Brazil

Burke out of surfing championship

admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 15:20:01 +0000

Burke out of surfing championship

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admin Mon, 06/20/2022 - 15:20

Friday, June 17, 2022

Original Publisher

Barbados Today

Original Article

Burke out of surfing championship

By Morissa Lindsay

Barbados surfer Josh Burke showed great determination during the second round of the men’s World Surf League Championship tour event presented by Corona but was unable to advance in the ongoing competition in El Salvador.

Competing in heat three, the 25-year-old knew before the start of today’s competition that it would be a challenge to get past former World Surf League champion and Olympic Gold medallist, Italo Ferreira of Brazil who won the heat with a tally of 13.20 to advance into the Round of 16.

Ferreira showed his level of experience where he made something out of nothing with the seemingly small waves presented to him as he skillfully manoeuvred on the surfboard to register scores of 7.33 and 5.87 for the top spot in that heat.

New to this level of competition having entered as a wildcard in place of American-born eleven-time world champion Kelly Slater who had withdrawn from the competition because of an injury, Burke was forced to work with the waves given to him by mother nature. In the end, he only managed heat scores of 5.10 and 3.78 behind the dominant Ferreira.

Despite not being able to advance as he would have wanted in what was an historic outing as the first surfer from Central America and the Caribbean to compete at the World Surf League Championship, Burke described it as an honour to have reached this far.

The sea conditions in El Salvador looked similar to what Burke was accustomed to at home in the Soup Bowl at Bathsheba. But it was Ferreira’s amazing capabilities that gave him the advantage over Burke who will hope to come back much stronger once the opportunity presents itself.

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Caribbean

News

Kenya defaults on Sh5bn Arror, Kimwarer dams loans

admin — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 08:40:02 +0000

Kenya defaults on Sh5bn Arror, Kimwarer dams loans

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admin Sun, 06/19/2022 - 08:40

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

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Politics

Original Article

Kenya defaults on Sh5bn Arror, Kimwarer dams loans

Kenya’s inability to honour its debt obligations has been exposed in the latest report of the auditor-general that revealed the government had defaulted on servicing Sh5.11 billion.

The default on debt repayment exposes the government to risks of legal suits that may lead to penalties and subsequent loss of public resources.

The defaulted amount relates to three loans advanced by an international bank towards the construction of three dams – Arror and Kimwarer multipurpose dams in Elgeyo Marakwet County and Itare dam in Nakuru County.

The audit report on the accounts of the National Treasury for the 2020/21 financial year shows that Sh790.7 million was to be paid for the Arror dam loan, Sh3.1 billion for Itare and Sh1.26 billion for Kimwarer.

“The credit agreements for these loans were not provided for audit review to confirm the terms of the loans and if the termination of the credit was conducted in accordance with the provisions in the respective agreements,” the audit report says.

Debt stock

The country’s debt stock currently stands over Sh8.6 trillion.

Recently, the National Assembly approved a proposal to increase the country’s debt ceiling from Sh9 trillion to Sh10 trillion to allow the government room to borrow more to finance the Sh846 billion deficit in the Sh3.33 trillion budget for the 2022/23 financial year.

Read: Italian firm contracted to build Itare dam fights tax demand

The construction of Arror and Kimwarer dams was to cost Sh63 billion, while Itare dam whose construction was scheduled to start in 2016 and end in 2022, was to cost Sh30 billion, to yield 100,000 cubic metres of water a day. It was expected to serve more than 800,000 people in Molo, Njoro, Rongai, Kuresoi and Nakuru town.

Three international firms- Cooperativa Muratori and Cementisti - CMC Di Ravenna Societa Cooperativa (Italy), Itinera SPA and CMC Di Ravanna - Itinera JV SCPA were contracted to build Arror and Kimwarer.

Projects cancelled

However, the projects were cancelled over irregularities in the tendering, with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) taking up the matter.

The three companies are already in court seeking Sh11.4 billion in breach of agreement against the government. They also want the court to establish that the cancellation was illegal.

The Itare dam project had been awarded to CMC Di Ravenna, but the Italian firm deserted the site and filed bankruptcy proceedings in its home country, even before work on the two projects could start, but was not declared bankrupt.

