Caribbean L 14 ife, Aug. 16-23, 2019 BQ
CARIBBEAN ROUNDUP
percent and 80 percent respectively.
St. Lucia
The St. Lucia Tourism
Authority (STA) says
it supports the government’s
position of not
agreeing to an EC$20
million subsidy over a three-year period
as demanded by the British carrier, Virgin
Atlantic.
Newly appointed STA Chief Executive
Officer, Beverly Nicholson-Doty said,
“we understand the possible impact
that the British carrier’s withdrawal can
impose on the industry, however, the St.
Lucia Tourism Authority is committed
to effective ways of building ‘Brand St.
Lucia’ with the investment of additional
revenue to increase robust marketing
and advertising efforts globally.”
Minister of Tourism, Dominica Fedee
recently confirmed media reports in St.
Lucia that Virgin Atlantic’s decision to
scrap the route was linked to a stalemate
over payment of subsidies to the airline.
Virgin Atlantic recently announced
that after June 8, 2020, it would stop its
operations between St. Lucia and London’s
Gatwick Airport, for the foreseeable
future.
Trinidad
The Economic Commission
for Latin America
and the Caribbean
(ECLAC) said Trinidad
and Tobago returned to
positive growth, registering 1.9 percent
in 2018 for the first time in three
years, largely driven by a recovery in the
energy sector.
ECLAC Deputy Director, Dillon
Alleyne said in 2019, despite the effect
of the oil refinery closure of the stateowned
company, Petrotrin in November
2019, growth is projected to be 1.6
percent, supported by a new natural
gas project and an increased implementation
of public sector investment
programs.
Alleyne said the recovery in the energy
sector has contributed to improved
foreign exchange inflows, but the foreign
exchange shortage is still acute.
He said that the announcement of
unsuccessful infill drilling by NP could
also have negative impact on economic
growth, but the government is working
to mitigate it.
— Compiled by Azad Ali
Continued from Page 4
Bichotte reflects on
Child Victims Act
By Nelson A. King
Brooklyn Assemblymember Rodnyese
Bichotte on Tuesday joined Safe Horizon
and other survivors of child sex abuse,
including Senator Alessandra Biaggi,
Assemblymembers Yu-line Niou and
Linda Rosenthal, in speaking about the
rights of child sex abused victims now
having the opportunity to seek justice
with a look back period of one year for
those 23 years of age and older.
Bichotte, who represents the 42nd
Assembly District in Brooklyn, said the
Child Victims Act, which signed into law
on Feb. 14, extends the statute of limitations
of which criminal claims – age 25
for misdemeanor and age 28 for felonies,
and civil claims (age 55) – can be filed.
The Act allows more time for the
victims of such abuse to emotionally
process their experience before coming
forward.
“At such a tender age, a child is terrified
and not sure what they are supposed
to do,” said Bichotte in joining join Safe
Horizon, survivors of child sex abuse and
others at a press conference in Times
Square to announce the One-Year Look
Back Window of the Child Victims Act.
“As a victim of child sex abuse at the
age of 10, I remained silent, because I
was afraid that no one would believe me,”
she added.
Adults, who were subjected to child
sexual abuse but were faced with an
Brooklyn Assemblymember Rodnyese
Bichotte refl ects on Child Victims
Act one-year later.
Offi ce of Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte
expired statute of limitation, now have an
opportunity to seek retribution, Bichotte
said.
She said the Child Victims Act,
through the “One-Year Look Back Window”,
allows for adult survivors to file a
claim within a period of one-year, regardless
of how long it has been since the time
of their abuse.
Tuesday marked the eve of this look
back period.
“Survivors will have between Aug. 14,
2019 and Aug. 13, 2020 to file a claim if
they choose to do so,” Bichotte said. “Survivors
should know that they now have a
choice, whether or not they wish to pursue
civil charges against their abusers.”