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Social media explodes after Conway states microwaves can be used as cameras

In Sports

Veteran sprinter and former World 100 Meters champion Kim Collins, has announced that he will retire from the sport after this year’s London Games. Collins, who is the oldest sprinter to ever win a 100 meter World Championship Gold Medal, has won five medals in 10 appearances at the World Championships.

Here’s What’s trending

The social media platform Twitter is exploding after presidential advisor Kellyanne Conway tried to explain away president Donald Trump’s accusation that his phones were wiretapped by former President Barack Obama, by saying that microwaves could be used as cameras. Twitter users blasted Conway and ridiculed her comments calling them ludicrous and laughable.

For Tomorrow’s weather forecast

It will be partly cloudy with isolated showers in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties with a high of 82 and a low of 54. For more on these and other stories, visit us online at caribbeannewsweekly.com. Make sure to pick up your copy of the Caribbean News Weekly at your nearest Caribbean American outlet.

 

Bolt unlikely to grace World Relays track

Usain Bolt

The world’s fastest man, Usain ‘Lightning’  Bolt seems set to miss the IAAF World Relays scheduled to take place in the Bahamas this summer.

Bolt has sent signals that his participation at the third running of the relays is unlikely.

“My coach hasn’t said anything about it, so I doubt that I will be competing there this year,” Bolt told the Jamaica Observer.

Meanwhile, Bolt said his preparations have been going well for this season when he is expected to hang up his spikes following the IAAF World Championships in London.

“Everything is going smooth, so the key thing is to stay injury free. I am just going to continue pushing myself and pushing my body and I hope it will work out,” he said.

Bolt is only scheduled to perform at the World Championships in London in August and the Racers Grand Prix on June 10 in Jamaica. The meet is expected to be his final appearance in Jamaica before retiring at the end of this season.

Bolt has only raced so far this year in relays and a 150 meters in Australia in February.

The IAAF World Relays started in 2014 and have taken place every year outside of Olympic years.

St. Lucia calls for international agreement concerning deportees

The St. Lucia government has reiterated a call for an international agreement to deal with the issue of criminal deportees, saying that the matter should be discussed at the level of the United Nations.

Prime Minister Allen Chastanet told reporters that he would do as much lobbying as he can on the matter and that the United States is using the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) agreement to deport people to their countries of origin.

“I am pretty sure that when we signed the ICAO agreement it was not with that in mind,” he said, adding that the intent was that if someone visited another country with incorrect documentation, the country of origin would be obligated to receive the person back.

“But the fact that somebody would go and spend in excess of 30 years in a country, make it a home, pay taxes, become legal in some cases – all those things and then all of a sudden simply because you were born in St. Lucia that all of a sudden you would repatriate them.

Chastanet said that Castries was told that if it did not accept the deportees, travel for locals would be “pulled”.

He said while he has indicated to the America authorities that he is not pleased with the threat, he would honour the current system.

However, Chastanet said he would continue to lobby for an international treaty to deal with the situation and explained that he was concerned that someone who left this country at two years old, spent their childhood and adult life overseas, committed a crime and is repatriated.

Father and son Chanderpaul combination shine for Guyana

Former West Indies middle order batsman, Shivnarine ChanderPaul and his son Tagenarine, both starred with the bat for Guyana in a four-day first class cricket match against Jamaica on Saturday.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, now 42, made 57 in the Guyana innings while his son, Tagenarine, who opened the innings scored 58.

Both are left handed batsmen and just like his father, Tagenarine using a bail to mark his guard at the batting crease. He made his  first class debut in 2013.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul..hoping to fill his father's boots
Tagenarine Chanderpaul..hoping to fill his father’s boots

Shivnarine Chanderpaul retired from international cricket in 2015 and is the second highest run scorer in test matches for the West Indies only bested by the legendary Brian Lara.

The dogged batsman with an unorthodox style scored 11,867 runs at an average of 51.37 in 164 test matches. He also amassed 8,778 runs in one day internationals and 343 runs from 22 T20 games.

Billy Ocean, Taylor Dane to rock Pompano Beach

Billy Ocean

The Pompano Beach Amphitheater will host two platinum selling artists in one phenomenal show. Billy Ocean and special guest, Taylor Dayne, on Friday March 17.

Billy Ocean has collected a pile of Gold and Platinum records across the world and hit the number one spot worldwide on pop charts including the USA, Australia, Germany, Holland, and the UK.

Taylor Dane
Taylor Dane

Ocean got his first break when he signed to GTO records, for whom his second single was the Motown-ish “Love Really Hurts Without You,” which reached No. 2 in the UK charts and No. 12 in the US.

