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The horrifying killing of a transgender woman in the Dominican Republic – the second such killing this year and 38th since 2006 – highlights the extreme violence faced by many transgender women in the country and the need for strengthened legal protection for discriminated groups, said Amnesty International.
“The grotesque killing of Jessica Rubi Mori is a tragic reminder that the Dominican authorities need to take bolder steps to eradicate discrimination, including that based on gender identity and sexual orientation,” said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas director for Amnesty International. The body of Jessica Rubi Mori (whose legal name was Elvis Guerrero) a transgender sex worker and activist with community organization Este Amor (This Love), was found on 3 June 2017 in the eastern Dominican municipality of Higüey. Her body was found dismembered in a wasteland. According to news reports, one suspect has been placed under arrest. 
According to Cristian King, executive director of TRANSSA – Trans Siempre Amigas (Trans Always Friends), only four people have so far been convicted for the 38 cases of killings of transgender women that the organization has documented since 2006. King told Amnesty International his organization has been working closely with the Human Rights Unit of the Office of the Attorney General on recent cases. Several weeks ago, a 20-year-long sentence was given for the killing of another transgender woman, Kimberly Sody, in 2014. Dominican LGBTI-led organizations have long called for a gender identity law to protect the rights of transgender people. A proposal for an anti-discrimination law was drafted last year seeking to address entrenched and historical discrimination affecting many groups in the country, in particular based on gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, amongst other categories. The proposal is yet to be tabled in Parliament. According to a study by the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC), published in 2012, in the Dominican Republic less than 35 percent of transgender women sex workers have completed secondary school. As they are pushed away from education, many become involved in transactional sex as early as 16. This early social exclusion leads to poverty and more violence. Transgender people are often pushed into criminalized work, such as sex work, which further exposes them to police abuse and arbitrary detentions. The same study found that 80 percent of transgender sex workers felt they were more discriminated against for being trans than for being a sex worker. More than 35 percent of transgender sex workers had experienced physical violence walking on the street, more than 40 percent had suffered physical violence by clients, and more than 20 percent, physical violence by a partner. Eighty percent had been arrested or detained at least once, and 36 percent had exchanged sex with police officers to avoid being arrested. |
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Killing of transgender woman in Dominican Republic highlights need for protection against discrimination
Despite high murder rate Jamaican security minister says criminals are under pressure
Despite the country tallying a murder rate of almost three victims a day, Jamaica’s Minister of National Security, Robert Montague, says the security forces are putting criminal gangs under pressure.
In a release from his ministry Montague admitted that many of the murders are inter- and intra-gang related but said arising from increased police intelligence and seizure of weapons which in turn have created tension and conflict among the gang members.
Before dawn on Wednesday, four persons were slaughtered when a group of armed hoodlums invaded a section of Barrett Town in St James. A 15-year-old female student was shot and injured in the attack, which is being linked to an ongoing gang feud in the community.
Police have since increased their presence in the community.
But Montague said the government is determined to continue the social intervention programs in the most volatile communities.
He said as the police continue to dismantle gangs in areas such as Barrett Town and Hanover, other gangs are attempting to infiltrate the communities and take over the space. He also mentioned a developing trend where feuds involving gang members overseas are being fought in Jamaica. Some of these conflicts arise from lottery scamming and the gun for drugs trade.
Richards-Ross explains abortion revelation
Three-time Olympic gold medalist Sanya Richards-Ross has explained why she revealed information about her abortion prior to competition in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The Jamaican-born Richards-Ross said the move was to assist other women avoid what she had experienced.
She made the revelation in her book Chasing Grace, which was released on Tuesday, that she had an abortion the day before she left the United States for the Olympic Games in China where she won bronze in the 400 meters. She won gold as a member of the USA’s mile-relay team.
During an interview with Maggie Gray for SI Now on SI.com, the 32-year-old athlete said she wanted to start a discussion about a pervasive issue.
“The truth is it’s an issue that isn’t really talked about, especially in sports, and a lot of young women have experienced this,” Richards Ross said. “Like, I literally do not know another female track athlete who hasn’t had an abortion and that’s sad. For me, I’m hoping that this will open up some discussions to help especially young women who [are] in my situation not experience what I did.”
“I think because at that time in your life, when you’re in college, you know you don’t feel comfortable talking to your mom and so a lot of the information you get is from your peers – and it’s going to sound silly to some people – but in our community people don’t want to take the pill cause you put ‘water-weight’ on, and of course as an athlete, you want to be able to stay as fit and as healthy as possible,” she explained.
“And then people tell you when you are extremely fit that you can’t get pregnant because our cycles are shorter so there is a lot of mis-education that happens to young women in college because we are educating ourselves.”
