With the official start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season mere weeks away, Dr. Francine Phillips Kelly, Medical Officer of Health for the parish of St. James, is warning residents not to be blinded by data swirling about COVID-19, while ignoring what could be a threat or a possible surge of Dengue Fever if people become lax in their prevention methods.
She says with the health sector already challenged by COVID-19, all efforts must be made to prevent another outbreak of dengue fever, which could thrust the sector into a crisis.
She says the citizenry must be cognizant that the vector which transmits dengue fever, the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, lives in Jamaica and efforts must be sustained to destroy mosquito breeding sites as without the mosquito there is no threat of the transmission of the disease.
“While the hurricane season is fast approaching, we still have to be vigilant during the drought period, as a lot of people are storing water and despite the efforts to educate them some are still not taking preventative measure to properly store water, which allows for the breeding of mosquitos”, Dr. Kelly explained.
She is therefore reminding citizens to properly secure storage containers, check around their homes and immediate environs for possible mosquito breeding sites and destroy them, wear long sleeve clothing to cover the body and make all effort to prevent being bitten by mosquitos.
She says while the numbers may be reduced, it is not totally gone and people must remain steadfast.
Dr. Phillips Kelly says with dengue fever and COVID -19 presenting with some similar symptoms it is imperative that people take the necessary precautions to prevent transmission and if they feel sick to immediately seek medical attention.
Symptoms of Dengue Fever
Symptoms, which usually begin four to six days after infection and last for up to 10 days, may include: •Sudden, high fever •Severe headaches •Pain behind the eyes •Severe joint and muscle pain •Fatigue •Nausea •Vomiting •Skin rash, which appears two to five days after the onset of fever •Mild bleeding (such a nose bleed, bleeding gums, or easy bruising)
Over the last year, the COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtably had a negative impact on the lives of many Jamaicans, both locally and internationally, especially those working in the health sector, being one of the major groups which has been negatively affected by the pandemic. Doctors, nurses and others who work at clinics, hospitals have been facing the brunt of the pandemic.
One such individual is Shereez Thomas, a housekeeper who has worked at the Cornwall Regional Hospital for over nine years. Her job is to ensure that the rooms at the hospital are clean for the patients. The coronavirus coming to Jamaica has had an impact on her during the early stages, but she has not been dithered by this and instead continues to press on despite the challenges. Though she has a better grip on her work life now, when the coronavirus first came to the island, she was undoubtedly very fearful as not much was known about the virus at the time. She was also very fearful and wondered how she would be able to work at the hospital with the pandemic on the island.
In the early stages of the pandemic as well, Thomas also had to endure discrimination. This discrimination came because she worked at the Cornwall Regional Hospital and came from mostly motorists who were very hostile towards her and her colleagues. “I remember once taking a taxi from the hospital to get to downtown. I remember getting up off the seat and the driver sprayed where I was sitting” Thomas related. She felt as if she was being scorned and pushed aside. She also said she was not prepared for the discrimination she received from her peers. This, however, lessened as the months went on as more information was released about the virus. The extra work, uncertainty about the virus and the discrimination from the wider public eventually put a strain on her and her colleagues. The extra work especially was very daunting as she would have to do a lot more to stay safe. This, in turn, leads to a waste of resources.
“Where I could use the tools for two rooms, I’d have to use it for one, then sterilize, remove my gear and set up for the next room and so on.”
Shereez added that over time she was able to adapt to this new way of doing her work so things became less stressful for her as the months after the pandemic came to the island went by.
She feels that her and her colleagues work do tend to get overlooked and is not appreciated, especially during this time of the pandemic.
“People look down on us housekeepers” Thomas said “In my belief, people don’t appreciate what we do even though we put in 100% in all that we do”.
With the coronavirus now having spent over a year in Jamaica, she is now accustomed to the virus being in Jamaica and the extra work and precautions that come with it.
