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THURSDAY MAY 20, 2021
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“
Hold Them Back!
Still in Effect
BCPS Teachers Say Failing Students Should be Retained
Jamaica Says New CDC Guidelines for Americans Do Not Apply to the Island
By Sheri-Kae McLeod CNW Reporter
As the school year draws to a close, parents, teachers and other school officials across South Florida are now debating on the appropriate course of action for students who have failed numerous classes because of COVID-19.
By Sheri-Kae McLeod CNW Reporter
I
n a major step toward returning to pre-pandemic life, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) eased mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated people. The new guidelines, issued on May 13, state that vaccinated Americans can stop wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings. To date, more than 154 million Americans, nearly 47 percent of the population, have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The new guidance means more freedom for Jamaicans living in the United States who have been fully vaccinated. However, when they return home to Jamaica, they will still have to follow local safety protocols. U.S. President Joe Biden said that the announcement marked a great day in America. “Today is a great day for America. If you are fully vaccinated, you no longer need to wear a mask. Get vaccinated — or wear a mask until you do,” he said.
+59,000
Students not making academic progress
4%
11%
Rise in students that have one or more failing grades
“We monitor, from a policy perspective, what happens elsewhere. But just bear in mind that countries will take decisions based on what is in their best interest and based on their particular set of circumstances.”
The pandemic, which forced students to switch to remote learning for several months, is being blamed for a sharp increase in failures in school districts across the country. In South Florida, Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) Superintendent Robert Runcie said that, in 2020, there were over
However, Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness Dr. Christopher Tufton said because of where Jamaica is at in its vaccination campaign, America’s new guidelines cannot apply to the island. “There is a difference in what is the case in the U.S. as opposed to what is the case here. The U.S. has had a significant number of the population receiving at continues on B4 – Still in Effect
TOP STORIES Beenie Man Fined J$150,000 for Breaching COVID Protocols Nearly Quarter Million Apply for Curfew Passes in Trinidad Dominica Announces New Protocols for Entering the Island Biden Boosting World Vaccine Sharing Commitment to 80M Doses JFF Condent in COVID-19 Protocols for Japan Tour PCR Tests for Vaccinated Travellers in Cayman Islands Removed Jamaica Says New CDC Guidelines Do Not Apply to the Island
continues on B4 – Hold Back!
WHAT’S INSIDE NEWSMAKER
CARIBBEAN
COMMUNITY
SPORTS
Miss Jamaica Universe Miqueal-Symone Williams: A Top-10 Finalist A3
Trinidad & Tobago Declares State of Emergency A4
Jamaican American Realtor, Sharon McLennon Makes History B1
West Indies Glory Days Forever Lost Says Sir Curtly Ambrose C3
A2 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAY 20 – MAY 26, 2021 | CNWNETWORK.COM
PAGE A2
Votercade: Hai an-American community leaders and a local representa ve celebrate “Votercade” on May 8, 2021, to commemorate the Na onal John Lewis Rights Advancement Ac on Day, where hundreds of people took part in a motorcade of voters to raise awareness. From le : Robin Bartleman, member of Florida House of Representa ves, Hai an-American Coral Springs Commissioner Nancy Metayer and Marie Woodson, Hai an-American member of the Florida House of Representa ves. – Contributed
Celebra ng Hai : Broward Commissioner Dale V.C. Holness (le ) joined Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava (center) and Consul General of Hai , Stephane Gilles at Island SPACE Caribbean Museum celebra ng Hai an history, culture, and tradi ons for Hai an Heritage Month. – Contributed
Honored: Mrs. Ivy Barre honored by the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council Southern Representa ve for her role in Educa on during a special ceremony on May 18, 2021. – Contributed Selfie Time: Minister of Educa on, Youth and Informa on, Hon. Fayval Williams (le ), takes a selfie with Jose Mar Technical High School students, during a handover ceremony held at the school in St. Catherine on May 13. Jose Mar Technical was presented with a cheque valued at $1 million, for winning Digicel's BiP2Win Compe on. Photo by: Yhomo Hutchinson
Delcita: Laurel Budhoo (right), resident of South Florida, takes a photo backstage with Andrea “Delcita” Wright at the debut of Wright's brand-new play “The Baby Motha” at the Miramar Cultural Center on May 9, 2021. – Contributed
Riding the Block: Jamaica's Consul General for Southern USA, Oliver Mair (center) joins Mayor of Miramar Wayne Messam (3rd from le ) for a 17-mile bike ride through the city on May 15, 2021. The bike ride was in support of Messam's 'Riding the Block' Ini a ve in partnership with the Miramar Police Department's Community Resource Unit. – Contributed
The Champions: Don Wehby (center), Group Chief Execu ve Officer of GraceKennedy Limited, celebrates with students of the winning schools, Jamaica College and Edwin Allen High School on the final day of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athle cs Championships held in Jamaica on May 15, 2021. – Photo: ISSA Sports Life and Legacy: Miami Dade County Commission honored the life and legacy of the late Congressman Alcee Has ngs. Congressman Has ngs was a fearless fighter for jus ce, equality, and opportunity for all. (From Le to Right:) Commissioners: Jose Diaz, Oliver Gilbert, Jean Mones me, Kionee McGhee, Alcee Has ngs II (Jodi), Dale V.C. Holness, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Commissioners: Rene Garcia, Danielle Cohen Higgins, Raquel Regaldo, and Rebecca Sosa. – Contributed
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT MARIJUANA.
NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAY 20 – MAY 26, 2021 | CNWNETWORK.COM –
A3
NEWSMAKER Miss Jamaica Universe Miqueal-Symone Williams
A Top 10 Finalist Of a total of 74 women from across the globe vying for the Miss Universe crown this year, Jamaica’s 2020 beauty queen Miqueal-Symone Williams prevailed to make it to the top 10. Held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, the 69th Miss Universe international competition was won by Miss Mexico Andrea Meza. Although Miss Jamaica did not take the crown, the 24-year-old international fashion and beauty model said she was grateful for the support of Jamaicans throughout the competition. Among those who sent congratulations to Williams was Oliver Mair, Jamaica’s Consul General for Southern USA. On social media, Mair posted: “Congrats Miss Universe Jamaica Miqueal Symone Williams for finishing in the top 10. Thanks for representing us so well. You are a winner in our eyes!” Prime Minister Andrew Holness also sent his congratulations to Williams. Two former Jamaican beauty queens Yendi Phillips, Miss Jamaica Universe 2010, and Terri-Karelle Reid, Miss Jamaica World 2005, also expressed pride in Williams’s performance in the competition and her top ten achievement. Williams is the eighth Jamaican to have ever advanced to the top ten of the competition since its first staging in
Williams
1952. Miqueal-Symone was born on April 1, 1997, and raised in St. Andrew, Jamaica. She attended the Immaculate Conception High School and then went on later to pursue her Bachelor’s degree in Marketing with a minor in Psychology at the University of the West Indies. In 2017, Williams entered the Miss Universe Jamaica competition. That same year, Williams’s mother was murdered, causing her to step away from the competition. A year later, 21-year-old MiquealSymone began her career as an international model, travelling to the United Kingdom, Paris, Spain and New York, among other cities and countries. Since then, she has done photoshoots for global magazines such as ELLE, walked for top designers, and worked for luxury brands such as Armani and Valentino. Williams said that she derived her immense love for travel through modelling although she sees very little
Williams has done photoshoots for global magazines such as ELLE, walked for top designers, and worked for luxury brands such as Armani and Valentino.
of the countries she visits for work. Through this, she also developed a greater appreciation for her homeland Jamaica. Another one of her passions has been working with, supporting and inspiring children and teenagers. Williams said that while still at an impressionable age, the mental health of children is important and they should be made to feel loved, included, respected and inspired. This is the reason behind her Bloom Initiative that seeks to promote mental health in children, especially at a critical time when the world is suffering from a pandemic. In December 2020, MiquealSymone Williams entered the Miss Universe competition for the second time. Wearing the sash ‘Miss QORIHC’, she won the sectional prize for Best in Evening Gown and took the crown as Miss Jamaica Universe 2020. Williams said that as the pageant queen for 2020, she is most proud of her capacity to be compassionate and ability to inspire. She also wants to demonstrate to people who are inspired by her that your wildest dreams are possible, simply because it is your dream. She said her life’s ambition is to help as many people as she can to realize their dreams and encourage them to be active in their groups and communities. “If you want to change the world, start with one person, one thing, one dream, then you will realize that you are already being the change,” she says.
A4 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAY 20 – MAY 26, 2021 | CNWNETWORK.COM
CARIBBEAN
T&T Declares State of Emergency The Trinidad and Tobago government on Saturday declared a State of Emergency (SOE) and an eight-hour curfew as a “scared population” looked to the authorities to implement new measures to deal with a rising number of deaths and infections from the COVID19 pandemic. Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, speaking at the weekly news conference of the Ministry of Health, said that the SOE will go into effect at midnight and that the curfew will be from 9 pm to 5 am (local time) daily. “The state of emergency will remain in place until it has expired or continued,” he said, noting that under the law, the SOE remains in place for 90 days in the first instance. Rowley told reporters that it has
Trinidad & Tobago police patrolling the streets. – Contributed
us to realize that we are in and have always been in a very difficult place. Before, we were only dealing with numbers, but I think the population is at the stage now where the numbers are being seen to be of people even known to you,” he said.
now dawned on the population that the virus should be taken very seriously, saying he also came to the realization that he is seeing a “population that is scared”. “I am sorry that it has come to coffins and faces of dead people for
Rowley said that while it is not feasible to shut down a country, the authorities are allowing for workers in essential services to function so as to prevent the rest of the population from engaging in buying things in excess thereby causing a panic. Rowley said places like gas stations, pharmacies and supermarkets would be allowed to operate within the nine-hour to 12-hour period,” but the other areas we will shut down completely”. Rowley said that the government had tried “very hard” to stay away from imposing the SOE and the curfew, but reminded the population that “virtually every country in the world” is now experiencing a new wave of the pandemic. “I am simply appealing to the population to cooperate. You have been known to cooperate,” he said. Rowley also sought to dismiss reports that Trinidad and Tobago was not able to acquire vaccines to
Dominica Announces New Protocols for Entry Dominican Health Minister Dr Irvine McIntyre announced that fully vaccinated persons entering the country will no longer be tested upon arrival at the airport. Speaking to the new measures that went into effect on Wednesday, May 19, he said, “You will go through the normal usual stuff, you have to wear your mask and you must adhere to physical distancing, etc. They will ask you a few questions, but you will have to go to your hotel, which has to be a certified nature property or a government quarantine facility.” He further explained that on the second day at these facilities, a PCR test will be done and the results given within a 24 hour period. “So what it means is a minimum of two days in quarantine. So the days of five and six and seven days in quarantine are over for fully vaccinated travelers. “Those who are not vaccinated, the protocols remain the same.
You get to your certified safety nature property or you get to the government quarantine facility and then on the fifth day we have you tested or you may just go home and, if you are lucky, you may just go home on the sixth or seventh day, which makes a big difference compared to the two or two and a half days,” McIntyre continued. He confirmed that the island, which earlier this month reported it had no active cases or deaths from the virus, had recorded four new cases in recent times. “The good thing about these four active cases, is that these are cases that we got through the five-day testing so these are not cases we have gotten from the community, these are from the quarantine [facility]. “We remain at zero deaths, which is important for us. And in terms of the total confirmed cases since we began last year, 180. And, we only have four active now. But, as I said, these four were captured during the five-day quarantine. So we have no community cases as such and importantly we actually have zero cases under investigation now,” he added.
