News Americas, New York, NY, December 19, 2024: A Caribbean-born scientist has been honored among the Hemisphere’s brightest minds by the Organization of American States (OAS). Dr. Cardinal Warde of Barbados was the lone Caribbean scientist among seven distinguished individuals from the Americas, awarded the prestigious Science, Technology, and Innovation Award of the Americas during the VII Meeting of Ministers and High-Level Authorities of Science and Technology, (REMYCT).

Barbados-born US scientist and MIT Professor Cardinal Warde.

The ceremony celebrated trailblazers from Barbados, Canada, Chile, Honduras, Mexico, Uruguay, and the United States for their exceptional contributions to science and technology, as well as their commitment to fostering cooperation and development across OAS member states.

A Champion for Caribbean Science

Dr. Warde, 79, a Professor of Electrical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), was recognized for his groundbreaking work in optoelectronics and his leadership in advancing science education in the Caribbean. As President of the Caribbean Diaspora for Science, Technology, and Innovation (CADSTI) and Interim Executive Director of the Caribbean Science Foundation, Dr. Warde has dedicated his career to equipping the next generation of scientists and engineers with tools for success.

Born in Christ Church, Barbados, Warde showed an early passion for science, converting his father’s carpentry shop into a makeshift chemistry lab. After excelling at Harrison College, he pursued higher education in the United States, earning his doctorate in physics from Yale University in 1974.

Pioneering Research and Innovations

At MIT, where he has served since 1974, Dr. Warde is a leading expert in materials and systems for optical information processing and displays. His research spans diverse fields, including optical computing, wireless communication, and holography. He has developed innovative optical neural network processors and light modulators that have advanced brain-like computing and high-resolution imaging technologies.

Beyond academia, Dr. Warde founded multiple successful technology ventures, including Optron Systems and Radiant Images, Inc., specializing in optoelectronic systems and displays. His inventions have earned him 12 patents, underscoring his impact on the tech industry.

Advocacy for Education and Development

Dr. Warde is equally celebrated for his contributions to education policy in the Caribbean. He has worked tirelessly as a scientific advisor to the Government of Barbados and other regional entities to enhance STEM opportunities for Caribbean youth.

Through the Caribbean Science Foundation, Dr. Warde oversees the Student Program for Innovation in Science and Engineering (SPISE), a rigorous summer initiative that prepares gifted students for careers in science and engineering. He also established the Rosetta Irene Ward Memorial Scholarship Fund, supporting higher education for students from English-speaking Caribbean countries.

Global Recognition

Dr. Warde’s accolades include the Barbados Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence and the Caribbean American Heritage Award. He is also a Fellow of The Optical Society and holds honorary doctorates from the University of the West Indies and Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.

As a scientist, educator, and advocate, Dr. Warde exemplifies the power of innovation and collaboration. His recognition by the OAS highlights the vital contributions of Caribbean professionals to global science and technology.

News Americas, New York, NY, December 19, 2024: Former President Donald Trump has nominated ex-NFL star and former Senate candidate Herschel Walker as the U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas. Here are 10 key things to know about this controversial pick:

FLASHBACK – Republican U.S. Senate candidate Herschel Walker speaks to supporters at a campaign rally on November 16, 2022 in McDonough, Georgia. Walker, the University of Georgia Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL running back, continues campaigning across the state ahead of a runoff election against incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) on December 6. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

1. Walker is Trump’s Second Caribbean Ambassador Nominee

If confirmed, Walker would serve as the U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas, a role currently vacant. This marks Trump’s second nomination of an ambassador to the Caribbean region and the first black pick from the administration to date.

2. A Football Legend and Olympian

Walker is celebrated as a former NFL star and a member of the U.S. bobsled team at the 1992 Winter Olympics, showcasing his diverse athletic career.

3. No Diplomatic Experience

Despite his prominence in sports and health advocacy, Walker has no prior diplomatic experience, a trend observed among some of Trump’s past ambassadorial nominees.

4. Close Ties to Trump

Walker previously co-chaired Trump’s Council on Health, Nutrition, and Fitness during his first administration and has been a longtime supporter of the former president.

5. Failed Senate Bid in Georgia

Walker rose to political prominence in 2022 when Trump endorsed him as the Republican candidate in Georgia’s Senate race. He lost to Democrat Raphael Warnock in a campaign fraught with personal and political scandals.

6. Controversial Personal Life

Allegations surfaced during Walker’s Senate campaign that he had paid for two ex-girlfriends to have abortions, despite his publicly staunch anti-abortion stance. He has denied the allegations.

7. Domestic Violence Allegations

Walker’s ex-wife accused him of holding a gun to her head and threatening her life, a claim that drew significant attention during his Senate race.

