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OSAKA QUITS
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When Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open earlier this week, after revealing her battle with depression and anxiety, it sparked mixed reactions from across the globe. The 23-year-old, four-time Grand Slam winner had stated before the start of the tournament at Roland Garros that she would not honor the mandatory media commitments as they were detrimental to her mental health and likened the traditional post-match news conference to “kicking people when they’re down”. See Full Story on Page A6
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JAMAICA
Opposition Leader Supports Embattled General Secretary in Sex Abuse Scandal By Amelia Robinson CNW Reporter President of Jamaica’s major opposition party, the People’s National Party, (PNP) Mark Golding has publicly come to the defense of his embattled General Secretary, Dr. Dayton Campbell, who he describes as an upstanding and fine individual.
Golding’s defense of Dr. Campbell comes amid a sex scandal, in which it is alleged that the general secretary engaged in sexual activities with minors as recently as 2016. Mark Golding says he is yet to see anything that would warrant Dr. Campbell stepping down from his position. “Nothing has been brought so far that warrants any action on his part and it would be a disservice to the struggle of the women in this country if there could be a manipulation of somebody’s life to his detriment on the basis of false accusations that have not been
CARICOM Signs Sports Development MoU with FIFA Usain Bolt, Serena Williams and Other Athletes Back Naomi Osaka After French Open Withdraw
continues on B4 – Golding Defends Campbell
Mark Golding
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Caribbean American Ofcials in the White House A3
Daughter-in-law of UK Billionaire Charged in Death of Belize Cop A4
CARPHA Urges C’bean to get Population to Quit Smoking B3
Sprinter Briana Williams Breaks U20 100m Record Twice C1
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PAGE A2 Proclama on: Jamaicanborn Youth and Community Advocate Lavern Deer poses with a proclama on that declares May 29th 'Lavern Deer Day' in the City of North Miami Beach. She received the proclama on from the city commission. – Contributed
Chambers + Holness: Broward County Commissioner Dale V.C Holness (le ) joins Miramar Commissioner Maxwell Chambers on stage during Chambers' Miramar Family Night event held at the Miramar Regional Park on May 28, 2021. Residents were treated to the sounds of the Reax on Band (background). – Contributed
Andrew Holness: Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness rolls up his sleeve to get his second shot of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at the Good Samaritan Inn in Kingston on May 28, 2021. – Contributed
Sam Sharpe: Jamaica's Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports, Olivia Grange lays flowers by the monument of Jamaican na onal hero, the Right Excellent Samuel Sharpe, whose death was commemorated on May 23, 2021. – Contributed
CG: Jamaica's Consul General for Southern USA, Oliver Mair speaks at the launch of direct flights from Miami to Jamaica via Fron er Airlines, in Miami-Dade County on May 28, 2021. – Contributed
Miramar Commissioners: City officials from the City of Miramar join a representa ve from Western Union on stage during a prize giveaway at the Miramar Family Night event, held at the Miramar Regional Park on May 28, 2021. The event was hosted by Commissioner Maxwell Chambers From le : Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam, Commissioner Alexander Davis, Vice Mayor Yve e Colbourne, Commissioner Maxwell Chambers and a Western Union Representee. – Contributed
Kristen Clarke: Jamaican-American Vice President Kamala Harris (right) swears in Jamaican-American a orney, Kristen Clarke (far le ) as assistant a orney general for civil rights on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at the Department of Jus ce in Washington. At center is Clarke's Jamaican mother, Pansy Clarke. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Mar n)
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Caribbean-American Ofcials in the White House I
the Biden Administration. She was born on August 13, 1977, in Fort-deFrance, Martinique to Haitian parents and was raised in Queens Village, Queens from age 5. During the presidential campaign, JeanPierre was a senior adviser and then chief of staff to Kamala Harris, making her the first Black person to hold that position for a vicepresidential nominee. She had previously been a staffer in President Barack Obama’s administration and in his reelection campaign.
n proclaiming June as National Caribbean-American Heritage Month this year, U.S. President Joe Biden stated that, “Caribbean Americans have made our country more innovative and more prosperous; they have enriched our nation’s arts and culture, our public institutions, and our economy”. President Biden also noted that the celebration is even more special with a slew of Caribbean-American officials in his administration. For this month’s Caribbean-American Heritage Month feature, we highlight the White House officials, along with Kamala Harris, who are of Caribbean heritage.
Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas was born in Havana, Cuba, on November 24, 1959. His parents arrived with him and his sister to the United States in 1960 as refugees, following the Cuban Revolution. He lived in Miami, Florida, before his family moved to Los Angeles, California, where he was raised for the remainder of his youth. Mayorkas, who is also a lawyer, has been serving as the seventh United States Secretary of Homeland Security since February 2, 2021. He is the first immigrant and first Latino to lead the department. During the Obama administration, Mayorkas also served in the Department of Homeland Security.
