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JAMAICA: Westmoreland Jamaica Exceeds Vaccination Target

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#Jamaica, April 14, 2021 – Medical Officer of Health, Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), Dr. Marcia Johnson-Campbell, says there was a high take-up of the AstraZeneca coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine at the vaccination blitz in Westmoreland on Sunday (April 11).

Dr. Johnson-Campbell, who managed the mass vaccination site at the Sean Lavery Faith Hall in Savanna-la-Mar, told JIS News that the parish exceeded the 1,000 target with 1,123 people receiving the vaccine on the day.  She said that vaccination sites were also operated at the Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital and the Savanna-la-Mar Health Centre with those facilities, together, accounting for 356 of persons vaccinated.

Dr. Johnson-Campbell informed that the feedback from the public was positive, and there were no complaints or reports of negative reaction to the vaccine.

“The day has been very good. Persons were here from even 7:30 a.m… . There were persons who did not book appointments online but they walked in and we facilitated them,” she said.

Noting that vaccine hesitancy continues to be a growing challenge, Dr. Johnson-Campbell said that the evidence, to date, indicates that the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe.

“So we encourage persons to come and get the vaccine. I have received the vaccine, and other members of the healthcare team, the elderly and a lot of other persons have been vaccinated and, to date, we have had no adverse effects,” she pointed out.

“We believe that the benefits of the vaccine far outweighs any risk that may be there, and we are looking to move forward with life as a result of having the vaccine, which is going to reduce mortality, reduce morbidity, reduce hospitalisation, reduce the illnesses that people may have,” she continued.

Meanwhile, State Minister in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, who visited the vaccination sites, told JIS News that she is pleased with the turnout, noting that there were no reports of glitches.

“Persons were excited to come out and get the vaccine and I hope that the entire country was just as happy to come out and get vaccinated against the COVID-19 disease. Ever since this deadly disease, we have been hearing the conspiracy theories… but I would say to Jamaicans, we know that COVID-19 is real and what it can do to the body, so I want to implore Jamaicans, once they reach the [targeted] age group to get vaccinated,” Mrs. Cuthbert-Flynn said.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old teacher at the Little London High School, Moya Williams, who received her vaccination at the Sean Lavery Faith Hall, said that getting inoculated is the first step in helping the country return to some level of normality.

“I can’t wait to get back to normal and this is the first step. I like to go out, I like to socialise and I miss doing that, so why not get the vaccine. In addition… the sooner we resume face-to-face classes, the education system can have some sense of normality as well,” she said.

Portfolio Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, also visited Westmoreland to observe the vaccination process.

Release: JIS

Contact: Nickieta Sterling

JIS Regional Office

Montego Bay

Caribbean News

Minister of Education, Youth, Sports, and Culture signs sport declarations at General Assembly American Sports Council – CADE 2024

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Press Release 

Washington, USA, April 26, 2024 – Hon. Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports, and Culture, signs CADE declarations at the General Assembly American Sports Council, CADE 2024 held in Washington DC, USA.

 

The Sport meetings commenced on Thursday, 25th April and continued through Friday, 26th April, 2024. There were three meetings held during the two days: A bi-lateral meeting hosted by the USA for English Speaking Caribbean countries; CONCECADE (Meeting for Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean); and CADE (meeting with South America, Central America, and the Caribbean and North America).

 

Accompanying the Minister were the Deputy Permanent Secretary of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, Mr. Amin McCartney, and the Director/CEO of the TCI Sports Commission, Mr. Jarrett Forbes. Sport leaders from thirty (30) plus countries from across South America, Central America, North America, and the Caribbean were present.

Amongst the topics discussed were: a report from the recently hosted Pan-American and Parapan-American Games in Santiago Chile 2023 and its legacies; Jamaica’s approach to developing mass participation through its Sport for All programmes; USA Commission for Athlete Representation; Inclusion in sports through strengthening para and special Olympic programmes; the commitment and social benefits of physical activity in schools; Structure and application of the Paralympic sport system in Columbia; and anti-doping in sports.

After the General Assembly, common positions for the future of sports in the Americas were taken with a final declaration and bilateral agreements of the CADE Assembly 2024.

Comment from the Minister of Education Youth Sports Culture and Library Services

 

“It was a pleasure to attend the General Assembly of the American Sports Council – CADE 2024 for the first time as the Minister of Sports for the TCI. It provided a greater insight into the roles and responsibilities of each entity and the kind of support we can garner whether financially, technically, or in the area of training. The CONCECADE bi-lateral meeting with Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean provided an opportunity for Caribbean Member countries to voice their concerns in relation to legacy matters including the dissemination of minutes and other content in English. This year yielded the largest number of Caribbean Ministers in attendance for the English-speaking countries, providing an opportunity to share best practices and collaborate with their counterparts.”

