Monthly Archives: October 2019

The agreement marks the first time that a British institution has apologised for the profits it made from slavery and attaches both money and resources to help make amends.

October 20, 2019 by Global Voices Leave a Comment

By Janine Mendes-Franco

Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies,Professor Sir Hilary Beckles,and the University of Glasgows Chief Operating Officer, Dr. David Duncan, recently signed ahistoric agreementfor slavery reparations the first such contract since people enslaved by the British werefully emancipatedin 1838.

Never before has a UK-based institution thatprofited from slaveryapologised forits role and even more importantly put its money where its mouth is. Quite fittingly, the 20 million agreement ( $24,308,500 USD) was signed at The UWIs regional headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica, on July 31, 2019 the day on which full emancipationfinally took effect181 years prior (and the eve of the annualEmancipation holidaythat many regional territories celebrate).

That 20 million, symbolic ofthe sumthe British governmentpaidto slave owners as compensation for the abolition of slavery, will be used for research and other development-based initiatives between the two universities over the next 20 years, under the auspices of theGlasgow-Caribbean Centre for Development Research, which is to be jointly owned and run. The aim is for the centre to find solutions for some of the Caribbeans most pressing developmental challenges, includingeconomics,public health care, and even issues of culturalidentity. It will be established on both universities campuses by September 2019.

Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Sir Hilary McDonald Beckles (left), and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde (right), at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus in Kingston, Jamaica November 17, 2017. IMF Photo/Krzystof Rucinski, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Ever since2013, when he waselectedas Chair of theCARICOM Regional Reparations Commission, aimed at outlin[ing] the path to reconciliation, truth, and justice for the victims of slavery and their descendants, Sir Beckles has beenat the forefrontof the regions lobby for reparations.

In a 2019 interview with regional magazineCaribbean Beat, he said that being a Windrushchild sealed his destiny of being involved in aspects of the black journey. He also noted the transformational power of theUniversity of the West Indies currently ranked among the top five percent of the best universities worldwide in building a resilient, sustainable region:

The last fifty years, weve built the Caribbean out of the colonial rubble. The issues in front of us this time are very different. An important role of UWI is to help clarify this historic moment and develop conversations about the next half-century. [] My focus was always on economic development and the role that education can play in the economic transformation of our societies. []

Reparations is connected to economic development. [] Im the vice president of the UNESCO Global Slave Routes project, the chairman of the CARICOM Reparations Commission, along with other hats. Im responsible for developing a framework for the research of slavery on a global basis. I spend a lot of time in Africa, Latin America, and Asia looking at how black slavery was globalised. Everything is connected. Britain has a role to play in putting back some of the money it milked from the Caribbean for its own development. Having achieved its own transformation, weve been left with the results of that extraction. I believe we have a right! Britain should return to the scene of the crime, and participate in cleaning up the mess it left behind.

In the context of the UKsrepeated dismissalofthe subject of reparations, thisMemorandum of Understandingwith the University of Glasgow isbeing hailedasseminal. Sir Beckles applauded the University of Glasgows stance that a university cannot be excellent if it is not ethical,addingthat the agreement has put the institution on moral high ground.

This post was previously published on Globalvoices.org and is republished here under a Creative Commons license CC BY-ND 3.0.

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Two Universities Sign Historic Agreement on Slavery Reparations in the Caribbean - The Good Men Project

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ATLANTIC CITY A cruise ship passenger suffered a stroke aboard Royal Caribbeans Adventure of the Seas and hadto beairlifted to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center from more than 100 miles off the Jersey Shore, according to the Coast Guard.

The medevac took place after the Coast Guard was contacted by the ships crewvia satellite phone about 6:20 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.

The ship, which is 1,020 feet in length with a crew of 1,180 and which can accommodate more than 4,000 passengersis on a 13-day, one-way cruise from Quebec City, Canada to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The voyage began Oct. 7 and is scheduled to endSunday.

