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SEPTEMBER 2024 • ISSUE NO. 1958

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Black on the Square returns!

Celebration of Black culture to take over Trafalgar Square › p10

“I CAME TO CARE, BUT WAS ABUSED” EXCLUSIVE

Exploited Caribbean care workers trapped into silence by visa fears CARIBBEAN CARE workers invited here have told how they face racial abuse, sexual harassment, and wage theft but fear speaking out due to visa dependency on employers. Among them is Neville, 61, (pictured left) from Jamaica. He told The Voice: “Coming to England was a nightmare, the worst experience of my life.”

Photo credit: Peter Flude/TBIJ

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Inside THIS MONTH

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News, views, stories & videos

THE 10 MOST POPULAR STORIES ON VOICE-ONLINE.CO.UK

Au revoir and merci, Shelly-Ann. Iconic Jamaican has already cemented her legacy with a career that started with a bang and has been characterised by almost superhuman longevity

The Black Mental Health Manifesto: A blueprint for systemic change

ROUNDUP NEWSPAPER

Trinidad and Tobago to remove Christopher Columbus ships from coat of arms. Trinidad and Tobago will replace Christopher Columbus’ ships on its coat of arms with the Steelpan, reflecting national identity, Prime Minister Keith Rowley said Why aren’t missing Black women considered newsworthy? Tragic stories of Black females reported missing often go unnoticed by the mainstream media

Kehinde Andrews warns policing alone won’t solve the rise in far-right violence

Do we really need to watch? The hidden costs of police brutality videos

Smart financing: How Black entrepreneurs can bypass the banks

A kaleidoscope of Nigerian dance and music premieres in London

Jamaica and England to play each other in Netball test series

Exploited and silenced: the shameful abuse of the UK’s migrant care workers

HE UK’S care sector, plagued by chronic staff shortages, relies heavily on migrant workers, particularly from the Caribbean and Africa. As UNISON’s general secretary Christina McAnea warns, without these dedicated individuals, the care system would “implode”. Yet, our investigation has uncovered a deeply troubling reality: the very workers who prop up this fragile system are subjected to severe abuse and exploitation, silenced by a visa system that leaves them powerless. Take Bernice, a Caribbean care worker sexually harassed by her landlord in employer-arranged accommodation. She didn’t report it, fearing the loss of her job and home. Celia, another care worker, had her wages withheld after leaving her job, accused of damage to a company vehicle. The stress led her to seek help from Citizens Advice, where the impact on her mental health was noted. Dawn, threatened with the withdrawal of her work visa if she joined a union, endured race discrimination in silence. These stories are not isolated incidents; they are part of a broader pattern of abuse enabled by a visa system that ties workers to their

This issue is 48 pages EDITOR Vic Motune E. vic.motune@thevoicemedia group.co.uk

CORPORATE AFFAIRS & COMMUNICATIONS Paula Dyke E. paula@thevoicemedia group.co.uk

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Paulette Simpson E. paulette.simpson@thevoice mediagroup.co.uk

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Joel Campbell E. joel.campbell@thevoice mediagroup.co.uk

employers. If a worker loses their job, they have just 60 days to find a new sponsor or face deportation. This cruel and undignified system leaves them with an impossible choice: endure abuse or risk losing everything. Neville, 61, from Jamaica, described coming to England as “a nightmare”, the worst decision of his life. After experiencing racial abuse from colleagues, he was eventually suspended and returned home, his dreams shattered. This situation demands urgent legal reform. The government must overhaul the UK’s work visa system to protect these vulnerable workers, allowing them the freedom to leave abusive employers without fear of deportation. Initiatives like the Justice for Sponsored Workers campaign are crucial, but they need support to achieve the needed legislative change that ensures safe reporting mechanisms and the protection of employee rights. These care workers came to the UK seeking opportunities and to contribute to our society. Instead, they found exploitation and despair. It is time for us to stand up and demand justice for them. Their dignity and rights must be upheld.

