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Two-foot Iguana found in Miami toilet

Iguana Florida
This iguana lizard was found in a Kendall, Miami toilet in 2017

A woman went to use the bathroom before bed in her West Kendall home Tuesday night and found that an iguana had taken up residence inside the bowl.

The scared householder quickly closed the lid and called 911.

Firefighters arrived at the home to find the grandmother, her daughter and grandchildren waiting for him to remove the young lizard.

The reptile seemed to have entered the toilet bowl from sewer pipes.

Mullin donned gloves and plucked the iguana from the bowl, put it in a box and put it in his truck for a ride to a wildlife rescue center.

Child abuse on the rise in Trinidad

The Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago has reportedly identified 10,000  potential cases of child abuse in the last two years.

In some instances the Authority’s hotline may have received multiple reports of abuse regarding one child.

The Authority said that to date, almost 8,000 cases are receiving attention and so far, over 3,000 investigations have been completed and more than 700 families have been counselled.

Additionally, the Authority has licensed nine children’s homes and over 300 visits have been conducted at more than 40 Community Residences throughout Trinidad and Tobago, to ensure compliance with legislative standards.

70,000 child abuse cases recorded in Jamaica in eight years

Windies to host India in July

The West Indies senior team is to host India for five One Day Internationals and one T20 International from June 20 to July 10.

The series will bowl off in Trinidad and Tobago and end in Jamaica.

The series will begin with two One Day games at the Queen’s Park Oval, followed by two others at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua and will end with one ODI and an IT20 at Sabina Park in Jamaica.

“We are all looking forward to hosting the Indian Cricket Team so soon after Afghanistan’s inaugural tour of the Caribbean,” said WICB CEO Johnny Grave. “The five-match ODI series gives our young side the opportunity of playing one of the world’s best 50-over sides, and we hope for a competitive series as we strive for automatic qualification for the 2019 Cricket World Cup.”

Acting Secretary, BCCI, Amitabh Choudray, said, “When both these teams meet, we can always expect exciting cricket, and as always we hope to maintain that for this series.”

Since 1979, West Indies and India have played 116 One Day matches, West Indies have won 60 and India 53. There has been one tied game and two no-results.

In IT20s since 2009; both have played seven matches with West Indies winning 4; India 2 and one ending with no result.

West Indies head coach fined

15 Miami-Dade high school seniors to receive scholarships

Fifteen graduating Miami-Dade high school seniors will receive four-year Florida Prepaid University Tuition Scholarships and be recognized by Credit Union Board of Directors and staff.on Thursday.

The Hubert O. Sibley Four-Year Florida Prepaid Tuition Scholarship began in 1995. Since then, South Florida Educational Federal Credit Union has helped hundreds of students attend college. The presentation will be made at the South Florida Educational Federal Credit Union in Miami.

South Florida Educational FCU is the largest Credit Union headquartered in Miami-Dade County and serves educators, students and the families of Miami-Dade County Public Schools and Miami Dade College.  South Florida Educational FCU is committed to increasing educational opportunities for students in Miami Dade County.

 

 

West Indies head coach fined

Stuart Law...fined for dissent

West Indies head coach Stuart Law has been slapped with a fine by ICC match referee Chris Broad, for showing dissent during the tense final day of the decisive third Test against Pakistan which ended in Dominica on Sunday.

Upset over the dismissal of wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich in the second session, the Australian went to the umpire’s room and proceeded to question the third umpire over his ruling to confirm the on-field umpire’s initial decision to give Dowrich out.

According to the ICC, Law then left the room “while making an inappropriate comment.”

He pleaded guilty to the charge of “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision during an international match” and was subsequently fined 25 per cent of his match fee.

“In addition to the fine, one demerit point has been added to Law’s disciplinary record,” the ICC said.

Dowrich was sixth out for two with the score on 93, adjudged caught at short leg off leg-spinner Yasir Shah. The batsman immediately reviewed the decision but replays proved inconclusive, and the decision was upheld.

West Indies went on to lose the contest by 101 runs in the day’s penultimate over, to concede the three-match series 2-1.

Florida woman starts petition to make pigs pets

This Pembroke Pines couple has started a petition to make pigs pets

A Pembroke Pines woman has started a petition to stop the city from enforcing a code violation that would force her to get rid of two miniature pet pigs or face a $250 daily fine.

