How Caribbean Nations Are Combatting The COVID-19 Pandemic

The spread of COVID-19, or the novel coronavirus, has not only impacted the United States but the entire world—even the paradise of the Caribbean. Each country has been countering the pandemic differently with some being met with success and others overwhelmed by the number of patients.

The Caribbean has been of particular interest because of its climate, size, and the distance between people. Some islands have managed to eliminate their cases while others have been preparing for the worst.

Because of the Caribbean’s climate and environment, social distancing measures were easier to implement in some countries because people traditionally live further apart as compared to denser populated locations. Also, some islands were very quick to respond to the pandemic, shutting down public facilities and gatherings quickly. Countries like St. Lucia have been able to see 100% recovery within patients and other nations, like Barbados, have seen a low death toll in comparison to the United States and European nations.

The public health crisis has ended leisure travel for the foreseeable future until the virus can be contained, leaving islands dependent on tourism uncertain about the future.

Barbados has initiated a countrywide shutdown similar to those seen in cities like New York with all hotels and tourism services coming to a complete halt. The government has created programs to help companies slowly transition back once the viral outbreak has been contained. The job market has been the most impacted by the virus. In Jamaica, 160, 000 workers have lost their jobs in the country since the start of the pandemic.

“We recognize the socio-economic impact this will have on jobs and people’s livelihoods not just here but globally,” said Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett to BLACK ENTERPRISE in an email statement. “The island’s tourism has been significantly impacted since various countries have implemented travel restrictions; a number of airlines have significantly reduced their flights; cruises have been cancelled and a number of local attractions and hotels are scaling down their operations, with some closing.”

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How Caribbean Nations Are Combatting The COVID-19 Pandemic

The spread of COVID-19, or the novel coronavirus, has not only impacted the United States but the entire world—even the paradise of the Caribbean. Each country has been countering the pandemic differently with some being met with success and others overwhelmed by the number of patients.

The Caribbean has been of particular interest because of its climate, size, and the distance between people. Some islands have managed to eliminate their cases while others have been preparing for the worst.

Because of the Caribbean’s climate and environment, social distancing measures were easier to implement in some countries because people traditionally live further apart as compared to denser populated locations. Also, some islands were very quick to respond to the pandemic, shutting down public facilities and gatherings quickly. Countries like St. Lucia have been able to see 100% recovery within patients and other nations, like Barbados, have seen a low death toll in comparison to the United States and European nations.

The public health crisis has ended leisure travel for the foreseeable future until the virus can be contained, leaving islands dependent on tourism uncertain about the future.

Barbados has initiated a countrywide shutdown similar to those seen in cities like New York with all hotels and tourism services coming to a complete halt. The government has created programs to help companies slowly transition back once the viral outbreak has been contained. The job market has been the most impacted by the virus. In Jamaica, 160, 000 workers have lost their jobs in the country since the start of the pandemic.

“We recognize the socio-economic impact this will have on jobs and people’s livelihoods not just here but globally,” said Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett to BLACK ENTERPRISE in an email statement. “The island’s tourism has been significantly impacted since various countries have implemented travel restrictions; a number of airlines have significantly reduced their flights; cruises have been cancelled and a number of local attractions and hotels are scaling down their operations, with some closing.”

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Africans In China Say Government Is Forcing Them To Recant Stories

Africans living in China are sharing videos on social media of Chinese businesses discriminating against them due to the coronavirus. Now Chinese government officials are forcing them to recant their experiences.

According to Blavity, Kenyans, Nigerians, Ugandans, and others living in China have been attacked or refused service in Chinese cities due to unfounded claims that Africans are carrying the coronavirus.

A video posted on YouTube, showed a pregnant African woman and her partner being turned away from Nan Hua Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital in Dongguan in late March.

The couple went to the hospital for an ultrasound and were turned away because they were foreigners. When they posted the video on social media, Chinese officials quickly found them and had them record another video thanking the Chinese government for its help.

However, according to the man in the video, only known as Derrick, things went a bit differently than described in the second video.

In an interview with Atlanta Black Star, Derrick said the Chinese government contacted him after the first video went viral and brought his wife to another hospital.

He shared audio from a recording where you can hear a Chinese government official explain that they wanted the couple to shoot the second video. The shopping trip described in that video ended up being fake as well. After being brought to a mall, Derrick told Atlanta Black Star that government officials left them to pay for everything and provided no assistance.

Several days later, the Chinese government again contacted the couple and asked them to make another video to call the first video a misunderstanding.

“They first asked me to put it off the internet, which I told them not in a position to do ’cause it’s everywhere now. They then took us to another hospital and we got a free pregnancy scan,” Derrick told Atlanta Black Star. “After they ask me to thank the government and deny what happened to us previously and we just call it a misunderstanding. I refused to deny that fact so they edited the original video and turned the blame on me for not understanding what the nurse was telling me,” Derrick added.

Another Ugandan, only identified as Darasa, told Buzzfeed she was denied entry into a 7-Eleven and other businesses because she is black.

“The 7-Eleven employees locked the door as Darasa approached and began spraying disinfectants, she said, only cracking it open wide enough to spray disinfectant around her feet. The McDonald’s nearby also wouldn’t allow her inside, nor would the supermarket,” a BuzzFeed reporter wrote Wednesday.

Darasa posted about the incident on Facebook and was quickly visited by two Chinese police officers who threatened her and told her to delete the video after taking photos of her.