Three years ago, President Uhuru Kenyatta formed a technical committee to establish the viability of the Arror and Kimwarer projects.

The technical committee, chaired by Infrastructure Principal Secretary Paul Maringa, presented the report on the findings of the two dams to the President on September 18, 2019, at state house, Nairobi.

Report disappeared

Surprisingly, the report disappeared without a trace. This is notwithstanding that the report’s handover was a public event covered by the media.

What is now emerging is that the State House and the ministries of National Treasury and Water, Sanitation and Irrigation that were critical in the conceptualisation and development of the two projects, do not have a copy of the document.

Parliament has been requesting to have the report tabled in the House for more than a year now.

Regional and Northern Corridor Development Principal Secretary Bellio Kipsang, whose department is in charge of implementing the two projects, recently added mystery on the whereabouts of the report after he claimed that he did not have it and that he has never had it.

At a past meeting with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly, Dr Kipsang’s revelations surprised MPs.

“A task force is set up by the President. It puts together a report, hands it over to the President in the full glare of the cameras. But now we can’t lay our hands on that report, not just as citizens but as Parliament,” said Mr Opiyo Wandayi, the chairperson of PAC.

Recommended cancellation

The technical committee, in a press release to the media at State House, had recommended cancellation of the two projects for being overpriced, with the Kimwarer dam that was to cost Sh22.2 billion cited as not viable.

Prof Maringa’s committee in the press release at State House, however, recommended that Arror dam should progress but be scaled down to Sh15 billion.

At the time of the cancellation, the government had already pumped in Sh7.5 billion in two separate advance payment guarantees to the projects.

The advance payment guarantees to the contractor behind the two dams were financed by a commercial loan from a bank in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

It was the first time a Brazilian bank was being linked to the two projects but it remains unclear whether the amount was paid directly to CMC Di Ravenna, the Italian company that was contracted to build the two dams, or through intermediaries.

Africa

Politics

The Martinican bèlè dance – a celebration of land, spirit and liberation

admin — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 22:40:01 +0000

The Martinican bèlè dance – a celebration of land, spirit and liberation

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admin Sat, 06/18/2022 - 22:40

Friday, May 20, 2022

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African diaspora – The Conversation

Original Article

The Martinican bèlè dance – a celebration of land, spirit and liberation

On May 22 each year, when the eastern Caribbean island of Martinique observes Emancipation Day, drums beat from sunrise until the break of dawn the next day.

Participants at open-air, starlit gatherings dance, sing, play drums and feast for ancestors who fought to break the chains of bondage. The uprising that eventually led to the abolition of slavery on the island in 1848 was sparked by the arrest of Romain, an enslaved man who refused to comply with his master’s ban on beating drums.

Today, drums are still a symbol of rebellion and freedom. The traditional dances that span the island each May 22, at performances called “swaré bèlè,” are filled with an electrifying aura of reverence and honor.

But the bèlè is not only a genre of ancestral Afro-Caribbean drum-dance practices. Rather, it is “an mannyè viv:” a lifestyle and worldview through which many people find healing and empowerment for themselves and their communities.

My first encounter with bèlè occurred when I was a graduate student in anthropology, conducting fieldwork in Martinique. As a former dancer, I was drawn to how bèlè drummers, dancers and singers experience spiritual and cultural freedom. Performers tell me their participation feels transformative, sacred and otherworldly.

Bèlè linò

Martinique is an overseas region of France in the Lesser Antilles islands. Most of the 400,000 people living there are descended from Africans brought to the islands by the slave trade, whose traditions have left a deep imprint on Martinican culture.

Centuries of history have given bèlè a complex set of symbols, only understood by those deeply immersed in the practice.

Swaré bèlè gatherings typically begin with a few matches of “ladja/danmyé,” a martial art tradition between two combatants in the center of a circle, which warms up the energy of the space as guests are arriving.

The remainder of the event involves an improvised rotation of performers playing and dancing sets from the “bèlè linò” repertoire. These square dances use the quadrille configuration, with four pairs of female and male dancers. After the opening sequences, each pair takes turns dancing in a playful exchange in the center of the circle, then dances toward the drummers to salute them.

