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Tel: (305) 238-28681-800-605-7516editor@caribbeantoday.comsales@caribbeantoday.comwww.caribbeantoday.comW e c o v e r y o u r w o r l d

DonaldTrump’svolatileelectioncampaignconcernedCaribbeannationals inthe United

States. Now, 15 months after hewas sworn in as president,they’re really scared, page 3.

PrimeMinisterTheresa Maypubliclyapologizedto theCaribbeanfor her coun-

try’s clampdown on peoplefrom the region who went tothe United Kingdom by makingthem undocumented immi-grants, page 8.

~ A program, which protects young, undocumented Caribbeannationals in the UnitedStates from deportation,gets a crucial lifelinefrom a federal judge anddeals a massive blow toPresident Donald Trump’sbid to end DeferredAction for ChildhoodArrivals (DACA), page 2.

MAY 2018

For a decade UsainBolt dominated trackand field with bril-liant performancesand a magnetic per-sonality. The worldlapped it up. TheJamaican thenretired, leaving ahuge gap to fill in thesport, page 7.

Calabar High ofJamaica led theCaribbean’scharge at PennRelays inPhiladelphia,winning threetitles on thetrack, two inrecord-breakingtimes, page 16.

Michelle Ahye ofTrinidad andTobago won the 100meters crown atthe CommonwealthGames in Australiaas the Caribbeanonce again madeits mark in majorcompetition, page 17.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados –Barbadians will hold generalelections on May 24.

The date was announcedlast month by Prime MinisterFreuendel Stuart, who said he had officially notifiedGovernor General DameSandra Mason.

Nomination Day is set forMay 7.

The Barbados Parliamentwas dissolved several weeks agoand Stuart said his DemocraticLabour Party (DLP) will not beeasily removed from power.

“It takes a lot of workthan that to unearth us,” hesaid in response to a plannedrally by the main OppostionBarbados Labour Party (BLP).

BLP Leader Mia Mottley

welcomed the announcementof the election date.

“At last there is light atthe end of the tunnel,” Mottleysaid. “The Barbados LabourParty is ready and the countryis ready.”

In the last general elec-tions of 2013, the ruling DLPwon 16 of the 30 seats, with theremainder going to the BLP.�

For the first time in nearly 60years, Cuba will be led by

someone without the nameCastro.

Cuba’s NationalAssembly, the Spanish-speak-ing Caribbean nation’s legisla-tive body, last month nominat-ed Miguel Díaz-Canel to suc-ceed Raúl Castro as president.He was selected unopposed.

In 2006 Raúl Castro suc-

GORDON WILLIAMS

A program, which protectsyoung, undocumentedCaribbean nationals in theUnited States from deporta-tion, was granted acrucial lifeline lastmonth.

The April 24decision by U.S.Federal Judge JohnD. Bates alsoinflicted anothermassive blow to anorder by PresidentDonald Trump toend the DeferredAction forChildhood Arrivals(DACA) program,which offers protec-tion to some800,000 youngundocumented immigrants,many from the Caribbean.

Judge Bates has giventhe U.S. Department ofHomeland Security, whichadministers DACA, 90 daysto justify canceling program.If the DHS cannot do so then,according to the judge, it“must accept and process newas well as renew DACA appli-cations” for the so-called“Dreamers”.

‘FAILED’Bates ruled that Trump’s

decision to end DACA was“arbitrary and capriciousbecause the Department (ofHomeland Security - DHS)failed adequately to explain itsconclusion that the program

was unlawful.”He added that the DHS

did not offer adequate legalreasons “sufficient to sustaintermination of the DACAprogram.”

An earlier federal courtruling had forced DHS toresume processing DACArenewal applications.

Caribbean American leg-islators applauded Bates’sdecision.

“Even though the federaladministration is shamefullytargeting Dreamers by

attempting to dismantle theDACA, this ruling makes itclear that DACA recipientshave worked hard, and theydeserve every chance to soarand make this nation stronger,despite the desperate partisanand baseless threats from theWhite House,” New YorkState Assemblyman NickPerry told the CaribbeanMedia Corporation (CMC).

TRUMP’S ENDDACA recipients were

brought to the U.S. as chil-dren. Former PresidentBarack Obama issued anexecutive order which pre-vented them from becoming atop priority for deportation, aslong as they followed strictguidelines, such as attendingschool and not committingcrimes.

In return, the childrenbecame eligible to receivebenefits, including work per-mits. DACA recipients mustapply for renewals every twoyears. Each must be age 15 toapply.

However, in Sept. 2017Trump, using his own execu-tive order, announced DACAwould end on Mar. 5. Heurged the U.S. Congress tofind a permanent legislative

Barbados votes May 24

Cuba names new leaderto replace Raul Castro

DREAM ON: Caribbean DACA recipients get U.S. lifeline

2 • CARIBBEAN TODAY • MAY 2018

NEWSOver 10,296,000 copies printed and delivered in 28 years

- File photographSupporters of DACA scored another win.

Mottley, left, Stuart

(Continued on page 4)(Continued on page 4)

Díaz-Canel, right, and Raul Castro

GORDON WILLIAMS

PHILADELPHIA,Pennsylvania - If DonaldTrump’s volatile election cam-paign concerned Caribbeannationals in the United States,15 months into his presidencyhas really started to scare them.

Trump’s frequent socialmedia outbursts, passion forlying and preoccupation witherasing the legacy of his prede-cessor Barack Obama hasplunged the majority ofCaribbean nationals into apool of worry.

The president’s threaten-ing tone, especially when helashes out atcertain immi-grants, attacksthose investi-gating hisbehavior orbelittles certaincountries,includingHaiti, has onlymade manymore edgy.

“A lot of people in theCaribbean community arenervous,” Errol Anderson,who moved to the U.S. fromJamaica in 1969, said here dur-ing the Penn Relays, a sport-ing event which doubles aspossibly the largest singlegathering of Caribbean nation-als in the U.S.

“They don’t know what’sgoing to happen - especially onimmigration.”

While fans with Caribbeanroots vociferously support“Penns” annually, this yearmany were even more passion-ate about the political direc-tion of the U.S. under Trump’sleadership. For them, the pres-ident languishes somewherebetween a buffoon and a psy-chopath. Few tempered theirbitter criticism.

“I think Trump is an imbecile,” Mike, a native ofTrinidad and Tobago who haslived in the U.S. for 40 yearssaid while declining to give hislast name, claiming he fearedpolitical repercussions.

“He’s under educated,unprofessional and unfit andunqualified to representAmerica as president.”

CONCLUSIONNo matter what route

they took, most CaribbeanAmericans here arrived at thesame conclusion: Trump isendangering their status in theU.S. The president has clearlyunsettled them.

“I have significant fears ofmy existence,” said New Yorkresident Irwine Clare while atPenns.

Clare, the Jamaican-bornmanaging director ofCaribbean Immigrant Services,Inc., an organization whichchampions immigrant rights, is

concerned not just aboutTrump’s style, but the effect itwill have on future generationsof Caribbean nationals.

“I’m worried about myson in this toxic environmentas a young black man,” Clareexplained. “There’s no longerany hypocrisy. The racism iswide open. It’s frightening.”

Trump’s administration

has clamped down on immi-gration, stepped up deporta-tions and carved into protec-tions Caribbean nationals usu-ally embrace, such as DeferredAction for Childhood Arrivals(DACA), a program imple-mented by Obama to makedeportation of young, undocu-mented immigrants less of apriority. In September, Trump

announced the end of the pro-gram, although several subse-quent court rulings have pre-served it.

UNNERVEDTrump reportedly lumped

Haiti among “shit hole” coun-tries. His tendency of makingrash policy announcements,without consulting his senior

advisors, make Caribbeannationals worry aboutirreparable damage he could do.

“Trump exists in the management of chaos,” saidClare. “What he’s showing youis how bigots in corporateAmerica exist.”�

JITTERS: Caribbean Americans more nervous over Trump’s presidency

CARIBBEAN TODAY • MAY 2018• 3

NEWSOver 10,296,000 copies printed and delivered in 28 years

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Trump

solution for the “Dreamers”.However, in January, a

federal court blocked Trump’sbid to end DACA. JudgeWilliam Alsup’s ruling allowedthe U.S. government to con-tinue receiving DACA renew-al applications.

The Trump administrationtook the matter before theU.S. Supreme Court, which, inlate February, declined to ruleon the president’s Mar. 5 dead-line to end DACA. The U.S.Congress failed to pass lawaddressing DACA, leaving thematter in limbo and hundredsof thousands of “Dreamers”

fearing deportation.Bates’s decision has

brought more relief for“Dreamers”.

However, the U.S.Department of Justice hasvowed to continue its fight toend DACA. �

DREAM ON: Caribbean DACA recipients get U.S. lifeline

NEW YORK – CaribbeanAmerican CongresswomanYvette D. Clarke has wel-comed the announcement byNew York State AttorneyGeneral Eric Schneidermanthat he will conduct an investi-gation into the police killing ofan emotionally disturbedJamaican national last month.

Responding to 911 callsthat a black man was pointingwhat appeared to be a silver

gun at passers-by in the CrownHeights section of Brooklyn,officers from the New YorkCity Police Department(NYPD) shot dead 34-year-oldSaheed Vassell.

The NYPD said Vassell,who migrated from Jamaicawhen he was six years old, hadpointed the instrument at fivepolice officers, who respondedto the 911 calls, before he wasshot dead. Police later said the

instrument was a metal pipewith a knob on it.

“We must not accept thecriminalization of men andwomen suffering from mentalillness as the status quo,” saidClarke, daughter of Jamaicanimmigrants who representsCrown Heights, among otherneighborhoods in Brooklyn.

- Edited from CMC.�

Jamaican killed by U.S. cops, lawmaker wants probe

NEWARK, New Jersey –Caribbean nationals wereamong dozens of peopledetained by the United StatesImmigration and CustomsEnforcement (ICE) during afive-day “public safety opera-tion” last month.

ICE said members of itsEnforcement and RemovalOperations (ERO) arrested 60 people, including nationalsfrom Cuba, DominicanRepublic and Jamaica.

ICE said a 38-year-old

Jamaican national, whosename was not disclosed, hadbeen convicted of child abuseand domestic violence assault.

The agency said the oper-ation focused on individualsillegally present in the U.S.who had been convicted ofserious criminal activity,including sexual assault, childabuse, domestic violence anddriving under the influence.

Of those arrested, ICEsaid 80 percent were convictedcriminals, more than 20 had

been issued a final order ofremoval and failed to departthe U.S. or had been previous-ly removed from the U.S. andreturned illegally.

