FREE | PAGES: 12 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com SIGN UP FOR OUR EPAPER @ epaper.jamaica-gleaner.com/na JUNE 1 - JULY 5, 2023 | VOL 2045 TRANS-CONTINENTAL ECONOCARIBE 147-46 176 STREET, JAMAICA, NEW YORK 11434 TEL: 718-244-7447, 718-341-2900 • BARRELS • CRATES • CARTONS • FURNITURE • APPLIANCES • BUILDING SUPPLIES • MEDICAL SUPPLIES • CARS KINGSTON, MONTEGO BAY, PORT OF SPAIN - TRINIDAD, GUYANA & OTHER ISLANDS WE SHIP DIRECTLY TO: SPECIALIZING IN RETURNING RESIDENTS Patrons at Calabash International Literary Festival dance to the music on Sunday at Jakes, Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth. PHOTO BY NATHANIEL STEWART ONE DANCE DID IT. Mr & Mrs Byfield share the ceremonial first dance during the reception. Big brother and respected reggae/jazz recording artiste Benji Myaz served as musical director. CONTRIBUTED P4: J’can academic economist Peter Blair Henry returns to Stanford University CALABASH’S RETURN ‘PHENOMENAL’ EVENTS HAVE become the number one priority for driving Jamaica’s tourism sector, says one of the most respected voices in the industry, Nicola Madden-Greig. Essentially, providing different kinds of tourism is critical to Jamaica’s future, the hotelier told The Gleaner last weekend, while Michael Bolton had the resort town of Ocho Rios under wraps; A-lister Angelina Jolie endorsing the South Coast’s Calabash Literary Festival; and Mocha Fest staking its claim in the ‘Capital of Casual’, Negril. – Events now a priority to drive tourism in Jamaica >P3 P9: Gospel artiste Joan Myers gets married P9: Comets Track Club to honour 35 at anniversary ceremony –HENZELL THE NORTH AMERICAN BRANDED CONTENT EDITION
2 Jovan Johnson/ Senior Staff Reporter USAIN BOLT has obtained a court order for two banks to disclose the transaction history of accounts owned by Jean-Ann Panton, the only person charged in the $3 billion fraud at Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL). Supreme Court Justice Cresencia Brown Beckford granted the order yesterday, according to Frater Ennis & Gordon, the law firm representing Bolt andWelljen Limited. The Jamaican sports icon opened an account in the name of his holding company, Welljen, at the private investment and brokerage firm in 2012. The law firm declined to comment on the details of the order. The Gleaner will not, at this time, name the two financial institutions that are based in Jamaica. The bank order will bolster a freezing order obtained in February against assets of Panton, a former client relationship manager at SSL. The first order provides for Panton’s assets up to the amount of US$6 million-plus to be frozen. A production order had also been made for Panton to provide a statement of all her assets, real estate holdings, shares, and stocks, among others. Welljen’s account value plummeted from $2 billion (US$12.7 million) in October 2022 to J$1.8 million or US$12,000 in January when he checked after being alerted by Panton, Bolt’s legal team has said. Welljen’s case is being heard together with a suit that investor Jean Forde, 80, filed against SSL and 10 other defendants including Panton and SSL’s founder Hugh Croskery. Forde is alleging that she was defrauded of US$830,000. Welljen’s case is against SSL and Panton. INTERIM INJUNCTION The two matters are scheduled for a next hearing on October 24, 2023. At that time, the judge will consider an application by SSL for Welljen’s case against it to be put on hold until a separate case involving the appointment of an SSL trustee is settled. In April, the Supreme Court granted an interim injunction to regulator the Financial Services Commission (FSC), blocking SSL’s bid to appoint Caydion Campbell as trustee, to control its assets and lead the winding-up of the company. Justice Stephane Jackson-Haisley accepted FSC’s argument that Campbell’s appointment on January 16, one day before it took temporary management of SSL and appointed a temporary manager “will have serious repercussions” for clients. “There is a serious issue to be tried and … the claimant (FSC) has a real prospect of success in the claim,” the judge said, adding later that “the balance of convenience weighs heavily in favour or the grant of the injunction”. SSL and Campbell are seeking to appeal that decision, claiming that the judge made numerous errors; that Campbell was properly appointed and that the FSC has no basis or right to bring the claim, among other things. “The court has to consider the parties that are affected by this order. SSL is a company that has investors. There are parties … who have sued SSL and are actively pursuing judgments. This is going on while the claims validation exercise, that only the trustee can perform, is not under way. So if there is judgment entered on any of claims identified, that will crystallise their claimwithout validation,”argued King’s Counsel Caroline Hay in the appeal court on Monday. Hay is representing SSL and Campbell. A three-judge panel will hand down a ruling tomorrow that will indicate whether SSL and Campbell can continue their quest for an appeal. CROSKERY REFUTES PANTON ASSERTION Meanwhile, Croskery has said he “strongly refutes”a“belated assertion” from Panton, who has alleged that he made her an “offer” for her January 7, 2023 confession. She admitted to stealing about $700 million belonging to 39 clients. Welljen was not among them. “The said offer was an inducement and the statement would not have been made otherwise,” Panton said in document filed in the suit brought by Forde. Panton said she made the statement in the presence of attorney Tamika Harris, who no longer represents her. Harris has declined to comment on the development. Bolt gets court order This file photo shows Jean-Ann Panton being assisted into a Jamaica Constabulary Force vehicle to depart the Supreme Court on Friday, February 17, 2023. GLADSTONE TAYLOR moya.thomas@gleanerjm.com Moya Thomas THE MONTHLY GLEANER | JUNE 1 - JULY 5, 2023 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS THE LIKELIHOOD of a moderate hurricane season this year is welcome news for the Caribbean. But as the experts have warned, that possibility is no reason for the region to let its guard down. The very phenomenon – El Niño conditions – that might contribute to fewer hurricanes could help to fuel more ferocious ones. And as The University of the West Indies’ Global Institute for Climate-Smart and Resilient Development (UWI GICSRD) and the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) warned in their joint statement last week: “...It only takes one hurricane or storm to cause immense economic setbacks to an impacted country, and sometimes the entire region.” Furthermore, El Niño is generally associated with drier, hotter conditions, including prolonged drought, such as Jamaica is currently experiencing. That could become worse if this El Niño is entrenched. Jamaica’s authorities, therefore, must simultaneously plan for the mitigation of storm and the impact of