FREE | PAGES: 12 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com SIGN UP FOR OUR EPAPER @ epaper.jamaica-gleaner.com/na SEPTEMBER 7 - OCTOBER 7, 2023 | VOL 2048 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 THE NORTH AMERICAN BRANDED CONTENT EDITION ENDOF AN ERA Dancers participate in the West Indian Day Parade on Monday, September 4, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. The largest US celebration of Caribbean culture is held in New York City, as steel bands, floats and flamboyantly costumed revellers take to the streets for the West Indian Day Parade. AP Beres Hammond Garfield ‘Chin’ Bourne CLARKE After 40 years, Caribbean programmes go silent as station is sold NEW YORK: I T’S THE end of an era for WVIP 93.5 FM, New York, the station that served the diaspora community for almost 40 years. Jamaican and Caribbean programmes on the dial went silent on Thursday, August 31, when the last programme ended at midnight. P8: US-based group to fund mobile mammogram unit for Jamaica >P3 Anthony Turner//Gleaner Writer P6: Garfield ‘Chin’ Bourne gets citation from NYC mayor P6: Jamaican Museum and Cultural Centre, Atlanta honours Beres Hammond West Indian Day Parade P9: Happy birthday, Miss Lou Miss Lou
THE MONTHLY GLEANER | SEPTEMBER 7 - OCTOBER 7, 2023 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 2 UNITED NATIONS (CMC): TRINIDAD AND Tobago’s representative to the United Nations, Dennis Francis, took the oath of office as the new president of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday, vowing to discharge its responsibilities to the best of his ability. Francis took the oath as the 77th session of the UNGA closed on Tuesday morning with outgoing President Csaba Kőrösi underscoring that amid geopolitical rivalries, cooperation among countries is indispensable. Francis will preside over the new UNGA which gets under way later on Tuesday (3 p.m. local time). Kőrösi told the UNGA that “our survival depends on our cooperation”, pointing to global roadblocks such as accelerating climate change, biodiversity loss, education and gender inequality. “Let us put money where our promises are,” he added, urging governments to translate actions for sustainable development into budgeting policies, national regulations and capacity building. Assembly President Kőrösi recalled the three“pillars” of the United Nations – peace and security, development, and human rights – and with conflicts raging around the world, asked if the UN Charter was really being upheld worldwide. “The war in Ukraine – along with other 51 armed conflicts – must end, in line with the UN Charter and international law,”he declared, calling also for an end to nuclear proliferation and the nuclear arms race. Kőrösi highlighted the need for integrated, holistic solutions that not only address current challenges but also protect against those in the future. He outlined the need for key UN bodies, including the General Assembly and the Security Council, to reform and evolve. “The world’s first passenger jet aircraft carried 36 passengers in 1952. It was a breakthrough in technological development,” he said, adding “that doesn’t mean that we can use it today to take us to Mars … Times are evolving, and this organisation must evolve with them.” Trinidad diplomat takes over presidency of United Nations General Assembly Jamaica may be affected more than others by the exodus of teachers from classrooms for better-paying jobs elsewhere, including abroad. The problem, however, i sn’ t uniquel y Jamaican. It’s across the Caribbean and poses serious threats to the region’s development. Which is why the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the regional economic integration organisation, must seek creative solutions, including the sharing of teachers via digital classrooms. The high turnover in the teaching profession, driven by a quest for more pay and better working conditions, isn’t new to Jamaica. In recent decades the problem has been exacerbated by foreign recruiters (mainly from the United States, Britain and Canada) who, seeking to cover teacher shortages in those countries, dangle hefty compensation packages, the allure of teaching overseas, and easier paths to immigration for the families of the people they recruit. It was assumed that recent significant pay rises to teachers, as part of a broader reclassification of public sector jobs, might slow the outflow. And that seemed to be the case up until a fortnight ago when the education minister, Fayval Williams, reported that this year up to September, based on existing data, 427 teachers had resigned from the public school system, or 1.6 per cent of the classroom employees. At that level, the departures represented a 72 per cent decline on the 1, 538 resignations for the comparable period last year, when 6.2 per cent of state-paid teachers quit. Celebration was, however, premature. Last week, Ms Williams disclosed that the resignations have doubled to 854. Four hundred (400) happened in 11 days. IMMEDIATE EFFECT While the regulations require that teachers give three months’ notice to quit, most of these resignations were with immediate effect. Schools will therefore have additional teaching gaps when the new academic year begins this week. Some principals claim that many teachers didn’t resign earlier to see what their new packages would be. Some continued up to the end of August to be sure of being paid for that month before leaving for their new jobs, mostly abroad. Officials expect another wave of resignations at the end of September, after a round of late recruitment to fill jobs that remain open in the United States. Ms Williams had announced a raft of measures – including allowing schools to hire retirees, giving the greenlight for teachers on long leave to be hired as their own substitutes or to teach elsewhere, and fast-tracking newly trained teachers into jobs – to help close gaps from the earlier resignations, which have now widened. The crisis may not be as deep elsewhere in CARICOM as in Jamaica, which is still attempting to right-side its economy after decades of high debt and of puny growth constrained living standards. Nonetheless, other countries, to varying degrees, also contend with the problem, including the foreign poaching of teachers. In Barbados, Mia Mottley’s