Her petition has gathered over 64,819 signatures towards her goal of 65,000.

The city gave Theresa Shaia until April 18 to get rid of her beloved pets, named Beetlejuice and Frankenstein, but she’s now fighting the violation in court. She is hoping to have a hearing in July.

The whole thing started when a neighbor claimed the pigs smelled and called in a complaint.

The city has a “nuisance” ordinance that states “no farm animals,” and Pembroke Pines law law states that “chickens or other farm animals, and four or more dogs over the age of four months old” are prohibited (section 155.013).

Shaia and her partner, Michael Owens, started the Care2 petition to ask the city to change its ordinance to allow for miniature pigs, and to stop enforcing the potential code violation.

Shaia says she recently experienced the loss of a close friend, and that losing her pets would just add to the devastation.

CCJ amends court rules

CCJ
The Caribbean Court of Justice.

The Trinidad and Tobago based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has made amendments to the court’s rules in its Original and Appellate Jurisdictions.

On Friday, the CCJ advised that the revised rules were amendments to those published in 2014.

The CCJ recognizes that is important to evaluate our procedures for efficiency and make sure that they are documented on a regular basis in order to continue to deliver fair and accessible justice. This rules revision exercise was particularly important as the Rules now accommodate recent changes to our internal processes, principally the adoption of e-Filing”, said CCJ President Sir Dennis Byron in highlighting the need for periodic reviews of Court practices.

The Court’s latest introduction of e-Filing allows persons to file a matter with the Court at their convenience and offers a structured way to make submissions by guiding the user through various required fields of information.

In January, the CCJ began using the Curia court management system which, in addition to electronic filing, has a performance management module and one for case management.

Other substantive amendments in the 2017 Rules include ending the requirement to file multiple print copies of documents; introduction of electronic signatures (in a specified format) to remove the requirement for printing and signing specified documents before uploading and filing; adoption of a gender-neutral approach in the wording of the Rules; shifting away from use of Latin terms in favour of simpler language in the Appellate Jurisdiction rules and the introduction of express rules to provide for an application for special leave to appeal to be treated as the hearing of the substantive appeal and the basis on which costs should be determined in such cases.

In its Original Jurisdiction, the CCJ interprets the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas for countries, businesses and citizens of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

In its Appellate Jurisdiction,the court  hears appeals from lower courts in both civil and criminal matters from countries which have decided that the CCJ should be their final court of appeal.

Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department to flush lines with chlorine

To maintain quality in the county’s water distribution system, the Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department will temporarily modify its treatment process.

From June 5 to July 3, the county will use a stronger disinfection process to produce chlorine residual instead of a chloramine residual. Hydrant flushing will also be increased during this time.

Customers served by the Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department may notice a slight chlorine taste or odor in their tap water during this period. These temporary conditions will not cause adverse health effects.

If you are especially sensitive to the taste or odor of chlorine, keep an open container of drinking water in your refrigerator for a few hours to allow the chlorine to dissipate.

Users of home dialysis machines, owners of tropical fish and managers of stores and restaurants with fish and shellfish holding tanks, are advised to seek professional advice as the method for removing chlorine residuals differs from removing chloramine residuals from tap water.

Woman’s body perched on motorcycle for funeral

The body of perched on a motorbike at her funeral in Barbados

The body of a woman biker was positioned on a motorcycle for her funeral by her relatives who honored her wishes to be buried on a motorcycle.

The dead woman, 43-year-old mother of two, Toni Barrow, died in an accident in Barbarees Hill, Barbados on May 1.

A large crowd of curious onlookers gathered at the Better Life Assembly, Hindsbury Road, St Michael to witness what was a first for Barbados, as Barrow’s body was positioned on her motorcycle outside the church instead of inside and in a traditional casket.

Coral Springs School on lock down after gun threat

The J.P. Taravella High School in Coral Springs is on a modified lock down Tuesday after a student threatened to bring a gun to school, authorities said.

Coral Springs police said a school police officer made contact with the student who is accused of making the threat on social media, and the student’s parents have been notified

Police said the student confessed to writing the message, but said that it was a prank.