8. Criticism of Absentee Fathers While Concealing His Own Children

Walker faced backlash for criticizing absentee fathers in Black households, only to later admit he had fathered children he had not publicly disclosed. He has since said he loves and supports all his children.

9. Exaggerated Claims

Throughout his Senate campaign, Walker made several false claims, including that he graduated in the top 1% of his class at the University of Georgia (he did not) and had served in law enforcement (he had not).

10. Trump’s Endorsement of Walker

Announcing Walker’s nomination on his Truth Social platform, Trump lauded him as “an NFL great” and a role model who has served as “an ambassador to our nation’s youth.” Trump expressed confidence that Walker would “put America First” in his new role.

Walker’s nomination will now require Senate confirmation, where his past controversies and lack of experience may face scrutiny.

News Americas, New York, NY, December 17, 2024: Jamaican-American entrepreneur and co-founder of Ozy Media, Carlos Watson, has been sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison after being convicted of defrauding investors and lenders through falsified financial information. The sentencing marks a dramatic fall for Watson, who founded the digital media company in 2013, aiming to carve a space in the competitive media landscape.

Jamaican American Carlos Watson, co-founder of Ozy Media, speaks with press after his sentencing hearing at Brooklyn Federal Court on December 16, 2024 in New York City. Watson was sentenced to almost 10 years in prison for trying to defraud investors and lenders by lying about the company’s finances after being convicted in July. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

The sentence, handed down in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, follows a federal jury’s July conviction of Watson on charges of conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud, along with identity theft. Witnesses detailed how Watson orchestrated fraudulent activities between 2018 and 2021, including impersonating executives, falsifying contracts, and inflating Ozy Media’s revenue figures.

While prosecutors had sought a 17-year sentence and $65.6 million in forfeiture, the court sentenced Watson to 116 months, with the exact financial penalties yet to be determined. Judge Eric Komitee described the case as a tragedy “of Mr. Watson’s own making,” pointing to “exceptional dishonesty” in the schemes.

Watson denied the allegations throughout his trial, maintaining his innocence and attributing the fraud to other former employees of Ozy Media. His defense team argued that any misrepresentations to investors were based on good-faith assessments and reflective of a “scrappy start-up” mindset. Watson also claimed selective prosecution due to his race, a defense the judge rejected.

“I made mistakes,” Watson admitted during the hearing. “But I’m also saying I don’t feel good about what has happened here.”

Ozy Media, once seen as a rising star in digital media, folded under the weight of financial misrepresentation and mounting scrutiny. Watson’s former associates, including co-founder Samir Rao and ex-chief of staff Suzee Han, pleaded guilty to fraud charges and testified against him during the trial.

Watson’s lawyers attempted to overturn his conviction, alleging judicial bias and racial discrimination in prosecution, but their efforts were dismissed by Judge Komitee, who deemed the claims “frivolous.”

Prosecutors highlighted a 2021 fundraising call where Rao impersonated a YouTube executive to secure investment from Goldman Sachs, an incident they claimed Watson orchestrated. Watson denied involvement, but Judge Komitee cited his testimony as “egregious perjury.”

The case also revealed inflated claims of financial commitments from high-profile figures and companies, including Oprah Winfrey and Live Nation Entertainment, as part of Ozy Media’s bid to secure funding. Samir Rao, the other co-founder of Ozy, and Suzee Han, a former Ozy chief of staff, pleaded guilty last year to fraud charges and both cooperated in the case and testified against Watson.

“Carlos Watson’s schemes and dishonesty brought about Ozy Media’s collapse,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace, following the conviction. “Today’s sentence holds him accountable for his crimes.”

ABOUT WATSON

Watson, a Miami native born to Jamaican parents, rose to prominence through an impressive academic and professional journey. A Harvard graduate, Watson later earned a law degree from Stanford, where he served as an editor of the Stanford Law Review and president of the student government. His early career included roles at McKinsey & Company and Goldman Sachs, as well as founding and selling Achieva College Prep Service to Kaplan, Inc.

Watson co-founded Ozy Media in 2013, leading it to raise over $70 million and producing TV shows, podcasts, and events like Ozy Fest. However, allegations of fraudulent practices – including inflated metrics and misrepresentations to investors—led to Ozy’s collapse in 2021.

In 2023, Watson faced federal charges of fraud and was convicted in 2024, accused of deceiving investors and fabricating financial data.

News Americas, New York, NY, December 16, 2024: The family feud over the multi-billion-dollar estate of the late Jamaican-born hotel mogul, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, has spilled further into the public eye, with a newly issued open letter adding fuel to the dispute surrounding the Sandals Resorts empire.

