Belmopan. May 25th, 2016. The Ministry of Health has received another confirmed case of Zika in the country by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).
The case is being closely monitored by the Ministry of Health staff as the patient is a pregnant woman. This patient is from the Cayo District. The case was picked up through the heightened and strengthened vector borne disease and vaccine preventable disease surveillance, which now includes the monitoring of Zika, currently underway across the country.
The Ministry this morning collected a sample from another pregnant woman with symptoms of the virus. The sample will be sent to CARPHA for further testing.
Vector control and public health officers, along with staff from the Epidemiology Unit and Maternal and Child Health Departments, are actively engaged with the community and are further scaling up efforts in the monitoring of Zika.
The Ministry of Health continues to encourage the wider community to exercise control measures to prevent the further spread of Zika.
Governor General Sir Elliott Belgrave toasting Barbados' newest centenarian Francis Clarke last Saturday. (A.Gaskin/BGIS)
Statistics compiled up to May 5 this year reveal that there are 114 centenarians alive in Barbados.
In a statement issued today, the National Committee on Ageing (NCOA) noted that the figure comprised 103 females and 11 males.
Included in the 114 are 13 females and one male, who are semi-super centenarians between the ages of 105 and 109.
The NCOA further disclosed that 38 females and 10 males were expected to reach the 100-year milestone by the end of this year.
The statement also mentioned that the island had on record another super-centenarian, Emily Clarke, who died on June 1, 2013, at the age of 110. James Sisnett, Barbados’ oldest man and the world’s second oldest man, died on May 23, 2013, at the age of 113.
Hon Finance Minister, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit anticipates a booming tourism industry based on budgetary allocations for the upcoming fiscal year.
The Hon Prime Minister hinted his Government’s plans to continue to put measures in place to ensure more vigorous promotion of Dominica as a prime tourist destination.
At a town hall meeting in Soufriere on Monday, May 23rd Prime Minister Skerrit spoke of some of these measures which will be announced in his next budget address.
“From a wider tourism standpoint, you will see an increase in the marketing budget for Dominica; an increase for the promotion of the World Creole Music Festival; a substantial amount of money from the Economic Citizenship Programme will be set aside and placed at the AID Bank to unlend to existing hotel plans to upgrade rooms, restaurants, pools and ensure a competitive level.”
He continued, “They will receive an interest rate that I can say they can find nowhere else in the world.”
The Dominica leader says his recent letter to LIAT has prompted the airline to increase flights to Dominica and that Government has plans to liaise with other airlines to improve air access to the island.
Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) will be using social media and other promotional means to go after the 35 million strong African American market.
Mr. Bartlett said that in addition to booking advertising spots in the mainstream media, extra effort will be made to target minority groups.
“There is a vast African American market out there along with other minority groups that we need to capitalize on,” the Minister told JIS News.
“We need to appeal to their passion points. We need to get our message of being the friendliest and most relaxed destination in the region to their doorsteps,” he added.
Mr. Bartlett said Jamaica’s two percent share of the lucrative United States market is much too low and that extra effort will have to be made in going after minority groups, including those with special needs.
The Minister said there are many young people who travel all over the world to participate in activities, such as city runs and other health activities, and also persons with disabilities who simply want a place to go where they can relax and where people are nice and caring. “These are new opportunities for us to build on our product,” the Minister added.
Mr. Bartlett said tourists usually have the innate desire to be pampered and there is no place in the world that does it better than Jamaica.
“We have an opportunity to go after these niche markets. We have to ensure that we get our message out there in an effective way, so people can understand that Jamaica is the place to feel alright. If this is done right, there is no telling what our growing potential could be,” the Minister said.
