Black Immigrant Daily News

Today, the world-class, pioneering coral reef restoration project OceanShot – created by climate scientist & marine biologist Dr. Deborah Brosnan and philanthropist entrepreneur John Paul DeJoria in collaboration with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda – deployed the first of its tailor-made coral modules off the island nation of Antigua and Barbuda. Unveiled last year, OceanShot is a featured project of the Global Citizen Forum and the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI).

OceanShot’s deployment symbolizes an acceleration of ocean conservation and efforts to safeguard against the impacts of climate change. This monumental project will drive massive, unprecedented solutions at scale, uniting climate science, governmental action, and technological innovation.

The coral modules combine both built structure and living coral. They are architecturally designed to restore a once-thriving ocean ecosystem, and to protect shoreline and ocean communities from the ravaging impact of storms and sea level rise, as well as to revive ocean-dependent local economies. This project is scalable for global implementation. AI cameras, which will be critical for monitoring and devising solutions – have been deployed on the ocean bed to monitor the reef 24/7 to analyze the natural ecosystem, including fish diversity, coral growth, and wave patterns.

One of the most critical ecosystems on the planet, coral reefs cover less than 0.1% of the world’s oceans, but are home to over 25% of marine biodiversity, and support over 1 billion people with a wide range of ecosystem services. Already, half of the world’s reefs have been destroyed: We lose more coral in a day than we can currently restore in a decade. OceanShot will change that.

The island nation of Antigua and Barbuda was chosen for the initial coral module deployment because it is emblematic of the problem facing millions around the world. With the majority of its corals dead, the coastline is vulnerable to storm surge, erosion, and sea level rise. A living coral reef breaks over 90% of a wave’s energy, helping to keep sand on the beach and reduce run-up. But without its coral reefs and with sea level rise accelerating, Antigua and Barbuda is losing beaches – some facing erosion of up to 10 feet a year.

For OceanShot, Dr. Brosnan assembled a team of coral reef biologists, sea level rise experts, coastal engineers, and the local community on the island nation for an intensive, year-long ecosystem study. Together, they designed reefs to safeguard the nation’s future. Mathematical modelers helped to design reef modules that optimally function as a natural reef to combat increased storm surge, erosion, and keep sand on the beaches, as well as provide habitat for hundreds of species. Working with the local community, the team has grown 2,000 corals ready to outplant onto the modules, kick-starting the living restoration. Reef Cells manufactured the first set of modules, and plans are underway to design and build the next generation of reefs. A living lab has been developed on Barbuda to further advance reef solutions and development.

“This is our moon shot – but instead of launching up, we’re launching down. With OceanShot, we are restoring the place that is critical to human survival today – as well as for our future. Without healthy oceans, there is no us,” says Dr. Brosnan. “This isn’t just a science project, this is a full-scale solution that might be the answer to saving small island nations. We now know how to design and build reefs, and locate them so we get maximum benefits for the coast, as well as reviving fisheries and local communities’ blue economies.”

“We all rent space on this planet. We are responsible for taking care of it and for how we leave it for the next generation,” says John Paul DeJoria. “Coral reefs are the lifeblood of the planet. I am committed to furthering new and advanced environmental conservation efforts, and am delighted to partner with Dr. Brosnan on this innovative and impactful initiative.”

“The island nation of Antigua and Barbuda proudly pledged its full support to OceanShot from the outset,” says Prime Minister Gaston Browne, one of the leading figures tackling climate-change for Caribbean Island Nations. “We are the first country on which the project’s scalable solutions have been deployed. Prioritizing ocean resilience and blue economy for our citizens are among the most important initiatives being developed on the islands of Antigua and Barbuda.”

“This engagement and partnership with the OceanShot project is helping PADI to mobilize more ocean torchbearers who care about coral reefs and want to support creating positive ocean change,” said Dr. Drew Richardson, President and CEO of PADI. “We are working with Dr. Brosnan and her team to help form the basis of best practices guidelines for scalable coral reef restoration and monitoring—which ties in directly to PADI’s Blueprint for Ocean Action.”

The solutions provided by OceanShot are transferable, scalable, and can be deployed to other nations – especially the most at-risk nations, Small Island Development Nations – in urgent need. One year in, this is a recap clip on the project’s successes thus far.

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GOODBYE: The family of murdered security guard Jeffrey Peters, including son Jeffrey Jr, left, daughter Jenique, and wife Amanda Beharrysingh, stand at his coffin on Monday during his funeral. PHOTO BY SUREASH CHOLAI –

PASTOR Clive Dottin did not mince words as he delivered a scathing message to corrupt officials as well as the government over rising crime, as he officiated at the funeral on Monday for murdered security guard Jeffrey Peters.

Peters, 51, and his colleague Jerry Stuart were shot dead near the Pennywise Super Centre, La Romaine, on September 19 during a robbery attempt in which police later shot and killed four bandits.

Speaking during Peters’ funeral at the Mt D’Or Seventh Day Adventist Church, Dottin took past and present governments to task for their inability to significantly curb crime.

Dottin said he was aware of the dangers security guards face on the job and knocked some companies for their treatment of these workers.

Referring to the murder toll, which as of Monday stood at 446 so far this year, Dottin warned those in authority that without proper action, the annual murder toll would continue to rise.

