Feb2006.qxd 2/6/06 9:07 AM Page 1 PRESORTED FEBRUARY 2006 STANDARD ® U.S. POSTAGE PAID MIAMI, FL PERMIT NO. 7315 Tel: (305) 238-2868 1-800-605-7516 [email protected] We cover your world Vol. 17 No. 3 [email protected] Glenmore Hinds, assistant commissioner of police in Jamaica, who oversees Operation Kingfish, a sweep- ing measure established to disrupt organized crime on the island, visited Florida recently to talk about just how tough his job is, page 2. Not since 1988, when Evander Holyfield did it, had a boxer been acclaimed undisputed cruiserweight champion of the world. But last month Caribbean-born O’Neil Bell rose to the occasion at Madison Square Garden and crowned himself king in the ring, page 7. ~ Coretta Scott King died last month, but Buju, Beenie, her contribution to Bounty. For the struggle for civil years the reg- gae/dancehall rights in America had music charts a lasting effect on have been dominated people from the by virtually the same names. Now Bobby Caribbean as well, Clarke, a radio station exec in page 15. New York, is launching a con- test to find fresh new talent to challenge the old guard, page 17. INSIDE News . .2 Valentine’s Feature . .11 Black History Month Feature . .15 Health . .21 Feature . .7 Food . .12 Arts/Entertainment . .17 Sport . .22 Viewpoint . .9 Tourism/Travel . .13 Business . .19 Politics/Region . .23 Feb2006.qxd 2/6/06 9:07 AM Page 2 2 CARIBBEAN TODAY February 2006 www.caribbeantoday.com NEWS Operation Kingfish aims to net organized crime in Jamaica amaica rounded out 2005 Kingfish, a sweeping measure the dubious distinction of rate. What we’re saying is that with more than 1,600 mur- established to disrupt organ- 1,600 murders. You and your when you interrogate the Jders. Last month members ized crime on the island, par- colleagues have implied that numbers, you (need to) know of the Jamaica Constabulary ticipated in that forum and number is not accurate. What what are the drivers, what are Force made a stop in Caribbean Today’s Deputy number are you comfortable the motives. A good percent- South Florida as a part of Managing Editor Damian P. with? age tends to come out of gang the Jamaican Diaspora Gregory spoke to him. The fol- and gang confrontations. Foundation Southern United lowing is an edited version of Glenmore Hinds: I am not Persons who are aligned to States’ efforts to discuss issues that interview: disputing the number we gangs being killed for reasons of crime and violence on the have. I’m merely clarifying the best known to gang members, island nation of more than 2.5 Caribbean Today: One of the numbers and to indicate even women who are aligned million people. Assistant things that you discussed where the challenges (are) to gang members they are Commissioner Glenmore tonight was the number (of from. For example, 1,600 (or) killing. If you were to remove Hinds, who oversees Operation murders in Jamaica in 2005) whatever the number is accu- the gang-on-gang confronta- tions, then you would have Hinds very little murders in Jamaica. - Photograph by Damian P. Gregory to speculate and I operate on C.T.: You said that if we were the basis of evidence he’s to take away all that Jamaica going to play, if any. would be the safest place in the world. Could you clarify C.T.: One of the criticisms of that statement? Operation Kingfish is that it has gone after certain ‘king G.H.: What we are saying is fish’ and not others. That it is if you look at the statistics as not an equal netting. How it relates to other offenses, would you respond to that like robberies, larcenies, and criticism? canal abuses; these are com- parable to almost any other G.H.: We are very disappoint- country in terms of the num- ed that that would be a view bers that we have. Murderers held by persons. But the truth are not. And it is because we is the mandate is to look at really have a violence prob- the entire major organized lem, and we are not really criminal networks. And whilst dealing with conflict as best we continue our efforts there we might… are going to be some targets that provide better opportuni- C.T.: Your operation, ties at a given period of time Operation Kingfish, has gar- than others. We cannot sit nered a certain amount of back and say because we are praise. However, there was a balancing the scales, don’t curious item that I read pursue this target because you recently that “Bulbie” (an are not in a position to pursue alleged major figure in organ- this