Jamaat campaign against India led to US hearings, resolutions on Kashmir – indica News

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Aarti Tikoo Singh-

Two Islamic charities, linked to the banned Islamist outfit Jamaat-e-Islami, ran a persistent disinformation campaign against India leading to hearings and resolutions on Kashmir in the US Congress last year.

IANS investigation has alleged that Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) and its self-described sister organization Helping Hands for Relief and Development (HHRD) were at the forefront of running campaigns in the US against New Delhi after the government revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and brought the state at par with union territories of India, last year on August 5.

Documentary evidence accessed by IANS reveals that both ICNA and its sister organization HHRD are affiliated to Jamaat-e-Islami, the pan-Islamic fundamentalist organization which India banned last year after a Jaish-e-Mohammad suicide bomber killed over 40 paramilitary soldiers in a terror attack in February 2019.

The Jamaat was proscribed for five years under anti-terror law on the grounds that it was in cahoots with terror outfits in Kashmir to strengthen the Pakistan-sponsored violent separatist militancy in the valley.

After Article 370 (which granted special status to J&K) was nullified, the US-based ICNA and HHRD along with other Islamic groups ran Stand With Kashmir a red dot logo campaign, using the same handle on Twitter. Under the banner Stand With Kashmir, they together led a protest in front of the consulate General of India in New York four days and a similar protest in Los Angeles.

Two more protest rallies were held in August last year, one in Sacramento, California and another one outside the Indian embassy in Washington. Both were sponsored by the ICNA among others like Pakistan American Association of Sacramento, Pakistan American Sports and Cultural Organisation, Turkish American National Steering Committee and Islamic Society.

ICNA also published Kashmiri Crisis: A Complete Guide, handouts and a sample of Congressional letter in its campaign in alignment with Pakistans position on Kashmir.

In September, ICNA hosted a benefit dinner for its activists on Kashmir at Islamic Center of Conejo Valley, to raise funds. A few days later, the organization along with CAIR and Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) announced to hold a protest rally in the last week of September.

As per media reports, President of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) Sardar Masood Khan soon after, urged Muslim across the world to stand united and relieve Muslim Ummah of agonies and asked ICNA and United States Coalition of Muslim Organisations (USCMO) to engage lawmakers in encouraging hearings on Kashmir in the US House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and initiate debates on Kashmir in the Congress.

Apart from organizing another fundraising dinner for Kashmir, the twin organizations in November helped install a billboard on Kashmir in Michigan and asked Muslims across the US to send a letter to Congress Representative Eliot Engel in support of a resolution sponsored by Pramila Jayapal on Kashmir.

The result of the sustained campaign against India was that not only did the US House Foreign Affairs Committee held at least two hearings on Kashmir, but Pramila Jayapal and Rashida Tlaib, introduced and unsuccessfully attempted to pass two resolutions against India over Kashmir in the US Congress.

None of the HHRD-ICNA protests against India mentioned that Pakistan sponsored terror outfits especially, its own parent organization Jamaat-e-Islamis armed wing Hizbul which has killed thousands of Muslims in the last three decades in Kashmir.

Founded by Maulana Maududi in 1941 during the British rule in India, Jamaat became one of the major religious organizations in Pakistan, which also participated in the genocide of Bangladeshi Muslims in 1971. With the help of Pakistani Army and ISI, Jamaat set up its militant wing, Hizbul Mujahideen terror outfit in Kashmir in 1989. The US government has designated the head of Jamaat-affiliated Hizbul chief Syed Salahuddin based in Pakistan, a global terrorist.

Despite Jamaats violent background, its fronts in the US ICNA and HHRD enjoy partnerships with the government, politicians and journalists, and funding from prominent charitable foundations. The two Islamic charities have been actively lobbying with the US Congress with the express purpose of stopping any investigation into their terror finance ties to Kashmiri terror groups, a source in the US Congress said.

An expert on Muslim reform movements and author of several books, US-based Asra Nomani told IANS that for over five decades, since the 1960s, Jamaat-e-Islami has exported its disturbing ideology of political Islam from its base in South Asia to the US and beyond, through organizations, including ICNA.

Since the 9/11 attack, Jamaat and its fronts have penetrated even deeper into the political lobbying industry of the United States, working in concert with their fundamentalist Muslim allies in the West, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

Together, these organizations make up Islamism Inc., or political Islam, and their goal is very simple: to deny the reality of extremist ideologies within Islam, promote Islam in governance and cast themselves as victims.

In recent years, Nomani said, they have won growing influence in the Democratic Party in the US, exploiting identity politics, political correctness and virtue signaling, to win congressional hearings, legislative resolutions and political pandering to their interests.

They have their sights on India, running conferences, workshops, social media hashtag campaigns and political drives to demonize India, its secular governance, its political leadership and quite frankly its Hindu majority.

The best inoculation to their impact is to understand clearly that this networks goal is Muslim supremacy. For India, the answer is not to respond with another form of religious supremacy but rather the supremacy of the reality of India as a beautiful, secular nation, she said.

[Photo courtesy:Facebook]

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Jamaat campaign against India led to US hearings, resolutions on Kashmir - indica News

Protecting the Caribbean’s most vulnerable people in the face of COVID-19: A UN Resident Coordinator blog – UN News

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The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most urgent health, economic, and social crises the world has faced in decades. At the beginning of April, more than 870,000 cases and over 43,000 deaths have been reported worldwide. According to the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), the number of cases in the Americas region is steadily rising.

The Caribbean is also staggering in the wake of COVID-19, which has already dealt a devastating blow to the tourism and service sectors across the region, adversely impacting the mainly small and open economies.

As regional governments move to stem the tide of this pandemic and counter its short- and long-term impact across critical sectors, a multi-sectoral response is needed to meet immediate health emergency care and response needs, while ensuring that a social safety net is created to support people whose income may drastically reduce during this crisis, and to protect the rights of the most vulnerable citizens.

This multi-faceted approach would seek mitigating shocks and support recovery efforts from a crisis that may exacerbate existing inequalities and result in losing past years gains towards the achievement Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Among the most immediate concerns facing Caribbean Governments is the imminent threat to over-burdened healthcare systems and fragile regional economies, which has the capacity to cause widespread unemployment and erode social gains.

As the Caribbean embarks on response and recovery efforts, the principles of leaving no one behind, non-discrimination, and commitment to universal access to essential services would be a useful basis for effective health-related, social and economic stimulus recovery policies.

The UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Didier Trebucq (right) accompanies UN Secretary General, Antnio Guterres (centre) on a trip to St Lucia., by United Nations/ David Pedroza

A targeted human rights-based approach is always essential if we are to safeguard and protect the interests of the elderly, women and girls, children, people with disabilities, migrants, persons in detention, the homeless and other marginalized and displaced groups, who are the most vulnerable.

The elderly are disproportionately affected by the coronavirus as evidenced by the high number of deaths in this population group. For this reason, it is important that health and social services are targeted to address their needs, especially those isolated without family support system.

In the Caribbean, women are the primary caregivers in many households, and comprise approximately 70 per cent of vital roles in the health and social sectors. Consequently, women not only bear a greater social burden, but face an increased risk of exposure as frontline workers in any crisis. Research also indicates that in humanitarian crises, levels of sexual and/or intimate partner violence, based on gender inequality, grow more acute due to displacement, broken social and protective networks and lack of services.

Containment measures intended to suppress the spread of COVID-19, such as self-isolation and physical distancing, may result in victims being confined with their abuser with little access to support services. Gender-sensitive strategies and interventions in support of potential victims are a necessary tool to prevent the exacerbation of gender inequalities.

Previous humanitarian crises have also shown children to be increasingly vulnerable to mistreatment, violence, and exploitation. It is a priority that precautions and the requisite child protection mechanisms are adapted to protect at-risk children across Barbados and the sub-region during this and any crisis.

With temporary school closures occurring across the region, effective distance learning strategies should take into consideration those children in unequal situations. While online learning may be an option for students with home access to computers and the internet, the UN is supporting ministries of education across the region to identify and to develop alternative, accessible distance learning methods, for example via television and radio, to ensure that all children have access to quality education, even in an extended crisis.

