Mandeville, Jamaica. December 23, 2021.   The announcement of Minister of Tourism, The Honourable Edmund Bartlett, on December 3, 2021 at the 24th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly in Madrid, Spain, of his intention to invest and promote Village Tourism in Jamaica is welcomed by all Community Tourism partners.   Delegates who approved the Redesigning Tourism for the Future Task Force agreed that this was a big victory for World Tourism.

BRAND Jamaica is known for being the home of the fastest man and the fastest woman on planet earth, Usain Bolt and Elaine Thompson-Herah, Reggae, Bob Marley and its first National Hero, Marcus Mosiah Garvey.  Jamaica is also the HOME OF COMMUNITY TOURISM, having given it birth some 47 years ago and been so branded in 1994 by Dr. Louis D’Amore, founder, International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT).  The title has since grown to include the Caribbean Region.  Community Tourism has in turn given birth to Villages as Businesses, a world recognized and acclaimed programme created in Jamaica and implemented and exported locally, regionally and internationally with a focus on community economic tourism.

The Tourism Minister’s announcement is in fact an award-winning decision based on the following truth: it is endorsing the passion, philosophy and commitment of Diana McIntyre-Pike, tourism pioneer, which has earned her and Villages as Businesses some 25 awards spanning 40 years. 

Hon. Edmund Bartlett

KINGSTON, Jamaica; December 3, 2021: Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett has emphasised that Jamaica is restructuring the tourism industry to ensure that more of the earnings from the sector go to the small and medium tourism enterprises. 

The Minister made the comment yesterday during a Ministerial Debate on Policies to Foster Tourism for Rural Development during the 24th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly in Madrid, Spain. 

"There are inequities we know to exist in those who are the real providers of tourism experiences and those who are the beneficiaries of the tourism spend. Globally, 80 per cent of tourism is driven by the small and medium players, but only 20 per cent of the returns go to them. We have to rebalance that asymmetry, and I think that the policy that Jamaica has adopted in this regard will go a long way in enabling this rebalancing," said Bartlett. 

He added that research has shown that people travel to experience culture not traditionally found in the resort areas but in rural communities. Therefore the Ministry will be focusing heavily on leveraging community tourism experiences, especially those focusing on the country's rich biodiversity. 

Editor’s Remarks: “Congratulations to Jamaica’s Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett, Ministry of Tourism and its team for another Big Win for BRAND Jamaica. May God bless our sterling efforts and may the nation continue to excel even during the Pandemic, growing from strength to strength .” Caribnewsroom Team.

Less than a month after topping the World Travel Awards Caribbean & North America 2021 Winners Day in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Jamaica scored big again on Thursday, November 11, at the 2021 Travvy Awards in Miami, Florida.

The country took home the gold for Caribbean’s Best Destination, Best Culinary Destination, Best Tourism Board, and Best Travel Agent Academy Program.

Jamaica also received Silver awards for best Caribbean Wedding Destination and Best Caribbean Honeymoon Destination.

The annual Travvy Awards were held at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

WEB Du Bois

In our series of letters from African journalists, Elizabeth Ohene looks at plans to build a state-of-the-art complex in Ghana to honour the pioneering US black civil rights activist William Edward Burghardt Du Bois.

A cadre of radical African-American intellectuals and artists moved to Ghana after its independence in 1957 and contributed to the invigorating atmosphere of those times.

WEB Du Bois - the famous African-American scholar and black activist - was probably the most high-profile figure among the coterie of African diasporans who came to live here.

The first African American to earn a doctorate from Harvard University in 1895, he fought prejudice and racism in the US, speaking out against lynching and calling for the equality for all citizens.

Oct. 7, 2021 - Tertiary Scholarship Award Recognition. Lf. to Rt. Front Row: Father Hollis Lynch and Angella Whitter, CEO, Joe & Angella Whitter Foundation. They are joined by Tertiary Students awardees. Photo Credit: Darren Grant

Joe & Angella Whitter Foundation is helping to fulfill the dreams of young men and women with vision through its mandate of providing scholarship to assist tertiary level students enrolled in select educational courses in Western Jamaica. To date the foundation, which earmarked $4 million for education and $1 million for medical needs, has awarded $2.9 million to 26 students enrolled in Caribbean Maritime University, Montego Bay Community College, University of the Commonwealth Caribbean, University of the West Indies and University of Technology, Jamaica.

The Foundation was launched December 2021 on the heels of the 10^th Anniversary Commemoration of the Whitter Village one of the flagship properties owned by Mrs. Angella Whitter and her late husband Slidie “Joe” Whitter, the main benefactors of the foundation. The foundation has as its mandate the awarding of annual scholarships to qualified students from Western Jamaica.