Two top twenty singles followed; “Love on Delivery” and “Stop Me,” then “Red Light Spells Danger” became a smash in both the UK and the US. Soon after that came the million selling American number one single “Caribbean Queen” (for which Billy won a Grammy for best R&B Vocal), followed by “Loverboy” and “Suddenly,” which became the first of Billy’s killer ballads. More hits followed including “When the Going Gets Tough,” “They’ll be Sad Songs,” and “Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car.”

Taylor Dayne also racked up an impressive list of hits and will be singing all of her top songs including her number one singles “Tell It to My Heart,” “Love Will Lead You Back” and “Prove Your Love to Me.” In addition to her famous ballads, Taylor will be shaking things up with her classic dance songs including her Billboard Hot Dance hits including “Floor on Fire” and “Beautiful.”

Barbados Health officials issue syphilis warning

syphilis

Health authorities in Barbados are urging nationals to educate themselves more about sexually transmitted infections (STI) as the island deals with an outbreak of syphilis.

“The Ministry of Health first raised the alarm in July 2013 and commenced a health education campaign to increase awareness about STIs so more people would be tested for them and protect themselves from acquiring them,” said Senior Medical Officer with responsibility for HIV and STIs, Dr. Anton Best, who on Monday, released the results of a detailed analysis of an outbreak of syphilis in that country.

He said that the outbreak was first detected in 2013 and the Ministry immediately put systems in place to improve syphilis surveillance in Barbados.

The just-completed report analyzed trends in new cases over a four-year period between 2011 and 2014.

According to the Senior Medical Officer, the study revealed a significant increase in the number of syphilis cases between 2011 and 2013. He said the outbreak stabilized in 2014 and 2015.

“The majority of cases occurred in men (72 per cent). Nearly three-quarters of cases occurred in persons between the ages of 15 and 49 years, with the average age of a syphilis case being 34 years.”

The study also examined the potential for syphilis being transmitted to babies and looked at syphilis testing trends among pregnant women.

The health official explained that syphilis was a sexually transmitted infection that could cause serious health problems if it was not treated.

‘It is divided into stages (primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary), and there are different signs and symptoms associated with each stage. Syphilis can be spread by direct contact with a syphilis sore during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Sores can be found on or around the penis, vagina, or anus, or in the rectum, on the lips, or in the mouth. Syphilis can also be spread from an infected mother to her unborn baby,” he said.

State Department describes Port of Spain as critical threat location

Trinidad crime

The US State Department has described the Trinidad and Tobago capital of Port of Spain as being a critical-threat location for crime directed at or affecting US Government interests.

At the same time the Department identified the city as a low-threat location for terrorist activity directed at or affecting official US government interests.

The State department’s 2017 Crime and Safety Report, which  was released last week, identified crime in the twin island republic as the main threat to visitors.

“Given the crime rate and some weaknesses in border control, there remains a continued concern that T&T could be utilised as a transit point for potential terrorists or terrorist organizations. US citizens are advised that US government personnel and their families are restricted from travelling to the following areas — Laventille, Sea Lots, Cocorite, Beetham, the Interior of (Queen’s Park) Savannah, Downtown Port of Spain (after dark), Fort George (after dark), and all beaches (after dark),” the report says.

The report stated “most crimes are crimes of opportunity”, adding that “American citizens have been victims of pickpocketing, assault, theft/robbery, fraud, and murder” and while “there is no evidence to indicate that foreigners, specifically expatriates, are specifically targeted, crimes (robbery, break-ins/burglary, vehicular break-ins, home invasions, assaults (including sexual assaults)) do occur in areas frequented by tourists and in which the expatriate community lives.”

The report also stated that “Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) 2016 crime statistics show a 1.4 per cent increase in overall serious criminal activity, as compared to 2015 but violent crime remains a major concern for local security services and the general population.”

Trinidadian police seized 765 firearms last year and identified the gun as the weapon of choice to commit murders. Almost 81 per cent of the murders were committed using a gun in that country.

“According to TTPS statistics, there were 462 murders in 2016, 420 murders in 2015, and 403 murders in 2014, out of a population of approximately 1.3 million people,” the report states.

The State Department also mentioned that there were no known indigenous terrorist groups operating in the country but it was reported that Trinidad nationals have travelled to Syria and Iraq to fight for the terrorist group ISIS.

“Given the crime rate and some weaknesses in border control, there remains a continued concern that T&T could be utilized as a transit point for potential terrorists or terrorist organizations. Although terrorism poses a low threat to travelers to T&T, all should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks. These could take place in public areas frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers. Travelers should review the US Department of State’s most recent Worldwide Caution,” the report states.

Jamaicans for Justice condemns search of persons wearing hoodies

Hoodies

Human rights group, Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ), has criticized a decision by police to stop and search young men wearing hoodies as part of an effort by law enforcement to clamp down on criminal activities across the island.