Authorities said the threat was determined not to be viable.

Broward County Public School officials said the school is on modified lockdown as a precaution.

It’s unclear whether the student will be charged.

Communities search for solutions to violence against youth

Convicted clothing thief wanted to give away loot

He could be dubbed the self described ‘Robin Hood’ of Trinidad and Tobago but according to Daniel Motilal, who was caught stealing jean from a store, all he wanted to do was give gifts to his friends for Mother’s Day.

But his good intentions cost ended in his conviction, the loss of his job and being unable to spend Mother’s Day with his mother.

Motilal, 39 of Piparo said he was sorry for stealing but “I was trying to do a good thing.”

It was at 12.15 p.m. on Sunday a security officer who was on duty at PriceSmart, La Romaine was told that the defendant had taken two pairs of ladies pants without paying. He was searched and the pairs of pants valued $351.98 were found inside his pants.

Police officers later found two more pairs of ladies’ pants in his car. Constable Khemraj of the San Fernando Criminal Investigations Department charged the maintenance worker with larceny of the clothing.

Before magistrate Indira Misir-Gosine, Motilal said he was sorry for his actions. He told the court he wanted to give gifts for Mother’s Day but did not have sufficient funds.

He said he worked at PriceSmart for the past seven years.

“I never interfere with anything but I ran out of money and it was Mother’s Day. I don’t know what possess me. I make a bad mistake. I lost my job. If I did think, I would never do something like that.”

Motilal was fined $2,500 which he had to pay in three weeks or face four months hard labour. The pairs of pants which were retrieved were ordered returned to the owner.

Following the matter Motilal told reporters was going to a gathering with his friends and wanted to give them gifts. He said they did not ask for anything but he wanted to carry gifts. “By the time I bought things for my own mother, I ran out of money. I was trying to do a good thing.” Motilal had already purchased a pillow for his mother who is over seventy-years-old. He bought it from PriceSmart.

“I was lock up, I didn’t spend mother’s Day with my mother … I really sorry. I let everybody down … I lost my job, my wife vex … You ever make a stupid mistake in your life? That was a stupid mistake,” he said.

Female Trinidad teen bandit nabbed

Jamaica under water, again

Water nearly covers these houses in the parish of Clarendon

For the second time in just over a month sections of Jamaica are experiencing heavy flooding.

Heavy rains have been pelting the island since Sunday and as a result several schools have been closed and life in the island is soaking wet. Prime Minister Andrew Holness has instructed that all national emergency systems to be activated as heavy rainfall continues to affect sections of the island.

The emergency agencies include the National Works Agency (NWA) and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), as well as local representatives.

The prime minister says all the agencies should mobilize their resources to deal with the impact of the extraordinary rain event and to support residents who may need assistance in flooded areas.

The heavy rains have also cause problems for high school students sitting the CAPE and CSEC examinations. Education Minister Ruel Reid this morning advised that the examinations cannot be postponed and advised students to brave the weather and turn out at designated examination centers or their schools.

Meanwhile the island’s Meteorological Service has advised Jamaicans that a Flash Flood Warning is in place for 10 parishes, while a Flash Flood Watch is in place for the other four.

The Flash Flood Warning is in place for low-lying and flood prone areas of St Mary, Portland, St Thomas, Kingston, St Andrew, St Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, St Elizabeth and Westmoreland.

Several roads in the Corporate Area, Clarendon and other parishes are heavily-flooded and impassable while bridges and fords have been completely covered and rendered impassable forced the island’s police to issue warnings for motorists to avoid several areas across the island.

Hanover, St James, Trelawny, and St Ann have been put on Flash Flood Watch. The warning was issued this morning after heavy rains and winds left many areas waterlogged overnight.

A Flash Flood Warning means flooding has been reported or will occur shortly. Motorists and pedestrians should not attempt to cross flooded roadways or other low-lying areas as strong currents are likely, the Met Service cautioned. Residents in low-lying areas should be on the alert for rising waters and be ready to move quickly to higher ground.

The warning remains in place until 5:00 pm today. The Met Service projected light-to-moderate, and at times heavy showers, along with thunderstorms, to affect sections of all parishes until Thursday.

