St. Kitts and Nevis House Speaker attends UN Parliamentary Hearing on Water

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Caribbean News Service

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Lanein Blanchette, headed the delegation of St. Kitts and Nevis to the Parliamentary Hearing at the United Nations hosted by the President of the 77th UN General Assembly and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

The two-day meeting is convened under the theme “Water for People and the Planet: Stop the Waste, Change the Game, Invest in the Future” and brings together Parliamentarians from around the world in a lively debate on the looming inter-continental water crisis in order to renew a sense of purpose and solidarity to address these challenges and create modalities for crisis management and transformation. Some of the topics that will be explored include:

Sustainable Development Goal 6 as a linchpin of Sustainable Development;
Access to safe water and sanitation as a human right;
Climate Change and Water Scarcity: Building Resilience to avoid the worst;
Financing infrastructure for sanitation and water services: The trillion-dollar challenge;
Towards a more inclusive water policy: Leaving no one behind.

“The main aim of the meeting is to explore what parliamentarians can do to address the water challenges that we face in common as relates to ownership, management and financing,” said Blanchette. “Water scarcity is a challenge we face in St. Kitts and Nevis and I intend to use my platform to bring the issue of human rights to water and sanitation to the fore and help to spur better decision-making within our legislature for more inclusive and effective water delivery and management policies for the public good”.

The Parliamentary Hearing is a major event preparatory to the upcoming United Nations Water Conference that will be held at the United Nations Headquarters on 22nd -24th March 2023.

“Given the critical importance of water to our Federation, I have been assured that St. Kitts and Nevis will be well represented at the upcoming Water Conference, which is the first of its kind to be held since the 1970s. Cooperation and partnerships between countries are essential to addressing our challenges and obstacles and to explore best practices and innovative solutions for accelerating progress in this key plank of our sustainable development agenda,” said Nerys Dockery, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative of St. Kitts and Nevis to the United Nations.

“The government of St. Kitts and Nevis through its parliamentary and diplomatic representatives intends to do its utmost to ensure that its multilateral engagements will lead to concrete results through concrete actions and plans on the ground. Nobody can prosper until we all prosper; nobody can lead a healthy life until the entire environment and the people around us are healthy too,” Ambassador Dockery concluded.

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Trudeau headed to Bahamas for meeting of Caribbean leaders as Haiti crisis deepens

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Caribbean News Service

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to depart today for the Bahamas, where members of the Caribbean Community are gathering to discuss regional issues, including a deepening crisis in Haiti.

Trudeau is participating as a special guest at the summit of 20 Caribbean leaders in Nassau, as the group celebrates its 50th anniversary.

His office says the trip will allow leaders to consider political, security and humanitarian assistance to Haitian people and “Haitian-led solutions to the ongoing situation.”

The country is embroiled in crisis, with violent gangs jockeying for territory in capital Port-au-Prince and international watchdogs reporting rampant sexual assault, kidnappings and a worsening health emergency.

Haiti’s unelected prime minister Ariel Henry, who is expected to participate in the Nassau meeting, has asked for a foreign military intervention — and the United States has suggested that Canada lead one.

But the Canadian government has so far kept its powder dry, instead searching for a “consensus” on the ground and levying economic sanctions against elites accused of supporting gang activity.

Emmanuel Dubourg, Canada’s only Haitian-born federal member of Parliament, suggested in an interview that the government is not leaving anything off the table as it considers how to help.

“We are trying our best to have that consensus to have a diplomatic solution,” the Liberal MP said.

“But we also heard that the national police is under-armed, and the situation, it’s really difficult there. So we are discussing all types of options to help people in Haiti.”

Dubourg added that a discussion about Haiti is likely to play into Trudeau’s conversations with U.S. President Joe Biden in March, when he is expected to visit north of the border.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said in French on Tuesday that Canada would continue working with the U.S. and other allies to help improve the situation on the ground.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh also responded to questions about Haiti in French outside the House of Commons, saying that he thinks it’s important to work with Haitian people on a way forward rather than “forcing a solution” as a foreign country.

Trudeau was last expected to join the Caribbean leaders at a meeting in February 2020, but cancelled the trip amid criticism of his government’s handling of anti-pipeline blockades in Western Canada at the time.

More than two million Canadians travel to the countries represented in the group every year, and Canada’s two-way trade with them totalled nearly $6 billion in 2021.

The prime minister is expected to return to Ottawa late Thursday evening.