Special Assistant to President Joe Biden, Karen Andre Mayorkas
Rice
Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona Migel Cardona was born on July 11, 1975, in Meriden, Connecticut, to Puerto Rican parents. An educator by profession, he has been serving as the 12th United States Secretary of Education under President Joe Biden since March 2021. Prior to this, Cardona served as Connecticut Commissioner of Education from 2019 to 2021.
Domestic Policy Advisor, Susan Rice Susan Rice is an American diplomat, policy advisor, and public official serving as Director of the United States Domestic Policy
Cardona
Clarke
Council since 2021. Rice was born in Washington D.C., on November 17, 1964. Her maternal grandparents were Jamaican immigrants to Portland, Maine. She served as United States ambassador to the United Nations, during President Barack Obama’s first term and later as National Security Advisor.
Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division/DOJ, Kristen Clarke On May 25, the U.S Senate confirmed the appointment of Jamaican-America Kristen Clarke to the justice department, making her the first Black woman to lead the U.S.
Jean-Pierre
Andre
Department of Justice’s Civil Rights division. Kristen Clarke was born in Brooklyn, New York. Her parents migrated from Jamaica to the United States just a few years before she was born in 1975. A lawyer by profession, Clarke previously worked in the United States Department of Justice Civil. She is currently the president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
Principal Deputy Press Secretary, Karine JeanPierre Since January 2021, Karine JeanPierre has been White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary in
Haitian-American attorney and political advisor Karen Andre was, in January 2021, appointed as special assistant for presidential personnel in the Joe Biden/Kamala Harris administration. The Haitian American was born in New York to Haitian immigrant parents but was raised—and attended school and college—in Florida. From 2014 to 2017, Andre served as a presidential appointee in the Obama-Biden administration as the White House Liaison to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. She also served as a senior advisor to Andrew Gillum in his 2018 primary campaign.
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CARIBBEAN
Daughter-in-law of UK Billionaire Charged in Death of Belize Top Cop of San Pedro. Williams said a single gunshot was heard “and upon investigating, police found the female on a pier, and she had what appeared to be blood on her arms and on her clothing.” “A firearm was also seen on the pier that has been retrieved and we have learned that the firearm belonged to the police and was assigned to Mr. Jemmott,” he told a news conference Friday. The Commissioner also said that the incident “seems rather personal” and not an attack. “From what we know is that they are friends. From what we have been made to understand they were drinking. From investigation they were alone on the pier and yes they were both fully
A popular American socialite, Jasmine Hartin has been arrested and charged with manslaughter by negligence over the death of Belize Superintendent Henry Jemmott. Hartin was charged on May 31, three days after she was initially detained. Belize Police Commissioner Chester C. Williams told local media that Jasmine Hartin initially balked at making a statement, preferring to wait for the presence of her attorney. She was found on a dock near where police Superintendent Henry Jemmott was found dead early Friday (May 28) in the town
Belize Superintendent Henry Jemmott and Jasmine Hartin
continues on B4 – Death of Top Cop
JAMAICA
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
NCB Banker Jailed in Multi-million Dollar Theft
Opposition Leader Says COVID Restrictions Affecting Income
A former senior manager of the National Commercial Bank (NCB) was on Monday sentenced to almost eight years in jail after she had pleaded guilty in April to all 13 counts of fleecing the financial institution of J$34 million over a three year period. Andrea Gordon, 52, had on April 29 pleaded guilty to the 13 counts and on Monday, Supreme Court Judge Justice Lorna Shelly Williams sentenced her to five years and four months on three counts of larceny as a servant, two years and 11 months on three counts of access with intent to commit an offence, and to seven years and six months on seven counts of engaging in a transaction involving criminal
Trinidad and Tobago’s Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar said while the restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are necessary, “thousands of people are unable to earn an income and care for their families”. In a message to mark Indian Arrival Day on Monday, Persad Bissessar, the leader of the United National Congress, said just as “our forefathers united to overcome challenges and build a nation, we must work together now to bring the COVID-19-19 crisis under control”. She said on the 176th anniversary of the
Persad-Bissessar
continues on A8 – Banker Jailed
arrival of the first East Indian immigrants to Trinidad and Tobago, the population is also reminded of their courage and resilience in a time of great uncertainty. “Having braved the perilous journey, our forefathers suffered great hardship upon their arrival to our shores. They persevered and held on to their religious beliefs, culture and traditions, which were passed on through generations. In spite of the harsh conditions and experience of indentureship, the majority of Indians who came to Trinidad and Tobago chose to make this country their home,” said Persad Bissessar, continues on A7 – Affecting Income
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What Was Your Reaction to Naomi Osaka Withdrawing from the French Open? Naomi Osaka's decision to withdraw from the French Open on May 31 has fueled a debate surrounding the mental well-being of athletes in the spotlight. Osaka's withdrawal from the tournament came one day after she was fined US$15,000 for refusing to do a post-match interview. Osaka said in recent years, she has suffered from bouts of depression and said she believes that post-match interviews sometimes adversely affects the mental health of athletes. Since her announcement, the 23-year-old tennis star has received support from scores of athletes. But many fans remain conflicted over her decision. We asked our readers what their reaction was to Osaka's withdrawal announcement. Here are the responses:
Errol Anderson: Totally agree with the stance taken by Naomi Osaka.The tennis racquet does the talking for her. What else do the vultures parading as journalists expect of her? Next thing, they will want to ask questions that are totally unrelated to tennis, like her views on transgender rights etc. I wish other sportsmen/women would be as firm as this young woman.
