Latest news with #Kingston
CTV News
an hour ago
- Health
- CTV News
Kingston, Ont. health unit warns of increased amount of carfentanil in local drug supply
The South East Health Unit is warning residents about an observed rise in the presence of the synthetic opioid carfentanil in the local drug supply. The health unit says in a news release that the Kingston Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) site has reported an increase in expected fentanyl samples testing positive for carfentanil, which is considered to be up to 100 times stronger than fentanyl. 'The presence of carfentanil in the unregulated drug supply is cause for concern, as its strength significantly increases the risk for drug poisonings and drug poisoning deaths. Reversing its effects may require higher-than-usual doses of naloxone,' the health unit says. The South East Health Unit is advising people if they are going to use drugs, to avoid using alone, avoid mixing drugs, go slow, and have naloxone on hand to reverse the effects of an overdose, if one occurs. Going to the supervised consumption site at 661 Montreal St. in Kingston is also recommended. The site is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and is open to anyone. The site offers supervised consumption services, including drug poisoning response if needed, harm reduction education and supplies, including disposal of used supplies, naloxone, connection with community support workers, and drug checking services. If you have a friend or family member who uses drugs, it is advised that you obtain a free naloxone kit and training and forward safety warnings to them. You can also call the National Overdose Response Service at 1-888-688-NORS (6677). This is a toll-free, phone-based virtual service, where trained peer volunteers answer calls, assist in making a safety plan and stay on the line with the person for approximately 20 to 35 minutes.
Forbes
4 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
How Diaspora Capital Can Drive Growth In Africa And The Caribbean
In 2023, diaspora communities in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean remitted an estimated $54 billion and $18.2 billion, respectively. However, more and more investors from Kingston, Lagos, and other places want to do more than just transfer funds back home. These investors, aware of the difficulties in their home countries, aim to mobilize capital for affordable housing, expand financial access, and generally, contribute to the creation of scalable, domestically developed solutions to boost these countries' economies. A 2024 study reviewing existing research on diaspora direct investments, identifies diaspora capital as becoming an increasingly relevant source of development finance: 'Amid global economic slowdown and in a post-Covid-19 world, focusing on diaspora direct investment can be a new source of investment, particularly for countries that have substantial numbers of migrants and diaspora around the world.' In an interview, David Mullings, founder and CEO of Blue Mahoe Capital, shared how this insight reflects lived reality. He has spent years working with diaspora communities looking to invest in their home countries. 'We all want to invest back home, but we don't have easy ways to do it,' explains David Mullings, 'Nobody has really spoken to the diaspora to say, 'Hey, here's a way to deploy capital back home in a way that is sustainable, that builds these countries, so that others don't need to leave.'' Why the Diaspora Matters Historically, discussions about investing in Africa and the Caribbean center on international aid and foreign investments. The diaspora's economic potential remains largely untapped, yet if utilized, it can have a significant impact. Take financial access for example. Being able to transact easily is the hallmark of any thriving economy. As Mullings states, 'if payments don't work, nothing works. Fintech underpins the entire innovation ecosystem.' Mullings has worked with diaspora investors to support funding for Seed Jamaica, a fintech platform offering micro-lending for personal loans, launched last year. So far, the fintech company is already changing lives, and 'people are able to apply and get money in 48 hours without having to physically go into a branch and sign over their life,' he shares. Blue Mahoe Capital also supports affordable housing in Jamaica by building one-bedroom homes funded by diaspora capital. 'It's the first time the diaspora has pooled money to go and build houses for locals to buy,' says Mullings. 'These houses do not go towards Airbnb, but are homes for teachers, nurses, and public sector workers.' In Africa, Borderless is connecting diaspora communities with investment opportunities in real estate and startups, and has since its launch in 2024, processed about $500,000 in transactions. Why Diaspora Capital is Different Founders in Africa and the Caribbean often overlook diaspora investments, instead focusing on Silicon Valley funding. Mullings, however, points out that founders who do so are missing out because, unlike venture capital, diaspora finance offers a seat at the table. 