“That tension isn’t there like when you just heard about the pandemic” Thomas shared.
She also added that once she learned more about the pandemic, she was able to get over her fear about the virus and, while things never got easy, she is understanding of what is happening and is able to work much better and handles extra work and stress better. -Leon Thomas
2020 Jamaica Festival Song Winner, Buju Banton performs with the winning trophy.
The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) is now officially accepting entries for its 2021 competitions. The competitions were open on Monday in a soft launch on the JCDC’s website, following last Thursday’s postponement of the virtual Opening of Entries event, due to technical issues.
The competitions that are now open for entries are the Jamaica Festival Song Competition, the Jamaica Gospel Song Competition, Miss Jamaica Festival Queen Competition, the Jamaica Culinary Arts Competition, The Jamaica Creative Writing Competition, the Jamaica Visual Arts Competition, and the National Festival of the Performing Arts subject areas of Dance, Drama & Theatre, Speech and Music.
Though the competitions have begun accepting entries, the official launch for the Opening of Entries digital platform has been rescheduled to Thursday May 6, at 9:30 p.m. and will be aired on local television channels and livestreamed on the JCDC’S social media channels.
“We promised our 2021 Festival participants that we would open entries as soon as possible, and so as soon as we were up and running we launched the website, and we started accepting entries this morning,” said Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.
“Though we have started to accept entries we will still host our official launch event this Thursday on local television stations and online, to give the public detailed information on our new online entry process,” she continued.
The Minister further noted that the JCDC is taking a virtual approach to all of its 2021 competitions, due to the national social distancing protocols caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Potential entrants will now be required to submit their entries digitally via the JCDC’s online platform at www.jcdc.gov.jm, while the presentation of the competitions will also take place in a digital sphere. Persons interested in entering the 2021 competitions must also first register for a JCDC ID number on the JCDC’s website, as the ID number will be required to complete their entry for submission. Persons should also note that note that they are limited to one entry per competition.
Potential entrants may also note pleasantly that with the exception of the Jamaica Festival Song competition, all other competitions will be free for entry.
“We are charging a small fee of $1000 for the Festival Song Competition as it is the only professional competition on the slate. Just like last year, we are looking forward to having some very big names in the music industry participating as the level of interest shown so far has been very good. I want to wish all the participants in all the competitions the best of luck – may their dreams be fulfilled,” Minister Grange said.
Former Montego Bay United (MBU) hot shot striker Owayne Gordon has inked a deal with Austin Bold FC in the United Soccer League (USL).
The speedy Gordon who twice won the local League with MBU, signed a 1-year deal with the club, ending a 2-year spell at fellow USL side Oklahoma City Energy.
Reggae Boy Gordon now joins countrymen Jermaine Taylor, Jason Johnson and Nathaniel Adamolekun at the Texas-based club, where former national goalkeeper Ryan Thompson is the assistant coach.
Gordon known for his pace and tenacity on and off the ball and who has an eye for goal, was a member of Jamaica’s squad at the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States and has scored 1 goal in 18 appearances for the Reggae Boyz.
This year’s USL league will be filled with Jamaica spice as a host of the nation’s talented stars, several from the Western end of the island have penned contracts to play there.
Western players such as Peter Lee Vassell, Venton Evans and Deshane Beckford will all be displaying their skills in this year’s League.
Unorthodox, unassuming and a stark independent, Garvin Carvalho, speedy and alert on the lines of the football field, as he dashes up and down, is a quiet easy going official, one who speaks with a slight stutter.
Born December 12, 1993 in the once quiet parish of Trelawny, he is a young man with great ambitions of one day becoming a world-rated FIFA badged Assistant Referee.
A former outstanding student of Cedric Titus High School, Carvalho is the fifth child for his parents, Alanana Birthfield and Rickie Carvalho, and has a staggering eleven siblings.
