Category Archives: Caribbean

Location 165 miles SSW of Negril Jamaica Wind 60 mph Heading W at 7 mph Pressure 29.47 Coordinates 79.2W, 16.1N Discussion

At 200 PM EDT (1800 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Delta was located near latitude 16.1 North, longitude 79.2 West. Delta is moving toward the west near 7 mph (11 km/h), and a turn toward the west-northwest is forecast later today. A faster northwestward motion is expected on Tuesday and Wednesday. On the forecast track, the center of Delta is expected to move away from Jamaica later today, move near or over the Cayman Islands early Tuesday, and approach western Cuba and the Yucatan Channel Tuesday afternoon or evening. Delta is forecast to move into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico Tuesday night, and be over the south-central Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 60 mph (95 km/h) with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is expected during the next few days, and Delta is expected to become a hurricane tonight or Tuesday before it nears western Cuba.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 998 mb (29.47 inches).

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

None

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for, * Cuba province of Pinar del Rio

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for, * Cuban province of Artemisa * Isle of Youth

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for, * Cayman Islands including Little Cayman and Cayman Brac * Isle of Youth

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for, * Cuba province of La Habana

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

Interests in the northeastern portion of the Yucatan peninsula should monitor the progress of this system.

For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service.

Key messages for Delta can be found in the Tropical Cyclone Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT1, WMO header WTNT41 KNHC, and on the web at http://www.hurricanes.gov/text/MIATCDAT1.shtml.

STORM SURGE: A dangerous storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels along the south coast of western Cuba near and to right of where the center makes landfall. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves.

WIND: Tropical storm conditions are expected in the Cayman Islands beginning late today or tonight. Hurricane conditions are expected within the Hurricane Warning area in western Cuba by late Tuesday afternoon, with tropical storm conditions expected by Tuesday morning. Hurricane conditions are possible on the Isle of Youth beginning Tuesday afternoon with tropical storm conditions expected by early Tuesday. Tropical storm conditions are possible in the Tropical Storm Watch area in Cuba on Tuesday.

RAINFALL: Through midweek, Delta is expected to produce 4 to 6 inches of rain with isolated maximum totals of 8 inches across Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and western Cuba. This rainfall could lead to significant flash floods and mudslides.

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Delta Quickly Strengthening Over The Caribbean - KSAT San Antonio

Caribbean destinations are updating COVID-19 procedures and protocols as they re-open borders and expand access to more international travelers.

Tourism officials in Belize and Grenada this week adjusted their entry and visitation policies as major airlines establish new routes and island hotels and resorts resume operations.

Travelers can now visit Belize via American Airlines non-stop departures from Miami and United Airlines service from Houston following the October 1 reopening of the countrys borders, said Belize Tourism Board (BTB) officials. Delta Airlines will also resume non-stop service to Belize from Atlanta beginning November 20.

Belize has established a Safe Corridor for travelers encompassing hotels, restaurants and tour operators that have achieved Tourism Gold Standard designation. Organizations that have implemented a nine-point BTB program of health and safety training designed to ensure both employees and travelers are confident in the organization or activitys cleanliness and safety.

Were confident the Tourism Gold Standard Recognition Program and Gold Standard Seal of Approval will allow travelers and the tourism industry to operate safely as COVID-19 restrictions are eased, said Karen Bevans, BTBs director of tourism. While visitors will need to adhere to our new normal entry requirements and safety protocols, their experience will remain authentic to Belizes adventurous spirit.

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Gold Standard hotels and resorts are authorized to provide guests with services including roundtrip airport transportation, isolated tours and access to on-site restaurants, pool and beachfront. Hotels in the program are required to perform enhanced cleaning of rooms, public spaces and high-touch surfaces, plus daily guest and employee health checks. Properties must also establish online check-in and -out and contactless payment systems an.

