Black Immigrant Daily News

New York Gala emerges as major highlight of Independence Celebrations across US Northeast NEW YORK 22nd November 2022 – Antiguans and Barbudans residing in the United States Northeast from Philadelphia, Boston and New York have been celebrating our nation’s 41st Anniversary of Independence in fine style over the past several weeks.

Celebrations began with church services in New York and Philadelphia on October 30th and concluded with the major highlight of these activities, the Independence Gala hosted by the New York Offices of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda.

The annual event celebrated the outstanding achievements of three Antiguans and Barbudans who have dedicated their lives to positively impacting their professions and respective communities.

Receiving awards were qualified nursing professional and the President of the Antigua and Barbuda Association of Philadelphia Helenmay Bady, Councilwoman of the City of Lovejoy, Georgia Rosannette Kirby and for her untiring spirit of altruism, Jeannette Joseph-Greenaway.

The awards were jointly presented to the deserving recipients by Minister of Information, Broadcasting and Telecommunications the Hon. Melford Nicholas and Antigua and Barbuda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Walton Webson.

Minister Nicholas brought greetings on behalf of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda.

He expressed his delight at seeing the enthusiastic outpouring of support by Antiguans and Barbudans in the diaspora at such a joyous national moment.

Nicholas used the occasion to apprise nationals and friends in the diaspora of the economic resurgence the land of their birth is now experiencing, after an extremely difficult period of dealing with the challenges of the pandemic.

The sounds of the City South Steel Orchestra, led by their just pinned national awardee Patrick Johnny Gomes, set the tone for the evening’s reception, which was brought to an exhilarating climax with a string of favourites from musical icons, the Burning Flames.

Ambassador Webson expressed his gratitude to those gathered who were generous in their support of the event, the proceeds from which are targeted towards a mentorship programme for students being led by Antigua and Barbuda Associations United (ABAU).

Dr. Webson expressed appreciation to the many sponsors of the event including: the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, American University of Antigua College of Medicine, the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority USA, Arton Capital, Giselle Bru, Ambassador Hanna Akar, the Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Unit, American Airlines, Premier Beverages, ABS Radio and Television and Pointe Express.

Events were also held in Philadelphia and Boston to commemorate Antigua and Barbuda’s attainment of nationhood 41 years ago.

The ceremony in Pennsylvania was of significance as the first time in our country’s history Mayor James Kenney, by official proclamation, declared October 30th to November 6th Antigua and Barbuda Independence Week.

Ambassador Webson and Michelle Lightfoot from the Consulate General joined members of the Antigua and Barbuda Association of Philadelphia, community leaders, and members of city government in a flag raising ceremony as part of this memorable occasion.

In Boston, an Independence Dinner and Dance, organised by Team Goldeneye and Wadadli Vagabonds attracted Antiguans and Barbudans from all walks of life to celebrate the nation’s birthday.

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Opposition leader Allen Chastanet asserting that everyone is vulnerable has expressed condolences to the family of Nurse Keziah Wilson, who died on Tuesday morning after being shot in her vehicle at Goodlands, Castries.

“We are in an environment of violence. It is very sad,” the former Prime Minister told reporters on the sidelines of a House of Assembly meeting.

” I understand she was picking up her daughter. It was very traumatic for all of us, and it brings it very close to home because all of us are vulnerable in this society,” the United Workers Party (UWP) leader observed.

” And what is more frightening is that this government does not seem to have any answers for it. They are just constantly throwing up their hands in the air,” Chastanet declared.

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According to Chastanet, the Philip J. Pierre administration deals with every crisis similarly.

“It’s always somebody else’s fault. It’s not their responsibility,” Chastanet said.

However, Chastanet indicated that people expect those in government to act.

And he referred to his former administration’s track record.

“We kept track of ten serious criminal activities, and we were making inroads on all of them. Sadly, the murder rate was not one of them. But we felt that if we could bring down the rate of crime in general in Saint Lucia, we would eventually start solving the problem of the murders,” Chastanet told reporters.

But he said the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) administration seems to have given up on all such policies.

“Sadly, we are being asked to fend for ourselves, and that is a very sad day for Saint Lucia,” the Micoud South MP lamented.

According to the police, 38-year-old Goodlands resident Keziah Wilson sustained a head wound and was pronounced dead on arrival at the OKEU Hospital.

The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) has requested anyone with information regarding the latest homicide to contact the Major Crime Unit at 456-3754 or the Crime Hotline at 555, for anonymous reporting.

Saint Lucia has recorded 63 homicides this year.

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In a Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) press release today (November 22), the RCIPS shared that three RCIPS women in leadership positions travelled to the UK to attend the Women in Policing Conference in London.