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Thursday in Black Jamaicans Protest GBV and Alleged Actions of George Wright By Sheri-Kae McLeod CNW Reporter Scores of Jamaicans came out in full black on Thursday to protest the alleged actions of Westmoreland Central member of parliament George Wright. The JLP representative is alleged to be the man caught on a viral video physically abusing a woman last month. continues on B4 – Thursday in Black
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deal with the pandemic, insisting that the situation is a worldwide issue and that even some Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries had gone outside the World Health Organization (WHO) approved vaccines to purchase the product. He insisted that Trinidad and Tobago would continue to be guided by the WHO and appealed to the population to get vaccinated and help the country achieve herd immunity. Earlier, Epidemiologist Dr. Avery Hinds told reporters that the number of COVID-19 cases were continuing to show “an upward trend” and that health authorities were worried about that situation and its effect on the parallel health care system. Principal Medical Officer at the Ministry of Health Dr Maryam Abdool-Richards said that the seven hospitals across the country were now having an average of 380 admissions for the last seven days. – (CMC)
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NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAY 20 – MAY 26, 2021 | CNWNETWORK.COM –
Talk Up!
TALKUP
Do you think students who have fallen behind in school due to COVID-19 should repeat the school year? The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted schooling nationwide, raising serious concerns about the impact of the pandemic on children’s learning. The sudden switch to remote learning has exacerbated the digital divide across the country and been blamed for a sharp increase in failures, especially in the public school system. As the school year draws to a close, education stakeholders are debating the best course of action for students who have suffered greatly because of the pandemic. Some say retention may be the best option. We asked members of the diaspora if they think that students who failed classes due to COVID-19 should repeat the school year. Here are the responses:
Kimberly White: I think it is fair for students who have fallen behind in school due to COVID to repeat their current grade. While virtual learning is convenient and the best option currently for “staying active in school”, all students do not have access to the same support and resources at home. And for those who do, the may require other personalized attention in order to do well. Repeating a grade is not as dramatic as it seems. It is actually a great thing as it allows for students, parents and teachers to readjust to the school’s curriculum and implement new ways to aid in a better learning experience. Sherene Palmer: Yes. I think students should repeat the school year if they feel they need to recover from falling behind academically due to the pandemic. This would allow them to learn and grasp material not covered in online learning and improve their overall academic performance. Ann-Marie Astwood: A decision will have to be taken on a case-bycase basis as it will depend on how far behind the child is. In Jamaica, as many as 120,000 children are deemed to have been totally unengaged in any kind of learning for the past year, due to lack of access to the requisite technology for online learning. Many would need to repeat as they would be unable to keep up at the higher grade level. The many others fortunate enough to have a home or community support system in place and access to the virtual space are doing fairly well and are likely to be able to transition more readily. Consideration may also have to be given to implementing remedial classes and holiday school sessions to assist students, particularly those with developmental challenges. Yonette Chapman: I’m a parent of a Broward student who has been affected by the pandemic and the e-learning system and I don’t want students should be retained. They have already been traumatized enough by the drastic change that took place overnight and so have us, the parents who struggled to work to provide for our families and still took on the teacher role at home, even though we’re not teachers. Summer enrichment has never been offered in my area of Sunrise, at least so I’ve been told when I inquired previously. But it’s being offered this year. I think that would be more beneficial for the students as opposed to retaining them, which would feel like punishment for something that was beyond all of our control. Roshel Bailey: I think that they should be retained if they’ve failed numerous classes and are extremely behind. Retention isn’t something that students want to hear but this past year has been unlike no other. Some sort of solution ought to be put forward to assist students that have been struggling. Jevaughn McLeod: I don’t think that it should be a rule or policy in schools. I don’t think that students should be forced to repeat unless they’re really failing and there is no other option. I think its up to the teachers to make those suggestions and let the parents decide.
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A6 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAY 20 – MAY 26, 2021 | CNWNETWORK.COM
editorial
Keep Your Masks On! We Haven’t Achieved Herd Immunity Yet M
any can agree that having to wear masks as part of our daily lives has been an absolute drag. From the trivial to the more serious of reasons too. With half our faces covered, we were forced to live in a seemingly expressionless society. Conversations in business or personal settings became utterances of muffled words. Our bespectacled counterparts would complain about their eyeglasses becoming quickly fogged. And those of us with chronic respiratory ailments could barely breathe with fabric obstructing our mouths and noses. Since the worldwide COVID-19 spread reached a pandemic level in 2020, donning a mask in public settings became mandatory in most states. This simple action had undoubtedly played a critical part in slowing the spread of the deadly virus, which to date has infected more than 160 million and claimed the lives of more than three million across the globe. But with the advent of the new vaccine, which became available through pioneering pharmaceutical and biotech companies Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca and most recently Sinopharm, a lot of us can finally breathe just a little bit easier. For Amercans, infection rates have dropped significantly since persons began getting vaccinated last December. Compared with the highest peak of 250,037 on January 8, 2021, the current seven-day average for new cases has decreased by 85.8 percent. And almost half of the U.S. population has taken their first dose, with nearly 40 percent now being fully vaccinated. The future seems even more promising too as the adolescent age group just became eligible to receive their vaccines as well. It’s for this reason that the Biden administration, under the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recently made the announcement that fully vaccinated individuals can safely forgo their masks in most indoor public settings, prompting many US states to relax their social distancing and mask mandates. But what about those among us who aren’t? As it
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stands, all the rules still apply to our unvaccinated peers as they should still be wearing masks when in public. Unfortunately, however, there’s simply no way to know who is fully vaccinated and who isn’t just by looking at them. Considering this, many Americans are now assessing for themselves just how much faith they’ll put in the stranger standing next to them at the supermarket, in a public queue or even at work. Will unvaccinated persons actually follow through and keep their masks on?
Broken Rules Throughout the pandemic, our trust in each other has already been put to the test. And we all know someone who’s broken one of the rules at some point or another. Did every person who drove across a state line or re-entered the country follow the 14-day quarantine rule? Did everyone avoid getting unnecessary personal grooming services done, like a haircut or waxing their brows? In the thick of things too, when COVID-19 was more rampant in 2020, we couldn’t even trust people to do the right thing and wear masks. As it stands, face masks and physical distancing will need to continue into the foreseeable future. Until we get herd immunity, which is achieved when 50 to 80 percent of the population gets both jabs, the
vaccine only functions as another layer of protection. We must also consider that It takes time for the vaccine to kick in as one won’t reach the nearly 95 percent effectiveness rate until two weeks after a second-dose. There’s also no way to tell who among us falls into the five percent of those who won’t respond to the vaccine and will still be at risk for contracting COVID-19. While the vaccines prevent illness, they don’t necessarily prevent transmission. And we still need to protect those with compromised immune systems and those who can’t be vaccinated. There’s also a precious group among us that still isn’t eligible for their vaccines – our children. So, yes, the overall danger is waning but it’s not time to relax just yet. The CDC should exercise greater caution in giving advice to vaccinated people, and not ignore the fact that many still aren’t vaccinated. This is critical in continuing our efforts to stop the pandemic. That said, please, exercise consideration and continue to wear your mask in public settings until the local transmission rate gets closer to zero. Just think – if this helps protect one person, be it a vulnerable family member, a friend, a work colleague or a total stranger, then it’s really not that great an inconvenience at all.
