NBC’s Covid-19 Update – Friday September 9th 2022

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: NBC SVG

The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment is appealing to the organizers of any event where people tend to congregate to ensure that the COVID19 Safety Protocols are followed during their programs.

The appeal has come from Chief Health Promotion Officer in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, Shanika John.

Donnie Collins has more in today’s COVID-19 Update.

https://www.nbcsvg.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/COVID-19-UPDATE-607-Recording.mp3

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A total of 19 active Covid-19 cases recorded here in SVG

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: NBC SVG

There are now 19 active cases of COVID 19 recorded in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, according to the latest update from the Ministry of Health Wellness and the Environment

The Ministry says there were no new cases recorded on Thursday September 8th, and two recoveries were noted.

One unvaccinated person is currently hospitalized with COVID-19.

9,446 cases of COVID-19 and 9,311 recoveries have been reported in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to date.   115 people have died from the virus.

And, 72,591 COVID-19 vaccines have so far been administered locally.  37,174persons have received their first dose;  31, 283 have received their second dose and 4,134 persons have received boosters.

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Leaders plan for upcoming COP27

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: The BVI Beacon

Caribbean countries are working to learn the best ways to finance measures for mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said in a press conference on Aug. 26.

Dr. Wheatley recently conferred with Caribbean Community heads of government, environment ministers and foreign ministers at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change hosted in the Bahamas.

“As we all know, the Caribbean in particular is vulnerable to stronger hurricanes, as well a sea-level rises and droughts,” he said.

Caricom associate members including the VI, Anguilla, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos also held a Caribbean overseas territories caucus.

“We agreed that greater engagement with the United Nations on alternative forms of climate finance for overseas territories was critical as well as further discussions with the United Kingdom government on financial support and technical assistance to the overseas territories to adapt to climate change,” the premier said.

Dr. Wheatley also commended the Bahamian government for arranging for heads of government to fly to Trinidad and attend the Agri-Investment Forum and Expo II.

“The expo was inspirational to say the least and provided a real vision for agriculture in the Caribbean as we strive to become more self-sufficient in food production,” he said. “As a region, we must reduce our food import bill to give us a greater sense of food security, especially during these uncertain times where inflation is running rampant.”

The premier added that his government is moving quickly to establish a new Agriculture and Fisheries Authority as prescribed by the Food Security and Sustainability Act, 2022, which recently received Governor John Rankin’s assent.

COP27 conference

Caricom members also began planning for the UN Climate Change Conference to be held in Egypt in November.

At the event, Dr. Wheatley said, nations from around the world will focus on how to slow global warming.

“We are aligned in our view that the countries who are releasing the large majority of CO-2 gas emissions into the atmosphere should deliver on their pledges of financial support promised to small island developing states and other groups of vulnerable countries,” Dr. Wheatley said. “We are also of the view that we must hasten our transition to renewable energy to mitigate the economic and environmental risks associated with fossil fuels, such as the sharp spike in the price of oil and gas.”

At the COP26 meeting last November in Glasgow, former Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration Minister Vincent Wheatley lobbied for climate change mitigation funding from the UK.

He also pledged commitment to a newly created alliance of Caribbean and Latin American leaders; touted the Anegada solar project as a sign of the territory’s commitment to a renewable energy transition; and said passing legislation such as revamped building codes will be crucial for climate-change adaptation.

Representatives in Glasgow eventually signed an agreement to reconvene in a year with ambitious plans to rein in emissions, though many small island nations remained unimpressed with a lack of recognition for the imminent danger facing them.

Window for action

Such concerns were echoed on Aug. 26 by Natural Resources and Labour Minister Mitch Turnbull, who joined the premier at the press conference.

Mr. Turnbull warned that the window for action to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels — a commitment outlined in the 2015 Paris Agreement — is narrowing.

“This target has been identified as critical for small islands to survive and avoid the worst impacts of climate change,” he said.

