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April 2016

  Disaster brews in Jamaica’s Appleton Sugar Estate

There is growing tension among sugar workers in St Elizabeth following a decision by the Jamaica Court of Appeal to uphold an injunction obtained by Algix Jamaica Limited against J Wray & Nephew, which has resulted in a suspension of operations at Appleton Sugar Estate in the parish.

Algix in January filed an appeal for Appleton to cease production of sugar, which has resulted in the cancellation of the 2016 sugar cane harvest. The sugar harvest normally runs from January through June. Algix, in filing the injunction, claimed that Appleton was discharging effluent from the sugar factory that was killing its fish, an allegation that J Wray & Nephew has denied. The fish company has since filed a US$49-million claim.

This closure has created a disaster as Appleton employs over 600 people and  also caters to more than 800 third-party cane farmers who stand to lose upwards of $300 million because of non-production. The whole area is almost totally dependent on Appleton so the impact has been devastating on everyday life.

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Haiti lawmakers approve second nominee for post of PM

It was second time lucky for interim President Jocelerme Privert after The Haitian Parliament has approved President Jocelerme Privert‘s choice for prime minister less than a week after rejecting United States-trained economist Fritz Jean.

Lawmakers in this French-speaking Caribbean Community country gave the nod to professor of administrative law, Enex Jean-Charles, who has also served as an advisor to several heads of state. The Lower House Chamber of Deputies voted in favour of Jean-Charles serving as a transitional government’s prime minister by a 78-1 vote, with two deputies abstaining.

The Senate had unanimously ratified his policy statement  days later.

Well known in politics since 1988 as ‘the friend of everyone’, the new interim prime minister is a graduate of the University of Missouri in Columbia, as well as the University of Brussels.

Since 1991, the 55-year-old, who is professor of administrative law at the Faculty of Law and Economics of the State University of Haiti, has published numerous articles and research reports on the administrative policy development, local participation and decision-making in administrative matters. He is the author of the Haitian Administrative Law Manual.

Previously the  legislators voted down Jean and the Provisional Electoral Commission (CEP) that is needed to organise the twice-postponed presidential run-off vote, following President Michel Martelly’s departure from office on February 7 without any successor being elected.

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Jamaican model sues Trump

Jamaican model, Alexia Palmer, said in a lawsuit against the Donald Trump Model Management  agency that she received only $3,880 plus cash advances totaling $1,100 over a three year period. Even though Trump Model Management filed immigration documents to obtain a special work visa, called an H-1B, for Palmer, which certified she would work “full-time” and earn $75,000 a year.

“That’s what slavery people do,” Miss Palmer told ABC News. “You work and don’t get no money.” The agency took 80 percent of her earnings as expenses and fees but only found her 21 shoots over three years. And under the terms of her visa, she could not work anywhere else if she wanted to stay in the U.S.

Trump's attorney, Alan Garten, disputed Palmer’s claim, saying she was treated the same as any other fashion industry prospect and made little money because “she had a lack of work."

Immigration experts told ABC News that this type of arrangement -- bringing in a worker on a promise of pay that never comes -- is a troubling abuse of the foreign work program.

For the billionaire real estate mogul, the SoHo-based Trump Model Management is a little-known holding in a vast global empire. The modeling business brought the Republican presidential contender between $1 million and $5 million in annual earnings, according to his public financial disclosure reports.

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  Protesters force Bermuda’s Govt. to back down

Five days of protest action that saw the withdrawal of labour, and the historic blocking of the House of Assembly, has resulted in the withdrawal of Bermuda’s Pathways to Status Bill. The announcement was made by Premier Michael Dunkley. The news was greeted by loud cheers by protesters on Parliament Hill.

The withdrawal also means that public transportation, garbage collection, and other services disrupted are now back in service.

To “enable further community input” the Premier announced the Immigration Bill will be removed from the House of Assembly’s Order Paper, and Parliament will “consider immigration reforms in stages.

During the protests Bermuda’s House of Assembly was closed  after legislators were locked out by protesters who formed a human ring around the building

Government wanted to usher in the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Amendment Act 2016 that would open the door for long-term guest workers to gain permanent residency after 15 years and Bermuda status (citizenship) after 20 years but the plan has split the country.

Home Affairs Minister Michael Fahy has said amending the 1956 Immigration Act would bring Bermuda in line with the European Convention on Human Rights, generate revenue and help to address the decreasing work population.

Even though Bermuda has emerged from six years of recession the island is struggling to improve its fragile economy.

However, Chamber President John Wight said defended the proposed bill as needed to provide more permanence to guest workers who have met minimum threshold limits of residency in Bermuda. He claimed that with an ageing population and “more people drawing upon the Government’s bank account than paying into it, Bermuda must increase the numbers of people contributing to the system through increased employment and population expansion”. However, the protestors did not buy it.

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New drone rules for Caribbean countries

Caribbean countries are grappling with the safe use of drones.

The Grenada Government have warned drone users that they must first obtain permission from the police before allowing the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) into the air. At present, Grenada has no policy with regards to the operations of drones and is collaborating with the Antigua-based Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCA) to develop a policy for the use of drones. In the absent of an official policy the police will decide who receive permission for using drones in Grenada’s airspace.

Barbados recently announced a ban on using drones in its airspace until legislation and or a policy is enacted and enforced.

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Jamaica tells United Nations to “legalize it”

Jamaica not only defended its decision to decriminalize small quantities of marijuana at the United Nations, but also called on the UN to review the classification of cannabis as a dangerous drug with no medical use.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamina Johnson-Smith told a United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on drug policy that in developing drug policies, “one size does not fit all”.