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Jovenel Moise: Four more people arrested over plot to kill Haiti’s president

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Caribbean News Service
Haitian President Jovenel Moise was shot and killed in July 2021

US police have arrested four more people for alleged roles in the plot to assassinate Haitian President Jovenel Moise in 2021.

One of the suspects is the owner of a Florida-based security company, which authorities say hired Colombian ex-soldiers for the mission.

President Moise was shot and killed at his home in Port-au-Prince, reportedly by Spanish-speaking foreign mercenaries.

Eleven suspects are now in US custody.

According to the Justice Department (DOJ), Venezuelan-American Antonio “Tony” Intriago, who is the owner of Florida-based CTU Security, hired a squad of former Colombian soldiers for the operation. He has now been hit with a slew of charges, including conspiracy to kill or kidnap a person outside of the US.

A CTU company representative, Colombian citizen Arcangel Pretel Ortiz, has also been arrested.

A third suspect, Florida-based financier Walter Veintemilla, is accused of financing the plot to kill Mr Moise. His attorney told the Associated Press that he plans to plead not guilty.

The fourth suspect – Frederick Joseph Bergmann Jr – has been accused of smuggling ballistic vests as part of the plot.

“It is extremely important to bring (them) to justice,” said US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe. “We will deliver justice in the courtroom.”

US authorities had previously announced the arrest of seven men for their alleged role in the plot, including Haitian-American dual citizens James Solages and Joseph Vincent, and pastor and businessman Christian Emmanual Sanon.

Haitian police have said that Mr Sanon had “political objectives” to replace President Moise.

The DOJ believes that Mr Solages and Mr Vincent, along with Colombian national Germ?n Alejandro Rivera, originally planned to detain the Haitian president and fly him away from Haiti so that a new president could be installed. The plan was reportedly abandoned because they did not have an aircraft.

In a statement in January, US prosecutors said that the three men and others met at a house in Haiti just before the assassination, “where firearms and equipment was distributed and Solages announced that the mission was to kill President Moise”.

Haiti’s own investigation into the assassination has largely stalled, with three judges having resigned from their posts due to security concerns. A fourth was dismissed.

More than 40 suspects have been arrested in Haiti and remain in custody, including 18 Colombians. Three others were killed immediately after President Moise’s death.

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Rihanna, Drake Salutes Lebron James For Setting New NBA Scoring Record

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Urban Islandz

Lebron James earned a new historical milestone on Tuesday night, and many, including the hip-hop world, are sending congratulatory messages for the amazing achievement. Basketball legend LeBron James made history after becoming the NBA’s all-time scoring leader when he broke the standing record held by Kareem-Abdul Jabbar over the past three decades.

Lebron James earned the title while his team played against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Los Angeles Lakers’ home Crypto.com Arena. James was expected to surpass Jabbar’s career total of 38,387 points, and after doing so, the basketball legend ceremonially handed over the basketball to his successor in a mid-court ceremony.

The historical milestone was noticed by many in the sporting and entertainment world as they gave the basketball player his props. LeBron’s epic performance on Tuesday night came after weeks of anticipation, and when he scored his 36th point, the stadium and social media erupted with congratulatory messages from all factions of fans.

Among those who marveled at the achievement were Rihanna, Drake, Justin Timberlake, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, and thousands of LeBron fans who flooded social media with messages in awe of him.

“What a legendary night in NBA history,” Drake said about his friend shortly after the game ended. Drake appeared to be speaking from LeBron’s former hometown as he said, “To honor that I had to come back to the place that it all started… Every journey has its beginning.” However, his usual gimmick at play, a green screen collapses behind Drake, showing that he was actually in a nightclub in Miami celebrating.

Sixteen-time Grammy winner Kendrick Kamar also shared praise for LeBron’s achievement.

“From the time you went to the league when you had the doubters and the naysayers and people that think you wouldn’t take it this far you proved ’em wrong, dawg,” Lamar said.

Rihanna also shared that the moment inspired her.

“I am so grateful to witness this moment in history… my favorite thing about being a LeBron James fan is just watching you prove yourself over and over again against all odds and all doubt. Thank you for repping for all of us. Keep striving for greatness always, and congratulations King James.”

Snoop Dogg, decked out in his Lakers jersey, also added, “it’s always fun watching a Laker get it done.”

John Legend and Justin Timberlake also shared congratulatory messages to LeBron, with the former saying, “This man has been in the spotlight and burdened with the highest expectations since he was a teenager. And he’s done nothing but exceed those expectations and build a historic legacy. What an incredible accomplishment!” while Timberlake was in awe of the historic score, “on a step back too!”