Also during the press conference, the premier thanked former members of the VI Climate Change Trust Fund for being willing to resume their duties after their membership was revoked by the Virgin Islands Party government shortly after it took power in February 2019. Mr. Turnbull apologised to former members on Aug. 18 and invited them to return.

On Aug. 26, Dr. Wheatley added, “They can be assured that Government of National Unity supports the critical and independent work that they will be doing in helping to mobilise and deploy resources to help build the climate resilience of this territory.”

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VI has come a ‘long’ way with recovery, but some still struggling

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: The BVI Beacon

“I would say we have a lot to be proud of,” Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said during a recent press conference when asked about the upcoming fifth anniversary of Hurricane Irma. “We don’t want to be in a perpetual state of recovery. We want to move on from recovery and move forward with our development.”

But in the five years since the storm, recovery has proved elusive for some residents.

“I would say that we are at about 85 percent,” said BVI Red Cross Director Stacy Lloyd. “When I look around in the community, I still see homes without roofs or with different damages. Some properties have been abandoned. Some businesses — most businesses, I would say, have rebounded. We still have to take into consideration Covid, which slowed down the progress of recovery. But I do feel individually and on a business level, we have come a very, very long way.”

Ms. Lloyd added that repairing remaining damage to homes — particularly those with missing roofs, which are vulnerable even to mild storms — is an essential part of the ongoing push for recovery and preparedness.

Mental health

Repairing physical damages, however, is only part of the recovery process. The 2017 storms, she said, also had a lasting effect on the mental health of community members — an issue compounded by the pandemic.

“I do know of people who still suffer from [post-traumatic stress disorder] when it comes to hurricane season,” Ms. Stoutt said. “When a hard rain comes, they get very anxious. And I’ve seen it come out in different ways with Covid. That’s why we had to open our psychosocial hotline.”

Ms. Lloyd said progress has been made in this respect as well.

“I think people are more aware of mental wellness, and they are more inclined to look for help,” she added.

Sarah Smith, founder of Elevated Dance Company, poses amid the damage dealt to the BVI Dance Studio after the 2017 hurricanes. In the years after, businesses including the studio have been working on rebuilding. (Photo: KEMUEL GUMBS)

Long-term recovery

In the months after the storms, the Red Cross and other VI aid organisations focused largely on providing immediate assistance, but now they are increasingly turning their attention to long-term development efforts designed to boost their capacity to provide services.

The Family Support Network — which provided food and other aid to community members after the 2017 storms and during the pandemic — has seen many families make great strides, said FSN board member David Penn.

“Personally, I think we have come a very, very long way,” he said. “I think that terrible time showed us all the great resilience of BVIslanders and the residents of this country. To have come through that to where we are today, I think it’s a real testament to that.”

He noted, though, that assisting victims of domestic abuse — one of the organisation’s essential services — became particularly challenging after the hurricanes.

“We seek to address certain ills and problems in our community that otherwise would go unattended, and that is to care for and provide protection to those who suffer abuse at home,” he said.

Many of the spaces that provided shelter to abuse victims prior to the 2017 hurricanes were damaged in the storms, he said.

Now that the organisation is focusing more on long-term development, it hopes to build its own facility to provide secure housing for people seeking shelter, according to Mr. Penn.

Impact on youth

The storms’ long-term effects also continue to impact young people.

Sylvanna Charles, an English and theatre teacher at Elmore Stoutt High School, said she is proud to see a class of “Irma babies” she taught as seventh graders now entering the 12th grade.

“I have to be proud of them in the sense that they made it even with all the challenges of a shift system after the storm and Covid and working online,” she said. “They’ve gone through it. So you have to be proud of them in that aspect. But then in a sense, you’re kind of a bit disappointed because it’s a time in their lives that they won’t get back. They’ve not been able to experience a regular high school. Those kind of moments and situations build and mould you into the adult that you’ll be, and I feel like a lot of them, in a sense, are lost. … It’s bittersweet, but they made it.”

ESHS saw major damage from the hurricanes, and new buildings were scheduled to open at the start of the school year. However, Education, Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Sharie DeCastro said Friday that the project was delayed and students would attend classes on a hybrid system at least until October.

