Caribbean News

Jamaican Scientist Excel

Published

8 years ago

November 2, 2017

#Jamaica, November 2, 2017 – Kingston – Within recent years, Jamaicans have been recording significant achievements in the field of science, locally, regionally and globally, through endeavors in research and development. Notable among them are Executive Chairman of the Eden Group of Companies, Dr. Henry Lowe; Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Science and Technology and Director of the Natural Products Institute at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus, Dr. Rupika Delgoda; and Lecturer in the UWI’s Medical Science Faculty, Dr. Simone Badal.

Dr. Lowe spearheaded the landmark development of the drug ‘Chrysoeriol’, a derivative of cannabis (ganja) for treating acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). AML is classified as a rare cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells, characterised by rapidly growing abnormal white blood cells that build up in the bone marrow and interfere with the production of normal blood cells. It is the most common acute leukaemia affecting adults, and its incidence increases with age.

Dr. Lowe and his diligent team of researchers were granted coveted United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Orphan Drug Designation earlier this year. This is awarded to novel drugs or biologics that treat rare diseases or conditions affecting less than 200,000 patients, as is the case with AML. It qualifies the developer for a seven-year period of US marketing exclusivity upon FDA approval of the drug.

Other benefits include tax credits for clinical research qualification for annual grant funding, clinical trial design assistance, and the waiving of filing fees under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act.

Speaking at a ceremony in Kingston earlier this year, Dr. Lowe said the Orphan Drug designation, a first for the island and wider Caribbean, “places us (Jamaica) in (the) very enviable position (of being part of) a very exclusive club of a few countries… involved in drug research, innovation and development”.

These, he pointed out, include nations in North America, mainly the United States, and Europe.

Consequent on the award, the Eden Gardens Group, which includes US-based research and development facility, Flavocure Biotech, and the Biotech R&D Institute, situated on the UWI’s Mona Campus, will benefit from grant funding totaling US$250,000 for each of the next three years to complete the work on Chrysoeriol’s development. He indicated that based on the work undertaken, thus far, “there is still a few million dollars (more that needs) to be spent to get us to market”.

Against this background, Dr. Lowe said there is a potential US$3.5 million in additional FDA funding support that may be forthcoming to fast-track that work, adding that “we are going after it”.

“Normally, when you get to the stage we have reached, it takes another five to 12 years to go to market. Here, we can go to market between two to three years, if not earlier… but we have to move quickly,” he added.

Prime Minster, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, lauded Dr. Lowe, noting that the Orphan Drug designation was a “practical manifestation of (the) theory of research and development stimulating innovation which drives economic growth”.

“This achievement resulting from combining knowledge, technology and entrepreneurship leading to innovation by Dr. Lowe, is just reward for his hard work and dedication to science,” Mr. Holness further said.

Science, Energy and Technology Minister, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, also praised Dr. Lowe and his team, noting that “as a scientist, I can say without any reservation that to get to this point took some level of commitment and belief in this particular work”.

Dr. Wheatley said the FDA award underlined the fact that “we have that inherent intellectual capacity to do quality research and development in Jamaica”.

Portfolio Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda, said Chrysoeriol “will certainly have a major impact on the development of the medicinal cannabis industry, once again putting Jamaica at the forefront of the scientific development of the industry”.

“Jamaica has now proven to the world that we have the capabilities to be a world-class player, not only in science and technology, but also in drug research and development,” he added.

For Drs. Delgoda and Badal, who co-authored the text ‘Pharmacognosy: Fundamentals, Applications and Strategy’, the publication represents a crowning moment in their careers.

Pharmacognosy is the study of medicinal drugs derived from plants and other natural sources, and the textbook is expected to be integral to tertiary training delivery in the subject area.

Dr. Badal said the project represents the combined efforts of a number of distinguished scholars around the world. She explained that the idea to publish the text partly stemmed from her concerns with the quality of material that was available to her while teaching pharmacognosy at another tertiary institution. Dr. Badal said she discussed the matter with her family, who suggested that she give consideration to publishing a textbook.

Noting that the idea was “simple yet profound”, Dr. Badal said “working in conjunction with divinely orchestrated events, (plus) the value of the inputs of my co-editor (Dr. Delgoda) and several other authors and reviewers, have birthed this textbook that we celebrate”.

Dr. Delgoda indicated that 28 of the authors came from the Caribbean, of which 24 were based at the UWI’s Mona Campus, noting that “without their significant contributions, this book would not have been possible”. She also acknowledged the “sustained collaborations and outstanding research” in natural products by UWI Mona-based researchers, “whose work actually inspired many aspects of this book.” She further said that “based on the capacity that we have here, on Campus, this book will become very useful”.