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Empty Hotels. Idled Tour Buses. The Pandemic Is Devastating Tourism. – The New York Times

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MEXICO CITY There were major hurricanes, and the global financial crisis of 2008. There was 9/11, and an array of regional health scares, from SARS to Zika.

But during the decades that hes been involved in the tourism business in the Caribbean island nation of Sint Maarten, Emil Lee has never seen anything remotely like the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

A switch got flipped, said Mr. Lee, whose family manages a hotel on Sint Maarten, which shares a 34-square-mile island with the French territory Saint-Martin. And now theres no tourism.

The global travel and tourism industry is in peril.

Layoffs in the sector are mounting at the stunning rate of one million jobs a day, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council, an industry group based in London, with as many as 75 million jobs at immediate risk. The industry could lose as much as $2.1 trillion in business by the end of the year, the council said.

Borders have been shut, planes idled, cruise ships docked, tour buses parked and hotels, restaurants, bars, theaters and museums shuttered. Tourist sites that only several weeks ago were teeming with visitors are now eerily still.

In the Caribbean, the impact is already being felt particularly deeply. No other region of the world depends so heavily on tourism.

And among the regions countries and territories, Sint Maarten, a mostly autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, stands out. Tourism accounts for more than 80 percent of its gross domestic product, according to the latest statistics from the World Tourism Organization, an agency of the United Nations.

At the start of the year, the leaders of the nations tourism industry had plenty of reason to be hopeful about the months ahead.

The country, which has a population of about 41,000, had almost regained its balance after being pummeled by Hurricane Irma in 2017. The storm damaged most of the nations buildings and crippled the airport, before plowing across the Caribbean and wrecking other islands in its path.

But after two years of energetic rebuilding, Sint Maartens tourism sector registered a strong December and January, and officials expected 2020 to be a good year.

Then the pandemic took root and the flow of tourists to the Caribbean and elsewhere dried up.

In mid-March, the government in Sint Maarten started barring visitors from the United States and Europe. A week later, all incoming flights carrying passengers were banned, effectively cutting off the life blood of the local economy.

Hotels on the island now stand empty, save for the odd tourist who decided that remaining in Sint Maarten was preferable to returning home. The once-bustling waterfront is quiet, and the beaches are still.

Restaurants have closed for all but takeout and delivery, nonessential businesses have been ordered shut and there is an overnight curfew.

Weve been crunching numbers here, and were terrified, said Lorraine Talmi, board president of the Sint Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association.

Based on a survey of nearly 600 businesses, she said, the group estimates that some 45 percent of the private sector labor force in Sint Maarten will be laid off within three to six months. And that is a best-case scenario.

Many business owners in the tourism industry have few, if any, cash reserves left after burning through savings to pay for rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Irma, Ms. Talmi said.

Its a real kick in the teeth, she said. We were on the trajectory to get back together, and now thats not going to be possible.

Mr. Lee said his familys 51-unit property, Princess Heights Hotel, which it partly owns, was still open, though mostly dormant. Several state workers from the Netherlands have continued to occupy a handful of units, but the remainder of the hotels rooms are dark.

While most hotels in Sint Maarten have been forced to lay off staff, Princess Heights has not. But its workers hours have been reduced.

This is the first time Ive seen hotels shut down because of lack of business, said Mr. Lee, a former minister of health, labor and social affairs for Sint Maarten. Even after Irma we managed to maintain some level of economic activity.

He thinks the Princess Heights can weather the downturn through the end of the year. If it goes past Christmas, then you need to look at how you restructure, he said.

Most businesses in Sint Maarten, however, may not be so fortunate.

Past four months, Mr. Lee said, I dont know how theyll survive.

Similar hardship is sweeping the rest of the Caribbean, and it is made still worse by the unpredictable nature of the crisis.

With a hurricane, it might damage or destroy a lot of your infrastructure, but its an event, and it ends, and you begin the recovery almost immediately, said Johnson JohnRose, a communications specialist for the Caribbean Tourism Organization, a trade group based in Barbados. This one you dont know when its ending.

Across the region, hotel occupancy has plunged in the past several weeks and is expected to drop nearly to zero by the end of this week, said Frank J. Comito, chief executive and director general of the Miami-based Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association.

Some governments are scrambling to help cushion the impact on the tourism sector.

In Jamaica, Edmund Bartlett, the minister of tourism, said the government was planning to support businesses and employees through cash transfers, special grants, loan payment deferrals and new lines of credit.

We are aware of the challenges and ripple effects of this pandemic as activities grind to a halt and questions surrounding job security arise, he said.

On Mexicos Caribbean coast, where scores of hotels have closed and thousands of workers have been laid off, the state government of Quintana Roo has started delivering basic supplies and food baskets to those who recently lost their jobs, said Rafael Ortega Ramrez, president of the chamber of commerce in the resort city of Cancn.

The government and the chamber of commerce are also trying to help workers secure severance packages from their former employers. And Mexicos federal government is working on its own relief plan, which may provide loans to small businesses in both the formal economy and the informal economy.

Its like we had an open faucet from which a massive water stream used to come and now it has been shut down, and we only have a few drops coming out, Mr. Ortega said.

In Sint Maarten, some leaders in the tourism sector are floating ideas for securing relief for the community.

Mr. Lee said he hoped the World Bank, which is managing a trust fund for the post-hurricane reconstruction on his island, can speed up disbursements. Others are looking to the government of the Netherlands for a fresh bailout.

But for now, residents are preparing for months of duress and uncertainty.

You got to hunker down, you got to be fiscally and financially responsible, you got to cut down your expenses to a bare minimum, said Ricardo Prez, general manager of the Oyster Bay Beach Resort and the Coral Beach Club.

Who knows what the industry is going to look like coming out of this? he said. Is this a fatal blow? Or is this a blow that will take a long time to come out of?

Paulina Villegas contributed reporting.

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Empty Hotels. Idled Tour Buses. The Pandemic Is Devastating Tourism. - The New York Times

How A Little Island In The Caribbean Sea Is Standing Up To The Goliath Of Coronavirus – Forbes

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Coastline of Grand Cayman.

It is 9 a.m. on a Saturday morning at Hurleys supermarket in Grand Cayman and there is no hint of business as usual. Members of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service are manning the supermarket entrance, while security guards spray shoppers hands with antibacterial fluid. Winding dividers direct hundreds of compliant shoppers who file through electric doors every several minutes and at least six feet apart.

Caymanians are restocking on supplies after having just emerged from a hard curfew. No one other than essential workers have been allowed outside of the boundaries of their homesnot even to go on a run or walk a dogand supermarkets, pharmacies and a handful of essential businesses are the only signs of commercial activity.

But Caymans Premier, the Honourable Alden McLaughlin, has a reason to be proud. With just 8 cases of COVID-19 and one death, there have been no confirmed instances of community transmission in the Cayman Islands all positive cases have been connected to travelers.

On a number of fronts, one can say that 2020 has not been smooth sailing for the three-island archipelago. On January 28, an earthquake of 7.7 Mw shook the 102-square-mile island as well as its neighbors, Jamaica and Cuba. Almost one month later, the British territory struggled with what many have considered to be a Brexit-driven blacklisting on EUs list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions, and in early March, local schools and residents were forced to evacuate when the islands landfill burst into a historic blaze that would take days to bring under control.

To add insult to injury, the government and members of civil society have not been seeing eye to eye on a number of proposed government initiatives, including a $200 million government proposal to develop its cruise berthing facility.

But as coronavirus trickled its way into the Americas, Cayman began what has come to be recognized as one of the most proactive and decisive disease containment strategies in the hemisphere a policy regime that has put its people first at the expense of everything else, including the highly influential cruise industry.

These decisions have not come without backlash. In February, the executive chairman of MSC Meraviglia criticized Cayman for denying entry to the ship, after one of its crew appeared to have symptoms of the virus, stating that local authorities acted out of fear. Carnival cruises opted to change routes, bypassing Cayman because of its stringent anti-COVID-19 measures.

