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IRS cautions income on tax returns is illegal

tax returns

The Internal Revenue Service recently issued a statement cautioning tax payers against falsifying income on their tax returns in order to claim tax credits.

“Taxpayers should ensure all the information they provide on their tax return is accurate,” said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. “Falsifying income to claim tax credits is against the law. Taxpayers are legally responsible for all the information reported on their tax returns.”

The practice of falsifying income is included in the “Dirty Dozen,” a list compiled annually by the IRS that describes a variety of common scams taxpayers may encounter. Many of these schemes peak during filing season as people prepare their returns or hire others to help them.

These scams can lead to significant penalties, interest charges and possible criminal prosecution. IRS Criminal Investigation works closely with the Department of Justice to shutdown scams and prosecute the criminals behind them.

Some people falsely increase the income they report to the IRS. This scam involves inflating or including income on a tax return that was never earned, either as wages or self-employment income, usually to maximize refundable credits.

Much like falsely claiming an expense or deduction you did not pay is not right, claiming income you did not earn is also inappropriate. Unscrupulous people do this to secure larger refundable credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and it can have serious repercussions. Taxpayers can face a large bill to repay the erroneous refunds, including interest and penalties. In some cases, they may even face criminal prosecution.

The IRS cautions taxpayers to avoid getting caught up in scheme disguised as a debt payment option for credit cards or mortgage debt. It involves the filing of a Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income, and/or bogus financial instruments such as bonds, bonded promissory notes or worthless checks.

Con artists often argue that the proper way to redeem or draw on a fictitious held-aside account is to use some form of made-up financial instrument such as a bonded promissory note that purports to be a debt payment method for credit cards or mortgage debt. Scammers provide fraudulent Form(s) 1099-MISC that appear to be issued by a large bank, loan service and/or mortgage company with which the taxpayer may have had a prior relationship, to further perpetrate the scheme. Form 56, Notice Concerning Fiduciary Relationship, may also be used by participants in this scam to assign fiduciary responsibilities to the lenders.

Taxpayers may encounter unethical return preparers who make them aware of these scams. Remember: Taxpayers are legally responsible for what’s on their tax return even if it is prepared by someone else.  

The IRS also stresses that it’s important to choose carefully when hiring an individual or firm to prepare your return. Well-intentioned taxpayers can be misled by preparers who don’t understand taxes or who mislead people into taking credits or deductions they aren’t entitled to in order to increase their fee. Every year, these types of tax preparers face everything from penalties to jail time for defrauding their clients.

 

 

Start filing for your loved ones now

Immigration

Proposed immigration law could see tighter restrictions

BY Immigration Attorney Caroly Pedersen

On February 7th, Republican Senators unveiled proposed immigration legislation which could dramatically change America’s entire legal immigration system.

Called the “Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment Act” the proposal intends to cut all legal immigration by 50 percent, exclude parents of citizens from the current special designation as “immediate relatives” and force them to wait in long visa lines, eliminate the yearly diversity (Visa Lottery) program, and cut refugee visas by half. Most tragically, the measure would eliminate all immigrant visas for adult children of U.S. citizens and residents, and brothers and sisters of U.S. Citizens. Under the proposal only spouses and unmarried minor children of citizens and permanent residents would be eligible to obtain Green Cards.

Introduced by Republican senators Tom Cotton and David Perdue, the Act, would dramatically alter our current legal immigration laws and by Cotton’s own estimate, “cut annual immigration in half, from 1 million to 500,000 green cards per year”. An exception in the proposal would allow qualifying elderly parents to obtain temporary visas to stay with sponsoring U.S. Citizen children in the U.S., but would require proof of health insurance and not allow the parents to work or receive public benefits.

Cotton reportedly told reporters.

“He strongly supports the broad concept of moving legal immigration towards a merit-based system,”.

The Senate Bill is expected to be introduced in the coming weeks, and as we now  know, things are changing at lightning speed.

So with family immigration under fire, it’s only a matter of time before some version of a Restrictionist  immigration Bill is signed into law by Trump. As a result, U.S. Citizens should not delay in filing petitions for Parents, adult Children (single and married) and Siblings now! Similarly, U.S.  Residents (Green Card holders) should file petitions to sponsor their adult single children as well. As in the past, immigrant petitions for all these family members filed before the law changes, will remain valid in the future, even if family categories are later restricted or eliminated.