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Clayon Gunzelle: Kmt how can you compare taking questions after a loss to somebody kicking you while you're down??? As long as she's winning, we can ask any amount of questions. But if she loses, we aren't supposed to ask what happened?
Lennox Hamilton: Give the young lady a break. She came forward and let us know how she is struggling with depression and this is how the media wants to help? Allow the lady to live her life and adjust in a timely manner. The media wouldn't mind seeing her break apart just to sell their stories.
John Edwards: Those who sponsored tournaments over the years should be told they don't hold the dignity or descent standards of all. And journalists should respect those who make a living from tennis.
Luke Douglas: I'm not sure why the press is being bashed over this. In fact the press is more gentle with Osaka than most players.
Steve Evans: Instead of threatening her, the tennis authorities should reach out to help her through this difficult period in her young life. Shameful behavior!
Tee Doug: Shameful behaviour on the part of the organisers. They should have sat down and tried to work out a compromise with Naomi and the press rather than make threats about banning her. Let's hope this does not affect her mental well-being any further.
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editorial
Osaka Quits French Open Sparking Mixed Reactions who see these sports icons as super human and invincible. History has taught us that Osaka is not an isolated case, and the toughest time to face the traditional post-match inquisitions tends to be after a defeat, especially after a particularly difficult one to take. Players other than Osaka have avoided media obligations before – world number-one Novak Djokovic beat a hasty retreat from Flushing Meadows after his highly publicized default from last year’s U.S. Open. Others have turned up, only to offer limited answers. We remember Venus Williams and Bernard Tomic, among those who have delivered the ‘yes/no’ approach.
“
Perhaps some want to see athletes crumble and break down into tears, having put them on a pedestal. Osaka is a young, introverted, anxious person. We should, by now, understand that sports stars are not super human. That they have the same doubts and mental health issues as everyone else.
“
When Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open earlier this week, after revealing her battle with depression and anxiety, it sparked mixed reactions from across the globe. The 23-year-old, four-time Grand Slam winner had stated before the start of the tournament at Roland Garros that she would not honor the mandatory media commitments as they were detrimental to her mental health and likened the traditional post-match news conference to “kicking people when they’re down”. She was duly fined US$15,000 and threatened with disqualification from the tournament if she continued to make herself unavailable. Osaka, the highest-earning female athlete in the world last year, wasted no time and announced her withdrawal from the event, saying she needed some time from the game, which has put her participation at Wimbledon and her Tokyo home Olympics at risk. Osaka said her mental health struggles began three years ago when she won her first major at the U.S. Open in a final against Serena Williams. “The truth is I have suffered bouts of depression since the U.S. Open in 2018 and I have had a really hard time coping with that. "In Paris, I was already feeling vulnerable and anxious, so I thought it was better to exercise selfcare and skip the press conferences.” Mental health is a serious issue in sports, which sadly has been neglected or brushed aside for a very long time. We applaud Osaka for her bravery and boldness in bringing to light a very personal issue, especially during this time with the added pressures of a pandemic and the attending protocols. It is a conversation that needs to be undertaken in an honest, transparent and professional manner. Playing professional sports at the highest level is no mean feat. The financial rewards are usually great, but so too are the expectations from not just family and friends, but oftentimes millions of fans
"There's a sense of voyeurism around how it presently works," wrote Peter Terry, a professor of Psychology at the University of Southern Queensland in Australia on theconversation.com on Tuesday. Whether or not always being obliged to speak to media remains part of the job is a question now being asked in light of Osaka’s revelations. The role of the media in promoting sports, building brands and portfolios, laying a platform for revenue generation is not in question. At the end of
the day, the media is a key driver of the huge sums of monies earned by pros. But the pros must be protected at all cost, and it should always be remembered that each individual is made up differently and reacts differently. It was good to see the four Grand Slams uniting in pledging to “create meaningful improvements” to their tournaments in an effort to avoid a repeat of the Osaka crisis. “We intend to work alongside the players, the tours, the media and the broader tennis community to create meaningful improvements,” a statement said. It added that the four Grand Slams “empathize with the unique pressures players face”. However, they added that “change should come through the lens of maintaining a fair playing field, regardless of ranking or status.” Osaka, too, has accepted culpability in the whole affair and has apologized. She says she wants to work with the authorities, and all concerned to help players experiencing similar issues when she returns. But her battle with depression echoes similar struggles of other athletes in recent years. Olympic swimming star Michael Phelps, Spanish footballer Andres Iniesta and England cricketer Marcus Trescothick are just some who have documented their struggles. German goalkeeper Robert Enke and American world track-cycling champion Kelly Catlin took their own lives. "Depression is a word which has a pejorative connotation, and which is poorly understood by the population,” Professor Philippe Godin, a sports psychologist at the University of Louvain in Belgium, said. “In sport, you have to show that you are strong, almost invincible. So it is not compatible with weakness.” Coaches and managers are integral members of the support staff, we suggest that it’s time for psychologists to assume an equal prominence in the backroom staff.