Twelve killed in Haiti rains

IMMIGRATION NEWS & UPDATES

Caroly Pederson

IMMIGRATION NEWS & UPDATES

 

Florida Couple Convicted In Immigration Fraud Scam

A Florida couple, Rosa and Domenico Cingari, recently convicted of conspiracy, making false statements in immigration applications and mail fraud, have now been sentenced to federal prison and required to pay $740,880.00 in fines for operating an illegal immigration scheme in Lakeland.  Using their accounting and translations enterprise, R.E.P.C., the two apparently assisted Immigrants to obtain Florida driver licenses illegally using fake immigration documents and filed asylum, family petitions and work authorization requests for customers who were not eligible for benefits, using false information. While scamming Immigrants out of thousands of dollars, they even required customers to “buy” their own USCIS I-797C Notices of Action, received from the immigration filings. And while there has been no official word on the fate of the Immigrants on whose behalf the couple filed the fraudulent applications, in most cases, even innocent Immigrants unaware of the their ineligibility for immigration benefits are denied immigration relief and deported.

When questioned about the case, USCIS Tampa Acting District Director Katherine Baranowski commented that “In maintaining the integrity of our immigration system, USCIS has zero tolerance for fraud,… Justice has been served with this sentencing, and we remain vigilant in detecting and bringing to prosecution any immigration fraud.”

USCIS  Webpage Provides Links To Online Customer Assistance Tools

The USCIS invites Immigrants and customers to visit its online tools webpage, which provides services including: Check My Case Status, E-Request, Change of Address Online, Check Processing Times, lUSCIS Field Office locator, Civil Surgeon Locator (for immigration medical exams) and “ Emma”, the  virtual assistant , which helps customers navigate through the USCIS website and finds answers to immigration questions.  You access the webpage by going to: www.uscis.gov/tools or get a link by visiting our website at: www.Immigratetoday.com and clicking on the Immigration Newsletter link. 

THIS WEEK’S IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Question: My mom who is a us citizen sponsored me and my wife and 2 kids to  immigrate to America many years ago. We finally went to our interview at the embassy last week and just got the sealed package that we are supposed to take to America with us and give to immigration once we get there. The instructions say that I have to pay immigration visa fees, but we are confused because we already paid the fees for the bills we got from the national visa center. So I think we can just use those receipts and don’t need to pay any new ones, is that correct?

Answer: That a great question. Immigrant Visa fees are different than National Visa Center (NVC) fees, which are paid in order for the NVC to process immigrant visa cases. Once the Immigrant has attended his or her Consular appointment and been issued the Immigrant Visa in the passport, an additional $220 fee must be paid for each immigrating family member before they arrive in the U.S.. The Immigrant Visa (IV) fee payment receipt must be presented to the immigration inspectors at the U.S. port of arrival in order for the Immigrant’s Green Card to be ordered for production. Without proof of the IV fee payment, no Green Card will be ordered.  To pay the fees and get your receipt, you need to have the instruction sheet provided by the Consulate which gives each individual’s Alien Registration Number (A#) and Department of State (DOS) Case ID. File Online by going online to:  uscis.gov/file-online and select the “Log in” button, then select “USCIS Immigrant Fee” from the chart. Enter you’re a# and DOS Case ID. Once the fees are paid, print out 2 sets of  receipts, one to give the U.S. immigration inspector and one to keep for your records. Once you enter the U.S. and the officer inputs your information, you will be requested to provide the address in the U.S. where you want your new Green Card sent, so be sure it is accurate. Within 30 – 90 days or so you should receive your card. Make sure and immediately make a copy of both the front and back for your records and keep it in a safe place. The next step is to apply for your social security card at the local Social Security Administration. It usually takes about a week to receive the card in the mail. The final step is to apply for your driver’s license and you are all set! Good luck! You can get links to pay the Immigrant Visa fees online by visiting our website at: www.Immigratetoday.com and clicking on the Immigration Newsletter link.

THIS WEEK’S IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Question: I am 67 and retired. I want to sponsor my daughter and her husband who live in Canada and my son who is 25 and divorced. My worry is that I am retired and on social security and I don’t make much per month, only about $1,250. I am afraid to file for them in case its denied due to my low income. Can you please tell me how I can go about qualifying to sponsor them and what I can do about the income issue? Thanks so much. 