Lil Wayne also posted, “Kongrats King!! Glad to say I’ve shaken your hand brudda. God bless you and the fam and the homies.”

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Iggy Azalea Says Playboi Carti Abused Her Too and Calls Arrest His Karma

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Urban Islandz

Iggy Azalea has reacted to reports that the father of her son, rapper Playboi Carti has been arrested for allegedly attacking his pregnant girlfriend.

News of the rapper’s arrest surfaced early on Tuesday morning, with reports that he was arrested for a domestic violence-related incident that took place two months ago. The publication revealed that the rapper allegedly choked his pregnant girlfriend. He was arrested and booked for felony aggravated assault and obstruction charges after he prevented the woman from calling the police.

Iggy Azalea reacted to the reports and did not hold herself back as she accused the rapper of having a history of being violent towards women. Azalea and Playboi Carti share a son, Onyx Kelly, and she has never shied away from sharing about her problems with the rapper.

The Australian rapper confirmed that the rapper also put his hands on her. “Been there. Done that. Warned you,” she wrote on Twitter.

Iggy Azalea, who previously accused Carti of breaking up with her and abandoning her during her pregnancy and later being a “deadbeat” dad, said the rapper was abusive.

“Imagine having a pregnant girlfriend and pretending they don’t exist until it comes out you like to abuse them too,” she continued,

“[And] rarely visiting your actual son unless is because you’re running from whatever problems ya got going on in Atlanta & the press with your serial abuse of a woman. Anyway. I’m having an actually amazing day! karmas real! Treat the people you love well! Happy Valentine’s Day,” the Australian rapper said.

via Iggy Azalea Twittervia Iggy Azalea Twittervia Iggy Azalea Twitter

Details of the arrest have been few, but so far, news reports claim that the assault took place on December 20 and that the incident stemmed from an argument over the paternity of the child. His girlfriend was just 20 weeks pregnant at the time.

Reports are that there was a physical altercation, and Carti choked her until she couldn’t breathe and shoed into some nearby bushes.

A witness helped the woman, who then ran for help.

There is also another report which claims that the irate rapper chased after the woman and attacked her again. He reportedly dragged her out of her car and covered her mouth so she wouldn’t call the police. The woman was able to use her phone’s S.O.S emergency help feature to call the cops.

The woman was found by police with bruises to her chest, back, and neck. An attorney for Playboi Carti said he was innocent of the charges.

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Beenie Man Chided Bounty Killer and Mr. Vegas For Warring In Golden Years

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Urban Islandz

Beenie Man is adding his two cents to the ongoing dancehall war between Mr. Vegas and Bounty Killer.

The two artists have been at each other’s throats over the past few weeks, and their feud, which involves lyrical diss tracks, also got personal, with each artist making grave accusations at the other.

Mr. Vegas at first called Bounty Killer a derogatory name and claimed that the artist fathered a child with a minor when she was 15 years old and he was much older. Bounty Killer also shared that a woman alleges that she was raped by Mr. Vegas when she was only 13 years old.

The feud has been polarizing, with some like Dexta Daps, taking Bounty Killer’s side and running the risk of being set upon by Mr. Vegas. Beenie Man, however, says he is disappointed in the artists as they are older and ought to set better examples.

“Memba me ah di King of the Dancehall and memba mi fight dancehall artists to be together and that’s why mi nuh like this war with Vegas and Bounty Killer,” Beenie Man said on the Let’s Be Honest podcast.

“It nuh make nuh sense. Vegas ah forty (years old) and Bounty Killer ah 50 (years old). Weh you a go with that,” the artist added.

Beenie Man went on to name some of the greatest dancehall hits coming from both artists as he broke out into Vegas’ “Heads High.’

“Weh yuh do?” Beenie Man asked Mr. Vegas.

Beenie Man said he isn’t blameless because he keeps up “foolishness,” but it’s always for a purpose.

The dancehall veteran also shared that when Vybz Kartel and Mavado were beefing during the infamous Gully/Gaza feud, he had intervened and advised Kartel to meet with the “Caribbean Girls” artist to show unity so that the violence their fans were unleashing would stop.

Beenie Man also revealed that the artists met up in Tivoli, but Kartel later came on TV and took credit for the idea.

Beenie also cautioned Vegas, noting that Bounty Killer was not one to mess with.

“The people dem come out for Bounty cause yuh a spider,” he said as he trailed off singing one of Bounty’s famous clash songs.

He also shared that he had a role to play in urging Kartel to extend the olive branch and quash his feud with Mavado.