BTBs Gold Standard tour operators are required to conduct temperature checks when picking up guests, ensure social distancing among workers and visitors during tours, and provide enhanced tour equipment cleaning. Operators must also have a response plan should there be any suspected COVID-19 cases.

BTB personnel continue to process hotel and resort applications for Gold Standard certification and inspect additional hotels, Bevans said. Travelers are advised to visit BTBs website for approved properties and updated information, including entry requirements and procedures.

Going to Grenada

Grenada this week reopened its borders to travelers from high-risk countries including the U.S.as JetBlue Airways and American Airlines are resuming nonstop flights to the destination. Visitors are required to stay in accommodations certified under the Grenada Tourism Authoritys Pure Safe Travels program.

Grenada visitors from the U.S. are also required to present proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test within seven days of travel and book a minimum four-day stay for observation and quarantine. Visitors will undergo health screenings, including temperature checks, upon arrival.

Travelers are required to download a mobile app for contact tracing, and guests have the option of spending their entire stay at their approved accommodations or taking an additional PCR test to extend their stay and enter the community.

The islands largest property, the 269-room Royalton Grenada, is scheduled to reopen on November 29. Meanwhile, several premier Grenada resorts also reopened this week, including Sandals Grenada and Silversands Grenada, which will debut new cleaning, sanitization and distancing measures, along with flexible cancellation policies, said company officials.

Silversands Grenada will also offer several new packages for the festive and winter season, including a Stay 4, Pay 3 Thanksgiving package from November 22 to 30, 2020. Rates start at $800 per room, per night, with one complimentary night in any room category and a Thanksgiving feast featuring Grenadian cuisine and traditional American fare.

Silversands' Book Now Festive Offer from Dec. 18, 2020 to Jan. 5, 2021 is priced at $1,200 per room per night and includes a 30-minute massage, a $200 resort credit ($500 for villa guests) and 20 percent off published rates.

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What You Should Know Before Traveling to These Caribbean Countries - TravelPulse

As part of its program to help the regions tourism sector rise to the challenges posed by COVID-19, the Caribbean Tourism Organization is teaming up with the worlds leading international tourism agency and other regional and international organizations for a recoveryevent for the industry.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization, global market research firm Euromonitor International, the U.K.s Travel Foundation and the University of the West Indies are collaborating with the CTO to put together the Caribbean Tourism Recovery Forum on Oct. 14 and 15, 2020.

From the onset of COVID-19, the CTO has sought expertise to assist our members with immediate, short-term and long-term recovery planning as they navigate the path towards rebuilding the regional tourism sector, said Neil Walters, the CTOs acting secretary general. Through this forum we are again able to capitalize on our close relations with these reputable organizations to provide insights and analyses about the sector, as well as explore some of the key areas that must be addressed to ensure success in the Caribbeans tourism recovery process.

The event, which will be held virtually, will also incorporate a capacity building element, in the form of a workshop to assist destinations in applying a structured, measurable model to their own national planning.

The first segment on Oct.14 will be aimed at increasing awareness of the steps involved in planning recovery and improving knowledge of the role of stakeholders in the recovery process.

A range of areas will be covered, including the economic impact of COVID-19, travel sentiment and forecast, considerations around a vaccine, best practices for recovery and a model for sustainable tourism post-COVID.

Presenters for this session will include Caroline Bremner, Head of Travel and Tourism Research at Euromonitor International;

Professor Clive Landis, Chairman, University of the West Indies COVID-19 Taskforce;Alejandro Varela, Deputy Regional Director for the Americas at UNWTO;Jeremy Sampson, Chief Executive Officer at The Travel Foundation.

This segment is open to CTO members and partners in tourism and related fields and will run from 10:00 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

The second segment on October 15 will target government members of the CTO for a Smart Recovery planning workshop facilitated by The Travel Foundation.

The workshop will combine learning and development, and post-implementation assessment.

For more, visit the Caribbean Tourism Organization.