Students should be studying in the areas of entrepreneurship, business management, construction, building management, architecture and engineering with a Grade Point Average (GPA) more than 2.5.

Mrs. Angella Whitter, an ardent advocate for higher education, is passionate for developing nation building and in speaking to the foundation board recently said “the need of students in Western Jamaica far outweigh what the foundation can provide in 2021.  I thank each member of the foundation board for your achievements to date, yet challenge you to do more for 2022.”

What is the African Diaspora ?

It is a group of more than 350 millions inhabitants in the world. Some of them left Africa a few years ago as migrants, others left the continent as slaves as they were deported several centuries ago. All are people of African descent, living in Brazil, Jamaica, United States, France, India, etc. It is the third population in the world, after China and India, before United States and Indonesia.

What is the State of the African Diaspora ?

The State of the African Diaspora is an entity that has one goal : to reinforce Africa through the Diaspora, and the Diaspora through Africa.

Benin Bronze Images

On October 7 and 9, the Prime Minister of the State of the African Diaspora will be invited to the Africa-France Summit to deliver a speech on Restitution.

In this area, Dr Louis-Georges Tin and his parties have already accomplished many things: the law passed in France for the benefit of Benin and Senegal, the law passed in Belgium for the benefit of the DRC, and the resolution passed in respect of was the case. European Parliament for restitution and reparation. It is a historic movement, but it is certainly not enough.

ALL African countries should receive ALL their artifacts. This is why the Prime Minister wants the subject to be on the table during the French presidency of the European Union, from January 2022. This is now what he is discussing with the French authorities.

In the meantime, SOAD is launching a major campaign to give more impetus to the Prime Minister. On October 1 and 2, the government organized an international conference on restitution. Specific guests included Chief Fortune Charumbira, Speaker of the African Union Parliament, Co-chair of the Royal Chamber of DICO; the special representative of the President of the African Union, President Félix Tshisekedi; Daagbo Hounon, Supreme Leader of the Vodou Cult; Saliou Mamadou, grandson of the former President of Guinea, Sekou Touré.

Anse d'Arlet in Martinique

The world’s largest airline is relaunching another destination in the Caribbean: the French Caribbean island of Martinique, Caribbean Journal has learned.

On Nov. 6, the carrier will resume its nonstop service between Miami International Airport and Fort-de-France’s Aime Cesaire International Airport.

The flights will initially run weekly on Saturdays before increasing to at least thrice weekly, according to American Airlines.

American is operating the service on its Embraer 175 aircraft with 76 seats, the company confirmed. 

Welcome to the inauguration of our University. It was here that on July 1, International Day of the African Diaspora, we announced the upcoming opening of University of the State of African Diaspora (USOAD).

The theme this year is “Heritage for All”. For everyone in Europe, but also for the whole planet. Heritage is the heritage of everyone around the world. Especially to Africans who have created and endowed the planet with incredible treasures. African heritage must stop being despoiled and must be shared with Africans. Laws must decree as quickly as possible the return of all African heritage to Africa. Human remains, as an extension of what has been decreed for the return, for example of the Venus Hottentot, must be returned without delay.

We should think about a Pan-African heritage day which would allow us, following a careful inventory and identification of the goods of the past, to put in place actions for the future. A program that would determine: the conservation of its goods, the schedule of returns, the exhibitions to be made, the places, the circulation of works of art in a physical or digital way. Everyone should be able to enjoy it. We call for greater inclusion and recognition of diversity; review existing stories for better transmission to future generations.

Within the Faculty of Heritage, we will work on tangible and intangible heritage. On the origins of heritage. Make an inventory to better soak up each object of art.

Paris, September 15, 2021. September being a good time to speak about education, the State of the African Diaspora (SOAD) is pleased to announce that the SOAD Network of Pan-African Schools is now in existence. It includes more than 720 schools from different countries such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Guadeloupe, Gabon, Ghana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, United Kingdom, United States, Zambia, Zimbabwe, etc.

Different Pan-African schools exist in the world, but they are not very connected and operate in silos. That is why, for SOAD, it was necessary to create a real network. Thus, all over the world, Pan-African teachers will be able to share good practices, documents, contents, handbooks, exercises, and all kinds of educational resources: they will not have to reinvent the wheel every day.

Dr Tin, Prime Minister of SOAD made the following statement:

“As far as I can see, more and more Africans on the continent and in the diaspora are concerned about the quality of the education provided to their children, and oftentimes, ignoring who we are and where we are coming from. The curriculum of these schools brings a kind of alienation to our young children. This is the reason why it is so crucial to create a whole network of Pan-African schools. ”

The Caribbean countries of Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have gathered 3,500 kg of medical supplies to be sent to the largest country in the Caribbean, Cuba.