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Haitians Await COVID-19 Vaccine Amid New Curfew Restrictions The Haitian government has announced the imposition of a new nightly curfew and other restrictions in an attempt to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus as the Frenchspeaking nation still awaits the long-promised delivery of the 756,000 AstraZeneca vaccine doses arranged through a United Nations program. Though organised over a month ago, Haiti does not yet have any vaccines to offer its more than 11 million people as COVID-19 cases increase, raising concerns among health experts that the well-being of Haitians is being pushed aside as violence and political instability across the country deepen. “We are all working hard with the government of Haiti, the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders so that Haiti can receive
vaccines as soon as possible,” said Dr. Ciro Ugarte, director of health emergencies for the Pan American Health Organization, the WHO’s Americas branch. The free doses were scheduled to arrive in May at the latest, but delays are expected because Haiti missed a deadline and the key Indian manufacturer is now prioritizing an increase in domestic demand. Haiti is among 10 countries in the Americas that will receive vaccines at no cost through COVAX, an initiative to provide COVID-19 inoculations to countries that would otherwise have difficulty getting them. The nation of more than 11 million already struggled to administer routine vaccines and provide basic health care before the pandemic. For this reason, all outdoor activity will be
banned from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. under the decree issued by President Jovenel Moise, who was in Ecuador on Monday for the inauguration of that country’s new president. The decree also makes the use of face masks mandatory for anyone out in public, while temperature checks
and handwashing stations are required for all public or private buildings, such as banks, schools, hospitals and markets. Social distancing in public places is set at nearly 5 feet. The president also ordered public institutions to reduce staff on duty by 50 percent, while he encouraged that other employees work from home. According to official government statistics, Haiti has had 13,906 coronavirus cases since the pandemic began in March 2020 and 288 deaths related to COVID-19. But a recent surge in daily cases of contagion has prompted authorities to declare the state of emergency.
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Doctors Without Borders condemns murder of one of their colleagues PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, May 28, CMC –The head of the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Mission in Haiti, Aline Serin, has condemned the murder of a staff member who was shot on his way home from work. “Moise was our colleague and our friend, and now he is another victim of the chronic violence in Haiti. The hospital where he worked takes care of patients with life-threatening injuries, based solely on the severity of their medical needs,” Serin said. The MSF said that the father of three children did not resist his assailants and was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. He is today one more victim of the chronic violence that affects the whole of Haitian society, which has continued to grow for years, the MSF added. MSF, or Doctors Without Borders, reopened its Tabarre trauma hospital in November 2019 during high tensions and protests over Haiti’s political, economic and social crises. Since then, MSF said it has admitted 2,200 patients, 65 percent of whom are victims of the chronic violence affecting Port-au-Prince.
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the first woman of Indian descent to lead a government in Trinidad. She said that the indenture system lasted for over 70 years, ending in 1917, and just a year later, our country, along with the rest of the Caribbean was ravaged by an influenza pandemic, with the Indian immigrant population and the poor and indigenous populations being particularly hard-hit. “Today, our nation is once again in the throes of a pandemic, this time because of a novel coronavirus – COVID-19. While we have the benefit of advances in technology, equipment, and health care, the poor and vulnerable in our society are severely impacted in many ways. “The restrictions that are in place, while necessary to curb the spread of the virus, mean that thousands of people are unable to earn an income and care for their families. There is a need for greater protection of the poor and vulnerable at this time,” she said. Persad Bissessar said that “today we can draw inspiration from our East Indian forefathers and all others who made this nation their home as they looked out for each other, and worked together to build communities. Let us follow their example and work together to overcome this crisis that we are facing.”
