Black Immigrant Daily News

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Rising COVID-19 cases are not only putting further pressure on already stretched health systems and workers but also triggering an “increasing trend of deaths”, World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told journalists at the regular weekly press briefing on Tuesday.

He reported that the Emergency Committee on COVID-19 last Friday concluded that “the virus remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern”.

And while acknowledging that we are in a much better position than at the beginning of the pandemic, he reminded that new waves demonstrate the COVID-19 pandemic “is nowhere near over”.

Combined challenges

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Tedros outlined interlinked challenges presented now by the virus, beginning with sub-variants of Omicron, like BA.4 and BA.5, which continue to drive waves of cases, hospitalizations and deaths globally.

He observed that reduced surveillance, including testing and sequencing, has made it increasingly difficult to assess the impact of variants on transmission, disease characteristics, and the effectiveness of measures to counter the disease.

Tedros also pointed to diagnostics, treatments and vaccines that are not being deployed effectively.

“The virus is running freely, and countries are not effectively managing the disease burden based on their capacity, in terms of both hospitalization for acute cases and the expanding number of people with post COVID-19 condition, often referred to as long-COVID,” he said.

He highlighted a disconnect in COVID-19 risk perception between scientific communities, political leaders and the general public, describing it as “a dual challenge of communicating risk and building community trust in health tools and public health social measures like masking, distancing and ventilation”.

Advocating for support

The WHO chief argued that we should not take for granted tools that have prevented infections, hospitalizations and deaths and must continue to employ masking, improved ventilation and testing and treatment protocols.

He underscored the importance during next week’s G-20 finance ministers meeting, of governments financing WHO and the vaccine equity mechanism, the ACT-Accelerator; reviewing and adjusting COVID-19 response plans based on current epidemiology; reversing the reduction in surveillance and testing; and effectively share anti-virals.

“Planning and tackling COVID-19 should also go hand-in-hand with vaccinating for killer diseases like measles, pneumonia and diarrhoea,” Tedros underscored. “It’s not a question of either/or, it’s possible to do both”.

Battling monkeypox

Turning to monkeypox, the WHO chief told journalists in Geneva that there are currently 9,200 cases throughout 63 countries,

Next week the Emergency Committee for the disease will reconvene to examine trends, the success so far of countermeasures and next steps tackling the outbreak.

In the meantime, WHO continues to battle the stigma around the virus, coordinate vaccine sharing, and drive forward research and development.

“I again stress that we must work to stop onward transmission and advise governments to implement contact tracing to help track and stem the virus as well as to assist people in isolation,” Tedros highlighted.

Scale up genomic sequencing

Genomics – the study of a person’s complete set of DNA or genome – have been “essential” throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in both initially detecting the virus and later, new variants, according to the UN health agency chief.

He highlighted the work of the WHO Science Council, which he set up a year ago. Its purpose is to provide advice on advances in science and technology that impact health and is “integral to the development of tests, treatments and vaccines”.

Citing WHO’s ten-year global genomic surveillance strategy, Tedros said that it covers disease detection, develops tests, and shares data for new health tools to be developed and deployed.

“Further, genomics has massive potential beyond pathogen surveillance, for human health,” he continued, urging countries to invest in scaling up genomic sequencing and bio-analysts training.

Source: UN News/ SLT

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Local entertainers are thrilled that the Crop Over season has returned after a two-year hiatus and this is even more so for Barbadian artiste Walkes.

Jamar Walkes had a break-out year in 2019, with his basement soca single I Waan Eat Meat and his party soca hit Champions of Colour.

Though not officially signed by Magnum Tonic Wine and RMJ Agencies, the brand has continued to support and promote his music since.

This year, Walkes returns with Change Position, Drill it featuring Freshie and he features on Dibbiness by Rhea Layne. The artiste also has more tracks to be released in the coming weeks.

Loop Entertainment caughtupwith the multi-talented artiste who shared that it was great to be ‘back outside’.

How do you feel to be back out?

It feels refreshing to be back out, to be honest.

How did you spend the past two years?

I spent the last two years doing a lot of thinking and revamping, putting down a lot of music as well because we never knew when we were going to be back outside but I was always making preparations for whenever we get a chance to be back outside again.

