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Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:16 PM Page 1 PRESORTED JANUARY 2006 STANDARD ® U.S. POSTAGE PAID MIAMI, FL PERMIT NO. 7315 Tel: (305) 238-2868 1-800-605-7516 [email protected] We cover your world Vol. 17 No. 2 [email protected] When America's largest mass tran- sit system was shut down for three consecu- tive days last month, it was Trinidadian Roger Toussaint who led the strike for more than 37,000 bus and subway employees, page 2. In just over a year, the Caribbean will host Cricket World Cup 2007, the one-day The trial of controversial game’s biggest spectacle. West Indies Jamaican Cricket Board President Ken Gordon cop Reneto Adams was (inset) believes the region, despite among the lingering problems such as the rising big stories coming out of crime rate and poor form of the West the Caribbean Indies team, is on track to put on a grand in 2005, another challenging year for the region as a whole, show for all the world to see, page 11. page 13. Reggae superstar Shaggy will be among the top enter- tainers scheduled to visit the Caribbean in 2006, a year jampacked with attractions which should appeal to homesters and prospective visitors to the region, page 17. INSIDE News . .2 Feature . .12 Arts/Entertainment . .17 Youth/Education . .21 Local . .7 Food . .14 Health . .18 Sport . .23 Viewpoint . .9 Tourism/Travel . .15 Business . .19 Region . .25 Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:16 PM Page 2 2 CARIBBEAN TODAY January 2006 www.caribbeantoday.com NEWS Caribbean advocates condemn U.S. immigration bill as racist NELSON A. KING District in Brooklyn, which hiring of illegal workers by Senate, where Republican “Bush is pandering to predominantly comprises providing employers with a Majority Leader Bill Frist, of the conservatives,” he said, NEW YORK - A Congressional Caribbean immigrants, urged reliable method in determin- Tennessee, said he will bring adding, “these are some very bill that would tighten border the administration of President ing whether employees are up immigration legislation in dark clouds for Caribbean controls and prevent illegal George W. Bush to take a bet- legally eligible to work in the February that will provide a immigrants. It’s going to be immigrants from getting jobs in ter look at immigration on the country. framework for guest worker some very challenging times the United States has been whole, rather than pinning The bill is modeled on ideas. for our people.” condemned by Caribbean blame on poor immigrants legislation introduced by He said the most sweep- immigration advocates here as from the region and Latin California Republican BUSH’S PLAN ing provision of the House racist, discriminatory and America, who, he said, are try- Congressman Ken Calvert The Bush administration bill would be requiring all unfair. ing desperately to eke out a that makes mandatory an has proposed that undocu- employers in the country, Vincentian-born Dr. living. employment eligibility verifi- mented immi- more than seven million, to Kendall Stewart, chair of the “And they cation system, which is cur- grants be submit Social Security num- New York City Council on need to do so rently voluntary. allowed to get bers and other information to Immigration, said Caribbean in a fair and The new House bill three-year a national database to verify and other minorities are just manner,” increases civil and criminal work visas. the legal status of workers. unfairly singled out in the new he said. penalties for knowingly hiring Under Bush’s “That’s jealousy, avarice push to curb immigration. or employing an illegal work- plan, illegal and discrimination for those “To me, this is ridiculous RUSH JOB er. In addition, the bill incor- immigrants who sponsored and supported for them to criminalize people Just porates legislation originally could extend this bill,” he said, “because because they overstay their before the Stewart passed by the Committee on their visas for Claire you’re locking down the coun- time here,” he told CMC. Christmas Homeland Security, requiring an additional try, you’re sending people “This bill is not aimed at break, the U.S. House of mandatory detention for three years, but must return to underground.” Russians, immigrants from the Representatives rushed immigrants apprehended at their home countries for a Claire urged religious former Soviet Union and oth- through passage of the Border U.S. land borders attempting year to apply for a new work leaders, who support the Bush ers from Europe. Protection, Anti-terrorism and to cross illegally. That meas- permit. administration, to speak out “It’s ridiculous for them Illegal Immigration Control ure comes into effect on Oct. Irwin Claire, the forcefully against these “dra- to put blame on immigrants Act of 2005. Sponsored by 1, 2006. Jamaican-born managing conian measures.” for America’s problems,” he Republican Congressman