Ms. Charles said students have demonstrated tremendous resilience in being able to adapt to the circumstances after Irma.

She added that seeing junior ESHS students move back to the L-shaped building in Road Town was a step in the right direction, but she hopes to soon be able to teach out of a proper classroom rather than operating out of a space at the Clarence Thomas Limited building as she has in the years since Irma.

“Something like having your own classroom may seem so basic for many, but for us it would make such a difference,” she said.

Still, Ms. Charles said she is grateful for the work that has been done to help the wider community rebound.

“Time has gone by so quickly, and so many things have changed,” she said. “I still remember stepping out and seeing the destruction. I’m surprised that we’ve rebuilt so quickly. I would say, for the majority, things are back to what they were before the storm.”

Building future athletes

The lasting storm damage continues to affect not only students’ academic pursuits, but also their extracurricular ambitions.

“Over 90 percent of our recreational infrastructure was destroyed,” Dr. Wheatley said during an Aug. 8 press conference. “We did quite a bit to restore our recreational grounds, even though we have a few outstanding ones left.”

The premier acknowledged challenges facing those facilities but claimed the territory has some of the best in the Eastern Caribbean, particularly with the Multi-purpose Sports Complex.

“I share concerns about progress in building on the strong foundation established in past years, but every government in the world has to be able to balance all their obligations, and we are seeking to move forward in a positive way,” he said. “I acknowledged not just with this government, in repairing a lot of facilities after the hurricanes, but past governments: They’ve all contributed towards the development of sports.”

Sportswriter Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway, who has documented the derelict state of sports facilities in the territory, said many more investments in infrastructure and maintenance are still needed if the government plans to fully support the territory’s athletes — particularly with the construction of a swimming pool adequate for Olympic training.

But more important is the need for a comprehensive plan to develop sports, he added.

“Prior to the hurricane, for example, since 2004 we have had the multi-sports complex as a facility,” he said. “But we do not have basketball programmes.”

While leagues can serve a purpose, he said providing men’s and women’s programmes is a necessary step for growing athletes to be able to develop their skills and pursue future opportunities.

Businesses rebounding

Many businesses devastated by the storm have also been tasked with figuring out how to rebuild, even amid the economic challenges of the pandemic.

Sandy Lyons, director of the BVI Dance School, said the storms decimated her dance studio and tore the roof off the home her mother had built 45 years earlier. After going to the United States for three months to recover from an injury she sustained during the storm, she returned to the territory.

“I’d lost everything. When we went by the studio, I could see that the roof was gone on that too,” she said. “Driving through, what it looked like was just war. It was indescribable.”

Sandy Lyons, director of the BVI Dance School, said the storms decimated her dance studio and tore the roof off the home her mother had built 45 years earlier. (Photo: DANA KAMPA)

She said it took some time to figure out how to move forward.

“It took me five months [after the storm] before I could even walk into the studio, because I knew it was going to be pretty emotional,” she said.

While those plans were being made to rebuild, Ms. Lyons began looking for temporary headquarters from which to teach. Even though many students from the dance school and other studios had to leave the territory with their families after the storm, she said she wanted to provide some normalcy for the ones who remained.

Ms. Lyons added that she was compelled to rebuild the studio for the same reason she returned before even having a place to live: It was her home, and her students needed her.

They didn’t even miss their annual dance fest, coming back to the stage in June 2018. Then in January 2019, the studio made its grand reopening.

“It was coming home,” she said of walking into the studio for the first time. She added that she is amazed with how the business community has recovered in the past five years.

“Every little victory is a victory for everyone,” she said.

Preparedness

Ms. Lloyd, the Red Cross director, said the community has learned a lot from its struggles over the past five years.

“I do feel and I do see where our community is more resilient,” she said. “We do have the education and the resources and the partnerships with governments and other international organisations that can provide the support that we need in the event of a major storm.”

Her agency, she said, has been working to promote such work, hosting its second annual Emergency Preparedness Expo in April and recently launching its preparedness programme for businesses.

