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Florida health insurance carrier remaining put under Obamacare

With news of health insurance carriers pulling out of the market in several states, the situation in Florida is more positive.

One of the carriers that has been in the local market a long time indicated it is staying. In a statement last week, Florida Blue made known its intention to remain in Florida’s health insurance marketplace in 2018.

Tony Jenkins, marketing president for Florida Blue’s Central Florida Region said, “People have heard that some of the major insurers are pulling out, and we wanted to make sure that we were upfront to say that our intention is to stay in every county.”

However, Jenkins did not give any indication if the carrier would be increasing the premium rates of policies it sells under the Obamacare program.

Along with the criticisms by opponents of Obamacare that health-insurance carriers are pulling out of the Obamacare marketplace, is that policy premium rates sold under the program have been increasing. Some reports show premiums have increase varying from as low as 9 percent and as high as 27 percent. Jenkins said he couldn’t disclose the 2018 rates until they are submitted to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation later this month.

Following this submission, the rates will be publicized.

He, however, implied that if the subsidies that have been offered to Obamacare customers remain, rates of the premiums related to policies sold by Florida Blue should be affordable.

“If subsidies are not approved, our rates will be 20 percent higher than what we’ll submit to the Office of Insurance Regulations,” he said.

A recent bill passed in the US House of Representatives to replace Obamacare with the America Healthcare Act, proposes removing the federal subsidies. These subsidies have enabled thousands of lower-income residents in Florida and other states to purchase health insurance at lower, affordable rates.

In the Obamacare marketplace since 2014, Florida Blue has sold policies to one million residents in four South Florida counties, and the state’s other 63 counties. According to the company, more than 70 percent of its Obamacare policy holders are recipients of federal subsidies offered by the federal program.

Along with Florida Blue, there are four other health carriers selling Obamacare health insurance in Florida. This is down from eight companies in 2014. .

Transforming America Through Interaction

Back row (l-r): Cary Ragbeer (Advisory), Garfield Wright, Georgia Wright, Dave Smith, Albert Lettman (President), Philip Ragbeer. Missing: Gilda Swasey Front row (l-r): Ellagene Smith (Vice President), Idania Morris (Rebecca's Mom), Rebecca Yap (scholarship winner), Tanya Ragbeer, Carlton Golding (Treasurer)

Transforming America Through Interaction (TATI), Inc. was formed after the tragic passing of 19-year old Tatiana (“Tati”) Renèe McIntosh in 2007.

This year, the 10th anniversary of her passing, the non-profit organization continues to serve youth from the Caribbean-American community by providing safety awareness, scholarship opportunities and a summer mentorship program while promoting Caribbean-American culture.

TATI, Inc. held its annual Family Fun Picnic on Dania Beach last weekend at the Dr. Von D. Mizell and Eula Johnson Park (formerly John U. Lloyd Beach State Park). The event draws a truly diverse crowd, and this recent gathering was no exception.

“This is a fitting location,” says founder, Tanya Ragbeer, mother of Tatiana, who was there with her husband Cary and youngest daughter Katrina. “The history of this location is so rich. It opened as a segregated beach over 30 years ago, and was renamed last year after the first blacks to desegregate the beach. It is a fitting place, to not only celebrate our Caribbean heritage, as we are a colorful people, but also to hopefully understand and honor what transpired here.”

The annual Caribbean-American Heritage Youth Essay Competition prize was awarded to Pompano Beach High School 11th grader, Rebecca Yap.

“I basically wrote in my essay that I wanted to be in Jamaica in the 1960s. My dad moved to America from Kingston when he was 12, so Jamaica, my culture, is a big part of my life. I grew up listening to reggae and Bob Marley, and that was right after independence and was a great time for the island socially and economically,” she said.

The event had music by popular DJ Mark Swaby, games, prizes and surprises.

Surprise guest Stephen “Cat” Coore of Third World came out to chill, and had a special message for Caribbean-American youth.

“Everyone just have to know sey we are who we are, and just keep it that way; don’t try to be anybody else.”

Fitting statement, as they celebrated Caribbean-American Heritage Month and Tatiana, who was passionate about uplifting our youth, and for uniting Caribbean countries in Florida.

Click this link to view previous story on TATI, Inc.:  Local charity TATI honors daughter’s memory

Former Jamaican Government minister Carlyle Dunkley is dead

Carlyle Dunkley, who served as Minister of Public Utilities and Transport between 1979 and 1980, Minister of National Security 1980, Opposition Senator 1980-1983, Shadow Minister of Education 1984-1989, died on Wednesday in hospital after a brief illness.  He was 78.

In acknowledging the death of Dunkley Opposition Leader, Dr Peter Phillips said he along with the entire family of the People’s National Party (PNP) is saddened by news of the death of Comrade.

