Black Immigrant Daily News

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Saint Lucia has earned the prestigious Gold statuette in the 8th annual Travvy Awards for Best Honeymoon Destination – Caribbean.

The annual Travvy Awards, where travel advisors vote on the best in the travel industry, was held Wednesday, November 3, 2022, at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina to recognize the highest standards of excellence in the travel industry by honouring travel companies, travel products, travel agencies, and destinations for their outstanding achievements.

Thousands of votes were cast, and the industry came together. From suppliers to advisors and everyone in between, all in attendance were there to cheer each other on as their colleagues and peers were awarded for being game-changers and innovators of travel.

These winners were honoured during a gala awards dinner and presentation attended by finalists, industry leaders, and travel professionals from around the world.

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Jade Mountain was also recognized for being among the best, taking home Silver for ‘Best Luxury Hotel/Resort – Caribbean’ as well as Bronze for ‘Best Honeymoon Hotel/Resort – Caribbean’.

“It’s an honour to be named a Travvy Awards winner, as our win was determined by those who know us best: travel advisors,” said Lorine Charles-St. Jules, CEO of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority.

“These awards bear testament to the high quality of Saint Lucia’s offerings and our commitment to marketing the destination as a premier Caribbean tourist attraction to the global travel audience.”

SOURCE: Saint Lucia Tourism Authority

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Black Immigrant Daily News

DEAR EDITOR:

I seem to recall that when This Situation concerning Our DPP 1st came to the Public’s Notice, that the DPP wanted to tender his Resignation. However, the Attorney General made the Decision to have him go on Duty Leave for three Months to take care of the case brought against him in Jamaica.

I recall that Duty Leave allows one to be paid their Full Monthly Salary!

When the DPP returned to his position and questions were asked in the Public Sphere, no answers were provided by the Attorney General.

I remember a question put on a Radio program which spoke to comments made in Parliament that compromised THIS Particular DPP who apparently did VERY LITTLE to clear his Name!

No wonder ANU/BAR’s Legal System has the Reputation it now suffers!

I wonder if our Local Judicial And Legal Services Commission will do the RIGHT Thing; or Barring this, that the DPP himself will do what he apparently wanted to do at the very outset of This Very Disturbing Situation (but for the Attorney General’s Intervention) and tender his Resignation.

My hope is that the Latter happens if the Former does not take place.  Time Enough for Steps to be taken to Right so Many Wrongs that Exist in So Many Areas of Governance in Our Nation of ANU/BAR!!!!

If Neither of the Above materializes then May God Have MERCY On Our Nation as well as Our OECS And CARICOM Territories!

Furthermore, I think that what is Presently Taking Place in Our Sister Nation of Dominica [The Decision by the Prime Minister to Call A SNAP GENERAL ELECTION in the next Few Weeks, when EVERYBODY Knows that the Voter’s List is Compromised and Steps were taken by This VERY SAME ADMINISTRATION to CORRECT the FLAWS in that existing Voters List that JUSTICE DEMANDS] Spells DISASTER for Our Justice Systems and Societies, Generally, Throughout the Caribbean!!!

Too Many of Our Usual Gate Keeping Bodies & Individuals Throughout the Caribbean (Churches, Civic Organizations, Persons whose Opinions are VALUED in Our Societies, Etc.) remain QUIET when Integrity / Justice / Morality / And Simple Decency are Compromised in High Places!!!

What it All THIS saying to the Little Man/Woman (or ‘Common Man’ as the Term used to apply to Society in general)?

Is THIS saying that ALL are Involved in This Racket? That ALL are Compromised?

If THIS is the Case, then WE The “Little People” had Better BAND Together to SAVE Our SOULS, Our FAMILIES, Our NATIONS!!

Let Us Begin to View These Happenings with the SERIOUSNESS They require!  All it takes is 1 Person to start the Ball rolling.

Social Media CAN be Used For Our GOOD in Situations Such as These!  Let’s Go Forward to SAVE Ourselves!!!  Peace!

AAB

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Black Immigrant Daily News

News

FLOODED OUT: This photo posted to social media on Wednesday, shows floodwaters inside a house in Railway Road, Sangre Grande. – Social media

HEAVY and persistent early morning showers left several parts of the country under flood waters on Wednesday.

The thunderstorms began during the pre-dawn hours after being precipitated by the passage of a tropical wave over the islands. By 6 am, social media users were beginning to post photos to show the impact of flooding in their communities.

The Met Office has since issued a national riverine flood yellow alert from Wednesday morning all the way to Friday.

People and communities have been urged to take all steps to ensure protection of their property as major run-off of rainwater is expected to fill all of the major rivers which could then burst their banks and spill over into communities.

COLLAPSED: The roadway in Couva collapsed following heavy early morning thundershowers which also caused widespread flooding on Wednesday. Photo by- Lincoln Holder

A social media user posted an image of flood waters inside his home. Information has also reached Newsday of a roadway collapsing into a ravine near a bridge in Central Trinidad while several communities remain underwater as of mid-morning.