She said that at the time when she decided to do the abortion she was not aware of all her options. “My husband and I had been dating for five years, I was engaged to him – I had [had] no mishaps prior so I was just put in a really, really tough situation and for me it was so much more than the physical,” she said.
“I mean of course you can imagine after the procedure I wasn’t even supposed to run – the doctors told me to take 14 days off. I didn’t have 14 days, but it was more for me about the spiritual and emotional part of the experience that I wanted to share because it wasn’t until even I started this journey that I uncovered some of the hurt that was still there and really try to forgive myself.
“I knew that God had forgiven me for it but really forgive myself for that choice and really move on. Now that I’m going to be a mother and now that God has blessed me again, I felt like I needed to kind of purge myself of that and help others do the same.”
Eleven Caribbean projects selected for European funding
The second selection committee for the Interreg Caribbean Program 2014-2020 has made public the list of the 11 regional projects eligible for European funding.
the countries in the Caribbean that will benefit from these projects, are as follows:
- TEECA:Set up a trade facilitation team and improve knowledge on existing financing solutions in the Caribbean area in partnership with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS);
- PAIRE:Develop an action plan to facilitate cooperation between the Caribbean air transport operators in partnership with Antigua, Dominica, St Maarten and LIAT;
- OSAIN:To identify and promote the medicinal plants of the Caribbean in partnership with Belize, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica and Puerto Rico;
- RECAVAC:Supporting cocoa farmers in partnership with Haiti
- RADAR:Installation of a weather radar system in St Maarten;
- PREST:Creation of an earth/sea geophysical observatory in partnership with Haiti, Cuba and the University of the West Indies;
- CARIFORTS:Creation of a network of forts and fortifications of the Caribbean in partnership with Antigua, Cuba, Haiti, Puerto Rico, St Kitts and St Eustatius;
- CARI’MAM:Networking of marine protected areas dedicated to the conservation of marine mammals in the Greater Caribbean in partnership with Bonaire, Cuba, Dominican Republic and the Turks and Caicos Islands;
- OSATOURC:Creation of an international network of popular and traditional music of the Caribbean, in partnership with Cuba, Dominica, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago;
- CARIBIX:Develop Internet exchange points in the Caribbean in partnership with St Maarten and Trinidad;
- CAP 3D:3D creative mobility project in partnership with the University of Trinidad and Tobago.
The total budget of the Interreg Caraibes Program 2014/2020 is €85.7 million. The next selection committee will meet in September 2017 to study new projects.
South Florida communities remain flooded
Flood water still covered roads Thursday in some parts of South Florida as public works crews are working around the clock trying to pump out the water.
Many residents were forced to park their vehicles because they couldn’t get their vehicles through the rising water to get to their homes.
School buses were also unable to pass through in certain communities.
Ducks were also seen swimming through the roads, which looked more like canals.
The American Red Cross opened a family reception center in Davie Wednesday in case the flooding got worse and people needed a place to stay. The center was equipped with food and cots, but Red Cross officials said no one had needed to take advantage of the services yet.
Davie police said the Plantation Acres Equestrian Facility will temporarily board horses affected by flooding for a small fee. Horse owners can call 954-476-4316 for more information.
Some residents found fish in small ponds in their yards after the rains subsided a bit, while youngsters enjoyed the thrills the settled water brought.
Other areas in South Florida are also still experiencing flooding.
The Ready Mix concrete mixing company in Miami is giving away 1,000 bags of sand to those affected by flooding.
The company is at 7301 NW 47th St.
Emergency officials warned residents not to walk through or play in standing water.
Electrical currents in the water can pose a risk to anyone who comes into contact with it, and the water is likely heavily contaminated. There is also the danger posed by pythons, Nile Monitor Lizards and alligators.
Man slashes wife’s throat before stabbing himself to death
A young child has now been left motherless and fatherless after his father killed his estranged wife and then stabbed himself dead Wednesday during a domestic dispute, Miami police said.
Police said the woman was getting out of her car at about 5:15 p.m. when she was approached by her estranged husband on Northwest 58th Court.
An argument developed and the man pulled out a blade and slashed the woman’s throat with a knife and then stabbed himself.
The woman was found dead at the scene. The man was taken to an area hospital, where he died.
The identities of the man and woman have not been released.
Hospital denies throwing out old man and leaving him to die
Following the posting of a disturbing video on social media which showed an 80-year-old man left to die outside the Port of Spain General Hospital, staff at the institution claim they followed all protocols and did everything to help the man.
The elderly man, 80-year-old Christopher Phillip, suffered and died on the grounds of the hospital on Wednesday.
