opened in Miami-Dade. Giminez also announced that county beaches would be allowed to open as of June 10. The beaches were originally scheduled to reopen on June 1, but this was called off as the county had imposed curfews arising from protests over the death of African-American George Floyd who was killed in an encounter with four white police officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Miami Oversight Panel For County Police Could Be Revived As the nationwide calls for police reform intensify, Miami-Dade Commissioner Barbara Jordan is again attempting to have an oversight panel for county police. In 2018, Jordan tabled legislation for an oversight panel, but the measure was vetoed by Mayor Carlos Gimenez. The legislation proposed by Jordan, according to a Miami Herald report, would allow county commissioners to appoint oversight members, which was something Giminez indicated he would support when he vetoed the original bill.

The Miami-Dade Commission is scheduled to vote on the proposed legislation on June 14. The timing of the vote is opportune, coming in the environment of local protests and demand for police reform following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, who was killed when a police officer kept his knee on Floyd's neck for approximately 9 minutes.

The proposed legislation, according to the report, grants the oversight panel authority to investigate any county employee, and gives the board subpoena power.

Steadman Stahl, president of MiamiDade's police union, was reported as saying he wants to see the details of the legislation before announcing a position, but the union could accept a review panel under the right set of rules.

“We usually find very little gets accomplished with them,” he said of the oversight boards. “If it does make the public feel comfortable and our officers' rights are protected, we can work with anything. But we want to be part of the process.”

The panel would not have disciplinary powers but would publish reports on complaints after public hearings.

Appointees to the panel are likely to include police officers.

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“Movie theaters, and bowling alleys, they have a 50 percent capacity appropriate social distancing and sanitation protocols. Those have not been operating up to this point, you know they now have a pathway to do that,” DeSantis said.

Pari-mutual facilities, which typically house events like slots, racing wagers, and cardrooms, will also be able to reopen with strict health and safety guidelines under phase two.

Additionally, gymnasiums, restaurants, and stores will be allowed to expand their capacity.

Similar to the announcement of phase 1 reopening in May, DeSantis has excluded the South Florida counties, Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach, which is still ground zero.

“Today as we take another step, we're applying this to the 64 counties, and obviously

University

Last week Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced plans for the state to move into phase 2 reopening after the COVID-19 lockdown. The phase two reopening began on Friday, June 5.

Phase 2 reopening includes allowing movie theaters, bars, nightclubs, and concert venues to reopen.

“In our phase 2, we will be going with bars being able to operate consistent with this guidance diminished standing room occupancy so basically outdoor seating with social distance, a certain amount indoors, but you're seated to get served. I mean…go enjoy.

Have a drink. It's fine,” DeSantis said. “We want to kind of not have huge crowds piling in.”

Under phase 2, bars and pubs may operate at 50 percent capacity inside and full capacity outside for dine-in service.

Movie theaters and entertainment venues have also been allowed to open with 50

B3

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B4 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, JUN 11 – JUN 17, 2020

CONTINUATIONS

Under Fire

Guyana Elections

from A1

cops who are professional, put their lives on the line, and serve the community admirably.”

In essence, he said the “resolution's current form...it rubs me the wrong way.”

Campbell called out Berger for his opposition to the resolution, pointing out that whenever Berger has called on the commission to vote on resolutions he has proposed on issues impacting the Jewish community, they have always supported him as it was the right thing to do.

“One act of racism is as important as a thousand acts of racism...The other issue is whenever we have a discussion about race, there's a sense of denial. We constantly give an excuse why we should not address these

from A4

issues,” Campbell said, taking issue with Berger's representation of the larger discourse about race.

However, Berger was not finished defending his position, speaking at length about the protests, dividing participants in three groups: peaceful protesters, professional agitators and “people who just want free stuff.” He said BLM has intertwined itself among the three groups. The vice mayor made several “what about” statements citing looting, destruction of property and the police officers who have been killed during the protests. He argued about the “gang-style killings that are taking place in our urban areas...where's the outrage? All murders matter. Why is there no debate?”

Seeking Justice vehicle,” Wagstaff said, adding that Gordon had been searched for weapons and none was found.