government has been attempting to have a formal arrangement with the Fairfax county school district in the US state of Virginia, which would allow for an orderly recruitment of teachers, thereby avoiding the chaotic disruptions that bedevil Jamaica. Elsewhere, the denominational boards of education in Trinidad and Tobago, a coalition of schools owned by religious organisations, earlier this year complained that thousands of students might have to be turned away from their institutions because of a shortage of teachers. Their problem is on two fronts: teachers have left the classroom while the island’s teachers services commission was being slow in confirming new hires. In Guyana, where the discovery of oil is propelling galloping growth rates, President Irfaan Ali has been promising to fix a teacher shortage. Over several decades, during economic decline and political strife, Guyana lost large swathes of its professionals, including teachers, to immigration. With respect to teachers, foreign recruitment has, in recent times, worsened the situation. OUTWARD MIGRATION More generally, the Caribbean not only has high levels of outward migration, but it is the most educated who are likely to leave. One 2006 study found that in the 35 years between 1965 and 2000, 85 per cent of Jamaicans who were educated to the tertiary level had emigrated to Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, the same ratio as Grenada. For Guyana, the figure was 89 per cent. Those numbers imply the loss of CARICOM’s potentially most productive people, in a region where educational outcomes are already low and the community’s aim is to transform itself into a full-fledged single market and economy to drive its development. CARICOM, in the circumstance, needs a coordinated strategy to entice its brightest people and educated people, including teachers, to stay in the region. Ultimately, the solution is strong regional economies where citizens also feel safe. This project requires, among other things, the services of good teachers. Given the shortage of teaching talent in individual countries, the community must rationally utilise those who are available. The pandemic, with its liberation of communication technologies that enhanced virtual travel, opened new possibilities. There is no reason, for instance, why a specialist maths teacher in Kingstown, St Vincent, covering essentially the same syllabus, can’t, with the support of an inclass assistant, teach students at a school in Kingston, Jamaica. And vice versa. CARICOM can make this happen. Or perhaps education entrepreneurs can. CARICOM fix to teacher crisis Lester Hinds/Gleaner Writer City University of New York (CUNY) is to offer five scholarships to honour the late entertainer and civil rights leader Harry Belafonte. This was announced by New York Governor Kathy Hochul at the West Indian Labour Day Parade, held in Brooklyn on Monday. The scholarships, intended to honour Belafonte’s extraordinary contributions, will fully cover educational expenses, including tuition, room and board, fees, books, transportation and personal expenses. Applications for the scholarships will open in the spring of 2024. The scholarships will go to five deserving CUNY students who embody the values and experiences that Belafonte stood for, displaying a strong commitment to social justice and the performing arts, while overcoming significant challenges, the governor was quoted by WNY News as saying. City University Chancellor Felix Matos Rodriques expressed gratitude, pointing out that the scholarships will allow students to continue their passion for the arts and social justice, mirroring Belafonte’s lifelong mission. Gina Belafonte, the late icon’s daughter, was quoted by the news outlet as sharing her deep appreciation for the recognition of her father’s legacy, highlighting the significance of providing opportunities for aspiring individuals to deepen their understanding of art and activism, fostering healthy communities. The CUNY scholarships will serve as an inspiration and seeks to extend his legacy, enabling students to defy the odds, create lasting impact, and enrich the lives of New Yorkers, the report noted. Belafonte, who passed away last year, was born in NewYork of immigrant parents - both his parents were born in Jamaica. He attended school in Jamaica before returning to NewYork. He was posthumously awarded the Keys to the City of NewYork by Mayor Eric Adams last month. CUNY scholarships to honour Belafonte Actor and singer Harry Belafonte. AP [EDITORIAL]
THE MONTHLY GLEANER | SEPTEMBER 7 - OCTOBER 7, 2023 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 4 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE OF JAMAICA IN THE CIVIL DIVISION CLAIM NO. SU2022CV03851 BETWEEN LLOYD GEORGE CLAIMANT AND PETER JUNOR (Executor of the Estate 1st DEFENDANT of Laurice Lucilee Junor) AND FRANCIS SEGRE 2nd DEFENDANT TO: FRANCIS SEGRE CWR Contracting, Inc., 3660 Hartsfield Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32303, United States of America TAKE NOTICE that a Claim has been filed against you in this Honourable Court by LLOYD GEORGE, the Claimant herein, of 5370 NW 15TH Street, Apartment 2, Lauderhill, Florida 3313-5576, United States of America, and an order made for you to file an Acknowledgement of Service either in person or by your Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of the Supreme Court, King Street, Kingston, within twenty-eight (28) days of the date of the final publication of this Notice in the North American Edition of the Gleaner NewspaperANDaDefenceorAffidavitwithinfifty-six (56)daysof thedateof thefinal publication of this Notice in the North American Edition of the Gleaner Newspaper AND that in default of so doing the Court will proceed to hear the said Claim and pronounce judgement in your absence notwithstanding. DATED THE DAY OF 2023 _____________________________ MASTER/REGISTRAR NOTICE: It is requested that attention may be drawn to this Notice by anyone knowing the whereabouts of the person to whom it is addressed. Filed by TEMPLE LAW C/o LORENZO J. ECCLESTON, Attorney-at-Law, of 66-68 Barry Street, Kingston for and on behalf of the Claimant. Tel: (876) 535-8162; (876) 633-6531. Email: Lanzojm@outlook.com or Lanzojm@hotmail.co.uk NOTICE OF PROCEEDINGS Will Leslie Brown whose