Barbados Food and Rum Festival launches with a fresh taste Loop Barbados

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Barbados News

Under the theme “Feed the Future”, a revamped Barbados Food and Rum Festival was launched last Friday evening.

After a two-year hiatus, the official launch, which took place August 26, kicked off with a motorcade that travelled from the headquarters of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc (BTMI) in Warrens to Golden Square Freedom Park in Bridgetown. There, the launch activities culminated in an extravagant display of the finest liquid and culinary fare which was on offer to the crowd that converged at the central location.

In her official address, Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Senator Lisa Cummins promised that the festival had returned, bigger and better than before.

“Our team has put together not just the four nights of amazing events, we have the Cask Fest, you have the Rum Festival that’s going to take place, you have the St. Lawrence-based event where in St. Lawrence Gap you’re going to have a mini carnival-type atmosphere. We’re going to be going from one location to the other, sampling food,” Minister Cummins explained.

Propelling the festival will be 28 chefs and mixologists and the minister explained that it will be receiving international coverage.

“We have a couple of familiar names that are going to be flying in as our international partners, including from the Food Network, who are going to be here to say to all of you and to the rest of the world that Barbados competes on an international stage and can hold its own alongside the best chefs in the world,” Cummins stated.

The Minister also disclosed that the BTMI had partnered with lifestyle travel magazine, Conde Nast Traveler, which would provide further international exposure for the festival and provide for one of the island’s chefs with an opportunity to visit its New York City office.

In addition, Cummins also stated that pre-launches of the festival had already taken place in all of Barbados’ major tourism source markets including the United Kingdom, New York, Washington and Canada.

The Food and Rum Festival is slated to run from October 27 to 30 but there will be several events in its lead-up, including monthly community-based culinary pop-up experiences which will be hosted in partnership with the National Cultural Foundation (NCF).

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More than just food, rum and fun for this year’s festival Loop Barbados

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Barbados News

As the Barbados Food and Rum Festival returns in 2022, it does so with a revamped focus that goes beyond mere “food and fun”.

During the official launch of the festival on August 26, recently appointed Director of Public Relations and Communications at the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc (BTMI) Aprille Thomas gave some insight into the new direction of this year’s culinary festival, which would include a ‘give-back’ component.

“This year we wanted to create a festival that is ingrained in the Barbadian community in a way that impacted a number of people, so even after October when it is done, we can still see the effects of the festival. So, what we did is we came up with a ‘Feed the Future’ theme and that is actually three scholarships that we’re going to be giving to three Barbadians. These are three Barbadians that are passionate about culinary arts…two of them are going to study at the Pommarine [Hospitality] Institute and one of them is going to further their culinary studies internationally,” Thomas explained.

She went on to add that the purpose of the festival extended beyond showing what Barbados had to offer in terms of the talent of its local chefs and mixologists, but that proceeds from those who supported the festival would be used for scholarships to further the studies of three individuals in the culinary field.

She highlighted that the “give back” initiative would support the continuity of the festival as the recipients of the scholarships would then be integrated into the Food and Rum Festival within five years.

Barbadians were encouraged by Thomas to “come out in October and party with a purpose, drink with a purpose [and] eat with a purpose” as the funds would be used to further the education and training of three persons in the culinary arts.

Minister Lisa Cummins also highlighted that this year her ministry would be partnering with Export Barbados, the private sector and the agricultural sector to develop a food accelerator that would offer individuals who create food and agricultural products an opportunity to showcase and market them.

The minister commended the BTMI’s PR team of “really young, really innovative, really creative professionals” for using the opportunity given to them to “create and execute concepts that seek not only to enhance Barbados’ tourism product but also invest in those that are coming behind them.”

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RSLPF Probes Suspected Drowning – St. Lucia Times News

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: St. Lucia Times News

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The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) is investigating a suspected drowning at Anse La Verdure Beach, Canaries,

The incident occurred around 4:20 PM on Sunday.

According to reports, a man from Vieux Fort was on a boat ride when he jumped into the water and did not surface.

The  reports indicated that the body was later recovered.

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There are no further details at present.

