PRESORTED June 2016 STANDARD ® U.S. POSTAGE PAID MIAMI, FL PERMIT NO. 7315 Tel: (305) 238-2868 1-800-605-7516 [email protected] [email protected] We cover your world Vol. 27 No. 7 www.caribbeantoday.com THE MULTI AWARD WINNING NEWS MAGAZINE WITH THE LARGEST PROVEN CIRCULATION IN FLORIDA GUARANTEED ~ Thousands of Caribbean nationals working in the United States are in line to take home bigger checks following a decision by President Barack Obama to change the rules governing overtime pay, page 2. The sweet, thumping sound of Jamaican-fla - vored music has long lured revelers to the dance floor. Businesses are increasingly using it to attract consumers. Reggae/ska/dancehall, done by artistes like Bob Marley, is selling everything from banks, telecommunications, accom - modations, drinks and cloth - ing, page 7. ~ Haitian-born Alix Schoelcher Idrache, center, had plenty to celebrate with classmates after their recent graduation from the United States Army’s school for officers at West Point. Idrache’s emotional reaction to his accomplishment drew national attention, page 4. Sanya Richards-Ross, right, migrated to the United States INSIDE from Jamaica as a child. She News ...........................................2 Viewpoint ...................................9 Classifieds ...............................15 became a star track athlete, Feature ........................................6 Caribbean American Hurricane Preparedness .......16 winning World Championship Arts/Entertainment ...................7 Heritage Month .......................11 Food/Health .............................17 and Olympic gold representing the U.S. That decision, made Tourism/Travel ..........................8 Local/FYI ..................................14 Sports ........................................18 with her family, including mom Sharon, proved bittersweet, Read CaRibbean Today onLine aT CaRibbeanToday.Com page 9. 2 • CARIBBEAN TODAY • JUNE 2016 Over 9,972,000 copies printed and delivered in 27 years NEWS MO’ MONEY: Obama decision set to boost take home pay for Caribbean Americans GORDON WILLIAMS they can stand up for their overtime move will greatly nated Congress, which, for rights.” boost the economy by improv - example, has blocked efforts to Thousands of Caribbean “If you work overtime you ing the financial wellbeing of hike the national minimum nationals working in the United should actually get paid for employees, especially those wage. States are in line to take home working overtime,” added Vice who previously couldn’t claim “It comes down to enforce - more money following a deci - President Joe Biden last month. time-and-a-half pay because ment,” said Clare. “…(Obama’s) sion by President Barack their salary exceeded the previ - using the measures at his Obama to change the rules gov - SCAM ous threshold. Those opposing disposal.” erning overtime pay. Some employees have long think the move will hamper According to the Labor Under Obama’s regulatory been accused of scamming business owners willing to cre - Department, the $47,476 move announced last month, salaried workers by “promot - ate jobs, damage the U.S. econ - threshold was chosen because it ing” them into so-called super - omy and possibly hurt salaried represents the 40th percentile the overtime salary threshold - File photograph has been doubled. That means visory positions. Because salary workers. earnings of workers in the for that new posting was just President’s regulation means more take- The timing of Obama’s South, the lowest-income employees in the U.S. making home income. up to $47,476 annually have the above the for - move on overtime pay, howev - region in the U.S., which is right to time-and-a-half pay if mer threshold Obama, “it’s a win for working er, will essentially nullify easy expected to benefit the most they log more than 40 hours of $23,660, the families.” attempts to overturn it by a from the new regulation. The during a regular work week. employer could Obama’s move has earned new U.S. president, who will be South includes states like The new regulation is therefore avoid praise from the Caribbean known following November’s Florida and Georgia, home to expected to go into effect paying over - American community. election. Caribbean Americans thousands of Caribbean Dec. 1. time while “Any initiative that seems are cautious about the long- American workers. The president called it “the requiring the to give people protection is wel - term effectiveness of the regu - single biggest step I can take employee to come,” said Irwine Clare, presi - lation, but happy the president - Several news sources con - through executive action to work longer dent of the New York-based is trying to help, despite opposi - tributed to this story. raise wages for the American than the 40- Clare Caribbean Immigrant Services. tion from the Republican-domi - Æ people.” hour limit. “ … (The overtime regulation) U.S. Labor Secretary Tom The U.S. Labor should be a big boost for Perez told reporters the regula - Department believes under the Caribbean American workers.” Guyana celebrates 50th tion will address underpay and new regulation $12 billion will overwork. be added to wages over the MIXED “The overtime rule is next decade and at least four Obama’s action, one of Independence anniversary million more workers will be dozes of regulations he has about making sure middle-class Guyana late last month cele - He said both Guyana and able to claim overtime pay than pushed through during his final jobs pay middle-class wages,” brated its 50th anniversary of Barbados gained their before. The move also raises year as president which, due to Perez told reporters. “Some political Independence from Independence from Britain in will see more money in their the total of those eligible to complex legislative rules do not possibly more than 12 million need approval from the U.S. Britain. 1966. Barbados will be cele - pockets … Some will get more At a ceremony to mark the brating its 50th Independence time with their family … and employees overall, which Congress, has met with mixed should include a substantial reaction from the political echo milestone, President David anniversary in November. everybody will receive clarity Granger also lauded Prime Granger, who is chancellor on where they stand, so that number of Caribbean nationals. chamber. “Any way you slice it,” said Supporters believe the Minister Fruendel Stuart of of the Orders of Guyana, con - Barbados for supporting the ferred Stuart with the insignia rights of Small Island and Low of the Order of Roraima, Coastal Development states, Guyana’s second highest his advocacy for the Caribbean national award at an investiture community’s (CARICOM) ceremony at the president’s demand for reparations for official residence. Caribbean citizens and his con - Speaking about bilateral tribution to the reduction of and trade relations between the impact of climate change in the two countries, Stuart said the region. concerted efforts are being Granger said that the made by both nations to prime minister distinguished improve and strengthen the himself as, “a doughty defend - Guyana-Barbados Joint er of the territorial integrity of Commission . Guyana and Belize and the maritime space of all - Edited from CMC. Caribbean states.” Æ U.S. ambassador designate to The Bahamas dies NASSAU, The Bahamas –The to ratification by the U.S. Bahamas has described as Senate. She died on May 24. “incredible” and “shocking” “In February 2014, her the death of Cassandra Butts, nomination was welcomed and the United States ambassador acknowledged by The designate to the Caribbean Bahamas government,” the nation. White House said. “She was Foreign Affairs Minister re-nominated to the position Fred Mitchell described Butts on Thursday, February 5, as “thoughtful, organized, 2015.” helpful and sober” and that President Obama, who that “she had a keen sense of along with his wife Michelle judgment on just how to had met Butts when they were approach the tasks at hand. law students, said knowing “I looked forward to her Butts “was to know someone confirmation and to her work - who made you want to be bet - ing in The Bahamas,” he said. ter. “This news is very sad. “… She made so many The White House, in a lives better, including ours. We statement issued May 28, said admired her so much. And we Butts was an advisor to will miss her deeply.” President Barack Obama who was nominated to be ambassa - - Edited from CMC. dor to The Bahamas, subject Æ Over 9,972,000 copies printed and delivered in 27 years CARIBBEAN TODAY • JUNE 2016• 3 NEWS Bahamian admits guilt in hacking scheme to steal celebrities’ personal information such as Social Security num - the agent and that he had “easier” method involved identifying information that bers, and private sexually “exclusive content” that was sending a virus to the victim’s he had unlawfully obtained explicit photographs and “really profitable” and worth computer that would enable from the victims to the under - videos. Over the course of “hundreds of thousands of Knowles to access it, Bharara cover agent in exchange for two weeks in Dec. 2015, dollars,” Bharara said. said. He said the more diffi - thousands of dollars, where - Bharara said Knowles and an On Dec. 21, 2015, the cult method involved sending upon Knowles was arrested,” undercover law enforcement U.S. attorney said Knowles a false hacking notification to Bharara said. agent communicated about met with the undercover the victim and asking the vic - the material Knowles sought agent in New York City tim for his passcodes. - Edited from CMC. to sell to the undercover where Knowles described two “Knowles attempted to agent. methods he used to hack each sell numerous movie and tele - Æ Knowles claimed to be victim’s e-mail account. The vision scripts and personal Knowles NEW YORK – A 24-year-old Bahamian national faces up to 10 years in jail after he pleaded guilty to a hacking scheme to steal celebrities’ copyrighted and personal information.