Tag Archives: caribbean

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DHS Suspends Horse Patrols But Increases Haiti Repatriation Flights

By Rebecca Beitsch –

The Biden administration said that it has temporarily suspended the use of horse patrols in Del Rio, Texas as it works to ramp up controversial repatriation flights of Haitians camped under a bridge near the border.

“We have ceased the use of the horse patrol in Del Rio temporarily,” a DHS official said on a call with reporters.

But even as DHS paused horse patrols amid an investigation into officers seen dispersing migrants on horseback, it is rapidly processing what was an estimated 14,000 Haitians camped on the Texas side of the border.

“As of this morning, we were at around 4,050 individuals under the bridge so we have really made tremendous progress over the last 72 hours in drawing down the population under the bridge,” a DHS official said.

That population dip comes as the U.S. is expected to expel a large number of those Haitians under Title 42, which allows the U.S. to remove migrants without giving them the chance to seek asylum.

“We are increasing the frequency and number of the repatriation flights each day,” DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told lawmakers Tuesday, when the department had expelled roughly 500 Haitians.

DHS officials said Thursday that 1,400 people had been removed to Haiti after completing 13 different flights.

Another 3,200 are in DHS custody awaiting their fate.

DHS officials repeatedly declined to provide figures for how many Haitians had been released into the U.S. under another provision of the law called Title 8.

“We are still under Title 42 because we are in a global pandemic, so we are still operationalizing that,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday.

“If people are not are not expelled under that, then there are a range of options. Either they are put into an alternative to detention, where biometric data is required, they’re given a notice to appear or they’re put in an ICE facility,” she said, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The repatriation flights are continuing despite strong pushback from many members of President Biden’s own party.

“I’m unhappy with the administration. We are following Trump politics. He is the one who does not follow the Constitution and would not allow those seeking refuge to be able to petition to get into the country,” Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) said Wednesday.

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Sam Expected to be Hurricane Strength by Sunday

Tropical Storm Sam is expected to become a hurricane by Sunday

The 18th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season formed on Thursday, with forecasters already forecasting it to become a hurricane by Friday before quickly strengthening to become a major hurricane by Sunday.

Some forecast models indicate that Tropical Storm Sam could become a Category 4 hurricane as it moves westward toward the Leeward Islands.

However, it is uncertain whether it will pose a threat to parts of the Leeward Islands, or curl northward.

According to some simulations, the storm could make a right-hand turn and curve northward over the open Atlantic before reaching the Lesser Antilles, while a few models show the possibility of Tropical Storm Sam becoming a threat in the northern Caribbean.

The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in Miami said the newly formed storm, with maximum sustained winds near 50 miles per hour, was located about 1,745 miles east southeast of the northern Leeward Islands and was moving westward at 16 miles per hour.

“This general motion is expected to continue over the next several days, but with a gradual slowdown in forward motion,” the NHC said.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the centre.

No coastal watches or warnings have been issued. – CMC

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PAHO Sees COVID Outbreaks Continuing into 2022, Brazil Nears 600K Deaths, US Okays Senior Boosters, World Stats

By Anthony Boadle

BRASILIA, Sept 22 (Reuters) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) warned has that countries in the region could continue to face localized COVID-19 outbreaks “well into 2022” even while deaths have fallen from their peak in January

While vaccinations are progressing, the region faces a “severe vaccine inequality problem” that will prolong the pandemic, particularly in the poorer Latin American nations, PAHO said in a report to its annual policy-setting meeting.

That means continued need for preventive measures, including procedures for early detection, investigation and isolation of infected cases, and the tracing and quarantine of contacts.

Renewed outbreaks are to be expected in institutions such as nursing homes, prisons and densely-populated urban areas.

While vaccination coverage may reach high levels overall, much will depend on vaccine supply availability, which is limited worldwide, and the access and demand among specific population groups, PAHO said.

“Vaccine hesitancy may further slow uptake by the population or prevent full achievement of vaccination potential,” said the report by the regional branch of the World Health Organization.#

In its update on the COVID-19 situation in the Americas, PAHO said almost all he countries and territories in the region have reported detection of at least one of the four COVID variants that are of concern.

Half of them have detected the highly transmissible Delta variant, which is now the dominant strain in Canada, Mexico and the United States, according to PAHO.

