Hon. Joseph Andall Will Be in NYC for Grenada's 49th Independence Anniversary Celebrations

Grenada's 49th Independence Anniversary Celebrations in NYC: a Major Stop on The Road to 50

North American Leadership Summit/continued from page 13

Brooklyn, New York: Grenadians and friends of Grenada in New York City are in for an amazingly prideful series of events that are planned to celebrate the nation’s 49th anniversary of independence,” says Nick Cox, the new Chairman of the Grenada Independence Anniversary Committee of New York (GIACONY). Along with the annually held series of events, this year’s celebrations would feature the visiting presence of Grenada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Export, Hon. Joseph Andall; Minister of Mobilization, Implementation and Transformation, Hon. Andy Williams and Opposition Member of Parliament, Delma Thomas. All of the scheduled events in New York City, as elsewhere, would be held under the theme — “The journey to 50. Reflecting on the past. Planning the future” — which was chosen by the umbrella National Celebrations Committee in Grenada. Acting under the patronage of Grenada’s Consular Office in New York City, the general public has been extended a warm invitation to celebrate the 49th Anniversary of the tri-island state's independence, by attending all of the activities that are scheduled to take place from January 27th to February 4th, 2023. The 2023 Independence Anniversary Calendar of Events will include the following: •A Cultural Evening — Friday, January 27th, 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Refuge Church Hall in Brooklyn. •The Independence Youth Fest — Saturday, January 28th, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Our Lady of Refuge Church Hall in Brooklyn. •The Independence Ecumenical Service — Sunday, January 29th, 4 p.m. at St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church Hall in Brooklyn. •The 49th Anniversary of Independence Gala, Dinner, Awards, Dance & Raffle — Saturday, February 4th, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Antun’s in Queens.

A Gala With a Whole Lot to Offer The culminating Gala event which will be held at Antun’s Catering Hall, 96-03 Springfield Gardens in Queens, New York, would include brief affirming remarks by the visiting Government officials from Grenada, as well as the bestowal of awards. Four outstanding Grenadians in the diaspora, have been chosen from among several nominees, based on their accomplishments in relation to a set criteria, to receive awards in the following categories: •Excellence in Community Service Award •Cultural Heritage Award •Entrepreneurial Spirit Award •Distinguished Children/Youth Leadership Award. Additionally, there will be door prizes, including a high tech therapeutic mattress; live entertainment by In-Sync Band, by violinist and singer Donnell Best and by saxophonist Jarel Bartholomew. Along with the live performances, DJs Little Bee, Joe Bailey, One Drop and Naughty Vybz would also be adding value with their playlists. Further, there will be an attractive raffle of a Cartier Watch and cash prizes ($1000 and $500) to be won – at only $5 per ticket. GIACONY would also be producing a Souvenir Journal for the 2023 Independence Anniversary Gala. Proceeds from the Gala would be used to cover the cost of staging the planned activities in NYC and to make a donation to the Nephrology Unit (being upgraded to offer full dialysis services) at the General Hospital in Grenada. For more information, call 212-5990301, 718-666-1110 and 347-528-3038, or email giaconypr@gmail.com.l

Hon. Andy Williams — Member of the Parliament of Grenada & Minister of Mobilization, Implementation and Transformation Hon. Delma Thomas — Member of Parliament and former Minister for Social Development, Housing and Community Empowerment Ariel G. Ruiz Soto, Policy Analyst at the Migration Policy Institute. (MPI photo)

think anybody believes that Title 42 expansion is sustainable, not just because of the courts, but also because the flows are continuing to change. We are seeing increasing numbers of Colombians, Peruvians, Ecuadorians: it would be unrealistic to believe that expanding parole to Peruvians, Colombians and Ecuadorians would essentially be the solution to everything we are seeing at the border.