National Culinary Team emerge winners at Final Practice Dinner ahead of ‘Taste of the Caribbean’ Competition
May 25, 2016: The 2016 National Culinary Team are truly Champions; having beaten (by one point) the Legends Team at the Final Practice Dinner hosted by the Trinidad Hotels, Restaurants and Tourism Association onMonday May 23, 2016 at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre. The Legends comprise culinary veterans who have competed in past TASTE OF THE CARIBBEAN competitions.
The National Culinary Team will depart on June 06 to attend the highly prestigious “TASTE OF THE CARIBBEAN” culinary competition, organised by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA). “TASTE OF THE CARIBBEAN” is an annual culinary competition where the competitors cook, mix and present food and drink fare to be judged on taste as well as on execution of skills and presentation.
In extending the greatest support to the Culinary Team, the Honourable Shamfa Cudjoe, Minister Cudjoe, noted that “Trinidad and Tobago is the epicentre of authentic Caribbean cuisine; a melting pot of extra-ordinary cultures and exotic, vibrant island flavours. And our food is the best representation of our rainbow nation. Our fusion of blends and flavours has created an eclectic cuisine that is nothing short of exciting, mouth-watering and simply irresistible. Our delightful culinary offerings can satisfy the palette of even the most discerning traveller”.
The International Culinary Tourism Association states that, on average, food travellers spend around USD$1,200.00 per trip; with over one-third of their travel budget going towards food-related activities. In this regard, our local culinary practitioners have a critical role to play.
Moreover, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) predicts that in the year 2020, the number of international tourists will reach approximately 1.6 billion. The Caribbean region has also witnessed a 2015 record of 28.7 million in international arrivals and an estimated visitor spend of US$30 billion.
Against this background, Minister Cudjoe urged tourism stakeholders “to have a different approach, a different mindset, a different commitment, and a different kind of investment… as must government. We both have our work to do. Our business is to get the visitors here, your business is to show them a good time, make them spend, and wow them to the point of returning again and again”. The members of the 2016 National Culinary Team are:
Brandon Maharaj – Chef
Jeremy Lovell – Chef
Clinton Ramdhan – Bartender
Kimberly Jaggasar – Pastry Chef
Annelca Mendoza – Junior Chef
Adam de Freitas – Alternate Chef
Kishion Guillaume – Alternate Bartender
The Team Captain is the Executive Sous Chef of the Hyatt Regency Trinidad, Adrian Cumberbatch.
The 2016 National Team has a long-held reputation to maintain as this country has long been considered the culinary powerhouse within the Caribbean; being the only team to win Caribbean Culinary Team of the Year an impressive five times at TASTE OF THE CARIBBEAN” culinary competitions – 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2011. This is indeed a testament to the diligence, creativity, consistency, commitment, and grit of our flag-bearers.
Permanent Representative of St. Kitts and Nevis to the United Nations His Excellency Sam T. Condor. Photo Courtesy: stkittsweb.com
Permanent Representative of St. Kitts and Nevis to the United Nations His Excellency Sam T. Condor, shared with nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis in celebration of the life and times of the Federation’s First National Hero and First Premier, The Right Excellent Sir Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw.
On Sunday May 22, 2016, tributes to the national icon took center stage during the centennial anniversary service held in Sir Robert’s honor at the Church of the Holy Nativity in the Bronx, New York.
The Celebration Service of the Centennial Anniversary of the birth of the Right Excellent Sir Robert Llewelyn Bradshaw was an evening of poetry, songs, and special tributes, lauded as an appropriate commemoration to the national hero.
Ambassador Condor shared a moving and fitting tribute to Sir Robert, speaking in part to the selflessness, bravery and positive influence Bradshaw’s early introduction had on the Ambassador’s life. Condor stated, “My own reflections lead me to my first personal encounter with Mr. Bradshaw… when as a 16 year old, I officially joined the youth arm of the St. Kitts and Nevis Labour Party.… I can still remember that feeling of awe in surrender to this towering, commanding, imposing stature of the man.”