The Americas region has been hit harder than other parts of the world, with more than 2 million deaths so far. The United States and Brazil have the highest death tolls in the world.

Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and the United States are among the top 10 countries for cumulative deaths globally.Latin America and the Caribbean have had more COVID fatalities that Asia and Africa Combined.

 

Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Editing by David Gregorio

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Brazil approaches 600,000 COVID deaths in second-deadliest outbreak

A healthcare worker shows the syringe to a woman after applying a dose of Sinovac's CoronaVac coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine at Cacique de Ramos, one of the most traditional carnival blocks of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 8, 2021. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes

A healthcare worker shows the syringe to a woman after applying a dose of Sinovac’s CoronaVac coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine at Cacique de Ramos, one of the most traditional carnival blocks of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 8, 2021. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes

BRASILIA, Sept 23 (Reuters) – Brazil has had 24,611 new cases of the novel coronavirus reported in the past 24 hours, and 648 deaths from COVID-19, the health ministry said on Thursday.

The South American country has now registered 21,308,178 cases since the pandemic began, while the official death toll has risen to 592,964, according to ministry data, in the world’s third worst outbreak outside the United States and India and its second-deadliest after the United States.

As vaccination advances, the rolling 7-day average of COVID deaths has fallen to less than one fifth of the toll of almost 3,000 a day at the peak of the pandemic in April.

Reporting by Anthony Boadle Editing by Chris Reese
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FDA authorizes Pfizer COVID-19 booster shot for older and high-risk Americans

By Nathaniel Weixel

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday authorized booster shots of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for people aged 65 and older as well as for certain others at high risk of severe disease.

The agency said boosters are authorized for people between the ages of 18 and 64 who are at high risk as well as for those “whose frequent institutional or occupational exposure” to the virus puts them at high risk of serious complications of COVID-19.

The FDA said booster doses are to be administered at least six months after completion of the second shot.

“Today’s action demonstrates that science and the currently available data continue to guide the FDA’s decision-making for COVID-19 vaccines during this pandemic,” acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said in a statement.

She added that people who would be considered at high risk include health care workers, teachers and day care staff, grocery workers, and people living in congregate facilities such as group homes and prisons.

Pfizer Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla in a statement said the FDA’s authorization was a “critical milestone” in fighting the pandemic.

“We believe boosters have an important role to play in addressing the continued threat of this disease, alongside efforts to increase global access and uptake among the unvaccinated,” he said.

The authorization aligns with the recommendations from an FDA advisory committee that on Friday overwhelmingly rejected a plan to distribute the extra shots to Americans 16 and older, which the Biden administration had been pushing for.

Instead, the panel unanimously endorsed an alternate plan to give boosters to older Americans and those at a high risk of suffering from severe illness.

The panel did not define what high risk meant, and the FDA’s interpretation encompasses a wide swath of the population.

“The FDA considered the committee’s input and conducted its own thorough review of the submitted data to reach today’s decision,” said Peter Marks, who directs the FDA’s vaccine division. “We will continue to analyze data submitted to the FDA pertaining to the use of booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines and we will make further decisions as appropriate based on the data.”

The FDA’s announcement late Wednesday came relatively late in the decisionmaking process, as a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory panel had already concluded the first day of its two-day meeting about boosters.

The CDC panel is scheduled to meet Thursday to vote on the details of booster distribution, which will likely include a specific definition of high risk. Once the panel votes, its recommendation is likely to be adopted quickly by CDC Director Rochelle Walensky. The shots could be available in pharmacies as early as this week.

Now that the FDA has decided on its interpretation of the recommendation, the CDC panel can use it to guide its own decision.

The CDC’s advisory panel on Wednesday grappled with many of the same issues that complicated the FDA meeting, another sign that the Biden administration’s plan to widely distribute boosters beginning this week is much more complicated than health officials anticipated.

In an unusual move last month, President Biden and top health officials, including Woodcock, Walensky and Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, publicly announced a booster shot program for all three vaccines would begin the week of Sept. 20, well before the FDA and CDC examined the evidence.

While officials have been careful to say the booster program is contingent on the FDA and CDC giving the green light, the move was criticized by scientists inside and outside the government.

CDC panel members on Wednesday seemed unsure that there was enough evidence that showed an extra dose of Pfizer’s vaccine was necessary for the vast majority of the population. Even the possibility of distributing boosters to health workers or the elderly was unclear.