last known address is Lot 686, 25 Shell Crescent, New Harbour Village 1, Old Harbour, St. Catherine or anyoneknowing his whereabouts kindly contact the Child Protection and Family Services Agency, 10 Hanover Street, Spanish Town St. Catherine. Telephone: 876-301-4983 LEGAL NOTICE WASHINGTON DC: Her visionary leadership and pioneering diplomatic and entrepreneurial accomplishments have earned Jamaica’s ambassador to the United States, Audrey Marks, accolades from the Jamaican Organization of New Jersey (JON-J). The New Jersey Jamaican diaspora organisation conferred the ambassador with its Distinguished Award of Excellence for Leadership and Diplomacy, hailing her outstanding investment in Jamaica’s advancement, both nationally and internationally. JON-J bestowed the award at a gala affair marking its 25th anniversary and Jamaica’s 61st anniversary of Independence. The gala event took place at the Newark Airport Marriott Hotel in New Jersey, on Saturday,August 26. In delivering the keynote address, after accepting the award, Ambassador Marks commended JON-J for capturing the hearts of the people in the communities it serves, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of many and having contributed significantly to nation-building. She remarked on the organisation’s “work improving the educational opportunities for many of our youths through the award of scholarships and educational resources, particularly in times of greatest need. “Its social assistance programme, including financial support for funeral costs to grieving families, providing food-related items to those in need and contributing vital equipment to Jamaica’s health system is to be commended,” Ambassador Marks stressed. Likewise, she commended the organisation’s “unwavering commitment and tireless efforts in empowering Jamaicans within your community, promoting our rich cultural heritage, and fostering a strong sense of identity and unity”. She noted that since inception in 1998, JON-J had become a beacon of inspiration and a vital resource for Jamaicans residing in New Jersey and its environs. “This significant milestone aligns with Jamaica’s 61st year of Independence, adding a profound sense of national pride to your anniversary celebrations.” Ambassador Marks reiterated her proposal that the association consider implementing a youth travel and mentorship programme – Upliftment, Learning, and Intervention through Foreign Travel (UPLIFT) - to expose young Jamaican boys, aged seven to 18, by hosting them and their parents with families in the United States who will introduce them to different experiences over a two-to-three-week period. Also receiving JON-J awards were US Congresswoman for Brooklyn, New York, Yvette Clarke, who received the organisation’s Public Service Award; Irwine Clare, the Community Service award; Jamaican actor and comedian, Oliver Samuels, who received the award for Arts and Culture. Dr. Robert Clarke was awarded for Health Care; Cecil Wright for Business; Jamaican balladeer Ritchie Stephens for Music and Culture; and Debra Simms for Law/ Criminal Justice. JON-J president, Owen Eccles, said the organisation which currently boasts six chapters in eastern New Jersey, would be expanding its chapters to cover the entire state of New Jersey. Lester Hinds/Gleaner Writer THE UNION of Jamaica Alumni Associations (UJAA), a United Statesbased organisation, is hoping to raise US$20,000 to help send an 11-member team to the upcoming seventh First Global Challenge (FGC), an Olympics-style robotics competition to be held in Singapore from October 7 to 10. UJAA IS hoping to send eight students, two coaches and a chaperone to the event. However, according to the president of UJAA, Donovan Wilson, failure to raise the needed funds may result in a smaller contingent going to the challenge. The total cost of sending the team to Singapore is US$90,000. Wilson told The Gleaner that last year an 11-member team represented Jamaica at the challenge and the goal was to send a similar team this year to the event. The students are drawn from Hillel, Wolmer’s Boys’ School, Glenmuir and the American Institute of Science. Wilson said a request has been made to the Jamaican Government for support but so far the association has not received an answer. UJAA has been undertaking sending teams to the challenge for several years. Wi lson said the Jamaican Government provided some assistance in 2017 but did not provide any help last year. “Everyone agrees that STEM education is the future and the robotics competition is one way of exposing Jamaican students to technological developments taking place,” he said. Wilson said he was appealing to members of the community to assist in sending the team to Singapore as it would not only benefit the students taking part in the competition but Jamaica as a whole. He said it was of paramount importance that Jamaican students be exposed to robotics if they are to succeed in the future. The challenge is held annually with participation from some 140 countries. The 65-member umbrella organisation of alumni associations of schools in Jamaica – from basic to tertiary – has been consistent and deliberate in ensuring that Jamaica participates wherever in the world First Global founder, Dean Kamen, finds a sponsor to stage this event. This year, the challenge went to Singapore. UJAA has been the primary sponsor since the FGC began in 2017. It has always been UJAA’s contention that the programme provides Jamaican students with exposure to a once-in-alifetime experience that not only allows them to engage with students from across the globe, but combines their accomplishment with encouragement and pride as true ambassadors of Jamaica for Jamaicans globally. UJAA seeks US$20,000 for robotics team Jamaican Organization of New Jersey (JON-J) marks 25th anniversary Ambassador Marks receives Visionary Leadership Award Jamaican actor and comedian Oliver Samuels accepts his award for Arts and Culture from President of the Jamaican Organization of New Jersey (JON-J) Owen Eccles. PHOTOS BY DERRICK SCOTT/PHOTOGRAPHER Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States Audrey Marks (centre) with fellow awardees. From left are; Dr Robert Clarke, Oliver Samuels, Debra Sims, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, Cecil Wright and Irwine Clare.
