Monthly Archives: July 2020

MANCHESTER, England Head coach Phil Simmons on Monday chided West Indies batting as disappointing, once again lamenting the absence of hundreds and calling on batsmen to stand up, following a comprehensive 113-run defeat in the second Test at Old Trafford.

In the face of a massive first innings score of 469 for nine declared by England, West Indies under-performed in reply, crashing from 242 for four to 287 all out to lose their last six wickets for 45 runs on Sundays penultimate day.

And set 312 for victory on Mondays final day after England declared their second innings on 129 for three, West Indies declined to 37 for four and following a brief recovery, lost their last six wickets for 61 runs to perish for 198.

I think it was disappointing, the way we started chasing 300. If we had batted normally between when we started and tea time [we would have been in a better position], Simmons told media afterwards.

The plan was to see what was happening at tea and what we had left to chase, and decide if we were going to go at it or if we were going to bat out the day. But the way we started the inning, it didnt augur well for us and we had to be fighting to save the game.

He continued: You had five, maybe six half-centuries and no conversion [to triple figures]. Its something that weve been talking about a lot and no one has taken up that opportunity in this game yet again so it is disappointing.

I think thats where things lie because had we continued from [242 for four] yesterday and one of the guys in got a hundred another hundred-run partnership because weve had two for three fifty-run partnerships [things could have been different].

These are the little things that help you control a Test match. We had things under control up to that point.

Rookie Shamarh Brooks hit a half-century in each inning while opener Kraigg Brathwaite, Roston Chase and Jermaine Blackwood all added fifties but failed to carry on.

In contrast, Ben Stokes struck a superb 176 in the first innings while opener Dom Sibley got 120, to underpin Englands large total.

Simmons, who had underscored the need for hundreds prior to the game, said this area was one of the major concerns for the Caribbean side heading into Fridays start of the third and deciding Test here.

I think we have to do something different we just lost a Test match. We have to add to things weve done in the first Test match and subtract from some of the things weve done in this Test match, and I think it is critical that our batsmen carry on and make big hundreds, he reiterated.

Stokes [made] 176, [Sibley made] 120-odd. Our batsmen need to make hundreds because our bowlers are doing their jobs and now the batsmen need to stand up and do what they have to do for West Indies cricket.

Simmons also stressed it was important batsmen were tuned into team plans, warning that individualism would not be tolerated.

If I find that out and I think that youre more concerned about your current form rather than what you can do for the team then you can think about your current form on the sidelines, Simmons asserted.

Because so far everyone has been looking to work hard for the team and if someone changes that train of thought, then theyre not there for the team so wed have to think about that very, very seriously.

CMC

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Simmons Beseeches Batsmen to 'Stand Up' in Wake of Defeat - caribbeannationalweekly.com

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados Barbados says it has no intention of ending a programme through which Cuban nurses are engaged in the fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19) on the island, despite a threat by the United States to target countries benefiting from the medical missions from Havana.

Barbados is a sovereign country and we make decisions in the interest of the country just like other countries large and small. We have engaged the nurses from Cuba. Barbados had diplomatic relations with Cuba when other countries were trying to do the same . . . and we are not going to buckle under the pressure of any other nation, said Health Minister, Jeffrey Bostic.

He told a branch meeting of the ruling Barbados Labour Party (BLP) in St. Phillip, south-east of the capital on Sunday evening that Bridgetown would maintain its policy of being friends of all, satellites of none.

Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott has introduced a new bill that would target countries that hire Cuban doctors through the medical missions controlled by the islands government.

The Cut Profits to the Cuban Regime Act requires the State Department to publish the list of countries that contract the doctors through the Cuban government and to consider that as a factor in their ranking in the State Departments annual Trafficking in Persons report.

Scott is being supported by Florida and Texas Republicans, Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz. He said the Cuban government was participating in the human trafficking of doctors and that any country that requests medical assistance from Cuba is aiding such efforts.

Rubio also called the missions a form of modern-day human trafficking, but the Cuban government, which has almost 30,000 healthcare workers contracted in more than 50 countries, including in several Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries, has dismissed the accusations and insists that the missions are examples of cooperation and solidarity.