Former police chief hints Nigel Farage could face investigation following UK riots. Neil Basu, former lead for the UK’s counter terrorism unit, said in a radio interview with LBC that the Clacton MP could be investigated for social media comments he made

Football’s most powerful man is Nigerian. Michael Emenalo, Saudi Pro League’s first director of football, is fast becoming one of the most important figures in world football as he looks to revolutionise the sport in Saudi Arabia

Vybz Kartel freed after 13 years behind bars. The Jamaica Court of Appeal has freed the Dancehall star and his co-accused, overturning their convictions and ruling against a retrial in the Clive Williams murder case Rugby: Jamaica’s big date in Canada set for October. The two countries face off on Saturday October 19.

Is Starmer’s response to riots a bandaid on the deep wound of racism? The Prime Minister has announced travel bans on far-right rioters, but underlying systemic racism and disinformation are fuelling ongoing violence across UK cities Carnival generates £396 million for London’s economy. Study commissioned by The Voice reveals that despite often negative media portrayals, Notting Hill Carnival is a major economic force that provides a huge financial boost

Grenada’s golden boy Kirani James still full of ambition. A world 400m champion at the age of 18, and an Olympic champion a year later at London 2012, when he also became Grenada’s first ever medallist in the history of the Games

Got a story? email us at yourviews@thevoicemediagroup.co.uk SPORTS EDITOR Rodney Hinds E. rodney.hinds@thevoice mediagroup.co.uk ADVERTISING AND SALES E. advertising@thevoicemedia group.co.uk

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SEPTEMBER 2024 THE VOICE | 3

News NAOMI, 8, TAKES ON 8 KM RUN TO RAISE MONEY FOR JAMAICA’S HURRICANE VICTIMS

POWER IN WRITING: Romeo Bremmer, 16, was one of the authors taking part in the inaugural Children’s Black Book Fair UK 2024

GIVING YOUNG AUTHORS A PLATFORM TO THRIVE

SPIRING BLACK authors often face significant challenges in getting their stories published or their careers supported. Despite ongoing publishing industry efforts, Black authors remain underrepresented in publishing. Young first-time authors face even greater challenges due to limited resources, connections, and industry knowledge. However, one person, former deputy headteacher, and now book publisher, Juliet Coley is determined to address these issues.

JOURNEYS She created the first Children’s Black Book Fair UK 2024, which promises to inspire and uplift a new generation of young Black writers. The event took place at the Dalston CLR James Library earlier this month and gave 25 young authors, aged from six to 15, an opportunity to sell their books, talk about their author journeys and interact with readers and members of the general public. “The event was a celebration of young Black talent,” Coley said. “Among the authors who took part were a six-year-old Mensa member and world record holder from Birmingham and the first and youngest Afro-Portuguese author to write a book which

The inaugural Children’s Black Book Fair UK 2024 celebrated young Black talent, and featured 25 authors sharing their stories. By Vic Motune has been translated into four languages which is amazing. We must celebrate the greatness within our community. Research from the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education in 2019 found that only seven per cent of UK children’s books featured Black, Asian, or minority ethnic characters, so it’s crucial Black children not only see themselves in stories but also actively contribute to telling them.” Coley continued: “These young authors have achieved so much, despite the challenges of selfpublishing. The Children’s Black Book Fair gave them a platform to reach wider audiences often inaccessible through major bookstores.” After a successful two-decade career in education, the former deputy headteacher launched the Young Lit Stars publishing company in 2015. Following a heart attack, Coley helped her son Romeo, then seven, to write a journal allowing him to document his feelings about her illness. Encouraged by his siblings,

POSITIVE: Oneicia Edwards John-Baptiste the journal was turned into a book series. Romeo, now a multi-award-winning author, has written nine books, significantly boosting his confidence and English grades. Seeing the positive impact on Romeo, Coley and her family expanded Young Lit Stars to empower other young Black authors. To date, the company has published over 25 books featuring original works from 60 Black authors aged 16 and under. The Children’s Black Book Fair UK 2024 is the latest manifestation of her unwavering commitment to nurturing and creating opportunities for young

writers. She has also worked with a group of 19 schoolchildren from the Deacons Academy in Accra, Ghana, to help them become published authors. “Without these self-published authors we won’t be seeing people that look like us in books,” she said. “These writers are the ones who carry the banner so that other children can open books and see people who look like them and recognise that they can be anything they want to be.” SPECIAL Coley’s son, Romeo, said: “I’ve done lots of events and spoken about my books on many occasions, but being in a space with young people who are also authors is very special. It’s important for people to see boys who look like me publishing books and realise I am not the exception. There is power in reading and writing and I want my community, young and old to be inspired.” Another author who will be taking part in the event is 12-year-old Oneicia Edwards John-Baptiste, author of two Affirmation Journals. She said: “The exposure the Children’s Book Fair brings to all the young Black authors is amazing. It also gives me the opportunity to talk to parents and children about the power of Affirmations and how you can be a better version of yourself if you think positively.”

