National Weekly March 19, 2020 by Creative Network Media

NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 19 – MAR 25, 2020 | VOL. 17 NO. 11

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Does Cuba Have The Antidote? Interferon Alpha 2B: A Leading Drug In The Global Pandemic

By T.G. Brown

Ask the authorities in China, South Korea, Germany, and Italy about the Cuban drug Interferon Alpha 2B—as their efforts at stemming the contagion of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) are placed in the spotlight—and their response would reflect a more positive outlook. Out of a confirmed infection rate of 8,000 persons in South Korea, 72 succumbed to the virus. In Germany, just three persons died out of the 3,156 infected by this deadly virus, while the numbers in China, which was the epicenter of this pandemic, had approximately 3,500 deaths from a confirmed infection of close to

100,000 individuals. Currently, a team of Cuban doctors alongside their Chinese counterparts, armed with the Interferon Alpha 2B, are in Italy to help that beleaguered nation in an attempt to stem a death toll rate, which is considerably worse than what was experienced at the height of the COVID-19 crisis in Wuhan, China. Meanwhile, here in the United States, we’re scrambling to respond to COVID-19. We’re lagging behind in providing testing to citizens, many of whom researchers are saying may have already contracted the virus. In fact, scientists are saying the true numbers in the U.S. are way above the oﬃcial Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) count of 10,442 cases and 150 deaths, up to press time. When compared with other countries such as South Korea and Germany, the number of conﬁrmed coronavirus-linked deaths in the U.S. is staggering. As states ramp up testing, the number of cases is expected to climb exponentially and we’re simply unprepared to

handle a large-scale pandemic. The U.S. currently has no vaccines available and no established treatments. We’re in a race against the clock, and while the Federal government touts two potential treatments—the malaria drug Chloroquine and the experimental antiviral drug Remdesevir—Cuba’s Interferon Alpha 2B is being used successfully around the globe. So what is this Interferon Alpha 2B, which is now being thrust on the world stage as one of the leading anti-COVID-19 drugs in response to the global pandemic? It is one of 22 drugs that has been developed in Cuba since 1986 by its Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) and has been used as a treatment for HIV-AIDS, hepatitis B and C, herpes zoster or shingles, dengue and diﬀerent types of cancers. Interferons are ‘signaling’ proteins, explains Dr. Helen Yaﬀe of Glasgow University, an expert on Cuba. These

proteins are produced and released by the body in response to infections and alert nearby cells to heighten their antiviral defenses. It is not a cure or a vaccine to COVID-19 but rather an antiviral that boosts the human defense system. There are currently manufacturing relationships between the Caribbean island and China for this stellar product and it is highly recommended by medical specialists for its ability to ﬁght the COVID-19 virus. During the onset of the virus in Wuhan province, the Chinese authorities found it to be exceptional in destroying the virus from thousands of its citizens who had contracted this respiratory disease at the earliest stages. Since the success of this antiviral drug has become public knowledge, Cuba has been ﬂooded with requests from all across the globe, including, Africa, Europe, Latin and South America and Caribbean nations that make up the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States.

WHAT’S INSIDE NEWSMAKER

CARIBBEAN

ENTERTAINMENT

SPORTS

TUFTON, AMONG THE CARIBBEAN’S BEST LEADERS A3

ST. KITTS OPPOSITION LEADER ORDERED TO VACATE SEAT A4

LOVE AND HARMONY CRUISE POSTPONED B3

CRICKET WEST INDIES Nervous Over Upcoming Test Tour to England C3

A2 – NATIONAL WEEKLY

| THURSDAY, MAR 19 – MAR 25, 2020 | VOL. 17 NO. 11

Out and About: City of Miramar Commissioners Maxwell Chambers (le ) and Yve e Colbourne at the Miramar Pembroke Pines Regional Chamber of Commerce breakfast mee ng at the Shops at Pembroke Gardens. – Contributed

Mentoring on Purpose: FAMU freshman Justyn Grant, architectural student (center) with mentor, Architect Bertram Lewars (2nd from right) at the launch of the TATI oneon-one Mentorship Program, pictured with members of the TATI execu ves, vice president Georgia Bri on (le ), chair Tanya Ragbeer (2nd from le ) and president Garﬁeld Wright (right). . – Contributed

Girls of Immaculate Concep on: Althea McKayle (right) and Lisa Newman were at Markham Park this past weekend, at the Immaculate Concep on Alumni Fish Fry. – Contributed

Bar Talk Chillin: Following a discussion about Everyday Issues faced by “Real Men,” streamed on moment2remember. L-r: Dennis Nelson, Juliet Steadman, Joan Howard, Luke Ballen ne, Cheryl Spence, and D.J. Kevin Stew. – Contributed

Florida Immaculate: Members of the Immaculate Concep on High School Alumni Associa on Florida Chapter showed their support shis past weekend at the annual Fish Fry at Markham Park. – Contributed

Life me Achievement: A orney Paul Novack (l) honored by Hai an American Nurses Associa on (HANA) of Florida's President Pauline Louis-Magiste (r) for 26 years of service, at the Family Ac on Network Movement (FANM)'s 27th Annual Fundraising Gala held at the Kovens Center in Miami. – Contributed