drought, while preparing to help vulnerable people cope with the effects of heatwaves. The annual Atlantic hurricane season runs from the start of June to the end of November, when weather phenomena that begin off the coast of Africa may cross the Atlantic and develop into storms and hurricanes that are sometimes devastating to the Caribbean. WARMER WATERS This year, forecasters at America’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center expect a“near normal”season. There is a 40 per cent chance that events will fall in that range, and a 30 per cent possibility that there will be fewer storms than normal. The forecasters also gave a 30 per cent chance to things being above normal, with storms exceeding the average amount for the season. NOAA’s prediction is for between 12 and 17 named storms, or those with winds of 39 miles per hour (mph) or above. Of these storms, about five are expected to become hurricanes – storms with wind speeds of 74 mph or higher. Between one and four of the hurricanes are forecast to go beyond Category Two events, thereby having wind speeds of over 111 mph. “The upcoming Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be less active than recent years, due to competing factors – some that suppress storm development and some that fuel it – driving this year’s overall forecast for a near-normal season,” NOAA said in its forecast. The major difference this year is the likely return of El Niño, after three years of La Niña when the waters of the Pacific were cooler. “La Niña ended inMarch and the ocean temperatures in the Pacific, both at the surface and a few hundred metres below, are warming so quickly that many major atmospheric centres globally are not only warning of emerging El Niño conditions, but suggesting it may be a ‘significant’event,” said UWI GICSRD and CIMH in their statement. El Niño events are often associated with hot, and often very dry spells in the Caribbean. However, a warmer Caribbean Sea may eject more moisture in the air, lending to the conditions for storms, thus adding to the uncertainty about this year’s hurricane season. “In addition to contributing to very hot days and nights and more heatwaves, the very warm Caribbean Sea may provide windows of opportunity for a very strong hurricane to develop, notwithstanding El Niño’s dampening effect,” the research institutions said. SUPPORT FOR THE VULNERABLE As usual, we expect the Jamaican authorities, especially the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, to be prepared for all eventualities. Hopefully, drains, especially those in flood-prone areas, have been cleaned, to lessen the chance of catastrophic flooding should significant weather events develop. Shelters must also be prepared and ready. But the possibility of heatwaves adds another layer to the preparation to be ready to support at-risk people. This must be placed on the Government’s agenda. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted serious physical and psychological vulnerabilities among Jamaica’s elderly, many of whom live in marginal circumstances with little support. At the height of the pandemic, the health ministry announced a community-basedmental health/service support corps for older people. It is not clear, with the receding of COVID-19, if this scheme has been sustained. If it was not, it should be reactivated. If it still exists, it should be widened and strengthened to include support for people who may be vulnerable to the effects of heatwaves. They must benefit from regular, organised outreach. Given the prospect of a prolonged drought, we remind the administration of the good sense of mandating water-harvesting capabilities in all new major real estate developments and multi-family complexes. Merely rationing water in dry times is not sufficient. Preparing for El Niño EDITORIAL USAIN BOLT
3 Janet Silvera/ Senior Gleaner Writer WESTERN BUREAU: E VENTS HAVE become the number one priority for driving Jamaica’s tourism sector, says one of the most respected voices in the industry, Nicola Madden-Greig. Essentially, providing different kinds of tourism is critical to Jamaica’s future, the hotelier told The Gleaner last weekend, while Michael Bolton had the resort town of Ocho Rios under wraps; A-lister Angelina Jolie endorsing the South Coast’s Calabash Literary Festival; and Mocha Fest staking its claim in the ‘Capital of Casual’, Negril. “I just actually did a report where data is showing how events drive tourism, how we really see the demand spike, in terms of the kind of bookings that you see around events. And it’s something more and more of us throughout the Caribbean and particularly in Jamaica is paying more attention to,” stated Madden-Greig, president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA). According to her, the consumer is looking for local and authentic experiences, which Jamaica has the ability to deliver. This, she states, is an integral part of the island’s strategy, “doing it in a way that really impacts lives and communities”. This was evidenced by the thousands, many from as far as the United Kingdom, who flocked to the usually quiet Treasure Beach in St Elizabeth from Friday to Sunday, and soaked up the words of some of the world’s most reputable writers, poets and laureates at Calabash, which was absent for five years. The man responsible for opening up Treasure Beach to the world, Jason Henzell, concurred withMadden-Greig, describing the festival as one that had become a ‘movement’. Henzell, who partners with his sister Justine in the staging of the biennial event, said Calabash’s return was phenomenal as it attracted some of the biggest names in media, and gave the island international coverage that it otherwise could not have afforded to pay for. “It’s not just another festival, it is almost like a movement that people identify with. They dress differently, they move differently, they express themselves in a very liberal way. They know it’s a very safe place to express opinions, your sexuality, whatever it is their views are,” said Henzell. COMMUNITY BENEFITS Of the 1,000 rooms in the greater Treasure Beach area, not one was available for rental up Friday to afternoon, as the area was fully booked. In fact, guests stayed as far as Whitehouse in the west and as far as Mandeville to the east. And on both days, Saturday and Sunday, several buses transported people from Kingston to bask in the occasion for literary lovers. “People were yearning for the festival obviously,” remarked Henzell, who added that Jolie was the icing on the cake. The philanthropist/social justice movie star was there with her daughters Shiloh and Zahara. Henzell said that Jolie heard about the festival from her friend, who is a writer. The festival, he said, paid off handsomely as global brand Audible came on board, joining the likes of the Jamaica Tourist Board, and WATA to enable tents, tables and more chairs this year. Area Chapter chair at the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Montego