ICE said those who haveoutstanding orders of deporta-tion or who returned to theU.S. illegally after beingdeported are subject to imme-diate removal from the coun-try.

- Edited from CMC.�

ICE arrests Caribbean nationals in ‘public safety operation’

ceeded his brother Fidel aspresident. Fidel died in Nov.2016. Raúl, 86, recentlyannounced he would stepdown as the country’s leader.

However, according tosome political observers, it isnot clear how much longerCastro will wield his immensepower in Cuba. He is stillexpected to exert great influ-ence over the island’s govern-ment and sign off on majordecisions. Following the deci-sion by the NationalAssembly, Díaz-Canel said

Castro would still lead Cuba’sarmed forces, which controlsCuba’s economy and tourism.

Castro, according toreports, will still be first secre-tary of the Communist Party of Cuba and a member of theNational Assembly, even if heis not president. It could stayon as the head of theCommunist Party until its next congress in 2021.

CHALLENGESDíaz-Canel is a 57-year-old

electrical engineer. In 2013, hewas regarded as Castro’s right-

hand man. For the past fiveyears he has been groomed forthe presidency and the han-dover of power.

Díaz-Canel began hispolitical career in his early 20sas a member of the YoungCommunist League (YCL) inSanta Clara. While teachingengineering at the local univer-sity, he worked his way up theranks of the YCL, becoming itssecond secretary at age 33.

- Compiled from multiplesources.�

Cuba names new leader to replace Raul Castro

4 • CARIBBEAN TODAY • MAY 2018

NEWSOver 10,296,000 copies printed and delivered in 28 years

(Continued on page 4)

(Continued from page 2)

BELMOPAN, Belize – A topCaribbean community lawenforcement official is advis-ing the United States to focuson curtailing the widespreaddemand for illegal drugs athome rather than blamingother nations for supplyingthem.

“The U.S. also needs towork on their demand,”Michael Peyrefitte, Belize’sattorney general, told a televi-sion audience last month.“Maybe if they will stop usingso much drugs, we wouldn’t beselling any.”

Peyrefitte said he readthe 2018 InternationalNarcotics Control StrategyReport recently released bythe U.S. State Department, inwhich the U.S. named fourCaribbean community coun-tries as major illicit drug-pro-ducing countries. TheBahamas, Belize, Haiti andJamaica were also listed asmajor drug-transit countries.

NO ‘EVIDENCE’But Peyrefitte said the

U.S. has “not presented to usany evidence why is it theybelieve that.

“It’s based on what?” he

asked. “Based on what theyare saying we are a majortransshipment point of drugs?We don’t have any informationfrom them as to what is thefoundation of that analysis.

They don’tshare anyinformationwith us.“If theyknow, if theU.S. knowswho is bring-ing drugs intoBelize, thenlet us knowand we will

arrest those people becausedrugs are illegal. So, whatinformation do they have thatthey are not telling us about?We don’t know.

“… I think it is veryunfair and very cowardly thatyou would pass a judgmentlike that on Belize without anyevidence to show on whatbased that opinion on,” theattorney general said.

Several other Caribbeancountries have also disputedthe U.S. report.

- Edited from CMC.�

Belize blasts U.S. overCaribbean drugs report

CARIBBEAN TODAY • MAY 2018• 5

NEWSOver 10,296,000 copies printed and delivered in 28 years

BRIEFSU.S. bank offers saving forCaribbean retirement

The Inter-AmericanDevelopment Bank has launchedthe Retirement Savings Laboratory,a project that seeks to increasethe number of people saving forretirement in the Caribbean andLatin America.

The financial institution saidmost workers in the Caribbean andLatin America – about 130 millionpeople – are not saving for retire-ment, “which will make it difficultfor them to have a good life whenthey reach old age, especially forlow-income and independentworkers.”

T&T’s gay community scoresbig win

The High Court in Trinidad andTobago last month ruled it uncon-stitutional to impede on the rightsof homosexual men and anal sex.

The challenge against the state

was brought by gay rights activistJason Jones in 2017. However, afinal ruling will be handed down inthree months.

Growth in remittances toCaribbean

According to the World Bank, remittance flows into theCaribbean and Latin America grew8.7 percent in 2017, reachinganother record high of nearly $80billion.

The financial institution saidthe main factors for the increasewere stronger growth in the UnitedStates and tighter enforcement ofU.S. immigration rules, “which mayhave impacted remittances asmigrants remitted savings in antici-pation of shorter stays in theUnited States.”

Compiled from varioussources.�

Peyrefitte

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St. Kitts and Nevis will hold itsfirst conference to galvanizesupport from nationals livingoutside the Caribbean countrynext month.

The St. Kitts and NevisDiaspora Conference is sched-uled for June 26-28 at the St.Kitts Marriott Resort.

The theme of the event is

“Building Partnership TowardsSustainable Development”.

In Nov. 2017, the coun-try’s Cabinet discussed andapproved the submission forthe staging of the conference,a move designed to maximizethe contributions by diasporamembers in nation-building.Kaye Bass, permanent secre-

tary in the Ministry of ForeignAffairs, prepared and sent toCabinet the submission for theholding of the conference.

To register for the conference, visit www.diaspo-ra.gov.kn. Registration endsmidnight June 3. �

When JN Money Services(JNMS) USA SoutheastRegion celebrated its 20thanniversary of operating inFlorida, Jamaican-bornCarmen Bartlett, the regionalmanager, was happy to shareone of the pivotal moments ofher career.

Bartlett, who joined theJNMS team in 1997, retired atthe end of March after 21years service. She was instru-mental in establishing JN-owned JN Money locationsand a network of some 30agents and played a pivotalrole in establishing the JNOverseas RepresentativeOffice in Florida.

Speaking at the JNMS20th Anniversary Dinner inSouth Florida, last year, LeonMitchell, chief marketing salesofficer for the JN Group, com-

mendedBartlett andher team for“capturing ashare of theremittancemarket fromthe ‘Goliaths’of the remit-tance indus-try.” He alsoquoted JNGroup ChiefExecutiveOfficer Earl Jarrett, who oncetold the JNMS team members:“You can do well in any mar-ket, if you approach it withpride.”

EARLY YEARSPrior to joining JNMS,

Bartlett was employed to thethen Jamaica NationalBuilding Society (JNBS) as

an assistant manager.However, her initialengagement with JNBSstarted some 25 yearsearlier, when she wasemployed as a teller inJNBS’s branch office inWestmoreland, theJamaican parish whereshe was born. Shebecame assistant man-ager there.JNMS General

Manager Horace Hinespraised Bartlett for her com-mitment.

“Mrs. Bartlett’s has beeninstrumental in helping usestablish a foothold with JNMoney USA South EastRegion,” Hines stated in arecent press release featuringBartlett.�

J’can nurses get P.M.’s award

KINGSTON, Jamaica – TheUnited States Embassy herehas defended the decision tocollect social media identitiesfrom nearly everyone seekingentry into the NorthAmerican country, sayingCaribbean people should notfear the new rule.

“Social media wasn’t soprevalent back when thesedocuments were created … sonow the government wants toupdate and include additionalinformation to be with thetimes,” said Jeremiah Knight,counselor for public affairs atthe U.S. Embassy, adding thatthe aim is to have the visaforms align with technologicaladvances.

The proposal, if approvedby the Office of Managementand Budget (OMB), wouldrequire most immigrant andnon-immigrant visa applicantsto list all social media identi-ties they have used in the pastfive years. It will be used tovet and identify them andcould affect an estimated 15million people yearly.

‘EXTREME VETTING’Immigration officials said

the proposals support U.S.President Donald Trump’spromise to institute “extremevetting” of foreigners entering

the U.S. to prevent terrorism.U.S. citizens will have 60

days from Mar. 30 to com-ment on the proposal andKnight said following thatperiod, the comments or rec-ommendations will be submit-ted to OMB for issues to beaddressed, with another 30days being allocated to dealwith those issues.

Knight, speaking on a tel-evision program here, saidWashington is also increasingits security checks. He said theprocessing time of visa appli-cations will not be affecteddue to the increased informa-tion required and urged appli-cants to “be honest and com-plete” with the document.

Previously, under rulesinstituted last May, consularofficials were instructed tocollect social media identifiersonly when they determinedthat such information isrequired to confirm identityor conduct more rigorousnational security vetting.

The American CivilLiberties Union expressedconcern, saying the movewould have a “chilling” effecton freedom of speech andassociation.

- Edited from CMC.�

U.S. wants Caribbean visaapplicants’ social media info

St. Kitts and Nevis to hold first diaspora confab in June

Long serving JNMS employee in South Florida retires

6 • CARIBBEAN TODAY • MAY 2018

FYI LOCALOver 10,296,000 copies printed and delivered in 28 years

DISTINGUISHED DIPLOMAT

- Photograph by Derrick ScottJamaica’s Ambassador to the United States Audrey Marks, right, accepts the HowardUniversity Women Ambassadors 2018 Distinguished Diplomat Award from lecturerDr. Marie-Line Sephocle during the 23rd Women Ambassadors Conference lastmonth at the school in Washington, D.C. Marks was recognized for being the firstfemale ambassador from Jamaica to the U.S.

Bartlett

GORDON WILLIAMS

PHILADELPHIA,Pennsylvania - The last timethe world saw Usain Bolt incompetition, it wasn’t pretty.The Jamaican pulled upinjured and limped off thetrack in the 4x100 meters finalat the 2017 IAAF WorldChampionships in London,England.

It was a bittersweet end-ing to a brilliant, colorfulcareer splashed with goldmedals, world records andswag, which planted theCaribbean brand firmly intothe global psyche. Not sincemusic legend Bob Marley hadanyone from the region com-manded so much attentionworldwide.

But Bolt’s departure lastyear blasted a gaping hole intrack and field no one knows -even as the 2018 track seasongets going - how it will befilled. He was that special.

“You look at Usain, youknow he’s one in a million,what he’s brought to thesport,” American JustinGatlin, the last man to beatthe Jamaican in an individualrace when he won the 100meters in London, admittedwhile here to compete in thePenn Relays. “… He’s broughtpeople from the outside whonever really focus on trackand field and it gave attentionhere.”

For a decade Bolt was atonce track’s champion, piedpiper, master of ceremoniesand main act. He was itsEinstein and P.T. Barnum,reinventing and rejuvenating asport that was being drownedin doubt.

“While Bolt was there hewas massive, large,” Raymond“K.C.” Graham, a veteranJamaican track coach,explained at “Penns”.“Because of his personality hisimpact was huge. The sportwas on a down end from mul-tiple drug cheating scandalswhen he came, and hebrought it back up.”