“Once in the back of the trooper's vehicle, he was made to sit there for more than 30 minutes without any information being provided, not being issued a ticket, and there was no indication (that) he was under arrest,” Wagstaff told NJ.com.

The attorney said Gordon twice removed his seatbelt and put it back on as the trooper instructed.

But the third time, Gordon apparently removed the seatbelt and tried to get out of the vehicle. The trooper “got physical with him and eventually shot him multiple times,” Wagstaff told the U.S. media website.

The trooper then handcuffed the bleeding Jamaican native, the attorney stated.

The relatives of Gordon is calling for justice. Questions have been raised about why it was problematic for Gordon to leave the trooper's vehicle since he had not been ticketed or arrested.

from A1

“He (Maurice Gordon) didn't do drugs.

He didn't hang out with the wrong crowd…He did not come all the way from Jamaica to die at the hands of someone else,” his sister, Yanique was quoted as saying in her interview with NJ.com.

At the time of his death, Maurice Gordon was a chemistry student enrolled at Dutchess Community College in New York, and worked as a driver for UberEats, according to his mother.

On June 8, the New Jersey attorney general released the police dash-camera footage of the incident. In the two-minute clip, Gordon is seen exiting the trooper's vehicle and attempting to run. A scuffle ensues and the trooper shoots Gordon several times.

Although an investigation has been launched, the family wants worldwide attention brought to Gordon's death, in the hope that justice will be served. An online petition has been launched, putting pressure on New Jersey officials to charge the officer involved in the fatal shooting.

Berger said he did not want to “piggyback” on the BLM movement, because they have a “radical agenda,” which includes abolishing prisons, having mass surveillance, defunding the police and other proposals which he does not agree with.

Representative Shervin D. Jones, who was invited to the virtual meeting, said he was baffled and angry at Berger's comments. He tweeted, “Last night while joining a virtual mtg for a Broward City to speak on a resolution acknowledging that #BLM & to speak against police brutality, I was baffled by the comments of their Vice Mayor & him condemning the movement. I hung up in anger and realized 'THIS is why we march.'”

Haiti

15,000 votes,” PPP Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali told reporters.

Ali said it was now time for the country to settle down and await the final declaration from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

But earlier, the ruling coalition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) said that GECOM cannot use any “fraudulent” votes to declare “credible” results of the elections.

The APNU said there is no option but for GECOM to reject all ballots, in all 10 districts, that cannot be validated, adding that some of the votes cast in the Lower East Coast of Demerara, which cannot be validated there alone, amount to “tens of thousands.”

“These votes are bogus, fraudulent and cannot withstand scrutiny,” it said, adding “what was uncovered in the ballot boxes from polling places on the lower East Coast Demerara provides unequivocal and incontrovertible evidence that massive and systematic electoral fraud was unleashed on March 2nd.”

The ruling coalition said the pattern is clear and shows where the coalition won, the documents are in the boxes, but where the PPP “won,” the documents are missing.

But Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has dismissed the allegations, saying that the APNU “lost the elections. They lost the elections from day one and have refused to come to grips with that fact,” he told reporters.

GECOM had undertaken the recount of the ballots cast in the elections after both the ruling coalition and the main opposition party claimed victory in the election that had been observed by national, regional, and international observers.

President Granger noted that the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) is obligated to present a matrix of results from each electoral district coupled with a summary of the observation reports from each electoral district and reiterated his pledge to accept the declarations of the results

by GECOM. “I am committed to upholding the Constitution and the rule of law. I respect the integrity and autonomous nature of the Elections Commission. I will abide by the declarations of the Elections Commission as I have abided by the rulings of the Court,” he said.

from A1

people testing positive for the virus “are probably much higher.”

MSF, which opened a 45-bed COVID-19 treatment center here last month, said it is currently treating 25 patients, mainly of whom are “seriously ill.” MSF chief of mission in Haiti, Hassan Issa, said that the group is also following 60 other patients on an outpatient basis in the capital and surrounding areas.

