Black Immigrant Daily News
PARAMARIBO — Elleson Fraenk, deken van de Surinaamse Orde van Advocaten (Sova), heeft bij de opening van het zittingsjaar 2022-2023
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
A bill tabled this month in the United Kingdom House of Lords aims to legalise same-sex marriage throughout the British overseas territories, but the Governor’s Office said the bill is unlikely even to reach the debate stage — much less pass through the UK Parliament and become law.
The proposed legislation would be a welcome boost for activists who have pushed for gay rights in the Caribbean, but it has been met with opposition from at least one religious organisation in the Virgin Islands.
Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley also pushed back: Though he did not take a position on same-sex marriage, he told the Beacon that he does not believe the UK Parliament should legislate for the people of the territory.
The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) (Overseas Territories) Bill 2022 was introduced in the UK House of Lords on July 7 by Lord Michael Cashman, a British actor and Labour Party politician who has long advocated for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights, including co-founding the UK LBGT organisation Stonewall.
“Currently, same-sex couples can marry in the UK but are prohibited from marrying in six British overseas territories,” Lord Cashman said in UK media reports. “This is wrong, and the UK Parliament can and should act to end this obvious inequity. I believe this bill has wide support among all those who favour equality over dis crimination and are committed to upholding fundamental human rights.”
The bill covers the VI and five other overseas territories: Montserrat, Bermuda, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Anguilla and the Cayman Islands. If passed, it would require OTs to legalise same-sex unions and provide same-sex couples with the right to marry within six months after the law takes effect.
“The governor of the territory must, by regulations published in the Gazette, make such modifications or adaptations to any existing law of the territory as appear to the governor to be necessary or expedient for bringing that law into conformity with the extension of marriage to same-sex couples,” the text of the bill states.
The bill also offers protection to religious leaders who do not wish to officiate same-sex marriage ceremonies.
The VI Governor’s Office said the bill is unlikely to go far. “The private member’s bill from Lord Cashman is not a government bill,” the office told the Beacon in a statement.
“Backbench peers in the UK often bring forward bills, and it is unlikely to be debated or make any progress.” Nevertheless, the bill sparked controversy in the territory.
On July 11 the BVI Christian Council wrote Governor John Rankin, calling the bill “quite troubling” and complaining about a lack of discussion “with the people of the territory or its stakeholders on a matter of grave social and cultural importance.”
Claiming that Lord Cashman “is putting self-interest ahead of due respect owed to the people of this territory,” the BVICC described the proposed law as “ideological colonialism” designed to “interfere with the sovereign working of our judicial and legislative branches.”
The Governor’s Office declined to comment on the BVICC’s letter, but it told the Beacon in a statement that the UK government is “committed to equal rights for LGBT+ people.”
“The UK’s relationship with the overseas territories is based on partnership, and therefore, as policy on marriage law is an area of devolved responsibility, it should be for the territories to decide and legislate on,” the statement added.
“However, the UK continues to work with them to encourage them to put in place arrangements to recognise and protect same-sex relationships and ensure that their legislation is compliant with international human rights obligations where it is not already.”
Here in the VI, the issue landed in the courts last year when two women who have been legally carried under UK law since 2019 sought to have their marriage recognised in the territory.
Kinisha Forbes and Kirsten Lettsome sued the government on June 9, 2021, claiming that the registrar general denied them a marriage licence on Feb. 2 because they are of the same sex.
The defendants — who are being represented by PST Law — asked the court to declare that their marriage is valid under VI law and that prohibiting same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.
The couple also asked the court to void and declare unconstitutional section 13(c) of the 1995 Matrimonial Proceedings and Property Act, which states that a marriage will be void if “the parties are not respectively male and female.”
In their filing, the claimants argued that the prohibition of same-sex marriage contravenes several sections of the Constitution, including section nine, which declares fundamental rights and freedoms of all individuals regardless of sexual orientation.
They also cited section 12, which grants equality before the law; section 19, which protects the rights of an individual’s private life; section 20, which protects the right of every “man and woman” to marry; section 21, which protects the freedom of conscience, thought and belief; and section 26, which protects individuals from discrimination.