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Some Vaccination Sites Closing Down Due to Little Demand It seems like just yesterday, residents and elected officials in South Florida were complaining that the state didn’t have enough vaccines to meet the demand in the three counties. Now, some five months after COVID-19 vaccinations began, the situation is quite the opposite. The state has vaccines, but not enough people in South Florida to take them. Broward County Mayor Steve Geller says
the vaccination rate in the county has slowed dramatically. “The number of people getting vaccines continues to decline. Over the last 13 days, our average has been somewhere around approximately 4,500 people per day. This is down from 30,000/35,000 a day at our peak. As you can see, the numbers are just not very good,” he said during a COVID-19 community update on May 19. The slow vaccination rate has caused several sites in Broward and Miami-Dade to close down or change operations. The Hard
Rock Stadium in Miami is ending COVID testing to focus more on vaccines. In Broward, the T.Y. Park and Tradewinds sites are among those that closed this month. Mayor Geller says he is working more with municipal leaders to get residents vaccinated. Several vaccination sites are still open in the countries across South Florida. But local leaders say they are now shifting focus to pop-up sites in an attempt to provide access to different communities.
White House Recognizes June as CaribbeanAmerican Heritage Month with Proclamation The United States President Joe Biden on June 1 proclaimed June National Caribbean-American Heritage Month, noting that Caribbean Americans have brought “vibrant cultures, languages, traditions, and values” that have strengthened the country. Within the Caribbean-American community, June has long been celebrated as Caribbean-American Heritage Month but was never officially recognized by a presidential administration. But with a slew of Caribbean-Americans now in the White House, including Jamaican-American Vice President Kamala Harris, President Biden said he was honored to celebrate this National Caribbean-American Heritage Month alongside the Caribbean-American barrier-breaking public servants in his administration. “Throughout our history, Caribbean Americans have brought vibrant cultures, languages, traditions, and values that strengthen our country and add new chapters to our common story. In recognition of Caribbean Americans’ countless gifts and contributions to our Nation, we celebrate National CaribbeanAmerican Heritage Month,” he said in his proclamation. The US president said Caribbean Americans have made
Federal bench, Shirley Chisholm, the daughter of Caribbean immigrants, the first Black Congresswoman — and the first Black woman to launch a major-party bid for the Presidency and Colin Powell, our first Black Secretary of State.
Caribbean-American Heritage Month in South Florida
America “more innovative and more prosperous.” He also noted the significant contributions of several Caribbean-American trailblazers including Nevisian-American Constance Baker Motley, the first Black woman appointed to the
His proclamation came as just hours after JamaicanAmerican Mayor of Lauderdale Lakes, Hazelle Rogers had called for Caribbean-American Heritage Month to be recognized by the White House and by the state of Florida. Mayor Rogers was just one of the many CaribbeanAmerican elected officials in South Florida who gathered in Miramar to kickstart the month-long celebrations. At the event, Jamaican-American Mayor of Miramar Wayne Messam also presented the official proclamation recognizing Caribbean-American Heritage Month in the city. Mayor Messam said he is proud to be part of a city which such a diverse population. He also noted that all five of the city’s Commissioners are of Jamaican heritage.
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
CARPHA Urges C’bean to get Population to Quit Smoking CARPHA said that the prevalence of current tobacco smoking ranges from 13.3 percent in Barbados to 23 percent in Guyana for adult males, and from 7.7 percent in Barbados to 12.6 percent in Guyana for adult women.
The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has said that tobacco use remains a public-health crisis in the region and urged regional countries to make every effort to strengthen multi-sectoral policies and community-based initiatives to discourage the drug’s use. Dr. Joy St. John, executive director of the Trinidad-based agency, said, “It is a preventable cause of illness and death, yet it contributes to the development of non-communicable diseases including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory diseases and cancer. These diseases are the greatest contributors to illness and deaths in the CARICOM region.” CARPHA said that the prevalence of current tobacco smoking ranges from 13.3 percent in Barbados to 23 percent in Guyana for adult males, and from 7.7 percent in Barbados to 12.6 percent in Guyana for adult women. In Antigua and Barbuda, St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago, adolescents use more e-cigarettes than conventional cigarettes. It was also said that non-Latin Caribbean has the second highest prevalence of tobacco use among 13-15 year olds. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the benefits of quitting tobacco are almost immediate, including a drop in heart rate and blood pressure within 20 minutes of quitting as well as the carbon monoxide level in the blood dropping to normal. CARPHA said that quitting smoking is one of the most important steps a person can take to improve his or her health, and that people who quit smoking after having a heart attack can reduce their chances of having another heart attack by 50 per cent. But CARPHA noted that implementation and progress have been slow in some countries, adding “although there is a CARICOM standard for the use of graphic health warnings on tobacco products, it has not been implemented in all Member States.