“Some patients come to us with positive test results, and others who need oxygen or hospitalization are treated while we send their test to a governmentrun laboratory,” Issa added.

MSF said it is also concerned that many people with COVID-19 symptoms are not going to the hospital for treatment, thereby spreading the virus in communities and reducing the chances of survival for individuals.

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NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, JUN 11 – JUN 17, 2020 –

Reggae Ambassador, Causion Diagnosed with Cancer Antigua & Barbuda's Reggae Ambassador Causion has been diagnosed with Stage-3 colon cancer. The diagnosis came seven days after he was rushed to emergency surgery on November 19 in Palm Beach, Florida.

The stage 3 diagnosis means the cancer is locally advanced and treatable with urgent and immediate care.

“I can't express what I was feeling at the time,” said Causion, “Perhaps you can say it was disbelief.”

Born Gregory Bailey in the twin-island state of Antigua & Barbuda the reggae artist has had a stellar musical career spanning more than 30 years with highlights such as recently touring with the reggae giants Third World.

Causion, who is based in the United States, currently has four albums. He has headlined concerts to benefit the less fortunate and, ironically, has participated in concerts to raise funds for cancer. He lost both his parents to cancer.

The singer is reaching out to his friends, fans, and colleagues for financial assistance as he begins his long road to treatment and recovery.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would be in this position,” said Bailey. “I think my current situation is a wake-up call for other artists.

I'm hoping that by going public, my situation will encourage other artists to get regular checkups. In our business, we spend a lot of time focusing on the art form and not ourselves.”

Cautious is also a songwriter and throughout his career has used his lyrics to uplift and educate others. This time is no different. His latest single entitled “Give Thanks” is his way of saying thank you to his fans and to express gratitude for his life and his career.

Causion is asking fans and supporters to download the song. Proceeds from its sale will go towards assisting with his medical expenses.

To support Causion's treatment and recovery visit thankyoumission.com and download his latest song “Give Thanks.”

“I'm hoping that by going public, my situation will encourage other artists to get regular checkups. In our business, we spend a lot of time focusing on the art form and not ourselves.” – Causion

C1

Milton Blake’s “Abuse of Power” Decries Police Brutality Since moving to Cleveland, Ohio in 2009, Milton Blake has seen some controversial deaths of African-Americans at the hands of law enforcement. The murder of George Floyd on May 25 in Minneapolis is the most disturbing.

So disturbing that he wrote and recorded the song, Abuse of Power, which decries police brutality. The self-produced single was released last week.

“When I first see the video (of Floyd’s death), I said to my wife, ‘This not going to end like this.

Things going to stir up’,” Floyd recalled. “Out of all the killings wey mi see with police officers this one is so cold.

Blake, who says he has never experienced racism since moving to the US, tours the Midwest with the River Nile Band. He recently released Fresh Souls in Reggae, a compilation album featuring journeyman artists.

Miami Carnival Celebrates With New Normal Resulting From COVID-19 With the rapid spread of the new Coronavirus (COVID-19), Miami Carnival's number one priority is our community's health and safety. The office is 100 percent operational, and we have a continuity plan to ensure we can maintain our festival's integrity while ensuring the health and safety of all.

We are closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19. We are following the recommendations of global and local public health authorities, in conjunction with our stakeholders, including our local municipalities and counties, visitor bureaus, masqueraders, mas bands and steel bands, sponsors, and our volunteers. They will

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These are challenging times. Likewise, we also marshal the full network and resources of the Carnival community to also support other charitable efforts in the South Florida community to deliver the needs to our vulnerable residents during this pandemic. We urge you all to stay healthy and to do whatever you can to help one another and to make this a safer world for us all.

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NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, JUN 11 – JUN 17, 2020 –

C3

Racism Forces Bermudian Soccer Captain To Sever Ties With Polish Club HAMILTON, Bermuda – Bermuda captain Danté Leverock said he was confident of making a swift return to the professional ranks after racial discrimination forced him to cut short a brief but traumatic spell with a Polish club and return home.

Leverock, a 28-year-old defender, told the Royal Gazette newspaper he contemplated quitting the game because of racial discrimination at Radomiak Radom, a secondtier outfit based 60 miles from the Polish capital Warsaw.

