August 9, 2023

News

AFRICA WORLD BRIEFS

Guterres concerned over continued detention of Niger’s President

ECOWAS is scheduled to hold another meeting on the crisis on Thursday in Abuja, Nigeria, according to media reports. This follows an extraordinary summit last week where the 15-member bloc issued a communiqué calling for the reinstatement of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum. Failing this, ECOWAS had threatened to “take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order”, including use of force. The ultimatum expired on Sunday.

Military leaders in Niger have closed the country’s airspace in response.

UN “good offices” role

SPORTS

“The Secretary-General is concerned over the continued detention of President Bazoum and the failure so far to restore constitutional order in Niger,” his Office said in a note to journalists.

Meanwhile, UN Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simão, continues to provide good offices support to regional stakeholders, and is currently in Abuja.

Real influencers: Faith leaders find ‘hidden’ children living with HIV

Every hour, 11 children die of AIDS, so finding them and offering treatment is as critical as ever, according to the UN entity UNAIDS, which released a new report about how imams, pastors, and priests are reaching those most in need. While three quarters of adults living with HIV are on treatment, only half of children are, the agency reported. There are still 1.7 million children around the world living with HIV, and they are particularly vulnerable, said Stuart Kean, author of the Compendium of Promising Practices on the Role of African Faith Community Interventions to End Paediatric and Adolescent HIV, co-published by UNAIDS and the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

“If they’re born with HIV, then 50 per cent of them will die by the age of two,” he told UN News. “If they don’t and if they are not found and put on treatment, 80 per cent of them will die by the age of five, so there’s much greater urgency to find these hidden children.” The new compendium documents 41 promising practices that provide evidence of the core roles that faith communities have played. This includes significant strides in identifying undiagnosed children living with HIV, improving continuity of treatment, supporting adolescents to access psychosocial support, care, and treatment, and enabling peer support groups to empower children and adolescents living with HIV.

“This report shows how vital is the role of faith-based organisations in helping children living with HIV to access life-saving treatment, in advocating in support of their needs, and in tackling stigma,” Jacek Tyszko, Senior Programme Advisor at UNAIDS told UN News.

UNRWA appeals for end to deadly clashes at Palestine refugee camp in Lebanon

The fighting between Palestinian armed groups at Ein El Helweh camp has also forced thousands to flee their homes that have been damaged.

Ein El Helweh is one of 12 camps in Lebanon operated by the UN agency that assists Palestine refugees, UNRWA. It provides services to nearly 50,000 people.

Dorothee Klaus, UNRWA Director in Lebanon, said clashes continued on Wednesday night despite the announcement of a ceasefire.

Education under fire

She said an UNRWA school complex inside the camp, that provides education to 3,200 children during the academic year, was used for the fighting.

“We have not been able to enter the camp and deliver much needed assistance,” she said.

“UNRWA calls for an immediate cessation of fighting in the camp in order for civilians to get respite and for the Agency to be able to provide assistance and conduct needs assessments.”

UNICEF laments deaths of pregnant mother and toddler in Mediterranean Sea shipwreck

A pregnant woman and a young child died when two boats carrying scores of migrants sank in rough seas off the Italian island of Lampedusa on Sunday, according to media reports. The boats had reportedly departed from Sfax, Tunisia, and many of the passengers were believed to be from sub-Saharan African countries. In a statement on Monday, Nicola Dell’Arciprete, UNICEF Country Coordinator for the National Response in Italy, said the agency was deeply saddened by yet another shipwreck in the Mediterranean.

“This time, a pregnant mother is among those who have lost their lives off the coast of Lampedusa, Italy. An 18-month-old child travelling with their mother has also died. Around 30 people remain missing, including children. Our thoughts go out to all of those affected by this tragedy,” she said.

Prevent

deaths at sea

Ms. Dell’Arciprete recalled that during the first six months of the year, at least 289 children have died or disappeared attempting to make the Central Mediterranean Sea crossing into Europe. As many shipwrecks leave no survivors, or go on record, the true number of child casualties is likely much higher. of responsibility-sharing in action. “We urge those in power to create safer legal pathways for migration and asylum in the European Union, and for coordinated search and rescue operations that help prevent deaths at sea.

Trump Wants Jamaican-born Judge Removed in Election Fraud Case

Apparently Former US president Donald Trump is not happy with a Jamaican judge presiding over his upcoming criminal trial and said Sunday he will petition to have a different judge oversee it and for the case to be moved out of Washington.

US District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan, the Jamaican-born appointee of Democratic former president Barack Obama who was randomly assigned to the case in Washington, and Trump unleashed his disapproval via on his Truth Social platform.

“There is no way I can get a fair trial with

the judge ‘assigned’ to the ridiculous freedom of speech/fair elections case. Everybody knows this, and so does she,” Trump, using all capital letters.

“We will be immediately asking for recusal of this judge on very powerful grounds, and likewise for venue change,” out of Washington — a majority Black city that leans heavily Democratic, Trump continued.

His attorney John Lauro confirmed that they would be seeking a change of venue, but only after “some polling” and “quanti-

tative analysis in terms of how people are reacting to the indictment.”

Chutkan, on Saturday, denied Trump’s motion to extend a deadline for responding to the US government’s protective order request that could limit what Trump and his lawyers can share publicly about his case.

Team Trump wanted to push the deadline to Thursday, but the judge said they must abide by the current deadline of 5:00 pm (2100 GMT) Monday.

Rep. Clarke On Trump Indictment - ‘No One Is Above The Law’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) released the following statement regarding the criminal indictment of former President Donald Trump by special counsel Jack Smith’s office for his role in and surrounding the January 6th insurrection:

“A year ago, the bipartisan Select Committee on January 6th began an 18-month probe into what occurred following the 2020 election, and on and around January 6th. Although Mr. Trump asserted the committee found no proof of his

misconduct, today’s indictment makes clear that the bipartisan House select committee created a roadmap to justice for our institutions responsible for upholding the rule of law,” said Congresswoman Clarke. “No one is above the law – including Donald Trump. For the sake of our democracy, I will hold faith that this indictment will play out through the legal process, without interference. No matter your political affiliation or ideology, I implore all Americans to take stock in the significance of today’s indictment and let this case proceed peacefully in court.”

T&T – PM Rowley Interested in Education Ties With Africa

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr. Rowley, expressed his personal interest in fostering collaboration between universities in Africa and TT, as both regions focus on advancing technologies and other disciplines in the 21st century.

During his address at Emancipation Day celebrations on Tuesday morning, Rowley spoke of the importance of understanding and acknowledging African heritage while embracing the potential for future collaboration and exchange.

“This is a welcome to our long-lost family…the gateway in Medina in the Cape Coast province in Ghana, from which the stolen Africans departed Africa, was called “the door of no return.” Yet we survived and returned to find our ancestral roots to join hands and find common causes with our modern-day brothers and sisters.”

In the marches across the country today, you will see a people, coming out of the legacies of the torturous centuries of

slavery, yet standing tall, proudly articulating their roots – a people saying they will not be marginalized, and are evolving in every human way.

“I speak of ‘loss’ because it was a loss calculated over centuries. It was one that forcefully sent millions of African people to this side of the globe, with the vast waters of the Atlantic separating us – disconnecting us from our African ancestry.”

“Recognizing the pain of the Middle Passage, and the centuries of colonial brutality, I salute the African community, a people, who through grit and determination, is on the march, striving for further discovery and self-realization, searching, and transforming themselves for the challenges of the 21st century.”

Finally, he shared that “on both sides of the Atlantic, African people will see the ‘one-ness’ that we carry within us”.

Jamaica – PJ Patterson Chides Political Leaders Over Vulgar Public Discourse

ancestors ‘broke into joyous celebrations on hearing the final words of the Emancipation Declaration, affirming their full freedom from slavery,’ the glorious freedom that we, their descendants, celebrate. Comments I made twenty-six years ago in our Parliament remain valid today: “Our duty in celebration is to solemnly recall emancipation from chattel slavery, the most sustained and brutal violation of human rights in the history of humankind.” The illegal retention by the plantation owners of captured land are scourges which haunt us still as we grapple with the outcome of inequitable land apportionment.

as Jamaicans. But what does it mean to be a Jamaican, and what do the words of this prayerful song mean to us?

Jamaica’s Former Prime Minister PJ Patterson has scolded his countrymen in positions of political leadership and authority for engaging in “distasteful” and “disgraceful” public discourse that “belittle us as a nation” and sets a poor example for our children.

Patterson shared the following message to the nation during Jamaica’s ‘Emancipendence Week’, a combination of the August 1 Emancipation Day and August 6 Independence Day celebrations.

My fellow Jamaicans, I feel obliged as Jamaica’s 6th Prime Minister, to send this message during our Emancipendence Week.

This year marks 185 years of Emancipation and 61 years of independence, two significant milestones for us as a people, milestones that commemorate freedom from enslavement and the period of our sovereignty as a nation.

On August 1, 1838, a day like no other, our

With the lowering of Britain’s Union Jack and the hoisting of Jamaica’s black, green, and gold flag on August 6, 1962, Jamaicans everywhere felt enormous pride in achieving independence from Britain, knowing we were no longer another colony of any other country whatsoever.

Despite enduring hardships and numerous trials, Jamaicans have accomplished much on the world stage, gifting our nation with beautiful moments of pure joy. Jamaica’s athletes, musicians, and artists are among those who have made and continue to make unique contributions to our rich cultural landscape. During this Emancipendence Week, our indomitable Reggae Girls and Sunshine Girls proudly contribute to this outstanding legacy even as our world-beating athletes prepare for Budapest. Many of us can recall moments of immense national pride when our men and women stood tallest on the global stage. We likkle but we tallawah.