On March 11, when the World Health Organization announced that the COVID-19 outbreak had reached the level of a pandemic and public health experts urged governments to take immediate aggressive action, Cayman had no need to be reactive.

The government had already implemented COVID-19 regulations about a week and a half prior to the announcement, despite not having yet identified a single case of the virus within its borders.

But just one day later, a 68-year-old cruise ship passenger who was being treated for a cardiac condition at a local health facility tested positive for COVID-19, to which he would succumb within 48 hours.

Within days, schools were closed and public gathering bans of 50 or more persons (later whittled down to 10 or more persons) were implemented. All patients and staff of the local health facility, as well as the people with whom they had come into contact with, were quarantined.

By March 16, amid stories of the rampant spread of the virus at sea and three days after President Donald Trump declared a national emergency in the United States, cruise ships were banned from docking in Grand Cayman. By March 22, Cayman bade farewell to its final visitors for at least an initial 21 days as borders came to a close.

For a country that relies on tourism for about 70% of its GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings, this decision was difficultbut necessary.

The lives of our people in the Cayman Islands are our first and foremost concern, said tourism minister Moses Kirkconnell.

Public orders fluctuated between a soft curfew, or shelter-in-place orders, requiring residents to stay at home except for essential activities, to a hard curfew, or 24-hour lockdown, which prohibited all movement within the community, except for that of essential workers.

We do not know the extent of community transmission, said the Premier in defense of these decisions. We have to act like it is everywhere. We need people to stay home.

Communication was and has been expedient and transparent. Every day and sometimes twice a day, the Premier, the Chief Medical Officer, the Minister of Health, the Governor and an invited official face the community live, via YouTube and Facebook Live, to update the country on the latest developmentswhich have been known to change drastically from one day to the next.

Each of the characters at the table has a unique role. Premier Alden McLaughlin refers to himself as the grim reaper and has been the carrier of news from around the world and the voice of new regulations. Minister of Health Dwayne Seymour has served as the Christian voice on the panel, offering prayers to the country. Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee delivers medical news and advice, and Governor Martyn Roper has been the voice of the mother country.

L-R, Minister of Health, the Honourable Dwayne Seymour, Premier, the Honourable Alden McLaughlin, ... [+] Governor, Martyn Roper and Chief Medical Officer, Dr John Lee

Residents are provided with access to free SMS government notices, a dedicated coronavirus government information website and a list of hotlines for questions and reports.

Social support has also been strong and stipends have been provided to those who are struggling the most. Caymans fiscal strength has provided it with the unique flexibility to support the economy for several months, according to the Premier, but as with the rest of the world, no one knows how much support will ultimately be required. And, it is certain that it will take a while to recover.

Also impressive is the strong spirit of collaboration between the public and private sectors. When Caymanian students began to fly in from U.K. boarding schools and universities, three local hotels volunteered their properties to serve as quarantine facilities as per the government order that all travelers self-isolate for two weeks.

The highly competitive financial sector unanimously offered three-month mortgage moratoriums, utility companies put a hold on disconnections, and gas stations lowered the price of fuel.

Cayman is lucky. Given its status as a British territory, the United Kingdom has provided support by way of public health consultations and has contributed supplies. Caymans sophisticated healthcare sector has made it the only British overseas territory that has been able to provide reliable onshore COVID-19 testing.

Early action, transparent communication and strict quarantine rules have been game changers for Cayman, but what has really made a difference has been the clear choice of life over money or politics.

I dont want a single one of my people, and that includes everyone who resides here, to die of this disease. Thats what we are aiming for, said the Premier. It could be you, it could be your mother, your grandmother, your sister, your auntie, your uncle, your father or it could be you No one is trying to make your life more difficult. We are trying to save it. Please help us.

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How A Little Island In The Caribbean Sea Is Standing Up To The Goliath Of Coronavirus - Forbes

CBP Reminds Boaters of Reporting Requirements in the Caribbean to Slow COVID-19 Spread – HSToday

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued today a public reminder of the pleasure boat reporting requirements upon return to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

These reporting requirements are essential as CBP and its partners work to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Operators of small pleasure vessels, arriving in the United States from a foreign port or place must, by law, report their arrival to CBP immediately. (19 U.S.C. 1433) After the master of the vessel reports the arrival, CBP Officers provide further guidance regarding the next step in the inspection process.

CBP officers use a combination of traveler history records, officer questioning and observation, and self-declarations to identify arriving individuals who meet the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) COVID-19 travel history and screening guidelines. Individuals who are symptomatic or who otherwise meet the CDC guidelines will be referred to the CDC or local health authorities for additional health screening.

In Puerto Rico, boaters that report their entry in compliance with federal guidelines will be provided the contact information of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA, for its Spanish acronym) at (787) 724-5700 or (787) 771-1124.

In Puerto Rico, at the request of the local government, CBP Officers will relay the phone numbers provided by the DRNA after the inspection process is completed, stated Roberto Vaquero, Assistant Director of Field Operations for Border Security in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. CBP continues to work closely with the Governments of Puerto Rico and the USVI to protect the residents of our islands against this public health emergency.

To facilitate reporting, the CBPROAM appis a free mobile application available that provides an option for pleasure boaters to report their U.S. entry to CBP via their personal smart phone or a tablet located at local businesses.

To use the CBP ROAM app, travelers input their biographic, conveyance, and trip details and submit their trip for CBP Officer review. The CBP Officer may initiate a video chat to further interview travelers. After the CBP Officer reviews the trip, travelers will receive a push notification and an email with their admissibility decision and next steps, if applicable.

For any questions or concerns about the CBP ROAM app, please email us atcbproam@cbp.dhs.gov.

If there are problems with ROAM boaters can still call their nearest port of entry.

Failure to report entry can result in civil penalties as defined in Title 19, Unites States Code Section 1436, to include a penalty of $5,000 for the first violation and $10,000 for each subsequent violation with the conveyance subject to seizure and forfeiture. In addition, to being liable for a civil penalty, any master who intentionally commits a violation under subsection (a) of the above stated section, upon conviction is liable for a fine of not more than $2,000 or imprisonment for one year or both.

To report any illicit activity in the Caribbean to CBP please call 1(800)981-1313.

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CBP Reminds Boaters of Reporting Requirements in the Caribbean to Slow COVID-19 Spread - HSToday

How COVID-19 Has Affected the Caribbean and Latin America – NBC 6 South Florida

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Countries throughout the Caribbeanand Latin America are ordering residents to remain at home in an effort tocontain the coronavirus. Heres a look at what some governments are doing as ofMarch 28, 2020.

Healthofficials in Brazil say coronavirus cases are now reported in all regions ofthe country. In a recent tweet,Brazils president says the country will now utilize the armed forces 24 hoursa day to fight the virus. It is pouring more resources into battling coronavirusincluding an expansion of tests, more laboratories to diagnose COVID-19, and increasingthe number of ICU beds. 23 members of Brazilians presidential delegation thatcame to Florida two weeks ago later tested positive for coronavirus. Duringthat trip, Brazils president Jair Bolsonaro dined with President Trump atMar-a-Lago.

Cuba is enforcing strict measures in an attempt to stop thevirus from spreading. According to NBCNews reporters in Cuba, the government is banning citizens from leaving thecountry, schools are closed, tourism is shut down, and local transportationservices are no longer running. Large gatherings are banned, and only Cubansabroad and foreign workers living in Cuba can reenter the country.

Haiti continues to deal with food shortagesamid the coronavirus outbreak. In a recent tweet,Haitis president Jovenel Moise says his government is working hard to distributefood to those in need. The country remains under a state of emergency, shutteringschools, churches, and factories. The countrys borders are closed, and a curfewis imposed to prevent the spread of virus. Haiti is one of the 51 countries theUnited Nations will help through a $2billion global humanitarian fund.