This radical immigration proposal could be the start of similar legislation to come under the Republican controlled Congress and Whitehouse. There are few limits on their powers, except public opinion! This is your opportunity to voice your opposition to any Congressional proposals to restrict legal immigration, before it’s too late! Call your local Senators now and tell them you do NOT support the Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment Act and want to stop any efforts to restrict legal immigration. For Florida, you can call your Senators at: Democratic Sen. Nelson : 202-224-5274 and Republican Sen. Rubio: 202-224-3041  

Jamaican security minister rubbishes claims of organ harvesting

Jamaica’s National Security Minister, Robert Montague, has rubbished claims appearing on social media platforms that Jamaicans are being murdered as part of a ghastly organ-harvesting scheme.

In recent weeks a number of posts on FaceBook and WattsApp have surfaced displaying the mutilated bodies of persons who are alleged to be have been slaughtered and their organs removed and sold on the black market.

But Montague was highly critical of such claims, which he described as entirely false, in a tersely worded release from his ministry.

Montague
Montague…rubbished claims of organ-harvesting in Jamaica

“These messages are accompanied with pictures of victims.  Investigations by the police have established that images of the deceased persons are not those of persons who were victims of the alleged crimes. Not a single case of any deceased person appearing with missing organs has been reported to the police or examined by the Institute of Forensic Science and Legal Medicine,” the release stated.

The National Security Minister said these reports were undermining the work of the country’s security forces and making an already difficult situation worse. He said investigations are pointing to a small group of persons who are perpetrating these actions with ulterior motives, and the matter is being investigated by the Police Cybercrimes Unit for possible action.

Montague pleaded with persons engaged in such practices to desist from doing so.

“The public is being warned that under the new Cybercrimes legislation, a person who commits an offence by using a computer willfully with intent to send another person any data, whether in the form of a message or otherwise, that intends to cause, or is reckless, and as to whether the sending if the data causes annoyance, distress, anxiety, that person can be fined not exceeding four million dollars, or imprisoned for a term no exceeding four years, or both, by a parish judge if the person is a first offender. Persons are asked to exercise caution in the material they post online and transmit to others, as they may unwittingly be participating in criminal acts,” the release further stated.

 Millennials are worst behaved drivers according to AAA

A new AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety report indicates 88 percent of millennials (aged 18 to 25) admitted being  involved in driving infractions in the past 30 days, earning the dubious distinction as the worst behaved U.S. drivers.

These dangerous behaviors which increase the risk of accidents, included texting while driving, running red-lights and speeding. These findings come as U.S. traffic deaths rose to 35,092 in 2015, an increase of more than 7 percent, the largest single-year increase in five decades.

“Alarmingly, some of the drivers believe their dangerous driving behavior is acceptable,” said Dr. David Yang, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety executive director. “It’s critical that these drivers understand the potentially deadly consequences of engaging in these types of behaviors and that they change their behavior and attitudes in order to reverse the growing number of fatalities on U.S. roads.”

In the research conducted among 2,511 drivers over 16, AAA found 88.4 percent of drivers aged 19 to 24 admitted to engaging in speeding, red light running or texting behind the wheel in the past 30 days include, compared to 68 percent of drivers over age 60.

Traffic attorney, Michale Ramos of Miami, concurs with the report as he says over 70 percent of his clients who recently received traffic tickets mostly for speeding, running red lights and testing-while-driving offenses, were young adults age -20 to 35.

According to AAA the report, drivers ages 19-24 were 1.6 times as likely as all drivers to report having read a text message or e-mail while driving in the last 30 days (66.1 percent vs. 40.2 percent). Drivers ages 19-24 were nearly twice as likely as all drivers to report having typed or sent a text message or e-mail while driving (59.3 percent vs. 31.4 percent).

Regarding speeding offenses, drivers ages 19-24 were 1.4 times as likely as all drivers to report having driven 10 mph over the speed limit on a residential street. Nearly 12 percent of drivers ages 19-24 reported feeling that it is acceptable to drive 10 mph over the speed limit in a school zone, compared to less than 5 percent of all drivers.

In the case of drivers who run red lights, the report found nearly 50 percent of drivers ages 19-24 reported driving through a light that had just turned red when they could have stopped safely, compared to 36 percent of all drivers.

Nearly 14 percent of drivers ages 19-24 reported feeling that it is acceptable to drive through a light that just turned red, when they could have stopped safely, compared to about 6 percent of all drivers.

“Too often we see what can happen as a result of underestimating risk while driving,” said Amy Stracke, AAA – The Auto Club Group managing director for traffic safety advocacy. “Change starts with our own behavior.  We need to set a good example by following speed limits, putting the phone down and fully focusing on the task of driving.”