Our National Anthem, sung repeatedly from childhood to adulthood at schools, churches, cinemas, national ceremonies, and sporting events, is a staple for Jamaicans. We do not question its importance or its intrinsic worth. We understand and agree that it connects us

Recently, however, I have become increasingly disturbed as we witness a severe decline in what the second stanza of the anthem implores: ‘Teach us true respect for all.’ Utterances from some in the political sphere and positions of authority belittle us as a nation and also undermine respect for all. Public respect is rapidly descending to an all-time low. The language used routinely is distasteful, disgraceful, and comments are derogatory. The tone of their delivery is devoid of respect. Increasingly, the public is made to endure intensely negative public discourse that abuses, demeans, and vilifies others. Instead of mutual respect, a small but vociferous number of our public speakers are consistently mean-spirited and vulgar. This appalling deterioration cannot be allowed to continue without our clear denunciation as “one people out of many.” We dare not remain silent as it cannot becondoned. Without rebuke, we are failing to live up to our democratic ideals and undermining our country’s ability to achieve its full potential. Undoubtedly, our ancestors on whose shoulders we stand, would be appalled at the ugly and debasing public discourse in recent times. We have let them down. Open and public speech, whether public deliberation, debate, or dispute, is fundamental to our democratic ideal. Through public dialogue, collectively, we debate options and identify alternative policy options for the public good. Through public discourse, we can challenge decision-makers, demand justification, and hold our leaders accountable. No person or office is exempt from criticism. In doing so, there will inevitably be disagreements. Nevertheless, civility and respect must be maintained.

Crudity reduces belief in institutional legitimacy, undermines respect for opposing views, and further polarizes our citizens. That, if unchecked or halted, will result in intolerable levels of partisan division, and yield dangerous social tension. The startling truth is that it repels and never attracts an increase of political support.

It is not to our benefit as a nation that our citizenry should disengage from public discourse because of the fear of vulgar personal abuse, or reduce the available talent pool from which successive effective leadership will emerge.

The despicable pattern of offensive utterances and vitriolic exchanges will deter rather than entice those idealistic members of the younger generation who aspire to engage in the political arena or render public service.

In this age of advanced technology, comments made in physical spaces are instantly transmitted on social media platforms and spread worldwide.

Our children are watching, hearing, and imitating, as boys and girls are wont to do. How can we impart appropriate values and attitudes to them when such poor examples are set by some in political discourse on matters of national importance? How can we teach them respect when persons whom they should respect fail to show respect to one another? In our beautiful island home, there is no room for intolerance and disrespect. I implore everyone in the public space to ground arguments in reason and evidence and desist from personal attacks and coarse, offensive speech that destroy the fabric of healthy discourse while serving to undermine the exercise of our hard-won democratic freedoms. We must draw brakes before we pass the brink. Cho man! We can all do better than dat!

Caribbean Security Force Going to Haiti

Georgetown, Guyana – The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping on Friday welcomed the announcement by two of its members that they are willing to join Kenya in sending a multi-national force to deal with the security situation in Haiti.

The Bahamas and Jamaica said they are willing to send up to 350 personnel to he French-speaking CARICOM nation after Kenya’s Foreign Minister, Alfred Mutua, said last weekend that his country’s commitment is to deploy a contingent of 1,000 police officers to help train and assist Haitian police restore normalcy in the country and protect strategic installations.

“The Caribbean Community hopes that the establishment of the multi-national force will be given full endorsement by the United Nations Security Council as a demonstration of the commitment of the international community to improve the security and humanitarian conditions of the people of Haiti and support restoration of law and order,” the 15-member regional integration movement said in a statement.

It recalled that regional leaders at their

summit in Trinidad and Tobago last month, had “underscored their grave concern over the severe humanitarian, security and governance crises facing their sister member state.

“The Caribbean Community reiterates its pledge to continue efforts to collaborate with the Haitian Government and all stakeholders to find a Haitian-led solution to the plight facing their nation,’ the statement added.

A statement issued from the Office of the Jamaica Prime Minister on Friday, quoted him as informing the President of the Kenya, William Ruto, that Kingston and Nassau were committed to providing 350 personnel. Holness expressed hope that more countries, whether in the region of the Americas, the continent of Africa, or elsewhere, would also step forward with personnel commitments, and that the requisite UN Security Council Resolution will be adopted in order to provide the appropriate jurisdictional framework for the security force. (CMC)

T&T – Asante King Warns – ‘Freedom to Wallow in Poverty is Not Emancipation’

The Asantehene, His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II of Ghana, arrived in Trindad two days ago and was greeted by a team of ministerial officials including Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds, Minister of Trade and Industry

Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Dr Amery Browne, and Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Randall Mitchell.

The Asante King has warned people, especially those of African descent, that there can be no true emancipation with poverty, crime and violence.

He was speaking at the nation’s guest of honor at Emancipation Day celebrations on Tuesday afternoon at the Lidj Yasu Omowale Emancipation Village at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port of Spain. “Freedom to wallow in poverty cannot be true emancipation,” he declared, also lamenting accompanying racial discrimination and injustice. He had two suggestions. One – that African leaders pursue a new universal declaration that racial discrimination be deemed a crime against humanity. Two

– that governments educate youngsters about the great empires of the past. He spoke about the needless violence in Trinidad and other Caribbean countries, which he surmised was often fueled by the drug trade. He reckoned this reflected a degree of despair which he warned could set back affected nations, but said, “We should, beloved Trinidadians, resist the temptation to be defined by drugs and needless violence, by slothfulness and wanton indiscipline.”

He mentioned the names of several Caribbean pioneers of African descent. In Sport – boxer Muhammed Ali, footballer Pele and sprinter Usain Bolt; Music –Bob Marley, Nat King Cole and Miriam Makeba; and in Politics – TT-born activist George Padmore, Barack Obama and Colin Powell.

In offering hope, Tutu II said, “As King of a mighty warrior kingdom, I can assure you that the African spirit does not cower under adversity. If it were not so, we would have been wiped out from the face of the Earth long before our time.”

Public Apology to Jamaica’s Consul General and Ambassador by JON-J

The Jamaica Organization of New Jersey apologizes for a past president’s remarks at a public flag-raising ceremony.

“We recognize that these remarks were not only inaccurate but hurtful to Consul General Alsion Wilson and Ambassador Audrey Marks and their respective offices,” said JON-J President Owen Eccles, “as an organization, we strive to promote unity, collaboration, and respect among our Jamaican people; furthermore, these remarks did not accurately portray the partnership that the JON-J organization has built and enjoys with both these offices.”

The Jamaica Organization of New Jersey (JON-J) wishes to acknowledge and

highlight the fact that both these offices, especially that of the Consul General, have been very supportive of the organization and have partnered with JON-J to provide support to Jamaicans in the diaspora and at home in Jamaica.

The leadership of JON-J is satisfied based on dialog with the member who made the controversial statement that there was no malicious intent or ill-will behind the comments and sends heartfelt apologies for the hurt and misunderstanding caused. The JON-J organization looks forward to continuing a collaborative partnership with the Consulate and the Ambassador’s office.

NYS – Adams and Hochul Working Together on Gun Violence Prevention

The New York City Gun Violence Prevention Task Force released “A Blueprint for Community Safety,” outlining a forward-thinking roadmap with upstream solutions to address gun violence throughout the five boroughs. The plan is backed by Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James and other city leaders.

The blueprint outlines more than $485 million in investments to create safer, more resilient communities. The recommendations are a product of months of engagement with more than 1,500 community residents across the city, and prioritizes investments and resources for six precincts that experienced the highest rates of gun violence in 2022.

The report builds upon all the work the Adams administration has undertaken over the last 18 months to reduce gun violence by double digits and culminates months of engagement with communities most impacted by gun violence, including young people, whose feedback was critical in shaping the strategies and recommendations that will ensure the city continues to build on the public safety gains made since January 2022.

The Gun Violence Prevention Task Force was formed in June 2022. Co-chaired by First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and Man Up! Inc. Founder A.T. Mitchell, the task force represents a multi-agency, cross-sector effort to address the root causes of gun violence and develop recommendations to promote long-term safety across all communities. As part of this effort, more than 50 members of the task force, representing 20 city agencies, engaged roughly 1,500 community residents over the course of spring 2023 through community convenings and youth town halls.

“Public safety is not only a prerequisite, but the pathway to prosperity. It is what we have campaigned, and what we have delivered. Overall, crime is down across the city year to date, and our numbers continue to trend in the right direction. The work of public safety is never done and even a single loss of life to gun violence is a tragedy,” said Mayor Adams. “Today, we are taking our efforts to end gun violence to the next level with this new ‘Blueprint for Community Safety’ – a more than $485 million dollar plan that will double down on our public safety efforts, invest in our most impacted communities, support our young people and get them on the right path, and activate every level of city government to prioritize prevention-based approaches to public safety. This plan would not have been possible without our co-chairs, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and Man Up! Founder A.T. Mitchell, as well as the more than 1,500 New Yorkers whose ideas and input shaped these recommendations.

The work we do together will save lives and create a stronger, safer, more livable city for all.”

“As co-chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, our goal has been on traveling upstream, focusing on how we can stop people from picking up guns in the first place,” said First Deputy Mayor Wright. “This blueprint is a product of cross agency collaboration, engagement across all levels of government, and, most importantly, direct conversations with the most impacted communities. Together, we have unveiled a blueprint that meets the urgency of the moment and delivers a path forward to make public safety a reality for each and every community.”

“I am extremely excited for this moment where we can finally make public the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force blueprint,” said A.T. Mitchell, co-chair, Gun Violence Prevention Task Force; and founder, Man Up! “This living document is the beginning of a historic collaborative effort, that once implemented, will work to prevent gun violence from happening in our city. It is my professional opinion that this plan will work because it was created by every facet of the city that is impacted by gun violence. Thank you to Mayor Adams for his unapologetic foresight and trust in me to work diligently alongside First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and her team as co-chairs of the task force. I cannot wait to see the effects of these seven strategies once applied into the first six precincts and eventually into the other top 30. I will remain committed, as I have for over the past 30 years, to see our great city rise above the ashes of senseless gun violence.”

The recommendations advanced in the report represent a holistic approach to community safety, focusing on prevention and intervention strategies that use a public health and community development model to address the root causes of gun violence. To that end, the task force identified seven strategies in the report based on months ofcommunity engagement.

These strategies encompass new and existing investments, totaling over $485 million, to offer early interventions for young people, increase employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, improve housing security, provide easier access to public benefits, bolster community institutions, foster connections to mental health services, and strengthen policecommunity relations.

Early Intervention: $118.3 million to increase early supports, including mentorship opportunities, for young people to prevent them from becoming involved in gun violence.

Housing: $57.5 million to improve existing housing conditions, especially for public housing residents, and increase access to transitional, supportive, and permanent housing units.

Navigation & Benefits: $67.8 million to help New Yorkers access public benefits they deserve and provide better assistance to justice-involved individuals and families navigating benefits programs.