Bostic said that Barbados was doing what was in the interest of its people and the nurses would remain here because we expect we will have more cases and we are a tourism-based country which depended on almost 40 per cent of GDP.

CMC

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Barbados Not Worried by US Threat Over Cuban Medical Missions - caribbeannationalweekly.com

Pirates of the Caribbean star Zoe Saldana explains why she left the franchise after the first film, and how the experience almost ended her career.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearlwas a box-office smash for Disney, skyrocketing its cast to global-stardom but actress Zoe Saldana neglected to return for any of its many sequels, citing her treatment off-screen as the reason why. Though she later made waves starring in James Camerons Avatar, and the J.J. Abrams-led Star Trek reboot, Saldanas earlier experience with the then-fledgling Pirates franchise left a sour taste in her mouth and almost led her to quit Hollywood filmmaking altogether.

In The Curse of the Black Pearl, Saldana plays Anamaria: a no-nonsense pirate from Jack Sparrows past. She hunts him down for stealing her boat, and after dealing out a few deserved slaps ends up joining his crew. By the end of the film, having crossed blades with undead pirates, Anamaria and Jack (Johnny Depp) appear to be on better terms; skeleton battles clearly at the heart of any good relationship.

Related:Zoe Saldaa's 5 Best & 5 Worst Movies (According to IMDb)

Unfortunately, in Saldanas experience, this on-screen camaraderie wasnt reflected in the films production though she insists that the cast were not to blame. Talking with THR in 2014, Saldana said, Those weren't the right people for me. I'm not talking about the cast. The cast was great. I'm talking about the political stuff that went on behind closed doors. It was a lot of above-the-line versus below-the-line, extras versus actors, producers versus PAs. It was very elitist. She then went on to discuss the films impact on her career, saying: I almost quit the business. I was 23 years old, and I was like, F this! I am never putting myself in this situation again. People disrespecting me because they look at my number on a call sheet and they think I'm not important. F you.

These statements expanded on previous comments from a 2011 interview with The Independent, in which Saldana said, I didn't like the experience of working on Pirates and I feel that it is my job to be completely honest. To me, that's what a Hollywood movie felt like. If that's what I have to witness, and have to go through, to do a Hollywood movie, I'd rather do something else." Saldana's frustrations were also felt by star Johnny Depp, who revealed in a 2018 interview with GQ that, "The trouble with working with these big studios is they can get uncomfortable about certain creative decisions you make. That happened withPirates." Depp went on to clarify: "Disney hated me. [They were] thinking of every way they could to get rid of me, to fire me."

Clearly, Disney's approach left a lot to be desired, and while Depp signed on forPirates of the Caribbean sequels Saldana questioned whether she would continue in an industry with such allegedly toxic working practices. Thankfully, Saldana stuck around, going on to star as Gamora in the hugely-successful Guardians of the Galaxy a role she has returned to readily across several films within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That the MCU andAvatarare both Disney-owned brands doesn't appear to phase Saldana, suggesting that her negative experience working onThe Curse of the Black Pearlwas specific to the company at the time (under then-CEO Michael Eisner), and not reflective of Disney's current workplace culture.While thePirates franchise continued, Saldana remained absent though her character, Anamaria, did go on to appear in various spin-off materials, including a short-lived comic book series and a Lego-themed video game.

After a string of critical failures, and diminishing box-office returns of late, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is in deep water, and reports abound that Disney are attempting to revive the property with fresh blood. Only time will tell whether Zoe Saldanas Anamaria will regain her sea-legs and re-join the franchise, but the actresss ongoing relationship with Disney via Marvel, along with reports that the new Pirates film will be female-driven, certainly lend credence to such a possibility.

Next:Disney's TWO New Pirates Of The Caribbean 6 Movies Explained

2 Fast 2 Furious: Every Original Movie Character Who Didn't Return (& Why)

Joe Simpson is a writer, filmmaker, and cynic based in Edinburgh, Scotland. He likes pia coladas, getting caught in the rain, and hates referring to himself in the third person. Alas, them's the breaks.