EMS: What does humane immigration policy look like? And given the very divided House and Senate, can we expect to see that in 2023? ARS: Humanitarian approach to migration by the Congress would entail improving access to asylum first and foremost, and second, providing more resources for the organizations and communities that are most impacted by the arrivals of migrants to the US-Mexico border, but also in the interior. I think we’re far from that reality. Unfortunately, the Republican-led House, and the Democrat-led Senate are likely going to be in a stalemate when thinking about what to do in terms of providing humanitarian access. We’ve seen this before. It’s not new. Republicans usually refuse to talk about anything on immigration until the border is secure. And there’s not really a definition of what secure border means, unfortunately. And then the Democrats many times rely only on regularization and providing benefits to migrants rather than also considering options to improve control at the US-Mexico border. So that tension and stalemate will continue.

Increase Resources at the Border Now, that doesn’t mean that there may not be smaller pieces of regulation that could actually work together. Democrats and Republicans agree that there has to be better technology to screen and process migrants when they come to USMexico border. They both agree on increasing the number of Customs and Border Patrol officials as well as US immigration agents, and immigration judges. And both agree that the capacity for shelter and detention capacity as well as resources and technology is severely underfunded at the US-Mexico border. Those are things that I think they can agree on, but they tend to be secondary to each of the party’s top priorities and therefore lead to stalemate.l

nHEALTH nENTERTAINMENT nRELATIONSHIPS nRECIPES nSPORTS nHOROSCOPE

New Year, New Me - or Why We Should Ditch the Diet and Get a Hobby Instead

BY MARY CAMPBELL

Imumble to myself, 'New year, new me,' while spooning my second helping of plain brown rice protein powder into my skimmed milk and wonder which milled-nut supplements should be added to the mix. My yoga trousers — bought one size too small ('I'll fit in them soon') —are digging into my belly, and my head is beginning to produce a dull but persistent ache as I listen to my 6-month-old hammering away at his entertaining (but loud) light-up Christmas toy abomination. New year's resolutions — so says our friend Google — have been around for about 4,000 years. And they've been dumped and ignored for just as long. While the ancient Babylonians made more practical promises of returning borrowed goats and paying any outstanding debts, our approach to resolutions has stayed largely the same. Every year we do it again: Make promises to ourselves to be fitter, better, savvier with money, more at peace with ourselves. Then, on day three of wandering into the gym with our personalized beach towel and 4L oil drum of vitamin water, we begin to question our life choices. Because really, we hate this, and the people who actually like working out do not look like they've jumped straight out of an '80s fitness video ('but leg warmers look cute, and it IS still freezing!') So in 2023, why not make our goals a little more approachable. Hone your routine so it suits you rather than fulfilling someone else's expectations constantly. Get healthier by making small changes, such as walking your kids to nursery in the morning when it's nice outside instead of taking the car. Talk more to those you love and really listen instead of checking your phone (we all do it). Take on some small projects you actually enjoy, rather than always doing the things you're supposed to like (does anyone else remember the 2020 influx of banana bread? Does anyone actually like banana bread?) Here are a few more nice resolutions to consider: •Read some books you really want to read (aim for one a month, but only if you enjoy it!) •Sleep a little more (unless you have kids, then continue not sleeping but try to have a little less coffee. Replace it with green tea; it's better for you.) •Get a nice new pillow, high-quality bed sheets, or new towels. Try anything 'ordinary' that could do with a little makeover and make you feel more relaxed in your home. •Buy a plant and actually keep it alive. •Learn to cook at least one decent dish and commit to making your own food at least once a week. •Stay in touch with friends you like and cut out anyone whom you're only keeping up with for the sake of it. J.R.R. Tolkien once wrote, "If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." And surely, if the creator of hobbits, elves, and beautiful, beautiful Legolas didn't try to force-feed himself a real-life lembas bread in order to get 'fit', why should we?l

Kitchen Corner Chocolate Bar Hot Chocolate

With full-size chocolate bars leftover from Halloween, I wanted to use some up and decided to try to make hot chocolate out of one. The result was fabulous! By Duckball, AllRecipes.com