On Friday night, the vessel was moving south off the coast of Beaufort, South Carolina.

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FILE - In this Oct. 3, 2017, file photo, The Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas, arrives at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Royal Caribbean has announced that its ship Adventure of the Seas will resume port calls to St. Thomas on Nov. 10, and that the ship hopes to be in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and St. Martin by the end of November. It's one of a number of initiatives from the travel industry to remind consumers that the region is recovering from the impact of recent hurricanes. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP, File) ORG XMIT: FLLAU501(Photo: Joe Cavaretta, AP)

Coast Guard duty officers consulted with a flight surgeon after the call to discuss a course of action. The physician recommended that the passenger be evacuated to the shore for medical treatment.

An Air Station Atlantic City-based MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew was launched to conduct the airlift. Elsewhere, Air Station Elizabeth City in North Carolina dispatched a fixed-wing, Lockheed HC-130J for support in the operation, according to the Coast Guard.

An EMS squad waited for the helicopter to land whenthe passenger was transported to the regional trauma center.

Tight squeeze: Cruise ship passes through Greek Canal with only 5 feet of breathing room

More: Royal Caribbean targets Vanuatu for first carbon-neutral private cruise destination

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Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2019/10/19/royal-caribbean-cruise-requests-help-coast-guard-off-jersey-shore/4035976002/

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Royal Caribbeans Adventure of the Seas requests help from Coast Guard off Jersey Shore - USA TODAY

Diving off St. Thomas reveals coral-encrusted reefs, archways, caves, rocks, pinnacles, a couple of intriguing wrecks, and tunnels at Thatch Cayall home to beautiful schools of fish (up to 500 species) and somewhat less beautiful barracuda. On St. Johns east end, Eagle Shoals is such a beautiful dive (when the sea is calm) that it has been the venue of several underwater weddings. And on St. Croix, a shore dive from Cane Bay reveals coral heads, 19th-century anchors, a colorful reef, and an almost bottomless wall. Every beach in the U.S. Virgin Islands offers great snorkeling, but Trunk Bay Beach on St. John has a marked underwater trail that is especially appealing to beginners. A snorkeling trip to Congo Cay, just off the north shore of St. John, is a popular day sail. And on St. Croix, the mostly submerged 19,000-acre Buck Island National Monument, a short boat ride from Christiansted, has a beautiful beach, an underwater snorkel trail, and abundant marine life.

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Best Snorkeling and Scuba Destinations in the Caribbean - Fodor's Travel

The future of thePirates of the Caribbeanfranchise has been up in the air for quite a while now. Several months ago, the House of Mouse dropped the series lead, Johnny Depp, following but not officially caused by Amber Heards allegations of sexual abuse. Depp has since blamed his ex-wifes op-ed in The Washington Postfor Disneys decision, and the ensuing legal mess has been far from kind.

But as that drama has unfolded in the courts, Disney has remained confident that the franchise can continue without Depp. The studios eyes have since been set on a female-led reboot, penned byDeadpooland Zombielandwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (though both eventually bailed on the project). And aside from those tiny details, we havent heard much else. Until now.

According to sources close to We Got This Covered the same ones who told us the leads of Ghostbusters 3 would be young teens and that an Aladdin sequel was in development, both of which have since been confirmed Disney is eyeing Jumanji and Guardians of the Galaxy star Karen Gillan to headline the reboot. Appropriately, the character shed be playing is a pirate named Red and shed pioneer whatever uncharted territories the franchise decides to explore.

Now, we know that a lot of fans are still very upset about the burial at sea of Captain Jack Sparrow, but this possibility shouldnt be accompanied by frowns. Over the last decade, Gillan has proven herself as a more than capable action star, with supporting roles in the aforementioned films, as well as Doctor Who. So, as far as Im concerned, if Disney decides to move forward with this Pirates of the Caribbean reboot, the 31-year-old actress would be a very solid choice.