THE MONTHLY GLEANER | SEPTEMBER 7 - OCTOBER 7, 2023 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 5 ADVERTISEMENT
THE MONTHLY GLEANER | SEPTEMBER 7 - OCTOBER 7, 2023 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 6 NEW YORK, NY: J AMAICAN AMERICAN businessman Garfield ‘Chin’ Bourne, founder of Sound Chat Radio, and Irish and Chin, was honoured recently with a citation from New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Presented by Jose Bayona, executive director of the Office of Ethnic and Community Media, and Lamona Worrel, assistant commissioner, Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, the citation recognised Bourne’s contributions, vision and career-long dedication to strengthening New York’s cultural and media landscapes. Further, his many talents and entrepreneurial ventures, which have benefited communities across several boroughs, were acknowledged. In responding to the recognition, Bourne thanked everyone who had sacrificed their time and talent to help grow Sound Chat Radio into the full-spectrum media entity it is today, representing the Caribbean diaspora. He was surrounded by representatives of his tech, administration and broadcast teams for the commemorative occasion, which included his long-time friend and colleague Rohan ‘Ninja Crown’Henry, who, he acknowledged, has been there from “day one” of the Sound Chat Radio journey. “This is such a strange but wonderful feeling. My efforts have always been centred around recognising and awarding those who contributed greatly to the wonderful music industry we inherited,” says Bourne. “It feels good to know that I have now reached a place where my efforts are also starting to be recognised. This is truly different than the norm, as I am usually the one giving out the awards. “When I started radio, I had no knowledge of what I was doing! All I had was determination, vision, and an idea of how I wanted people in the Caribbean diaspora to enjoy radio,” says Bourne candidly. “As the station’s listenership grew, I realised that people were open for change, and they trustedme to lead them to a new listening experience. Twelve years later and that experience has brought us to City Hall! Sound Chat Radio is a force to be reckoned with.” As if the week couldn’t get more meaningful, “Keep up the good work, sir,”were the encouraging words from Prime Minister Andrew Holness to Bourne, just days after the citation at the annual Jamaica Independence Gala NewYork, held inmidtown Manhattan. One may recall, some years ago. Prime Minister Holness met Mighty Crown, which is managed by Chin, when they played at the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s state dinner in Japan, which Holness attended. It was a full-circle moment indeed. Bourne says, “I never saw this in the forecast for me, but I am extremely grateful to Mayor Eric Adams and his amazing team. For decades, I have represented sound system culture, which is the most uncelebrated art form of Jamaica’s rich music heritage.” The media and entertainment honouree added, “I’ve been able to assist in keeping sound culture alive by creating new platforms for it to be explained, appreciated and highlighted. This was the original purpose of starting Sound Chat Radio. I had no idea it would grow to become a global phenomenon. I am proud.” Aubrey Campbell/Gleaner Writer ATLANTA, GA: THE JAMAICANMuseumand Cultural Centre (Atlanta) paid tribute to Beres Hammond, OJ, the iconic crooner and multiple award-winner during a recent concert event at Chastain Park in Atlanta, Georgia. President of JMCC Dr Apollone Reid, who read the citation, lauded Beres, the master of lovers’ rock for his exemplary dedication to the Jamaican music industry and his promotion of love and decency in his musical lyrics. Reid pledged to preserve Hammond’s legacy in the archives of the museum for future generations, and emphasised that his music of love was vital in combating the effects of the negative trends of modern-day musical delivery. Vice-President Christine Marzouca followed with the presentation of a plaque to Hammond. The handover of the award was met with loud applause from the audience, which included die-hard fans of the singer. Hammond, Luciano and Inner Circle Band were the headline acts for the Atlanta leg of the ‘Forever Giving Thanks’ tour, billed as ‘an evening of reggae under the stars’ at the Cadence Bank Amphitheatre, presented by Midnight Productions and Twilight Productions, with Dr Ragashanti as emcee. Jamaican Museum and Cultural Centre, Atlanta honours Beres Hammond Dr Apollone Reid (right), president of the Jamaican Museum & Cultural Centre, reads the citation in recognition of singer Beres Hammond, while VP Christine Marzouca admires the award just ahead of the presentation, which was met with much applause from the audience at the Cadence Bank Amphitheatre, Atlanta, Georgia, on August 20. Garfield ‘Chin’ Bourne receives citation from New York Mayor Eric Adams Garfield ‘Chin’ Bourne is honoured with a citation from NY Mayor Eric Adams. CONTRIBUTED
SSL lifeline THE GOVERNMENT is to pay the salaries of restive employees of investment firm Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL) to avoid disruptions in the ongoing investigation into the alleged fleecing of more than $4 billion from clients. None of the more than 20 persons who make up the staff turned up for work at the company’s St Andrew offices last Thursday in protest of the non-payment of their August wages. Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke said the Government will intervene because“SSL’s income cannot support its operating expenses, much of which are necessary to facilitate the ongoing investigations”. “Consistent with the policy commitment outlined in my Budget presentation of March 2023, where I stated that the GOJ (Government of Jamaica) will make the required resources available to facilitate a thorough investigation of the SSL matter, I wish to advise as follows: The GOJ will ensure, through the FSC, which appointed the temporary manager, that SSL employees are paid for their work,” Clarke told The Gleaner. The total amount of money to be provided, when it will be paid, and for how long the support will run are reportedly being worked on. The Financial Services Commission (FSC), which regulates investment houses, took charge of SSL on January 17, days after the company reported an incident of fraud. In March, the FSC declared that SSL was “insolvent”. The current staff are key to researching for investigators, dealing with clients’ concerns, and helping with the transfer of accounts to yet-to-benamed brokerage firms. “We feel disrespected and neglected. We understand the trauma that is happening with the clients, but there’s also trauma with the staff,” said one of the employees who did not want to be named. Staff took industrial action on Thursday, the same day the Financial Investigations Division (FID) provided an update on the probe that started in January. Reid, Pinnock back in court October 