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PRESORTED APRIL 2007 STANDARD ® U.S. POSTAGE PAID MIAMI, FL PERMIT NO. 7315 Tel: (305) 238-2868 1-800-605-7516 [email protected] [email protected] W e cover your world Vol. 18 No. 5 Jamaica: 654-7282 THE MULTI AWARD-WINNING NEWS MAGAZINE Dr. Denzil Douglas has led the Caribbean community’s call for a “complete and unequivo- cal” apology from leaders of all colonial powers for their role in the “despicable” trans- Atlantic slave trade, page 2.

A strong Caribbean link is at the heart of unfolding aviation his- tory. ~ After a two-year battle with the law, Caribbean- Jamaican- born politician Fitzroy Salesman is free of criminal born Miami charges and ready to resume duties as a Miramar resident Barrington Irving Jr. has taken city commissioner in Florida, page 2. off on a journey to become the youngest pilot ever to fly solo around the world, page 8.

Reggae star Luciano led Caribbean-flavored perform- ances that highlighted the “Jazz in the Gardens” music festival in Miami last month, page 15. CALL CARIBBEAN TODAY DIRECT FROM JAMAICA 654-7782 INSIDE News ...... 2 Viewpoint ...... 11 Arts/Entertainment ...... 15 Region ...... 20 Local ...... 7 Brides and Honeymoons . .12 Business ...... 16 FYI ...... 22 Feature ...... 8 Health ...... 14 Spring Education ...... 17 Sport ...... 23

CALL CARIBBEAN TODAY DIRECT FROM JAMAICA 654-7782

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2 CARIBBEAN TODAY April 2007

www.caribbeantoday.com NEWS Salesman freed of criminal charges, Caribbean demands ‘complete, returns to Miramar City Commission unequivocal’ slave trade apology DAMIAN P. GREGORY police, in April 2005 Salesman of about $60,000, according to refused to stop his silver Florida law. UNITED NATIONS, New United Nations. Mercedes when they attempt- Despite the charges, York - The Caribbean commu- “However, it is important itzroy Salesman does nity (CARICOM) has called that leaders of such nations not think he has Salesman always maintained his innocence, even as the for a “complete and unequivo- offer to the descendants of Fchanged much in the last cal” apology from leaders of all African slaves, who were two years. media splashed his alleged drunken mug shot on the news. colonial powers for their role in brought to the Caribbean and He is still charismatic and the “despicable” trans-Atlantic the Americas, a complete and unafraid to speak his mind - “It was a big sensational story,” he said. “Media trucks slave trade. unequivocal apology,” Douglas all traits that have served him Speaking on behalf of added. well in the six years that have were in my neighborhood talking to my neighbors.” CARICOM, St. Kitts and “It is undisputed that such been hallmarks of his life in Nevis’s Prime Minister Dr. nations were developed on the the public eye. But his Mar. 26 acquittal, he said, has not received nearly Denzil Douglas told the United blood, sweat and tears of our Now the once powerful Nations General Assembly enslaved forefathers; and it is South Florida politician is anx- as much attention. The politi- cian said no television cameras (UNGA) that while it is com- only right, and the decent iously looking forward to mendable that some leaders thing to do, to make amends returning to his post as were there when a jury cleared him of all charges, after delib- have expressed “deep sorrow” and extend their apologies into Miramar city commissioner for the event, it is opportune the realm of atonement for the after being freed of criminal Salesman erating for two hours. “I understand it,” he that others do the same now. legal and economic support for charges. “It is my hope that leaders the atrocities that were the “I knew that it was only a ed to pull him over at 3:45 claimed. a.m. They claimed he was of other nations that supported norm of the slave trade and matter of time,” Salesman and profited from the inhu- slavery. told Caribbean Today shortly going 61 miles per hour in a REFOCUS 35 mile per hour zone at the On Mar. 30, Salesman was mane activity will come for- “Countries that were after his acquittal. ward in like manner,” Douglas engaged in the slave trade and Salesman, 50, was freed time. Salesman allegedly ran a reinstated as city commission- four-way stop sign before er by current Gov. Charlie told the special commemora- slavery have a moral obligation late last month after a three- tive event on the 200th to make right those crimes day trial for driving under the pulling into his driveway and Crist. He said he is now inter- had a blood alcohol level of ested in refocusing his atten- Anniversary of the Trans- against humanity,” Douglas said. influence of alcohol and flee- Atlantic Slave Trade late last ing a police officer, felony .16 or twice the legal limit tion on the issues that he under Florida law. He was believes were the reasons he month. NO CLAIM charges that could have land- The event was organized The St. Kitts and Nevis ed him in jail for years. Yet, he arrested and charged. got re-elected to another four- year term in Mar. 2005, just collaboratively by the CARI- is still puzzled why he landed COM diplomatic corps and the (CONTINUED ON PAGE 4) in hot water in the first place. SUSPENDED months before his suspension. “The whole thing did not In June 2005, then Florida Those issues, which include make sense,” Salesman Governor Jeb Bush suspend- redevelopment of the city, Obama meets Caribbean explained. ed him from his $31,599-a- easing traffic congestion and “You don’t run away from year job on the five-member education, will be among his the police and head to your Miramar City Commission. top priorities when he nationals at Florida stop home.” Now that he has been exoner- According to Miramar ated he is entitled to back pay (CONTINUED ON PAGE 4) CORAL GABLES, Florida - beaming after her young son Barack Obama, the freshman shook the 45-year-old sena- United States senator from tor’s hand. “This is a big deal 100 Haitian refugees sail into South Florida Illinois who rose to national attention after speaking at the sailboat carrying more in the country, Haitians are Meek sent letters addressed to 2004 Democratic convention than 100 Haitians usually sent back. Michael Rozos, field office and one of the leading candi- landed in South Meanwhile, some local director U.S. Immigration and dates for his party’s presiden- A tial nomination, made a stop Florida late last month. activists have asked that the Customs Enforcement (ICE) According to United Hatians not be deported. and Julie L. Myers, assistant here late last month to meet a States officials, many of the “We fear these people will secretary for ICE, asking receptive audience of party Haitians were hungry, tired be deported right away,” “that these Haitian nationals faithful including many and sick when they arrived at Marleine Bastien, executive be detained in South Florida, Caribbean nationals. Hallandale Beach and several The Mar. 25 campaign had to be taken to hospital stop at the posh Biltmore after being at sea for weeks. Hotel was one of several Dehydration had reportedly scheduled for the area in what left a few in critical condition. is expected to be a key battle- The body of on intended ground state in the Nov. 2008 U.S. presidential elections. Obama woos support in South Florida. refugee, who apparently died - Photograph by Peter Webley during the journey, washed Florida was the decisive state ashore. in the 2000 elections and was One newspaper quoted a hotly contested in the last for him (her son).” U.S. Coast Guard officer as presidential race four years Jamaican-born attorney saying it was the largest land- later. Marlon Hill was recognized by ing of Haitians on American “We’re here to change the Obama as he thanked several soil since October 2002, when nature of politics,” the presi- key supporters who helped to more than 200 Haitians made dential hopeful told an enthu- mobilize the standing room it to shore at Key Biscayne, siastic crowd gathered at the only crowd for the 25-minute Florida. event aimed at raising a mini- speech that hit on democratic The boat used by the 101 mum of $250 per person. party themes, including the A man takes a look at the sailboat which brought more than 100 Haitians to Hallandale “I’ve been there long war in Iraq, the need to have Haitians was described by a Beach, Florida. Coast Guard spokeswoman as enough to know Washington better healthcare coverage for “unseaworthy and grossly needs to change.” working Americans and edu- overloaded.” director of Haitian Women of and not sent to other states or cation. Miami, an advocacy group, other regions” of the U.S. SUPPORT Obama is expected to PLEAS was quoted as saying in one “I believe that this is absolute- His message appeared to make several other campaign Up to press time it was newspaper. ly essential to insure the fair have wooed several in the stops in South Florida as the still unclear what the fate of “These Haitians, just like treatment of these detainees”, audience. election nears. the surviving Haitians would the Cubans, should be afford- the letter added. “I’m a registered be. While U.S. law allows ille- ed the right to due process.” Republican, but Obama is my - Damian P. Gregory gal refugee Cubans to remain Congressman Kendrick ® choice,” one lady told Caribbean Today, her face ®

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www.caribbeantoday.com NEWS Groups want illegal immigrants given access to driver’s licenses IN THE NAME OF HAITI NEW YORK, CMC – A coali- he demanded, stating that access changes to their policies so that tion of community groups in to driver’s licenses is a labor and families are no longer suffering New York has called on civil rights issue that would because they cannot obtain dri- Governor Elliott Spitzer and the make all New Yorkers “safer ver’s licenses or state ID (iden- Department of Motor Vehicles and more secure.” tification) cards based on ille- (DMV) to grant “fair access” to gally promulgated rules and driver’s licenses for undocu- OBSTACLE immigration status,” he added. mented immigrants, including Caribbean immigration The state said the new those from the Caribbean. advocates say the state’s denial measure has been instituted as The coalition, which com- of a driver’s license to illegal part of a broader national poli- prises labor, religious and civil immigrants essentially prohibits cy in curbing terrorist attacks. rights leaders, said in a state- them from earning a “decent But Chung-Wha Hong, ment issued last month that and legal living wage.” executive director of the New the state’s current policy dis- They say many of these York Immigration Coalition, criminates against undocu- immigrants must possess a dri- opposed the policy, stating that mented Caribbean immigrants ver’s license to perform jobs, restricting access to licenses, because of their status. which, among other things, based on one’s immigration “Equal access to a driver’s entail trucking and landscaping. status, does not bolster nation- license, regardless of immigra- “The civil rights of tens of al security. tion status, is essential to the thousands of New York resi- “We are more secure when United States Congressman Kendrick B. Meek (D-Florida) recently met with security and well-being of the dents have been and continue more people are registered with Grammy Award winning entertainer Wyclef Jean in his office on Capitol Hill in working people of New York to be violated each day,” said state authorities and accounted Washington, D.C. Rep. Meek represents parts of Miami-Dade and Broward coun- State,” said Denis Hughes, Cesar Perales, president and for in public records,” she said. ties, including “Little Haiti”, and has sponsored legislation in Congress providing president of the broad-based General Counsel of the Puerto “Keep in mind, people who preferential trade status to Haiti. Named a “roving ambassador” by Haitian American Federation of Rico Legal Defense and apply for a license are subject- President Rene Preval, Haitian-born musician Wyclef Jean established Yéle Haiti, a Labor–Congress of Education Fund, Inc. ing themselves to scrutiny.” nonprofit charitable foundation to benefit his homeland. Jean recently testified on International Organizations “The new DMV commis- Capitol Hill before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on Haiti’s economic and (AFL-CIO). sioner and the Spitzer adminis- ® development needs. “We need such access now,” tration must make timely Voters deny Caribbean-born candidate city commission seat Caribbean-born George winner was Yvonne Garth, 37 was elected a commissioner in his seat. However, in 2003 the Miramar was one of two Pedlar lost his bid to regain a and the youngest candidate in 2003, the same year current Miramar City Commission Broward County, Florida cities seat on the Miramar, Florida the field of four, with 879 or commissioner Winston Barnes, became the first publicly elect- monitored by the U.S. Justice City Commission last month 45.12 percent of the votes also from Jamaica won a seat. ed political body in the United Department to make sure they after he finished third in the polled at 32 precincts. At that time, Fitzroy States to hold a Caribbean- complied with the Voting race for Seat #4. Alex Casas, 58, polled 379 Salesman, also Jamaican-born, born majority membership. Rights Act. The law forbids Pedlar, 63, who is original- votes, one ahead of Pedlar, had been a member of the Last month Salesman was discrimination based on race, ly from Jamaica, received 378 who was once part of a historic five-member commission. reinstated on the commission. disability or language. votes, according to the unoffi- Caribbean majority on the In June 2005 legal issues Last month, the four con- cial voting count. The clear Miramar City Council. Pedlar forced Salesman to relinquish tested a seat vacated by ® Marjorie Conlan, who retired Salesman freed of criminal charges, returns to Miramar City Commission after serving for 13 years. (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2) “It will be a matter of majority in United States poli- Caribbean demands ‘complete, unequivocal’ slave trade apology replaces John Moore, who digesting a lot of information tics by Jamaican-born elected was elected in a special elec- quickly, in order to get fully officials. (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2) Douglas urged leaders not tion following Salesman’s up to speed,” he added. That majority broke up in to forget those events and per- He also insisted he is not 2005, following Pedlar’s elec- leader said no country that was removal from the dais. The engaged in the slave trade and sons who fought “valiantly” for Caribbean American insisted bitter following his two-year tion loss. Subsequent bids— the abolition of the trans- legal ordeal. most recently last month—by slavery could justifiably claim he had kept abreast with support for human rights with- Atlantic slave trade, identify- Miramar’s business during his “I don’t have any beef Pedlar to regain a seat on the ing, among others, the Haitian here,” Salesman said. “It is commission, which governs out first offering an official suspension. apology and atonement in the Revolution, “countless”” slav- “I was always involved not about me, it is about the the city between Miami and ery revolts, and abolitionist people and I don’t take that Fort Lauderdale, have been form of reparation. and I would help residents “It is only under such cir- William Wilberforce. who would come to me and responsibility lightly.” unsuccessful. Estimates are First elected to office in that about 400,000 Jamaicans cumstances that the descen- ask, wherever I can,” dants of slaves can truly for- MEMORIAL Salesman said. “So I was 2001, Salesman was joined by live in South Florida, many of He said CARICOM is two other Jamaican nationals, whom live in Miramar. give and move forward in the never really out of the groove, world,” he said, pointing out committed to ensuring that a but because I wasn’t a part of businessman George Pedlar Salesman’s reinstatement permanent memorial, in hon- and radio personality Winston to the commission came after that from a Caribbean perspec- the commission there are cer- tive, these two matters would our of those who perished tain executive things that I Barnes in 2003. For a while Crist’s General Counsel’s under slavery, is prominently the three held the largest Office reviewed the paper- remain “crucial to us for the was not privy to. indignity, suffering and the placed in the halls of the haunting legacies we live with United Nations, “as an as a result of the slave trade acknowledgement of the work making sure that the charges were the Whether you supported me, yes or no, I will tragedy and in consideration of sole basis for the suspension, the governor’s work for you.” and slavery.” Douglas said the region the legacy of slavery.” Douglas spokeswoman Kathy Torian told Caribbean When asked whether he plans to go after said that CARICOM had Today from Tallahassee, the state capital. the City of Miramar for the over $42,000 he remains very cognizant of numerous stereotypes, miscon- established a fund towards this Meanwhile, the popular commissioner is paid in legal bills for his defense, Salesman project and is “deeply grate- grateful for the support he received from the told Caribbean Today: “Of course, it was their ceptions and prejudices that were legacies of the trans- ful” to the government of community and vows to continue working police department that charged and arrested Qatar, that had been the first hard for the underdogs of his city. me.” Atlantic slave trade. “As we commemorate this to make a contribution. “I cannot find words to express how sup- “It is CARICOM’s belief portive people have been,” a happy Salesman Damian P. Gregory is a freelance writer for 200th anniversary…, we must remain steadfast in our efforts that a permanent memorial in said. “I want the residents to know that noth- Caribbean Today. the United Nations will help to ing has changed about Fitzroy Salesman. to fully eradicate the scourges that continue to plague our ensure that future generations Duane Crooks world. will always be remindful of the “I speak of the scourges of history of slavery and lessons human rights violations, or learned,” Douglas said. racism, of human trafficking, and of underdevelopment,” he - CMC said. ®