Bèlè traditions use the “tanbou,” a goat-skinned conical drum. There is also the “tibwa”: two wooden sticks beaten on the side of the drum with a steady tempo.

The ensemble of dancers, drummers and singers is normally encircled by a crowd of spectators who clap their hands, sway their bodies and join in the song’s refrain.

All dancers master the base repertoire. Yet the order and style of interactions between partners is improvised – making it remarkable that the drummers can match their rhythm to the dancers’ intricate footwork.

In the playful, flirtatious and at times competitive game of certain bèlè styles, the woman is the object of her male partner’s pursuit, and she ultimately decides if she will welcome his affections. This aspect of bèlè performance, whereby women are admired and praised for their sensual dance prowess, brings female performers a sense of affirmation.

Repressed, then embraced

Martinique has been under French control since 1635. Even during the post-colonial era, many Black Martinican folk traditions faced repression, as leaders imposed mainland French culture on the population. For example, bèlè practices were often denigrated as “bagay vyé nèg,” “bagay djab” and “bagay ki ja pasé”: primitive, indecent and outdated, in the Martinican Creole language. To many in the church, traditional drumming and dance symbolized heathenism. In a country where the vast majority of people belong to the church, it was difficult for devout Catholics to support bèlè.

Many practitioners see bèlè as a dance of the earth that reinforces human connections with the land, divine spirits and ideals of freedom. Touted as a fertility ritual for both humans and the land, the dance reflects sensuality between partners. Other symbolism suggests sacred connections with the soil, vegetation and water on which Martinicans’ enslaved ancestors labored and survived. Many dance movements represent agricultural labor.

During the 1980s, student activists and youth groups led initiatives to revive traditions that had nearly dissolved as a result of French pressure to assimilate. Today an ever-growing community has embraced bèlè as they challenge the legacy of colonialism and racism in Martinique.

Bèlè performance is increasingly visible in the Catholic Church. “Bèlè légliz” or “church bèlè” fuses the liturgy with references to Martinicans’ African and diasporic heritage.

Diaspora

News

Pineapple, a delicious tropical boost for your well-being

admin — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 10:30:01 +0000

Pineapple, a delicious tropical boost for your well-being

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admin Thu, 02/24/2022 - 10:30

Sunday, February 13, 2022

Original Publisher

Local – Dominican Today

Original Article

Pineapple, a delicious tropical boost for your well-being

EFE

“The edible portion of pineapple is 57 out of every 100 grams of the fresh product, and its main component is water, being a low-calorie food, and with a high content of vitamins C and A, potassium and iodine,” he points out. Sonia Peinado is an expert dietitian in clinical and sports nutrition.

“This fruit is useful to avoid dehydration and its consequences, such as fatigue, dizziness or mental confusion. It also helps eliminate body fluids and reduce the formation of edema (swelling caused by the accumulation of fluids)”, according to nutritionist Carmen Escalada.

In addition to being a fruit rich in nutrients and highly appreciated in gastronomy, pineapple (Ananas sativus) is a food that can offer numerous benefits for health and diet, many of which are often little known by consumers.

This fruit, from the botanical family of bromeliads, bears fruit once every three years, producing a single fragrant and sweet fruit, but due to the varied location of its production, it is usually available all year round, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) Spanish.

Known as ‘matzatli’ in Mexico and Central America, and called ‘pineapple’ in the Anglo-Saxon world, “the tropical pineapple comes from South America, specifically from Brazil, where it is called ananá,” Sonia Peinado, an expert dietitian in clinical nutrition and sport of the European Medical Institute of Obesity (IMEO).

According to the MAPA, it is a fruit formed by the union of the fruits of several flowers around a sizeable fleshy axis, whose pulp is yellowish, aromatic, and sweet with acid tints.

Delicious tropical fruit is packed with nutrients, antioxidants, and beneficial compounds, such as enzymes that help fight inflammation. It has also been linked to multiple health benefits, such as aiding digestion, boosting immunity, and speeding recovery after a bout of surgery, according to the medical website Healthline (www.healthline.com).