Black and Beau ful: MiamiDade County Commissioner Barbara Jordan (center) with patrons at the 7th Annual Black Heritage Fes val in Miami Gardens. – Contributed

Girl Power: This animated performer beamed with passion and pride at the 7th Annual Black Heritage Fes val in Miami Gardens. – Contributed

Immaculate all the Way: Frances Shim McFarlane (right) and friend at the 7th Annual Immaculate Concep on Fish Fry held at Markham Park in Sunrise. – Contributed

NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 19 – MAR 25, 2020 | VOL. 17 NO. 11 –

NEWSMAKER

Among the Caribbean's Best Health Leaders As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to grow, the world has looked to health professionals and health ministers to provide the proper leadership needed to stay healthy and navigate a global crisis. In the Caribbean, Jamaica's Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Christopher Tufton has received resounding reviews for the way that his ministry has been dealing with the virus, in comparison to other international leaders. Though Jamaica's confirmed cases of the coronavirus have moved up to 15 as of March 16, the ministry of health has provided timely updates, educational flyers, health protocols, data-free health websites, health hotlines, and other useful information via TV, radio, social media and press conferences. At a time when many residents fall victim to fake news, this approach has been found to be one of the most proactive ways to deal with a pandemic. Before becoming Jamaica's Minister of Health and Wellness, Tufton served as cabinet minister on two previous occasions. He first served as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries from 2008 to mid-2011 and as Minister of Industry, Investment & Commerce from June to December 2011 when the then ruling party, the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) lost the general elections to the People's National Party (PNP). In 2011 when former Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding and JLP leader resigned, Tufton was considered by some ranking JLP

members as a potential candidate to succeed Golding as party leader. However, the party executives eventually coalesced around current party leader and prime minister, Andrew Holness as Golding's successor.

As Minister of Agriculture, he spearheaded the successful divestment of Jamaica's loss-making sugar assets, expansion of greenhouse farming technology and the creation of agro-processing facilities. Minister Tufton was successful in redefining the agriculture industry as a business. He also created the Agro-Investment Corporation to help mobilize investments in the sector. For his impact on the Agricultural sector, he was named by the influential Jamaica Gleaner as Man of the Year for 2010. The same drive and passion were exuded when he headed the Industry, Investment & Commerce Ministry where his focus was on investment facilitation, international market competitiveness, consumer protection and the creation of a climate of confidence to attract investors. After leaving Government in December 2011, Dr. Tufton served as the co-executive director of the Caribbean Policy Research Institute at the University of the West Indies (UWI) while also serving as an Opposition Senator. As a graduate of UWI and Georgia State University, he received degrees in Management

Studies and Marketing respectively. He completed his Doctorate in Business Administration at the Manchester Business School, the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom in 2002. He has used his extensive knowledge of the business world as a part-time business strategist. He has lectured and conducted business consultancy in Jamaica, the United Kingdom, and the USA, in a number of areas including international marketing, business strategy, and entrepreneurship. In 2016, when the Jamaica Labor Party was re-elected to the government, Dr. Tufton was appointed Minister of Health (later renamed Minister of He alth and Wellness), also serving as Member of Parliament for West Central St. Catherine. As the leader of the health ministry, he has achieved much success thus far, including establishing the Jamaica Moves Initiative, which encouraged citizens to exercise and eat healthily. The initiative, which eventually took over the region and was renamed Caribbean Moves, also focused on a number continues on B4 – Tufton

A4 – NATIONAL WEEKLY

| THURSDAY, MAR 19 – MAR 25, 2020 | VOL. 17 NO. 11

Caribbean Region Gravely Affected As the coronavirus pandemic spreads to almost every corner of the world, most Caribbean islands have now been affected by the virus. With the exception Haiti, Belize, Dominica, Montserrat, Grenada and St. Kitts, there have confirmed cases of the COVID-19 on all islands. As of March 16, there were at least 73 confirmed cases in at least 20 Caribbean countries. Many of the islands have closed their borders or restricted travel to Asian and European countries. While travel is still allowed to and from the United States, visitors are screened and tested when departing and arriving to limit the spread. All major entertainment events, large sporting events,

and other mass gatherings have been either cancelled or postponed on virtually all islands, leaving many industries and workers unsure of work for the foreseeable future.

