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Month: May 2020

FlightPooling to provide some relief from flight chaos

by: Stephanie Horsman
07/05/2020

Private business airline Jet Class has launched a ‘FlightPooling’ initiative to help people experiencing difficulties repatriating during the crisis. The company says it does not aim to make money from the service, but rather provide a flexible, safe and cost-effective flight sharing programme.

FlightPooling is a unique endeavour put together by Jet Class in order to help people return to their home countries who are unable to fly using commercial airlines due to travel restrictions, or in some cases, the total suspension of flights to certain areas caused by the Covid epidemic. 

The plan, which the company points out is a non-profit initiative, was launched by Jet Class in response to a need to provide urgent travel assistance to these stranded passengers.

The idea behind FlightPooling is quite simple and straightforward: passengers are asked to subscribe to Jet Class online and then start compiling a list of required flights. Jet Class then collates the lists, finding other passengers looking for similar itineraries and when they have enough people for a flight, they alert the passengers of departure information.

Health precautions will be taken to ensure all passengers and crew are protected. The aircraft will be properly sanitised regularly, and masks and other protective gear will be worn.  

“We have heard some truly heart-breaking stories from people all over the world, desperate to get home since the Covid-19 restrictions were justifiably enforced, and determined that we have the ability to help, utilising the existing Jet Class technology, infrastructure and resources,” said Wagas Ali, CEO and Co-Founder of Jet Class. “Knowing that we are in a unique position to provide a practical solution to the pain that exists in the market made the decision to create ‘FlightPooling’ very easy.”

Flights will be arranged through some of the world’s leading jet-operators, offering anything from 6-seater jets to larger commercial aircraft, depending on the passenger numbers. On the whole, general aviation terminals will be used, offering a more seamless and crowd-free experience, or through commercial terminals when required due to aircraft size. Inflight services will not be offered on short haul routes, although for longer haul flights arrangements can be made.

The cost of the flights will be divided evenly between the travellers. Jet Class has stated the costs will only cover operating expenses. The company will not be making a profit from these flights.

They will be open to offering flights to any city with open borders, plus they will provide the most recent information on entry and quarantine requirements at the destination city.

 

Photo: Pixabay
 

Schools prepare to receive students

by: Cassandra Tanti
06/05/2020

The government is touring schools in the Principality to check on sanitary measures ahead of the reopening of educational institutions on Monday.
Minister of the Interior Patrice Cellario and Director of National Education Isabelle Bonnal visited schools earlier this week, taking note of preparations that are being made according to government guidelines.

That includes social distancing, so schools have taken out the masking tape to clearly mark out 1.5 metre distances between pupils, and red and white barricade tape to try to prevent students from sitting too close to each other.

Other sanitary measures include mandatory face masks for students and teachers, half-classes to limit contact, and frequent disinfection of premises and equipment.
To read more about schools in Monaco post-lockdown, read our article: Half-classes, no classes and facemasks: what happens from 11th May?
 
Photos: © Communication Branch / Manual Vitali
 
 
 

Telework to continue long after pandemic

by: Stephanie Horsman
06/05/2020

The National Council has unanimously voted in a bill making telecommuting obligatory in the Principality for those whose jobs permit it.

Tuesday night’s National Council meeting covered much ground on the topics of telework and employee rights. 

President of the National Council Stéphane Valeri, who has long been an advocate of telecommuting, told the Assembly: “The text we are about to vote on allows us to respond, with a humanist approach, to the understandable fear by some employees of being victims of unfair dismissal at a time when it would be almost impossible to find a job.

So, to help limit the spread of the virus and in order to protect not only the health of employees and employers but also of the whole population, this law makes compulsory teleworking for all positions that allow it, as long as travel is limited. Telework is strongly recommended and therefore will be facilitated for as long as this health crisis lasts. In this difficult period, telework has been brought to the fore and its effectiveness has been lastingly proven.” 

Telecommuting was also praised by Minister of State Serge Telle, agreed, saying, “The obligation to telework in positions that allow it is a remarkable compromise and particularly useful in the context of the current crisis.” 

The minister believes the epidemic could prove to be an opportunity to change the way people work in general, saying that “this text allows a certain number of particularly concrete advances in the contractual, social, health and even criminal fields, among which (…) teleworking is strongly encouraged and facilitated during the crisis and even after.”

The backing of the National Council and the government on this issue could mean a significant shift in the way employees in the Principality work. Prior to lockdown, only 1,119 people were telecommuters on a full-time basis. These new rulings could increase that number immensely.

According to studies, the benefits for both employee and employer of working from home include an overall increase in productivity linked to less interruptions, improved employee morale and work quality, less office space required saving employers in rent and utility costs, less stress on the environment due to less cars on the road, and improved employee retention and loyalty.