Headline photo: Stock image

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TRENDING

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Begeleid en faciliteer Nederlandse boeren die zich in Suriname willen vestigen

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: De Ware Tijd Online

INGEZONDEN Beste lezers, Enige tijd geleden heb ik kennisgenomen van de oproep om Nederlandse boeren te bewegen om zich in

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Holness takes aim at squatters Loop Jamaica

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News Loop News

Prime Minister Andrew Holness is warning that his Government will not stand by and allow crime and squatting to derail its plans to construct 70,000 houses across the country over the coming years.

Holness is also contending that squatters can no longer be allowed to gain access and build illegally on public property.

The planned construction of 70,000 houses was one of the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) key campaign promises heading into the 2020 General Elections.

Speaking at the handing-over ceremony of 60 keys to new homeowners at Catherine Estates in Spanish Town, St Catherine on Friday, Holness said while he understands the need for more housing developments in Jamaica, it was not right for squatting to take place.

“There are some persons who no matter how many houses you put up, they believe in going and taking over private land or public land and say it is theirs, and there are some who are audacious to say they don’t own the land, they don’t have any title for the land, but yet they selling the land,” he said.

Further, he said there are some persons who even demand that the Government build roads to get to the illegally acquired lands.

“They want the Government to put water there, and Government didn’t even know about it (the illegally acquired land), and they want title after spending all this money building on the land. It’s a real challenge,” shared Holness.

To further explain the extent to which squatters will go, the prime minister pointed to satellite survey which showed one community in St Catherine where squatting is prevalent.

“… When we did the satellite survey, we see some massive structures going up; 50 times the size of what is here (in Catherine Estates). None of those people have titles for the land!

“I’m being very clear when I say, ‘We will not allow you to capture and take the public property!’” warned Holness.

Meanwhile, Holness said more Jamaicans are prioritising, and he is proud to be delivering homes across the country.

In noting that the demand outstrips the homes that are currently available locally, he said this situation “has only served to fuel our resolve to ensure that more Jamaicans can turn their own keys”.

The prime minister pointed to the Catherine Estate development in Spanish Town as one of the largest housing developments in St Catherine since Greater Portmore.

“It is expected to deliver over 1,600 affordable units for young, first-time homeowners upon completion,” stated Holness.

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VP Brunswijk bezoekt Asidonhopo, maar groet granman Aboikoni niet

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: De Ware Tijd Online

door Samuel Wens BOVEN-SURINAME — Er is sprake van onbegrip onder delen van de Saamaka dignitarissen, omdat vicepresident (vp) Ronnie Brunswijk

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Samuda blasts critics of Gov’t’s ribbon-cutting ceremonies… Loop Jamaica

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News Loop News

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC), Senator Matthew Samuda, has hit back strongly at critics who have made snide remarks about the frequent cutting of ribbons at ceremonies by the Government.

There has been much criticisms, especially from supporters of the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP), that such ceremonies, including the presentation of houses under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP), are being used by Prime Minister Andrew Holness and his Administration as a distraction from the state of the nation’s economy.

However, Holness has used such handing-over ceremonies to lash such critics by pointing to the economic growth the island is experiencing even amid inflation and rising food and energy prices both locally and internationally.

In commenting on the criticisms at the commissioning of a water supply project in Negril, Westmoreland on Thursday, Samuda argued that a ribbon-cutting is symbolic of the completion of a multi-million dollar investment made by the Government or any other investor.

“This is yet another ceremony that has almost been religiously scheduled on a Thursday as our project and… we have called it ‘Turn on the Pipe Thursdays’, but generally, we have been on the road every single Thursday commissioning water systems,” he explained.

“Now that speaks to the amount of work that has gone into creating the volume of systems and to building the amount of new pumping stations and connecting and replacing old pipes, to have several Thursdays of work to do,” the minister continued.

“I have heard a recent criticism in the press which I found very strange. I’ve followed politics all my life through the news, and I’ve never heard in all my life someone being criticised for cutting ribbons,” Samuda lamented.

He described the criticisms as being “very strange”, as the process to bring such developments as the water system project to a reality in Westmoreland started in 2004.