The news was announced this Friday by the regional integration bank on its Twitter account, where it acknowledged the role of the four English-speaking Caribbean nations in organizing the much-needed medical aid to the Cuban people in coordination with Conviasa.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Cuba has sent international medical brigades to every country in the Caribbean to help the island nations confront and control the deadly virus; now, with Cuba facing one of its sharpest outbreaks in the 18 months since the novel coronavirus reached the nation's shores, it will humbly receive the donations from its brother nations through an international air bridges established through the ALBA regional integration mechanism.

Due to the United States' economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed against Cuba for more than sixty years, the largest of the Antilles had struggled to obtain crucial medical, food and sanitary inputs to meet the growing needs of the population. The generous donation from its Caribbean bretheren adds to those originating over the past months from numerous countries worldwide, such as Nicaragua, Russia, Italy, Japan and Bolivia.

Havana, Sep 3 (Prensa Latina) Cuba will present its three anti-Covid-19 vaccines to the World Health Organization (WHO) next week to begin the international recognition process, international media reported Thursday.

According to statements by the Pan American and World Health Organization (PAHO / WHO) Representative for Cuba José Moya, specialists from Havana, Geneva and Washington will have the opportunity to attend virtually the event, in order to share information, coordinate documentation and set up schedules.

'It is a good news,' Moya told AP agency and stressed that a working team will be created to review the results of the clinical trials, production processes and quality of Cuban vaccines.

He indicated that a working meeting was held on Thursday at the request of Cuba to initiate the mechanism with PAHO/WHO representation and directors of the Business Group of the Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries of Cuba (BioCubaFarma), the Finlay Vaccine Institute ( IFV) and the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB).

In the aftermath of the Marcus Garvey Day (August 17), which is now on the State of the African Diaspora (SOAD) official calendar, we would like to thank Ambassador Sharon Parris-Chambers, who organized the event, which was a great success.

The day was marked by many highlights such as the panel discussion on women in the Back to Africa movement, the panel discussion on the Exodus Alliance, the alliance working to return to Africa, the documentary by RJ Mahdi and the presentation of the latest issue of the Label Diplomatique, the Pan-African magazine, which will also publish the panel presentations.

Musical interludes animated the meeting. Furthermore, as commemoration should not be a substitute for action, but rather a springboard for action, several concrete announcements were made, such as the trips to Africa organized by Lady Yaa, the Minister of Tourism of the State of the African Diaspora, trips that are naturally in line with the “Back to Africa” vision championed by Marcus Garvey.

But the highlight of the day was undoubtedly the message delivered by Dr. Julius Garvey, son of Marcus Garvey, and an Ambassador-at-Large of the State of the Diaspora.

The State of the African Diaspora expresses its gratitude to His Excellency, Chief Charumbira, President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) of the African Union (AU), who has accepted to have a representation of Marcus Garvey in Ethiopia and in South Africa, Headquarters of the AU and of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP).

As a matter of fact, the campaign was initiated by Dr Julius Garvey, Marcus Garvey’s son, a few months ago. Being an ambassador at large of the State of the African Diaspora (SOAD), Dr Garvey asked Dr Tin, Prime Minister of SOAD, to also support this initiative. During the Marcus Garvey Day, celebrated on August 17th, Dr Tin officially endorsed the campaign, and the day after, wrote to Chief Charumbira, who is also the co-chair of the Royal Chamber of SOAD.

Chief Charumbira’s answer to Dr Tin was very quick and very positive. First of all, he paid a tribute to the Pan-African spirit delivered by the great Marcus Garvey. Indeed, Marcus Garvey is great not only for his vision that created the movement  “Back to Africa”, but also for his capacity to mobilise. His organisation had more than 6 millions members in more than 40 countries, in Africa and in the Diaspora. It was the biggest black organisation ever.

Chief Charumbira made it very clear : "Please count me and Pan-African Parliament as having accepted the posting both at AU and PAP of the portrait of Marcus Garvey."

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica. Thursday, August 5th, 2021- Sistas of D Ankh & Ma’at Sisterhood Circle celebrates their one-year anniversary with a special program titled “Drums of Alkebulan” via Zoom on August 8, 2021 between 1pm-3pm via Zoom Link - Https://us02Web.zoom.us/j/388417079. MEETING ID: 389 841 7079.  No password necessary.

The public are invited to attend. The event showcases special performances by: Abijah, Don Dada (South African Artiste’s premier performance of the Dawn Penn hit song and cover “You Don’t Love Me -No No No”), Danny Petersen, Nana Yahmin Ensemble featuring Jiwe on flute, Mbuta Mwalimu and Recorded session of Jam Africa Ensemble (Sagatala).