Jamaican sentenced in Palm Beach Court for lottery scamming

A Jamaican man was on Tuesday sentenced for his part in a lottery scam that has targeted vulnerable U.S citizens.

Julius Lorenzo George Jackson was sentenced to 18 months during a hearing before U.S. District Judge William J. Zloch. He had earlier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

Jackson called several people and falsely informed them that they had won millions of dollars in the lottery, according to court documents.

The victims were convinced to pay thousand of dollars in order to collect their ‘winnings’.

He received money either directly into his bank account or through a wire transfer of funds. He kept a portion of the money and transferred the rest to a co-conspirator in Jamaica, authorities said.

CARICOM leaders begin two-day inter-sessional summit

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders will their two-day inter-sessional summit in Georgetown, Guyana on Thursday with crime and security, economic development and international relations high on their agenda.

Ahead of the summit, CARICOM Secretary General Irwin LaRocque, said crime continues to pose a threat to the 15-member regional grouping and is no longer just a national issue.

LaRocque
CARICOM Secretary General Irwin LaRocque

It’s a regional one and hence it demands a regional solution,” LaRocque said, noting that trans-border crime is “something one needs to address,” given the need to reduce the “level of criminality” within the Caribbean.

The regional leaders will also seek to further develop the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) initiative that allows for the free movement of goods, skills, services and labour across the region.

LaRocque pointed to significant progress that had been made in the CARICOM Single Market (CSM), especially its legal and administrative framework, but acknowledged that more, however, needed to be done with respect to the Single Economy.

LaRocque said the leaders at their two-day summit will also discuss the region’s productive sectors with much emphasis being placed on the tourism industry, a major contributor to the region’s gross domestic product.

Two men arrested after teenage girl sold for sex

sold for sex

Police in Miramar, South Florida have arrested two men who are accused of selling a 17-year-old girl for sex in a industrial neighborhood.

The cops collared Andre Raymon Wallace, 42, who was in an idling car at 4 a.m. on February 6. while behind a car wash in the 1800 block of Southwest 100th Terrace.

Wallace was waiting for the girl, who was having sex with a man at a home in an industrial area south of Pembroke Road and east of Palm Avenue, police said.

Wallace admitted to the police that in exchange for getting half of the girl’s $100 fee, he drove her to appointments.

Police also nabbed Robert James Barnett, 26, of Miramar.

Barnett also told the cops that he contacted the girl by phone.

Wallace faces charges of recruiting or harboring or transporting for prostitution; procuring a minor for prostitution; contributing the delinquency or dependency of a child; living off the earnings of a prostitute; driving with a suspended license, habitual offender and human trafficking/forced sex activity of a child.

During a bond court hearing Tuesday, Broward County Judge Michael Davis ordered a $252,000 bond for Wallace. He is being held in jail.

Barnett’s charges were procuring a minor for prostitution; possession of a controlled substance without a prescription; possession or use of drug paraphernalia; and contributing to the delinquency or dependency of a child.

Police found 42 grams of marijuana at his property, according to the report.

He was freed on a $26,600 bond.

The girl was released to her parents.

Raheem Sterling keen to score more for Man City

Despite netting a sixth Premier League goal of the season for Manchester City at Bournemouth, Raheem Sterling knows that he has to up the ante..

Sterling fired home in Manchester City’s 2-0 win over on Monday but acknowledged he needs to be find the back of the net more often..

His career at Manchester City got off well under Pep Guardiola,  but lately the Jamaican-born England international has been experiencing a goal drought.

His club is now second in the Premier League, eight points behind leaders Chelsea.

“I am always trying to get on the scoresheet – it doesn’t always happen but it’s part of my game and I need to add more goals to my game. Before the game we knew it was going to be a difficult place to come. They play amazing football at times and you’ve seen that throughout the game today. Credit to them, they pushed and pushed and luckily we got the two goals,” Sterling told Sky Sports

Sergio Aguero appeared to have scored City’s second after coming off the bench as a replacement for Gabriel Jesus, who was forced off with a foot injury in the 15th minute.

It was eventually confirmed as an own goal by substitute Tyrone Mings.

Jill Scott, Herbie Hancock to highlight Jazz in the Gardens Music Festival

Jill Dcott
Jill Scott and Herbie Hancock are two of the headline performers at this year’s Jazz in the Gardens Music Festival.

The event, which is in its second year, will be held at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on March 18 and 19.