Research in the U.S. indicates that immune response does wane over time, but the current COVID-19 vaccines still afford protection against severe COVID-19 disease and death. In addition, nobody yet knows what the minimum level of antibodies is before someone’s risk of infection dramatically increases.

Even if CDC endorses a targeted booster policy, there are concerns it could spark widespread confusion among the public.

People who received Moderna’s vaccine and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will not be eligible until the FDA gives those companies the green light. Moderna submitted booster data at the beginning of September, and Johnson & Johnson has not yet submitted evidence, though the company said trial and real-world evidence showed strong protection.

An FDA official told the CDC panel Wednesday the agency does not have any data on the safety or efficacy of giving a Pfizer dose to someone who received a different vaccine.

People with severely weakened immune systems are already eligible for a third dose of both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, though the broader booster recommendation will apply only to the vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech.

Still, millions of people have already received a third dose, as pharmacies do not require a prescription or a letter from a patient’s doctor for a third shot. More than 2.3 million people have received an additional dose since an extra shot was authorized last month, according to the CDC.

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WORLD STATS

Coronavirus Cases:

231,418,385

Deaths:

4,743,067

Recovered:

208,105,522
Highlighted in green
= all cases have recovered from the infection
Highlighted in grey
= all cases have had an outcome (there are no active cases)

[back to top ↑]

Latest News

September 24 (GMT)

Updates

  • 87 new cases and 2 new d

 

 

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Independence Night Market exceeds expectations; PM Harris’ support lauded

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, September 23, 2021 (MMS-SKN) — The highly anticipated Independence Night Market held on Wednesday September 22 at the Basseterre Public Market lived up to its billing with stall owners thanking their number one patron, Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, who spent about two hours patronising the different stalls.

Hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources, Permanent Secretary Mr Ron Dublin Collins said it was a success story for the ministry, as it had provided a forum for the country’s vendors, farmers, and fishers to get their produce sold and to introduce them to the wider buying public and for them to have the on-going support from the public.

“The Prime Minister has always been very supportive of the various activities and initiatives,” said the Permanent Secretary who was one of the officials accompanying Dr Harris as he visited the various stalls. Also present were the Director of Marine Resources, Dr Marc Williams, and the Acting Director of Agriculture, Dr Tracey Challenger-Walters.

According to Mr Collins, Prime Minister Harris has provided tremendous support in budgetary support to the ministry starting with a stimulus package that was then styled the ‘agricultural support project’, and through it the ministry has been able to support the farmers.

“So it was not a surprise to see his presence at the Independence Night Market,” said the Permanent Secretary. “He is passionate about the market and the new initiatives that we are introducing within the market.”

The Independence Night Market had opened at 5:00 p.m. and persons coming in had their hands sanitised, temperature taken, and their contacts recorded, after which they were given a ticket and advised to keep it safely as the numbers would be entered in a draw and the lucky winners would be given attractive prizes on an hourly basis.

The first winner was Ms Annie Marsham of Half Way Tree, who received her prize from Permanent Secretary Mr Ron Dublin Collins.

The lively mood at the market further energised after Prime Minister Harris arrived shortly after 7:15 p.m. and remained in the market for nearly two hours as he moved from stall to stall and not only buying from the stall owners, but discussing with them at length.

Market stall owner Ms Sherrilyn Brandy, who has been street vending for well over 25 years and recently relocated into the Basseterre Public Market, said that she is seeing more people coming to the market which means that they are getting more health conscious by buying fresh produce, which she said was a good thing.

Lucky ticket winner, Mrs Mary DeSuza-Liburd, receives her prize courtesy of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources, from Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris.
Photo of Prime Minister Harris at Market Stall
Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris buying locally grown avocados at the Independence Night Market held at the Basseterre Public Market on Wednesday September 22.

“The night market was very good, and we were very happy to have Prime Minister Harris as one of our customers,” said Ms Brandy. “Yes he bought from me. He bought from everybody and that is a good thing. He is giving us his support. I like the support he gives us, and the fact that he stands and listens to us. He just don’t buy – he stands up and whatever questions you have, he will answer.”

When the third lucky winner was announced, Prime Minister Harris was requested to present the prize to the delighted winner – Mrs Mary DeSuza-Liburd.

