IOC President holds talks with the President, Prime Minister of Barbados

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Caribbean News Service

The future of sports in Barbados, gender disparity in sports, duty-free access to sports equipment, the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and a proposal to make road tennis an Olympic sport were among the topics discussed Thursday when the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, OLY, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Mia Mottley, at Ilaro Court.

In the meeting, which lasted approximately 30 minutes, Prime Minister Mottley reiterated her Government’s commitment to sports development, noting that steps are being taken to install lights at all the hardcourts and playing fields on the island, to install bleachers at one playing field in each parish, as well as refurbish the National Stadium. Those attending the meeting included Minister of Youth, Sport and Community Empowerment Charles Griffith, Permanent Secretary Yolande Howard, and Director of Sports, National Sports Council, Neil Murrell.

Regarding road tennis, which is indigenous to Barbados, Prime Minister Mottley said that the Government is committed to attracting international appeal for the sport, noting that it has already been introduced to Rwanda.

“It is the perfect sport for poor people and for inner cities… It has the potential in my view to be able to democratize access for ordinary people, in a way that many other sports cannot,” PM Mottley stated as she requested the IOC’s help in taking road tennis to the world.

She added, “Hopefully today would come to be regarded, the 9th of March, as the future of global world tennis”.

In response, President Bach pledged the IOC’s support to develop a strategy to build a federation and make road tennis more international. Meanwhile, commenting on the Prime Minister’s concern about gender disparity, including the pay difference between male and female athletes, and the broadcast quality of female sports like cricket, Bach said the IOC is doing its part to address disparity among athletes.

He revealed that at the Paris 2024 Olympics, there would be full gender parity for the first time. He said there would be the same number of events for male and female athletes. He added they are encouraging the international federations to provide more opportunities for mixed events, allowing smaller National Olympic Committees the best chance to participate. His remarks came as he disclosed that the IOC has been able to appoint equal numbers of men and women to all their commissions. Additionally, Bach indicated that the IOC is willing to use its digital platforms to broadcast more women’s sports to the world.

Following the meeting with the Prime Minister, Bach, who was re-elected as President for a second four-year term in March 2021, also called on the President of Barbados, the Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason. He had a fruitful discussion with Her Excellency, the BOA’s patron, about sports development in Barbados.

President Bach was accompanied to the meetings by the President of the Barbados Olympic Association, Sandra Osborne, the Secretary General, Erskine Simmons and the President of Panam Sports, Neven Ilic.

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The OECS and the AFD Sign a Strategic Memorandum of Understanding

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The content originally appeared on: Caribbean News Service

Dr. Didacus Jules, director general of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Charles Trottmann, Head of the Three Oceans department of the Agence Fran?aise de D?veloppement (AFD), and ?tienne Francis, ambassador of France to the Eastern Caribbean states, Barbados and the OECS, met in Gosier, Guadeloupe on Wednesday, to sign a historic memorandum of understanding between the OECS and the AFD.

The OECS is dedicated to economic harmonization, regional integration and cooperation by contributing to the sustainable development of its 11 members, and by facilitating the integration of member states into the global economy and maximizing the benefits of their cooperation and collective action.

The OECS coordinates and harmonizes policies and programs in the region. Priority issues in the region are addressed through cooperation with multilateral and bilateral development partners, such as the AFD, a public financial institution that helps implement French international cooperation policy.

After a first collaboration in the framework of the Recycle OECS Project, financed with 2.5 million euros by AFD on ?uropean delegated funds since the beginning of the year, the two partners agreed to expand their relations in order to implement joint projects and programs where their strategic priorities are aligned.

The objective of this Memorandum is to establish the framework of this cooperation as well as the specific sectors to be prioritized. The selected themes are human development (health and social protection, education, gender equality), preservation of natural capital (climate change, biodiversity or circular economy), and strengthening the role of private actors in regional economic development.

To achieve this goal, the OECS and AFD plan to pool their resources and expertise and share their knowledge and innovative ideas for a more integrated and interconnected Caribbean basin.