UWI Pro Vice-Chancellor and UWI Mona Principal, Professor Archibald McDonald, said the institution is proud of the lecturers’ achievement, noting that the institution “is always pleased to support the work of academics and researchers who are making significant contributions to their subject areas. He said the text brings to the fore interesting and new research and insights into the dynamics of pharmacognosy and the development of this branch of science.

“The book provides a comprehensive background into what pharmacognosy is, and then delves into a discussion into its role in traditional medicine, how it is used in botany and the development of plant- and animal-based pharmaceuticals, just to mention a few highlights of the work,” the Pro Vice-Chancellor noted.

Against this background, Professor McDonald said he is optimistic that the text “will certainly help to fill yet another important knowledge gap in pharmaceutical and medical research”.

Dr. Wheatley lauded Drs. Badal and Delgoda while emphasizing the Government’s commitment to capitalizing on the benefits to be derived from the “rapidly growing” nutraceutical industry, this, he said, by harnessing Jamaica’s vast plant resources. He said the text “is a (pivotal) tool that can be used to guide the (utilization) of our natural resources in a sustainable manner to catalyze Jamaica’s economic and social enhancement”.

Distinguished State University of New York Professor, Gene Morse, is the publication’s chief reviewer, and there are several local and international contributors to the publication.

By: Douglas McIntosh (JIS)

Caribbean News

Guyanese Scholar and Olympian Arrested in Iowa ICE Crackdown

Published

6 days ago

September 27, 2025

Deandrea Hamilton

Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

September 27, 2025 – In a shocking breach of public trust and institutional oversight, Ian Andre Roberts, superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, who is a citizen of Guyana, was arrested on September 26 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under a string of serious offenses that raise troubling questions about hiring practices, accountability, and public safety.

Roberts, born in Georgetown, Guyana, is a former Olympian and accomplished scholar. According to online reports, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Coppin State University after transferring from St. Francis College in Brooklyn, where he played soccer. He holds two master’s degrees—from St. John’s University and Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business—attended an Executive MBA program at MIT Sloan School of Management and earned a doctorate in education with a focus on urban educational leadership from Trident University.

Despite these accomplishments, Roberts was living and working without legal authorization. ICE reported that he fled a traffic stop and abandoned his school-issued vehicle. At the time of his arrest, he was reportedly in possession of a loaded handgun, a fixed-blade hunting knife, and $3,000 in cash. He also has a prior weapons-related charge.

ICE officials questioned how Roberts could hold such a prominent role while subject to a final deportation order issued in May 2024. The school district said they were unaware of his immigration status, noting that he had undergone background checks and completed an I-9 form confirming work authorization. Roberts was placed on administrative leave pending further investigation.

This case highlights vulnerabilities in systems meant to safeguard public institutions and underscores the challenges ICE faces in identifying individuals operating outside U.S. immigration laws while in positions of authority.

For many, Roberts has become a near-literal poster child for these enforcement gaps.

Caribbean News

Bermuda Shaken by Targeted Murder as Crime Returns After a Decade of Calm

Published

2 weeks ago

September 21, 2025

Deandrea Hamilton

Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

Bermuda is reeling after the brazen murder of 37-year-old Janae Minors, a mother of two, who was gunned down in her own beauty supply store on Court Street, Pembroke. The attack, which police describe as “targeted,” has rattled the island, not only for its brutality but for what it says about the state of law and order in a country that less than a decade ago was celebrating a dramatic fall in violent crime.

The Attack on Court Street

According to police, at approximately 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday, September 16, a lone gunman pulled up on a stolen black motorcycle, walked into the Beauty Monster shop Minors owned, and shot her multiple times. Despite the rapid response of emergency services, she succumbed to her injuries shortly after being transported to hospital.

Detectives say the killer was thin, tall, dressed in dark clothing with a full-face helmet, and wearing bright gloves. CCTV shows him fleeing north on Court Street, down Tills Hill toward TCD, before turning onto Marsh Folly Road. Investigators are pursuing all leads, with a focus on recovering evidence from nearby cameras and eyewitness accounts.

Police Commissioner Darrin Simons confirmed the attack bore the hallmarks of gang-related violence, a chilling indicator that Bermuda’s gang rivalries — long simmering beneath the surface — may once again be spilling into broad daylight.

A Vibrant Life Cut Short

Minors, remembered as a hardworking entrepreneur with “a vibrant, beautiful personality,” leaves behind two children, ages 16 and 18. Her murder has ignited outrage across Bermuda, not just for its senselessness but for its timing: the island had once prided itself on virtually stamping out gun violence.