“A ribbon is a representation of the closure or the completion of thousands of man hours. In many cases, hundreds of millions and sometimes billions of dollars in investment,” he shared.

Samuda, in responding directly critics of the Government’s efforts, said more ribbon-cutting ceremonies are on the horizon.

“So, when a Government is cutting ribbons, is breaking ground, commissioning projects, it is because that Government is working hard!

“So, I can’t understand where this criticisms could come from for cutting ribbons. I want to put on record this afternoon that we will be cutting a lot more ribbons,” he assured.

The minister also promised further ribbon-cutting ceremonies for projects in the Western Westmoreland constituency where the Jamaica Labour Party’s Moreland Wilson is the Member of Parliament (MP).

“… And MP you have my commitment that while I have my hands on the baton, you can expect more ground-breaking, more ribbon cuttings, and more commissioning within your constituency,” declared Samuda.

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8 new COVID-19 cases; 2 in ICU

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: INews Guyana
A woman being tested for Covid-19 at one of the Ministry of Health’s testing sites (Filed pic)

Eight more persons have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in the last 24 hours, according to the Health Ministry today.

Consequently, active cases in Guyana have gone up to 287 and this includes two patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the remaining persons in either home (280) or institutional (5) isolation.

There is one other person currently in institutional quarantine.

Additionally, the COVID-19 death toll in the country remains at 1278, while some 69,409 persons have recovered from the life-threatening virus to date.

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Saint Lucia Among CDB Member Countries To Benefit From New Climate Smart Aquaponics Project – St. Lucia Times News

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: St. Lucia Times News

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The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is expanding its collaboration with INMED Partnerships for Children/INMED Caribbean to enhance the capacity of small-scale farmers to implement climate-adaptive aquaponics farming and strengthen Micro Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs).

The Increasing Access to Climate-Smart Agriculture in the Caribbean Through INMED Aquaponics® Project will build the capacity of aquaponics enterprises and increase climate resilience in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and The Bahamas by scaling INMED Aquaponics®.

“As economic opportunities for small-scale farmers decline amid significant climate change impacts, it is imperative to introduce viable, income-generating livelihood alternatives, particularly among our MSMEs” says Lisa Harding, Coordinator Micro, Small and Medium Size Enterprise Development at CDB.Innovative solutions are especially needed, as regional economies face a variety of climate-driven events. Global disruptions in the supply chain are delaying the delivery of foodstuff and supplies small-scale farmers depend on to sustain their livelihoods. Through this initiative, the Bank is proactively building climate resilience with an adaptive agriculture model.

The current economic environment has created a renewed focus on support for agricultural enterprise to facilitate an inclusive and resilient recovery. An intensive, climate-smart food production technique, aquaponics combines aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (soilless crop production) in a closed symbiotic system, dramatically conserving water and space compared to conventional agriculture and yielding up to 10 times more abundant fresh produce plus fish year-round.

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“INMED Caribbean first introduced aquaponics to Jamaica in 2011 and has implemented two dozen systems throughout the island for schools, charitable groups, civic organisations, small farm cooperatives and communities to build food security, climate adaptation and income generation,” says Dr. Linda Pfeiffer, Founder and CEO of INMED Partnerships for Children.

With key investments from CDB, IDB Lab and the Government of Jamaica, INMED Caribbean developed a comprehensive model with linkages to markets and financing and other value-chain support for smallholder farmers and emerging agri-entrepreneurs.

“The four nations we are assessing for expansion are well-positioned to benefit from INMED’s training programme because they each have a need and appetite for aquaponics farming,” says INMED Chief Operating Officer Kristin Callahan.

INMED Caribbean is conducting research to identify stakeholders for the social enterprise training programme to jumpstart regional aquaponics expansion. The project will involve virtual and in-person training workshops for participants in the pilot country, focusing on underrepresented and low-resource populations.