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NEWS www.caribbeantoday.com N.Y. mayor grants Haitian legislator’s request for special City Council election NEW YORK, CMC - New York DEFIANT terse statement that she sup- Eugene said the “vague and being sworn-in after the first City Mayor Michael Bloomberg A defiant Eugene said he will ported Eugene’s decision to call unclear” law and “unfair treat- poll. last month granted a Haitian contest the new poll this month, another special election. ment” prevented him from legislator’s request for a second confident that “Dr. Eugene won the elec- ® special election after the City he will again tion by an overwhelming major- Council refused to officially emerge tri- ity, as the certification of his swear him amid growing con- umphant. election clearly demonstrates,” CWC murder investigation cerns about his residency. “I am con- she said. Bloomberg called the new vinced that we Eugene said he had signed widens beyond Jamaica poll for April 24, two months will prevail a lease for an apartment in the after voters in again,” he said district on Feb. 1 and had n-the-field action dead at the University the predomi- in announcing moved there before the poll. might have shifted Hospital of the West Indies in nantly his candidacy Quinn He, however, reportedly failed Ofrom Jamaica late last Jamaica, after he was rushed Caribbean 40th in the new to produce copies of his lease month, but there from the hotel. He was Councilmanic election. and other documents when investigations discovered lying in an uncon- District in Eugene had sought to asked by City Council investiga- into the death scious state in his 12th floor Brooklyn over- replace Yvette D. Clarke, the tors. He also of the room at the hotel, shortly whelmingly daughter of Jamaican immi- declined to Pakistan before noon. elected Dr. grants, who was elected to the sign a Quinn- coach Bob Shields said that members Mathieu United States House of mandated affi- Woolmer of the West Indies and Irish Eugene Eugene to the Representatives in last davit about could also fol- teams and officials who stayed City Council. November’s general elections. residency low some of at the hotel could also be Eugene created history, in Clarke and her mother, Una requirements. questioned as part of the the players, Shields the first special election on Feb. Clarke, who had preceded her Quinn had officials and investigations. 20, by becoming the first-ever daughter as the City Council asked fans to other “Everybody that was in Haitian to be elected to political representative for the same dis- Attorney Bloomberg territories participating in the the hotel will be DNA tested; office in New York City. But his trict, had endorsed Eugene in General International Cricket Council not just team celebration was short-lived, as the special election. Andrew (ICC) Cricket World Cup members; the questions arose about his resi- Christine C. Quinn, the Cuomo to interpret the residen- 2007 as well. focus will be dency at the time of the poll, City Council speaker, said she cy law on special elections, Deputy Police on everybody forcing the City Council to did not swear Eugene in which many political observers Commissioner Mark Shields who was in block the official swearing-in because he failed to cooperate said was too vague. Cuomo told a news conference in the hotel, and ceremony. with city investigators about his responded that candidates must Jamaica that some of his inves- so we are urg- Eugene then wrote the residency. Eugene had listed the live in the district at the time tigators may be traveling to ing everybody mayor requesting a new poll after Brooklyn district of Canarsie, a voters go to the polls. the other territories to inter- who was in the Board of Elections last month few miles from the 40th Election officials estimate it the hotel to view anyone who was staying Woolmer certified that he was the duly Councilmanic District, as his would cost the city another at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, come forward elected winner by a wide margin. address with Board of Elections. $340,000 for the rescheduled the day Woolmer was killed. between those Quinn, however, said in a poll. Woolmer was murdered material times,” he said. by strangulation on Mar. 18, There are also reports one day after the Pakistanis that Scotland Yard police lost, unexpectedly, to Ireland have been called in to assist African diaspora wants ‘recognition, status’ and were eliminated from the with the investigations. World Cup. UNITED NATIONS, New tenant the currents wherever they may The coach was declared ® York, CMC - Former Vice African dias- take one.” Chancellor of the University of pora is itself Nettleford said the abolition the West Indies (UWI) an impera- of the slave trade could not help ‘Sorry’ ex-Bahamian banker Professor Rex Nettleford has tive,” he said, but facilitate the “re-humaniza- called for “recognition and sta- adding, tion of the offspring” of millions tus” for the African diaspora “hence the who were “involuntarily and jailed for four years in N.Y. within globalization, saying it need to inhumanely lured/dragged from NEW YORK, CMC – A fed- In addition to serving four threatens to be a “calculus of incorporate West Africa and the Congo eral judge in New York has years in prison, Tremblay will, inequality” for the “ex-slave, designs for across the Middle Passage. sentenced a former invest- however, pay $12,500 in fines post-colonial Caribbean.” social living “The idea of the Caribbean ment banker in The Bahamas and forfeit $200,000. Delivering the keynote and a posi- person being part-African, part- Nettleford to four years in prison for As part of an undercover address at United Nations activi- tive sense of European, part-Asian, part- money laundering. sting operation, defense ties commemorating the 200th self into Native American but totally United States District lawyers charged in court docu- Anniversary of the Trans-Atlantic mainstream development strate- Caribbean is still a mystery to Judge John Keenan last month ments that the U.S. govern- Slave Trade last month, gies of a newly-globalized world.” many in the North Atlantic who imposed the term on Martin ment, in early 2005, enticed Nettleford said such “dignity and has been spoiled by the very Tremblay, 44, former president Tremblay to New York, where freedom in praxis must continue MAINSTREAM hegemonic control it has had of Dominion Investments Ltd., he met with an undercover to be on the agenda of concerns INCLUSION over empires and far-away real and positive action for the African Nettleford said the aim of estate for half a millennium, and in Nassau, Bahamas. agent posing as a Russian diaspora in the new millennium. the diaspora Africa must be with the indulgences of a trade Canadian-born Tremblay, businessman. The defense said “Crossing the boundary of geared towards helping to deter- in slaves, slavery and colonial- who was convicted for launder- Tremblay unwillingly con- thought to programs of action mine the mainstream “and not ism acting in tandem,” he said. ing about $20,000 in drug pro- curred to launder $20,000 that will benefit the millions that merely to float along with the ceeds, had already served 14 after waiting for six months. ® months in prison for the charge. He was initially charged with PLEA laundering millions of dollars Defense attorney Martin Jamaican businessmen extradited to U.S. from drug traffickers. Auerbach told the court that Tremblay was not motivated KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – him from getting a fair trial. dimension that it will affect GUILTY by avarice, stating that he only The Court of Appeal last But the court, comprising the trial process. Prosecutors had also pocketed $500 from the sting month ruled against Jamaican Justice Paul Harrison, presi- In June 2004 the two men charged that over $1 billion in operation. businessmen Leebert dent of the Court of Appeal, were ordered extradited to the the illegal gains had passed “I don’t see the behavior Ramcharan and Donovan Justice Howard Cooke and U.S. to face conspiracy through Tremblay’s Bahamian of someone who was motivat- Williams. The two were then Justice Hazel Harris, unani- charges. The men had account. Last November, he ed by insatiable greed,” he extradited to the United mously held that the designa- appealed against a Supreme pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. said. States to face drug charges. tion would not prevent Court ruling in Sept. 2006, Keenan said he did not Tremblay expressed con- Ramcharan, who has been Ramcharan from getting a fair which turned down their want to sentence Tremblay to trition at his sentencing. designated a drug kingpin by trial in the U.S. The court said application to have the extra- 70 months in prison because the “I’m sorry,” he said. “I U.S. President George W. the kingpin designation, dition orders set aside. penalty, as recommended by apologize to my family and to Bush, had contended that such though unflattering, has not ® federal sentencing guidelines, the court.” a designation would prevent been shown to be of such a was “too large in this case.” ®

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www.caribbeantoday.com NEWS Consulate honors 18 Jamaicans in South Florida DAMIAN P. GREGORY radio airways in 1981 at Florida who is the WDNA-FM. He is currently pastor of MIAMI - Eighteen members at MYSTIK 1400 AM. Restoration of the South Florida’s Winsome “Lady C” Ministries. Jamaican diaspora, including Charlton, a veteran broadcast- Elizabeth the publisher of Caribbean er who pioneered the 24-hour Grier, the longest Today, were honored late last Caribbean radio format in the serving staff mem- month at the Consulate United States. Charlton is still ber at the General of Jamaica a producer at WAVS 1170 Consulate General Community Service Awards AM and produces the annual of Jamaica in Ceremony and High Tea at ReggaeSoca Music Awards. Miami. She joined the ritzy Coral Gables June Chin, one of five to the office in 1987. Biltmore Hotel here. host the first Jamaica Dale Holness, The Mar. 25 ceremony Independence Ball in South the current vice featured remarks by Jamaica’s Florida. Chin is the founder of mayor of the City of Governor General Professor both the Florida Chapter of Lauderhill, Florida. Kenneth O. Hall, who encour- Missionaries for the Poor and Holness established aged the crowd of mainly Florida Organization of a sister city partner- Jamaicans living in Florida to Jamaicans. ship between support their homeland. The Lloyd Daley, founding Lauderhill and ceremony honored Jamaican member Members Only Social Falmouth, Jamaica nationals who have made and Club of Miami and Jamaica last year. are continuing to make contri- United Relief Association. Laurice butions to lives of people. Norma Darby, for her Hunter-Scott, chair- contribution to and dissemina- person of the HONOREES tion of Jamaican music, histo- Coordinating Those honored were: ry, folklore, and dance in Council of the Norma Bancroft, for her South Florida. She has been Kingston-Miami Caribbean Today’s publisher Peter Webley, displays his community service award while flanked by work as one of five people the leader of the Jamaica Folk Sister Cities pro- Jamaica’s Governor General Kenneth O. Hall, left, and Jamaica’s Consul General in Miami Ricardo who hosted the first Jamaica Review for almost three gram since 1989. Independence Ball in South decades. The program has for more than three and a half Egeta Thompson-Martin, Florida. Bancroft, is the Carson “Eddy” Edwards, contributed to the establish- decades. played an active part of both founder and president of the producer of the longest running ment of trade, education, dis- Claudette Parkin, one of the Clint O’Neil Needy Kids Florida Organization of Caribbean radio program in aster preparedness and cultur- the five members of the first of Jamaica Foundation and Jamaicans, a charity for the South Florida. Edwards is also al exchange between Jamaica Jamaica Independence Ball in the Caribbean Music Festival. poor and imprisoned in director of the Jamaica and the U.S. South Florida. Parkin was the Thompson-Martin has also Jamaica and disadvantaged ex- Awareness Inc., which has Rev. Noel Hyatt, pastor of founding member of the been the host of the Grand patriots from South Florida. brought entertainment to South the Gateway Church in Fort Jamaica Nurses Association of Jamaica Independence Ball Ron Burke, a veteran Floridians for over 20 years. Lauderdale. The church has South Florida and the Convent for almost 21 years. broadcaster and producer in Rev. Dr. Dennis Grant, a had South Florida’s predomi- of Mercy Alpha Alumae chap- Peter Webley, publisher of South Florida, who first hit human rights activist in South nant Jamaican congregation ter in South Florida. Caribbean Today, which has Sydney Roberts, president been in continuous circulation of Jamaica Awareness, Inc. since Dec. 1989. The paper Roberts was also one of the has a monthly circulation of five who brought the first 40,000 in the United States Jamaica Independence Ball to and in the Caribbean. South Florida. Phillip Wong, South Joan Seaga-Gonzales, the Florida businessman who founder of the Jamaica United serves on the board of the St. Relief Association, an organi- George’s College Old Boys zation which supports health- Association. care management and delivery to the neediest persons in both Story and photograph by South Florida and Jamaica. Damian P. Gregory, a free- Seaga-Gonzales was also one lance writer for Caribbean of five who brought the first Today. Jamaica Independence Ball to South Florida. ®