Community Vitality: $8.64 million to invest in public spaces, including parks, playgrounds, and community centers to make neighborhoods safer and more vibrant.

Employment and Entrepreneurship: $118.5 million to target opportunity and skills training for young New Yorkers and justice-involved individuals to give them pathways to sustainable, well-paying jobs. Trauma-Informed Care: $106.66 million to bolster mental health resources for young people and others with a diagnosed mental illness, and ensure appropriate crisis response to those suffering from mental health episodes.

Community & Police Relations: $2.6 million to strengthen bonds of trust between police and communities by allowing greater collaboration on neighborhood safety initiatives, ensuring more effective policing that balances the

twin imperatives of safety and justice. An additional $1.5 million will go towards engagement and evaluation to build an infrastructure to measure progress on the previous strategies. Finally, the state contributed $6 million for the overall blueprint.

“Stopping gun violence is a collective responsibility, which is why the city and state will continue working hand in hand to make our communities safer and create a future where all New Yorkers can thrive,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

“I’m thankful for Mayor Adams’ partnership and commitment to this cause as we build a better future for New York where our kids can play safely, and parents have peace of mind.”

“Every year, we lose too many lives because of senseless gun violence that could be averted,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James. “I applaud Mayor Adams for doubling down on his commitment to public safety and investing in targeted and community-driven measures to make communities safer. The mayor’s plan builds on the work that we have been doing to take down organized gun trafficking rings, go after gun companies, and defend common-sense gun laws and will help us address the root of gun violence. New Yorkers deserve to live in communities free of gun violence and we will continue to fight every day to make that a reality.”

According to the report, approximately 92 percent of total gun violence in New York City is concentrated within 30 precincts across the five boroughs. Six of these precincts – representing 25 percent of shooting incidents and 39 percent of confirmed shots fired citywide in 2022 –are being prioritized for new and expanded investments recommended in the report. The six precincts are:

Precinct 40 – Port Morris, Mott Haven, and Melrose

Precinct 42 – Morrisania, Claremont, and Crotona Park

Precinct 44 – Grand Concourse, Bronx Terminal Market, and Yankee Stadium

Precinct 47 – Wakefield, Woodlawn, Baychester, and Williamsbridge

Precinct 73 – Brownsville and Ocean Hill

Precinct 75 – East New York and Cypress Hill

The city is also benefitting from support from New York state and external partners, including Everytown for Gun Safety and Trinity Wall Street. These resources will be used to strengthen the Crisis Management System, which deploys violence interrupters into communities at the highest risk of violence to de-escalate conflicts before they become deadly.

A

second

to purchase a Lottery ticket. Gambling problem? Visit NYProblemGamblingHelp.org Call the HOPEline 1-877-846-7369 or text 467369.

Must be 18+ to purchase a Lottery ticket. Gambling problem? Visit NYProblemGamblingHelp.org Call the HOPEline 1-877-846-7369 or text 467369.

Add My Lottery Dream Home to your DVR today and never miss a new episode on HGTV! © & ™ WBD or its subs and a iliates. (s23).

NY Lottery ‘23 SECOND CHANCE Community Print Agency Ad # N23LODH_118sc

Size: 9.875” x 6.875”

Publications: CaribNews Insertion Date: 6/6 & 6/20/23

Professor Charles Ogletree, Legal and Humanitarian Icon Has Passed

Charles J. Ogletree, Jr. ‘78, or Tree, as he was affectionately known, the celebrated, influential, and beloved Harvard Law professor and civil rights scholar, died peacefully on August 4 in his home in Odenton, Maryland, from Alzheimer’s disease. After serving for eight years in the District of Columbia Public Defender Service, rising to the position of deputy director, Ogletree was appointed a lecturer at Harvard Law School in 1984. He was named a professor of law in 1993 and became the Jesse Climenko Professor of Law in 1998. Throughout his career, Ogletree was a nationally recognized leader in addressing issues of race, justice, and equality. His teaching shaped generations of students working on those issues, including the future President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. Ogletree’s mentorship of law students was renowned across Harvard’s campus and beyond. “Michelle and I are heartbroken to hear about the passing of our friend and mentor Charles Ogletree… Charles’ reputation preceded him at Harvard Law School. On campus, people would always talk about this Professor Ogletree and how supportive and encouraging he was. … Over the years, Michelle and I have always been able to count on Charles’s support, often when we needed it the most. And after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, he got to work spreading awareness — especially among people of color. He wanted to be a spokesperson for the disease, telling people not to be afraid,” Barack Obama “Tree was a superb lawyer, an inspiring teacher, and an incomparably wise adviser,” said Martha Minow, the 300th Anniversary University Professor. “As a scholar and a teacher, he honored the historic work of great advocates for civil rights while never relenting in the critical work of redressing continuing short-falls and abuses,” “When he provided legal representation for people in the public eye and people invisible to most, supremely effective advocacy emerged for the individuals involved and his most admirable lawyering provided a model for local, national, and international communities. A true heir of the civil rights heroes he honored, Tree’s work was always grounded in history, humanity, and a profound commitment to the unending work of justice. We all will miss his passion, his chuckles, his sweet potato pies — but we will do our best to continue to advance the paths he forged.”

Among his many achievements, he founded the Criminal Justice Institute, which trains student lawyers to represent indigent defendants in the Boston area. He was ultimately dismissed, Ogletree dedicated his effort to ensuring the led the Trial Advocacy Workshop for many years, and he also created the

“Saturday School” program, a legendary forum to support Black students and examine critical issues in the study of law, which brought luminaries in law and other fields to campus to connect with students and discuss issues of justice, race, and equity. Many of his students have gone on to illustrious careers of their own in government, business, law firms, and nonprofit organizations.

In 2005, Ogletree launched the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice at Harvard Law School, named in tribute to the legendary civil rights lawyer who created the litigation campaign that eventually resulted in the landmark decision of Brown v. Board of Education. He served as its faculty director for many years. Under his leadership, the institute became an organizing force for impactful scholarship, innovative strategic advocacy, coalition building, socially concerned legal education, and community engagement on matters central to civil rights and equal opportunity.

“Charles was a tireless advocate for civil rights, equality, human dignity, and social justice. He changed the world in so many ways, and he will be sorely missed in a world that very much needs him,” said John F. Manning ’85, Morgan and Helen Chu Dean and Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, in a message to the community.

Ogletree was an advocate for racial justice and the victims of discrimination. Among the causes that he cared deeply about was justice for the survivors and descendants of the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot, in which hundreds of African Americans were killed and a prosperous African American business district known as “Black Wall Street” was decimated. In 2003, Ogletree assembled a team, the Reparations Coordinating Committee, to represent the survivors of the riot as they sought reparations. Although that lawsuit

country knew the names and stories of the Tulsa survivors. Ogletree also represented high profile clients, such as Anita Hill and Tupac Shakur, as well as the countless clients he served through his impactful work at CJI and the Public Defender Service. Ogletree is the author or co-author of several important books on race and justice, including most recently “Life without Parole: America’s New Death Penalty?,” “The Presumption of Guilt: The Arrest of Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Race, Class, and Crime in America,” and “The Road to Abolition: The Future of Capital Punishment in the United States.” Ogletree retired from Harvard Law School in 2020 after a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. An endowed professorship, established in recognition of Ogletree’s contributions, was announced at a symposium in Ogletree’s honor in 2017. Guy-Uriel E. Charles, an expert in constitutional law, election law, and race who joined the Harvard Law faculty in July 2021, currently serves as the inaugural Charles J. Ogletree, Jr. Professor of Law.

“Professor Ogletree was a force of nature,” said Charles. “He was an intellectual giant, an incredible humanitarian, and a legendary teacher, whose contributions to law and to racial equality were unparalleled. His loss is tremendous, not just for the Harvard community, his colleagues and students, and the people who loved him, but for the incredible impact he made. We are deeply saddened by his loss, but heartened by the tremendous legacy that he has left for us to carry on.”

To his colleagues, Ogletree has served as the role model of an attorney committed to social justice and equality for all. Speaking at the symposium in 2017, Tomiko Brown-Nagin, professor at Harvard Law and Dean of Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, said: “Ogletree has embodied law in the service of society, just the same as other great beacons of

the American legal profession, men and women like Thurgood Marshall, Constance Baker Motley, and Charles Hamilton Houston.”

David Wilkins ’80, the Lester Kissel Professor of Law at HLS, recalls that in 2000 Ogletree arranged for all the living members of the Brown v. Board of Education litigation team to come to Harvard Law School to receive the inaugural Charles Hamilton Houston Medal of Freedom as part of the first Celebration of Black Alumni that he and Ogletree organized.

“It was a fitting tribute to the greatest lawyers in U.S. history, and a fitting testament to Tree’s stature in the civil rights community,” said Wilkins. “To borrow Houston’s famous phrase, Tree was a true social engineer for justice. Since we first met in 1977, he has been a steadfast friend and an inspiring role model to me as he has been for countless others in his 40+ years as a lawyer, teacher, and scholar. I will miss him dearly but take some small comfort in knowing that Charles J. Ogletree, Jr. has now taken his rightful place among the giants we honored in 2000 for his role in helping to make the words ‘Equal Justice Under Law’ chiseled above the entrance to the Supreme Court a reality for America’s most vulnerable citizens.”

Ogletree was born on December 31, 1952, and grew up in Merced, California, where he attended public schools. He earned an M.A. and B.A. in Political Science from Stanford University before receiving his J.D. from Harvard Law School. He received many awards and honors over the course of his lifetime, including the naming last February of a courthouse in his native Merced, California, in his honor. Last fall, the Ogletree family donated papers from his illustrious career to the Harvard Law School Library, which will make them available on a rolling basis over the next 3 years.

Ogletree is survived by his wife, Pamela Barnes; his two children, Charles J. Ogletree III and Rashida Ogletree-George; his four grandchildren: Marquelle Coreen Ogletree, Nia Mae Ogletree, Jamila Anita Ogletree, and Makayla Mae George; and four siblings: Richard Ogletree, Rosemarie Jacobs, Robert Ogletree, and Taalia Hasan. Ogletree was pre-deceased by two other siblings: Barbara Scoggins and Curtis Reed.