The North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) issued a statement to disclose that a full investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding the death of Phillip.
“Preliminary reports indicate that Mr Phillip was brought into the hospital yesterday evening via ambulance and was seen at the Accident and Emergency Department. He was treated following all protocols of care and was later discharged. Subsequently, Mr Phillip was seen lying on the floor outside the department and was assisted by members of staff back into the department to be seen a second time. Mr Phillip then left on his own accord. His body was later discovered on the front lawn of the hospital’s compound,”. The NWRHA stated.
The NWRHA extended condolences to his relatives.
“We would like to assure them and members of the public that every effort is being made to complete the investigation within the shortest timeframe. The NWRHA remains committed to the provision of quality and compassionate health care to all”.
Former Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan has called for an full investigation into the death of Phillip and is questioning whether protocol has changed at public health institutions since the September 2015 general elections.
He said, “I am now asking whether the protocol has changed since 2015 where people are no longer receiving medical treatment at the hospital but being manhandled and thrown out and left to die.”
Khan said the incident involving Phillip was clearly a case of medical negligence and brutality. “That is a case of medical negligence and the family should sue the system. That man died. And he didn’t die just so. He went for medical assistance and they missed something. That man could have suffered greater injury when he was manhandled by two security guards,” he said.
Khan said the death of the elderly man should be investigated and action taken against those responsible.
The video showed the final hours of the life of the elderly man as he lay writhing in pain on the grass outside the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department.
Phillip, who lived in Laventille, was apparently removed from the Port of Spain General Hospital and placed outside the compound where he soiled himself and died overnight.
The six minute, 50 second long video was posted Facebook has been shared multiple times.
It is unclear whether the man had received medical treatment.
A conversation between two women indicated that Phillip was asked to leave the compound, but was unable to walk as he appeared to be in pain.
“I witnessed this at the Port of Spain General hospital this afternoon. Two MTS security officers lifting a very sick gentleman and placing him on the ground in the carpark. The gentleman was unable to stand or walk but he was discharged and they were instructed to remove him,” one woman said.
The women attempted to seek help Phillip who complained that his legs were paining.
His pants were soiled with blood, the women said.
One of the women left to get help, but returned seconds later saying that she was told by security that the man was discharged and could not be taken back inside the A&E Department. She was advised to call an ambulance from the hospital to take him back to the facility.
“When I enquired about him being given some sort of medical care, I was told by the security he cannot be taken back inside unless an ambulance brings him, because he was discharged. This is total madness . What is our country coming to? This gentleman is 80 years old and this is how he was treated.,” she said.
The man was never removed and he died at the entrance of the hospital on Wednesday.
He was found lying face down on the grass near the walkway to the casualty department at daybreak.
Miami-Dade Police to honor school crossing guards
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Mosquito fogging for Broward
The Broward County Mosquito Control Section will be taking preventative measures to minimize the risk of mosquito-borne diseases after the recent deluge of heavy rains by embarking on a larviciding initiative.
The mosquito being targeted is the Aedes Aegypti, the mosquito known to carry and transmit the Zika virus.
Residents and business owners are being urged to survey their property to remove any standing water to prevent mosquito breeding, bites and diseases.
The Mosquito Control Section will perform preventive truck larviciding between the hours of 10 PM and 6 AM, weather permitting, the following dates:
- Thursday, June 8, 2017 in some areas of Hollywood (map)
- Friday, June 9, 2017 in some sections of Fort Lauderdale (map), Sunrise, and Lauderhill (map)
The County said the spraying of larvicide using trucks is a proactive measure. There are still no active transmissions of the Zika virus in Broward County. The areas chosen for spraying are based on a number of factors including requests from the Florida Department of Health, population density, and the number of women of childbearing age in the community.
The mosquito larvicide to be used is VectoBac WDG. The active ingredient is Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti, strain AM6552), a naturally occurring, biodegradable bacterial mosquito larvicide which is not harmful to humans, pets, bees, aquatic habitats or environmentally sensitive areas. It is certified by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) and is registered for use by the US Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, VectoBac WDG has been reviewed by the World Health Organization and is listed as a recommended formulation for control of mosquito larvae.
People living in the area who have registered with the State to be alerted prior to spraying will be notified.
In addition to this truck larvicide spraying, the Broward County Mosquito Control Section continues to work closely with the Florida Department of Health and Code Enforcement partners in Broward’s 31 municipalities to eliminate mosquitoes and their habitats.
Broward County Mosquito Control Section also treats areas of the County based on requests received from residents. To request service online, complete the Mosquito Spray Request Form. Requests can also be made by calling 954-765-4062.