FLASHBACK – Invest Caribbean presented the ICN Leadership Awardee to the Gordon ‘Butch Stewart’ in 2014 for his investment, commitment, and dedication to the Caribbean. (Sharon Bennett image)

Since Stewart’s passing in January 2021, legal battles over his will and the management of his Bahamian-held estate have embroiled his family members in courts in Jamaica and the United States. The latest development sees U.S.-based Cheryl Hamersmith-Stewart, her three children, and Robert ‘Bobby’ Stewart, another of Butch’s Jamaican-born children, addressing an open letter to Adam Stewart, the CEO of Sandals Resorts International and ATL Group.

In the letter, the signatories accuse Adam of engaging in a media campaign via the Jamaica Observer, where he serves as executive chairman, to allegedly misrepresent their late father’s intentions for his estate.

“We are deeply disappointed that you have chosen to submit Butch’s family – our family – to this ‘trial by media,’” the letter states. “We cannot allow you to impugn the integrity of your father’s closest advisers and friends.”

The letter further claims that Butch Stewart left clear instructions for the division of his assets, which include provisions for a family-run board of directors with representation from all sides of the family. According to the letter, Adam Stewart was intended to receive a 16.67% share of the estate, rather than total control.

The authors of the letter allege that Adam has sought to overturn his father’s wishes and “resist the proper administration” of the estate. They accuse him of attempting to replace the current executors and withholding necessary financial information, which they claim has delayed the process of distributing the estate’s assets.

“These actions have disproportionately affected those siblings whom you have excluded from the benefits of the companies founded by your father,” the letter asserts, further stating that such resistance raises concerns about the future of the businesses and the interests of Sandals’ loyal employees.

The family members emphasize their commitment to ensuring that Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart’s wishes are honored. “We remain absolutely committed to seeing to it that your father’s wishes are implemented, not defied, and that the businesses he worked so hard to create will flourish for the benefit of all stakeholders, not just you.”

The public nature of this dispute underscores the deep divisions within the Stewart family and casts a shadow over the legacy of one of the Caribbean’s most iconic business moguls.

INVEST CARIBBEAN NOW

News Americas, New York, NY, December 10, 2024: Haiti is grappling with one of its most brutal massacres in recent memory after more than 180 people were killed in Cité Soleil, a poverty-stricken area of Port-au-Prince, over the weekend in what is being deemed a “voodoo killing.”

Ronalda Alcime cries after armed gangs executed her husband at Poste Marchands in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on December 9, 2024. Nearly 200 people in Haiti were killed in brutal weekend violence reportedly orchestrated against voodoo practitioners, with the government on Monday condemning a massacre of “unbearable cruelty.” (Photo by CLARENS SIFFROY/AFP via Getty Images)

According to the United Nations and local human rights groups, the killings were driven by claims of Voodoo-related witchcraft and carried out by gang members under orders from a local leader. The National Human Rights Defense Network, (RNDDH), reported that the massacre was orchestrated by Monel Felix, also known as King Micanor, after a priest told him that Voodoo had caused his son’s fatal illness. The killings, which began Friday night in Wharf Jérémie, targeted older Voodoo practitioners, with nearly 130 of the victims aged over 60. The slaughter, described as a personal vendetta, involved machetes and knives, and many bodies were burned or discarded into the sea, according to eyewitnesses and rights organizations.

The violence underscores Haiti’s deepening crisis as rival gangs continue to terrorize communities with impunity. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called the killings a reflection of the country’s “accelerating spiral into the abyss.” Rights groups noted that the lack of a police presence in gang-controlled areas like Wharf Jérémie delayed the reporting of the atrocity.

Cité Soleil residents described horrific scenes, with entire families killed in their homes. “In some houses, five or six people were murdered,” said one resident, who requested anonymity for fear of retribution. The RNDDH also noted that young people, including motorcycle-taxi drivers trying to help others escape, were among the victims.

Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé condemned the massacre, calling it a “direct attack on humanity and the republican order.” He pledged that the government would use “every resource” to bring those responsible to justice. However, the government’s capacity to act remains limited, with gangs controlling vast swaths of the capital and other regions.

The violence in Haiti has claimed more than 5,000 lives this year and displaced over 700,000 people, according to the United Nations. Despite the presence of a UN-backed Multinational Security Support Mission, composed largely of Kenyan police officers, gang violence has continued unabated.

International human rights advocates are calling for increased resources and expanded operations for the Kenyan-led mission, including transitioning it into an official UN peacekeeping operation. However, resistance from veto-wielding countries like Russia and China at the UN Security Council has stalled the proposal.

The massacre highlights Haiti’s urgent need for stronger international support to address the escalating gang crisis and safeguard vulnerable communities. As violence surges, calls for global intervention grow louder.