Herbie Hancock.
Herbie Hancock

Other artistes to appear on the event include: Common, LL Cool J featuring DJ Z Trip, The Roots, Esperanza Spalding, Betty Wright, Andra Day, Morris Day & The Time, Smokie Norful, Jazz All-Stars featuring Chante Moore, Will Downing and Marion Meadows.

Radio personality Rickey Smiley, host of the popular nationally syndicated Rickey Smiley Morning Show, will take on emcee duties.

betty-wright
Betty Wright

Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert was gung ho about the city hosting the event.

“The Jazz in the Gardens Music Festival is coming back to Miami Gardens with a bang!  We’re excited to bring some of the hottest, most talented performers in music, such as Jill Scott and Common, and welcome hip-hop performers who are heavily influenced by jazz, like The Roots and LL COOL J feat. DJ Z-TRIP. In our twelfth year, we feel positioned to evolve and reach across generations and genres to take Jazz in the Gardens to the next level, ” Mayor Oliver said.

Doors to the Jazz in the Gardens Music Festival will open at 3 p.m. and the show will start at 4 p.m

City of Sunrise to update CodeRED emergency notification system

The City of Sunrise is to embark on a revamping of the CodeRED emergency notification system.

CodeRed is a high-speed notification system that enables emergency management staff to quickly deliver messages to targeted areas or to the entire city.

However, City of Sunrise Fire-Rescue Chief Thomas DiBernardo cautioned that more residents needed to log on to the system as it is only as good as the telephone numbers entered in the system.

“If your phone number is not in the database, you cannot receive emergency notifications,” Chief DiBernardo said..

The CodeRED system gives individuals and businesses the ability to add their own phone numbers directly into the system’s database. This has to happen for the system to work.

Sunrise residents whose phone numbers are already in the CodeRED system will receive a test call on Monday, February 20, after 8:30 a.m., to request updated information..

“No one should automatically assume his or her phone number is included,” Chief DiBernardo said, urging all individuals and businesses to visit the City’s website, http://www.sunrisefl.gov, and click on the yellow “Register for CodeRED” banner at the right side of the page..

Those without Internet access may call the City’s Emergency Management Office – (954) 746-3479 – from Monday, February 20, through Friday, February 24, 2017, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. for assistance. Required information includes first and last name, street address (physical address, no P.O. boxes), city, state, ZIP Code, and primary phone number. Additional phone numbers can be entered as well. All businesses should register, as well as all individuals who have unlisted phone numbers, those who changed their phone number or moved within the past year, and those who use their cellular phone or VoIP phone as their primary number..

Chief DiBernardo explained, “CodeRED allows geographically-based delivery, which means street addresses are required to make sure emergency notification calls are received by the right individuals in a given situation. The system works for cell phones too, but we need to have an associated street address to provide relevant messages.”

The data collected will be used only for emergency notification purposes. Questions should be directed to the Sunrise Emergency Management Office: (954) 746-3475.

A Caribbean Love Poem for Valentine’s Day

The following poem was downloaded from the website http://poetsofthecaribbean.blogspot.com/ and reproduced as a special treat to you our treasured readers.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Poetry is often used to express love, and for Valentine’s Day, we would like to share a Caribbean love poem,  A You Mi Want Fi Deh Wid (translated in standard English – It’s You I Want To Be With)  by Joan Andrea Hutchinson.

The Jamaican dialect, used in the poem, captures the range of emotions. Enjoy!

A You Mi Want Fi Deh Wid 
Even if you put on fifty poun

Even if you sick and mawga down
Even if you bleach di black fi fayva brown
A you mi want fi ‘deh wid’

Even if you foot shape like afoo yam

And you hand look like song of di banana man
Even if you claim rasta but quietly lick di ham
A you mi want fi ‘deh wid’

So even though you a behave like a clown

And your name a call all over town
A you mi want fi be around
A just you mi want fi ‘deh wid’

Copyright Joan Andrea Hutchinson

Lauderhill Juniors maintain winning form in CASA super league

Lauderhill Juniors continued their rich run of form in the Caribbean American Soccer Association Super League with a 2-1 win over Team Haiti at the Lauderhill Sports Park last Saturday.

The win made it two straight victories for the in form Lauderhill Juniors team, who stopped Creekers FC 6-0 in their last encounter at the same venue.

 In the other game Plantation FC also came out 2-1 victors over the Lauderhill Lions. 

In the Masters League South Florida Kickers FC lost 1-0 to Lions Masters while OldTymers FC got the better of Attackers FC by the same margin.

