Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett and Kenya’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Najib Balala at the 2022 UN Ocean Conference: Sustainable Coastal and Marine Tourism Launch Event held today (June 29) in Lisbon, Portugal.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; June 29, 2022: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has given his support to the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy’s (Ocean Panel) vision of accomplishing a viable tourism economy in less than 10 years.

He was giving the keynote address at the 2022 UN Ocean Conference: Sustainable Coastal and Marine Tourism Launch Event in Lisbon, Portugal, today (June 29).  The Ocean Conference is being held under the theme “Scaling up ocean action based on science and innovation for the implementation of Goal 14: Stocktaking, partnerships and solutions”.

During his address, Minister Bartlett pointed out that “Jamaica fully endorses the goal of the Ocean Panel to achieve a sustainable tourism economy by 2030.”

In reiterating his support, Mr. Bartlett stressed that “the health and sustainability of our oceans are critical to the survival of the tourism industry”, adding that “the role of healthy marine and coastal systems in promoting sustainable tourism is especially worthy of recognition.”

The future of innovation

Over the last decade, the respective governments have pushed vision 2030. Which is to make Jamaica the place to live, work , raise families and do business. While this is an idyllic situation, little effort has been put into making this dream a reality. Which begs the question, is this only a dream fed to the masses to sound progressive by the respective governments? The novel coronavirus forced us to adapt to new changes and while some progress was made, it was done in haste and more improvements need to be made. For real change to happen, the government must emphasize personal development in the form of different skills that can then be translated to make vision 2030 a reality. If safe environments are created to facilitate and foster these skills, vision 2030 may be a reality.

Commendations must also go to the government for trying to create some training programs like (HEART/Trust NTA) to teach youths a certain skill set, but most of the skills worth getting are micro-skills or soft skills. If they can master these skills, the big skills will be easier to conquer and will also create innovators that will drive the country forward. Here is a top ten (10) run down of the different skills needed to win in the 21st century. Communication skills: Learning how to communicate effectively with others.

For effective communication to take place, the information being transmitted must be understood and the communication being made must be clear. Imagine having a good idea but because of poor communication skills, you are not understood. This effective communication must be pushed as an important skill set to possess. 

* Learn to lead: Learn to get people excited about an idea. As the adage goes, the 'future belongs to the brave'.

 The future is going to need leaders who get people excited about an idea and lead them forward. For change to happen, people must be taught how to lead, which can pave the way for innovation to happen. 

Members of the Pan African Roots Synergy Delegation

The Summit was spearheaded by the Organizing & Planning Committee of the Roundtable: Professor Dr. David Horne, President of the Sixth Region Diaspora Caucus (SRDC), Archbishop Dr. Chidiebere Anelechi Ogbu, President of The African Diaspora Union (AFRIDU) and Mrs. Grace Abena James, “Right To Return Alliance” along with the representation of various Pan-African organizations and AFRICORA/SOAD represented by VPM Keturah Amoako and the SOAD members resident in Ethiopia discussed and deliberated for 4 days the Diaspora Declaration of 2012 ratified by the AU Heads of State.

At the end of the 4 days, two documents were produced in response to the Diaspora Declaration which will be submitted to the relevant AU organs, more particularly, CIDO and ECOSOCC.

These documents can be read here:-

1. THE ADDIS ABABA MAY25th_2022 DECLARATION RESOLUTION MB
2. THE ADDIS ABEBA MAY25th_2022 TEN YEARS AFTER SUMMARY AGREEMENTS MB

The Roundtable Committee and all organizations represented are hopeful that CIDO and ECOSOCC will act upon the recommendations and necessary actions as detailed in the documentation to ensure greater involvement, participation, and representation of 6th Region Pan-African organizations, NGOs, and entities to fully integrate within the organs of the AU and to ensure that the 6th Region will have a permanent and consistent presence at the AU table.

President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Félix Tshisekedi has committed to contesting the deforestation of the Congo basin rainforest. The Congo basin rainforest is second largest in the world after the Amazon.

At the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow on Tuesday, Tshisekedi, chairs person the African Union, stated that his country was more determined with its contribution at the national level to achieve a 21% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. His country plans to launch a programme aimed at planting one billion trees by 2023 and expanding their energy mix to include greener choices.

"In addition, the protection of the rights of local communities and indigenous peoples is essential," Tshisekedi posited.

The green recovery plan for Africa set in motion by Tshisikedi as President of the African Union, is focused on strengthening its actions in favour of environmental sustainability and prosperity in Africa.

There has been a growing interest in short videos, which has been adopted by almost every social media platform. YouTube has started sharing a regular “Shorts Report” to provide updates on what’s trending.

Along with what is trending, the Shorts Report also highlights popular users and creation notes to help in your Shorts process. These notes include information on how to maximize shorts engagements, using audio in your clips, and how to build an audience.

YouTube also has a Shorts educational video series. Shorts are already scoring 6.5 billion daily views, so you may want to take this into consideration.

Below is October’s Shorts report:

Social media platforms have been incorporating the trend of live-stream commerce. The newest platform is Pinterest, which will launch live shopping events on a new initiative called “Pinterest TV”.