“We continue to push our educational efforts in terms of recovery, resilience, and preparedness,” she said. “We try to find creative ways in how to engage the community and to get the information out there.”

Ms. Lloyd noted the importance of collaborating with the Department of Disaster Management and other organisations to help the community continue to recover and prepare for any potential future disasters, whether they come in the form of hurricanes or other emergencies.

Those educational efforts should extend to young people too, so they understand what to expect during an emergency, she said. Heads of households should also make sure they plan ahead to ensure the safety of young children, seniors, other vulnerable residents, and pets, according to the director.

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Premier League games off as ‘mark of respect’ to queen Loop Jamaica

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News Loop News

The Premier League postponed its upcoming round of matches as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, adding to the cancellation of high-profile golf, cricket and horse racing events across a mourning Britain on Friday.

England’s top-flight football clubs held a meeting on Friday and said they wanted to “pay tribute to Her Majesty’s long and unwavering service to our country.”

“This is a tremendously sad time for not just the nation but also for the millions of people around the world who admired her,” Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said, “and we join together with all those in mourning her passing.”

The English Football League — the three divisions below the Premier League — also called off their games scheduled for the weekend. The Women’s Super League was due to start its season this weekend but has canceled its games, too.

The British government said it was at the discretion of individual sporting organizations whether fixtures went ahead following the death of the queen on Thursday at the age of 96.

British sport essentially shut down on Friday, but many events were planning to be up and running again on Saturday.

The BMW PGA Championship, the flagship event on the European tour, was paused near the end of the first round Thursday following the announcement of the queen’s death — there were still 30 players out on the course — and there was no play Friday.

Play will resume Saturday, the tour said, for what will become a 54-hole event “with the intention to finish on Sunday as scheduled.”

“It is not possible to play the full 72 holes and finish on Monday as we cannot guarantee the staff, facilities or security of the venue on Monday due to the ongoing plans for the state funeral,” the tour said in a statement, adding that there will be a two-minute silence at 9.50 am local time Saturday.

The third and deciding test between England and South Africa will resume at the Oval in London on Saturday after the England and Wales Cricket Board decided there would be no play on Friday.

It will essentially be a three-day test — Day 1 on Thursday was washed out — and all players and coaches will wear black armbands, observing a minute’s silence followed by the national anthem — “God Save the King.”

It wasn’t possible to add an extra day to the test match because the touring South Africans are flying home on Tuesday before heading to India and Australia.

Other events called off included cycling’s Tour of Britain, which also canceled the final two stages of the race scheduled for the weekend, and the third day of horse racing’s St. Leger festival in Doncaster. The St. Leger, one of British racing’s classics, will now take place on Sunday, organizers said Friday.

Horse racing was the queen’s favourite sport.

While Friday’s matches in England’s top rugby division were cancelled, those scheduled for Saturday and Sunday will go ahead as planned.

Football matches in the English Football League and in the Scottish lower league scheduled for Friday had already been postponed while matches scheduled to be played in Northern Ireland over the weekend were also canceled.

The Premier League said further updates regarding its fixtures during the period of mourning, which has begun in Britain, will be provided “in due course.”

Organizations are having to weigh up factors such as whether holding matches would use up police resources, the desire of broadcasters and the mood of the public.

There is little room in the schedule of this World Cup-affected season to fit in postponed fixtures.

The government said sporting organizations “might wish to consider canceling or postponing events or closing venues on the day of the State Funeral.”

That date of the funeral has not been set.

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Phone store robbery lands 18-y-o Jamaican in Antigua court Loop Jamaica

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News Loop News
Loop News

40 minutes ago

NEWYou can now listen to Loop News articles!

The alleged theft of several items from a phone repair shop has landed 18-year-old Jamaican, Tyrese Oglivie before the court in Antigua and Barbuda.

Oglivie appeared on Tuesday in the St John’s Magistrate’s Court where the case was adjourned and a committal hearing set for September 13.