The Sisterhood Circle focuses on four (4) areas of personal development: Physical Wellbeing, Family/Parenting, Spirituality (inclusive of Sacred Feminine/Masculine) and Community Economics Development. Their mission is “each one, teach one, reach one” and their overall vision is “we walk together to go far,” hence allowing for differences to be settled in love, in truth and reciprocity in MA’AT.

Sistas of D Ankh, founded by Hazel Yahmin Williams-Vaz stated “The sessions have been absolutely wonderful, learning has been abundant and we have been consistently reassured about we, ourselves and I, not to mention moving forward, we hope others can join to assist in the Community Development Process”.  She also stated “It is about accountability and responsibility; therefore, broken people can never heal a community without knowing me, myself and I”.

The death of respected academic Runoko Rashidi was announced late last night by his friends and family. He passed away while on a research trip to Egypt on 2 August. Messages of love, support and remembrance are pouring in for the historian online. We take a look at his incredible life and academic career.

Who is Runoko Rashidi?

Runoko Rashidi described himself as a scholar, historian, author and a lecturer. Born in 1954, the historian was about 67 years old when he passed away.

He held frequent seminars about African History, Pan-Africanism, and focused his work specifically on the global African presence, which details the movement of Africans outside Africa before and after enslavement.

Maureen Tamuno, Nigerian High Commissioner meets Min. Ed Bartlett

KINGSTON, Jamaica; July 28, 2021: Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett and newly appointed Nigerian High Commissioner to Jamaica, Maureen Tamuno, share a special COVID-19 greeting as she paid a courtesy call on the Minister, on July 27, 2021. During the session, Minister Bartlett emphasized that Africa is the new frontier for tourism, as his ministry is actively working to strengthen ties between Jamaica and the continent of Africa. The Minister and High Commissioner discussed increasing air connectivity between Jamaica and Nigeria and the establishment of a satellite Centre for the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) based in Jamaica. 

This discussion comes on the heels of a recent visit to Kenya, where Minister Bartlett, who is also Co-Chair of the GTRCMC and Kenya's Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, and Chairman of the GTRCMC – Eastern Africa, Najib Balala signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will pave the way for the two centres to work together to develop policy and conduct relevant research on destination preparedness, management, and recovery.

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(GTRCMC MOU Signing 1) Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, and Chairman of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) – Eastern Africa, Hon. Najib Balala (2nd left), presents a cheque for Ksh 10 million (US$ 100,000) to Minister of Tourism and Co-Chair the GTRCMC – Jamaica, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (2nd right) to support activities at the East Africa Centre

KINGSTON, Jamaica; July 16, 2021. Minister of Tourism and Co-Chair of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC), Hon. Edmund Bartlett, and Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, and Chairman of the GTRCMC – Eastern Africa, Hon. Najib Balala today (July 16) signed a ground-breaking memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will pave the way for the two Centres to work together to develop policy and conduct relevant research on destination preparedness, management and recovery.

The signing took place during the Tourism Recovery Summit for African Ministers of Tourism currently underway in Nairobi, Kenya, where Minister Bartlett was invited to speak in his capacity as a well-respected global thought leader on tourism resilience and recovery.

Minister Bartlett lauded the MOU signing, as “a huge leap for policy research.  It will allow these two Centres to collaborate in forecasting, mitigating and managing risks related to tourism resilience caused by various disruptive factors.  This is truly an exciting opportunity.”  The GTRCMC – East Africa at Kenyatta University, is a regional satellite centre of the international GTRCMC, located at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Jamaica. 

“This is particularly relevant as we navigate and respond to the challenges brought on by the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. We must be at the forefront of coordinating responses, surveillance and monitoring, and organizing economic relief efforts within and across borders. Collaborations such as this are both critical and timely,” the Minister said.

Paris, July 12th, 2021

The State of the African Diaspora is proud to announce this historical piece of news : last week, the Government of Belgium officially presented its roadmap for restitution. During a press conference, Thomas Dermine, Secretary of State in charge of Sciences declared :

“Time has come to give back to DRC the artifacts stolen by Belgium, they belong to the Congolese people “.

Most of these artifacts were stolen in a context of massacres and crimes against humanity during King Leopold’s reign -between 6 and 12 millions Africans died in Congo during that time, according to the experts.

Royal Chamber of SOAD

 Paris, July 1st, 2021

On July 1, 2021, on the occasion of the International Day of the African Diaspora, the Royal Chamber of State of the African Diaspora was launched. On this emblematic day, the Prime Minister, Dr. Louis-Georges Tin, issued a Decree that recalls “the essential and vital role our Kings, Queens, Chiefs and Traditional Leaders play in Africa”, and as the Decree explains, this Royal Chamber is created in order to strengthen the family links between Africa and the Diaspora.

The Royal Chamber of the State of the African Diaspora includes many organisations of Kings and Queens, such as :

The High Council of Kings of Africa,