“For over four decades, Carlyle served the people of Jamaica with distinction and commitment.

“His leadership qualities were evident from his student days at Kingston College and it was in his final year as an undergraduate at the University of the West Indies that Michael Manley invited him to join the National Workers Union after his graduation,” said Phillips.

“His tenure in the trade union movement revealed the breadth of his vision and his capacity for transformation leadership. He was a leading member of Michael Manley’s negotiating team, which won landmark benefits for the sugar workers in the historic 1959 agreement and for the bauxite workers that same tear.

“His leadership in the labour movement climaxed with his well-deserved appointment as President of the National Workers Union and of the Caribbean Bauxite Mine & Metal Workers Federation,” added Phillips.

The Opposition Leader noted that Dunkley also served as Jamaica’s Ambassador to Cuba and Special Envoy to CARICOM and the Association of Caribbean States.

“The People’s National Party will always remember Comrade Dunkley for his invaluable service as a member of the National Executive Council for more than 40 years and as a member of the party’s executive committee.

“Comrades islandwide will recall his infectious enthusiasm on the campaign trail. On a personal level, I would like to place on record my own debt to Carlyle for his mentorship and guidance during my early political career,” said Phillips.

Dunkley was conferred with the Order of Jamaica in 1991.

 

VCB withdraws from Jamaican national trials

Veteran female sprinter, Veronica Campbell-Brown, has withdrawn from the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) National Senior Championships following her failure to show up for the first round of the women’s 100 meters on Thursday’s first day of the four-day event at the National Stadium.

Campbell-Brown posted on her social media page Twitter that she was feeling pain in her right knee and confirmed that she will not participate in the remainder of the championships, which was organised to select the team for the IAAF World Championships in London later this year.

Campbell-Brown is the third fastest woman over 100 meters in the world so far this year after running 10.84 seconds at a meet in Montverde, Florida on June 10 and appeared set to qualify for her sixth World Championships.

Campbell-Brown was not the only casualty on the first day as Commonwealth Games champion Kemar Bailey-Cole pulled up injured in his first round 100 meters race while Kerron Stewart also failed to show up at the start of her 100 meters race.

VCB opens season with 11.06 win in Gainsville

Florida teens being trained in safe driving practices

Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens and the Florida Teen Safe Driving Coalition (FTSDC) is doing something about it.

By hosting its sixth Annual Leadership Academy, the FTSDC hopes to train and empower teen leaders to address the issues impacting safe driving practices in their communities. It will include workshops on distracted driving, seat belt use, impaired driving, passenger safety, and other issues relevant to teen traffic safety.

Attendees to this year’s Leadership Academy will also benefit from participating in the National SADD Conference (Students Against Destructive Decisions) that is being held in Tampa. SADD Chapters from all over the country will join together to focus on their mission of improving the health and safety of young people.

“The teens that attended last year’s Leadership Academy took what they learned, implemented community programs and raised awareness about traffic safety,” said Danielle Branciforte, leader of the Florida Teen Safe Driving Coalition. “The teens attending this year’s Academy will be even better equipped by experiencing the National SADD Conference program.”

Attendees will be trained in effective planning strategies and leave with an action plan to organize and host a teen safe driving campaign in their home school and/or community. They will be provided with mentorship by FLTSDC members and will serve as ambassadors at local teen driving safety events.

The event will be held from Sunday, June 25 through Wednesday, June 28, at the Westin Tampa Harbour Island.

Bahamas Government announces job freeze

Bahamas police question former PM on COVID-19 food program
Former Prime Minister of Bahamas, Dr Hubert Minnis.

Just six weeks after coming to office, the Dr Hubert Minnis administration in the Bahamas has slapped a freeze on hiring in the public service.

The moves comes on the heels of damning revelations from Dr Minnis this week that the former Progressive Liberal Party engaged in a US$14 million “wild hiring spree” in the last five months leading up the May 10 general elections.

The Government issued a directive to the departmental heads this week that there would be no new hires in the public service unless it was absolutely critical.

A June 19 letter, issued by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service Elise Delancy and obtained by the Nassau Guardian newspaper, read: “Please be advised that effective immediately, there should be no new hires or renewal of contracts except where there is a critical need. Under such circumstances, the approval of Cabinet will be required.”

Delancy also stressed that the authority to appoint workers solely rests with the Ministry of the Public Service and the Public Service Commission.

Public Service Minister Brenzil Rolle recently told Parliament that the public service increased by 6, 500 people during the last term without any consideration given to whether the Government was able to pay them.

“Every minister hired whomever they wished, at whatever rank they wished,” he said.

Rolle’s charges were also backed by Prime Minister Minnis who added that contractual workers were also engaged in addition to permanent employees.