OGLET

1952-2023 100 Professor Charles Ogletree

“Michelle and I are heartbroken to hear about the passing of our friend and mentor Charles Ogletree Charles’ reputation preceded him at Harvard Law School On campus, people would always talk about this Professor Ogletree and how supportive and encouraging he was Over the years, Michelle and I have always been able to count on Charles’s support, often when we needed it the most And after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, he got to work spreading awareness especially among people of color He wanted to be a spokesperson for the disease, telling people not to be afraid, ” Barack Obama, 44th president of the United States

“Charles was a tireless advocate for civil rights, equality, human dignity, and social justice He changed the world in so many ways, and he will be sorely missed in a world that very much needs him His extraordinary contributions stretch from his work as a practicing attorney advancing civil rights, criminal defense, and equal justice to the change he brought to Harvard Law School as an impactful institution builder to his generous work as teacher and mentor who showed our students how law can be an instrument for change ” - John F Manning, Helen Chu Dean and Professor of Law at Harvard Law School

Your paragraph text

It is exceedingly difficult to overstate the stature of legal giant Prof Charles Ogletree in the minds & hearts of multitudes of lawyers #Ogletree represented an excellence of practice, pedagogy, & justice For many, he inspired visions of what we might become Rest in power

“We mourn the loss of Professor Ogletree, a legal giant who contributed his time and brilliance to so many, including at the Legal Defense Fund, ” said LDF President and Director-Counsel, Janai S Nelson “Charles Ogletree devoted his life not only to studying and teaching the law, but also to strengthening it From his campus activism to his time as a public defender, from the Boston busing crisis to the Tulsa reparations case, Professor Ogletree was an academic not content to remain in the ivory tower, bridging the gap between theory and practice to the benefit of countless Americans and especially Black communities His countless accomplishments and contributions to the field of law and racial justice advocacy will be studied and remembered for generations His legacy is immeasurable and he will be deeply missed I extend our profound condolences to his family and loved ones, including his beloved daughter Rashida Ogletree who served as a lawyer at the Legal Defense Fund ” “Professor Ogletree was not only a luminary of the racial justice community, he was also a teacher and a mentor who personally invested in creating a new generation of warriors for justice, ” said LDF Associate Director-Counsel Tona Boyd “While his loss will be profoundly felt by all those who were fortunate to benefit from his brilliance, warmth, and commitment to bending the moral arc of the universe toward justice, we must aspire to live up to the legacy he created I will miss him dearly and will continue to endeavor to honor him in the mission to realize a more just, equal, and perfect union ” - Legal Defense Fund

Your paragraph text

“Tree was a superb lawyer, an inspiring teacher, and an incomparably wise adviser As a scholar and a teacher, he honored the historic work of great advocates for civil rights while never relenting in the critical work of redressing continuing short-falls and abuses, ” “When he provided legal representation for people in the public eye and people invisible to most, supremely effective advocacy emerged for the individuals involved and his most admirable lawyering provided a model for local, national, and international communities A true heir of the civil rights heroes he honored, Tree’s work was always grounded in history, humanity, and a profound commitment to the unending work of justice We all will miss his passion, his chuckles, his sweet potato pies but we will do our best to continue to advance the paths he forged ” - Martha Minow, the 300th Anniversary University rofessor “Professor Ogletree was a force of nature, ” said Charles “He was an intellectual giant, an incredible humanitarian, and a legendary teacher, whose contributions to law and to racial equality were unparalleled His loss is tremendous, not just for the Harvard community, his colleagues and students, and the people who loved him, but for the incredible impact he made We are deeply saddened by his loss, but heartened by the tremendous legacy that he has left for us to carry on ” - Guy-Uriel E Charles, inaugural Charles J Ogletree, Jr Professor of Law

EJI honor yer, advocate, a racial in

Dr. Hazel Dukes Honored with NAACP Spingarn Medal

Dr. Hazel Dukes, a woman of consequence, received the NAACP Spingarn Medal, the highest and the most prestigious award of this historic organization. What a pleasure it was to witness at the Boston Convention Center with thousands of other persons, the conferring of the Spingarn Medal on Dr. Hazel Dukes, the civil rights icon, human rights fighter, and the grassroots worker for community, individuals and country - a magnificent leader in politics and economic empowerment, education, and social justice. Dr. Hazel Dukes deserves, in every sense of the word and every sense of its meaning, the Spingarn Medal and she follows many outstanding recipients, but the Spingarn Medal needs Dr. Dukes because she brings to this a distinctive career of achievement in the widest world of working for housing, for education, involved in national politics involved in all the areas that encompasses human development and so her receiving this award acknowledges an individual who has this broad appeal with wonderful, unmatched achievements.

We are delighted for other reasons to have worked with Dr. Dukes from the very

inception of Carib News when an emerging community, we herald the voice of that community through Carib News not only looking to advance the interest of the community but to build alliances with leaders much in the tradition of other Caribbean leadership that had preceded us, where collaboration and alliances among all people of color is necessary, and in the tradition of Garvey, Chisolm and Belafonte.

It was in that spirit that working with Hazel Dukes was a hallmark of Carib News and its outreach. In fact, our relationship with Dr. Dukes preceded Carib News because we had worked with her through the campaign of Percy Sutton when he was running for Mayor of New York City and also while he was the Borough President of Manhattan. We were also honored to work with Dr. Dukes on the campaign of David Dinkins, the first African-American mayor of New York City, and to bring communities together.

Hazel Dukes was one of those individuals we could work with and did work with as we connected through Percy Sutton and

our Caribbean connection with WLIB radio.

Working with the Caribbean community, the African American community, and Dr. Dukes was a part of that uniting.

We are so proud of this association, and I’ve had the privilege to work with her in so many ways, in restoring the Brooklyn branch at a time it was not performing up to standard. We were with her through thick and thin. She was with us through the formation of several citywide activities supporting the community, economic and school activities, and also the social activities of the Carnival, she attended several of our board meetings and was always active in working with our communities.

Dr. Dukes traveled with us to several of the Caribbean countries, and she was not shy to work with the prime ministers on how best we as people of color can work together. She generally had solutions that she proposed that would help us to move in that direction.

A strong partner for progress of black people, Hazel Dukes is known for her dynamic, open, and frank leadership - a warrior for whatever cause she takes on

and a dynamic visionary. She is one that you can depend on in tough times to stand with you and one that is dependable in purpose and steadfast accomplishing achievements.

We watch her as she works with all generations and how as she progresses through all her activities she has brought along and mentored so many young people providing the kind of leadership example that she clearly indicates to them that they need to take up the mantle and go forward with the leadership that she has provided; they need to carry it forward.

Her achievement at the NAACP is well documented and well recognized, her leadership in communities and with individuals has been constant and productive and her always present energy, passion and compassion is something to be celebrated. Through the years we at Carib News have been a witness to all of these characteristics of a wonderful person.

We salute Dr. Hazel Dukes, a woman of real consequence on the occasion of this honor, recognized by so many, but especially by the NAACP Spingarn Medal. So well deserved! Congratulations!

Professor Charles Ogletree - A Deep Loss is Felt

We deeply mourn the loss of Professor Charles Ogletree, a legal genius, luminary, a warm and extraordinary humanitarian and a kind and considerate individual who always had time for justice and always had time to be helpful.

Professor Charles Ogletree’s legal career spans decades, not only his legal career and his impact but his efforts to bring along others in the legal field by providing opportunities for mentorship, teaching, personal investment in a generation of new legal experts, new legal warriors in the pursuit of justice and in the pursuit of human dignity.

From a position of public defender to law professor extraordinaire, Professor Ogletree has been a force in the legal and humanitarian world for decades, especially walking the long road of black legal competence and representation.

Carib News met Professor Ogletree through the introduction of Harry

Belafonte to look at legal work that we required. In spite of his heavy schedule, he arranged a meeting at his office at Harvard University and he invested his time on a Saturday to go over a legal situation at the request of Mr. Belafonte. In order to make an assessment, we spent a couple of hours together where he listened generously, asking questions carefully, in an atmosphere of understanding, warmth and compassion.

Despite his heavy commitment in many areas, he decided that the situation we faced was something he would want to be a part of and the minute he said he would represent us as part of the team, a relief came over the entire delegation. We had the best legal mind working with us, and that had an impact on every turn and then every situation that we faced. That was the power Professor Ogletree! But what was more striking was the humanitarian connection that he made,

it was not just a legal piece, it was how he treated us, giving us a sense of family. Before long, we were invited to his sessions on Martha’s Vineyard. He was accompanying us on our annual conference to Jamaica, and at the conference itself even when he was not scheduled to address the group. He found time to work with local organizations around different issues and two fellowships from Harvard came out of that visit on the effort of Professor Ogletree. He accompanied us to Haiti on the conference one time. We had the good fortune to have his wife Pam with us and he had indicated to us that Pam was already working with Haitians in Boston but wanted no publicity, and it was their custom to each have their own track of activities; we asked her to and discuss the issues of Haiti and the potential of the diaspora, and she did a marvelous job. You could see the pride on Professor Ogletree, just so proud of his wife as she delivered a sterling talk.

When our eyes met, he just nodded in appreciation of what we had talked about her own ability. So the relationship grew well beyond legal representation to family connection, and the measure of the man became so obvious and so enriching in so many ways. So, when he became ill with dementia, it was a painful experience when we visited him.

We mourn deeply for our loss but even moreso for the country and the world of a man who was so committed to justice and humanitarianism that the mourning is intense. We mourn with his family, his wife Pam, his children, and grandchildren, and we can all be proud and comforted by the measure of a man who has done so much for so many. We are just happy to testify to is greatness. He will live forever in our memory and in the memories of so many of whom he has touched.

LDF Mourns the Loss of Legal Giant and Renowned Law Professor Charles Ogletree

Born in the segregated yet close-knit community of Merced, California, which he once wrote was “a community short of resources,” Professor Ogletree earned a public school education which led him to attend Stanford University in 1971. There, he became involved with campus activism and politics, after which he went on to attend Harvard Law School during the midst of the conflict over busing and school integration in Boston.

After graduating from Harvard Law in 1978, Ogletree moved to Washington, D.C. to represent indigent clients with the city’s Public Defender Service.