Answer: The issue of meeting the financial requirements does not apply to the first step in the immigration process for your children. Once the family petition is filed by the a U.S. Citizen, it must be processed and approved by the USCIS, then the case transferred to the National Visa Center to hold, waiting for an Immigrant Visa to be available. For nationals of most countries (except, India, China, Mexico and Philippines) for single adult children in the F1 Family Immigration category, the waiting time is  about 7 years and for married  adult children, its about 12 years. No financial documents are required to be submitted until a visa becomes available down the road. At the time the final processing begins, if the U.S. Citizen’s income does not meet the minimum requirements, they can simply get a Joint-Sponsor who’s income does qualify to file an Affidavit of Support. So at this time, don’t worry about the Affidavit of Support issues, just file the applications for your children as soon as possible to get them a place in the Immigrant Visa line. The longer you wait, the longer the line becomes. I hope this is helpful to you. Let me know if you want me to handle filing the petitions for your children.

Helpful Immigration Tips You Can Use

Understanding Consular Visa Denials 

Thousands of Foreign Nationals apply for U.S. visitor visas at U.S. Consulates around the world every day. In many cases, the  U.S. Visitor Visa called a B1/B2 is approved. But in some cases, it is denied, often leading to frustration, disappointment and confusion about why the visa was denied.

One of the most common visitor visa denials is under U.S. immigration regulations section 214(b), normally based upon the Consular Officer’s belief that the applicant has the “intent to immigrate” to the U.S. 214(b) denials are usually issued when a foreign national is not able to convince the Consular Officer that he or she has “Strong Ties” to their home country which would likely compel the applicant to return home at the end of their visit and not stay in the U.S.. Demonstration of “Strong Ties” includes documents which prove that the applicant is employed, owns a home or other real estate and has close family members who reside in the home country.

Most foreign nationals mistakenly believe that the fact that they have family in the U.S. will work in their favor when applying for a U.S. Visitor Visa (B1/B2). However, contrary to belief, close relatives in the U.S. such as U.S. Citizen or Resident parents, spouses or children can have a very negative impact on an application, since the mere presence of such relatives in the U.S. tends to show that an applicant might be more prone to want to stay in the U.S..

However, it’s important to know that even if an applicant is denied, they can still reapply in 6 months time. I have heard of many applicants who keep applying twice yearly and finally after the 6th or 7th time, are finally approved.

You can visit the State Department Website for information on the most common visa denial types:

State Department Visa Denials

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

Caribbean nationals nabbed in immigration sweep

Miami-Dade County toll collector arrested for corruption

Darrel Carson

A Miami-Dade toll collector is now behind bars after he was collared by cops from the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Professional Compliance Bureau on corruption charges.

The collector, Darrel Carson, was arrested after a long term investigation into the theft of parking toll revenue. Carson has been charged with professional misconduct, organized scheme to defraud and grand theft.

He was locked up in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

Ambulance thief arrested in Miami

Correctional Officer being sought for shooting wife

Correctional Officer being sought for shooting wife

The St Catherine Police are investigating the shooting of a correctional officer’s wife in the couple’s bedroom.

The Corrections officer, who is assigned to the Horizon Adult Remand Center in Kingston, is being sought for questioning in the shooting.

The police report that the 36-year-old nurse was at home with her husband on Nautilus Drive, New Habour Village, St. Catherine when the shooting suspect reportedly confronted his wife. During an argument which developed an explosion was heard coming from the bedroom about 4 pm.

Shortly after the victim ran outside suffering from what appeared to be a gunshot wound to her abdomen. She collapsed and was assisted to the Spanish Town Hospital by a neighbor.

The St Catherine Police have launched a manhunt for the Corrections Officer who fled the scene.

Jamaican student killed in road rage shooting

Jamaican cops seize large stash of cocaine from hull of Spanish ship

Guyana seized $200M worth of cocaine near Venezuelan border

Jamaican cops seize large stash of cocaine seized from hull of Spanish ship

The Narcotics Police, the Marine Division along with the Jamaica Customs Contraband Enforcement Team (CET) made a multi-million dollar cocaine seizure at Gordon Cay, Port Bustamante, Kingston on Sunday, May 14.