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Pirates of the Caribbean: Why Zoe Saldanas Anamaria Didnt Return - Screen Rant

There is a lot up in the air about the new reboot forPirates of the Caribbean,but fans can finally be sure that Margot Robbie will be taking a leading role. On top of that, this female-led flick will also have a female writer, Christina Hodson. These two talented ladies worked together onBirds of Preyand are teaming up again.

RELATED:Pirates Of The Caribbean: 10 Questions We Still Have (That Could Be Answered In A 6th Movie)

While fans wait patiently for more information about their favorite pirate franchise, they should at least get refreshed, or up-to-date, about these two women. So, here are five things that everyone needs to know about Margot Robbie, and five about Christina Hodson.

This talented and versatile actress is far from a new face to the big screen, and she's certainly also dabbled in some pretty incredible and critically-acclaimed films.

With two Oscar nominations under her belt (forI, Tonya,andBombshell), fans should know that this actress is one of the most talented in the business today. It will be refreshing to see her join a popular franchise.

This new writer is definitely a baby in the business, but she's definitely already proved herself. She's becoming a pretty big name in the DC universe, too. FromBumblebeetoBirds of Prey,Hodson is also signed up forThe FlashandBatgirl.

She's obviously got the action genre down-pat and knows her way around female leads and popular franchises. It will be incredible to see what she does with the pirate series.

Many of the actors and actresses that have joined this pirate franchise are not actually American, and Margot Robbie is no exception. She was born and raised in Australia and has an adorable accent to prove it.

RELATED:Birds of Prey: 10 Harley Quinn Mannerisms & Traits That Margot Robbie Nailed

She starred in an Australian soap! Then, her Hollywood career took off in the 2010s. Since then, the rest is truly history, and it will be fascinating what this Australian actress makes of her pirate character.

Just like Margot Robbie, this writer is also not American. This is definitely fit for this popular franchise, and this English writer is of both English and Taiwanese descent.

Fans have seen what actors like Keira Knightley and Penelope Cruz brought to the table, and it's exciting that this new reboot will also have some more diverse views.

Margot Robbie had been in the acting business for a while, but her starring role alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in Martin Scorsese's popular flick,The Wolf of Wall Street,definitely put her name in lights.

Their chemistry on-screen matched with the unique and mesmerizing characters scored this movie serious attention, and there was no doubt in anyone's mind after it that Robbie would be a star.

Obviously, Hodson has worked with Robbie and some other big names, but her very first writing credit was forShut In,which starred the iconic Naomi Watts. This psychological thriller was released in 2016 and marked Hodson's transition into screenplay writing.

RELATED:Pirates Of The Caribbean: 5 Ways To Reboot The Franchise (& 5 Reasons It Should Be Left Alone)

Clearly, her screenplaywas adapted to the big screen, and, while this film didn't exactly take off, it was definitely the start of something big. It definitely got Hodson to where she is now.

Every movie lover out there should at least know that this stunning and talented woman is the actress behind Harley Quinn inSuicide SquadandBirds of Prey.Robbie is pretty well-known for beating out incredible names for parts, including Emma Stone forTarzanandBlake LivelyforThe Wolf of Wall Street.

Probably what is most impressive though, is that Margot Robbie was simply offered the part of Harley Quinn,she didn't even have to audition. Now, it makes sense, because nobody else could slay it as well.

In many interviews, Christina Hodson has spoken up about how important it is to have powerful females on the big screen. With Hailee Steinfeld's character inBumblebeeto the female-ledBirds of Preyto her upcoming screenplay ofBatgirl,it's clear she's invested in women.

RELATED:Birds Of Prey: 10 Action Movie Ladies Who Should Join Harley Quinn's Gang

Partnering up these strong ladies with a female writer is definitely making waves in Hollywood, and every fan waiting patiently for this spin-off flick should be prepared for a stellar flick with incredible women.