The Leaders in Service Team, a slate whose members are contesting several positions in the PNM’s internal elections, stated on Wednesday morning that a campaign meeting scheduled for Wednesday evening at the Northeastern Community Centre, Duranta Gardens in Sangre Grande, was postponed due to major flooding in that community.

Newsday was told that Toco/Sangre Grande MP Roger Munroe and his team as well as councillor Martin Terry Rondon are on the ground assisting affected residents.

Wednesday’s bad weather and flooding came only weeks after a similar weather system, i.e. a tropical wave, led to islandwide flooding and at least one person, a woman, losing her life in flood waters.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Republic Bank has announced a US$228.4 million profit being recorded by the year ended September 30, 2022, a 16.7 per cent interest compared to 2021 that the company attributed to society bouncing back from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement, Chairman of Republic Financial Holdings Limited (RFHL), Vincent Pereira, announced that while the figure represents an increase of US$32.6 million or 16.7 per cent over the 2021 reported profits of US$195.8 million, it is also US$8.1 million or 3.5 per cent below the 2019 reported profits of US$236.7 million.

“This performance reflects the impact of the Group’s expansion, revenue diversification and cost management strategies, the uptick in economic activity as well as the increase in yields in the US dollar-denominated financial instruments held across the Group,” the statement said.

The Chairman further noted in the statement that over the past financial year, the countries in which RFHL operates have continued to relax their COVID-19 protocols. This means borders and schools were re-opened, restrictions on gatherings and public mask mandates were removed and almost all commercial activities resumed.

“The resulting resurgence of economic activity, especially in the tourism-dependent economies, augured well for the Group. Throughout this period RFHL continued to serve its stakeholders, providing support to our customers as they navigated new challenges to their business model. We also worked to improve the customer experience through increased investment in our digital offerings.”

“During 2022 we strengthened our sustainability focus, adding capacity and execution capability to the Group through the creation of an Office of Sustainability. Additionally, through our Group flagship Power to Make a Difference Programme we are forging new, valued partnerships with NGOs and groups whose specific focus aligns to the pillars of our sustainability and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) effort,” he further announced.

He explained that by continuing their focus on being a responsible and sustainable bank, they hope to play a role in actively shaping a more sustainable future for all. Meanwhile, the Board of Directors have declared a final dividend of US$0.52 (2021: US$0.45) per share.

This brings the total dividend to US$110.1 million or US$0.67 (2021: US$0.60) per share for the fiscal year, an increase of 12.5 per cent in total dividend payment over 2021, and in line with the 2019 dividend payment. At a closing share price of US$20.96, this dividend represents a dividend yield of 3.21 per cent (2021: 2.93 per cent). The final dividend will be paid on December 1, 2022, to all shareholders of record on November 17, 2022.

“Within an environment that presented both challenges and uncertainty, the Group has delivered a good performance for the year ending September 30, 2022. This success could not have been realised without the talented, resilient, and dedicated staff across each of the fourteen (14) countries in which we operate. For their continued high level of commitment and their dedication to our customers, I am truly grateful,” Pereira concluded.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

See full statement from the People’s Progressive Party:

The People’s Progressive Party condemns in the strongest possible terms the obstruction of an engagement between Minister of Public Service Sonia Parag and residents of Belladrum, Region Five by APNU+AFC Member of Parliament Vinceroy Jordan.

Minister Parag’s visit to the community was as a result of a request made by residents during an earlier visit by President Dr Irfaan Ali. The residents had sought the president’s intervention to facilitate access to skills training, scholarships and other empowerment opportunities.

It is in this regard that the Minister visited the community on Tuesday November 8th, and was prevented from accessing the Community Development Council building by Jordan and a small group of APNU+AFC activists.

The PNC led APNU+AFC has demonstrated time and time again that it is incapable of offering meaningful leadership to their constituents or anyone for that matter, and is therefore in its familiar obstructionist mode with racism being its tool of choice.

While in office they took multi-million dollar scholarships for themselves and their relatives and denied ordinary Guyanese these very opportunities.

Their attempt to obstruct the PPP/C government’s housing drive at Amelia’s Ward in Linden, Region Ten and at Mocha Arcadia on the East Bank of Demerara are just a few examples of how they wanted development to bypass certain communities so that they can continue to peddle false claims of discrimination.

The blame for this worrying development should be laid squarely at the feet of PNC and Opposition Leader Mr. Aubrey Norton who has been unabatingly setting a tone of racism and aggression towards the legitimately elected government and its officials.

Norton has also started pivoting his poisonous rhetoric and confrontational tone towards members of the media as was recently witnessed during a community rally in the East Bank Demerara community of Mocha Arcadia.

The PPP unequivocally condemns MP Jordan’s cowardly behaviour and bullying tactics towards Minister Parag and urge that it be similarly denounced by Civil Society and other national stakeholders.

The party further calls on Civil Society and other national stakeholders, as well as all patriotic Guyanese at home and abroad to make their voices heard to Mr. Aubrey Norton and members of his cabal, on this most vexing and worrying matter of his racist and aggressive posture, and the subtle as well as overt messages he continues to send to his cabal and supporters against the duly elected Government and its functionaries, and against the national interest of the state.

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