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This Day in History: 1998 Roland Alphonso slips into a coma

On this day in Caribbean history, November 16, 1998, Roland Alphonso, founding tenor saxophonist for Skatalites, slips into a coma after suffering a seizure November 2nd while onstage at the Key club in West Hollywood, California.

When the Skatalites disbanded by August 1965, Alphonso formed the Soul Brothers with Johnny “Dizzy” Moore, and Jackie Mittoo to become The Soul Vendors in 1967. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Alphonso led the Ruinaires, the resident band at Ruins restaurant/nightclub, this coming to an end when he suffered a stroke at the age of 41. He recovered quickly from this setback, and relocated to the United States in late 1972, soon returning to performing and recording. He released the first album under his name in 1973 on the Studio One record label.

During the 1970s, ′80s, and ′90s, he kept on playing on numerous records coming out from Jamaican studios, especially for Bunny Lee, and he toured with many bands. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he played with the band Jah Malla, performing regularly on the live circuit around New York.

He was awarded Officer of the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government in 1977, and started to tour more often in the US.

He died on 20 November 1998 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, after suffering a second burst blood vessel, and spending four days in a coma.

 

 

wikipedia.com

Jamaica signs major partnership with Airbnb

In order to expand and drive growth within the tourism industry in Jamaica, the Honorable Edmund Bartlett announced that the Ministry of Tourism plans to sign a major partnership agreement with Airbnb, a trusted community marketplace for people to list, discover, and book unique accommodations around the world online or from a mobile phone or tablet.

The Minister made the announcement during a meeting with Airbnb executives, at the Ministry’s New Kingston offices saying, “We are very happy to be partnering with Airbnb and know that it will be mutually beneficial to both entities involved. Once drafted, I know that the agreement will take into account our goal of destination assurance, which ensures our credibility in the marketplace. It will also allow us to utilize analytics across their social platforms. This will be a great tool for us to build a better collective resource management platform for our destination,” said Minister Bartlett.

According to Airbnb’s executive with responsibility for Public Policy in Latin America and the Caribbean, Shawn Sullivan, the market for Airbnb in Jamaica is rapidly growing and is extremely lucrative. The site currently accounts for 2,300 active hosts and 4,000 active listings in the past year from Jamaica.

T&T Athlete Gain LSU Track Scholarships

Xavier Mulugata of Fatima College in Trinidad and Tobago is set to join a list of athletes in the Caribbean nation who have received athletic scholarships to US universities. Mulugata will begin his studies at Louisiana State University (LSU) in January. Mulugata won gold at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Junior Track and Field Championships in Mexico in the boys Under-18 4×100 meters and also bronze in the boys U-20 4×100 meter at the 2015 Carifta Games in St Kitts and Nevis.

Several other T&T athletes left for US in August including Dawnell Collymore (West Mucurapo Secondary), Ian Thomas (St Anthony’s College) and Kai Ottley (Bishop’s Anstey). Collymore, the 2011 Carifta girls U-20 800m bronze medallist, is at ASA College while Thomas is a student at Coahoma Community College. Ottley began studies at St John’s University.

Meanwhile, former CAC Junior champions Hezekiel Romeo (Diego Martin Sec and St Anthony’s College) and Reubin Walters (East Mucurapo Sec) completed their Junior College scholarships at Central Arizona and will move on to the University of Missouri and University of Alabama, respectively.

 

 

 

The Guardian

Bolt Breaks into the Music Industry

“Gifted”

Declaring his intention to break more records, the world’s fastest man, Olympian Usain Bolt, is creating viral buzz and has the internet singing along to his new holiday song entitled “Gifted.”  Inspired by Eddie Murphy’s 1980s hit “Party All the Time”, the music video has quickly racked up more than 6.5 million views and 100,000 likes and reactions across Facebook and Instagram in just five days.

 

Usain used his social media channels to unveil “Gifted” with his usual tongue-in-cheek bravado to fans on Oct. 26, 2016.  As the brainchild of Caribbean, Central American and Pacific communications and entertainment provider Digicel, “Gifted” is Bolt’s first collaboration with the company in his new role as its Chief Speed Officer.

Commenting on the video, Usain smiled saying, “This is my Christmas gift to the world. I wish I was as vocally gifted as the video made me look; a big thanks to auto tune for the help. Making it was a lot of fun.  It’s like nothing that I’ve ever done before and I hope everyone enjoys it.”

