… authority over Puerto Rico, which is Congress, to respect the Puerto Rican majority decision … for the Puerto Rican U.S. citizens – that is, demanding Puerto Rico’s admission … . Meanwhile, here in Puerto Rico, it is up to Puerto Ricans to send to …
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Press Release – The European Commission has confirmed its interest to participate in the COVAX Facility for equitable access to affordable COVID-19 vaccines everywhere, for everyone who needs them. As part of a Team Europe effort, the Commission is today also announcing a contribution of €400 million in guarantees to support COVAX and its objectives in the context of the Coronavirus Global Response.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said: “Global collaboration is the only way to overcome a global pandemic. Under the Coronavirus Global Response and the Global Goal Unite campaign, we have seen the world come together as one. Almost €16 billion have been pledged so far and the most talented researchers and organisations are pooling their efforts to deliver vaccines, tests and treatments, which will be our universal, common good. Today, the Commission is announcing a €400 million contribution to COVAX for working together in purchasing future vaccines to the benefit of low and middle-income countries. I’m confident this will bring us closer to our goal: beating this virus, together.”
Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, said: “It is only by working together globally, in solidarity, that we can defeat the coronavirus. We need an inclusive international approach and as we are showing today, Team Europe – European Commission and the EU Member States – is committed to ensuring the success of the COVAX Facility and facilitating access to a vaccine in an equitable manner for all people across the world.”
Jutta Urpilainen, Commissioner for International partnerships, said: “Only by securing equitable access to a COVID-19 vaccine across the world will we end the pandemic and ensure a sustainable recovery; working with our partner countries is crucial so that we can build back better and healthier.”
The COVAX Facility, co-led by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and WHO, aims to accelerate the development and manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines and to guarantee fair and equitable access for every country in the world.
As part of an EU joint engagement (Commission, Member States and European financial institutions, notably EIB) to mobilise resources for the Coronavirus Global Response, the Commission intends to mobilise up to €400 million in guarantees to support COVAX and its underlying objectives as part of a Team Europe effort. The detailed terms and conditions for the EU’s participation and contribution will be worked out in the coming days and weeks. Team Europe is ready to put its expertise and resources at work within COVAX to accelerate and scale-up development and manufacturing of global supply of vaccines for citizens across the world, in poor and rich countries.
The EU’s participation in COVAX will be complementary to the ongoing EU negotiations with vaccine companies that aim at scaling up manufacturing capacity of vaccine producers, contributing to global efforts.
Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) pushes countries to join and invest in the COVAX facility to guarantee fair and timely access for everyone to the COVID-19 vaccine.
The post European Commission joins COVAX appeared first on Caribbean News Now!.
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A few weeks after postponing its tourism reopening, Belize has announced a new planned reopening date of Oct. 1, Caribbean Journal has learned.
The country on the Caribbean coast of Central America will be reopening its Philip Goldson International Airport on that date, as part of Belize’s five-phase tourism reopening strategy.
Travelers will only be permitted to stay in approved hotels, the Belize Tourism Board said.
They will also have to download the new Belize Health App and show proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours of arrival.
On arrival, travelers will also undergo a health and temperature screening that may include a random secondary COVID test, officials said.
Belize will be offering a limited array of excursions, subject to the same “Gold Standard” health and safety protocols.
Belize is also creating a series of “Safe Corridors” for visitors, aiming to ensure both the safety of travelers and the local population.
Travelers who test positive on one of the random tests will have to undergo a minimum 14-day quarantine art an approved quarantine hotel at their own expense.
It’s not yet clear which hotels have been approved for visitors, but many of the country’s hotels and resorts were already planning on reopening in August.
You can find more on Belize’s tourism entry protocols here.
— CJ
The post Belize Now Planning to Reopen for Tourism in October appeared first on Caribbean Journal.
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The greatest food in the world and the greatest rum in the world, all one one island for one week.
That’s the case each November when the Caribbean Rum Awards and the St Barth Gourmet Festival come together for a week of sheer gastronomic bliss.
The Caribbean Rum Awards is the ultimate rum experience in the Caribbean, a week-long gala of outdoor parties, master classes and a collection of the greatest rums from across the region, all centered around the world’s leading rum bar, the Rhum Room in Gustavia.
And the St Barth Gourmet Festival is a series of culinary fetes featuring some of the top Michelin-starred chefs from France.
In other words, it’s the ultimate foodie getaway.
And now Caribbean Journal has partnered with WIMCO Villas and Tradewind Aviation to give travelers a chance at winning a “St Barth Foodie Dream Giveaway,” which will include round-trip tickets for two on private airline Tradewind Aviation; a seven-night stay for two in St Barth’s Villa King Gustav and a tasting dinner for two at one of the participating Gourmet Week restaurants.
It also includes two VIP tickets to the Caribbean Rum Awards.
All travelers need to do is upload a photo from their favorite vacation.
For more, visit the St Barth Foodie Dream giveaway here.
— CJ
The post The Ultimate Foodie Getaway to St Barth appeared first on Caribbean Journal.
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… 23, headed home to Puerto Rico in March after the COVID … nonprofit organization, A Comer Puerto Rico, has helped feed more … have drained resources for the Puerto Rican people,” Héctor said. “ … . We are alive.’
“Puerto Ricans are an incredibly resilient people …
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