Black Immigrant Daily News

As the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) marks World Tourism Day today, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is reflecting on the significant contribution tourism has made to the socioeconomic development of the Caribbean while focusing on the challenges and opportunities the industry presents for the future.

“Tourism has been the main driver in propelling Caribbean economies, creating new entrepreneurial opportunities; building upward mobility; broadening the skills and ingenuity of our peoples; celebrating and showcasing Caribbean culture, cuisine, nature and entertainment; and improving our capacity to rebound from crises and challenging situations,” stated CHTA President Nicola Madden-Greig.

She added that coming out of the pandemic, tourism stakeholders must utilise the lessons learned to re-imagine the current approach to Caribbean tourism.

Looking ahead, Madden-Greig endorsed remarks from United Nations Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres World Tourism Day who said: “Tourism is a powerful driver for sustainable development. It contributes to the education and empowerment of women and youth and advances the socioeconomic and cultural development of communities. It plays a critical part in the social protection systems that form the foundation for resilience and prosperity.

“We must invest in clean and sustainable tourism, lowering the sector’s energy consumption, adopting zero-emission pathways and protecting biodiversity. We must create decent jobs and ensure profits benefit the host country and local communities. Governments, businesses and consumers must align their tourism practices with the Sustainable Development Goals and a 1.5?C future. The very survival of this industry and many tourist destinations, such as small-island developing States, depends on it.

“There is no time to waste. Let us rethink and reinvent tourism and together, deliver a more sustainable, prosperous and resilient future for all.”

As CHTA celebrates its 60th anniversary, Madden-Greig pointed to the correlation between the organisation’s broad program of work and successes and the contributions tourism has made to the growth and development of local economies and the Caribbean public.

“Our work in the past has laid a foundation and paved a path to the future. Our challenge today is to build an industry that can adapt to and meet the ongoing and new challenges we face,” she stated.

“This includes meeting the challenges of climate change, creating a more inclusive industry, propelling upward mobility through tourism, retaining more of the tourism dollar, using technology to create new opportunities and address rising costs, reinforcing linkages and new entrepreneurial opportunities, addressing our inter-connectivity challenges, and adapting to the changing interests and demands in the marketplace,” Madden-Greig continued.

“Tourism contributes more than 40 percent of GDP to most Caribbean economies, with a number of destinations exceeding 60 percent. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Caribbean Economic Impact Report issued last June, the Caribbean can expand tourism’s contribution to GDP, employment and revenue retention and expansion by working together to address the myriad aforementioned challenges,” she said.

“We are working on several fronts to help build a better future. Next week public and private sector tourism industry leaders will converge at the region’s largest gathering of stakeholders in Puerto Rico at the Caribbean Travel Forum and Caribbean Travel Marketplace to address both our immediate work towards recovery and our sustained efforts to build a better future. The timing of the World Tourism Day message is appropriate, as it reinforces the essential role tourism can and must play as we look to the future.”

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The Valley, Anguilla – The Anguilla Financial Services Commission (the “Commission”) as aninternationally recognised and respected financial services regulatory body prides itself in contributing to the integrity of Anguilla’s financial system. The Commission ably does so through its highly trained, knowledgeable and motivated staff. Accordingly, the Commission in its succession planning has identified three senior officers that have the necessary skills and talent to effectively assist in achieving the Commission’s strategic plan. The Board and Management of the Commission wishes to congratulate Mrs. Charo Richardson, Ms. Charonay Carty and Ms. Ojeda Vanterpool on their promotions.

Mrs. Charo Richardson has been promoted to Deputy Director – Supervision effective 1 January 2022. She began her career at the Commission in April 2012 as Regulator I in the Prudential Department. She was subsequently promoted to Regulator II in July 2014 and then, to Senior Regulator in May 2017. In her current role, she has oversight responsibility for the insurance and credit union sectors. Mrs. Richardson holds Bachelor’s degrees in Accounting and Human Resource Management and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Lindenwood University as well as an Associate in Captive Insurance from the International Center for Captive Insurance Education (ICCIE). She has more recently earned a Certificate in FinTech and Regulatory Innovation from the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance, Cambridge Judge Business School and successfully completed the Certificate of Proficiency in Insurance course offered by the Insurance Institute of Barbados. Mrs. Richardson holds a current, active licence in the State of Wisconsin as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS).

Ms. Charonay Carty has been promoted to Deputy Director – Supervision effective 1 January 2022.She began her career at the Commission in April 2012 as Regulator I in the Prudential Department.She was subsequently promoted to Regulator II in January 2016 and then, to Senior Regulator in May 2017. In her current role, she has prudential supervisory responsibility for several sectors which include, Trust and Corporate Service Providers, Offshore Banks, Money Services Business, Investment Business (Mutual Funds) and Utility Token Offering Service Providers. Ms. Carty also works closely with the Commission’s AML/CFT Department on a daily basis, the Legal Department in policy development and its Administrative Department in organising outreach initiatives. Ms. Carty holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in Economics and a minor in Political Science from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College, New York; an Associate in Captive Insurance from the International Center for Captive Insurance Education (ICCIE) and a Professional Certificate in FinTech from the University of Hong Kong. She has completed various professional development courses and programmes including the FinTech and Regulatory Innovation Programme offered by the University of Cambridge Judge Business School. Ms. Carty is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS).