Leading the cases of COVID-19 in the Caribbean are Jamaica and Martinique, with 12 and 15 conﬁrmed cases respectively. On March 16, Martinique recorded its ﬁrst

coronavirus death, bringing the Caribbean coronavirus death toll to three (in addition to Guyana and Cayman Islands). The deceased in Martinique was an 80-year-old woman who came into contact with someone who took a cruise some days prior. In Jamaica, Dr. Chris Tufton, the minister of health and wellness, said that Jamaica could be under COVID-19 medical emergency for the next three to ﬁve months, which could eﬀectively put a halt to a plethora of activities. Last week, Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared Jamaica a disaster area under the Disaster Risk Management Act Declaration of Disaster Area Order 2020. The communities in Seven Miles and Eight Miles, Bull Bay, bordering St Andrew and St Thomas, have already been quarantined to contain the spread of COVID-19, due to the initial COVID19 patients coming in contact with scores of residents from those communities. continues on B4 – Gravely Affected

St Kitts Opposition Leader Ordered to Vacate Seat St. Kitts/Nevis Opposition Leader Dr. Denzil Douglas has conﬁrmed he had been ordered by the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court of Appeal to vacate his seat in the St. Kitts/Nevis the Parliament over the issue of a diplomatic passport that had been granted him by Dominica. Douglas, speaking at a news conference of his St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNL), said he had been informed by his lawyers that the court, sitting in St.Lucia, had handed down the judgment and that he has no intention of pursuing the matter further. “I am here to announce that the matter of the diplomatic passport case, which has been before the courts for almost two years, has ﬁnally come to an end. We have been informed by our lawyers that early this morning sitting at the Appeal Court in St. Lucia, the appeal judges gave a ruling that they would uphold the

appeal on this matter. “I must let you know that we are very surprised and we disagree with the judgment,” Douglas told reporters, adding “We are really surprised at this judgment has come in the way it has. “However we accept the judgment and we move on deﬁnitely to the next level,” he said. In February last year, Douglas scored a victory in the passport case at the High Court against the Timothy Harris-led Government that sought a declaration that since the election to the National Assembly on February 16, 2015, Douglas became disqualiﬁed from being elected as a member of the National Assembly and was accordingly required to vacate his seat by reason of his becoming a person who, by virtue of his own act, is in accordance with the law of Dominica, under an acknowledgment of allegiance, obedience or adherence

Guyana's High Court Orders Recount In Election Region Guyana's Acting Chief Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire ruled last week that the declaration, made by the returning officer in Region 4 in Guyana's disputed regional and general on March 2, was “unlawful” and in breach of the Representation of the People's Act. In a lengthy ruling, Justice George-Wiltshire acknowledged her ruling would be of national importance and would evoke widespread interest and awareness. “I understand that whatever rulings are made today, are likely to excite emotions of different kinds from the parties involved, as well as the wider audience and community,” she told the Court. The High Court role was to decide whether or not, the injunction—granted to a supporter of the main opposition People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to block the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) from declaring the results of the elections—was justified on the grounds that the votes declared for Region Four were not completely verified. The acting chief justice said the injunction is granted, restraining the returning officer for District Four “from any manner, whatsoever, declaring the votes in District Four, recorded for each list of candidates in District Four, before complying with, or ensuring, the compliance with the process, set out in section 84 of Chapter 103.”

continues on A7 – Vacate Seat

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NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 19 – MAR 25, 2020 | VOL. 17 NO. 11 –

Talk UP How do you feel about recent events related to the coronavirus and it's impact on your lifestyle? Collin - Being a part of the entertainment industry, the Coronavirus has had an almost immediate impact on me, my friends, and associates who are also a part of what is referred to as the gig economy. My business primarily does events; the bigger the crowd the more successful, so I am sure that it doesn't require a rocket scientist to figure out the kind of disruption it is enduring. Just this past weekend three events got canceled. I think it will be up to all of us how this eventually plays out. But what is also evident to me is how fragile our society is on every level. To get through this is going to require all hands on deck; everyone has to be his brother's keeper. Kevin - At 61 years old, I am seriously concerned. I do believe there will be a quarantine to break the transmission of this silent killer. I just came from riding my bike, and walking a few laps but with great concern. And as a teacher, it is really disheartening as my students lives are disrupted so close to graduation. Only God knows, but man has to do his part for better. Donna - Although this pandemic coronavirus brings tragedy, upset and chaos, it will also bring lessons of how to take care of self, family and the environment. When situations are out of our control such as this, our only responsibility is to remain calm, be prepared, pray for protection over the world, show love and grasp the lessons from the tragedy! Namaste. Dan - I think we should all be making a collective effort to make sacrifices to keep everyone healthy in the face of this virus. It's been pretty disruptive to my lifestyle, making a lot of things uncertain. College classes have moved to online, dorms have closed with most of my stuff in it, and graduation has been canceled. I don't know how my classes will operate online, how I'll keep motivated and sane, plus deal with not getting the last moments of quality time with my college friends. I am keeping in mind thought that losing out on my final semester isn't nearly as bad as other people have it. We will be fine - all I can do is take it as it comes and choose humanity over selfishness. Katrina - I honestly don't even know what to think about the whole situation. I'm scared, confused, and saddened by it all. It's weird because I don't know anyone directly affected and life seems otherwise normal, but I'm trying to adjust my regular habits to protect myself and those around me. I think since it all came to a head during spring break it hasn't really hit me yet, but I'm really sad that my last semester of college was canceled so abruptly. I'll miss saying bye to my friends, enjoying my last semester on campus, and walking across the graduation stage that I worked so hard for what feels like my whole life. Ultimately, I'm optimistic that all will end well. This will be a huge wake up call for our country. Roy - I can't say that I gave the recent events of the virus any thought as to how it is changing my lifestyle which remains the same since my income is from social security. What I do see is the pain it's beginning to have on some people that surround me. I can start with my son in NY who was laid off and his girlfriend's hours cut back. I'm hearing from many people who have been laid off who were living paycheck to paycheck. My neighbor returning from the UK who has to self-quarantine for two weeks. I don't know how some people can just go about their everyday life because they are not feeling the effect. Charmaine - The swiftness of the change from mild concern to high anxiety is breathtaking, for want of a better word. I've read, watched and listened to a myriad of reports, and the message remains unchanged as to reducing chances of getting COVID-19 and what to do if you get it. I'm self-employed and work from home so my lifestyle hasn't changed. Mentally… though I'm concerned, I don't feel anxious. I feel as though I could easily handle a couple weeks more of the high alert activity, but I try not to think of what would happen if it stretched to four or more weeks. Fortunately, I enjoy my own company, so self-quarantining and social distancing is comfortable for me.