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Civil Society: New IPCC report must signal to polluters their time is time up

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The content originally appeared on: Caribbean News Service

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Synthesis Report under the Sixth Assessment Cycle will be released on 20 March following negotiations next week by governments on the ‘Summary for Policymakers’.

The report will gather and distill scientific evidence from the IPCC working group reports and special reports published between 2018 and 2022. It will be the last such report from the IPCC in this cycle until further reports are published under the next assessment cycle, which could be only in 2027 or 2028.

Culminating with this Synthesis Report, the science from the IPCC is crucial evidence to governments for this decade on the current state of the climate crisis. It must serve as a warning to polluters that their time is up.

The window of time to keep global temperatures below 1.5?C is fast closing in. Current climate targets put the world on a 2.8?C pathway by 2100. A rapid equitable fossil fuel phase out must be top priority for all governments while scaling up investments in renewables and energy efficiency measures. Wealthy nations must substantially increase their international climate finance based on their fair share.

Past reports under this assessment cycle have underlined the dire situation and stated unequivocally that greenhouse gases – from the reliance on fossil fuels, industrialization and land-use – is driving up emissions and causing unprecedented levels of global heating.Human actions have caused the last decade to be the warmest decade in the last 125,000 years. Sharpening inequities show that the richest 10% of households contribute about 36%-45% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Communities in many vulnerable regions will experience the limits of adaptation even before 1.5?C warming and sea-level rise poses an existential threat to some small islands and low-lying coastal areas. Nearly 3.6 billion people worldwide are now climate vulnerable. than 1.5 degrees – incremental change is by far not enough.” – Manfred Treber, Senior Adviser Climate/Transport, Germanwatch

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Canada’s top general concerned military lacks capacity to lead Haiti mission

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Caribbean News Service
Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff, General Wayne Eyre looks at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a ceremony at the National Military Cemetery in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada May 13, 2022. REUTERS/Blair Gable

Canada’s top general said he was concerned that his country’s armed forces, already stretched thin by support for Ukraine and NATO, do not have the capacity to lead a possible security mission to Haiti.

Haiti’s government and top United Nations officials have called for an international force to support Haitian police in their struggle against gangs, which have become the de facto authorities in parts of the country.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan in January said it was critical to identify a country to take the lead and said Canada had expressed an interest in that role, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has not committed to it.

Canada over the past year has spent more than C$1 billion ($724 million) in military assistance to Ukraine. Now Canada is preparing to nearly double its presence in Latvia, which shares a border with Russia and Belarus. Ottawa announced new procurement for the mission on Thursday.

“My concern is just our capacity as we rebuild, as we move to brigade level in Latvia,” Chief of the Defence Staff Wayne Eyre told Reuters in his office in Ottawa on Wednesday. “There’s only so much to go around. … It would be challenging.”

Canada last year budgeted a slight increase in defence spending over five years, but it still spends far less – about 1.3% of annual output – than the North Atlantic Treaty Organization asks, which is 2% of gross domestic product.

The armed forces are struggling with recruiting and donations to Ukraine have cut into some military stocks, Eyre said.

Officials in Ottawa say the United States has lobbied hard for Canada to take on the role, and President Joe Biden may carry that message again when he visits later this month.

Haitian gangs have expanded their territory since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise. The resulting violence has left much of the country off-limits to the government and led to routine gun battles with police.

Haiti has a long history of foreign military footprints on its soil, including a 1915 U.S. occupation that lasted 20 years, and more recent U.N. and U.S. troop deployments following political turmoil and natural disasters, some of which led to allegations of abuse.

Trudeau has repeatedly said a solution rests in the hands of Haitians, a position Eyre reiterated.

“The solution’s got to come from the host nation itself,” Eyre said. “They have to own the solution.”

Canada has sent armored vehicles to Haitian police, and it has two small ships patrolling the coast. It has also sanctioned several former politicians and gang leaders.

Canada’s military is “actively planning” expanding to brigade strength in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s defense mission in Latvia, called Operation Reassurance, which it leads, Eyre said.