In 1985, Ogletree left Washington to become a professor at Harvard Law School, where he taught until his retirement in 2020, while also being known for his representation of Anita Hill during the contentious confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. At Harvard Law, Ogletree mentored countless students who would go on to eminent

careers in the private and public sectors — including Barack and Michelle Obama, who counted Ogletree as a friend throughout their time in the White House. His career was also distinguished by his prolific writing about capital punishment and the Brown v. Board of Education decision, and he was involved in efforts to secure reparations for 150 survivors and nearly 200 descendants of victims of the 1921 Tulsa race riot, joining a team that filed a 200-page complaint against the city that laid out in great detail the harms done to generations of Black citizens of Tulsa as a result of the riots. In 2005, he launched the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice at Harvard Law.

Ogletree, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2016, was honored with an endowed, named professorship at Harvard Law in 2017. He is survived by his wife, Pamela, as well as children and grandchildren.

In response to Professor Ogletree’s passing, LDF issued the following statement:

“We deeply mourn the loss of Professor Ogletree, a legal luminary who contributed his time and brilliance to so many, including at the Legal Defense Fund,” said LDF President and Director-Counsel, Janai S. Nelson. “He was an outspoken expert and activist on civil rights, especially as it related to public education and capital punishment. Charles Ogletree devoted his life not only to studying the law, but also to strengthening it. From his campus activism to his time as a public defender, from the Boston busing crisis to the Tulsa reparations case, Professor Ogletree was an academic not

content to remain in the ivory tower, bridging the gap between theory and practice to the benefit of countless Americans. His countless accomplishments, contributions to the field of law, and racial justice advocacy will be studied and remembered for decades to come, and his presence will be deeply missed.”

“Professor Ogletree was not only a luminary of the racial justice community, he was also a teacher and a mentor who personally invested in creating a new generation of warriors for justice. While his loss will be profoundly felt by all those who were fortunate to benefit from his brilliance, warmth, and commitment to bending the moral arc of the universe toward justice, we must aspire to live up to the legacy he created. I will miss him dearly and will continue to endeavor to honor him in the mission to realize a more just, equal, and perfect union,” said LDF Associate Director-Counsel Tona Boyd.

“For so many lawyers Tree was the gold standard of what we could be as modern civil rights lawyers and scholars. He could do it all, and that made many of us believe that we could as well. Tree also set the standard on mentorship. He was a legend at PDS, at Harvard, and in our profession, but he had time and gave an ear to so many who sought his counsel. His loss feels monumental, but we are so grateful to have had his example and guidance,” said Former LDF President and Director-Counsel Sherrilyn Ifill.

“I mourn the passing of my dear friend, my brother in struggle, and my stalwart colleague, Charles Ogletree. I have known “Tree” since our law school days, when he was the president

of the National Black American Law Students Association (now BLSA) and I served on its Board,” said Former LDF President and Director-Counsel Ted Shaw. “During that time, Tree led us in opposition to the Bakke case, which was in the Supreme Court. It was apparent then that he was a born leader with a powerful intellect. Tree lived an extraordinary life — D.C. public defender, public intellectual, Harvard Law School professor, teacher of and mentor for generations of lawyers-in-training including Barack and Michelle Obama, attorney for Anita Hill during the Clarence Thomas nomination hearings, attorney for survivors of the Tulsa massacre, advocate for black reparations, LDF Board member, and so much more. We walked a long way through life together. Now he walks with the ancestors. I am diminished by his passing, but I am comforted that peace has come to him.

“My thoughts are with Pam, and with Rashida, Charles III and the grandchildren and family. I know that they will be sustained by their memories of Tree as a husband, father, grandfather, and one of our great ones.”

“Charles Ogletree possessed in abundance what is too often in short supply: his humanity was in full bloom. He wore his dedication to his fellow humans as a badge of honor. He was committed to equal justice, fair play, deep compassion, and excellence. Those of us fortunate enough to interact with “Tree” will never forget him. There are some lights that are simply never extinguished. His is one of them,” said Former LDF President and Director-Counsel Elaine Jones.

Renowned Civil Rights Advocate Charles J. Ogletree Jr. Dies, Leaving a Legacy of Justice and Empowerment

Charles J. Ogletree Jr., a distinguished Harvard Law School professor, celebrated attorney, and leading civil rights advocate, has died at 70. Ogletree, who had battled Alzheimer’s disease since 2015, reportedly died at his home in Maryland.

“Charles was a tireless advocate for civil rights, equality, human dignity, and social justice,” Harvard Law School Dean John F. Manning said, according to the Associated Press. “He changed the world in so many ways, and he will be sorely missed in a world that very much needs him.”

Dorothy Roberts, a writer, social advocate, and professor at Penn Law, praised Ogletree’s impact at Harvard Law School.

She admired his role in inspiring confidence, promoting learning, and encouraging activism among Black students and future generations.

“When I started at Harvard Law School in 1977, Tree was a third-year student and president of the Black Law Students Association,” Roberts recalled in a tweet.

“Thank goodness he was there. He set a tone for me and the other Black students — then, and for generations to come — to be confident learners, lawyers, and activists. Rest in love and power.”

Affectionately known as “Tree,” Ogletree was born in California and graduated with a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1978.

He became an influential legal theorist and a prominent figure in the legal community. Throughout his illustrious career, Ogletree actively contributed to the National Bar Association (NBA) and its affiliate, the Washington Bar Association (WBA).

In 2001, he received the Charles Hamilton Houston Medallion of Merit from the Washington Bar Association.

Then, in 2010, he was inducted into the WBA Hall of Fame.

In a news release, the NBA remarked that Ogletree was known for his mentorship and service, in which he emphasized the need to use the law as “an instrument of social and political change” and “a tool to empower the dispossessed and disenfranchised.”

“Professor Ogletree was an invaluable member of our Association,” said NBA President Dominique D. Calhoun.

“His contributions toward the profession and efforts to advance reparations for our people left an indelible mark on the conscience of America for generations to come.”

Calhoun called Ogletree a visionary leader and vowed that the Bar Association would continue strides toward justice and equality.”

Ogletree’s work mainly centered around race, class, and criminal justice.

He served as the lead counsel to Anita Hill during her sexual harassment allegations

against Clarence Thomas, then a U.S. Supreme Court nominee. His involvement provided legal counsel and helped Hill devise a media strategy, including a news conference to announce her successful lie detector test.

Ogletree credited much of his professional success to the opportunities afforded him due to the Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education, which found segregated public schools unconstitutional.

He organized Harvard’s Criminal Justice Institute, establishing the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice and co-chairing the Reparations Coordinating Committee.

Many recounted how strongly he believed in using the law as a catalyst for social and political change, advocating for the empowerment of marginalized communities. He led efforts to improve clinical training in public and indigent defense. By establishing Harvard’s Criminal Justice Institute, Ogletree paved the way for students to gain valuable experience in Boston’s juvenile and district courts.

Additionally, he created the Saturday School program, supporting Black students on Harvard’s predominantly white campus. The program featured several influential speakers, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson,

philosopher and now presidential candidate Cornel West, and actor Danny Glover. One notable attendee of the Saturday School was Barack Obama, who considered Ogletree a mentor and sought his advice frequently, even during his presidency.

“Michelle and I are heartbroken to hear about the passing of our friend Charles Ogletree.,” Obama said in a statement.

“He took time on weekends to run something called ‘Saturday School” for Black students who didn’t necessarily have the support systems at home to get them through the difficult first years of law school,” Obama recalled. The former president noted that the school had become so popular that students from every background began showing up to hear Ogletree explain subjects in a way they all could understand.

“It was an example of the kind of person Charles has always been unfailingly helpful, and driven by a genuine concern for others,” Obama asserted.

“He was an advocate for social justice, an incredible professor, and a mentor to many –including us.”

Ogletree is survived by his wife, Pamela Barnes, and his children, Charles Ogletree III and Rashida Ogletree.

NAACP 114th National Convention

Dr. Hazel Dukes Honored with Springarn Award

NAACP 114th National Convention

Dr. Hazel Dukes Honored with Springarn Award

Dr. Hazel N. Dukes

I take this time to personally say “Thank You” and to say how Great You are! You have been an inspiration to Me, My Family, and to Thousands Across this Nation! I am Proud to Say I am One of the Thousands!!!

Congratulatons to Dr Hazel N Dukes, recipient of the NAACP 108th Springarn Award A role model, woman of great strength and courage who inspires me

Dr Hazel N Dukes continues to lead by example, action, and results Congratulations for living a life of true commitment to justice and equality for all

Congratulations Dr Hazel N Dukes on receiving the Spingarn Award I salute you! Your courage, tremendous hard work, dedication, sacrifices and endurance are commendable Thank you for being an inspiration for so many of us

Dr Hazel N Dukes is not onlyone of the premier Civil Rights activists of the century she is a role model for women and a mentor to bothmen and women Serving with her for the past 15years as her Economic Development Chair hasbeen one of the most rewarding periods in my life thanks to the words of wisdom she offers for bothprofessional and personal growth

Congratulations Dr Hazel N Dukes on receiving the 108th NAACP Spingarn Medal I stand committed to the mission and goals of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and your leadership, as we celebrate your work and dedication to Civil Rights For many decades you have continued to inspire us to fearlessly up hold the ideals and principles of this great association and to remain committed and dedicated to doing justice

I hail your many decades of accomplishments service and achievements as a Member of the National Board of Directors, Member of the NAACP Executive Committee, and an active member of various national NAACP sub-committees Even more importantly, I salute you as the longest serving State Confer ence President in the association s 114-year history

Congratulations, Dr Hazel Dukes, on receiving the NAACP Spingarn Medal Your life’s work - which continues- has impacted thousands of lives across the state and this country You were a little sister to many of our parents and grandparents some of whom were also Spingarn Medalists, and you are a big sister, aunt, or “Ma” to us, Daughters of the Movement But most importantly, you are a teacher and inspiration to all

We re so very proud of you, and we are so very proud to be a small part of your legacy!