Basically I was trying to stay focused and it certainly helped because we were on lockdown and we had time to make some decisions and adjustments. We had alot of time to think.

What releases do you have for Crop Over 2022?

I have four releases out but I haven’t dropped all of the stuff I have planned as yet but they’re all written by myself. One of the releases that are out is a feature I was asked to do with a lady called Rhea Layne.

What feedback have you gotten so far?

Everyone likes the music so far, we’re getting good positive feedback. Persons are glad to be out and to hear some music from me again.

Those are the words from the fans and the supporters however I don’t really think that I have that one song for the season that really grab hold of the people.

When should people expect the release of your new music?

To be honest, persons should expect the release of my other songs very soon because the end of the season is approaching fast.

How are bookings?

So far bookings are looking good, they’re mounting up. I also have an international booking in the UK coming up as well so things are looking up.

It’s not as hype as in previous years because you know we’re now getting back out, people now getting back accustomed to the road, accustomed to the partying, everything was just based on COVID right now so it’s like a restart.

It’s a restart after a whole two-year lockdown so people are eager to be outside. Yes, they are anxious while some people still have the COVID-19 scare.

Walkes is bringing the energy this Crop Over with his basement soca tracks. Fans can check out his already released music while waiting for his next single to drop!

Check out Drill It!

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Former LIAT workers in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) may soon be paid some sort of benefit for the loss of their jobs. CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP FOR NEWS UPDATES.

Prime minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves gave an indication of this when he spoke on the Issues at Hand Programme onWE FM on Sunday, July 10.

“I asked Gaston [Browne, prime minister of Antigua/Barbuda] to ask the administrator for the final numbers for St Vincent and the Grenadines workers for us to see what we could do.”

The more highly paid LIAT workers were stationed in Antigua and Barbuda and Barbados. St Vincent and the Grenadines generally had office staff.

While speaking about LIAT’s indebtedness, Gonsalves said he also asked the Antigua/Barbuda prime minister “to get the indebtedness for small taxi operators, hoteliers and people who had purchased tickets.”

In relation to tickets which were bought, LIAT owes customers “something like EC$10 million,” Gonsalves said.

This money is yet to be refunded to customers of the now insolvent airline.

While there be no legal liability for LIAT, the prime minister spoke of it’s moral consideration.

“What about the farmer in Park Hill who bought a ticket to attend his daughter’s wedding in Tortola, but LIAT couldn’t travel and that person ain’t get back their money?”

The former LIAT Chairman also asked about the airline’s moral responsibility to small hotels, restaurants and taxi services which are still owed by LIAT 1974 Ltd.

“If you have moral responsibility, the moral responsibility has to be to everybody whom LIAT owes,” Gonsalves stressed.

He added that if there were a legal claim, there are some pilots who would get in excess of five hundred thousand dollars.

Gonsalves charged that some former LIAT pilots, engineers, flight attendants and other workers were “highly irresponsible” and caused the airline to lose a lot of money.

The prime minister spoke of strikes, delays and other industrial action which caused LIAT to lose cash, while having to make refunds.

Recently, the Leeward Islands Airlines Pilots Association (LIALPA) expressed disappointment in statements made about airline workers by Gonsalves in relation to LIAT.

The pilots said in a press release that it was unfortunate that Gonsalves is chastising workers “in their time of need.”

LIALPA said that blaming workers for LIAT’s failure was “inaccurate and a cheap shot.”

With not much private sector interest, the shareholder governments had to carry LIAT’s weight until became insolvent and stopped flying.

“We were searching for private sector people, we couldn’t get any,” Gonsalves recalled.

In the present plans for air transportation, the SVG prime minister said “all the governments have to be involved, bear the burden so that it becomes easier.”

“Nobody should be freeloading,” he cautioned.

Plans for a regional carrier were discussed at the recent meeting of Heads of Government of Caricom in Suriname.

A discussion had taken place there between the leaders of Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia, Barbados and Guyana.

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Un ancien préfet rwandais, Laurent Bucyibaruta, a été condamné mardi soir par la cour d’assises de Paris à vingt ans de réclusion criminelle pour complicité de génocide, plus de vingt-huit ans après l’extermination des Tutsi au Rwanda.