In the meantime, you can evaluate this possibility yourself when Gillan hits the big screen on December 13th with Jumanji: The Next Level.

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Karen Gillan Being Eyed To Lead Pirates Of The Caribbean Reboot - We Got This Covered

James Van Der Beek's kids are apparently big fans of his Dancing With the Stars performances, as his latest video shows. The Dawson's Creek actor posted a clip on Instagram Saturday that featured four of his children: 9-year-old Olivia, 7-year-old Joshua, 5-year-old Annabel and 3-year-old Emilia seen galloping and gallivanting around a room as the Klaus Badelt and Hans Zimmer song "He's a Pirate" plays. The song was crafted for the Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and soundtracked his Disney Night DWTS performance.

Van Der Beek captioned the clip, "What you do with all your heart... can be contagious."

The actor's DWTS partner, Emma Slater, was thrilled with the kids' tribute, saying she was "obsessed" with it.

"[Oh my God] Im obsessed!" Slater said. "They are adorable!!"

Fans also seemed to to love the glimpse at the Pose and Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23 star's family life.

"How lovely that they all play so well together," one fan wrote. "Mine just quarrel for what feels like all the hours of the days!"

Another gushed, "You and your family are incredible!!"

A third added, "You really have such beautiful children. Why haven't you lost any hair though from all the little people [laugh out loud]."

While it's unclear what the DWTS judging panel would think of the kids' rendition, they sure were fans of the original paso doble. Van Der Beek and Slater racked up a score of 26 (two 9s and an 8) from the judges.

The actor, who also starred in Varsity Blues and The Rules of Attraction, has fully embraced the DWTS challenge, despite the fact that it is "incredibly tiring.

"It is incredibly tiring. I knew it would be hard, but it's a really good community, a really tight-knit group of people," Van Der Beek told Entertainment Tonight after the season's first episode. "And I mean, for someone who has never been enrolled in a dance class, to be able to learn from someone at Emma Slater's level, that's my happy place ... It's an incredible art form. I've always wanted to dance. I've always wanted to do it. This year I just finally had the balls to do it."

Dancing With the Stars airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Photo Credit: ABC/Troy Harvey

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'Dancing With the Stars': James Van Der Beek's Kids Adorably Recreate His 'Pirates of the Caribbean' Routine - PopCulture.com

We reveal the sweet spots when the weathers decent, the costs are low and the crowds nonexistent

Low season is for losers, right? Not quite. The marked increase in overtourism has prompted the thoughtful traveller to question priorities and reappraise the notion of seasonality. None of us wants to be part of the herd, after all. But nor do we wish to be stuck in monsoon misery, with only shuttered restaurants for company. Which brings me to secret season: that strange time of the year when discounted prices coincide with decent weather and reduced visitor numbers. All offer great value for money and that most coveted travel quality: room to breathe.

Caribbean in summer

The word hurricane puts people off, but the truth is a little more nuanced. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, but data from the US

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The Caribbean, India's Golden Triangle, safari in southern Africa and other holiday favourites - The Times

The 2019 Atlantic hurricane season has witnessed 15 tropical depressions, 13 storms and five hurricanes - three of which were major hurricanes. Forecasters are currently monitoring three systems in the Atlantic Ocean which have the potential to strengthen and become the next tropical storm of the season. But if and when the storm develops, will the swirling vortex strike the Caribbean?

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations (NOAA) National Hurricane Center (NHC) is currently monitoring a tropical depression and two tropical disturbances churning across the Atlantic Ocean.

The forecasters are monitoring the poorly organised tropical depression, which is the seasons 15th so far, as it migrates westwards over the Atlantic.

As of 11am AST (4pm BST) the tropical depression was located near latitude 15.6 north, longitude 21.6 west which was roughly 160 miles east of the Cabo Verde Islands.

