Local Archives

Ayer Hitam at M1 Singapore Fringe Festival explores local history of African diaspora, Arts News & Top Stories

17/12/2018 News

SINGAPORE – From prize-fighting boxers to politicians, people of African descent have played varied and active roles in the history of Singapore.

A search of the digital newspaper archives available via the National Library throws up hundreds of examples. “This isn’t secret knowledge but it was surprising to me how hardly anyone had talked about it,” says poet and playwright Ng Yi-Sheng, one of the three creators of Ayer Hitam: A Black History of Singapore, a lecture-performance exploring the history and influence of the African diaspora in Singapore.

It is directed by Singaporean theatre-maker Irfan Kasban, who also serves as stage manager and dramaturg, and stars actress Sharon Frese, a British expatriate of Jamaican descent. She has lived in Singapore since 2009 and performed in…

African leaders renew commitment to fight Boko Haram – Local

16/12/2018 News

Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) on Saturday renewed their commitment to the fight against Boko Haram terrorists with a view to bringing a definitive end to the insurgency.

To this end, the regional leaders agreed to seek the support of the community leaders to strengthen the fight against terrorism.

The African leaders made their position known in a communiqué issued at the end of one-day summit convened by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, on Saturday.

The Executive Secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, Mamman Nuhu, read the English version of the communique.

The leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to the accelerated implementation of the Regional Stabilisation Strategy in the areas of Lake Chad affected by the Boko Haram crisis.

The Regional…

Cocaine, ganja in shipping container at Caribbean Bottlers Ltd | Local News

14/12/2018 News

Police officers seized 12 duffle bags and one crocus bag filled with packets of drugs from a container on the compound of Caribbean Bottlers Limited, around midday today.

While unpacking a shipment of goods, employees noticed the suspicious packages. They immediately contacted the police and officers of the Tunapuna Police Station responded.

Officers discovered a total of 13 bags containing a large quantity of what appeared to be compressed marijuana and cocaine.

(2) Drugs Sezied at Caribbean Bottlers Ltd - 14 Dec 2018.jpg

US Africa strategy hinges on local forces stepping up as Pentagon ramps down: Bolton

13/12/2018 News

WASHINGTON — As the Trump administration pulls back America’s military presence in Africa, it’s calling for more African regional security organizations to step up, U.S. national security advisor John Bolton said Thursday.

In a speech at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, Bolton unveiled the administration’s strategy to counter the rapidly expanding financial and political influence of China and Russia across Africa and work through allies to curb radical Islamic terrorism.

Overall, Bolton also sought to contrast America’s straight-forward approach — to “help African nations take control of their economic destinies and their own security needs” — with China’s “predatory” investments in local infrastructure projects.

“China uses bribes,…

Local group to aid in Caribbean clean water efforts

13/12/2018 News

PLATTSBURGH | For 21 years, St. Eustace Episcopal Church in Lake Placid has been conducting a medical mission team trip to Dominican Republic.

Now as local connections deepen and mature, a new offshoot has resulted in local residents delivering homemade water purification devices during their annual trips.

Despite the Caribbean’s destination as a tourism hotspot, about 26 percent of inhabitants lack access to clean water, according to the World Bank.

Unclean water leads to parasites, the number one cause of the nation’s high infant mortality rate, as well as malaise and failure to thrive among children and adults, said Mary Lou Leavitt, a volunteer with the effort known as Prescribing Prevention.

Officials also attributed contaminated water to a deadly cholera outbreak in…

Moody’s: Sale of Caribbean banks good for Scotia | Local Business

12/12/2018 News

While Caribbean regulators are reviewing the November 27 mergers and acquisitions (M&A) announcements by Republic Financial Holdings, Sagicor and Scotiabank, one of the world’s top three credit rating agencies has said the transactions are positive, at least for Scotiabank.

Canada-based Scotiabank announced plans to sell its banking operations in Anguilla, Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, S.t Maarten, St. Vincent and the Grenadines to Republic Financial Holdings. Republic will pay Scotiabank US$123 million for operations in those nine countries.