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A6 – NATIONAL WEEKLY

| THURSDAY, MAR 19 – MAR 25, 2020 | VOL. 17 NO. 11

The New Normal Isn't Easy, In less than two weeks, life in America has taken a drastic change from what was considered normal. Each day more businesses, places of entertainment, schools, and churches announce temporary closure. Additionally, entertainment and sporting events have been postponed or canceled, as the nation tries desperately to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus. One of the obvious ironies of this new environment the dreaded virus has created is that with suppressed world oil prices, local gas prices have fallen to less than $2.00 per gallon in parts of South Florida, but there is no need for much driving. The bumper-to-bumper traffic on main thoroughfares during peak hours is no longer an issue as schools are closed and more people are required to work from home. Not surprisingly, many people are complaining about the drastic changes in their normal routine and some even view the local and federal government response to the crisis as over-the-top. Obviously, these people are either unaware of the seriousness of the coronavirus and the danger it poses, or are plain selfish, given the daily reports of new cases and the rising death toll. One of the main criticisms has to do with school closures. Some are saying it was unnecessary to close schools since young people under 18 have been faring better than the population over 60 years old—the most seriously affected. While this might be the case, they don’t account for the people such as teachers, custodial staff and others who may be over 60 years old or that children can spread this virus to older people within their own families. Although data in the U.S. indicate many patients contracted the disease through foreign travel, there

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EDITORIAL editor@cnweeklynews.com has been a significant number of patients who contracted the disease through community spread—meaning through personal contact with people who didn’t travel to a foreign country where the virus was prevalent. Some sports enthusiasts are even complaining about the suspension of major sporting events including the NBA tournament, especially since the Miami Heat was involved in a strong playoff run this year; and the excitement of the NCAA, the college basketball tournament in March. Fans of these sporting events were willing to stay away from the events and watch televised games played in arenas and stadiums without spectators. But like the schools, players and coaches can be infected through community contact outside the environment in which games are played and pass on the infection to others including fellow players and coaches. The current political cycle is also taking a beating from this virus. The new normal will involve less, if any, of the large, raucous political rallies. The coronavirus spreads most easily in large gatherings. But this doesn’t mean political campaigning will stop. It just has to be different, with concentration placed on a campaign involving the traditional media (print, radio, and television), social media, email, and direct mail. Unfortunately, these restrictions are happening

in the middle of the presidential primary season, but this should not deter people from voting. People fearful of going out to polling stations, if they can, should take advantage of voting by mail. More people have been doing so in recent elections, and more focus should be given to this method of voting this year. Essentially, the public should understand that these measures are being employed to guard against the community spread of the coronavirus. It’s a new virus that still needs to be studied. No one is certain about how long this pandemic will last, and how best to treat the virus in the absence of a curative vaccine. The best and only way to control the virus is to reduce transmission, which means minimizing personal contact, especially in crowded places, and adhering to the guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We should be aware that if this pandemic worsens, there could be a complete lockdown of communities across the nation. However, if Americans play their part to contain the virus, it’s quite possible the inconveniences and hardships being experienced now will be short-lived, and the community can return to normal before too long. Everyone is in this predicament together; let’s be sensible and work together to end it.

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NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 19 – MAR 25, 2020 | VOL. 17 NO. 11 –

LA SECTION HAITIENNE

Haiti Closes Borders, Bans Flights From 66 Countries Taking its cue from other countries around the world, Haiti on Sunday announced sweeping measures to protect its citizens from the coronavirus pandemic. Up to press time, there were no reported cases in that country. Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe in his announcement said, "In order to prevent any introduction of Coronavirus into the country, all flights from Europe, Canada, and Latin America are suspended from midnight March 16, 2020." The prime minister, however, emphasized that "flights from the United States are still authorized, after an agreement with the American authorities" stipulating that "the American authorities will carry out screening tests before boarding the passengers. The Ministry of Public Health will also continue to test passengers arriving from the United States." He added that flights from New York, Miami, and other American cities were being evaluated, but "all travelers from the USA will have to bring a document proving that they have carried out a test [of Covid-19 screening] before their

arrival in Haiti." The Haitian-Dominican border was also closed on at midnight on March 16, and according to Minister of the Interior Audain F. Bernadel, who made that announcement, “only the goods will be able to enter Haiti and the personnel ensuring the transport goods must be subjected to screening tests." According to Dr. Patrick Dely of the Department of Epidemiology of Laboratories and Research, "Haiti is currently in stage 1 of the