“We have seen some success stories from persons who have spoken about how they connected for the first time with particular vendors and so on and continuing that relationship,” pointed out Permanent Secretary Mr Ron Dublin Collins. “We see for example the layout, its variety – we have fish, we have meat, we had cooked food, we had vegetables and fruits, and the agro-processors of various types.”

The Permanent Secretary said that the ministry has seen some new agro-processors come on board – those making wines, cakes, and some dealing with hand sanitisers. He noted that they are adapting, as this year’s independence theme says they need to adapt as they go forward dealing with Covid.

“Overall, we think it was well done,” said Mr Collins. “The committee did a good work and we want to continue. We are looking forward to the one in December now. It is just part of a larger effort to enhance agriculture which we are about to launch towards new strategy planning. We are on our way to ensure that agriculture is better positioned to contribute to the development of our country.”

In the meantime Director of Marine Resources, Dr Marc Williams, said that the Independence Night Market was a tremendous success, where a lot of patrons come out to support the farmers and fishermen in St. Kitts and Nevis.

“We also saw the Prime Minister coming out to support the fishing and farming community,” said Dr Williams. “For years he has shown a strong interest in fishing and farming. He was the Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture on two different occasions and now you see in his role as the Prime Minister he has allocated a significant amount of funding for the growth of development of the sector. He mingled with the patrons tonight.”

The Director of Marine Resources added: “We had a large amount of fisheries products because you know fish is one of the healthier meats for persons who have non-communicable diseases (NCDs). So we take this as a stepping stone and we hope that the next time we have this event it will be bigger and better than what we see here tonight, but overall it has been a tremendous success.”

Prime Minister Harris (2nd left front row) with staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Recourses. PS Mr Ron Dublin Collins is 3rd right front row, and Director of Marine Resources Dr Marc Williams is on the right.

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US Special Envoy to Haiti Quits Over ‘Inhuman Treatment’ of Migrants

The Hill- The U.S. special envoy to Haiti has resigned in protest over his nation’s “inhumane treatment of migrants,” a move that represents the sharpest internal criticism yet of the Biden administration’s handling of Haitian migrants.

In a resignation letter, Daniel Foote, a former Ambassador to Zambia, said that he could not be associated with “inhumane, counterproductive decision to deport thousands of Haitian refugees,” according to USA Today.

Foote further said that the U.S.’s approach to Haiti is “deeply flawed,” and that the administration has ignored his advice.

“Our policy approach to Haiti remains deeply flawed, and my recommendations have been ignored and dismissed, when not edited to project a narrative different from my own,” Foote wrote in the letter, which was published by PBS News.

The Hill has reached out to the White House and State Department for comment.

The resignation comes as the Biden administration faces intense backlash for its handling of Haitian migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border in Del Rio, Texas.

Thousands of Haitians are seeking to enter the country, and images this week of border agents on horseback corralling migrants stoked outrage.

Democrats have also been criticizing the resumption of flights deporting Haitians back to the island nation, which recently suffered a serious earthquake and saw its president assassinated over the summer.

Foote was appointed as special envoy for Haiti in late July following the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise. He had previously served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Haiti.

In the letter, Foote said that the people of Haiti “simply cannot support the forced infusion of thousands of returned migrants lacking food, shelter, and money without additional, avoidable human tragedy.”

“The collapsed state is unable to provide security or basic services, and more refugees will fuel further desperation and crime,” Foote wrote. “Surging migration to our borders will only grow as we add to Haiti’s unacceptable misery.”

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Several Arrested as Jamaicans Protest Against Mandatory Vaccination

CNW – Jamaican police have detained several members of the small opposition United Independents’ Congress (UIC) who took to the streets on Wednesday protesting against mandatory vaccination.

Police clashed with protestors as they marched from St William Grant Park to Gordon House, the Jamaica Parliament in the capital.

Police had on Tuesday warned against staging an illegal march in the capital, “stating categorically that it is not in receipt of any application to hold this or any similar march across the island.

“As such, the public is advised not to participate in what would be an illegal march,” the statement said, adding that “while the Constitution allows for peaceful gathering, a march of that nature would not be authorized at this time, as it would be in breach of the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA), which stipulates that no more than 10 persons must be gathered in any public place”

The police said that the protest would not be in compliance with Section 7 of the Public Order Act, which among other measures, notes “where any person desires to organize any public march in daylight, he shall, at least three days before such intended public march, make an application for a permit to the senior officer of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) for the parish in which the public march is to take place, or to the Commissioner of Police if the application relates to the Corporate Area of Kingston and Saint Andrews.