Hoodies are sweatshirts with a hood which are sometimes associated with persons who are intent on masking their identity when committing nefarious acts.

“The police are to have a good reason for searching somebody to begin with. They don’t have the right to just stop and search everybody. To add to that, if they are stopping and searching everybody wearing a hoodie, that’s profiling, and that’s being quite discriminatory,” said JFJ executive director, Horace Levy.

However, head of the Clarendon Police Division, Superintendent Vendolyn Cameron-Powell, said that the drive to stop and search young men wearing hoodies was part of the efforts to combat crime in the parish and questioned why anyone should need to wear hoodies in Jamaica’s tropical climate.

But Levy told the Jamaica Gleaner newspaper that there is no right on the part of the police to implement such a strategy.

“Just because there are some crimes being committed by guys with hoodies, you are to start searching every hooded guy? It’s a style and a matter of self-identification!”

Powell said that the strategy was not new to the island as other police divisions have already adopted a zero-tolerance approach towards the wearing of hoodies.

Last year, more than 130 people were murdered in the central parish of Clarendon which recorded the third-highest number of murders in the 19 police divisions across the island.

Miramar votes today

Early Voting in Miami-Dade County begins today
Miramar voting

Three incumbent City Commissioners face electorate 

 

The residents of Miramar will go to the polls to elect three city commissioners today, Tuesday March 14.

The electors will vote to either replace or retain three representatives of the five-seat commission in the Broward County–based city.

The three seats up for grabs are now held by Jamaican-American Winston Barnes in Seat 3, Yvette Colbourne – a Panamanian-American of Jamaican descent in Seat 2 and  Maxwell Barnes, also a Jamaican-American,  in Seat 1.

Haitian-American  Darlene Riggs and Broward County Mayor, Wayne Messam make up the full compliment of the five-seat Commission.

Winston Barnes, a Jamaican-American, who has served the commission since 2003, is facing the two-pronged challenge of Haitian-American Dalton Jall’s Bonheur and African-American James R. Hepburn, while Chambers and Colbourne are being challenged by Jamaican-Americans, Attorney Norman Hemmings, and chiropractor Dr. Venessa Walker, respectively.

There are approximately 70,000 electors registered to cast ballots in the municipal election but voter turnout has customarily been low. All candidates are hoping that there will be a turnaround in that trend.

Miaramar is the only municipality in South Florida with an all Caribbean cast of City Commissioners.

Messam has openly endorsed the challenges of Walker against Colbourne and Jali’s Bonheur and Hepburn against Barnes, stating that he could do more with a stronger Commission.

However residents of Miramar have expressed their satisfaction with the work of the present Commission.

Body count doubles in Venezuela jail

Five months after violent clashes among inmates forced the closure of Venezuela’s largest jail, authorities revealed that they have discovered decomposing remains in the facility. The number of bodies has doubled from seven last Friday to 14.

There were many reports of violence at the General Penitentiary of Venezuela last October which resulted in it having to close. Complaints had also surfaced that inmates had died because of inadequate food and medicine.

“We received reports…that bones were found, human remains, and we immediately activated an investigation at the prison at San Juan de Los Morros” , said Minister of penitentiary affairs, Iris Varela.

BBC News reported that the prison is currently being refurbished as part of a government programme to bring the country’s penitentiaries up to international standards.

Varela described the remains as being “in an advanced staged of decomposition”.

The non-governmental group A Window on Freedom, the prison had an estimated that had an estimated 9,000 inmates prior to its closure.  The group estimates that some 88,000 people are incarcerated in Venezuela, 33,000 of them in police jails.

FIFA reminds US of World Cup travel obligations

FIFA President

FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, reminded the US of its obligation to guarantee full access to the country for players, officials and supporters if they bid for the 2026 World Cup.

President Donald Trump‘s latest executive order bars new visas for people from six countries and temporarily shuts down America’s refugee program, affecting would-be visitors and immigrants from Iran, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Libya.

The 2026 World Cup is nine years away, but bidding is expected to begin next year with the host to be decided in 2020.

“It’s obvious when it comes to FIFA competitions as well, any team, including the supporters and officials of that team, who qualify for a World Cup need to have access to the country, otherwise there is no World Cup,” Infantino said. “The requirements will be clear. And then each country can make up their decision, whether they want to bid or not based on the requirements. Nothing to do with the U.S. or not, it’s general sporting criterion,” Infantino said, while steering clear of directly criticizing Trump.

“Mr. Trump is the president of the United States of America and as such of course (I have) huge respect for what he does,” Infantino said following FIFA meetings in London. “He’s in charge, together with his government, to take the decisions that are best for his country. That’s why he has been elected.”