13 FORMER EDUCATION Minister Ruel Reid and former Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) President Fritz Pinnock, along with their three coaccused, are to return to the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on October 13. The mention date was scheduled on Wednesday when the accused appeared in court and had their bails extended. The two men, along with Reid’s wife Sharen, their daughter Sharelle, and Jamaica Labour Party Councillor for the Brown’s Town division Kim Brown, have been charged with a range of offences, including breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act, conspiracy to defraud, misconduct in a public office at common law, and breaches of the Proceeds of Crime Act. The accused were charged by the Financial Investigation Division (FID) following an investigation into nearly $50 million which was allegedly diverted from the CMU. On Wednesday, when the matter was called up in court, the prosecutor informed that the case file is near completion and that it is preparing to set a date for a plea and case management hearing. However, senior attorney-at-law Oswest Senior-Smith, who was recently retained by Brown, requested disclosure and asked that the plea and case management hearing be deferred until he has received the material. Meanwhile, Reid’s and Pinnock’s lawyer, Hugh Wildman, indicated that he is in the process of appealing the recent Full Court’s ruling in which his clients lost their battle to quash Chief Parish Court Judge Chester Crooks’ ruling that they have a case to answer in the multimillion-dollar fraud matter. Wildman argued that the matter was still under appeal but the prosecution submitted that the matter must proceed as the court had lifted the stay. Man reportedly confesses to murder of five homeless persons in month-long spree A 25-YEAR-OLDWestgate Hills man is believed to have attacked seven homeless people in Montego Bay, St James, killing five of them and injuring two while they slept in the space of less than a month. The dastardly crimes, which claimed the lives of four females and a male, took place in sections of the Second City between July 28 and August 20. The suspected perpetrator, who was held by cops lastWednesday afternoon after reportedly attempting to rape a woman in the Corinaldi Avenue area of Montego Bay, reportedly confessed to the killings after he was taken into custody. He was also on bail for forcible abduction. Highly placed sources in the Jamaica Constabulary Force told The Gleaner that some of the bloody crimes in the murderous rampage were captured on CCTV systems throughout the city. All the victims were stabbed with a sharp instrument while they slept. The suspect reportedly became so brazen that he attacked David Johnson in front of the Barnett Police Station on August 20. Johnson survived the onslaught. Another man, Ken Warren, became the seventh victim. The 25-year-old suspect, who remains in custody, was reportedly posing as a taxi operator onWednesday when an unsuspecting woman boarded his car about 2:30 p.m. He allegedly diverted from the normal route, lying to the passenger that he had another person to pick up along Melvin Hall Avenue, off Corinaldi Avenue. It is further alleged that he then locked the car doors and pulled a knife before demanding that the woman have sex with him. The quick-thinking woman reportedly told him that she would first need to urinate before complying with his demands.When he opened the door and allowed her to exit, she ran and screamed for help. Several cops, who were in the area on a tour with a government minister, came to her rescue. Principals may face sanctions for barring students over grooming infractions PRINCIPALS WHO bar students from school because of grooming infractions may face sanctions under the draft national grooming policy. Minister of Education and Youth, Fayval Williams, said the draft policy is being disseminated to schools and the ministry is considering penalties against schools that breach the guidelines once it has been finalised. “With the draft policy in place as soon as we finalise it, we’re going to have to think about that (sanctions) because you’re putting children in danger when you lock them out. You are denying them education as well,” she said. The draft grooming policy will serve as the benchmark against which school administrations ought to formulate grooming rules. Speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing yesterday, the minister emphasised that it is not a policy of the Ministry of Education to lock out or send home children who show up to school and are not in 100 per cent compliance with school rules. The draft policy, which is the result of a consultative process among education stakeholders, aims to reduce discriminatory practices regarding hairstyles and other grooming rules, while at the same time, addressing the need for discipline and adherence to societal values at the school level. The Jamaica Youth Advocacy Network (JYAN), in urging vigilance of the grooming policy, had called for sanctions to be laid against “rogue” schools who do not adhere. “This policy must go much further than provide guidelines but strict rules of adherence for institutions with stated penalties. The standard in our public-education sector must be of respect for diversity in religious, ethnocultural practices, and expressions,” its executive director, Shannique Bowden, said in a statement. The minister reiterated that schools should utilise other forms of punishment for students who breach schools grooming rules. “We have to change behaviour. You have to ensure as school leaders you are consultative in all that you do, so get the buy-in from parents who can monitor and ensure that their children show up. We have in-school activities that students can do. There may be detention, or something like that. But there are other ways, other than the drastic lock out of students from schools,” she said. THE MONTHLY GLEANER | SEPTEMBER 7 - OCTOBER 7, 2023 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS MISSED 7 [ NEWSYOU MAY HAVE MISSED ] IN THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE OF JAMAICA IN THE CIVIL DIVISION CLAIM NO. SU2022CV03851 BETWEEN LLOYD GEORGE CLAIMANT AND PETER JUNOR (Executor of the Estate 1st DEFENDANT of Laurice Lucilee Junor) AND FRANCIS SEGRE 2nd DEFENDANT TAKE NOTICE THAT the Fixed Date Claim Form filed herein on December 2, 2022 is adjourned for hearing on December 5, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. for One (1) hour. DATED THE 21st DAY OF JULY, 2023 _______________________________ LORENZO J. ECCLESTON CLAIMANT’S ATTORNEY-AT-LAW TO: The Registrar AND TO: The First Defendant Supreme Court PETER JUNOR King Street (Executor of the Estate Kingston of Laurice Lucilee Junor) AND TO: The Second Defendant FRANCIS SEGRE Filed by TEMPLE LAW C/o LORENZO J. ECCLESTON, Attorney-at-Law, of 66-68 Barry Street, Kingston for and on behalf of the Claimant. Tel: (876) 535-8162; (876) 633-6531. Email: Lanzojm@outlook.com or Lanzojm@hotmail.co.uk NOTICE OF ADJOURNED HEARING Government to pay salaries of investment firm’s workers to avoid disruptions to fraud probe Grade five student Rondre Clarke cools himself down by holding his chilled drink bottle near his head during a class at the Farm Primary and Infant School on Monday, September 4, during the first day of the 2023-2024 school year. ASHLEY ANGUIN