Jamaica is urging its citizens to beconcerned and to remain prepared about coronavirus. The government is keepingclose tabs on those who arrived by plane in mid-to-late March and will makesure they are quarantined. On Twitter,Jamaicas Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the country is trying to strike abalance between economic activity and managing the spread of COVID-19.

Mexicos federal government is suspendingall nonessential government activities to try to prevent the spread of the virus. Hospitals, fuel production, electrical power, public sanitation and law enforcement are part of the essential services that won't be suspended. At a recent news conference, Mexicos president said the countrys public health crisis is not resolved only in hospitals, it is resolved in our homes.

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How COVID-19 Has Affected the Caribbean and Latin America - NBC 6 South Florida

Corona Around the Caribbean – The St. Kitts-Nevis Observer

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KINGSTON, Jamaica In the one monthit took the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) to completely spread across the Caribbean, several islands have successfully managed to contain the spread of the virus, while other islands are actively struggling.

Dominican Republic Hardest Hit

As of March 28, the region surpassed the thousand-case threshold with close to 1,100 cases of the virus with approximately 40 deaths. The Dominican Republic has been the hardest hit by COVID-19 as 50% of the Caribbeans cases have been reported on the island, roughly the size of Georgia

The Dominican Republic confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on March 1 and the precautionary measures which followed were slowly implemented. Over two weeks after the first confirmed case, tourists were still being allowed to travel to the island.

It wasnt until March 19 that President Danilo Medina announced the closure of the islands sea and air borders, but by then the virus has already began spreading throughout communities. Along with the slow government response, lawlessness of locals has contributed to the spread of the virus. The Dominican Republic has been under a national curfew since March 20, since which, more than 10,000 residents have been detained for ignoring the curfew.

Other islands including Jamaica, Haiti and Puerto Rico have so far successfully managed to keep the number of cases relatively low. Jamaicas Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Christopher Tufton has been lauded by several organizations and notable figures including the Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and the US Ambassador to Jamaica, Donald Tapia for the islands response to the virus.

Jamaica, which now has some 30-odd COVID-19 cases including one death, has implemented several measures to contain the spread all while keeping residents informed with daily press conferences, COVID-19 websites, COVID-19 comic books for children, among other measures.

As for regional travel restrictions, nearly all Caribbean islands have closed their borders to incoming passenger travel and encouraged the larger Caribbean diaspora to refrain from attempting to travel to the region until further notice.

The Caribbean Turns To Cuba For Help

While Cuba now has over 100 cases of COVID-19, the Caribbean has turned to the island for answers and assistance. Since the spread of the virus, Cuba health care brigades have been invited to assist medical workers in Jamaica, Grenada, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominica. Barbados also recently announced a medical agreement with Cuba which will see the arrival of medical doctors and usage of related drugs.

The specialized health teams which have included doctors, nurses and even therapists all adept in handling critical situations. Outside of the Caribbean, Cubans were also sent to Venezuela, Nicaragua, Suriname, and in Lombardy, Italy, one of the regions hit hardest by the coronavirus.

But while Cuba, which has one of the worlds leading medical industries, springs into action to help the world, the United States has criticized the islands seemingly great efforts.

Cuba offers its international medical missions to those afflicted with #COVID-19 only to make up the money it lost when countries stopped participating in the abusive program, tweeted an account for the US State Department Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, last week. Host countries seeking Cubas help for #COVID- 19 should scrutinize agreements and end labor abuses, the message said.

President Mose urges Haitians to stay home

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) President Jovenel Mose has urged Haitians to remain indoors as the French-speaking Caribbean Community country recorded eight new cases of COVID-19 during a seven-day period.

Health authorities said that the number of positive cases as of March 31, is 16 and have called on Haitians to follow the guidelines being given in a bid to stop the virus from spreading.

In a radio and television broadcast, President Moise also urged the population to follow the principles of good hygiene.

Trinidad not following Caribbean countries and declaring SOE

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) Trinidad and Tobago recorded its fifth death, the second within a 24-hour period, from COVID-19 but stopped short of announcing plans for a state of emergency (SOE) or a curfew to help curb the spread of the virus that has killed more than 43,000 people worldwide.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, speaking at the daily news conference put on by the Ministry of Health, said Trinidad and Tobago is also considering releasing prisoners in a bid to curb the spread of the virus but had no intention of following the methods being adopted by some Caribbean islands to implement the curfew and SOE.

He told reporters that if the situation is deemed to be that we need to be more interventionist, and that intervention will put us in a better situation, then the Government has no difficulty in doing it.

Guyana extends the closure of two international airports

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) The Guyana Government says the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and the Eugene Correia International Airport, which were closed last month as part of the efforts to stem the spread of COVID-19, will remain closed to international flights until May 1.

The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), in a letter to Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, noted that the original two-week period was very effective and assisted tremendously with slowing the spread of COVID-19 by limiting international contacts.

It said that the number of COVID-19 cases, both globally and regionally, have risen particularly in countries that have ports of origin for passengers to Guyana.

On March 19, the airports were officially closed to international flights, while domestic flights have proceeded.

Outgoing cargo flights, medivacs and technical stops for aircraft that require fuel have also received approvals by the GCAA.

As of March 31, Guyana has recorded 12 cases of COVID-19 with two deaths.

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Corona Around the Caribbean - The St. Kitts-Nevis Observer

Caribbean Moment: A Perfect Sandbar in The Bahamas – Caribbean Journal

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Its just called The Sandbar, a stretch of sublime strands of ocean sand remote enough that its never gotten a real name.

Its set just off the coast of Cape Eleuthera, the southwestern-most corner of the enchanting island of Eleuthera in The Bahamas, a sprawling resort made for adventure-seekers and beach lovers.

It takes just a minute or two to shuttle here and before you know it youre in another dimension, of sparkling white sand and the kind of neon turquoise you can really only find in seas of The Bahamas.

Its as close as there is to perfect, a place that instantly turns your day into an all-time great one upon your first step.

Just make sure you take your Kalik with you.

Take a moment and dream of this perfect sandbar in The Bahamas, with the latest edition of Caribbean Moment below.

CJ

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Caribbean Moment: A Perfect Sandbar in The Bahamas - Caribbean Journal

Caribbean Moment: In Saint Lucia, a Journey to the Pitons – Caribbean Journal

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If youve ever been to the southwestern corner of Saint Lucia, youve seen them. Youve felt them.

Because the pair of volcanic spires called the Pitons emit some kind of otherworldly energy, a mystical glow, an aura.

This place, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is truly one of the wonders of the Caribbean, a pair of towering green monuments that are the rare stationary objects you can watch. They do not move, and yet you cant take your eyes away from them.(Theyre even more wonderfully enjoyed from a three-walled suite).

Our latest edition of Caribbean Moment takes you on an aerial journey to this magical place in Saint Lucia, the sort of place whose beauty we can all escape with right now.

Take a digital vacation to the Pitons of Saint Lucia in the latest CJ Video below:

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Caribbean Moment: In Saint Lucia, a Journey to the Pitons - Caribbean Journal

Around the Caribbean…Around the Caribbean…Around the Caribbean – Jamaica Observer

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Wednesday, April 01, 2020

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Guyana records second death from COVID-19

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) Guyana has recorded its second death from COVID-19 as health officials yesterday confirmed that there were now 12 positive cases of the new coronavirus in the country.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Karen Boyle, speaking at the daily COVID-19 briefing, said a total of 52 people had been tested and another 43 are in institutional quarantine, while dozens more are on home quarantine.

The Ministry of Public Health had earlier confirmed that a 38-year-old man died yesterday at the coronavirus Intensive Care Unit and was one of the two individuals who were recently moved to the unit after testing positive for the virus. He is reported to have had underlying medical conditions.

Antigua PM announces 24-hour curfew

ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC) Prime Minister Gaston Browne yesterday announced a 24-hour curfew for the next seven days beginning tomorrow, after berating the people of Antigua and Barbuda for not taking seriously the threats posed by COVID-19, which has killed more than 35,000 people worldwide since last December.

Browne, who sought parliamentary approval for the state of emergency (SOE) that was announced over the last weekend, said the SOE would remain in effect for the next 60 days, but could be extended if the virus continues to exist.