FIFA has recently had to deal with the impact of a country restricting visas for one of its events. The FIFA Congress in May has been moved to Bahrain from Kuala Lumpur after Malaysia withdrew from hosting, citing problems allowing entry to some delegates, including officials from Israel.

“In the world there are certainly many countries who have bans, travel bans, visa requirements and so on and so forth,” Infantino said.

The United States is mulling a three-way hosting bid with Canada and Mexico. A potential obstacle to the triple hosting is Trump’s determination to build a wall on the Mexican border to help stem illegal immigration, with tensions between the countries over who would fund the border barrier.

Recipe: Mango Chow (Trinidad)

Mango Chow By Chef Minna Lafortune

Trinidadian Mango Chow

By Celina DeCastro

Do you have some green mangos around, and are not quite sure what you can do to them? If you are impatient to wait until they’re ripe, try Trinidadian Mango Chow. Not only will you be able to eat your unripe mango, but spice it up the Caribbean way. This infamous snack can be found anywhere in Trinidad and Tobago, but you don’t have to live on the island nation to have this snack. This recipe can also be used for other fruits that are in season if mangos are not an easy find.

What you’ll need:

  • 1-2 green mangos
  • 1/4 teaspoon of salt
  • Sprinkle of black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon of shado beni or 1/4 cup of cilantro (Optional)
  • 1 lime OR 1 lemon OR a few tablespoons of vinegar to taste
  • 1-2 of your favorite pepper (optional)
  • 1 shallot (optional)
  • 2 cloves of garlic (optional)

What to do:

  1. In a bowl, add sliced pepper of your choice, garlic and shallots. These ingredients are optional based on the level of spice you’re trying to achieve in your mango chow.
  2. Wash and peel the mango, slice mango into wedges and place in a bowl
  3. Add salt and pepper
  4. Add your shado beni or cilantro
  5. Squeeze the juice of the lemon or lime, this can also be substituted with vinegar.
  6. Toss the mixture with a spoon, do not use hands if peppers are present in the mixture
  7. Serve to hungry friends or family

IMMIGRATION NEWS & UPDATES

Cell search

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

Quick Rundown Of Trump’s New Travel Ban – Who’s Affected –Who’s Not?

As expected, the Trump administration released it second “Travel Ban” last week, which would again, consistent with the first travel ban attempt, bar entry of nationals from certain predominantly Muslim countries.  The new Trump Executive Order titled “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States.”  goes into effect this week on Thursday, March 16, 2017 for an initial period of 90 days. The main changes from the first ban which was rejected by the Federal Courts, is the removal of Iraq from the list of countries, explicit exemptions for U.S. Residents and Visa holders, dual nationals, those on diplomatic visas, the allowance of continued asylee/refugee status for those  previously granted such status before the ban and a temporary bar for Syrian refuges, rather than the permanent one. The new order continues to ban entry of all refugees to the U.S. 120 days.

I should also note that under the Trump Administration’s new “extreme vetting” and enhanced border security measures, nationals from most other countries should also expect more scrutiny at the airport and be aware that no electronic or media information about them is private. This means that the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) can search your social media online and any and all electronic devices you have in your possession, including IPads, Notebooks, laptops, cell phones, etc, not just for evidence of security threats, but  also of your intent to immigrate to, work in the U.S. or engage in any other activity which may be a violation of your  visitor visa. Good to know!

You can get a link to read the new travel ban and CBP website about its authorization to search you and your data by visiting our website at: www.Immigratetoday.com and clicking on the Immigration Newsletter link. 

Senator Rubio Hints About Possible Immigration Reform

In an encouraging comment, Sen. Marco Rubio recently told reporters and Fox news  commentators that he thinks it’s “going to be difficult” but that it “is possible” to make progress on immigration reform under the Trump Administration. Rubio appeared to be proposing that recent movement on Trump’s law enforcement policies and efforts to move immigration laws into a more “merit-based” system, could open a path for providing status to law abiding Immigrants, saying, “then you can do something very reasonable with the people who have been here a long time who are not gang bangers, who are not criminals, who are not a threat to public safety.”

And as a member of the bipartisan “Gang of Eight,” Sen. Rubio was involved in significant comprehensive immigration reform legislation proposed in 2013, which would have created a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S.. Unfortunately the measure failed to gain the needed support in the Republican held House of Representative and did not become law. Immigration advocates are heartened at the recent statements by Rubio and other Republicans, but remain skeptical about the possibility of such a measure in the near future, given Trump’s history of contradictory positions on immigration reform. Stay tuned….

Understanding Your Risks and Protecting Your Rights!

