(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,

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.

The fuel shortage we were afraid of has arrived well ahead of schedule and leaving parts of the East Coast running on empty. 

The fuel shortage we were afraid of has arrived well ahead of schedule and leaving parts of the East Coast running on empty. 

CNN NEWS 

Several gas stations along the East Coast ran out of fuel Tuesday as worried drivers aggressively filled their tanks. The run on fuel began after a ransomware attack Friday shut down the Colonial Pipeline, a massive 5,500-mile artery that supplies nearly half of all the gas and diesel used on the East Coast. As of Tuesday, most of the pipeline remained offline. Here’s the latest: 

• Bone dry: On Tuesday, 8.5% of gas stations in North Carolina and nearly 8% in Virginia didn't have gasoline, according to GasBuddy, a site that tracks fuel prices and demand. Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina also reported outages. Even GasBuddy itself reported website outages as result of “extreme traffic.” 

• Prices spike: As demand shot up, the national price at the pump hit $2.985 on Tuesday, the highest level in nearly six years, according to AAA.
  
• Emergency measures: Virginia's governor declared a state of emergency. Georgia, North Carolina and other state governments also stepped in to ease supply concerns. The EPA issued an emergency fuel waiver. 
  
  
• A plea: US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm urged Americans not to hoard gas. The company that operates the pipeline expected it to be substantially operational by the end of the week.
  
  
• The dreaded I-word: Concerns about inflation and supply chain disruptions sparked a selloff on Wall Street (more on that later). 

THE TAKEAWAY 

Sistas of D Ankh and Ma’at Sisterhood Circle welcome Winston Wellington, Chairman of Negril Education Environment Trust, ( NEET) and Jean Brown, Master Teacher, to Child’s Month Program. The event is staged around the achievements of NEET, its principles, discipline, vision and mission, will showcase its successful graduates and current students. To access the Virtual Programme, use the link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3898417079 or log on to Zoom.com and type in the User ID: 389-841-7079

In tribute to Mothers on May 9th Mother's Day, Sistas of D Ankh and Ma'at Sisterhood Circle presents a Mother's Day Tribute by Charlie Bobus, Resident  & International Motivational Poet {Time: About 1:10 p.m.)

Joining Mr Winston Wellington will be Jean P. Brown, Master Teacher, formerly with Negril All Age School. Miss Brown is one of the Facilitators of NEET and has been responsible for the program’s success. A Tablet in every child’s hand and computer in every classroom is NEET’s Motto which has guided the program from obscurity to a household name in the parish of Westmoreland.

The tablet program is the foundation of NEET’s mission and goal. The organization aims to provide educational resources to underprivileged youth in Jamaica. We believe by doing this we can reduce crime in the country and ultimately provide opportunities for kids to achieve their dreams. There are many children who with a helping hand can go on to become the stars they were born to be. Join Sistas of D Ankh and Ma’at Sisterhood Circle this Sunday at 1:00 p.m. to welcome Mr Winston Wellington and Jean P. Brown and hear about their Student Exchange Program to Japan and Epcot Center, Florida.

Google is saving $1 billion per year as a result of employees

working from home...

Rt. Honourable Marcus Mosiah Garvey

Toronto, (March 20, 2021).

A bronze bust of Marcus Garvey will be installed at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, by August 17 to mark the 134th birthday of Jamaica's first national hero.

This is the brainchild of Afroglobal Television, the 24-hour Canada-based network, the Marcus Garvey Institute under the leadership Dr Julius Garvey, its co-founder, chairman and son of the legendary Marcus Mosiah Garvey; also included are the Pan African Technical Association, Strictly Roots, National Association of Kawaida Organizations, The Whirlwind  Group, and renowned artist Nijel Binns of Los Angeles, USA.

PAN-AFRICANISM

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

Montego Bay, Jamaica. (April 23, 2021) Dub poet extraordinaire, Cherry Natural (AKA Marcia Wedderburn) to drop new single from her latest Album, entitled “Spiritual Mastery” and Elder NswNebKaRa to speak on the Sacred Masculine on Sunday, April 25, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. (EST /Jamaica time) via the virtual Zoom Platform of Sistas of D Ankh and Ma’at Sisterhood Circle. For access use Zoom User ID: 389 841 7079 or Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3898417079 .

 Known as the leading performance Dub Poet in Jamaica and the Caribbean, Cherry Natural has the gift of speaking words sounds into creation in a lyrically unique and empowering manner. She is also a Writer, Self Defense Instructor, Motivational Speaker for adults & children, as well as, a facilitator of workshops on poetry and self-defense locally and internationally. She has written three books entitled ‘Come mek we reason’, ‘Earth Woman’ and ‘The Lyrical Contortionist’. She has in addition, two CD’s ‘Earth Woman”, “Intellectual Bad Gal”, and has completed an EP recently. “Spiritual Mastery” her third album is available soon on all Digital Platforms.