SPOTLIGHTBolt hasn’t totally van-

ished from global view. Hewas back in the spotlightrecently and the world lappedit up. But the latest round ofhysteria had little to do withwhat made the Jamaicanfamous. Instead of looking tosmash more world sprintrecords, he was trying tobreak into a different line ofwork – professional soccer.

What’s becoming omi-nously clear, is that Bolt’sabsence from track, which hedominated at the highest levelwith performance and person-ality for a decade, is alreadymaking the sport’s observers

nervous. Many believeno one will duplicate hisact. Some say it maybewiser to look elsewhere.

“In some ways Boltdid take the oxygen outof the room,” said for-mer American athlete-turned broadcasterCraig Masback. “Itwould be hard to be asprinter to achieve thatlevel, but you could beanother type of ath-lete.”

Some are eager tomove on from the revo-lution Bolt ignited, anx-ious to shrug off thenarrative that the sportmay never again enjoythe popularity it didwith Bolt, whose namebecame synonymouswith speed. It is time,they claim, for a newrevolution.

“Nothing’s off thetable now,” SebastianCoe, president of theIAAF, track and field’sworld governing body,told the media late last year.“Let our imagination run wild… We are in the entertain-ment business and we have tolook at it in that way.”

NEW BLOODAccording to observers,

including Gatlin, it’s time forother athletes to rise up andembrace the post-Bolt chal-lenge. Fans, he argued, areeager to see fresh talent.

“You know, track andfield goes on,” Gatlinexplained. “That’s what italways does.”

At worst, Bolt’s absencewill give other nations achance to claim the spotlight.At the recent CommonwealthGames Akani Sambine ofSouth Africa won the 100meters, beating teammateHenricho Bruintjies andJamaican Yohan Blake, a for-mer world champion toutedamongst Bolt’s likely succes-sors. Despite that setback,Turner believes, theCaribbean will produce morestars.

“We do have everythingin Jamaica to do it,” she said,citing performances in therecent CARIFTA andCommonwealth games.

Either that or risk thedemise of the sport, whichdangled precariously over apre-Bolt precipice as illegaldrug violations grabbed moreheadlines than performances.According to Coe, a formerOlympic middle distance goldmedalist, his sport must lockin the huge fan base Bolt helpto create. The IAAF is tinker-ing with street racing, pop-uptracks and franchising ath-letes, among other ideas. To

some, it sounds like despera-tion.

“Now Bolt’s not there,there is nobody to take up themantle,” said Graham. “Theydon’t have the brilliance on

the track and thepersonality.”Yet it’s possible

Bolt’s retirementcouldn’t have beenbetter timed. Neitherof track’s two biggestdrawing cards – theOlympics or WorldChampionships – ison the sport’s 2018calendar. There’shope a new superstar- or few - can devel-op in time for the2019 Worlds inQatar.Yet Bolt’s huge

shadow still cloakstrack and field.When he showed upfor the recentCommonwealthGames to, amongother things, presentmedals, peoplenoticed. When hechallenged Blake totake over the role ofworld’s top sprinterit resonated. ButBlake floundered to

a disappointing third place fin-ish in final and the sport’sobservers concede difficulttimes are ahead.

“I don’t know how track

and field can compensate forBolt not being there,” saidGraham. “That’s a hard one.”

Bolt said Blake “pan-icked” at the CommonwealthGames after stumbling at thestart. Panic may be setting inon the sport overall after hisdeparture. Although Bolt wasnot a regular performer attrack’s marquee European cir-cuit, many spectators attendedmeets because Bolt had madethe sport more popular.Whenever he did show up, hispresence was intoxicating andhe knew exactly how to gener-ate excitement.

“He would play up to thecameras,” said ErrolAnderson, a Jamaican-bornphotographer who has workedglobal track meets for 35years. “He’s always thankingthe crowd.”

Bolt’s replacement maycome, Anderson argued, but itwon’t be soon.

“It’s gonna take sometime to do that,” he said, “if itever happens.”

In the meantime, theCaribbean is still producingpromising prospects. Florida-based Briana Williams domi-

Bolt gone, track ponders impact of Jamaican superstar’s retirement

CARIBBEAN TODAY • MAY 2018• 7

FEATUREOver 10,296,000 copies printed and delivered in 28 years

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Celebrating 80 years of caring.

1 5 4:06 PM

Not just for kicks, Bolt is taking up soccer.

(Continued on page 8)

nated the Under-17 sprints atthis year’s CARIFTA forJamaica. Trinidad andTobago’s Michelle Ayhe wonthe 100 meters at theCommonwealth Games.Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson isthe reigning Olympic sprintchampion and her main rivalShelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce,another Jamaican, is returningto competition. This year’sPenn Relays, like it did forBolt, again offered a showcasefor the region’s rich potential.

But no athlete has comeclose to Bolt’s 9.58 seconds inthe 100 meters or 19.19 in the

200. Both world records seemset to stand for a long time.

Yet track and fieldobservers still hope. The sur-vival of the sport leans heavilyon what comes after next.Fans who love track are moredesperate, even relying ondivine intervention.

“Are we gonna see thatagain?” Turner asked, refer-ring to Bolt’s astonishingcareer. “I believe we will. Godgave it to us before, He willgive to us again.”

Track can only hope - andpray.�

LONDON, England – PrimeMinister Theresa May lastmonth publicly apologized toCaribbean countries as shemet Caribbean community(CARICOM) leaders to dis-cuss the situation of pre-1971Caribbean undocumentedimmigrants in the UnitedKingdom.

“I want to apologize toyou,” May told a meeting ofCaribbean immigrants lastmonth. “… Because we aregenuinely sorry for anyanxiety that has beencaused.

“I want to dispel anyimpression that my gov-ernment is in some senseclamping down onCommonwealth citizens,particularly those from theCaribbean.

“Those who arrivedfrom the Caribbean before1973 and lived here per-manently without signifi-cant periods of time awayin the last 30 years havethe right to remain in theU.K.,” she added. “As dothe vast majority of long-term residents who arrivedlater, and I don’t want any-body to be in any doubtabout their right to remainhere in the UnitedKingdom.”

CONTROVERSYMay said the current

controversy had arisen becauseof new rules, introduced by heras home secretary, designed tomake sure only those with theright to remain in the U.K.could access the welfare sys-tem and the National HealthService (NHS).

“This has resulted in somepeople, through no fault oftheir own, now needing to beable to evidence their immigra-tion status,” she said, addingthat “the overwhelming major-ity of the Windrush generationdo have the documents thatthey need, but we are workinghard to help those who do

not.”Many Caribbean nationals

came to Britain starting in1948, when the ship“Windrush” brought over thefirst group of West Indianimmigrants. The BarbadosGovernment InformationService (BGIS) said an actionplan to secure a permanentsolution to the situation wason the agenda for last month’sCommonwealth Heads ofGovernment Meeting(CHOGM) in London.

Jamaica’s Prime MinisterAndrew Holness, who wasamong the CARICOM leaders

meeting with Prime MinisterMay at 10 Downing Street,said he wanted a “speedy”response to the situation, indi-cating that those people beingthreatened with deportationhad “significantly contributedto the building and enrichmentof the country.

“Now these persons arenot able to claim their place ascitizens,” Holness said, tellingMay “prime minister, we wel-come your response and we

look forward to a speedyimplementation of your pro-posed solution.

“It will lead to security,certainly for those who havebeen affected … It is time forthe inclusive prosperity forwhich we stand asCommonwealth people.”

‘PLEASED’Antigua and Barbuda

Prime Minister GastonBrowne had indicated that an apology from May “wouldbe welcome,” but he was“pleased” the British govern-ment had stepped in.

“Many of these individu-als do not have any connec-tion with the country of theirbirth, would have lived in theU.K. their entire lives andworked very hard towards theadvancement of the U.K.,” hesaid.

Britain is reported to havewritten to each of the govern-ments involved, setting outhow it intends to rectify the sit-uation, notably by helping any-one affected to find the neces-

sary paperwork toregularize theirimmigration sta-tus.

HomeSecretary AmberRudd toldParliament thatshe is “very con-cerned” about theway in which theWindrush genera-tion have beentreated andacknowledged theHome Office hadbecome “too con-cerned with policyand strategy andsometimes losessight of the indi-vidual” in therecent past.

Rudd said anew taskforcewith the aim ofensuring theWindrush genera-

tion receive the paperworkthey need to confirm theirimmigration status within twoweeks had been established.She also told legislators thatthe fees involved in goingthrough the process would bewaived.

DIFFICULTYUnder the 1971

Immigration Act, allCommonwealth citizensalready living in the U.K.were given indefinite leave to remain.

However, the HomeOffice did not keep a record of

those granted leave to remainor issue any paperwork con-firming it, meaning it is diffi-cult for the individuals to nowprove they are in the U.K.legally.

Under the 2012 new poli-cy, extra documentation isdemanded from people whoarrived in the U.K. manydecades ago, and considerthemselves British.

Some people have beenthreatened with deportation tocountries they left as children50 years ago. Others have beendenied access to healthcare,lost jobs, or been made home-less as they do not have suffi-cient paperwork to prove theyhave the right to be in the U.K.

The British governmentlater said Caribbean nationalswho came to Britain between1948 and 1973 would havetheir status formalized.

- Edited from CMC.�

Bolt gone, track ponders impact of Jamaican superstar’s retirement

WE’RE SORRY: Britain P.M. apologizes to Caribbean immigrants ~ U.K. vows to speedily rectify unfair treatment

8 • CARIBBEAN TODAY • MAY 2018

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May

Thousands of Caribbean nationals came to England on the “Windrush”.

The big man with the big personality has left the track.

(Continued from page 7)

It is a known factthat a major con-cern in everydecennial census isgetting immigrantsand populations ofcolor across theUnited States to fillout and return theform.

In immigrantand black communities, cen-sus officials often spend a lotof time and effort on formingpartnerships with communitygroups to garner trust toensure immigrants andAfricanAmericansespeciallyunderstandthe impor-tance of thecensus andthe need forthem torespond.

In the2010 census,a lot of themessagingsurrounded the fact that theinformation collected hadnothing to do with immigra-tion status and would not beshared with any immigrationagencies. As someone whoworked closely with the 2010census, including advocatingas founder of CaribID from2009 to ensure Caribbeanimmigrants had a way tocount on the form through awrite-in campaign andthrough an educational mediacampaign to push many to fillout and return the form, Iknow firsthand how difficultthe task of boosting theresponse rate is.