Trump’s recent ramped up Immigration “enforcement” policies, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and arrests have left many Immigrants feeling fear and anxiety about their safety and security here in America, the land of Immigrants! As a result, many are making contingency plans in case of arrest and detention. And while Immigration advocates and attorneys like myself provide vital advice and assistance to many in need, for most Immigrations without legal status, current Immigration laws provide few, if any legal options. As a result, advocacy groups like the Immigrant Defense Project focus on spreading awareness of Immigrants’ rights throughout Communities in case of contact with Immigration authorities or ICE. You can download the latest IDP’s KNOW YOUR RIGHTS with ICE advisory by visiting our website at: www.Immigratetoday.com and clicking on the Immigration Newsletter link.

THIS WEEK’S IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 

Question: My husband and I, along with our 2 kids came here to Florida as tourists in 2012 and my brother offered my husband a really good job in his warehouse, so we stayed here. We don’t have Florida driver’s licenses or social security cards, but we have to get around so we use your international driving permit. But for the past few months we are getting more and more worried with the new laws and hearing about all the immigration arrests on the news and are starting to feel like we and our kids aren’t safe here anymore. Last night we talked about the possibility of leaving and going home so we don’t get deported. But our concerns are that our kids will have problems adjusting back in Jamaica and are so confused about what to do. We really want to know, is it better to leave now instead of risking getting deported or better to stay in America? 

Answer: That is a very common and concerning question lately, which is not well understood by many Immigrants. First, it’s important to understand that the legal consequences of overstaying your lawful period of authorized stay (I-94) and then leaving the U.S., compared with that of being deported are about the same:

Overstaying your Visa: Once an Immigrant has remained in the U.S. for 365 days or more past their authorized stay, leaves the U.S., he or she is “barred” from re-entering the U.S. again for 10 years.

Deportation: Once an Immigrant is deported from the U.S. he or she is usually “barred” from re-entering the U.S. again for 10 years. There are lesser “bars” depending upon the circumstances, 20 years for some criminal violations and permanent “bars” others.

No attorney can legally advise you to break U.S. laws by remaining in the U.S. past your authorized stay, but it’s clear to see that the consequences of leaving the U.S.  voluntarily after being here for a year or more, compared with those resulting from deportation are the same. In many cases, Immigrants determine that the benefits of staying here and hoping for some Immigration reform in the future far outweigh the risks of being arrested and consequences of being deported. More clearly stated, many Immigrants feel that on a practical level, there is no benefit in “self deporting” and one could argue that they would be right.

So in your case, given the information provided, you would want to weigh the risks and benefits of leaving and determine what is best for your family.

You can view a more detailed review of the various Immigration “bans” by visiting our website at: www.Immigratetoday.com and clicking on the Immigration Newsletter link.

Japan AnSWeR’s the HARDEST

To mark the 10th anniversary of their AnSWeR Clothing company, the husband-and-wife team of Kengo and Tomoko Fukai wanted to make a statement. A fashion statement.
Last December, the Japanese couple released HARDEST, a magazine featuring top dancehall/reggae artistes and producers wearing AnSWeR creations. Bounty Killer, Sizzla, sound system selector/producer Rory Gilligan (of Stone Love fame) and producer Stephen McGregor are some of the personalities in HARDEST.

The Fukais — who designed the T-shirts, shirts and mesh merinos — took most of the photos during visits to Jamaica.

Sizzla wears the AnSWeR
Sizzla wears the AnSWeR

Tomoko says, “2015 was our 10th anniversary year. So AnSWeR wanted to try to do something new. Then Kengo decided to move to Jamaica to learn Jamaican culture. Many of his friends helped him (including) Rory Stone Love and Yumi Hi Power.”
They credit Gilligan with encouraging them to pitch their wares to dancehall/reggae’s finest. That was 2008 and their leisure wear has struck a chord with Jamaican entertainers.

answer 1
Since the Fukais launched the AnSWeR line in 2005, it has found a favourable market in major Japanese cities such as their hometown. Fans in Nagoya Tokyo and Yokohama have also taken to their pieces.
The Japanese have embraced Jamaican culture for over 30 years. In the 1980s, artistes like Sugar Minott, Dennis Brown and Freddie McGregor performed their regularly. A decade later, Stone Love and other sound systems toured Japan, appealing to a generation who discovered new dancehall heroes such as Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Sizzla and TOK.

Kim Collins to hang up spikes after London World Champs

Kim Collins

He has been an icon of sprinting for more than two decades and now Kim Collins, the 2003 100-meters world champion, is planning to hang up his spikes at the end of this summer’s IAAF World Championships in London, England.

Collins, who turns 41 in April, is the oldest man to ever win a World Championship 100 meters medal. He has won five medals in 10 appearances at World Championships.