“Between December 2016 and the 9th of May, 2017, 648 persons were brought on at a cost of $10,149,738.40. In April alone, 119 were hired at a cost of $1.9 million and in May, the cost of new hires was $2.5 million,” he said.

 

Guy Phillipe gets nine year sentence in US

Guy Phillipe, the leader of a 2004 coup in Haiti that toppled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has been jailed for nine years in the United States for conspiracy to launder drug money.

Philippe, 49, had pleaded guilty.

He was arrested earlier this year in Haiti after taking part in a live radio show and extradited to Florida.

In his guilty plea, he admitted taking bribes to protect narcotics shipments to the US while he was working as a senior police officer.

The US justice department said Philippe had shared some of the money that he was paid in bribes with fellow police officers, to buy their silence.

The bribes he took between 1999 and 2003 are believed to have amounted to as much as $3.5 million.

Charges of drug-trafficking, which would have incurred a lengthier sentence, were dropped as part of his plea bargain.

Philippe was arrested in January, days before being sworn in as a senator in Haiti, which would have given him immunity from prosecution.

While he first pleaded not guilty, he changed his plea to guilty in April in exchange for a reduced sentence.

 

Two get bail in priest robbery case

Two of the four people charged with robbing Roman Catholic priest Father Clyde Harvey last week, were granted bail when they reappeared in Port of Spain’s Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

The other two, which includes a 17-year-old boy, were denied bail by Magistrate Adrian Darmanie, given their past criminal record. As such, they were both remanded into custody and reminded of their right to apply to a High Court judge for bail.

Charged with robbing Harvey are Christian Huggings, 19, Miguel Collins, 18, Dion Gillard and the 17-year-old boy.

The four first appeared in court on Monday charged with breaking and entering into the St Martin’s RC Church at Hermitage Road, Gonzales, and falsely imprisoning Harvey, during an incident last Monday. They were also accused of using personal violence to rob him of a watch valued at US$500, a Samsung Galaxy cellphone valued at $4,500 and $1,000 cash. During their first appearance all four were all remanded into custody since their criminal background trace was not available.

At Thursday’s hearing, it was revealed that both Gillard and the teenager had several matters of a similar nature pending before the court. It was based on this that the magistrate refused the granting bail to them.

Huggins and Collins on the other hand were granted bail in the sum of TT$200,000 and TT$150,000 respectively, to be approved by a clerk of the peace.

The matter will next be called on July 20.

 

Broward businesses affected by June floods can access financial help

The Broward Emergency Management Division is coordinating with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to assess financial assistance eligibility for small businesses in the County that have suffered economic loss due to the heavy rainfall and flooding earlier this month.

Small businesses, particularly those at Sawgrass Mills Mall in the City of Sunrise, that have lost business as a result of the heavy rainfall and flooding between June 3-10, 2017 may be eligible for the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program.

“We’re asking small businesses in Broward County to complete and submit a business damage assessment survey byJune 27, 2017 to ensure funding will be made available,” said Miguel Ascarrunz, Director of Broward County’s Emergency Management Division. “If we don’t get at least five applications, the SBA will not consider any loans for Broward County.”

An Economic Injury Disaster Loan can help small businesses meet necessary financial obligations that the business could have met had the heavy rainfall and flooding not occurred. The Loan provides damage relief from economic injury caused directly by heavy rainfall and permits the business to maintain a reasonable working capital position.

The SBA provides Economic Injury Disaster Loans only to those businesses determined as unable to obtain credit elsewhere. The SBA can provide up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred. The loan amount will be based on a company’s actual economic injury and financial needs, regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage. The interest rate on Economic Injury Disaster Loans cannot exceed four percent per year. The term of these loans cannot exceed 30 years. The repayment term will be determined by your ability to repay the loan.

For more information, call the Broward Emergency Management Division at 954-831-3900.

This Day In History: Papa Doc installed as ‘president for life’

On this day in history, Haitian Dictator François (“Papa Doc”) Duvalier was installed as “President for Life” on June 22, 1964.  Papa Doc was elected “President” on Sept. 22, 1957, and inaugurated Oct. 22nd.

Born in poverty in Port‐au‐Prince on April 14, 1907 to Duval Duvalier, a school teacher, and Uritia Abraham, a bakery worker. Duvalier graduated from the University Of Haiti School Of Medicine, in 1934.  Following graduation, he worked as a travelling doctor in rural Haiti where he won the respect of the suffering and superstitious, as a doctor who could “work miracles.”  Garnering the support of regional voodoo houngans (witch doctors), he published the book, “Gradual Evolution of Voodoo” in 1944.

In 1946 Duvalier served as Director General of the national Public Health Service and in 1948, having become interested in politics, he was made Secretary of Labor, however, being anti the current Magloire regime, Duvalier was forced into exile.  When General Magloire was deposed in 1956, Duvalier returned from exile and returned to politics.