CJ

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Virtual Event to Focus on Caribbean Tourism Recovery - Caribbean Journal

RFA Argus, alongside her Wildcat and Merlin helicopters, Royal Marines and US Coast Guard teams, worked with Dutch Navy ship HNLMS Groningen to seize 1.7 tonnes of cocaine and 28kg of amphetamines.

The bust was the second in two days after seizing 264kg of cocaine in a separate operation in the region just 48 hours before.

The Armed Forces are committed to tackling organised crime, both at home and overseas, and work with our allies around the world to help protect our people and interests.

The Royal Navy has once again demonstrated its professionalism and tactical operational capability in an international effort to stop illegal drug-smuggling. It is with thanks to their efforts that 160 million worth of drugs will never reach the streets of the UK.

The first of the two recent busts came when two suspicious vessels were spotted near RFA Argus and patrol ship Groningen. A Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron was launched with a Royal Marine sniper team from 42 Commando on board. Using advanced sensors and cameras, the helicopter team stopped the suspect vessels before a team made up of Royal Marines from 47 Commando, the US Coast Guard and personnel from HNLMS Groningen boarded the vessels to undertake the search.

Just two days later, RFA Argus was conducting routine training when one of its Merlin helicopters spotted a suspicious craft. The 28,000-tonne vessel changed course to give chase and the Merlin and Wildcat helicopters worked with HNLMS Groningen to allow the US Coast Guard to intercept the craft.

This recent interdiction is yet another example of multi-national co-operation in the Caribbean.

I am proud that the team of RFA Argus, utilising 815 and 845 Naval Air Squadron helicopters, boats crewed by RFA personnel and Royal Marines from 47 Commando, were able to take the lead in an operation alongside our US Coastguard and Dutch Navy colleagues.

The Royal Navy Caribbean task group have now prevented nearly a quarter of a billion pounds worth of drugs reaching the UK after three separate drugs busts also took place last month.

RFA Argus is in the Caribbean as part of a Royal Navy task group with HMS Medway providing support to British Overseas Territories during hurricane season. Both ships also continue to carry out maritime security and counter-narcotics operations in the region.The UK works in partnership with allied nations in the Caribbean as part of the Joint Interagency Task Force South, which detects and monitors activity to support security operations from its base in Florida.

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Royal Navy seize 160 million worth of drugs in the Caribbean - GOV.UK

For the millions of people around the world who live on islands today, a plane or boat can easily enough carry them to the mainland or other islands.

But how did people in the ancient past first make it to distant islands they couldnt even see from home? Many islands around the world can be reached only by traveling hundreds or even thousands of miles across open water, yet nearly all islands that people live on were settled by between 800 to 1,000 years ago.

Archaeologists like us want to understand why people would risk their lives to reach these far-off places, what kinds of boat and navigational methods they used, and what other technologies they invented to make it. Islands are important places to study because they hold clues about human endurance and survival in different kinds of environments.

One of the most interesting places to study these processes is the Caribbean, the only region of the Americas where people settled an archipelago with some islands not visible from surrounding areas. Despite more than a century of research, there are still many questions about the origins of the first Caribbean people, when they migrated and what routes they took. My colleagues and I recently reanalyzed archaeological data collected over 60 years to answer these fundamental questions.

Based on the discovery of unique stone tools and food remains such as shells and bones, archaeologists have a general understanding that people first spread throughout the Caribbean in a series of migrations that probably began at least 7,000 years ago and likely originated from northern South America.

Amerindians paddled between islands in dugout canoes and were remarkably adept at open-water travel. Archaeologists dont know what inspired people to first colonize the Caribbean islands, but we do know they brought plants and animals from the mainland, like manioc and oppossum, to help ensure their survival.

There are two main ideas about what happened. For decades, the prevailing notion was that people migrated from South America into the Antilles in a south-to-north stepping-stone pattern. Because the islands stretch in a gentle arc from Grenada all the way up to Cuba in the northwest with many largely visible from one to the next this would seem to provide a convenient path for early settlers.