Collins is testimony to the statement that one gets better as one gets older as his times kept imrtpoving with age. His personal best time of 9.93s was set in 2016 at the age of 40. But, after suffering a series of injuries prior to the Olympic Games in Rio last summer, and during this past indoor season, the enigmatic Collins has decided that the time has come to call an end to his athletics career.

“I think London will be my last. My oldest son now is 19. The kids are growing. But it’s been great for the younger generation as it shows that if you take care of your body, you can have a long-lasting career. I’m making sure my body is healthy, I’m eating right and getting a lot stronger in the gym which many years ago I didn’t do. My body is getting a lot stronger and more flexible which helps me perform to the best of my ability and not get injured,” Collins said

Collins first competed at the World Champions in Gotenberg in 1995 as a member of his country’s relay squad. However, his recollection of Athens in 1997 were not so memorable. “In ’97 when I came back I had a small injury. I ended up running 21 seconds for the 100m. It’s the slowest 100m ever run!,” he said.

Trinidad PM accuses opposition of creating ‘Fake News’

Dr Keith Rowley

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley, has accusing the Opposition of creating “fake news” and misleading the public with regard to the hiring of a Washington lobbyist and lobbying firm to represent his country’s interest in the United States.
In a letter to the editor of the Trinidad Express, Rowley said the Opposition should instead join with the Government and focus on improving and expanding our relationship “with our most important trading and national security partner, the United States.”
“There is nothing unusual about Trinidad and Tobago engaging a Washington lobbyist as we’ve done so as a country for decades. Governments all over the world hire lobbyists to complement and represent their interests within the United States, notwithstanding the presence of an Embassy and Ambassador within Washington. Countries such as India, Mexico, Japan, Saudi Arabia and China all have US representation. Sophisticated nations invest in their relationships with their largest trading partners, and the United States is by far our largest import and export partner. Equally important, there are over 230,000 Trinbagonians, along with their families, living all over the United States. Our lobbyists ensure that our country, and in turn our people, have a voice and presence in the United States government,” said Rowley.

“Our lobbying representatives in Washington, theGROUP DC and its Managing Partner Art Collins who had more than 30 years experience in advising in representing foreign, state and local governments before other governmental entities,, are experts in public policy and government relations,” he added.

Collins is a member of the Board of Trustees of The Brookings Institute, as well as a member of the Board of a Trustees for Meridian International, a non-profit, global leadership organization.

Another Haitian beauty queen has scored big in Canada

Its Monday, March 13. We are looking at some of the top stories across your Caribbean-American community.

And in sports…

Rock Island and Plantation scored similar 2-love wins over Team Haiti and South Florida Soccer School in the Caribbean American Soccer Association Super League at the Broward Sports on Saturday. In the Masters League Chapel Trail beat Creekers Masters 2-0.

Here’s What’s trending

Another Haitian beauty queen has scored big. Liliane Marie Lawrence Ulysse copped 3rd place in the Miss Canada 2017 pageant held at the Sheraton Hotel in Laval, Quebec, Canada on March 4. Ulysse’s achievement comes weeks after the success of Haitian beauty queen Raquel Pelissier placed second in the Miss Universe pageant

Make sure to pick up your copy of the Caribbean News Weekly at your nearest Caribbean American outlet.

BVI to implement new process for work permit renewals

New BVI Immigration Act signed into law

The Labour Department  in the British Virgin Islands has announced plans to start testing a new process for the renewal of work permits in the territory.

According to Deputy Premier and Minister of Natural Resources and Labour, Dr. Kedrick Pickering, this will begin on March 15 with the full implementation scheduled for May 15.

The revised procedure for processing renewals is part of efforts to enhance the operation of the Labour Department, and to improve customer service in keeping with the ‘BVI Forward’ initiative to reform Immigration and Labour.

“Government is always exploring ways to improve service, and the changes identified through our ongoing partnership with the private sector illustrate our commitment to continuous improvement. Considerable time has been invested examining processes, and we are now at the point of implementation,” said Pickering.

Meanwhile, Labour Commissioner Janice Rhymer said the Financial Services Implementation Unit (FSIU) has been working with the Labour Department, mapping the work permit process, and identifying options for improving efficiency to provide a faster and easier service to customers.

She added that the Labour Department will monitor the test phase of the programme and adjust as needed ahead of the full launch on May 15.

During the test phase, persons seeking to renew their work permits will have the option to complete the form electronically or manually, and then submit it to the Labour Department.

Muhammad Ali Jr. stopped at US airport again

Muhammad Ali Jr.

The son of the late boxing champion Muhammad Ali was stopped by officials at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Friday.

Muhammad Ali Jr. was traveling from Washington D.C. to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This is the second time in two weeks that the late boxer’s son was harried by airport officials and he is adamant that he is being profiled because he is a Muslim with an Arabic sounding name.