Reports are that about 2:18 a.m., security personnel observed a suspicious object attached to the hull of one of the ships, which arrived in the island on Friday, May 12 from Valencia, Spain. The Police and the CET were summoned.

The object was discovered to be a metal canister. Checks revealed that the canister contained fifty-eight rectangular parcels of cocaine.

The illicit drug weighed 75.35 kilograms and has an estimated street value of J$71.63 million (US $551,000).

No arrest has been made in connection with the seizure.

Jamaican woman tried to smuggle cocaine in beef patty box

Broward teacher issued restraining order after rape accusation of 15-year old

For the first time in its history, female farm workers will participate in the Jamaican Overseas Agricultural Program in the United States. A group of 64 women will leave Jamaica in June for Gebbers Farms in Brewster, Washington. Labour Minister, Shahine Robinson, made the announcement during a ceremony at her office in Kingston, Jamaica’s capital, last week.

The chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group to the recently concluded general elections in the Bahamas, has commended the country for the peaceful and orderly manner in which they exercised their right to vote on May 3 in the advanced polls and on election day on May 10. Issuing the Group’s interim statement, the chair of the group, Hannah Tetteh said the overall conclusion was that the elections were peaceful and credible and the will of the people was decisively expressed with a high voter turnout

A Broward County judge ordered a female middle school teacher to stay away from children Friday after she was accused of raping a 15-year-old male student. According to an arrest report, the victim was a student in Pamela Stigger’s eighth-grade drama class during the 2015-16 school year. Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies said Stigger, 33, was caught in a sexual act with the student about 2 a.m. last Thursday while parked in her car in a Tamarac street. Deputies said they responded to the area after receiving a call about a suspicious vehicle obstructing traffic on the road with no one in the front seats. Deputies said they saw Stigger and the boy in the back seat engaged in a sexual act.

And in sports

Lauderdale Blazers Football Club pulled off a 2-1 victory over Lauderhill Juniors in the Cariibean American Soccer Association (CASA) Super League at the Broward Sports Park on Saturday. In the Masters League Lauderdale FC clobbered Rockers FC 4-1 while Chapel Trail pulled off a 1-0 win over Lion Masters.

Here’s what’s trending…

Global sprint superstar Usain ‘Lightning’ Bolt has donated his gold and white limited edition Puma spikes in which he won the gold medal and broke the Olympic 100 meters record at the 2009 Berlin Olympics to raise money for charity. Bolt handed over the shoes to Lady Allen, wife of Jamaican Governor General Sir Patrick Allen. The shoes will be auctioned next month to raise money for the Issa Trust Foundation for which Lady Allen is the patron. The  Foundation has been providing equipment, medical service and treatment for pediatric wards at hospitals across Jamaica.

For Tomorrow’s weather forecast.

It will be partly cloudy with scattered showers in Miami-Dade and Broward counties and partly cloudy in Palm Beach county with a high of 88 and a low of 73. 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.

In search of voters

Brenda Snipes.

Broward County Supervisor of Elections (SOE) Brenda Snipes, launched the annual High School Voter Registration (HSVR) Drive on May 5. It ends on Friday.

A joint effort between the SOE, Broward County public schools and Broward County private and charter high schools, it gives high schools an opportunity to register students who meet the qualifications to become registered voters.

The primary criteria for students to register to vote in local, state and national elections include being at least 18-years old and a citizen of the United States.

A student workshop/training seminar was held on April 18 in each school’s media center to communicate voter registration policies and procedures. The video conference training was streamed live to the participating schools.
Broward County Election staff are scheduled to visit over 64 local high schools. Election officials will be on hand to assist students and personnel as they conduct their registration drive.

The school with the most registered students will receive the Brass Trophy, banners and certificates. Last year, Stoneman Douglas High School registered 729 new voters.

Students 16 and 17 years-old may pre-register. The goal is to register at least 9,500 Broward County high school students this academic year.

 

Howzat! CPL lays wicket for long South Florida run

Samuel Badree will be one of the featured players in the CPL

International cricket is in Lauderhill to stay.

That’s the word from Hero Caribbean Premier League Tournament Operations Director, Michael Hall. He was in South Florida recently to tie up loose ends before first-round matches in the tournament which bowls off August 4 at Central Broward Regional Sports Park.