That will mean participation of about 2,000 Canadian soldiers, alongside those from other countries, Eyre said, up from its current deployment of 700 to 1,000.

Canada Defence Minister Anita Anand on Thursday announced plans to purchase portable anti-tank missile systems, counter uncrewed aircraft systems, and air defence systems for the Latvian mission.

($1 = 1.3803 Canadian dollars)

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Haiti police pursue new suspects in presidential slaying

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Caribbean News Service

Authorities in Haiti have identified new suspects in the July 2021 killing of President Jovenel Moise, including a pastor and a well-known gang leader.

Police spokesman Garry Desrosiers said in an interview Friday with Radio Television Caraibes that warrants also have been issued for eight police officers.

None of the new suspects have been arrested, and it wasn’t clear what alleged roles they might have played.

Desrosiers identified the gang leader as Vitel’Homme Innocent, leader of the Kraze Barye gang, which roughly translates to “breaking barriers.” He is also sought by the FBI, which accused him of helping kidnap 17 U.S. missionaries in October 2021.

Desrosiers did not provide further details, and he did not immediately return a message for comment.

Before the new arrest warrants were announced, more than 40 suspects had been detained in the case, including at least 18 Colombian ex-soldiers accused of raiding Moise’s private residence in an attack that injured his wife.

Another 11 suspects are in U.S. custody, including a former Haitian senator and other key players.

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August Alsina Drops New Album “Myself” Featuring Rumored Boyfriend Zu

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Urban Islandz

August Alsina is back with a new album titled Myself, and his rumored boyfriend Zu is featured on the project along with Deeno. The R&B singer had been on

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Caribbean Travel News And Deals

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Black Immigrant Daily News

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. May 10, 2023: Here are the top Caribbean travel news and deals this week in 60 seconds.

Starting Oct. 7, Southwest Airlines will launch seasonal service on Saturdays between Kansas City and Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Royal Caribbean International has launched a search for iconic artistry to bring the Caribbean spirit to life on the iconic canvas that is the world’s best family vacation, Icon of the Seas. Caribbean local artists can send their submissions starting today and through April 4 to https://www.royalcaribbeangroup.com/artist-discovery-program/

The World Travel Awards (WTA) heads to Saint Lucia this August 26th for its Caribbean & The Americas Gala Ceremony 2023 at Sandals Grande St. Lucian.

Get ready for the Second Annual Anguilla Culinary Experience (ACE), from Wednesday, May 3rd through Saturday, May 6th, 2023. The festival brings together talented chefs from Anguilla and around the world with food-loving guests at Anguilla’s world-class resorts, luxury villas and bespoke restaurants.

The countdown is one to the 25th St. Kitts Music Festival from 22-24 June 2023 that will feature talent like Chronixx, Koffee, Govana, Skillibeng, Air Supply, Valiant, Patrice Roberts, Skinny Fabulous, Byron Messiah, and GrandMasters Band.

Come March 16th, interCaribbean Airways will upgauge its aircraft from a 30-seater Embraer 120 plane to the larger and more modern ATR- 42 with 48 seats, on its Grenada to Barbados route.

This week’s deal is Four nights In Jamaica at the Ocean Coral Spring – All Inclusive in the Montego Bay Airport & Trelawny area. Fly from Fort Lauderdale on spirit Airlines between May 7-11th for US $776 per person. Book on CheapCaribbean.com HERE

And Fly from Fort Lauderdale, Fl between May 7-10th to the Dominican Republic and stay at the Bahia Principe Grand Bavaro All Inclusive for USD 538 per person. Book on CheapCaribbean.com HERE

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Beenie Man Rebuilding Burnt Down Houses For Kingston Residents

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Urban Islandz

Beenie Man is assisting the set of families who were rendered homeless in the Kingston community, Standpipe, last month. There are reports that eight

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Caribbean Nationals to benefit from CDEMA’s Young Professionals Programme

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Caribbean News Service
Aleem Mahabir.

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) has launched its Young Professionals Programme (YPP) aimed at involving the region’s youth in Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management.