This hypothesis, however, has been challenged by evidence that some of the earliest sites are in the northern islands. Analyses of wind and ocean currents suggest that it was actually easier to travel directly between South America and the northern Caribbean before moving in a southerly direction. Researchers call this proposal of a north-to-south migration the southward route hypothesis.

Figuring out which model for settling the Caribbean best fits the evidence depends on being able to assign accurate dates to human activity preserved in the archaeological record. To do this, researchers need a lot of reliable dates from many different sites throughout the islands to establish how, when and from where people landed.

Archaeologists typically use a technique called radiocarbon dating to figure out how old an artifact is. When an organism dies, it stops producing carbon and its remaining carbon decays at a fixed rate of time archaeologists say death starts the clock. By measuring the amount of carbon left in the organism and then performing a few additional calculations, scientists are left with a probable age range for when that organism died.

Archaeologists often date things like food remains, charcoal from cooking hearths or wood in the building where they are found. If archaeologists date shells found in a trash heap, they can tell, usually within a range of 25 to 50 years or so, when that shellfish was harvested for a meal.

We recently reevaluated about 2,500 radiocarbon dates from hundreds of archaeological sites on more than 50 Caribbean islands.

Archaeologists have been radiocarbon dating findings in the Caribbean since the 1950s when the radiocarbon technique was first discovered. But dating methods and the standards scientists follow have improved dramatically since then. Part of our job was to see if each of the 2,500 radiocarbon dates available would meet todays standards. Dates that did not meet those standards were thrown out, leaving us with a smaller database of only the most reliable times for human activity.

By statistically analyzing these remaining dates, we confirmed that Trinidad was the first Caribbean island settled by humans, at least 7,000 years ago. However, Trinidad is so close to South America that only simple or even no boats were needed to get there.

After Trinidad, the oldest settlements occurred between 6,000 and 5,000 years ago in the northern Caribbean on the large islands of the Greater Antilles: Cuba, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola. Reaching them would have required crossing passages of water where no islands were visible to the naked eye, although navigators rely on other wayfinding techniques like current, cloud patterns, seeing birds fly in a certain direction to know if land is out there. By around 2,500 years ago, people had spread out to settle other islands in the northern Lesser Antilles, including Antigua and Barbuda.

Based on these data, the patterns of initial settlement of the Caribbean are most consistent with the southward route hypothesis.

Around 1,800 years ago, a new wave of people also moved from South America into the Lesser Antilles, colonizing many of the remaining uninhabited islands. About 1,000 years later, their descendants moved into the smaller islands of the Greater Antilles and Bahamian archipelago. This is when Jamaica and the Bahamas were settled for the first time.

Our research findings also support the widely held view that environment played a significant role in how and when islands were settled.

Archaeologists know that once people settled islands, they frequently moved between them. Not all islands are the same, and some offered more or better resources than others. For example, in the Bahamas and the Grenadines, the primary way to access freshwater is by digging wells; there are no streams or springs. Some islands lacked clay for making pottery, which was important for cooking and storing food. People may have also traveled to different islands to access preferred fishing or hunting spots or seek out marriage partners.

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Strong seasonal winds and currents facilitated travel between islands. Thats also probably one of the reasons why Caribbean people never developed the sail or other seafaring technologies that were used in the Pacific, Mediterranean and North Atlantic around the same time. Dugout canoes crossed between South America and the islands just fine.

Interpretations of past human behavior at archaeological sites are anchored by radiocarbon dates to study change over time. For archaeologists, its important to periodically take another look at the data to make sure that the narratives built on those data are reliable. Our review of the radiocarbon record for the Caribbean allowed us to show with increased accuracy the ways in which the region was first colonized by people, how they interacted and moved between islands, and how their societies developed following initial colonization.