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UNICEF Report: Caribbean Children are Fed Minimal Diverse Diet

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) said Monday that a significant number of children in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) are feed a minimal diverse diet noting that there has been little sign of improvement in the diets of the world’s youngest children over the last ten years

 

In a new report titled “Fed to Fail?” released ahead of the UN Food Systems Summit this week, it found that rising poverty, inequality, conflict, climate-related disasters, and health emergencies are all contributing to the nutrition crisis.

“In fact, the ongoing COVID-19 disruptions could make the situation much worse,” UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said.

In an analysis of 91 countries, the report found that only half of children aged six to 23 months, are being fed the minimum recommended number of meals a day, while just a third consume the minimum number of food groups they need to thrive.

Children living in rural areas or from poorer households are also significantly more likely to be fed poor diets, compared to their urban or wealthier peers. Further analysis of 50 countries revealed these poor feeding patterns have persisted throughout the last decade.

UNICEF has estimated that globally, more than half of children under the age of five with wasting are younger than two years of age, adding that this amounts to around 23 million children. It said the prevalence of stunting increases rapidly between six months and two years, as children’s diets fail to keep pace with their growing nutritional needs.

According to the report, children aged six to 23 months living in rural areas or from poorer households, are significantly more likely to be fed poor diets compared to their urban or wealthier peers. In 2020, for example, the proportion of children fed the minimum number of recommended food groups was twice as high in urban areas (39 per cent) than in rural areas (23 per cent), the findings revealed.

The report emphasised that progress in all regions is possible with investment. It found that in Latin America and the Caribbean almost two thirds (62 per cent) of children below 24 months, are fed a minimally diverse diet, while in Eastern and Southern Africa (24 per cent), West and Central Africa (21 per cent) and South Asia (19 per cent), fewer than one in four young children are being fed a minimally diverse diet.

To deliver nutritious, safe, and affordable diets to every child the report recommends several key actions.

These include increasing the availability and affordability of nutritious foods, implementing national standards and legislation to protect young children from unhealthy processed food and drink while ending harmful marketing practices targeting children and families.

Instead, nutritious and safe foods should be made more desirable through multiple communication channels and with easy to understand, coherent information.

“Children cannot survive or thrive on calories alone,” said Fore, adding “only by joining forces with governments, the private sector, civil society, development and humanitarian partners, and families can we transform food systems”.

She said the upcoming UN Food Systems Summit is “an important opportunity to set the stage for global food systems that meet the needs of all children”.

The report also found that the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting how families feed their children.

For example, half of families in Jakarta, Indonesia, have been forced to reduce nutritious food purchases, according to a survey conducted among urban households in the city.

As a result, the percentage of children consuming the minimum recommended number of food groups fell by a third in 2020, compared to 2018.

According to UNICEF, poor diets can scar children for life. An insufficient intake of nutrients found in vegetables, fruits, eggs, fish and meat at an early age, puts children at risk of poor brain development, weak learning, low immunity, increased infections and, potentially, death.

Children under the age of two are most vulnerable to all forms of malnutrition, including stunting, wasting, micronutrient deficiencies, and overweight and obesity the UN agency warned.

“The report’s findings are clear: When the stakes are highest, millions of young children are being fed to fail. “While we have known this for years, there has been little progress on providing the right kind of nutritious and safe foods for the young,” Fore added.

CMC

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Hurricane Season 2021: With No Current Threats, Here’s What’s Happened So Far

The statistical peak of the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season is at hand and it is living up to the forecasts for an above-average year, with one storm Ida, reportedly the most powerful ever to hit the US Gulf Coast.

Five of these storms became hurricanes and three became major hurricanes, the deadliest being Ida. Here is a chronological summary of the season so far.

Photo: NOAA

 

At least 150 people have died this year as a  result of tropical cyclones and the total damage is estimated to be around US$52 billion.

Here’s a look at the storms that have developed thus far.

Tropical Storm Ana

Ten days before the official start of the hurricane season, Ana developed just 575 km east-southeast of Bermuda from a shortwave trough.

The storm remained in open water and reached peak intensity with winds of 45 mph (70 km/h).

Ana dissipated on May 24.

