Black Immigrant Daily News

Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, says monkeypox is not a sexual transmitted disease, but is rather a virus that is transmitted through any close encounter.

In fact, the CMO is warning partygoers to exercise caution and avoid close contacts with other patrons, given the ease of transmission through close interaction.

Bisasor-McKenzie’s disclosure and subsequent warning came in the wake of some monkeypox cases overseas being identified in persons engaged in certain sexual practices.

In responding to a question on whether the sexual behaviour of the man who tested positive in Clarendon was being investigated, the CMO explained that while scientists were studying whether the virus is transmitted through sexual fluids, there has been no confirmation of that to date.

“First of all, monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted disease. The lesions and rashes – they can be present on any part of the body, including the genitalia. And therefore, they will spread through close personal contacts,” she informed.

“However, we have noted, and scientists all over the globe, have noted this connection, and are, of course, investigating this connection to see if there is actual transmission through sexual fluids. However, we have not had any confirmation of that as yet,” Bisasor-McKenzie indicated.

Still, she stressed that it is possible that close sexual contacts with rashes can pass on the virus to others.

“… But close contacts, including sexual contact, which we all know is close, will pass on the disease if it is that you have the vesicles present.

“So, I want to reassure the public that this is not a sexual transmitted disease. It is a close-contact transmission that can occur in any kind of close encounter,” the CMO declared.

In relation to whether the sexual history of the man who tested positive for monkeypox in Clarendon is being probed, she responded by indicating that, “A sexual history is a part of a medical history that every doctor takes in carrying out their history-taking and, of course, in doing public health investigations, we do pay particular attention to our history-taking, and make sure all our bases are covered.”

Turning to partygoers and persons looking forward to entertainment activities this summer, Bisasor-McKenzie advised them to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols in order to avoid contracting monkeypox.

“So for everybody who is planning to go out there and party, I should hope that they bear this in mind: that close contact is still something that is to be avoided, and to use your precautions – the wearing of masks, sanitising, (and) handwashing frequently to prevent contact,” she advised.

She also called on persons to stay home and desist from venturing to such events once they start developing symptoms of monkeypox, including lesions on the face, fever, body aches and chills.

“Once you recognise that you start to have a rash, then there is the possibility of monkeypox, (and) even more reason for you to stay home,” warned Bisasor-McKenzie.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

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A policeman tries to put out a fire on Nelson Street, Port of Spain during protests by residents over the killing of three men by police at Independence Square, Port of Spain on Saturday. Photo by Ayanna Kinsale

THE Prime Minister said fiery protests such as those in east Port of Spain on Monday, could make everyone’s lives harder, even as he also acknowledged that people were pained by the circumstances that led to the protests.

He made the comment at the post-Cabinet briefing on Thursday at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s in response to the protests which followed the police-involved shooting deaths of three young men in Port of Spain on Saturday.

The victims, Isaiah Roberts, 17, Leonardo Niko Williams, 17, and Fabien Richards, 21, were shot on Independence Square by police following a chase which started in Diego Martin.

Dr Rowley said he witnessed lawlessness on Monday which could affect the economy. He said some people believed that was how to talk to the Government or get into political office.

“Heaping more coals on our head, denying us a drink of water, or making it difficult for us to move lawfully from one place to another, in no way improves our circumstance.

“What we are required to do now as a people is to do what is sensible, what is useful, what is helpful, to reduce the amount of weight, the pressure that is on our shoulders. Every country in the world today is under some kind of pressure, much of it unanticipated, at this time. We are required to put our best foot forward.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley. –

“So those kind of disturbances, we’re better than that.”

He elaborated in reply to a query from a reporter.

“There are things that happen that we expect not to happen, that we hope will not happen and circumstances don’t develop when these things happen.

“There is an investigation taking place and I would not want to comment too widely on it, but I would rather if that did not happen. We await the investigation and those investigations will tell us the extent to which it was an action that was avoidable, reasonable, illegal or legal.”

He said that was how a civilised society handled these things.

“I know that emotions are high. The loss of life, the loss of friends, the loss of family, the loss of community members, it brings pain.