Ingredients 1 (1.55 ounce) bar milk chocolate, chopped ⅔ cup milk, or more to taste 1 pinch ground cinnamon

Directions Step 1 Place chocolate pieces in a saucepan over medium-low heat; add milk and whisk constantly until chocolate is melted and well blended, about 5 minutes. Whisk in cinnamon. Remove from heat; add more milk if desired. Serve in a mug.l Nutrition Facts Calories 319; Fats 16g; Carbs 35g Protein 9g

HEALTH The Future of COVID, As the Story Unfolds

BY LINDA NWOKE

Many people wonder if the COVID pandemic is over, and with news of the new variant, how bad things can get. Experts addressed some of these issues during a meeting organized by Ethnic Media Services. COVID remains a lingering problem three years after it was declared a pandemic. Experts say COVID remains the third leading cause of death since 2020, and only the misinformed will consider it is over. While there appears to be a decline in the number of other respiratory illness cases, such as RSV and Influenzas, the incidence of COVID keeps rising, driven by the evolving new variants. The new virus variant remains infectious with multiple problems as the vaccination rate dwindles. The current Bivalent vaccine can only provide some form of protection against the new variant. In addition, the Federal Advisory Committee on vaccines has also remained silent on how to manage the new development. According to Dr. Ben Newman, who serves as the Chief Virologist of the Global Health Research Complex Texas A&M, "The WHO committee that chooses vaccine strains and makes recommendations have not released anything in the past seven months, and they had not made any announcement on the new variant in the past two months when it was a very different situation." Based on the need for more individual and administrative responsiveness, some experts believe there has been some laidback attitude toward managing the virus. The result is the rapid spread of the virus within a short time across six countries. At the moment, medical institutions are managing the rise. Yet, there is concern that the situation might worsen if not addressed. There is a concern that the vaccines must be updated to handle the changing scenario; unfortunately, it appears delayed. "So, while we may have achieved herd immunity against the early strains from 2020, we're still vaccinating against those strains that appear to be declining," says Dr. Newman. Yet, the problem can be solved collectively by people getting an updated booster, while placing a travel restriction to prevent perceived transmission of the virus across continents won't solve the problem. They believe that the virus spreads rapidly without travel. Despite the prolonged existence of the virus, experts appear undecided on whether it can be described as an endemic problem because they believe the active engagement of stakeholders can manage it. "Endemic implies a certain hopelessness, an unsolvable problem, no matter how hard we try. But this is the third-ranking cause of death in the US, but it is the most preventable, and I accept that others may differ," explained Dr. Newman.

The Importance of Continuing Receiving Vaccines and Treatment Dr. Oliver Brooks, the Los Angeles Chief Medical Officer at Health Care, emphasizes the importance of testing for the virus as the new variants defy the existing vaccines and attack immunity. "It is crucial that you get tested because when you get tested, you go into isolation. That still has not changed," says Dr. Brooke. He also reiterated the importance of getting their second booster despite its efficacy against the new variant. "However, the vaccine is effective and safe, and there is no reason not to get vaccinated. You still get vaccinated if the vaccine has a 10% response rate. There's a 90% response rate in terms of the immune response against the vaccine, against the virus," he explained. The expert warned against the dangers of complacency and hesitation towards getting a vaccine. "People have become complacent. They are not taking COVID19 seriously. COVID dropped the life expectancy in the US in 2020 by one year, and it's the first time in 20 years that the life expectancy dropped," he warned. Regarding treatment, Dr. Brooks explained that Paxlovid remains the primary drug for treating severe disease and works against many sub-variants. He explained that the goal of the vaccines was to prevent patients from going to the ER, getting hospitalized, or dying. Generally, to prevent people from getting to the stage of hospitalization. "As for those 65 and older, or those with an underlying condition like diabetes, chronic lung disease, chronic kidney disease, solid organ transplant, obesity, they are the people that need to get Paxlovid," says Dr. Brooke. Unfortunately, a study by Kaiser Health News showed that Black African Americans had a lower rate of receiving essential treatments like COVID intervention which emphasizes the direct effect of institutional racism on outcomes in health care. Jill Rosenthal, another panelist, supported the position by explaining that there is also a disproportionate impact of COVID on vulnerable groups. "There's data that shows rates of self-reported long COVID are more common among people who are female, transgender, Hispanic, and those without a high school degree," she explained. There is the belief that there might be no cure for long-term COVID. Experts, therefore, recommend that people should try to avoid getting COVID and, if contracted, seek an evaluation and treatment. "The first thing is being vaccinated. Then, wear a mask and wash your hands. After that, take zinc, vitamin D, and Vitamin C, known as an antiviral," says Dr. Brooke. The media is encouraged to promote vaccine confidence and convenience and address the effect of vaccine complacency.