'Typically, solutions that have been brought to African, Caribbean and Pacific countries have been designed by our former colonial masters. That automatically has issues,' he says. 'So, we need stuff essentially for us, by us, designed with us, our culture in mind.' To illustrate the points, he recalls the example of General Electric, where the company's U.S.-designed, expensive medical equipment was unaffordable in China until local engineers redesigned it to fit the market. This case study highlights the value of using local knowledge to design for local markets. Mullings, therefore, encourages entrepreneurs to explore diaspora capital as a way to scale home-grown solutions that cater to the needs of local communities. The Roadblocks Harnessing diaspora financing, however, is not without its challenges. Many left their homes in search of better opportunities due to systemic dysfunction and still carry a sense of distrust. Mullings explains that there is a 'trust deficit' fueled in part by negative stories circulating on social media. Yet, emotional ties endure. As the 2024 study puts it, 'Members of the diaspora may not be directly involved in economic and social challenges of the origin country, but they are often concerned about it and may contribute to pursuing solutions.' Convincing them that their capital investments in local enterprises are safe and secure, requires some education. 'So, we've had to bring people up to speed on the positive stories from these various countries in the region,' says Mullings. And the trust challenge goes both ways. Local people—whether founders, potential board members, or service providers often see diaspora investors as 'foreign-minded.' 'So, we are seen as troublemakers sometimes,' Mullings admits. 'But it's good trouble. We need that good trouble if we're going to be globally competitive.' To navigate this, diaspora investors often have to collaborate with local champions so as not to be seen as out of touch. The second challenge is financial literacy. It can be difficult for retail investors to understand how investments work, particularly the risks associated with capital loss and the reality that returns aren't guaranteed. In the Caribbean, a particular challenge has been the difficulty in doing business, particularly when opening bank accounts and setting up entities to pay local workers, instead of wiring money from the U.S. to Jamaica. Mullings says, 'Payments underpin everything. If I can't easily open a bank account to transact business, pay staff, pay for services, or collect revenue, I'm going to have a problem, regardless of what industry I'm in. And the single biggest problem we have in these countries is banking.' The Diaspora Financing Playbook Often, Caribbean and African communities look for inspiration and funding from the Global North, but there can be value in South-South cooperation, with the Caribbean learning from Africa's successes and failures and vice versa. 'We tend to focus too much on North America and what's happening there. Oh, I want to launch the Uber of Jamaica versus how about the M-Pesa of the Caribbean? Why not actually partner with them and bring it over? We essentially have been taught by the media to look down on Africa,' Mullings observes. A cultural shift is also needed in Africa and the Caribbean to normalize failure, which is often perceived as taboo. In contrast, in Silicon Valley, it's a rite of passage, as investors are more interested in backing entrepreneurs who have failed and learned from that experience than those who haven't failed at all. If we are to innovate, 'we have to change failure from being a badge of shame to a badge of honor,' he says. For local enterprises seeking to attract diaspora capital, Mullings recommends understanding your 'why,' perfecting your pitch, and engaging with diaspora investors on their preferred platforms, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok, to identify potential investors in your region. He says: 'You need to be able to communicate the problem you're solving, what your solution is, and why you care so much about that problem.' He also suggests tailoring the offer by understanding what diaspora investors are looking for and what it would take to write a cheque to support local businesses back home, recognizing any past challenges they may have encountered and explaining why their offer is different. 'They focus so much on Silicon Valley and how to pitch a VC, or how to get into Y Combinator. But that's not who you're talking to. So, tailor the pitch,' Mullings adds. In all, diaspora communities have much to offer beyond remittances. Diaspora capital is a symbol of resilience and resolve. It's a means for those abroad to invest in shaping the country of their dreams.
