May2008.qxd 5/8/08 2:04 PM Page 1 PRESORTED MAY 2008 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. 19 No. 6 Jamaica: 654-7282 THE MULTI AWARD-WINNING NEWS MAGAZINE ~ Caribbean nationals again flocked to Bounty Killer and fellow Philadelphia in large numbers to cheer Jamaican dancehall artiste on athletes from the region and add their Mavado were last month own special flavor and pride to the 114th banned from entering Guyana Penn Relays in the ‘City of Brotherly because that Caribbean gov- ernment is unhappy with their Love’…page 7. lyrics, which it claims glorify guns and bash gays, page 13. Jamaican- born boxer Glen Johnson was sure he had retained his world light heavy- weight title against American Chad Dawson. The crowd thought so too. The judges had other ideas, page 18. REVENGE PLOT ~ United States federal prosecutors in Florida have charged that a Jamaican man arrested last month, Hurricane season is almost while trying to board an Air Jamaica flight with here. History teaches that lack of awareness and preparation pipe-bomb materials, planned to seek retribution are common threads among all against two men charged with killing his major hurricane disasters. Find mother...page 3. out what you can do to get ready, page 23. CALL CARIBBEAN TODAY DIRECT FROM JAMAICA 654-7282 INSIDE News ..........................................................2 Tourism/Travel ........................................12 FYI..............................................................16 Region ......................................................21 Feature........................................................7 Arts/Entertainment ................................13 Sport..........................................................17 Politics......................................................22 Health........................................................11 Food ..........................................................15 Business ..................................................19 Hurricane Preparedness ......................23 May2008.qxd 5/8/08 2:04 PM Page 2 2 CARIBBEAN TODAY May 2008 www.caribbeantoday.com NEWS Pregnant Haitian spared U.S. Congressional Black Caucus urges deportation from U.S. Bush to take ‘decisive action’ in Haiti crisis MIAMI – In a rare decision, thing to eat, maybe some WASHINGTON - The United letter stated. United States immigration good Haitian food,” she con- States Congressional Black “Haiti, already suffering authorities have temporarily tinued. Caucus (CBC) is urging from extreme poverty, envi- spared the deportation of a Barbara Gonzalez, a President George W. Bush to ronmental destruction, and pregnant Haitian woman in spokeswoman for U.S. act “immediately and decisive- political instability, must now Miami on humanitarian Immigration and Customs ly” on the crisis in Haiti. also contend with sky-rocket- grounds. Enforcement in Miami, said In a letter sent last month, ing food costs and civil Fabienne Josil, 26, five Josil is not completely out of the 43 members of the CBC unrest”, the U.S. legislators months pregnant, was await- the woods; that she has expressed concern over what wrote, noting that recently ing deportation when immi- received an order of supervi- they described as the current thousands of Haitians have gration officials unexpectedly sion with reporting require- “economic and political insta- “flooded the streets in desper- told her April 25 she could ments. bility that has ensued in ation to protest rapidly leave detention to seek the “That doesn’t negate the Haiti”. increasing food prices. medical care she needs in the fact that she has a final order The letter also urged Bush “How desperate must the U.S. of removal,” Gonzalez said. Bush to provide immediate humanitarian crisis in Haiti “I’m going home to get “At this point her safety and debt relief and extend economic and political insta- become before the United some rest and be happy with security is the priority,” she Temporary Protective Status bility, it is now more critical States is willing to offer this my family,” an ecstatic Josil added. (TPS) for Haitian nationals than ever for the United deserving nation the compas- told reporters shortly after her Josil, who legally entered currently in the U.S. States to do everything within sion and generosity that it has release. “That’s all I’m going the U.S. in 2002, was under a “Given Haiti’s current its power to assist our hemi- to do. sphere’s poorest country”, the (CONTINUED ON PAGE 4) “I’m going to have some- (CONTINUED ON PAGE 4) City Council honors Guyanese subway hero Jamaican put on marshals’ NEW YORK – The New York grants to our city and nation,” in Harlem. City Council has honored a said Comrie, who represents “In a truly selfless act, he Guyanese-born mechanic who the 27th District in Queens. jumped down and crossed the most wanted list in U.S. risked his life to save a fallen “Kali serves as an inspira- tracks to hoist the much-larger WASHINGTON - United notice that it’s only a matter of subway passenger. tion to our community