Digicel’s Group Director of Marketing, Peter Lloyd added, “No one can get the internet buzzing like Usain. With the holiday season upon us, we wanted to have a bit of fun and play around with the idea of Usain being not just the fastest man in the world, but one of the most gifted.  The real gift was how Usain embraced the idea and nailed his performance, and how people have responded.”

“Gifted” is available as a free download and can be streamed on Digicel’s digital channels.  Digicel will also be hosting a #getgifted toy drive for at-risk children across its 32 markets and employees, and will use the “gifted” concept in its customer communications around great gifts for the holiday season: the latest phones and devices, the right mix of entertainment and content; better prices and a better network.

Usain Bolt to train with top German Soccer Club

Welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world today is Monday, November 14th, across your Caribbean-American community in South Florida, this is CNW 90, and I’m Suzette Speaks.

Today’s news is brought to you by Grace Aloe, Aloe Vera Drink, Refreshingly Delicious.

Here’s a look at our top stories:

Thursday the Broward County Governmental Center in Fort Lauderdale will host the ‘Broward is Listening’ Outreach Session starting at 5:30 p.m. Attendees can speak with key representatives in the county’s office of economic and small business development advisory boards. Discussion topics include million dollar contracts available, and increasing business revenue. The event is free; however, organizers ask that you RSVP in advance.

Florida alumni chapter of Munro College and Hampton School in St Elizabeth, Jamaica will be hosting the Munro College 160th Anniversary Fall fundraiser dance on November 19 starting at 9 p.m. held at the Kiwanis Club in Lauderdale Lakes. The proceeds from this Fundraiser will go to support student scholarships in Jamaica.

Hundreds of authors and thousands of readers are converging in Downtown Miami for the nation’s premier literary festival. Running from November 13 to the 20th, the event includes a silent poetry disco, a community coloring wall in Wynwood, and an evening with Tavis Smiley.

In Sports:

The Jamaica Reggae Boyz won over Suriname in their Caribbean Football Union qualifier Sunday at the National Stadium. Playing with ten men after defender Damion was carded. Team Jamaica managed to maintain their lead by Corey Burke’s first-half goal, to set their spot in the 2017 Caribbean Cup and CONCACAF Gold Cup tournaments.

Now, here’s what’s trending:

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, is set to spend a few days training with Borussia Dortmund, the German soccer club to follow in line with his dreams of playing professional soccer. A British newspaper, The Guardian, quoted the nine-time Olympic champion saying he will join training for a couple of days to “see what happens”.

For today’s weather forecast:

Mostly Sunny in Broward County with a high of 82 and a low of 61. Partly Cloudy in Miami-Dade, with a high of 80 and a low of 65.

For more information on these and other stories, visit

Caribbean national weekly.com. Remember to pick up this week’s copy of our Caribbean National Weekly at your nearest Caribbean – American outlet. Today’s news is brought to you by Grace Aloe. Aloe Vera drink, Refreshingly Delicious.”

You’ve been watching CNW90, I’m Suzette Speaks.

Christmas Recipe: Sorrel

Sorrel is a Jamaican Christmas tradition that every Caribbean knows about. The sorrel flower is in full bloom at Christmas time in Jamaica. It has a deep red color and unique flavor enhanced with spices, lemon juice and rum (which can be omitted) Both fresh or dried sorrel can be used, whichever is easiest to find. If you’re using fresh sorrel, simply double the amount used in this recipe. This recipe will provide you with 10 cups.

What you’ll need:

2 ½ cups dried sorrel
3 oz fresh ginger, grated
5 pimento berries
10 cups boiling water
2 cups sugar
2 Tbsp lemon juice
¾ cup white rum

What to do:

1. Place sorrel, ginger and pimento berries in a large pot or mixing bowl
2. Pour boiling water over the ingredients; stir and place in fridge overnight to steep
3. Using a large strainer, pour the steeped liquid into another container; use a spoon to squeeze more liquid out of the sorrel
4. Add sugar, lemon juice and rum to sorrel and stir until sugar has dissolved

Coughing? Bring a Healthy Dose of Sick-Etiquette to Work

When the common cold hits, sharing is not caring

Being considerate of others when you’re sick is one of the first steps to good sick etiquette.

