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FREE www.caribbeanlifenews.com QUEENS/LONG ISLAND/BRONX/MANHATTAN Dec. 29, 2017–Jan. 4, 2018 HOLIDAY IN THE SUN Vacation business coming back to Caribbean islands By Nelson A. King ings into the first quarter of Holiday travelers are escap- 2018 are equaling or surpass- ing to the Caribbean, with ing 2017. hotels in most destinations not Several destinations report- affected by this year’s hurri- ed that a number of their hotels canes reporting occupancies in anticipate being sold out over excess of 90 per cent over the the Christmas and New Year’s holiday season, according to period, Breaking Travel News reports. said on Sunday. “More than 70 per cent of the It said Antigua, Aruba, Bar- Caribbean was not impacted by bados, Belize, Cancun, Cayman Hurricanes Irma and Maria and Islands, Curaçao, Dominican Fighting for Haitian rights: A protestor holds a sign in support of renewing temporary travelers are discovering the Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, protective status for Haitians at a rally last month. Photo by Caleb Caldwell incredible diversity of destina- St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia tions and offerings throughout and The Bahamas all reported the region, as they explore its strong bookings. many vacation options,” said Comito expects that most of Haitians blast President Trump’s Frank Comito, director gen- the other destinations, which eral of the Caribbean Hotel and were unaffected by the storms, Tourism Association (CHTA). are experiencing similar book- remarks that they ‘all have AIDS’ The Association canvassed a ing levels, according to Break- number of the region’s destina- ing Travel News. tions this week to see how they It said Turks and Caicos By Alexandra Simon head of state’s comments Rosemonde Pierre-Louis of are faring for the holidays and Islands, which was one of the He’s out of line. come as no shock to many the Haitian Roundtable, which into the first quarter of 2018, first hurricane-affected desti- In a damning exposé pub- Haitian-Americans, who cite shortly released a statement according to the London-based nations to rebound, fully recov- lished by New York Times last his well-known anti-immi- after the bombshell. Breaking Travel News. ering and opening within weeks week, President Trump alleg- grant stance, said a chair- Trump’s remarks perpetu- It said the results are encour- following the storms, is report- edly referred to Haitian immi- woman at a Manhattan-based ate a gross stereotype that Hai- aging, according to Comito, ing occupancies in excess of 90 grants as carriers of AIDS in a Haitian organization. tians once fought against in who reports that a sampling percent over the holidays and June meeting on immigration, “I have to say I was dis- the 90s, when the Centers for of the region’s 32 holiday des- strong first quarter bookings. where he also made offensive appointed but not surprised, Disease Control and Preven- tinations all pointed to a surge Puerto Rico announced last comments about other immi- given the statements he’s made tion (CDC) designated Haitian in holiday bookings, and most week that it is open for business, grant groups. But the U.S. about other immigrants,” said Continued on Page 36 indicated that forward book- Continued on Page 26 WestburyToyota.com We at Westbury Toyota believe in WestburyToyota.com SUPPORTING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. We are partnered with: • General Needs to help homeless veterans on Long Island • Annual Street Wheelz Car Show WHY to raise Breast Cancer Awareness • Island Harvest to feed local families in need • Ronald McDonald House to provide housing and care for families with children battling cancer • Toys for Tots to contribute to less fortunate children and enable them to experience the joy of Christmas • And many more! CHOOSE We at Westbury Toyota understand that LOYALTY IS EARNED, so we created “The Best Way” rewards program just for you. Every time you service with us or direct a friend, family mem- ber or coworker to us who buys a car, you are rewarded with down payment points toward your next vehicle purchase at Westbury Toyota, local merchant savings and much more! 