Ali Jr. was stopped by a ticket agent who said his identification was expired and refused to give him his boarding pass. The agent informed Ali that his name was flagged and he would not be allowed to board the plane until the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was contacted, Ali has since protested that his ID is not expired and said there were no explanation given on why he was stopped for an “expired ID.” He said he eventually retrieved his passport and was allowed to board a JetBlue Airways flight after about 25 minutes.

According to a statement from DHS Ali Jr. arrived at the security check point, his jewelry alarmed the scanner and he received a targeted pat-down to clear the alarm.

On February 7, immigration officials at Fort Lauderdale Airport detained and extensively questioned Ali and his mother, Khalilah Camacho-Ali, about their ancestry and religion. The mother and son, both born in the United States, have said in interviews that they believe they have been stopped because they are Muslim with Arabic names. Earlier this week, they announced a campaign for religious freedom in the spirit of the boxing icon, supported by ex-boxing greats Evander Holyfield, Larry Holmes, Roberto Duran and others. They say they are opposed to President Donald Trump’s travel ban, which they feel unfairly targets Muslims.

 

St. Kitts Nevis mourns death of former governor

Sir Probyn Inniss

Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris is leading the nation of St Kitts Nevis in mourning the death of former Governor Sir Probyn Inniss, who died Sunday at the age of 80.

“I extend my heartfelt condolences to Lady Rosamund Inniss, the wife for some 55 years of His Excellency Sir Probyn Inniss, MBE, and to their three children…their grandchildren and other family members,” Prime Minister Harris said.

The Government and people of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis join with them to mourn the tremendous loss of Sir Probyn Inniss whose thumbprint will forever be on the annals of history,” he added.

He said Sir Probyn rendered distinguished service as a Governor; civil servant; heritage proponent, most notably as the longstanding President of the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park Society; historian; lawyer; preacher in the Methodist Church St. Kitts Circuit; teacher, and writer.

Sir Probyn served as Governor from 1975 to 1981 and was knighted by  Queen Elizabeth in 1976.

Cuba begins Renal cancer drug trial

By Kayla Higgs

A clinical trial with Heberferon, one of the leading lines of Cuban biotechnology, will begin this year in Cuba in about 300 patients with renal carcinoma.

Dr Iraldo Bello, is the expert who developed the product at the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB by its Spanish acronym).

According to Caribbean News Now, Bello said that this formulation, a synergistic combination of recombinant human alpha-2b and gamma interferon, has been applied with good results against basal cell carcinoma, the most frequent skin cancer.

Bello added that this year they will also conduct a clinical trial with Heberferon in patients with malignant brain tumors. Preclinical studies and other pilot research in humans show that the results with this product, unique of its kind in the world, can be very promising in these two indications, said the expert.

Bello has spent  over 20 years in the research of this product, which has raised interest in several countries.

The CIGB and the National Cancer Control Group develop workshops in which oncologists, pathologists and other specialists participate to educate physicians about the use of the drug, which has already been applied to 800 Cuban patients with basal cell carcinoma.

Thirty four killed, 17 injured in Haiti bus accident

Haiti Bus Crash

Thirty four people were killed and 17 injured on Sunday when a bus slammed into a crowd in the city of Gonaives to the north of  the capital.

The police report that the bus first hit two pedestrians, killing one.

The bus then ploughed into a band of street musicians, leaving dozens dead.

The injured were rushed to hospital by the emergency services.

According to a spokesman with the Minister of Interior, Albert Mouloin, following the incident in which the driver attempted to flee the scene, witnesses became hostile and tried to set the vehicle on fire.

Haiti bus crash 2
A car damaged by a bus lies on the side of a road on March 12, 2017 in Gonaives, 90 miles northwest of the capital Port-au-Prince

“The people who were not victims of the accident tried to burn the bus with the passengers inside,” said Faustin Joseph, a civic protection co-coordinator for the Artibonite region.

“The bus, the passengers and the driver were all placed into the care of the local authorities”, he added.

It was not immediately clear what caused the accident.

The bus was travelling from Cap Haitien to Port-au-Prince at the time of the incident

Rubio hints at possible immigration reform

Florida Senator Marco Rubio recently told reporters and Fox news commentators that he thinks it’s “going to be difficult” but that it “is possible” to make progress on immigration reform under the Trump Administration.

Rubio appeared to be proposing that recent movement on Trump’s law enforcement policies and efforts to move immigration laws into a more “merit-based” system, could open a path for providing status to law abiding Immigrants, saying, “then you can do something very reasonable with the people who have been here a long time who are not gang bangers, who are not criminals, who are not a threat to public safety.”