Coronavirus because the epidemic is not yet in Haiti and measures are being taken to avoid its introduction in the country." He explained that only the Ministry of Public Health was authorized to declare whether there is any presence of Covid19 in the country. Reiterating best practices to avoid contracting and spreading the virus, Prime Minister Jouthe said Haitians should play their part by avoiding crowds, hugs and unnecessary international travel.

Vacate Seat from A4

to a foreign power or State, namely, Dominica. Additionally, the Government had also sought a declaration that Douglas has vacated his seat in the National Assembly, an injunction restraining him from taking his seat in the National Assembly and from performing his functions as a member as well as cost and other relief as the court may deem just and expedient. Section 28(1) of the St KittsNevis Constitution states that a person shall not be qualiﬁed to be elected if he is, by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgment of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or State. Further, it is stipulated in section 31(3) of the Constitution that an elected member shall vacate his seat if any of the circumstances arise, which would have disqualiﬁed him from being elected. Attorney General Vincent Byron said that he was disappointed in the High Court decision but would respect it. Douglas told reporters yesterday that following the end of the legal process he would embark on the political process of this matter.

A8 – NATIONAL WEEKLY

| THURSDAY, MAR 19 – MAR 25, 2020 | VOL. 17 NO. 11

M-DCPS Provides Support to Students and Families During School Closures eligible low-income M-DCPS families. Participation in this program is strongly recommended for those in need. More information about the free internet service can be found at distancelearning.dadeschools.net. Access to free WiFi connections via hotspots should be limited to educational use or other essential health and safety functions. Comcast has also agreed to provide ﬂexibility on late fees and payment options. Those struggling to pay for internet service should contact 1-800Comcast.

In the wake of the closure of county public schools, Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) issued a statement that it is continuing its eﬀorts to provide support to students and their families during school closures, which began on March 16. “For weeks, we have been hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst,” said Schools Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho. “We have taken the necessary steps to provide our students with continuity of education and ensure that they do not go hungry. However, as with any challenging situation, we must all recognize that there will be bumps along the road. We ask parents and community members to exercise patience as we navigate through these uncharted waters.”

Digital Connectivity Efforts Up to March 16, M-DCPS distributed more than 42,000 mobile devices to students who did not have them to ensure that students across the district will have continuity of learning from home. Beginning on March 16 Comcast began to offer free WiFi via Xfinity hotspots where Xfinity service is available for 60 days. This is in addition to the Internet Essentials Program, normally $9.95 per month, that will provide an in-home modem and 60 days of free service for

Distance Learning Framework Since concern over coronavirus began, MDCPS began preparing its comprehensive Instructional Continuity Plan (ICP) and shared it with teachers, students and parents. This information may be found at icp.dadeschools.net. As part of the established plan, the District has also adapted content to be accessible for students with special needs. Students can access their applications via the Student Portal. Students were sent home with a School Closure Student Checklist last Friday, which also includes teachers' ICPs. If they did not receive the checklist, parents/guardians should contact their child's school. The M-DCPS ICP is cloud-based. Students do not need a M-DCPSissued device if they have access to a computer or mobile device at home. On Monday, the District hosted a webinar for teachers to provide additional professional development regarding the ICP and Microsoft Teams to support distance learning. A support hotline has been established for

SAFARI

Meal Distribution for Students Food insecurity is a serious concern in our community. M-DCPS provides free breakfast for all students and free or reduced-price lunch to more than 73 percent of students. With the support of local community partners, M-DCPS is ready to implement a community feeding plan to provide meals for ALL students. Schools will provide hot grab-and-go meals for both breakfast and lunch between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday of next week. These meals will be prepared by M-DCPS food service personnel. Students can report to their enrolled school or their neighborhood school to collect the meals. Meal distribution will take place in an area along the external perimeter of the building.

Sanitization Eﬀorts M-DCPS will continually provide a deep sanitization of schools. Beginning on Monday at 6 a.m., teams consisting of regional custodians, supervised by master custodians, will begin visiting all schools conducting thorough cleanings.