Few calories, many virtues

“The edible portion of pineapple is 57 out of every 100 grams of fresh product, and its main component, as in most fruits, is water (86%), hence it is a very low food. in calories”, points out the IMEO nutritionist (https://imeoobesidad.com).

Peinado explains that “the pineapple only ripens satisfactorily on the plant and in the last weeks of ripening the fruit doubles its content of active ingredients and sugar.”

Those specimens removed prematurely are poorer in nutrients, in addition to being more acidic”, he points out.

Regarding the nutritional compounds of pineapple, Peinado highlights its concentration of vitamin C (about 12 milligrams or mg. every 100 grams or g.), which protects our cells against oxidative damage, as well as its content in vitamin A (or retinol), which favors the formation of bones, teeth, and soft tissues.

Regarding minerals, its high concentration of potassium stands out, necessary to develop muscle function, control the balance between acid and alkaline substances, and the heart’s electrical activity.

“Pineapple also contains significant amounts of iodine, which is involved in the regulation of thyroid hormones, and magnesium, a mineral necessary to regulate blood sugar levels or blood pressure,” he says.

Bromelain, a key enzyme

Also, the pineapple contains a substance called bromelain in its fruit and skin, a substance called bromelain “which helps digest proteins and has an anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic effect; that is, it helps prevent inflation and the formation of blood clots, respectively,” according to nutritionist Peinado.

“However, in order to benefit from these beneficial effects, it is important not to expose the fruit to heat (which would produce an inhibition of bromelain), but to consume it fresh,” he warns.

For her part, Carmen Escalada, a clinical nutritionist at the IMEO, points out that the pineapple’s high content of water and micronutrients means that its consumption has important health benefits. “The high concentration of water in this fruit makes it ideal for avoiding dehydration and its consequences such as fatigue, dizziness, or mental confusion.

For this same reason, it also helps eliminate body fluids and, thereby, reduce the formation of edema (swelling of a part of the body caused by the accumulation of fluids),” he adds.

Escalada explains that having very few calories (about 50 kilocalories or Kcal per 100 grams), the consumption of this fruit can be helpful to prevent overweight and obesity, so this expert recommends those who want to lose weight “include it in their daily diet.” “Pineapple is also rich in potassium, which helps prevent muscle cramps after exercise,” she notes.

Pineapple’s vitamin C content can also help prevent diseases such as atherosclerosis, cardiovascular episodes, or vision loss, according to Escalada.

He adds that the bromelain content of pineapple “makes its consumption in moderate amounts beneficial, in the case of suffering from dyspepsia or laborious and imperfect digestion.”

“Because of its texture and flavor, pineapple can be our great ally in the kitchen, being able to use it in many dishes, taking advantage of its healthy nutritional properties,” says Escalada.

He points out that this fruit can be used in desserts such as smoothies or carrot cake to give them juiciness and texture and salads or as an ingredient in sauces such as curry.

Caribbean

News

IDB US$100.0M loan to ease the plight of Dominican Republic’s poor

admin — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 05:00:01 +0000

IDB US$100.0M loan to ease the plight of Dominican Republic’s poor

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admin Wed, 02/23/2022 - 05:00

Thursday, December 9, 2021

Original Publisher

Poverty – Dominican Today

Original Article

IDB US$100.0M loan to ease the plight of Dominican Republic’s poor

Santo Domingo.- The Board of Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) this week approved five operations for US$1.8 billion to promote policies and programs for sustainability and inclusion in the Bahamas, Brazil and the Dominican Republic.

The funds will also help strengthen the economic integration of the La Plata Basin countries.

In the case of the Dominican Republic, a US$100 million loan was approved to improve the living conditions of the country’s vulnerable population through conditional cash transfers in health and education, the IDB reported.

It said the program focuses on improving the social protection network, introducing innovations in the Unique System of Beneficiaries (Siuben) for the identification of users.