For example, you may think you’re going to score points for showing up at work despite feeling under the weather. However, if you were to run this by an etiquette expert like Diane Gottsman, she would probably tell you the reverse is true.

“A recent survey found that half of Americans feel anxious about getting sick when others cough around them,” Gottsman says. “So when you cough, your co-workers are likely going to be thinking of themselves and may not sympathize with you.”

That’s why Gottsman says the best thing you can do is steer clear of the office. If working remotely isn’t an option, it is best to take a sick day.

“When you’re sick, it’s so important to take precautions to keep your germs from infecting others, which should always include staying home from work or other activities until symptoms have subsided,” says Gottsman. “I understand that sometimes life seems too busy to get sick or a workplace may not offer enough paid time off. So staying home and putting work on the back burner until you’re well is not an option for everyone. Still, productivity will decline when you are sick and you may prolong your illness by overexerting yourself.”

With that, Gottsman says the name of the game is keeping those germs to yourself. Don’t be afraid to be demonstrative about that so you send a clear signal that you care and you don’t want to infect anyone — it will put your friends and colleagues at ease. Here are Gottsman’s sick etiquette tips:

Telecommute: If it is physically possible for you to complete a day’s work at home, that is probably the second most ideal solution to taking a sick day. If that’s not a typical arrangement at your place of employment, though, frame it as being beneficial to your boss and your fellow employees. For example: “I understand we have this important deadline coming up, which is why I would prefer not to spread this bug to others. What if I worked on the project from my home office today instead of coming in? If you sent me the call-in information, I could still join the conference call later. Of course, if you need anything at all, I’m just a phone call or email away.”

Touch no one: If a friend moves in for a hug or a handshake, kindly warn them that you are recovering from a cold and would prefer to “play it safe” before extending your hand or leaning in for a hug.

Keep a sickness arsenal: Keep your desk well stocked to help you treat your symptoms and keep common areas germ-free. For your kit, consider items like tissues, disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer, as well as relief for sick symptoms, like pain relievers and a cough syrup like Robitussin.

Avoid shared surfaces: Cold viruses can survive several hours on surfaces, transferring easily to your colleagues. Germs can be hard to contain and avoid, but you can do your part by wiping down shared areas like a table or chair with a disinfecting wipe when you are finished using them.

Cover your mouth wisely: Coughs and sneezes give germs and viruses a nice little vehicle to get around and infect others nearby. When you must cough or sneeze, use a tissue or cough into your arm or elbow — never your hand, because the hands help spread the germs around. When using a tissue, promptly dispose of it and sanitize your hands.

Minimize coughing: When people hear someone cough in a crowded space, 26 percent feel annoyed, and 46 percent feel anxious about getting sick themselves, according to a recent online survey conducted by the Harris Poll. Keeping the medicine cabinet stocked with a powerful cough reliever is one effective way to suppress your cough. One product Gottsman recommends is Robitussin 12 Hour Cough Relief, because the long-lasting formula gets you through the whole work day by providing soothing relief from the hacking coughing. (You’ll also be much quieter, which is a bonus.)

It’s not always possible or practical to stay home for several days when you come down with a cold, but practicing good sick etiquette can help keep viruses from spreading to those around you.

 

 

brandpointcontent.com

The Best Countries for Single Expats Abroad

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly half of all U.S. adults are single. A new report from InternationalLiving.com indicates that roughly the same percentage likely holds for expats overseas as well… and reveals some of the best countries for singles to live in today.

Ever since the global recession nudged overseas retirement toward the mainstream, more and more North Americans have headed beyond home borders to stretch their retirement dollars. And many of them—nearly half according to International Living’s editors—are single: divorced, never married, or, like Kit Fitley, widowed.

Last year, at age 70, Fitley moved to a beach town in Panama. “Most of my friends [back home] consider what I’m doing extremely daring,” she says. But Fitley is riding a trend. She is one of thousands of North American singles who are moving abroad to enjoy a more affordable lifestyle.

There is no hard data on the number of U.S. singles abroad, but International Living correspondents report—and attendance at International Living conferences indicates—that the percentage of single expats abroad may match the percentage of all single U.S. adults, about 47 percent.

Here are some of the most popular places to which single U.S. expats are moving.