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Archaeologists determined the step-by-step path taken by the first people to settle the Caribbean islands - The Conversation US

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Leading real estate investment and hospitality management company Highgate announced today it has assumed management of Trust Hospitalitys portfolio assets, comprised of 22 hotels and resorts approximately 3,100 rooms throughout the U.S., Caribbean and Latin America. The portfolio includes a combination of existing and under development hotels and resorts.

This transaction increases Highgates footprint in the Caribbean and Latin America, and will enable the company to be the leading hotel manager in the region. Trust CEO Richard Millard and Partner/Head of Development Michael Register will join Highgate to lead business development and owner relations efforts in the region.

As part of the Highgate platform, the Trust team will leverage their deep experience in the Caribbean and Latam, and the benefits of Highgates scale, to significantly grow their presence across both branded and independent hotels.

We are thrilled to be partnering with Richard and Michael as we continue to grow in key Caribbean and Latin America countries, and in the destination resort market broadly, said Richard Russo, Principal at Highgate. Over the past few months we have accelerated the pace of Highgates growth through individual hotel additions, portfolios additions, and strategic M&A.

Russo continues: We will continue to pursue opportunities to collaborate with talented management teams who can benefit from integrating into the Highgate platform, and contribute to our objective of providing best-in-class services, innovated operating capabilities, and a compelling value proposition for our partners and key stakeholders.

When deciding who to pass along the company that I founded and spent the past 30 years building, I was drawn to Highgate for their entrepreneurial spirit and strong owner-minded culture, said CEO of Trust Hospitality Richard Millard. I look forward to working with Highgate and leveraging the tools and resources they have at their disposal to help the firm expand its footprint in the region. I couldnt be more excited for my team and myself as we embark on the next stages of our careers with Highgate.

Currently operating 160 hotels and resorts, and over 45,000 rooms worldwide, Highgate continues to receive global recognition for its hospitality-forward thinking, contemporary programming and digital innovation. The company is committed to expanding its portfolio of award-winning properties throughout 2020 and beyond.

As the hospitality industry focuses on recovery, we recognize and are grateful for the opportunity to thoughtfully continue our expansion, said Chief Operating Officer Steve Barick. We look forward to continuing to partner with like-minded owners and management companies, and welcome both the Trust employees and the owners of its hotels into the Highgate family.

For more information on Highgate, visit Highgate.com. For development and acquisition inquiries, email Richard Russo at rerusso@highgate.com.

About Highgate

Highgate is a leading real estate investment and hospitality management company widely recognized as an innovator in the industry. Highgate is the dominant player in major U.S. gateway cities including New York, Boston, Miami, San Francisco and Honolulu, with a growing Caribbean and Latin America footprint. The hospitality forward company provides expert guidance through all stages of the property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition. Highgate has a proven record of developing its diverse portfolio of bespoke lifestyle hotel brands, legacy brands, and independent hotels and resorts with contemporary programming and digital acumen. The company utilizes industry-leading revenue management tools that efficiently identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive outperformance and maximize asset value. With an executive team consisting of some of the most experienced hotel management leaders, the company is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands. Highgate maintains corporate offices in New York, Chicago, Dallas, London, Miami, and Seattle. http://www.highgate.com.

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Highgate Growth Continues with Addition of 22 Lifestyle Properties In The U.S., Caribbean and Latam - Business Wire

By: Lifestyle Desk | New Delhi | October 4, 2020 6:20:47 pmIn order to avail the benefits of the programme, the applicants will need to provide proof of health insurance and "pay local market rates for access to any healthcare during their time on the islands". (Source: Pixabay)

In keeping with the current trend of providing people remote-work visas, Caribbean country Antigua and Barbuda has become the latest nation to open its doors for people looking for a change of scene. According to The Independent, the country is willing to welcome digital nomads amid the pandemic which has made it clear that for many jobs, one does not need a designated office space, but instead they can work remotely from any part of the world and still get the work done.

