Port of Spain, Trinidad. 01 December, 2023: It is with profound sadness and shock that I extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends, people of Dominica, the Caribbean Community and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), on the untimely passing of PAHO Director Emeritus, Dr. Carissa Etienne.

Dr. Etienne’s contributions to public health in the Americas were not only significant, but also transformative.  Her leadership and unwavering commitment to our Caribbean Community’s collective pursuit of healthier people, healthier spaces and a healthier Caribbean were a source of inspiration to many.  Dr. Etienne was a tireless advocate for The Americas’ regional solidarity, for she knew that was the only way to address the glaring inequalities that exist here.

She was the Director at PAHO for most of the life of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), and under her leadership, CARPHA graduated from the PAHO Biennial Work Programme (BWP) arrangement to having framework agreements.

PAHO funded many of the programmes that are difficult to attract support, like the Caribbean Regulatory System (CRS) and the Medicines Quality Control and Surveillance Department (MQCSD), which are important services for the Region to ensure the quality of medicines.  Under Dr. Etienne’s leadership, PAHO also funded non-communicable disease interventions, another area that does not attract large pots of funding, although the number one cause of deaths in the Caribbean region. 

During the Pandemic, CARPHA worked with PAHO to fund the downpayments to give 12 Member States access to COVID-19 vaccines through COVAX to the tune of US$2.6 million.

Dr. Etienne will be remembered as a true Caribbean lady who worked with great dedication and focus throughout the horrible COVID-19 period and right up to her last working day at PAHO.

During this challenging time, we pray that God will give strength to Dr. Etienne’s family, friends, and colleagues.  CARPHA cherishes the memories of her remarkable contributions to the well-being of individuals and communities throughout the Americas, but especially the Caribbean.

The CARPHA Executive Management and staff stand in solidarity with our Caribbean Community as we mourn the loss of a visionary leader. 

Dr. Joy St. John

Executive Director, CARPHA

Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

November 25, 2023 – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is expecting  to have its busiest day in history next week as thanksgiving travel spikes.

Overall more than 30 million passengers are expected to travel through airports during The official thanksgiving travel period which began on Friday, November 17 and will  continue through Tuesday, November 28 but TSA is expecting the busiest travel to be Tuesday and Wednesday November 28th and 29th and the Sunday after thanksgiving.

“Nationally, TSA is projecting to screen 2.6 million passengers on Tuesday, Nov. 21; 2.7 million passengers on Wednesday, Nov. 22 and 2.9 million passengers on Sunday, Nov. 26, which will likely be the busiest travel day for TSA since its inception in 2001,” a press release explained

The agency assured that it is prepared for the increased numbers and screened a record number of passengers this year and revealed that 2023 has been a record year for travel already.

“We expect this holiday season to be our busiest ever. In 2023, we have already seen seven of the top 10 busiest travel days in TSA’s history,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “We are ready for the anticipated volumes and are working closely with our airline and airport partners to make sure we are prepared for this busy holiday travel season.”

Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer

#USA, November 25, 2023 – American Airlines Flight Attendants are ready to strike once the US government permits them according to the Association of Professional Flight Attendants.

The flight attendants are seeking permission from the US government to strike citing low pay, and it comes 30 years after a similar strike in 1993.

The worker petition accuses AA not offering a livable wage to its flight attendants who they say have not gotten raises since 2019 even as Inflation in the United States reached historic levels in 2022.

Around the country, American Airlines flight attendants have been picketing with signs indicating they are ready to strike. Negotiations between the union and management are being mediated by the government and negotiators must declare and impasse before any strike action can be taken.

American Airlines is the world’s largest commercial carrier and it services countries all across the Caribbean as a true partner in tourism. The ripple effects of a strike in the New Year would be disastrous for these rebounding economies.

The Union has labeled the stinginess of American as owing to “corporate greed.”

It is unlikely that the Union will get the government approval they would require in order to strike.