Black Immigrant Daily News
Minister of Social Development Dr. Orando Brewster says a Covid 19 Relief Project is set to set to begin here next month.
Dr. Brewster said the project will be supported by the Caribbean Development Bank, CDB.
Rawdica Stephen tells us more in NBC’s Covid-19 Update.
https://www.nbcsvg.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/COVID-19-UPDATE-618.mp3
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It’s three months into the Atlantic Hurricane Season, and the St.Vincent and the Grenadines has so far not been impacted by any disaster.
Director of the National Emergency Management Organization NEMO provided an update on the hurricane season to date on NBC’s Face to Face programme this morning.
She explained how damage assessment is being carried out following a severe disaster.
Rawdica Stephen tells us more in today’s special report.
https://www.nbcsvg.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/NEMO-DAMAGE-ASSESMENT-REPORT-1.mp3
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The National Roads Authority (NRA), along with other agencies and partners are on the road today (Monday) assessing impacts of Hurricane Ian, which has now made movements away from Grand Cayman.
Also joining the efforts is Jay Ebanks, Minister of Infrastructure, who spent part of the day in North Side.
Reacting to what he discovered in his electoral district, Minister Ebanks said that North Side “feared out very well.”
[There were] just some leaves on the road… all the drains are working properly. Only one place is settling water… at the corner of Rum Point.
In connection with the NRA’s visits to other locations, Minister Ebanks will communicate later today with the NRA’s managing director, Edward Howard, to get apprised of the NRA’s main concerns across the island.
Regarding these issues, it is noted that some are actually reocurring ones. These include debris washing up on the roads and flooding in low lying areas.
In connection with this, the NRA typically meets with stakeholders prior to a storm to make careful plans. Some of this planning involves the following:
Completion of annual hurricane preparedness exercises with the Public Works Department (This is done before each hurricane season and has been ongoing for the last 35 years)Assessment of government facilities, installing/repairing hurricane shutters and stocktaking of storm-related suppliesDeployment of equipment to various locations in advance of the hurricane to prepare to serve those areas after the hurricaneDesignation of tentative debris sites Stationing of drain crews across the island to assist with flood emergencies when it is safe to do so
Working together like this allows agencies to prepare and plan for natural disasters, rather than simply react to them. It also helps to improve efficiencies.
Notwithstanding the good intentions behind these plans, however, there are some challenges.
One such challenge is stormwater management, for which a stormwater management committee has been set up by the Ministry of Infrastructure.
One of the expected outcomes of the work of the stormwater management committee is to make recommendations to the Ministry as to what other methods of stormwater management may be effective in addition to drain wells (vertical drain wells are not the optimal solution in some areas, depending upon the level of the water table and, as such, a variety of methods must be studied).
In addition, it may be the case that Cayman’s planning laws have to be amended to include stricter requirements, along with curbing some unwanted practices (e.g., building homes higher than one’s neighbours, knowing that flood water will end up on neighbouring land, flooding that property).
Commenting on the work of the stormwater management committee to address these issues, the NRA managing director Howard said:
At the conclusion of the work of this stormwater management committee, it is anticipated that a lot of issues that have been ignored over the years will be corrected.
Basically, stakeholders will have to stop operating on an “ad-hoc” basis, that is, cease adopting their own procedures and approach when it comes to stormwater management. Instead, uniform rules and a stormwater management framework must be put in place.
Mr Howard also noted that the NRA is in the process of developing a pilot programme to be deployed in flood prone areas in Cayman as an alternative to vertical drain wells. Some of these areas include Randyke and Prospect in George Town and Cumber Avenue in Bodden Town.
As to the main objectives of this pilot programme, Mr Howard said:
The aim of this pilot is to determine what mechanism works best for the flood prone areas.
One possibility is the creation of injection wells drilled below the water table, without contaminating the ground water.
There also other options that the committee may explore.
Alric Lindsay, chairman of the NRA board and who accompanied Mr Howard on the assessment of various locations today, said that the key to adequately dealing with issues is implementing measures that will be effective in the long-term.
Ultimately, vertical drain wells will not resolve all flooding problems.
