Caribzone News Highlight

Jamaica

The leadership of the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) has declared itself fit and ready to challenge the ruling Jamaica Labour Party if Prime Minister Andrew Holness calls a general election shortly after winding up states of emergency (SOEs) across the country.

Last Tuesday’s announcement by National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang that the SOEs will be allowed to expire on July 25 has been viewed as a possible signal that Holness might call an early general election.

The emergency crackdowns have been imposed to cauterize murder and other violent crimes. There has been vigorous debate about the worth of the SOEs, which have driven down murders in the majority of the 10 police divisions under such measures but there has been negligible impact on the national casualty toll.

PNP General Secretary Julian Robinson said the party, fractured by a bitter internal leadership challenge in September 2019, was now united and focused on victory.

And Horace Dalley, member of parliament for Clarendon Northern, said that the party was prepared to face either the general or local government elections separately but also relished the groundbreaking prospect of a two-in-one poll.

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National

Members of the United States Coast Guard stationed in Cape Canaveral, Florida, returned to port Wednesday after busting drug smuggling operations off the coast of Costa Rica worth more than US$118 million.

The drug bust, led by the crew of the US Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant, occurred earlier this month during a 40-day tour of the western Caribbean Sea that included joint anti-narcotics operations with the Honduran and Colombian militaries.

According to the coast guard officials, while patrolling the Colombian basin, members of the Vigilant's Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron armed helicopter crew, intervened on two suspected drug boats, shooting out the engines and disabling the vessels.

The Coast Guard's 7th District Petty Officer Third Class, Brandon Murray, said that along with a third vessel, the busts yielded about 6,800 pounds of cocaine with an estimated wholesale value of US$118.3 million.

The operations were part of enhanced counter-narcotics efforts by the US military in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific Ocean.

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Regional

The Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Carissa F Etienne, is urging Caribbean countries to prepare to manage outbreaks of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) for the next two years.

“In the absence of effective treatments or a widely available vaccine, we expect that over the next two years the Region of the Americas will experience recurring COVID-19 outbreaks, which may be interspersed with periods of limited transmission,” Etienne said during a press briefing today.

“In the face of a fast-changing pandemic, leadership will make or break our response. Now is the time for leaders to reach across political divisions and geographic borders to rally the support for a response commensurate to this unprecedented crisis,” she added.

Cases of COVID-19 in the Americas have topped 4.5 million, with 226,000 deaths as of June 23. Since last month, cases have tripled in Latin America and the Caribbean from almost 690,000 in May 23, to more than two million today.

“There is now widespread transmission in most of Central America. In South America this weekend, Brazil surpassed one million COVID-19 cases, joining the United States as the only other country in the world with cases in the six digits. The Caribbean is faring better but with hot-spots on the border of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, as well as within the Guyanese shield,” Etienne said.

“We must be realistic about the future: all of us must adjust to a new way of life and redefine our sense of normal.”

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Panama

Panama President Laurentino Cortizo fired his health minister and two other cabinet members over two corruption scandals, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread in the country. 

Cortizo promoted Deputy Health Minister Luis Francisco Sucre in place of the sacked Rosario Turner, while also firing Social Development Minister Markova Concepcion and Housing Minister Ines Samudio.

Panama has recorded more than 28,000 coronavirus cases and 547 deaths among its four million population, making it the worst affected country in Central America.

New cases are accelerating with 700 a day compared to 200 before the country began reopening economic activity. However, the government is coming under increasing scrutiny over its measures.

And it has been weakened by an investigation into suspected corruption in the construction of a prefabricated hospital and the aborted purchase of respirators and sanitizing gel.

Despite being implicated in the scandals, Vice President Jose Gabriel Carrizo and Public Works Minister Rafael Sabonge remain in their positions.

To make matters worse, Cortizo's Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) has been fined US$50,000 for violating lockdown measures.

Panama is in the first phase of reopening after tens of thousands of people lost their jobs during the lockdown.

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Antigua

The Antigua and Barbuda government says every person entering the country will need to be tested and will undergo mandatory quarantine, after the island recorded 39 cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) from individuals who recently arrived in the country.

Officials say all 39 had been placed in quarantine since their arrival in Antigua. The 39 cases now bring the total number of cases in Antigua and Barbuda to 65.

“Everyone who enters Antigua and Barbuda, including returning nationals, to live within communities with relatives and friends, with no exception, will be tested and will be quarantined mandatorily,” Prime Minister Gaston Browne said, adding “we must continue to keep our country safe”.

Browne said that none of the 39 cases is a threat to the community at this time, and that, through the identification, tracing and quarantining process, the Ministry of Health is containing and treating affected persons.

He said more than half of the 39 new cases are returning nationals who entered Antigua by air over the last few days.

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Sports

Soccer

Liverpool were crowned Premier League champions without kicking a ball last Thursday as Chelsea's 2-1 win over Manchester City ended the Reds' 30-year wait to win the English title.

Jurgen Klopp's men sealed a 19th league title for the club with a record seven games left to play after second placed City's defeat left them 23 points adrift.

Liverpool had moved within two points of the title with a 4-0 demolition of Crystal Palace at Anfield on Wednesday.

Their 28th win in 31 league games this season prompted Liverpool star, Mohamed Salah, to declare "now is our time to win the league" and 24 hours later his wish was granted.

Liverpool got the favor they wanted from Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Willian's 78th minute penalty, awarded for a handball by Fernandinho, ended City's two-year reign as champions after Kevin De Bruyne had canceled out Christian Pulisic's opener.

Liverpool has clinched the title earlier than any other Premier League champions, breaking the previous record of five games left shared by City and Manchester United.

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Cricket

Veteran superstar Chris Gayle will play no part in this year's Caribbean Premier League (CPL) after abruptly withdrawing from the marquee regional Twenty20 (T20) tournament.

Media reports yesterday said the 40-year-old left-hander, who was down to represent St Lucia Zouks, had pulled out because of “personal reasons”, desiring to spend more time with his young family.

CPL organizers have not formally commented on the development but leading cricket website, ESPN Cricinfo quoted a spokesman as saying: “We understand that Chris has decided to not take part in CPL for personal reasons. We wish Chris all the best for the rest of 2020 and hope to see him back at CPL in 2021.”

Gayle's withdrawal will be a big blow for the struggling Zouks franchise.

The big-hitting Jamaican was expected to be their trump card, especially with the Castries-based franchise having underperformed since the CPL's inception seven years ago.

Only last month, Zouks Captain Darren Sammy underscored Gayle's value to the franchise in the upcoming season.

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