Daughters of THE Movement

Over several decades, many women played important roles in the Civil Rights Movement, but only you have managed to capture the indomitable spirit of all of them You embody the spirit of Harriett Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Mary McLeod Bethune, Ella Baker, Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks,

Dorothy Irene Height, Shirley Chisolm, Coretta Scott King Myrlie Evers-Williams Maya Angelou and Mildred Bond Roxborough

Together with these Strong Black Women, your unabashed courage in the face of resistance has advanced importance issues such as gender parity; affordable housing, economic equality; voter access and

Dr Hazel Dukes is a iving icon who God has blessed and graced with longevity Ma Dukes as I fondly cal her, works tirelessly for those who are ess fortunate She is relentless in the pursuit of what is ust and fair Ma puts God f rst and fears no man She has been a mentor, shield, and rock to many Upon her shoulders stand Eric Adams Let tia James Jacqui Williams, Karen Boykin-Towns, myself, and the list goes on Her mark is indelible Praises to the NAACP for presenting our Queen Dr Hazel Dukes with her flowers and showcasing her works while she is alive May God susta n and bless her w th health faculties and strength; and a low her to continue to pour her knowledge and w sdom, like only Ma can into her next generat on of mentees Dr Hazel Dukes s the epitome of love

Dr Hazel N Dukes, or Mama as she s affect onately known as s more than an icon in the c vil r ghts movement; she s truly a trailblazer of democracy and uggernaut of justice With a career that spans decades, we applaud and congratulate the woman who’s defended and advocated for the well-being and safeguarding of Black America and for whom without we wouldn t stand n this country as we do today As she s bestowed the h ghest of h ghest honors in this field of advocacy t is with love with respect and w th admiration on behalf of the several thousand youth she s touched I congratulate my mentor and the world’s gift Dr Hazel Nell Dukes on receiving the 108th Spingarn Medal

quality healthcare Through the administration of 17 U S Presidents (Hoover, Roosevelt Truman Eisenhower Kennedy Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, George W Bush, Obama, Trump, Biden), you have remained on the battlefield for civil rights and have fearlessly tackled head-on, discrimination in every form Certainly, your life’s work has helped transform and capture the Soul of America You continue to be a dynamic force to be reckoned with and one who I love, admire and respect

Geoffrey E Eaton, 1st Vice President, NAACP NYS Conference

Hazel Dukes is an icon and the essence of what it means to be a woman who has dedicated and sacrificed her life to civil rights and social justice for all I’ve been blessed to have her in my life personally and professionally

Prime Minister Holness Independence MessageJamaica

61

We procured 100 Garbage trucks for the National Solid Waste Management Authority

And we continue to make investments in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) including the construction of the Divisional Headquarters in Westmoreland, and St. Catherine, as well as the completion of the construction of the Forensic Pathology Autopsy Suite.

Within the health sector we are undertaking the most significant investment in hospital upgrades since Independence with major capital works, for example, the construction at the Spanish Town Hospital, the redevelopment at the Cornwall Regional Hospital, and the redevelopment and modernization of the University Hospital of the West Indies, as well as the construction of the Western Children and Adolescent Hospital.

of resilience which will allow us to manage any external shocks that will come.

We are a vulnerable small island state with an open economy. Shocks will come and we must be strategic and prepare for them, unlike in the past.

To do this we must engage the principles of saving now for a brighter tomorrow and we must show courage in the face of calls to perpetuate a cycle of yo-yo success which is periods of plenty, followed by long and torturous periods of austerity and suffering. Courage calls us to stand tall in the face of opposition when we know that what we are doing will yield the best and most sustainable outcomes for our people.

When you are independent, you walk your own road to success, peace, and prosperity. Independence, therefore, begins with a road. Today I am standing on the May Pen to Williamsfield Highway, which is slated for completion at the end of August 2023. This infrastructure, like all the others currently under construction across the island, represents development and ease for Jamaicans. It represents progress, growth, transformation, and independence.

Today I stand in acknowledgment and reflection on our attainment of 61 years of national independence and my thoughts, as always, are about my Jamaican people and what independence means for them.

On August 6, 1962, when we raised our own flag, bearing the much loved and celebrated, black, green, and gold, we heralded in our political independence.

Since that time, we have embarked on a journey to become economically independent, with one aim; to raise the standard of living of our people and to provide every Jamaican with the opportunity for an improved quality of life.

To do this we would have had to achieve economic growth. Jamaica, except for the early post-Independence years, that is the period during the 1960s, and for short periods during the 1980s and early 1990s, has not experienced insignificant economic growth, a phenomenon which has persisted well into the 2000s.

This cumulative stagnation has prevented many of our people from achieving the standard and quality of life they deserve.

This is why since assuming leadership of this great nation in 2016, we have prioritized economic growth and job creation; these are the pillars of prosperity.

Amidst global challenges, Jamaica has been able to report:

Eight consecutive quarters of economic growth

A historically low unemployment rate

Net international reserves of $US 4.17 M as of June 30, 2023.

Increased export earnings of 55% for the first quarter of the 2023 calendar year in comparison to the corresponding period last year.

And of great importance is the fact that we have been paying down our debt; our debt to GDP stands at 78 % and is projected to decrease even further.

Importantly, against all odds we defied expectations, and our economy has recovered from the global economic shocks of the COVID–19 pandemic and the supply chain disruptions. We were able to achieve this, all while ensuring a safety net for our most vulnerable through a historic cash transfer to cushion the effects of the pandemic.

Not only did we recover from the pandemic, but we surpassed our pre – COVID economic indicators and despite the ongoing war in the Ukraine which has caused a global economic environment of inflation, Jamaica has remained stable and now we are seeing glimmers of hope as inflation is slowly being tamed.

Our current economic position means your government will have the fiscal space, that is, more resources to provide services for you our people who are rightly demanding an improved standard of living for yourselves and your children.

We have already demonstrated our commitment to improving your lives, and because of sound policy decisions, Jamaica has:

Increased the minimum wage

Increased the NIS rate to pensioners from between 23% to 76%. These rate increases are applicable to retirement pension benefits, the invalidity, and widows and widowers’ pensions.

We have also been able to:

Increase the number of grants from the Students Loan Bureau to eligible students from low-income households, PATH households or by wards of the state from 3,000 grants last year to 4,200 grants this year.

We have also been able to provide 1250 tuition scholarships jointly with The MICO University to STEM teachers over the next 5 years. (250 scholarships per year)

Provide 1000 STEM Scholarships to UTECH students over the next five years. (200 scholarships per year).

From our improved financial position, we were able to procure 50 Electric buses for the JUTC fleet.

We are pursuing Infrastructure Development across the island with the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project, the Montego Bay Perimeter Road, the Southern Plains Agricultural Development Project, and the Essex Valley Irrigation Infrastructure Development as well as the Community Roads project SPARK, which will address longstanding road improvement in your community where it matters to you.

We have built 152 houses that have been handed over to vulnerable families under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP), and I have seen how this has improved the quality of life for the average Jamaican who has benefited.

These improvements in the lives of our people are worth celebrating and acknowledging, but there is still much ground to cover, to transform Jamaica into a truly independent, developed, self-sufficient, modern, and peaceful nation within which our people can thrive.

This transformation requires commitment, unity, selflessness, sacrifice, and courage. Sacrifice and courage are crucial to turning around the fortunes of our beloved country that for years failed to deliver for its people.

The improvements we have been able to make for our people over the last 7 years are decades late. We understand this and we understand the urgency that Jamaicans feel, but finally, we are making progress and prosperity is within reach.

I understand your concerns, I hear your voice, and your voice matters. Particularly when you have been waiting for years for change, and improvement for decades, but your government is responding to you.

At the same time, we must be cautious that we don’t make the same mistakes that we have made in the past. We must avoid the pitfalls that bedeviled us and kept us stagnant for decades.

Each of us should learn from our past experiences and make every effort not to repeat them. A government is no different.

Jamaica made many significant errors in the past with very poor policy choices and our people paid dearly for them. We will not do the same.

Your government has created and implemented policies to put our country on a path

Courage calls us not to repeat the expensive mistakes of the past, for which our people are still paying, but instead to use those lessons to inform a new and better future.

As we mark 61 years as an independent nation, I remind my Jamaican people that though we have a long way to go, for the first time in our history, we can report that consistently good things are happening in our country.

It has taken some time and is not at the pace that many Jamaicans want, after decades of suffering, however, we have been good stewards of your affairs and you can continue looking forward in confident expectation as we continue to improve your lives in ways never before achieved.

Let us maintain a focused and positive mindset, undistracted by negativity and the purveyors of falsehoods.

It takes all of us to build this great nation and if we are distracted or succumb to the noise around us, we will further delay our own progress and prosperity.

I encourage you, my Jamaican people, to think about what independence means for you. Define for yourself what kind of future you want and take charge of your destiny. Opportunities are opening up around you every day, reach out and grasp them with both hands. Shut out those dark, depressive voices that fuel negativity and internal strife by telling you every day that nothing is happening in your country. Things are happening in your country, good things. Things that weren’t impossible 7 years ago but are possible today. Choose hope. Choose positivity.

Let us be inspired by our Reggae Girlz, who despite resource challenges have shown what commitment and positive attitude, and perseverance can achieve.

Take advantage of the skills training being offered by the HEART NSTA free of cost. Take advantage of the grants offered by the Students Loan Bureau.

Take advantage of the scholarship programmes being offered at The MICO and at UTECH.

Empower yourself and let’s continue the march towards a better Jamaica.

Happy 61st Independence Jamaica, and may God continue to bless you, your family, and our dear nation richly.

Texas – Body Found in Anti-Immigrant Buoys Set Up in Rio Grande by Governor

On Wednesday, the Mexican government said that a dead body had been found caught in the controversial floating barriers installed by Texas authorities in July to stop migrants crossing into the United States.

On the instructions of Texas Governor

Greg Abbott, the buoys were installed in the river at a popular migrant crossing point along with large razor-wire barriers on shore.

The Mexican foreign ministry said in a statement, “They found the body of a lifeless person stuck in the southern part

of the buoys”. They expressed “concern about the impact on the human rights and personal safety of migrants that these state policies will have.”

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has said that the barriers violate his country’s sovereignty.

The cause of death and nationality of the victim are unknown at this time. In response, the US Justice Department has filed a lawsuit in a federal court on the basis that the buoys lack federal authorization, and illegally obstruct river navigation.

Guyana/China – Open to More Collaboration

Guyana has expressed a willingness to discuss and conclude the Joint Action Plan on Promotion of the Belt and Road Initiative with China, as the visiting Caribbean leader is ending an official one week visit to Beijing.

A joint communique issued Monday at the end of the official one visit of President Dr. Irfaan Ali noted that the “Guyanese side applauded China’s proposals of the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative”.

It said with “reference to the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation within the Framework of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Twenty First Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative, signed between the two sides on July 27, 2018, the Guyana side expressed willingness to discuss and conclude the Joint Action Plan on Promotion of the Belt and Road Initiative with the Chinese side”.