One who loves going to the beach and the river, Carvalho says when he does not have a flag in his hand or a whistle in his mouth, as he is also capable of doing duties in the middle of the park, he enjoys hanging out with friends.
Now operating as a liscened Assistant Referee in the island, Carvalho, who also does Premier League matches, da’Costa Cup, Manning Cup and local parish Leagues, says his dream of becoming an internationally acclaimed official and his attraction to the sport of football started taking shape just after his departure from Cedric Titus, back in 2011.
“I do not just enjoy suiting up and representing myself and the Trelawny FA, being an official is something that brings me real joy”, he said to the Western Mirror. “It has always been my aspiration to move ahead and become a FIFA Assistant Referee, and I believe I will”, a confident sounding Carvalho noted.
Carvalho, who coaches a primary school team when he is not carrying out officiating duties, recanted how he was introduced to officiating by Brenton Scott, who he said at the time told him the Trelawny FA was in need of officials.
Carvalho, told the Western Mirror that since the start of the dreaded worldwide Pandemic he has used the time away from the field and physical training to keep his mind sharp, attending several virtual classes per day and keeping abreast of the continued changes and evolving of the game.
“ There has hardly been an off day, I have to maintain my readiness for when the green light is given for the resumption of play, but it’s not only your body that has to be in shape, our mind must also be, so the classes help me with that aspect”.
He also added that “despite the struggles brought on by the COVID-19, I must give thanks ,I was not really suffering financially as I had the opportunity before to travel and earn, so I had some money to utilize during the freeze”.
CARVALHO UP CLOSE:
Ques: When was your first ever game as an official? Ans: My first game as a football official came back in 2012 Ques: What is your favorite food? Ans: I really enjoy eating rice and peas and pork, I love pork Ques: What’s your favorite drink? Ans: My drink of choice is blended pineapple Ques: What is your favorite mode of dress? Ans: Fashion style Ques: What is your color of choice? Abs: As with most men I love the color blue, Ques: Name a favorite move that you’ve watched? Ans: Wrong Turn Ques: What’s your favorite book read? Ans: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Ques: Who motivates you? Ans: My motivators are Albert Scott and Delton Brown. These persons are always there for me; they keep me focused and always help me to make the right decisions. They keep me inline Ques: What is the name of your best friend? Ans: Davaughn Samuels, we have been friends for some 21 years now, we are from the same community so that’s how and where our friendship started Ques: How tall are you? Ans: I stand 6’ 1” Ques: What is your favorite quote? Ans: “When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on- Franklin D. Ques: Which local Premier League player do you love to see play? Ans: Portmore United’s Shai-Smith Ques: Which player is your favorite in the English Premier League? Ans: Sergio Aguero of Manchester City Ques: Which team do you support in the English Premier League?
Ans: Definitely Manchester City, their style of football is very easy on the eyes Ques: Which is your World Cup team? Ans: Spain, I love a passing game Ques: Do you watch or play any other sport than football? Ans: Yes, My first true love in sports was for track and field, so even now I spend time watching it. I don’t know all the schemes and techniques, but I really enjoy watching it. And the best part you can watch it year round, somebody, somewhere, there is always a track meet. Ques: Who is the local official you love to see in operation on the field? Ans: I have quite a few.. They are Cardella Samuels, Daneon Parchment, Kevin Morrison and Stephanie Daley Yee Sin. As lead officials they always encourage me whenever I work with them, they keep me operating at a professional level and they always, always want me to succeed and give of my best Ques: Who is your person to talk sports with? Ans: Daneon Parchment, he has a very broad scope of the game and can impart his knowledge effectively Ques: What’s the most used App on your phone? Ans: WhatsApp definitely Ques: Which is your favorite venue to officiate? Ans: The Montego Bay Sports Complex (Catherine Hall) Ques: What has been your most memorable game to date? Ans: A Manning Cup encounter between bitter rivals Jamaica College and Kingston College. The contest stands out because it was a crucial semi final and it was my “break-out” year so to speak , so it was crucial that I was operating at my optimum. Thought I did really well in the game, it’s always a game I remember as I was on my toes at all times, never flinched.