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LOCAL www.caribbeantoday.com Checking fiancée’s application; Six women get Caribbean Citizens Awards ix Caribbean women commentator and lecturer in were honored for their sports, politics and the media traveling without a ‘green card’ Scontributions to the at the University of the West region during Women’s Indies; History Month in March. • St. Lucian Nadine George, a Question: How would I know if A: The U. S. Citizenship and downloaded directly at Jacqui Quinn-Leandro, top order batswoman who in my fiancée petition was Immigration Service says indi- http://www.uscis.gov/graph- newly elected president of the Mar. 2004 became the first approved? It was filed by my viduals with an application for ics/formsfee/forms/i-131.htm Inter-American Commission West Indies woman cricketer boyfriend in California last adjustment of status to that of Note, however, that under on Women (CIM) of the to score 100 runs in a Test April 2006? lawful permanent resident or the Illegal Immigration Reform Organization of the American match. For her efforts, Nadine those who have been granted and Immigrant States (OAS), made the George was awarded the pres- Answer: A fiancée petition usu- Temporary Protected Responsibility announcement last month. tigious MBE medal by ally takes approximately eight Status or have Act of 1996, Outstanding Caribbean Britain’s Prince Charles. months before the United an application migrants who Citizens Awards went to • St. Lucian Verena Felicien, a States government approves it, for an applica- depart the U.S. women who have been high- cricketer who played for the say attorneys Kirk Palma and tion for relief after being lighted for international West Indies team; Courtney Smith of the Law under section unlawfully acclaim. They are: • St. Kitts and Nevis educator Office of Palma & Smith. 203 of the present in the and painter Joan Mallalieu, for Once the petition has been Nicaraguan U.S. for cer- • Gloria Ballantyne, St. her contribution to fine arts; approved, the government will Adjustment and tain periods Vincent and the Grenadines’ and notify the U.S. citizen’s fiancée, Central can be barred from admission first lady of sports and leading • Trinidad and Tobago’s by sending out an approval American Relief to lawful permanent resident netball administrator; Giselle La Ronde, who in 1986 notice to the address given on Act (NACARA 203), or an status, even if they have • Jamaican Dr. Christine became the twin island repub- the petition, added the attor- asylum application, must obtain obtained advance parole. Cummings, a renowned crick- lic’s first ever Miss World. neys. The government will then permission to travel or advance Those migrants who have been et fan, sports columnist and forward the file to the U.S. parole by filing Form I-131, unlawfully present in the U.S. ® embassy that controls the juris- Application for Travel for more than 180 days, but less diction where the beneficiary Document with the agency than one year are inadmissible resides; thereupon the U.S. before traveling abroad. for three years, while those embassy in that jurisdiction will Advance parole is permis- who have been unlawfully pres- contact you, Palma and Smith sion to re-enter the U.S. after ent for a year or more are inad- said. traveling abroad in order to missible for 10 years. Migrants, If neither of you have continue processing for adjust- who are unlawfully present, received any communication ment of status. Individuals depart the U.S. and subse- you can contact the National must be approved for advance quently reenter under a grant Visa Center and refer to any parole before leaving the U.S. of parole, may nevertheless be communications you have USCIS officials warn that trav- ineligible to adjust their status. received so far, i.e. the receipt el outside of the U.S. without notice forwarded to your U.S. advance parole has severe con- Compiled By Felicia Persaud. citizen fiancée when he filed sequences and individuals who This is a column created espe- the petition added the attor- violate this law may be unable cially for immigrants con- neys. to return to the U.S. and their cerned or unsure of issues per- If advice is needed, you applications may be denied. taining to the U.S. immigration may contact your attorney or Applicants can apply for law. If you have an immigra- the District Office near your advance parole at local USCIS tion question, then log on to home for a list of community- service centers. Note, process- www.immigrationkorner.com based, non-profit organizations ing time for centers ranges and submit your question. that may be able to assist you from 90 to 150 days, so appli- Personal answers will not be in applying for an immigration cants needing to travel abroad provided. The answers provided benefit. should plan ahead due to the here are for information pur- busy summer travel season. poses only, and do not create Q: I am currently awaiting my You must file USCIS Form attorney-client relationship, Permanent Resident Card or I-131, Application for Travel nor is it a substitute for legal “green card” through an Document, complete with sup- advice, which can only be given adjustment of status petition, porting documentation, photo- by a competent attorney after but wish to travel home soon to graphs and applicable fees to reviewing all the facts of the visit an ailing relative? Is this the center in their neighbor- case. possible and how can I obtain hood along with a check made permission? payable to the USCIS for ® $170. This form can be

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www.caribbeantoday.com FEATURE Jamaican takes off on historic solo flight around the world GORDON WILLIAMS description,” said Jamaica’s Consul General in Miami MIAMI - A strong Caribbean Ricardo Allicock, who claimed link is at the heart of unfolding his government donated aviation history. And inspira- $10,000 to Irving’s efforts. tion is the vehicle called on to “(What Irving) is doing is still help it take off. almost unimaginable. It is a Barrington Irving Jr., who glorious, glorious achievement has lived in Miami Gardens for black America, Jamaica since he migrated from his and mankind.” birthplace Jamaica as a six- Irving appeared to under- year-old, took off from South stand the implication as well. Florida’s Opa-Locka Airport “Give me a quick minute to last month on a flight around just soak this in,” he said as he the world that, when complet- surveyed the large audience ed – predictably sometime in before take-off. “This is truly early May – will make the 23- amazing for me. year-old the youngest pilot “This moment,” he added ever to do it solo. later, “I could not picture it At approximately 11:30 any other way.” a.m. Mar. 23, Irving pulled shut the door of his Colombia 400 Photographs and story by plane, which he named Gordon Williams, Caribbean “Inspiration”, and propelled Today’s managing editor. into the bright blue sky on a journey that he dreamt about ® Last minute checks are made to “Inspiration”, the plane that is expected to take Barrington Irving Jr. around the world. years ago and is now using to promote aviation as a career, DUE CREDIT especially among children, Leading up to the historic after himself being encouraged morning, Irving had always Street Address: as a teen to find his wings by credited his Caribbean back- 9020 SW 152nd Street, Miami, FL 33157 another Jamaican, commercial ground and family influence. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 6010 pilot Gary Robinson. “Mom, dad, we made it,” he Miami, FL 33116-6010. told last month’s audience to Telephone: (305) 238-2868 MARK loud applause. (305) 253-6029 • Fax: (305) 252-7843 1-800-605-7516 • Jamaica: 654-7282 For the hundreds of chil- Irving again pointed to his dren who showed up at the air- E-mail: [email protected] roots as the source of his inspi- Send ads to: [email protected] port to witness Irving’s take-off ration, but his aim targeted a on the “Experience Aviation future in which he visions Vol. 18, Number 5 • APRIL 2007 World Tour”, which was pre- more underprivileged children ceded by an aviation career following his lead by pursuing PETER A WEBLEY fair and an elaborate ceremony worthwhile careers. Publisher to mark the occasion attended “I didn’t start off rich, I by his parents Barrington Sr. didn’t have much,” he told the GORDON WILLIAMS Managing Editor and Clovalyn, aviation experts, youngsters in the audience. “I government officials and a host started off with nothing, of well-wishers, the young pilot SABRINA FENNELL absolutely nothing Barrington Irving Jr. makes his way from the stage following the function to mark his Graphic Artist has already made his mark. You too can live your dream.” historic flight. Immediately behind him are his parents, mother Clovalyn, followed by “It (Irving’s feat) moti- After hearing a tribute father Barrington Sr. In front of Irving Jr. is Gary Robinson, the Jamaican commercial vates me to pursue the goal,” from his father, an emotional pilot who he said inspired him to pursue aviation. DOROTHY CHIN Account Executive said Chris Leslie, a Jamaican- Irving Jr. rubbed away tears. born teenager with interest in Irving Sr., who himself once Aeronautics and Space gled to meet his fundraising SUNDAY SELLERS aviation and, who, along with harbored dreams of flying air- Administration (NASA). Then target of close to $1 million Account Executive his parents attended the func- planes, but shelved those to it was on to New York before last year, which led to a post- tion. tend to his family as a new departing the U.S. for Canada. ponement of the tour. Then “I can’t fly planes,” His average time on flight legs predicted weather conditions JULISSA RAMOS immigrant arriving in the Accounting Manager explained 10-year-old, Rolik United States, deflected much is being projected at six to during winter shelved the trip Beauburn, “but I think I can eight hours, with longest – until last month. Caribbean Media Source of the credit for his son’s Media Representatives learn.” accomplishment. from northern Japan to Irving has been labeled a TOM JONAS Yet the youngsters were “I think I’m just blessed to Sheyma, Alaska along the “hero” and “a symbol” for his 353 St. Nicolas Street, Suite 200 not the only ones inspired by be the vessel chosen to carry a Aleutian Islands – running 10 efforts. During the ceremony Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Y 2P1 Irving’s planned trip, which to 12 hours. Power settings, tributes poured in from civic Tel: (514) 931-0422 • Fax: (514) 931-0455 child of destiny,” he said short- E-mail: [email protected] will take him more than 40 ly after “Inspiration” disap- weather conditions and fuel and political leaders, including days to complete, crossing con- peared into the distant skies. capacity will determine the a message relayed from Jamaica Bureau tinents and oceans on a jour- Meanwhile, the pilot’s range of each leg. Jamaica’s Prime Minister MARIE GREGORY ney that can be tracked via mother downplayed sugges- Portia Simpson Miller, who (876) 925-5640 computer. Adults too MINOR MIRACLE said “we in Jamaica will be P.O. Box 127, Constant Spring tions that she was overly nerv- Kingston 8, Jamaica embraced him, some openly ous about her son’s solo trip. That the world tour even closely following your emotional and filled with took off has been described as progress.” Opinions expressed by editors and She plans to stay in close con- writers are not necessarily those of the pride. tact with Irving Jr. throughout. a minor miracle. Irving strug- “It’s incredible, almost beyond publisher. “He’s like a fruit from a “As a mother you have tree with strong roots,” was Caribbean Today, an independent that feeling, just thinking CORRECTIONS/APOLOGIES news magazine, is published every month how Jamaican-born Miami res- about him flying around the Technical difficulties resulted in omitted from the display of flags by Caribbean Publishing Services, Inc. ident Michelle Hylton world by himself,” said Subscription rates are: US$20 per year described her admiration for Clovalyn Irving. “(But) I told errors appearing in Caribbean on the cover. (Bulk); 1st Class $35 per year. Irving as she held a large him that everywhere he goes Today’s March 2007 issue. Among • No page 16 appeared in the Caribbean Today is not responsible Jamaican flag above her head. them: publication. Instead a duplicate of for unsolicited manuscripts or photos. To he should get in touch with me guarantee return, please include a self- “(Irving’s accomplishment) as soon as he lands.” page 18 appeared in that spot. • The wrong photograph was used addressed stamped envelope. shows the value coming out of Irving’s first stop after Articles appearing in Caribbean our island. We’ve always been leaving Miami was expected to to identify flag of St. Kitts and We sincerely wish to apologize for Today may not be reproduced without leaders and we set good exam- be Cleveland, Ohio, to meet Nevis on the cover. these errors and we are working to written permission of the editor. ples.” with officials from the National • The name for the flag of St. correct them. Vincent and the Grenadines was

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NEWS www.caribbeantoday.com U.S. blasts prison conditions in the Caribbean NELSON A. KING authorities sometimes held ous problem”. cers human rights training, ings are “antiquated and over- persons on remand together It said the prison holds 301 and the senior level manage- crowded”, with Her Majesty’s WASHINGTON – The with convicted prisoners”, it prisoners in a facility designed ment of the Prison Service Prison in Kingstown, the capi- United States Department of added. for fewer than 200 inmates. made serious efforts to com- tal, holding 377 inmates in a State has painted a dismal pic- The report said that in “Juvenile detainees were held bat cruel, inhuman, or degrad- building originally designed ture of prisons in the Barbados, where “the govern- with adults, and pretrial ing treatment in the prisons”, for 75. Caribbean community ment generally respected the detainees were held with con- it said. After renovations, the prison (CARICOM), describing con- human rights of its citizens”, victed prisoners, due to a lack “The GHRA did not consider was intended to hold about ditions as very unsatisfactory. prison conditions remained of separate facilities”, the mistreatment of prisoners a 150 inmates. In its “Country Reports “very poor”. report stated. problem in the prison sys- “These conditions result- on Human Rights Practices It said prisoners continue The State Department tem”, it added. ed in serious health and safety 2006”, the U.S. pointed to to be held in the temporary said prison conditions in In Haiti, the State problems”, the report said, what it described as grave prison facility, con- Department said pointing out that despite human rights violations. The structed at Harrison the prisons remain prison reforms, problems still comprehensive, scathing Point, after the Mar. “overcrowded, exist, such as “endemic vio- report, released here last 2005 riots destroyed poorly main- lence, understaffing, under- month, said prison conditions Glendairy Prison. A tained, and unsan- paid guards, uncontrolled throughout the region are new permanent itary”. weapons and drugs, an generally “poor”. prison, designed to It said prisoners increase in the incidence of “Overcrowding was a meet modern inter- and detainees HIV/AIDS, and unhygienic major problem”, it stated national standards, is continue to suffer conditions”. about the Bahamian prison under construction, from a lack of The report said in system, pointing out that the with completion slat- basic hygiene, Suriname, most facilities, par- men’s maximum-security ed for Aug. 2007. malnutrition, poor ticularly older jails, remain block, originally built in 1953 The State quality health “unsanitary and seriously to hold 450 inmates, held Department alluded care, and the pres- overcrowded, with as many as more than 725 of the approxi- to media reports in ence of rodents, four times the number of mately 1,500 total inmate pop- attributing the the report said. detainees for which jail capac- ulation in 2006. motive behind the ity was intended”. “Male prisoners placed in Glendairy Prison fire “Furthermore, the maximum-security unit to “widespread inci- most prisons VIOLENCE were crowded into poorly ven- dents of rape within the Grenada generally meet inter- lacked adequate food and san- It said violence among tilated cells that generally prison”, alleging that rape is national standards, with the itation and periodically suf- prisoners is common, and pris- lacked regular running water, also “prevalent” at Harrison exception of overcrowding. fered from lack of water, espe- oners continue to complain of toilets, and laundry facilities”, Point. “Overcrowding was a sig- cially in the provinces”, it mistreatment by guards. the report added, stating that It referred to an account nificant problem as 334 pris- added, noting that the inci- “Human rights monitors most prisoners lack beds, slept by a released British citizen, oners were housed in space dence of preventable diseases, expressed concern about con- on concrete floors, and were who was incarcerated at designed for 98 persons”, the such as beriberi, AIDS, and ditions in pretrial detention locked in small cells 23 hours Glendairy at the time of the report stated. tuberculosis decreased during facilities, which remained per day, “often with human riot, highlighting prison condi- “There was no separate 2006 but remain “a serious overcrowded”, the report said. waste”. tions at both facilities. facility for juveniles, so they issue”. The State Department said The report said prison “His account alleged were mixed in with the gener- The report said prison conditions at the eight prison conditions in Jamaica are sim- unchecked gang violence, al prison population”, it said. and detention centers in St. facilities in Trinidad and ilarly poor, primarily due to indifference of guards to med- In Guyana, the report Kitts and Nevis are over- Tobago have been “somewhat overcrowding and poor sani- ical needs, cramped quarters, said prison and jail conditions crowded, and resources are upgraded but continued to be tary conditions. It said the and unsanitary conditions”, are poor, “particularly in limited. harsh”. It said the recently Department of Correctional the report stated. police holding cells”. In quot- It said the prison on St. built maximum-security prison Services adopted measures The State Department ing the Guyana Human Rights Kitts, which has a capacity for in Arouca has helped in during the year to improve said prison conditions in Association (GHRA), the 150 prisoners, held 204 prison- relieving overcrowding at the catering services, and also Belize are “poor” and have State Department said: “while ers at year’s end. The report Port of Spain prison. entered into a new contract failed to meet international the Prison Authority was com- stated that some prisoners The report said staff short- for insect and rodent control standards. mitted to creating a humane slept on mats on the floor. ages compelled the prison serv- for all facilities. It added that “During the year, there were and professional prison serv- In St. Lucia, the report ice to limit the “airing” time medical care is also poor, pri- reports that prison authorities ice, capacity and resource con- said prison conditions general- provided to prison inmates, marily because of few doctors brutalized troublesome pris- straints were a problem”. ly meet minimum internation- serving as the basis of a com- on staff. oners, including placing “Overcrowding was, in al standards at the three-year- plaint filed against the prison inmates in a small, unlit, and large, part due to backlogs of old Bordelais Correctional service by death row inmate UNFAIR DETENTION unventilated punishment cell pretrial detainees”, it added. Facility, which has a capacity Alladin Mohammed, which The report said though called ‘supermax’”, it said. The report said the prison sys- of 500 prisoners, holding was still pending at year’s end. the law requires police to “Inmates claimed that prison tem also faces staffing con- approximately that number. present a detainee in court officials sometimes withheld straints and lack of resources. But in neighboring St. Vincent - CMC within a reasonable time peri- food and water as further pun- “However, attempts were and the Grenadines, the State od (but) in practice, authori- ishment, conducted strip made to give all prison offi- Department said prison build- ® ties continue to detain sus- searches and beatings, and pects for lengthy periods, extorted money for transfers often up to two or three years, to better conditions”, the which the government attrib- report stated. uted to an “overburdened court system”. EXCESSIVE PUNISH- In Antigua and Barbuda, MENT the report said prison condi- It said an ombudsman’s tions are also poor, pointing investigation determined that out that the country’s only “punishment was excessive” prison holds 193 inmates with and the officers involved inadequate toilet facilities. should be punished; however, “Prison overcrowding was no further action was taken. attributed in part to a law that The State Department limited the ability of magis- said Dominica’s lone prison, trates to grant bail to those Stock Farm, is in a state of accused of certain offenses”, “disrepair”, adding that “con- the report stated. ditions remained unsanitary “Due to space limitations, and overcrowding was a seri-

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www.caribbeantoday.com FEATURE Drug trafficking poses major problems for Caribbean ~ U.S.