PST Law did not respond to requests for comment and Ms.Lettsome declined to comment, noting that the matter is before the court.
However, two recent Privy Council rulings concerning the Cayman Islands and Bermuda suggest that the VI plaintiffs may have an uphill battle.
On March 14, the Privy Council ruled that the Cayman Islands Constitution does not provide a right for same-sex marriage, as it dismissed an appeal brought by a female couple seeking the right to marry in the territory, according to the Cayman Compass.
Instead, the Privy Council ruled that the right to marriage under the territory’s Bill of Rights is confined to opposite sex couples.
The judges added that this interpretation of the Bill of Rights does not prevent Cayman’s parliament from introducing legislation recognising same-sex marriage. The parliament, however, has not done so.
Similar events played out in Bermuda. There, same-sex marriage was legalised in May 2017 after a male couple successfully sued the government. But the territory’s parliament responded later that year by passing a law to ban same-sex marriage and establish domestic partnerships instead.
The ban was challenged in two lawsuits, and same-sex marriage remained legal in Bermuda while the matter worked its way up to the Privy Council.
On March 14 — the same day as the Cayman ruling — the Privy Council ruled in favour of the Bermuda government, and same-sex marriage was banned once again.
This month, however, the Bermuda legislature passed an amendment that validated same-sex marriages carried out during the five-year legal battle.
Mr. Solomon reported this article from Guyana, and Freeman Rogers contributed.
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
The following are the decisions taken:
Approval has been granted for a proposed community engagement and parent outreach process to engender support for the merger of the Estridge Primary and Edgar T. Morris Primary schools in the 2022-2023 academic year, effective January 2023.
Additionally, the approval has also been given for the site evaluation of the Estridge Primary physical plant as a possible new site for the transfer of the Cotton Thomas Comprehensive School including the drawings, costing and the required repairs and upgrades to the physical plant of the Cotton Thomas Comprehensive School to facilitate its use by the Dr. William Connor Primary School after its transfer to the new site.
The Cabinet approved the Teacher Education Award which is given to the student of the Division of Teacher Education of the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College with the best overall result.
The individual must be a citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis, they must be registered full time at the Division of Teacher Education and have successfully completed all programme requirements accredited by the University of the West Indies, School of Education.
Thirdly, approval has also been granted by the Cabinet for the amendment of the St. Kitts Investment Promotion Agency (SKIPA) Act in section 2, by replacing the definition of the expression “Minister”, with “Minister” means “The Minister responsible for Economic Development and/or Investment”.
In like manner, approval was given to make the necessary amendment to the Small Business Development Act, in section 2 by replacing the definition of the expression “Minister” with “Minister” means the Minister responsible for Small Business and/or Entrepreneurship.
Finally, the Cabinet has approved the date for the Annual 25 Most Remarkable Teens ceremony. The date has been set for Thursday 17th November 2022. For the past two (2) years the event has been hosted at the Rivers of Living Water Christian Center at Lime Kiln, due to the inadequate spacing at the National Parliament. However, a venue for the 2022 edition has not been chosen yet. Further details will be forthcoming.
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, October 06, 2022, (SKNIS) – Twenty-two students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing programme at the Division of Health Sciences at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) were celebrated today, Thursday, October 6, 2022, for their successful progression in their courses of study at the 4th annual Capping and Striping Ceremony.
The event, a ceremonial and symbolic rite of passage for nursing practice, was held at the Wesley Methodist Church under the theme: “In Pursuit of Excellence.”
In attendance at today’s significant ceremony were the Prime Minister and Minister of Health, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, the Honourable Dr. Geoffrey Hanley; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Mrs. Delores Stapleton Harris; Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Hazel Laws; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mrs. Lisa-Romayne Archibald-Pistana; Dean of the Division of Health Sciences, Dr. Rondalyn Dennis-Bradshaw; other staff and students of the CFBC and members of the nursing fraternity who came to show their support.
In delivering brief remarks, the Honourable Dr. Geoffrey Hanley told the students that they should all be proud of what they have accomplished thus far.
