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STAB
IN THE
BACK
Jamaica splits CARICOM unity
Vol. 33, Issue 14 Brooklyn Edition April 7-13, 2022
By Bert Wilkinson
An embarrassing diplomatic situation
has emerged in the 15-nation
Caribbean community family following
a very recent decision by Jamaica
to unceremoniously break ranks with
its regional brethren and field a second
CARICOM candidate for the post
of Commonwealth secretary general
despite leaders already agreeing on a
unified nominee for the post.
The administration of Prime Minister
Andrew Holness dropped the
bombshell at the weekend when it
unveiled Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Kamina Johnson-Smith as its own
candidate for the post despite Jamaican
voting with other CARICOM
heads in Belize last month to support
Dominica-born incumbent Secretary
General Baroness Patricia Scotland.
Clearly shaken up by the development,
which can now make space for
a candidate from outside the region
to sneak into the position because
of internal division, regional leaders
have decided to meet in emergency
session on Wednesday to discuss the
issue. The meeting would be a closed
door caucus session attended mainly
by presidents and prime ministers.
Critics now want to know which
western superpower is in diplomatic
backrooms cranking up Jamaica
to split regional votes and unity
by inserting Johnson-Smith into
the race. If a candidate from the
region fails at the next Commonwealth
summit in Rawanda in June,
it would mean that CARICOM would
have been denied its two consecutive
terms allocation that other regions
have enjoyed over the decades.
Many leaders and diplomats say
they feel betrayed by Jamaica as no
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul talks with reporters about the state budget at the state Capitol,
Monday, April 4, 2022, in Albany, N.Y. Associated Press/Hans Pennink
Hochul wants ‘Cannabis Conversations’
By Nelson A. King
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday
announced “Cannabis Conversations,”
New York State’s first public
health education campaign on
cannabis to inform the public on
the state’s Cannabis Law, including
who can consume, where to consume
and how to consume safely.
Hochul said this wide-reaching
campaign will provide parents and
caregivers with tools to protect
youth, remind New Yorkers of the
risks of driving while impaired by
cannabis, and other messages to
help keep New Yorkers safe and
healthy as the new industry develops
.T
hese messages will be distributed
in English and Spanish through
public service advertisements on
television, radio, transit, billboards
and social media.
“With the ‘Cannabis Conversations’
campaign, we’re following
through on our commitment to
provide New Yorkers with the information
they need to safely navigate
the new Cannabis Law,” Gov.
Hochul said. “Education is the best
tool to keep New Yorkers healthy as
we continue to ramp up this safe,
inclusive, and equitable industry.”
Public service advertisements
for the “Cannabis Conversations”
Continued on Page 12 Continued on Page 12
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