According to the communique, President Ali, who is ending his visit to the Asian country o0n Tuesday “held in-depth discussions” with President Xi Jinping, on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest, and “expressing the shared commitment of the two

countries to further deepening and broadening bilateral relations as well as advancing cooperation in the multilateral arena”.

The communique said that Ali also also held discussions with the Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Li Qiang, visiting Shanghai and Beijing.

“In the discussions, both sides expressed satisfaction with the positive development of bilateral relations between the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the People’s Republic of China. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations and expanding collaboration in a variety of fields.

“Both sides reaffirmed their respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and support for their peoples’ choice of a development path suited to respective national conditions, based on the principles of mutual respect and mutual benefit, and in keeping with the purposes of the United Nations Charter and international law.

Guyanese side reiterated Guyana’s firm support for the one-China principle.”

The communique quoted the visiting Caribbean leader of expressing “gratitude to President Xi for China’s support in Guyana’s

PM Rowley Interested in Education Ties With Africa

province in Ghana, from which the stolen Africans departed Africa, was called “the door of no return.” Yet we survived and returned to find our ancestral roots to join hands and find common causes with our modern-day brothers and sisters.”

In the marches across the country today, you will see a people, coming out of the legacies of the torturous centuries of slavery, yet standing tall, proudly articulating their roots – a people saying they will not be marginalized, and are evolving in every human way.

economic development, including in the area of infrastructure” and that “both sides committed to deepening economic ties, including enhanced trade and investment promotion, and to expanding cooperation in areas such as infrastructure development, agriculture, health, energy and education”.

It said the Beijing applauded Guyana “for the constructive role played by Guyana in regional and international affairs, especially on food security, regional integration and China-CELAC (Community of Latin America and the Caribbean) cooperation”.

“President Ali shared with the Chinese side his conviction that keen attention needed to be paid by both developed and developing countries in promoting food, climate and energy security for sustained development. Both sides noted that the Global Development Initiative was one framework that could support the implementation of this objective.”

Both countries also agreed to ”expand collab

oration” in the are of poverty alleviation and “agreed to investigate the prospects for collaboration in the development and construction of critical infrastructure projects, leveraging China’s experience, expertise and finance capacity.

Continued on website at nycaribnews.com

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr. Rowley, expressed his personal interest in fostering collaboration between universities in Africa and TT, as both regions focus on advancing technologies and other disciplines in the 21st century.

During his address at Emancipation Day celebrations on Tuesday morning, Rowley spoke of the importance of understanding and acknowledging African heritage while embracing the potential for future collaboration and exchange.

“This is a welcome to our long-lost family… the gateway in Medina in the Cape Coast

“I speak of ‘loss’ because it was a loss calculated over centuries. It was one that forcefully sent millions of African people to this side of the globe, with the vast waters of the Atlantic separating us – disconnecting us from our African ancestry.”

“Recognizing the pain of the Middle Passage, and the centuries of colonial brutality, I salute the African community, a people, who through grit and determination, is on the march, striving for further discovery and self-realization, searching, and transforming themselves for the challenges of the 21st century.”

Finally, he shared that “on both sides of the Atlantic, African people will see the ‘one-ness’ that we carry within us”.

From Farm To Fork: Why Changing Food Habits Matter To Your Health

Amidst a constant flurry of messaging that speaks to the dire state of our modern food industry; I am growing in awareness about both the negative impact on human health and the environment. I, too, wonder how feasible sustainable nutrition is and what is the intricate relationship between what we eat and our wellbeing. We are all too familiar with the idiom from our childhood “You are what you eat”; a cautionary warning from our parents about the perils of eating too many sweets.Yet today, this phrase takes on a new meaning for me, revealing the hidden connection between our diet, attitude and lifestyle. More specifically, and what science continues to show, what we put in our bodies significantly influences our mood, our productivity, our energy levels, and our overall physical and mental health.

A casual walk down most supermarket aisles showcases the evolution of our diet; once rich in whole, unprocessed foods it is now being replaced by highly processed, sugary and artificial alternatives. All contributing to the well reported surge in chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes and heart disease. This dietary shift is due, in large part, to the modernization and technological advancements in the food industry (leading to increasedconvenience and shelf life). Additionally, changes in lifestyle and time constraints have contributed to the popularity of processed foods, which are often quicker and easier to prepare. And of course, the rise of advertising and marketing strategies promoting processed foods has also played a significant role in influencing consumer choices and contributing to the shift in dietary preferences.

Sadly, diets high in processed foods, which are often high in added sugars, unhealthy fats and calories and are nutrient-poor, are contributing to the three detrimental health trends: obesity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Not surprisingly, the global prevalence of obesity nearly tripled in the last fifty (50) years.

According to the World Health Organization, over 1.9 billion adults are overweight, with 650 million being obese. This excessive consumption of processed foods significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. In the United States alone, heart disease remains the leading cause of death, accounting for approximately 655,000 deaths each year (measured by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimated that prior to the pandemic, approximately 463 million adults were living with diabetes globally, and this number is expected to rise to 700 million adults by 2045. What has become glaringly apparent to me is that certain types of foods are ravaging our bodily systems. Processed and refined carbohydrates such as white bread and sugary snacks, can lead to spikes in blood sugar levels, contributing to chronic inflammation. Additionally, foods high in trans fats, like fried and processed foods, have been linked to increased inflammation and an elevated risk of heart disease. Furthermore, excessive consumption of sugary beverages and sweetened products can promote inflammation and negatively impact metabolic health. Lastly, processed meats and certain vegetable oils containing high levels of omega-6 fatty acids can also contribute to inflammation when consumed in excess.

Growing up the daughter of a cardiothoracic surgeon exposed me to certain ‘truths’ about nutrition. But it wasn’t until later in my life that I was finally able to connect the dots between what I ate and how I felt. I now have come to understand that a nutrient-dense diet has the power to reverse illness and enhance overall health due to its abundant supply of essential vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. These nutrients support the body’s natural healing process and strengthen the immune system, helping to combat various diseases. By focusing on a different set of nutritional goals, a nutrient -dense diet can aid in repairing damaged cells, tissues and organs, promoting recovery from illnesses and injuries. Moreover, the balanced combination of nutrients in such a diet helps regulate hormone levels, improve metabolism and maintain a healthy weight; contributing to long-term wellbeing and reducedrisk of chronic conditions. An added benefit of regular consumption of nutrientdense foods is support of cognitive function, boosts in energy levels and vitality.

For me a balanced approach to nutrition involves prioritizing whole, nutrient-dense foods such as organic vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and sustainably sourced proteins while eliminating processed foods, refined sugars and artificial additives. Recently, armed with more information, I have been able to distinguish between the good fats and bad fats found in my diet. While trans fats and excessive

saturated fats can be detrimental to health, healthy fats like monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are essential for various bodily functions. These fats can support heart health, brain function and the absorption of fatsoluble vitamins. I now stay clear from processed foods labeled “low fat”. In many cases, low-fat products replace fat with sugar and artificial additives to enhance taste. This can lead to an increase in overall calorie intake and negatively impact blood sugar levels. Not all sugars are equal in terms of their impact on health. Natural sugars found in whole fruits come with beneficial nutrients and fiber that slow down sugar absorption. On the other hand, added sugars in processed foods, beverages and desserts can contribute to weight gain, inflammation and an increased risk of chronic diseases. My understanding of the misconceptions about fats and sugars has empowered me to make more informed and balanced dietary choices, promoting better overall health and wellbeing.

As a proponent of conscious eating, I am vigilant about my food choices and want others tocultivate a deeper understanding of their own nutritional needs. While change is not easy, new evidence has shown me that my life (and the quality of my life) depend on it. When I

small necessary changes including: increasing my fruit and vegetable intake, reducing added sugars and processed foods, including healthy fats and staying hydrated. I found that by incorporating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables in my meals that these nutrient-rich foods provided me with essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants for better immune function. The elimination of sugary snacks, sugary beverages and processed foods high in unhealthy fats and artificial additives allowed me to manage my weight and decrease the risk of diabetes (which impacted the lives of my mother and sister). Probably the biggest challenge for me has been ingesting enough water throughout the day (I drink an ounce of water for every pound that I weigh). Water is crucial in maintaining my bodily functions, supporting my digestion and improving my skin health. Today I choose to take charge of my health and make informed, responsible food choices; harnessing my body’s essential needs and unleashing the true potential of my mind and body. In a quest for improved health, I look to my food as medicine and my local market as my farmacy. I, like many others, are working to transform our relationship with food in order to foster a healthier, more sustainable future for ourselves and the planet.

first embarked on my own food journey I made

Alkaline, Charly Black, Libianca & Skinny Fabulous to Headline New Rules Festival in New York

New York, NY(Shuzzr) - New Era Productions, with Reggae-Dancehall artiste Alkaline, are pleased to officially announce that the next staging of New Rules Festival will be held in New York on September 3rd, 2023, at the Mount Vernon Memorial Stadium, north of the borough of Bronx (Westchester County). Since the initial staging in 2017, which saw over 30,000 patrons in concert to witness Alkaline’s performance, the festival has executed four successful stagings in New York, Florida, and Jamaica. This overwhelming support speaks to the artiste’s grasp on the genre, a testament that resonates still. Yet, in Kingston, Jamaica, where Alkaline held his most recent staging last year, July 2022, the artiste drew a historic crowd, rivaling any previous dancehall one-night festivals in the Caribbean.

Alkaline, whom Givenchy named the male face for its Spring-Summer 2023 men’s collection, will bring not just his extensive catalog of music but a bit of the chic-couture streetwear, capturing the city’s vibrant culture and trendy fashion blended with music.

Artiste Line-up & Event Details

The New York staging will see acts such as Gold & Diamond

Certified reggae-dancehall artiste Charly Black, Cameroonian American Afrobeat recording artiste Libianca, and St Vincent and Grenadines soca neo-prince Skinny Fabulous as headliners. Other announced acts are 1SkiMask, Tallup, Scrptiid, TopRo, and BillyB.