He told legislators that he was disappointed that many people, despite the 10-hour curfew announced last week, were continuing to congregate, go on beach limes as well as gather at various places, dismissing the social distancing measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

This is a clarion call for Antiguans and Barbudans to stay at home, he said, warning that anyone found loitering on the streets will be arrested and fined EC$5,000 (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) and/or six months in jail.

Dominica considering lockdown of island on weekends

ROSEAU, Dominica (CMC) The Dominica Government is considering a total lockdown of the island on the weekends, in addition to allowing certain activities to take place in specified time periods during the week.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, speaking on the State-owned DBS radio on Monday night, said that the Government is also contemplating continuing the measures that had been put in place when the island was placed under a lockdown last weekend.

For example, we will allow for the grocery shops to open in the villages and the supermarkets to open, but for a specific time frame, maybe from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm (local time), the supermarkets could open on weekdays but on weekends the entire country should be shut down, Skerrit told radio listeners.

He also said a recommendation regarding public transport is also under discussion given that many buses here have been licensed to carry as many as 16 passengers.

Dominica has so far recorded 12 cases of COVID-19 with the latest victim being a 70-year-old woman from the northern village of Concord.

Bermuda's COVID-19 total jumps to 27

HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC) Bermuda has recorded a further five confirmed cases of COVID-19, taking the island's total to 27, Premier David Burt announced on Monday night.

Tests showed three of the new cases were imported ones while two had close contact with a previously confirmed case. All of the imported cases arrived on British Airways flights from London's Gatwick Airport on March 13, 15, and 17.

Burt told a news conference that of the island's 27 total cases, two remained in hospital in stable condition, 15 were mostly at home with mild symptoms, and 10 have fully recovered. One of the 27 is a police employee.

Burt added that there were still no confirmed cases of community transmission in Bermuda of the virus, which has claimed more than 35,000 lives globally.

Now you can read the Jamaica Observer ePaper anytime, anywhere. The Jamaica Observer ePaper is available to you at home or at work, and is the same edition as the printed copy available at http://bit.ly/epaperlive

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Around the Caribbean...Around the Caribbean...Around the Caribbean - Jamaica Observer

Customs and Border Protection Reminds Boaters of Reporting Requirements in Caribbean – St, Thomas Source

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A U.S. Customs and Border Protection patch

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a public reminder of the pleasure boat reporting requirements upon return to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These reporting requirements are essential as CBP and its partners work to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Operators of small pleasure vessels, arriving in the United States from a foreign port or place, must, by law, report their arrival to Customs and Border Protection immediately. After the master of the vessel reports the arrival, CBP officers provide further guidance regarding the next step in the inspection process.

The officers use a combination of traveler history records, officer questioning and observation, and self-declarations to identify arriving individuals who meet the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) COVID-19 travel history and screening guidelines.

Individuals who are symptomatic or who otherwise meet the CDC guidelines will be referred to the CDC or local health authorities for additional health screening.

In Puerto Rico, boaters that report their entry in compliance with federal guidelines will be provided the contact information of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources at (787) 724-5700 or (787) 771-1124.

Roberto Vaquero, assistant director of Field Operations for Border Security in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, said, CBP continues to work closely with the Governments of Puerto Rico and the U.S.V.I to protect the residents of our islands against this public health emergency.

To facilitate reporting, the CBP ROAM app is a free mobile application available that provides an option for pleasure boaters to report their U.S. entry to CBP via their personal smart phone or a tablet located at local businesses.

To use the CBP ROAM app, travelers input their biographic, conveyance and trip details and then submit their trip for CBP officer review. The officer may initiate a video chat to further interview travelers. After the officer reviews the trip, travelers will receive a push notification and an email with their admissibility decision and next steps if applicable.

For any questions or concerns about the CBP ROAM app, email [emailprotected].

If there are problems with ROAM, boaters can still call their nearest port of entry.

Puerto Rico 1 (877) 529-6840

St. Thomas 1 (877) 305-8774

St. John 1 (877) 305-8773

St. Croix 1 (340) 719-2857

Failure to report entry can result in civil penalties as defined in to include a penalty of $5,000 for the first violation and $10,000 for each subsequent violation with the conveyance subject to seizure and forfeiture. In addition to being liable for a civil penalty, any master who intentionally commits a violation will, upon conviction, be liable for a fine of not more than $2,000 or imprisonment for one year or both.

To report any illicit activity in the Caribbean to CBP, call 1 (800) 981-1313.

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Customs and Border Protection Reminds Boaters of Reporting Requirements in Caribbean - St, Thomas Source

24 Movies That Will Take You to the Caribbean Right Now – Caribbean Journal

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When Hollywood goes looking for a location that oozes tropicalromance, it often turns to the Caribbean, which has been starring in bothindependent and big-budget films since the 1930s. Conversely, a handful offilms produced in the Caribbean have found a wider audience by sharing thestories of island people, culture, and music with the world.

When youre stuck at home and missing the Caribbean, pour yourself a rum drink and settle into your couch with one of these Caribbean-centric films, all of which were either set or filmed in the Caribbean.

Action/Adventure Movies:

Live and Let Die: Set primarily in New Orleans and Jamaica, this 1973 James Bond film starring Roger Moore as 007 includes memorable scenes shot in Jamaicas Green Grotto Caves, the alligator farm at J. Charles Swabys Black River Safari, the Rose Hall Great House, and the Half Moon and Sans Souci resorts.

Dr. No: The first James Bond movie, released in 1962,includes the memorable scene of Bond Girl Ursula Andress meeting Sean Conneryon Jamaicas Laughing Waters Beach. The film is set primarily in Jamaica theisland is the purported location of Dr. Nos secret lair and other shootinglocations include the Bauxite terminal in Ocho Rios, the Blue Mountains, theWhite River, Montego Bay, the GrandPortRoyalHotel in Kingston, andthe former San Souci resort, now Couples San Souci.

Thunderball: The fourth James Bond film in the series brings 007 to the Bahamas, where he meets SPECTRE baddie Emilio Largo and engages in an underwater battle with his henchmen. Shot in Panavision, the big-screen action film includes a Junkanoo parade on Bay Street in Nassau, and other sites that make cameos in the movie include Love Beach, Rose Island, Clifton Pier, and Paradise Island.

The Thomas Crown Affair: While the Caribbean is only a supporting actor in the art heist film, the island of Martinique takes a star turn when Pierce Brosnans Thomas Crown takes Insurance Investigator CatherineBanning (played by Rene Russo) on an impromptu trip to his villa on the Atlantic coast of Martinique.

The Island: The film adaptation of Peter Benchleysmodern-day pirate thriller was set in the Bahamas and largely filmed in Abacoand Antigua. The 1980 film pits Michael Caine against an isolated colony ofFrench pirates who have been preying on sailors for centuries.

The Deep: Another Peter Benchley story, The Deep centerson a shipwreck dive gone wrong off the coast of Bermuda but was shot in theBritish Virgin Islands, including underwater sequences filmed near Peter Islandand featuring the wreck of the HMS Rhone.

Third World Cop: A 1999 Jamaican action film about aKingston man who joins the special forces to fight gun smugglers.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The five Johnny Depp-led Pirates of the Caribbean films have been a huge boost to Caribbean tourism in general and some less-traveled shooting locations in particular, including Dominica and St. Vincent. Islands appearing in the films include Little Exuma in the Bahamas, Petit Tabac in the Grenadines, Old San Juan and Fajardo in Puerto Rico and Samana in the Dominican Republic. The town of Port Royal, where the first film opens and is featured in most of the films, was based on the infamous pirate colony in Jamaica, but filmed in Wallaibou Bay on St. Vincent.

Countryman: A Jamaican fisherman is the hero of this 1982action film produced by Island Records head (and Jamaica resident) ChrisBlackwell. Edwin Countryman Lothan, a Rastafarianfisherman, played the title role, and the soundtrack is full of reggaeclassics.