DEATH BLOWAs we count down to the

2020 census, the administra-tion of U.S. President DonaldTrump has dealt a death blowto the future census count,with the addition of a citizen-ship question to the digitalform.

Dr. Sunshine Hillygus, aprofessor at Duke Universitywho serves on the CensusScientific AdvisoryCommittee, is absolutelyright to respond to this boldface, political move to – wink,wink – “Make America GreatAgain” – by exclaiming:“What the hell?”

In an immigrant commu-nity already existing in an eraof heightened fear of beingrounded up and deported forminor infractions, includingdriving under the influence, Iknow this blatantly racist andpolitical move will definitelyimpact the 2020 census tally,leading to redistricting, fewerimmigrant representatives,

less funding in immigrantcommunities and a host ofother issues that we will onlysee after the count.

It is why immigrant asso-ciations, especially legal oneslike the Caribbean Bar associ-ations, must join the NAACPand attorneys general acrossthe U.S. in suing the federalgovernment to stop this xeno-phobic outrage.

THREATAs the NAACP lawsuit

states, our immigrant commu-nity groups must also sue tocombat the imminent threatthat the 2020 census will sub-stantially undercount immi-grant and other people ofcolor in communities through-out the U.S.

Not since before the CivilRights Act of 1965 has the cit-izenship question been askedof all respondents; that is notsince 1950 to be exact.

Commerce SecretaryWilbur Ross, in allowing thenew question, claims riotouslythat it will help enforce theVoting Rights Act, which issupposed to prohibit racialdiscrimination in voting. Heknows it will have the oppo-site effect because it is a clear-ly orchestrated political moveaimed at stymieing the risingblack and immigrant votingbloc.

Add to that is the factthat the 2020 census question-naire will be digital and onlyavailable online, which willhelp boost low response ratesas well, leading to incompleteand inaccurate data that couldimpact congressional districtsand the allocation of federalfunding, particularly in immi-grant populated districts.

We as immigrant commu-nity organizations and immi-grant elected officials mustfight now for all of our futuresin this country, because thismarks another brazen attemptto roll back our civil rights. Itis time to stand up and fightlike our futures depended onit – because it does!

The writer is CMO atHard Beat Communications,Inc. which owns the brands:NewsAmericasNow,CaribPRWire andInvestCaribbeanNow. �

Caribbean nationals mustfight citizenship question

Caribbean apologizes for abusing Rastas over weed

CARIBBEAN TODAY • MAY 2018• 9

VIEWPOINTOver 10,296,000 copies printed and delivered in 28 years

GORDON WILLIAMS

It was always a horrific sight inthe Kingston, Jamaica commu-nity I was born and raised.

One early 1970s incident,involving Rastas gathered in atenement yard, remains brand-ed into my memory more than40 years later. Their deeplyreligious practice of smokingmarijuana – also called ganjaor weed - offended no one,except those bothered by theunmistakable smell of thesmoke, the sight of dread-locked men and women whogenerated it or Rastas’ rebel-lion against the pretentiousscraps left behind by Britishrule.

So maybe someone calledthe cops. A vehicle pulled upand armed police officerskicked open the gate andstormed the yard, barkingthreats. One Rasta yelled:“Run iyah, run, the Philistinesare upon us!” Too late. Theywere battered with guns,boots, fists and batons thenherded– bruised, broken andbloodied - into the vehicle andtaken to jail.

People stood and stared.Stunned. Helpless. They real-ized the Rastas were peoplethey knew, who never hurtanyone. Like me, they hadseen – and would continue towitness for years - many simi-lar incidents. “Dutty Rastas”,as some cops called them,were regular targets of harass-ment and abuse because theyhad “violated the law” bysmoking weed. Many in theRastafari community wereseriously injured, permanentlyscarred – physically and men-tally - by the brutality. Somedied.

“Baldheads” suffered too.It’s hard to forget beingpushed against the wall bycops as a child, cold steel ofguns pressed against your backor neck, for a “search” andthreatened with jail if theyfound “even a seed” of weed.

SHIFTToday, people with no

serious connection to Rastafarihave made wearing dreadlocksfashionable. The faithful, how-ever, remain strong. Smokingmarijuana – their holy sacra-ment - is still vital.

Influential Rastafari, likelate entertainers Bob Marleyand Peter Tosh, helpedCaribbean people understandthe sheer wickedness of abuseagainst marijuana users.Marley and Tosh long suspect-ed the crackdown on weedand its users was part of a plotby corrupt people determinedto keep poor people marginal-ized and oppressed. In hissong “Wanted Dread andAlive”, Tosh called them “evilforces.”

The Caribbean, overdecades before and since that‘70s incident, punished its peo-ple for marijuana use. It waseasier to be beaten and jailedfor a spliff than embezzlingfunds. Rastas bore the bruntof the brutality.

All types of reasons, fur-nished mainly by the sameoppressors, are still being usedto abuse marijuana users.Health is one, although thegeneral medical communityhas long accepted the benefitsof weed.

NEW LOBBYLast month Dr. Faud

Khan, former Trinidad andTobago health minister, calledfor the decriminalization ofmarijuana for medical purpos-es. Dr. Sanja Gupta, medicalcorrespondent for Americantelevision network CNN, in aletter last month to UnitedStates Attorney General JeffSessions, backed marijuana’sbenefits and effectiveness infighting the opioid crisis.

“Not only can cannabiswork for a variety of condi-tions such as epilepsy, multiplesclerosis and pain, sometimes,it is the only thing that works,”Dr. Gupta explained.

He also high-lighted that thenegative stigmashadowing mari-juana was linkedto early research,“96 percent” ofwhich, he toldCNN, “looked forharm” rather thanbenefits in weed.

Yet theCaribbean – homesome say to the

world’s best ganja – has slow-walked its cultural shift whileothers quickened their pace.In the U.S., marijuana posses-sion and use is illegal in manyplaces. People like Sessionsappear intent on eradicatingits use. In others, however,ganja use is being allowed,even encouraged. Some saythe same oppressors are finallyseeing the light – and shinyprofits – of liberating theweed.

STUNNINGSo it was a stunning when

Antigua and Barbuda PrimeMinister Gaston Browne lastmonth told the Rastafari com-munity he was sorry for theabuse it suffered over marijua-na.

“The prohibition anddemonization have led toRastafari being brutalized andcastigated by police and othergovernment authorities,because of the utilization ofthe plant cannabis sativa,”Browne declared ahead ofApril 20, “International Dayof Cannabis”.

“… I have issued a gen-uine apology to the

FELICIA J.PERSAUD

The region is re-thinking weed debate.

(Continued on page 10)

People with power oftentend to abuse otherswho they deem are notas great as they are.

One type of abuse isharassment. The word isused loosely. Sometimesit’s warranted, oftentimes it’s not.

What is sexualharassment and whendid it get so popular?The term sexual harass-ment seems to havetaken on a new rele-vance in modern society.There’s now the “MeToo” movement. Was itthat it never existedbefore or is it thatwomen now found avoice where they couldtrumpet and point outsexual exploitation bymen? Or could it be thatwomen now foundanother weapon toassault men with?

But what is sexualharassment though? Iguess it all depends onwho’s doing the harass-ment and who is beingharassed. This is beingbrought to the fore by famous

cases in the news andthe courts wheremoguls - Bill Cosby,Harvey Weinstein andothers -have beenaccused by multiplewomen of sexualharassment.

DELUGEThey took a long timeto bring forward theseaccusations, but as soon

as one flew the gate, the del-uge descended. The dozens ofwomen all had similar stories

and said thatthey waited solong to makethe reportsbecause theperpetratorswere greatand powerfulmen and theywere afraid.Other power-ful media menhave paid outmillions ofdollars to set-tle cases withwomen. Isthat an admis-sion of guilt?Opinions on

what constitutes harassmenttend to differ. In the old days, aman could slap a woman onher derriere and it was no bigthing. Most times she’d simplylaugh it off.

“Oh Mr. Brown, you’re toonaughty.”

In Rome, many femaletourists used to look forwardto being pinched on their back-sides, as that was once afamous activity of youngItalian men. Not so anymore.

Today, if you put your

hand on a woman’s shoulder orhold her around her waistwhile you talk to her, she cancry sexual harassment.

“Come Miss Smith, just alittle chups on the lips for yourboss.”

“Sexual harassment, I’mgoing to report you to HR.”

It’s best that you keepyour hands to yourself and donot touch.

BEHOLDERSexual harassment, like

beauty, often lies in the eye ofthe beholder. The question is,if he was a young handsomeman who she was attracted to,would she have cried sexualharassment?

Almost all men who areaccused are elderly, over-weight, unattractive specimens.Is it a case of the dirty old mansyndrome being drawn into themix?

If a young handsome, well-off man invites a female co-worker out to dinner or to hishotel room, is that classed assexual harassment or merelyinterest, especially if she’sattracted to him? It dependson the woman’s acceptance or

rejection of the man. If she’sattracted to him and he makesadvances, she welcomes it.

It’s such a thin linebetween making a romanticapproach and sexual harass-ment.

There are cases wheresome women aren’t even fussyif the charges stick, as they say:“I don’t even care if it nevergoes to court, for even if he’snot guilty he’s sunk.”

Of course there are gen-uine cases of men badgeringand harassing women. Someare overt, while others are sub-tle and difficult to prove.

But that is the nature ofman, to pursue woman. Manywomen accept these advances.Others don’t. It’s a libidinouslottery. But all she has to do issay no. If he persists then that’sa different matter. But only shecan know what her responsewill be.

“Hmmm … Should Iaccept his advance or cryharassment?”

Gentlemen, be careful.Play it safe. Don’t touch.

seido1@hotmail.com�

Caribbean apologizes for abusing Rastas over weed

NEW RULES: Tempted to touch? Don’t you dare in modern society

10 • CARIBBEAN TODAY • MAY 2018

VIEWPOINTOver 10,296,000 copies printed and delivered in 28 years

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TONYROBINSON

Rastafarian community, andhave asserted that Rastafarisacramental or spiritual use beacknowledged.

“… Let us regard this asreparations for Rastafari, forthe wrongs inflicted on thissignificant minority group inour countries, through the socalled ‘war on drugs’, whichevidently was prompted bypernicious prohibition.”

He accused “racist, politi-cal and economic interests” ofoppressing Rastas over weed.

According to TheCannabis Movement of St.Lucia, Browne is “the first sit-

ting Caribbean head of gov-ernment who has acknowl-edged the wrongs againstRastafari in the Parliament ofAntigua and Barbuda and hasissued an official apology tothe Rastafarian community.”