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Even as some Caribbean countries relax entry protocols for travelers who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has strongly advised against going that route. PAHO Director of Health Emergencies Dr. Ciro Ugarte said on Wednesday that the World Health Organization (WHO) and PAHO do not agree with relaxing measures, since people who are fully vaccinated can still contract and spread the virus. “The vaccine does not protect you from getting infected although there is increasing evidence that that is the case in a significant proportion of persons who get vaccinated,” he said during the virtual weekly press briefing. “There are many people that will still get infected and by reducing the protective measures for the persons who get vaccinated, of course, there is an increased probability and risk of getting infected and passing the disease to others that have not got vaccinated yet. So, in that regard, the WHO and PAHO do not recommend changing the entry requirements for the people who get vaccinated.” Several Caribbean governments have relaxed protocols for fully vaccinated persons entering their territories. Although such individuals are still required to arrive with a negative PCR test, their quarantine period has been reduced. Dr. Ugarte said the disparity in protocols for the vaccinated versus the non-vaccinated, even among the population, raises the issue of discrimination. “How can we discriminate or separate the persons who have been vaccinated from the other ones that are not yet vaccinated? Also, if you are… in a community where some people got vaccinated, how can you identify those and let them, for example, review their protective measures?” he questioned. “So, in that regard, there is a clear indication that unless a significant proportion of persons get fully vaccinated and protected, some of those protective measures must continue to be in place.” During Wednesday’s press conference, PAHO Director Dr. Carissa Etienne said only three percent of people in Latin America and the Caribbean have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. She said the shortage of vaccines is a “symptom of our region’s overdependence on imports for essential medical supplies”.
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CONTINUATIONS Golding Defends Campbell
ments, do these people exist? Why was it not reported? It is a criminal offense under section 64 of the child care and protection act if you are made aware of the abuse of a child and you do not report it. That is a criminal offense and a serious one too.,” Golding said. He continued, adding that, “as far as I am concerned there is nothing in place that warrants taking action against an otherwise upstanding and fine individual.” Mr. Golding says the letter to the police was sent last Thursday following the issuing of a statement by his party on the matter. The allegations were initially made in March by PNP member and activist Karen Cross, who had threatened to burn the party down. At the time when Cross made the
Campbell
substantiated,” Golding said while on a local radio program on May 31. “If those accusations are proven to be true or even if sufficiently credible evidence is brought to warrant a charge then that is a different thing, that is not the case here. So I am asking Jamaicans to think about it because today for me tomorrow for you, the same knife that sticks sheep sticks goat. Justice must be at the center of what we do,” he said. The National Integrity Action, Opposition Senator Floyd Morris, and women advocacy groups have called on Dr. Campbell to step aside while investigations continue. All four Vice
from A1
Presidents of the 83-year-old party are alleged to have told the General Secretary he should go. But the Opposition Leader and party President is standing by Dr. Campbell. The Opposition Leader says he’s instructed the party’s legal advisor to write to the police asking them to investigate the circumstances surrounding three alleged statements that were attached to defense documents filed by PNP activist Karen Cross in a defamation suit brought by Dr. Campbell. “I am asking to look into the circumstances of these three state-
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allegations, no evidence nor statement from the victims was presented. For this reason, the police had closed their investigations into the matter. Campbell had also filed a defamation lawsuit against Cross. However, Cross filed a countersuit against Campbell with statements from three girls who alleged that they were sexually involved with the former Member of Parliament, while they were teenagers. The alleged statements are said to have been witnessed by Justices of the Peace. Dr. Campbell has strongly denied the allegations.
Death of Top Cop
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clothed,” he said. According to the Associated Press, Hartin is the partner of Andrew Ashcroft, son of British billionaire Lord Michael Ashcroft, a former deputy chairman of Britain’s Conservative Party and a major financial backer. He also holds Belizean citizenship and was once its representative before the United Nations. The punishment for manslaughter can be ‘life’ in prison – up to 25 years – in the Belizean criminal system. According to DailyMail.com, Hartin is facing a maximum of five years, or a USD $10,000 fine.
Banker Jailed
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property. The judge said that the sentences against the mother of two, will run concurrently. Gordon, who was employed at the bank for approximately 30 years, was at the time of her arrest and charge, the manager at the bank’s operations center with her last recorded salary being just over J$11.1 million annually. The High Court heard that internal investigations were sparked after the bank had information received that Gordon’s assigned password had been used to access the bank’s system and several transactions posted, which constituted a breach of the bank’s policies. The court was told that the transactions, which “appeared to be fraudulent”, resulted in funds from the NCB’s internal accounts being posted to Gordon’s account as well as accounts belonging to relatives and other customers. The court heard that the investigations found that Gordon posted approximately 282 suspicious transactions totalling more than over J$111.26 million. The transactions were done between February 2017 and May 2020. She was however indicted only for $34 million. The Financial Investigations Division (FID) has since indicated its intention to recoup any wealth gained by Gordon. During the court hearing, the FID said it would be making an application for a forfeiture pecuniary penalty order to be filed under the Proceeds of Crime Act. A “pecuniary penalty order” is one in which the defendant is ordered to pay to the Crown an amount equal to the value of the benefit he/she received from his/her criminal conduct. However, before this order is made, the court has to determine whether a defendant has a criminal lifestyle and has benefited from his/her general criminal conduct; or, where the defendant does not have a criminal lifestyle, whether the defendant has benefited from the particular criminal conduct for which he/she has been convicted.
NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, JUN 3 – JUN 9, 2021 | CNWNETWORK.COM –
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ENTERTAINMENT
Vaccinated Revelers Only for Cayman Islands CayMAS Carnival This August Cayman Islands Carnival, CayMAS is back on this year, but only for fully vaccinated revelers, CayMas Director Craig Frederick has confirmed. Cabinet has given approval for the CayMas street parade to take place on Saturday, August 7. The approval is contingent on organizers of the event adhering to the protocols to ensure a safe carnival experience for patrons as well as the Cayman Islands. Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan stated that “we will allow them to have the parade on some conditions… that all participants have to prove that they have been vaccinated, as well as CayMas, have to promote a vaccination drive among their peers.” Bryan said the Government has looked at CayMas safety protocols and “we feel that once everybody is vaccinated at least 14 days before the parade then things should go smoothly.” Over
50% of Cayman’s population is fully vaccinated. According to the event’s organizers, the Cayman Islands will be the first country in the Caribbean to host a carnival with a full street parade since February 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began. “At CayMas we are mindful of the current environment as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic and we have therefore agreed to a noexceptions vaccination policy for all CayMas participants and staff,” said Frederick. He further stated that “this mandate will give everyone the chance to revel freely and safely on Seven Mile Beach and beyond and that all participants will be given a COVID-19 pamphlet when collecting their costumes.” Swanky International, one of the main bands in the CayMas line-up, issued a notice to its members announcing the new date for the street parade, whose route will take revelers from Eden Rock to Seven Mile Public Beach. CayMAS will have a full lineup of events from Wednesday, August 4 straight through to Sunday on carnival weekend.
Thousands in participation at the Cayman Batabano Parade in 2017 – Taneos Ramsay photo
Jamaica’s 2020 Festival Song Album Receives Royalties The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Festival Song Competition has long been a staple in the Jamaican music culture, but never before has any of the competition’s entries made it to any digital streaming site or debuted on major platforms such as iTunes and Deezer. This historic feat was accomplished last July, resulting to date in the unprecedented collection of royalties for the cultural-development organisation in the sum of US$1,471. This groundbreaking move is the result of a strategic effort made by Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange in preserving and monetising
The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange (left) presents the Jamaica Festival Song trophy to Buju Banton. – JIS Photo
songs in the competition and protecting the creatives behind each project. She said, “This is the first time in history that any festival song has brought in money to the JCDC. If we
promoted ahead of time, especially in the diaspora, the songs would have gained much more traction.” This has signaled an evolved approach to music making and smart business practises within the industry. VPal music, a subsidiary of major music distribution company VP Records, made the distribution of the album titled ‘Jamaica Festival 2020 Song Competition’ available on 30 globally recognised platforms. The cultural song entries from Buju Banton, Toots and Maytals, Freddie McGregor and the likes can be streamed on Deezer and Spotify, while the songs are available on iTunes and Amazon
Music. Data has shown that the festival songs were played in places including Czech Republic, France, Germany, the US, Canada, the UK, and Trinidad and Tobago. In addition, the album has landed a spot on the iTunes Top 100 Reggae Albums Chart. The JCDC is now accepting entries for the 2021 staging of its Festival Song Competition, and a platform has been developed to process entries via their website at www.jcdc.gov.jm. For the song competition, the ministry is seeking a song “that will be on the lips of every man, woman and child”.
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SPORTS TRACK & FIELD
Sprinter Briana Williams Breaks U20 100m Record Twice Jamaican-American Sprinter Briana Williams delivered on a promise to break her one-dayold Jamaican Under-20 record when she scored her second 100m win at the Duval County Challenge in Jacksonville, Florida on May 31. The 19-year-old Williams, who had set a new junior record of 11.01 on Sunday, clocked a new personal best of 10.98, despite a poor start, to record her second win in two days. Mikiah Brisco finished second in 11.09 with Dezerea Bryant finishing third in 11.14. Williams had given a hint of what to expect in the preliminary round when she ran 10.97 to win her heat. However, the trailing wind of 2.5m/s prevented that time from being recognized as the Jamaican national U20 record. COMMENTARY
Brianna Williams at the CARIFTA Games in Nassau, Bahamas in 2018.