one. In other words, ized crime in Jamaica who was whichever target presents the shot and killed by the police) best opportunity, at any given had a journal in which he point in time, we continue to detailed all of the people he (go after), up against others. worked with. My question is, if such a journal exists, why is C.T.: Operation Kingfish is that not public record? relatively new. At what point will you say to the diaspora G.H.: Because the journal is here as well as the society in currently a part of the on- Jamaica that it has been a going investigation. His success? empire is being investigated to see whether or not we are G.H.: Certainly the mandate is able to build some cases in to dismantle the major organ- this regard. So it would be ized criminal networks. There inappropriate to make that a are about 12 of these. We are public record at this stage. confident that we would have totally dismantled one. We’ve C.T.: To the issue now of (offi- disrupted others. cer Reneto) Adams and his So to the extent that we role now in the Police Force, would have been able to dis- what do you foresee that as mantle all of them, then we being? would have said that we are completely successful. G.H.: I can’t properly com- However, there are other ment on that situation. That strategies, there is a murder is a matter presently for the reduction strategy that has commissioner of police been unfolded, and elements and the Police Services of it is what Kingfish does. Commission. That is to total investigators fully focused on these, using C.T.: Do you foresee him the legal supports investigative being a part of the Force once techniques in terms of the more? operation to arrest persons G.H.: You would be asking me (CONTINUED ON PAGE 4) Feb2006.qxd 2/6/06 9:08 AM Page 3 February 2006 CARIBBEAN TODAY 3 NEWS www.caribbeantoday.com Seaplane crash spoils holiday celebrations in The Bahamas DAMIAN P. GREGORY Rolle, 26, lost five mem- they can do or say to bring How different this scene crew members on board bers of her family in the them back,” Rolle said. was from just a few days were killed, including 12 he reality of loss is just Dec. 19 tragedy. Her aunt, Sherman and Rolle are before. Filled with holiday Bahamians, many of whom beginning to settle in. A Jacqueline Stewart, 39, “who two of the plaintiffs in a law- excitement, their relatives had were related to each other. Tmother who will never (she says) was like my step suit filed last month seeking come to Miami from Bimini celebrate her birthday or mom,” was one of those rela- $50 million in damages for GONE INSTANTLY spend lunchtime with her two wrongful death against So many of their friends young sons. A father strug- Chalk’s Ocean Airways. and family members were gling with the finality of it all. “I feel that they just put gone in an “instant,” one fam- “My loss could never be those people out there to ily member told Caribbean replaced,” Kendrick Sherman, burn,” she said. Today in a soft voice on Dec. who lost his young daughter 22, her eyes welling up with Bethany and wife Sophia in STING tears. the tragic pre-Christmas crash The last two months have “Now I will have to go of a seaplane filled with been filled with the sting of about trying to explain why it Caribbean nationals heading sudden death. As family and happened to my children,” to the tiny island of Bimini in friends of the victims sat in said the woman who would The Bahamas. the lobby of the Cadillac only identify herself as a rela- The toddler died just one Hotel on Miami Beach in tive. day before her birthday. Florida, days after the crash, As she tried to wrap her Sherman must now raise his Red Cross Disaster Relief mind around the dizzying two young sons - ages nine Bishop Lazar and the rest of Bimini are workers tried to comfort Mitchell: “Bimini is a pretty stunned swirl of events that had hap- and 12 - alone. Sophia taught still mourning victims of the seaplane them. But in between the community.” pened just days before, one at the school her children still crash. “This is very, very close,” he says. polite conversation, sadness, thing was for sure - Christmas attend. disbelief and tears trickled 2005 and New Year 2006 were “Do you know how hard out. Some took comfort in hoping to shop and return to going to be unlike any other. it was to explain (to them) singing gospel hymns like family and friends in time for It would be a season of sad- what happened?” Sherman tives.