Condor explained that his life was certainly transformed because of the vision of Sir Bradshaw, who was renowned on the national, regional and international level. “I got to know Premier Bradshaw more intimately as I served as Chairman of the Bradshaw Committee Youth Centre; built from his own personal resources…. This promoted community and country development.” Condor stated.
The Ambassador charged all in attendance to embrace Sir Robert’s legacy. “His great legacy must live on,” said Condor. “His great spiritual qualities, his noble dream of human fraternity, his tangible efforts to secure political and social liberty and justice must be emulated,” Condor declared.
In closing, the Ambassador encouraged nationals to re-commit to work hard to guarantee that the Diaspora becomes the critical cornerstone of assistance that it needs to be, as we set about to revive and strengthen the future of our people, our nation.” (The full text of Ambassador Condor’s speech can be found below).
The Very Reverend P. Allister Rawlins officiated the service and Reverend Canon Isaiah Phillip delivered a stirring message on Sir Robert’s life and work. Other special guests who took part in the centennial celebration of Sir Robert included author of the Federation’s national anthem, Mr. Kenrick Georges and Mr. St. Clair Chiverton, who shared a riveting tribute about Sir Robert.
Other contributions included a poem written by Everton E. Mack and presented by Ms. Yvonne Taylor, a solo, by Ms. Norma Francis-Dolphin and the Vote of Thanks, by Mr. Brant Douglas. Mrs. Yvette Swanston, Judge Selwyn Walters, and Mrs. Gretna Lewis read the evening’s scripture and lessons respectively. Dr. Elizabeth Lawrence provided soulful musical accompaniment on the organ.
The organizers of the event treated guests to a delightful spread which included beverages and a variety of dainties. Nationals joined in fellowship with one another in the Church’s banquet hall for hours following the official service of commemoration in honor of The Right Excellent Sir Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw, the nation’s first national hero.
(Press release courtesy of the Permanent Mission of St. Kitts-Nevis to The United Nations)
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, May 23rd, 2016 – The Secretariat of the Association of Caribbean States, in its desire and continued efforts to promote the sustainable development of the Greater Caribbean through “consultation, cooperation and concerted action” is honoured to announce that The VII Summit of the ACS Heads of State and/or Government will convene on Saturday June 4th 2016 as was proposed by the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba, His Excellency Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, on the occasion of the XXI Ordinary Meeting of the Ministerial Council, which took place in Pétion-Ville, Haiti, on January 19th 2016.
The theme of this year’s summit: “Together for a Sustainable Caribbean” mirrors the hard work, priority and dedication of the Association of Caribbean States in achieving this goal throughout the Small Island Developing States of the Greater Caribbean Region. This Summit is a continuation of the joint efforts to revitalize the vision of the ACS for a stronger and more united Greater Caribbean as well as to promote sustainability, as was expressed in the Declaration of Pétion-Ville of April 13th 2013.
The ACS continues to work diligently to make this desire tangible, and alongside the Member States and Associate Members, recognize that, in order for such ambitions to materialize, specific and pertinent issues must be of top priority.
It is for this reason; the focal area of this honourable and historical meeting will be the protection and preservation of our common heritage, the Caribbean Sea.
The Caribbean Sea Commission of the ACS – which was established in 2006 to promote and oversee the sustainable use of the Caribbean Sea – held a symposium called “Challenges, Dialogues and Cooperation towards the Sustainability of the Caribbean Sea” in November 2015, focusing on the main impacts of Sargassum Seaweed, Lionfish Invasion and Coastal Erosion. The ACS aims, therefore, at continuing the dialogue and work as they move towards the horizon of positive and effective change.
The ACS also announces the departure of Secretary General, His Excellency Alfonso David Múnera Cavadía, who served the Association from 2012 and whose four year tenure of office will end in June 2016 after the Summit has convened.
On the agenda of the Summit as well, is the appointment of a new Secretary General who will head the ACS for the next four years.
