Black Immigrant Daily News

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

The Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), on Thursday, August 11, unveiled two loan facilities valued at $700 million, to benefit entertainment and transport industry stakeholders whose livelihoods have been impacted by the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.

A sum of $500 million is earmarked for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) under the Entertainment Restart Loan Facility, while $200 million has been provided for public passenger vehicle (PPV) operators.

The funds will be provided through the DBJ’s microfinance institutions (MFIs) and approved financial institutions (AFIs).

Minister of Finance, Dr Nigel Clarke, who addressed the launch, said that the “dedicated loan facility to persons who operate at all levels of the entertainment industry will allow those who are not yet back on their feet to have access to financing to go on the road again”.

Already, various individuals and entities that operate in entertainment have benefited from grant support to assist their recovery.

As it relates to the loan provision for transport operators, Minister Clarke noted that “this can be used to make your business more attractive to customers”.

He said that the interventions “must be seen as the Government putting its money where its mouth is and stepping up and providing support”.

“So, the Government is responding to the people of Jamaica and leading the recovery from the pandemic in a way that is inclusive and making sure that financing, which is the oxygen of business, is available to all who have been affected,” he added.In his remarks, DBJ Managing Director, Anthony Shaw, said the provision of the loans is in keeping with the entity’s mandate to assist MSME operators in their recovery efforts.

“Our joint objective [with the Government] is to assist the smallest operators in the private sector… to bounce back from the lingering effects of the pandemic and become more sustainable,” he pointed out.

In his 2022/23 Budget Debate presentation in March, Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, announced that the DBJ would be establishing the entertainment loan facility.

It will benefit micro entrepreneurs such as food vendors, bar owners, party promoters, clothes vendors, and persons who ply their wares at entertainment events, among other beneficiaries.

Small and medium-sized enterprises earmarked for assistance include caterers; d?cor, lighting, printing, and transport companies; restaurants; and clothing stores.

Minister Clarke, in his closing 2022/23 Budget Debate presentation, indicated that the Government was providing $200 million in revolving loan financing to PPV operators.

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

Algunos aguaceros menores afectaron el este de Puerto Rico y las aguas locales, pero, de lo contrario, condiciones estuvieron mayormente despejadas.

Viento fue leve con alguna brisa terrestre de menos de 5 mph. Temperaturas mínimas hasta las 5 AM AST fluctuaron desde los medios 60s en los valles montañosos a bajos 80s en las áreas costeras expuestas al viento.

Se espera cielo mayormente soleado en la mañana. Luego, se espera que aguaceros de la tarde se desarrollen sobre el oeste de Puerto Rico donde algunas tronadas aisladas no pueden descartarse. El viento estará de este noreste con brisa marina de 15 a 20 mph y ráfagas más fuertes.

Hoy las temperaturas máximas estarán más calientes en la costa sur y el extremo oeste de la isla donde temperaturas alcanzarán los bajos 90s. En el resto del área, las máximas fluctuarán desde los altos 80s en áreas bajas a altos 70s en montanas altas. Una onda tropical entrara al área durante la noche esta noche y se espera que la probabilidad de lluvia mejore considerablemente el domingo en la noche y el lunes.

Los navegantes pueden esperar condiciones marítimas tranquilas con oleaje de 5 pies o menos y vientos de 10 a 15 nudos. Algunas tronadas podrían desarrollarse a través de las aguas costeras del oeste de Puerto rico en horas de la tarde. Para los bañistas, se espera un riesgo moderado de corrientes marinas para todas las playas del norte, este y sureste como también las de Culebra y Vieques.

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

The annual Cayman Islands Healthcare Conference will take place from 20 to 22 October at the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman, returning to its three-day format after two years of a virtual and in-person hybrid due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As in pre-pandemic years, there will be presentations and panels featuring both local and international healthcare professionals as well as exhibitors from healthcare related organisations and various charities.

The virtual portion of the 2021 edition had more than 8000 views on the CIGTV YouTube channel over the three days of the conference.

The theme for the 2022 conference is Your Health Promotion, Prevention & Positive Intervention and will focus on non-communicable diseases (NCD) whichare non-infectious health conditions that last for a long period of time and are also known as chronic diseases. These include hypertension, coronary artery diseases, cerebrovascular disorders, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, cancers and so on. Other areas of focus include occupational health; dental health; disorders affecting the youth; genomic sequencing; and organ transplants. In addition, one half day during the conference will be dedicated specifically to mental health.

Commenting on the upcoming conference, Minister for Health and Wellness, Sabrina Turner, said:

It is my pleasure to lead the Ministry’s hosting of the 13th annual Cayman Islands Healthcare Conference. As I’ve previously said, my aim as Minister for Health and Wellness is to promote and facilitate healthy behaviours that will result in better physical and mental health outcomes, not only on an individual level but collectively as a country. It is this Government’s vision to see our citizens not just surviving but thriving. This can only be done in partnership with likeminded persons who are willing to advocate for their personal health by asking themselves and their medical practitioners the important or worrying health-related questions, then taking the positive steps that lead them to better health once they have been empowered with the answers. This conference will help them do just that.