Bay chapter, Nadine Spence, who attended the festival, credits Jamaica’s global appeal for its success. “Americans in particular are excited about Jamaica, and that is our feeder market, so when they get excited we benefit significantly,” Spence stated. To strengthen her point, Spence referenced recent statements by the American Association of Travel Advisors (ASTA) that Jamaica remains a top 10 destination for aspirational visits by Americans. “Those of us in the tourism space are happy,”she said of the impact of these events on the nation’s tourism. “We saw a buzz at the airport last weekend and I am sure it’s the different activities happening in Jamaica.” janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com Calabash’s return ‘phenomenal’ - Henzell Patrons at Calabash tune in to a literary presentation at Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth on Sunday. PHOTO BY JANET SILVERA Nicola Madden-Greig (left) and Nadine Spence at Calabash 2023 at Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth Padma Lakshmi, Indian-born American author, actress, model and television host and Jamaican Poet Laureate Kei Miller at the Calabash International Literary Festival held at Jakes in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth. It was a family affair at Calabash with (from right) Sally Henzell, her son Jason and his sister Justine with her children Dylan and Drew Brennan. American actress Angelina Jolie was spotted in the audience at the Calabash International Literary Festival held at Jakes in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth on Saturday, May 27. PHOTOS BY NATHANIEL STEWART American actress CCHPounder (centre), with clothing designer BrendaWinstead (left) andDr Carolyn Cooper, author, educator and specialist on culture and development. Events now a priority to drive tourism in Jamaica THE MONTHLY GLEANER | JUNE 1 - JULY 5, 2023 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS
4 WASHINGTON, DC: J AMAICAN ACADEMIC economist and policy adviser Peter Blair Henry has returned to Stanford University, where he was jointly appointed to the Hoover Institution and the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI), both at Stanford. Dr Henry moved to Stanford late last year from the NewYork University (NYU) Stern School of Business, where he was theWilliam R. Berkley professor of economics and finance, and dean emeritus. The youngest person to serve as dean, he raised more funds in his tenure than any prior dean, and established the NYU Breakthrough Scholars Leadership Program. Director of the Hoover Institution, Condoleezza Rice, in welcoming Dr Henry to Stanford, said, “The impact of his distinguished research on the global economy, together with the integrity of his leadership, particularly in generating greater access to higher education, align with Hoover’s mission to better understand and address the challenges free societies and economies face, with the goal of improving the human condition.” Director of the Freeman Spogli Institute, former US Ambassador to Russia Professor Michael McFaul, said: “I cannot believe our good fortune that we have managed to convince Peter to come back to FSI, where he was a senior fellow before leaving for NYU. His research interest fits perfectly with the mission of our Center for Democracy, Development, and Rule of Law, and our students have no idea how lucky they will be to have Peter in the classroom.” The celebrated Jamaican academic has published groundbreaking articles in top economics journals that evaluate the impact of economic reform on asset prices, investment, wages, and economic growth. His current research on the global infrastructure challenge builds on the scholarship in his book Turnaround: Third World Lessons for First World Growth (Basic Books, 2013), which addresses economic efficiency as well as international relations, with the aim of increasing awareness of the interconnected fortunes of advanced and developing nations. GRATEFUL A vice-chair of the National Bureau of Economic Research and the Economic Club of New York, Dr. Henry received the 2021 Impactful Mentor Award from the American Economic Association for his founding and continued leadership of the PhD Excellence Initiative. A member of the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships from 2009 to 2017, he also received the Foreign Policy Association Medal in 2015, the Carnegie Foundation Great Immigrant Award in 2016, and the Council on Economic Education Visionary Award in 2018. Dr. Henry was born in Kingston, and grew up in Highgate, St Mary, and the Pedro Plains in St Elizabeth, where he attended the Pedro Plains Primary School. He also attended the attended Glenleigh School for Little Ladies and Gentlemen, ‘a small country school run by American missionaries but filled with Jamaican students from all walks of life, and of every shape, size and hue, which exemplified the country’s motto: ‘Out of Many, One People’, Dr Henry said. In 1978 he and his parents, who were graduate students, along with his three siblings, emigrated toWilmette, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago in the United States. He attended the New Trier High School from which he got a scholarship to the University of North Carolina, where he studied economics and won a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University. He did his PhD in economics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and from there went to the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Dr Henry said he is “thrilled with my appointment at Stanford because it gives me the freedom and resources to make larger contributions to the making of economic policy in Jamaica, Africa, and other aspiring regions of the world”. “I will use my new position to engage more systematically with decision-makers, providing them with insights to increase the material well-being of the people they govern. “I am grateful to my colleague and friend Ambassador Audrey Marks for the role she continues to play in this journey, engaging with my research, pushing me to translate my ideas into action, and connectingme with leaders who are eager for new andmore effective ways of creating shared prosperity,” Dr Henry said. J’can academic economist Peter Blair Henry returns to Stanford University Jamaican academic economist and policy adviser, Professor Peter Blair Henry. CONTRIBUTED Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States Audrey Marks (front, right) hosts a dinner in honour of Jamaican academic Dr Peter Blair Henry (head of the table) in honour of his recent appointment to the faculty of Stanford University. Also seated at the table are President of the Inter-AmericanDevelopment BankMr Ilan Goldfain and Professor Donald Harris (third left), father of US Vice-President Kamala Harris. PHOTO BY DERRICK SCOTT THE MONTHLY GLEANER | JUNE 1 - JULY 5, 2023 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS
5 ATLANTA, GEORGIA: I NDUSTRY INVESTMENT and Commerce Minister Senator Aubyn Hill has signed a memorandum of understanding with representatives of the Georgia Aquarium as the country explores opportunities for development of its Blue Economy. The signing took place at a reception hosted by the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce of Atlanta at the Georgia Aquarium onWednesday May 24, and formed part of the minister’s two-day trade visit to Atlanta. President and CEO Dr Brian Davis explained that the Aquarium, the largest in the Western Hemisphere, is a multi-disciplinary entity, which spans scientific research, ocean conservation, education, tourism, entertainment, and guest experience. “The memorandum that we signed today was made possible fromour previous meetings as well as work that we have conducted over the last two years in Jamaica with local partners,” Dr Davis said. “We believe that we are in a strong position to explore working closely with the Government of Jamaica in a number of aspects,” he continued. In his remarks, Minister Hill said Jamaica was pleased to be involved, and commended Jamaica’s Consul General to Miami with responsibility to Atlanta, Oliver Mair, whose initiative it was to partner with the Atlanta Aquarium. SHARK SANCTUARY Under the signed MOU, there is expected to be commercial cooperation by way of the purchase of ornamental fish for their location as well as the aquarium industry in the USA. Jamaica will facilitate the growth of the industry. In addition, the Atlanta Aquarium will assist in capacity building by providing skills training and development to support aquatic sustainability, including animal care and life- support systems. They will also work towards the protection of important marine areas through the establishment of fish sanctuaries in Jamaica. “This would build on the work we have done so far in Jamaica for the two new sanctuaries being gazetted,” he noted. Yet another initiative will be a Shark Research, Conservation and Education component where the Georgia Aquarium will work with Jamaica to conduct research and education on sharks towards the possible establishment of a shark sanctuary in Jamaica. As part of the initiative, an exchange programme will be implemented to explore facilitation of exchange of students and early career professionals to gain exposure to relevant training programmes and environments both in the USA and Jamaica. Both parties will work towards the establishment of a Port Royal Exhibition at the Georgia Aquarium highlighting Port Royal and the marine protected areas. The Georgia Aquarium is the most popular visitor attraction in the state of Georgia, generating over US$120 million in estimated annual revenues, and has stimulated over US$5 billion of investments in the city of Atlanta. While in Atlanta, Senator Hill met with a number of business interests, addressed a business breakfast sponsored by the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce of Atlanta as well as town hall meeting attended by members of the Jamaican community in Atlanta. Jamaica, Georgia Aquarium sign MOU on blue economy’ opportunities Industry Investment and Commerce Minister Senator Aubyn Hill (right) and CEO of the Georgia Aquarium Dr. Brian Davis sign the memorandum of understanding. Looking on from left are; Dr. Dayne Buddo, director of policy at the Georgia Aquarium; Jamaica’s Consul General to Miami, Oliver Mair; President of JAMPRO Shullette Cox; Jamaica’s honorary consul to Atlanta Dr. Elaine Bryan and the Interim Executive Officer of the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority KelliDawn Hamilton. PHOTO BY DERRICK SCOTT NEW YORK, NEW YORK: THE GREATER Falmouth area of Trelawny is to see a scaling up of investments in hotel infrastructure totalling some US$625 million for the construction of three new properties and one expansion over the next few years. Jamaica’s New York Consul General Alsion Wilson told the Friends of Falmouth symposium at the Major OwensWellness Centre in Brooklyn, New York, on Saturday, May 27, that Trelawny currently boasts approximately six large hotels and a total capacity of 3,906 beds. “These exciting additions, including establishments like Harmony Cove with 1,000 rooms, Planet Hollywood Royalton with 650 rooms, RIU Aquarelle with 753 rooms, and Excellence Oyster Bay with 50 new rooms, will bring the total number of hotel rooms in the Trelawny area to an impressive 3,700,” the consul general pointed out. She said the historic town of Falmouth is expected to further benefit from renewed investments in near-port activities, aimed at fostering greater integration between the town and the port. “These initiatives”, Wilson said, “are designed to enhance the overall attractiveness of Falmouth to both cruise and land-based visitors, ensuring a vibrant and engaging experience for all.” She advised that the“Port Authority of Jamaica is committed to repositioning the historic Falmouth port to leverage the current boom in the fiercely competitive global cruise market. This involves significant investments in new projects and infrastructure.” “One notable undertaking is the development of a new township on 50 acres of reclaimed land adjacent to the port. This environmentally friendly and people-focused township will complement the town’s existing Georgian origins, while embracing a modern vision,”Wilson said. “The socio-economic benefits brought about by the port’s establishment have been truly remarkable. Over the past 10 years, the port has welcomed around seven million passengers, averaging approximately 550,000 passengers annually, excluding the challenging years of 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Such numbers signify the immense potential of the Falmouth port as a catalyst for economic growth and development in the region,” the consul general observed. “According to the Jamaica Tourist Board’s Annual Travel Statistics, the average spend per cruise passenger increased from US$71 in 2011 to US$100 in 2020. This upward trend reflects the growing attractiveness of Falmouth as a destination, and highlights the economic benefits experienced by local businesses and entrepreneurs,” she said. AVENUES FOR LINKAGES She urged members of the Trelawny diaspora to “unite to lobby for the preservation of this historical town, collaborating with citizens and city officials alike to ensure that the essence of Falmouth remains intact. By doing so, we can guarantee that future generations will have the opportunity to explore and appreciate the remarkable cultural heritage that Falmouth offers,” Wilson observed. She “hopes that this Friends of Falmouth symposium will look at, among other things, how to ensure that the parish of Trelawny can benefit and continue its economic climb”. “I implore you to identify avenues for linkages between farmers and the growing hotel sector. Ensure that residents are trained to take advantage of new employment opportunities at all levels and not just