“New York has been waiting, and Labor Day weekend in New York City is the perfect time for New Rules Festival and The Man Himself, Alkaline. Everyone knows the caliber of showcase New Era Productions executes, and with this upcoming staging, we are raising the bar yet again. Our show’s platform has always catered to giving established and upcoming artistes a platform to shine, and this year will be no different; look at names,” states Kereena Beckford, Alkaline’s Manager/Event Organizer. Given the anticipation of the mentioned acts, the New Era Productions team would like to ask our patrons to come out early. Gates open at noon, with showtime commencing at 3 pm. Those who want to purchase tickets can do so online at http://www. ticketgateway.com/newrulesnewyork, with no physical tickets being sold.

We would also like to remind the public that the New Rules Festival is weapons-free. Ticket holders must be 16 to enter the

venue and 21 years or older to drink alcohol. Drink Responsibly! Local law enforcement and private security teams will handle disruptive behavior at the venue, both inside and outside.

J’ouvert Genesis Immersive Experience Opens at Lefferts Historic House

BROOKLYN, NY – Prospect Park Alliance, City Lore and JouvayFest Collective present J’ouvert Genesis Immersive Experience — an exploration of the rich and colorful history of J’ouvert in Trinidad & Tobago and its important role in Brooklyn today. J’ouvert (pronounced jou-vay) translates to “opening of the day or I open” in French and marks the beginning of the official two days of Carnival before Ash Wednesday in the Francophone Atlantic. The exhibit explains the often-misunderstood aspects of J’ouvert so that audiences may better understand this essential cultural tradition. The family-friendly exhibit began with an opening reception on Tuesday, August 1 and will be on view from Thursday, August 3 through Sunday, October 29 during the house’s open hours from 12-5 pm. In advance of the Opening Reception, there will be a steelpan music procession beginning at 4 pm at the Central Library at Grand Army Plaza. The procession will then continue to the Lefferts Historic House for the Opening Reception. This fun and family-friendly inaugural exhibit at the newly reopened Lefferts Historic House immerses visitors in a curated experience through various artwork, including life-sized traditional J’ouvert character costumes and signature percussive instruments. The exhibit also features large-format photography of J’ouvert by artist Jason C. Audain, and digital media works produced by filmmakers Mario T. Lathan and DeAndre Vidale. Workshops and discussions on the food, dance and music of

he classic Trinidad & Tobago style of J’ouvert will accompany the exhibit—visit our website for more information.

Formerly enslaved Africans in predominantly French-speaking Caribbean colonies created J’ouvert as part of their bitter battles with the authorities to participate in the pre-Lenten festivities of the ruling class. The tradition was made official in Trinidad & Tobago in 1881 when communities fought for their freedom during the famous Canboulay/Kambule’ (burnt-cane in French) riots, when they burnt valuable sugarcane fields to protest British attempts to suppress their way of life. This struggle secured the J’ouvert celebration from colonial interference. J’ouvert has flourished into a potent living tradition and symbol of the power of resistance and resilience in the Caribbean, Brooklyn and beyond.

J’ouvert Genesis Immersive Experience is part of ReImagine Lefferts, the Prospect Park Alliance initiative to re-envision the mission and programming at Lefferts Historic House to focus its interpretation and programming on exploring the lives, resistance and resilience of the Indigenous people of Lenapehoking, whose unceded ancestral lands the park and house rests upon, and the Africans enslaved by the Lefferts family. During exhibit hours, the Alliance will welcome visitors of all ages to share their ideas and contribute to future programming through fun and interactive activities with staff and cultural partners.

World Culinary Awards Ceremony 2023

The World Culinary Awards™ serves to celebrate and reward excellence in the culinary industry through our annual awards programme.

It is the sister event of World Travel Awards™, which was launched in 1994 to celebrate excellence in travel and tourism.

World Culinary Awards™ serves to celebrate and reward excellence in the culinary industry through our annual awards programme.

World Culinary Awards™ is the sister event of World Travel Awards™, itself inaugurated in 1994.

This year the 4th annual World Culinary Awards Ceremony will be hosted at Atlantis

The Royal in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where winners will celebrate their victory on 16 October 2023.

The agenda includes a Cocktail reception, and Winners’ dinner. Guests are expected to wear semi-formal attire or their National dress.

The categories judged this year are in theree categories.

Subregional level categories –nominees compete with fellow Culinary brands within their country, province, state

or emirate. The winner with the most votes overall goes on to take the regional title for that respective category. In a similar manner, the winner with the most votes overall goes on to take the World title for that respective category.

Regional level categories –nominees compete with fellow Culinary brands at a regional level. The regions are Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Europe, Indian Ocean, Latin America, Oceania, Middle East and North America. The regional winner with the most votes overall goes on to take the World title for that respective category. World level categoriesopen for entry at a World Level only. Each year the World Culinary Awards encourages the culinary industry to enter one of the many available categories for nomination:

Entry is free of charge.

Your entry will be checked and vetted to ensure your nomination qualifies for the selected category. The decision of World Culinary Awards is final. Nominations can be made by members of the culinary community or industry con

CTO Joins Forces to Boost

Tourism Research in the Caribbean

sumers.

Winners are determined by the number of votes gained during the voting period. See full list of categories.

Voting:

A specific voting period is announced each year: The culinary community, industry experts and consumers are invited to vote online. Nominees are invited to purchase the official World Culinary Awards digital nominee pack to use in their voting campaign.

Winners:

After the voting period, all votes are checked and counted.

World Culinary Awards winners are then contacted directly and provided with further details surrounding the official winners announcement and celebration. This annual celebration of the culinary industry allows: Announcement of winners to the general public.

The award of trophies

Interviews with winners for media promotion.

An opportunity for industry networking.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) today highlighted the benefits to be derived from the signing of an agreement with a guild of experts to develop tourism.

The CTO informed about the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Caribbean Tourism Researchers Network/ International Tourism Studies Association (CTRN/ITSA), aimed at strengthening the analysis on this subject in the region.

The collaboration between the CTO and CTRN/ITSA provides an immediate boost to one of our core areas, research, which serves as the basis for all other activities of the organization,” said Neil Walters, acting secretary general of CTRN/ITSA. He added that the collaboration marks a significant milestone in ongoing efforts to strengthen and advance the Caribbean tourism industry through evidence-based

policy recommendations that contribute to the growth of a resilient and sustainable sector, with the ultimate goal of improving the economic well-being of the population.

‘We believe that the experience and expertise of these academics from around the world will contribute greatly to the alignment of our membership priorities and meet our objectives,’ he added.

The CTO reported that the two organizations agreed to cooperate on research initiatives and projects, the development and sharing of critical knowledge and capacity building initiatives.

He detailed that two projects have already been identified for implementation under the memorandum. (https://www.plenglish. com/news/2023/08/03/cto-seeks-to-boosttourism-research-in-the-caribbean/)

Jamaica’s Epic Women’s World Cup Run Ends With Narrow Defeat

MIAMI, Florida – The Jamaican Women’s National Team’s epic run in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup came to an end on Tuesday evening at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, with a narrow 1-0 defeat against Colombia in the Round of 16.

The Reggae Girlz wrote their name into the history books once again, as it was the first time that a Caribbean team had reached the Round of 16 stage of a Women’s World Cup.

The Caribbean side had the first chance of the evening in the 3’ from the boots of FW Jody Brown, who received a long ball from captain Khadija Shaw, but the shot went over the crossbar.

Las Cafeteras tried to shake the game open in the 15’ with their first attempt on goal through MF Diana Ospina, however, the ball ended up in the arms of Jamaica GK Rebecca Spencer.

The second half started on a high note for the South Americans, as they broke Jamaica’s

run of clean sheets in Australia/New Zealand 2023 in the 51’. Captain Catalina Usme controlled a diagonal ball from DF Ana Guzman, taking one touch to fire toward goal and beat Spencer, scoring the first goal of the evening.

After 320 minutes, Jamaica had conceded their first goal of the tournament.

The Reggae Girlz almost evened things out just minutes later in the 54’ from a corner kick thanks to Brown, who won the ball but hit the post.

MF Drew Spence tried to be the game-changer in the 82’ for Jamaica, going for a header after a corner kick, reaching a cross that came her way, the ball just going wide from the post.

Jamaica kept trying to pull level, breaking the lines of Colombia’s defense and getting to the goal area, but it wasn’t enough, the game ending in a 1-0 victory for Colombia, ending the run of the first Caribbean nation to reach this stage in a Women’s World Cup.

Jamaica Clinch Bronze in Netball World Cup

promptly scored three unanswered goals to edge in front.

The Sunshine Girls gave their nation even more to celebrate on Jamaican Independence Day when they defeated five-time champions New Zealand to claim the bronze medal at the Netball World Cup 2023.

Jamaica have played in six World Cup bronze medal matches since 1991 and won three of them but all of those victories have come against England. This time they were up against a Silver Ferns side still reeling from a draw against hosts South Africa and then a semi-final defeat at the hands of England.

The Jamaicans were boosted by the fact that they had claimed their first ever Netball World Cup victory over the Silver Ferns three days earlier and on Sunday they were determined to secure their second. Both teams came out with plenty to prove and the battle was fierce from the start. The Silver Ferns were dealt a blow when wing attack Gina Crampton was helped off the court after rolling her ankle just two and a half minutes into the match. She was replaced by Whitney Souness and the New Zealanders

It was a gap they held onto for much of the opening period before the Jamaicans finally managed to equalise at 10-10. Two excellent intercepts from the Jamaican defence, first goalkeeper Shamera Sterling and then goal defence Jodi-Ann Ward, gave the Sunshine Girls the opportunity to edge ahead. Despite some risky high balls into goal shooter Jhaniele Fowler in the circle, which had cost them in their semifinal loss to Australia, the Jamaicans went into the break three goals up. Te Paea Selby-Rickit replaced Maiai Wilson at goal shooter for New Zealand at the start of the second quarter while Adean Thomas came on at centre for Jamaica a few minutes later, replacing Nicole Dixon-Rochester. Later in the period New Zealand captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio was also taken off and replaced with Tiana Metuarau. It was the defensive units on both sides that ensured there was no real flow achieved for either team. A low-scoring, evenly contested period was the result as Jamaica just held onto their lead heading into the halftime break.

The Jamaicans found their momentum in the third period as New Zealand coach Noeline Taurua rang in several more changes for her side. The Sunshine Girls racked up a run of six unanswered goals to surge ahead and win the championship quarter by three goals. With a first bronze medal since 2007 within their grasp, the Jamaicans held their nerve to stay out in front in the final quarter to wrap up a 52-45 win and send the defending champions home empty-handed for the first time in Netball World Cup history.