Peru, Bahamas, Puerto Rico and others get world’s first global safety and hygiene stamp
Peru, the Bahamas, and Puerto Rico are the latest destinations to use the world’s first-ever global safety and hygiene stamp, launched earlier this year by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). WTTC, which represents the global travel and tourism private sector, recently announced that in just three short months, 100 destinations are now using its “Safe Travels” stamp, with the Philippines becoming the official 100th destination. The stamp enables travelers to recognize destinations around the world that have adopted standardized global health and hygiene protocols so they can experience “Safe Travels.”
The stamp, which was developed to help restore confidence in travelers and aims to revive an ailing travel & tourism sector, is now being used by major vacation destinations such as Paraguay, Gambia, Zambia, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
“Our safe travels stamp continues to go from strength to strength, and we are delighted with its success so far. More than 120 destinations now proudly use the stamp, all of which are working together to help rebuild consumer confidence worldwide,” said Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO.
This landmark move received the backing of the United Nations World Tourism Organization. The launch of global protocols to recover the travel & tourism sector has been embraced by over 200 CEOs, including some of the world’s major tourism groups. The protocols follow guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and best practices from WTTC’s members.
“As destinations all over the world are gradually reopening their tourism sectors, the Gambia, the smiling coast of Africa, is at the forefront of these efforts,” Hamat NK Bah, Minister of Tourism and Culture, the Gambia, said. “Tourism plays a pivotal role in the economic growth of the Gambia, and as we strive to recover from the dev- astating impacts COVID-19 has on our economy, tourism is integral in this process.”
The WTTC has been at the forefront of leading the private sector in the drive to rebuild global consumer confidence and encourage the return of safe travel. According to WTTC’s 2020 Economic Impact Report, during 2019, Travel & Tourism was responsible for one in 10 jobs (330 million total), making a 10.3% contribution to global GDP and generating one in four of all new jobs. (Source: Caribbean Business)
Government agency denies rumors of GMO food being sold in Nigeria
Nigeria’s National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) is denying rumors across the country that all the beans and fruits in Nigerian markets are genetically modified (GMO) and harmful for human consumption. NBMA Director-General Rufus Ebegba, at a recent press conference, explained that although there are genetically modified foods in the country, they are yet to be released for commercial purposes.
Ebegba noted that it was only grains that were imported for poultry purposes that are in the market and no other GMO products are in the markets. “I want to restate here that the fruits and beans available in the Nigerian market presently are not genetically modified as insinuated. Rather they are either hybrids or improved. The federal government through NBMA is always poised to protect the health of its citizens and the environment by providing case by case analysis of GMO and risk assessments.”
However, the NBMA allowed the release of GMO cow-pea in 2019, which paved the way for commercializing it and making the seeds available to farmers.
Ebegba urged Nigerians not to be carried away by propaganda by competitors, assuring that GMO foods approved by the agency can never cause harm to them. “I want to assure Nigerians that the federal government through the agency is doing everything possible to ensure that we are all safe. Let me say this categorically that wha- tever the agency says is indeed safe.” (Source: The Sun Nigeria)
CARIFORUM Rum Producers and French Rum Group Sign Historic Accord
Rum producers of the Caribbean Forum, and members of the West Indies Rum & Spirits Producers Association (WIRSPA), recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with their French counterparts, the Conseil Interprofessionnel du Rhum Traditionnel (the Interprofessional Council for Traditional Rum CIRT-DOM). CIRT-DOM represents the traditional rum producers of Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Reunion in the French Caribbean Islands.
The two organizations, each represent a tradition of rum production that stretches back hundreds of years, with this 6th accord, have renewed their commitment to working together in the interest of building the rum industry. Based on authentic provenance, common rules, and promoting a level playing field against increasing competition from products that benefit from production subsidies. The leadership of both organizations stressed the importance of protecting the integrity of the production and quality of traditional rum products.
Chairman of WIRSPA, Komal Samaroo explained, “We have a long history of collaboration with our French counterparts, almost 25 years since the signing of our first agreement in 1997. Together we face a sharp rise in non-traditional imports of rum into our traditional markets, especially the European Union and the UK. Many of these competing brands do not always follow the rules, and many benefit from extensive production and marketing subsidies which place us at a competitive disadvantage. These developments, coupled with the impact of Brexit and the new trade deals being pursued by the UK, under-line the need for joint action.”
WIRSPA is one of the oldest private sector trade associations in the Caribbean. It represents rum producers in Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Haiti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Suriname, and Trinidad & Tobago.
Alain Chatel, President of CIRT-DOM agreed. “We have worked with WIRSPA over several decades to pro- mote rum rules that respect origin and to urge compliance with the regulations which do not permit flavoring of rum and labeling regulations that are truthful. Both our group- ings are traditional producers of authentic rum based on true provenance, and we have together worked to build the reputation of rum as a quality premium spirit, along- side the best of the best. We share a common philosophy.” (Source: Business View Caribbean)
The Africa Wiki Challenge 2021: Landmarks in Africa
The ancient city of Djenne in Mali, a World Heritage site, is one of the oldest settlements in West Africa since 250 B.C. Don’t miss visiting the magnificent Grand Mosque, which is world-famous for being the largest mud structure on the planet.
Open Foundation West Africa and Wikimedia are launching a contest dubbed the “Africa Wiki Challenge.” Open Foundation West Africa works to bridge the digital content gap around Africa and provide the next generation of youth with the digital literacy skills needed to compete in a dynamic and digitally transformative world. The campaign seeks to project stories of Africa and its identity to help reduce the content gap about the continent on the web.
The campaign is soliciting participation through photo uploads, writing, and improving articles. The theme for 2021 is “Landmarks in Africa.” The aim is to document all landmarks that cover historical, cultural, geographical and places of key significance to a country or the con- tinent. It calls on all people of African descent. People that identify with the continent or anyone with interest in Africa to contribute content about the true and rich identity of the continent — its rich and colorful cultures, history, landmarks, education, cities, rivers, lakes, food, vegetation — from May 23 to June 30, 2021. Prizes include laptops, tablets, hard drives, and more.
Currently, only 5% of the content that exists out of the 6-million-plus articles on English Wikipedia is on Africa. The problem is, Africa is the second largest continent in the world, yet, the uninhabited continent of Antarctica has more coverage than Africa. Most content that exists about Africa also lacks proper citation and hence decreases its credibility. There also aren’t enough photos to visualize articles on Africa to provide more information to readers about what they are reading.
Become a part of this effort in projecting Africa on the web. For more information visit, https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Africa_Wiki_Challenge/F requently_Asked_Questions. (Source: Open Foundation West Africa)