After having won by an overwhelming majority, in the 1957 elections, Duvalier set to work recruiting the notorious Tontons Macoutes who were responsible for carrying out orders to rid the country of and/or detain any enemies, to silence the media by bombing newspapers and jailing editors and publishers of local periodicals.

Duvalier suffered from trust issues, and frequently “retired” generals who he felt may potentially lead coups against him.  In 1959, following a coup attempt by Haitian exiles, Papa Doc suffered a serious heart attack that almost killed him.  Following his recovery, Duvalier jailed his stand-in and went on to rig elections in his favor in 1961.

papa-doc-1During his rule, the notorious dictator was so consumed with his own power and a need to be seen as the loved leader of Haiti, that he ordered huge likenesses of himself plastered on walls in the capital city, Port‐au Prince, and from time to time required “spontaneous” demonstrations of affection, busing in thousands of the largely illiterate and desperately poor to the capital, to scream adoringly, “Du‐val‐yeah, Du‐val‐yeah!” and “Viva Papa Doc!”  The dictator also known to have indoctrinated Haitian children with a political catechism that included his own parody of The Lord’s Prayer:

“Our Doc, who art in the National Palace for life, Hallowed be Thy name by present and future generations. Thy will be done at Port‐au‐Prince and in the provinces. Give us this day our new Haiti and never forgive the trespasses of the anti-patriots who spit every day on our country; let them succumb to temptation, and under the weight of their venom, deliver them not from any evil . . .”

Duvalier remained in power until he died in 1971, succeeded by his son, Jean‑Claude Duvalier.

Bolt to compete at Monaco Diamond League

Sprint King, Usain Bolt, will run his last race before the IAAF World Championships in London this summer, at the Herculis EBS Diamond League meeting in Monaco on July 21.

The meet organizers have confirmed that the 11-time world champion will compete at the meeting as part of his farewell tour.

Returning to the Louis II Stadium for the first time since 2011, the Jamaican superstar will contest the 100m. When he raced in Monaco six years ago, Bolt won in 9.88.

The meeting is the final IAAF Diamond League fixture before the IAAF World Championships London 2017, which will be Bolt’s last major championships appearance.

Bolt opened his competitive season at the Racers Grand Prix in Kingston on June 10. There he won the 100m in 10.03s in what was his final race on Jamaican soil.

He has also been confirmed to compete in Ostrava on June 28.

Coe believes Bolt faces big challenge to keep his crown

 

Tropical Storm Cindy churning slowly toward the Gulf Coast

Following heavy rains which lashed South Florida in the last few weeks, Broward County officials said they have been getting thousands of requests per day to eradicate mosquitoes. As a result, the County has been deploying manpower to  control of the spread. Due to the increase in the mosquito population, Broward County has trained extra personnel to help cover a wider area – this in addition to their normally scheduled spraying. They are also treating any standing water  to control the mosquito breeding.

A pro-opposition radio station in St Vincent and the Grenadines has begun efforts to raise over 200-thousand Eastern Caribbean dollars it owes Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves after he successfully sued for defamation. Gonsalves had filed the defamation suit after comments were made on a radio program in 2007.This is the second lawsuit that the station has lost to the Prime Minister

Jamaican theater returns to South Florida with two shows this weekend. The series, Shebada Meets Bad Boy Trevor, will kick off The at Miramar High School on Saturday June 25 and  will travel to the Coral Springs High School the following day. Both events start at 8:00 PM..

And in Sports

Organizers of the Diamond League meeting to be held in Monaco next month, have announced that eight-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt will run the 100 metres on July 21. Bolt, who is is competing in his final season before retirement,  will use the Monaco event as a warm-up for the world championships in London that start on August 5.

Here’s What’s Trending.

Tropical Storm Cindy is churning slowly toward the Gulf Coast, where millions of residents are bracing for heavy rain and potential flash flooding. The storm – the second of the Atlantic Hurricane season, could bring up to 12 inches of rain to some coastal areas of Texas and Louisiana.

 

For Tomorrow’s weather forecast

It will be partly cloudy with isolated thunderstorms in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties with a high of 88 and a low of 73 degrees. Today’s news was brought to you by the Florida Department of Health in Broward County, who encourages you to Protect Your Baby, Vaccinate On Time, Every Time.  They remind you that Immunizations are SAFE, PROVEN PROTECTION. For more on these and other stories visit us at caribbeannationalweekly.com Make sure to pick your copy of Caribbean News weekly at your nearest Caribbean American outlet.

Ffriend’s heading home

Almost three years after he was sentenced to a three-year jail term after being found guilty of vehicular manslaughter in Serbia, Jamaican basketball player Kimani Ffriend is heading home at the end of the month.

Ffriend, who turns 40 in July, on appeal had his sentence reduced to time already served and was set free several weeks ago.