Therefore, the pilot programme and work of the stormwater management committee must be supplemented by a long-term sustainable development plan and rules that are enforced from early on in relation to proper stormwater management. That is, accountability must be a dominant feature across the entire stormwater management framework to ensure a successful stakeholder outcome.
Alric Lindsay, chairman of the board of directors for the NRA
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Black Immigrant Daily News
Nominations for the Sagicor Foundation biennial Community Heroes Award are now open.
Members of the public are being invited to nominate extraordinary Jamaicans who are doing good in their community to be considered for the award. This year, the Sagicor Foundation will be selecting 14 nominees from the submissions to be recognised and rewarded as ‘Community Heroes’.
Each awardee will receive $50,000 each along with a commemorative award of recognition.
The inaugural Sagicor Community Heroes Award was launched in 2020 as part of Sagicor Group Jamaica’s 50th-anniversary milestone celebrations.
Fifty outstanding philanthropic Jamaicans from across the island were selected and honoured at a celebratory event.
To be eligible for the awards, nominees must be of Jamaican citizenship, be 10 years and older and are improving their communities through service to others. Nominees are expected to show consistent commitment and dedication to volunteerism, charity, kindness, doing good and giving back as well as exhibiting courage and bravery by selflessly performing acts of kindness for the benefit of others.
“We want to celebrate, recognise and reward those everyday heroes who are dedicated to serving and helping others, even as they face their own challenges; our Sagicor Community Heroes Awardees should exemplify and embody that spirit of volunteerism, kindness, and charity to others”, said Alysia White, Executive Director of Sagicor Foundation.
White added that the Foundation is looking for those extraordinary Jamaicans who are uplifting their communities and playing a role in building a better and stronger Jamaica for the future.
“Our mantra here at the Sagicor Foundation is ‘Caring, Inspiring and Serving’, and our Community Heroes must embody those qualities too”, White said.
Established charities, registered organisations, and team members of Sagicor Group Jamaica and all its subsidiaries are not eligible for the award. Awards are for individuals only. For further details on the awards and to nominate your Community Hero, visit https://sagicor.info/HeroesAwards2022.
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Member of Parliament for the St. George’s Constituency, Hon. Dean Jonas responded quickly to an appeal from the principal, staff and students of the Sir Novelle Richards Academy who were reeled by a recent burglary and theft of several important items which helped to ensure both the teaching and learning environment was a comfortable one.
The Member of Parliament, who is also the Minister responsible for Social Transformation, Human Resource Development and The Blue Economy presented microwave ovens and sound equipment to the school principal, Mrs. L. Simon-Bradshaw.
Minister Jonas encouraged the principal, staff and students not to be deterred by the criminally minded who selfishly interrupted the educational experience of the members of the school community by their unwelcomed entry onto the property.
He also reminded the principal that the Honourable Members of Cabinet have placed top priority on modernizing the security provisions at schools across the island since the development of our human resources through quality education is an essential element of any nation’s long-term success.
The school principal, Ms Listeen Bradshaw, expressed her appreciation for the gifts on behalf of the staff and students and thanked MP Jonas for his continued support for the Sir Novelle Richards Academy.
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Ministers of Health and other high-level representatives from countries and territories of the Americas will meet from 26-30 September in Washington, D.C., for the Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) 30th Pan American Sanitary Conference.
The Pan American Sanitary Conference is the Organization’s highest decision-making body, meeting every five years to determine general policies of the Organization to improve the health and well-being of the population in the region.
The conference will open on Monday, September 26 at 9.00 a.m., with the participation of the PAHO Director Carissa F. Etienne, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, President of Argentina Alberto Fernandez, President of Dominica Charles Savarin, United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, and the Minister of Public Health and Social Well-being of Paraguay and outgoing president of the Pan American Sanitary Conference, Julio Borba.
On Wednesday, 28 September, PAHO Member and Participating States will elect the next Director of the Organization via secret ballot. The person elected will be appointed to lead PAHO for the next five years, taking office on 1 February 2023.
