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Flow Skills Winners at Old Trafford Final

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MIAMI, FL, May 18, 2018:  When 12 year old Flow Skills winner, Jamaican, Brian Burkett departed for Old Trafford, little did he know that he’d be rubbing shoulders with the likes of Marcus Rashford whose goal in Manchester United’s 1 – 0 win over Watford sealed MU’s 2nd place finish in the Premiership.

Meanwhile, fellow Flow Skills champion, 15 year old Barbadian Nathan Skeete also had the time of his life at the home of Manchester United Football Club. According to Skeete, “The tour was really the ultimate experience.  It was great to see the dressing room of all my favourite players – seeing all the jerseys – that was my favourite part of the tour. Going through the tunnel was also a great experience. I got to walk where the players actually walk, with the stands in the background.”

Both Burkett and Skeete scored bragging rights as the 2018 Flow Skills winners in their respective age group ahead of nearly 700 other contenders from 14 Flow Caribbean markets.  Now on their first trip to Old Trafford, courtesy of Flow and Manchester United, the winners got a true “Theatre of Dreams” experience complete with VIP tickets to the best seats in the house.

 

 

Barbados National Team Coach, Renaldo Gilkes who accompanied Skeete on his prize trip, proudly stated, “I’m really happy for Nathan, being a Manchester United fan and all, I know it was a dream come true for him.  It’s testament and basically a reward for all the work Nathan has put in over the years.  I’ve been working with him for the last few years as the national team coach and he is dedicated with a strong work ethic.  He has an idea of where he wants to be in the future.”

“It was a magical experience,” said Brian’s dad, Albert Burkett.  The senior Mr. Burkett praised Flow for this initiative which he said “changed my son’s life.”  He noted that Brian and Nathan are arguably “the two best young players in the Caribbean” and he considers them to be “privileged and blessed that they got a taste of how it feels and what it looks like to be a professional player.”  He added, “Brian told me, ‘Daddy, it’s my dream and I’m going to go pro someday soon.’”

Flow’s Caribbean President Garry Sinclair said, “We are certainly pleased to continue this successful partnership with Manchester United, which provides youngsters with a once in a lifetime opportunity to be coached by some of the world’s best and to have a chance at pursuing their dreams. We are even more pleased to note the positive impact this initiative is having on the lives of our young people.”

 

 

Release: Flow

Photo captions: 

Header: Flow Skills 2018 top two winner Brian Burkett and Nathan Skeete basking in the moment at Old Trafford, Manchester.

First insert: Paying homage to the great MUFC: Flow Skills 2018 winners – Jamaica’s Brian Burkett and Barbadian Nathan Skeete enjoy the Manchester United Museum tour in the UK.

Second insert: Marcus Rashford (1st right) shares a post-match moment with Flow Skills Winner Brian Burkett (center) and his father Albert Burkett (forefront left) at the end of the #MANWAT game on May 13.

Third insert: Taking It All In: “Here we are at Old Trafford – The Theatre of Dreams” one of two Flow Skills winners, 12 year Jamaican Brian Burkett (center) is flanked by his coach Mitchily Waul (left) and father, Albert Burkett (right).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Caribbean News

Barbados recognizes Palestine as sovereign

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Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

Barbados has made a huge diplomatic move, recognizing Palestine as a sovereign state, as announced by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kerrie Symmonds, according to a report from CBC News Barbados on Saturday April 20. This now aligns Barbados with other UN Member states which also recognise Palestine.

 

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Caribbean News

Haiti death toll rises

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Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

Haiti’s death toll is now up 53 percent with more than 2,500 people killed from January through March 2024, compared to the same time last year. This was reported by the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH),  on Friday April 19. The organization expressed that gangs have changed their tactics, now targeting public institutions and important infrastructure such as the main Airport. Most of the violence is reportedly in the Capital Port Au Prince.

 

 

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U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS SHINES AS A PREMIER DESTINATION AT THE 2024 SEATRADE CRUISE GLOBAL CONFERENCE

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St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) –April 11, 2024—The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, led by Commissioner Joseph Boschulte, Assistant Commissioner Alani Henneman, and Deputy Commissioner RoseAnne Farrington, traveled to Miami, Florida, to support Governor Albert Bryan Jr. and other local partners agencies for the 2024 Seatrade Cruise Global Conference.
To kick off the week-long event, the Department of Tourism sponsored the highly anticipated Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) barbecue, which was hosted by Governor Bryan.
Revered as a steady leader in the Caribbean tourism industry, the USVI delegation, which also included the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, the Virgin Islands Port Authority, West Indian Company Limited, Magens Bay Authority, and the U.S. Virgin Islands Government Employee Retirement System, showcased the territory and its growing accessibility around the cruise industry to key operators and businesses.
“Cruise has been and continues to be a leading entryway for visitors into the territory, and Seatrade allows representatives from the USVI to interface with and share pertinent updates needed to continue fostering positive relationships throughout the industry,” explains Commissioner Boschulte.
Commissioner Boschulte was featured on the Caribbean Spotlight panel moderated by renowned industry leader and FCCA CEO Michelle Paige, who referenced the Commissioner being named the 2023 Caribbean Tourism Executive of the Year by Caribbean Journal and shared how exceptional the publication’s acknowledgment of his accolades are. Paige referenced Caribbean Journal’s spotlight paragraph reading, “No Caribbean destination has seen more growth in the last three years than the U.S. Virgin Islands, which kicked off a full-fledged tourism renaissance just after the onset of the pandemic and hasn’t looked back. And so much of that growth can be directly tied to the expert stewardship of Boschulte, who helped craft an innovative, flexible response to the challenges of the pandemic and has continued to drive the USVI’s performance with a data-driven, creative approach to modern tourism.”
Commissioner Boschulte and Deputy Commissioner Farrington joined Governor Bryan for meetings with leading cruise lines, including Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Carnival Corporation & plc, amongst others, to discuss continued partnerships, expansion opportunities, and industry updates.
As the global cruise industry continues to restabilize following challenges incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Thomas and St. Croix experienced a 13% growth in 2023 over 2019, with West Indian Company Dock, Crown Bay Dock, and E. Abramson Marine Facility welcoming more than 1,600,000 passengers from 495 total calls for the year. With a 58% year-over-year passenger increase from 2022 to 2023, the USVI continues to grow and is projected to experience another 5% increase in cruise passenger arrivals in 2024.
Commissioner Boschulte also highlighted the remarkable success of the USVI and Caribbean region, stating, “I am proud to see the Caribbean’s appeal continue to captivate travelers. Our collaborative efforts with partners like FCCA and the Caribbean Tourism Organization underscore the unity of our region, ensuring unforgettable experiences for visitors while highlighting the unique strengths of the U.S. Virgin Islands. With a safe, welcoming destination and a shared commitment to tourism, we embrace our role as an integral part of the Caribbean community.”
For more information about the U.S. Virgin Islands, please visit https://www.visitusvi.com/.

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