NELSON A. KING Sport fishing vessels and “insignificant”. “Jamaica’s difficult to patrol pleasure crafts then transport UNLUCKY SEVEN “The Government of coastline, over 100 unmoni- WASHINGTON – Illicit drug the cocaine from The The State Department said Guyana’s inability to control tored airstrips, busy commer- trafficking continues to pose Bahamas to Florida, blending the seven Eastern Caribbean its borders, a lack of law cial and cruise ports, and con- major problems in the into the legitimate vessel traf- countries – Antigua and enforcement presence, and a venient air connections make Caribbean, according to the fic that moves daily between it a major transit country for United States Department of these locations. cocaine”, the State State. Larger go-fast and sport Department said, noting, at In its 2007 International fishing vessels regularly trans- the same time, that the coun- Narcotics Control Strategy port between 1,000 to 3,000 try remains the Caribbean’s Report, released last month, pounds of marijuana ship- largest producer and exporter the U.S. State Department ments from Jamaica to The of marijuana. identified a number of Bahamas, which are moved to The report added that Caribbean countries, including Florida in the same manner as Suriname - a transit point for The Bahamas, Jamaica, cocaine. South American cocaine en Guyana, Haiti, Suriname and “The Bahamas will likely route to Europe and, to a less- the Eastern Caribbean, as continue to be a preferred er extent, the U.S. – is unable major transit points for route for drug transshipment to control its borders. cocaine and/or marijuana and other criminal activity bound for the U.S. because if its location and the LACKING RESOURCES The report stated that expanse of its territorial area”, It added that Suriname is cocaine flow originates in the State Department said, also hampered by inadequate South America and arrives in urging the Bahamian govern- resources, limited training for The Bahamas by go-fast ment to continue its “strong law enforcement agents, lack boats, small commercial commitment to joint counter- Drugs and money seized by U.S. law enforcement officers. of a law enforcement presence freighters, or small aircraft narcotics efforts and its co- in the interior, and lack of air- from Jamaica, Hispaniola operative efforts to extradite craft or patrol boats. (Haiti and the Dominican drug traffickers to the U.S.”, Barbuda, Barbados, lack of aircraft or patrol boats “The GOS (Government Republic) and Venezuela. the report said. Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts allow traffickers to move drug of Suriname) is unable to and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. shipments via sea, river, and detect the diversion of precur- Vincent and the Grenadines – air with little resistance”, the sor chemicals for drug produc- form the “eastern edge” of the report said, stating that the tion, as it has no legislation Caribbean transit zone for Bharrat Jagdeo administration controlling precursor chemi- drugs, mostly cocaine and is yet to implement the “sub- cals and, hence, no tracking marijuana products, going stantive initiatives” of its system to monitor them”, the from South America to U.S., National Drug Strategy report stated. Europe and other markets. Master Plan (NDSMP) for “The lack of resources, It said illicit narcotics transit 2005-2009. limited law enforcement capa- the Eastern Caribbean mostly “Government counter- bilities, inadequate legislation, by sea, in small go-fast vessels, narcotics efforts are under- drug related corruption, a larger fishing vessels, yachts mined by the lack of adequate complicated and time-consum- and freight carriers. resources for law enforce- ing bureaucracy, and overbur- “Drug trafficking and ment, poor coordination dened and under-resourced related crimes, such as money among law enforcement agen- courts inhibit GOS’s ability to laundering, drug use, arms traf- cies, and a weak judicial sys- identify, apprehend, and pros- ficking, official corruption, vio- tem”, the report added. ecute narcotic traffickers”, it lent crime, and intimidation, It said Haiti, a “major added. have the potential to threaten transit country for cocaine” “Suriname’s sparsely pop- the stability of the small, dem- from South America, is expe- ulated coastal region and iso- ocratic countries of the Eastern riencing a surge in air smug- lated jungle interior, together Caribbean and, to varying gling of the drug out of with weak border controls and degrees, have damaged civil Venezuela, and is a “signifi- infrastructure, make narcotics society in some of these coun- cant transit country for detection and interdiction tries”, the report stated. cocaine destined for the efforts difficult”, it continued. The State Department United States and to a lesser The State Department also said Guyana is a trans- extent Canada and Europe”. said Trinidad and Tobago is a shipment point for cocaine The report said the num- transit country for illegal destined for North America, ber of drug smuggling flights drugs from South America to Europe, and the Caribbean, from Venezuela to Hispaniola the U.S. and Europe. noting that in 2006, domestic increased by 167 percent from But it noted that while seizures of cocaine were 2005 to 2006, about one-third there has been an increase in of which went to Haiti. illicit drug traffic out of “In addition to 1,125 miles Venezuela, the quantity of of unprotected shoreline, drugs transiting Trinidad and uncontrolled seaports, and Tobago “does not have a sig- numerous clandestine nificant effect on the U.S.” airstrips, Haiti’s struggling “Cannabis is grown in police force, dysfunctional Trinidad and Tobago, but not judiciary system, corruption, a in significant amounts”, it weak democracy and a thriv- said, pointing out, however, ing contraband trade con- that the country’s petrochemi- tribute to the prolific use of cal industry imports and Haiti by drug traffickers as a exports chemicals that can be strategic point of distribu- used for drug production. tion”, the report said. But the State Department The State Department said the Patrick Manning gov- said Jamaica, too, is a major ernment has instituted export transit point for cocaine en controls to prevent diversion. route to the U.S., and is also a key source of marijuana and - CMC marijuana derivative products for the Americas. ®

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VIEWPOINT www.caribbeantoday.com White or blue collar, indeed TONY ROBINSON ago in the U.S. is as bizarre as seems to pay so it’s fascinating. If it didn’t real- much that people here is currently a huge ly happen, and some writer make a habit of it lottery scam taking concocted such a tale or a and are never satis- Tplace in Jamaica, where movie was made about it, fied. They just can’t people in the United States nobody would believe it, as it stop, but make a are contacted and told that seems so far fetched. But career of it. They they have won millions, so truth is indeed stranger than wouldn’t even take a they are to send money to fiction and thieves are even one lick and move, cover “fees”. more inventive and have more but instead stay and What’s amazing is how vivid imaginations than pulp tief, stay and tief, many fall for this, sending out fiction writers or scribblers of settle down and stay thousands of dollars, even screenplays. and tief some more, though they never entered any Enron was real, and very even as they laugh lottery. Pickpockets, cutpurs- scary. That a few ‘executives’ and chat up with the es, chain grabbers, fowl tief, could sit down and cook up other employees. praedial larcener, embezzler, such a scheme to rob thou- Sure, some fraudulent converter, tief, all sands of people, many of them get caught, but for have the same thing in com- old pensioners, of their life’s every two caught, 20 mon, they want a lot for as lit- savings and investments, is are living it up in tle effort as possible. simply criminal. One Enron Hawaii or At times though, they real- exec swiped $850 million, Switzerland or ly put a lot of planning and another $350 million, while a somewhere in the few small fry took only a few accounting scandals of the But South of France. The other effort in bilking you or your time. “Of the big ones then the fact is, for organization out of hard earned million apiece. irate employees may say, “But What does one man do generating tales of absolutely someone to look how she plan and scheme money, that it makes you won- egregious behavior, none has have that der how well off they’d be if with $850 million U.S. dollars and rip and run, what a damn anyway? But the fact is that produced jail sentences.” That skill, it must tief.” But secretly and ever so they had put their resources to was taken from an article, have taken a positive use. But there’s thrill putting bigtime executives in fleetingly the thought just may jail for perpetuating account- “White collar crime, hard time, years of prac- go, “A wonder how she do it, in crime and there’s profit in it. hardly”, Fortune magazine. tice to master, Trust me, if there wasn’t, they ing fraud has proved very hard why I couldn’t tink of it? But to do. On Aug. 2, 1999, and his many me can’t take shame yah, and would not do it. HOME GROWN TONY victims all That Enron case years Fortune magazine ran an arti- me nuh have nuh luck.” cle that spotlighted the But let’s bring it closer ROBINSON wondered For most of us, jail time is home where the people at what hit not a happy prospect. Enron could perhaps learn a them. Most “I feel like a little baby just trick or two from our entre- didn’t even know until they born. I’m really excited” - FREE WILLIES preneurs in criminology. The reached home and felt for their Grenada’s Prime Minister, Dr. Speaking of jail, you won’t downtown pickpocket - he money. Oh, don’t let the occa- Keith Mitchell. find any of those white collar cruises the shadows, eyes dart- sional catching and beating of criminals in jail serving any ing furtively from victim to a few fool you, most get away “Anywhere you long sentence. Oh, they’ll steal unsuspecting victim, seeking and aren’t even felt or seen as • “Can the world, without go in the world, I millions, but only serve a few out the weak, the unwary, the the ply their secret trade. anguish, accept itself as part do not believe months. “The bigger the this, part that, part the other unwitting, just like the harbor crime, the lesser the time,” anyone could put shark. His fingers are nimble, EASY MEAT but totally human without one on a more fan- goes the ditty. part of it trying to dominate his hands are quick, and just But why suffer in the hot White and blue collar tastic show than like Jack, his legs can take him sun with the threat of being the other?” – Former what happened crime pays so much that every- University of the West Indies faster and higher with the chased and beaten, even by body’s into it. From the here at Trelawny, stolen candlesticks. ‘A fool your own kind, when you can Vice Chancellor Professor Rex Jamaica” - host Prime mechanics who say they put in Nettleford last month address- and his money are soon part- relax in the comfort of your new parts, but put in old Minister Portia Simpson ed,’ is his motto. air conditioned office and ing the issue of the African Miller. instead, that is if they even diaspora’s inclusion in global- Our pickpockets are leg- reap your unjust rewards? bother to change the part at all, endary, as tales abound about Pillaging, storming castles, ization. “It was magnificent, I was so to hospitals that pad their bills their prowess. They will robbing and looting went out and charge thirty dollars for filled with joy I almost wanted relieve you of your cash with medieval times. Now, in • “I believe it to cry; you know the talent we one aspirin. From lawyers who was a night on secreted away in your under- the computer age, it’s the era take people’s house deposit have, the color, the pageantry, garments, delicately removed of the white collar crime, and which all peo- the way everything was money and build mansions of ple of like the master surgeon there’s profit in it. We now their own, to contractors who brought together” – St. removing a tumor, without seem to have a spate of execu- Caribbean ori- build two houses out of your Vincent and the Grenadines spilling a drop of blood. tives, middle managers, man- gin were proud house material. From car deal- Prime Minister Ralph “All me money gone and agers and general workers as millions ers who sell your car but refuse Gonsalves. a didn’t feel a thing,” the vic- willing and able to take their around the to hand over your money, to tim wails. companies out to lunch, and world were treated to a stun- bank workers who skim from “It must be understood that in Once a friend of mine, a stick them with the bill. Every ning spectacle” – Chris old dormant accounts, to bur- every CARICOM member prominent surgeon, got taught day we read or hear how so Dehring, chief executive officer sars who filch from school fees state police officers are a lesson in the delicate art of and so from this or that com- of ICC Cricket World Cup and book money. From parsons accorded certain responsibili- cash removal, from one of pany has defrauded the insti- 2007 commenting on the who accept all denominations, ties under the law. Their those guys. He was buying his tution of millions and event’s opening ceremony in especially the large bills, for the authority as set out in law usual Sunday papers at the absconded. Even white collar Jamaica last month. cannot be varied by any “church building fund”, to con stoplight, when one so called crime has different terms. A men who spin tales of woe or agreement. It will not be tol- vendor neatly relieved him of grab thief, grabs and runs, but • Caribbean community erated” - Barbados Deputy assure you of get rich quick all his paper money, but leaving an office thief defrauds and schemes. (CARICOM) leaders were Prime Minister Mia Mottley the wallet still clutched in my absconds. What an easy way also pleased with the tourna- last month condemning the We live among them and friend’s hand. Well you should to make money, juggle and they do it because there’s ment’s launch: searching of local police offi- see the good doctor jump out flee without breaking a sweat. cers by Cricket World Cup profit in it. If crime didn’t pay, of his Benz and run down tief. This plague is in our they wouldn’t do it. And “It was fantas- security officials and calling on And he caught him too, but he banks, our credit unions, our tic, it was A- the tournament’s organizers to damn the risk they say, but if was also secretly impressed school bursaries, and any- you get caught don’t bother to plus, it was just know their limits. with the guy’s dexterity. where easy money can be had. wonderful” - bawl. If you can’t do the time, “This bredda could easily Rarely is it a one-time thing, don’t do the crime. CARICOM Compiled from CMC and enroll in the micro surgery as the auditors always show Secretary other sources. faculty,” he quipped, as he that it was going on for five or [email protected] General Edwin draped the thief and carted six years or more. That’s Carrington. ® him off. another thing, purloining cash ®