CTV News
6 hours ago
- CTV News
2 people arrested in alleged driveway paving scam in Kingston, Ont.: police
Police in Kingston, Ont. are issuing a new warning about door-to-door paving scams in the city, after a homeowner was offered a contract for $6,000 for driveway repairs if they paid cash. Officers responding to a call at a home in the Sherwood Drive area on Tuesday were greeted by an individual in a white pickup truck with an Irish accent, who then summoned a colleague and left the area at a high rate of speed, Kingston police said. 'The driveway of the home was observed to be in a partial state of repair/construction,' police said in a media release Wednesday afternoon. 'Left behind were multiple shovels/racks and two other individuals, later determined to be foreign nationals.' Police say the homeowner told officers they were approached by an 'Irish-sounding male' around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. When the homeowner agreed to have paving services completed, the man said he would provide them with a contract for $6,000 for repairs and paving work to the driveway if they paid cash. 'The homeowners stated they did not have that amount of cash at the house, at which point the male offered to take them to the bank,' police said. 'The male then dropped off the other two individuals who immediately began preparing the driveway. No contract was provided to the homeowner and no money was exchanged.' Police say officers spoke with the two individuals remaining at the scene and they were placed under arrest by the Canada Border Services Agency for violations of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Residents are being warned to watch out for door-to-door paving scams operating in the Kingston area. 'Scammers offer to repave residential driveways at a steeply discounted cash rate, requiring payment up front,' police said. 'The suspects often state that they are doing work nearby, which is why they are offering the discounted rate, which is too good to be true. The work will be left incomplete, or the paving is of poor quality. In past cases, large piles of excavated asphalt and earth were left behind, often blocking the roadway.'
CBC
8 hours ago
- Climate
- CBC
Air quality warning for wildfire smoke lifted for Ottawa
Environment Canada has lifted the special weather statement it issued for Ottawa warning of poor air quality due to smoke from forest fires burning in the Prairies. The agency had issued the advisory Wednesday afternoon, which covered areas of the province located south of the capital city as well as a large swath of western Ontario. As of Thursday morning, the Air Quality Health Index for downtown Ottawa is at a three, or low risk. The warning is still in place for Kingston and Belleville. For the latest conditions and the map of affected areas, click here.
NZ Herald
19 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Alpine Odyssey Aotearoa duo yet to secure yacht for Cook Strait crossing
He is accompanied by long-time friend Laurence Mote, a former elite mountain biker. In 2013, Mote suffered a severe anaphylactic shock reaction to a bee sting, causing cardiac arrest and subsequently a stroke. Mote is now legally blind but, after extensive rehabilitation, remains determined to pursue many of the outdoor activities he enjoyed before the accident. The goal of Alpine Odyssey Aotearoa is to raise $75,000 in donations for a pilot project by Save the Children to provide climate-resilient classrooms to the children of Vanuatu. The Pacific Island nation has been one of the hardest hit globally by the climate crisis, with its highest point 1879m above sea level. This cause is close to Kingston's heart as he had a chance to visit Vanuatu in November. He met some of the students who successfully brought a landmark case to the International Court of Justice, which last week ruled access to a 'clean, healthy and sustainable environment' as a human right and may hold states that infringe on this right internationally accountable. 'When you see what education can do by the very fact that these students at University of the South Pacific took this court case to the highest [court] of the land, in the world, because they had a good education in Vanuatu - education is a massively important thing to offer every child,' Kingston said. Alpine Odyssey Aotearoa adventurers Huw Kingston and Laurence Mote, who passed through the central North Island in late July, are still in search of a yacht for their Cook Strait crossing. The duo stayed in Mataroa near Taihape last week before visiting Mataroa Primary School to tell students about their journey. The pair said one of the highlights of their expedition so far had been meeting people and appreciating their hospitality. 'We are blessed to have had the most magnificent welcomes, the most amazing people taking us in, looking after us, some planned, some unplanned. You know, travelling with a purpose, I think really does open doors,' Kingston said. Now less than two days away from completing their trip through the North Island, the pair is uncertain if they will be able to gain access to a yacht by Saturday morning. If unable to source a boat, they will be forced to abandon their planned sailing route and depart on the Bluebridge ferry. 'We won't give up until we're at Wellington,' Kingston said.