“Nurses, you should feel extremely proud of your accomplishment as it signifies that you have satisfied the academic and professional requirement within your respective levels of study. This is no small achievement as I’m certain many of you had varying challenges along the way. However, you should not dwell on those challenges but instead focus on the journey and the fact that you made it through,” he said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dr. Drew impressed upon the students the importance of the profession they have chosen.
“In St. Kitts and Nevis, every other profession can stop working and the effects would not be felt, some of them for days. But if the nurses don’t show up the effects would be felt immediately…and that means that you have a tremendous responsibility and you have tremendous power and influence and I encourage you to use it but to use it positively and wisely, and for it to result in improved patient care and health outcome,” said Prime Minister Drew, who is a medical doctor by profession.
Touching on the significance of the cap and stripe, the honourable prime minister said, “The cap and the stripes of a nursing student are not just adornments to the head and to the uniform. In fact, and traditionally, such symbols are a pellucid manifestation of successful progression within the nursing education programme and training. In addition, such adornments must correlate with the evidence to show that there is inculcation of critical values, deep principles and the core attributes of an excellent professional nurse and a demonstration that the student is engaging in sobering reflection regarding his or her own unimpeachable character and disposition.”
Second year students who received their cap and stripes were Divanuo Dore, Hadassah Ross, Louisa Hughes, Josheena Richards, Junique Pinney, Kahilah Cabey, Kimyra Henry, Leoka Hodge, Tijuani Stevens and Tremoryah Doyling.
The third year students who received their cap and stripes were Jelonn Locker, Kyla Bertin, Mikhail Powell-Brazier, Oshanna Edwards, Quenice Browne, Ronesha Callender, Sherkera James and Tyrique Harris. The fourth year students who received their cap and stripes were Allenzio Wigley, Charlize Knight, Havaritta Drummond and Te’shell Mills.
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, October 06, 2022 (SKNIS) – Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Federal Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Right Honourable Dr. Denzil Douglas addressed the 52nd Regular Session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) on Thursday, October 06, 2022, under the theme ‘Together against Inequality and Discrimination.’
Minister Douglas told his OAS colleagues that the theme chosen for the 52nd General Assembly is timely and fitting, particularly at a time when the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has been taking active steps to address the issues of inequality and discrimination in its short time in office.
“My delegation deems most relevant the theme of the 52nd General Assembly, ‘Together Against Inequality and Discrimination’ since we continue to confront the longstanding realities of inequality and discrimination, scourges exacerbated across our Hemisphere in states already burdened by the devastating challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Foreign Minister Dr. Douglas.
The honourable minister added, “For its part, the newly elected Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has already begun taking critical steps to reduce inequality and discrimination in many areas of our society. As a historical first for St. Kitts and Nevis, we have witnessed a level of female representation at the 30 percentile level by women in the Federal Cabinet, ensuring that views of our sisters, mothers, wives, and daughters are more passionately registered at the decision-making table while advancing gender equality at the highest level of public office.”
Other examples of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis’ thrust towards creating a more inclusive society include the designation of the Federation’s first female Permanent Representative to the United Nations in the person of Her Excellency Ms. Nerys Chiverton and the first female Governor General’s Deputy in Her Excellency of Marcella A. Liburd Esq, JP.
Additionally, Foreign Minister Dr. Douglas stated that the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is of the firm view that education is one of society’s greatest equalizers, and as such, has already put a number of measures in place to improve access to education.
“St Kitts and Nevis has also taken the decision to provide free tertiary education at our local college, providing access to higher education to all nationals regardless of their socio-economic status. We hope to be able to count on the OAS in our quest to advance multilingualism in my country and in the region, to open doors to greater opportunities in tourism, trade, diplomacy, employment, and academic pursuits. We will count on the OAS in this regard,” the minister said.
The Right Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas is accompanied at the October 5-7 General Assembly by Counsellor and Alternate Representative of the Permanent Mission of St. Kitts and Nevis to the OAS, Mrs. Sonia Boddie-Thompson.
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
Upcoming artistes Phabian and Simon Splinta are being hailed from near and far across the globe for the increasing relevance of the message in their single, ‘Love to the World’, which was released in late May of this year by Studio Jah Bless.