SOURCE: Caribbean Development Bank/ SLT

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Une enquête ouverte après des tentatives…

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Guadeloupe FranceAntilles

Cible de tentatives d’extorsion se chiffrant en millions d’euros, Paul Pogba, l’un des joueurs clefs du titre mondial remporté par l’équipe de France de football en 2018, se retrouve au cœur d’une rocambolesque affaire qui fait l’objet d’une enquête en France où apparait le nom de son frère aîné, Mathias.

L’affaire Pogba a débuté samedi sur les réseaux sociaux avec un message de Mathias, 32 ans, qui promet alors de “grandes révélations” sur son cadet, 29 ans.

Dans cette vidéo diffusée en quatre langues (français, italien, anglais et espagnol), Mathias Pogba, lui-même footballeur professionnel, annonce que “le monde entier”, comme la Juventus Turin, le club italien où son frère est revenu cet été après un premier passage entre 2012 et 2016, et six saisons à Manchester United, “méritent de savoir certaines choses afin de décider en toute connaissance de cause s’il (Paul Pogba) mérite vraiment l’admiration, le respect, sa place en équipe de France, s’il est une personne digne de confiance”.

“Tout cela risque d’être explosif”, conclut-il, sans plus de précisions.

Dimanche, Paul Pogba contre-attaque via un communiqué signé de ses avocats et de son agente Rafaela Pimenta, qui vient de prendre la tête de la société de Mino Raiola, l’agent-star récemment décédé.

– Fusils d’assaut –

“Les déclarations récentes de Mathias Pogba sur les réseaux sociaux ne sont malheureusement pas une surprise. Elles s’ajoutent à des menaces et des tentatives d’extorsion en bande organisée contre Paul Pogba”, indique le communiqué.

“Les autorités compétentes en Italie et en France ont été saisies il y a un mois et il n’y aura plus d’autres commentaires par rapport à l’enquête en cours”, poursuivent les représentants de Paul Pogba dans ce communiqué.

Une source proche du dossier indique à l’AFP qu’une enquête a été ouverte en France début août et confiée aux services de la Direction centrale de la police judiciaire (DCPJ).

Selon la radio France Info, Paul Pogba a confié durant les auditions aux enquêteurs de l’Office central de lutte contre le crime organisé qu’il avait “notamment été piégé par des amis d’enfance et deux hommes cagoulés armés de fusils d’assaut”

Ils lui réclament treize millions d’euros pour “service rendu” et lui reprochent de ne pas les avoir aidés financièrement depuis qu’il est devenu joueur professionnel.

– Mbappé et marabout –

Selon France Info toujours, Paul Pogba, actuellement éloigné des terrains en raison d’une blessure au genou droit, assure aux enquêteurs qu’il a plusieurs fois été intimidé à Manchester et jusqu’au centre d’entraînement de la Juventus. Parmi les suspects, il affirme avoir reconnu son frère Mathias.

Une source proche du dossier a confirmé à l’AFP les informations de France Info.

Dans cette affaire, le nom de la star du football français Kylian Mbappé apparait aussi, à son corps défendant: Paul Pogba a expliqué aux enquêteurs que “ses maîtres chanteurs voulaient le discréditer en diffusant des messages dans lequel il aurait demandé à un marabout de son entourage familial de jeter un sort” à l’attaquant du PSG, ce que le joueur dément.

De son côté, Mathias Pogba maintient ses accusations, toujours sans les formuler: “J’espère que vous ne vous ferez pas avoir par une tentative de manipulation des médias et des autorités. Quand on est célèbre le monde est avec vous, les autorités écoutent plus attentivement. Mais ça ne vous met pas au dessus de la justice, les policiers ne sont pas vos larbins!”, a-t-il écrit dimanche sur Twitter.

Dimanche soir, il a réagi aux première révélations sur l’audition de son frère par la police en rajoutant quelques messages sur Twitter. “Paul, tu voulais vraiment me faire taire quite à mentir et m’envoyer en prison”, a écrit Mathias.

“Tu m’a laissé dans le trou en fuyant et tu veux faire l’innocent, a-t-il ajouté, quand tout sera dit les gens verront qu’il n’y a pas plus lâche, plus traître et plus hypocrite que toi sur cette terre.”

alu-eba-tll-kn-alh/jr/rbo

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