“International T20 cricket is here to stay. Not only do we think so, but so does the ICC (International Cricket Council). Their mandate is to develop the sport here in North America and the WICB (West Indies Cricket Board) are the custodians of cricket here in North America,” Hall told Caribbean National Weekly.

All six teams – St. Lucia Stars, Trinbago Knight Riders, Jamaica Tallawahs, Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors and St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots – will be on show. According to Hall, the ICC is determined to see cricket grow in North America.

“There is a developmental element in why we came to North America,” he said.

The biggest names in West Indian cricket are involved this season. They include Jamaican Chris Gayle, the first batsman to score 10,000 runs in this format of the game; his compatriot Marlon Samuels, Trinidadians Kerion Pollard, the Bravo brothers, Dwayne and Darren, and Samuel Badree; former West Indies and Windward Islands captain Darren Sammy and Johnson Charles, who is also from the Windwards.

There are also players from Sri Lanka, England, Australia and New Zealand.

Last year, some 30,000 fans witnessed the inaugural staging of the Hero CPL in South Florida. Six matches were played at Central Broward Park, bringing in almost $5 million.

Karyl Walker

World stars sign up for 2017 Hero CPL Player Draft

Commonwealth Observer Group says Bahamas election was “peaceful and orderly”

Voters line up to cast their ballots in the recently held general elections in the Bahamas

The chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group to the recently concluded general elections , has commended the country for the peaceful and orderly manner in which they exercised their right to vote on May 3 in the advanced polls and on election day on May 10.

Issuing the Group’s interim statement, the chair of the group, Hannah Tetteh said the overall conclusion was that the elections were peaceful and credible and the will of the people was decisively expressed with a high voter turnout.

In the Group’s statement, issued on Friday, she praised the conduct of members of the  police force.

“We were impressed with the high level of technological preparedness and the manner in which they had considered every single aspect of the electoral process that could be supported by the police. It is a model of best practice that ought to be recommended across the Commonwealth.”

Tetteh also drew attention to the visibly high number of women electoral workers and commended the spirit of young people during the campaign as well as the number of young candidates participating.

In conclusion, the Group strongly recommended the establishment of an independent election management body with a modern voting and counting system.

The Observer Group the arrived here on May 3, was preceded by an advance team, which arrived in the country on April 27.

The  full report that was completed by the team before the group left on Friday,  will be made public at a later date.

Gay US tourist attacked during festival in Bahamas

High Court Judge to rule on extradition request for Jack Warner

A High Court Judge will on July 31 rule on the extradition proceedings initiated against former government minister and football official Jack Warner. Warner is wanted in the United States to face corruption allegations stemming from his time as vice-president of FIFA. High Court Judge James Aboud set the date after listening to submissions from Warner’s attorneys and those of the Office of the Attorney General at the Port of Spain High Court on Friday. Warner is questioning the procedure adopted by the Office of the Attorney General in signing off on the extradition request made in May 2015.

Olympians Usain Bolt and Michael Frater, along with former Reggae Boyz Ricardo ‘Bibi’ Gardner gave their support to the family of Olympian Germaine Mason at the grave digging in Portland, Jamaica on Friday. Mason who is a long-time friend of the trio, died recently in a motor cycle accident and will be laid to rest next Sunday at Grange Hill Portland after a funeral service in Kingston.

A Boynton Beach woman has been charged for the murder of her 11-month-old nephew. A grand jury returned an indictment of first degree murder and aggravated child abuse for the actions of Adeline Edwards, which caused the death of Kalobe Williams on December. 24th. Williams suffered blunt force trauma to the rear of his head, resulting in his death. After several interviews with detectives, Edwards admitted to hitting Williams numerous times on the night of December 23rd Williams died at Delray Medical Center early the next morning.

And in sports.

Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson and Omar McLeod scored wins in their respective events in the Shangai Diamond League in China on Saturday. Double Olympic sprint champion, Thompson, continued in the rich vein of her early season form when she won the 100 meters going away from the field in a time of 10.78 seconds. High hurdler McLeod was also in good nick. He romped to victory in 13.09 despite a strong challenge from Spain’s Orlando Ortega. China’s Xie Wenjun was fourth while McLeod’s Jamaican compatriot Hansle Parchment placed fourth.