Tropical Storm Bill

On June 13, an area non-tropical low pressure formed about 150 miles (240 km) south of Wilmington, North Carolina and started it showing signs that it will become the next storm of the 2021 season.

Bill’s peak winds were 60 mph (95 km/h).

The storm remained over open water and dissipated by June 16.

Tropical Storm Claudette

Claudette was the first of a series of storms that would bring devastation to several parts of the United States of America.

The storm started showing signs that it will become a tropical cyclone when a trough of low pressure developed in the Bay of Campeche.

Claudette was upgraded to a tropical storm as it moved inland into south eastern Louisiana on June 19.

Strong winds and heavy rain from Claudette resulted in flash flooding and tornadoes across much of the south eastern United States.

The states of Alabama and Mississippi received the most severe damage.

A total of 14 people died as a result of Tropical Storm Claudette and over $350 million worth of damages were recorded.

As quick as it arrived, Claudette moved into the northern Atlantic Ocean where it degenerated into a trough of low pressure on June 22.

Tropical Storm Danny

Danny was the fourth tropical cyclone to develop in 2021.

This system developed from a dissipating cold front over the Central Atlantic well east of Bermuda.

Danny reached tropical storm status on June 28 just off the coast of South Carolina with maximum winds of 45 mph (75 km/h).

The storm made landfall just north of Hilton Head on Pritchards Island, South Carolina with sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and it quickly weakened into a tropical depression as it moved further inland.

South Carolina was affected by heavy rains and floods in many populated areas.

Hurricane Elsa

Pedestrians dash across the intersection of Greene and Duval streets as heavy winds and rain associated with Tropical Storm Elsa passes Key West, Florida, on Tuesday, July 6, 2021. (Rob O’Neal/The Key West Citizen via AP)

 

Hurricane Elsa left a trail of destruction and death across the Caribbean and United States of America.

Former St Lucian Prime Minister Allen Chastanet revealed that the island’s banana and plantain crops were damaged and he estimated the economic losses were about EC$35 million

In Barbados, Elsa uprooted trees damaged and several roofs across the island.

A number of Barbadians were without electricity due to fallen power lines.

Elsa brought heavy rain and strong winds across Haiti, Jamaica and Cuba.

On July 7, Elsa became a category one hurricane for a second time as it travelled along the western coast of Florida.

Elsa made landfall in Taylor County, Florida and quickly weakened to a tropical storm.

But Elsa’s downgraded status did not mean it was less of a threat as the system produced heavy rain, major floods and tornadoes as it journeyed across the US East Coast.

Tropical Storm Fred

Tropical Storm Fred was a double whammy for Cuba and several parts of the United States which were already dealing with the effect of Hurricane Elsa.

Several Americans drowned after their homes were flooded or they were stuck in cars.

There were also several tornadoes that destroyed homes.

In Haiti and the Dominican Republic over 400,000 people lost power when Fred downed power lines or caused power generation facilities to be flooded. More than 47 Dominican communities were cut off and 4,025 people were displaced by flash flooding caused by the storm.

Fred caused an estimated US$1.1 billion worth of damage.

Hurricane Grace

Fishermen remove their boats from the dock in the Veracruz state of Mexico, Friday, August 20, 2021. Residents began making preparations for the arrival of Tropical Storm Grace. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

 

Grace was the second most powerful storm of the 2021 Hurricane Season.

The storm caused flooding across much of Haiti as it made landfall days after the island was affected by a major earthquake.

In Jamaica, Grace made its second landfall where it produced gusty winds and widespread flash flooding and power outages.

Grace took aim at Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula as a category two hurricane where it caused over US$300 million worth of damage.

There was widespread power outages that affected over 300,000 people.

When Grace re-entered the Bay of Campeche, it became a category three hurricane and pummelled the Mexican mainland.

Over 20,000 homes were damaged across several Mexican states.

At least five people died as a result of Grace impacting Mexico.

Hurricane Henri

This system started off as a small, yet well-defined low-pressure system 200 miles north-northeast of Bermuda on August 15.

Henri became a strong tropical storm on August 18 and it was kept at bay due to wind shear.

On August 21, environmental conditions became more favourable for Henri and it developed into a category one hurricane.

Henri didn’t stay as a hurricane for long as it weakened to a tropical storm on August 22 ahead of its landfall in Westerly, Rhode Island.