US Army lifts ban on dread locks

The United States Army has lifted a ban that forbade members from sporting braids, twists and locks, citing them as inappropriate hairstyles.

The news of the ban has been cause for celebration by mainly African-American female soldiers who have for years advocated to be allowed to wear the hairstyles as they are easier to manage.

The rule was slightly amended within the Army’s large list of rules regarding appearance but real change only occurred after January 2017 through a smaller directive concerning hair as it relates to religion.

In addition to allowing women to wear dread locks, Muslim women are also permitted to wear hijabs and Sikh men are authorized to don turbans.

 

Moravian pastor slapped with another sex charge

The Moravian pastor who was charged for the rape of a 15-year-old girl in St Elizabeth earlier this year has found himself in more trouble.

The 64-year-old disgraced clergyman, Rupert Clarke, was on Monday slapped with one more count of having sex with another minor.

That girl, who is now 17 years old, is reportedly be the sister of the 15-year-old girl he forcibly had sex with in his car last December.

Clarke was slapped with the additional charge when he appeared in the St Elizabeth Parish court in relation to the 15-year-old.

He was offered $800,000 bail in relation to the new charge and was ordered to return to court on March 8.

Clarke has been suspended from pastoral duties at his Manchester-based church.

He was caught with his pants down in Austin, St Elizabeth on Wednesday, December 28, after cops noticed a car parked on a lonely road and found him and the teen inside when the went to investigate.

Anthony Cruz’ daughter murdered in Sunrise

Reggae Singer, Anthony Cruz, is devastated.

On Monday news broke that his 15-year-old daughter and her mother had been slaughtered inside their Sunrise, Fort Lauderdale home by a crazed man.

The man who committed the ghastly murders, identified as 32-year-old Kevin Nelson,  is now behind bars after he surrendered to police after a five hour standoff during which he barricaded himself in a the home with the bodies.

The identity of the dead woman ahs not been confirmed but the child has been identifies as 15-year-old Shanice Smith.

Yesterday the singer poured out his heart on  social media.

“I can’t believe them kill my one and only daughter in Fort Lauderdale,” Anthony Cruz posted on his Facebook account.

Nelson is a Jamaican who hails from Montego bay, St James and has a prior run in with law enforcement in South Florida for domestic violence after he assaulted his wife.

Nelson, has not been charged and is being questioned by cops.

Alkaline released without charge

Dancehall star, Alkaline, is back on the streets again.

The DJ, was released without charge by homicide investigators in Kingston on Monday afternoon, hours before an order issued by a Kingston Parish Magistrate that he be charged or released by 6:00 PM the same day.

The judge made the order following an application submitted to her by Alkaline’s attorney, Peter Champagnie.

The artist was taken into custody on Thursday last week after he was named as a person of interest in the murder of Rohan ‘Head’ Morris, who was killed gangland style at his Three Oaks Gardens home in Kingston on January 13.

The entertainer has taken to social media to proclaim his innocence and also begged the media to desist from spreading rumors about him.

The police have not been forthcoming on whether they will seek to charge the popular DJ in the future.

Preserve public education!!

Education offered to students attending American public schools is often taken for granted. One of the reasons why thousands of people leave the Caribbean every year is for the opportunity to provide their children the quality education available in public schools in this country.

In South Florida, residents are particularly impressed with the improvement in the quality of public school education thanks to the hard work of respective county school superintendents like Robert Runcie in Broward, Alberto Carvalho in Miami-Dade and Robert Avossa in Palm Beach. These men are unabashed advocates for insisting the highest quality of public education is provided, ensuring students graduate at a high rate, equipped to embark on a higher education, or an early start in their chosen careers.

However, as dedicated and resilient as the region’s local officials are in enhancing the quality of public education, ultimately the policies they adapt is dependent on state and federal educational policies, and the funding allocated.

For eight-years under the Obama administration the federal government placed special emphasis on enhancing the quality of the nation’s education from kindergarten to high school through programs like Race to the Top, and Common Core.

With the change in administration, there’s a new Secretary of Education, Betsy Devos, in charge of directing America’s education policy.

With Devos’ appointment there’s tremendous  concern that she will not support the maintenance or  development of public education as Americans have come to experience it for decades.

Devos is a Michigan millionaire who chaired that state’s Republican Party. She also headed an organization called the “American Federation for Children,” the objective of which is to privatize education. In Michigan, she sought to change state policy to provide school vouchers to allow public school students to attend private, charter, and religious schools. She has publicly said public schools fail American students, although she has no direct experience with these schools. She has never attended, taught, served on the board, or had children who attend, public schools.