The ACS is greatly anticipating this upcoming summit and it is the distinguished privilege of the Secretariat of the Association of Caribbean States to join with the Honourable Ministries, Secretariats and Departments of Foreign Affairs of the ACS Member States and Associate Members for the common vision, mission and action of achieving a Sustainable Caribbean together.
The Government will be investing $300 million through the Integrated Community Development Project (ICDP) and the European Union’s Poverty Reduction Programme (PRP), to benefit hundreds of at-risk youth.
This initiative will benefit youth in communities prioritized by the national Community Renewal Programme (CRP).
This was revealed by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, in his 2016/17 Budget Debate presentation in the House of Representatives, on May 24.
Mr. Holness said the intervention will boost youth employability and involvement in wealth creation through training and certification in market-driven vocational skill areas, personal development, entrepreneurship and internship.
The programme will continue the Jamaica Social Investment Fund’s (JSIF) thrust to provide a means for persons to have a sustainable livelihood, particularly in the poor communities being targeted.
“Our poverty reduction strategy also includes the provision of basic infrastructure and services for Jamaica’s most underserved communities and will include projects in education, sanitation, road network and access to water,” Mr. Holness said.
The Prime Minister noted that an additional $637 million will be spent on the Basic Needs Trust Fund to expand and rehabilitate nine rural schools, expand two water supply systems and rehabilitate five rural farm roads. Six rural primary schools will also receive assistance geared at improving literacy and numeracy results in the national examinations.
“Special focus will also be directed at enhancing teachers’ and parents’ knowledge of how to identify and cater to children with special needs,” he said.
Mr. Holness further noted that the ICDP will spend over $446 million on activities in volatile communities to improve the waste management infrastructure.
Through the PetroCaribe Development Fund, $86.4 million will also be spent to replace pit latrines in 15 rural schools with flush toilets.
ST. GEORGE, GRENADA, MAY 25, 2016 -GIS: The month of June is recognized as Deaf Awareness Month. This year’s theme is “Bridging the Gap between the Deaf and Hearing through Education and Community Outreach”
The Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development recognizes and endorses the activities of the School for the Deaf, as they prepare to celebrate the month, with a calendar of events.
These events are as follows:
Interviews with the media/media sensitization, throughout the month of June
Church Service on Sunday, June 5
Workshop for Stakeholders, on June 18
Community Outreach activities on Friday, June 10 & 17
Tea Party on Thursday, June 23
Deaf Awareness March, in St. George’s on Friday, June 29
Bus Tour/Fun Day on Tuesday, July 5
Sign Language classes throughout the month on Mondays and Wednesdays
The School for the Deaf is located at Park Estate, Perdmontemps, St. David and can be reached at telephone number 473-440-2242 and at the following email: schoolforthedeafgda@gmail.com, for more information on the month of activities.
The performance of boys during the Grade Six National Assessments and CXC Exams is still a concern for the Ministry of Education.
The upcoming Grade Six National Assessment will determine if the Literacy and Numeracy Programme has improved students’ performance.
Acting Education Officer for Curriculum, Measurement and Evaluation, Candia Robinson reported, “There has been some analysis and we realise that boys are under performing. We have also realised that students are not doing well at all.”
She says those writing results have been true for both the Grade 2 and 4 assessments; writing is 40% of the Language paper.
“I think schools need to focus more on teaching writing strategies to the children.”
She does note improvements in mathematics even at the CXC level.
The Ministry of Education recognized the challenges with schools’ performance in mathematics and has been training teachers to become more competent in the subject’s delivery.
In 2011, the Government of Dominica spent over $500,000 on the Primary School Education Numeracy Pilot Project; 71 teachers were trained.
The Ministry explored four core areas: making mathematics practical and relevant by incorporating real life experiences in the classroom; emphasizing the need for continuous practice of the subject; fostering teachers’ enthusiasm, and adopting a whole-school approach to mathematics teaching and learning.
