Black Immigrant Daily News

With the lack of adequate garbage collection being a recurring source of contention for many residents across the island, Local Government and Rural Development Minister, Desmond McKenzie, has pleaded for the affected persons to exercise some patience.

In fact, McKenzie said a number of garbage trucks are on the way to the island to help to rectify the solid waste collection challenges that are now being experienced.

“We have seen footage sent to me where the garbage truck came and five minutes after, persons are disposing of the garbage outside…,” the minister told reporters after the handing over of two houses in Central Kingston last week.

“I just want to appeal to everybody again, just have some patience. The trucks are on (their) way and we will be seeing an improvement in terms of the efforts of solid waste over the next two weeks leading up into the Christmas holidays,” McKenzie assured.

The Government had indicated that 50 new garbage trucks were purchased and would arrive in the country shortly, to help alleviate the problem.

Over recent months, citizens have been complaining about inadequate garbage collection across the country, and have laid the blame squarely at inefficiencies within the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA).

Last Sunday, McKenzie, while accepting that there was no denying that there has been a breakdown in garbage collection, contended that if past People’s National Party (PNP) Administrations had invested in solid waste, then the country would not be in the position it is relative to the issues of solid waste disposal.

“When I became minister in 2016, the National Solid Waste Management Authority never had 10 garbage trucks,” McKenzie told a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Area Council One meeting at Jacques Road Community Centre in South East St Andrew.

“Between 2016 and 2018, this Administration put in 63 new trucks into the National Solid Waste Management Authority,” he added.

In noting that much resources hade to be channelled into the health sector due to the COVID-19 pandemic, McKenzie said the Government had to “postpone” the purchase of the trucks.

He told the meeting that he saw videos of the 50 new garbage trucks being driven on a ship to be brought to the island.

The JLP deputy leader, however, stressed that even if 1,000 garbage trucks are imported, Jamaicans will have to change their attitude towards littering and solid waste disposal.

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

Government House provides venue for Street Pastors Fundraiser

The Street Pastors (Antigua and Barbuda Branch) recently held a fundraising brunch on the North Lawn of Government House.

The event was attended by the Governor General His Excellency Sir  Rodney Williams and Her Excellency Lady Williams.

Speakers at the event included Sir Rodney and the organisation’s Chairman, Pastor Holder.

Also in attendance were Mistress of Ceremonies Tracey Samuel, Co-ordinator of Street Pastors Barry Sebastian, Mr. Lestroy Samuel and others of the executive arm of the Antigua and Barbuda Branch — as well as friends and supporters of the non-profit body.

The effort was assisted by the staff of the Office of the Governor General.

The purpose of the occasion was to generate funds through ticket sales, targeted at the creation of a central space in St. John’s where the homeless and destitute can ultimately find some respite.

The Halo foundation, of which Their Excellencies Sir Rodney and Lady Williams are Patron and President respectively, highlighted the work of Street Pastors at Wings of Charity held in London last June.

The Halo Foundation is also assisting Street Pastors to meet a portion of their financial objectives.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

NIEUW-NICKERIE — Bij het uitreiken van grondpapieren aan 158 burgers in district Nickerie heeft president Chandrikapersad Santokhi aangegeven dat de

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

CMC: Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell says his administration is prepared to lease an aircraft if Caribbean governments are unable to sort out the regional transportation sector by year-end.

Caribbean travel has been thrown into chaos following the collapse of the Antigua-based regional airline, LIAT (1974) limited with the region travelling population disgruntled at the inability to move around as freely as they used to during LIAT’s operations.

In an exclusive interview aired on WPG10 on Friday night, Mitchell, who led his National Democratic Congress (NDC) to power in June, said the regional airline sector needs urgent fixing and that there needs to be more decisive movement on the issue before year-end.

“If by October, November, we don’t have an arrangement …then it means if Grenada has to go and lease the planes so that we can fly between Grenada and Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago we will have to do so.