THE MONTHLY GLEANER | SEPTEMBER 7 - OCTOBER 7, 2023 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 8 THE OLE Farmers Association North America, Inc (OFANA) will celebrate its Annual Northeast Fundraising Dinner on December 9 at the Stamford Marriott Hotel & Spa in Stamford Connecticut. OFANA President Norma Jarrett commended Vice-President Dr Hylton Gordonw,who like his predecessors, with the dedicated Northeast Region Ole Farmers (alumni), have delivered a signature annual fundraising event every year. The 2022 Dinner was a memorable event, and Dr Gordon and his team promise an even more spectacular event on December 9, 2023. As part of its strategic plan, OFANA amplifies the collective voice of Ole Farmers in North America, Canada, and the Eastern Caribbean, making it easy for members to participate and leverage their collective experiences and talent to promote Jamaica’s agriculture sector, including supporting the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) and students. Since 2012, OFANA has enabled significant projects at CASE, facilitating scholarship opportunities of over US $120, 000.00 so that each student is afforded the opportunity to maximise his or her potential despite their lack of finances. During the pandemic ,OFANA distributed 151 brand-newDell laptops to CASE students who were unable to afford to purchase their own devices to participate in the new virtual learning that the COVID-19 pandemic forced. In January 2019, OFANA delivered on the promised disbursement of US $120, 000.00 to build and equip the OFANA Plant Tissue Culture Lab at CASE. This laboratory, in addition to promoting practical competencies to agricultural students, will provide disease-free planting materials as well as drought-resistant seedlings for Jamaican farmers. Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Floyd Green will be keynote speaker at the fundraiser, while Dr Karren Dunkley, an education consultant and former Global Diaspora Northeast Leader will reprise her role as mistress of ceremony. Guests include Jamaica’s Consul General New York Alsion Wilson. OFANA invites persons to share in celebrating this evening of excellence and enjoy the festivities and musical entertainment fromDJ Roy, Road International. For tickets, please visit www.eventbrite.com. Northeast Fundraising Dinner OR call - Dr Hylton Gordon – 914 – 908 - 0055; Stanley Baxter @ Baxter Plumbing – 917- 709 - 7995 or “Natty” Paul Miller - 917- 865- 4516 or 718- 341- 9800. OFANA Northeast to host 14th fundraising dinner in Stamford, CT Aubrey Campbell/Gleaner Writer NEW YORK, NY: T HE ORGANIZATION for International Development (OID) will visit Jamaica from January 13-20, 2024, for its annual ‘mission of mercy’programme, bringing well-needed healthcare to underserved communities across the island. The team of highly qualified medical practitioners from the USA will visit the parishes of Trelawny and St Thomas, with a primary focus on women’s health and well-being, in what is hoped will be a long-termobjective for the organisation, founded some 33 years ago by Dr Roy Streete, a Jamaican dental surgeon in the Bronx, NY. To satisfy that objective, OID is launching a public funding initiative to purchase a mobile mammogram van, complete with a gynaecological examination room and an ultrasound unit, to provide comprehensive screening for breast and cervical cancer for women on the island. “We are looking to purchase amobile unit to fit our needs at the moment, at just under US$1million, and as you can tell, some aspects of the unit will have to be custom-made, so that could take a while. However we are focused on the next nine to 12 months,” President Dr Michelle James said. Currently, there are no free-standing mammography units available in the Jamaican public health system, making this project not only useful, but urgent. In January of this year, OID conducted another successful medical mission to Jamaica, with very encouraging results. Some 746 patients received medical care, and 702 patients received some dental care. Working with the University Hospital of the West Indies Healing Hearts, the ABI-GAYE SMYTHE I Have A Heart Foundation (IHAH), and the Friends of Montefiore Medical Centre cardiothoracic team from the Bronx, NY, ten patients underwent valve-replacement surgery at the Mona-based hospital. A release from the organisation said that the January 2024 mission will be centred in the communities of Yallahs and Carey Park in St Thomas and in Falmouth, Trelawny. Dr Streete, who has served the Jamaican diaspora at the executive level, offered that OID is not concerned only with the healthcare and economic needs of the less fortunate, but the educational needs as well, “so that the citizenry may be better able to provide for themselves and their families, and to facilitate sustainable community development”. Within the last 30 years, mission volunteers have travelled to Jamaica, Dominican Republic, St Vincent & The Grenadines, Haiti, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Zambia and South Africa. US-based group to fund mobile mammogram unit for Jamaica Dr. Roy Streete (right, foreground) and a teamof volunteer medical professionals in Jamaica earlier this year. CONTRIBUTED
THE MONTHLY GLEANER | SEPTEMBER 7 - OCTOBER 7, 2023 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | OPINION & COMMENTARY 9 THE TRAGEDY of the complete destruction of Lahaina on Maui by a raging wildfire has gripped the attention of the world. Hawaiians search for answers to what caused such an unprecedented disaster, why the authorities issued no warning, how the survivors will reconstruct their lives, how to preserve the memory of the historical and cultural significance of Lahaina, and all the versions of questions that people ask in the shock of loss and debilitating grief. The immediate cause of the rapid spread of the fire was strong winds from a storm offshore that fanned the flames lit by broken aged power lines and fed by dry grasses which are not native to Lahaina. The grasses that fuelled the fire had been introduced by the colonisers to feed the cattle on the plantations they established for export. They displaced the indigenous farmers and their traditional farming systems and transformed the natural environment; the wetlands, for example, were filled in. The colonisation of Hawaii is recent, compared to the Caribbean. Jamaica’s plains by the sea were transformed centuries ago into plantations, and in modern times, some have become hotels and golf courses for tourists, and now housing estates. The coastal zone is nowmuch more densely populated with