The outlet reports that the island nation is launching a Nomad Digital Residence scheme, allowing eligible applicants to stay for up to two years. Its Prime Minister Gaston Browne said in a statement: You can work in any part of the world from Antigua as if you were in your office or home.

But, you are only eligible if your earnings fall in a certain bracket. The programme is open to those earning at least $50,000 (Rs 36,66,130) a year the applications cost $1,500 (Rs 1,09,983.90) for a single applicant, $2,000 (Rs 1,46,645.20) per couple and $3,000 (Rs 2,19,967.80) for a family of three.

ALSO READ |Shorter distances, bigger cities on Indian travellers list this year, survey finds

In order to avail the benefits of the programme, the applicants will need to provide proof of health insurance and pay local market rates for access to any healthcare during their time on the islands.

The outlet further reports that the country has remained largely safe from the coronavirus, with only a few scattered cases since the beginning of the pandemic. We have learned how to detect infected persons quickly, how to treat them rapidly, and how to contain community spread, Browne was quoted as saying.

With this, Antigua and Barbuda joins the ranks of many other nations that have offered remote-work visa in the pandemic. Previously, Barbados had introduced the Barbados Welcome Stamp under a new government scheme, and had started taking applications for international tourists, tempting them with the opportunity to work remotely on the islands beautiful beaches for up to one year.

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This Caribbean country is offering remote work visa to digital nomads; find out - The Indian Express

KEY FIGURES

9.6M CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASES IN LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN AS OF 4 OCTOBER

REGIONAL: COVID-19

Cases are referenced from PAHO/WHO 4 October COVID-19 Report - https://bit.ly/2O25YQw

As of 4 October, there are 9,632,733 cases and 353,224 in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as 8,026,309 recovered cases.

KEY FIGURES

189.9K CONFIRMED CASES IN TRIPLE BORDER AREA BETWEEN COLOMBIA, BRAZIL AND PERU

553: 7-DAY AVERAGE OF NEW CASES IN GUATEMALA AS STATE OF EXCEPTION ENDS ON 5 OCTOBER

LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN: COVID-19

AMAZON TRIPLE BORDER

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to disproportionately affect remote communities along the shared Amazon triple border area between Brazil, Colombia and Peru, where some 57 per cent of the population are indigenous peoples. As of 2 October, there are 189,914 confirmed cases between the Amazonas and Tabatinga states in Brazil (136,400 cases and 1,800 cases respectively), the 8,860 cases among indigenous communities in Peru and the 2,700 cases reported in the Amazonas department in Colombia.

While the UN in the three countries issued an Action Plan to respond to needs in this sub-region and mobilize resources to bolster response beyond initial actions backed by reprogrammed funding, implementation remains challenging. The triple border areas in each country are some of the most difficult to access. Moreover, there are growing security concerns stemming from criminal activity in two border provinces in the Peruvian department of Loreto and the recent killing of a Loreto health centre director in Tabatinga across the border in Brazil.

GUATEMALA

Guatemala will not seek to extend their state of calamity past its 5 October end date, allowing Guatemalans to resume various activities under restricted gathering sizes. The state of calamity, in effect since March after Guatemala reported their first case, allowed authorities to implement various restrictions to curb the spread of the virus. The Government is working to determine normative, operational and logistical frameworks for managing the COVID-19 pandemic after the extension runs its course.

The Presidential COVID-19 Commission (COPRECOVID) advisory group, who fears that many are perceiving the pandemic is over, is urging the public to take personal responsibility in tackling the virus, warning of a second wave similar to countries in Europe who relaxed initial emergency measures after managing their initial outbreak.

THE CARIBBEAN

The Heads of government of the Organization Eastern of Caribbean States (OECS) are working with officials from major tourism source markets and service providers to establish a rigorous testing regime that would allow only COVID-free travellers to board flights and ships, removing the need for quarantine upon arrival. This could potentially expedite humanitarian access in the event of an emergency that may require international deployment, which has thus far been limited since the onset of the pandemic.