In the final, the wind was only 1.0 m/s well below the allowable limit of 2.0m/s. Williams, who set a national U20 record when she ran 11.02 in New Mexico in June 2019, clocked 11.01 at the JAC Summer Open, running at what she said was about 95 percent effort, as she was saving herself for tonight’s race and that paid off tremendously with her 10.98 finish. Williams wasn’t the only Jamaican with a new personal best Monday night, as promising sprint hurdler Britanny Anderson clocked 12.59 to win the 100m hurdles. It was almost a duplicate of the 12.58 lifetime best she ran in the preliminary round, except for the poor start in the final where she defeated Christina Clemons, who clocked 12.64 for second place narrowly edging 2015 World Champion Danielle Williams who ran 12.65 for third. Earlier, Javon Francis won his 400m race in 45.84. Quintaveon Poole was second in 45.87 and Myles Pringle third in 46.11.
VIEW FROM THE SIDELINES
‘It Was Just a Matter of Time’ It was just a matter of time. In fact, the Jamaica Football Federation's (JFF) execution of transporting a team to engage in overseas international games seems to be getting progressively worse. For those who might not be aware, the Japan Football Association was on Tuesday forced to cancel the arranged friendly international against Jamaica's Reggae Boyz slated for Thursday in Sapporo because the visitors had arrived in the Asian country with just 10 players and would not be able to field a full team. The hosts had organized the game as a warm-up for World Cup qualifiers against Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan this month but made a late switch by replacing Jamaica with its Olympic squad. It is understood that about 10 Jamaican players were unable to board their connecting flight in Amsterdam because of problems with their novel coronavirus tests. The Jamaica team was scheduled to travel to Japan in two groups, with one coming from the US and one from Europe. Japan Football Association (JFA) Chairman Kozo Tashima said the Europe-based players — most of whom play in England — were prevented from boarding their connecting flight in Amsterdam
Ricketts when their negative test certificates were found to be "inadequate". Tashima said the exact details were not yet clear but reports out of Jamaica said the players had tests using swabs from the mouth and nostrils, and that Japan "only accepts PCR [polymerase chain reaction] tests done from the nostril". Tashima said the JFA was investigating what went wrong, as several overseas teams are set to arrive in Japan for international matches against the men's and women's sides this month. "We need to be careful to make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen again," Tashima told an online news conference. "We're asking experts for their opinion, and we'll analyze that and find out what the problem was."
Japan's borders are all but closed to foreign nationals, and those entering the country are subject to strict conditions. The Reggae Boyz are also scheduled to play two more games in Japan – against Serbia on June 7 and Japan's Olympic team on June 12. Neither of those games has been cancelled yet, but there could be problems afoot for the beleaguered Reggae Boyz. The latest information coming out of the Jamaican camp in Japan is that those players returned to England to get the appropriate PCR tests and should be joining the others in Japan. But the damage has already been done. In fact, it's an embarrassment not only to the JFF but the entire nation
of Jamaica, for regardless of what went wrong, it was the responsibility of the administration, duly contracted to the games, to get its team into Japan in a timely manner. And after repeated bungling on previous travels abroad where players trickle into the host destination days after originally scheduled, Mike Ricketts and his crew can expect very little sympathy. Such incompetence can spark trust deficits and deter other nations from entering into contractual agreements with the JFF in the future. The scrapping of the game has also left head coach Theodore Whitmore, not for the first time, scratching his head and wondering what is really happening. “I am very disappointed because we came here with our minds set on playing three games and tomorrow would have been the first encounter against the Japan team. We wanted to see how we would match up to them, so yes, I am disappointed, but it is what it is,” Whitmore told the Jamaica Observer. Having already lost out on muchneeded time to bond his pool of players, Whitmore had selected 30 for these three games, but as it stands now, he might be lucky if he has 20 for Monday's first game against
Serbia. Many key players pulled out at the last minute, giving the administration no time to solicit replacements, coupled with the relevant documentation for travel. And being caught flat-footed did not help the JFF's cause one bit, and it could get worse, as the first two games fall in the FIFA window, but the third game against the Japan Olympic team falls outside the window and as such the clubs in the active competition are not obliged to surrender their players. It is not yet known how many players will be affected by this situation and if so, what is next. Incidentally, Reggae Boyz Captain Andre Blake and forward Cory Burke, both of the Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer, withdrew from the touring party at the last minute but represented their club on the weekend. Is that a clear signal that in their minds their club takes precedence over their country? Also missing the trip was Kemar Lawrence, another key voice of the group during protests. It was an opportunity to spend quality time bonding and growing as a team, but it seems like it will be another squandered opportunity. Let's hope for the best.
C4 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, JUN 3 – JUN 9, 2021 | CNWNETWORK.COM A D V E R T I S E M E N T