The debate between public education, which provide proven adequate education for some 90 percent of American students, and the provision of vouchers to attend private schools has been enduring. However, the proponents for public education have prevailed in the effort of maintaining top quality education for  students.

There’s concern the voucher system will perpetuate an educational system where the education from kindergarten to high-school will be based on profit, similar to the education offered by the core of for-profit colleges. With private schools competing for students equipped with school vouchers, it’s feared  the quality of public education will diminish.

This is not an unfounded concern. For-profit charter schools have been criticized for ineffective oversight or accountability. Private schools have been criticized for their elitist acceptance policies, tending to accept socially privileged students. Public schools in South Florida are not known to discriminate.

In Michigan were Devos reportedly spent over $33 million to fund the expansion of for-profit charter schools, a large percentage of Michigan’s charter schools are rated in the bottom tier of the nation’s schools. The Detroit media have conducted investigations into these schools revealing poor student performance, corruption and lack of accountability.   

Now, one of the strongest proponents of private  schools is leading the nation’s education system controlling $20 billion allocated to fund public education. There’s concern she’ll adhere to President Trump repeated campaign promise to redirect spending of these funds from traditional public school to vouchers for students to attend private schools. Trump also made no secret on the presidential campaign trail that he wants to scrap the Common Core education policy, and wants to minimize government’s involvement in education.

If Devos is allowed to pursue the education policies she sought to pursue in Michigan, there’s real risk of the deterioration of the quality of education offered in public schools.  Funding would be depleted to maintain hiring of talented teachers; impressive sports and program would suffer, as would the special education these schools offer to children with disabilities, and migrant children who are challenged in understanding English. Moreover, unless the voucher system for sending children to private schools are conducted on a definite objective, non-discriminatory basis, public schools could be mostly occupied by students from the nation’s minority and low-income populations. Eventually, several public schools would close.

It’s now become imperative that the US Congress, State Legislatures, and county school districts be adamant in their resolve to preserve the public education system, and seek to build on the foundation left by the Obama administration. The nation cannot afford to sacrifice the gains made in public education, and the future of millions of its children to a capitalistic system that places education on sale.

Lauderdale Lakes wants drivers to stop backing into driveays

Residents of Lauderdale Lakes may soon have to adhere to a new rule when they’re parking in their driveways. They may not be able to reverse in.

The Lauderdale Lakes commissioners are considering a proposal that license plates on cars parked in driveways would have to be visible from the street or sidewalk. Plates would also have to be visible on cars parked at night in front of a home.

The officials want to make it easier for code compliance and law enforcement to make sure parked cars are properly registered.

Hazelle Rogers
Lauderdale Lakes Mayor Hazelle Rogers

“The only way you know if that car is registered or has a license tag is if you see it,” Mayor Hazelle Rogers said.

But Commissioner Gloria Lewis said it’s not the city’s job to tell people how to park in their own yards. Some like to back in because they feel safer driving out, she said.

Come take a taste of 79th Street

The first Annual “A Taste of 79th Street” Cultural Festival, is scheduled to get underway this Saturday, February 18.

The festival celebrates the rich culture surrounding 79th Street and is set to boost economic development within the community. The event will be held at One United Bank, located at 3275 NW 79th Street Miami, FL 33147.

Live performances by some of South Florida’s top bands and performers including Jody Hill & Deep Fried Funk, April Raquel & Kouture Funk, Saxophonist Randy Corinthian, R&B artists Ludy and Zaina B and Gospel Duo Inner Light will be a highlight of the event.

There will also be a kids zone complete with movies, games and attractions for children of all ages, local food vendors and retailers, community resources, and an art exhibit. Healthy cooking and fitness demonstrations aimed at educating and creating greater awareness about the importance of good health and wellness practices, will also be on hand.

“We’re excited about our first 79th Street    cultural arts festival. We believe this event is needed and will not only bring the community together for family fun, but will help stimulate the local economy by giving attendees a taste of what our businesses, organizations and vendors have to offer the entire North Central community.” says Ron Butler, Executive Director of the 79th Street Corridor Neighborhood Initiative.

ATaste of 79th Street  is free and open to the public.

This year’s event is being hosted by OneUnited Bank. Teri Williams, President and COO of One United Bank states, “OneUnited Bank is excited to participate in A Taste of 79th Street as another way to combine banking and financial literacy with community change through promoting community arts!”