For more information on what you can do to protect your property and yourselves, visit ww.Broward.org/ZapZika.
Captain Horace Burrell dies from cancer at 67
Jamaicans and the regional football fraternity are mourning the death of long-time president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Captain Horace Burrell. Burrell, 67. Burrell died in Florida on Tuesday, June 6, following being stricken with cancer during last year’s Gold Cup in the United States. He had been receiving treatment at the John Hopkins Cancer Treatment Center in Maryland. Glowing tributes for Burrell were expressed by Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Opposition Leader Dr. Peter Phillips, and former prime ministers Portia Simpson-Miller and Percival J. Patterson.
Torrential rain walloped South Florida forcing authorities to extend a flood watch across the region into Wednesday as the weather is poised to drench the area for the next few days. Flooding was reported in several areas, including the parking lot at Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise. Some areas of South Florida recorded record rain totals on Tuesday, with Plantation and Boca Raton reporting over 11 inches of rain while locations in Deerfield Beach and Coral Springs reporting just over 10 inches.
Two Miami-Dade County public high schools received a big anonymous donation Wednesday in memory of six-year-old King Carter from Miami. Cater was killed last year in a drive-by shooting. The $1 million donation is one of the largest in Miami-Dade County Public Schools history. The gift was made in hopes of saving the lives of teenagers in memory of the young boy. The donation will fund the King Carter Academy of Trade and Logistics, which will open this fall at Miami Northwestern Senior High School. It will also help develop the current program at Miami Central Senior High School.
And in Sports
Canada’s Andre De Grasse has thrown down the gauntlet before the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt. De Grasse is being touted as one who could take over the reins from Bolt when the superstar retires after the London World Championships. He has stated his intention to beat Bolt before Bolt throws in his spikes and is aiming to accomplish this feat at the London games this summer.
Here’s What’s Trending.
2012 Olympic 400-meters champion Sanya Richards-Ross has revealed that she had an abortion the day before she left for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing , China in 2008. The Jamaican-born Richards-Ross, made the revelation in her book ‘Chasing Grace’. Recognized as one of the world’s premier middle distance runners, Richards-Ross was however defeated in the quarter mile race in China by Great Britain’s Christine Ohuruogu and Jamaica’s Shericka Williams. She attributed her defeat to a hamstring injury. However, in her much anticipated book, Richards-Ross, now pregnant again, made the startling revelation.
For Tomorrow’s weather forecast
It will be mostly cloudy with showers likely in Broward and Palm Beach Counties and mostly cloudy with scattered showers in Miami-Dade, with a high of 90 and a low of 77 degrees. Today’s news is brought to you by the Florida Department of Health in Broward County, who wants to remind you to ask your child’s doctor about the HPV vaccine, that prevents many types of cancer, protects girls and boys, and is recommended at age 11 or 12. 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.
Jamaican police officer convicted of murder
A seven-member jury has found a Jamaican Police Constable, Ricketo Graham, guilty of murder. Graham was convicted of the murder of Christopher Hill, who succumbed to his injuries at St. Ann’s Bay Hospital on July 13, 2013.
Hill was shot and injured by Constable Ricketo Graham who alleged that Hill attacked him and his colleague with a knife. His colleague did not discharge his weapon. Constable Graham was subsequently taken into custody and was charged by a ruling from the Director of Public Prosecution dated July 18, 2013.
INDECOM arrested and charged Constable Graham on July 19, 2013, with attempting to pervert the course of justice and murder. He was granted bail in the sum of $600,000.00.
The trial of Constable Graham began in the St. Ann Circuit Court on May 29, 2017 before the Hon. Mr. Justice Glen Brown. The matter was prosecuted by Crown Counsel from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Leighton Morrison and Kameisha Graham.
Evidence presented in Court was that the deceased, Christopher Hill was accosted by the police, taken to the Brown’s Town Police Station, processed and subsequently taken to Wesley Crescent where he was shot.
Constable Graham will be sentenced in the Home Circuit Court in Kingston on July 14, 2017.
The Commission has had six previous convictions, of which this matter now represents the second murder conviction.
Miami doctor charged with abusing elderly patients in Florida Keys
A Miami doctor was arrested at his Miami Beach home Monday morning and charged with elder abuse involving two unlicensed assisted-living facilities in the Upper Keys.
The doctor, Raul Arcadio Tamayo, 66, is charged with two counts of neglect of an elderly or disabled adult. Bond was set at $200,000. The caregiver who worked under his supervision, Amarylis Maristan, 47, is wanted on the same charges.
Police said they operated two unlicensed elderly living facilities in Monroe County; one at 173 Ocean Dr. on Plantation Key from April until October 2016 and one at 8 Avenue B in Key Largo from October until December 2016.