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Latin America & The Caribbean - Weekly Situation Update (28 September - 4 October 2020) As of 5 October 2020 - Guatemala - ReliefWeb

Viewpoint by P.I. Gomes*

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago (IDN) The High-level Meeting to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations was held on September 21, 2020, with a view to adopting a political declaration on the theme: The Future We Want, the United Nations We Need: reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism.

The opening Plenary session observed the usual formalities of statements by the President of the General Assembly (GA) and by Presidents of the Security Council, Economic & Social Council and of the International Court of Justice.

As a pleasant departure from those formalities, the voices of young people were heard in Statements from Youth representatives, both male and female, from Ghana (Africa), Malaysia (Asia), The Bahamas (Latin America & the Caribbean) and France (Europe). No doubt a greatly moving occurrence for those young people, who will never forget the experience of speaking to the world. And perhaps that may shape their lives for leadership careers that advance in concrete terms the collective commitment to multilateralism.

It is in search of that commitment, the address by UN Secretary-General Mr Antnio Guterres is deserving of deep reflection. The world was reminded that no other global organ gives hope to so many people for a better world and as the Secretary-General added, the UN is "only as strong as its members commitment to its ideals and to each other".

Aware and quite convinced of the unique source of hope for the world that the UN has been and continues to be, as much as world leaders renew their commitments to ideals of peace and security, much in todays world is the absence of peace.

Civil war, border conflicts, armed rebellion and violence of all sorts, so brutal especially against women and children. But without apportioning blame to the worlds instrument of hope for peace and security, calls and loud demands for reform at the highest level of the UN are persistently made. It is unacceptable that the UN Security Council continues to be so unrepresentative of the worlds population in this 21st century.

This acute anomaly of the UN system continues to be noted on several occasions. As lucidly pointed to by Professor Adekeye Adebajo, Director of the Institute for Pan-African Thought & Conversation (IPATC), University of Johannesburg, While the Security Council represented 22% of UN membership in 1945, it accounts for just 8% of todays members." Consequently, as he added: This bodys legitimacy, has therefore become threadbare. It is no longer fit for purpose and must therefore include countries such as Brazil, India, Nigeria and South Africa to regain credibility as a truly representative body.

This call for reform of the Security Council was made by several African Heads of State & Government in the debate of the UNGA just concluded on September 25. Most noticeable also was Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, who added fuel to Africans' demands for reform by telling the audience that action on such reform should begin immediately.

Caribbean concerns at the GA.

While fully declaring their renewed commitment to the UN and its essential role in multilateralism, Caribbean leaders addressing the GA pledged the support of reform demands, as stated by others. They also pointed to the widely overlooked and underestimated debt crisis emerging and seriously engulfing developing countries, particularly the Middle-Income Countries (MICs).

Fiercely accentuated by the Covid-19 pandemic, the far-reaching implications of demolishing development gains of the last two decades, MICs are increasingly facing deepening debt crises. This is compounded by the distorted accounting system of the IFIs that deny these countries grant development finance, falsely classifying them as graduated from least developed status.

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which are all MICs, with the exception of Haiti, continue to be denied access to grant development financing.

At the same time, as in the case of the chain of Island economies, they remain exposed and vulnerable to annual recurring floods, destruction of housing, social infrastructure, loss of crops and livestock from hurricanes and storms, that have become more intense and frequent as a result of climate change.

In their addresses to the GA, Caribbean leaders of Barbados, Guyana, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago, among others, all referred to the burden of high debt and what was called, the deadly existential threat of the climate crisis, according to Prime Minister Mia Motley of Barbados. Facing high debt to GDP and debt service ratios, a plea was made by Dr Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago, that a strong case exists for these MICs to be considered for debt relief.

