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Vol. 31, Issue 16 BROOKLYN EDITION April 17-23, 2020
CALL
CENTER
UNEASE
Calls for major rethink of seating
arrangements due to Covid-19
By Bert Wilkinson
Confirmed tests for the deadly
coronavirus at an international
call center in Jamaica at
midweek are leading to a major
rethink of how such centers
will be allowed to operate across
the Caribbean going forward
given intense seating arrangements
and poor social distancing
measures at such facilities
officials said. Officials say these
centers are as natural incubators
for the virus in as much as
crammed public transportation
mini buses or bars.
Jamaican Prime Minister,
Andrew Holness called a special
news briefing late Tuesday
to tell Jamaicans that 33 staff
members at the Alorica Call
Center in Catherine had tested
positive for the virus and cabinet
will ask police to determine
if anyone in management is
criminally responsible for the
outbreak at the facility in the
Jamaican countryside. The positive
tests pushed up island wide
confirmed figures to 112 amid
fears that other staff members
could also head to the sick bay
in the coming days. The confirmations
have led to the closures
of two centers, one in Kingston
and the other in St. Catherine.
Authorities want to know
if management at these centers
had been following physical
distancing while the remainder
of the island at has at least
tried to cope with such rules.
Health ministry teams are to
begin immediate inspections
at all such centers nationwide.
Jamaica has more than 30,000
such international call centers
or Business Process Outsourcing
seats, handling everything
from offshore flight reservations
to medical billing among
other services.
“As of Friday, there will be
mandatory temperature checks
for persons upon arrival at
work, and mandatory wearing
of masks for all persons on the
call center floor,” Gloria Henry,
head of the umbrella Global
Services of Jamaica group was
quoted by the Observer News-
Dr. Roy A. Hastick Sr. speaking at a past Brooklyn Borough Hall summer event.
Photo by Tangerine Clarke
Politicians, friends remember
Dr. Roy Hastick, as mentor, friend
By Tangerine Clarke
Dr. Roy A. Hastick Sr., a
Grenadian-born, who founded
the Caribbean Chamber of Commerce
and Industry, (CACCI),
and remained the CEO for more
than 30 years, died on April 9, in
a New York hospital during this
time when many are falling due
to Covid-19.
In a profound post on social
media, recently, daughter, Renee
Hastick-Motes said, “It’s with a
heavy heart, on behalf of mom
Dr. Eda, my brother Roy Jr.,
and my sisters, that I announce
the passing of the ‘King of our
hearts’ Dr. Roy A. Hastick Sr.,
founder, president and CEO of
the Caribbean American Chamber
of Commerce and Industry.”
“Job well done daddy, we will
forever love and cherish every
moment we had with him.
Thank you to everyone who has
shared loving sentiments with
us. We truly appreciate it. Continue
to pray for us. Love you all.
The Hastick Family,” said the
Facebook tribute.
Brooklyn Borough President,
Eric A. Adams, in a statement,
said, “It is with profound sadness
and a huge sense of loss
that we, and all of Brooklyn
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