The 85-year-old woman had been transferred from Mariners to Homestead Hospital, where she died the following day. Autopsy results showed she died of complications of septic shock due to pneumonia.
Investigations revealed she was underweight, suffered from malnutrition and had been suffering from seizures. Tamayo was reportedly aware of this history of seizures and had billed the government for seizure medication that was never given to the woman, Herrin said.
Tamayo is accused of failing to provide care for the elderly patients at the Keys facilities and falsifying records to indicate he was providing care. He also is accused of knowing the facilities were unlicensed and knowing Maristan, who supervised the facilities, was not medically trained.
The two suspects cared for six female patients over age 80, all with chronic and acute medical conditions requiring medical care and multiple prescription medications. All were in bed or wheelchairs, diagnosed with memory loss or dementia and were incontinent. The majority had urinary tract infections and bed sores when they were seen by medical professionals subsequent to being found in the unlicensed facilities.
Investigators say Tomayo was being paid by Medicare for services he was not providing. The investigation is continuing into possible Medicare fraud.
Other agencies investigating include the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office, the Florida Department of Health’s Medical Quality Assurance Unit, the Miami-Dade Police Department Medical Crimes Unit, the FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General.
Jamaican murder convict faces second deportation after caught trying to re-enter the US
Jamaican murder convict faces second deportation after caught trying to re-enter the US
Jamaican national Horace Tajah is facing asecond deportation after spending four years behind bars after he was caught trying to re-enter the United States.
Convicted in a New York City gang case in 2010, Tajah was sentenced to prison and eventually deported back to Jamaica and barred from the United States for life.
Prosecutors point to the drug, gun and murder convictions on his record to suggest that his motivation in trying to re-enter the United States was to commit more violent crime.
On Monday, a federal judge set the stage for Tajah’s second deportation back to Jamaica by sentencing him to time served – he’s been in custody since his arrest four years ago – and three years of probation.
Just months after his removal, he tried to re-enter the United States by crossing the Peace Bridge on a commercial tour bus. He was caught, and so was his wife, who later admitted to lying about her husband’s identity during the illegal border crossing.
“I wasn’t coming here to commit any crimes,” Tajah told U.S. District Judge Lawrence J.Vilardo . “I committed a lot of crimes when I was younger, but I’m older now.”
Unlike most illegal re-entry cases, Tajah’s prosecution attracted attention because of his previous criminal record in New York City, where he was convicted on multiple federal charges in 2010.
The charges included drug dealing, weapons possession and conspiracy to commit murder. He was sentenced to six years in prison and eventually deported to Jamaica.
“While in Jamaica, he received various threats and attempted to relocate to Canada where he still didn’t feel safe,” said defense lawyer John P. Pieri.
Pieri said the threats stem from Tajah’s cooperation with federal prosecutors in the 2010 gang case and that, even now, his client fears a return to Jamaica.
LaTanya N. Notice, Tajah’s wife, who is also a non-citizen from Jamaica, had previously pleaded guilty to making a false statement and will face a recommended sentence of up to six months in prison when she is sentenced by Vilardo. She also will face possible deportation, a punishment she hopes to avoid.
Sawgrass Mills mall closed due to flooding
The Sawgrass Mills mall in Sunrise was closed Wednesday because of flooding, police said.
The inside of the mall was not flooded.
Nearby at the Cleveland Clinic in Weston, people could be seen trudging through the flooded parking lot barefoot.
“We are working with city of Weston officials and pump stations are operating at full capacity to alleviate flooding,” hospital spokesman Shawn Yanan said. “Clinic and hospital operations are continuing as normal and emergency vehicles continue to have access to our emergency department.”
A message from Sawgrass Mills on Twitter said regular mall updates will be provided in tweets and on the shopping line at 954-846-2350.
Sunrise police advised drivers to use extreme caution when navigating through flooded areas.
Farewell Captain
By Kathy Barrett
Jamaicans and the regional football fraternity are mourning the death of long-time president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Captain Horace Burrell.
Burrell, 67, died in Maryland at the John Hopkins Cancer Treatment Centre on Tuesday, June 6. He was stricken during last year’s Gold Cup in the United States and had been ailing since.
Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness described the death of the national sporting icon, businessman and philanthropist as a loss to many communities throughout the island, leaving a significant gap in the national football program.
Opposition Leader, Dr. Peter Phillips described Burrell as a visionary and an inspiration to many.
Glowing tributes for Burrrell also came from former Prime Ministers – Portia Simpson Miller and P.J. Patterson.