PROACTIVE: Naomi Townsend is running eight kilometres in Croydon’s Ashburton Park (Photo: Lee Townsend) AN EIGHT-year-old girl, from Croydon is planning to raise over £2,000 for people in Jamaica who were affected by Hurricane Beryl. Naomi Townsend, a Year 3 student from Regina Coeli Catholic Primary School in South Croydon, will be running eight kilometres later this month at her local Ashburton Park in a bid to raise £2,222 to support those who were affected. Naomi has launched a GoFundMe page to raise the money. She plans to run eight kilometres around the park within 22 hours, with each kilometre representing a year of her life. When the category 4 hurricane arrived in Jamaica, after wreaking havoc in Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Barbados, it brought extensive damage across the island. For Naomi, news of the devastation in Jamaica was especially difficult after visiting her grandmother during a family holiday to central Jamaica during the Easter holidays earlier this year. She felt compelled to lend whatever support she could. “I had the best time ever when we went on holiday to Jamaica in April, and it made me feel sad to see how the hurricane destroyed so many people’s

homes on the news. I knew I had to do something” she told The Voice. “Lots of people in South Manchester and St Elizabeth don’t have water or electricity, which means they don’t have ice or a fan to keep them cool in all that heat. Cooking their dinner must be very difficult. “My parents have taught me that I should be the change I want to see in the world, and I try to live out the mantra that my little sister and I say every day to our dad before school. ‘I exude confidence, I lead by example, and I always show

“It made me feel sad to see how the hurricane destroyed so many people’s homes” compassion to others.’” Her dad, Lee Townsend, said: “As parents, we are incredibly proud of Naomi and her proactive approach to life. My wife and I always encourage our daughters to be leaders and not just follow the crowd, reminding them daily that exceptional people do what others are often not prepared to do.”

‘COMING TO ENGLAND WAS WORST DECISION I EVER MADE’ Neville was a mental health nurse at a psychiatric hospital in Jamaica seeking a fresh start, but the move quickly turned into a nightmare. By Vicky Gayle

HEN NEVILLE, 61, [surname removed] resigned from his job at a leading psychiatric hospital in Kingston, Jamaica, he decided to take up the offer to become a senior care worker in England in the hope of finding new and better career opportunities here. He had expected to continue doing the work he loved supporting vulnerable patients. However, what he anticipated as a fresh start quickly spiralled into a nightmare. Instead of the career growth he had hoped for, Neville found himself disrespected and discriminated against and was eventually dismissed from his job following an incident in which he says a colleague called him the N-word. While dealing with a difficult resident, a colleague passed remarks on Neville’s competence, followed him around the care home, and an argument began between the pair. In the end, two colleagues claimed Neville was being threatening. When he told his managers that he had been called a racist slur, he wasn’t believed. “I was suspended,” he recalled. “I

was upset, so I was talking using my hands. If you talk to 100 Jamaicans, we talk with our hands.” But only Neville’s actions were visible on CCTV cameras. Speaking to The Voice from Jamaica, where he returned to last November, he said: “Coming to England was a nightmare.” “It’s the worst experience I’ve had in all my life and I think it’s the worst decision I ever made to come to England.” EXPERIENCE In Jamaica, Neville worked in a role similar to a mental health nurse in the UK. But when he came to England, instead of supporting residents — a job he was recruited for and also one in which he had many years of experience — Neville and other migrant workers were given the “worst” jobs as cleaners and kitchen porters. Neville also rented accommodation from his employer. A month into his stay, he and the other tenants were told they would have to share their single bedrooms. When he refused to share, his room was changed without his knowledge or permission while he was at work. It did not matter that he had locked his door. “Our