Then: Near-Zero Murders

Back in 2014, Bermuda made international headlines for reporting zero firearm murders — a remarkable achievement given the small island had endured a spate of gang-related shootings in the early 2010s. Police credited intelligence-led operations, tighter firearms interdictions, and aggressive prosecutions of gang leaders. Community programs and mentoring initiatives also played a role, giving at-risk youth alternatives to gang life.

By 2015 and 2016, gun crime was at historic lows. That period was hailed as proof Bermuda could beat back the tide of violence with coordinated policing, social investment, and political will.

Now: Alarming Resurgence

Fast forward nine years, and the picture looks starkly different. In 2024 and 2025, Bermuda has recorded a rise in gun-related deaths. Rival gangs such as Parkside and 42 have resurged, fueled by a new generation of recruits. Economic pressures, high youth unemployment, and the easy flow of smuggled firearms through maritime routes have undermined earlier gains.

Community trust in the police has also eroded, making investigations harder and retaliations more likely. Opposition MPs and neighborhood leaders warn that without sustained focus, Bermuda risks sliding back into the violent cycles of the early 2010s.

Public Alarm and Political Pressure

Premier David Burt condemned Minors’ killing as “an escalation of community violence that cannot be tolerated,” promising stronger enforcement and deeper engagement with residents. The Bermuda Police Service has appealed for CCTV, dashcam, and doorbell footage from the area, urging residents that even the smallest detail could break the case.

Yet among the public, frustration is growing. People remember the calm of 2014 — when zero murders were recorded — and cannot understand how the island has returned to headlines dominated by gun violence. The contrast is stark: from celebrating the elimination of gun murders to confronting the targeted execution of a businesswoman in broad daylight.

A Test for Bermuda’s Future

The murder of Janae Minors has become more than a single case; it is now a symbol of Bermuda’s struggle to hold on to the progress it once made. The question facing the island is whether the successes of a decade ago can be replicated and sustained in today’s harsher climate of economic pressure and gang rivalries.

For Minors’ family, nothing can erase the tragedy of losing a mother and daughter so violently. But for Bermuda at large, her death is a wake-up call — that the island cannot afford complacency when it comes to crime.

As one community leader put it: “Nine years ago, we had beaten this. Now, we’re back to fearing what happens when the sun goes down. That is not the Bermuda we want to live in.”

Caribbean News

CARICOM-Africa Summit Yields Draft Pact on Trade, Travel and Reparations

Published

2 weeks ago

September 19, 2025

Deandrea Hamilton

Imagine an Atlantic Bridge connecting the Caribbean Region to the African Continent

Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — When CARICOM leaders convened with African counterparts and Afreximbank officials in Ethiopia, the outcomes were savory and exactly what many Caribbean people want to see materialise as the islands become uniquely reconnected to the African continent.

At the Second CARICOM-Africa Summit, held at the African Union headquarters, leaders moved beyond symbolic language to agree on a draft communiqué that, if finalized, would anchor this partnership in practical action. While not yet officially published by the AU or CARICOM, the document points to an agenda that blends history with urgent twenty-first century priorities.

The draft outlines commitments to improve air and sea transport links, including the pursuit of a multilateral air services agreement to break down the barriers that still keep the Caribbean and Africa physically apart. It also calls for visa facilitation and simplified entry regimes, making it easier for citizens of both regions to travel, study, and work across the Atlantic.

Equally significant are pledges to advance double taxation treaties that could remove one of the most stubborn obstacles to investment. With Afreximbank’s Caribbean headquarters already established in Barbados and the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF) gaining momentum, leaders now want to lock in the financial and legal frameworks that will drive new business.

Reparatory justice also featured prominently, with the draft communiqué sharpening a joint call for coordinated advocacy. CARICOM’s long-standing Reparations Commission is expected to work more closely with African institutions to demand global recognition and redress for the shared traumas of slavery and colonial exploitation.

CARICOM’s incoming chair, Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew of St. Kitts and Nevis, captured the spirit of the gathering when he urged that the Atlantic Slave Trade be reimagined as an “Atlantic Bridge — a bridge of hope, a bridge of advancement, a bridge that will ensure our people take their rightful place in this world.”

For Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett, the meeting was a “homecoming,” but also a reminder that concrete steps like the Health Development Partnership for Africa and the Caribbean (HeDPAC) and improved transportation links are needed to transform rhetoric into results.

For citizens back home, wrestling with inflation and economic uncertainty, the Addis outcomes — transport, visas, investment, health, and reparations — are precisely the kinds of measures that can validate leaders’ journeys and rekindle faith in South-South cooperation. What was once only rhetoric now hints at the beams of an Atlantic Bridge, connecting the Caribbean and Africa in ways that could finally turn history’s tragedy into tomorrow’s advantage.