buildings and infrastructure. The conventional wisdom was to reclaim the wetlands for construction and to eradicate mosquitoes. Wetlands are the border between the terrestrial and the marine environment, absorbing water in the wet season and releasing water in the dry season. They were the natural protection against the intrusion of the sea and the drying of droughts. Droughts increase the risks of fire for the food basket of St Elizabeth and the forests. Old and tangled power wires, such as on Montego Bay’s densely populated Hip Strip, present a similar fire risk to Lahaina. Strong winds from a passing storm could fan fires in Jamaica for an even bigger holocaust than Lahaina. DEFENDED DECISION The chief of Maui Emergency Management defended his decision not to sound the siren lest it confuse people and cause an even greater disaster. Hopefully, the tragedy of Lahaina has prompted a review by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management’s (ODPEM) preparedness and communication. Will ODPEM issue alerts in the event of a flash fire or any other sudden appearance of a natural or man-made hazard, and could those warnings confuse the public? ODPEM can enhance its name recognition by reminding the public regularly of its easily accessible communication channels. Civil society organisations in Maui have urged Government agencies to work through community organisations for the most effective delivery of aid to the needy. Many Hawaiians doubt the generosity of the USA government, which they regard as a colonial occupier, and distrust the official channels for aid. Jamaica has limited resources to support community rebuilding after a natural disaster. As in Hawaii, the government should include established and capable civil society organisations in the distribution of aid. Are the tragedies of Lahaina and so many other places prompting a review of the preparedness and capabilities for recovery in all communities? Aged, infants, the disabled, and the poor in general are the most vulnerable people to natural disasters. If as Lahaina indicates that there are now super natural disasters, the rehabilitation and rebuilding of lives will much more challenging. Traditionally, Hawaiians self-mobilise to help each other. How can Jamaican society prepare itself to capture the spontaneous outpouring of goodwill andmutual help that disasters bring out? Is this yet another reason to urgently refocus on an inclusive social and economic development by reducing the inequalities of income distribution and social privilege? PAID DEARLY Lahaina has now paid dearly for the loss of its wetlands and the introduction of non-native grasses after so many years. There are many examples of building in old river courses and floodprone areas of Jamaica that have cost the inhabitants dearly when the waters come. As my grandmother used to say, “Anywhere river walk once, river walk twice”. Is this a reminder for developers to be even more cautious when interfering with the processes of the natural environment? Lahaina was historically and culturally very important to the people of Maui. There will be efforts to record the memories and represent them in the new structures to honour the history and preserve the cultural legacy. Port Royal and Kingston today attest to their respective recovery from their great fires in 1779 and 1795, respectively. Which current Jamaican historical and cultural icons need extra protection from natural hazards? Is there a list of historic buildings, such as the Institute of Jamaica and the Spanish Town Square, whose loss would strike the same painful cultural nerve for Jamaica as the loss of Lahaina has done for Maui? ODPEM earned respect for its work many years ago and became a model for similar bodies in the region. In the era of climate change, natural hazards are likely to be more frequent and more destructive. As with pandemics, the alert society will be best able to minimise natural and man-made disasters. Ultimately, households and communities must prepare themselves and cooperate for recovery. ODPEM’s leadership is critical to cultivating constant awareness and increasing the mobilisation of communities for their own self-preparation and self-defence. ODPEM should distil the lessons for Jamaica from the fires of Lahaina, as well as from the many other extreme weather events elsewhere. Michael Witter is a research economist focusing on sustainable development issues. Send feedback to columns@ gleanerjm.com Lessons from Lahaina on Maui Crosses honoring victims killed in a recent wildfire are posted along the Lahaina Bypass in Lahaina, Hawaii, August 21, 2023. Nearly amonth after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century killed scores of people, authorities on Maui are working their way through a list of the missing that has grown almost as quickly as names have been removed. Lawsuits are piling up in court over liability for the inferno, and businesses across the island are fretting about what the loss of tourism will mean for their futures. AP THE EDITOR, Madam: In every society, the cosmology of a culture is to be found in its indigenous expression, its various art forms, and specifically in its language which is an expression of the ethos of the people. What is language and its function? Simply put, language allows people to communicate and interact and identify and name their environment. Born September 7, 1919, Louise Bennett-Coverley aka Miss Lou knew and understood this, which is why she studied folklore at Friends College in Highgate, St Mary before going to England to study drama at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA), as the first black person and first Jamaican. Miss Lou realized that in order for the culture to be preserved and evolved there need to be documentation of our idioms. Upon her return home, Miss Lou picked up where she left off by working for the Jamaica Social Welfare Commission for the next four years, moving around the island, collecting stories, proverbs, riddles and recording games from 1955 to 1959, while simultaneously teaching drama and folklore at The University of the West Indies. This dual role as collector and teacher allowed her to share and expand upon what she was unearthing in the rural villages and towns of Jamaica. What is often overlooked or not understood is that Miss Lou had embarked on an anticolonial project. She knew instinctively, with towering intellect and razor-sharp wit, that in order to liberate the Jamaican people she had to excavate and disseminate their ancestral fables and contemporary anecdotes. Within this diverse, organic canon of oral history, African culture was embedded and retained, constituting a mercurial, impenetrable (to outsiders) mechanism of resistance to oppression. Language is a form of domination, which is why the British strategically separated the enslaved Africans from the same linguistic group and forbade them from speaking in their native tongue. However, language is also a form of resistance to oppression, and