“They have followed the rules but were traﬃcked by an employer who is licensed by the government, and there are no safe reporting and protection systems. Some workers believe the only exit is suicide” - Aké Achi, Migrants at Work

rights were violated in so many different ways,” he said. Neville believes advocating for himself and the others ultimately cost him his job. “They’re telling us every day that we are to maintain residents’ dignity,” he said, “but what about ours?” Speaking about the other Jamaican workers he travelled with, who are still employed at the care home, he said: “None of them are happy there. They are just trying to [hold] their nose and drink dirty water.” Neville is among thousands of migrant care REGRET: Neville, 61, workers who have been left his job in Jamaica invited to fill vacancies in the for a senior care role UK’s social care sector. in England Without them, the care system would “implode”, UNISON’s general secretary Christina McAnea said — as uncovered that workers have come unfilled posts exceed 130,000. to the UK only to find themselves People from India, Nigeria, exploited and too afraid to speak Zimbabwe, Ghana and Bangladesh out about the abuse they face. Research compiled by The topped the list of nationalities travelling to plug the labour gap. Bureau of Investigative Journalism Among the Caribbean countries, it (TBIJ) and Citizens Advice, a charity that provides confidential was Jamaica and Guyana. But an investigation has advice on many issues — and

Photo: Peter Flude/TBIJ

4 | THE VOICE SEPTEMBER 2024

shared with The Voice — reveals they fear raising concerns about labour abuses, in large part because the existing visa system makes them dependent on their employer for their right to stay and work in the UK. Many would rather stay silent than risk losing their jobs and being destitute, or

SEPTEMBER 2024 THE VOICE | 5

News Feature

Photo: TBIJ

LABOUR ABUSES: An investigation revealed African and Caribbean care workers in the UK face exploitation, including wage theft, illegal fees, reduced hours, and fear of speaking out because of the way the visa system makes them dependent on their employers

“The lack of options for migrant workers who ﬁnd themselves being abused is cruel and undigniﬁed”

- Dr Dora-Olivia Vicol, chief executive, Work Rights Centre

Photo: Gett y Images

REFORM CALL: Dr Dora-Olivia Vicol, Work Rights Centre

to return home to nothing. Their research draws on testimonies from almost 175 people on a health and care worker visa in England and Wales. Care workers described experiencing a range of employment abuses, such as wage theft, paying up to £30,000 in illegal recruitment fees, receiving fewer hours than promised or receiving no work at all. Discrimination, harassment and intimidation was also reported. Among them are Bernice*, a care worker from the Caribbean. She was sexually harassed by her landlord in accommodation arranged by the employer that sponsored her work in the UK. She did not raise a complaint because she feared losing her job and home. When Celia* resigned from her job, her employer withheld a month’s wages — more than £1,300

— after alleging she had damaged a company vehicle and to reclaim costs for her training. The impact on her mental health was noted by the call handler at Citizens Advice. Then there is Dawn* whose employer threatened to withdraw her work visa if she joined a trade union or complained about her mistreatment, including race discrimination. REPRISALS About a third (30 per cent) of people who spoke to TBIJ and Citizens Advice said they were scared to whistle blow against their manager or employer because they feared reprisals. Migrants at Work is an advocacy organisation founded by trainee solicitor Aké Achi. He tried without success to get the other Jamaicans living and working with Neville

to confide in him about their employment issues. When he telephoned to offer legal support, they claimed everything was fine. However, the group had endured several “abusive practices”, Achi said. Workers choosing not to come forward is common because they feel conflicted, he explained. “Workers have to make a choice between either remaining in exploitation or reporting a sponsor to deal with their own problem. But at the same time, it will potentially affect those who have stayed behind.” And they risk becoming “destitute and homeless” if they speak out because they are dependent on their employers. Achi also believes that Neville’s dismissal would have influenced the others’ decision to keep quiet.