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Miramar residents can rest assured they will experience no water lock-offs for at least three months, thanks to a move by the City Commission to institute a 90-day moratorium. The commission says residents need to have access to water, which is essential to keeping them safe in the coronavirus pandemic. Vice Mayor Alexandra Davis added that with the lack of hand sanitizer availability, the only way many residents can remain safe is to practice handwashing for 20 seconds with soap and water. In addition to the moratorium on water lock-offs, which takes effect immediately, effective on Monday, March 16, the City of Miramar will suspend senior services until further notice, and: Ÿ All rentals in City facilities will be canceled or postponed. Patrons will be fully refunded for rental fees for all canceled events. Ÿ Activities at City parks will be canceled until further notice. Ÿ Parents and caregivers will be required to wait in the lobby of childcare and adult day care facilities for participants to be brought out to them. Ÿ The Fire Department has been tasked with the purchase of all applicable tools and equipment for City use for the duration of the emergency event. Ÿ All City-organized sports activities suspended until further notice. Ÿ Spring Camp is still on, but field trips are canceled. Ÿ Parks and pools will remain open. Ÿ Fitness centers will be closed. Ÿ PAL and Optimist canceled all activities. All performances and events at the Miramar Cultural Center (MCC) will also be canceled through April 2020.

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NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 19 – MAR 25, 2020 | VOL. 17 NO. 11 –

Understanding How Children Qualify For Automatic Citizenship Under the Child Citizenship Act, U.S. resident children who are under age 18 automatically obtain U.S. citizenship when a biological parent naturalizes. Similarly, children of U.S. citizens who immigrate to the U.S. from abroad and enter the U.S. before turning age 18, become automatic U.S. citizens as well. Qualifying children must be under age 18 at the time their parent actually naturalizes (takes the Oath), not the date the parent files for naturalization. As a result, parents should carefully plan the date of filing for naturalization to ensure that they will complete the process before their child(ren) reach age 18. Figuring about 12 months to take into account any USCIS processing delays is reasonable, under current lengthy naturalization processing times. Importantly, even when children become U.S. citizens through this process, the USCIS does not automatically issue a Naturalization Certificate. However, in reality, none is required, since applying for a U.S. passport is all that is necessary to prove the child's new U.S. citizenship status. To obtain the child's U.S. passport, in addition to other information, the U.S. passport office requires a copy of the parents' Naturalization Certificate and proof that the child actually resides with his or her U.S. citizen parent in order to qualify.

Surprise! You Can’t Easily Disinherit Your Spouse by Attorney Owei Z. Belleh

Believe it or not, in the U.S. it is not easy to disinherit your spouse. But the same is not true for other family members—generally, you can use your estate plan to disinherit your brothers and sisters, your nieces and nephews, or even your very own children and grandchildren. However, in the majority of states and the District of Columbia, you can’t intentionally disinherit your spouse unless your spouse actually agrees to receive nothing from your estate in a Prenuptial or Postnuptial Agreement.

Beware: Spousal Disinheritance Laws Vary Widely From State to State Unfortunately, there isn’t one set of rules that govern what a surviving spouse is entitled to inherit. Instead, the laws governing spousal inheritance rights— referred to as “elective share laws” or “community property laws” depending on the state where you live or own property—vary widely. Deﬁned by each state’s laws, the surviving spouse’s right to inherit may based on one or more of the following factors: Ÿ how long the couple was married Ÿ whether or not children were born of the marriage

the value of assets included in the deceased spouse’s probate estate, or Ÿ the combined value of an “augmented estate,” which includes the deceased spouse’s probate estate and non-probate assets For example, in Florida, a surviving spouse has the option to receive a portion of their deceased spouse’s estate called the “elective share.” This share is equal to 30 percent of the deceased spouse's “elective estate,” which includes the value of the deceased spouse’s probate estate and certain non-probate assets such as payable on death and transfer on death accounts, joint accounts, the net cash surrender value of life insurance, property held in a revocable living trust, and annuities and other types of retirement accounts, reduced by the Ÿ

deceased spouse's debts (this is an example of the last category described above). Aside from this, state laws also vary widely regarding the time limit a surviving spouse has to seek their inheritance rights, which can range anywhere from a few months to a few years.

Disinherited Spouses Need to Act Quickly! If your deceased spouse has attempted to disinherit you, you must seek legal advice as soon as possible before state law bars you from enforcing your rights. Only an experienced estate planning attorney can help you weigh all of your options and protect your interests as a surviving spouse. www.bellehlaw.com.

B2 – NATIONAL WEEKLY

| THURSDAY, MAR 19 – MAR 25, 2020 | VOL. 17 NO. 11

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 19 – MAR 25, 2020 | VOL. 17 NO. 11 –

Love And Harmony Cruise Won't Sail In April The fourth voyage of the popular Love & Harmony cruise, the ﬁve-day party at sea, which features the evergreen reggae artist Beres Hammond as the headline act, has been postponed, as the coronavirus or COVID-19 continues to spread.

Terry Linen Sticking To Gospel perfect, but I always pray to the Almighty God to direct me each and everyday,” said Terry Linen. No Longer A Slave is a cover of a song originally done by American husband-and-wife gospel act, Jonathan David and Melissa Helser. The reggae version was popular in Jamaica where there is a big gospel market. While he is known for covers of R Kelly’s Storm is Over and Your Love is my Love by Whitney Houston, Terry Linen says gospel music has always been close to his heart. He grew up listening to Christian songs as a boy in

'I am Legend' Concert In Trinidad Canceled The highly anticipated 'I Am Legend” concert slated for Trinidad and Tobago this Easter weekend is another casualty of the pandemic, coronavirus, with franchise holder Glenroy Watson announcing its postponement.