Ms. Ojeda Vanterpool has been promoted to Head of AML/CFT Compliance and Enforcement effective 1 January 2022. She began her career at the Commission in February 2015 as Regulator I in the AML/CFT Department. She was subsequently promoted to Regulator II in January 2018.

In her current role, she has responsibility for ensuring compliance of the Commission’s licensees and registrants with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendations and Anguilla’s AML/CFT legislation; coordinating and executing of AML/CFT onsite and offsite inspections; organizing the development of training of AML/CFT typologies and sector guidance for Financial Institutions, Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions and Non-Profit Organisations; investigating breaches of regulatory laws and other matters of enforcement; and providing legal support and advice on regulatory laws. Ms. Vanterpool is a trained assessor under the 4th Round FATF Methodology and the Deputy Coordinator for Anguilla’s National Risk Assessment exercise. Ms. Vanterpool holds a Bachelor of Law degree with Honours from Queen Mary, University of London and a Masters of Laws degree in International Corporate Governance, Financial Regulation and Economic Law from the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London. Ms. Vanterpool completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Training for the Bar from BPP University. She was called to the Bar in England and Wales at Lincoln’s Inn in November 2014 and the Bar in Anguilla in May 2016. Ms. Vanterpool is also a Certified AntiMoney Laundering Specialist (CAMS) and Certified Global Sanctions Specialist (CGSS).

– Press Release

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Black Immigrant Daily News

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OWTU president Ancel Roget.

OILFIELD WORKERS Trade Union (OWTU) president general Ancel Roget believes the majority of the population will not benefit from measures that were outlined in the 2022/2023 budget by Finance Minister Colm Imbert in the House of Representatives on Monday.

Roget spoke at a virtual post-budget panel discussion on Tuesday.

He was particularly critical of Imbert’s announcement of increased fuel prices, which took effect on Monday.

In his budget presentation, Imbert said, “We have therefore decided to increase, as of today, the prices of premium and super gasoline, and kerosene by $1 per litre and diesel by 50 cents a litre.”

The new prices are $7.75, $6.97 , $4.41 and $4.50 per litre for premium gasoline, super gasoline, diesel and kerosene respectively.

In April, the prices for premium gasoline, or premium gasoline, super gasoline, diesel and kerosene were $5.75, $4.97, $3.41 and $3.50 per litre.

Recalling that fuel prices had been increased in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, Roget said, “More pressure for the masses.”

He reiterated the OWTU’s view that the increase in fuel prices will cause an increase in the cost of other goods and services.

He also claimed the decision to increase fuel prices was reflective of a strategy pursued regularly by the Government.

“They now give with their thumb and index finger and take back with both hands.”

Roget believed because of the increased fuel prices, most people will not benefit from measures such as a one-time $1,000 transport grant (for people on social grants) and people earning $7,500 or less a month no longer having to pay income tax.

He said the budget benefited entities such as multinational energy companies as opposed to ordinary people, through measures such as reduced rates of supplemental petroleum taxes for new production in marine areas.

Imbert said this measure “will allow companies to access the required financing to increase their drilling and get approval for new exploration and production programmes thus increasing the production of much needed oil.”

Roget predicted that people will face additional pressure soon because “property tax is around the corner.”

Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) leader David Abdulah agreed.

On property tax, Abdulah reiterated the MSJ’s view that commercial and industrial property owners should pay this tax first, before residential property owners.

Former TT United Farmers Association head Shiraz Khan found it difficult to listen to Imbert’s three-hour-long budget presentation.

“It was really boring.”

Khan was dissatisfied with the $1.33 billion allocation for agriculture in the budget.

“We still treat agriculture as the bastard child of the economy.”

Khan was not swayed by Imbert’s announcement of an additional $300 million for agricultural incentives, infrastructure and programmes.

After querying whether anyone benefited from similar allocations in previous budgets, Khan said neither the PNM nor the UNC was serious about developing agriculture.

He recalled that a year after being elected to office on May 24, 2010, the UNC-led People’s Partnership coalition “bulldozed farmers’ lands to put down houses.”

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Un incidente desgraciado se reportó a las 10:15 de mañana de hoy en el Centro Gubernamental de Toa Baja, donde un hombre murió electrocutado, al hacer contacto con una caja de distribución de alta tensión en este lugar.  

De acuerdo a la información preliminar, se alega que el hombre, que aún no ha sido identificado, se encontraba sacando unos cables de cobre cuando hizo contacto con la caja de 8 mil voltios, falleciendo al momento. 

El occiso fue descrito como de unos 30 a 35 años, de tez triqueña; 5’5” de estatura aproximadamente y unas 130 libras de peso.  

El agente Cruz, adscrito al distrito de Toa Baja se hizo cargo de la investigación junto al fiscal de turno

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