Grenada’s Taplin runs world lead in quarter mile

Grenada’s Bralon Taplin and Gayon Evans of Jamaica were among the medal winners from the Caribbean at the IAAF World Indoor Tour’s Copernicus Cup Meeting in Torun, Poland, recently.

Taplin, won the 400 metres in a world leading 45.59 seconds. Polish runnerPavel Maslack took silver in 45.80 while Dominica’s Luguelin Santos was third in 46.03.

Jamaica’s Gayon Evans was in good form coming into the meet. She won in Germany last Saturday in a personal best, 7.14 over the women’s 60 metres and then on Wednesday, won in Paris in 7.17.

Gayon Evans
Evans..finished third in the 60 metres sprinmt

On Friday, it took a world-leading time of 7.13 from the USA’s Barbara Pierre, the 2016 World Indoor Champion, and Ezinne Okparaebo, to get the better of Evans.

However, the photo-finish image gave Pierre the win by two-thousandths of a second.

Evans closed well to take third in 7.15.

Former Jamaican sprinter Andrew Fisher had to settle for fourth in the 60-metre sprint. Fisher, who now represents Bahrain, was timed in 6.60 behind winner Ronnie Baker of the United States, who won in a world-leading 6.46.

Chijindu Ujah was second in 6.56 with Sean Antwi-Safo, third in 6.57.

Honduras names squad for Reggae Boyz friendly

Honduras head coach Jorge Luis Pinto named an 18-man squad for an international friendly against Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz on February 16, at the BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas.

It will be the Catrachos’ first match since capturing the Copa Centroamericana title last month, finishing on top of the six-team table with 13 points to qualify for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Real España midfielder Jorge Claros, who earned Copa Centroamericana’s GoldenR Ball honors is one of the stars of the squad.  Also meriting call-ups were three members of the Copa’s Bext XI — Motagua forwards Erick Andino and Rubilio Castillo, each of whom scored two goals, and Honduras Progreso defender Jairo Puerto.

Honduras is preparing for its World Cup qualifier at the United States on March 24.

ROSTER

GOALKEEPERS: Ricardo Canales (Vida), Luis Lopez (Real España)

DEFENDERS: Ever Alvarado (Olimpia), Felix Crisanto (Motagua), Henry Figueroa (Motagua), Cesar Oseguera (Real España), Marcelo Pereira (Motagua), Jairo Puerto (Honduras Prigreso)

MIDFIELDERS: Bryan Acosta (Real España), Cristian Altamirano (Real España), Oliver Morazan (Juticalpa), Marcelo Canales (Olimpia), Jorge Claros (Real España), Michael Chirinos (Olimpia), Oscar Salas (Olimpia)

FORWARDS: Erick Andino (Motagua), Rubilio Castillo (Motagua), Angel Tejeda (Real España)

Bartlett meets Florida cruise ship operators

Jamaica Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett in Japan for Expo 2022
Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica's Minister of Tourism

Jamaican Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett traveled to Miami, Florida in an effort to advocate for increased cruise shipping business for Jamaica.

Bartlett attended several meetings with tourism interests including representatives of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) and the Mayor of Miami Beach, Philip Levine.

While in Florida, the Minister met with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association’s (FCCA) new President, Adam Goldstein.

Miami Mayor
Miami Beach Mayor Phillip Levine

The meeting focused on ways to facilitate the hiring of more Jamaican crew-members, improving the guest experience at the Falmouth Port, as well as methods to strengthen the relationship between RCL and Jamaica.

“We have been working very hard to improve and increase the capacity of the country’s cruise industry. The results of which have been spectacular. We recently entered the record-books when the ports of Falmouth, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Kingston hosted a combined six cruise vessels in one day. We also welcomed the world’s largest cruise ship in Falmouth and Kingston received its largest cruise ship ever. So, I am very excited to meet with Royal Caribbean’s new president, so that we can build on our successes and strengthen our relationships with this and other major cruise-lines,” said Bartlett.

The Minister also advocated for increased cruise business in Jamaica not only in his discussions with RCL but also with Mayor Levine.

This trip forms part of cruise marketing efforts being undertaken by the Ministry through the Jamaica Tourist Board. Minister Bartlett previously met with RCL representatives in December 2016 during the FCCA’s reception for Prime Minister, Andrew Holness in Doral, Florida.

Bartlett was accompanied by Delano Seiveright, Senior Communications Strategist, Tourism Enhancement Fund.