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NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAY 20 – MAY 26, 2021 | CNWNETWORK.COM –
HAITIAN HERITAGE MONTH
A7
la section haitienne
The Enchanted Secret Haitian writer Chely Thimothee-Paul tells the untold story of the casting off of ancient and godly Haitian souls, and their promise to return, in a two-part series in celebration of Haitian Heritage Month in May. By Chely Thimothee-Paul
L
egend has it that the Haitian people possess very powerful spirits. And, it was for this reason that God chose them, as a people, to begin the fight for equality – not just for people of color, but for people all over the world. I’ll start by painting a picture of Haiti through the eyes of a young Haitian American in the early 80s, which was just before the overturning of the Duvalier-led Haitain government in 1986. My family and I were in Haiti for a month’s summer vacation from Brooklyn, New York. I remember how the streets were so clean, maids would be up early making sure that their side of the block looked the best, and everything just seemed alive. The foot merchants were buzzing all over selling fresh fruit, food and meats. The merchants would be singing creative chants of what their product was in order to sell, and the chants would often sound like love songs: “Oh, beautiful eggs. No one else sells such beautiful eggs like me”. Funny things like that. Music played from street corner to street corner. Young girls walked the streets in school uniforms with their hair in braids and ribbons all well pressed. Seeing someone who was overweight was almost unheard of. Men often walked holding hands, showing their friendship openly, and it didn’t appear strange. Farmers, carpenters, drivers, mechanics, doctors, nurses, teachers, lawyers and the likes all had their level of prestige. Everyone contributed to a beautiful peace that many living abroad couldn’t wait to get back to as often as life permitted. The whole country seemed like it woke up early; peaceful and ready to service its people. And when nightfall came, the flow shifted to a more mellow and light vibe to refuel and start all over. The weekend started early on Fridays and people would gather at the park. There, young children talked about their dreams. We would be told stories of different spirits that roam the country and how they showed themselves at night. I loved every second of it. So, the legend says the powerful spirits had to leave to fight off corruption and it was for that reason that Haiti fell into the condition it is in today. Legend also said that those spirits would one day return with a renewed force of light to uplift the people of Haiti and remind them of how beautiful a people they are. Now, one might say this sounds like a fairytale. But to me, it’s clear that that time is now. Here are some examples of those beautiful souls that have come full circle:
Chely Timothee-Paul
Ruth Jean Ruth Jean is a mother of three and a wife. She still manages to run a full-time immigration law practice, dedicating her life to fighting the injustices and inequalities against immigrants, such as those that befell her Haitian parents, while setting an example for young black women in her community.
Tico Armand Model, author, actress, radio host and mother, just to name a few of her titles, Tico has been an advocate for all Haitians, especially young women, for the better part of her life. She is deeply connected to her Haitian lineage and is now using her art of storytelling to retell her life story in the ‘Adventures of Yaya’, which she co-authored with Angie Bell.
Angie Bell Angie Bell runs a prestigious school in Cap-Haitian, Haiti, while finding inspiration in all her surroundings to write breathtaking poetry about love and heartbreak, and children’s books such as her ‘Adventures of Yaya’. Her book illustrates to the young children of Haiti the true image of themselves; one that is the opposite of the common images of poverty and despair that is often exaggerated for political reasons using teachings of self-hate.
Sandy Dorsainvil Sandy is a full-time mother of two and the Managing Director of the Little Haiti Cultural Center. Many would also say she is ‘the fixer’ of Haitian cultural events. There aren’t many events involving the Haitian community that Sandy isn’t in one way, shape or form involved with. Born in New York, Sandy finds herself more Haitian than her Haiti-born parents.
A8 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAY 20 – MAY 26, 2021 | CNWNETWORK.COM A D V E R T I S E M E N T
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Victoria Mutual Announces Community Blitz in Orlando The Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS) Florida Representative Office will begin engaging diaspora members in Orlando through the first in a series of ‘Bank on the Move’ community blitzes. This promotion’s initiative will be held at the Caribbean Sunshine Bakery at 2528 W Colonial Drive on Friday, May 21, and Saturday, May 22 from 10:30am to 6:30pm, and at the Bank Tower at 111 North Orange Avenue on Monday, May 24, and Tuesday, May 25, 2021 from 10:00am to 4:00pm. The VMBS Florida Representative Office in Miramar provides Jamaicans and friends of Jamaica who wish to do business in the island with valuable information on its savings and loan products, mortgages and other services. According to Suzette Rochester Lloyd, Chief Representative Officer, VMBS – Florida Representative, “the ‘Bank on the Move’ Diaspora Community Blitz is a financial education initiative which will allow new and
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existing members in their respective locales to meet VM Team Members face to face, whilst adhering to CDC guidelines and provide information on VM’s services; savings and loan
products; member updates, as well as accept documents for the processing of mortgage loan applications for purchasing property in Jamaica and handle other general queries.” The VM Florida Representative Office, through its community-wide financial education initiatives, has contributed to the VM Group’s funds under management, through access to various asset classes. The Mission of Victoria Mutual has remained consistent, “which continues to be, helping our Members and Clients to own their homes and achieve financial well-being. Victoria Mutual today is a trusted partner for Jamaicans and Friends of Jamaicans living abroad and on the island of Jamaica.”
