8 THIS NEWSPAPER fully understands that countries have sovereign control over national borders, and thus, their right to determine who and under what circumstances they allow foreigners to enter them. WE EXPECT, too, that states will share concerns with friendly countries, especially if the matters that cause unease could threaten their domestic security. Despite a number of actions by Donald Trump’s administration with potentially negative implications for their own interests, the countries that constitute the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) consider the United States to be a friendly neighbour and partner that would engage them in cordial discussion of any issue on which Washington needs clarity. That appears not to have been the case with respect to a list of 43 countries – including five CARICOM members – which emerged last week, against which the United States could enhance travel restrictions over security concerns. With respect to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia, Washington’s reported concern is with their citizenship-by-investment schemes, which, apparently, it believes aren’t sufficiently robust to keep out criminals and terrorists. Presumably, they would be given 60 days to explain themselves and fix the perceived problems, or risk being lumped on one of the other lists in which receiving US travel visas would be made extremely difficult, or impossible. Antigua and Barbuda, which disputes the implicit characterisation of its citizenship-by-investment scheme as loose, has asked the US State Department for better particulars on its supposed “deficiencies”. Which is quite appropriate. COORDINATED STRATEGY However, as The Gleaner has previously insisted, this issue further highlights the need for a coordinated strategy by CARICOM for engaging the United States in the current dispensation. Indeed, while four CARICOM countries are now flagged for their citizenship-by-investment schemes, others with similar arrangements might also be targeted. For instance, Grenada operates a scheme not dissimilar to what exists in its partner states. In St Vincent and the Grenadines, the political opposition has promised to introduce one if it comes to office. While Barbados does not offer immediate citizenship, it has a programme that provides long-term residency, with the prospect of citizenship, for people who pay for the golden visa. Gang-related political instability in Haiti, ostensibly, may be the reason for the action against that country. Who is to say that the same argument cannot be used for other countries with high gang-related crime, even if it is not at the level, and does not have the destabilising impact as in Haiti? Citizenship/visa-by-investment schemes are not unique to the Caribbean. They exist in several countries, such as Portugal, where an investment of €280,000 entitles a foreigner to a golden visa, similar to that of Barbados. In Greece, the requirement was an investment of €250,000, until the recent increase to €500,000. In the United States, there is an EB-5 visa programme in which foreigners can get residency for investing around US$1 million. It attracted 8,000 in 2012. President Trump recently floated a so-called “gold card” to attract the world’s wealthiest people to America by paying US$5 million. PROVIDE LOOPHOLES Critics say that these schemes can allow for money laundering, provide loopholes to escape law enforcement in other countries, and for wealthy people to avoid paying taxes in the places where they make their money. Caribbean countries insist, even if there were early hiccups, that they are compliant with global regulations to prevent the issues that are likely to worry the Americans. In any event, Antigua and Barbuda said that it was committed to maintaining strong bilateral relations with the US and its financial regulations were aligned with the US Treasury Department’s sanctions policy. Citizenship applications were not accepted from countries on the US’s banned list, and applicants were rigorously vetted, including by INTERPOL. It makes little sense for regional countries, in these circumstances, to individually make their cases to Washington, each hoping for special dispensation from Uncle Sam. If he ever was an avuncular personality, much has shifted. Even as a united group, CARICOM’s voice is less than powerful. Yet the sum of the institution is still potentially greater than the product of its individual parts. The approach, therefore, has to be clear, structured, focused, and coordinated; like the response to the intention to blacklist countries that accept Cuban medical assistance. No to travel threat THE WEEKLY GLEANER | MARCH 20 - APRIL 19, 2025 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | EDITORIAL / NEWS Neil Armstrong/Gleaner Writer TORONTO: TO MARK International Women’s Day (IWD), the Jamaican Canadian Association (JCA) Women’s Committee held its 25th annual “Women Recognizing Women” celebration at which eleven women were honoured for their achievements. AMONG THE eight recognised for inspiring change in their communities were journalist and style influencer, Sophia Findlay, who freelances with The Gleaner, and Adaoma Patterson, a past president of the JCA and member of the advisory council for the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Medical School and the University’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Communities Committee. The others were educator Barbara McFarlane; Dagma Koyi, executive director of the non-profit organization, REST Centre; Lanre Tunji-Ajayi, founder of the Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario; Josette Drummond, an educator and entrepreneur; Dr. Beverly-Jean Daniel, an associate professor and director of the School of Child and Youth Care at Toronto Metropolitan University; community organizer Gwyneth Chapman. In addition, awards were presented to dedicated volunteers: Grace Golding, Andrine White, and Astrid Helena Hayden. “It is giving me a renewed confidence and commitment to continue the work, whether through ‘Sofi Style’ or my journalism, to be the storyteller that the community needs,” said Findlay who has been a journalist for over 30 years, starting at the groundbreaking Contrast newspaper in Toronto, and has worked at The Gleaner, Jamaica Observer, and in broadcast media. Patterson, who served as president of the JCA from 2016 to 2022 and is an active volunteer there, said she became a member almost 30 years ago. She was surprised that she was selected for a “Women Who Inspire Change” award. Dr. Daniel said being an award recipient is about remembering all the women who went before her. “All of those women who paved the pathway that made it possible for me to stand here and it is my sincerest hope that the work that I have done and will continue to do will also be a beacon for those younger generations who are coming after us.” After a 17-year teaching career, Drummond launched Polkadots Playland & Montessori Academy in 2016, an innovative indoor playground and private Montessori school. “It’s quite humbling to be honest. I’m a teacher, I have a school in Brampton that does work with children with special needs, and I always say when you’re in the social field you just keep your head down because it’s heart work so the recognitions and things like that don’t necessarily come. This a great honour.” White, who volunteers with international students at the JCA, said she did not realise how much she was doing until a colleague mentioned it. “When you’re doing it from your heart, from passion, then it comes naturally. It means a lot to me to know that I’m being honoured for the work that I do.” McFarlane is deeply passionate about education and community empowerment, particularly within the black community. As the founder of REST Centre in the Peel Region, Koyi has revolutionised support for black youth experiencing housing insecurity. Tunji-Ajayi is a respected leader and global patient advocate for the Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) community and other hereditary blood disorders. She is a co-founder of the Global Alliance of Sickle Cell Disease Organizations (GASCDO) and the Global Action Network for Sickle Cell & Other Inherited Blood Disorders (GANSID). Chapman works tirelessly as a community organizer, leader and volunteer to mobilize the community, advocate for change and generate strategies for political action. Camille Hannays-King, IWD coordinator, said the honourees embody the resilience, leadership, and empowerment of International Women’s Day and the Women Who Inspire Change award. “Their contributions strengthen the spirit of our community.” The keynote speaker was Ginelle Skerritt, an award-winning senior executive and community change maker, who was the first black CEO of York Region Children’s Aid Society and regional director of UNICEF Ontario. Well-known storyteller and emcee Sandra Whiting was the host of the event. Eleven women honoured by the Jamaican Canadian Association Recipients of the Women Who Inspire Change award presented by the JCA Women’s Committee on Sunday to recognize International Women’s Day. From left; Adaoma Patterson, Lanre Tunji-Ajayi, Gwyneth Chapman, Dr. Beverly-Jean Daniel, Josette Drummond, Dagma Koyi, Sophia Findlay, and Barbara McFarlane. CONTRIBUTED moya.thomas@gleanerjm.com Moya Thomas anthony.smith@gleanerjm.com Anthony Smith - Chief Executive Officer The opinions on this page, except for The Editorial, do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Gleaner. The Gleaner [ EDITORIAL ]
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUzNTI=