Big Cash Prizes for Fans at SKYEXCH 6IXTY

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: ZIZ Broadcasting Corporation

The SKYEXCH 6IXTY will feature big cash giveaways at every single match as cricket’s newest format gets underway with a bang in St Kitts & Nevis from 24 to 28 August.

The tournament’s title sponsor, SKYEXCH, will be doing a US$500 CASH DROP during every match of the 6IXTY. With as many as four matches a day this means there will be up to US$2000 a day given away to lucky fans.

The prizes will be awarded to the fan who does the best job at grabbing the attention of the TV cameras and the big screen in the stadium during the CASH DROP period. With match day tickets starting from just US$5 fans can expect world class cricket for an affordable price and the chance to go home with a big cash prize.

Pete Russell, SKYEXCH 6IXTY CEO, said: “This is a fantastic way to bring fans even closer to the action and reward our amazing supporters for their continued patronage of cricket in the region. There will be close to US$10,000 given away over the five days of the tournament and we would like to thank SKYEXCH for their generosity and their commitment to bringing fans into the action.’

Tickets for the SKYEXCH 6IXTY are on sale now at 6ixtycricket.com with the box office at Warner Park opening on 17 August.

Fans can look forward to the following at The 6IXTY:

Each batting team has six wickets – at the fall of the sixth wicket they are all out
Each batting team has two PowerPlay overs. They can unlock a third PowerPlay by hitting two sixes in the first 12 balls. This extra PowerPlay over can be taken at any time between overs 3-9
There will be 30 balls bowled from one end before the action switches to the other end for the final 30 balls
The 30 balls will be delivered as 5 separate overs, with no bowler being able to bowl more than 2 overs for the innings.
If teams do not bowl their overs within the allotted time a member of their team is removed from the field for the final six balls
Fans will vote for the timing of a “Mystery Fan Ball” where a batter can’t be dismissed by the bowler

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PNP slams Gov’t over ‘disrespectful’ approach to teacher migration Loop Jamaica

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News Loop News

The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) has described as “painful, hurtful and disrespectful” the purported lack of concern by Education and Youth Minister Fayval Williams over the migration of teachers from Jamaica.

The Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), in a media interview last week, put the country on notice that a massive exodus of teachers is looming, as 400 educators have already left this year for lucrative jobs in the US.

But, Education Minister Fayval Williams has said there is no need for concern regarding the migration of teachers, as every year the sector loses educators. She said, too, that she was not seeing a negative impact from this year’s migration.

Junior Spokesperson on Education and Training, Rasheen Roper Robinson, has chastised Williams for her remarks and has called for improvement in teacher compensation to be urgently addressed.

“You have to remember that teachers not only go into the classes to teach, but they are administrators in their own right. They are planners and supervisors, and then they are not getting the time, in many instances, to curate and have a second stream of income,” she explained.

“So, we have to give due diligence to them in terms of compensation and in terms of avenues that could be created for them to alleviate some of the stress… and some of the issues they are facing… Can we negotiate and also look at a shift system for teachers? These are some of the things we are looking at to keep our teachers here,” she continued.

“So, to have a minister and ministry to say that they are not concerned or alarmed that teachers are leaving is not only painful and hurtful but disrespectful, and we want better for our teachers,” Roper Robinson indicated.

For his part, Opposition spokesman on Education and Training, Senator Damion Crawford, admitted that teacher migration is not a new phenomenon, but it is continuing at an alarming rate.

He said the ability to replace teachers is getting even more difficult, as there is an increasing demand for local teachers by overseas recruiters in the US and Canada, for example.

Crawford highlighted that based on information he has received from local education stakeholders, including principals, the Jamaican teachers are being recruited in the areas of mathematics, science, and technical subjects.

He noted that the education minister continues to ignore the long-term impacts of teacher migration of the education system.

“Minister Williams, however, ignores that at any point that is chosen, the teachers employed to the system will deplete by approximately 30 per cent in 10 years, and 60 per cent in 20 years,” he suggested.

Citing interviews he has done with teachers who have left, Crawford said their reasons for leaving include “the inability to experience a reasonable quality of life on a teacher’s salary and the unlikely attainment of desirables such as houses and cars, the social disregard for teachers despite the challenges”, among others.

To that end, Crawford outlined a raft of proposed solutions to curb the mass exodus of teachers from Jamaica’s shores.

They are:

Immediately invest in the upgrading of staffrooms to create an adequate and comfortable environment for teachers to work from.Consider motor vehicle concessions of varying percentages for teachers serving five years, 10 years and 15 years unbroken. Reduce student loans by five per cent for every year, so that teachers stay within the public education system.Arrange for special teachers’ limit of possibly $14 million per person from the NHT, with a one per cent interest rate which transforms to the normal loan once the teacher leaves the system. Negotiate package deals with telecommunication providers for teachers to receive Internet free of cost. Create teacher/public sector housing schemes with rent control strategies in desirable communities that could be facilitated by the Housing Agency of Jamaica.Review the funds being allocated for STEM schools for students, to a STEM school for teachers, just training the teachers.Hold further negotiations with private sector practitioners to offer teachers adequate discounts. Reduce the red tape for principals to fill temporary teaching spots in the short-term, with retired and pre-trained teachers.Negotiate with the private sector to allow staff so inclined, two or three-hour sessions to practise or participate in teaching courses that are experiencing a shortage.Offer teaching training in the summer months, free of cost, for all university students and welcome others with degrees and diplomas who may be willing to consider teaching, at some point in the future. Recruit retired teachers to be mentors to less experienced teachers.

Crawford said: “We believe that these [measures] will assist in the immediate mitigation of the current problems being faced by principals to recruit teachers, but also, it will assist in ensuring that Jamaica remains competitive when teachers are being recruited for all spots in this world.”

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Jehovah’s Witnesses resume public ministry Loop Jamaica

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News Loop News

For many Jehovah’s Witnesses living in Jamaica, a day well-spent in the ministry includes sharing with the public.

Jehovah’s Witnesses can often be seen making use of carts featuring a positive message and free Bible-based literature.

Then came the pandemic, and their public ministry was suspended.

Now, some 24 months later, Jehovah’s Witnesses in Jamaica and around the world have recommenced their public preaching work.

“I missed seeing people face to face,” said Morale Morant, a regular volunteer at the Sunset Beach location in Montego Bay. “We are able to talk one on one.”

It’s no wonder that when asked about her reaction to the news that the public ministry would be resuming, Morale said: “I’m very happy”.

Jehovah’s Witnesses are also set to resume door-to-door ministry next month.

The Christian organisation returned to its public ministry for the first time since March 2020 when all in-person forms of their volunteer work were suspended out of concern for the health and safety of the community.

In response to the global decision, scores of congregations in Jamaica have now reopened their “cart” locations where people had become accustomed to seeing them.

The local congregations will also resume free in-person Bible studies along with personal visits to those who have invited them back to their homes, the organisation said in a statement.

This comes two months after the organisation resumed in-person meetings at Kingdom Halls.

“While we understand that the pandemic is not over, we are entering into a phase of learning to live with COVID,” said Robert Hendriks, branch-wide spokesperson for Jehovah’s Witnesses. “That means we need to find more ways to personally interact with our neighbours. Being out in the community and having conversations with our neighbours is accomplishing that goal.”

Mobile displays of Bible-based literature have been part of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ public ministry in Jamaica for a little over five years, starting with its first location at a shopping centre in Spanish Town, St Catherine. Since then, “cart witnessing” has spread to several areas all across the island.

Elaine Scudamore, who is a regular volunteer at a location in Montego Bay had this to say: “The public ministry helps people to see we truly care for them. We take the time to share the hope of a better future with them. They find comfort, and it helps them cope with present issues.”

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Almost 1,000 residents benefit from JEP health fair series Loop Jamaica

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News Loop News

Jamaica Energy Partners (JEP) Group recently concluded its health, dental and wellness fair series, catering to almost 1,000 residents from West/East Kingston and Old Harbour Bay in St Catherine.

For almost a decade, via the group’s corporate social responsibility portfolio, the health and wellness fairs have been the marquee health initiative where residents of each community receive free medical, dental, and pharmaceutical services.

This year was no different; over three consecutive Fridays, JEP provided world-class medical and non-medical services for community stakeholders, many of whom suffer from chronic illnesses.

“Despite the current climate and challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic, this initiative, among others, epitomises the JEP Group’s commitment and passion for giving back to our neighbours. The world’s current health status has engendered a sundry of challenges, compelling many to reflect upon the importance of preserving one’s physical and mental well-being. At JEP Group, the health of our internal and external stakeholders is crucial to why we do what we do. This year we anticipated doing even more – and that we did!” said President and CEO of JEP Group, Wayne McKenzie.

McKenzie also lauded “the tireless efforts” of his CSR department and their team of volunteers (community members, JEP Group scholarship recipients and Registered Apprenticeship Programme participants) while expressing gratitude for all the partners, some of whom have consistently been on board.

“We look forward to expanding this health fair series to provide medical and non-medical services to many more Jamaicans who either may be unable to afford these services or don’t see the need for them,” added McKenzie.

Having to pivot because of the pandemic, the group re-employed its ‘appointment-only strategy’, encouraging residents to pre-register to ensure unnecessary congestion at the locations, facilitating less wait time and adequate space for them to maintain the required 6 ft social distancing.

Additionally, JEP designed an SMS campaign to remind residents to be on time, travel with the relevant forms of identification and wear a mask. Upon entry and before entering registration/holding areas and the dental clinic, all residents were subject to mandatory temperature monitoring and hand sanitizing.

The improved health and well-being of the patrons were made possible through our partnerships for this year’s execution. They included: Spanish Town and Kingston Public Hospitals, which committed the doctors needed for the respective days; Sagicor Life and Health, National Health Fund; Prescription Plus; St Catherine Public Health Department; Talk About Your Business Safely (TABS) – which provided HIV and Syphilis Testing; Passport, Immigration, Citizenship Agency (PICA); National Council on Drug Abuse; Pure Country Juices; Family Planning Jamaica; Registrar General Department (RGD) and Beulah Baptist Institutional Church.

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Ministry keeping an eye on monkeypox, other viruses

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

News

Dr Roshan Parasram

The Ministry of Health has said it is keeping an eye on monkeypox and other viruses as they emerge.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Roshan Parasram said the ministry had tested 11 samples for monkeypox so far but all were negative.

But through its epidemiological surveillance pathways it was looking at all emerging diseases while monitoring and evaluating as well as putting mitigation strategies in place.

Apart from monkeypox, there were global media reports of a new virus in the family of henipaviruses called Langya.

He added that the ministry took note of it and continues to monitor it through its networks.

As of August 11 there were 34,000 confirmed global cases of monkeypox in 88 countries with new cases in Guadeloupe and St Martin, Parasram said.

Even though there have been no cases of monkeypox in Trinidad and Tobago so far, Parasram advised people travelling to areas with increased prevalence of cases, like the US and Europe, to avoid close skin-to-skin contact with people who have symptoms, avoid touching things used by infected people, wash their hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitiser, wear a mask and stay home if ill.

Principal Medical Officer, Institutions, Dr Maryam Abdool-Richards was also at the conference and shared some statistics on covid19 patients in the healthcare system.

She said the overall occupancy in the parallel health care system was 41 per cent.

The ministry continued to see a trend of people who were not fully vaccinated requiring medical care, she added.

Between July 22, 2021 and August 10, 80 per cent of those hospitalised were not fully vaccinated and she reminded people that vaccination was beneficial.

Abdool-Richards said there was an increase in ambulance pick-ups for covid19 patients – from home to hospital – over the last month.

Over the past five weeks there was an upward trend in increased confirmed covid19 cases, hospitalisations, Accident and Emergency cases and ambulance use for covid19 patients.

She added that the statistics reminded TT that the pandemic was still present and urged people to practise healthy behaviours.

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Robbery at gunpoint at Princes Town fast-food outlet

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

News

File photo

A man who pretended to be a customer at a fast-food restaurant in Princes Town robbed a female worker at gunpoint on Tuesday night.

A police report said the man walked into Robin’s Fried Chicken outlet at Naparima Mayaro Road at around 7.30 pm and placed an order.

The 21-year-old worker was preparing it when the man took out a gun hidden in his waistband. He pointed the gun at her and told her to hand over money.

She emptied the cash register and handing him about $2,000.

The man walked off, and the police were contacted.

Princes Town police responded, but the gunman was nowhere to be found.

PC Regis is continuing investigations.

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T&TEC still working on damaged Rousillac transmission tower

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

News

The damaged TTEC electrical tower along the Solomon Hochoy Highways near Grant Trace Rousillac which was responsible for a power outage that affected 30% of the country due to a landslip on Tuesday night. – Photo by Lincoln Holder

Work began on Wedensday at the Solomon Hochoy Highway extension in Rousillac, where damage to a transmission tower led to power outages in several parts of Trinidad on Tuesday night.

On Wednesday, a statement from the TT Electricity Commission (T&TEC) said phase one of repairs to the 220KV transmission tower was “severely compromised” owing to a landslip on Tuesday.

But customers who were affected by load-shedding at 9 am had their supply restored.

The statement said, “This initial phase of repairs significantly minimises the need for rolling load-shedding over the next few days and allows T&TEC to instal several poles and attendant lines to bypass the compromised section (tower and lines).”

Photo by Lincoln Holder

The statement added that a further few brief outages might be required to carry out this solution fully.

Within a few hours, supply to the majority of affected customers was restored.

In the medium term, the utility said, “Engineering planning is ongoing to replace the damaged tower.”

An earlier statement from the commission on Wednesday said generators were brought online by the independent power producers to restore supply to about 30 per cent of the affected customers in Trinidad.

Police secure the site where the damaged TTEC electrical tower along the Solomon Hochoy Highways near Grant Trace Rousillac which was responsible for a power outage that affected 30% of the country due to a landslip on Tuesday night. Photo by Lincoln Holder

The leaning tower can be seen from a distance. But media personnel were not allowed near the damaged tower on Wednesday. There were concrete barriers on the incomplete highway extension near Grant Trace where South Western Division police stood guard.

The police allowed T&TEC and National Infrastructure Development Company Ltd workers to enter and leave the area.

Rousillac residents said electricity went off shortly after 7 pm on Tuesday and was restored around 10 pm.

The damaged TTEC electrical tower along the Solomon Hochoy Highways near Grant Trace Rousillac which was responsible for a power outage that affected 30% of the country due to a landslip on Tuesday night. Photo by Lincoln Holder

A resident said, “We did not know about the landslip, because that is in the bush area. When the electricity went off, we did not hear anything. We did not know what caused it.”

There was a long islandwide blackout on February 16 after a palmiste tree fell on a distribution line, also in Rousillac.

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Offset Teases Baby Keem-Produced First Single Off His Upcoming Solo Album

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Urban Islandz

Offset has announced that he is dropping his first solo album amid rumors that the Migos rap group is no more.

The group members have avoided answering the question about whether the group is no more and they have each announced separate projects, with Quavo and Takeoff going off on their own as a two-man band and Offset continuing solo.

On Monday, Offset announced that he was releasing the first track “54321,” from the album on Friday. The track is produced by Baby Keem for his upcoming single.

“I got my single “54321” dropping on Friday… I’m coming aggressive, shout out my boy Keem he produced the beat, he sent me the beat one night, and I heard it and I was like ‘oh yeah I gotta go crazy on this,” the rapper said in an Instagram Live.

Offset also spoke about his upcoming album as he shared what fans can expect from the strictly rap project.

“The album full of hits, full of smashes, y’all gon see how I’m coming, I’m coming, crazy like…I ain’t come to play no games, I got sh*t for the girls too like…you gotta have that soft spot for the ladies on this album cause I feel the ladies is going crazy anyway and like you getting the support from the women you gonna go next level,” he said.

The rapper has not released more details on the name of the album or when it will be released, but he has been throwing hints to fans for the last few months as he dropped several videos of him listening to his new music.

Meanwhile, Quavo and Takeoff have been releasing music on their own as the duo Unc & Phew.

The rappers recently addressed their new working dynamic in an interview with Rap Radar Podcast, where they speak about operating on the same level as Migos.

“The chemistry is the same, and the recording is the same,” Quavo said. “We always normally record by ourselves because we’re so crazy on just dropping new s**t on each other,” he said.

Migos’ label Quality Control has not addressed the rumors that the group has split, nor has any of the members officially spoken about the group’s position.

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La SMHLM offre des fournitures scolaires à certains locataires

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Martinique FranceAntilles

I BON

Rédaction Web
Mercredi 17 août 2022

fournitures – Wendy Noel

La société offre 120 kits de fournitures pour venir en aide à 120 familles dans 5 résidences.

Face à la flambée des prix, la Société martiniquaise d’HLM, en partenariat avec les associations de locataires, a souhaité préserver la symbolique de la rentrée scolaire, en offrant 120 kits de fournitures. 

Les habitants scolarisés de 5 résidences pourront ainsi récupérer leur kit et faire emballer leurs livres dans les locaux communs résidentiels mis à disposition dans le cadre de l’animation.

L’occasion également pour ces résidents de découvrir et s’inscrire aux activités proposées par les associations qui occupent les locaux au sein de leur résidence :

– Racines (Le Marin) – association Alliance Sociale,

– Toquade (Fort-de-France) – association Toquade Rilévé,

– L’Herbier (Sainte-Anne) – Association des résidents SMHLM de l’Herbier,

– Trianon (Le François) – Association de défense des locataires de Trianon,

– Morne-Pavillon (le Lamentin) – Association Pavillon en action.

Sur le même sujet

Où donner ?
Lyannaj Capoeira

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L’exposition itinérante TI KRISTOF arrive en Basse-Terre

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Guadeloupe FranceAntilles

 Elle sera inaugurée ce jeudi matin à 10 heures à Saint-Phy, à Basse-Terre.

Après avoir interpellé les petits et les grands sur les dangers de la route, Ti Kristof poursuit son tour de la Guadeloupe en s’arrêtant dans le hall d’accueil de la DEAL, DAAF et ONF à Saint-Phy, à Basse- Terre. Pour rappel, Jérôme Jean-Charles n’en est pas à sa première oeuvre. C’est un projet mené en collaboration avec Me Charles-Henry Coppet. L’oeuvre précédente du sculpteur pour la Sécurité routière a été inaugurée à Wonche, à Baie Mahault. Une sculpture qui rappelle les risques encourus quand on prend le volant alors que l’on a bu trop d’alcool ou qu’on a consommé de la drogue. Il s’agit d’une œuvre mettant en scène le personnage ” Ti Kristof “, qui implore Dieu pour que les humains prennent conscience des dangers sur la route.

L’artiste s’était également exprimé dans le cadre de la sensibilisation du téléphone au volant, puis au respect pour les 2 roues. Cette nouvelle sculpture pour le compte de la Sécurité routière est la 4e et dernière oeuvre de ce projet.

Pour cette à Basse-Terre qui durera 15 jours, du 18 août au 1er septembre 2022, il est prévu deux temps forts :

– Jeudi 18 août de 10h à 14h : propos inaugural et action de sensibilisation sur les comportements à risque avec l’atelier tapis/lunettes ” alcool ” et ” stupéfiants ” et le réactiomètre.

– Mardi 30 août de 9h à 14h : action de sensibilisation sur les comportements à risque avec l’atelier tapis/lunettes ” alcool ” et ” stupéfiants ” et le réactiomètre et le simulateur de conduite d’engin deux- roues motorisés (2RM) .

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