For anyone that isn't convinced about this bombshell, it's also important to know that she was incredibly humble beginnings. With a modest background, this actress used to be a 'sandwich artist' at Subway.

She's certainly come a long way, but she will be the first to admit she was pretty great at building a hoagie. However, no fan is upset that she moved on because her talent is out of this world.

Margot Robbie was actually the one that her heart set on doing a girl gang flick with her character, Harley Quinn. After pitching it to the studio, she was linked up with Christina Hodson.

Apparently, they hit it off, and the two worked together on bringing the movie to the big screen. Clearly, these two are a match made in heaven, and this spin-off film should definitely be highly-anticipated because of it.

NEXT:15 Movies To Watch If You Love Pirates Of The Caribbean

Next Harry Potter: 5 Most Satisfying Character Endings (& The 5 Least)

I am a university student studying Criminology & Psychology at St. Thomas University, with a burning passion for film! I am an avid reader, writer, and film-goer, and I love learning about movies, actors, directors, and sharing my passion and knowledge with others.I am a List Writer for ScreenRant, and love being a part of a film community where we all share the same passions.

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Pirates Of The Caribbean Reboot: 5 Things You Need To Know About Margot Robbie (& 5 About Christina Hodson) - Screen Rant

When singer Krisirie first met musicians Willie Stewart and Handel Tucker at Stewarts On The Beat recording studio in South Florida three years ago, there was an instant synergy.

Call it Caribbean chemistry: Krisirie who is from Barbados and Stewart and Tucker who are Jamaicans, gelled so much that day, they co-wrote the stirring Return to Love.

That ballad was finally released in June. With Tucker on piano, Krisiries emotional plea for a peaceful world, tugs at the heart strings.

Stewart, former drummer with Grammy-nominated band Third World, and Tucker, World-Renowned Grammy Producer were blown away by the then 19-year-olds maturity and talent. From left: Tucker, Krisirie and Stewart

She has a unique sound and a sincerity in her delivery. She really has a style of her own, said Stewart. It should come as little surprise that Krisirie hit it off with her more experienced colleagues.

Born Kristen Walker, she grew up in the parish of Christ Church, Barbados listening to mainly reggae; Bob Marley, Beres Hammond and Third World are some of her biggest influences.

Because of the COVID-19, promoting Return to Love has been restricted to social media. A gripping music video has attracted a rush of longtime admirers and new fans of Krisirie who began recording three years ago.Were very happy with how things are going. The social media and public response has been great, said Stewart.

Krisirie is the latest act he and Tucker have worked with at On The Beat. Others include Krisiries compatriot, Arturo Tappin; sibling Jamaican trio, 3B4Jhoy, Josef George, a singer from the British Virgin Islands, and Norre Stephenson, brother of singer/songwriter Duane Stephenson.

Stewart, who has promoted to the successful Rhythms of Africa show in South Florida for the past 11 years, is confident Return to Love and Krisirie have the potential to go all the way. She is singing a message that the world needs to hear. Its timeless. If we dont have love, we dont have nothing, he reasoned.

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"Return to Love" - A Song of Inspiration by Bajan Singer Krisirie - Caribbean News - caribbeannationalweekly.com

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) A new restaurant is bringing a taste of the islands to downtown Grand Rapids.

Art Caribbean Fusion Cuisine opened last weekend with an experience that doesnt stop at the plate. The restaurant at 55 Monroe Center NW immerses guests in Caribbean culture with original art everywhere, including traditional hand-painted metal coffee cups from the Dominican Republic, called jarros de caf.

The local artists can bring their pictures here, their art, and if customers are willing to buy it, then theyll be able to do that from here. So its a way of support also for our local artists, owner and chef Gilma DeLaCruz said.

Island music also floats through the Caribbean restaurant, which is the first of its kind downtown, according to DeLaCruz.

When you travel to the Caribbean, when you get to the airport, the first thing that they have is music, live music. So we want to be able to give you have that experience here without having to travel right now, (since) that is impossible to do, she said.