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www.caribbeantoday.com BRIDES & HONEYMOONS ~ A Caribbean Today advertising feature Romantic escapes to Caribbean resorts A new way for guys ELEANOR M. WILSON shower. Premium to pop the question beachfront ype has begun in the guise of watching the suites have or centuries male suitors earnest, touting wed- movie. The proposal, in fact, sunken liv- have agonized over how Hdings and honey- to surprise their girl- will have been filmed in a moons for this century’s most ing rooms, F secret session with the ship’s extra large friends with a marriage pro- romantic date - 7/7/07. Why videographer to create a per- tubs plus posal. Should he “pop the dwell on one date when sonalized and unique segment. his-and- question” during a quiet picnic romance awaits you year- On that special evening, hers show- in the country? Or kneel down round at several all-inclusive the couple will receive a cele- ers, and in a romantic European piazza Caribbean resorts? bratory glass of champagne uphol- to pose that surprise question We’re all familiar with – “Will you marry me?” and a red rose immediately fol- Sandals and SuperClubs, so stered In recent years, madly in- lowing the proposal and a bot- let’s look at inclusives that are wicker lounges for love guys have conjured up tle of champagne and choco- perhaps not so well known. the flat cliff top. Steps carved snuggling on the patio or bal- ever more novel ways to ask late-covered strawberries in Galley Bay Beach Resort into the cliffs lead to several cony. for their chosen one’s hand - their stateroom that night. spreads leisurely along one of naturally formed, secluded Go Tahitian in a Gauguin ranging from aerial banners Throughout the voyage Antigua’s famous white grottoes. Enjoy a relaxing hot Cottage overlooking the flown over crowded beaches they will be treated to a series beaches. From the Sugar Mill tub au deux with sea view in resort’s lagoon. A sheltered to “I love you” signs lighting of special amenities including a reception entrance, guests are one, an intimate candlelight breezeway connects two up stadium scoreboards. dinner for two at one of the whisked by golf cart across the dinner in another, while rhyth- thatched roof roundavels. One Now, enamored men will ship’s intimate dining venues, a lagoon’s wooden bridge to this mic waves crash below. Duet contains your air-conditioned have yet another unconven- romantic balcony breakfast and secluded resort. Sip cliff dives from several levels bedroom, and the other a tional venue to surprise the participation in a pottery class “Sundowners” while sunset entice adventurous couples. A dressing room and bathroom lady in question: Princess offered through the ship’s learn- watching on the Teepee Bar’s gauze-curtained spa pavilion with shower. The cottage Cruises “Engagement Under ing program, ScholarShip@Sea, open deck. Savor sounds of hangs on the edge of the at which the couple will design the surf during a romantic opens to a terrace and private the Stars” – a pre-arranged rocks, providing a romantic a commemorative “engagement candlelight dinner under your plunge pool inside a walled proposal on a giant shipboard setting for couples massages. plate”. own individual palapa at the garden. movie screen, on the high seas Similar dramatic spots invite Other super perks include Gauguin Restaurant. Nothing says romance like under the stars, displaying the super seclusion for sunset candid photographs of the Walk right onto the beach The Caves, located just south gentleman’s proposal. Starting watching. (Room tax and gra- proposal, plus an engagement from your first-floor deluxe or of Rick’s Café in Negril. Just in June, with the launch of its portrait session, a pampered, premium beachfront room, 10 handcrafted cottages are newest ship, Crown Princess, couple’s massage in the ship- and rinse off at your outdoor hidden among lush foliage on (CONTINUED ON PAGE 13) the program will complement line’s successful “Tie the Knot” board Lotus Spa and a $100 shipboard-wedding program. credit toward a wedding-at- Not only will the new pro- sea package on a future voy- gram surprise the unsuspect- age. ing lady, it will also turn the After its debut on Crown couple into instant shipboard Princess, “Engagement Under celebrities, starring in their the Stars” will later be extend- own real-life show - by having ed to all Princess ships that the prospective groom make feature “Movies Under the his wedding proposal via a Stars”. Those intrigued by the personal video displayed on magic of an engagement at sea the ship’s top-deck 300- may visit www.princess.com or square-foot LED movie call 1-866-444-8820 for more screen, before an audience of information. fellow cruise passengers. A “All the gentleman has to photographer standing by will bring is the ring and the ques- capture the couple’s special tion,” says Jan Swartz, moment when he surprises her Princess’s senior vice president with the ring on deck. of customer service and sales. And if he forgets the ROMANCE ring? Princess Cruises, one of “Not to worry,” adds whose ships was famous as the Swartz. “The shipboard bou- romantic setting for “The tique has a range of fine jew- Love Boat” television series, elry – including engagement will coordinate the surprise rings - just in case he over- proposal to take place just looked that important detail!” prior to one of the ship’s nighttime outdoor feature - Brides News Network films. At a prearranged time, the proposer will bring his ® girlfriend to the scene under Air J offers upgrade to Caribbean newly weds

ir Jamaica is offering group sales office. brides and grooms By booking as a group, Atraveling to get mar- couples and their guests gain ried in any of its Caribbean savings on flights to their des- destinations a free upgrade to tination. The airline also pro- the airline’s new Executive vides a specially designed Business Class. invite to inform guests of the To qualify, the bride and discount. The bride and groom must book a minimum groom request their upgrade of 22 seats (including them- once the group is ticketed. selves) through Air Jamaica’s ®

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BRIDES & HONEYMOONS www.caribbeantoday.com ~ A Caribbean Today advertising feature Weddings on idyllic islands: It’s all in the planning Whether it’s a gentle tropical tinations. And if you have to control. As an alternative, I quets, to fulfilling the legal breeze and the swaying of your heart set on a particular suggest wearing a small tiara requirements. Moreover, palm trees that provide the date, make arrangements well or using fresh flowers as engaged couples can choose to allure or just jetting away to in advance if possible, as cer- accents. Grooms should also have their ceremony at any somewhere exotic, destination tain times of the year tend to dress with comfort in mind, location on the 40-acre prop- weddings have become the book quickly. For instance, we say a light linen suit, or dress erty; which includes two wed- marriage celebration of choice find that the peak months for pants paired with a shirt and ding gazebos - one located on for many couples. weddings are February, April, vest or a classic guayabera for the resort’s dazzling half-mile- Today, almost two in 10 May, June, and November. a true island feel.” long beach. weddings are destination “Couples who decide on a With the aid of an experi- events - with Caribbean destination wedding might PACKAGES enced wedding planning team, islands leading the list. also want to break free from Brides and grooms desir- an altar-bound couple can rest And it’s no surprise why. traditional wedding attire,” ing a sun-kissed destination assured that their wedding day Tropical destinations have adds King. “I tell my brides wedding shouldn’t have trou- will be hassle-free. King, for increasingly attracted celebrity and grooms to consider the ble finding a wedding package example, not only handles the couples - golf icon Tiger Woods climate and look for pieces to fit any budget. For instance, details of the wedding cere- and his bride Elin Nordegren that not only look great but Jolly Beach Resort’s “Dream mony and reception, but she and Hollywood’s Ben Affleck travel well, like a cocktail Wedding Package” even personally schedules the and Jennifer Garner have Bride and groom at wedding at gazebo, dress in a light fabric and (www.jollybeachresort.com) appointment to apply for the made Caribbean islands their Jolly Beach Resort in Antigua. color. And while an island offers amenities and choices marriage license and she, or a wedding destinations. breeze helps set the tropical ranging from cake and cham- member of her team, escorts But island nuptials are no detail and relieve the pres- mood, it makes a veil difficult pagne to photos and bou- the couple to ensure that longer just the domain of the sure, so that the bride and rich and famous. In fact, groom can totally enjoy their thanks to package deals and dream wedding ceremony. seasoned wedding planners, destination weddings are not SUGGESTIONS only becoming more attain- Beverly King, of Jolly everything goes smoothly. able for many, they’re easier Beach Resort on the “There is no residency requirement to than ever to achieve. Caribbean island of Antigua, be married in Antigua, but we need couples To ensure a perfect out- has been planning island wed- to be here one working day prior to the cer- come with the desired person- dings for almost 20 years. She emony to process the necessary docu- al touch, it is important to find offers these suggestions: “Do ments,” she said. an experienced wedding guru your homework; it’s important With all of the preparations completed who can, with an excellent to remember that marriage and the license obtained, couples can simply support staff, watch every requirements vary among des- relax and be absolutely certain that they have chosen a stunning backdrop for their celebration, guaranteeing a wedding album Romantic escapes to Caribbean resorts full of joyous memories.

(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12) Villas at Paradisus Punta Photographs and story obtained from Cana, a resort in the Bridal News Network. tuities are not part of the all- Dominican Republic, promise inclusive rate here.) royal treatment in every way, ® beginning with airport VIP COZY greeting. These beachfront At the other end of Negril, suites have everything, includ- winding paths through land- ing butlers to pack and scaped gardens lead to Sunset unpack for you, arrange golf at the Palms’ wooden cottages tee times and spa treatments, on stilts. Central outdoor stairs or make dinner reservations at reach two cozy accommoda- one of eight a la carte restau- tions per cottage. The double rants on premises (plus two daybed on an open porch is a with buffet service). Punta perfect hideaway for intimate Cana is known for its moments reflecting on sparkling beaches, and this nature…or each other…in jun- one is perfect for long walks in gle-like seclusion. the moonlight. Inside, the large double You can’t go wrong hon- shower streams jets from all eymooning at any Couples directions to rejuvenate and resort in Negril or Ocho Rios. reenergize. Public buildings Since they specialize in cou- continue the wooden theme, ples, everything is geared to with both indoor and pavilion- pairs…swings, lounges, Bali style restaurants. The beds, spa treatments and the freeform pool, surrounded by like. One unusual value here plants and palms, has a is that “all-inclusive” means Jacuzzi at one end and a cen- excursions off property as tral swim-up bar, also accessed well. This can be a trip to by a curved bridge. Dunn’s River Falls, horseback Across the street on riding, a greathouse tour and Negril’s famous seven-mile so on. strand, mix and mingle at The No matter which you Beach Club’s huge circular bar, choose, romance is sure to or hide under a palm tree at thrive at these romantic all- one of many picnic tables. inclusives. Changing rooms and showers are available, along with a fully Eleanor M. Wilson is a free- equipped watersports center. lance writer for Caribbean Today. UNIQUE OPTIONS For a more upscale get- ® away, the Royal Paradisus

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www.caribbeantoday.com HEALTH OECS fights fake drugs Dental exams key to control of oral health

CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC - prescription medicines were ou take pretty good for lack of a checkup can performing checkups can spot A senior official of the flooding developing nations care of your teeth, progress into more serious symptoms that could indicate Organization of Eastern with sometimes deadly conse- Ybrushing and flossing stages possibly resulting in serious health problems else- Caribbean States (OECS) has quences. daily. Is it really necessary for pain, tooth loss and other where in the body that need called for new measures Head of the OECS you to schedule dental exams problems. If caught early, peri- attention. aimed at combating the prolif- Pharmaceutical Procurement unless there’s a problem? odontal disease is easier to The prevention connec- eration of counterfeit drugs in Service, Francis Burnett, said Oral health professionals tion extends to recent changes the Caribbean. the slogan would be a simple say there are numerous rea- in your health. Regular check- The OECS message intended to alert the sons to keep those checkups ups allow your dentist to keep Pharmaceutical Procurement population in the sub-region on your calendar, even if you up with changes to your health Service, the agency responsi- to the dangers of faked drugs take good care of your teeth. status. Upon learning of med- ble for purchasing drugs for as well as being vigilant with “Just because it’s been ical conditions you’ve devel- the nine-member sub-region, the purchase of drugs over the awhile since you’ve had a cav- oped or treatments you’re said it would be embarking on counter. ity or a dental health issue, receiving, your dentist can rec- an early warning strategy Burnett said the worse don’t give up on those visits to ommend strategies to help you dubbed “Counterfeit Drugs case has so far been in Haiti, the dentist,” said Dr. Max proactively counter the nega- Can Kill” in an effort to edu- where three years ago, scores Anderson, DDS, a national tive effects the conditions and cate the public on the dangers of children were hospitalized oral health advisor for Delta treatments would otherwise of faked drugs. after ingesting counterfeit cold Dental Plans Association in have on your oral health. In a statement, the agency syrup. the United States. “Your smile and your said it was reminding the pop- “Dental checkups contin- breath, the foods you can eat ulation of a United Nations ® ue to be an important part of and social interactions are all report that warns that faked taking good care of teeth, pre- enhanced through better oral venting problems and provid- health,” said Dr. Anderson. ing people with greater con- “”Dental checkups are a great trol of their oral health.” manage and, in some cases, investment in your oral and reverse. overall health.” EARLY DETECTION Dental professionals can Preventive checkups pro- also use today’s dental exams - Information obtained from vide dentists with opportunities to screen for periodontal Delta Dental Plans to identify and intervene early (gum) disease, oral cancer and Association, based in Oak in dental diseases. This can other health issues that can be Brook, Illinois, a U.S. net- reduce any pain and the finan- difficult to spot on your own. work of independent not-for- cial costs associated with more More than 120 diseases can profit dental service corpora- severe forms of dental diseases. cause specific signs and symp- tions specializing in provid- For example, periodontal toms in and around the mouth ing dental benefits programs. disease that goes unnoticed and jaw. Dental professionals ® Tips for headache free travel reparing for vacations and planned trip can ease the stress hotel reservations in advance. It traveling can produce an of traveling. Be prepared for is also advisable to bring med- Padded amount of stress extra long lines and wait times ication in a carry-on bag, as and tension - two key triggers in at the airport and arrive at least opposed to checked luggage, the onset of headaches. two hours before your sched- but be sure to follow security The National Headache guidelines about liquids, gels Foundation (NHF) and aerosols. (www.headaches.org) in the United States offers travelers Discuss travel plans with your the following tips: healthcare provider – If you are flying long distances, ask your Maintain normal sleeping and healthcare provider about your waking patterns – Late-night vis- dosage schedule. Some medica- its and early morning tours can tions should be adjusted for lead to headaches by tempting high altitudes, lack of activity you to stay up past your bedtime and different climates. and wake up earlier than usual. Try to go to sleep and awaken Don’t skip or delay meals - An the same time as you usually do, empty stomach could trigger a even on weekends. uled departure. headache. Carry snacks. If you plan to travel by car, Plan in advance - A well- plot your course and make ®