Here’s what’s trending…

Just 29 percent of Americans say they approve of President Donald Trump’s decision to fire FBI Director James Comey, while 38 percent disapprove, according to results from a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. Another 32 percent of respondents don’t have enough to say on the matter. Yet among those who say they have read, seen or heard about the firing, 53 percent say they disapprove, versus 33 percent who approve.

For Today’s weather forecast.

It will be sunny in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties with a high of 90 and a low of 72. 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.

Today’s news was brought to you by the Florida Department of Health in Broward County, who encourages 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.

 

Body of Haitian migrant found on Bahamas beach

Haitians who arrived in Bahamas on a raft

The police are investigating circumstances surrounding the death of a Haitian man, whose body was found on a beach on the island of Eleuthera on the weekend.

The police report that the man was believed to be part of a group of approximately 50 Haitian migrants who landed in the South Eleuthera early Saturday.

According to the police, shortly after 3 a.m (local time) on Saturday, they received a report that several Haitian migrants landed on the island.

The officers, on checking the immediate area, found the lifeless body of a male on the shoreline, suspected to be a part of the group of migrants.

The officers also detained the Haitian migrants and handed they over to immigration officials

This incident follows the apprehension of 23 Haitian migrants last week who landed in the Yamacraw area on the island of New Providence.

The police say they were notified about migrant sightings and subsequently apprehended the Haitians.

The Royal Bahamas Defense Force says over 60 suspected Haitian migrants were apprehended in Bahaman waters last month.

Haitians rally for protective status in Palm Beach

Ambulance thief arrested in Miami

Ambulance thief arrested in Miami

The Miami-Dade Police Department is investigating the theft of an ambulance this morning from Jackson Behavioral Health Hospital located at 1695 NW 9th Avenue in Miami.

According to investigators, an ambulance was left unattended under the overhang at the hospital when the subject, David Bozeman, got into the ambulance, and drove away.  Bozeman crashed the vehicle into a University of Miami patient transport bus. The crash forced him to stop and he was then taken into custody without further incident.

The driver of the University of Miami bus was taken to the hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.

 

Warner to know fate on July 31 

Former FIFA Vice-President Jack Warner will know his fate on July 31

Former CONCACAF president Austin ‘Jack’ Warner will know his fate on July 31 when a Trinidadian judge rules on the legality of an extradition request by the United States.

High Court Judge James Aboud set the date after listening to submissions from attorneys representing Warner and the Office of the Attorney General at Port-of-Spain High Court on May 12.

Warner is wanted in the US to face charges of racketeering and bribery relating to his tenure as vice-president of FIFA, soccer’s governing body.

In the claim filed by his attorneys, Warner questions the procedure adopted by the Office of the Attorney General in signing off on the US’s request for his extradition in May, 2015.

He was one of 14 people indicted by a US court for racketeering and bribery. Former CONCACAF president, Jeffrey Webb of the Cayman Islands, who is under house arrest in the US, was also indicted.

He pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, three counts of wire fraud conspiracy and three counts of money laundering conspiracy.

Warner files US$40 million counter suit against CONCACAF

Jahmiel saves his best for Miami

 

Singer Jahmiel is looking forward to his first appearance on Best Of The Best, which takes place May 28 at Bayfront Park in Miami.

Last year, he made his maiden tour of the US and Europe. Performing overseas, he stated, helps him develop a brand.

“It allows me to build my fan base and perform a wider variety of my growing catalogue. Best Of The Best is one of those premiere events we look forward to as an artiste in the business,” he said.

Jahmiel is one of the rising stars in Jamaica. His hit songs include Gain The World and Where Were U.

An all-star lineup has been named for the eleventh renewal of ‘Best’. Mavado, Aidonia, Konshens, Dexta Daps, Spice, I-Octane and Masicka are other dancehall acts scheduled to perform.

Soca artistes Patrice Roberts and Lyrikal, as well as Bahamians Julien Believe and Dyson Knight, bring the island flavor.

The veterans segment is represented by Barrington Levy, Josey Wales, Brigadier Jerry, General Trees and Mad Cobra.

Best of the Caribbean

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