low-skilled jobs. You who are from Falmouth have a duty to ensure that you get involved,”Wilson said. The Friends of Falmouth Symposium & Brunch was part of the annual Trelawny Reunion Weekend, which sees thousands of Trelawnyites living in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe descend on New York for a host of events. As a complement to the event, Friends of Falmouth launched a mega fundraising raffle with proceeds in aid of the Falmouth Infant School, for which the grand prize is a seven-night stay for two at the all-inclusive Jewel Grande Montego Bay Resort & Spa in St James. Massive hotel investments slated for greater Falmouth area CG Alsion Wilson welcomes Mayor of Falmouth Collen Gager to New York at the start of the Friends of Falmouth symposium in Brooklyn New York, recently. Jamaica’s Consul General in New York, AlsionWilson (centre) shares a light moment with boardmembers of Friends of Falmouth at the organisation’s symposiumon held Saturday May 27 at the Major Owens Wellness Centre in Brooklyn New York. They are (from left): Lance Hall, Peter Johnson, Michael Wattkis, Oliver Huie, and Derrick Scott. PHOTOS BY DERRICK SCOTT THE MONTHLY GLEANER | JUNE 1 - JULY 5, 2023 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS
THE CARIBBEAN American Cultural Arts Foundation (CACAF) will host the Fifth Annual Captains of Industry Gala at the Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta on Sunday, June 18. The event will welcome hundreds of guests worldwide in celebration of 10 honorees for their contributions to their respective industries and the Caribbean American community. Chairman Michael Thomas says the gala, ‘Celebrating the Diaspora’, is meant to showcase the vitality, cultural diversity and elegance of the Caribbean diaspora. All proceeds of the event will go directly to supporting CACAF’s mission of providing disaster relief to Caribbean countries, youth mentorship and community engagement programs for Caribbean Americans. One of the nation’s most popular fundraising event for Caribbean Americans, it will recognize the following honorees who have demonstrated excellence in their respective fields: – Milton J. Little, Jr., president & CEO, UnitedWay of Greater Atlanta – Michael Lee-Chin, chairman, Portland Holdings – Verónica Maldonado-Torres, president & CEO, Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Jewel Scott, Superior Court Judge, Clayton County, Ga. – Abby Phillip, senior political correspondent, CNN – Sharon Lawson, Good Day Atlanta anchor, Fox 5 Atlanta – LysaY. Gordon, CEO, City of Atlanta CACAF will also recognise members of Atlanta’s Caribbean American community who work to promote Caribbean representation in media. This year’s Community Movers & Shakers are: – Lawrence Prescott, CEO and founder, Caribbean Life TV – KaliahHenton-Jones, CEO and founder, Henton-Jones Media – Warren Mitchell, president, Virgin Islands Association of Georgia The event will showcase Caribbean food and drinks during an introductory cocktail hour, followed by a sitdown dinner and awards presentation, Caribbean cultural dancers and a live musical performance by X Factor USA Season One winner, singer Melanie Amaro. A silent auction will also feature several high-value prizes available for guests to bid. This year’s mistress of ceremonies will be Contributing News and Politics editor of Essence Magazine and notable Caribbean journalist Melissa Noel. In a release, the organisers thanked sponsors of this year’s event, which included USVI Department of Tourism, Fulton County Arts & Culture Department, the Atlanta Mayors Office of Cultural Affairs, Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta, Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta, HartsfieldJackson International Airport, Infiniti Global, Pepsico, the Atlanta Falcons and the Atlanta Hawks. Tickets are available online at www. culturaltickets.com. Corporate sponsorships are accepted until June 10, based on availability, it notes. 6 Cultural Arts Foundation to host anniversary gala Michael Thomas, Caribbean American Cultural Arts Foundation (CACAF) chairman. CONTRIBUTED THE MONTHLY GLEANER | JUNE 1 - JULY 5, 2023 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS ROOTS. ROCK. REGGAE: Selwyn Brown was spotted last month at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), North Carolina ,en route to St Marteen for some R&R. The Grammy Award-winning frontman and foundation member for the UK-based Steel Pulse reggae band is seen here checking his travel info on his phone, as he waited at the gate for departure instructions. PHOTO BY AUBREY CAMPBELL
PROFESSOR MARTIN Levermore, independent person for the United Kingdom’s government Windrush Compensation Scheme, has encouraged more locals to come forward and share their stories in order to determine whether they are eligible for compensation. He was speaking with The Gleaner during theWindrush Five Communities Anchor Festival held in African Gardens Square, August Town recently. The scheme, which was launched in 2019, is designed to compensate individuals who have suffered loss in connection with being unable to demonstrate their lawful status in the UK. “I’m here to listen, I’m here to gather information that will shape and improve the compensation scheme,” he said, adding that, to date, £70 million (over J$30 billion) has been paid out. He added that more could be done to break down the barriers currently existing and to ensure that “the appropriate level of understanding of what the scheme can or cannot do is imparted to those who may be affected”. Levermore, who took over the position in 2021, informed The Gleaner that more than 17,000 people received their British status confirmed, of whom 2,791 were Jamaicans. Currently, 368 people have been granted temporary indefinite leave to remain in the nation, and the remaining 387 people have permanent indefinite status. “But we haven’t gone far enough,”he said, noting that a greater sense of trust needed to be established between the UK government and the Jamaican people. He sought to remind persons that his presence in the island was not “to build expectations but to be able to say there is a rational, logical system and approach that is now established so, if you feel that you have been, in any way, denied of legitimate status or financial restitution, a scheme is there that is working, not just for Jamaicans, but across the Commonwealth.” JAMAICANS, BOTH locally and in the diaspora, have begun an unofficial period of mourning for business giant and founder of the LASCO Affiliated Companies, Lascelles Chin, OJ, who died on Saturday night, May 27 while undergoing treatment in the United States (US). The 85-year-old Chin, a native from Bog Walk, St Catherine, who grew up in Kendal, Manchester, and Balaclava, St Elizabeth, was the force behind the LASCO brand’s growth into a household name in Jamaica, particularly over the past two decades, with food products being offered at affordable