Caribzone News highlights

By Caribzone.com

Jamaica

As the nation observes Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM), Government Senator, Dr Sapphire Longmore is encouraging more people to get screened for the disease, as early detection is key in the cancer fight.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is observed in October each year in countries across the world to increase attention and support for the awareness, and to promote early detection and treatment of the disease.

“It's three years for me since I have been diagnosed and I don't see myself as a survivor; I see myself as a 'thriver', and that is what I wish and know is possible for anyone who faces such a daunting diagnosis. It can be a very traumatic, very earth-shattering moment when someone comes to the realisation that they may be afflicted with something like the 'big C', like cancer,” she shared.

She also urged the maintenance of healthy lifestyles, noting that this coupled with early detection can alter the outcome for people who have been diagnosed.

“It is the preparation that you do before; it is the way that you live your life that can make the difference in terms of the outcome. No two cancers are the same, no two circumstances are the same, but there are certain fundamental measures that one can do to enable one's chances,” she argued.

These include maintaining a healthy diet, exercise, adequate rest, frequent screening and health check-ups.

Dr Longmore also encouraged people to acquire health insurance, pointing out that this will offset some of the expenses associated with  the disease.

She noted that the country has made significant strides in increasing access to screening and treatment.

Dr Longmore expressed gratitude to members of the Senate and all the people who have journeyed with her during her diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

For her part, Opposition Senator Sophia Fraser Binns said cancer awareness is critical, noting that having an insurance policy in place “makes the difference between life and death… and the type of life you can live for those of us who manage to survive”. 

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St Lucia

Prime Minister Allen Chastanet has defended the decision of his administration to impose fees for individuals going into quarantine saying that the government had been paying an estimated US$1 million monthly for state quarantine facilities.

Chastanet has told reporters that while the imposition of quarantine fees was a difficult decision for cabinet to make, it was a decision that was necessary.

He said that while he also understood the reaction of some members of the public to the announcement of the fees, he emphasised that the government has basically been covering the quarantine cost that includes the cost of rooming, security, nurses, feeding individuals, and renting the facilities.

Government established several quarantine centres since March when the island recorded its first case of the coronavirus (COVID-19) that has so far infected 28 people here.

On Wednesday, Chief Medical Officer, Dr Sharon Belmar-George, said effective October 15, fees subsidised by the government will be applied for single occupancy US$95; double occupancy US$165 and triple occupancy US$240.

Chastanet said that the free state quarantine service was supposed to have ended in July.

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Jamaica

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Karl Samuda says he is satisfied that the 28 Jamaican farm workers who have tested positive for COVID-19 on a farm in Vermont are being treated well.

The Jamaicans arrived in Vermont in mid-September.

The entire group was tested after one of the farm workers presented with symptoms and was confirmed as positive for COVID-19.

The ministry said its liaison officer in Washington DC has been in contact with the workers and all are in good spirits. One worker was briefly hospitalised, but has since been discharged.

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National

A new report by the World Bank says Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) will require a combination of public health measures and economic management to deal with the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

It says the LAC is the region hardest hit by the virus, casting a spotlight on the need to protect the population while putting economies back on track.

The Washington-based financial institution says the economies of the region are suffering from lower foreign demand, increased economic uncertainty, a collapse of tourism and the consequences of months under lockdown to try to contain the spread of the disease.

The report titled “The Cost of Staying Healthy”, also notes that with the pandemic expected to continue for an extended period, health care systems should consider reforms to improve effectiveness and reduce the costs borne by governments and individuals.

In addition, governments will need to find paths back to fiscal consolidation after this necessary period of high spending on economic stimulus and emergency social transfers, according to the report.

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Sports/Regional

West Indies bowling legend Courtney Walsh, recently named coach of the beleaguered regional women's team, wants to evaluate as many players as possible ahead of next year's qualification for the 2022 50-over World Cup.

“I have to accept the pool [of players] as it is now, get my sleeves rolled up, and see as many of the players as I can before the next competition,” he said during a media conference on Monday.

“So I'll have a good idea as to the pool I have and how I'm gonna get them ready, and so that we have good backup [players] as well,” Walsh, the leading wicket-taker in Tests for West Indies with 519 victims, told journalists.

The novel coronavirus pandemic — which has stalled regional cricket competitions at various levels since March — and paucity of funding are two major challenges that Cricket West Indies (CWI) has to grapple with, even while devising development plans.

Walsh, 57, said staging a training camp is first on his agenda if he has his way.

“What I'd love to do is to get a camp going at the earliest convenience, [and] get everybody involved so I can start looking at the players. There are players I want to look at myself...and see where they are at and get a gauge as to where they can go.

“The more cricket you play, the pool is a little wider, so that's why I emphasise that it's important for me to get some camps going to get to look at various players,” explained Walsh, who was appointed head coach of Windies Women just after their 0-5 drubbing at the hands of hosts England, last month.

The Jamaican is in charge of a women's side that has struggled in recent times, despite winning the Twenty20 (T20) World Cup in India four years ago.

West Indies reached the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean two years ago, but were eliminated at the group stage earlier this year in Australia with their lone win coming against unfancied Thailand.

West Indies' 0-5 loss to England Women was their third-straight bilateral T20 series whitewash since 2019. They lost 0-3 to world champions Australia and 0-5 to India last year.

Last week, James Adams, the CWI director of cricket, said Walsh's appointment is part of a broad-based effort to develop the sport in the region.

When asked about his role, Walsh gave assurance that he is all in.

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Sports/National

Despite being placed on administrative leave by his club Phoenix Rising and slapped with a six-game suspension by the United Soccer League (USL), after allegedly making homophobic remarks, Jamaican international Junior Flemmings is said to be in good mental and physical shape, according to his agent.

Damani Ralph, a former national player himself, declined to comment on his client and countryman’s suspension, but told The Gleaner that the striker was doing well in spite of the controversy surrounding him. Flemmings, who has scored 29 goals in 43 appearances for Phoenix Rising since signing for them in 2019, will remain on administrative leave until the end of his contract, which expires in November. In addition to the suspension, the league also fined Flemmings an undisclosed amount.

The 24-year-old received the punishment following investigations into the September 30 incident, where he was accused of directing a homophobic slur towards opposing player Collin Martin, who is openly gay, during the match against the San Diego Loyal.

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St Vincent & Grenadines

 

The people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines will go to the polls on November 5, to elect a new government.

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves who will be seeking his fifth consecutive term, made the announcement during a virtual meeting of the ULP last Thursday.

Gonsalves ,74, will go up against opponents from the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) led by Opposition Leader Dr Godwin Friday, for control of the 15 seat Parliament.

Nomination day in St Vincent and Grenadines (SVG), will be on Tuesday, 20th October, 2020.

The Unity Labour Party (ULP) of Dr Ralph Gonsalves was re-elected for the fourth time, on December 9, 2015 by securing 8 of the 15 parliamentary seats.

Less than a week later, on Wednesday, November 11, the island of Belize will hold general elections, as Prime Minister Dean Barrow has decided to call it a day.

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