B1
COMMUNITY Teachers Say Failing Students Should be Retained
For more information and to schedule your appointment, please contact the VMBS – Florida Representative Office by: phone 305-770-2643 or email floridarepresentativeoffice@myvmgroup.com
By Sheri-Kae McLeod CNW Reporter As the school year draws to a close, parents, teachers and other school officials across South Florida are now debating on the appropriate course of action for students who have failed numerous classes because of COVID-19. The pandemic, which forced students to switch to remote learning for several months, is being blamed for a sharp increase in failures in school districts across the country. continues on B4 – Failing Students
Jamaican-American Realtor Makes History For over 20 years, JamaicanAmerican realtor Sharon McLennon has been one of South Florida’s leading real estate agents, particularly among the CaribbeanAmerican community. Last week, the longtime South Florida resident announced that her company Splendor Realty has joined the Coldwell Banker network and now will operate as Coldwell Banker Splendor Realty. “Splendor Realty is pleased to announce that it has joined the Coldwell Banker network and, effective immediately, will operate as Coldwell Banker Splendor Realty.
The affiliation is the result of a new and the second in the country. Inclusive Ownership program, first Members of the Jamaican announced in February 2020 by diaspora, including Broward County Coldwell Banker. This initiative is Commissioner Dale Holness and designed to increase representaJamaican-American attorney tion of women, minority, Marlon Hill, gathered in LGBTQ+ and veteran Lauderhill to celebrate entrepreneurs in the real McLennon’s historic estate industry,” the company achievement, as well as the said in a statement. opening of her new Through the program, location. Coldwell Banker Splendor In attendance was Realty will become the also Dr Allan first 100 percent African Cunningham, the American, womanGlobal Jamaica owned Coldwell Banker Diaspora Council franchisee in Florida representative for the McLennon
Southern States, who said that McLennon has made the entire Jamaican diaspora proud. “You have made Broward County proud, you have made the city of Lauderhill proud, and you have made all Jamaicans in the 13 Southern States proud,” he said. Mayor of Lauderhill Ken Thurston also congratulated McLennon on the historic merger. He said that Lauderhill is now a better place with the addition of Coldwell Banker Splendor Realty. “I commend and applaud you for your affiliation with Coldwell Banker. I’m pleased to have you here
in the city of Lauderhill. Lauderhill is a better place because we’ve got Coldwell Banker Splendor Realty and we’re happy to have you,” he said. For her part, Sharon McLennon said that she was grateful to be the first black woman Coldwell Banker franchisee in Florida. She also called on Caribbean- and AfricanAmericans in South Florida to show more support for businesses within the community.
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B2 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAY 20 – MAY 26, 2021 | CNWNETWORK.COM A D V E R T I S E M E N T
NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAY 20 – MAY 26, 2021 | CNWNETWORK.COM –
B3
ENTERTAINMENT
Beenie Man Fined $150K for Breaching COVID-19 Protocols Jamaican international dancehall artiste Beenie Man was fined J$150,000 after he pleaded guilty to breaching the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA). The deejay, whose real name is Moses Davis, had pleaded guilty to the offense on April 19 and appeared in the St Elizabeth Parish Court where the fine or three months in jail was imposed. An additional charge of breaching the Noise Abatement Act was thrown out during the deejay’s last court appearance.
“Beenie Man pleaded guilty because he wanted to take a responsible approach given that he is an elder of the global music community,” his attorney Roderick Gordon had said in April. The 47-year-old entertainer had been charged by police last December after hosting an illegal party at a location in Shrewsbury district, St Elizabeth, on November 29, 2020. The Black River police turned up at the event and dispersed the crowd. Beenie was warned for prosecution. The artiste’s promotion of a New Year’s Eve party in December further earned the ire of the police in St Elizabeth and he was summoned to a police station there on January 1 and charged with breaching DRMA protocols with the staging of the November 29 party. Mass gatherings and parties of any kind are currently prohibited in Jamaica due to COVID19.
“
Beenie Man pleaded guilty because he wanted to take a responsible approach given that he is an elder of the global music community
– Roderick Gordon Beenie Man’s Aorney
Nation Boss: A Pandemic Star is Born By Ramona Samuels CNW Reporter Jamaica’s rigid curfews and lockdowns have had some young persons at home bored and uninspired. But with every unexpected situation, something ‘viral’ might be on the horizon. One such example is the story of Nation Boss, who posted a simple and informal freestyle video to his WhatsApp status update weeks ago that unexpectedly took the screens of users by storm. The video, which immediately went viral on social media, was not intended to get the overwhelmingly positive reaction that it did. The 22 year old, who was born in Spanish Town then later migrated to Barbados with his mother, received a call from his cousin soon after he posted it, excitedly saying his video is on the popular Tik Tok social media platform. The call
made the artiste, whose real name is Kushilo, ponder in confusion at first as he noted during an interview with The Fix podcast that: “I am not even on Tik Tok”. As the day progressed, the video went viral. Nation Boss’ casual post was now being echoed by the likes of Dancehall star Bugle and renowned Reggae newcomer Lila Ike. The response to his lyrical delivery, one that hears him sing about the disappointment of humans, was overwhelming. Soon after, the demands for him to go in studio and voice a professional version of the freestyle clip grew rapidly on several social media platforms. The video clip caught the attention of dancehall producer Dominique McDonald, better known as ‘Trouble Mekka’, who quickly reached out to Nation Boss and invited him to his studios the very same day. Nation Boss’
willing heart jumped at the opportunity, as this was the very same producer he made attempts to collaborate with several times before, but to no avail. The impromptu invite was met at a later
date due to Nation Boss living in St. Ann and Trouble Mekka’s studio being located in Kingston’s Olympic Gardens. The musical producer explored beats that would fit perfectly with what Nation Boss originally did for the song on the 45-second clip, then officially recorded a single. Soon after, a YouTube-released official video was launched, which also went viral. Nation Boss, who describes himself as a music lover and not an artiste, said he was not expecting this newfound fame nor was it in his intention when he uploaded his video to WhatsApp. Though he is happy and appreciative of the respect and admiration from fans and music counterparts, Nation Boss says there is much more to what he has to offer. Music lovers should expect chapters when it comes on to him and this exciting journey.