 

CADE Declarations signed by the Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture include:

 

First: Sports is something very special – it brings people together from every corner of the world, from every possible background. Each person, from every age, should have the opportunity to participate in the sports they enjoy. It is essential that all of us throughout the Americas reiterate our longstanding commitment to the development and implementation of sports policies for every segment of society, without any discrimination of any kind. It is essential to recognize that sports also have a critical role to play in addressing many of our social issues, including gender equality and inclusion, health promotion, education, and livelihood.

 

Second: Paralympians are amazing athletes and an inspiration to everyone who gets the chance to see what they can do. It is essential for every country to ensure that Paralympic athletes have robust opportunities to train, compete, and celebrate their amazing and vital contribution to sports.

 

Third: The Americas is proud of the success of the 2023 Pan American Games hosted by the Government of Chile and organized in cooperation with Pan Am Sports and the Chilean National Olympic Committee. We offer our deepest congratulations to all athletes who competed, their coaches and families, and to all those in Chile who worked so hard to ensure the success of the Games.

 

Fourth: The success of sports in the Americas has many elements, but first among them is the commitment to excellence of our athletes. The dedication, discipline, and spirit of everyone who seeks to be the best in their fields is an inspiration to us all, especially our children, who need role models and heroes to look to as they pursue their dreams.

 

Fifth: The Members of CADE commit to strengthening CADE as an organization with the vision of it building on the strong foundation that already exists, to becoming an even more robust hemispheric multilateral organization specializing in Sports.

 

Sixth: All CADE member countries are signatories to the UNESCO convention and we reiterate the importance of the convention as a government multilateral institution with critical anti-doping responsibilities and an obligation to work collaboratively with all sports and anti-doping stakeholders.

 

Seventh: Anti-Doping is a critical responsibility for every country. In this regard, it is vital that public authorities, whether through their Sports Ministry or otherwise, ensure that sufficient funding is available to national anti-doping organizations so that they are able to effectively implement their important obligations to ensure fair competition. It is the responsibility of the government to support the institutions our athletes are part of, to ensure the integrity of sports. The CADE general assembly very much appreciated the opportunity to hear directly from the WADA President for the first time.

 

Eight: The Olympic Movement plays a very critical role in the World of Sports. They are a vital stakeholder year-round, not just when it’s time for the Summer and Winter Olympics to develop Sports. They are part of the Sports ecosystem, which includes sports ministries, the International Olympic Committee, Pan Am Sports, the National Olympic Committee, Sports Federations National Anti-Doping Organizations, and a wide array of support and sponsors. It is critical that these vital relationships among all stakeholders remain strong. We thank the International Olympic Committee for their participation in this year’s CADE Sports Summit and invite them to participate again next year.

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Caribbean News

RECORD VISITOR ARRIVALS AND TOURISM EARNINGS FOR JAMAICA BETWEEN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2024

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KINGSTON, March 14 (JIS):

Jamaica welcomed one million visitors and generated tourism earnings of US$1 billion between January and February 2024.

This, according to Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, “is a record that has never happened in the history of Jamaica”.

“So, the good news is that Jamaica’s trajectory continues even against odds,” Mr. Bartlett added.

He was speaking during Thursday’s (March 14) press briefing at the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) in New Kingston for the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace.

Mr. Bartlett said the arrivals for the period included more than 600,000 stopover visitors and more than 300,000 cruise passengers.

“That is a seven per cent increase, in the case of stopover [visitors] for the year, and a whopping 29 per cent increase for cruise. But the big news for us is that our earnings at $1 billion [are] up 8.8 per cent over last year,” he outlined.

Minister Bartlett pointed out that the current trajectory augurs well for the Ministry’s projections that Jamaica will achieve five million visitors and earn US$5 billion by 2025.

Last year, Jamaica welcomed more than four million visitors and earned US$4.2 million.

CONTACT: SHANNA K. SALMON

 

 

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Caribbean News

FCCA launches Owen Arthur Scholarship

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By: The MPE Caribbean Report Newsletter

 

May 9, 2024 – The FCCA Foundation, the charitable arm of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), has launched an annual scholarship in honor of former Prime Minister of Barbados, The Right Honorable Professor Owen Seymour Arthur, who played a significant role in advancing the cruise trade association’s vision.

The annual gift of US$25,000 will be awarded to a different Caribbean destination each year to support the work of either an educational institution or a nonprofit organization chosen by the destination.

Barbados will receive the inaugural Owen Arthur scholarship, and next year’s scholarship destination winner will be announced at the ‘Shining Stars FCCA Foundation Dinner’ during Seatrade Cruise Global 2025.

“I am honored that the Foundation can continue the legacy of The Right Honorable Professor Owen Seymour Arthur, who truly inspired my career and empowered so many throughout the Caribbean, as well as making it possible to have the current partnership between the cruise industry and the Caribbean,” said Michele Paige, CEO, FCCA. “Hopefully this scholarship can live up to his memory by providing a platform for future generations in the region.”

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