“When yuh go down a Tivoli try make sure say you make Mavado call you out. Yuh nave fi fall him out because ah you ah di man at this point. So just make them know say ‘yow eh bwoy’ cause you have 100 man weh bad and yuh bad too, so anuh like him can tell you say him nah call you out,” Beenie Man said.

In the meantime, Beenie Man also shared his opinion on what the artists nowadays call “clash,” noting that it was inferior to the true form of a ‘clash’ is in dancehall culture.

“Juggling mash up because the artist dem nah go pan the same riddim weh the next artist deh pon, that never mek sense. The man dem mash up dancehall…the man dem deh online wid war,” Beenie Man joked. “Yuh can’t go no stage go see dem war, yuh a eediat?”

Beenie Man also couldn’t hold himself back as he opinionated that you can’t keep Sting in the countryside, which is how the clash culture is characterized – being in Kingston, where the fans’ energy is more receptive to lyrical clashes.

“Soft crowd don’t know nothing about war…mi have hope fi Sting but a just the venue, the wrong venue,” Beenie Man said.

In the meantime, Beenie Man offered advice for Sting, noting that the event should be held for $1,000 at the Stadium parking lot to be open to people who have a genuine love for clash culture so they can ‘fawud’ and grow Sting’s profile.

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Christine Randle Appointed UWI Press Director

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Caribbean News Service

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) on Tuesday announced the appointment of Christine Randle as the new Director of the UWI Press. Randle’s appointment became effective in January.

Randle comes to the Press with a vast amount of industry experience in publishing, where she successfully ran a family business, putting it on sound financial footing and building on the name and reputation of the company in Jamaica, regionally and internationally. She launched the company on a path to further growth in a period of little development, and leveraged the use of innovative publishing models, partnerships, and collaborations. The UWI Press will benefit from her extensive experience and network as Managing Director and Publisher at the company for the past 15 years.

A qualified attorney-at-law, she earned her Bachelor of Laws in 1993 at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She was then admitted to the Bar of England and Wales at Gray’s Inn in 1994 and the Bar of Jamaica in 1995.

As the new Director of the UWI Press, Randle has oversight of its strategic and operational arm, and reports directly to Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles through the Press’ Advisory Board. She is responsible for operationalising the vision of the Board, which is to ensure that the Press becomes an independently financially viable and sustainable arm of The UWI, while maintaining its high-quality standards of cutting-edge academic publishing.

Commenting on Randle’s appointment, Chairman of the Advisory Board of the UWI Press, Professor Densil A. Williams expressed, “Ms. Randle’s extensive experience and her tenacious management will bring the transformational leadership that the Press needs at this point in time.” Professor Williams added, “I am especially pleased that she is the first Caribbean national to hold the post of Director of the Press in its 30th anniversary year. I know she will leverage her experience and comprehensive knowledge in her new role in service to The UWI.”

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CPA Canada applauds successful Caribbean CFE writers

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Caribbean News Service

Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada) congratulates the 40 Caribbean students who successfully passed the Common Final Examination (CFE) from 2019-2022. This is an important milestone on their journey to become chartered professional accountants.

The CFE is a three-day evaluation designed to assess candidates’ knowledge, judgement and professional skills. It is a critical component of the Canadian CPA certification program that requires individuals to demonstrate a range of skills and competencies gained through education, examinations and work experience.

Two convocation ceremonies were hosted by CPA Canada. The first took place at the Sweetfield Manor Boutique Hotel on February 8, to recognize 30 individuals from Barbados, one graduate from Jamaica, one from St. Lucia and one graduate from Dominica. This was followed by an event at the LaVue Hotel and Beach Club on February 9, celebrating six individuals from St. Vincent and one graduate from St. Lucia.

These celebrations were the first in-person CPA Canada events held in the Caribbean since 2019, making them memorable occasions with family members, employers, mentors, CPA members and Fellows of the profession.

“Wherever your interests lie, you have the opportunity to lead meaningful and purpose-driven work” explained Pamela Steer, President and CEO of CPA Canada, who was honoured to speak at both events. “As strategic and trusted advisors, CPAs can help shape today’s data-driven marketplace, drive new forms of value creation, and be strong leaders in building a more inclusive and competitive economy.”

Esteemed guest in attendance included Miriam van Nie from the High Commission of Canada in Barbados.

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CARICOM Heads scheduled for diplomatic engagements during Summit in The Bahamas

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Caribbean News Service

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government are set to have talks with several bilateral and multilateral partners as the Community deepens relations regionally and within the global community.

