Great to see and welcome back, said Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, thanking President Biden for rejoining the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the biggest global effort to stop global warming.
“On this historic day, I write in my capacity as chair of the Alliance of Small Island States, a coalition of 44 small island and low-lying coastal developing states that are most gravely threatened by climate change — many of us are your close neighbors in the Caribbean,” wrote Browne.
“I, Joseph R. Biden Jr., President of the United States of America, having seen and considered the Paris Agreement, done at Paris on December 12, 2015, do hereby accept the said Agreement and every article and clause thereof on behalf of the United States of America. read the executive order the president signed immediately after his inauguration last Wednesday.
“It is vital that every nation acts to preserve the planet for future generations; to save the most vulnerable countries from extinction; and to protect the global community from the consequences of enlarged numbers of refugees, economic destruction, public health emergencies, food insecurity and conflict,” Browne wrote to Biden.
“I know you will agree that reducing and eliminating the causes of climate change must remain a priority of each nation’s efforts, he added.
In closing, Browne wrote, “On behalf of AOSIS, and on my own behalf, Mr. President, I assure you of our readiness and determination to hold hands with you to jointly address this most dangerous threat to our one planet and our one humanity.”
The Inauguration Day had a soundtrack last week with the release of “Biden-Harris Inauguration,” a playlist with the new administration in mind.
Chronixx, performing “Eternal Light” with the Free Nationals band, made the list along with “Could You Be Loved” by Bob Marley and The Wailers — the only two Jamaican performers on the playlist.
The songs were curated by DJ D-Nice and Issa Rae’s music company Raedio. The playlist is also available on Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, Apple Music and Tidal.
Other songs on the playlist include “Move On Up” by Curtis Mayfield; “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers; “Do It Again” by Steely Dan; “That’s the Way of the World” by Earth, Wind and Fire; “You Make My Dreams Come True” by Hall And Oates; and Sam Cooke’s “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher.”
The “Jamaica: Rising & Resilient with Queens Borough President Donovan Richards” series returns virtually on Thursday at 6 p.m.
The conversation about Jamaica, Queens, will be moderated by Hope King, the president and CEO of the Greater Jamaica Development Corp. Born in New York, Richards’ father is from the island nation of Jamaica.
The conversation series features “the best in leadership.” Visit http://bit.ly/GJDCANDQBP to RSVP.
The tourism industry owes a lot to the late Gordon Butch Stewart and the Sandals Resorts YouTube page is sharing the the hotelier’s enterprising and innovative ways.
“Sandals Resorts: In Loving Memory of Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart” is an 18-plus minute video tribute to Stewart, who died Jan. 4 in Miami, at 79.
The abbreviated biography follows Stewart’s life and features interviews with heads of state and others who witnessed Stewart’s successes.
See “Sandals Resorts: In Loving Memory of Gordon Butch Stewart” at youtu.be/VX_JtVkvlrk
The descriptions of “Icon, Visionary, Pioneer, Titan, Innovator, Legend, Genius, Mogul and Maverick” start the 22-minute “One Man’s Vision - A Tribute to Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart” video which tells how Stewart reshaped the all-inclusive travel.
Stewart followed by his motto, “Give guests more that they ever expect — and revolutionized all-inclusive travel by adding luxury. See the video at youtube.com/watch?v=_9Vpyvj2LCQ.
Another Stewart profile done for “The American Dream, hosted by Eric Roberts” TV show, is also featured.
“Service, attitude, smile, make people feel comfortable. You treat them as honored guests,” he said.
From providing hair dryers in every bathroom to first to offer swim-up, pool-side bars, Stewart’s influenced in created. Visit the youtu.be/eTvzz5pVdRs on the Sandals Resorts YouTube page.
City Council member Mathieu Eugene is reaching out to community groups in his 40th district (including parts of Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Kensington, Midwood, Prospect Park, and Prospect Lefferts Gardens)
“I am honored every year to allocate funding to not-for-profit organizations who are committed to providing resources that improve the quality of life for our residents,” said Eugene.
The application deadline to apply for discretionary funding is Feb. 16.
All not-for-profit community-based organizations that wish to apply for discretionary funding for FY 2022 must submit a Council Application by contacting bit.ly/FY2022_funds
Non-City organizations applying for Fiscal Year 2022 capital funding must download and submit applications through the CapGrants portal at www1.nyc.gov/site/capitalgrants/index.page
And for all Cultural Capital Project requests, visit www1.nyc.gov/site/dcla/cultural-funding/capital-funding-request-page-1.page
Application deadlines vary depending on the source of the funding your group has requested.
The deadline is Feb. 25, at 5 p.m., if your project requests any funding from Borough Presidents (including those groups that are also requesting funding from the Council or Department of Cultural Affairs).
And the deadline March 25, at 5 p.m., if your project is only requesting funding from the City Council and/or the Department of Cultural Affairs.
For questions about the application or any related budget matters, contact Eugune’s district office at (718) 287-8762, his legislative office at (212)-788-7352 or send email to meugene@council.nyc.gov.