The three female leaders attending the conference on behalf of the RCIPS were Deputy Chief Officer of the Office of the Commissioner of Police, Nancy Barnard, RCIPS Inspector Denise Anderson, and RCIPS Superintendent Wendy Parchment, who the RCIPS say were chosen to attend the conference because of their senior roles in the service, and the various areas of the service that they represent.

As to the benefits of the conference, conference organizers said that “The unique conference explores the role of women in policing and offers practical advice and coaching on how to further develop your career in times of change.”

In exploring the foregoing, the conference organizers noted the following items on the agenda for discussion:

Examine the barriers currently facing female leaders (and future leaders) in policing and hear how to overcome themUnderstand when and how gender plays a role in both organisational and personal advancementLearn how successful women negotiate for what they need to be effective leadersGain a deeper understanding of the skills, qualities and attributes needed to be a successful leaderRaise the visibility of women as senior leaders in policingCreate a lasting network of women leaders across the sector who are effecting change in policing

Commenting on the attendance of the three senior RCIPS leaders, Commissioner of Police Derek Byrne said:

We are grateful to the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office for facilitating this opportunity for our staff to attend this important conference. Women play invaluable roles throughout the service, and in police services around the world. The opportunity to network and gain advice and insight from women in leadership positions within police services in the UK and elsewhere will only serve to strengthen their capabilities and contributions to the police service here in Cayman.

Superintendent Wendy Parchment also commented on her experience, saying: “I am elated to have engaged with several female strategic leaders within the Met Police Service where our discussions were meaningful. Visits to the various Police Stations including our meeting with female Commissioner Angela McLaren of The City of London Police Force, our twin service, gave me the reassurance of future possibilities for the women within RCIPS.”

On other days, the two police officers who attended were also given the chance to shadow officers of London’s Metropolitan Police Service in specialist roles, such as the Custody Suite and also the Control Centre, both at Charing Cross Station.

The officers also attended the Network of Women where they met with senior officers who provided advice on Network formation, future aims and objectives.

A special visit to Scotland Yard was also arranged. The officers attended Wapping Police Station and were given an overview of their operations including their Territorial Support Group. Both officers were privileged to learn of various types of training and equipment used on operations. The two officers also joined the Marine Team on the Thames River.

Reacting to the experience, Inspector Denise Anderson said:

I was humbled to be given the opportunity to attend the Women In Policing Conference in London. It was truly amazing to listen to the stories behind the high ranking successful women officers. It has highlighted that changes are being made in policing, however it is very slow and we need to ensure we not only equip ourselves but also encourage and motivate other women to become successful. My biggest take away was the session with Mr. Sal Naseem, Regional Director for London, Independent Office for Police Conduct and how he made it a point to understand the struggles women face in such a male-dominated organization, and things he did to help women strive.

The group, accompanied by Project Officer Maria Stanley of the British Overseas Territories Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), also visited the Cayman Islands Government’s UK office, where they met with representative Dr. Tasha Ebanks-Garcia and assistant representative Phillippa Knights.

Thanking the FCDO, DCO Barnard said:

I appreciate all the FCDO has done to include the Cayman Islands on this learning opportunity, as well as Commissioner’s Byrne’s support of gender equity. As a group, we look forward to joining other police services across the British Overseas Territories, as we locally and regionally develop our own Women in Policing Networks. It is heartening to work towards offering support, understanding, and mentorship to all our female police officers and female police (civilian) staff whilst they navigate the challenges and opportunities of being a woman in policing.

More about Women in Policing conference

The one-day Women in Policing conference took place on Wednesday, November 16, and featured presentations on various topics such as addressing barriers to advancement, communicating effectively, leading with authenticity, raising the visibility of women as leaders within the field, and fostering positive cultural changes within the field.

Now in it’s sixth year, Women in Policing seeks to provide current and future leaders with the skills needed to correct this imbalance.

The unique conference explores the role of women in policing and offers practical advice and coaching on how to further develop careers in times of change.

Part of the discussion includes how to manage the challenges of modern leadership and help ensure momentum is not lost in recognising and rewarding female leaders in policing.

All three women attending on behalf of the RCIPS were able to network with women in policing from various jurisdictions, sharing experiences and advice in advance of the regional Women in Policing conference early next year.

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AL RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) — Arab teams are making an impact at the first World Cup in the Middle East.

Tunisia held European Championship semifinalist Denmark to a 0-0 draw Tuesday, three hours after Saudi Arabia beat Argentina in a shocking upset.

Before a stadium filled almost entirely with their red-clad supporters, Tunisia likely deserved more but an expert save shortly before halftime by goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel helped Denmark preserve the draw.

Having already gone down to the grass after Tunisia broke through the defense, Schmeichel stuck his hand up to deflect a shot from Issam Jebali, who plays his club ball in Denmark for Odense.