The Sisterhood Circle invites Soul Mates, Sacred Feminine and Sacred Masculine, as well as, significant others in particular to come and receive a blessing on their relationships by Elder and Spiritual Healer NswNebKaRa. The entire family is invited to join Sisters of D Ankh and Ma’at Sisterhood Circle in welcoming Cherry Natural and NswNebKaRa Asar KasaamsuRa Heri-sheta-paheru to the Sacred Space where the community becomes one in the Ubuntu and Ma’at African tradition.

NswNebKaRa Asar KasaamsuRa Herishetapaheru is respectfully known as NswNebKaRa, he hails from Aye Aye in the Virgin Islands. He is a Co-founder and the Executive Director of Per Ankh (House of Life) a non-governmental and not-for-profit organization livicated to Culture, Healing, Arts, Technology and Spirituality for Life, Inspiration, Freedom, and Education = CHATS4LIFE©. Elder NswNebKaRa is skilled in the Martial Arts and is Author of four books: The Ra-clamation of the Sa-cred Sovereign Maat Nation of Smai Tawi Em Khamet Nwt; Uat Nefer Aha Aaui-Te Em Per Ankh Em Smai Tawi Em Khamet Nwt: 2) The Way of the Harmonious Warrior Arms and Hands Systems and Spiritual Warrior Teachings of Per Ankh of Smai Tawi Khamet Nwt; 3) Per Ankh: ANKHMES (Due out Autumn 2021); and other works are pending publication.

As properties get increasingly scarce in prime areas, they are increasingly in demand by developers. The most common transaction between the landowner and developer is for the developer to purchase the land from the landowner.

This is never the best financial return for the landowner. The best return for the landowner is to enter into a joint venture with the developer, by placing his land in the deal as debt/equity investment.

The developer enters into an agreement with the landowner where the landowner invests the value of the land as debt with 0% interest and 20% equity of the profit. (Note each deal will have its own uniqueness based on land value, cost to build, and retail value of the real estate once completed). 

Landowners have to explore ways to extract the highest value from their land and have a long-term vision for sustainable revenue. If you are looking to attain the highest value from your land then a joint venture with a developer could be an opportunity worth exploring. 

By: Alyssa Newcomb

From engaging outside experts to interviewing shoppers, Sephora hopes its team effort to tackle racial bias will have an impact on the wider retail industry.

Months before the killing of George Floyd sparked racial justice demonstrations, and before the coronavirus pandemic changed the way people shop, Sephora decided to confront an ugly truth.

“Bias is wired into our brains and shows up in every institution, from policing to real estate to online media, and so we wanted to understand the implications for retail, guided by our commitment to creating a more inclusive retail experience,” Deborah Yeh, Sephora’s chief marketing officer, tells Fortune. 

The beauty retailer recruited a team of experts from both inside and outside the company who could report on racial bias in retail and come up with actionable steps that Sephora and ideally other retailers could take to make the shopping experience more inclusive. The task force worked for more than a year to study the issue and earlier this month released its findings in the company’s first-ever “Racial Bias in Retail” report.

“The study was really intended to better understand the issue, and understand how commonplace racial bias is in retail settings, as well as similarities and differences across different racial groups, and ultimately measure the problem,” Yeh says. “But we also wanted to identify tactics and actions that could help mitigate bias treatments from the shopper experience.”

Que Pasa con el Caribe y Africa? By Felipe Noguera, Deputy Coordinator of the Caribbean Regional Coordinating Committee of the Pan Africanist and Indigenous Movement.

"Love gives and forgives. Selfishness gets and forgets."

In which category do we, the people of Africa and the Caribbean fall? Can we express loving appreciation or do we consign ourselves to selfish ingratitude?

Has any country in modern history, outside of the continent of Africa, sacrificed more in life, time, blood, and resources for the liberation of Africa from the shackles of apartheid and domestic settler colonialism than Cuba?

The beautiful island nation of Xaymaca - present day Jamaica - is famous for producing pioneering and notable world figures who have initiated and contributed immensely to many fields of human endeavor.

We can easily recall the iconic pan-Africanist leader, Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey; the legendary Queen Nanny of the Maroons; the celebrated reggae singers Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, as well as the world champion athletes Merlene Ottey and Usain Bolt, just to name a few.

It may not come as a surprise therefore that now a small village in western Jamaica is poised to introduce to the world its most daring initiative in the form of a digital currency called THE LUMI - issued by the Central Solar Reserve Bank of Accompong, located in the sovereign Maroon dominions in the island of Jamaica.

The forward thinking that went into the creation of The Lumi was prompted by the alarming threat of climate change, the rising and crippling foreign debts of African countries, and the humiliating poverty level on the African continent in the midst of abundant natural resources.

It is no secret that Real Estate has been the greatest wealth builder with the least fluctuations in history. Real Estate is not just a hedge investment during the fall of the stock market but a solid investment in all stock market cycles.

Carefully selected Real Estate properties with proper due diligence and sound financing structure will deliver real long-term value through income and capital appreciation. 

Unlike the paper investment of the bond and stock markets, the long-term value of Real Estate in your investment portfolio is backed by physical assets and is not subject to wide fluctuations that are part of investing in the stock markets.

A properly structured and managed real estate portfolio can provide a return on your Real Estate investment in excess of 10% per year even when markets are down or flat.