He was found guilty in September 2014 of killing Nevena Dragutinovic, a 30-year-old account executive, while driving drunk in Belgrade at about 4:00 am on the morning of November 3, 2012.

While he awaited the verdict of the appeal he represented Dynamic in the Serbian Basketball League and was named MVP averaging 22 points and 11 rebounds for the season. He had his Jamaican passport handed to him on Monday.

“Well, it (that he now free) has not hit me yet. Everything is still surreal. It’s been a long four and half years and I am just thankful to God that I can move past this and learn and allow this situation to influence me in a positive way and to those I cross paths with,” he told Sportsmax.tv.

Ffriend bounces back

www.caribbeannationalweekly.com

UN names new head for cholera fund raising program in Haiti

The United Nations has named Josette Sheeran, the head of the World Food Programme (WFP) as a high-level envoy for Haiti who will develop a comprehensive fund-raising strategy to finance its plans to deal with the cholera outbreak in the country.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres says Sheeran has accepted a salary of one US dollar per year to be fully engaged in fundraising.

Last week, UN Deputy-General Secretary Amina J. Mohammed told member states that only US$2.7 million had been raised in dealing with the epidemic that has resulted in the death of thousands of people.

He said that only US$183,000 was left

In February, Guterres wrote to member countries asking if they intended to make voluntary cholera contributions and received a lukewarm response.

He is reported to be asking countries to turn over US$40.5 million to the cholera fund, money that will be left over when the mission in Haiti ends.

The UN has not accepted responsibility for the introduction of the disease in Haiti even though scientific studies have traced it to Nepalese soldiers that were stationed near a river in the rural town of Mirebalais in the Central Plateau region after the devastating 2010, earthquake.

Sheeran, a former US State Department official,  has experience in attracting world attention to burgeoning problems. In 2008, as food prices dramatically increased, she warned of a worldwide food crisis and heavily lobbied the United States and other governments for additional aid.

Haitian President meets with Mike Pence in Miami

www.caribbeannationalweekly.com

Cindy makes landfall

Tropical Storm Cindy careened ashore early Thursday in southwestern Louisiana.

Already blamed for one death in Alabama, Cindy was expected to keep churning seas and spin off bands of severe weather from eastern Texas to northwestern Florida.

The storm’s maximum sustained winds had decreased to near 40 mph Thursday morning with additional weakening expected, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

A boy on an Alabama beach was struck and killed Wednesday by a log washed ashore by the storm. Baldwin County Sheriff’s Captain Stephen Arthur said witnesses reported the 10-year-old Missouri boy was standing outside a condominium in Fort Morgan when the log, carried in by a large wave, struck him. The boy was vacationing with his family from the St. Louis area. He wasn’t immediately identified.

It was the first known fatality from Cindy. Otherwise, the storm was blamed for widespread coastal highway flooding, rough seas and scattered reports of power outages and building damage caused by high winds. There were numerous reports of waterspouts and short-lived tornadoes spawned by the storm.

National Weather Service forecasters estimated the storm had dumped anywhere from 2 to 10 inches of rain on various spots along the Gulf Coast from southern Louisiana to the Florida panhandle as of Wednesday. And more rain was on the way.

In Gulfport, Mississippi, Kathleen Bertucci heavy rainfall Wednesday sent about 10 inches of water.

Storms also downed trees in the Florida Panhandle. Fort Walton Beach spokeswoman Jo Soria said fallen trees hit houses and cars in what she called “pockets of wind damage” in two or three residential neighborhoods.

The White House said President Donald Trump was briefed on the storm Wednesday by Homeland Security Adviser Tom Bossert.

EDITORIAL: How can this bitter divide be healed?

Last week’s shooting targeted at Republican congressional representatives while participating in early morning practice for a bi-partisan baseball game was unfortunate, sad and ironic. Ironic because the shooting involved men who were preparing to share a friendly game with their political opponents.  But, the shooting by a man who previously expressed hatred for the sitting Republican president and Republicans in Congress was acutely symptomatic of the vast and bitter divisions in America.

Although America is a united nation of 50 states, the history of the country has been one of division. It cannot be lost on the current citizens and residents of the US that this union did not come about voluntarily, but forcibly after a long, deadly civil war between southern and northern states. In later years the nation was also sharply divided over entering World War II, and later still over fighting in the Viet Nam War. However, the divisions being experienced today seems much worse than in the past. These are gut-wrenching divisions based on social and economic class. These are similar divisions that bitterly divided Russia in the early 20th Century, leading to the Russian Revolution and the spread of communism.

Social and economic class differences in America has divided America not only down the middle by political support for Democrats and Republicans, but between some 90 percent of the population who struggle daily to make financial ends meet, and the 10 percent who are flushed with wealth.