I don’t smoke. Few of myfamily or friends do. Evenfewer smoke weed. But I welcome Browne’s “courage”,as the movement called it.Marijuana users should neverbe forced to flee from “thePhilistines”.

- What do you think? Let usknow at editor@caribbeanto-day.com.�

(Continued from page 9)

CARIBBEAN TODAY • MAY 2018• 11Over 10,296,000 copies printed and delivered in 28 years

Jamaican reggae/dancehall starBuju Banton is expected to bereleased from prison in theUnited States later this year.

Banton, who is servingtime on a drug-related convic-tion, is currently locked up inthe McRae CorrectionalFacility in Georgia. He hasserved nine years so far. Hecould get out by December.

However, anticipation isreportedly building for thestar’s release. Noted entertain-ment publication BillboardMagazine recently ran a fea-ture story on Banton, whoselast album “Before the Dawn”was released in 2010 and wona Grammy Award for bestreggae album.

A few Banton songs havebeen released since, includinga solo tune plus collabora-tions with the likes of Marleybrothers Stephen andDamian, Freddie McGregorand Agent Sasco.

DEMANDAccording to Billboard,

“Demand for Buju Banton’smusic remains high despite hisprolonged absence from therecording studio.” Variousentertainers have praisedBanton’s music and noted theimpact his absence has had onthe business.

“There is a big void with-out Buju Banton in the music,”reggae singer Cocoa Tea wasquoted in Billboard as saying.

“We would like to seeBuju free because Buju is oneof I and I soldier. Peoplemake mistakes along the wayand no man is perfect, but Iand I love Buju Banton... Sowe would love to see BujuBanton on the street.”

But according toBillboard, “Buju will return toa music scene that haschanged dramatically since thetime he was first taken intocustody.” The article cited reg-gae and dancehall being morepopular than when he left forprison. It noted that top inter-national artistes like Drake

and Major Lazer, have tappedinto the music.

CHANGEHowever, Billboard also

explained that Banton’s home-land of Jamaica appears tohave “drifted” away fromroots reggae towards more“hardcore dancehall” and“fusion pop”, an ironic rever-sal since the artiste started outwith dancehall and gravitatedtowards roots reggae.

Blacker Dread Records inthe United Kingdom, whichproduced the Banton-McGregor collaboration onthe track “Stumbling Block”,is reportedly putting togethera 13-track album of Banton’smusic set for release when theartiste is set free. The songs,Blacker Dread told Billboard,were “recorded just before he(Banton) was incarcerated.”

However, music enthusi-asts such as Blacker Dread aresure Banton has writtennumerous songs while incar-cerated. Many believe theJamaican could spark a newrevolution in music when hegets out of prison.

“Buju’s probably writtenabout 10,000 songs while inprison,” Blacker Dread toldBillboard. “I can imaginewhat it’s gonna do for themusic industry.

“I think when he takes upthe mantle again, he will beunstoppable. He probablywon’t have to write songsagain for the rest of his life.”�

The diverse cultural flavor ofthe region, including musicand food, will be on tap at thisyear’s “Caribbean VillageFestival” in South Florida.

The June 24 event will bestaged at the Lauderhill SportsComplex.

Among the scheduled per-formers are Kymani Marley,Alison Hinds, Kevin Lyttle,Shurwayne Winchester, JulienBelieve, Mika Ben and head-liner Maxi Priest. ComedianMajah Hype will be the host.

The event is being spon-sored by several entities,including supermarket chain

Publix, The GalleonFoundation, LDA WealthManagement, Wells FargoBank, Grace Foods, NBC6,Coral Spring Auto Mall,

YellowCab Broward and theLauderhill Mall.

“Publix Supermarkets hasserved our community for awhile now,” Lindell Douglas,the festival’s chief executiveofficer, explained in a recentpress release promoting theevent. “Our products are ontheir shelves, and if it’s not,they’re ordering it. This wasimportant for us to forged arelationship to celebrateCaribbean AmericanHeritage Month.”

For more information,visit www.caribbeanvllage.net.�

World awaits Buju’s releaseLauderhill to host ‘Caribbean Village Festival’

Some of thebiggest perform-ers from theCaribbean havebeen confirmedto perform at the12th staging of“Best of theBest Music Fest”this month inSouth Florida.

The show will be held May27 at Bayfront Park in down-town Miami.

Jamaican deejay Mavado

returns for this year’s show. Hewill be accompanied by fellowdancehall stars Aidonia,Capleton and Ding Dong.Reggae crooners RichieStephens, Ghost and Romain

Virgo are also on the perform-ers list, plus soca standoutsFayann Lyons, Kerwin Duboisand Bunji Garlin. Stone Bwoyfrom Ghana is also scheduledto perform.

“This year we have someof the hottest talents rightnow,” promoter Steve “Jabba”Beckford noted in a recentpress release.

For more information, call305-438-9488 or 954-470-7666.�

‘Best of the Best Music Fest’ set for Miami

12 • CARIBBEAN TODAY • MAY 2018

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENTOver 10,296,000 copies printed and delivered in 28 years

BRIEFSZiggy shines on solar power

Reggae star Ziggy Marley wasthe big attraction at “Beer Bash”put out on by Apple to celebrateEarth Day, April 20.

The event also capped a weekof environmental announcementsfrom the iPhone company, includingthat all Apple facilities now run offof renewable energy. According toZiggy, son of late reggae legendBob Marley, it was his first solar-powered concert.

‘Startime’s’ last standThe curtain comes down on

Jamaica’s longest running “oldies”music show this month when“Startime – Final Chapter” isstaged on May 5.

Startime was launched in1988. More than 150 shows havebeen staged.

Beres Hammond in FloridaTop reggae singer Beres

Hammond and friends will be inconcert early July at two Floridavenues.

Hammond will perform July 3at the Port St. Lucie City Center,9221 S.E. Civic Center Place, andJuly 5 at Jannus Live, 200 1st Ave.,St. Pertersburg.

For more information, call 954-274-5312.

Compiled from various sources.�

Incarceration kept Banton off stage.Maxi Priest will be the headliner.

From left, Mavado, Aidonia and Capleton

For something different, trythis Caribbean recipe for cowfoot and broad beans.

Ingredients• 4 pounds cow heel/foot• 8 cups water• 1 cup Grace White Vinegar• 6 cloves garlic, chopped• 3 large onions, chopped• 10 whole pimento berries• 3 sprigs thyme• 1 teaspoon ginger, chopped• 3 stalks scallion, crushed• 1 teaspoon salt• 2 tablespoons soy sauce• 1 tablespoon GraceCaribbean Traditions AllPurpose Seasoning• 1 teaspoon black pepper• 1/4 cup Grace Vegetable Oil• 10 cups beef stock• 3 medium carrots cutdiagonally• 1 large green pepper, cut instrips• 1 teaspoon scotch bonnetpepper, finely chopped• 2 cans broad beans• 1 teaspoon cornstarch, dissolved in two tablespoonsof water

MethodWash cow foot in a mix-

ture of four cups water andvinegar. Scald cow foot in fourcups boiling water for five min-utes then drain.

Season with garlic, onion,

pimento, thyme, ginger, escal-lion and salt. Rub in the sea-soning well. Add soy sauce, allpurpose seasoning and blackpepper. Marinate for an hour.

Heat pressure cooker andpour in vegetable oil. Addmarinated cow foot and brownlightly, stirring constantly.

Add beef stock and fastenpressure cooker lid. Pressurecook for 20 minutes. Coolpressure cooker thoroughlybefore opening.

Add carrots, green pep-pers and scotch bonnet pepper.Stir lightly and allow vegeta-bles to cook until tender. Addbroad beans and cornstarchand allow to simmer for anoth-er five minutes.

Serve with white rice andtomato slices.

- Edited from News Americas.Recipe courtesy of Grace Foods.�

Caribbean cuisine and culturewill be showcased during the2018 “Taste the IslandsExperience” June 2 in SouthFlorida.

The event, to be stagedfrom 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. at theFort Lauderdale HistoricalSociety, is aimed at food andspirits enthusiasts with a tastefor island indulgences. It willfeature celebrity cookingdemonstrations, an artisanshopping village and livemusic on the Riverfront onthe lawn of the New RiverInn, 231 S.W. Second Ave.

“The Fort LauderdaleHistorical Society is thrilled topresent this tasteful celebra-tion of all things Caribbean toresidents and visitors inDowntown Fort Lauderdale,”Patricia Zeiler, executivedirector of the FortLauderdale Historical Society,noted in a recent press releaseto promote the event.

“Our diverse communitycontinues to be shaped by themany cultures, flavors andinfluences to our south and weare proud to showcase themtogether at the festive ‘Tastethe Islands Experience’.”

COOKINGCelebrity chefs, including

“Taste the Islands” televisionshow hosts Cynthia “Chef

Thia” Verna of Haiti, Hugh“Chef Irie” Sinclair ofJamaica and Chef AmitRaval, head chef of AmtarFine Foods in Trinidad, arescheduled to make appear-ances. They will sampleCaribbean creations in the“Taste the Islands” Pavilionand present demonstrationson the event’s main stage.

Restaurant Row will host15 local cafes and caterersrepresenting multiple islands,each offering different menuselections. An open bar willserve island specialties.

Other features will

include a tropical drink and ice-cream bar and aCaribbean Culinary Museumand Culinary Theater, whereguests can enjoy Caribbeanhistory.

Musical entertainmentwill be provided by deejaysNickymix and Richie D. Steve“Sir Rockwell” Warner willemcee the event. A steel drumband and costumed carnivalplayers will also perform.

For more informationabout “Taste the IslandsExperience”, visit www.ttiex-perience.com.�

Step into some cow foot and broad beansFort Lauderdale to host ‘Taste the Islands’ June 2

CARIBBEAN TODAY • MAY 2018• 13

FOODOver 10,296,000 copies printed and delivered in 28 years

Cow foot and broad beans.

Verna

14 • CARIBBEAN TODAY • MAY 2018

TOURISM/HEALTHOver 10,296,000 copies printed and delivered in 28 years

WASHINGTON, D.C. – ThePan American HealthOrganization (PAHO) saidCaribbean nationals wereamong more than 70 millionpeople vaccinated against avariety of dangerous preventa-ble diseases last month.

PAHO said the initiativewas part of activities markingthe 16th annual “VaccinationWeek” in the Americas fromApril 21-28. It was aimed atpromoting the vital role of vac-cination in saving lives.

PAHO said the theme forthe campaign was “Strengthenyour defense! #GetVax#VaccinesWork”. It was chosenin honor of the 2018 soccerWorld Cup this summer inRussia.