Commercialization of COVID Response and Possible Effect Given the unpredictability of COVID, there is a growing concern over the possible impact on the cost of COVID when the public health emergency response ends alongside free COVID testing and treatment. Jill Rosenthal of the Center for American Progress explained that there had been no additional funding since March 2021, after the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act in March 2021. The lack of funds has resulted in the absence of future tests, treatments, and vaccines, the inability to continue tracking the disease, and an uncertain future. She revealed that the funding to cover testing, provider fees for vaccinations, and treatment through the uninsured program ended in March. "And this means that some community members don't receive testing in places where the clinics can't sustain the cost to administer the tests," says Ms. Rosenthal. Additionally, there is a possibility of commercialization of the COVID response, where consumers will pay for the costs of tests and treatments, threatening access for low-income and uninsured people because of the

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HEALTH How to Prevent Vision Loss from Glaucoma

Glaucoma affects over 3 million people in the United States and is often called the silent thief of sight because it robs people of vision slowly and without early symptoms. January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, a time to highlight how regular eye exams can lead to early diagnosis and help prevent vision loss. “It’s important to know that while glaucoma cannot be prevented or cured, it is treatable,” says Dr. Laura Sperazza, Director of Vision Rehabilitation Services at Lighthouse Guild. “Glaucoma does not have to lead to blindness. Early intervention can protect vision.” Glaucoma is a disease that damages your eye’s optic nerve. As glaucoma progresses, it can lead to permanent vision loss. Most forms of glaucoma progress without any symptoms; therefore, it is crucial to have a comprehensive dilated eye exam that can detect the disease in its early stages. While there is no cure yet for glaucoma, there are treatments that can slow or prevent vision loss. Treatments for glaucoma include prescription eye drops, oral medicines, laser treatment, and surgery. As people get older, they often experience difficulties with their vision and may dismiss them as just an aspect of aging. However, it’s important not to ignore problems with hazy or blurred vision, driving at night, colored halos around lights, peripheral vision, eye pain or redness, and difficulty walking due to the inability to see curbs and steps. Only an eye care professional can determine if these symptoms are related to glaucoma or other eye conditions and begin treatments to protect vision. Anyone who experiences sudden vision changes or significant eye pain should see their doctor or go to an emergency room immediately. l Future of COVID-19/ continued from page 16 Affordable Care Act's preventive services coverage standards. She explained that the COVID vaccine might remain accessible to individuals with public and private insurance even after the public health emergency has expired. However, uninsured people "can be charged part or the full amount of the vaccine, which will be $100 to $130 per dose." They envisage an access barrier as the shift to commercialization unfolds, ending continuous coverage protection for people on Medicaid. “And I think that this really raises access and equity concerns. We had mostly closed the gap in vaccine disparities. Still, the data from November shows that the rate of white people who have received the Bivalent booster was twice that of eligible Black and Hispanic people and nearly twice as high for Other Pacific Islander people and Native Hawaiian," she explained. Given the developments, she encouraged individuals to get vaccinated to protect themselves. According to her, "People vaccinated with the falling booster had more than 18 times lower risk of dying from COVID than unvaccinated people. And they also had a three times lower risk of infection," she explained. Therefore, despite the challenges posed by the new variants, it is critically important that people get vaccinated for protection. Many of these discoveries require additional research funding, which will also lead to the development of new vaccines and continue to track the disease to know the prevalence rates. "We need to continue to support research into long COVID, and we need to continue to support global vaccination efforts. "In addition to all the other medical recommendations for managing COVID, she suggested improving one's ventilation and air filtration. And so, this is important for all respiratory illnesses. And federal money is coming to states and communities for use. For instance, in schools, we can keep our schools open and ensure we can keep people safe or at least make it less likely that diseases spread the way they do," says Ms. Rosenthal.l