The depression remains poorly organised and is expected to pass near the eastern Cabo Verde Islands later today and tonight.

READ MORE:Typhoon Hagibis satellite images reveal as Japan braces for monstrous storm'

The depression formed on Monday near the western coast of Africa which is a rare location for the system to develop so late into the hurricane season, according to the Weather Channel.

Although the system is poorly organised, it is expected to strengthen into Tropical Storm Nestor late on Tuesday according to forecasters.

However its tenure as a tropical storm is anticipated to be short-lived.

The tropical storm is expected to begin weakening on Wednesday becoming a remnant low in the next couple of days.

The storm is currently too far away to be a threat to the Caribbean or Florida.

The next advisory about the tropical storm will be published at 5pm AST (10pm BST).

Elsewhere in the Atlantic, the NHC are monitoring two tropical disturbances which may strengthen to become storms.

The first of these is a trough of low pressure which is producing a small area of showers and thunderstorms.

This system is located over the southern Yucatan peninsula, Belize, and northern Guatemala.

While the chance of formation is low at near 0 percent over 48 hours and 30 percent through five days, the disturbance is expected to produce heavy rains across a large portion of Central America during the next couple of days, which could cause flooding and mudslides, especially in mountainous areas.

By late Wednesday, the disturbance is forecast to emerge over the Bay of Campeche and gradually turn northward.

Environmental conditions could become a little more conducive for some development towards the end of the week when the system is located over the western Gulf of Mexico.

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Tropical Storm Nestor: Will swirling vortex reach the Caribbean? - Express.co.uk

Stone cist graves on the Caribbean island of Saba are found to represent a cultural continuity with the burial practices of rural 17th-century British settlers.

It is known that since the Bronze Age , all across Western Europe, stone lined cist graves were used right through to the late medieval period and in the Americas they appear in the colonial period. Now, a new paper published in the journal Antiquity says burying people in cist graves is a funerary practice that continues on the island of Saba to the present day which the authors maintain is unparalleled, not only in the Caribbean, but across the colonial Americas , and they set out to answer why.

Researchers study cist graves on Saba. (J Haviser / Antiquity Publications Ltd )

In the 1960s the ethnographer Julia Crane first studied 20th century burial practices and mortuary customs on Saba and she noted that a death required the tolling the nearest church bell, another funerary tradition that remains to the present. A burial shroud made by a local seamstress was placed over the corpse and the deceaseds family were visited by friends and relatives and it was customary that older aged Sabans had their own coffins made which were kept beneath their beds until that death bell tolled.

Cist graves were a funerary practice in the Bronze Age. (Jay Haviser / Antiquity Publications Ltd )

Authors Ryan Espersen and Jay Haviser have developed on the work of Julia Crane and their new findings suggest these traditions, and the use of cist graves, indicate a cultural continuity of Western European burial practices brought to Saba by rural British colonists in the early 17th century.

Saba is the northern most volcanic island in the Lesser Antilles in the Eastern Caribbean and measures approximately 5 square miles (13 square kilometers) with its highest point being around 2880 feet (878 meters) above sea level. The island was first colonized by Dutch explores during the 1640s and by 1656 there were 200 residences including English, Scottish, Dutch, French and Irish settlers. Growing sugar, indigo, cotton and coffee on the lower regions of the island throughout the colonial period , through to emancipation in 1863, the paper says there were similar numbers of enslaved Africans and white Europeans.

The Caribbean island of Saba, where the cist graves were discovered. (Google Earth / Antiquity Publications Ltd )

Today, cist grave burials are carried out all over Saba but was originally associated not with enslaved Africans , but with early white populations and later adopted by free populations of African descent during the 19th and 20th centuries. The recent excavations of several cist burials on Saba helped identify Saban vs non-Saban identity prior to the 20th century and informed of the mortuary practices of white and African-descent people in the Caribbean , and especially in post-emancipation contexts.