Photo: National Council of Monaco
 
 

Photojournalist Sebastiao Salgado highlights plight of Amazon tribes

by: Stephanie Horsman
06/05/2020

The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation has joined a worldwide call for Brazil’s leaders to take immediate action to save the country’s indigenous people from a Covid-19 “genocide”.
Franco-Brazilian photojournalist Sebastiao Salgado has made a career of capturing moments-in-time of the world’s poor and dispossessed around the globe. In recent years, he has turned his attention to the people of the Amazon rainforest.
Now, in an open letter to far-right Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, the 76-year-old artist has gathered together signatories such as Brad Pitt, Madonna, Sir Paul McCartney, Richard Gere, Meryl Streep and Monaco’s own Sovereign Prince to aid in his cause and plead for assistance in saving them from decimation from Covid-19.
The news has been full of terrifying reports out of the country, where the disease is running through the area like wildfire with 116,000 confirmed cases and nearly 8,000 deaths to date. This figure is thought to be as much as 15 times less than the actual number of cases, as many go unreported due to lack of testing.
The Amazon region is sparsely-populated and the numbers make it appear like it is the least hard hit, but the natives of the region are by far the most vulnerable, having little to no immunity to western diseases. To date, there have been 649 deaths in the region.
President Bolsonaro, already known to be openly hostile to the indigenous population, has dismissed the virus as media hysteria, calling it “a bit of a cold”. His handling of the health crisis has been widely criticised in both his home country and abroad, where he long dismissed the idea of social distancing and has been defiantly photographed at bakeries, markets and pharmacies, despite measures taken by his state governors to contain the epidemic.
The president’s negligent actions have sparked protests in the nation amid lockdown measures taken by local leaders, notably nightly pot banging sessions which have reportedly been growing as the weeks of confinement drag on.
Salgado’s letter is less about trying and change Bolsonaro’s mind than it is to put pressure on the president to force him to take measures to protect his people. Barring that, the outpouring of support from outside sources could prove effective in finding ways to keep the indigenous Amazonians safe.
The letter in full reads:
“The indigenous peoples of Brazil face an extreme threat to their very survival because of the coronavirus pandemic. Five centuries ago, these ethnic groups were decimated by diseases brought by European colonisers. Since then, successive epidemiological crises have killed the majority of their populations. Now, with this new scourge spreading rapidly across Brazil, indigenous peoples, such as those who live isolated in the Amazon Basin, could be wiped out altogether since they have no defence against Covid-19.
Their situation is doubly critical because the territories reserved by law for the exclusive use of indigenous tribes are now being invaded by miners, loggers and cattle ranchers. These illicit activities have accelerated in recent weeks because the Brazilian authorities charged with protecting these lands have been immobilised by the pandemic. As a result, with nothing to shield the indigenous peoples from this highly contagious virus, they now face the real risk of genocide caused by infections brought by illegal intruders on their lands.
Such is the urgency and seriousness of the crisis that, as friends of Brazil and admirers of its spirit, culture, beauty, democracy and biodiversity, we appeal to the President of Brazil, His Excellency Mr. Jair Bolsonaro, and to the leaders of Congress and the Judiciary, to take immediate measures to protect the country’s indigenous populations against this devastating virus.
These indigenous peoples are part of the extraordinary history of our species. Their disappearance would be an utmost tragedy for Brazil and an immense loss for humanity. There is no time to lose.”
The petition can be found at https://bit.ly/3aY7YSV
PHOTO: ©Sebastiao Salgado via fp2a.org
 
 

Monegasque nationality growth

by: Stephanie Horsman
06/05/2020

The population of native Monegasques hit 9,486 in 2019, a slight rise over the previous year.

According to the latest figures by IMSEE, the number of Monegasques, excluding foreign residents, saw a leap of +1.7% in 2019 after much smaller growth in 2018. This population is skewing slightly older than the average at 44.3 years of age, with one in four Monegasques being over 65. In fact, 45.9% are 50 and older.  

A remarkable 95% of Monegasques live in the Principality, with 9 out of 10 having been born either in Monaco or France. Women make up 54.8% of these citizens. This has always been the case, though the proportion of men has slightly risen over the years.

The second highest birth rate observed since record-taking began in 1950 occurred in 2019. 125 babies in total were born last year to mothers whose average age was 33 years old and the Synthetic Fertility Index shows that 2.5 children per woman are born of citizens in the Principality. Of these little ones, 69 were boys and 56 were girls.

On the other end of the spectrum, Monaco lost 80 people. This death rate of 8.4% is in line with averages from previous years, though citizens are living longer. The 2019 life expectancy increased to an impressive 86.5 years, breaking down to 84.4 for men and 88.7 for women. This is far above the United Nations estimates of global life expectancy, which is only 72.6 years of age.

Marriage rates sit at 9.7% and 92 were celebrated last year involving at least one Monegasque spouse. Our brides and grooms are waiting longer to marry though, with men tying the knot at an average age of 33.2 years and women waiting until they are 30.6.

Definitive divorce rates are as yet unknown due to delays in the legal processes, but 2018 saw its lowest divorce rate in 30 years with only 32 divorces registered.

Though the marrieds are a large group with 3,784 people, the singletons are the biggest group, with 3,920 people. Divorcees make up 1,122 people, widows and widowers are 628 and the number of citizens who are separated only hit 32.

 
Photo: Shutterstock
 

OPMC releases new lockdown song

by: Cassandra Tanti
06/05/2020

The Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra recently released a special lockdown performance titled ‘Someday we’ll all be free’, supported by Prince Albert II of Monaco.
The song was released publicly on social media by the orchestra on 28th April – just under a week before the lockdown in Monaco was lifted. It was arranged by Marcus Miller and Ira Hearshen.
It features special performances by Robin McKelle, Marcus Miller, Charles Pasi, Marie-Nicole Lemieux, Raul Midon, Naima Naouri and Yvan Cassar.
In the opening of the video, Prince Albert gives a special address, thanking the musicians of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra and the other performers for the musical initiative, finishing his message with “we are stronger together”.
The song was clearly filmed during lockdown, as the artists have recorded their pieces from living rooms, bedrooms, and studios.
Like all cultural institutions in Monaco, the OPMC has been forced to cancel all their performances until at least 16th June because of the Covid-19 crisis.
You can watch the song here: https://www.opmc.mc/en/