“People feel that pain but we need to not create more pain for the wider society. Let us handle it in a civilised way, get to the bottom of it.

“We have instruments in place for dealing with that. Let us deal with that. We don’t encourage wrongdoing.”

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Black Immigrant Daily News

El exagente de la Policía estadounidense Derek Chauvin, que en mayo de 2020 provocó la muerte del afroamericano George Floyd durante un intento de arresto, fue condenado a 21 años de prisión por cargos federales este jueves por violar los derechos civiles de la víctima, informan medios locales.

“De verdad, no sé por qué hiciste lo que hiciste, pero colocar tu rodilla en el cuello de otra persona hasta hacerla morir es simplemente incorrecto, y por esta conducta debes ser castigado considerablemente”, expresó el juez federal del distrito, Paul Magnuson.

Asimismo, agregó que el expolicía “destruyó por completo las vidas” de otros tres agentes implicados en el caso: Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng y Thomas Lane.

245 meses de cárcel

En junio de 2021, Chauvin fue sentenciado a 22,5 años de prisión por un tribunal estatal por cargos de asesinato y homicidio en relación con la muerte de Floyd y cumplirá su nueva condena de manera simultánea en una prisión federal. De esta forma, al expolicía, que ya cumplió siete meses en prisión, le quedan 245 meses de cárcel.

En diciembre del año pasado, Chauvin se declaró culpable de violar los derechos civiles de Floyd durante su arresto y reconoció que presionó con la rodilla el cuello del afroamericano, lo que condujo a su muerte. Además, reconoció haber violado los derechos civiles de un menor de edad de 14 años en otro caso distinto en 2017.

No ofreció una disculpa

Durante la audiencia de este jueves, Chauvin se dirigió a la familia de Floyd deseando a sus hijos “todo lo mejor en su vida”. Asimismo, expresó su convencimiento de que podrán “convertirse en buenos adultos”, si bien no ofreció una disculpa.

Por su parte, el hermano de Floyd, Philonise Floyd, pidió cadena perpetua para Chauvin y confesó que no ha dejado de tener pesadillas desde la muerte de su hermano.

La muerte de George Floyd

George Floyd murió el 25 de mayo de 2020 en el momento de su detención después de que el policía Chauvin le presionara con la rodilla en el cuello durante más de nueve minutos, a pesar de las numerosas veces que la víctima dijo que no podía respirar.

Su muerte provocó numerosas protestas en EE.UU. contra la brutalidad policial y la injusticia racial. Tras la muerte de Floyd, el movimiento Black Lives Matter cobró fuerza nacional e internacional y millones de personas de todo el mundo mostraron su apoyo a la causa.

Nota original de RT Español.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Several private investors have submitted proposals for renewable energy projects in Jamaica for Government consideration.

Among them is an integrated solar and hydro energy project, which was announced by Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator Matthew Samuda, noted that these are expected to assist in realising the government’s goal of increasing the ratio of energy generated from renewable options for the national power grid to 50 per cent by 2030.

He further said that this would contribute to a 60 per cent reduction in Jamaica’s carbon dioxide emissions, also being targetted for 2030, in keeping with the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

The NDCs embody countries’ efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Samuda was speaking during the inaugural digital staging of the CANCarib Climate Smart Opportunities Summit (CCOS), on Wednesday (July 6).

Indicating that there are sufficient funding proposals to enable Jamaica to achieve the power-generation target, Samuda said an announcement on the successful submissions could be made within the next 60 days.

He pointed out that he is optimistic about 32 proposals, of which he is aware.

Samuda also informed that proposals have been presented by stakeholders with investments in energy and those not invested in the sector.

He maintained that the undertaking would be administered in a manner that safeguards stakeholders’ previous investments, adding that “it has to be done in an orderly way that meets our targets and our moral obligations”.

The CANCarib Climate Smart Opportunities Summit is a high-level business initiative that targets the portfolio of cleantech and associated infrastructure projects in Jamaica and was designed to prepare Canadian companies in pursuing opportunities, steps and connections required to bring projects to market.

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