2020 Jamaica Festival Song Winner, Buju Banton, receives his winning trophy from Olivia Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport at the Competition’s televised grand final last July.
The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) is calling all past and future participants and all other creatives to get ready for the opening of entries of the 2021 competition cycle on Thursday, April 29.
The competitions that are slated to begin accepting entries are the Festival of the Performing Arts subject areas of Dance, Drama & Theatre, Speech and Music; the Jamaica Culinary Arts Competition, The Jamaica Creative Writing Competition, the Jamaica Visual Arts Competition, Miss Jamaica Festival Queen Competition, Jamaica Festival Song Competition and the Jamaica Gospel Song Competition.
“The COVID 19 pandemic has truly done a great disservice to the development of the arts, and has left many of our creatives worried about the sustainability of their crafts and the related financial effects. Therefore, we are elated to announce that we will indeed be hosting our competitions this year, though slightly modified to suit the virtual atmosphere that will keep our participants, adjudicators and audiences safe,” said Andrew Clunis, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at the JCDC.
“2021 has been dubbed the year of the soloist by the JCDC as we will only be accepting entries of solo performers across our competitions, in support of the national social distancing protocols caused by the pandemic,” Clunis continued. Clunis further stated that all entries for the JCDC competitions will be accepted through an online platform, which will also be launched on April 29, during a virtual press conference. This press conference will also give additional information on the entry process and guidelines for each competition.
“We will host a virtual press conference on April 29 to share additional information on all of our 2021 competitions with the public, as well as to give them some general guidance in navigating the new parameters of the competitions due to the COVID-19 related changes,” Clunis said.
“In the meantime, we are telling all our creatives to get ready- put your creative pieces, your culinary delights and your patriotic and moving songs together, because the JCDC is ready and rearing to open the gates of our 2021 competition cycle,” he continued.
Staff of the NSWMA/Western Parks and Markets (WMP) Waste Management Limited, remove plastic waste along the roadway in Irwin, St. James, during a community clean-up and sensitisation exercise on Thursday, April 22, in observation of Earth Day 2021. (Okoye Henry Photo)
The plastic bottle separation pilot project has been enjoying success since its launch in St. James earlier this year, says Community Relations Officer at the NSWMA/Western Parks and Markets (WMP) Waste Management Limited, Sharnon Williams.
The initiative was launched on February 12, in the Meadows of Irwin community, with the aim of reducing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles deposited at the Retirement disposal site in the parish.
Additionally, the project promotes the separation of plastic bottles from organic waste.
Speaking following a community clean-up and sensitisation exercise in St. James on Thursday, April 22, Ms. Williams noted that there has been a steady increase in the separation and pickup of plastics among the households in the Meadows of Irwin area since the launch.
She pointed out that word has spread to other communities that are now interested to be included in the project. “A lot of communities, even all the way to Maroon Town, they have been calling us, because they want to be on board,” Ms. Williams indicated.
She pointed out that other communities such as Ramble Hill and Rhyne Park are also interested in being a part of the initiative. “A lot of persons, they are buying in and it has the team excited. I think they are seeing the importance of getting rid of the plastics,” said Ms. Williams.
“The plastic is toxic, especially when it goes to the Retirement disposal site. In the event of say spontaneous combustion, when it burns, it is toxic for us. So, once we don’t have them there, we don’t have persons inhaling anything toxic, should there be a fire,” she added.
RECYCLING PARTNERS Ms. Williams explained that the plastic bottles that are collected by the garbage units are taken to Recycling Partners of Jamaica Limited.
“We bring them to Recycling Partners of Jamaica. They are located right here in Greenwood, St. James,” she said.