Haven: Filmed entirely in the Cayman Islands, Haven is atale of violent betrayal set in a paradisiacal background starring Bill Paxton,Zoe Saldana, and Orlando Bloom.

The Mighty Quinn: This Denzel Washington thriller about aCaribbean police chief who tries to protect a childhood friend accused ofmurdering a rich resort owner, was filmed in Port Antonio, Jamaica and at theGolden Clouds villa in Oracabessa.

The Tamarind Seed: Mary Poppins headed to the Caribbeanin this 1974 film starring Julie Andrews and Omar Sharif and directed by BlakeEdwards. The tale of a Cold War romance reaches its apex when the lovers meeton a Barbados beach. The spy movie was filmed in Barbados, London, and Paris.

Comedies:

Captain Ron: Something of a cult classic, this 1992 comedystarring Kurt Russell and Martin Short in a story about a misbegotten yachtcruise through the Caribbean. Much of the film was shot in Puerto Rico,including old San Juan, La Fortaleza, and the Puerto del Fuego Marina inFajardo.

Cool Runnings: The late John Candy stars as a Canadianbobsled coach working with a team of Jamaicans to learn the sport so they canqualify for the winter Olympics. Verrrry loosely based on the true story of theJamaican Bobsled Team. The 1992 comedy was filmed in Discovery Bay andKingston.

Club Paradise: This 1986 comedy, a rare flop for RobinWilliams, focuses on the chaotic operations of a Club Med style resort in thefictional island of St. Nicholas, populated by a familiar cast of tourists,reggae musicians, hoteliers, developers, and corrupt local officials. The moviewas shot over four months in Jamaica, primarily in Portland, and co-starsreggae legend Jimmy Cliff and several other prominent Jamaicans.

Dramas:

Cocktail: Tome Cruise and Bryan Brown star as bartenders in this 1988 film that focuses on the two pursuing their dreams of owning their own bar. Cruises character spends years working at a bar in Jamaica to raise money Jamaican filming locations included Dunns River Falls, Sandals Royal Plantation, Dragon Bay Beach, and the Jamaican Inn in Ocho Rios.

The Harder They Come: Often credited with introducingJamaican reggae to the rest of the world, this 1972 movie stars Jimmy Cliff aslead character IvanhoeIvan Martin, following him from poverty in Kingston tomusical stardom before descending into an outlaw existence. The movie wasproduced and shot in Kingston.

Dancehall Queen: Beenie Man recording the title song forthis 1997 independent film shot in Jamaica, centering on the story of a streetvendor who adopts the persona of a dancehall star to outwit two violent men.

To Have and Have Not: This 1944 classic starring HumphreyBogart as an American expat and Lauren Bacall as his Resistance fighter wifewas written by Ernest Hemingway and set in Martinique.

Safe in Hell: This racy 1931 film tells the story of a New Orleans woman who kills the man who forced her into prostitution, then flees to the fictional Caribbean island of Tortuga.

The Rum Diary: A.k.a. the other Johnny Depp Caribbeanmovie, The Rum Diary was set (and mostly filmed in Puerto Rico); based on aHunter S. Thompson book, the 2011 film stars Depp as a hard-drinking author andalso includes scenes of Carnival in St. Thomas.

Romance:

How Stella Got Her Groove Back: In this 1998 romance,successful stockbroker Angela Bassett finds her groove on a vacation inJamaica when she meets a young Taye Diggs and embarks on a sultry love affair.The Round Hill and Time n Place resorts stood in for Stellas Jamaican digs inthe film.

Along Came Polly: This 2004 romantic comedy starring an uptight Ben Stiller and free spirited Jennifer Aniston begins and ends on a beach in St. Barth.

Islands in the Sun: This CinemaScope Darryl Zanuck-directed film released in 1957 focuses on an interracial romance between characters played by Harry Belafonte and Joan Fontaine. The movie was shot on location in Barbados and Grenada, including Barbados historic Farley Hill mansion (which was later destroyed in a fire).

Any films you love that we didnt mention? Email us at news@caribjournal.com.

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24 Movies That Will Take You to the Caribbean Right Now - Caribbean Journal

Take a mini-break in the Caribbean without leaving your house – Lonely Planet Travel News

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Anyone whos been spending time in self-isolation is bound to be getting antsy, and this week, St Lucia is launching a social-media series designed to transport restless travellers straight to the Caribbean.St Lucia's social-media series is designed to transport you straight to the island Saint Lucia Tourism Authority

Launching 26 March at 11:00 a.m. EDT on Instagram Live, Facebook, and Twitter, 7 Minutes in Saint Lucia is designed to give visitors a bite-sized taste of the West Indies via an array of island-appropriate programming. The series will air two times a week under the hashtag #7MinutesinSaintLucia: the first instalment a yoga class led by local expert Monique Devaux in full view of the famous Pitons, and the next, a cooking class on 31 March hosted by chef Shorne Benjamin.

On the evening of 2 April, theres an hour-long dance party,with DJ Hollywood HP spinning reggae, dancehall, and soca, and on 7 April, a morning guided meditation session live from the beach. Later in the month, theres also a hike on Tet Paul Nature Trail, a guided meditation from the Saint Lucian interior, craft cocktails composed with local rum, a local chef making cocoa tea, and a herbalist discussing the healing properties of various plants.

In an effort to contain the spread or importation of new cases of COVID-19, the office of the prime minister announced that the countrys airports would close to international and private flights on 23 March, with all ports remaining closed until 5 April. St Lucia only has a few confirmed cases so far, but its schools are closed and nonessential services are shut down.

Our aim is to virtually share Saint Lucian culture and natural beauty in an authentic way while people stay safe at home, honourable minister of tourism Dominic Fedee said in a press release, hopefully providing a bright spot in their days.

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Take a mini-break in the Caribbean without leaving your house - Lonely Planet Travel News

Are You Ready to Buy Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and NCL? – Motley Fool

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Few industries have been as battered as the cruise lines in recent weeks. This week's rally in some of the market's hardest hit stocks still finds Carnival Cruise Line(NYSE:CCL) (NYSE:CUK),Royal Caribbean International(NYSE:RCL), andNorwegian Cruise Line(NYSE:NCLH)trading 69% to 72% below their 52-week highs as of Wednesday's close.

Low trailing earnings multiples and chunky yields make this a midnight buffet for income and value investors, but there's a lot more to sizing up the cruise lines than a look back. This isn't 2019 anymore. Ships aren't leaving the ports anytime soon, and even when the industry gets the all-clear at the other end of the coronavirus crisis, it's going to be a hard sell to get passengers back on board in the near term.

Image source: Royal Caribbean.

The next few quarters will be brutal for the industry. You can't make money if you're not generating any revenue. The narrative has gone from how cheap these once-insanely profitable cruise lines were to how many months they can last without filing for bankruptcy. Analysts feel that Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and NCL have at least five to six months of liquidity available before they need to raise capital to stay afloat.

Things look grim, and investors attracted to the beefy payouts may get burned. Carnival and Royal Caribbean are yielding 12.9% and 7.4%, respectively, as of Wednesday's close, but it's just a matter of time before those distributions get reduced, if not nixed entirely. Any bailout will likely mandate an end to shareholder distributions in the near term, and even if they're able to squeeze through this on their own, they're going to have to save every penny they can until business gets back to normal.

It will take some time to get things right. Don't base the industry's near-term outlook on the current analyst consensus. The average estimates call for earnings to decline in 2020 before bouncing back in 2021, but that's only because a lot of Wall Street pros haven't updated their forecasts. Most of the recent analyst updates call for all three cruise lines to post large deficits this year. Every analyst sees Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and NCL returning to profitability in 2021 -- for now -- but even that view is still padded by folks on Wall Street that have yet to revise their projections.

Let's look at Royal Caribbean to illustrate the pitfalls of basing a buy decision on consensus profit targets. The average earnings estimate for Royal Caribbean in 2021 is $8.56 a share, and picking up the world's second largest operator for five times next year's bottom-line showing sounds pretty sweet, at first. However, there are old and now obsolete estimates as high as $12.20 a share in that mix. Some of the more recent updates find Royal Caribbean earning as little as $1.33 a share in 2021 after losing more than $3 a share this year.