Pinterest TV will host creators on its live platform, and the app’s “pinning” feature will come in handy to make these live streams available for view later.

A statement from Pinterest’s newsroom on October 29, 2021:

“Today we’re announcing Pinterest TV, a series of live, original and shoppable episodes featuring creators right on Pinterest. Pinterest TV episodes are refreshed each weekday and will be recorded and available for Pinners to view on-demand, and save and rewatch later.”

Social media platforms have been incorporating the trend of live-stream commerce. The newest platform is Pinterest, which will launch live shopping events, on a new initiative called “Pinterest TV”.

Pinterest TV will host creators on its live platform, and the app’s “pinning” feature will come in handy to make these live streams available for view later.

A statement from Pinterest’s newsroom on October 29, 2021:

“Today we’re announcing Pinterest TV, a series of live, original and shoppable episodes featuring creators right on Pinterest. Pinterest TV episodes are refreshed each weekday and will be recorded and available for Pinners to view on-demand, and save and rewatch later.”

Informational/educational and those that tried to replicate a tradeshow floor with virtual exhibitors are the two categories that virtual corporate events have fallen into during the pandemic. Of the two categories, educational programming gets a higher number of attendees. When trade show sponsors talk about a hybrid approach to future events, they mostly mention the educational component that the virtual attendees will experience.

Publisher of Airport Improvement Magazine, Paul Bowers, stated that after experiencing both virtual exhibit halls and virtual conferences during the pandemic, he is convinced that virtual exhibit halls do not work, and virtual conferences can effectively substitute for learning in person.

“Virtual trade show substitutes weren’t a complete waste, but I’d be hard-pressed to ever exhibit at one again,” Bowers said. “There is no return on my investment. On one I participated in, I paid the same amount that I pay for the in-person conference, and it was a waste of money. The seminar part can be done well virtually. I’ll spend money to send our editor to attend a virtual conference, but I won’t spend to exhibit virtually.”

Investing in customer service is a powerful marketing strategy as loyal customers will help you acquire new customers, free of charge, by convincing prospects to interact with your brand. Their positive testimonials will be more effective than any of your current marketing efforts — and cheaper, too!

Most people relate to each shopping experience by having either recommended stores with good experiences or complaints about the ones they didn’t like. Therefore, your customers’ experience should be number one on your list of priorities. Of course, not everything will always go according to plan. However, when there’s an issue, ensure to turn your problems into opportunities and solutions.

In addition to good customer service, you can keep customers happy by providing incentives and getting them to feel invested in your brand. Here is a list of ways to gain some goodwill from the community that keeps you in business.

 Give customers a reason to come back. If you can capture customer data, send an email expressing your gratitude or text along with a coupon. You may also encourage them to return sooner rather than later by making the coupon time bound.

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.

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.

Thousands of sculptures and carvings were taken during the destruction of Benin City in present-day Nigeria

Germany has agreed to return to Nigeria priceless artefacts that were stolen during the colonisation of Africa.

British troops looted thousands of artworks known as the Benin Bronzes from the Kingdom of Benin, in present-day Nigeria, in 1897.

Following auctions, some of the bronzes ended up in museums and private collections across Europe.

They hold deep cultural significance, and there is growing international pressure to give them back.

Paris, Tuesday 27 April 2021.

The Pan-African Journalists' Caucus was launched by the African Diaspora State on Tuesday 06 April 2021. At this inaugural meeting, the decision was taken to set up a series of structures, including "Country Coordinators", who are the operational arm of the Caucus in its campaigns around the world. This will strengthen Africa's pride and dignity as the "Cradle of Humanity".

On the proposal of H.E. Ambassador Élisée Héribert-Label ADJOVI, Chairperson of the Pan-African Journalists' Caucus, the following Country Coordinators have been appointed:

West Africa: Benin, Joël Samson BOSSOU;  Burkino Faso, Elie KABORE; Central African Republic, Jean Fernand KOENA;
Ivory Coast, Sylvain NAMOYA; Gambia, Sanna CAMARA;  Ghana, Philip Nii LARTEY; Guinea Conakry, Billy Nankouman CONDÉ; Liberia, Hannah N. GETERMINAH; Mali, Paul MBEN; Niger, Mahamadou ABOULAYE, Nigeria; Abdoulaye ISAH;  Senegal, Maymouna N'DIR; Sierra Leone; Theresa R. SESAY;  Togo, Ferdinand GADE.

In March, the month of women and feminism, the State of the African Diaspora ratified its commitment to African and Afro-descendant women by creating the Development Fund in support of these Women. As a result, on 21 March, the World Day of combating racial discrimination, the results of the ‘First Call’ were released, in which 16 women-led projects were selected, with an emphasis on topics ranging from food production, health, education to remembrance of our history. It highlights the international scope of the call and its results, which expresses a remarkable area of concentration in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the participation of young Afro-Feminist leaders.

Chaired by our Prime Minister, The Vice Prime Minister and the Minister of Gender Equality, the first workshop was held with women whose projects were selected, starting the process of implementation of these, under a rigorous schedule, letter of commitment and an accompanying plan with international experts. There, the Network of Entrepreneurs funded by the State of the African Diaspora was born.