L’ancien haut fonctionnaire, 78 ans, a été acquitté en tant qu’auteur de génocide mais reconnu coupable en tant que complice de génocide et de crimes contre l’humanité pour quatre massacres, à l’issue de près de onze heures de délibéré.

Laurent Bucyibaruta, qui comparaissait libre sous contrôle judiciaire depuis le 9 mai et qui souffre de pathologies multiples, passera la nuit en prison. Se déplaçant avec une canne, il a été escorté par des gendarmes peu après l’énoncé du verdict.

L’accusation avait réclamé à son encontre la réclusion criminelle à perpétuité, le considérant complice d’un massacre de Tutsi et auteur de quatre autres dans sa préfecture de Gikongoro.

Cette région du sud du Rwanda a été l’une des plus touchées par le génocide qui a fait au moins 800.000 morts dans le pays entre avril et juillet 1994, selon l’ONU.

La cour a acquitté Laurent Bucyibaruta des accusations de génocide et de crimes contre l’humanité commis à la paroisse de Kibeho le 14 avril 1994, ainsi que celles concernant les exécutions de prisonniers tutsi, dont trois prêtres, à la prison de Gikongoro.

Le ministère public avait requis l’acquittement pour ces derniers faits.

Les magistrats et les jurés l’ont reconnu complice de génocide et de crimes contre l’humanité pour les massacres de l’école en construction de Murambi et des paroisses de Cyanika et Kaduha, qui ont fait quelque 75.000 morts le 21 avril 1994.

Laurent Bucyibaruta est également condamné pour complicité de ces crimes pour des exécutions d’élèves à l’école Marie Merci de Kibeho, et celles commises lors de rondes et à des barrières.

Concernant les faits commis à la paroisse de Kibeho, “les premiers de toute la série”, la cour a considéré qu’il n’y avait “pas les éléments suffisants permettant de dire qu’il avait donné des instructions”, ni qu’il savait alors “toute l’ampleur du plan génocidaire” en œuvre.

Laurent Bucyibaruta a dix jours pour faire appel. Ses avocats n’ont pas souhaité réagir.

– “Mi-figue mi-raisin” –

“Vingt ans… J’ai l’impression que c’est une peine mi-figue mi-raisin”, a réagi Alain Gauthier, président du Collectif des parties civiles pour le Rwanda (CPCR).

“C’est un choc, en même temps il est condamné pour complicité de génocide donc je ne vais pas non plus tergiverser”, a commenté Dafroza Gauthier, qui traque avec son époux les génocidaires présumés au Rwanda.

La défense avait demandé à la cour de faire “le choix du courage” en acquittant un fonctionnaire “isolé et sans force” pour empêcher les massacres dans sa préfecture de Gikongoro.

Pendant les neuf semaines de débats, Laurent Bucyibaruta n’a cessé de minimiser son importance dans la chaîne hiérarchique et celle des moyens à sa disposition pour empêcher les tueries, répétant qu’il avait été “dépassé par les événements”.

Il a été “un rouage incontournable sans lequel la machine meurtrière n’aurait pas pu être mise en œuvre”, avaient estimé les avocates générales dans leur réquisitoire. S’il “n’a tué aucune personne”, l’ex-fonctionnaire “a sur lui le sang de toutes les victimes tuées à Gikongoro”.

Dans ses derniers mots à la cour, l’accusé a martelé n’avoir “jamais été dans le camp des tueurs” et a exprimé ses “remords” de ne pas avoir “pu sauver” les Tutsi de sa préfecture.

Laurent Bucyibaruta avait fui le Rwanda après la fin du génocide, le 23 juillet 1994. Il vit en France depuis 1997, dans la banlieue de Troyes.

Il était visé par une enquête depuis 2000.

Le Tribunal pénal international pour le Rwanda (TPIR) avait un temps réclamé Laurent Bucyibaruta, mais il s’était finalement dessaisi au profit des juridictions françaises.

Il était le plus haut responsable rwandais jamais jugé en France pour des crimes liés au génocide des Tutsi.

asl-cob/pa/cbn/ial/

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