Colors: Blue Color

CARICOM Day display and church service was held in London on Wednesday.

During this, the Ceremonial hand-over by His Excellency Bocchit Edmond, Ambassador for Haiti and outgoing chair, to His Excellency Seth George Ramocan, High Commissioner for Jamaica and incoming Chairman of the Caucus of the Caribbean Heads of Missions in London took place.

His Excellency gave his personal remarks and read the message from His Excellency Irwin Larocque, CARICOM Secretary General on the occasion of CARICOM Day 2018.

The Prime Minister of Jamaica simultaneously assumes the chairman of CARICOM for the same period of six months and is the host of the CARICOM meeting of ministers in Jamaica during this week.

Work to carry out essential maintenance and improvements to one of Birmingham’s busiest road junctions has begun.

A package of works at Dartmouth Circus is scheduled to run to Monday, 3 September, with Birmingham City Council, Transport for West Midlands and Highways England working in partnership to co-ordinate schemes and minimise disruption.

This includes maintenance works to ensure Dartmouth Circus meets modern standards, including replacing joints on the highway and repairing the concrete around these.

Work will be carried out 24 hours a day and are expected to take eight weeks to complete, during which there will be phased lane closures around Dartmouth Circus Gyratory and overnight road closures of the A38(M) Dartmouth Circus underpass into and out of city, from 8.30pm to 6am.

Alternative routes will be signed, although people are advised to walk, cycle or use public transport wherever possible.

To coincide with these works, we are working with Transport for West Midlands to carry out works to extend the priority bus lane on the Lichfield Road which, when completed, will help improve bus journey times around the city.

Additionally, Highways England will be undertaking maintenance work on the M6 Junction 6, including removal of structural steel works under slip roads and removal of all temporary traffic management.

This will require full overnight closure of the outbound A38(M) and associated slip roads on 18 and 19 July, 23 and 24 July, 6 to 8 August and possibly 9 August.

Councillor Waseem Zaffar, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Birmingham City Council, said: “These are important works to improve one of our busiest junctions as well as ensuring that buses in the city are able to reach their destinations more quickly.

“We have chosen to carry out these works at Dartmouth Circus during the summer months, when traffic is usually lightest, and I would like to thank our partners at Transport for West Midlands and Highways England for working with us to co-ordinate these works so that they can be completed in the shortest possible time with the minimum of disruption.

“However, people should still expect some congestion and so I would urge you to plan your journeys carefully in advance. If you are able to leave the car at home and walk, cycle or use the bus then please do so – you will be helping the environment and ensuring there are fewer cars on the road while these works are carried out. If you must drive then please plan ahead and use alternative routes wherever possible.”

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “By working in partnership with Highways England and Birmingham City Council we can reduce the amount of time motorists and bus users will be affected by these works. This is another step forward in Transport for West Midlands’ approach in supporting local authorities to co-ordinate road and utility works across the region and cut congestion.”

Professionals in the West Midlands’ land, property and construction sectors are looking to raise at least £143,000 to go towards two unique housing projects in Wolverhampton and Birmingham for those who have experienced, or are facing homelessness.

The funds are being raised as part of a campaign known as Pledge150 launched by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in its 150th anniversary year - in partnership with property industry charity, LandAid – to encourage property professionals to raise funds to deliver at least 150 bed spaces in 2018 for young people at risk of homelessness.

West Midlands’ property professionals – including architects, developers, estate agents as well as chartered surveyors – have joined forces to raise £75,000 for St Basils in Birmingham which will go towards refurbishing their 48 bed hostel, not only modernising the property but also reducing the utility costs which are currently unaffordable and providing an unnecessary hurdle for tenants.

They are also looking to raise £68,000 for Hope into Action who renovate empty houses into affordable housing across the country. The grant will go towards funding a safe, secure housing project for the young vulnerable in Wolverhampton.

To-date, the region’s property professionals have raised funds through a wide programme of fundraising activities including corporate dinners and networking activities. The next big event for the region will be Ultimate Wipeout, sponsored by Moy Materials in Meriden which will take place at on 27 July.

