Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Wednesday: Nigel Clarke; Marcus Garvey; Farmers' workshop; Clovis Toon; Breaking News and more

Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Wednesday, May 24, 2023 Nigel Clarke to address reporters at post-Cabinet press briefing Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke will face journalists at a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House this morning. Clarke is expected to once again address questions regarding the [massive salary increases]( for members of the political directorate which he announced in Parliament last Tuesday and have been met with backlash from the public. Following the public outcry, Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced on Monday that he has [given up his massive salary increase]( that would have seen his pay balloon to $28.6 million in April 2024. The post-Cabinet press briefing is scheduled to start at 8am. US Congresswoman renews call for Marcus Garvey exoneration Another call has been made by US Democratic Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke and 22 of her Congressional colleagues for [Jamaica’s first national hero, Marcus Mosiah Garvey to be exonerated](. They have sent a letter to President Joe Biden calling for him to make this happen. They state that a posthumous pardon for Garvey in relation to his 1923 conviction for fraudulent use of the mail is justified as the trial was “marred by prosecutorial and governmental misconduct”. FAO farmers training workshop continues The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) three-day Bridging Organisations and Networks Development Learning Guide for Trainers Workshop being held in Kingston, ends today. The workshop aims to build on the Government’s focus on increasing the capacity of small-scale producer entities. The workshop targets beneficiaries under the Farmers Organizations for Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (FO4ACP) programme. It is intended to increase the capacity of farmers’ organisations and overall food security, sustainability and safety through coordinated stakeholder inputs. Advertisement Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to launch presidential bid Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will today announce his 2024 presidential bid in an online appearance with Twitter CEO Elon Musk in a Twitter Spaces conversation hosted by Musk. The Desantis campaign will also release an official launch video afterwards. DeSantis, 44, is viewed as former president Donald Trump's chief rival for the Republican Party's nomination. He joins a [growing list of contenders]( seeking to unseat Trump, who leads by more than 30 points in national opinion polls. UN to host pledging event to raise US$7 billion for Horn of Africa crisis The United Nations is convening a high-level pledging event today at its headquarters in New York, where member states and partners will be [encouraged to commit financial support to the Horn of Africa crisis](. Humanitarian agencies are calling for full funding of the UN’s $7 billion appeal for the Horn of Africa during a pledging conference this week, citing a growing crisis and the need for urgent life-saving intervention. The UN said the region is facing its worst drought in 40 years, with more than 43.3 million people in need of assistance in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya, and more than half of those lacking access to sufficient food. ICYMI: WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING Antonette Haughton-Cardenas to be buried June 17 in St Mary The late former firebrand talk show host and attorney-at-law Antonette Haughton-Cardenas [will be laid to rest on Saturday, June 17]( at the St Cyprian church in Highgate, St Mary. Chris Blackwell receives Sweden's Polar Music Prize Island Records founder Chris Blackwell on Tuesday was [among three recipients of the 2023 Polar Music Prize]( a prestigious Swedish music award. He was joined by five-time Grammy Award winner Angélique Kidjo and Estonian composer Arvo Pärt in receiving the award. West Indies batter Devon Thomas suspended for match-fixing West Indies batter Devon Thomas has been [provisionally banned for match-fixing]( the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Tuesday. CLOVIS TOON TODAY IN HISTORY Brooklyn Bridge opened On this day in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge – spanning the East River from Brooklyn to Manhattan Island in New York City – was opened. For more stories, visit our website at www.jamaicaobserver.com or [sign up for our e-paper](. [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Website]( Copyright © 2023 Jamaica Observer, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 40 - 42 1/2 Beechwood Avenue Kingston 5 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](.