prices and through philanthropic efforts such as the annual Nurse of the Year and Police Officer of the Year awards. Chin established LASCO in 1988, and up to the time of his death, served as executive chairman of Lasco Manufacturing, Lasco Financial and Services and Lasco Distributors, which all form part of the LASCO Affiliated Companies. Leading tributes from the nation was Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who, in a statement, described Chin as a distinguished Jamaican businessman and philanthropist. “Mr Chin’s passing represents an immense loss to the nation as he leaves behind a legacy of entrepreneurial success, significant achievements, and invaluable contributions to Jamaica. Lascelles Chin embarked on an extraordinary entrepreneurial journey as early as 1956 that transformed his life and countless others,” Holness said. 7 [ NEWSYOU MAY HAVE MISSED ] Lascelles Chin, chairman of Lasco. Kay Osborne (left) and other persons bear placards as they protest a massive salary hike for the political directorate across the street from the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service in Kingston on Wednesday, May 24. RUDOLPH BROWN/ PHOTOGRAPHER J’can businessman, Lascelles Chin is dead Holness clarifies salary position PRIME MINISTER AndrewHolness has clarified that he is only collecting one salary of $9 million annually, which is his role as head of government, despite his several other government positions. He has also indicated that his decline of the 214-percent increase will continue for the duration of his tenure. “A prime minister with a new mandate could always review the position,”noted a statement from his office. He said his decision has“broader implications for not only the current holder of the Office of Prime Minister (OPM), but previous holders of the office, and possible future holders”. Earlier, InformationMinister Robert Morgan said Holness’ move to decline the increase from $9.1 million in 2021 to $25.6 million this April and to $28.6 million on April 1, 2024, was binding on all past and future heads of government. “It’s not the Andrew Holness salary that has been reduced, it’s that of the prime minister so logically I think it would be binding,”Morgan said. He added: “I believe that it is binding, both past and present, because pensions are also connected to the salary so past and present and future would be tied to it.” The pension of former prime ministers is tied to the salary of the current officeholder. There are three living former prime ministers, P.J. Patterson, Portia Simpson Miller, and Bruce Golding. The OPM said: “The prime minister’s compensation will therefore remain at its previous level, no new or special allowance will apply, and no retroactive payments will apply to the prime minister’s compensation.” Meanwhile, Holness has also made clear that he is only collecting a prime minister’s salary despite his other government positions including beingminister responsible for the OPM, Minister of Economic Growth and Job Creation and Member of Parliament for St AndrewWest Central. “For an abundance of clarity, the Prime Minister of Jamaica does not receive separate compensation as a member of parliament or as a cabinet minister,”OPM said. “This is in keeping with the long-established principle of the Government of Jamaica, that persons paid from the Consolidated Fund (main government account) shall only receive one salary, regardless of the number of discrete jobs or functions they perform. In cases where persons hold multiple jobs or have discrete functions, the office holder would be compensated at the highest salary of the jobs or functions they hold.” On Monday, Holness indicated that he had declined the salary increase to show“symbolically and truthfully” that he understands public backlash over the levels and timing of the increases for members of the political directorate. Increases for other members of the cabinet, members of parliament, and councillors will be implemented as proposed. US House members seek pardon for Ja’s Marcus Garvey TWENTY-TWO UNITED States House members have written to President Joe Biden, asking that he pardon Jamaica’s first national hero, Marcus Garvey. Led by Jamaican-American Congresswoman Yvette Clarke and including Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee, whose grandparents were Jamaicans, the House members said that, although President Calvin Coolidge commuted his sentence, the time has come for him to be pardoned. “Nearly 100 years ago, Marcus Garvey was convicted of mail fraud in a case marred by prosecutorial and governmental misconduct. The evidence present and available at our disposal makes it abundantly clear that the charges brought against Mr Garvey were fraudulent and executed in bad faith. A presidential pardon for Mr Garvey would not only correct the historical record, but also shift the narrative at a time when African-American history faces the existential threat of erasure by extreme, far-right state legislatures,” said Clarke. She said that “during President Biden’s inaugural address, he made a promise of delivering on racial justice and equity, and we intend to ensure he keeps his promise. Marcus Garvey’s contributions and works have influenced leaders from Martin Luther King Jr to Nelson Mandela – inspiring generations and planting the seeds of the civil rights movement. I am proud to be joined by my colleagues to honour Mr Garvey’s work and remove this stain on his legacy.” Keith Clarke case postponed to June 5 Eligible Jamaicans urged to seek Windrush compensation THE PLEA and case management in relation to the 2010 shooting death of businessman Keith Clarke is to continue on June 5. The case was scheduled to resume this week in the Home Circuit Court but was postponed due to the unavailability of the presiding judge. Consequently, Corporal Odel Buckley, Lance Corporal Greg Tinglin, and Private Arnold Henry, who were arrested and charged with the businessman’s murder, had their bail extended. Clarke was reportedly shot 21 times inside his Kirkland Heights home in St Andrew on July 27 during a military operation. The matter, which had been stalled since April 2018, was placed back on the trial list following a Court of Appeal ruling in January. Jury selection was forced to a halt in August 2018 after defence lawyers surprised the Crown with certificates of immunity which they claimed shielded the trio from prosecution. Those certificates of immunity were signed in 2016 by then Minister of National Security Peter Bunting, six years after Clarke’s death. Clarke’s widow, Claudette, then challenged the validity of the certificates. THE MONTHLY GLEANER | JUNE 1 - JULY 5, 2023 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS
8 WHY ARE BLACK BABIES AND MOTHERS MORE LIKELY TO DIE? BLACK WOMEN have the highest maternal mortality rate in the United States – 69.9 per 100,000 live births for 2021, almost three times the rate for white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention. The 2021 rate was a significant increase from the prior year. Black babies are also more likely to die, and also far more likely to be born prematurely, setting the stage for health issues that could follow them through their lives. In 2020, there were 364,487 preterm births in the nation, about 1 in 10. Preterm birth rates were highest for black infants, 14.2 per cent, between 2018 and 2020. Multiple factors contribute to these disparities, according to the CDC and advocacy organisations, such as underlying health conditions. But more doctors and experts have pointed to the role of structural racism that has created inequitable access to healthcare, implicit bias, and discriminatory care. Poor healthcare or outcomes for black mothers in turn can create issues for their babies, putting them at risk for future health problems down the road. WHY DO MORE BLACK KIDS HAVE ASTHMA? BLACK CHILDREN are more likely to have asthma and to be exposed to certain triggers like mold and air pollution. Their asthma often is more severe and less likely to be controlled. About 4 million kids in the US have asthma. The percentage of black children with asthma is far higher than white kids - more than 12 per cent of black kids nationwide suffer from the disease, compared with five per cent of white children. Some of the high rates of asthma among black children are tied to genetics — family histories of allergies and frequent respiratory infections - but much of the disparity lies in the same racist factors that afflict black peoples’health frombirth to death. With asthma, especially for kids, where you live makes all the difference. And where you live often depends on your race. Black Americans are more at risk of living in homes with asthma triggers like cockroaches, dust mites, mold, and rodents. Research also shows that air pollution can worsen asthma. Across America, nearly four in 10 black children live in areas with poor environmental and health conditions compared to one in 10 white children. Factories spew nitrogen oxide and particulate matter. Idling trucks and freeway traffic kick up noxious fumes and dust. The disparities are built into a housing system shaped by the longstanding effects of slavery and JimCrow-era laws. Many of the communities that have substandard housing today or are located near toxic sites are the same as those that were segregated and redlined decades ago. HOW DOES RACISM AFFECT BLACK TEENS’ MENTAL HEALTH? ABOUT 50 per cent of black youth experience moderate to severe symptoms of depression, and about 18 per cent said they were exposed to racial trauma often or very often in their life. The drivers of the mental health crisis for black children begin early and persist through a lifetime. Black children’s first encounters with racism can start before they are even in school, and black teenagers report experiencing an average of five instances of racial discrimination per day. Young black students are often perceived as less innocent and older than their age, leading to disproportionately harsher discipline in schools. Black adolescents are far less likely than their white peers to seek and find mental-health care. In part, that is because black families often distrust the medical system after generations of mistreatment — from lack of access to care to being subjected to racist practices and experimentation. The country also has a shortage of providers who understand the roles that racial identity and racismplay in shaping young black people’s mental health. Research and health surveillance data point to a growing mental health crisis among black youth over decades. Between 1991 and 2019, black adolescents had the highest increase among any other group in prevalence of suicide attempts — a rise of nearly 80 per cent. WHAT ROLE HAS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE PLAYED IN COVID DEATHS OF BLACK AMERICANS? HIGH BLOOD pressure has played a major role in COVID deaths and especially in the COVID deaths of black people. Together, they have created a deadly combination: While it is listed as a contributing factor in 15.5 per cent of the deaths of white COVID sufferers, the figure for black victims is 21.4 per cent — the highest of any racial group. About 56 per cent of black adults have high blood pressure, compared to 48 per cent of white people. Three in four African Americans are likely to develop the disorder by age 55. While only 32% of white adults with high blood pressure have their condition under control with medication, the figure for black Americans is even lower — 25 per cent. And it os likely to get worse: By 2060, the number of Americans battling cardiovascular disease is expected to drastically increase. High blood pressure rates alone are projected to rise 27.2%, or from roughly 127.8 million to 162.5 million Americans. Among white people, the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and disease is projected to decrease over time. Yet significant increases are projected among people of colour, especially black and Latino Americans. Like many conditions, genetics do play a part. Experts also blame poor diets, high cholesterol, obesity, and smoking — risk factors that often exist at higher rates in black communities. Also, in recent years, more academics and doctors have called attention to structural inequities that have an outsized impact. Black neighbourhoods are more likely to experience a lack of access to healthy foods or be inundated with fast-food options. WHY DO SO MANY BLACK PEOPLE DEVELOP ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE? BLACK AMERICANS are more likely than white people to develop Alzheimer’s. About 14% of black Americans over the age of 65 have Alzheimer’s, compared with 10 per cent of white Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Experts believe the rates could be even higher. Health conditions like cardiovascular disease and diabetes experienced in earlier stages of life are known risk factors — both of which are more common among black and Latino populations. Depression, high blood pressure, obesity, and chronic stress are also risk factors. The CDC also acknowledges the impact of “higher rates of poverty and greater exposure to adversity and discrimination” as risk factors. Across the board, black people are also unlikely to receive the health care that white people do — including necessary medication to treat Alzheimer’s and dementia-related disorders. A preliminary study released this year by Mount Sinai researchers found that black people are less likely to receive dementia-related medications than white people. Black and Latino populations are expected to rise in coming years and so are the number of their cases of Alzheimer’s and related disorders. Cases among black Americans are projected to increase four times over today’s estimates and Latino Americans could increase seven times, according to the CDC. Some advocates estimate that by 2030, nearly 40% of all Americans living with Alzheimer’s could be black or Latino. But the projected rise in cases isn’t just tied to population growth. While evidence exists that certain genetic risk factors could differ by race and be a driver, the large disparities among racial groups can’t be explained just by genetics, experts say. And the sheer trauma of experiencing racism is also believed to be a contributing factor. 