The general objective of this Network is promoting the autonomy of Afro-descendant and African women, through charitable and successful entrepreneurship strategies. It includes Afro-descendant and African women from Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Dr. Louis-Georges Tin                                                Dr. Rosa Campoalegre Septien

By Shelly Palmer

As of this writing, Coinbase's market cap exceeds $86 billion. (I won't weigh in on the Wall Street aspects of this direct listing on Nasdaq; you can find that info online.) Quick facts: Coinbase is the largest cryptocurrency exchange. It trades under the ticker symbol COIN. It makes most of its money on trades involving Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), but also lets you exchange about 50 other cryptocurrencies. Almost everyone you know who has a substantial amount of BTC or ETH has done at least a few trades on Coinbase.

As you well know, we're in a crypto/NFT bubble right now. I'm not offering financial advice of any kind, but if you are going to start trading in crypto, Coinbase is far from the low-cost provider in the space. That said, don't get into this without doing your homework. The fine print on crypto transactions is so small you can't always see it.

© AfreePress- (Lomé, April 8, 2021) -Give Africa back its place in the concert of nations, work to restore the image of Africa's lost identity and create a synergy of action and ideas from the African diaspora scattered all over the world. These are the objectives of the State of the African Diaspora or the State of the African Diaspora (SOAD, in its English version). SOAD is headed by Dr Louis-Georges Tin, who is its Prime Minister.

The Pan-African Journalists caucus of this state, which is essentially virtual, was officially launched on April 6, 2021 during a meeting of its members on the Zoom application. The Pan-African Journalists Caucus is headed by Beninese, Elisée Héribert-Label Adjovi, Roving Ambassador of SOAD. The meeting brought together media professionals from around twenty countries such as Togo, Senegal, Benin, Nigeria, Tunisia, Brazil, Kenya, Madagascar, United States and Mauritius.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister of SOAD, Dr Louis-Georges Tin, did not fail to salute the mobilization of the participants and present the objectives and major projects of the organization. “I am very happy to launch this initiative today with Elisée Héribert-Label Adjovi, who is a great journalist, and also a great leader. The media are crucial: so much fake news is broadcast, especially when it comes to Africa. We cannot allow other people to tell our story for us. We need to change the narrative and be able to assert our own vision. This is the raison d'être of the Pan-African Journalists Caucus ”, he suggested on this occasion and to call on Africans and their diasporas to make Africa shine in the eyes of the world.

He dwelled at length on the presentation of the State of the African Diaspora, and its recent achievements, such as the creation of the identity card of the African Diaspora, the creation of the Lumi currency, the vote of a resolution in the European Parliament for the restitution of artistic goods from Africa and the repair and granting of 13,500 scholarships to Pan-African students, as well as the Pan-African cycling tour which will take place shortly. He also proceeded to the presentation of the caucuses which are components of the State of the African Diaspora. These are: the Pan African Caucus of Political Leaders (launched in February), the Pan African Caucus of Lawyers (launched in March), the Pan African Caucus of Spiritual Leaders (which will be launched in April) and of course the Pan African Caucus of Journalists, which exists from now on.

Thursday, March 4, 2021 (Kingston, Jamaica, W.I.) The State of the African Diaspora, Jamaica on March 1, 2021 rolled out its campaign to sensitize, educate and register Jamaican citizens to access the LUMI Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Stimulus Program.  It is a thirty-six-month stimulus package which began October 28, 2020 and ends September 28, 2023.

Background on SOAD and Eco-6 Region

The State of the African Diaspora (SOAD) is part of the Economic Community “Sixth Region” of the African Union (AU), which came to life with the bold actions of Dr. Louis-Georges Tin, now Prime Minister of SOAD. It is a Pan African vision for African liberation and sovereignty.

In 2014, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, President-in-Office of the African Union gave a mandate to Dr. Louis-Georges Tin, Chairperson of the Representative Council of Black Associations (CRAN) at the time, to set up the African Diaspora, to “give substance” to the Sixth Region. In 2018, Dr. Louis-Georges Tin presented to the African Union representatives the results of his mission: A constitution, a government and development projects. These elements were validated by President Aziz, and the State of the African Diaspora was formalized at the AU Summit in Mauritania on July 1, 2018. For more information, visit www.thestateofafricandiaspora.com .

Wed, February 24, 2021 The East Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) has executed the first retail transaction for its “DCash” digital currency.
The successful transaction using the central bank digital currency (CBDC) was conducted at a supermarket in Grenada on Feb. 12, technology partner Bitt announced. “This transaction is a major milestone in our mission to place DCash in the hands of the people of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union. … We are now on the cusp of the public launch of DCash,” said Timothy Antoine, governor of the ECCB.
The public launch will see the roll out of DCash in four of the eight members of the East Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU): Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Lucia. The central bank been developing the blockchain-based CBDC with Bitt, a
Barbados-based fintech company, after a deal was struck in spring 2018.

Work on the CBDC began in 2019, with the infrastructure built over the last year using Bitt’s digital currency management system (DCMS).

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