“I want to be frank with you. I think that private security officers are among the list of endangered species, more than the police and the soldiers, of course we have some Judases among them too.

“But private security officers…Lord have mercy, sometimes they are paid very low wages and are called upon to make the greatest sacrifices.

“And by the way, I don’t want to be accused of attacking anybody but some of our capitalists have no heart,” Dottin said.

Turning his attention to governments, Dottin said it was not reassuring that corruption continues to exist and thrive.

Referring to earlier remarks from president of the Southern Caribbean Conference of Seventh Day Adventist Churches, Leslie Moses, Dottin said governments – past and present – seem incapable of addressing crime and violence.

“A lawless and indisciplined nation cannot fight crime.

“One of our parties practise sick corruption and the other political party practises slick corruption.

“This land is corrupt, this land is bloodthirsty and as somebody said, some of our leaders are totally cluless.

“Some may be part of the problem so they cannot be part of the solution.”

Referring to security camera footage of the robbery, Dottin also noted that Peters’ killers seemed to have some experience using high-powered weapons. He questioned how young men were able to use such weapons with proficiency as he accused corrupt law enforcement officials of training criminals.

During his tribute, one of Peters’ long-time friends Carlos Guy said while his friend’s death was difficult to accept, he hopes it serves as a wake-up call for security companies to provide better equipment and vehicles to their employees.

He said while employers enjoyed the profits from their workers, they should be willing to equip their security guards with the life-saving materials.

During his eulogy, Peters’ brother Devon Goodridge said he was heartened by the support from family and friends but also hoped that promises made during the funeral would be kept and urged mourners not to forget Peters’ family.

Peters was buried at the Tunapuna Public Cemetery.

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Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre has indicated that he does not intend to outlive his usefulness and become a burden to his ruling Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP), his Castries East Constituency, or the country.

He was addressing his constituency group’s 34th annual general meeting on Saturday.

Pierre urged his audience to keep their eyes on the prize.

“Once you keep your eyes on the prize, whether I am here or not, you are going to be victorious,” the Castries East MP asserted.

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Declaring that politics is a “very strange thing,” Pierre explained that everyone has a life span.

“And I do not intend to outlive my usefulness. I do not intend to become a burden to the party or a burden to the constituency, or a burden to the people of Saint Lucia. I know when my expiry time will come,” he stated.

“It must come. It has to come. But when it comes, it will come with grace. When it comes, it will come with dignity. Because I am sure that there are men and women in Castries East who can represent Castries East in a very proficient way and there are men and women in the labour party who can lead the labour party when the time comes,” Pierre said to applause.

In this regard, he declared that because of the confidence in those men and women and the young people of Saint Lucia, he could say that the SLP has a promising future.

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Provoca pa e cantidad di yobida…

ORANJESTAD (AAN): Hopi hende a bin ta riparando ultimo simannan, cu diripiente tin hopi sangura ta aparece ora cu solo a caba di baha, y tambe net prome cu solo sali.

   Ta parce cu temporada di yobida cu normalmente ta start te fin di October, awor na 2022 a presenta su mes mas trempan.  Esey ta debi na awacero cu a cuminza cay mas trempan e biaha aki.  E yobidanan aki ta loke ta impulsa e problema di sangura na Aruba.

   Esey ta loke Luis Chong, director di Gele Koorts Muskieten Bestrijding (GKMB) a indica den un entrevista.  E peligro ta cu sangura na gran cantidad, lo por inclui e especie di Aedes Aegypti cu ta un vector pa malesanan manera Dengue, Zika, y Chikungunya.

   Pesey mes, team di GKMB a sali caba cu nan equiponan pa haci control y fumiga den barionan.  Pero alavez, e funcionarionan di GKMB ta suplica comunidad pa cuminza controla den bo cura, check e potchinan cu awa aden, check si bari of toternan di sushi tin awa aden, check hemchi cu por tin pafo, mira si tin sangura of webo di sangura aden.

   “Por fabor, double-check esakinan.  Cana rond di cas, y wak unda por tin awa cu ta keda acumula, pa asina bolter nan pa asina yuda elimina criadero.”

   Chong a mustra cu nan ta premira un temporada pisa di sangura pa e temporada aki.

   Considerando e hecho cu statistica ta enfoca cu e ‘piek’ di yobida lo bay ta November, December y Januari… nifica cu e lo bay ta un temporada hopi druk pa GKMB.

   Loke nan ta haciendo extra, ta pa controla plasnan cu ta keda para na cierto caminda, unda awa por yuda forma criadero pa sangura, tambe ta bay check riolering den caya grandi, y lo keda toch cu e trabao di pasa cas-pa-cas pa controla.  Claro cu ta sigui pidi comunidad pa nan mes tambe sigui haci control y elimina criadero di sangura na cas of na bo negoshi.

   Si acaso bo ta hayando molester di sangura na bo cas, y bo a haci control rond di bo cas y no a haya nada, semper bo por yama Departamento di GKMB na 585-5533 pa nan por bay atende e situacion, como cu kizas e criadero ta banda di e cas (kizas na bisiña) of un lugar inaccesible, pa asina nan por yuda localiza y combati e criadero.

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