The bill essentially makes director of the Queens-based added. “They’re trying to bet- James Sensenbrenner, of unlawful presence in America, Caribbean Immigrant - CMC ter their way of life.” Wisconsin, chair of the House currently a civil offense, a Services, said the entire immi- ✺ Stewart, representative for Judiciary Committee, the felony. gration matter is “a political the 45th City Councilmanic measure would combat the The bill next moves to the football right now. Jamaican ordered Trinidadian leads mass transit strike in New York extradited to U.S. NEW YORK, CMC – When on Dec. 22. Subway trains after three whose missions and consulates America’s largest mass transit immediately began to roll by workdays of in mid-Manhattan were system was shut down for midnight Dec. 22, and, by walking over closed, partially closed or on drug charges three consecutive days last rush-hour Dec. 23, officials bridges, shar- operated with very limited KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC - month, it was a Trinidadian said all 139 were fully opera- ing cars with staff – joined in the elation. A 41-year-old man was late who led the strike of over tional. strangers, Aubrey Campbell, who heads last month ordered extradited 37,000 bus and subway Schools were back on jamming com- the Jamaica Information to the United States following employees. pre-strike schedules, and the muter hubs, Services (JIS) here, housed in reports of his involvement in As president of the driving restrictions into paying hiked Toussaint the Jamaica Consulate a conspiracy to smuggle more Transport Workers than 1,000 kilograms of mari- Union (TWU), Roger juana to Florida. Toussaint, who left his Presley Bingham, who is native country at the also known as “Butcherman” age of 17, gave the final or “Pressa” from the western signal to strike and to parish of St. James, was stop striking. In so ordered extradited when he doing, he had the entire appeared in a Corporate Area New York City in the court. Bingham, who was cap- palm of his hands. The tured in May last year, was city was thrown into indicted by a U.S. Grand Jury utter chaos. on Mar. 30, 2004, along with Seven million bus Norris “Deedo” Nembhard, and subway riders were Clasford Morris, Robroy left miserable – finding Williams and five others who grave difficulty getting are now facing extradition. to and from work, or Bingham eluded the conducting other busi- authorities for more than a nesses in bone-chilling year before he was eventually weather. captured by members of the The massive strike, Fugitive Apprehension Team which started on Dec. during a crackdown on the 20, left a $1 billion dent top drug dealers based in in the local economy. Montego Bay. After acrimonious The U.S. government spats with New York has submitted to the local City Mayor Michael police the names of a number Bloomberg and behind- of so-called drug kingpins the scenes maneuvers wanted to stand trial on drug with state mediators, trafficking charges. Last year, Toussaint – who partici- Toussaint, left front, gave the order for New York’s transit workers to go on strike. 16 fugitives were captured by pated in, and was influ- members of the Fugitive enced by, the protest move- Manhattan were lifted. taxi fares and braving the bit- General, said he was happy Apprehension Team. ment in Trinidad and Tobago ter cold on bicycles – rejoiced. the agonizing strike was over. ✺ in the 1960s – ordered 33,700 REJOICING Caribbean diplomatic rep- employees to return to work New Yorkers – fed up resentatives and staffers – (CONTINUED ON PAGE 6) Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:16 PM Page 3 January 2006 CARIBBEAN TODAY 3 Air Jamaica Jazz Festival Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:16 PM Page 4 4 CARIBBEAN TODAY January 2006 www.caribbeantoday.com NEWS Jailed N.Y. cop seeks leniency Caribbean group condemns in brutal Haitian torture case firing of Haitian judges NEW YORK, CMC - station house in Brooklyn to jury failed to reach a verdict NELSON A. KING reassigned without their con- Prosecutors in Brooklyn have the bathroom, where he was on another count of perjury sent.” asked a federal judge to savagely assaulted in 1997. and on charges of violating NEW YORK, CMC – The Consequently, he said, the reconsider the five-year prison and conspiring to violate Brooklyn-based Caribbean government’s action “under- sentence imposed in 2002 on a FIRESTORM Louima’s civil rights by taking Guyana Institute of mines the rule of law in Haiti police officer convicted of per- In the case that triggered part in the 1997 assault. Democracy (CGID) has and has exacerbated political Under the agreement, the condemned as a portentous instability.” government dismissed the “return of the Francois ‘Papa three other counts, and Doc’ Duvalier era” the recent MANIPULATION Schwartz agreed not to appeal dismissal of five judges of the Though no official rea- the perjury conviction.