 

Ziggy Marley wins Grammy for Best Reggae Album

Happy Monday everyone! Today is February 13. We’re taking a look at some of the top stories that are making the news across your Caribbean-American community right here in South Florida… Good Afternoon and welcome I’m  ……………, and you’re watching CNW90.  The coverage today is brought to you by Grace Soups: Spice up your kitchen with Grace Soups today.  Genuine Caribbean taste enjoyed worldwide!.

Dr. Peter Phillips. 67, was the only candidate nominated to take over the leadership of Jamaica’s People’s National Party when nomination for candidates to succeed outgoing party leader Portia Simpson Miller closed on February 10th. Being the sole nominee Phillips will be elected as leader by acclamation by party delegates at a special session to be convened on March 26. Simpson Miller official demits leadership on April 2.

The 2017 biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference will be held from July 23 to 26 at the Jamaica Conference Center in Kinston, venue of the inaugural conference in 2004, This will be the first time since 2008 the conference will be held in Kingston. Titled the Jamaica 55 Diaspora Conference, it will coincide with celebratory activities related to Jamaica’s 55th year of independence on August 6. Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamina Johnson Smith says the conference will focus on consolidation and expansion of partnerships between the Diaspora and Jamaica.

According to analysis of US Census Bureau data conducted by the Pew Research Center some 450,000 undocumented immigrants resides in South Florida, giving the region the fifth-largest undocumented population in the US. Approximately 55,000 of these immigrants reside in the City of Miami. The cities of New York, Los Angeles, Houston and Dallas respectively, has more undocumented residents than South Florida.

In Sports

The Haitian soccer team will play Nicaragua in home and away games on March 24 and  28, respectively to determine the 12th team to compete in the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament with begins on July 24th in New Jersey. The other 11 finalists include Jamaica, Martinique, the US, Costa Rica, Panama and Mexico

Here’s What’s Trending

Last night at the 59th Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles, California, Ziggy Marley won the Grammy for Best Reggae Album for the album Ziggy Marley. This is the 7th Grammy won by the eldest son of Bob Marley. Ziggy previously won three individual Grammies and three as a member of the Melody Makers.

For tomorrows weather forecast

It will be partly sunny with a shower or two in Broward County with a High of 81 degrees and a low of 67. It will also be partly sunny in Miami-Dade, with a high of 82 and a low of 66 degrees. For more information on these and other stories, visit us online at Caribbean nationalweekly.com. Make Sure to pick up your copy of the National Weekly at your nearest Caribbean American outlet.

Today’s coverage was brought to you by Grace Soups: Spice up your kitchen with Grace Soups today.  Genuine Caribbean taste enjoyed worldwide!”

This has been CNW90, I’m ……………………..

Haitian PM resigns

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Haitian Prime Minister, Enex Jean-Charles, has resigned.

Jean-Charles handed in his letter of resignation to President Jovenel Moïse in order to allow the appointment of his successor.

A resignation of republican courtesy, as suggested by the relatives of the Head of State. From now Jovenel Moïse will enter into discussions with the Presidents of both Houses, as stipulated in the Constitution, to choose the next Head of Government.

The letter of resignation of the Prime Minister read :

Port-au-Prince, 9 February 2017

His Excellency Jovenel Moïse

President of the Republic

National Palace

 

“Mr. President of the Republic,

I have the honor to present to you my resignation as Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic.

This resignation of republican courtesy follows your accession to the supreme magistracy of the State, high testimony that the Government I have the honor to lead has faithfully and completely acquitted of its essential missions of restoring the peace of the streets and to organize credible, honest and transparent elections in accordance with the Agreement of 5 February 2016 for institutional continuity and the statement of my general policy approved by the two Houses of Parliament on 24 March 2016.

Also, I find it normal that a new Government be formed with other missions oriented towards the management of the fundamental concerns of the Haitian people.

Please accept, Mr. President of the Republic, the assurance of my highest consideration.

Enex Jean-Charles”

Update: Judge orders cops to charge or release Alkaline by 6:00 PM Monday

A Kingston Parish Magistrate on Monday ordered police holding popular dancehall star, Alkaline, to charge him or release him by 6:00 Pm today (Monday February 13).

The magistrate issued the order after the entertainer’s attorney, Peter Champagnie, made an application for him to be released on Monday morning.

Alkaline, whose real name is Earlan Bartley, has been in custody since last Thursday after turning himself over to cops at the Criminal Investigation Branch in Kingston for questioning in a murder case.

The homicide investigators are investigating the murder of Rohan ‘Head’ Morris who was shot dead at his home in Three Oaks Gardens, At Andrew in January.

 

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