PAHO said it also “seeksto encourage the population ingeneral, and particularly thoseplanning a trip abroad, to getvaccinated in order to strength-en their immune systems andavoid disease.”

IMMUNIZATIONAs part of the Vaccination

Week in the Americas celebra-tions, PAHO said 11 countriesannounced their intention tostrengthen measles immuniza-tion through the vaccination ofsix million people.

PAHO said the endemic

measles virus was eliminated inthe Americas, but continues tocirculate in other parts of theworld.

“Vaccination Week is agreat opportunity to uniteefforts in protecting the healthof the population,” said Dr.Carissa F. Etienne, PAHO’sDominican-born director.

As part of the “VaccinationWeek” campaign, PAHO said14 countries were scheduled tobe vaccinated against influenza,16 against polio, 13 against thehuman papilloma virus (HPV),and five will against yellowfever. Sixteen countries alsoplanned a series of other publichealth actions, such as the dis-tribution of Vitamin A and de-worming initiatives, in additionto vaccinating, PAHO said.

- Edited from CMC.�

GEORGETOWN, Guyana –Hugh Riley, secretary generalof the Barbados-basedCaribbean TourismOrganization (CTO), saysbarriers to entry around theCaribbean need to beremoved to improve connec-tivity.

“Intra Caribbean tourismis critical, but that has to workhand-in-glove with connectingpeople who want to come intoa particular catchment area ofthe Caribbean and enjoy thebenefits of intra-Caribbeantourism,” Riley said whileattending the recent 24thInter-American Congress of

Ministers andHigh-LevelAuthorities onTourism(CITUR).

“So, thewhole busi-ness of twindestination ormulti-destina-tion tourism has to be proper-ly explored and has to beproperly implemented. Thismeans we have to fix the con-nectivity.”

Earlier, a senior official ofthe Trinidad-based CaribbeanAirlines (CAL) said theAmericas remains challenged

by the misuse of connectivityto support sustainabletourism. Captain JagmohanSingh told delegates to thecongress that he “hopes thatthrough the discussions andmany strategizing meetings tocome, that we might over-come the scourge as I dobelieve aviation is indispensa-ble to Caribbean tourism.”

Singh said air travel toand from the Caribbean isexpected to double over thenext 20 years, with the marketgrowing from 43 million pas-sengers per annum in 2015 to86 million in 2035.�

WASHINGTON, D.C. – TheUnited States Department ofState says it will begin pro-cessing visas for Cubannationals at its Georgetown,Guyana, embassy.

The State Departmentsaid that as of April 1, it “willbegin transferring currentimmigrant visa applicationsand scheduling immigrant visainterviews for Cuban nation-als at U.S. EmbassyGeorgetown, Guyana.

“Guyana will then be theprimary site for processingimmigrant visa applicationsfor Cubans,” it said.

The first interviews arescheduled for June.

“As we transition immi-grant visa operations forCuban nationals to Guyana,we will continue to communi-cate with applicants, so theyhave current information,”the State Department noted.“No applicants should make

travel plans until they have ascheduled visa interviewappointment.”

Since January, the StateDepartment said immigrantvisa interview appointmentsfor Cuban nationals had been scheduled at the U.S.Embassy in Bogota,Colombia. Cuban nationalsdo not need a visa to travel to Guyana.�

Caribbean nationals among 70Mvaccinated against various diseases

MIRAMAR, Florida – Startinglast month, Spirit is offeringmore services from the FortLauderdale-HollywoodInternational Airport (FLL) tothe Caribbean.

Spirit will now connectFLL to Cap-HaïtienInternational Airport (CAP)in Haiti’s second largest city.The already serves to Port-au-Prince (PAP).

In addition, flights to St.Maarten’s Princess JulianaInternational Airport (SXM)are scheduled to resume on

May 5 following the impact oflast year’s hurricanes. Spirit willalso connect South Florida toSt. Croix’s Henry E. RohlsenAirport (STX), the airline’s sec-ond destination in the UnitedStates Virgin Islands, startingMay 24.

Spirit routes to theCaribbean also includeexpanded seasonal daily serv-ice from FLL to NormanManley International Airportin Kingston, Jamaica.�

Spirit offers more service toHaiti, St. Maarten, St. Croix

CASTRIES, St. Lucia – A newairline, offering direct servicebetween St. Lucia andDominica three times a week,has started operations here.

InterCaribbean Airwaysmade its inaugural flight intothe George FL CharlesAirport on Mar. 29 fromDominica.

Lyndon Gardiner, chair-man of the new airline, said itis hoped the carrier will beable to connect the entireCaribbean in the future.

The airline uses the 30-seater Embraer EMB120 air-craft for the St. Lucia-Dominica route on Sunday,Monday and Thursday fromthe Douglas-Charles Airport,

while departing from St. Luciaon Monday, Tuesday andFriday.

The service providesonward connections to thenorthern Caribbean, includingthe British Virgin Islands andCuba, with an additional directservice to St. Croix.

Jamaica, Puerto Rico andthe Dominican Republic arescheduled to be added to theroster.

The new InterCaribbeanAirways flights allow travelersto make two-stop connectionsto Kingston, Jamaica andNassau, The Bahamas.

- Edited from CMC.�

New airline targets CaribbeanCTO wants removal of entry barriers across Caribbean

U.S. to process visas for Cubans in Guyana

PAHO’s focus is on prevention.

Riley

CARIBBEAN TODAY • MAY 2018• 15Over 10,296,000 copies printed and delivered in 28 years

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16 • CARIBBEAN TODAY • MAY 2018 Over 10,296,000 copies printed and delivered in 28 years

LONDON, England – WestIndies batting star Shai Hopehas been named by prestigiousWisden as one of its five“Cricketers-of-the-Year”.

The 24-year-oldBarbadian was joined byEngland Women’s World Cup-winning trio of HeatherKnight, Anya Shrubsole andNat Sciver, along with Essexfast bowler Jamie Porter.

Hope enjoyed a break-through year in internationalcricket last year, scoring cen-

turies in both innings of thesecond Test against Englandas West Indies famously beatthe hosts by five wickets afterchasing 322 runs on the finalday at Leeds.

“Shai Hope produced oneof the individual performancesof the year,” said AlmanackEditor Lawrence Booth.

“After West Indies hadbeen thrashed in the first Testat Edgbaston, Hope made 147and 118 not out to inspirethem to a famous win in thesecond at Headingley.

“He was the first player in534 first-class matches to scoretwo hundreds in a game there,instantly making him the West

Indian wicket all oppositionattacks craved most.”

FIRSTHe was also the first play-

er in 127 years of first classcricket at Headingley toachieve the feat.

Until that Test, the right-handed Hope had made onehalf-century in 21 innings andwas averaging just 18 runs perinning overall.

He finished the serieswith 375 runs at an average of75 and has lifted his careeraverage to 33 runs per inningfrom 17 Tests. Hope is thefirst West Indies player sinceMarlon Samuels in 2013 to benamed to the honor roll.

Meanwhile, India captainVirat Kohli was namedWisden’s “Leading Cricketer-in-the-World”. His compatriotMithali Raj was chosen the“Leading Women’s Cricketer-in-the-World”. Pakistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan wasadjudged “Leading Twenty20Cricketer-in-the-World”.

- Edited from CMC.�

GORDON WILLIAMS

PHILADELPHIA,Pennsylvania - Schools onceagain elevated the Caribbean’sbrand, while the region’s sen-ior national teams flatteredearly then fizzled at the 124thstaging of the prestigious PennRelays meet at Franklin Fieldhere last month.

Jamaican student athletesled the Caribbean charge over three days - April 26-28 - gobbling up numerousChampionship of America(CoA) titles on the track andin field events, once again bol-stering the region’s claim to adeep pool of young talent.

Meanwhile, the seniorsfrom the Caribbean mustereda single win in the challengeseries against the UnitedStates. Jamaica struck first,winning the “USA v. World”4x100 meters for women withGayon Evans, KerronStewart, Schillone Calvert-Powell and Jura Levy. Theteam held off a strong chal-lenge from USA Red andUSA Blue to win in 43.14 sec-

onds.But for the large and loud

flag-waving Caribbean contin-gent in the crowd, that wasthe last international team vic-tory they could claim on themeet’s final day, as the U.S.dominated the series, winningthe remaining five challengeraces.

The bulk of the region’sglory was earned by its youth-

ful competitors, mainly highschool and college athletes, ledby Calabar High of Jamaica.Calabar shattered the highschool boys (HSB) 4x800“Penns” record, clockingseven minutes, 26.09 secondsto win the CoA title. Jamaica’sSt. Elizabeth Technical Highfinished second in 7:27.54, alsobeating the old mark of 7:30.67set in 2009. Jamaica Collegewas third.

Calabar returned tosmash another meet record inthe 4x400 meters CoA, clock-ing 3:03.79, eclipsing the for-mer standard of 3:08.59 theschool set last year. PetersfieldHigh was second withKingston College third. Thetop six places were occupiedby Jamaican schools.

In between, Calabar(39.51) also won the 4x100,beating arch rival KingstonCollege (40.13) into second,with Jamaica College (40..47)third. The HSB 4x100 CoAfeatured all but one teamfrom the Caribbean.

Christopher Taylor, whowas a member of Calabar’swinning 4x100 and 4x400teams, was named HSBAthlete of the Meet for RelayEvents.

GIRLS TIMECaribbean females were

not to be outdone. In the high

school girls (HSG) 4x100,Jamaica took the first threespots, with Edwin Allen(44.79), Holmwood Tech(45.05) and Hydel (45.38)dominating. Only two of thenine finalists in the CoA werenot from the Caribbean.

In the HSG 4x400, Hydelwon in 3:36.38, leading homeHolmwood (3:38.14).

Holmwood romped tovictory in the HSG 4x800CoA, clocking 8:48.33. ButHolmwood had to settle forsecond in the 4x100 for HSG,beaten by Edwin Allen.Hydel, finished third.

However, Hydel had itsturn on the winner’s podium,beating Holmwood into sec-ond in the HSG 4x400 CoA.The team was timed in3:36.38.

Caribbean athletes alsoexcelled in field events. Edwin

Allen took the top two placesin the HSG triple jump, withLotavia Brown winning, fol-lowed by teammate AckeliaSmith. Holmwood’s KenevaHeadley was third.

Jamaican girls alsosnapped up the top threespots in the HSG high jump.Janique Burgher of EdwinAllen won. Second went toLamara Distin of VereTechnical, with ExcelsiorHigh’s Shantae Foremanthird.