B4 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAY 20 – MAY 26, 2021 | CNWNETWORK.COM
CONTINUATIONS
Keep Them Back! 50,000 students in the district who were not making adequate academic progress due to COVID-19 and remote learning. “We’ve seen a significant increase in the number of students who have one or more failing grades. That number has gone up from 4 percent to 11 percent. The number of students that have 15 or more absences in the first quarter also increased, from 1,700 to over 8,200. And of great concern, is the 59,000 students we’ve identified who are not making adequate academic progress,” Runcie said in January, as he addressed the mass resignation of teachers. The situation is particularly frustrating for teachers in South Florida who have had to change their approach to cater to numerous failing students. Some teachers in Broward County believe that students who have failed classes should be retained for the next school year. “As a history teacher, I believe that students who failed this year due to COVID-
19 should be repeated. We’re not pushing our students. They need the correct education and the right guidance in order to be pushed through grades. If we’re pushing students through and they’re failing horribly, they won’t get the right foundation and go on to be successful,” said eighth-grade BCPS teacher Alain Filius. Brittany Okorie, a sixth-grade Elementary Language Arts BCPS teacher also told Caribbean National Weekly that, “I do believe the failing students should be retained. Right now, they’re already delayed. If you let them go on to the next school year, there is going to be a learning gap and it’s going to be harder for them to catch on, which also makes it harder for the teacher because they have to go back to lessons from previous grades. They should be retained to help bridge that gap.” Another BCPS teacher, Stephanie Bouliver, said the district needs to take into consideration the traumatic impact of the
Thursday in Black Activists, politicians and regular citizens took to the streets with placards calling for an end to gender-based violence and for new laws that protect victims of abuse. The protest was part of a larger campaign called “We Naa Ease Up”, which is a joint action by the Institute of Gender & Development Studies and the Jamaica Council of Churches. Some 80 Jamaican groups and individuals have signed on to the campaign calling for the resignation of Wright and a change in legislation. One of the campaign’s signatories, former Jamaican Senator Imani Duncan-Price said that as leader of the country, Prime Minister Andrew Holness needs to lead the change in domestic violence laws. “In countries like England and Wales, they have a much more progressive law that is led by evidence. If you have video footage or eyewitness statements, that is sufficient for the
from A1
pandemic on students. “I think that this year, there is a definite change. The pandemic has affected students outside the classroom and definitely in the classroom. There needs to be a consideration for the trauma of it all,” she told Caribbean National Weekly. “They need to definitely make sure that the students have some form of enrichment in the summer and, in extreme cases where it’s obvious that the student will not be able to be successful in the next grade, then retention is the only other option.” The leaders in the school districts in South Florida have said that they believe the increase in failures was caused by the switch to online learning. They have encouraged parents to send their children back into the classroom as soon as possible.
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from A4
police to move on the action and go for justice. So we’re demanding that Prime Minister Holness change the laws, lead the effort legislatively, and have all parliamentarians vote on that,” she said in an interview with Caribbean National Weekly. She is also demanding the resignation of George Wright. She said that Wright being on a paid leave of absence is a slap in the face. “It cannot be that this man is on leave and being paid by taxpayers for “unforeseen circumstances”. It’s almost like a slap in the face. So the first demand is that he resign,” she added. Another one of the campaign’s supporters, Carla Gullotta, the executive director, Stand up for Jamaica said the George Wright scandal was embarrassing and disgraceful not only because of the abuse, but also due to the overwhelming silence of parliamentarians,
particularly, the women. “The George Wright scandal has been more than embarrassing because this has been done by somebody sitting in parliament, which is in the process of making legislative changes regarding gender-based violence. He should represent the right side of this country and he didn’t. And the second embarrassment has been the astonishing silence of the female parliaments when all of us were expecting a firm stance from all the female representatives,” Gullotta told Caribbean National Weekly. Since the allegations, members of the diaspora in South Florida and scores of businesses and social justice organizations in Jamaica have condemned the alleged actions of the MP and called for his resignation. To date, George Wright has not commented on the allegations.
Failing Students
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In South Florida, Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) Superintendent Robert Runcie said that, in 2020, there were over 50,000 students in the district who were not making adequate academic progress due to COVID-19 and remote learning. “We’ve seen a significant increase in the number of students who have one or more failing grades. That number has gone up from 4 percent to 11 percent. The number of students that have 15 or more absences in the first quarter also increased, from 1,700 to over 8,200. And of great concern, is the 59,000 students we’ve identified who are not making adequate academic progress,” Runcie said in January, as he addressed the mass resignation of teachers. The situation is particularly frustrating for teachers in South Florida who have had to change their approach to cater to numerous failing students. Some teachers in Broward County believe that students who have failed classes should be retained for the next school year. “As a history teacher, I believe that students who failed this year due to COVID-19 should be repeated. We’re not pushing our students. They need the correct education and the right guidance in order to be pushed through grades. If we’re pushing students through and they’re failing horribly, they won’t get the right foundation and go on to be successful,” said eighth-grade BCPS teacher Alain Filius. Brittany Okorie, a sixth-grade Elementary Language Arts BCPS teacher also told Caribbean National Weekly that, “I do believe the failing students should be retained. Right now, they’re already delayed. If you let them go on to the next school year, there is going to be a learning gap and it’s going to be harder for them to catch on, which also makes it harder for the teacher because they have to go back to lessons from previous grades. They should be retained to help bridge that gap.” Another BCPS teacher, Stephanie Bouliver, said the district needs to take into consideration the traumatic impact of the pandemic on students. “I think that this year, there is a definite change. The pandemic has affected students outside the classroom and definitely in the classroom. There needs to be a consideration for the trauma of it all,” she told Caribbean National Weekly. “They need to definitely make sure that the students have some form of enrichment in the summer and, in extreme cases where it’s obvious that the student will not be able to be successful in the next grade, then retention is the only other option.” The leaders in the school districts in South Florida have said that they believe the increase in failures was caused by the switch to online learning. They have encouraged parents to send their children back into the classroom as soon as possible.
