BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – In many cases men’s supportive role within the family must be revisited, according to Director of the Department of Gender Affairs, Mrs. Celia Christopher.

According to the United Nations’ (UN) Economic and Social Affairs ‘Men in Families’ document, it explains that a lack of men’s involvement in domestic work and childcare is what perpetuates income inequalities between men and women.

“Financial support of children is only one aspect of support within the family and that it takes more than that to raise a child,” explained Mrs. Christopher. “Men have to prepare themselves to take on the role that women normally take on because women are now in the workplace with them.”

According to the UN’s Economic and Social Affairs ‘Men in Families’ document, there is a move toward smaller families and increased participation by some men in the lives of children.

“Men need to get more involved with their respective families, but she is optimistic that change will occur,” said Mrs. Christopher.

Data from the UN suggests that men’s role in families has dropped due to increases in marital dissolution leading to increased separation.

It says that because mothers are more likely to obtain full custody of their children, in cases of separation or divorce, these trends mean that a larger proportion of children spend time away or live apart from their biological fathers than in the past.

“As a means to bridge the gender equality gap, men’s involvement within the family needs to change, taking over some of the workloads from the women,” concludes Mrs. Christopher.

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BELIZE CITY, Belize — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on January 12 that it will require a negative COVID-19 test from all passengers arriving in the United States, as of January 26, 2021. This will have severe impacts on Belize tourism sector.

In response to this new requirement, the Belize Tourism Board (BTB), after consultation with the Belize Ministry of Health and Wellness. has confirmed that testing will be expanded and made available to all passengers departing Belize for the U.S.

Further details, including cost and testing locations across the country, are being determined. All individuals who plan to visit Belize can therefore proceed with their travel plans.

The BTB recognizes that US travellers account for approximately 70 percent of visitors to Belize. We will continue to be guided by health protocols to welcome all visitors and ensure a safe experience from arrival to departure.

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NASSAU, Bahamas — The U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on January 12 that all air passengers flying to the U.S. from a foreign country will be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 viral test (PCR or Antigen test), taken no more than three days prior to the flight. This new regulation will apply to all travellers ages 2 and older, including U.S. citizens and international travellers. The order will go into effect on January 26, 2021.

Furthermore, any person who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last three months must be prepared to show documentation of recovery, which consists of proof of their positive viral test, coupled with a letter from a healthcare provider or a public health official, providing clearance to travel. Airlines will be responsible for confirming the negative test result or documentation of recovery for all passengers before they board, and will deny boarding to any person who does not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery, or chooses not to take a test.

The Government of The Bahamas has successfully implemented stringent measures to protect its citizens, residents and visitors, and is well positioned to adhere to this new order, seamlessly integrating the CDC’s testing requirements into The Bahamas’ existing COVID-19 protocols. Currently, visitors to The Bahamas who stay longer than four nights and five days are required to take a rapid antigen test on the fifth day of their stay, with a number of testing sites throughout The Bahamas approved to administer tests. This means travellers and residents alike, readily have access to the viral tests, now required to enter the U.S.

“The Bahamas Government will continue to work in accordance with the CDC to curb the spread of COVID-19, which has been our top priority since the onset of this global pandemic,” said Dionisio D’Aguilar, The Bahamas Minister of Tourism & Aviation. “Our journey has not been without bumps in the road, but we have made great strides in combatting this virus as evidenced by the very low case numbers we have now achieved. Visitors to our shores should have peace of mind knowing that we are making every effort to keep The Bahamas safe, and can now offer a turnkey, affordable and reliable testing process that meets U.S. requirements.”

All U.S. travellers to The Bahamas as well as Bahamian citizens and residents are required to abide by the CDC’s protocols to enter the U.S. An overview of these requirements, as well as FAQs, can be found on the CDC website.

For a list of approved COVD-19 testing sites in The Bahamas, as well as a full overview of The Bahamas’ travel and entry protocols, please visit www.Bahamas.com/travelupdates.

Due to the fluidity of COVID-19, the Government of The Bahamas will continue to monitor cases across the islands and loosen or tighten restrictions as needed. The Bahamas is an archipelago with more than 700 islands and cays, spread over 100,000 square miles, which means conditions and instances of the virus can be different on each of the 16 islands available to welcome visitors. Travellers should check the status of their island destination before travelling, by visiting www.Bahamas.com/travelupdates.

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The Brazilian city of Goiânia is mourning the death of its mayor, Maguito Vilela, from complications related to Covid-19.

Fellow politicians and members of the football club he supported have expressed their condolences on social media.

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Vilela was elected in November while he was in an induced coma on a ventilator in hospital. He did not find out he’d won the election until his son told him once the 71-year-old had woken up from the coma.

Maguito Vilela’s family had already been hit hard by coronavirus when he was taken to hospital in October. His two older sisters had died from Covid-related complications within 10 days of each other.

Brazil is one of the worst-affected countries in the world with the second highest death toll after the United States.

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Brazilian health officials are expected to meet on Sunday to decide on whether to allow two vaccines – the one developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca and another by China’s Sinovac – for emergency use. If approved, vaccines could be offered three to five days later, health offici

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Havana (AFP) Cuba will close schools, bars and restaurants and halt all public transport at night from Thursday after a spike in coronavirus cases, the government has announced.

The new measures come after health authorities announced 550 new cases in 24 hours on Wednesday. The country has had more than 16,000 cases in total, and 158 deaths.

Under the tighter measures, only take-out and home delivery will be allowed from restaurants. All public transport will stop at 9:00 pm.

“Severe fines” would be handed to anyone who did not comply with the rules, state newspaper Tribuna de la Habana said, while Education Minister Ena Elsa Velazquez said on Twitter that school courses would be broadcast on television starting next week.

A total ban on public transport, and restrictions on the movement of vehicles and people from 7:00 pm to 5:00 am, were removed from measures after they were initially announced by state media.

Havana’s schools were closed from mid-March to October last year, while those in the rest of the country reopened in September as the epidemic appeared to slow.

The country of 11.2 million people started reopening its economy, and its borders, at about the same time, but has confronted record infection figures following the Christmas holidays.

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