Although it is “frustrating” when this happens, he explained that the key difference between someone who blows the whistle or not is how informed they are of their legal rights. It is also important they have support that is practical while being culturally-sensitive. “Whether you go to the Home Office, the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, HMRC, the Employment Agency Inspectorate Authority or an employment tribunal, there is no clear solution for people who are on sponsorship visas because there is a gap in the law,” he said. “The complainants are likely to get their visa curtailed by the Home office as a result of their sponsor breaking the rules.” Some of his clients feel like they are “living in hell”. “Approaching the relevant agencies or NGOs can make the matter worse,” he said. “They have followed the rules but were trafficked by an employer who is licensed by the government, and there are no safe reporting and protection systems. Some workers believe the only exit is suicide.” CAMPAIGN Justice for Sponsored Workers, a worker-led campaign backed by Achi’s Migrants at Work and the Migrants’ Rights Network, is calling for employers to be held to account for exploitation and for greater protections in the workplace, including safe reporting mechanisms. Achi said: “This migrant-led campaign has been a long time coming and I am hopeful that with sponsored migrant workers speaking truth to power, we can finally start to tackle the root causes of exploitation of migrants.” The latest government data shows almost 106,000 visas were granted to care workers in 2023 — a number that has nearly tripled from 2022. However, 81 per cent less visa applications were submitted from social care workers between April and July of this year and the same period in 2023, according to Home Office statistics published last month. A skilled worker’s permission to stay in the UK is

dependent on being employed by an approved sponsor. These are companies licensed by the Home Office to recruit overseas staff. If a worker loses their job for any reason, including if their employer has its sponsorship licence revoked, they will have, at most, 60 days to find a new sponsor or leave the UK, once they are contacted by the Home Office. During this time they would not be able to claim most benefits due to a visa condition called ‘No recourse to public funds’. Finding a new employer is difficult. A rise in care workers contacting Citizens Advice for crisis support had alerted the organisation to the systemic abuse they were experiencing. Many who got in touch were unable to buy food or pay their rent and bills. “We work on a lot of difficult issues at Citizens Advice, but this is one of the most heartbreaking because of our limited ability to help people find a way forward,” Tom MacInness, its interim director of policy, said. “These people are skilled professionals who keep our healthcare services running yet … the best we can sometimes do is help them access a food bank.” “The lack of options for migrant workers who find themselves being abused is cruel and undignified”, Dr Dora-Olivia Vicol, chief executive of the Work Rights Centre, said. “The government must urgently reform the UK’s work visa system to make it easier for workers to leave an exploitative employer and to seek justice.” The Work Rights Centre is a charity that helps disadvantaged workers. It wants to see the 60day cap lifted so employees have the “unrestricted right to work for the remainder of their visa, and ensure that we have a safe, wellresourced reporting mechanism for all migrant workers”. Last month the UK government’s Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner (IASC) slammed labour market governance, calling it “fragmented, under resourced and failing against international labour inspection standards”. This, the commissioner said, enables “criminal gangmasters” to

exploit people with “impunity”. The briefing lists a number of recommendations to help tackle labour exploitation, including boosting numbers of labour inspectors. The new government’s proposed Fair Work Agency, a single enforcement body to uphold existing employment rights, must also “incorporate workers’ voices in its design”. A government spokesperson said: “There has been an unacceptable rise in the abuse and exploitation of care workers in the adult social care sector. We are urgently clamping down on this by applying stringent checks on providers who want to recruit overseas workers, continuing to revoke licences from those who abuse the system, and working with the sector to support care workers into alternative jobs when their sponsor has had their licence removed.” The company Esther*, 21, started with is no longer licensed to sponsor care workers. She arrived in the south of England from Zimbabwe last year. RELOCATE After getting no work for five months, her employer asked her to relocate to a different city where they promised work was available. She soon realised the care provider had just a handful of clients but employed a few hundred care workers, she told The Voice. Despite being contracted to work at least 45 hours a week, the most she did was 12 hours. Throughout the entire time she was still expected to pay rent to her employer. Eventually, Esther* became depressed and began to regret leaving Zimbabwe, where she was also a care worker. “I thought there were better opportunities here. If you have education in the UK, your certificates [will] be recognised, so I was just putting everything on the table. I thought this was a good decision.” lNames have been changed to protect their identities l If you have been affected by these issues you can visit https:// www.workrightscentre.org/ care-workers

42 | THE VOICE SEPTEMBER 2024

The release by the courts of one of dancehall’s most revered artists means listeners on BBC radio can once again hear the great man in action