Simpson Miller said Burrell’s place is cemented in the region’s sporting history as he was the leading force in taking the Reggae Boyz to the 1998 World Cup in France. “Jamaica, Football and the sporting fraternity have lost a giant and I have lost a friend… Walk good my dear Captain! May your soul rest in peace and light perpetual shine upon you,” Simpson Miller added.
Patterson described Burrell as a “big figure” who won’t be easy to replace. “We have suffered a monumental loss. He was a big figure, but I am sure he would want us to continue on the journey. He would want to reap the eternal rest which he deserves. I personally can attest to the epic quality of his contribution to the development of Jamaica. ….. When he became president of the JFF he had a very clear mission and that was to take us to the World Cup Finals in France. He said to me ‘prime minister, I have one clear ambition – I want the Jamaica football team to be present in France’ and I said to him what can I do to assist in that process and he said I want a coach from Brazil.”
After his election as JFF president in 1994, Burrell was instrumental in leading the Reggae Boyz to the 1998 World Cup in France, making Jamaica the first English-speaking Caribbean country to qualify for the FIFA showpiece.
He lost the JFF presidency to Crenston Boxhill in 2003, but regained the position four years later.
Burrell was also a well-known entrepreneur, being the CEO of the popular Captain’s Bakery and Grill and, also Captain’s Aviation Services.
Captain Burrell received Jamaica’s fourth highest national honour, the Commander of the Order of Distinction (CD) in 1998. He also received the highest award, Order of Merit, from the world football governing body, FIFA.
Haitian American politician wants more TPS time for undocumented Haitians
A Haitian-American Congressman, Ludmya Bourdeau Love is urging the US to extend by a further year, the Temporary Protected States (TPS) for undocumented Haitians living here.
Last month, US Secretary of Homeland Security, John F. Kelly, announced a six month eextension of the TPS effective July 23, this year.
However, Love says Washington should add another year to the deportation delay of Haitian TPS beneficiaries, as Haiti is still struggling to recover.
“While I am pleased that the administration granted an extension of Temporary Protected Status for Haiti, I am not convinced six months is sufficient.
“The administration claims that conditions in Haiti have measurably improved. But after working with Utah-based Operation Underground Railroad and coordinating with fellow members on the Terrorism and Illicit Financing subcommittee, evidence indicates that the country still faces significant challenges,” she said.
Love recalled that a cholera epidemic, a food crisis and a slow recovery from the earthquake and the impact of Hurricane Matthew in 2016 show that refugees deserve a longer break before being sent back to their country of origin.
Jamaican policewoman kills suspected gunman during botched robbery
An unidentified man was fatally shot after he and another assailant attempted to rob a female Police Officer of her motorcar along the intersection of Old Hope Road and Caledonia Road in Kingston on Tuesday, June 6.
Reports from the Cross Roads Police are that about 9:00 p.m., the Police Woman stopped at the traffic light at the mentioned location when two men, one armed with an assault rifle and another with a pistol attempted to rob her motorcar.
The gunmen blocked and ordered her out of the car. She responded bravely and challenged the gunmen. During the incident, one of the gunmen was shot and injured. The police woman then took cover and was not able to retrieve the illegal firearm.
The injured man was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead while undergoing treatment.
The Inspectorate of the Constabulary (IOC) and the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) are investigating.
Surinam Airways reintroduces flights to Orlando
Surinam Airways announced today the reintroduction of its seasonal service between Guyana and Orlando, from July 1st to September 29.
The airline will offer once weekly service on Saturdays leaving Cheddi Jagan International Airport at 8.15 a.m. and arriving Sanford International Airport at 12.45 p.m. On return the flight will leave Sanford at 2.15 p.m. arriving in Guyana at 6.45 p.m.
In making the announcement, the airline’s general manager for North America, Henk Fitz-Jim said that this is the third year the airline is providing seasonal service between Orlando and Guyana in response to the needs of the Guyanese American community in Central Florida.
“Surinam Airways is once again responding to the demand for travel to and from Guyana and Central Florida during this period when schools are closed and many are taking the opportunity to have a vacation,” Fitz-Jim said.
Passengers will be entitled to one free piece of checked luggage not to exceed 50 pounds and one carry-on piece. The airline will use one of its 737-300 aircraft on this route.
Fitz-Jim advised that the introduction of the service to Central Florida will not affect the three weekly flights the airline currently offer-Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays- between Miami, Florida and Guyana.
Sanya Richards-Ross reveals abortion before Beijing Olympics
2012 Olympic 400-meters champion Sanya Richards-Ross has revealed that she had an abortion the day before she left for the Olympic Games in Beijing , China in 2008.