Up to now, archaeologists on Saba greatly depended on luck, because burials were generally found either during construction work or having been exposed by erosion. And another problem lies in that the graves of enslaved Africans were most often unmarked and between the mid 17th and early 19th centuries the graves of lower-class whites, and free African-descent Sabans, were also unmarked.

But having studied the newly excavated cist graves the two scientists believe that the continuity of this tradition on Saba testifies to the islands social and economic insularity between the 17th and late 20th centuries and this is why the early northwest European funerary custom became a deep and persistent practice on Saba but remains unseen elsewhere in the Caribbean. This idea is supported in the presence of other early European practices on Saba like for example Maypole dancing , and in foods such as scones and brisket, according to the paper.

The European funerary custom of cist graves became a tradition on the island. (R Espersen / Antiquity Publications Ltd )

Furthermore, during the 19th and 20th centuries cist burials were adopted by the islands African-descent populations demonstrating the move away from a binary opposition between the mortuary practices of white vs African-descent populations in the Caribbean, and this is notably the case in the post-emancipation environment.

While the authors say stone cist burials are unique to Saba they consider it possible that they were introduced elsewhere in the Americas by 17th century colonists from northwestern Europe but the practice didnt catch on and never became a cultural norm like it did on Saba. They also say future discoveries of cist burials in the Americas would enable the dating of burials to the early colonial period and that the Saban cist graves encourage a broader re-evaluation of early colonial burial practices in the Americas revealing data about cultural interactions, insularity, continuity and change.

The full report is available from Antiquity Journal, DOI: https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2019.112

Top image: Stone cist graves on Saba represent the burial practices of British settlers. Source: J Haviser/ Antiquity Publications Ltd

By Ashley Cowie

Ryan Espersen, R., and Haviser, J. 2019. Cist graves on Saba: funerary traditions in the colonial Caribbean . Antiquity Journal. [Online] Available at: DOI: https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2019.112

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Tiny Caribbean Island is the Only Place with Cist Graves in the Americas - Ancient Origins

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Royal Caribbean Cruises stock is higher on Friday, following an upgrade from Macquarie. The bank argues that even though the cruise operators third-quarter results might be messy, strong trends should boost the stock, which is trading at an attractive valuation.

The back story. Royal Caribbean stock (ticker: RCL) is up 13.3% year to date, trailing behind Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) and the S&P 500 index, but ahead of Carnival Corp. (CCL). Royal Caribbean slipped after its most recent earnings report in July, as investors worried about its financial forecasts, and the group took a hit from concern over the impact of Hurricane Dorian last month.

On the positive side, CEO Richard Fain was named one of the 30 Best CEOs by Barrons this year.

Whats new. On Friday, Macquarie analyst Paul Golding boosted his rating on Royal Caribbean to Outperform from Neutral, and raised his price target by $6, to $132. The stock was up 1.4% to $110.79 near midday.

He writes the company is a best-in-class operator, a view he said is further solidified by the positive momentum in Asia something that has eluded peers.

Looking ahead. Late last month, Carnival shares sank after its earnings report, but Golding is more upbeat about Royal Caribbeans results, due out next week. He notes that the results could be messy but argues that Hurricane Dorian was a one-time event, while interest in advanced bookings remains strong. With Royal Caribbeans shares at a current near-trough price-to-earnings multiple, we see substantially more upside than downside, even if leverage is higher than peers, he wrote.

That said, he did lower his third-quarter adjusted earnings per share estimate by eight cents, bringing it below the Wall Street consensus, to account for Dorians impact.

He also reiterated an Outperform rating and $65 price target on Norwegian Cruise Line, writing that the companys strong pricing, nimble fleet, and continued positive overall advanced bookings excluding September merit a much higher multiple. Norwegians earnings are due out in early November.

Write to Teresa Rivas at teresa.rivas@barrons.com

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Royal Caribbean Stock Will Outperform, Analyst Says - Barron's