Black Immigrant Daily News

Tobago

A masquerader, left, dances with a dame Lorraine at the Tobago Carnival media launch on Wednesday at Shaw Park Cultural Complex. – Photo by David Reid

The leadership of the Tobago Carnival Bandleaders Association is upset over the plans for mas in the island’s carnival, which takes place from October 28-30.

The association’s interim chair Jemma Bedlow said as a veteran bandleader, the Carnival appears to be more about feting than showcasing the artistry of mas practitioners.

“Tobago carnival is about feting. That is what it is all about,” a peeved Bedlow told Newsday. “This was a rush. It was not sorted out properly. Is like a fete, because if you are telling us that you don’t want a repeat of Trinidad Carnival in Tobago and to develop our own brand – it is not happening.

“It is a repeat of Trinidad Carnival with bathsuit and beads and thongs and all dem nonsense. This is not how I thought our carnival was to be. We should have had our own style of carnival here.”

Bedlow said while the mas fraternity cannot get away from the swimsuits and beads, “because that is what the young people like,” there are older people who would like to jump in a band. “And what we have for them?”

She said, though, at least one of the bands will be playing a sailor mas.

“But the rest is just bathsuit and beads. That is not a brand. We should have our own brand, like how Peter Minshall used to bring his Carnival, with clothes, and just mix it. But this brand of Tobago carnival is the same as Trinidad.”

Bedlow also complained about the absence of a competitive element to the mas. She claimed the Trinidad bands that were supposed to “come and link with Tobago bands” have changed their minds because there is no competition. As a result Bedlow said the Tobago carnival resembles the Tobago Fest, which was once one of the island’s popular events.

“You are having a Tobago carnival, but for me, it is like Tobago Fest. So if you want to change it and say we having our own carnival where the juniors were excluded, fine, I don’t have a problem with that.

“But where is the interest? Where is the brand?”

Bedlow also has issues with the venues set aside to host some of the events.

“Tobago carnival in October and you put out the calendar of events and you only having J’Ouvert in Crown Point on October 29 with who want it down there for their own use, and you having night mas in Roxborough.

“What in Scarborough? Parade of the bands on Sunday, October 30, starting from the I Love You Tobago sign?”

She said the association had submitted recommendations for kings, queens and individuals, “But all of that was excluded.”

Despite her concerns about the mas component of the carnival, Bedlow said she is keeping an open mind.

She said some of the bands affiliated with the association have expressed interest in participating in the carnival: “But not the majority. Preparations are going ahead and they are putting everything in place so, they are just waiting on time. Bands have launched and are selling what they could sell to take part in the October Carnival.”

Bedlow said for her, the ideal situation would have been for the Tobago bandleaders to launch their respective presentations and prepare for next year’s carnival.

“But if people are coming to Tobago to take part in the carnival all are welcome. Let’s see how it goes.”

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The Ministry for Investment, Innovation and Social Development said that, on Monday, October 10, 2022, the Cayman Islands Parliament passed the Financial Assistance Bill, 2022.

According to the Ministry, the bill was heralded by numerous members of Parliament as being a “landmark” piece of modern legislation that will be a foundational cornerstone of reimaging social development in the Cayman Islands.

Commenting on the Financial Assistance Bill, 2022, the Minister for Investment, Innovation and Social Development, the Hon. Andr? Ebanks, said:

The Financial Assistance Bill 2022 represents a significant accomplishment in advancing Government’s social development agenda and priorities. It provides a 21st century legislation for eligible Caymanians who are in need of Government’s financial assistance, while building in accountability and legal recourse.

When commenced, the Financial Assistance Bill 2022 will repeal the 1964 “Poor Persons Relief Act”, which effectively remained unchanged for the past 58 years. It will also (among other things):

Re-name the relevant Department – currently called the “Needs Assessment Unit” – to the “Department of Financial Assistance”. The Bill likewise defines the functions of the Department and its duties – which is a standard feature of legislationClearly outline and define, for the first time in legislation, who is eligible for Government’s financial assistance, namely: Caymanians, spouses of a Caymanian or guardians of a Caymanian dependent, all of whom must be resident on island during the time of the application and at least eight of the twelve months preceding the applicationAllow the introduction of conditions that can be attached to financial assistance, in particular for households with adult members who are able to work, so that they may be enabled to lead productive, stable livesCreate transparency and accountability for decisions, including dealing with grievances and a new appeals tribunal, as well as the protection of personal information.

Ms. Tamara Ebanks, Acting Chief Officer of the Ministry of Investment, Innovation and Social Development, also remarked on the work done to get the Bill to this stage.

Ms Ebanks said:

After extensive policy and consultative work, preceded by work in the Ministry of Community Affairs, I am delighted that the Financial Assistance Bill, 2022 has been passed by the Parliament,” she said. “The Bill addresses numerous concerns brought to light in 2015 by the Office of the Auditor General. It fundamentally aligns with the Civil Service principle of improving the lives of those we serve in the Cayman Islands.