the Jamaican language, which is now recognized globally, and which a few universities in North American has already accepted as a foreign language, has been fundamental in allowing the Jamaican masses to express both their love and resilience as well as their outrage to hundreds of years of brutal, physical and psychological oppression. Miss Lou understood this, so despite ridicule and not being recognized as a legitimate poet, Louise Bennett insisted and persisted in writing in the Jamaican national language. Thus, Miss Lou’s anti-colonial cultural project was not only strategic but supported the anti-colonial and pre-independence movement in fundamental ways as it not only shored up the people’s sense of self, but it also gave them a fluid structure of cultural foundation; feet on which to stand proud and make demands on their own behalf. Likewise, Louise Bennett came to realize that she had to filter and recalibrate much of what she was learning from and among the people, hence she developed a radio monologue, entitled Miss Lou’s View, which ran from 1965 to 1982, three years short of 20 years. What were the content and timbre of these views? What was Miss Lou advocating for? If we were to have access to this body of work, we would be able to extrapolate much about the society then and the various sentiments that were being expressed. A warrior of words, Miss Lou took on Jamaican culture and singularly hoisted it up for the masses to appreciate and respect so they knew demwas smaddy and who dem was being was good enough. Demneva ahfi imitate nubodi. Tenk yu fah mekin we sweet talk get respect Tenk yu fah tekin de time fi collect wi proverbs and riddles Tenk yu fah localizin pantomime Tenk yu fah Aunty Roachy and chattin people bizness Tenk yu fah lovin the best and worse ah we Tenk yu fah bein a proud Jamaican Wi honor yu as wi ancestor Have a boonoonoonus birthday!!! PROFESSOR OPAL PALMER ADISA Cultural and Gender Activist Happy birthday, Miss Lou Louise Bennett-Coverley aka Miss Lou FILE GUE S T COLUMN I S T Michael Witter
THE MONTHLY GLEANER | SEPTEMBER 7 - OCTOBER 7, 2023 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 10 You remembered their books. You remembered their forms. You remembered their schedules. They’re safe and reduce the risk of severe preventable illnesses, like measles, polio, chickenpox, flu and COVID-19. Talk to your child’s health care provider to make sure they are up to date with their immunizations. For more information, visit nyc.gov/studentvaccines or call 311. Vaccines are required for children to stay in school and day care. Be sure to remember their vaccines. Eric Adams Mayor Ashwin Vasan, MD, PhD Commissioner THE ST. Jago Past Students’ Association, USA-INC (NewYork Chapter) presents its O.R. Bell Laureate and Reunion Banquet on Saturday, September 23, at Antun’s, 96-43 Springfield Blvd, Queens, NewYork. The O. R. Bell Awards Banquet serves as the core of the organisation’s fundraising efforts as we try to raise funds to complete projects at the school and to help maintain its infrastructure. Funds generated have also been the most significant source of funding for scholarship programmes. The 2023 honouree and recipient of the Distinguished Service Award will be Daphne Pettigrew-Innerarity, an educator of 25 years who also served in representational politics as a councillor from 1998-2003, East Central St Catherine Division. St Jago High School, located in Spanish Town, Jamaica, was founded in 1744 and is one of the oldest continuously operated schools in the Western Hemisphere. This year, the association celebrates 279 years since the founding of St Jago High School, and 37 years of the founding of the association and service to our alma mater. Events THE EDITOR, Madam: September 7, 2023 will mark two years since the first CARICOM-Africa Union (AU) Summit, hosted by Kenya. The first Summit of Heads decided to establish for celebration, September 7th of every year, as AfricaCARICOM Day. The PJ Patterson Institute for Africa Caribbean Public Advocacy strongly supports the opportunity it presents for activities geared at greater African and Caribbean unity. The Caribbean and the African continent share a similar history of an oppressive, exploitative experience. In our most recent history of Independence, CARICOM and Africa were supportive of each other and drew inspiration from the works of individuals that advocated for freedom and instilled the hopes of the Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey, who declared, “Africa for the Africans at home or abroad”. Since our independence, CARICOM and the AU nations have had many fora within which their representatives have discussed and made several agreements, such as the African, Caribbean and the Pacific Group of States since the 1970s. The CARICOM-AU Summit of 2021 was the most significant for present and future cooperation and unification. The spheres for cooperation in education, tourism, technology and knowledge exchange, economic transformation, governance, and the creative industries are many and prospects of rewards so great, that it is long overdue for an entrenchment to be made for this purpose. In support of Africa-CARICOM Day, the PJ Patterson Institute for Africa Caribbean Public Advocacy will be collaborating with the Office of the Vice-Chancellor of The University of theWest Indies (UWI) and its entities the Office of Global Affairs and the Centre for Reparation Research, to host the first Africa-CARICOM Day Seminar at the Regional Headquarters of The University of theWest Indies on September 7 at 9:30 EST, which will be broadcast on UWI TV and CARICOMYouTube and Facebook channels. The public is invited to watch and participate from wherever you are on the African continent, in the Caribbean, or in the diaspora in this seminal event that will feature participation fromVice-Chancellor of the UWI, Sir Hilary Beckles; StatesmanIn-Residence at the PJ Patterson Institute for Africa Caribbean Public Advocacy, the Most Honourable P.J. Patterson; Secretary General of CARICOM Dr Carla Barnett; noted academics and public officials and student leaders. The PJ Patterson Institute for Africa Caribbean Public Advocacy is committed to the cause of building bridges between nations and the people of the AU and CARICOM to engage in activities which will promote a truly symbolic relationship. This seminar is intended to be a building block in the process of forging unity between our nations and people. P.J. PATTERSON Statesman-In-Residence The PJ Patterson Institute for Africa Caribbean Public Advocacy Building bridges between Africa Union and CARICOM [EDITORIAL] In our most recent history of Independence, CARICOM and Africa were supportive of each other and drew inspiration from the works of individuals that advocated for freedom and instilled the hopes of the Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey, who declared, “Africa for the Africans at home or abroad”.
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