Wall Street forecasts will fluctuate, and they could get worse. Even when the sailings start again, we still don't know the legal liabilities of botched sailings and the reputational hit the industry will take given some of the horror stories of some quarantined journeys. Consumers won't be as anxious to book cruises next year as they were just a few months ago, and that's before even considering the strong likelihood of aglobal recessionthat will haunt the travel industry.

It will probably take several years for Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and NCL to revisit their highs, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. These stocks would now have to more than triple to get back their peaks, and under kinder climates they may be able to beat the market in the next couple of years on the way there. The risks have never been higher for these stocks that are not as cheap as they seem, but the bar has also never been lower to come through with market-thumping returns.

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Are You Ready to Buy Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and NCL? - Motley Fool

Caribbean nationals among thousands of COVID-19 deaths – Caribbean Life

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As the novel coronavirus continue its destruction, claiming lives of hundreds of thousands around the world, families of Caribbean nationals are coping with hardship and sadness, as many of their loved ones become fatalities in the climbing numbers in New York city.

Brooklyn Principal Dez Ann Romain, reported to have had Trinidad roots, was one of the first known in the public school system to have contracted the deadly virus and died from complications, leaving scores of her students and colleagues in a state of shock.

According to a release, Dez Ann Romain, 36, who led the Brooklyn Democracy Academy in Brownsville, a transfer school that serves students dropped out or fallen behind in credits in traditional high school settings, was celebrated with a candlelight vigil hosted by Brooklyn Borough President, Eric Adams, via digital video conferencing platform Zoom.

Brooklyn joins together in mourning and sorrow over the passing of Principal Dez-Ann Romain of Brooklyn Democracy Academy, who we lost to complications from COVID-19, said Adams.

Her workwasdedicatedto uplifting students at a transfer high school in Brownsville, one of our boroughs most underserved communities. Too many in our society have written off the young scholars under her stewardship, but where others saw problems, she saw promise and potential.

Principal Romain and my office collaborated together on a first-of-its-kind urban farming program at her school that has students growing fresh produce for Brooklynites in need, and I was personally proud to honor her leadership that has left a positive imprint on countless young lives. Every soul we lose in this pandemic is a tragic loss for our world, he said.

The loss of Principal Romain is particularly painful for the Brooklyn Democracy Academy family, our larger public school community, and a borough grateful for her service, said Brooklyn Borough President.

This is painful for all of us, and I extend my deepest condolences to the Brooklyn Democracy Academy community, and the family of Principal Romain, said Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza.

Were all experiencing a deep sense of confusion, uncertainty, and sadness, and its more important than ever toprovidesupport to one another. Well be there for the students and staff through whatever means necessary during this impossibly difficult time, he stated.

Romain was promoted to assistant principal between 2016 and 2017. Borough President Adams, friends and family of Romain, New York City Department of Education (DOE) Chancellor Richard Carranza, and Council of Supervisors and Administrators (CSA) Executive Vice President, Henry Rubio, offered remembrances of Romain and celebrated the impact she had on her students.

This is painful for all of us, and I extend my deepest condolences to the Brooklyn Democracy Academy community, and the family of Principal Romain, said Schools Chancellor, Richard A. Carranza. Were all experiencing a deep sense of confusion, uncertainty, and sadness, and its more important than ever to give support to one another. Well be there for the students and staff through whatever means necessary during this impossibly difficult time.

Words cannot express what the passing of PrincipalDez-AnnRomain means to our citys school leaders,said CSA President MarkCannizzaro.

We join her family, friends, students, colleagues, the New Visions community, and all NYC educators in mourning this heartbreaking loss, and we thank Borough President Adams for providing this opportunity to honor her memory. Principal Romain represented the very best of our city and its public schools an inspiring, compassionate professional who worked tirelessly toprovideall children with opportunity. She saved lives. To her present and former students: You were her mission, and we know that you will honor her legacy as you each carve out your unique path.

Like Romain, Guyana-born Yvonne Wharton, sister of Guyanas preeminent saxophonist Erwin Flantis Edwards, a caring, selfless person who volunteered her talents to educate youths at the Guyana Cultural Associations annual summer camp in Brooklyn, died from COVID-19.

Cultural Director Claire A. Goring thanked Wharton, who was in her seventies, for her service to the program, noting that the talented woman had a hand in all the activities offered at the camp, where her grand children attended.

Another Guyanese-American RitaYakumsadly died in her eighties fromCOVID-19, after being rushed to Kings County Hospital where she passed away.

The Grenadian community is also in mourning after the passing of Spice Angel Michelle Joseph.

The report said it is with deep sadness, Michelle Joseph who hails from Spring Street, Georges Grenada, a beautiful soul, a talented, intelligent Spice Sister, a minister in the church and mother of four children died from theCoronavirusin Brooklyn.

The family, who expressed shock at Josephs passing from the dreadful virus, described Michelle as an angel of God, whowas dedicatedto doing Gods work on earth.

We as Grenadian Women Inc. and all Grenadians home and abroad send our deepest sympathy to Michelles children, family and friends. We too are hurting over the untimely passing of Michelle, said the Facebook post, adding, Rest in Beautiful Peach Our Spice Sister.

Up to press time,U.S deaths increase to more than 124,000, with more than 2,100 deaths. According to the New York Post,Coronaviruscases hit nearly 60, 000. For more information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

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Accused of First Amendment Violation Against Churches, City of McKinney Amends Stay-At-Home Order – The Texan

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When McKinney Mayor George Fuller issued a stay-at-home orderon Thursday, First Liberty Institute, a legal organization committed to defending religious freedom, took notice. In a letter to the mayor, the organization asserted that the order violates the First Amendments Free Exercise Clause and the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

First Libertys general counsel, Michael Berry, sent the letter to Fuller on Friday morning asking him to more narrowly tailor his order so as not to burden churches and other religious institutions.

Within hours of receiving the letter, McKinney city officials changed the order.

We were not surprised with how they responded, but we were surprised with how quickly it came. We certainly commend the city of McKinney, Berry told The Texan.

The order had required that religious and worship services be conducted only online or by teleconference and limited those conducting the service to ten people. It was changed to allow religious services by video or teleconference, or by other means that comply with the CDCs guidelines for social distancing.

First Liberty had advised churches to follow the White House and CDC guidelines for slowing the spread of the virus.

Under the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the government can only substantially burden the free exercise of religion if it has a compelling governmental interest and does so by the least restrictive means possible.

You can ensure health and safety but do so in a way that doesnt violate the federal or state law or the Constitution, Berry said.

Berry pointed out that the first order, before amended, placed a substantial burden on religious practices and that the city did not use the least restrictive means available to it.

In contrast to its limit on churches, McKinneys previous order did not put a ten-person limit on other locations listed as essential, like the number of staff preparing take-out food at a restaurant or on workers in child care facilities.

However, First Liberty asserts that religious exercise is an essential and constitutionally protected activity listed in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Berry pointed to creative ways that churches were staying within the CDC guidelines while still meeting together, like drive-in worship services where participants stayed in their cars to avoid contact with others and gathering in small groups of ten or less. Those were prohibited by McKinneys prior order.

Additionally, McKinney, found within Collin County, issued an order that was more restrictive than the one issued by Collin County Judge Chris Hill. The county has issued an order utilizing the least restrictive means possible and encouraging the highest level of personal responsibility.

It did not specifically limit religious gatherings but encouraged residents to avoid gathering in groups of more than ten.

When two orders are in conflict, Berry said, the county order supersedes according to Texas Local Government Code Section 418.108 (h).

When asked about other orders that might be problematic, Berry said they would be taking a look at orders all around Texas and the country. A citizen who believes an order in their county or city is unconstitutionally burdening the freedom of religion can consult the guidance on their website and is welcome to bring it to the attention of First Liberty.

A free bi-weekly commentary on current events by Konni Burton.