not unconscious passenger onto States marshals have added a time before we come knock- Councilman Leroy only because of his act of his shoulders and lifted him Jamaican man to their “Most ing,” said U.S Marshal Comrie, the son of Jamaican heroism but, more important- up to platform,” he added. Wanted” list, offering a Christina Pharo of the immigrants, presented the ly, because of how he inspires Comire said Kalimuthu is $25,000 reward for informa- Southern District of Florida. council proclamation to each New Yorker to serve one a “proud” Guyanese, who tion leading to his capture. “Our reputation of being Queens resident Veeramuthu another,” he added. migrated to the U.S. in 1991, A statement issued by the the best in fugitive apprehen- “Kali” Kalimuthu, a mechanic and has been a “proud resi- U.S. authorities said that sion can be backed up with at Columbia University in ‘HEROISM’ dent” of the Jamaica section David Clarke, 26, was last results, and we are hoping to Manhattan, during a ceremo- Comrie said Kalimuthu of Queens for 16 years. month placed on the list of 15 add Clarke’s apprehension to ny last month at City Hall. demonstrated “extraordinary He said Kalimuthu, who “Most Wanted Fugitives” for the numbers.” “Today, the council of the heroism” on Mar. 14 when a has been employed as a the “heinous” double murders Officials allege that the City of New York honors a fellow New Yorker collapsed, mechanic at Columbia of a South Florida couple on three men stuffed Chris devoted family man and ster- unconscious, onto the north- University for 11 years, is also June 16, 2007. Thompson and Cassandra ling example of the daily bound subway tracks of the a “passionate cricket player.” According to the release, Williams in a car trunk after unsung contributions of immi- No. 1 line at the 116th station two other men involved in the shooting them and then aban- ® shooting deaths were arrested doned the vehicle in Sunrise, just weeks after the incident Florida where authorities Jamaican ex-chief of staff for Vincentian and charged with first-degree made the discovery. murder, but Clarke is still on The U.S. marshal release the run. indicated that Clarke has rela- N.Y. city councilman indicted in scandal “Being added to the mar- tives and associates in Jamaica shals’ 15 most wanted list is a and South Florida. NEW YORK - United States Prosecutors also charged wake-up call to all fugitives federal prosecutors have that he directed two grand like Clarke to put them on ® indicted the Jamaican-born, jury witnesses to lie about former chief of staff for working for the Donna Reid Vincentian Councilman Dr. Fund and other related finan- Kendall Stewart on charges cial transactions. They said that he funneled taxpayer while the fund was expected money into pet projects and to furnish educational assis- favored community groups. tance to schoolchildren it “pri- In unsealing the indict- marily served as a conduit to ment, prosecutors last month provide cash and other per- accused Asquith Reid of using sonal benefits” to Reid. over $145,000 from the chari- The indictment also ty, Donna Reid Memorial Stewart charged that at least $31,000 Education Fund, a recipient of received by the fund was New York City funds. I’m deeply disappointed over wired to Reid’s friends and Authorities also indicted the allegations leveled at Mr. relatives in Jamaica. It further Joycinth Anderson, another Reid and the embarrassment accused Anderson of cashing Stewart aide, for assisting that his actions - right or wrong thousands of dollars in Donna Reid in the scheme. - have caused me, my hard- Reid Fund checks for Reid. Stewart, who represents working staff and the people of After their arraignment, the 45th Councilmanic District my district,” Stewart said. both Reid and Anderson in Brooklyn, which is over- were released on bond by a whelmingly Caribbean, was ‘CONSPIRACY’ Brooklyn magistrate. not named in the indictment. According to the indict- Prosecutors said Reid He said in a statement that he ment, Reid is charged with faces a maximum of 80 years did nothing wrong. “conspiracy to commit mail in prison, while Anderson can “While I believe in the fraud, money laundering con- be imprisoned for up to 40 presumption of innocent until spiracy and two counts of wit- years if convicted. ness tampering”. proven guilty, I must say that ® May2008.qxd 5/8/08 2:04 PM Page 3 May 2008 CARIBBEAN TODAY 3 NEWS www.caribbeantoday.com Jamaican bomb suspect was planning revenge on mother’s killers ~ FBI ORLANDO, Florida - United kicked a door” in front of her. International Airport The FBI said when he bomb-making literature were States federal prosecutors in They also said he was caught the attention of was detained his backpack found. Florida have charged that a admitted to a Veterans Affairs Transportation Security searched, two galvanized Brown also bought two Jamaican man arrested last hospital after trying to kill Administration (TSA) officers pipes, end caps, two small “boot knives” that could be month while trying to board himself.