These aren’t the only incidents that have taken place since the coronavirus outbreak.

A McDonald’s in Guangzhou was forced to apologize after putting up a sign banning all people of African descent. The incidents have become so commonplace that Ugandan politician Bobi Wine has offered to airlift mistreated Africans back to Africa.

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Africans In China Say Government Is Forcing Them To Recant Stories

Africans living in China are sharing videos on social media of Chinese businesses discriminating against them due to the coronavirus. Now Chinese government officials are forcing them to recant their experiences.

According to Blavity, Kenyans, Nigerians, Ugandans, and others living in China have been attacked or refused service in Chinese cities due to unfounded claims that Africans are carrying the coronavirus.

A video posted on YouTube, showed a pregnant African woman and her partner being turned away from Nan Hua Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital in Dongguan in late March.

The couple went to the hospital for an ultrasound and were turned away because they were foreigners. When they posted the video on social media, Chinese officials quickly found them and had them record another video thanking the Chinese government for its help.

However, according to the man in the video, only known as Derrick, things went a bit differently than described in the second video.

In an interview with Atlanta Black Star, Derrick said the Chinese government contacted him after the first video went viral and brought his wife to another hospital.

He shared audio from a recording where you can hear a Chinese government official explain that they wanted the couple to shoot the second video. The shopping trip described in that video ended up being fake as well. After being brought to a mall, Derrick told Atlanta Black Star that government officials left them to pay for everything and provided no assistance.

Several days later, the Chinese government again contacted the couple and asked them to make another video to call the first video a misunderstanding.

“They first asked me to put it off the internet, which I told them not in a position to do ’cause it’s everywhere now. They then took us to another hospital and we got a free pregnancy scan,” Derrick told Atlanta Black Star. “After they ask me to thank the government and deny what happened to us previously and we just call it a misunderstanding. I refused to deny that fact so they edited the original video and turned the blame on me for not understanding what the nurse was telling me,” Derrick added.

Another Ugandan, only identified as Darasa, told Buzzfeed she was denied entry into a 7-Eleven and other businesses because she is black.

“The 7-Eleven employees locked the door as Darasa approached and began spraying disinfectants, she said, only cracking it open wide enough to spray disinfectant around her feet. The McDonald’s nearby also wouldn’t allow her inside, nor would the supermarket,” a BuzzFeed reporter wrote Wednesday.

Darasa posted about the incident on Facebook and was quickly visited by two Chinese police officers who threatened her and told her to delete the video after taking photos of her.

These aren’t the only incidents that have taken place since the coronavirus outbreak.

A McDonald’s in Guangzhou was forced to apologize after putting up a sign banning all people of African descent. The incidents have become so commonplace that Ugandan politician Bobi Wine has offered to airlift mistreated Africans back to Africa.

from Black Enterprise https://ift.tt/2ydoOQr

Meet the Black Woman Behind the Afrikana Film Festival in Richmond, VA

When you think of film festivals, what regions immediately come to mind? While Richmond may not be a place that’s currently on the film radar, Afrikana Film Festival founder Enjoli Moon is working to transform that image.

“The Afrikana Film Festival is a concentrated celebration of black culture that allows Richmonders a chance to come out and see people they haven’t seen in a while and have conversations that are on their minds and hearts,” says Moon. “It’s also an opportunity to introduce people to Richmond. We have filmmakers that are coming from everywhere and they have a chance to see the richness of our city and the beauty of our people. It’s a great opportunity for cultural connectivity.”

This year marks the five-year anniversary of the multi-day Afrikana Film Festival. Attendees have a chance to experience three to four days of black cinema presented throughout the Richmond downtown arts district.

“Afrikana is not like any other festival,” says Moon. “Conversations are a huge part of the festival. There’s always a conversation after a film to have an engaging dialogue with the audience about the thematics of the film. You’ll also be able to enjoy a full day of film, networking parties, and a trolley ride that takes filmmakers around the city to see historical Black Richmond.”

How did Moon come up with the idea for the Afrikana Film Festival? “The vision came out of nowhere but it was the strongest sense of clarity I ever had,” says Moon. She didn’t travel around to other film festivals because she didn’t want to be intimidated or influenced by what everyone else was doing. Moon wanted to do something that was authentic to what she represented and the historical relevance of the city she was in.

All film festivals aren’t created equally and all founders don’t have the same resume of credentials supporting their work. Moon isn’t your traditional film festival founder. She had no background in film or money at her disposal. But thinking about service over film allowed the Afrikana Film Festival to be well received.

“The skills that I brought to the film festival that has been most beneficial are my commitment to hospitality and service,” says Moon. “I think about people in a way that allows me to anticipate their needs. This has been a huge part of my success.”

In addition to making an impact through the Afrikana Film Festival, Moon is the co-host of Richmond’s elegant international sensation event, Dîner en Blanc. It’s described as a magical event that brings guests together from diverse backgrounds to “experience the beauty and value of the city’s public spaces by participating in the unexpected.”

Moon spends the majority of her time as a curator at the Institute for Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University. She also serves as the chair of the Black RVA committee—a platform designed to elevate black businesses throughout Richmond. Her goal is to make space for people who have arrived and growing connections with those who are already in Richmond.

For anyone else wanting to create something new or do something different, Moon offers these words of wisdom: “Don’t let the fact that you don’t have enough resources or a certain background stop you. Learn as you go. You become an expert by doing.”

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