It is alleged that in early January, the complainant returned to his store and noticed that it had been broken into. Among the items stolen were a number of smartphones, phone screens, earphones, and chargers — all valued at more than EC$40,000.

The police were subsequently called to the scene and it was theorised that the robbers used a hammer and crowbar to gain access to the building.

A review of CCTV footage led to the identification of two suspects, one of whom was seen with a grey bag and wearing Nike slippers.

The complainant was informed a week later that a phone screen matching one of those stolen from his store was being sold on Facebook.

An arrangement was made by the complainant and he met the seller at his business place, after which the police were notified and Oglivie pointed out.

A subsequent search of Oglivie’s apartment reportedly revealed several phones and screens, as well as the bag and slipper matching those worn by one of the robbers captured on the CCTV footage.

The Jamaican was later arrested and charged.

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General Accident launches policy for electric vehicle owners Loop Jamaica

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News Loop News

General Accident Insurance Company has launched a new eco-drive policy for electric and hybrid vehicle owners.

With custom duty fees on electric vehicles slashed by a further 20 per cent, General Accident Managing Director, Sharon Donaldson, acknowledges that there are more incentives to use an electric vehicle in Jamaica than ever before.

“Electric and hybrid vehicles are known to emit less pollutants into the atmosphere, so by switching to an electric or hybrid vehicle these drivers contribute to reducing air pollution. General Accident’s eco-drive policy slogan ‘a greener driver deserves a greener commitment’ is a charge the General Accident staff accepts to provide the best insurance policy for drivers contributing to a healthy society,” Donaldson explained.

In keeping with the needs of hybrid and electric vehicle owners, the eco-drive policy includes unique benefits such as charging accessories coverage and free 24/7 breakdown coverage in the event that you run out of charge or need on-the-road assistance.

And in the event of an accident where a driver is entitled to a replacement vehicle, the replacement vehicle hire will be upgraded to an electric vehicle or hybrid.

To qualify for access to the eco drive policy, drivers must own an electric or hybrid vehicle, be between the ages of 21 and70 years old, have had their licence in excess of a year, and their vehicle must be for personal use only.

General Accident Insurance Company continues to support national development by encouraging healthy lifestyles and environmental protection through its continued contribution to the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET).

A portion of all eco-drive policy premiums will be donated to JET.

“Protecting and preserving our environment is extremely important. We believe responsible stewardship of natural resources and pollution reduction will only result in a safe and healthy environment for our valued customers to live, work, and raise families,” Donaldson said.

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Local Government Ministry denies delaying funds to Siparia Corporation

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

News

Cedros councillor Shankar Teelucksingh, left, and Siparia Regional Corporation chairman Denish Sankersingh points to the damaged floor at their office at the Siparia Regional Corporation, High Street, Siparia on Wednesday. Photo by Ayanna Kinsale

The Rural Development and Local Government Ministry (RDLG) has denied delaying funding to the Siparia Regional Corporation (SRC).

A statement from the ministry said on Wednesday night, “Funds were released to the corporation on a consistent basis once released from the Ministry of Finance. The last release to SRC under the PSIP (Public Sector Investment Programme) to the corporation was issued on July 27 in the sum of $1,679,000,”

Earlier in the day, SRC’s chairman Denish Sankersingh and councillors had accused the Government of crippling the corporation by “deliberately denying” funding. They added that the opposition-controlled corporation has been unable to serve burgesses properly as a result.

The RDLG responded that the 2021/2022 allocation for the SRC under the PSIP is $14,940,000.

“To date, the total releases from RDLG to SRC (are) $9,137,158, and requests for the balance of funds were only received within the past few weeks,” the statement said.

“Since then, RDLG has submitted correspondence to the Ministry of Finance for the balance of $3,287,308 to be released for payment to the corporation.”

It said line minister Faris Al-Rawi convened meetings with every corporation to ascertain shortfalls and arrears. To ensure serviceability, he also ordered an evaluation of every vehicle owned by the corporations.

The statement added that a lot of the data requested of the corporations had to be tediously sought out by the ministry to ensure delivery and accuracy.

