BROOKLYN/STATEN ISLAND EDITION FREE www.caribbeanlifenews.com CCEELLEEBBRRAATINNG 2255 YEEAARRSS TRININovember 20-26, 2015 ISIS Vincentians support Vincy Heat CRISIS Just off the bus, Vincies gather outside Busch Stadium in St. Louis to support their team. See story on page 45. Officials reviewing easy Adams condemns terror attacksPhoto by Nelson A. King re-entry of ISIS fighters By Bert Wilkinson By Nelson A. King Most governments in the still fresh about the July 1990 15-nation Caribbean Commu- Brooklyn Borough Presi- attempted coup by a group of indeed, the entire world. nity (CARICOM) are staying dent Eric L. Adams has joined 114 rebel Muslims that killed “I pray for the safety of under the radar when it comes world leaders in condemning be darkened by the scourge nearly 30 people and had also Parisians in this terrible hour to commenting on internation- the terrorist attacks in France, of terrorism,” he added. “We involved arson attacks in com- and for swift justice upon al terrorism issues, preferring stating that the borough stand united in providing mercial Port of Spain, the those responsible for these to leave it up to the larger “mourns the horrific brutal- whatever support we can to storming of parliament, the inhumane atrocities,” he said. and more powerful western ity that has shaken Paris, and, our fallen brothers and sisters state television station and “The global community will nations, which are now targets across the Atlantic” [Ocean]. other institutions. not allow the City of Light to of the Islamic State fighters. In a separate statement, Debate in the country’s par- But this is not the case in liament as well as social media Continued on Page 6 the region’s largest economy, is currently hot on the issue, Trinidad, where memories are especially because authorities Continued on Page 6 MANUFACTURER s IMPORTER s WHOLESALER s DISTRIBUTOR ROOPALEE Long Grain Parboiled Basmatic Rice (Yellow) RESHMEE MAHARANI SHAPLA RITESH Long Grain Parboiled Basmatic (White) Parboiled Basmatic Aromatic Rice Myanmar Fragrant Rice * We are one of the largest importers of different Basmati and Non Basmati Rice in the USA ** We deliver rice all over the USA *** 2% Discount upon presenting the advertisement at pick up of purchase PUTUL DISTRIBUTORS INC. 56-22 58th Street, Maspeth, NY 11378 Phone: 718-326-4061 Fax: 718-326-4085 Email: [email protected] Web: www.putuldistributors.com 2 Caribbean Life, November 20-26, 2015 B Medgar Evers hails retired geography professor By Nelson A. King Professors at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn last Wednesday hailed recently retired Geography Prof. Levi Uzozie, Ph.D for his significant con- tribution to the college and the City University of New York (CUNY) on a whole. Nigerian-born Dr. Uzozie had taught geography for over 57 years at the secondary and tertiary levels — both in his native land, the United Kingdom and the United States. He taught the subject for 18 years at CUNY. “My philosophy is that we have to treat each other as famil,” said Dr. Owen Brown, chair of the Depart- ment of Social and Behavioral Sci- ences, where Dr. Uzozie taught, at a Room to grow: Academy of Urban Planning principal Kyleema Norman holds a photo of a classroom fi tted out gala reception at the college’s Bedford with a hydroponic garden. Photo by Stefano Giovannini Avenue campus. “It’s entirely appropriate that we celebrate Dr. Uzozie retirement,” Brown added. “We’re here to cel- ebrate while he’s alive and all of us are here.” Adams unveils ‘Growing Montserratan-born Dr. George Irish, dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Education, noted Uzozie’s “very significant contribution to this institution “I had the privilege of know- Brooklyn’s future’ ing when you came,” he said of Dr. Uzozie. “Every course is like a tree that bears fruit. By Nelson A. King behind.” “Chair Julie Dent and I were ecstatic “You created the courses and Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. In the spirit of “One Brooklyn,” to learn of the FY16 capital budget allo- taught them,” Dean Irish added. “The Adams on Sunday unveiled “Growing Adams said he is planting “seeds of cation that Borough President Adams legacy you created will be longstand- Brooklyn’s Future,” an initiative with opportunity” in every neighborhood, allocated to four schools in Community ing.” over $2 million in initial investment adding that innovation and progress District 4,” said Nadine Whitted, district Dean Richard Jones of the Accredi- from his Fiscal Year 2016 (FY16) to cre- will “flower across our borough from manager of Community Board 4. tation Committee said was “an honor” ate hydroponic classrooms to a dozen stems of success that are grounded in to celebrate Dr. Uzozie’s retirement, schools across Brooklyn. STEM education.” “Through this generous allocation, describing him as a “courageous