The Jamaican-born Richards-Ross, made the revelation in her book ‘Chasing Grace’
She is now a track and field analyst on NBC.
Recognized as one of the world’s premier middle distance runners, Richards-Ross was tipped to win the one-lap sprint in China but was beaten by Great Britain’s Christine Ohuruogu and Jamaica’s Shericka Williams, after coming into the home stretch well clear of the field. She claimed then that a hamstring injury had affected her ability to close with a 100 meters to go.
However, in her much anticipated book, Richards-Ross, who is now pregnant with her first child, made the startling revelation.
“I literally prayed about that [revealing the abortion] for almost two years because it is something that is really private, and a lot of women don’t talk about it,” Richards-Ross said on a podcast. “When I found out I was pregnant before the Olympics, it was the toughest time of my life. … It wasn’t an easy story to share. Even, I think about, oh my God, I wonder how people are going to receive it. But, ultimately, I did it to glorify God and to tell people that you can come back from any decision, no matter how hard it is to make.”
“Chasing Grace” was released Tuesday.
The cupboard is bare!
Bahamian government paints bleak economic picture
Declaring that the government’s “cupboard is bare”, Bahamian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Peter Turnquest has served notice that the country will have to resort to borrowing $722 million to stay afloat.
After delivering the national budget last week, he told reporters that the new Hubert Minnis administration is not only grappling with spiraling debt, but has been left with little to no revenue – thanks to the former Perry Christie Government.
“To cover the fiscal overhang for 2016-17 we need to borrow $400 million. What it means is that we have bills outstanding today that we have to borrow to meet because of the fact that there was no provision made for those expenditures in the previous budget,” he said, adding that $322.4 million will be borrowed for the 2017-2018 Budget.
The Finance Minister reported that the “situation is far bleaker than we could have ever imagined”, pointing out that the former government had woefully underestimated the country’s debt.
“The deficit outturn in the current fiscal year features a significant deterioration as compared to the fiscal projections contained in the previous final budget. While they had forecast a GFS deficit of $100 million, the actual out turn is now expected to be in the order of $500 million. That is an astonishing five times the budget forecast of only 12 months ago,” Turnquest said.
He assured that the government would take immediate action to rein in the deficit and return the country’s debt level to more sustainable levels.
Legislation being tabled to prevent hot car deaths
US lawmakers are proposing legislation which would require car makers to install sensors that alert drivers if a child is being left in a car.
On average 37 children die each year in a hot car. Most of the time they were accidentally forgotten by a parent or a caregiver. Nine have died in this fashion since the year began.
If proponents have their way – your car will soon provide one more alert to make sure this can’t happen.
In the meantime – never leave a child in a car unattended.
Do whatever it takes to remember to check your back seat.
Advocates suggest tossing your purse in the back seat – or better yet, toss one of your shoes back there.
Most importantly – don’t think a hot car tragedy can’t happen even on a cloudy day.
Even if it is 52 degrees outside children can die from heat stroke inside a vehicle. Heat stroke sets in at 104 degrees. Human cells start to shut down at 107 degrees. And a child’s body heats up three to five times faster than an adult’s.
General Motors already has some of this technology in its cars.
The Hot Cars Act would require it in all vehicles. It will be announced on Capital Hill Wednesday.
Flood watch! South Florida pummeled by torrential showers
Torrential rain walloped South Florida forcing authorities to extend a flood watch across parts of South Florida into Wednesday as the weather gears up to drench the area for the next few days.
A Flash Flood Warning was issued for parts of Broward County until 4:45 a.m. Wednesday, as flooding was reported in some areas, including the parking lot at Sawgrass Mills. That has since expired, but a new Flood Warning has been issued for the northeast part of the county.
A Flood Watch remains in effect in South Florida until 8 p.m. Wednesday, includes all parts of Miami-Dade, Broward and sections of Palm Beach
Some areas of South Florida recorded record rain totals on Tuesday, with Plantation and Boca Raton reporting over 11 inches of rain while Deerfield Beach and Coral Springs had locations reporting just over 10 inches.
In Davie County a seven-foot alligator was caught by a trapper very close to homes.
The heavy rains also caused flight delays and cancellations. At Fort Lauderdale / Hollywood International Airport, 31 flights have been delayed and 19 have been canceled. At Miami International Airport, 22 have been delayed and 24 have been canceled.
Officials with the National Weather Service confirmed a weak EF-0 tornado touched down in Broward County near the intersection of Flamingo Road and Sheridan Street Monday night. No major damage was reported. On Tuesday morning, a tornado warning was issued for the far western part of Broward County, along with neighboring Collier County.
Both Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve were closed due to flooding on Tuesday.