In addition, it will support the labor insertion of the beneficiaries of the Supérate program in the care sector and the purchase of support devices for the population with disabilities

Caribbean

Living Standard

Namibia Aims For First-ever Oil Output By 2026 After Shell Discovery

admin — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 03:50:01 +0000

Namibia Aims For First-ever Oil Output By 2026 After Shell Discovery

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admin Mon, 02/21/2022 - 03:50

Monday, February 7, 2022

Original Publisher

Business Archives - NewZimbabwe.com

Original Article

Namibia Aims For First-ever Oil Output By 2026 After Shell Discovery

By Reuters

NAMIBIA aims to fast-track the development of its first oilfield to have production by 2026 following a significant offshore discovery by Shell (SHEL.L), a senior energy official told Reuters on Monday.

Shell on Friday said the exploration well off the coast of the southern African country had shown “encouraging” results with the presence of a working petroleum system with light oil.

“If we do this within the next four years that will be excellent for us, so as the Namibian government we have pledged our commitment to the joint venture team to walk hand-in-hand with them … to ensure we expedite the field development so that we can produce as quickly as possible,” Maggy Shino, petroleum commissioner at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, said in the first official comments from the government since Shell’s announcement.

Shell’s Graff-1 well was drilled deep offshore in water of more than 5,000 metres.

Shino said it was too early to provide exact volumes of oil encountered at the Graff-1 well or whether the new discovery was sufficient to be a standalone project or will require further exploration in the area.

TotalEnergies is currently drilling another well, Venus, in a nearby block.

“Give us enough time and by May, June, we be able to have enough data accessed to be able to confidently let you know about the quantity we are talking about here,” she said.

Shell did not provide details on the size of the resource.

Shell holds a 45% stake in Petroleum Exploration License 39 (PEL 39) where the well is located. Qatar Energy also holds a 45% interest and the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) holds the remaining 10%.

In recent years interest in Namibia’s offshore prospects have attracted many foreign companies including Exxon Mobil (XOM.N) following discoveries in neighbouring South Africa as well as Brazil and Guyana, which share geological similarities.

The post Namibia Aims For First-ever Oil Output By 2026 After Shell Discovery appeared first on NewZimbabwe.com.

Africa

Business

Guyana undertakes massive road works

admin — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 05:50:01 +0000

Guyana undertakes massive road works

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admin Sat, 02/19/2022 - 05:50

Friday, February 11, 2022

Original Publisher

Jamaica Observer

Original Article

Guyana undertakes massive road works

GUYANA is currently undertaking what could be considered its biggest road work programme, among them the largest-ever funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

These road infrastructural projects are designed to link Guyana's interior to its capital, Georgetown, as well as support ease of travel, trade and general connectivity between Guyana and Brazil. Plans for this infrastructure work have moved into high gear with the CDB issuing its no objection for negotiations to commence with Construtora Queiroz Galvao SA, a Brazil-based contractor, for the award of the Linden to Mabura Hill upgrade project, which it is funding.

Ten contractors were pre-qualified and the list was approved by the CDB in October 2021.

In the meantime, China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) has dropped out of the bidding on the Demerara Harbour bridge, where the Guyanese Government is replacing a floating bridge in Georgetown. This is due to the fact that the Government is of the view that the bid of US$257 is much too high.

As a result, a consortium made up of three subsidiaries of the China Railway Construction Corporation is now in pole position to build the Demerara Harbour bridge. The consortium comprise China Railway Construction Corporation (International), China Railway Construction (Caribbean) and China Railway Construction Bridge Engineering Bureau Group.

Juan Edghill, Guyana's minister of public works, admitted that the price tag is too big, pointing out that the Government is hopeful of concluding a new deal before the end of this month. The new bridge will be a 50m-high, four-lane road span, and the incumbent administration wants it to be delivered within two years of the contract signing.

It will replace a 44-year-old floating bridge that was meant to be used for only 10 years, and which hampers navigation in the harbour.

