KINGSTON, Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness says that the country’s public debt has remained flat over the past year despite the major fall in Government revenue and increase in expenditure as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Miami, FL - In January 2021, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Miami-Dade County was 8.1 percent. The County had a reduction of 107,600 nonagricultural payroll jobs (not seasonally adjusted), from January 2020 to January 2021 which was an 8.8 percentage point decrease. From December 2020 to January 2021, there was a decrease of 16,300 nonagricultural payroll jobs, which is a 1.4 percentage point decrease.

 WASHINGTON – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says Belize has been “severely affected” by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

WASHINGTON - AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins announced the creation of a new group, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and a new executive-level position, Chief Diversity Officer. The group and role were created to heighten the organization’s focus on its social mission work and best serve Americans 50+, a rapidly diversifying demographic.

PITTSBURGH – A U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh has issued a consent order requiring the payment of more than $1.6 million in back wages and damages to 546 home health aides. The Pittsburgh home health care agency misclassified the aides as independent contractors and failed to pay required overtime wages in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The court also ordered payment of $20,000 in civil money penalties.   

 Kingston, Jamaica - GraceKennedy has come to an agreement with Scotia Insurance Caribbean Limited to acquire 100% of the shares of Scotia Insurance Eastern Caribbean Limited (SIECL), with the associated transaction being subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. 

Black-owned businesses have been hit substantially harder by the pandemic than companies overall, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Less access to capital, including federal PPP loans, and funding gaps that existed prior to the pandemic, are a few of the causes for the demographic disparities. Supreme Foods Worldwide ™is a black-owned, family-owned Atlanta-based franchise corporation providing entrepreneurial opportunities for those interested in quick-service restaurant concepts. Certified as an ACDBE, Supreme Foods Worldwide ™has two prominent quick-serve brands: Supreme Burger and Supreme Fish Delight with over 11 franchise locations and counting. In the midst of serving communities that were hit the hardest, Supreme Foods Worldwide ™ has committed to providing jobs and food security to meet their surrounding community’s basic needs. Since the onset of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Supreme has served more than 15,000 meals per week to underserved youth and seniors in the Atlanta area. The Supreme Foods Worldwide ™ team continues their work of community restoration and promoting Black ownership with the launch of its #BlackHistoryBlackOwned campaign, a 365 day campaign highlighting the importance of Black ownership as a means of creating generational wealth, building legacy, and closing the wealth gap. For more information visit www.SupremeFoodsWorldwide.com

MIAMI, FL – Small business owners in Miami-Dade's District 9 are invited to apply for Commissioner Kionne L. McGhee's Annual Mom and Pop Small Business Grant Program. Applicants may be eligible to receive up to $5,000. Grant funding can be used to purchase equipment, supplies, inventory, commercial liability insurance, security systems, advertising, marketing, minor renovations, and or rent/mortgage assistance.

Miami International Airport set a new record for cargo volume in 2020 with 2.32 million tons, which was 57,382 more tons than its total in 2019.

PortMiami, a major economic engine for Miami-Dade County, processed 107,088 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in October, an increase of 1.5 percent compared to 105,573 TEUs in 2019. It marks the busiest month in cargo activity in the history of the Port.

NASSAU, Bahamas – The government has extended several tax exemptions that were implemented to assist survivors of Hurricane Dorian  who experienced rebuilding delays due to COVID-19 restrictions.