The storm left a trail of destruction across states such as New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Islands that totalled around over US$155 million.

Hurricane Ida

This storm was the ninth to develop in 2021 and is the most deadly and costliest of the season thus far.

Ida was part of a tropical wave when it approached the eastern Caribbean Sea as a tropical wave over the eastern Caribbean Sea.

As it approached Central America, environmental conditions became favourable and Tropical Storm Ida developed on August 26. Rainfall from Ida triggered floods in Western Venezuela that claimed 20 lives.

Ida moved through the Caribbean and became a category one hurricane on August 27.

Later that day, the hurricane made its first landfall on Isla de la Juventud in Cuba.

The storm entered the Gulf of Mexico and swiftly intensified into a Category 4 hurricane.

Ida took aim at Louisiana and made landfall as the second strongest storm to impact the United States.

Strong winds and a storm surge flooded parts of Louisiana and led to over $10 billion worth of damage across the state.

As Ida moved over the US, it cause severe floods along with series of tornadoes.

The US’ north-eastern quadrant received the most severe damage from Ida.

Over 80 Americans died as a direct or indirect result of Ida.

Tropical Storms Julian & Kate

Juilan and Kate developed as tropical storms within 24 hours of each other off the African coast.

Both storms did not threaten any landforms as they remained in the Atlantic Ocean.

At its peak, Kate had sustained wind speeds of 45 mph (75 km/h) while Julian peaked at 60 mph (95 km/h).

Tropical Storm Mindy

Mindy was the 13th storm of the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

The storm formed on September 8 as Mindy was near north-western Florida.

On September 9, Mindy made landfall on St Vincent Island, Florida with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h).

Mindy quickly weakened into a tropical depression as it moved over Florida.

On September 10, Mindy became post-tropical and merged with a cold front early on September 10.

Hurricane Larry

 

This storm is currently active and located 595 miles (960 km) south-west of Cape Race, Newfoundland.

Larry was a strong category three hurricane for several days before it quickly weakened to a category one storm.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the south eastern coast of Newfoundland from Arnold’s Cove to Jones Harbour.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for: the south eastern coast of Newfoundland from Francois to west of Arnold’s Cove and from north of Jones Harbor to Fogo Island.

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SKN’s Taiwan Ambassador Thanks Medical Workers with Handmade Federation Snacks

Taipei, Sept. 23 (CNA) St. Christopher and Nevis Ambassador Jasmine Elise Huggins on Thursday presented over 100 traditional pastries made by embassy staff and students from her country to Taipei Veterans General Hospital, to thank front-line medical workers for their efforts in the fight against COVID-19.

The desserts were received by hospital superintendent Sheu Huey-herng (許惠恒).

“It is better to give than to receive,” said Huggins, the dean of the foreign diplomatic corps in Taiwan.

She said the people of St. Kitts feel great joy and satisfaction at having an opportunity to give back by donating these special desserts and snacks to front-line workers at the hospital.

The first country to establish diplomatic relations with a newly independent St. Christopher and Nevis on Sept. 19, 1983, Taiwan has been an outstanding friend and partner in so many fields of endeavor, Huggins noted.

The government and people of the Republic of China (Taiwan) have shared much with the government and people of the Federation of Saint Christopher over the 38 years of its existence as an independent nation, Huggins said.

According to Huggins, the Taipei hospital has made substantial contributions to her country. The training received by some St. Kitts’ doctors and nurses at the hospital has been lifesaving for citizens at home, as they have been pressed into service in new and different ways since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, she said.

Aware of the stress, strain and sacrifices of front-line workers, and medical staff, the St. Kitts’ Embassy in Taiwan thought it only fitting that while the country celebrates 38 years of independence, “we also acknowledge and celebrate today the unsung heroes and heroines at hospitals who have done their utmost to keep us all safe and healthy,” Huggins said.

The relationship between the hospital and St. Kitts can be traced back five years when they undertook a joint capacity building project for the prevention and control of chronic kidney disease, Sheu said.

As part of that project, which ended in 2020, the hospital helped the Caribbean country establish a database of chronic disease cases which can now be accessed by clinics across the country.

A recent academic report noted that professionals in the country have so far collected data on 3,739 chronic disease cases, according to Sheu.

(By Chung Yu-chen and Evelyn Kao)

Enditem/AW

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