Adams made the announcement in Schools receiving $167,000 each from our youngsters will have an opportunity man. a classroom at the Academy of Urban Adams to build out hydroponic class- to learn first-hand about greenhouse Planning, a high school located in Bush- rooms include: PS 21 Crispus Attucks in technology and other science concepts wick, which will be transformed into a Bedford-Stuyvesant; Brooklyn Democ- which will propel them into the 21st green learning space through a partner- racy Academy in Brownsville; Academy century, thus equipping them with the ship with New York Sun Works, a non- for Environmental Leadership, Acad- required tools to become more com- profit organization that builds innova- emy of Urban Planning, IS 383 Philippa petitive in the worlds of technology, tive science labs in urban schools. Schuyler, and PS 377 Alejandina B. De science, and sustainability,” she added. The Brooklyn borough president Gautier in Bushwick. highlighted the potential of urban Others are: High School for Medical “I thank him for his promise to educate farming to revolutionize the borough’s Professions, IS 211 John Wilson, and and equip our students for a brighter relationship with food and the environ- PS 279 Herman Schreiber in Canarsie; future.” ment, as well as to create thousands of Brooklyn Lab School and Multicultural Andrew Brown, principal of the jobs in the emerging agri-tech indus- High School in Cypress Hills; and IS Brooklyn Democracy Academy, said: try. 292 Margaret S. Douglas in East New “We have had a successful hydroponics “Brooklyn is getting back to its roots York. program running for eight years and as we move into a greener future, grow- “Public-private partnerships like are elated to expand with the generosity ing healthy food and talented students these help us revitalize science and of Borough President Adams. Left, Dr. Levi Uzozie receives a in the same classroom,” he said. “I sustainability programming in New am particularly excited that we are York City public schools,” said Sidsel “Our expansion will include aquapon- plaque from Dr. Owen Brown, ics, which is a game changer for our chair of Department of Social launching ‘Growing Brooklyn’s Future’ Robards, director of development and and Behavioral Sciences at Med- in communities like Brownsville, Bush- events for New York Sun Works. “We students and community,” he added. gar Evers College. wick and East New York, areas where are honored to be working with Brook- “This truly has far reaching potential Photo by Solwazi Afi Olusola our children have historically been left lyn Borough Hall on this mission.” for our students and their families.” BQ Caribbean Life, November 20-26, 2015 3 Updated daily at www.caribbeanlifenews.com CARIBBEAN ROUNDUP THE NEWS FROM BACK HOME Antigua Two Antiguans, Omarie Banjamin, 27, and Sheba Charles, 27 were arrested on arrival at London’s Gatwick Interna- tional Airport with cocaine concealed in their luggage. The couple was held by Border Force Officers as they were proceed- ing through Immigration Control to retrieve their suitcases on Oct. 28, police said. They arrived in London on a Virgin Atlantic flight from St. Lucia. Prior to their arrival to the UK, the couple left Antigua to holiday in St. Lucia.Reports are the security officers exam- ined each one of the suitcases they were carrying and found cocaine amounting to two kilograms in each luggage. They were later arrested by UK authorities. Reports are that Benjamin is a taxi driver in Antigua, while Charles is employed with a local restaurant in the capital. Jamaica faces serious drought On Aug. 26, an Antiguan police offic- er was caught with four kilograms of Cows take refuge from the sun under a tree at the Bodles Agricultural Station in Jamaica. The drought cocaine strapped to her body while caused millions of dollars in losses for farmers who had no water. See story on page 16. attempting to board a British flight. Inter Press Service / Zadie Neufville Sceneta Nanton, 36, was convicted and sentenced to four years in prison for drug trafficking. Barbados petitive with fees ranging from four to ell, who is also finance minister said, British High Commissioner to Bar- A financing company based in Cura- seven percent. “Today is a very important day for the bados and the Eastern Caribbean Victo- cao, FactorPlus is exploring avenues to FactorPlus provides services in people of Grenada, who are currently ria dean said she is very concerned with expand its services to the wider Carib- Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, St. Maarten making sacrifices of their own in order the number of people who have been bean, including Suriname and Guyana and Miami and plans to expand services to improve the prospects of our beloved held attempting to take illegal drugs by offering rice farmers a new oppor- to the agricultural sector in the region.