Caribbean

Business

Liberia: Arcelormittal Welcomes High Power Exploration Pre-Feasibility Study Of Nimba Iron Ore Project With Guinea

admin — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 10:00:01 +0000

Liberia: Arcelormittal Welcomes High Power Exploration Pre-Feasibility Study Of Nimba Iron Ore Project With Guinea

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admin Sat, 12/11/2021 - 10:00

Friday, November 12, 2021

Original Publisher

Business – FrontPageAfrica

Original Article

Liberia: Arcelormittal Welcomes High Power Exploration Pre-Feasibility Study Of…

MONROVIA – ArcelorMittal Liberia, the world’s leading steel and mining company, says it is not threatened by Thursday’s announcement by High Power Exploration(HPX) and the Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG) regarding positive results of its pre- feasibility study for the Nimba Iron Ore Project.

HPX is a privately-owned, U.S.-domiciled mineral exploration and development company while SMFG is a Guinean incorporated mining company. SMFG is an 85% owned subsidiary of High Power Exploration (HPX).

Guy de Selliers, Chairman of Société des Mines de Fer de Guinée (SMFG) and Mamady Youla, CEO of SMFG, in a statement Thursday, said, that its feasibility study confirms the viability of developing Nimba’s world class high-grade, low impurity, direct shipping ore deposit.

The feasibility study, which according to the mining companies is expected to be completed in early 2023, was led by independent engineering firm Hatch Ltd of Toronto, Canada and evaluated the development of a mine, rail and port infrastructure to export up to 30 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of direct shipping ore via rail from the Nimba project site in Guinea through Liberia to the Buchanan Port. The Hatch led team included SRK Consulting (UK) Limited, Fluor Corporation, Golder Associates, China Harbour Engineering Company Limited, China Railway Liuyuan Group Co. Ltd and CCCC First Harbour Consultants Co. Ltd.

Speaking to FrontPageAfrica Thursday, Mr. Joe Matthews, General Manager of ArcelorMittal Liberia said AML was not involved in the creation of the feasibility study for HPX and that HPX is doing so as part of their development program for the mine and exporting the ore via Liberia.

AML Credits HPX

Said Matthews: “This is a project that we ourselves tried to acquire in 2013 / 2014 and at that time the Government of Guinea was not interested in the iron ore from this deposit going through Liberia. I give HPX credit for getting that approval from the Government of Guinea, who in the past had always vowed that every ton of iron ore produced in Guinea goes only through Guinea.”

Matthews says the Government of Liberia was very careful to make sure that they did not allow AML any rights to prevent another party from using the rail infrastructure and AML, at the same time, wanted to make sure that it accomplishes its current expansion which is planned for completion in 2023. “As you know this project is fundamentally a completion of the project that was started in 2014 but got badly interrupted because of Ebola.”

In time, Matthews averred, technology and markets have changed. Thus, AML was forced to revisit its concentrator design for a superior product. “In addition, as there were several environmental issues faced by iron ore projects in Brazil, we also had to take a harder look and revise the design for how we managed tailings. All of these changes are packaged in this new agreement and by 2023 we will expand the railway to handle our 15 million tonnes of concentrate per annum.”

Moreover, Matthews said, AML asked the GoL to reserve space for its potential expansion to 30 MPTA ( Million Tonnes Per Annum) for Liberian ore later on in this decade, citing that conventional wisdom is that the rail can accommodate probably around 60 million tonnes annually. “That is not the current capacity, but given investment by companies, it could be expanded to this volume. AML wanted to ensure that they had this reservation available for them before the Government gives away all the available space to other parties.”

The Nimba Iron Ore project, is the brainchild of U.S.-Canadian investor Robert Friedland who acquired HPX in 2019. The company expects eventual production of up to 30 million tonnes a year with construction forecast set to begin in 2023.

The project is located in the Guinean Nimba Mountains, in south-eastern Guinea, adjacent to the Liberian and Ivoirian borders. It is a Tier 1 deposit containing extremely high grade, low impurity, direct shipping ore and is considered one of the best undeveloped iron ore resources in the world. The use of such high-grade ore is an essential component of the fight to reduce energy consumption and global warming emissions during the steel making process.

HPX aims to set new standard

The mine contemplated in the 2021 PFS will be adjacent to a UNESCO World Heritage site, in an area which has been set aside for mine development by the Guinean Government in a formal agreement concluded with UNESCO. The 2021 PFS seeks to minimize the impact of mining in the buffer zone surrounding the site as well as to enhance the protection of the World Heritage Site itself. This, according to HPX/SMFG will be achieved through the support of conservation measures already in place and through continued support to governmental authorities and NGOs involved in the protection of the Nimba mountain range. “It will set a new standard for environmentally and socially responsible mining activities,” the statement said Thursday.

The pre-feasibility study estimated total project development costs at $2.77 billion and direct capital costs for rail and port development in Liberia at more than $600 million.

According to the feasibility study, the operating cost estimate assumes, among other things, that access fees will be paid to the Government of Liberia, as the owner of the existing rail line (which is currently operated by ArcelorMittal Liberia), in line with established international principles.

Africa

Business

Overcoming The Wax Scare!

admin — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 14:10:01 +0000

Overcoming The Wax Scare!

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admin Fri, 12/10/2021 - 14:10

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Original Publisher

Jamaica Observer

Original Article

Overcoming The Wax Scare!

Your first waxing experience can be nerve-wracking. You're not sure exactly what to expect after you've made your appointment. What should you do before you bare it all on the wax table? Adam and Eve has great news: You aren't alone and your most embarrassing questions are actually the most frequently asked.

Does waxing hurt?

Everyone's threshold of pain is different. You may experience slight discomfort during your first waxing experience; the pain, however, subsides in a matter of seconds and even gets painless with consistent treatments.

When is the right time to wax after an appointment?

We recommend waxing every three weeks. Your hair should be at least ¼ - ½-inch long so it's easier for removal.

Should I shave before?

Do not shave or trim the wax area before appointment, you risk the hair being too short, which can also lead to ingrown hair, which is painful and can cause hair bumps and spots.

I'm afraid of scrutiny.

No one is judging your vulva, we are here to make down there look and feel great. Also, there's no such thing as being too hairy. At Adam and Eve Day Spa, we are professionals and won't let you feel uncomfortable.

What are some treatments recommended before or after a wax?

Body Scrubs - benefits of exfoliation before waxing include:

Less pain: Light exfoliation removes dead skin, by cleaning the surface of the skin, minimising the pain that is inherent in all waxing methods. We recommend that you book two to three days before waxing; exfoliation helps wax grab hair and not skin.

What is a vaginal facial?

This is a facial for the vaginal area. A vajacial is recommended with most return appointments; it treats ingrown hairs, removes dead skin cells, smooths bumps around the bikini lines, prevents acne, helps with hyperpigmentation, all to maintain healthy, hydrated skin in the vaginal area. It would normally include a cleanse, exfoliation, ingrown extraction, serum and masque, also peels and high-frequency sessions are done by consultation.

Do men wax too?

Absolutely! Long gone are the times when it was deemed that the spa was the sole domain of women. Men are stepping out more and confidently taking advantage of all services provided, including hair removal.

Adam and Eve Day Spa is a full-service day spa catering for both males and females. Some areas requested most for waxing are:

• Chest

• Eyebrow

• Manzilian

• Brazilian or Bikini

• Underarm

• Full Leg

• Back

• Facial Hair

Caribbean

Living Standard

Boozy Bartender Stories @ Spanish Court Hotel

admin — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 14:10:01 +0000

Boozy Bartender Stories @ Spanish Court Hotel

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admin Fri, 12/10/2021 - 14:10

Thursday, November 25, 2021

Original Publisher

Jamaica Observer

Original Article

Boozy Bartender Stories @ Spanish Court Hotel

Get in the spirit with the charismatic and spirited Maurice Blair, bartender at Kingston's Spanish Court Hotel. Kingstonian by birth, Blair was raised in Kingston as well as St Elizabeth. I install myself at the Skybar around the recently renovated pool bar and immediately wonder how Blair first entered this wonderful world of mixology.

"It's a world that I've always lived in," says Blair, who enjoyed seeing bartenders in action, whenever he got the chance. "I love to see a well-stocked bar, the colours and textures. Anywhere I have seen bartenders making drinks, I stop and watch to see how it all comes together. Seeing it on the shelf is one thing, but when you see the process it is another. For me, that was amazing, and I wanted to be a part of it."

