Black Immigrant Daily News

LONDON (AP) — Arsenal’s newcomers made an immediate impact as they opened the English Premier League (EPL) by beating host Crystal Palace 2-0 on Friday.

Left back Oleksandr Zinchenko set up the opening goal in the first half while striker Gabriel Jesus created a number of chances and defender William Saliba put in a near-flawless performance in his first start for Arsenal.

The Gunners still had to endure a nervy second half before Bukayo Sako’s attempted cross was deflected into his own net by Palace defender Marc Guehi in the 85th.

Arsenal took the lead from a well-worked corner in the 20th, when Zinchenko met a long delivery into the area and headed back across goal toward Gabriel Martinelli, who nodded the ball in from close range.

Martinelli should have scored in the opening minutes after a rampaging run from Jesus, who dribbled his way into the box before the ball was deflected into the path of his fellow Brazilian, who scuffed his shot wide of the far post.

“The way we started the game, the way we played the first half an hour, I think was superb,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. “We should have scored another one or two, we missed some chances. But (if) you want to win here, you have to dig in.”

Zinchenko and Jesus both joined from Manchester City in the offseason while Saliba was signed in 2019 but spent the last three seasons on loan in his native France. The center back looked composed and confident in his league debut, making key interventions and blocks as Palace chased an equaliser.

“It’s a long time I waited for this moment,” Saliba said. “I’m so glad to start with a clean sheet and a win.”

Arsenal also needed two good saves from goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to maintain the lead.

Ramsdale first reacted quickly to palm away a close-range header from Odsonne Edouard in the 42nd minute, then got down low to block a shot from Eberechi Eze in the 54th.

“Aaron did incredibly well and he won the game for us,” Arteta said.

For Arsenal, it made for a much better start to the season than last year, when they also opened the campaign on a Friday night but fell to at promoted Brentford 2-0 and went on to lose the next two games as well.

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Movement for Social Justice political leader David Abdulah. FILE PHOTO

THE Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) has said recent announcements by Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales about restructuring the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) and a the Chief Personnel Officer’s (CPO) “final offer” of a four per cent wage increase to three trade unions show the Government is pursuing an anti-worker agenda.

In a statement on Thursday, MSJ political leader David Abdulah first cited comments by Gonzales on July 28 that WASA’s 426-strong management team will be cut by 50 per cent, and the company’s top management was replaced last July.

He argued that describing the 426 positions as “management” or executive management, created a false narrative to make the public believe that WASA had a huge executive team.

“The truth is that of the 426, the majority are supervisors, not managers or executives.”

Abdulah questioned what kinds of procurement processes were used at WASA and Gonzales’ public comments about ending nepotism at the authority.

“Restructuring equals retrenchment and much more.”

Abdulah reiterated the MSJ’s views that Government is “restructuring” society through efforts to eliminate trade unions; eliminate permanent, decent jobs; and contract work out to a selected few.

“This will result in a society where there will be a tiny class of super rich; a small class in the middle of those who are comfortable; (and) a very large class of workers who are the working poor.”

Abdulah criticised the CPO’s offer of a four per cent wage increase offer for 2014-2019 to the Fire Services Association, the Prison Officers’ Association and the Police Service Social and Welfare Association, earlier this week.

He observed that the three unions represent Trinidad and Tobago’s frontline security and safety workers.

Abdulah claimed the Prime Minister and Finance Minister Colm Imbert were advancing a position that only workers must bear the burden of adjustment in challenging economic times.

“Workers must band their belly trying to deal with high and rising food prices, the increase in fuel price and transportation, while the elite few enjoy the fine life.”

He said workers and the labour movement will have to fight alongside others in a mass movement to prevent Government from succeeding with its alleged anti-worker agenda.

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Image courtesy CDC.

The Ministry of Health, in its update on Friday, reported 309 new covid19 cases and four deaths in the previous 24 hours.

The ministry said the fatalities were one elderly male, two elderly females and one middle aged male with multiple comorbidities.

The cases were identified from samples collected on Wednesday and Thursday.

The total number of covid19-related deaths now stands at 4,065.

As of Friday, there were 6,465 active covid19 cases. Of those, 166 were warded at hospital with none at step-down facilities.

To date, 715, 653 people, or 51.1 per cent of the population, have been fully vaccinated. Since March 12, 2020 172,576 samples have tested positive for covid19 at all testing sites in Trinidad and Tobago.

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Op maandag 19 september is het 260 jaar geleden dat de Saramaccaanse marrons het vredesverdrag met de koloniale overheid ondertekenden.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Jamaica has confirmed its first locally aquired case of monkeypox, bringing the number of cases confirmed in the country to three in total.

The latest patient had no recent travel history and has not been linked to the two previously announced cases, the Ministry of Health and Wellness said in a release Friday. The patient is now in isolation at home and remains in stable condition.

The case is being investigated and contact tracing has begun, the release said.

“Especially during this festive season, Jamaicans are again being urged to remain vigilant by heightening their adherence to the infection prevention measures for COVID-19, which are effective in limiting spread of monkeypox, notably, frequent handwashing/sanitisation, maskwearing and physical distancing.”

Additionally, Jamaicans are encouraged to practice safer sex behaviours. The spread of monkeypox may occur when a person comes into close contact with an infected individual.

Person-to-person spread may occur through:

direct contact with Monkeypox skin lesions or scabs, including sexual contact and close personal contact

contact with contaminated personal items such as clothing, bed linen or towels used by an infected person; and

respiratory droplets by way of coughing or sneezing of an individual with a monkeypox rash.

Symptoms of monkeypox are usually mild to moderate and include fever, intense headache, swelling of the lymph nodes, back pain, muscle ache, and/or rash on the skin. People who experience these warning signs must immediately isolate and call ahead to their health centre or doctor before visiting.

For additional information on monkeypox, the public can visit the ministry’s website (www.moh.gov.jm) or contact their Parish Health Department.

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