She pointed out that June 6, will be observed as National Solid Waste Day and the idea is to partner with Recycling Partners of Jamaica to find areas in the towns of St. James and Trelawny to set up holding areas for people to come in and deposit their plastics.
The community clean-up and sensitisation exercise were carried out in the Irwin, Retirement and Gutters communities by teams from the Administrative and Public Health Departments of the WPM.
Donnie Dawson-JTB Deputy Director of Tourism with responsibilities for the Americas
Noel Thompson – Contributor
The Jamaican tourism sector could get a well needed cash injection with the projection of more than 700,000 airline seats coming into the island from the U.S. over the upcoming summer period.
This is to the credit of the Jamaica Tourist Board’s (JTB) aggressive marketing strategies being undertaken in North America (its biggest market) in the most unprecedented time globally.
The JTB’s deputy director of tourism with responsibilities for the Americas, Donnie Dawson, announced the projections during a recent virtual customer service training exercise for the island’s immigration, customs and police officers. The event was spearheaded by the JTB and is held annually since 2019, except for last year due to the lockdown.
“I forecast that arrivals in Jamaica will start to increase by this June. We have a healthy airline seat allocation for this summer, which is approximately 20 per cent less in comparison to May 1, through August 31, 2019. This averages just over 700,000 seats coming out of the US,” Dawson asserts.
Dawson, said Jamaica will see two daily flights coming out of Dallas, Texas; two daily flights out of Newark, New Jersey and four out of Atlanta. American Airlines will provide three daily flights out of Charlotte, North Carolina.
“It is looking good. I am predicting that we are going to start seeing growth starting June 1. It will be a gradual growth, but one that will be sustained until we return to pre-pandemic levels. We will be promising a safe and relaxing vacation atmosphere to our visitors and we want you to deliver on our promises,” Dawson told the officers.
FUTURE LOOKS ENCOURAGING Said Dawson: “We are going through a very trying time now with the pandemic. However, we have to look towards the future and the future looks encouraging. As more people get vaccinated globally, the situation will change and revert to pre-pandemic levels.” He reminded the officers that they are the first line of persons whom visitors come in contact with. “You can make or break their experience. You are so critical to what we do. It is unbelievable, but it’s true. I fully understand all the headaches and stresses that you have to encounter and we embrace you wholeheartedly.”
Noting that the real selling of our island begins when the tourists disembark their aircraft at the airports, Dawson said, collectively, all Jamaicans should ensure that their vacation is enjoyable and that they are satisfied. Dawson also emphasized the importance of the region’s travel and tourism market to the Jamaican economy. “The Caribbean is a very important market for Jamaica, as the people in the region often support our sports, carnivals and music festivals, among other activities,” he noted.
He added that the Canadian and the Diaspora markets are also of significant importance to Jamaica, particularly with the huge traffic that comes out of Florida, New York and Toronto.
And, with Brand Jamaica remaining a dominant feature in the international arena, Dawson reminded the officers that all Jamaicans – locally and in the Diaspora, are part of that brand.
“We own Brand Jamaica and it is our duty to market and sell the brand. The genuine hospitality of our Jamaican people is the biggest selling point for us,” he stated.
Dancehall superstar Moses ‘Beenie Man’ Davis pleaded guilty to a breach of the curfew, contrary to the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA) order, when he appeared before the St Elizabeth Parish Court in Black River, St Elizabeth on Monday.
“Beenie Man’ pleaded guilty to the breach and we will be going back to court on May 14th to make a final plea in mitigation. On that date, Beenie Man will be sentenced, and he is likely to be fined. We will now have the opportunity to lay out the circumstances why it should not be a heavy fine,” attorney-at-law Roderick Gordon, who is representing Beenie Man in this matter, has indicated. ‘Beenie Man’ pleaded guilty because he wanted to take a responsible approach given that he is an elder of the global music community,” Gordon added.