The conﬁrmation of the postponement of the cruise was made by the organizers on Friday. The organizers explained that Celebrity Cruises has agreed to allow Love & Harmony Cruise to reschedule the 2020 cruise for a future date at which time it will be safe for entertainers and passengers. A new date for the cruise was not indicated. “We appreciate Celebrity Cruise's cooperation in honoring our request of postponement. At this time, we do not have a speciﬁc date of sail, but we will begin working on the new date shortly. Our amazing artists have been contacted and have agreed to reschedule their performances for a future date, schedules permitting. We are committed to providing our passengers with the best cruise experience so your continued patience and support is appreciated while we work through the details,” the advisory of the postponement read. The Love & Harmony cruise was originally scheduled to sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on April 6 and continue to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and Nassau in The Bahamas, before returning to Florida on April 11. Reggae artists who were scheduled to perform on the cruise included Buju Banton, Nadine Sutherland, Cocoa Tea, Wayne Wonder, and Beenie Man.

Singer Terry Linen, whose interpretations of songs by R Kelly and Whitney Houston made him a dancehall star, has taken a diﬀerent path in the last year. After hitting the charts in late 2019 with the inspirational No Longer A Slave, he returns with Goodness of God. Released in February by Tad’s International Record, Goodness of God is co-produced by Terry Linen and Steve Wright. It was originally done by American gospel singer Jenn Johnson. “This is indeed a new phase for I man Terry Linen, honestly speaking. In life no man is

St. Elizabeth, a rural parish considered Jamaica’s breadbasket. The singer recalls becoming emotional while listening to No Longer Slaves with his girlfriend. He decided to put his spin on it with drummer Kirk Bennett and keyboardist Paul Crossdale, two of Jamaica’s top musicians. “I gave them my ideas of how I wanted it rock. Then I took it to Tad’s who send it to the world on all media platforms. It’s just God all the way answering my prayers and putting the right people in my circle,” said Terry Linen.

“The world as we know it has the potential to change in light of this pandemic and this isn't something to be taken lightly. We've been closely monitoring developments on this issue since February and now it's time to act,” said Watson. 'I Am Legend' has hosted reggae icon, Buju Banton, over the years. The event reconnected fans in Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana with the Jamaican entertainer in 2019, 10 years after his last appearance in T&T when he appeared at 'I Am Legend,' and just four months after his release from a U.S. prison. Reviews following both events last year were very good. “We cannot aﬀord to simply ignore this issue. People are losing their lives and our event is one that caters to a broad demographic of people, many of whom would be between the ages of 40 and 65.” The spread of the virus over the past three months have revealed that the most vulnerable population to contract the disease is that over age 60. Watson continued, “That's the power of good, reggae music. It has the ability to bring out both the young and the young and heart.” He says because of this reality, the risk factors surrounding hosting 'I Am Legend' on its usual Easter weekend calendar date, are high and certainly a risk he isn't willing to take.

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B4 – NATIONAL WEEKLY

| THURSDAY, MAR 19 – MAR 25, 2020 | VOL. 17 NO. 11

ON THE COVER

Gravely Affected

Tufton

from A4

Several landmark activities, including the annual Jamaica carnival, and the Issa Boys and Girls Track and Field Championships, have been postponed; businesses, bars and places of entertainment closed, and all schools shut down for the next 14 days, and nonessential workers have been ordered to work from home. There are also doubts about this year's staging of the annual Independence events slated for August. Any election plans that the government may have had this year could also be postponed. To protect residents, Holness further announced that all travelers coming to Jamaica from countries where there is local transmission of Covid-19 will now be required to self-quarantine in Jamaica for up to 14 days. In a twist of cosmic irony, Haiti, one of the six Caribbean islands with no reported cases, has closed its border with the Dominican Republic, which has 11 coronavirus cases. Haiti has also suspended ﬂights from neighboring Dominican Republic, Europe, Canada and Latin America, in addition to closing its seaports. For now, they have kept US ﬂights open, but implemented additional screening. The global threat of COVID-19 has led to several restrictions, shutdowns and cancellations in a move to curtail mass gatherings and reduce the further spreading of the disease that so far has infected more than 190,000 persons and killed over 7,500 worldwide.

from A3

of chronic diseases that affect Caribbean nationals. His tenure as Minister of Health and Wellness, however, has not been without its challenges. Dr. Tufton has been heavily criticized for many problems in Jamaica's health sector including the deplorable condition of hospitals, the wages of health professionals and harassment in health centers. In 2019, his ministry also came under fire for their approach to the worst dengue outbreak that Jamaica had ever seen, which resulted in the death of over 60 Jamaicans, including many children. Ironically, his ministry has so far handled the coronavirus pandemic better that many welldeveloped, first-world countries. Minister Tufton is married to Neadene ShieldsTufton. The couple has three children: Charles, Kimberly, and Adam.