Minister Turner also said that the government is looking forward to the opening of the long-awaited and much-needed mental health facility later this year, further evidence of the government’s commitment to ensuring that persons living with mental health conditions have access to quality community-based mental health services and that their rights and best interests are protected.

Lizzette Yearwood, Chair of the Conference Planning Committee and CEO of the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority, echoed the Minister’s sentiments.

Yearwood said:

Every year the annual Healthcare Conference demonstrates its relevance and value to this community; this year is no different. As the country starts to return to some semblance of normality, we are learning to live with COVID in the community, a new mindset which allows us to enjoy the liberties that we had pre-pandemic while understanding that the virus is ever with us. With these freedoms come a responsibility and an opportunity to assess our health and overall wellbeing to see how we can live our best lives mentally, physically, emotionally, environmentally and spiritually. This conference aims to provide the tools for attendees to do so. It is an opportunity for attendees to increase their knowledge about such conditions as non-communicable diseases (NCD), ask the experts, and perhaps recognise the importance of prioritising their health even more than ever.

In previous years, the event has attracted over 1200 attendees and sponsors from various sectors of the community, including healthcare workers, small to medium business owners, parents, human resource managers, insurance company representatives, fitness and wellness professionals, and members of the public. This year Health City Cayman Islands has signed on as title sponsor once again.

Commenting on Health City’s sponsorship, Chief Business Officer Shomari Scott said:

We are once again delighted to have the pleasure of being the title sponsor of the Cayman Islands Healthcare Conference. Bringing together not just medical professionals, but policy makers and the public allows us, as a community, to focus on the wellness of our community in a holistic manner, something that Health City places great importance on.

We are committed to the continued elevating of healthcare standards in the Cayman Islands and providing more solutions that are accessible to our people. That’s why we look forward to, in a few short months, opening Health City Camana Bay, which will feature comprehensive offerings that will feature a Cancer Care Centre with comprehensive and advanced oncology offerings.

Registration for the conference will open in September. The event is free and open to the public and Continuing Medical Education (CME) certificates will be available for each presentation.

The 13th annual Cayman Islands Healthcare Conference is sponsored by Health City Cayman Islands, Ministry of Health & Wellness, Cayman Islands Health Services Authority, Integra Healthcare, Doctors Hospital, Kelly Holding Ltd., Cayman Hearing Centre Ltd., Baptist Health International and The Wellness Centre.

For more information and available sponsorship opportunities contact Laurie-Ann Holding on laurieann@kellyholding.com or 1 (345) 623.8824.

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

The Maples Group announced that it has agreed a three-year partnership with the non-profit organisation, Cayman Connection.

According to the Maples Group, the partnership is part of Cayman Connection’s Corporate Supporter programme, which provides funding for programmes and services that benefit a global community of over 1,500 Caymanians, friends and associates of the Cayman Islands. Over the next three years, the Group will provide funding to assist the non-profit to continue to build its network and offerings of wellbeing, knowledge and skill-building events to its members.

Commenting on the Group’s partnership with Cayman Connection, Cayman Islands Managing Partner, Matthew Gardner, said:

Investing in the next generation is integral to the Maples Group’s values and we are pleased to continue our collaboration with Cayman Connection. It is our hope that this financial commitment will enable Cayman Connection to continue providing invaluable services, support and programmes to overseas Caymanian students.

Cayman Connection Executive Director, Kate Kandiah, also commented, saying:

We are absolutely delighted to enter into a three-year corporate partnership with the Maples Group, who have been supportive on a number of initiatives with us over the years, including sponsoring their UK scholarship students to attend Cayman Day last year. Supporting Caymanians overseas, particularly students, is clearly a priority for the Maples Group and we are delighted that we can work with them to ensure a successful experience for all of our Caymanian students overseas.

Some of the services and programmes provided by Cayman Connection include networking events, bi-monthly virtual events on a variety of topics, the annual Cayman Day and the inaugural Making Waves Awards taking place this year, where the Maples Group is also the Financial, Legal & Professional Services award sponsor.

To learn more about Cayman Connection, visit https://caymanconnection.org/

The Maples Group continues to support local causes and organisations in the Cayman Islands which focus on the development, improvement and benefit of six pillars in the community: Youth & Education, Environment, Healthcare, Sports, Arts & Culture and Community Outreach. To keep up to date with the Maples Group philanthropic efforts, follow the Maples Group Facebook page and Instagram page @MaplesGroup.

NewsAmericasNow.com