It was just the sort of save that the keeper’s father, former Manchester United great Peter Schmeichel, used to pull off.

The match marked Christian Eriksen’s return to a major tournament less than a year and a half after his cardiac arrest with Denmark at Euro 2020.

Assuming his customary playmaker position, Eriksen produced a dangerous long-distance shot on goal in the second half that Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen had to bat away.

And on the ensuing corner, Denmark hit the post.

Tunisia also survived the chance of a last-minute penalty for Denmark but the referee ruled to play on after a video review for a possible handball.

Denmark have been one of the most outspoken critics of the tournament in Qatar and during the pre-match warmup their players wore all black long-sleeve shirts over their red game jerseys to mourn migrant workers who died building infrastructure for football’s biggest event.

Denmark were also planning on wearing the “One Love” anti-discrimination armband along with other European teams before the campaign was dropped when FIFA threatened to hand out yellow cards.

However, former Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, who is now chair of the Danish soccer federation’s governance and development committee, was at the stadium wearing a coat with some subtle rainbow colouring.

Denmark have lofty goals following their performance at last year’s Euro 2020 and a near-perfect qualifying campaign, while Tunisia are seeking to advance from the group stage for the first time in their sixth World Cup appearance.

After a lack of atmosphere at several of the opening matches, the huge number of Tunisian fans inside Education City Stadium made it feel like a home match for the North African team. Tunisia fans chanted, banged drums and blew air horns when their squad had the ball — then hissed and whistled loudly whenever Denmark had possession.

Many spectators waving Palestinian flags also supported Tunisia.

Tunisia midfielder A?ssa La?douni set the tone in the very first minute when he stripped Eriksen of the ball with an aggressive sliding tackle — then stood up and pumped his arms menacingly, gesturing to the crowd to get even more fired up.

In the end, both teams produced 13 shots.

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BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — It was a match Argentines had no doubt would be victorious and joyful. Instead, shock and sadness engulfed the streets of the capital Tuesday morning as the long-awaited debut of the national team in the World Cup ended in a 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia.

“The truth is, this is a disappointment, a big disappointment,” said Alejandro Pintos, a 36-year-old locksmith who was opening his shop a bit later than usual because he first wanted to watch the game. “This was the match that we had no choice but to win.”

Pintos described the national team as being “very disorganized,” something he found particularly frustrating given its 36-match unbeaten streak leading up to the tournament.

Led by Lionel Messi, Argentina entered the tournament as one of the favourites, but instead suffered one of the biggest World Cup upsets after Saudi Arabia rallied with two second-half goals in Lusail Stadium.

“I’m really quite bitter,” Josefina Licera, a 27-year-old social worker, said as she waited for the bus to go to work. “I was really sure we were going to win and it was a big surprise.”

Susana Leguizam?n, 55, woke up half an hour before the match was set to start at 7 am local time and put on her blue-and-white-striped Argentina jersey, ready to celebrate what she thought was going to be a fabulous debut for the national team in Qatar.

“I was very, very, very surprised,” Leguizam?n said. “The truth is, we underestimated our rival.”

Argentines were counting on a World Cup win to bring a glimmer of a hope to a country that has been economically stagnant for years, is suffering a nearly 100% inflation rate, and where close to 4 in 10 people are living in poverty.

Oscar L?pez, 67, was visibly upset as he reflected on the team’s unexpected defeat while wiping down windows outside the building where he is the superintendent.

“If they’re in the World Cup, no team is easy,” L?pez said, his eyes watering. “You always have to be careful.”

But Santiago Babarro, 40, said he wasn’t all that shocked by the result.

“The same thing always happens to Argentina,” the retail worker said. “We say, ‘This is an easy match, we can win it easily,’ and then, bam! They put us in our place. We always believe we’re more than what we are.”

Sebasti?n Fabre, 48, woke up with an uneasy feeling Tuesday, worried about what he said was overconfidence on the side of Argentina fans.

“There was way too much unfounded optimism. I didn’t want to say anything but I think we were all way too overconfident,” Fabre said.

Leguizam?n, who walked to her job at a restaurant still wearing her Argentina jersey, said she could feel those around her were also suffering the loss.

“Everyone is very sad, very sad,” she said. “We all woke up with lots of hope.”

Still, the fans said they could see a silver lining.

“Really, it’s better that this happened in the first match and not in the quarter finals,” Fabre said. “That’s the positive side to this.”

Leuizam?n agreed.

“A trip is not a fall, as we say here,” she said, using a common Argentine expression. “I’m a big fan of the national team and I get in a really bad mood when it loses but my hope is intact.”

Argentina plays Mexico on Saturday in their second match in Group C.

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