Sessions, side events and the election can be followed live at: https://www.paho.org/en/governing-bodies
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CARICOM is launching a major regional platform to facilitate intra-regional trade in goods and agricultural products. This CARICOM Marketplace dubbed CIMSUPRO (CARICOM Market Place and Suspension Procedure) will register suppliers and buyers of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) originating goods.
The Chair of CARICOM, the President of Suriname, His Excellency Chandrikapersad Santokhi will give remarks and a ‘call-to-action’ before launching the online portal on Monday, 26 September 2022 at 10 am ECT or 11 am Suriname time.
A brief launching ceremony will be held online and presentations are also expected from the CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr. Carla Barnett; the Suriname Minister of Economic Affairs, Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation, Hon Rishma N. Kuldipsingh and a representative from the private sector.
CIMSUPRO when populated will create a ‘Marketplace’ that will allow regional buyers to find sellers of regionally produced goods, thereby creating the conditions for direct contact between parties.
The online platform also has the potential for improving the efficiency of the application process for a suspension of the Common External Tariff (CET). CARICOM Trade Ministers had approved a proposal from the government of Suriname to create an online tool to promote intra-regional trade. Stakeholders, especially suppliers of regionally produced goods can access the portal and register via the following link https://www.cimsupro.com/user/register
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TSTT House – FILE PHOTO
LOCAL telecom provider TSTT and its internet service provider subsidiary Amplia are hoping for permission to challenge a ruling of the Appeal Court at the Privy Council.
The Telecommunications Services of TT (TSTT) and Amplia have filed an application for conditional leave to challenge the ruling of the local court in a lawsuit brought by the Telecommunication Authority (TATT).
In March 2021, TATT filed a claim against TSTT and Amplia seeking to recover their $26,467,445 in unpaid contributions to the Universal Service Fund (USF), a national fund to develop internet connectivity in rural communities.
On Monday, TSTT and Amplia’s application came up for hearing before Justice of Appeal Gregory Smith, Malcolm Holdip and Vasheist Kokaram.
It has been adjourned to November 8, after TSTT’s lead attorney, Martin Daly, SC, asked to be given an opportunity to put in written submissions “in the interest of fairness.” as TATT had done so.
The authority’s lead attorney Deborah Peake, SC, said she was disappointed and had hoped the hearing would be held on Monday.
The judges granted TSTT’s request, with Smith admitting the court wanted to give it “mature consideration,” as substantial sums of money are involved.
In June, the Appeal Court ruled on TATT’s procedural appeal, holding a High Court judge was wrong to dismiss its case at a preliminary state.
In a preliminary ruling in February, Justice Carol Gobin upheld TSTT’s challenge and
struck out the lawsuit, as she ruled she did not have the jurisdiction to hear it.
However, the Appeal Court reversed the ruling and referred the lawsuit back to Gobin.
TATT was also represented by Ravi Heffes-Doon and Rajesh Ramoutar. Christopher Sieuchand and Sonnel David-Longe appeared alongside Daly for TSTT and Amplia.
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In this file photo, newly minted registered nurses (from left) Glenderlin Remey, Afeisha Harroo, Tiffany Dyer, Angelique Nathan and LaToya Joseph as they reported for duty at the North West Regional Health Authority on Dundonald Street Port of Spain.
Finance Minister Colm Imbert said he has been instructed to distribute $210 million to health care workers in this year’s budget.
Speaking during his budget presentation on Monday, Imbert said this would involve an ex-gratia payment to over 20,000 people.
The Prime Minister had promised the payment to healthcare workers on August 23 at a PNM national public meeting at the Belmont Community Centre.
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File photo: Finance Minister Colm Imbert.
The 2023 budget will be read in Parliament by Finance Minister Colm Imbert at 1.30 pm.
Join us for live coverage and updates with reactions from citizens, analysts, economists, and other stakeholders.
This will be Imbert’s seventh budget presentation since he was appointed finance minister on September 11, 2015.
In the aftermath of the covid19 pandemic, amid heightened fuel and food prices, it could also arguably be the most challenging one he has presented to date.
Use the hashtag #ttbudget2023 to join the discussion.
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