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ARTS/ ENTERTAINMENT www.caribbeantoday.com Caribbean stars jazz up Miami Gardens music festival GORDON WILLIAMS in a spiritual armor. “The from her third album Messenger”, as he is often “Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & MIAMI GARDENS - called, belted out several of Relationship”, showing her Caribbean-flavored perform- his biggest hits, including wide-ranging musical talent ances added pizzazz to “Jazz “Sweep Over My Soul”, and versatility dressed in a in the Gardens”, emerging “Lord Give Me Strength”, “story” style all of her own. among the main highlights of “It’s Me Again Jah” and Day two attracted a the two-day festival held here “Your World And Mine”, crowd less than half the size last month. which had the crowd rising and served up not only some Despite the presence of from its seat, applauding and of the Caribbean’s best enter- world-renowned musicians at dancing in the aisles. tainers, but the most “vibes” the Mar. 24-25 event, includ- And when he leapt from as well. Trinidad and Tobago’s ing American soul singer Othello Molineaux and his India.Arie and Latin icons quartet set the regional tone like Brazil’s Sergio Mendes with beautiful pan music. His and Cuban-born Paquito reggae style “Sentimental D’Rivera, it was Jamaican star Mood” was special, as the Luciano who generated the heavy bass mingled with the most excitement from the sparkling sound of steel drum. audience at Dolphin Stadium It was like a thoughtful cruise in this South Florida city. with a pleasant breeze soaking Performing on the closing in, and the crowd loved it. day and in front of a much Molineaux was followed smaller crowd than day one, by Jamaican Dean Fraser on Luciano’s delivery lifted the saxophone. Fraser’s 15-minute music festival from a mellow set was sweet and to the point, slumber into a soul-searching and his popular rendition of roots reggae revival. Bob Marley’s “Redemption Othello Molineaux, from Trinidad and Song” never disappointed. SHOWMANSHIP Tobago, plays on pan. Yet when Fraser made Dressed in khaki with way for Luciano, it was clear Jamaican Luciano entertains the crowd at Miami’s “Jazz in the Gardens”. long dreadlocks flashing and the stage to mingle with the that “Jazz in the Gardens” audience, they rushed to needed a spark. “The bouncing throughout, the all over the Caribbean” with also received quality music embrace him. He too honored Messenger” delivered. And acrobatic Luciano displayed songs that at once thoroughly elsewhere, beginning the first them, saluting people “from when Luciano left the stage, showmanship wrapped tightly entertained while offering a day. Pieces Of A Dream, with D’Rivera and Mendes still message of peace, hope and Boney James and Bobby to come, most of the crowd left happiness. Caldwell, who replaced Will with him, underlining the dom- St. Lucia to host musical “We need the spiritual Downing in the line-up, all inance of the Caribbean influ- element in our lives,” he told delivered pleasing sets in front ence on the show. the crowd, which roared its of some 5,000 people on a extravaganza approval. cool, breezy South Florida Photographs and story by evening. Gordon Williams, Caribbean ~ Rodney Bay Village Music Bash QUALITY Day one closer India.Arie Today’s managing editor. Those who attended the took the crowd on a sentimen- to be held April 23-25 second “Jazz in the Gardens” tal journey with selections ® Some of the Caribbean’s top calypso, soca and reggae musi- cians are scheduled to per- form at a three-day musical extravaganza, from April 23- 25, in St. Lucia. The opening day of the “Rodney Bay Village Music Bash”, to be held at the Digicel Coco Cabana in Rodney Bay, will feature Trinidad and Tobago’s David Rudder and Jamaican crooner Beres Hammond.

Rudder gae, who will share the stage with Trinidadian Queen of Soca Destra. The extravaganza closes with Grammy winner Shaggy, and Grammy nominee Maxi Priest. The three-day event is being sponsored by Coco Resorts, TurnKey Productions, Omni Entertainment and Destra Digicel’s Coco Cabana. For more information, They will be followed the call 758-458 2626. next day by Sean Paul, the Jamaican Grammy-winning ® ambassador of dancehall reg-

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www.caribbeantoday.com BUSINESS U.N. launches scheme to reduce Jamaica’s business cost of remittances to Caribbean on show at JAPEX UNITED NATIONS - A grow in volume over the next amaica’s indigenous goods 25 buyer companies and 128 United Nations agency dedicat- few years to more than $100 LIFELINE and services will be on dis- delegates from 34 supplier com- ed to eliminating rural poverty billion a year by 2010,” he said. Pedro de Vasconcelos, the Jplay during the 17th annual panies at the Sunset Jamaica has launched a global initiative But Terry said, for the coordinator of the funding Jamaica Product Exchange Grande Resort and Spa. aimed at reducing the cost of IDB and the MIF this growth scheme, described remittances (JAPEX) to be held in the Utilizing a partnership with remittances services to the was not a cause for celebration as a vital lifeline for rural fami- Caribbean island this month. the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Caribbean and other countries. because it reflected the fact lies around the world. The theme of JAPEX 2007, Association (JHTA), JAPEX The $10 million Financing that the region cannot gener- “These transfers go direct- from April 29-May 1 in Ocho plans to offer a forum for lead- Facility for Remittances was ate sufficient income opportu- ly to improve the living stan- Rios, St. Ann, is “Eden by the ing suppliers of the Jamaican unveiled by the International nities to prevent millions of dards of millions and millions Falls”. The aim of the event is tourism product to meet with Fund for Agricultural people from migrating. He, of poor households,” he said. to showcase Jamaica’s natural travel wholesalers and tour Development (IFAD) in nevertheless, said remittances But he added, while com- beauty, while promoting its operators from Europe and the Guatemala City, the U.N. said in will continue petition had driven down the unique selling opportunities. Americas. a statement issued last month. to flow and cost of remittances services One of the Jamaica Tourist To obtain more informa- It said the first batch of have already between major cities, it Board’s (JTB) largest trade tion on JAPEX, visit grant recipients is expected to exceeded remained more expensive to shows, JAPEX is expected to www.jhta.org/japex.htm be selected and announced both foreign send money to rural areas, attract some 36 delegates from later this year. direct invest- which often lack formal finan- The Inter-American ment and cial services. Development Bank’s (IDB) overseas aid The U.N. said the new Legislation seeks to alter Multilateral Investment Fund to Latin financing facility would give (MIF) has said that remit- America and funding priority to those proj- Terry U.S. expatriation rules tances to the Caribbean and the ects or proposals, which link Latin America will continue to Caribbean, remittances with the provision STEVEN M. ROSENTHAL to be taxed as a U.S. citizen with grow in coming years. helping millions of families to of other financial services, such MICHAEL ROSENBERG respect to all property that other- escape poverty. as savings, insurance and loans. wise would be subject to the GROWTH Terry said last year “It will assist financial institu- ecently, legislation was mark-to-market tax. This elec- MIF Manager Donald F. Caribbean and Latin tions, which either want to once again proposed that tion is an “all or nothing” elec- Terry presented the estimate American countries received provide remittances services Rwould alter the United tion; an individual is not permit- for money transfers made by about $62.3 billion from directly or as agents of banks Stated tax consequences with ted to elect this treatment for Caribbean and Latin migrants, mostly in North or money transfer companies”, respect to a person who is deemed some property but not for other American migrants on the eve America, Europe and Asia. the statement said. to “expatriate” from the U.S. property. of the two-day annual meeting That figure was 14 percent The new scheme is established The proposed rules, which of the IDB Board of higher than the amount for with the financial support of are similar to prior proposals RULES Governors in Guatemala City. 2005. He said he expected the European Commission, which were never enacted into Under this election, following “Given present economic and remittances to the Caribbean Luxembourg, the U.N. Capital law, would subject certain U.S. expatriation, the individual con- demographic trends in Latin and Latin America to rise to Development Fund, the citizens and long-term residents tinues to pay U.S. income taxes at America and the Caribbean about $72 billion for 2007. Consultative Group to Assist who relinquish their U.S. citizen- the rates applicable to U.S. citi- and in industrialised countries, Terry said the MIF will sup- the Poor and the IDB. ship or residence status to tax on zens on any income generated by remittances will continue to port the new IFAD program. the appreciation in all property the property and on any gain real- ® they own at the time of their ized on the disposition of the expatriation as if such property property. In addition, the proper- St. Kitts P.M.urges Caribbean business sector to think regional were sold for fair market (com- ty continues to be subject to U.S. monly referred to as a “mark-to- gift, estate, and generation-skip- BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, region, and viding the framework to take market tax”). ping transfer taxes. CMC - Prime Minister Dr. is fully and OECS member states to the Any gain from such deemed In order to make this elec- Denzil Douglas has called on actively next logical level of functional sale would be subject to current tion, the taxpayer is required to Caribbean businessmen to engaged in corporation, and is intended U.S. taxation to the extent it waive any treaty rights that develop opportunities to take the growth to provide a fundamental exceeds $600,000 ($1.2 million in would preclude the collection of advantage of the Caribbean and devel- nexus to the evolving CSME,” the case of married individuals the tax. community (CARICOM) opment of he added. filing a joint return, both of In addition, under the pro- Single Market (CSM). the people whom relinquish citizenship or posal, an individual is permitted Speaking last month as of the CHALLENGING terminate residency). This to defer the payment of the the Trinidad-headquartered Caribbean Douglas said over the $600,000 exclusion amount will mark-to-market tax. Under the CLICO Group opened a new communi- Douglas next 10 years the region would be increased each year by a cost election, the deferred tax attrib- headquarters here, Douglas ty,” he said. be entering a period that was of living adjustment factor. utable to a particular property is said it was important that The prime minister said challenging and exciting at the deferred until the property is companies engaged them- the proposed Organization of same time. EXCEPTIONS sold or otherwise disposed of. In selves in the philosophy of Eastern Caribbean (OECS) “It is up to all of us to com- Two exceptions exist to this such case, interest will be effective regionalism and economic union would also go mit ourselves to the ideal of new proposed mark-to-market charged for the period the tax is explored the emerging eco- a long way towards assisting being productive, creative and rule. The first exception applies deferred at a rate two percentage nomic environment of the the corporate sector in the sub efficient, of being remarkable to an individual who was born points higher than the rate nor- Caribbean region. region expand its business for our Caribbean friendliness with citizenship both in the U.S. mally applicable to underpay- “Certainly, it is critical scope. and professionalism,” the St. and in another country; provided ments of taxes. The election is that the focus of regional com- “This proposal is aimed at Kitts and Nevis leader added. that 1) as of the expatriation date irrevocable and is made on a property-by-property basis. panies takes into account the further strengthening the the individual continues to be a global competitiveness of the Treaty of Basseterre, thus pro- ® citizen of, and is taxed as a resi- dent of, such other country, and UNCLEAR 2) the individual was not a resi- As similar legislation has CCAA appoints new president dent of the U.S. for the five tax- been proposed in the past, it is able years ending with the year of unclear if this new proposal will Washington, D.C. – The advisor on international trade, the Bank of California. He expatriation. ultimately be passed into law. Caribbean Central American educational and technical was also vice president for The second exception applies Furthermore, if in fact enacted, it Action (CCAA) has appoint- assistance, risk management Shareholder Relations at the to a U.S. citizen who relinquishes is unclear when the new law ed Manuel A. Rosales the and finance programs Capital Preservation Fund U.S. citizenship before reaching would become effective. organization’s new president. designed to assist U.S. small (now known as the Benham age 18-and-a-half, provided that Rosales joins CCAA after businesses in the international Capital Management Group). the individual was a resident of Michael Rosenberg is a share- serving as the assistant adminis- marketplace. Rosales replaces Federico the U.S. for no more than five tax- holder and Steven Rosenthal is trator for the United States Small Sacasa, who served as execu- able years before such relinquish- an associate with the Coral Business Administration’s (SBA) BANKING CAREER tive director of CCAA from ment. Gables, Florida law firm of Packman, Neuwahl & Office of International Trade. Rosales has a long career 2002-2005 and president from Notwithstanding these pro- Rosenberg and can be reached At SBA, he served as the in banking and finance. He 2005-2007. posed rules, a person expatriat- at 305-665-3311. SBA administrator’s principal has served as vice president of ing will be permitted to make an ® irrevocable election to continue ®

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SPRING/SUMMER EDUCATION www.caribbeantoday.com ~ A Caribbean Today advertising feature Youth set to embrace nature at Caribbean summer camp eveloping a positive natural environment and sus- guided plant walks, hikes to this program is that participants the surrounding eco-systems, outlook for nature will tainable development for the petroglyphs and reef bays, as are immersed in a real, first- but they see and feel them as Dbe the focus of the 8th good of human society,” coor- well as group discussions on hand experience with nature; Wider Caribbean dinator Randy Brown said in personal experiences, eco-sys- not only do they learn about (CONTINUED ON PAGE 18) Environmental Youth a recent press release. tems and environmental Program to be held in the ethics. United States Virgin Islands ACTIVITIES Instructors include profes- Guyana pursues literacy (USVI) this summer. Students ages 12 to 18 will sional presenters and local Under the theme of be immersed in activities that experts with practical experi- program for prison inmates “Natural History, Ecology and cover natural history and ecol- ence in conservation, biology, Conservation on Caribbean ogy of selected Caribbean marine biology, terrestrial GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Islands” the program will be tropical ecolo- CMC - The Guyana govern- presented at the Virgin Islands gy, environmen- ment says it will be aggressively Environmental Resource tal policy, waste pursuing a literacy program for Station (VIERS) from July 30 management prisoners this year in addition to Aug. 4. and environ- to training in various skills, craft The program focuses on mental educa- and agriculture. the decision makers of tomor- tion. Home Affairs Minister row by providing Caribbean Cultural and Clement Rohee said that reli- young people with awareness environmental gious and recreational activities on environmental issues in a exchanges are within the prison’s environment fun, yet educational way. This components of would be a continuing feature. the program. “We are committed to year’s eco camp is sponsored Rohee by the Caribbean Hotel As part of the improving our prisons’ condi- tion and the literacy capabilities Association (CHA), its envi- curriculum, work towards utilizing the pris- of prisoners,” he said recently. ronmental subsidiary, the each group will ons’ estate to cultivate and rear The Government Caribbean Alliance for Educating children about their environment will be beneficial in be invited to livestock and produce more Information Agency (GINA) the future. make a presen- food. This will help us to ease Sustainable Tourism (CAST), said that some of the programs tation about the budgetary allocation to American Airlines and Clean being projected this year ecosystems – coral reefs, sea their history, environmental dietary expenditure. This Islands International. include effective training of grass beds, mangrove wet- issues and concerns affecting money will now be used up in “One of the program ranks to deal with the multi- lands, dry forest and moist their country. Students will other areas,” Rohee said. goals is to facilitate the devel- dimensional challenges in the GINA said that the state opment of a positive environ- forest – conservation issues, also take turns to prepare a prison environment, developing pays an estimated $95 monthly mental ethic by students, natural resources management local dish from their country security capabilities at each to treat one inmate, noting that which builds their awareness strategies, and environmental and present it to the entire prison location and reducing there are 19,000 prisoners. and strengthens their commit- careers. The daily schedule group at dinner. dietary expenditure through ment to conservation of the includes field activities such as “The key for the success of self-sufficiency. ® “In this respect we will