The single is picking up a buzz, especially in the United States, and is being seen almost in a prophetic vein by music lovers and others increasingly concerned about the seemingly unending violence besetting Jamaica over recent times, including children becoming both perpetrators and victims of homicides.
Having released the single just ahead of the horrific murder of a young mother and her four children in June, which shocked the nation and forced many persons into deep reflection on the violent trends within the society, another major tragedy has hit home relative to the message from the song.
The recent stabbing death of a 16-year-old student of Kingston Technical High School by a 17-year-old schoolmate of hers, has again put much spotlight on the need for true ‘Love to the World’, including capturing the imagination of the ‘boys and the girls’, as was penned in the song.
In responding to the positives coming from the release, Phabian said he and Simon Splinta are musically saying to people that they (the artistes) would love to see a change in the world towards peace and goodwill, especially in Jamaica.
“If you really listen to the catchy chorus you will catch the love we are trying to generate; loved to the world, including the ghetto boys and girls,” he indicated.
“Look at it, life is your greatest gift and if you lose it, you cannot have it renewed, so life is the greatest thing, and everybody only gets one,” he elaborated.
He gave thanks for the “many calls we have been getting from across the world, as far away as Africa and Asia, about the relevance of the message in the song.”
Phabian
Phabian said as an artiste, he intends to remain true to his purpose in life generally, and “my primary focus has to be on the positive impact of the music on people, so I am grateful that it is reaching far and wide and impacting positively.”
Love to the World focuses on the ongoing crime monster nationally, and chastises persons for acts like “cutting women and children’s throats” and “killing the girls like goats”, which before the Clarendon massacre, may have been seen as merely melodious rhyming in song.
But after the exact references made by the duo through only artistic application and interpretation of some of the harsh realities of present-day life in the society, many have become glued to the song and its more than clear relevance to many of the latest shocking incidents nationally, and so much of what transpired before.
“One message mi want to send out. When Yuh touch di road, di best mi want yuh bring out
“Death (mi) nah promote, badness mi definitely nah guh support.
Yuh caan kill di girls dem like dem a goat, can’t shoot baby an cut dem throat.”
“Yuh know seh badness nah run di route, settle dung and be a good scout.”
That came from the artistes less than a month before what has now been widely labelled as the ‘Clarendon Massacre’, with the young woman and her four children being all discovered lifeless at their home with their throats cut.
Phabian (left) performing in the company of fellow recording artiste, Tyrical, in Barbican, St Andrew during Reggae Month celebrations in 2019.
Then, from friends, colleagues and associates, Phabian – real name Fabian Robinson – started coming in for much more attention than before because of the relevance of the very positive message in the song and, of course, its unfortunate timeliness.
The Love to the World artiste said then that he is intrinsically against violence, and intends to continue to do his part to get the message of peace and love back on the front burner of life globally, including in his beloved Jamaica.
With an increasing audience and fan base as the problem of violence in societies intensifies in many places, including in Jamaica, Phabian said it is extremely positive to get calls from fans about the single.
“From many places, including on the other side of the globe in many cases, people simply want to directly associate with me and Simon because of the relevance and catchiness of the music that we have put out and are continuing to put out.”
He conceded that as artistes, they are looking to make it big in music materially, but said it “will have to be with the kind of foundation, substance and relevance that will keep you in the hearts of the fans for a long, long time, and not just about hitting the glitz and glamour of the moment.”
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
PARAMARIBO — Bij een inval van de Narcoticabrigae aan de Nieuwzorgweg te Pontbuiten is Gerson N. gearresteerd. Vermoed wordt dat
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, 6 October 2022 – At least one hundred Geography students are meeting this morning with local professionals whose careers are based on the subject of Geography.
Second-form students from each high school, both public and private are targeted, according to the Acting Director of the Urban Development Unit, Rhon Boddie.He said, “The objective of the event is to offer Geography students an insight into possible professional careers in which Geography is essential, through presentations fromprofessionals in the work environment.”
The students will get first-hand accounts from professionals who work in Air Traffic Control,Planning Department, Statistics Department, an Airline Pilot, Boat Captain, Forecaster and anan officer from the Urban Development Unit.