Complementing these remarks of Caribbean leaders was the voice of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and President-in-Office of the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the OACPS, who in addressing the 75th GA, said that even after addressing the acute phase of the pandemic, we must all remain collectively committed to global recovery and further added that developing countries are seeking to have the existing debt moratoriums refined and extended to December 2021... (The Nation, Nairobi 29 September 2020).

The demand for those debt moratoriums to be refined and extended must certainly be cognizant of Caribbean concerns and of the MICs, across the Global South.

Indeed, in the search for a new post-COVID-19 fiscal pact, the international community must be reminded of the outstanding pledges of the Monterrey Consensus of March 2002. It was then agreed that developed countries would commit 0.7% of GNI to Official Development Assistance (ODA).

Regrettably not as many as six industrialised, developed countries have fulfilled that pledge almost two decades ago. In the face of the devastation by Covid-19 pandemic, across all countries rich and poor can we hope to see this 75th UN Anniversary as a marker of multilateral commitment to the developing world by being honoured in deed and freed of the rhetoric of the rich? [IDN-InDepthNews 30 September 2020]

*The writer, Dr Patrick I Gomes, was Secretary-General of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States for five years until February 29, 2020. The 79-nation inter-regional body officially became the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) on April 5, 2020. Dr Gomes was previously Ambassador of the Republic of Guyana, to the EU in Brussels.

Image: Map of the Caribbean Sea and its islands. CC BY-SA 3.0

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Caribbean Concerns Find Voice at 75th Anniversary of the UN - IDN InDepthNews | Analysis That Matters

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Bunheads by Misty Copeland, illustrated by Setor Fiadzigbey

c.2020, Putnam $17.99 / $23.75 Canada 32 pages

These days, helping others is on point.

Its the best thing to do not just for them, but for you. Everybodys happy when you work together because it makes the task a little easier, and learning is better when you teach one another as you go. Helping others is right on point and, in the new book Bunheads by Misty Copeland, illustrated by Setor Fiadzigbey, its more fun, too.

Everyone was really excited when Miss Bradley made her announcement at the beginning of dance class. She said they were going to perform the ballet Copplia, a tale of a toymaker, a beautiful doll, a boy named Franz, and his jealous girlfriend, Swanilda. It was a dramatic tale and little Misty couldnt wait to dance that ballet.

This, in fact, would be her first big dance and she very much wanted to be Swanilda. But before she could do that, she had to try out for the role, just like all the other girls in ballet class. There were a lot of different dances to know and shed have to do them all perfectly, from the easy dvelopp to tendu front, to the very hard-to-do pas de bourre. Mistyd never danced like that before, but as Miss Bradley called Misty and a girl named Cat up to the front of the room, she said Misty was very good.

Miss Bradley asked Cat to show Misty the first part of the Copplia. Misty was so excited! Even the name, pronounced Co-pay-lee-ah, sounded magical and full of mystery!

But the next day, Mmisty began to have her doubts. Cat was really good. What if she wanted the part of Swanilda, too? How could Misty ever compete with anyone so talented?

As the other dancers filed into class, Cat and Misty stuck together. Cat began to teach Misty more moves, and it was so much fun but everyone in ballet class, it seemed, wanted to dance the Copplia. Misty could predict that Cat would definitely be in the ballet because nobody was a better dancer. But would Misty land a part, too?

At the risk of being a spoiler, theres a happy ending to Bunheads, but you probably already knew that, whether youre a patron of the ballet or not.

Which brings us to the meat of this book: even the title, referring to hairstyle, is for little ballet dancers. Pure and simple, its for kids who twirl and tippy-toe and jet through the house, kids who first-position without even thinking about it, kids whod wear a tutu in the tub, if they could. Author Misty Copeland speaks directly to their hearts with authenticity, and she addresses any ballet-diva behavior your little one might have by showing that competition is good but learning from the competition is better.

Non-dancers may appreciate this adorable book, but itll be so much more meaningful for little ballet stars or ballet fans, boys or girls, ages 3 to 7. If that barre is already set for your child, Bunheads is en pointe.

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