During the 44th Regular Summit of the Conference of Heads of Government scheduled for 15-17 February in Nassau, The Bahamas, Heads will engage with several special guests including the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau; Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; the President and Chairman of the African Export-Import Bank, Prof. Benedict Okey Oramah; and the Executive President of the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), Sergio D?az-Granados.

Assistant Secretary-General of the Directorate of Foreign and Community Relations within the CARICOM Secretariat, Ambassador Donna Forde said Canada is a “longstanding bilateral partner” and CARICOM is happy that another opportunity presented itself for an inaugural meeting between the Conference and Prime Minister Trudeau.

They were slated to meet in Barbados in February 2020 during the Thirty-First Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference, but the Foreign Minister of Canada, the Hon. Francois-Phillipe Champagne deputised and set out an agenda for strengthening ties between his country and CARICOM.

In May 2020, Prime Minister Trudeau worked closely with Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica, as well as the United Nations Secretary-General to advance solutions to the global economic crisis occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic in a global leaders’ forum.

Prime Minister Holness and Prime Minister Trudeau also collaborated in November 2020 for a High-Level Event on Financing for Development in the Era of Covid-19 and Beyond in which they called for assistance to countries that did not have the financial cushion to cope with the economic fall-out from the pandemic.

They jointly advocated for the international community to increase the resources available to the International Monetary Fund, including through a new allocation of Special Drawing Rights and a voluntary reallocation of existing Special Drawing Rights to help teetering economies.

In October 2022, the Chairman of CARICOM Chandrikapersad Santokhi, President of Suriname, and Prime Minister Trudeau held discussions on Haiti. The two leaders had agreed to continue to work together to advance a Haitian-led solution and encourage inclusive political dialogue among Haitian stakeholders. When CARICOM Heads and the Canadian Prime Minister meet in Nassau on February 16, they will continue the discussion on the evolving situation in Haiti.

Concerning the discussion with the head of the WTO, Ambassador Forde said that Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has taken a special interest in Small Island Developing States (SIDs) and is aware of the vulnerabilities [economic, social, environmental] CARICOM countries face.

“She is aware of the need for us to build resilience to the challenges of Climate Change and all of the struggles that our economies continue to face, and which were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Ambassador Forde said, adding, “it would be interesting to hear the message she will bring to CARICOM.”

Africa and the African Union were identified as “important partners” ASG Forde said as she touched on the engagement the CARICOM leaders will have with Prof. Oramah. She recalled the September 2021 CARICOM-Africa Summit in which the leaders committed to strengthening collaboration in trade, investment, and people-to-people contact.

“There should have been a follow-up Summit last year, but due to the intervening challenges from the pandemic, it was difficult to schedule that. We are hoping that the engagement with the President and Chairman of the African Export-Import Bank would signal a further strengthening of our engagements with African Institutions,” Amb. Forde said.

Sergio D?az-Granados is meeting with CARICOM Heads of Government as the Development Bank of Latin America seeks to strengthen linkages in CARICOM with a focus on post-COVID reconstruction and building green economies within Latin America and the Caribbean.

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Grenada to deport 15 Haitians

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Caribbean News Service

The Government of Grenada announced Monday that they would deport 15 Haitian nationals who entered the island as a group of tourists on Sunday.

Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, who is also the Minister for National Security and immigration, told a news conference that the French-speaking nationals had arrived on a flight from neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago.

“So, the immigration officers in their normal routine checks were able to ascertain to make the determination that in fact, they will be a charge on the public purse if they were in fact permitted to enter the state,” said Prime Minister Mitchell, noting that the decision was based on the amount of cash in the possession of the Haitians when they arrived.

He said that because Haiti is a member of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) grouping, there are very specific and limited grounds that can be used to prevent a Caricom national from entering a member state.

“One of which is a charge on the public purse and the second will be in broad terms, national security risk, in this case, it was purely on the basis of a charge on the public purse,” Mitchell said, indicating that the Haitians were unable to stay in a hotel for at least one night.

“If you are not a citizen of Grenada and you come to Grenada, you can only be staying at a hotel for at least one night unless you have a friend or family, and in the absence of friends or family it means that you have to be able to afford a hotel at least for one night,” he said.

“If you don’t have cash or credit card that allows you to afford a hotel for one night, it means you don’t have a place to stay, and if you don’t have a place to stay and we let you into our community what is going to happen, it means we as a state will have to take care of you,” he concluded.

Grenada is hoping to send them back on Monday night.

Mitchell acknowledged that the political and economic situation in Haiti will be discussed at the three-day Caricom summit to be held in the Bahamas starting Wednesday.

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