With a look at some of the top stories making the news today, September 16 across your Caribbean-American community in South Florida, I’m…for CNW 90.
Today’s newscast is brought to you by the Florida Department of Health;
To help stop the spread of COVID-19, The Florida Department of Health in Broward County reminds everyone to practice social distancing, wash your hands often with soap and water and cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
Coming up in the newscast, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announces replacement Judge for Supreme Court, Dr. Peter Phillips given an ultimatum to resign by PNPYO and Barbados to become a republic by next year.
Now for the news in the detail
After weeks of legal back and forth with the high court regarding his nomination of Jamaican-born judge Renatha Francis to the Supreme Court, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday announced his replacement pick. She is Judge Jamie Grosshans from the 5th District of Appeal in Daytona Beach. The announcement comes after a unanimous ruling on Friday, which ordered the Governor to pick a new judge to fill the vacant supreme court seat by Monday. Judge Francis had withdrew her name from nomination on Monday after the Florida high court deemed her constitutionally ineligible to serve. Governor DeSantis had been adamant about nominating a Black judge to fill the vacant seat, but for the first since early 2019, no Black judges will sit on the Florida supreme court.
Also in Local News, Broward County Public Schools will provide free Grab-and-Go breakfast and lunch for all children 18 years old and younger. The U.S. Department of Agriculture had extended the summer meals flexibility waiver, allowing the school district to provide meals at no cost to all children, regardless of meal eligibility status and even if they don’t attend a BCPS school. Grab-and-Go meals are available at all BCPS elementary, middle and high schools, every Tuesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 to 5 p.m. while the District continues instruction through eLearning.Children or their parents can pick up bundles that include multiple meals by walking or driving to the school’s car or bus loop with a student ID. Meals are only provided in bundles and are not available for individual meal purchase. Adults are welcome to purchase meal bundles for $1.80 per breakfast and $2.75 per lunch.
In Caribbean News,
The leader of Jamaica’s opposition party, the PNP, Dr. Peter Phillips was on Monday given an ultimatum by the party’s youth organization the PNPYO to resign within the next 30 days. In a letter sent to Dr. Phillips, signed by PNPYO president Krystal Tomlinson, it group stated that as the PNP enters its phase of reconstruction, the party must “acknowledge the ultimatum issued by the Jamaican electorate on September 3, 2020 – change or die.” The letter also stated that the party must move with immediacy to “elect a new party president and Leader of Opposition before Local Government Election which is due in November. Almost immediately following the release of the letter to the media, senior member of the PNP Lisa Hanna posted a video on her Instagram page, addressing the party’s internal conflicts. Although her video was unrelated to the PNPYO’s letter, she also underscored the need for change and a rebuilding of the party.
And in Barbados, the governor-general Dame Sandra Mason has announced that Barbados will become a republic by the island’s 55th anniversary of independence in November 2021. She made the announcement while delivering her throne speech ahead of the second sitting of the 2008-2023 Parliament on Tuesday. Mason said that having attained independence over half a century ago, the island country can be in no doubt about its capacity for self-governance. She said it is now time for Barbados to fully leave its colonial past behind. With the island now becoming a republic, it means that Queen Elizabeth II will no longer serve as head of state. The island will also remove the UK-based Privy Council as its final court of appeal, making the Caribbean Court of Justice the nation’s highest court. Barbados will also have a President serving along with a Prime Minister. The island will now become the fourth English-speaking CARICOM republic, behind Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Dominica.
For more information on these and other stories, visit CNWNETWORK.com. Remember to pick up this week’s copy of our Caribbean National Weekly at your nearest Caribbean – American outlet.
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