The divisions have become more bitter as the majority 90 percent, including the black race, strive for increase in the federal minimum wage; affordable healthcare; affordable housing; lower taxes; lower food prices; sounder education; justice from law enforcement and the courts; and immigration reform. But as the majority strive for these issues to be addressed favorably they often face opposition from most of the 10 percent. Because a large percentage of the current majority party in the US Congress emerge from this latter 10 percent, the wrath of the 90 percent is sometimes targeted against these representatives, most of whom act ignorant or unconcerned to their plight.

The bitter divide is firmly entrenched in politics. America is no longer seen as a political tolerant society. Long gone are the days when migrants to American from politically volatile countries were relieved to find Americans who supported different political parties interacting peacefully. Back in those days people supporting the various political parties could ride in the same vehicle to the polls without animosity. Today, this cordial relationship between supporters of the Democratic and Republican parties is less evident.

Feeding the social, economic, and political division in the nation is the ‘instant news’ cycle via social media. This wasn’t present, say, even five years ago. Rhetoric, often scathing, is freely disseminated without sensitivity for the individuals, groups or class that this rhetoric affects. This type of rhetoric usually sparks equally damaging reactionary rhetoric. And so, the national divide gets wider, nastier and more dangerous.

Sadly, last week’s shooting incident could be indicative of the seething, angry undercurrent in the American society. If things are not to escalate into even worse violence, within and across states, something must be done.

One of the first things that need to be done is for the nation’s political leaders, especially those elected to state and federal office, to be more mindful of the plight of the 90 percent. The nation will remain on the periphery of a social boiling point if the political establishment continue to discard issues affecting the majority. Playing on the words of the late President John Kennedy, leaders in state capitals and in Washington DC need to examine and say to themselves, “Ask not what voters can do for me, but what can I do to improve the lives of voters.”

It’s firmly believed by many experts, professionals, and the man in the street that by positively addressing the issues that afflict the majority, the divisions in America could be realistically breached.

 

Students sue Miami-Dade school district after Social Security numbers posted online

Two former Miami-Dade students are suing the School Board after they found their Social Security numbers and test scores online along with the personal information of hundreds of other students.

The plaintiffs did a basic online search of their names and discovered that the information was posted on the Miami-Dade school district’s website, according to the lawsuit.

“The carelessness with how the district manages students’ private information needs to be addressed,” lawyer Stephanie Langer said in a statement. The students are asking for both monetary damages and an “overhaul” of school district policies on the protection of student information.

The Miami-Dade school district called it an “isolated incident” and said that a forensic review was being conducted to determine where the information came from and whether it is authentic.

“The school district does not comment on threatened or pending litigation, however, Miami-Dade County Public Schools takes seriously any action that breaches student privacy and confidentiality,” said spokeswoman Daisy Gonzalez-Diego. “Every reasonable method is employed to protect student records. As soon as this incident was brought to our attention, the web page was immediately taken down.”

No knee jerk reaction to crime says Jamaican Security Minister

Jamaican security minister Robert Montague says gangs in the country are under pressure

With Jamaica’s murder rate racing close to 700 since the start of the year that country’s National Security Minister, Robert Montague says the Government’s response to crime will be based on facts and firm intelligence.

Speaking at the United District Constables Association (UDCA) 37th Anniversary Church Service, held at the Portmore New Testament Church of God on June 18, Montague said there would be no knee-jerk reaction to the out of control crime rate.

“It will not be a knee jerk response. It will be deliberate, studied and targeted. The illegal gun and gunmen are our targets,” he said.

Montague described the causes of the  recent surge in incidents of crime as the twin problem of a proliferation of guns and a lack of information from the citizenry.

“The number one twin problem that drives crime is the illegal gun and lack of information,” he said, “This government will not be engaging in any knee-jerk reactions. We urge all Jamaica to remain calm and understand that the government has laid a firm foundation with the five-pillar crime reduction strategy.”

The said the five pillars are Effective Policing, Swift and Sure Justice Processes, Situational Prevention, Crime Prevention through Social Development and Rehabilitation and Redemption.

Smart street lights installed in Jamaica

The Jamaica Public Service company (JPS) has extended its relationship with Silver Spring Networks to add 110,000 street lights to its multi-application IPv6 platform.

The country-wide smart street light control program will connect up to 110,000 smart LED street lights in population centers around the island including Kingston, Spanish Town, Negril, and Falmouth serving more than 600,000 customers.

Silver Spring’s Streetlight.Vision central management system (CMS) will also be deployed for JPS through a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model to control and manage the networked street lights.

“We are undertaking a major transformation that is redefining lighting and energy service delivery by modernising Jamaica’s infrastructure, and we are pleased with how Silver Spring Networks’ technology is facilitating this change,” said Gary Barrow, chief technology officer, JPS.