“The truth is we can’t get to Trinidad,” Mitchell said, noting however that with several new leaders in the Caribbean he is optimistic that the situation will be dealt with.

“Let’s put it this way, I am optimistic it will not get to that,” he said, adding that regional governments must be prepared to spend more money on regional transport.

“I have made it quite clear we have to put money, if not into LIAT 2020, if not Inter Caribbean then some other vehicle that is prepared to fly, it is as simple as that,” Mitchell added.

In August, regional leaders met to discuss the situation regarding air transportation in the Caribbean amidst concerns that both regional and international travellers are finding it very expensive and difficult to commute.

Mitchell said then it was agreed that a consultant would be retained to provide advice to the heads of the region as to how we can address the critical need to have, particularly air transportation resumed at a level that existed prior to COVID-19.

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders at their summit in Suriname in July had agreed on a new modern Multilateral Air Services Agreement (MASA) that will allow for a new framework within which air transportation will operate in the region.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, who had served as LIAT chairman, said that countries, particularly those in the Eastern Caribbean were being severely affected by the loss of thousands of seats “because LIAT, as it was, is no longer before us.

LIAT is owned by the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, and St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).

Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne said previously that a decision had been taken that would allow Barbados and SVG to turn over their shares in LIAT to St. John’s for one EC dollar (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents).

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Browne appealed to Caribbean trade unions to re-think their positions regarding the latest offer made to laid-off workers of the airline.

The Grenada Prime Minister told reporters that LIAT (1974) Limited “is bankrupt and that has been made clear and it is in receivership”.

LIAT (1974) limited in June 2020, entered into court-appointed administration after a high court judge in Antigua and Barbuda granted a petition for the cash-strapped pan-Caribbean carrier’s reorganisation.

The Guyana-born Cleveland Seaforth has been appointed LIAT’s administrator for the duration of proceedings.

The airline owes former employees including pilots millions of dollars in severance and other payments.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

(October 8, 2022 )– St. John’s, Antigua – The dual-island destination of Antigua & Barbuda is seeing an uptick in Canadian traffic just in time for the winter travel season.

Beginning today, October 8th, a new offering of flights from Air Canada is expected to help realize a recovery to pre-pandemic airlift levels in the Canadian market.

The Air Canada flight arrived this afternoon carrying 106 passengers from Toronto and the aircraft was given a welcome back water cannon salute.  Passengers were also greeted by cultural dancers, music and small welcome tokens.

“We are extremely pleased with Air Canada’s decision to both resume and increase service to our shores and look forward to extending our famous Antigua and Barbuda hospitality to our Canadian visitors,” said The Honorable Charles Fernandez, Minister of Tourism and Investment. “We know many Canadians are more than ready for a vacation and we are equally ready to provide the relaxation and escape that Canadians have been craving.”

As noted, the rollout of the new service begins today with a single direct flight weekly from Toronto (YYZ) to St. John’s (ANU). Service will continue to ramp up to meet the traditional demand of the holiday season, with Air Canada forecasting the eventual operation of five weekly flights at peak traffic.

Travellers from Montreal looking to fly south for the winter can look forward to once-a-week direct flights (YUL to ANU) beginning December 23rd.

The return of Air Canada flights to Antigua & Barbuda comes in the wake of the destination’s latest travel advisory, which has lifted all COVID-19 restrictions for passengers arriving by air, yacht, and ferry. While a successful strategy of mass vaccinations and proactive public awareness campaigns has kept COVID-19 infection levels low, visitors are still encouraged to wear mask and practice social distancing in public spaces where crowds are likely to gather. You can read the latest travel advisory here.

“Over the course of the pandemic, Antigua and Barbuda has seen a monumental, joint effort involving both the government and industry stakeholders to make the destination as safe as it can be,” said Colin James, Chief Executive Officer of The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority. “With that goal now realized and our Canadian friends set to return, we are extremely excited that our guests will once again be able to experience everything our home has to offer.”

CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP

NewsAmericasNow.com