The hope is that with this awareness, the students when selecting their subjects upon being promoted to Form three, would be encouraged to select Geography at the CXC level.The half-day event is hosted by the Urban Development Unit as part of its week of activities that will end tomorrow Friday with a Demonstration project in the Independence Square.
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
House destroyed by fire at Date Hill, St Peter Loop Barbados
House destroyed by fire at Date Hill, St Peter
Destruction not out the question: 733 scripts in government’s hands
Minister not submitting her resignation over pre-test mess up
Minister McConney takes responsibility: ‘The buck stops with me’
Minister of Education to speak on IDB pre-test issue
Education Ministry to establish ethics review committee
Traffic Alert: Collision in Wildey
RX Pro Vintage Masters take sole lead in OBL-FIT
1 hrs ago
NEWYou can now listen to Loop News articles!
A fire at Date Tree Hill, St Peter has destroyed the home of 69-year-old Isuma Corbin.
The two bedroom, timber and wall house owned by Corbin was engulfed in flames around 9:30 am, today, Sunday, October 9. Another house nearby received heat and water damage.
Four fire tenders and eight fire officers under the command of Station Officers Scantlebury, Sub Officer Williams and Leading Fire Officer Foster responded and extinguished the house fire. There were no injuries.
Investigations are ongoing.
Rihanna debuts Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation minis
I thought it would have been necessary for us… to review the situation and to put what is necessary… in place
PM Mottley: Barbadian children are not “guinea pigs”
Massy cards to become DeltaPaay with MasterCard after acquisition
Chanon Reifer-Belle recently won gold at Pan American Youth Championships
NewsAmericasNow.com
Black Immigrant Daily News
Five thousand sixty-eight point five (5,069.5), that is the averaged daily number of flights arriving, departing, or transiting through Taiwan in 2019. That equals to 1.85 million flights in the whole year, with a total of 72 million travelers on board. Among them, few would have noticed a shocking fact: they are flying through the Taipei Flight Information Region (Taipei FIR), which is completely overlooked by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) solely on political grounds.
Yes, ICAO has been sacrificing aviation safety since 1971 only to serve a wildly false political claim – that Taiwan is part of China and thus cannot participate in international organisations. That is a false claim because the People’s Republic of China has never governed Taiwan for one single day. Such a self-imposed doctrine based on non-facts is not only absurd but harmful: by excluding Taiwan, ICAO effectively creates a loophole in its supposedly seamless network of over 300 FIRs, contradicting its own goal of enhancing global civil aviation safety.
Being left out from ICAO meetings, mechanisms and activities, Taiwan has been forced to rely on information shared by friendly countries, such as St. Kitts and Nevis, but that sometimes comes belatedly. Take one example on aviation security measures. In September 2016, ICAO formulated its New Policy Direction on Air Cargo Security, requiring unapproved account consignors to be phased out by June 30, 2021. Without any direct access to related information from ICAO, Taiwan only became aware of this policy in September 2019, when it obtained second-handed information from friendly countries. Taiwan did manage to meet the requirement by the deadline in 2021. Despite being left out in the dark for years, the country has spared no effort to keep up with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs). We have been doing our upmost to surmount political discrimination and maintain the highest standards of aviation security and safety in the Taipei FIR, not because we love to, but because we have to.
The ICAO’s political discrimination against Taiwan is in the detriment of regional and global aviation development and safety. Such an unjust exclusion of a relevant and contributing stakeholder must not continue. It is high time that Taiwan be invited to participate in ICAO meetings, mechanisms and activities, so as to have a direct and timely access to crucial ICAO information, and exchange aviation experiences with other countries in a meaningful and constructive way. Taiwan deeply appreciates the increasing support from friends and allies in the international community for its participation in ICAO. Once again, and in line with the ICAO 41st Assembly session’s theme “reconnecting the world”, we call on ICAO to reconnect with Taiwan in a collective effort to promote global aviation recovery and achieve the goal of a seamless sky.
H.E. Michael Chau-Horng Lin
Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis
NewsAmericasNow.com