DeLaCruzs food made its mark on downtown Grand Rapids in September 2018 with the areas first Caribbean food truck, El Caribe. The pandemic forced the popular food truck to shut down for about 45 days, but it is once again feeding visitors in Rosa Parks Circle and other areas, now by pre-order.

DeLaCruz says inquiries from visitors in love with El Caribes food pushed her to expand to a place that wont have to close when winter hits.

With the food truck, we kept traveling and traveling and we had a lot of customers asking, When, where are you going to have a brick and mortar? When are we going to be able to find your food in one spot and not moving around? DeLaCruz said.

Some of the food that has made El Caribe so popular is on the menu at Art Caribbean, including the Cuban sandwich with plantain chips, steak jibarito made with plantains instead of bread, and empanadas made from scratch.

The menu also has some new options, including Caribbean nachos. Visitors can also order yuca fries and malanga fries.

Caribbean (food) is the seasoning, too. All of the flavors that we bring together in a meal when you taste it, its not just blend, but youll have different tastes, DeLaCruz said. Your taste buds will be able to have so many explosions when you try Caribbean food, from spiciness to sweet, being able to explore all of that in one dish.

Creating food is in DeLaCruzs blood. Her mother runs Rincon Criollo restaurant off Grandville Avenue near Clyde Park Avenue and her sister-in-law is the executive chef for Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Her relatives inspired her to pursue a career in culinary arts and helped her open Art Caribbean, from the menu planning to preparing the space.

Were a very strong family and we try to support each other, she said. So when were open, youll see my mom here running around and telling me how to do things and how to open because thats how we are. We are a family of support and we have each others back.

DeLaCruzs restaurant combines her childhood experiences of growing up in the restaurant industry and in the Dominican Republic.

I wanted to bring, share with Grand Rapids, that culture, she said.

My husband and I have always traveled to Florida (and) New York. When we go there, we love the fact that we can visit so many different restaurants and be able to have that diversity. And we wanted to have that change here in Grand Rapids. We wanted to bring that diversity and food to the downtown area, she added.

COVID-19 delayed Art Caribbeans opening by about three months. While DeLaCruz was waiting, a riot erupted downtown near her restaurant.

I did not sleep at night, she said. My husband and I were sitting on in the bed and we were like, we dont know whats going to be tomorrow morning. I mean, if they, if our business got destroyed, whats next?

Daylight brought relief in the form of a friends phone call the restaurant only needed its sign fixed and windows cleaned.

My husband was able to come here and help other businesses clean up their windows, put boards up. And it was very amazing. The night of the riots (was) a lot of sadness, (being) anxious. And the next morning was happiness, seeing how our community came together to help clean up and get all these businesses back to open, she said.

DeLaCruz says challenges created by COVID-19 are still emerging.

Probably one of my biggest right now is food supply. Prices and food have gone up. So we have had to make changes to our original menu to make sure that were not losing money and still being able to offer authentic and quality food to our guests, she said.

DeLaCruz also had to change the dining experience, spacing out seating for social distancing, using disposable menus, adding hand sanitizing stations and utilizing outdoor seating set up by Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. for takeout customers.

All staff will be wearing masks. Guests are asked to do so as well when theyre not eating.

We ask that every guest that comes in is also mindful of the staff thats here trying to offer you an experience, she said. That (we) all work together to make sure that were all staying healthy. So thats one of the challenges making sure that were all protecting each other.

Normally, the restaurant could fit 50 people. Coronavirus precautions cut that in half.

Its day by day. I mean, we were at a point where we asked ourself, Are we going to go through this? We thought this was not going to happen. And then they decide to open this (outdoor seating) thing, she said.

While there have been plenty of obstacles, DeLaCruz remains positive and determined to diversify downtown.

There is a lot of opportunities for us to create new things, she said. Grand Rapids is growing and its such a beautiful city that sometimes we lack the movement of making change. So Im here to make a change, to make a difference, to be part of a community and to bring something new to everybody.

Art Caribbean Fusion Cuisine will celebrate its grand opening Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3:30 p.m.

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Art Caribbean Fusion Cuisine brings island experience to downtown GR - WOODTV.com