Leverock believed he was singled out because of his skin color and treated differently from white players.

He joined Radomiak Radom in February after a season with Irish outfit Sligo Rovers, but

Leverock

severed ties with the Polish club because of “financial and cultural factors.”

He said: “The city is not the most diverse and forward-thinking place in the world when it

comes to people of color. When I looked around and saw swastika graffiti, I quickly realized I'd have to be mentally strong if I was going to stay.

“Being stared at when walking in the street and followed around by security in stores is something I'm used to, having previously played in Eastern Europe (with Estonia's JK Narva Trans).

However, not having the support or understanding from the coaching staff or even your team-mates was more difficult to handle.”

Leverock said he felt like a second-class citizen at times and even believes he was assigned a smaller hotel room than his teammates because of his race. “Even staying in the team hotel, I was put in a smaller room compared to my team-mates,” said Leverock.

“I have an open mind and understand people have different views, but it was definitely the most difficult experience of my career and made me want to never play football again.”

The global coronavirus pandemic left Leverock alone and stranded in Poland. He spent March in lockdown before he managed to return to Bermuda last month on an air-bridge flight.

Leverock said, “I felt I dealt with the situation as well as I possibly could, being alone in Poland with little to no support from the team and having to find ways of traveling back home when the world was shut down. It was an experience I'll never forget.”

But Leverock said he was optimistic he would make a quick return to action, adding, “I've had some interest from clubs, but given that the (Bermuda) airport is closed, it's difficult to finalize anything in terms of a new team.

“I'm always open to try new countries.

However, my next choice of team will be a careful one, as I will be looking to settle down and the country's cultural ideals are a major factor for me now at this point.”

“Skerritt Brings New Optimism To West Indies Cricket” – Gordon PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Former Cricket West Indies president, Ken Gordon, has endorsed the current regional governing body's head, Ricky Skerritt, as “absolutely the right man” to lead the organization and says he has brought a renewed optimism to West Indies cricket.

The Trinidadian business magnate, who ran the then West Indies Cricket Board between 2005 and 2007, said while there are massive challenges facing West Indies cricket, Skerritt possessed the necessary leadership skills to confront those issues.

“Ricky Skerritt is the reason why I'm more optimistic about cricket now than I've been for 10 years,” Gordon told i95 FM Sports.

“I think we have absolutely the right man.

Mistakes are going to be made given where we've come from, but I think we're very fortunate to have Ricky Skerritt at this time.

He's taking it one step at a time.”

He added: “The reality is if you've got the right leader anything is possible. It's not obvious and it's not going to happen easily but if you can set standards and build an environment and keep doing the right thing, you're going to get a lot of licks but that's what makes the difference between ultimate success and failure.”

Skerritt, a former St. Kitts and Nevis cabinet minister, stunned three-term incumbent Dave Cameron in elections staged in Jamaica in March last year, to take over the helm of the governing body.

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However, Skerritt is presiding over a cashstrapped CWI, and the situation has been made worse this year with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic which has forced the cessation of cricket across the globe.

In the face of declining revenues, CWI announced last month it would slash staff and player salaries by 50 percent starting from July, in an effort to stay afloat.

Gordon said the issue of financing the organization would be a “huge challenge” but believed Skerritt's expertise would prove vital.

“But, I repeat, I'm more optimistic now than I've been for the last 10 years because I think for a change we have somebody who's going to try to do the right thing.”

Skerritt, along with the new vice-president,

Dr. Kishore Shallow, have made several major changes since taking over the board, overhauling the selection structure, and changing the management personnel of the representative teams.

However, the performance of the senior men's team has remained inconsistent and Gordon acknowledged it's an area Skerritt needs to address.

“We have to solve the problem of our team.

We've got one or two promising people, but the reality is it is our consistency that is bringing us down and it's because we've done so little development of the mind,” Gordon noted. “I think this is one of the things that Ricky will have to confront in a very serious way.”

C4 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, JUN 11 – JUN 17, 2020 A D V E R T I S E M E N T