Still in Effect from A1
least the first dose. They are edging closer towards the target which they have set for themselves and have built up enough immunity in the population to protect a fairly large number of persons. They have far more vaccinated persons than we do; we’re at eight percent of the targeted population. That’s a huge difference.” Dr Tufton explained. The health minister said that fully vaccinated persons will still need to follow all the protocols, including providing a negative COVID-19 test, wearing a mask and obeying quarantine orders when coming to Jamaica. Dr. Meldoy Ennis, Director of Family Health Services in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, also reiterated that the vaccine protects the person who receives it, “but there is still the likelihood of spread. The protocols are still absolutely necessary at this time because it gives us this level of assurance that our people will be protected,” she said. Of the 1.924 million persons in the ministry’s targeted population, only 146,147 Jamaicans have received their first dose of the vaccine.
NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAY 20 – MAY 26, 2021 | CNWNETWORK.COM –
C1
SPORTS COMMENTARY
VIEW FROM THE SIDELINES
Champs A Massive Success There were no attending spectators due to the pandemic, but the 110th staging of the Intersecondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Championships held inside the National Stadium last week, was a massive success in more ways than one. No commendation can be too high for the sponsors, the organizers, the officials, the volunteers, the government agencies, the support staff, the schools, coaches, and athletes. At the end of the day, Jamaica College dethroned Kingston College in the boys’ category, while Edwin Allen High School retained the girls’ crown for the sixth consecutive outing. Special commendation to Neil Harrison, the Jamaica College head coach, who went mighty close with Kingston College a few years ago after making a name for himself at Munro College. It was also a special triumph for
The Champions: Don Wehby (center), Group Chief Execu ve Officer of GraceKennedy Limited, celebrates with students of the winning schools, Jamaica College and Edwin Allen High School on the final day of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athle cs Championships held in Jamaica on May 15, 2021. – Photo: ISSA Sports
Harrison, who was head coach at Clarendon College many years ago when they won the DaCosta Cup football title. Well done, Sir. All athletes must be lauded for putting themselves at risk to put on a show for a television audience at home and in the diaspora, in these uncertain times. But while the event was considered a success, by and large,
some things can be instituted to make it better in the future. The scheduling was one of the main successes at the meet, according to some analysts. The organizers had multiple finals from day one of the five-day meet, which made it more athlete-friendly. The hope is for this blueprint to be maintained going forward, with the requisite tweaking to make it, even more, athlete-
friendly. One criticism was that the 200m, 400m and 800m finals were too close and would have negatively impacted those athletes doubling up. Still, there is room for improvement in all areas, as purportedly outlined by Paul Francis, a highly qualified track and field official. According to a social media statement, Francis is alleged to have listed a few negatives coming out of the meet. “I have thought about this long and hard and am aware that my statement may compromise my invitation to be an official next year. “1) Incorrect wind readings posted for the 200m heats. At the National Stadium venue, it is impossible to have plus 4 winds in the long jump, while having plus winds in the 200m heats which are being run at the same time. The athletes go in opposite directions. “2) Athletes are lined up for a sprint hurdle final and after the race is done, they are being asked to re-run the race because of a ‘misfire’. This is a term I am not familiar with in track and field jargon. However, the athletes return, and they run a final with one flight of hurdles missing. So the 80m hurdle event is run over
seven flights. What if there was a record performance? “3) Medley relay heats are being run and athletes are placed at the 400m stagger for a race that is to be run in lanes for three turns. To quantify, it means that the athletes (team) in lane eight will run approximately 70m more than the team in lane one. “4) We have a field final (long jump Class Three boys) and one athlete is allowed seven jumps. “My message is not meant to criticize or step on toes, but to highlight the absolute need for all officials to be mandated to do a refresher course, maybe every two years, just to keep skills sharp and knowledge current in the sport we all dearly love and want to continue to serve in. “In conclusion, yes, there were good, and even great officiating moments. Communication was on point. There was generally a lot of attention to detail…however, at the end of the day, the onlookers tend to only remember and speak about the negatives.” Like Mr. Francis has said, these comments are meant to aid the improvement of the product and not just to criticize the powers that be.
CRICKET / SOUTH FLORIDA CRICKET ALLIANCE
Ambassador, St. Bess and Underdogz Recorded Wins By D. Maitland Sports Contributor Ambassador, St. Bess and Underdogz recorded victory in week eight of South Florida Cricket Alliance 30 overs Competition as the tournament continued last Sunday.
Tropics United vs. Ambassador At the John Mullins Park in Lauderhill, Tropics United won the toss and asked Ambassador to take first strike. Ambassador were reeling 103 for 3 when Carnell White joined Haldane Martin at the crease with 8.1 of the allotted 30 overs bowled; posted a 216 runs partnership for the fourth wicket before White was out caught off the last ball of the inning for 99. Martin was not out for an even 100. Keyone Gayle contributed 41 and extras accounted for 58 as Ambassador amassed 319 runs. In reply, Tropics United fought gallantly, but was eventually bowled out for 245 in 26.5 overs. Malcolm Fisher topped scored with 61 (8 fours, 2 sixes), followed by Davis 59 and Ryan Watson 34. Bowling for Ambassador, White took 4 for 55 from his allotted 6 overs while captain Kenroy Wright took 3 for 34 from 6 overs to secure a 74 runs victory.
Palm Beach Titans vs. St. Bess Meanwhile at John Prince Park, in Lake Worth, St. Bess batting first, tallied 307 runs for the loss of four wickets off their allotted 30 overs. With an opening stand of 227 featuring Hainsworth Wallace 132 runs (9 fours and 12 sixes) from 63 balls, and Zeniffe Fowler 111 (9 fours and 6 sixes) from 80 balls St Bess dominated the Titans bowling from the outset. Only Andre Fraser 3 for 30 from three overs and young Adam Khan 1 for 60 were successful. Replying, Ambassadors could only muster 170 All Out, conceding victory by 137 runs with Fraser scoring 51 and Nagarjun Bojedia 25. St. Bess bowling honors went to O’Brian Jones Jr. 3 for 31 from six overs, Troy Lewis 2 for 25 and Sherwyn Powell 2 for 28.