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Accused of First Amendment Violation Against Churches, City of McKinney Amends Stay-At-Home Order - The Texan

Letter to the editor: Wolf violated First Amendment, Civil Rights Act – TribLIVE

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‘Call of Duty’ Wins First Amendment Victory Over Use of Humvees – Hollywood Reporter

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A judge rules that Activision is entitled to summary judgment in a trademark lawsuit brought by the manufacturer of military vehicles.

Call of Duty maker Activision has prevailed in a closely watched trademark dispute brought by AM General, the government contractor for Humvees. On Tuesday, a New York federal judge responded favorably to Activision's argument that it had a First Amendment right to depict contemporary warfare in its game by featuringHumvees.

"If realism is an artistic goal, then the presence in modern warfare games of vehicles employed by actual militaries undoubtedly furthers that goal," writes U.S. District Court Judge George B. Daniels in granting summary judgment in favor of Activision.

The video game publisherfought AM General's claimsalong with Major League Gaming Corp., a professional esports organization. The dispute was potentially worth tens of millions of dollars, and the discussion attracted intellectual property professors and the Electronic Software Association to weigh in with amicus briefs.

One of the reasons why the dispute became such a big deal was its potential to complicate a test established in Rogers v. Grimaldi, a 1989 decision that resulted from a lawsuit brought by the actress Ginger Rogers over the Fellini film Ginger and Fred. The test directs judges to examine whether use of a mark has artistic relevance, and if so, whether the work is explicitly misleading. But in thisCall of Dutycase,AM General argued that trademark laws hardly give way to the First Amendment when an infringing work is expressive, and when dealing with famous marks, judges should heed an additional eight-factor test for consumer confusion set forth in Polaroid v. Polarad. That's because, AM General told the judge, the "explicitly misleading" prong could be satisfied upon particularly compelling evidence of the likelihood of confusion.

Judge Daniels decides to travel down this road, and after coming to the conclusion that use of Humvees inCall of Dutyhas some artistic relevance, he ends up with a more surprising finding: The Polaroid factors actually favorActivision.

He acknowledges that there's strength in plaintiff's mark (i.e., consumers recognize Humvees) but doesn't see much similarity in how the two sides are using the mark. One is selling vehicles to the military while the other is creating realistic modern warfare video games. As for proximity of the products, while AM General may license out the rights to depict Humvees in games and toys, the judge isn't impressed because that's not its central purpose as a business. Then, there's the evidence of actual confusion. The judge acknowledges an expert's survey that shows some confusion (less than 20 percent), but says it tips only slightly in AM's favor.

One of the more notable Polaroid factors here is good faith, basically an analysis of why Activision decided to adopt Humvees into its game. AM general pointed to "documents, emails and witness testimony," the presence of Humvees decorated with Call of Duty logos at promotional events, and statements in user guides where consumers were allegedly told that Activision either owns or licenses the Humvee IP.

And yet it all fails as Daniels concludes that these "three clutches of circumstantial evidence, even if afforded the benefit of all reasonable inferences in Plaintiff's favor, do not demonstrate a desire to 'sow confusion between the two companies' products.'"

Here's the full opinion.

"To the extent that any of the Polaroid factors are satisfied such that a modicum of confusion might be present Plaintiff nonetheless has failed to present sufficient evidence to defeat summary judgment," writes the judge who then takes up whether Activision has offered a "persuasive explanation" of its use.

Here, that persuasive explanation is "realism," given Humvees' widespread use by modern militaries.

Daniels writes, "[A]ssuming arguendo that realism is the only artistic interest that Call of Duty games possess an assumption potentially belied by the presence of narrative campaign modes in all of the challenged games it is also true that realism can have artistic merit in itself."

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'Call of Duty' Wins First Amendment Victory Over Use of Humvees - Hollywood Reporter

Cal Thomas: How to save the media – West Central Tribune

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I confess to a certain self-interest in today's column. The media, especially newspapers, are in trouble. Conservatives like myself have been relentless in attacking their collective bias over the years, but as more of them fold or reduce staff, it is crucial the institution be saved.

Margaret Sullivan, a columnist for The Washington Post, has suggested that federal bailout money should be allocated to newspapers. That is an amusing suggestion since the world's richest man, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, owns the Post. He could infuse some of his own money to prop up that reliably liberal paper.In an age when fewer schoolchildren are taught civics, it is useful to recall that the press is the only profession mentioned in the Constitution's First Amendment, which specifically forbids Congress from "abridging" freedom of the press.The Founders were aware of newspapers' tendency to print inaccurate, even outrageous, stories, but as Benjamin Franklin noted: "I am ... for freedom of the press, and against all violations of the constitution to silence by force and not by reason the complaints or criticisms, just or unjust, of our citizens against the conduct of their agents."Newspapers then and one could argue since, along with modern television have been full of factual errors, innuendo and slanted coverage (check out the corrections section of The New York Times over the years, and those are only the mistakes they admit to), but no country has a freer press than the United States. Notice that the first entities totalitarians seek to shut down or take over are newspapers and television stations, which ought to tell us something.In a lengthy Vanity Fair article titled "Can the News Industry Survive Coronavirus," Charlotte Klein, quotes New York Times media columnist Ben Smith, who advocates "a painful but necessary shift" for saving the news business.Smith writes, "Abandon most for-profit local newspapers whose business model no longer works, and move as fast as possible to a national network of nimble new online newsrooms."Facebook has pledged $100 million to help struggling news outlets weather the financial storm caused in part by advertisers not buying ads because of the coronavirus pandemic.Financial subsidies are only a partial solution, like quitting smoking but refusing treatment when diagnosed with lung cancer. The real problem for the major media is the perception that their reporters are biased. It doesn't matter how many times they deny their biases or the frequency with which it's pointed out to them, especially by conservative organizations. The point is that as in any business if customers aren't buying your product, denying the reason why only prolongs your company's downfall.A 2018 Columbia Journalism Review story reported on a Knight Foundation-Gallup Poll: "A majority of those who were surveyed said they had lost trust in the media in recent years, and more than 30 percent of those who identified themselves as being on the conservative end of the spectrum said they had not only lost faith in the media, but they 'expect that change to be permanent.' According to a separate Gallup poll from earlier this year that tracked trust in major institutions, newspapers and television news were among the lowest, exceeded only by Congress."Among the solutions would be for the major media to address the perceived bias by including more conservatives and serious religious people on their staffs as part of "diversity" campaigns. No industry that ignores the concerns of large numbers of the public can long endure. It is vital to a free society, as the Founders believed, that a vibrant, free and, yes, responsible press endure, but the media can only save itself. That salvation will come, if it comes at all, not through financial aid alone, or even mainly, but by media owners coming to their senses and honestly addressing the concerns of people who no longer believe their message.

Cal Thomas can be reached at cthomas@wctrib.com.

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Cal Thomas: How to save the media - West Central Tribune

Trump Threat to Pull TV Licenses Over Coronavirus Ad Violation of First Amendment – PEN America

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While mostly bluster, its a bullying attempt to intimidate the press says PEN America

(New York, NY) Donald Trumps presidential campaign this week sent a cease-and-desist letter to television stations airing ads critical of the way he has handled the coronavirus crisis, threatening to revoke their operating licenses. PEN Americas Nora Benavidez, director of U.S. free expression programs, issued the following statement.

Silencing critics is clearly a knee-jerk reaction for the president. He has a long history of tryingtoexploit the legal systemto scare his supposed adversaries. Its a troubling practice and a violation of the First Amendment. In the midst of an election andwhile theU.S.is grappling withan unprecedented public healthcrisis, its appalling for the president to focus in on using his influence to silence a critical television ad that is unquestionably protected political speech. The fact that this threatened action wouldnever hold up in court actually exposes it for whatit is: a bullying attempt to intimidatethepress and silencethepresidents critics.

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PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect open expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible.

CONTACT: Stephen Fee, Director of Communications, [emailprotected], +1 202 309 8892white house

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Trump Threat to Pull TV Licenses Over Coronavirus Ad Violation of First Amendment - PEN America