Islands Pressured by International Cruise Lines In recent weeks, several international cruise lines have put pressure on Caribbean islands to accept passengers, even though some were showing symptoms of COVID-19. After learning that other islands had recorded their ﬁrst COVID-19 cases as a result of transmission from cruise ship passengers, both Jamaica and the Cayman Islands refused to accept Italian passengers onboard cruise ships, as Italy has the highest rate of COVID-19 cases outside of China. Angry with the decision, the Costa Luminosa cruise line threatened to end its stops in Jamaica completely if the government didn't soften its hard line on coronavirus. Cruises account for nearly 1 percent of the country's GDP, and the downturn in recent weeks has cost the economy $4 million. Jamaica, and other Caribbean islands, have not backed down from their decision to allow passengers to disembark cruise ships. Many of the islands have also closed their seaports completely. While the measure is a proactive one to protect the islands' residents, the region's tourism industries, and economies at large, will suﬀer a great deal when the COVID-19 pandemic eventually dies down.

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C2 – NATIONAL WEEKLY

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NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAR 19 – MAR 25, 2020 | VOL. 17 NO. 11 –

CWI Nervous Over Test Tour To England Cricket West Indies (CWI) says it is continuing to liaise with its counterparts, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), over the upcoming Test tour as the coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt the United Kingdom's sporting calendar. West Indies are scheduled to tour England in June this year for Tests schedule at the Oval and Lord's in London and Edgbaston in Birmingham. However, the month of June is when the UK Government expects the coronavirus outbreak to be at its peak. The virus, known as COVID-19, has resulted in 1,140 UK infections and 21 deaths and has already forced the suspension of major fixtures like the English Premier League and the London Marathon. Further, the ECB last week recalled its side from the tour of Sri Lanka where they were scheduled to play two Tests later this month. And though the ECB has made no formal statement on the Windies tour, CWI Chief Executive Johnny Grave said the regional governing body would continue to monitor developments regarding the virus. “It is [still on] at the moment but it's a dynamic situation that is changing quite literally by the hour so at the moment there's been no announcement by the ECB about postponing any of their upcoming events,” Grave told CMC Sports. “Albeit, the ICC [International Cricket Council] have canceled the World Cup qualifiers which were due to take place in Malaysia and a number of the county clubs have canceled their preseason tours.” He added: “At the moment it seems like they [ECB] are taking a sort of four-week period where some events have been postponed or canceled until mid-April. “Our players are due to travel at the end of April so at the moment…it's being closely monitored but at the moment we've had no reason to believe the England tour will be canceled.” West Indies are scheduled to undergo a camp in England before playing tour matches against England Lions and Worcestershire at the end of May. They face England in the opening Test at Lord's starting June 4, open the second Test at Edgbaston on June 12 before wrapping up the series at Lord's in the final Test bowling off June 25.

Grave

The ECB last week conceded its summer schedule was being threatened by the outbreak but said it would continue to plan for all eventualities. “It is difficult for us to be sure of what outcomes the game might be expected to deal with,” said ECB Chief Executive Tom Harrison. “Therefore, we will continue to plan for a season that proceeds as normal, but in parallel prepare for a range of different scenarios. These could include the possibility of playing matches behind closed doors, or potentially postponing or canceling elements of the season.” Globally, cricket has already suffered disruption, with the lucrative Indian Premier League delaying its start from March 29 until April 15 as a “precautionary measure”, India scrapping their ongoing One-Day International [ODI] tour of South Africa and Australia and New Zealand also calling off their limited-overs series Down Under. CWI also announced bold measures on Saturday to combat the spread of the coronavirus in the Caribbean, suspending all its domestic fixtures for a minimum of 30 days, including the final two rounds of the first-class championship. The region, which has confirmed nearly 40 COVID-19 cases, could face further disruption with West Indies Women hosting South Africa in five ODIs from May 30 to June 10, and West Indies A taking on South Africa A in a series from June 10 to July 9. West Indies men also host New Zealand in a limited-overs series from July 8-19 and South Africa in a Test and T20 International series from July 15 to August 16.

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CONCACAF Tournaments Suspended CONCACAF has suspended all its competitions for at least 30 days, just 24 hours after halting the Champions League due to the deadly coronavirus outbreak. In a statement last week, the continental governing body for football in North, Central America and the Caribbean said the decision was made following a conference call with its executive council. “Given the constantly evolving public health situation and global concerns about the spread of COVID-19, the CONCACAF Council convened yesterday via a conference call,” the statement said. “During the meeting, the decision was made to suspend all upcoming CONCACAF competitions scheduled to take place over the next 30 days. “The CONCACAF Council took these decisions with the welfare of everyone involved in mind, and in light of developing travel restrictions and public health guidance.”

The decision means the Men's Olympic Qualifiers set to begin March 20, the first round of the 2021 Gold Cup Qualifiers scheduled to kick off March 26, and the Caribbean Club Shield carded for April 3-12 in Curacao will now be delayed indefinitely. CONCACAF said the Champions League, which is at the quarter-final stage, would be postponed.

C4 – NATIONAL WEEKLY

| THURSDAY, MAR 19 – MAR 25, 2020 | VOL. 17 NO. 11

A D V E R T I S E M E N T