West Palm Beach Native Named to USA Cricket Men's Under 19 Training Group South Florida Cricket Alliance (SFCA) Youth Player 13-Year-Old Elton Tucker Jr. was selected to a 26member squad of players who will compete for a spot to represent the United States in the next ICC Under 19 world qualification. Young Elton Tucker Jr. who plays for Port St. Lucie was selected from a pool of 112 players from across the United States who participated in trials held in Houston Texas last month. The National Youth Selection Panel have chosen these 26 youth standouts to give Head Coach, Kevin Darlington the opportunity to work with the best young players over the next few months. The best of this extended group will go on to be selected for the USA Under 19 Men's side that will seek to qualify for the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup via the ICC Americas' Regional Qualifier later this year.
Tucker
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NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAY 20 – MAY 26, 2021 | CNWNETWORK.COM –
C3
SPORTS
SOCCER
Revamped Tournament a ‘Celebration of Football’ Organisers of CONCACAF last Thursday announced the full schedule for this year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, which will mark the zenith of the confederation’s 60th-anniversary celebrations.
egendary fast bowler Sir Curtly Ambrose has dismissed any chance of West Indies rediscovering the stellar form which typified their halcyon era of the late 1970s and 80s. The Antiguan, who snared 405 wickets from 98 Tests, said while there were quality players among the current generation, there were simply not enough to compare to the galaxy of world-class stars that had spearheaded the Caribbean side’s unparalleled success in the past.
August 1st.” This year, AFC Asian Cup Champions Qatar will participate in the tournament as the guest nation, joining the other 15 confederation teams which earned qualification. Caribbean side Curacao will raise the curtain on the championship when they clash with Central American nation El Salvador at Toyota Stadium in Dallas in a Group A fixture while in the headliner, reigning champions Mexico take on a yet-to-be-determined qualifier from the preliminaries at AT&T Stadium also in Texas, also in Group A. French Caribbean side Martinique will
feature in Group B alongside 2019 losing finalists the United States and Canada, along with a yet-to-be-determined qualifier. Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz, losing finalists in 2015 and 2017, will clash Costa Rica and Suriname along with another qualifier in Group C while Group D will see Grenada take on Honduras, Panama and Qatar. Several Caribbean sides including embattled Trinidad and Tobago, will be among 12 nations battling in the preliminaries at the DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale for the three remaining spots in the main draw.
SOCCER
JFF Confident in COVID-19 Protocols for Japan Tour Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) chief, Michael Ricketts, has given the assurance that all COVID-19 health protocols will be in place for the Reggae Boyz three-game tour of Japan next month. In making the announcement of the fixtures recently, Ricketts said there had been collaboration with the Japan Football Association and government, to ensure all relevant protocols would be established for the June 3-12 tour, amidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. On Sunday, Japanese authorities reported 5,262 new infections of COVID-19, moving the active cases to 83,616 and overall reported infections to 685,131, since the start of the pandemic. “We are satisfied with the arrangements for our players and staff members are comprehensive in respect of safety in this current pandemic,” Ricketts said. “I want to thank all those involved with the relevant negotiations in order for these games to come to fruition and I am sure the technical staff is very appreciative.” He added: “So we have had extensive discussions in this regard and all detailed protocols have been put in place by the
Ricketts
Japanese FA in conjunction and collaboration with the Japanese Government. “In fact, we were instructed not to make an official announcement because the Japanese Government was waiting to formalise a protocol system that would be able to accommodate us.” The Reggae Boyz, the highest-ranked English-speaking Caribbean side in the FIFA World rankings, will take on the hosts on June 3 in Sapporo, a city north of the capital Tokyo, before clashing with Serbia in Kobe, a city just west of Osaka. Jamaica wraps up their tour on June 12 with a fixture against the country’s Olympic side in Nagoya, a few hours outside Tokyo. The tour is part of the Caribbean powerhouses’ preparation for the CONCACAF Gold
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West Indies Glory Days Forever Lost, Says Sir Curtly Ambrose
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The main showpiece will run from July 10 to August 1 but will be preceded by a new preliminary round qualifying tournament, which will run from July 2-6, and determine the last three spots in the opening group stage. Eleven stadiums across the United States will host the 16th edition of the tournament which will conclude with a grand final at the newly built US$2 billion Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, which was opened last year. “We are extremely pleased to confirm the schedule and venues for this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, which promises to be a celebration of football in our great region,” said CONCACAF president, Victor Montagliani. “2021 is CONCACAF’s 60th anniversary year and we look forward with great anticipation to watching the best men’s national teams in our confederation compete for the Gold Cup title. “With an exciting new format and the prospect of welcoming passionate fans to the stadiums for these compelling match-ups, I can’t wait for the football to begin on July 2nd and to crown a champion in Las Vegas on
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Cup starting July 10 in the United States and their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification tournament which gets underway in September. Head coach Theodore Whitmore, an outstanding former national player, said the games in Japan would be key to Jamaica’s preparation. “This is an important year for the Reggae Boyz in so far as international competition is concerned,” he noted. “We welcome the two matches against Japan and Serbia as these are important games to fine-tune our preparations for the Gold Cup. We anticipate a very competitive roster and view this as positive.” The JFF has named a strong 30-man squad for the tour.
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Ambrose
“It is going to be difficult to see those glory days again. Yes, we can be competitive and climb up the ICC rankings and be a force to be reckoned with again but those glory days? I don’t think we’ll see them again.” – Ambrose “It is going to be difficult to find another Sir Viv Richards, or a (Desmond) Haynes and (Sir Gordon) Greenidge, or a Brian Lara, a (Sir) Richie Richardson, a Malcolm Marshall, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Michael Holding, Andy Robers, Clive Lloyd – the list goes on and on.” West Indies dominated world cricket first under Clive Lloyd and then under the peerless Sir Viv, winning the inaugural 50-over World Cup in 1975, successfully defending their title four years, before losing in the 1983 finals to India. Currently, West Indies lie eighth in the ICC Test rankings and eighth in ODIs following a protracted run of poor form over the last 20 years. The 57-year-old Sir Curtly, who made his debut alongside Walsh in a team that included Sir Gordon, Sir Richie and Haynes, said the success of the great Windies sides had been a great source of pride for Caribbean people across the globe – a fact that appeared lost on the current generation of players.
C4 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAY 20 – MAY 26, 2021 | CNWNETWORK.COM A D V E R T I S E M E N T