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www.caribbeantoday.com SPRING/SUMMER EDUCATION ~ A Caribbean Today advertising feature Caribbean man is new president of Florida Memorial Jamaican-born educa- “I always wanted to work with our young men and women to year-old South Florida univer- within the tor has taken over the students. I thoroughly enjoy allow them to realize the sity on Mar. 16, during the context and Aleadership reins of an working with young people,” American dream.” school’s annual Founders’ Day tradition of a institution of higher learning the 54-year-old Wright told Wright attended Knox College Convocation. historically in South Florida. the Miami Herald newspaper high school in Jamaica. He black univer- Economist Karl S. Wright, before his installation as head came to the United States GOALS sity,” Wright PhD., has become the 11th of FMU last month. more than 35 years ago. During the inaugural told the audi- president of Florida Memorial “That’s my commitment; that’s Wright was inaugurated address, Wright outlined goals ence. University (FMU). my passion: to open doors for the new president of the 128- for his administration, includ- “As pres- Wright ing continuing to increase the ident, I look ethnic and cultural diversity of forward to the student body, attracting partnering with our faculty top-tier professors and admin- and staff to uphold our grow- istrators to the University’s ing reputation for academic faculty, and building strong excellence and to develop new relationships with South relationships for Florida Florida’s business and civic Memorial at the local, nation- communities. al and international levels.” “Our university is a one- of-a-kind resource that pro- SUCCESSION vides young men and women Wright succeeds Albert E. access to high-quality academ- Smith, who served as FMU’s ics while promoting cultural president from 1991 until he diversity, global awareness, retired in July 2006. Wright and the principles and values of responsible citizenship – all (CONTINUED ON PAGE 19) Barbados calls on schools to enforce cell phone ban BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Griffith Watson advised CMC - The Ministry of school principals in a recent Education here has mandated memo. primary and secondary school “Students who defy this principals to rigidly enforce a rule will have these devices ban on the use of cellular confiscated and their parents phones by students while at summoned to collect them”. education institutions. While the Education Amidst widespread public Ministry had mandated a ban concern over of the devices the use of cellu- since Mar. lar phones by 2003, the word Miami-Dade College school students, from education the Ministry officials was said the phones that the min- and other com- istry’s policy munication was not being devices, such as strictly pagers, were enforced at all not permitted at schools and the 100-plus government pri- called on principals to ensure mary and secondary schools that the ban, which it first across the island. In addition imposed in Mar. 2003 was to government run schools, enforced. the education official’s latest “Students are not permit- recommendation was that the ted to bring cell phones, guidelines be also observed at pagers or any other communi- privately-run institutions. cation devices to school”, Chief Education Officer ® Youth set to embrace nature at Caribbean summer camp (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17) islands, for a maximum of 42 participants. part of the learning process,” For more information and said Deirdre Shurland from the full program of the 8th CAST, adding that participants Wider Caribbean are also encouraged to con- Environmental Youth serve water and energy, recycle, Program, including fees, con- and respect the wildlife around tact Randy Brown at 410-647- the camp. 2500; via email at: The deadline for reserva- [email protected] or by visiting tions is May 28, and the pro- http://www.islands.org/vir- gram is available for up to five gin/viers/aacha1.htm students and one chaperone from up to seven Caribbean ®

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SPRING/SUMMER EDUCATION www.caribbeantoday.com ~ A Caribbean Today advertising feature Community forum to aid education grant applicants Summer tips to keep up BROWARD COUNTY, munities are encouraged to guidelines will further Florida – Broward County apply. improve the grant application academic skills Commission’s Cultural The forum will offer and management process; and Division will this month offer grantees, applicants and other an open discussion of partici- ant to help your chil- sharpen up on reading by tak- a community forum to aid community art stakeholders, pants’ concerns. dren keep up their ing out books on baseball applicants for the Education the opportunity to discuss cur- Grant awards range from academic skills over from the library. and Community Development rent issues related to the $3,100 to $30,000. Eligible W the summer? Here are some (ECD) grant program. application and management applicants include Broward tips from the experts: The forum will be held process of the Education and County public entities – cities, from 10 a.m. to noon April 30 Community Development towns, public libraries, Native- • Set aside at least 20 in the Main Library, room grant program. American nations, Broward minutes each day for A/B, 100 S. Andrews Ave. in County not-for-profit, cultural reading. Fort Lauderdale. AGENDA organizations, and qualified • To keep writing skills The grant program sup- Scheduled agenda items individual artists from Martin, fresh, buy children a ports arts education collabora- include: how have revisions to Palm Beach, Broward, Miami- notebook and let them tions that promote skills, the ECD grant guidelines Dad, or Monroe counties. decorate the cover. knowledge, and an apprecia- improved the grant applica- The application deadline Then tell them it’s tion of the arts. Projects tion and management process; is Dec. 1, 2007 for projects their vacation journal occurring in low-income com- what additional changes to the running from Oct. 1, and have them write 2008–Sept. 30, 2009. down three things that Organizations looking to happen each day. Helping children with learning disorders develop arts education pro- • To keep up math Encourage children to read during their spare time. grams should attend the skills, buy books of If your child has learning certain tasks (like doing forum even if they are not eli- number puzzles (found at any and/or attention problems, it’s homework) can be dropped gible to apply. The forum will bookstore). Also consider • If you’re taking a family important to recognize that during the summer, new ones teach about the necessary col- investing in math-related com- vacation, bring home the shift from school year to (like packing for daily swim laborations for submitting an puter games. brochures that describe the summer break (however wel- lessons) may be added. For eligible application. • Find ways to make hobbies history and culture of the come) represents a transition fun, you might loosen up on For more information, educational. A child who places you’ll be visiting. Try phase and may pose special certain chores during the sum- call Patricia Zeiler, arts educa- loves to collect baseball cards, plotting out the trip on a map challenges for your child. mer, like designating every tion assistant, at 954-357-8010 for instance, could practice with your kids. Regardless of the summer Friday as “Don’t make the or e-mail penmanship by writing fan let- plans you’ve made, you may bed” day! [email protected]. - Familyfun.com want to ease into summer in a 2. Prepare your child for ters to players. He could also way that addresses your needs her scheduled activities. If ® work on math skills by track- ® as well as your child’s. Here possible, visit the locations ing players’ statistics and are some tips to consider: where she’ll be during day 1. Revamp — but don’t camp or day care in advance. to the family calendar. Together, eliminate — your child’s daily Have your child talk to coun- you can determine key dates (e.g., routine. A daily routine gives selors, caregivers, as well as community pool opens for recre- most kids with learning or other kids have enjoyed those ation swim, July Fourth barbeque) attention problems a sense of same situations and settings. and have your child mark these on structure and security. While 3. Have your child contribute the calendar. 4. Involve your child when prepar- Caribbean man is new president ing for family trips and activities. Depending on her age, she can of Florida Memorial help you map out driving routes or make a list of the clothing and (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18) Wright is active in several recreational gear the family will previously served as FMU’s professional and service need. executive vice president and organizations, including the 5. Encourage summertime learn- provost, where he was instru- Miami-Dade County ing. Summer outings may present mental in increasing the uni- Investment Advisory opportunities for your child to versity’s student enrollment, Committee, Greater Miami learn about history, geography, and upgrading faculty credentials, Chamber of Commerce, the nature. Look for “teachable and overseeing the school’s Beacon Council, and the 100 moments” and encourage her to graduate degree accreditation Black Men of Fort listen, read, take photographs, col- process. Lauderdale. lect postcards, and keep a journal “From the day he stepped He has been recognized of her adventures. This type of Florida Memorial foot on campus, Dr. Wright by the Kellogg Foundation as learning can boost the self-esteem has been a tireless advocate a NAFEO leadership fellow, of a child who struggles in school. College for success – and was instru- and by the American mental in Florida Memorial’s Association of State Colleges - Edited from SchwabLearning.org historic passage from college and Universities, which select- to university,” said Charles ed him to participate in the George, chairman of FMU’s Millennium Presidential Board of Trustees. Leadership Fellows Initiative. “Now, as president, he will Wright earned his Ph.D. oversee our continued growth in economics at Mississippi while ensuring our students State University, and holds have the resources they need bachelor’s and master’s to succeed during their years degrees from the University of on campus – and beyond.” Maryland at College Park. His Before joining FMU, academic interests include Wright served as dean of the economic modeling and statis- School of Business at South tical forecasting. Carolina State University for seven years. Prior to that, he Information collected from was assistant professor of various sources, including commodity marketing and newspapers and FMU releases. economics at North Carolina A&T State University. ®

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www.caribbeantoday.com NEWS Cricket World Cup starts Eight die in Haiti floods JOSEPH GUYLER DELVA taken away by floods or killed in blaze of Caribbean glory in mudslides resulted from PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, several days of torrential rains CMC- At least eight people in some regions,” Deslorge EARL MOXAM were interspersed with short the fine traditions of the game were killed by floods and said. speeches by some of the main by abiding by the rules, while mudslides triggered by heavy He said several people TRELAWNY, Jamaica, CMC dignitaries on hand – host Steve Bucknor, the outstand- rains that lashed this were injured, several hundred - Mark it down as the day a Prime Minister Portia Simpson ing umpire from Jamaica, Caribbean country late last houses destroyed or damaged dream was fulfilled. The ICC Miller, Prime Minister Dr. gave the pledge of the month, an official has and over 380 families left Cricket World Cup 2007 got Keith Mitchell of Grenada, umpires and match referees. revealed. homeless. underway last month with a For hours before the start, Dieufort Deslorge, a “One hundred and ten of near flawless opening ceremo- there had been a steady build- spokesman for Haiti’s civil those 380 families have been ny at the Trelawny Multi-pur- up of fans, the numbers even- protection office, said eight housed in shelters set up with pose Stadium in the North tually swelling to thousands, people were killed and one financial support from the Western end of the island. packed into the new stadium was missing and presumed government,” said Deslorge. The 16 participating for this once-in-a-lifetime dead in the western section of Haiti is particularly vul- teams, their officials and visi- experience. the island. But witnesses have nerable during rainy and hur- tors from around the region Beyond the highway, the reported two other deaths in ricane seasons because of its and the wider world were glistening waters of the the northern town of Jean- flimsy infrastructures and its treated to a spectacular and Caribbean Sea, kissed by the Rabel, not taken into account shanty towns that generally diverse cultural package, rays of the setting sun, made in the civil protection office’s offer little resistance to the heavily reflective of the music, the perfect backdrop for the count. least amount of rain. dance, and artistic flavor of start of the evening’s spectacle. “Those victims were the West Indies, but with a As afternoon gave way to ® dusk, the shadows provided taste of South Africa and Simpson-Miller Ireland thrown in for good the perfect canvass for the measure. high-energy creations of the St. Vincent pushes motion Then, in a poignant who heads CARICOM’s sub- youngsters, dressed in the moment, the ninth edition of committee on cricket, Chris beautiful costumes reflective for slavery reparation, apology the World Cup, the first to be Dehring, managing director/ of the region’s carnivals and staged in the West Indies, was chief executive officer, ICC other festivals. Members of KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, declared officially open by the CWC WI 2007 Inc, and Percy the audience were caught up CMC - The St. Vincent and iconic Sir Garfield Sobers, Sonn, ICC president. in the moment, hanging on to the Grenadines Parliament widely acknowledged to be In a rare unscripted every musical note; every lyric has unanimously passed a the greatest all-rounder in the moment, Val Banks, vice pres- belted out, while gyrating and motion demanding a full apol- history of the sport. ident of the West Indies waving fabrics of many colors, ogy and reparation from The three-hour long cere- Cricket Board, delivered the appropriate for the occasion. nations which profited from mony got off to a prompt start board’s message on behalf of the slave trade. at 5.15p.m. with a military dis- the president, Ken Gordon, MARLEY MAGIC The motion, which was play by the massed bands of who - it was later revealed - They were temporarily debated late last month as the Corps of Drums of the had a throat ailment. He awestruck, however, when, in part of the country’s com- Jamaica Defence Force. What appeared to capture the senti- a moment of high tech magic, memoration of the 200th unfolded thereafter were ments of many in the audience the spirit of reggae legend anniversary of the abolition of boundless displays of high when he described the event Bob Marley was brought to the slave trade, also called on energy from 1,500 young as a defining moment in West life on screen. Marley, his Parliament to pursue, in con- dancers, and the best of the Indian history. image outlined in bright light, junction “with like-minded region’s musical stars. The parade of the teams emerged, acoustic guitar in persons in the Caribbean and Baptiste was one of the main highlights hand to the strains of elsewhere” the demand for HIGHLIGHTS of the evening, the captains “Redemption Song”. the apology and financial (CARICOM) had been abol- One major highlight was leading their players onto the The past was then merged redress. ished, drug traffickers and the CWC ‘anthem’, written field, whilst holding the hand with the present, when he was Minister of Culture Rene men who prostituted women for the occasion and per- of an accompanying child. “joined” live on stage by his Baptiste, who piloted the had become the modern day formed by Rupee, Shaggy and Brian Lara, captain of the faithful back-up singers, the I- motion through the legisla- slave masters. FayAnne Lyons. West Indies, gave the players’ Three – wife Rita, Judy ture, said St. Vincent and the Prime Minister Dr. Ralph The musical performances pledge, on behalf of the par- Grenadines fully endorsed the Gonsalves said that the ticipants, promising to uphold (CONTINUED ON PAGE 21) United Nations sanctioned region’s “painful past of slav- one-year celebration of the ery” had left Caribbean bicentennial and encouraged nationals something good. He other Caribbean countries to said that the region had be involved in the celebration birthed a new people, who of the milestone. Baptiste told while diverse in culture and Vincentians that slavery was race, lived together in peace, not something that they love and democracy, an exam- should mourn about but ple to the wider world. rather use as a tool on which “Out of the crucible of they should build themselves. our painful past, we have cre- The minister noted that even ated a new people,” he said. though slavery in the Caribbean community ®