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Sales: 1121 Old Country Rd., Westbury, NY 11590 • 516-203-4267 Service: 115 Frost St., Westbury, NY 11590 • 516-279-1582 2 Caribbean Life, Dec. 29, 2017–Jan. 4, 2018 BQ PARTY IN THE TROPICS Brooklyn couple’s Guyana Christmas bash a yearly tradition By Tangerine Clarke Once again this year, Guyanese- American couple Brian and Pauline Clarke brought the joy and excitement of their annual Christmas party to hun- dreds of happy children in the village of Lodge in near the Guyanese capital of Haile Thomas, a Jamaican-Amer- Georgetown on Dec. 23. ican who’s been named CNN’s The husband-and-wife team, born Young Wonder of the Year. in Lodge but now living in Brooklyn, Photo courtesy CNN were assisted by relatives and friends in handing out more than 300 gadgets, trinkets, playthings and gizmos, as well as clothing at the party, which enter- Haile tained festively dressed boys and girls with music, games and holiday-themed fare during a seven-hour, action-packed afternoon in their expansive, colorfully Thomas decorated backyard in the capital city. The couple’s first party that shared gifts to just 25 kids in December, 1981 has expanded to include hundreds of honored children, as word spread like wildfire about the festive event that the chari- table family host each year, that Brian By Nelson A. King says keeps getting bigger and better. The Atlanta-based Cable News Net- The couple worked tirelessly this year work (CNN) has named a Jamai- to make sure every child in attendance can-American among its five “Young received a Christmas gift package of Wonders of the Year.” toys, treats, and clothing to celebrate Haile Thomas, 17, who lives in New the season. Windsor, a town in Orange County, “I see joy in the eyes of the kids when upstate New York, was named by the they receive their gifts. The kids also network on its “Young Wonders: A enjoy themselves at the party, where we CNN Heroes Special.” give back to those who are less fortunate, All five “CNN Young Wonders” said Brian, a retired Transit worker, and were also be honored during “CNN current New York-based soccer referee, Heroes: An All-Star Tribute.” who, with his wife, ships barrels of good- The other honorees were: Sidney ies from the United States to Guyana to Kids wait in anticipation for gifts. Keys III of Hazelwood, Mo. Keys, make sure a good time is had by all. 11, encourages a love of reading by “It is heartwarming to bring happi- “It is always a joy and a pleasure for “God smiled down on us and gave us helping boys see themselves in books ness, joy, and satisfaction to the kids,” me and my family to bring toys, laugh- a beautiful day,” said Pauline, in refer- through his monthly book club, added Brian, who noted, for the first ter, and joy to the children of Lodge ence to the incessant seasonal rainfall “Books n Bros,” CNN said. time, the children played games like Village, and every years, it gets big- that has drenched Georgetown for the Christina Li (Macomb, Mich.), 19, 1-2-3 Red Light, and competed in a bub- ger,” said Pauline, who, along with her last few weeks. who is helping close the gender gap ble gum and spoon race, that Pauline husband, wore Santa Claus hats and The couple said they look forward to in the tech world. In 2015, Christina Clarke said she invented to showcase matching red outfits to delight the chil- many more years of giving back to the created “Hello World”, a computer the competitive spirit of the kids. dren and their families. village kids. science camp for middle school girls, CNN said. For the past three years, her free week-long camp has intro- duced about 30 girls to web devel- opment, game design, robotics and more. Dominican national charged with identity theft Campbell Remess (Tasmania, Aus- tralia). Remess, 13, spreads kindness By Nelson A. King tion information of Puerto Rico residents was claimed on fraudulent income tax and comfort to hurting kids. Through The United States Department of and, without their knowledge or consent, returns presented to the IRS from 2011 his “Project 365 by Campbell,” he cre- Justice (DOJ) says a Dominican Repub- paid others to prepare and file tax returns to 2015 using the identities of Puerto ates and delivers custom-made teddy lic national who lived in Lawrence, with the IRS in their names. Rican residents whose identities were bears for children battling illnesses Mass., has been sentenced to 11 years These returns listed fake income and on lists obtained from Flete-Garcia and around the world, CNN said. in prison after pleading guilty in the tax withholdings and sought fraudulent presented at trial, the Justice Depart- Ryan Hickman, (San Juan Capist- middle of his trial in connection with refunds, the Justice Department said. ment said. rano, Calif.) Eight-year-old Ryan is stolen identity refund fraud.

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