Captain Horace Burrell is dead
Captain Horace Burrell, long-serving president of the Jamaica Football Federation, has died. He was 67.
Burrell died in the United States where he was being treated for cancer.
A former member of the Jamaica Defence Force’s air wing, Burrell was largely responsible for Jamaica’s soccer team, the Reggae Boyz, qualifying for the 1998 World Cup in France.
The brash Burrell acquired the services of Brazilian Rene Simoes as coach and recruited several British players of Jamaican heritage to the team in 1997. Along with quality homegrown players, the Reggae Boyz became the first team from the English-speaking Caribbean to qualify for soccer’s biggest tournament.
Burrell was first elected JFF head in 1994. But for a brief period when he was voted out in the early 2000s, he oversaw Jamaica’s soccer program, seeing the Reggae Boyz to Caribbean titles and international recognition.
He was also a respected businessman. Burrell operated The Captain’s Bakery and Grill and Captain’s Aviation Services.
Beckham gets go-ahead pass from Miami-Dade
By Garth A. Rose
It took four years, but at long last Miami Beckham United, the local investment group headed by British soccer star David Beckham, has secured land it targeted to build its 25,000-seat stadium where Beckham’s Major League Soccer (MLS) team should begin playing by 2019.
The land, located in Overtown, Miami, was secured on Tuesday when the Miami-Dade Commission on a 9-4 vote approved the sale of a 3-acre plot valued at $9 million. It is adjacent to another plot of 6 acres already secured by the Beckham Group, providing the required 9 acres to build the open-air stadium. The construction cost is estimated at $179 million to be funded entirely by Beckham and his investors, at no cost to either Miami-Dade County or the City of Miami.
The Beckham Group is committed to hiring residents of Overtown and the county during building. When the stadium is completed it will employ at least 50 individuals full-time.
While the City of Miami Commission must approve zoning to begin the stadium’s construction, no hitch is anticipated.
Some citizens of Spring Garden, a community adjacent to Overtown, expressed concern about the stadium’s construction before Tuesday’s vote, saying they will be disturbed by noise from the stadium during games, and traffic to and from games.
However, the project was supported by majority of the public present at the meeting. Most residents of Overtown, one of Miami-Dade’s poorest communities near downtown Miami, see the stadium as a potential economic boon.
On the insistence of Miami-Dade Commissioner Barbara Jordan, who represents the district encompassing Overtown, the Beckham Group will meet with residents who have been assured of their intent to assist in the community’s economic development.
Although the stadium could take some two years to be completed, Beckham recently indicated that his MLS team which is yet to be named, could begin playing in the tournament as early as 2018 at a temporary venue.
Man who gave the police middle finger sentenced to anger management classes
A man who showed the middle finger to a police officer in Trinidad has been ordered by the court to spend the next two years attending anger management sessions.
Kerry Yard, 45 of Marabella was charged that he made use of an insulting gesture intended to provoke officer Quinton Cupid to commit a breach of the peace. It was laid under section 49 of the Summary Offences Act.
Magistrate Kerrianne Byer explained to Yard that he angered the police officer which could have led to the policeman breaching the peace. Yard pleaded guilty.
The court heard that at 10.05 a.m. last Saturday the officer was dressed in police operation wear at Market Street, Marabella when he saw Yard walking along the roadway.
“He was engaged in an argument with another person,” police prosecutor Sergeant Ian Sylvan said.
He said the officer approached the couple and asked “if everything was okay.”
It was then that Yard “looked in the direction of the complainant and spat on the ground in front the cop. The defendant then turned towards the cop, raised his right hand and his right middle finger in the policeman’s face. The complainant felt insulted by the defendant’s behavior,” Sylvan said. Yard was charged.
Byer reviewed his criminal background which showed that he had previous matters for resisting arrest, marijuana possession and obscene language. The obscene language cases spanned over the past 17 years, Byer said.
Yard denied he had an anger problem. He said, “Me and my lady had a little altercation since from home … She was lashing out and I was not answering.” His common-law wife who was seated in the San Fernando Fifth Court also said Yard could control his anger. She said that he was “slightly intoxicated” at the time of the incident and described their dispute as “not a big argument.”
Byer however said, “Your behaviour and inability to control yourself even in front of your common law wife or girlfriend, I find that a bit disturbing.” She said he did not have to behave in such manner toward the officer who was trying to assist.
“We live in an angry society out there. It’s who stabbing each other and who pulling a gun over little arguments,” she said.
She ordered that Yard visit the probation officer for the next two years. He is to meet an officer for counselling and anger management issues twice per month for the next six months. Subsequent to this, Yard is to visit the office once per month.