“We see Silver Spring as a crucial provider for not only smart grid innovation but also as a platform for new smart city applications, that will bring new and relevant applications quickly to the cities of Jamaica.”

According to Silver Spring, its smart street light controls will help drive additional energy efficiency, which is crucial for high-cost, petroleum-based island energy grids like those found in Jamaica. Smart street light controls can help increase citizen safety by alerting a utility to light failures and allowing for speedier repair.

Furthermore, smart street light controls can help increase safety and energy efficiency through adaptive dimming and brightening capabilities based on pedestrian and vehicular traffic. JPS’ three-year program to upgrade the lighting infrastructure with new LED street lights and smart controls will begin this summer.

“We are excited by how rapidly JPS was able to realize the value of our platform to connect multiple services,” added Don Reeves, CTO, Silver Spring Networks. “We believe our success with JPS demonstrates how effective our technology is in not only meeting a customer’s initial deployment objective, but how we can set them up for success in the future.”

Silver Spring said it works with some of the largest utilities in the US for networked street light deployments, including Florida Power & Light Company for what is thought to be the largest connected street lighting project in the world consisting of 500,000 networked street lights across Miami.

South Florida, and Oklahoma Gas & Electric boosts the tally up to 250,000 networked street lights across its service territory. In addition, Silver Spring connects smart street lights in other locations around the globe such as in Bristol, Copenhagen, Halifax, Glasgow, London, Paris and in Providence.

 

New Global Immigration card for Jamaicans

Jamaica  is working towards the creation of a global immigration card for nationals living overseas and that a feasibility study to show how the document will be implemented is being prepared for discussion at the upcoming 7th Biennial Jamaica 55 Diaspora Conference.

Under-Secretary for Diaspora Protocol and Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Ambassador Sharon Saunders, told a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’, that the ministry is working with the Ministry of National Security and a Diaspora Task Force within the Economic Growth Council (EGC) to develop the card, one of the 18 EGC targets announced by the Government.

“That is in progress. It will allow for Jamaicans in the diaspora to come in and join the queue. As Jamaicans, you travel on a Canadian passport but if you have a global immigration card you can join the Jamaican queue and there may be certain privileges. It will become a loyalty card,” she said, adding that the card is intended “to increase affinity and to raise the level of consciousness of Jamaicans”.

The Jamaica 55 Diaspora Conference is scheduled for July 23-26 and Ambassador Saunders said that it will be a platform for persons to share ideas and experiences, and create new alliances

Immigration Column: Studying For Your Naturalization Test? There’s A New App For That!

** Contributions to this Column are made by Attorney Caroly Pedersen, Esq. of the American  Immigration Law Center – Call 954-382-5378

IMMIGRATION NEWS & UPDATES 

Studying For Your Naturalization Test? There’s A New App For That!

The USCIS announces a new mobile app available to study for your naturalization test “on the run”. Called  “USCIS: Civics Test Study Tools.” The new app is now available on the iTunes and Google Play app stores and is available in both English and Spanish. In addition to helping prepare you for the civics test during your naturalization interview, the app has a review of past tests and a game to challenge your civics knowledge. You can access the new app, by visiting our website at: www.Immigratetoday.com and clicking on the Immigration Newsletter link. 

Understanding How To Obtain Copies of Some Immigration Documents Under The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a Federal law which in part allows individuals to obtain copies of documentation contained in government files, including those related to Immigration matters. Under current technological advances, FOIA requests made to the USCIS can be made by email. However, it is important to understand that not all documents are available under FOIA, including requests to obtain duplicate approval notices or original documents submitted to the USCIS. Typically, documents which can be obtained are copies of Immigration case filings, including supporting documents. This is particularly important when an immigrant has lost a copy of a vital document such as an I-94 which was previously submitted to the USCIS as part of an Immigration application. To make an Email FOIA request to the USCIS Download and complete form G-639 Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act Request

Then scan and email to the Department of Homeland Security at:
uscis.foia@uscis.dhs.gov

You can get a link to the Foia resources pages to file a Freedom of Information request by visiting our website at: www.Immigratetoday.com  and clicking on the Immigration Newsletter link.

THIS WEEK’S IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 

Question: I have been married to my husband since February 2014. I have received my two years green card which will be expired in August 2017. How soon will I be able to apply for my American citizenship.

Answer: Since you obtained your conditional residency through marriage, you must apply for your Removal of Condition 90 days before expiration of your Green Card, so within the next several months. Once your permanent Residency is approved and you have been a U.S. Resident for 2 years and 9 months, as long as your husband has been a U.S. Citizen for at least 3 years and your husband are living together as a real married couple and have extensive documentation to prove your continuing marital relationship, you can apply for Early Naturalization in May of 2018. 