As the youngest of seven children, Blair grew up in a house that was always fully-stocked. "Our house was always vibrant and happy. We had our times, but it was always pleasant and chirpy. My mother always had spirits in the house. There was a whole bar under her bed - gins, rums, a bottle of tequila at one point in time! She would take them out for specific occasions. You would just see a bottle appear not knowing where it came from. The first time I saw a bottle of Beefeater gin was when I saw her putting it back under her bed, always with a warning - leave my stuff alone, do not go under there. And no one did. My mum is an amazing woman! My father was an avid J Wray & Nephew white overproof drinker. He would have it with room temperature tap water. May daddy's spirit rest in peace."

After leaving Meadowbrook High [School] Blair set his sights on working on a cruise ship. "At the time, the only cruise ship I saw was a picture of a huge vessel parting beautiful blue water. The sign read: The best cruise ship in the world, Norwegian Cruise Lines. I imagined being a bartender on a cruise ship and even though I wasn't trained at the time I thought that I would work on a cruise ship one day."

Though that day never came, Blair was still able to realise part of his dream of becoming a bartender. "Instead of travelling the world, my guests travel to me. I travel the world through my craft! It opens a whole new world of discovery learning more about where they are from. I have a list of all the countries in the world and usually tick off the country of a person I have served. With each guest I am transported to another place and sometimes, you can bring people together around the bar.

"I got the surprise of my life two years ago when I served a lady at the Cabana Bar. It was just three of us - two guests and me. After hearing the lady speak, I became curious about where she was from. I also like to play the accent game. It is a major ice-breaker and is game-changing. People like that, you take genuine interest in them. We were trying to pick up the lady's accent. The other guest thought she was from the UK and Europe - Germany, Austria, Belgium - turns out she was from Malta - I have never met anyone from Malta! That night, I went home and checked Malta off the list."

"I love bartending and mixology! I love calling myself a bartender and I have a huge passion for it. I love my job. I do a lot of reading on my own time and discover new drinks, and the bartenders who make them. I learn about their persona."

Blair's career started in banqueting, in 2001, at various Kingston hotels. "Banqueting was like a foundation for me! It was there I learned about service." Routinely, I would go and stand in the bar to watch the bartenders at work, after completing banqueting service - I met the infamous Beefeater gin again! I was also in school and received certification in Wine Service and Catering from B & E School of Catering, located at Norwood Ave at the time. It was there that I discovered cocktails like the Mai Tai and Yellow Bird. They caught my eye."

I asked Blair how he landed at Spanish Court Hotel. "I was working somewhere and a friend of mine called me to work a function at Spanish Court Hotel. I had walked by and wondered what it would be like to work there. This was October, 2010. The function was in Valencia C - it was six of us and we were very experienced in banqueting. One of the managers, Lee-Ann Godfrey - I have a tremendous amount of respect for that lady. Godfrey briefed us for the evening. When the function was over she came back to the room and told us that we were amazing! I said it is just a pity it is just one function. To my surprise, Godfrey reminded me that it was not just one but three weeks of functions! I was excited. After the three weeks the restaurant manager asked if we could stay for Restaurant Week! It was crazy busy, but we did it! At the end of that week, I prepared my résumé and asked Godfrey if I could give it to her. She said yes and took my résumé. Then she asked me when I could start working at Spanish Court. I replied, 'My time is your time.' Godfrey replied, 'can you start tomorrow?' I accepted with hands raised in jubilation... I've not looked back!

I was put on the roster for the very next day. It began with a one-month internship, and it is just history from there. I enjoy being here. I like the diversity of guests that Spanish Court attracts. I've met some amazing people here right at this bar that have made an impact on my life over some incredible wine and cocktails!"

Blair continues to be inspired and wants to see more indigenous fruits used in cocktails and innovation in what is currently being offered. People like cocktails that are not as alcohol-forward. Now we tipple!

Mai Tai à la Maurice Blair. "I learned to make this when I was in school. When you are making a drink, proper ratios are what make the drink! It allows you to have consistency; that's why you should always use your tools."

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