She said that while it will adhere to its obligations under the Drug Control Convention, Jamaica maintains that countries should be allowed the flexibility to craft appropriate laws and policies that take into account other important elements, such as different cultural perspectives and practices, as well as consideration of the health, well-being, human rights, human development and security of citizens.

The Jamaica government amended the Dangerous Drugs Act last year to give tickets for possession of less than two ounces of cannabis, instead of making it a felony offence and create a legal regime governing the sacramental use of marijuana by Rastafarians.

It also established provisions for the medical, scientific and therapeutic uses of the plant, and set up a Cannabis Licensing Authority to regulate and monitor the allowed uses of the substance.

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Canada to legalize marijuana

The Canadian government will introduce legislation next year that will make the sale of marijuana legal. It will make Canada one of largest Western economies to permit the drug's widespread use.
Canada's Health Minister Jane Philpott has pledged to keep marijuana out of the hands of children and profits out of the hands of criminals. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pushed for legalisation during his campaign.
Medical use of marijuana is already legal in Canada. Some have argued that legal marijuana would reduce stress on Canada's criminal justice system.

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Jamaican invention helps with Flint Michigan water crisis

Jamaican entrepreneur Jovan Evans created the Pump-n-Spray for individuals who live in areas where there is a consistent lack of access to running water in Jamaica. The product transforms a four- or five-gallon bottle of water into a portable shower with the same pressure as a standard indoor shower.

Servants Without Borders (SWB), a Washington-based non-profit, has partnered with Evans, the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship - Caribbean's (BCoEC) entrepreneur and creator of the Pump-n-Spray, to aid Flint residents in the United States as they cope with lead contamination of their water supply.

Colin Duncan, one of the principals of SWB, learned of the invention while on a working visit to Jamaica. He thought it would be perfect for Flint, Michigan water crisis.

Having vetted the idea, the SWB team visited Flint and met with residents, civic leaders and officials who expressed immediate interested in the product.

Last month, SWB distributed approximately 200 of the Pump-n-Spray in Flint. Since then, requests for the product have picked up considerable steam and a second distribution is planned in a few weeks.

The issue of bathing and showering has gone unaddressed until now. Approximately, 45,000 homes in Flint have been impacted by the water crisis. With the introduction of the Pump-n-Spray, residents can take showers, wash dishes, and begin to introduce a sense of normalcy to daily activities. Designed as a solution for a common Third World problem, this portable shower is helping to solve a crisis in a First World city.

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Jamaica Gov’t turns to used cars for cops

Jamaica’s new Security Minister Robert Montague says the allocation of funds to shore up the Jamaica Constabulary Force motor vehicle fleet will be used to buy used vehicles instead of new ones. A police car lasts for an average of 30 months because police cars are not supposed to rest, it must work and work and work. ...So rather than buying 100 new cars, we can get 400 used cars ...What it means is that it will get the police mobile,” he added.

He also disclosed that using natural gas to power police vehicles is also being explored.

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West Indies cricketers take 3 world titles

The glory days of West Indies cricket seemed long past. Recently, they have become the beating stick for everyone.  So it was quite a shock when they took not one, not two, but three world titles in the ICC T20 World Cup cricket. T20 cricket is very exciting as the winner must score the greater score in 20 overs.

West Indies wins maiden ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup
West Indies rode on its fast-bowling arsenal to win the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup for the first time with a tense five-wicket victory over three-time winner India in the final in Mirpur on Sunday.
The pace trio of Alzarri Joseph, Ryan John and Chemar Holder shone on a spicy, moisture-laden pitch to demolish India’s fancied batting line-up for 145 after electing to field.
Sarfaraz Khan played a lone hand for the Rahul Dravid-coached Indian team with 51, his fifth half-century in six matches, as Joseph and John picked up three wickets each and Keemo Paul two.
West Indies slipped to 77 for five in reply against the steady India attack before Keacy Carty (52 not out) and Paul (40 not out) put on 69 for the unfinished sixth wicket to steer their team home with three deliveries to spare.

It was the first major title for the West Indies at any level since Darren Sammy’s senior team won the ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka in 2012. Skipper Shimron Hetmyer’s boys won the tournament after defeating three sub-continent teams – Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India – in the knockout rounds.

 Windies Women down Aussies to clinch first T20 World Cup
Teenager Hayley Matthews and Captain Stafanie Taylor fashioned half-centuries as West Indies Women produced a superb run chase to beat three-time defending champions Australia Women by eight wickets and lift their first-ever Twenty20 World Cup title here yesterday.

Set 149 for victory at the historic Eden Gardens, West Indies Women reached their target with three balls to spare, with the 18-year-old Matthews top-scoring with 66 from 45 balls and the in-form Taylor getting 59 from 57 balls.

Men win in nail-biting, heart-stopping, jaw-dropping finale!
Here the men not only won, but probably in the most excinting cricket final ever. Carlos Brathwaite calmly belted four astonishing sixes off the first four deliveries of the final over to catapult West Indies to extraordinary four-wicket victory over England. The Caribbean made history by sweeping both the men’s and women’s titles at the 2016 Twenty20 World Cup in India.

With West Indies requiring a difficult 19 from the final over in pursuit of 156 for victory at Eden Gardens, the right-handed Brathwaite cleared the ropes four times in succession off seamer Ben Stokes to hand West Indies a spectacular victory with two balls to spare.

Brathwaite finished on 34 not out from just 10 deliveries, but it was veteran right-hander Marlon Samuels, who stroked an unbeaten 85 from 66 balls, who was the architect of the victory.

 
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