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Four Athletes to Represent the Virgin Islands (UK) at 2023 Pan American Games
Four athletes will represent The Virgin Islands (UK in track and field and sailing at the upcoming 2023 Pan American Games. Eldred Henry (shot put), Djimon Gumbs (discus throw), Deya Erickson (100m hurdles), and Thad Lettsome (men’s ILCA 7 laser) will compete in the 19th edition of the Games scheduled to take place from October 20 to November 5, 2023, in Santiago, Chile.
Deya Erickson will have the honor of being the flag bearer and leading the contingent at the Opening Ceremony on October 20. This will be the second Pan American Games appearance for Eldred Henry and Thad Lettsome, while Djimon Gumbs and Deya Erickson will be making their debut.
The track and field events are set to commence on October 30, with Djimon Gumbs competing in the discus throw at 6:40 pm EST. Deya Erickson will be participating in the 100m hurdles heats at 5:45 pm EST on October 31, and Eldred Henry will showcase his skills in the shot put at 4:25 pm EST on November 3. The track and field events will be held at the Coliseo del Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez in Ñuñoa, Región Metropolitana.
Thad Lettsome’s sailing races will take place from October 28 to November 5, between 11:00 am and 5:30 pm, at Cofradia Nautica del Pacífico in the Valparaiso region.
Mark Chapman has been appointed as the Chef de Mission for Santiago 2023. Speaking about the upcoming Games, Chapman expressed his confidence in the organizers’ efforts to provide comfortable accommodations and excellent competition venues. He also highlighted that this will be the Virgin Islands’ 11th Pan American Games participation, having competed in every edition since the 9th.
Ephraim Penn, President of the BVI Olympic Committee, extended his congratulations to the athletes for securing their spots at the Games and acknowledged the dedication and hard work they have put in throughout the season. He emphasized that the Pan American Games will be the last major competition of the year before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and wished the athletes success in their endeavors.
In addition to his role as President of the BVIOC, Ephraim Penn will also attend the PanAm Sports AGM ahead of the Games as a member of the PanAm Sports Technical Commission, representing the Virgin Islands (UK).
The 2023 Pan American Games is expected to host approximately 6,909 participants from 41 countries in the Caribbean and Americas, competing in 39 sports. The Games provide an excellent opportunity for athletes to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. For those unable to attend the event in person, the Games will be streamed live on the Panam Sports Channel on YouTube.
Soaring electricity bills, rising fuel prices and increasing import costs are placing growing pressure on households and businesses across the British Virgin Islands, prompting Claude Skelton Cline to warn during his Honestly Speaking radio program on May 19 that the territory should prepare for more difficult economic conditions and consider whether emergency measures may be needed to ease the burden.
Speaking on ZBVI Radio, Skelton Cline said the territory was entering a period of prolonged financial strain and urged residents, businesses and government officials to plan accordingly.
“The most dangerous position to be in right now is to be unprepared,” Skelton Cline said. “This thing is only going to intensify.”
Skelton Cline said higher utility costs were affecting nearly every sector of the economy, from households struggling to pay monthly bills to businesses facing decisions about staffing and operating expenses.
“These monthly utility bills are so exorbitant,” he said. “There is a domino effect of whether you can keep the same amount of staff.”
He questioned whether the government should consider using reserve funds and other measures to help stabilize fuel prices and provide relief to consumers.
“At what point does any of that trigger that creates a national state of emergency in this country?” Skelton Cline asked.
Skelton Cline noted that the territory has reserve funds and argued that policymakers should examine whether some of those resources could be used to reduce the impact of rising costs.
“There’s no reason why we should not be locking in fuel prices,” he said.
In addition to government action, Skelton Cline encouraged residents to take practical steps to reduce household expenses, including limiting electricity use and unplugging appliances when not in use.
“There are some things that are beyond our control, but there are some things that are within our control,” he said. “We must control those things.”
Skelton Cline said the British Virgin Islands had navigated difficult economic periods before and urged residents not to lose confidence.
“We cannot surrender to our frustration,” he said. “We cannot surrender to our cynicism and our skepticism.”
His comments come as consumers and business owners continue to face higher costs for electricity, fuel and imported goods, increasing concerns about the broader impact on employment, household budgets and the territory’s economy.
The Virgin Islands Icon Awards has announced 64 nominees across 13 categories for its 2026 ceremony, recognizing individuals and organizations for contributions in fields including sports, entrepreneurship, media, music, agriculture and public service, founder and executive producer Kareem Nelson Hull said.
The Virgin Islands Icon Awards was established to recognize individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the social, cultural and economic development of the Territory.
The Ministry of Health and Social Development is monitoring an outbreak of hantavirus linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius that has resulted in several confirmed cases and three deaths, but Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley, Minister for Health and Social Development, and Dr. Ronald Georges, Chief Medical Officer, said Monday that the risk to the Virgin Islands remains low.
The ministry said the reported cases involve passengers and crew aboard the Dutch expedition vessel, which was operating outside the Caribbean region. Health officials said there is no evidence of any cases in the Virgin Islands or elsewhere in the Caribbean.
Honourable Wheatley said the ministry is working with regional and international partners, including the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), to monitor the situation and strengthen surveillance systems.
“At this time, the risk to the Caribbean, including the Virgin Islands, is considered low,” Dr. Georges said. “We are utilizing enhanced surveillance systems and maintaining routine port health inspections and preparedness protocols to ensure the continued protection of public health.”
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially serious disease that is primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their droppings, urine or saliva. Human-to-human transmission is extremely uncommon.
The ministry said the rodent species typically associated with the virus are not commonly found in Caribbean environments, further reducing the likelihood of local transmission.
Residents are advised to avoid contact with rodents and areas where they may be present, safely clean and disinfect areas contaminated by rodent waste, maintain proper sanitation and waste disposal, and seek medical attention if they experience symptoms such as fever or respiratory distress.
Early symptoms of hantavirus can resemble the flu but may progress to more serious respiratory complications if not treated promptly.
“We will continue to work closely with regional and international partners to ensure that any potential risks are identified early and managed effectively,” Dr. Georges said. “Protecting the health and safety of our residents remains our top priority.”
The Ministry of Health and Social Development said it will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary.
Rising Costs Will Intensify, Skelton Cline Warns as He Suggests Emergency Measures
Coronavirus disease 2019
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