This is Brukout! FREE MAN: Dancehall superstar Vybz Kartel, second left, leaves the Tower Street Adult Correctional Facility in Kingston, Jamaica, after being set free by the Court of Appeal (photo: The Gleaner Co. (Media) Ltd)

WAS standing backstage at Boxpark for the One Caribbean Relief event, phone attached to my ear eagerly awaiting the verdict for Vybz Kartel’s final appeal for the murder conviction that had him incarcerated for 13 years! I and others were in genuine disbelief once we had worked out that Adidjah Palmer and the three other appellants that he was convicted with were about to walk free from a Jamaican jail. “Ah true Seani?” was the question being asked to me as I wandered around slightly dazed, thinking that I was on the radio the next day and what was I going to do. For the entire time Kartel was imprisoned, I was unable to feature his music on my show. Once you go behind those prison walls, the BBC put you on what’s called ‘the rested list’. Even though there was never a shortage of Vybz songs in my club sets, on the radio I had to learn to navigate the space without playing music from one of dancehall’s most revered artists. I would like to think because I am such a great selector that his presence was not missed, but it did give me the opportunity to dig deeper and not rely on what

PRESENCE: Vybz Kartel performs in St Mary, Jamaica, back in 2005 (photo: Getty Images)

by Seani B who had never seen him perform or know of him as a free man. His string of releases that we now know were recorded behind bars kept him more than relevant. But what does it all mean now for the young artists that idolised him from afar? Is he now competition because he is not locked up? IWaata seemed excited to know the prospects for him with Vybz out on the road, and told me: “Kartel is a different individual when it comes to music. He is greatness and you can’t take that from him.” He continues: “Just like how you had Bob Marley in the olden days, Kartel is our legend.” Depending on your age, you may look on that comment with a side eye, but when Palmer was imprisoned in 2014, IWaata was only 16 and this was his artist that had so much influence on him. IWaata continued to talk about the influence he has on a whole generation. “Remember them man deh sing bout Clarks, Bleaching and Tattoo, and the whole place follow.

They said dancehall went to jail with Vybz Kartel many years ago, but we have been out here holding it

IT’S ALL GOING TO BE ABOUT VYBZ KARTEL everyone else was playing. I think this helped me nurture many young and upcoming talents like Masicka, Govanna, Shenseea and many others during the last decade simply because I had to grow from the ground up rather than picking the ripe fruits from the tree. How’s it all been

since the release of Addi? In all honesty, if you follow the Vloggers, then 80 per cent of the content has been all about him and his forthcoming New Year’s Eve comeback show in Jamaica. Once he goes LIVE it’s all about Kartel. This definitely proves what popular Kingston selector Boom Boom told me the day after Kartel’s release. “Right now, the word in the

streets is that the young youths dem haffi draw up dem socks, because it’s like the Gully and Gaza thing has reimbursed in the street,” he tells me. The night of the Kartel’s release Boom Boom said the streets of Kingston were active and everything was about Vybz Kartel. “The party I played last night was 30 minutes of Kartel, then the next selector stepped and

again 30 minutes of gyal Kartel. Then I went to Stone love Weddy Wednesdays and witnessed the selectors make 500,000 JMD (£2,433) from two songs in money pull up.” This I’m not surprised to hear, because ‘The Teacher’, as he is also known, did not fall in popularity. Whilst incarcerated, I witnessed Kartel obtain cult status even among young fans

“He knows his influence that why the first thing he came out of jail and said, ‘Tell the yute dem say stay outta crime, cah it’s a waste of time and waste of life.” A fan IWaata is, but does he see him now as competition? “Right now, Mi glad I’m active as dancehall is gonna get a different look in,” he tells me excitedly. “They said dancehall went to jail with him many years ago, but we have been out here holding it. “Right now, if you ever go on a riddim that Kartel is on, Ah Murda!!” But I wanted to know, is there a fear that he could remove all the shine from the other artists? “No Fada...” Iwaata chuckles “That’s gonna be better for we, and the youths right now are singing some good songs, and even Kartel knows it’s a different time too.” Anything that helps grow the music to the next place I’m happy with. Just not happy that I may have to give up family time in holidays to go to experience the most anticipated dancehall Show in history.

JANUARY 2023

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