Earlier this year, the ‘Who Am I’ deejay had pleaded not guilty when he first appeared before the court in February to answer the charges that stemmed from an alleged illegal party in late November 2020. At that time, his bail was extended.
In court on Monday, the Crown dropped the charge relating to the Noise Abatement Act, which had suggested that the deejay had failed to obtain permission from the Superintendent, contrary to the Noise Abatement Act. Gordon was pleased when the Crown indicated they would not be pursuing this charge.
“We had regarded the Noise Abatement Act charge as the more significant one because it suggested he had not applied for a permit, suggesting he was somehow having music played without proper permission and without paying the fee and that is not the case, so we were very pleased that the Crown withdrew that charge,” Gordon said.
The DRMA was amended by the House of Representatives on March 23 and individuals found in breach of the health protocols now face fines ranging from J$3,000 to J$500,000. A J$10,000 fine is imposed for failure to stay inside a place of residence during a curfew.
Beenie Man had been slapped with the two charges in connection to an illegal party in the Shrewsbury district of St Elizabeth on November 29. The Black River police turned up at the party, dispersed the crowd, and Beenie was warned for prosecution.
The 47-year-old singer’s promotion of a subsequent New Year’s Eve party in December further earned the ire of police in St Elizabeth. He was summoned to a police station in the southwest Jamaica parish on New Year’s Eve, and was charged for breaching protocols with the November 29 party.
SANITATION WORKERS PROTEST: This group of sanitation workers employed to the National Solid Waste Management Authority, Western Parks and Markets, staged a protest in Sam Sharpe Square on Tuesday against what they say is a proposal by management to reduce their work hours from 80 to 40 hours. The management has scheduled a meeting with the workers to address their concerns.
Barrington Flemming Photo
Barrington Flemming Staff Reporter
The Administration of the National Solid Waste Management Authority, Western Park and Markets will be convening a meeting today with sanitation workers in a bid to quell rising tension among that group of workers some of whom took to the streets on, Monday and again on Tuesday to vent their grievance with the management’s decision to further cut their work hours.
The workers, who demonstrated in Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay on Tuesday, and are paid fortnightly, argued that the management had previously advised them that due to COVID -19 there would be a reduction in their hours, so as to allow all staff to remain on the job and they agreed.
They, however, said they were verbally advised that management intends to further reduce their hours from 80 to 40 hours and they will not stand for it, as they mounted placards calling for justice.
One female sanitation worker related: “Dem seh because of COVID dem cut the hours from 120 to 80 because they don’t want to fire anybody suh we agree. Now dem waan cut it down to 40, but that caan happen we caan sekkle fi dat so dat, is why wi out here now. Suh because dem nuh sen nobody home dem waan fi use dat fi abuse wi.” A male worker, who was equally concerned, said it was a bad move because they would not be able to survive with such a drastic reduction in pay.
“We caan work fi only 40 hours fi di fortnight. Wi have bills fi pay and other things fi deal wid. Di people weh work a market fi dem money nah cut.”
Meanwhile, Garnet Edmonson, Regional Manager of the NSWMA, Western Parks and Markets explained that the workers who are disgruntled over the company’s planned cost saving measures due to the continued effects of the COVID -19 pandemic acted too quickly by mounting a demonstration before the management could speak to them about the agency’s plans.
“We have always maintained that before we put in place a policy, we discuss it with the staff and then we come to a mutual agreement, however somehow they heard of a policy that we are going to put in place and acted. Generally, we would meet with them have a dialogue as to us agreeing on the way forward, they did not wait on that dialogue, they took to the street, Edmonson said.
He explained further: “This is just a small proportion of 500 workers -just 20 in the town centre, as I have said to them all companies are faced with COVID now. The government is no exception to that. So, in order to keep everybody working we all have to devise strategy and ways to live during this COVID and even a little bit beyond because we don’t expect the world to come back to what it used to be immediately. I assure them that we will meet with them and attend to their queries and concerns.”