Happy Wife, Happy Life?/ continued from page 1 Some challenges are beyond people’s control, including financial, familial and health stressors — however, there are things people can control to make their relationships stronger. For instance, people can avoid escalating conflict, criticizing a partner or acting too jealous. They can also do positive things in the relationship in the form of gratitude, laughter, sharing good news and experiencing new things together. Given that there are many needs to be juggled within and outside relationships, people have to decide what to focus on. In other words, to manage their lives, it is good for people to assess how things are going in various domains of their life by asking questions like: “Is my relationship satisfying? Could I be doing more to make it more satisfying?”

Women as barometers There is a view among laypeople and relationship researchers that women are the “barometers” of relationships — that is, women’s judgments about their relationships are more predictive than men’s of future relationship satisfaction. There are several origins of this view including an evolutionary perspective that women have adapted a special ability that make them better able to sense when things are off or going well in rela-

It is important to regularly assess how a relationship is going.

tionships. Another explanation relates to gender roles and the idea that women serve the primary role in tending to relationships. The barometer hypothesis is captured by the popular saying “Happy wife, happy life,” but does the research support it?

Testing the truth As a professor of social psychology at Carleton University and researcher who studies happiness in relationships, I was part of an international team of researchers led by University of Alberta professor of family science and couples researcher Matthew Johnson that analyzed more than 50,000 relationship-satisfaction reports to examine the validity of the old adage “happy wife, happy life.” More specifically, in one study, a team of us recruited over 900 mixed-gender couples from the community and tracked their relationship satisfaction on a daily basis over three weeks. In another study, over 3,000 mixed-gender couples were assessed annually across five years. More broadly, we found that changes in relationship satisfaction today were linked to how satisfied people felt down the road. In other words, if a person feels higher-than-usual relationship satisfaction, the feeling seems to carry over into the next day and year. We also found that men’s and women’s relationship satisfaction ratings were equally strong predictors of their own, and their partner’s, relationship satisfaction reported the next day and the next year. That is, women’s judgements were not uniquely predictive of the future state of the relationship; women’s and men’s current ratings of relationship satisfaction had similar predictive effects. Satisfying relationships People’s relationship satisfaction levels change over time. It is important for couples to reflect and be aware of how things are going in their relationship and take stock and act on it.

For instance, if things are going well in the relationship, people should double down on that so they can reap more rewards into the future. So if a couple just had a fun date night, rather than take a break, the couple should be looking for more opportunities to bond together. On the other hand, if a relationship is not going well, for instance, arguments are frequently escalating or the spark has fizzled, it is time to make some changes to alter the course of the relationship satisfaction path.

‘Happy spouse, happy house’ Our results imply that maintaining a relationship is a shared responsibility. This underscores the idea that partners influence one another and jointly shape romantic relationship satisfaction. Taken together, a more fitting way to describe the role of gender and relationship satisfaction predictions is “happy spouse, happy house.”l Cheryl Harasymchuk is a Professor, Psychology, Carleton University.