Trinidadian national Aleem Mahabir and Barbadian Adiel Charles, are the first interns selected to take part in the initiative, which started in February and will continue for six months.

The YPP is initially funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Caribbean Climate Resilience Initiative (CCRI) and will offer participants the opportunity to gain work experience through engagement in all technical programme areas of the CDEMA System.

Adiel, who is no stranger to the CDEMA system, having volunteered her services in 2021 to the Regional Coordination Centre (RCC) to assist in responding to events, holds a BSc. in Industrial Relations, and recently completed her MSc. in Geoinformatics.

She said, “Although I know it has not been a long time since I began my time as an intern at CDEMA, I am truly enjoying the opportunities for development as a disaster and humanitarian professional.”

Adiel Charles

Aleem has been exposed to other regional and international institutions such as the Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE), the Inter-American Development Bank and the Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO), working as an Intern and on research projects.

He holds a BSc. Geography and is a PhD candidate in Urban Geography. Commenting on his tour of duty, “Given my studies in Geography and my interest in development research, I see the attachment as a very good opportunity to be working with the premier Caribbean institution which is responsible for disaster risk management in one of the areas of the world prone to different hazards. I am looking forward to drawing the skills learnt to contribute to the region.”

At the end of the programme, the interns will receive a CDEMA “Certificate of Completion” which can be promoted in the region as a means of elevating their opportunities for employability.

Deputy Executive Director of CDEMA, Kester Craig, said “We embrace the youth as agents of change and we are committed to the vision of creating opportunities for their involvement in Comprehensive Disaster Management. We believe that the Young Professionals Programme is a key conduit in CDEMA to develop new leaders in the field through experiential learning.”

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Research finds rising temperatures will limit adaptation options in The Bahamas, with implications for the wider Caribbean

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The content originally appeared on: Caribbean News Service
Dr. Carl-Freiderich Schleussner.

New evidence from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 funded PROVIDE project, run by leading climate scientists, urban planners and adaptation experts, shows that rising temperatures will increasingly limit the options available to adapt to climate change in The Bahamas, with increased intensity of tropical cyclones, sea level rise and ocean acidification expected to strain infrastructure and affect people’s livelihoods.

The report emphasises that limiting global temperature rise to 1.5?C, a global goal established in the 2015 Paris Agreement, is fundamental to reducing pressures on resources, and risks to people.

While the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change findings tell us this goal remains within reach, a very significant gap remains between the emissions reductions that governments have committed to by 2030 and what would be required to get the world on a 1.5?C track. Without significant increases in global mitigation ambition this decade, overshooting 1.5?C limit becomes increasingly likely, at least temporarily.

Impacts of such an overshoot will materialise globally but be particularly consequential for vulnerable regions.

“If temperatures rise over this limit, there is still an option we can bring them back down again if we can get to net zero emissions and get carbon out of the atmosphere,” commented Dr. Carl-Freiderich Schleussner, from Humboldt University and Climate Analytics, who leads the PROVIDE project.

“But it’s really important for people to recognise that some of the changes that occur at these higher temperature levels – like sea level rise for example – may not be reversible. So policy makers need to have this in mind. Reducing our emissions buys us so much on the adaptation front.”

The Bahamas is entirely classified as a coastal zone, due to its low elevation and small land area. More than 70% of the population resides on the capital island of New Province, concentrating much of the population and assets in a small geographic space of 207km2. It, and other small island developing states, are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change with environmental impacts intersect with socioeconomic constraints, like high levels of public debt.

Adaptation and urban planners do not routinely consider the implications of temporary overshoot of 1.5?C and what this would mean locally and regionally for sea level rise, flooding, extreme heat, and other extreme weather events.

“Incorporation of potential overshoots into adaptation planning is crucial to avoid maladaptation”, says Dr. Schleussner.

To share its findings the PROVIDE project has set up an innovative web tool, Climate Risk Dashboard. Built for everyday users and adaptation practitioners alike, users can explore different warming scenarios and its implications, and eventually be able to input their own specifications for adaptation options and see what kind of warming scenarios these correspond with. The final version will be available in 2024.

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