Question: I got my Green Card in the U.S. in 2005 through my marriage to my U.S. Citizen wife but I never applied for citizenship. We had marriage issues and broke up in 2010 and I moved back to Colombia. I could not maintain going back and forth to the U.S., so I gave up my Green Card in exchange for an American tourist visa in 2011. We have a 12 year old daughter, so I come back and forth every year to see her. I’ve recently lost my job in Colombia and was thinking about moving back to America to be near my daughter. I’d like to know how to go about getting my old Green Card back or getting a new one through my daughter. Thanks.

Answer: Its important to know that once a U.S. Resident formally “relinquishes” (gives back) a Green Card at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, the officer usually requires that State Department form I-407 be signed, abandoning all rights to Residency. When this is done, all U.S. Residency status is lost and any desire to obtain Residency again requires a whole new application process. However, in order to qualify for U.S. Residency again, the immigrant must still have a legal basis for eligibility, for instance, being married to a U.S. Citizen, or being sponsored by a U.S. Citizen child, parent or sibling, since there is no way to apply solely on the basis of requesting the old Green Card status again.

In your case, since you are no longer married to a U.S. Citizen, you would need to have some other eligibility in order to apply for U.S. Residency again. You daughter can sponsor you once she turns age 21, but not before. You might want to consider some other type of visa to allow you to live and work in the U.S. like an E-2 investor visa. To qualify, you would need to make an investment in a new or existing business in the U.S. of approx $80K+. E-2 visas for Colombians can be issued for up to 5 years renewable. Let me know if you would like more information.

Question: I got my residency recently through marriage to my American wife. I have my dad still in Venezuela and the situation is really bad. I know  that I can’t file to sponsor my dad to immigrate here until I get my American citizenship. But I am wondering if its possible for my American wife to do it? Is that possible?

Answer: Immigration regulations only allow U.S. Citizen children age 21 or older to file for their parents. A parent can be a biological parent by birth, or step-parent, as long as the step-parent relationship was established by the marriage of the step-parent the child’s biological parent before the child turned age 18. There is no category for “in-laws”, so unfortunately, your wife, even though she is a U.S. Citizen, cannot sponsor your father for his Residency

 

 

 

Several injured after 12-year-old driver causes crash

A woman is now facing criminal charges after allowing a 12-year-old girl behind the wheel of a car involved in an accident which injured several people.

Police say Brittney Powell, 20, had the girl drive the car from a house in Port St. Lucie to a Circle K in the 200 block of NE Airoso Boulevard.

After stopping there, Powell had the girl drive again and that’s when she went to turn and crash into a car, police say.

The impact of the crash cause the second vehicle to crash into another car, investigators said.

crashPowell, the 12-year-old and two other children in the back seat were taken to the hospital.

The people in the other cars were taken to the hospital as well.

None of the injuries are classified as life-threatening.

Powell is facing a criminal charge of allowing an unlicensed person to drive a car.

 

American arrested after gun, ammo find at Jamaican airport

A United States national was arrested and charged following the seizure of a firearm, two magazines and several rounds of ammunition at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St. James on Tuesday, June 20.

Charged with the illegal possession of firearm and ammunition is 36-year-old Royce Isaac, general manager of Field Hallow Drive, Pearland, Texas. 

The St James police report that about 3:00 p.m., during security checks, one Beretta PX4 Storm, two magazines and fifteen 9mm cartridges were found in Isaac’s luggage.  He was subsequently arrested and charged.

Isaac is to appear in the Western Regional Gun Court on Thursday, June 22.

 

Broward County increases mosquito eradication effort

Following heavy rain that has hit South Florida in the last few weeks, Broward County officials said they have been getting thousands of requests per day to eradicate mosquitoes.

The County has been deploying extra people on the streets to try and get control of the spread.

Dr. Anh Ton is in charge of helping plan Broward County’s attack to take down the swarms the area has been seeing lately. He said the rainy weather has brought more than just the normal Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes that people in the area are used to seeing.

“Many mosquitoes are not the one that are normally breeding in this area,” Ton said. “They are actually the Salt Marsh mosquitoes that typically breed in the Everglades, and they get blown in. They came in with the storms.”

Because of the extra pests, Broward County has trained extra crews to help cover more area faster in addition to their normally scheduled spraying.

They’re also treating any standing water with larvicide to help prevent new mosquitoes from breeding.

While they try to cover as much ground as possible, Ton said residents can help by taking steps to protect their homes.

“Walk around your house. If you have bromeliads, rinse them out or introduce a larvicide in that area. If you have any standing water, empty it out or put larvicide in there,” Ton said.

Although the Salt Marsh mosquitoes are more aggressive, Ton said they do not carry diseases like the Zika virus.

He also said the county is not using the controversial naled insecticide and said that the chemicals they’re using to stop the spread are safe to the public.

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