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NEWS www.caribbeantoday.com Appeal Court quashes Pregnant J’can beauty queen Panday’s conviction keeps ‘Miss Caribbean’ title PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, declare a bank account he and KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC - Morley described Lawrence as CMC - An Appeal Court last his wife, Oma, held at the Miss Jamaica World 2006 Sara “a warm, compassionate and month quashed the conviction Natwest Bank in London for Lawrence, who relinquished caring person”, who should of former Prime Minister the years 1997, 1998 and 1999, her crown last month, will not not be condemned but shown Basdeo Panday, set aside his when he served as prime min- be stripped of her Miss World love and support during her two-year jail term, and Caribbean title, pageant rights pregnancy. ordered a new trial. holders have revealed. Panday had been previ- Following reports that 22- STEPPING DOWN ously found guilty of failing to year-old Lawrence would be Last month Lawrence, declare a London bank relinquishing her title due to who placed sixth at the Miss account to the Integrity pregnancy, Julia Morley, World competition and won Commission while he served founder and chairman of Miss the Miss World Region as head of the Trinidad and World Limited, wrote local (Caribbean) last August, Tobago government. promoters stating that announced that she was step- The three-member Appeal Lawrence will not be stripped ping down because of her Lawrence Court agreed with the argu- of the Miss World Caribbean pregnancy. ments put forward by Panday’s title and urged them to allow “I relinquish my position responsibilities as one who defense team that the decision her to keep the Miss Jamaica as Miss Jamaica World 2006, expects to become a mother by Chief Magistrate Sherman World title. having taken a deeply person- later this year. I believe with McNicolls not to testify in the In her correspondence, al decision to face up to my all that is within me that it is case against the chief justice, Panday whom McNicolls had accused of seeking to influence his ister. Dominica still undecided on whaling stance ~ P.M. decision in the Panday trial, Panday, 73, appealed that would have left any reasonable conviction and was released ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – environmental groups here. and fair-minded person to con- on TT$300,000 ($50,000) bail. Just days after one of his min- “Usually when these meet- clude that there was bias in the The Appeal Court said isters said the government ings are upcoming you tend to ruling against the former that it would issue a written would not relax its pro-whaling get a lot of controversy and prime minister. ruling later, but said that the stance, Prime Minister strange articles in the press,” McNicolls had sentenced issue before it involved the Roosevelt Skerrit said no firm McIntyre said. Panday to three two-year jail public confidence in the judi- decision has yet been taken on terms to run concurrently on ciary. the matter. ‘NO REAL ISSUE’ the three charges, of failing to The prime minister said the The minister defended ® government was still contem- government’s pro-whaling plating what position to take stance saying there was “no when the 59th International real issue” once there was sus- Cricket World Cup starts Whaling Commission (IWC) government should vote.” tainable harvesting. meeting gets underway in Minister for Agriculture, “Once it’s something that in blaze of Caribbean glory Alaska next month Fisheries and the Environment can be harvested sustainably “The Cabinet has not Dr. Collin McIntyre said late without creating problems then (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20) last moment in the spotlight, taken a decision,” Skerrit said last month that Dominica it’s okay with me,” he said. as the veteran singer belted Mowatt and Marcia Griffiths - adding, “I am hoping that I can would continue to vote along- Last year Skerrit said that out the fitting finale, for a medley of his most get a mandate from the Cabinet side Japan for the “sustainable he would vote based on scien- “Wonderful World; Beautiful famous songs, climaxing with in respect to the government’s use” of commercial whaling tific evidence and called on People”. And as he sang and the universal anthem, “One position in 2007 and where the despite stiff opposition from opposition groups who had the dancers pranced, the skies Love”. were lit up and the air rever- And, just when some might berated to the sound of fire- have thought that Bob had my moral obligation to do what works, timed to perfection. opposed government’s pro- put a cap on the evening, on I believe to be ethically correct whaling position to present strode his contemporary and follow what I believe in my - CMC evidence that whaling was hav- Jimmy Cliff for the climax. heart to be right”, she stated. ing a disastrous impact on the The entire ensemble came ® Meanwhile Women’s Advocate mammals. The Dominica back onto the field for one Margaret McCauley argued leader reported late last month that Lawrence’s role as an that “there continues to be activist for safe sex had been information coming from both compromised by her pregnancy. sides. We welcome additional However, gender consultant information from those who Dr. Glenda Simms came to her have information in regards to defense stating that no one has scientific evidence.” the right to condemn the beau- He said government will ty queen for getting pregnant. now consult with experts “to advise us on the technical and Metro Dade scientific soundness of the information.”

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www.caribbeantoday.com FYI PRESIDENT SPEAKS Miss” (ages five to eight); United States President “Junior Miss” (nine to 12); George W. Bush is scheduled “Miss Teen” (13-16) and “Miss HAITIANS ON CALL to speak at Miami Dade Jamaica Florida” (17-21). The deadline to submit applications is April 30. For more information, call Marcia Baker at 954-600-0334.

PASSPORT REMINDER The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) took effect in January. The WHTI requires all those United States citizens traveling by air to the Caribbean to have a passport. College’s (MDC) 2007 gradua- For information about tion commencement exercises applying for a U.S. passport, which begin at 5 p.m. April 28 visit http://usps.com/passport at the Kendall campus, Gibson or call 800-ASK-USPS. Center, 11011 S.W. 104 St. In addition to Kendall PASSPORT APPLICATION campus’s graduation, six other The National Passport commencement exercises for Information Center (NPIC), MDC’s other campuses are the United States Department scheduled to take place the of State’s single, centralized same day beginning at 8 a.m. public contact center for U.S. and concluding at 7 p.m. passport information, is offer- Black Affairs Advisory Board Chairman D.J. Fabien, second right, was among delegates who ing a toll free service and has recently traveled to Haiti to emphasize the social impact that the deportation of Haitians has on PAGEANT ENTRY expanded its service availabili- families living in Miami-Dade County, United States. Prime Minister Jacques Edouard-Alexis, Partners for Youth ty/options. fourth left, was informed about the Temporary Protective Status (TPS) and its impact on Foundation is accepting appli- Persons with questions or Haitians living in the U.S. Others are, from left, Jean Robert Lafortune, Steve Forester, Lucie cations the “Miss Jamaica need status checks on pending Tondreau, Yvans Morisseau, Marleine Bastien and Ronald Aubourg. Florida 2007 Pageant” to be passport applications can call 1-877-487-2778. Customer serv- held on June 24 at the Coral days a week. Citizenship and Immigration ing facility used by USCIS to ice representatives are avail- Gables Center for the Arts. For e-mail access, visit: Services (USCIS) has accelerate the collection of able from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The pageant is open to [email protected] Website of announced that aliens must applications and petitions. The Monday through Friday, Jamaican-born females or passport and other internation- mail applications to renew or announced change allows the excluding Federal holidays. those of Jamaican parentage. al travel information is avail- replace permanent resident agency to improve the process- Automated information is The categories are “Little able at travel.state.gov cards, commonly known as ing of Form I-90 (Application available 24 hours a day, seven “Green Cards”, directly to the to Replace Permanent ‘GREEN CARD’ FILING Los Angeles Lockbox. Resident Card) by electronical- The United States The Lockbox is a process- ly capturing data and images and by performing fee receipt- ing and depositing from one central location, rather than at the local district office, service center, or application support center (ASC). Aliens filing a Form I-90, regardless of their state of resi- dence, must mail those applica- tions with an application fee of $185 and a biometrics fee of $70 to one of the following addresses: For U.S. Postal Service (USPS) deliveries: • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, P.O. Box 54870 Los Angeles, CA 90054- 0870; Or for non-USPS deliver- ies (e.g. private couriers): • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Attention: I-90, 16420 Valley View Ave., La Mirada, CA 90638 Applicants should not include initial evidence and supporting documentation when submitting the Form I-90 to the Los Angeles Lockbox. Applicants will receive a notice for a biometrics process- ing appointment at an ASC and will submit their initial evi- dence during that appointment. Applicants will receive their biometrics appointment in the mail. ®

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SPORT www.caribbeantoday.com Swiss clip Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz KEEPING IT CARIBBEAN in soccer GORDON WILLIAMS have so many good players.” came out, we made some changes, and we were far more FORT LAUDERDALE - Top EARLY SETBACK competitive.” level international soccer with Jamaica fell behind in the Jamaica, which in 1998 a Caribbean flavor returned to seventh minute when Swiss for- became the first English-speak- South Florida last month, but ward Marco Streller swiveled ing Caribbean team to reach Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz failed away from his marker and slot- the World Cup, but which has to excite their passionate U.S.- ted past goalkeeper Richard stumbled badly recently failing based fans, losing 2-0 to McCallum. In the 12th minute to make the final round of the Switzerland at Lockhart Gokhan Inler doubled the lead Digicel Caribbean Cup, offered Stadium here. with a good strike from the top a handful of bright spots on a Jamaica, featuring talent of the penalty area. From then night when their fans’ enthusi- based on the island but buoyed on the Swiss dominated play, asm was drenched not only by by winning the Lunar New wasting numerous chances to the team’s deficiencies, but Year Cup, a four-team tourna- increase their lead as the Boyz intermittent showers as well. McCallum was outstanding, ment held in Hong Kong in Guadeloupe-born Jean-Marc Mormeck raises the world cruiserweight title belt he February, were outclassed in saving the Boyz from a more embarrassing scoreline with won last month by defeating another boxer from the Caribbean, Jamaican O’Neil Bell. front of 3,200-plus fans who Mormeck, who now resides in France, won a unanimous decision against the United braved windy and wet condi- some fantastic saves. States-based Bell in Paris to regain the World Boxing Council and World Boxing tions. Meanwhile, Milutinovic Association titles the Jamaican took from him by knocking him out in New York last Yet Jamaica’s new techni- urged fans of the Caribbean year. At left is U.S. boxing promoter Don King. cal director Bora Milutinovic, team to be patient as Jamaica the Serb charged with guiding builds up to World Cup quali- the Reggae Boyz to World Cup fiers starting next year. in 2010 in South Africa, “(That) is important, and I PWarner re-elected regional soccer boss seemed unperturbed by the Milutinovic hope the people from Jamaica rinidad and Tobago’s post. The new term will mark game’s final result. He insisted they grow to understand what struggled to keep pace. is our goal,” he said. “Our goal Austin “Jack” Warner his fifth as CONCACAF boss. that Switzerland was simply the Warner received multiple nom- better team and that the expe- “They were physically bet- is clear, to go to the World Twas last month re-elect- inations from every sector of rience gained from playing the ter than us,” Milutinovic said. Cup. To do this, we need to ed president of CONCACAF CONCACAF’s membership of “Nati”, ranked 17th by world “They are athletic, real good. work hard, to have patience, to (Confederation of North, 40 nations. soccer’s governing body FIFA, But this is the difference to support our players.” Central American and would serve his team well in being good, the competition, In another friendly inter- Caribbean Association Warner was first elected as the future. the league (they play in).” national played in South Football), the highest-ranking CONCACAF president in 1990 “It is important for us if we His assistant Wendell Florida late last month, soccer body in the region. and he has been re-elected on can play against a team like Downswell, a former technical Caribbean champions Haiti Warner will serve another every occasion since then Switzerland,” Milutinovic told director of Jamaica’s national beat Panama 3-0 at the Orange four-year term, which will run (1994, 1998, 2002 and now, Caribbean Today after the team, attributed Jamaica’s poor Bowl in Miami. through 2011. 2007). He is also the longest game. “It will be perfect for us, start to big game jitters. He retained his seat after continuously serving member (our) preparation to be in the “The first half we were a Gordon Williams is Caribbean the nomination deadline, for a of the Executive Committee of real soccer, real football world. little bit tentative, a little bit of Today’s managing editor. challenge to his position, FIFA, world soccer’s governing All of this (Swiss) team’s play- nerves,” said Downswell. “But passed without anyone else body, having first taken his seat ers play in Europe. (They) I think the second half we ® stepping forward to contest the there in 1983. CRICKET WORLD CUP BRIEFS T&T woman to defend The ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, the international artistes and dignitaries. Warner Park in St. Kitts. Two other world boxing title soon one-day game’s biggest show held batsmen, Sir Garfield Sobers of the every four years, began in the • Untimely death West Indies and India’s Ravi Shastri, SAN FERNANDO, Trinidad, mandated her as their top con- Caribbean last month. The tourna- Bob Woolmer, coach of the Pakistan had managed the feat in first class CMC - Trinidad and Tobago’s tender,” Potts said. ment runs through April 28, when team, was found unconscious in his games, but no one had, before women’s world light mid- “…No middleweight in the the final will be played in Barbados. Jamaica hotel room on Mar. 18. He Gibbs, done it in a one-day interna- dleweight boxing champion world can beat Jizelle Salandy Below are some of the highlights, was taken to the University Hospital tional. Jizelle Salandy is to defend her right now,” Potts added. both on and off the field, that took of the West Indies where he was title next against American Salandy improved her ring place last month: pronounced dead. Police investiga- • Runs galore Dakota Stone. record last month to 14-0 with six tions revealed it was murder by A week into CWC 2007, India Her manager Boxu Potts knockouts when she beat • Opening with a bang strangulation. Pakistan lost to Ireland amassed 413 runs in their group says his 20-year-old charge as American Yvonne Reis to retain The opening ceremony in Trelawny, the day before the incident and was match against Bermuda in Trinidad. been mandated by the World her plethora of world and inter- Jamaica has been described as pos- eliminated from the tournament. It was the highest score in the his- Boxing Council (WBC) to national titles - World Boxing sibly the best ever since the CWC tory of the tournament, eclipsing Sri defend her title against Stone, Council (WBC), World Boxing was first staged in 1975 in England. • Sixes for days Lanka’s 398 versus Kenya in 1996. the number one contender, Association (WBA), IWBF, Most of the countries in the South African batsman Herschelle probably late this month or IFBA, NABC, WBE and IWBA. Caribbean participated in the colorful Gibbs created a new world record Compiled from CMC and other early May. Stone, 38, has a record of event, complete with cultural displays for one-day cricket when he blasted sources. “The WBC has mandated eight victories, four defeats and and music, and attended by many six sixes against the Netherlands at Stone as their number one con- five draws. ® tender and the WIBA has also ®

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