Caribbean Life, F 12 ebruary 11-17, 2022
CARIBBEAN ROUNDUP
The JFC figures show the St. James
Police Division recorded 21 cases compared
to 18 last year.
The JFC is also reporting a decrease in
the number of shooting
incidents, with 71 cases
reported over the period
under review, compared
with 85 for the same
period last year.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness said
that a section of Savannah-la-Mar, Westmoreland,
had been declared a zone of
special operations (ZOSO).
He said ZOSO is a specifically
designed intervention which is more
graphically limited and focused on community
building.
Holness said while the zone of special
operations is a tool to fight crime, “it is
not an immediate response tool.”
Jamaica recorded 1,463 murders last
year.
Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago also
started a bloody year with 55 murders
recorded in January — an increase
of 100 percent compared to the same
period last year.
TRINIDAD
The Trinidad and Tobago Government
has allocated TT$20 million to
host a scaled down version of the “Greatest
Show on Earth” this year dubbed a
“Taste of Carnival 2022” festivities.
In a statement last week, the Ministry
of Tourism, Culture and the Arts said
that support for “A Taste of Carnival”
has been approved by Cabinet.
There was no Carnival last year
because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
National Carnival Commission (NCC)
Chairman, Winston “Gypsy” Peters
revealed the introduction of a pod system
to allow patrons to enjoy live shows
at the Queen’s Park Savannah while
maintaining public health rules of gatherings
of no more than 10 people.
The pods, which resememble a mini
boxing ring, will come in two sizes —
one for six patrons and less and another
for no more than 10 people.
There will be 200 of the modified
“pods” made of wooden flooring with
metal pipes in a semicircular
fashion.
The NCC chairman
said the idea of the pod
was not unique to Trinidad
and Tobago but was a template
being used globally.
Peter’s said the Carnival season will
kick off with the opening of Calypso
tents on Feb. 11.
Events will be held at three venues
across the country — Queen’s Park
Savannah, Queen’s Hall in Port of Spain
and at the Naparima Bow in San Fernando.
The official calendar of events include
calypso tents, a national ex-tempo competition,
a national pan event, Calypso
Fiesta, Senior King and Queens, Kaisorama,
Dimanche Gras, and a brass
concert
There would be no J’Ouvert and street
parade of bands on Carnival Monday 28
and Tuesday March 1.
Peter’s said all persons taking part
in “A Taste of Carnival” have to be fully
vaccinated and must meet the requirements
of the safe zones.
— Compiled by Azad Ali
Continued from Page 4
Sen. Roxanne Persaud, AARP to
host virtual senior Medicare talk
By Tangerine Clarke
NYS Senator Roxanne Persaud who
represent the 19th Senatorial District in
Brooklyn will partner with the American
Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
to present a Senior Medicare Talk via a
virtual informational session on Tuesday,
Feb. 15, from 6 pm- 7 pm.
Participants must register for the
event at: https://bit.ly/3rVCHu8. For more
information, call Sen. Persaud’s office at
718-6497653.
The politician, who represents the
largest district, in New York, that include
parts of Canarsie, East New York, Brownsville,
Mill Basin, Sheepshead Bay, Bergen
Beach, Marine Park, Flatlands, Ocean
Hill and Starrett City, told Caribbean Life
that the two-hour informational forum
will focus on Medicare Choices and 2022
updates.
Sen. Persaud, who passed bill S6589A
in the Senate – that exempts income
earned by persons from certain job training
or adult education programs from
the determination of need for public
assistance programs, will also discuss,
Annual Election Period, Medicare Coverage,
Choices at-a-Glance, Additional
Open Enrollment, Medigap Plans, and
Plan N.
Information on Medicare Supplement
(Medigap) Plan and additional programs
for those with limited income will also
be shared, while she provides resources
to better equip the elderly with Medicare
options.
The lawmaker, who passed a resolution
that requires health insurance policies
and Medicaid to cover biomarker testing
for certain purposes, has been vigilant in
the elderly community throughout the
coronavirus pandemic, and is pleased to
collaborate with the United States-based
AARP interest group focused on issues
affecting those over the age of 50.
Her programs provide monthly food
drives, face masks and hand sanitizing
solution in the multi-cultural district in
which Sen. Persaud will be seeking a fifth
term when voters go to the polls for the
Primary this year.
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