And as a member of the bipartisan “Gang of Eight,” Senator Rubio was involved in significant comprehensive immigration reform legislation proposed in 2013, which would have created a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S.. Unfortunately the measure failed to gain the needed support in the Republican held House of Representatives and did not become law.

Immigration advocates are heartened at the recent statements by Rubio and other Republicans, but remain skeptical about the possibility of such a measure in the near future, given Trump’s history of contradictory positions on immigration reform. ….

Jamaica’s Ambassador laments death of former Honorary Consul

Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States Audrey Marks has expressed profound sadness at the death of Jamaica’s former Honorary Consul to Boston, Dr. Kenneth Guscott who perished in a fire at his home in Boston early Monday morning.

Dr. Guscott who was 91, along with his wife’s father 87 year old Leroy Whitmore perished in the blaze.

Ambassador Marks conveyed to Dr. Guscott’s wife, Mrs Valerie Whitmore-Guscott, condolence on behalf of the Government of Jamaica, as well as the entire staff at the Embassy.

“I extend deepest condolences to you and the entire family on your tragic loss.  Mr. Guscott, who was the son of Jamaican immigrants served with distinction as the Honorary Consul for Jamaica in Boston for nearly two decades, from 1992 to 2011.  Though he had demitted office several years ago, he was always fondly remembered, and the Jamaican community in Boston is also grieving the loss as they reflect on the invaluable service he gave during his tenure,” Marks said.

She said “though he had demitted office several years ago, he was always fondly remembered, and the Jamaican community in Boston is also grieving the loss as they reflect on the invaluable service he gave during his tenure.”

Ambassador Marks also expressed sadness at the passing of her father Mr. Leroy Whitmore noting that, “our hearts mourn with the family at this very unfortunate tragedy.”

Dr. Guscott who served as Jamaica’s Honorary Consul until 2011, was one of Boston’s prominent African American developers and was credited with the transformation and revitalization of Dudley Square in 1969. Only recently he announced plans for a 250 million 25 storey towers to be built in Roxbury, Boston.

As Jamaica’s Honorary Consul, Dr. Guscott was keen on investment in Jamaica and led many trade missions to the island. Two of his pet project was renewable energy and the resuscitation of the island’s bee industry.

In commenting on his untimely death, Ambassador Marks said Dr. Guscott’s passing had robbed the Jamaican community in Boston and the wider Jamaican Diaspora of a true stalwart, who, though not born in Jamaica made tremendous contribution to the island’s development Jamaica owes him a debt of gratitude.

In 2009, Dr. Guscott was recognized for outstanding contribution to the Boston and Jamaica by the Diaspora Northeast Advisor Board at its conference in Hartford Connecticut

Supermarket shopping guide101

Grocery shopping guide

A nurse’s guide to healthy supermarket shopping By Kristin Halldorsdottir, RN

Over the years, I’ve learned to be a savvy shopper.

They say the first rule of grocery shopping is, don’t go on an empty stomach. It’s true. It can lead you into all sorts of temptations, like the smell from the bakery or that fried chicken. Walk away!

If you have a grocery list, you are already a star. Organize your list into sections such as fresh produce, dairy, etc. I shop the perimeter of the supermarket first to find produce, meat, fish and dairy. Most of the time, those foods are all I need for my family.

I keep track of sell-by dates so I know when I will use those products. I hate wasting food. By the weekend, the fridge and cabinets are bare – just the way I like it.

I love the produce department, so colorful and full of nutrients. Each color reflects the different vitamin, mineral and phytonutrient content of each item. I didn’t grow up with many fruits and vegetables, but I have developed a taste for them. On Sundays, I make a big salad, ready for dinner and lunch the next day.

If you work upfront, it’s easier to stay on track. When I know I’m baking potatoes or roasting chicken, I also roast vegetables at the same time. I like to feel that what I put into my body is doing me good. Don’t get me wrong, I love chocolate and ice cream, but I try to keep them in small portions. If it’s in the house, I eat it, so I try not to have those temptations.

Don’t forget dairy products. Low-fat milk for cereal is a perfect way to get the calcium you need. Add a banana and you’re set to start your day. Yogurt comes in many forms now, but check the sugar content. My current favorite is plain. I add fresh strawberries or a little honey.

When I go to the middle aisles, I pick up a few items like coffee and canned goods, such as beans and tomatoes (low sodium, of course) for soups, stews and chicken or vegetable stock.

When it comes to bread, I look for high fiber, low sugar. Just because it says whole wheat doesn’t mean it is good for you. It’s so important to read all labels. You will be stunned to see the amount of sugar some food contains. It takes a bit of time, but you will find a product that suits you and you can stick with. Your palate adjusts quicker than you think.

If you are looking for frozen meals as a quick go-to for work lunch, choose meals low in carbs and high in protein.

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