5 takeaways from AP’s series on health disparities affecting black Americans Catherine Manson sits on the front porch with her children, Caydence Manson and Carter Manson, in Hartford, Conn., on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. The prevalence of asthma in the Connecticut public school system has slightly decreased over time but 25,576 students have asthma, or about 1 in 8, including Caydence and Carter. But the incidence among Black students is about 50% higher. AP Constance Guthrie smiles at her daughter, Jessica, during a musical session where Jessica sings gospel music, a favourite of Constance, in Fredericksburg, Va., on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022. “Music brightens my mom. She would sing no matter if she was on key or not.” AP A former trash incinerator that closed earlier in the year is seen through locked gates in Hartford, Conn., Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. Though the closure was cheered by community members and environmental advocates, longtime residents argue toomuch pollution remains and too little consideration has gone to the long-term damage it has wrought. AP THE ASSOCIATED Press spent a year examining how racial health disparities have harmed generations of black Americans. From birth to death, black Americans fare worse in measures of health compared to their white counterparts. They have higher rates of infant and maternal mortality, higher incidence of asthma during childhood, more difficulty treating mental illness as teens, and higher rates of high blood pressure, Alzheimer’s disease and other illness as adults. Here are the key takeaways from each story: THE MONTHLY GLEANER | JUNE 1 - JULY 5, 2023 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS
9 Aubrey Campbell/Gleaner Writer WEEKS AFTER the pronouncement by a trio of officiating ministers, it remains the talk of town and country, the marriage of Joan Myers and Orville Byfield on Saturday, April 29, at the Holiday Inn All Inclusive Resort, Montego Bay. The exchange of vows between Myers, a f inancial controller and formerly of Montego Bay, now residing in Orlando, Flor ida, and Byfield, a lecturer at the University of Technology (UTech) in Kingston, is being described as one of the best of its kind. “This wedding was certainly a Godidea. I pray your lives going forward will be as beautiful. Those who never knew God got an opportunity to experience Him in His fullness. The pastor was excellent, not to mention your song was so powerful. Love you both,” offered Judy Mowatt. Myers, a noted recording gospel artiste, left the audience spellbound and spirit-filled as she entered and walked up the aisle while singing The One He Kept For Me by Maurette Brown Clark. After the ceremony, she would exit with See What The Lord has ONE DANCE DID IT: Mr and Mrs Byfield share the ceremonial first dance during the reception. Big brother and respected reggae/jazz recording artiste Benji Myaz served as musical director. TOGETHER. FOREVER: Joan and Orville sharing the same focus shortly after saying ‘I do’. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS Joan and Orville Byfield A WEDDING FOR THE AGES Aubrey Campbell/Gleaner Writer NEW YORK, NY: A NUMBER of individuals, organisations and businesses which have supported the Montego Bay Comets Athletics Club over the years will be spotlighted during a receptionmarking its 45th anniversary on Saturday, July 15, at the Meet Conference & Event Centre, Gloucester Avenue, Montego Bay. “Getting this far is by no means an easy undertaking, and so as we celebrate this milestone, we want to take the time to say ‘thank you’ to as many persons as we can for supporting the vision and the mission,” Andrene Thomas-Brutus, event chair, said. She says that to date, the committee has identified well over 35 honorees , “who will be contacted in the coming days and weeks to be present and to accept our token of appreciation”. Topping the list is Cornwall College, where the idea of a track club was born in the fall of 1977, when a group of final-year students huddled in the dormitory to decide how best to preserve their love for the sport after enjoying some success at ‘Champs’, the local sprint fest for student athletes. The national governing body Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), the Social Development Commission, and the Trelawny Striders Track Club along with media outlets, the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC Radio West), Beacon (Western Mirror) and The Gleaner Company – Western Bureau, also make the list. Lloyds of Montego Bay and the Pelican Restaurant, two of the city’s iconic establishments, are grouped with CustomMarble & Design, St James Bakery, Montego Bay Safety Company, and the St James Parish Library. Veteran sports administrator Jerry Reid along with Alva ‘Second’ Gordon (Boys’Club), Leroy ‘Bulla’McKenzie, Roy Saunders, Loxley Buchanan and Angela McIntosh (sports medicine) are some of the individuals who have helped the journey to this milestone. “The list is by no means final but it’s a start, as we journey on for another 45 years,”according to Thomas-Brutus, who said that she is encouraged by the response so far. Acclaimed jazz soloist Myrna Hague will serenade the honorees after remarks and commendations from Christopher Samuda, president of the Jamaica Olympic Association, and Michael Campbell, president of Comets Club Int’l. Karen‘KT’Taylor of MORE FM, media partners of the event, will serve as mistress of ceremonies. Tickets for the event are on sale at select outlets in Montego Bay. Comets Track Club to honour 35 at anniversary ceremony Michael Campbell, president of Comets Club Int’l. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS Christopher Samuda, president of the Jamaica Olympic Association. THE MONTHLY GLEANER | JUNE 1 - JULY 5, 2023 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS Done by Nathaniel Bassey, showcasing the musical genius of brother Benji Myaz, himself an outstanding reggae/ jazz musician. Other highlights of the well-coordinated ceremony and reception included a sand ceremony performed by Joan, Orville and Daniel, son of the groom, and a tribute to the parents - past and present. Pauline Byfield, the only parent, was duly recognised. Themed ‘Our friendship has blossomed into love andmarriage’, the couple was deliberate in ensuring that above everything else, the presence of God was foremost in the proceedings. Linton Atkinson and Dave Myers served as masters of ceremony.
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