Tissanna Hickling, ofJamaica’s G.C. Foster College,won the college women’s longjump. Countrywoman ShaniceLove, representing FloridaState University, won the col-lege women’s discus champi-onship. University of the WestIndies’ (UWI) Isheka Binnswas second.

BOYSCaribbean HSB took the

top three places in the discus.Kia Chang of Calabar wonwith 64.79 meters. Second wasRoje Stone of St. Jago, withPhillipe Barnett of Excelsiorthird. St. Jago’s LushaneWilson cleared the bar at 2.16meters to take the HSB highjump championship.

Rasheeda Downer ofKingston College won the

Windies batting star Shai Hope amongWisden’s 2017 ‘Cricketers-of-the-Year’

BATON BLITZ: Caribbean high schools shine again at 2018 Penn Relays

Hope

Taylor was among the meet’s top per-formers.

Pinnock broke the long jump record.

(Continued on page 17)

SPORTS

The Caribbean secured animpressive medal haul at the2018 Commonwealth Gamesheld in Australia last month.

The region claimed 42medals, including 15 gold, 14silver and 13 bronze. Jamaicaled the charge with 27, includ-ing seven gold, nine silver and11 bronze.

Trinidad and Tobago, TheBahamas, Grenada, Bermuda,Guyana, British Virgin Islands(BVI) and St. Lucia also wonat least one gold medal, whilefive Caribbean nations claimedmultiple medals.

Bermuda’s Flora Duffywon gold in the triathlon,which includes swimming, bikeriding and running. But it wasin track and field where theCaribbean made its biggestimpression. T&T’s Michelle-Lee Ahye captured gold in thewomen’s 100 meters, clocking11.14 seconds in the final.Christania Williams clinchedsilver, while her Jamaicanteammate Gayon Evans tookbronze.

In the men’s 100 meters,Yohan Blake of Jamaica fin-ished third.

SWEEPCaribbean women swept

the triple jump, with Jamaica’sKimberley Williams repeatingas champion with a personalbest leap of 14.64 meters.Teammate Shanieka Rickettswas second and

Dominica’s Thea LaFondthird.

In the men’s triple jump,Guyana’s Troy Doris won gold.Dominica’s YordanysDuranona Garcia was second.

The Caribbean also tookthe top two places in the men’s110 meters hurdles. Jamaica’sRonald Levy won gold in 13.19seconds, edging compatriotHansle Parchment by 0.03 sec-

onds.In the women’s 100 meters

hurdles, Danielle Williams ofJamaica earned silver, withteammate Yanique Thompson

third.Grenada’s Lindon Victor

proved he was the best allround male athlete at the meet,winning gold in the 10-eventdecathlon, amassing 8,303points.

CONTROVERSYThe Caribbean found itself

in the midst of one of themeet’s biggest controversies.Zharnel Hughes, who is fromAnguilla but competes forEngland, finished first in the

men’s 200 meters final.However, Hughes was disquali-fied after it was ruled heobstructed T&T’s JereemRichards. Richards was award-ed the gold medal. Both sprint-ers clocked 20.12 seconds.

In the women’s 200 meters,Shaunae Miller-Uibo of TheBahamas broke the 16-year-oldmeet record to win in 22.09ahead of Jamaica’s SherickaJackson.

Caribbean athletes wongold in both men’s andwomen’s 400 meters hurdles.Jamaica’s Janieve Russell wasvictorious for the women, whileKyron McMaster of BVIsnatched the men’s title.Russell clocked 54.33 seconds.McMaster was timed at 48.25to win ahead of The Bahamas’sJeffery Gibson and Jamaica’sJaheel Hyde bronze.

HISTORICAisha Praught won the

women’s 3,000 meters steeple-chase, clocking nine minutes,21 seconds. Fellow JamaicansAnastasia Le-Roy andStephenie McPherson wererunners-up in the women’s 400meters. Le-Roy captured silver,while McPherson took bronze.

Le-Roy and McPhersonlater teamed up with Russell

and Christine Day to win goldfor Jamaica in the 4x400 metersrelay. The Bahamas’s men wonsilver in the same event, fol-lowed by Jamaica. Jamaica alsowon silver in the women’s4x100. Its men’s team finishedthird.

In the men’s 400, Jamaica’sJavon Francis earned bronze.His teammate Natoya Goulefinished third in the women’s800 meters.

St. Lucia’s Lavern Spencerwon gold in the women’s highjump. In the men’s event,Jamal Wilson of The Bahamasearned silver.

Jamaica’s DannielThomas-Dodd won thewomen’s shot put. Her compa-triot Fedrick Dacres earnedgold in the men’s discus withteammate Traves Smikle sec-ond.

In swimming, Dylan Carterwon silver in the men’s 50meters butterfly for T&T. Sotoo did Jamaica’s AliaAtkinson in the women’s 50meters breaststroke.

Anderson Peters ofGrenada earned bronze in themen’s javelin, while Jamaica’swomen also picked up bronzein netball.�

HSB shot put with 19.27meters. Downer’s teammateWayne Pinnock broke thelong jump record with a leapof 7.88 meters, which toppedthe old mark of 7.69 set in1994 by Calabar’s MauriceWignall. Pinnock’s perform-ance earned him HSB Athleteof the Meet for IndividualEvents. In the HSB triplejump, Owayne Owens ofCornwall College in Jamaicawon, with Jamaica College’sSafin Willis second.

Meanwhile, several col-leges from the Caribbeanearned respect by finishing inthe top three in team and indi-vidual events throughout themeet. Many U.S. collegeteams also featured athletesfrom the Caribbean. Amongthem was Jamaican-bornShannon Kalawan of St.Augustine’s, who won the col-lege women’s 400 meters hur-dles in 57.30. Second wasCandice McLeod of UWI.�

BATON BLITZ: Caribbean high schools...

CARIBBEAN TODAY • MAY 2018• 17

SPORTSOver 10,296,000 copies printed and delivered in 28 years

CHAMPION GIRL

Florida-based Briana Williams was the star of this year’s CARIFTA Games. The meet, which showcases the best young track andfield talent in the Caribbean, was held in The Bahamas. Williams, representing Jamaica, was brilliant. She won gold in the Under-17 100 meters, 200 meters and 4x100 meters relay and was named Austin Sealy Award winner, symbol of the meet’s most out-standing athlete. Jamaica earned 82 medals to top the table.

(Continued from page 16)

Victor went decathlon gold.

Ahye wins ahead of Williams.

Soccer teams from threeCaribbean nations were forcedto abandon the Confederationof North, Central America and Caribbean AssociationFootball (CONCACAF)Women’s Under-17Championship last monthafter the tournament was can-celled due to safety concernsin the host nation Nicaragua.

Bermuda, Haiti andPuerto Rico returned homeafter CONCACAF announcedthe tournament’s cancellationdue to force majeure of theremainder of the champi-onship.

All three Caribbeannations had started play in thetournament, with Haiti regis-tering wins over Puerto Rico(4-1) and Nicaragua (2-0) inGroup A. Puerto also lost to

Mexico 8-0. Bermuda lost itsonly game in Group B 3-0 toCanada. Defending championthe United States and CostaRica were the other Group Bteams.

According to a pressrelease from CONCACAF,the organization “determinedthat to guarantee the safety ofthe delegations, and all partici-pants and fans”, the eventwould be scrapped immediate-ly.

Up to press time it wasnot clear what CONCACAFwould do regarding the cham-pionship, which should haveserved as the qualifyingprocess for confederationteams for the 2018 FIFAWomen’s World Under-17 Cupin Uruguay. �

Safety worry force Caribbeanout of girls soccer tourney

GOLDMINE: Caribbean earns rich Commonwealth Games medal haul

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti –Haiti last month re-shuffledits Cabinet, with PrimeMinister Jack GuyLafontant namingfive new ministers.

Among the newappointees is GuylerC. Delva, a promi-nent Haitian journal-ist, who has beennamed minister ofculture and communi-cation. Delva, whowrites for regionaland internationalmedia outlets,replaces LimondToussaint.

The other newappointees are Jean-MarieReynaldo Brunet, minister of the interior and territorialcommunities; and JeanRoody Aly, minister of justiceand public security. JoubertC. Angrand is minister ofagriculture, natural resourcesand development, replacingCarmel André Belliard. GuyAndré Junior Françoi is nowthe minister of Haitians livingabroad. He replaces

Stéphanie Auguste.The Cabinet re-shuffle

came amid reports that themajority membersof PresidentJovenel Moise’sparty in Parliamenthad given the headof state an ultima-tum to makechanges. Politicalobservers said thatit is the first timesince Moise came tooffice on Feb. 7,2016 that the major-ity of his own partyhad given him a 72-

hour ultimatum to changeseveral ministers.

The disgruntled legisla-tors said they had held talkswith Moise about the re-shuf-fle and had expressed disap-pointment at the slow pace ofimplementing measuresagreed on. The legislatorsargue that the government isnot working in the interest ofHaitians.

- Edited from CMC.�

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti- A hospitality professionalfrom Haiti has learned newskills for the job following atwo week training programcourtesy of Caribbean co-operation.

Melicienne Drouillard, along-serving member of thehousekeeping team at LePlaza Hotel in Haiti, recentlybenefited from a free intern-ship at the Sandpiper bou-tique resort in Barbados.

When Drouillard landedin Bridgetown she received awarm welcome.

“They treated me as if Iwas a princess from themoment I arrived to the timeI left,” said Drouillard.

Training, was offered bythe resort’s Rooms DivisionManager Henderson Wallaceand Yvette Clarke, headhousekeeper. Drouillardlearned about product safetyand was impressed with TheSandpiper’s approach toensure visitors feel welcome.

“Madame Yvette was sokind to show me around theisland - in fact, everyone inBarbados was so welcoming,”

said Drouillard. She was hosted on tours

of Southern Palms, Courtyardby Marriott and Ocean Twohotels.

“This really was an eye-opener to see different stylesof housekeeping in action,“Drouillard said.

She put herself throughseveral Haitian housekeepingcourses and gained a diplomafrom the Hotel School ofHaiti.

- Contributed�

WASHINGTON, D.C. – TheUnited States Department ofState says acting Secretary ofState John J. Sullivan met withHaitian President JovenelMoise last month, on the mar-gins of the Summit of theAmericas in Lima, Peru.

The State Department saidSullivan and Moise on April 13discussed security and econom-ic growth in Haiti, “as well asdemocracy in the region.”

“Acting Secretary Sullivanthanked President Moise forhis leadership as Chairman ofthe Caribbean Community(CARICOM) and urged con-sensus within the organizationto promote and defend democ-racy,” the statement read.

It stated that both menalso discussed the importance

of continuedsupport forthe HaitianNationalPolice.