The next steps over the coming months will be the implementation of the Bill by the Ministry and the new Department of Financial Assistance (see below), to prepare for intended commencement of the Bill in Q1 2023. The Bill enables Cabinet to create accompanying regulations to govern the procedures of the Appeals Tribunal and to govern operational and practical matters such as:

The number of working days in which the Department will process complete applicationsExemptions for emergency circumstancesConsideration for transitional services (i.e. during the transitional period after employment has been obtained); andSpecific provisions with respect to varying household sizes, as well as issues related to household composition (such as older persons living with their adult children; people with disabilities) to align with the Cayman Islands Older Persons Policy and Disability Policy.

Deputy Premier the Hon. Chris Saunders was emphatic in noting that the Bill is underpinned by the principle of human dignity, and that it is “a promise made, and a promise kept.”

Parliamentary Secretary for Social Development, Ms. Heather Bodden, said, “This long overdue Bill will bring comfort to anyone who has had an issue obtaining Government’s financial assistance. It defines eligibility for the first time in law, builds in good governance, and creates transparency in the process.”

Parliamentary Secretary Katherine Ebanks-Wilks said, “We must do our part to level up our people. I commend the holistic approach to removing setbacks that prevent people from obtaining and maintaining steady employment. At the same time, the Bill will provide better value to the Government purse, by ensuring that support is not abused and creating accountability on the part of the recipients.”

Deputy Governor, the Hon. Franz Manderson, also expressed his support, stating “The Financial Assistance Bill has the potential to break the cycle of multi-generational reliance on Government’s financial assistance, giving the ability to attach conditions to financial assistance that will enable people to obtain skills and employment. I have every confidence in the continued dedication and commitment of the Civil Service leadership to enacting the Bill and making it operational, for the benefit of all of our people.”

(Source: Ministry for Investment, Innovation and Social Development)

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

Local music producers are not expecting much if any, financial fallout for the industry from the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica’s (BCJ) ban on radio broadcasts of songs that promote or glorify illegal activity.

In fact, they are suggesting radio stations will feel the financial pinch when they are unable to play songs that are burning up streaming platforms and are making waves “in the streets.”

The BCJ has issued a directive requiring broadcasters to prevent the transmission of any recorded material that promotes or glorifies illegal activity, with immediate effect.

But Billboard charting dancehall producer NotNice, born Ainsley Morris, reckons that the radio stations themselves may end up losing out financially.

“Most artistes’ income comes from stage shows and dubplates so it will affect the radio stations and maybe sponsors,” he told Loop News.

For example, “If you are going to run some ads on the radio for an event and you see that the demographic that you trying to reach [is] not listening to the radio anymore, you will be wasting money to advertise.”

“Most of the songs they ban, actually get their break outside of radio. Radio stations try to catch up so they go and get the songs to play,” he said of the dynamics of the industry.

“It will more affect them and their listenership,” the producer said.

Dancehall artistes also do not make much in royalties from having their music played on radio, he said.

“Most new artistes not even sign up with collection agent to get royalties from radio, so they not going to lose out,” he reasoned.

For music producer Jahsnowcone, whose given name is Rohan Fuller, while the ban may “hurt those youths who sing those songs,” it will not bring any financial loss to the industry.

“Not everybody sings those kinds of songs. The majority not singing songs like that,” he reasoned.

He expressed similar sentiments as Notnice that since radio is no longer the ‘go-to’ for consuming musical content anymore, artistes still have the option of cashing in on other platforms.

Jahsnowcone suggested, however, that the ban may inspire creativity among proponents of the dancehall industry.

“A man nah go just sit down a say, “I’m not going to make any money,” so he’s going to try something else,” he said.

The BCJ has prohibited the broadcasting of “any audio or video recording, live song, or speech which promotes and/or glorifies scamming, illegal use or abuse of drugs, (e.g. ‘Molly’), illegal or harmful use of guns or other offensive weapons, “jungle justice” or any other form of illegal or criminal activity,” among other things.

By Tameka Gordon

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Pearnel Charles Jr, has hailed Japan for almost 70 years of support to Jamaica’s coffee industry.

In the early 1960s, the Ueshima Coffee Company (UCC) became the first Japanese company to import coffee directly from Jamaica.

“We therefore want to say a big thank you to the people of Japan and the All-Japan Importers of Jamaican Coffee (AJIJC) for continuing to believe in Jamaican coffee and to demonstrate that belief through the continuous purchase of our coffee for approximately 70 years,” Charles Jr said.

“By doing so, you have been enriching the lives of our over 5,200 Jamaican coffee farmers, most of whom produce on less than five acres in order to support their families,” he noted.

The minister was addressing the 35th staging of the World Specialty Coffee Conference and Exhibition in Japan on Tuesday, October 11.

He noted that this month makes 41 years since Japan has formed an association to have a direct coffee marketing arrangement with Jamaica’s coffee farmers.

“This association represents a tangible display of how seriously you have taken the Jamaican coffee industry,” he said.

The minister hailed the Speciality Coffee Association of Japan (SCAJ) on hosting the event.

“We wish for a very successful three days of activities and trust that the bonds between our two countries and the respective agencies – AJIJC, Jamaica Regulatory Agricultural Commodities (JACRA), Jamaica Coffee Exporters Association (JCEA) – will become even stronger as we all strive to satisfy our stakeholders in both countries, our Blue Mountain coffee farmers in Jamaica and Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee consumers here in Japan,” concluded Charles Jr.

NewsAmericasNow.com