SRC has been allocated $127.535.05 in this exercise to maintain and repair its vehicles.

The ministry received final submissions on Wednesday from all 14 corporations, it said, adding that funds would be disbursed.

It also said, “The RDLG has developed major aspects of improvement which are part and parcel of the local government reform operationalisation.”

The statement said specific corporations, “quite regrettably,” have been directed not to attend critical events that redound to the benefit of all corporations.

“However, the RDLG is pleased that the one-on-one working relations with all corporations are bearing fruit,” the statement said.

“The RDLG urges focus on reform and to the delivery of requests in a timely manner so that better circumstances can be facilitated for our citizens.”

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Govt instructs companies to pay locals within 45 days

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: INews Guyana
The installation of the first subsea tree

Full statement:

As part of continuous engagements with contractors, sub-contractors and other stakeholders operating in Guyana’s oil and gas sector, the Ministry of Natural Resources through the Local Content Secretariat has advanced discussions on key local content matters – namely, protracted payment periods and building suppliers’ capacities.

One may recall that in the Local Content Act, it is required that the contractors and sub-contractors’ Procurement Sub-Plan include a supply chain management strategy. This strategy should promote local suppliers’ competitive financing and growth with appropriate contract and payment terms. This provision was created to ensure that Guyanese nationals and Guyanese companies generate capital to expand while becoming competitive and financially independent.

This unit had reported that the Government and the private sector were examining a thirty-day payment period for Guyanese and Guyanese businesses which supply goods and services to the nation’s petroleum sector. Upon further assessments and engagements, the Secretariat wrote to contractors and sub-contractors instructing them to implement an amendment to their five-year Local Content Master Plan.

The updated five-year plan must now include a payment period of between 30-45 days upon the correct receipt of an invoice. This will allow Guyanese companies timely and appropriate access to contract and payment terms that facilitate competitive funding and expansion. Contractors and sub-contractors have shown their willingness to cooperate with this new requirement and have already moved to make the amendment to their Master Plans.

Suppliers must know that the onus is now on them to submit correct invoices. To see that this is achieved, the Secretariat continues to encourage contractors and sub-contractors to conduct continuous training and suppliers’ engagement forums. These forums will be aimed at upskilling suppliers in areas of the correct preparation of invoices and tenders, and to be appraised of any upcoming procurement opportunities offered by the companies.

Suppliers who continue to encounter issues with the prolonged issuing of payments are asked to contact the Local Content Secretariat or utilize the Grievance Redress Form via this link: https://petroleum.gov.gy/grievance-redress.

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NDP Leader Describes Queen Elizabeth As ‘A True Monarch’ – St. Lucia Times News

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: St. Lucia Times News

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The leader of Saint Lucia’s National Green Party (NGP) has described the late Queen Elizabeth 11 as a true monarch while acknowledging that the British empire had a dark in the Caribbean.

Andre ‘Pancho’ de Caires made the comments in a statement Friday on the Queen’s passing.

The complete statement appears below:

I saw the Queen for the first time sitting on my father’s shoulders amongst a massive crowd in Port of Spain back in the 60s when she visited the island. 

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She rode in a convertible Rolls Royce amongst the cheering crowds. 

We made Union Jacks out of paper at school that week and waved them as she passed that day. 

I remember that my Granny and grandaunts always spoke very highly of her and as a result, I too held her in high regard. 

Her dignity, the way in which she carried herself, her commitment to her position and title, her never-ending service to her people and her country. That duty that she carried out until just a few days before her passing. A true monarch.

Although the British empire has had a dark past in relation to our history, as we Caribbean people well appreciate, some of our people are divided on the legacy of the Queen in the Caribbean. 

What we can recognize though, is that the sins of the empire had no bearing on the manner or the way in which the Queen has handled herself from her coronation to her death. 

A total professional. I personally do not subscribe to the “sins of the father” theory. 

So at this time of her passing, let us focus on the Queen her legacy and not the legacy of the empire.

We send our condolences to the people of Britain.

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