“The twoleaders agreedthat Haiti andits partnersshouldincreaseefforts to improve the invest-ment climate in Haiti to createjobs for Haitians and increaseeconomic prosperity,” theState Department noted.

CANCELLATIONIn February, Sullivan

abruptly cancelled a plannedtrip to Haiti. At the time, hewas expected to hold talks withCARICOM leaders during

their three-day inter-sessionalsummit in the French-speakingCaribbean country.

The State Department hadsaid then that Sullivan would“focus discussions on issues ofmutual interest to the UnitedStates and the Caribbean,including energy diversifica-tion, regional security and economic development.”

Sullivan’s proposed visitwould have come as U.S. law-makers, Haitians and otherCaribbean nationals in theU.S. had expressed profoundoutrage over AmericanPresident Donald J Trump’salleged disparaging remarksabout Haitians and Africans.

- Edited from CMC.�

Cabinet re-shuffle installsfive new Haitian ministers

Hotel worker gets training, experience in Barbados

Top U.S. official meets Haiti’s president

18 • CARIBBEAN TODAY • MAY 2018

HAITIAN HERITAGE MONTHOver 10,296,000 copies printed and delivered in 28 years

~ A CARIBBEAN TODAy SPECIAL FEATURE

MOISE ON THE MOVE

Haiti’s President Jovenel Moise visited South Florida last month seeking to update the diaspora on the French-speaking Caribbeannation’s progress since he was elected to office more than a year ago.

Moise, who was accompanied to the event at Miramar Cultural Center in Miramar by his wife Martine Moise and severalmembers of his government, addressed an audience which included several local officials, such as the host city’s CaribbeanAmerican Mayor Wayne Messam.

The event included a presentation of a video titled “Yon Lane Pouvwa, Yon Lane Travay”, which is translated to mean “OneYear in Power, One Year of Work”. Moise touted his government’s accomplishments, especially improvements in areas such ashealth, education and infrastructure. He also emphasized the importance of the diaspora’s contribution to Haiti’s development. .

Sullivan

Delva

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FLORIDA LOTTERY CELEBRATES LATEST MILESTONE OF $33 BILLION IN CONTRIBUTIONS TO EDUCATION OVER 30 YEARS

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Lottery announced today it has reached the $33 billion mark in total contributions to the state’s Educational Enhancement Trust Fund over the past 30 years. Since the Lottery’s inception, Florida’s public schools have received more than $11.6 billion, colleges and universities have received a combined total of more than $8.4 billion, and more than $5 billion has been used to fund the Bright Futures Scholarship Program, sending over 775,000 students to college since 1997. Governor Rick Scott said, “Today’s news that the Lottery has reached $33 billion in total contributions to education means that more Florida students will have the opportunity to get a great education in our state. The success of the Florida Lottery has a direct connection to the continued success of Florida’s scholarship programs and world-class education system. Just this month, U.S. News & World Report again ranked Florida as the best state in the nation for higher education and this latest milestone achievement will help us continue the important work of making sure that every student has access to a great education in Florida.” “As the Lottery celebrates its 30 years in operation, we are especially proud of this milestone moment in education funding,” said Secretary Jim Poppell.

CONTACT: LOTTERYCOMMUNICATIONS OFFICE

(850) 487-7727

The Florida Lottery is responsible for contributing more than $33 billion to education and sending more than 775,000 students to college through the Bright Futures Scholarship Program. The Florida Lottery reinvests 98 percent of its revenue back into Florida’s economy through prize payouts, commissions to more than 13,000 Florida retailers and contributions to education. Since 1988, Florida Lottery games have paid more than $56.3 billion in prizes and made more than 2,000 people millionaires. For more information, please visit www.fl alottery.com

ABOUT THE FLORIDA LOTTERY

“We are thankful to Governor Scott for his leadership, our loyal players, hardworking retailers and dedicated employees who allow us to help Florida students achieve their dreams of a brighter future.” The Lottery has established itself as a committed and dependable funding source for public education; contributing more than $1 billion annually for the past sixteen consecutive years, while remaining one of the most effi ciently operated lotteries in the country. The benefi ts continue to be felt in communities across the state.

UNITED NATIONS – Asenior United Nationsofficial says the globalbody has started to pre-pare for a post-peace-keeping presence inHaiti, stressing there rea-sons to be optimistic theFrench-speakingCaribbean country’sprogress towards stabili-ty is now irreversible.

“While achievingresults should remain ourcommon priority, we havealready started to prepare fora transition to a non-peace-keeping presence, based onlessons learned in Haiti and inother contexts,” Jean-PierreLacroix, under-secretary-gen-eral for peacekeeping opera-tions, told the U.N.’s SecurityCouncil recently.

Lacroix said that, in thecoming months, his office willprovide progress assessmentsto allow the 15-member bodyto take “well-informed deci-sions for the drawdown andeventual withdrawal of theUN Mission for JusticeSupport in Haiti (MINU-JUSTH).”

ASSISTANCEEstablished in Oct. 2017,

the U.N. said MINUJUSTHreplaced the U.N.Stabilization Mission, whichoperated in Haiti for 13 years.

Much smaller than its

predecessor,which had morethan 4,000 mili-tary and policepersonnel, MIN-UJUSTH assistsHaiti to furtherdevelop nationalpolice, strength-en rule of lawinstitutions, andpromote and pro-tect human

rights, the UN said.While the Security

Council is expected to renewMINUJUSTH, whose initialmandate was due to expire onApril 15, Lacroix said the U.N.is determined to ensure it bethe last peacekeeping opera-tion deployed to Haiti.

In March, the U.N.released a strategic assessmentof MINUJUSTH, including 11benchmarks for a smoothtransition to a non-peacekeep-ing presence by the last quar-ter of 2019.

“Haiti has come a longway to achieve the relativepolitical and security stabilityit is now enjoying, but persist-ent economic uncertainties,which can result in socialexclusion, particularly ofyouth and the most vulnera-ble, may undermine thisprogress,” Lacroix said.

- Edited from CMC.�

NEW YORK – A HaitianAmerican legislator is pushingfor a special Haitian district inBrooklyn, New York to bedubbed “Little Haiti”.

“Little Haiti is much morethan a project,” New YorkState AssemblywomanRodneyse Bichotte, the daugh-ter of Haitian immigrants,Bichotte told the CaribbeanMedia Corporation (CMC)last month.

“It is the recognition ofthe value of a people whohave historically been greatcontributors to this country.

“The revolutionary effortsof Jean Jacques Dessalinesnot only led to Haiti’sIndependence, but also led tothe expansion of U.S. territoryin what we know now as theLouisiana Purchase.

“The concentration ofHaitians in Flatbush,Brooklyn is amongst the high-est outside of the country ofHaiti, if not the highest. Thiswill be an economic boon forthe community as well,” said

Bichotte, who represents the42nd Assembly District inBrooklyn.

‘BENEFITS’Bichotte, the first Haitian

American from New YorkCity to be elected to the NewYork StateAssembly, saidthere are“plenty ofbenefits” toestablishingLittle Haiti inFlatbush,“especiallyduring a timewhere thepresident of the United States,Donald Trump, uses his plat-form to blatantly disrespectHaitians and other Africanassociated nations.

“He has removed TPS(Temporary Protected Status)for Haitians,” she said, adding“this a great way for the NewYork City to show the worldand the nation that Haitiansadd a cultural, educational

and economic significance tothis country that cannot beignored.”

A non-profit group inBrooklyn, Little Haiti BK,which is working withBichotte for the special desig-nation, said it would be “arecognition of the cultural rolethat Haitians have played inthe city and the country, and asign that the area’s Haitiancommunity is coming-of-age.”

The group explained, in aletter to members of NewYork City Council, that thedesignation would also “fostera strong sense of belonging,security, and pride among resi-dents, businesses, non-profitsand community groups inFlatbush.”

According to theMigration Policy Institute, aWashington, D.C.-based thinktank, over 90,000 HaitianAmericans reside in Brooklyn,the third highest concentra-tion of Haitians in the U.S.�

Works by Haitian Americanartists Tracey Guiteau andMoise Dorcelin will be on dis-play throughout May at theHaitian Heritage Museum inSouth Florida.

The exhibition, entitled“Matriarch”, presents an artis-tic exploration into the contem-porary spectrum of the attrib-utes of matriarchs. It is part ofthe museum’s celebration ofHaitian Heritage Month andMiami Museum Month.

The opening of the exhibi-tion is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.to 9:30 p.m. May 5. The muse-um is located at 4141 N.E.Second Ave. in the MiamiDesign District. To make areservation attend, visithttps://thehaitianheritagemu-seum.eventbrite.com.

The following events willalso take place this month atthe museum:

May 15, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30p.m. - Book signing with

“Kreyolicios: Haitian History101”.

May 24, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30p.m. – “Arts IT (ArtsInnovation Talk) withGenji Jacques & Friends”; and“How to get into theEntertainment Industry”.

The Haitian HeritageMuseum was founded in 2004to commemorate Haiti’sBicentennial. It is an organiza-tion conceived to highlight andpreserve Haiti’s culture andheritage globally.

“Our goal is to provide acultural Mecca for Little Haiti

where individuals outside ofour community and within ourcommunity boundaries cancome to enjoy beautifulHaitian art, historic artifacts,ethnic sounds of Haitian music,view Haitian films and enjoy acollection of Haitian literaryworks”, a press release fromthe museum stated.�

Haiti has ‘come a long way’on road to stability ~ U.N.

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti –The Pan American HealthOrganization (PAHO) haslaunched a campaign to vacci-nate more than two millionchildren in Haiti against diph-theria, a bacterial infectionthat causes throat inflamma-tion and difficulty breathing.In severe cases it can lead todeath.

PAHO said the program,which will target childrenbetween ages one and 14, waslaunched in mid-March by

Haiti’s Ministry of PublicHealth and Population(MSPP) with support from theUnited Nations Children’sFund (UNICEF) and otherpartners.

In the first phase, PAHOsaid campaign activities arebeing focused on 27 com-munes in eight departments:Artibonite, Center, Nippes,Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest,Sud and Sud-Est.�

PAHO launches campaignto rid kids of diphtheria

‘LITTLE HAITI’: Legislator wants special N.Y. district

‘Matriarch’ rules art exhibition at Haitian Heritage Museum

CARIBBEAN TODAY • MAY 2018• 19

HAITIAN HERITAGE MONTHOver 10,296,000 copies printed and delivered in 28 years

~ A CARIBBEAN TODAy SPECIAL FEATURE

Bichotte

Lacroix

The strength of women on display.