Chair of the RICS West Midlands Regional Board, Nigel Mason, Partner at Rider Levett Bucknall in Birmingham commented:

“Having nowhere safe, secure or affordable to live shuts all the options we take for granted right down and it’s near enough impossible to gain a job, apprenticeship or complete a college course without a safe place to live. But, through RICS’ Pledge150 campaign, our region’s property professionals are actively making a difference by supporting young vulnerable people into new homes and giving them the tools they need to realise a brighter future.”

He added: “The response we’ve had with this campaign, from our region’s property industry, has been fantastic, and although we’ve set ourselves the target of raising at least £143,000 for these two very worthy projects, we would like to exceed it, and help to deliver more housing for young people facing homelessness. Therefore, I’d urge any property professionals out there to get involved in Pledge150 if they aren’t already, and help us end homelessness in our region.”

As part of the Pledge150 campaign, property professionals are also being encouraged to consider providing pro bono property advice to help local charities that support disadvantaged people, including those experiencing homelessness.

The Ten Time Grammy Award winning Take 6 are coming to the Town Hall in July, and we've got a pair of tickets to give away to one lucky reader!Just answer this simple question and email your answer, name, and contact telephone number to competitions@thephoenixnewspaper.com with the subject "Take 6"

Question: Take 6 have won which award 10 times?

You can read all about them in the June edition of The Phoenix Newspaper - https://thephoenixnewspaper.com/the-phoenix-newspaper-june-2018

Competition closes at 23.59 on the 18th July. There is no cash alternative.

Two rosebushes have been planted alongside the Windrush memorial plaque at West Green Common, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the arrival of the SS Empire Windrush, which brought the first Caribbean immigrants to the UK.

Haringey has a proud Caribbean heritage and the space at the Tottenham park was first dedicated to Caribbean settlers in the area in 1998, with a special plaque alongside a rose garden.

Last week's ceremony saw Haringey Council Leader Cllr Joseph Ejiofor and Mayor of Haringey, Cllr Gina Adamou gather with local residents and dignitaries for a planting ceremony to return roses to the site.

Cllr Ejiofor said:

“Haringey has a rich Caribbean heritage, going right back to the first arrivals from Empire Windrush. I am delighted to commemorate their contribution to our community by planting these roses in their name. I hope they will serve as a long-lasting legacy for future generations.”

West Green Common has also recently been improved with a new café, pathways and connection to Downhills Park.

The Enjoy Wolverhampton summer visitor programme has a variety of special offers available – ranging from reduced tickets to see Kaiser Chiefs in concert to summer lunch at Hamilton’s Restaurant.

Discounted hotel rates also provide the opportunity to take advantage of the best of the city’s theatre and music events.

Visitors to the city can take advantage of a free bottle of Cava with show stays at Park View Hotel, Park Road West, until July 21, and The Mount Hotel is offering Dinner, Bed and Breakfast for just £125 per couple until July 17.

Food and drinks offers include Afternoon Tea for Two (£19 or £24 with Prosecco) at the Ramada Park Hall Hotel & Spa, Park Avenue; a £10 summer lunch deal (kids aged under 3 eat free with every adult meal) at Hamilton’s Restaurant, Park View Hotel (noon to 2.30pm - Tuesday to Saturday until July 31), and a £25pp three-course meal at Anju’s Indian Restaurant on Park Drive.

Wolverhampton Racecourse is offering £5 off tickets for two weeks only (July 1 to 14) to see Kaiser Chiefs on Saturday, September 1.

Councillor John Reynolds, City of Wolverhampton Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “Wolverhampton is a vibrant, thriving city with plenty to offer every day of the year.

“The summer visitor programme gives you the opportunity to take advantage of a host of special deals.

“It is a great way to sample the best of the city’s theatre and music offer and visit places you might not normally think of visiting.

“We are really excited about this year’s programme. It is a great initiative showcasing our great city.”

There is also a host of hair & beauty, clothing, jewellery and food deals to be had at city outlets like Rapunzel (hair and beauty salon), Lush Beauty and Laser Clinic, MRG (clothing), Yours (clothing), Blue Banana (Clothing, tattoo and piercing), Estilo Clothing, TA Henn Jewellers, Hooded Ram (food and ale), Prince Albert Wine Bar and Eatery, Sugar Muffins (Rock & Roll themed diner), Max Spielmann (photo and print services), Penny Farthing (gifts, jewellery and piercing) and Amplifon hearing and care specialists).

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