Mexico has more North American expats than any other foreign country in the world, and for good reasons. Mexico is close and convenient, has modern infrastructure and has a much lower cost of living than the U.S. or Canada.

For these reasons, Mexico has expat communities all over the country, and in many of them, single U.S. expats can get by in English. Examples include: San Miguel de Allende and the Lake Chapala area, both in the interior of central Mexico; Puerto Vallarta, on the Pacific Coast; and the Riviera Maya, along the Caribbean Coast of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.

Ecuador is popular for its low cost of living, breathtaking scenery, and indigenous culture. It also uses the U.S. dollar as its currency. Singles tend to head to population centers with good infrastructure and amenities, including the capital, Quito, Cuenca, in the interior; and the Pacific beach towns of Salinas and Manta.

In Costa Rica, singles can be found throughout the country, but many prefer the Central Valley towns around the capital of San Jose or beach towns like Tamarindo.

Panama is another popular destination for single U.S. expats. Panama had a large North American community for decades thanks to the Panama Canal, and the country uses the U.S. dollar.

International Living’s in-depth report on single expats abroad contains more popular countries for single U.S. expats, interviews with single U.S. expats already living abroad, and advice for singles on how to choose the right destination. Find the latest International Living report at: Going Solo: How and Where to Enjoy Life Abroad as a Single.

InternationalLiving.com

SOS Children’s Village Celebrates ‘Light Up The Village’

SOS Children’s Village – ‘Light Up The Village’

SOS Children’s Villages – Florida is hosting their annual Spirit Light up the Village event on Saturday December 3rd from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.  Community members are encouraged kick off the holiday season by visiting the Village in Coconut Creek and enjoy an afternoon featuring free festivities, fun, and food with activities for the family. This celebration will allow everyone to learn more about our unique foster care community and see the homes decorated at their holiday finest.

We are pleased to welcome our newest sponsors of Light up the Village – JM Family enterprises, ADT, Publix Supermarkets, and Marshalls.  These companies join longstanding volunteer groups who take the time to decorate the homes and provide a sense of wonder and excitement for our children.

For the boys and girls who come to live at the Village, “Home” was once a word of little meaning, nothing more than a building where they sleep. Safety, security, support, comfort and care were missing in their lives until they become a part of the SOS family. It is here that their lives are transformed by a Village of foster families, staff, friends and neighbors who care.

“For over 20 years SOS Children’s Villages – Florida has been here to meet the needs of kids in their most desperate times. We look forward to being there and having the support of the community to do the same for kids in need for many years to come,” says SOS Executive Director Jillian Smath.

The number of foster children in need of home and family locally and throughout the state is growing at an alarming rate. Expanding our capacity to welcome more children is a must. Just as important is broadening and expanding existing services so our boys and girls can continue to succeed.

The state of Florida has shifted focus in the past decade toward ensuring foster children return to a family, be it their biological family or an adoptive one. As such, there is a growing need in the community for family strengthening to increase the success of reunification. Excelling in childcare and managing homes with large numbers of children, SOS Florida is poised to develop a program that will ensure, when a child leaves our care, they will always enter a loving home.

Usain Bolt, professional soccer player?

Legendary Olympian Usain Bolt is hoping to transition to professional soccer once he retires from sprinting, he told The Guardian.

“We’ve genuinely been talking to people,” Bolt said, adding that he will train with Borussia Dortmund soon.

Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Waztke confirmed to Kicker that Bolt will train with the squad. The move was facilitated by Bjorn Gulden, who is on the club’s board of directors and is the CEO of Puma, one of Bolt’s main sponsors.

Bolt added three more gold medals to his impressive resume at the Olympics in Rio this summer, sweeping the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay.

Bolt, 30, has said repeatedly that his last race will be at the world championships in London next summer.

 

 

sportsillustrated.com

Anti-Trump protests in Miami, Fort-Lauderdale

Anti-Trump protests in Miami, Fort-Lauderdale

Garth A. Rose

Hundreds of protestors from South Florida took to the streets over the past weekend, and have pledged to continue, protesting Donald Trump’s election to the US presidency.

On Friday evening a diverse crowd, originally estimated at 500, gathered outside the Bayfront Park Amphitheater bearing placards and shouting slogans like  “Not my president,” and “Love Trump hate.” When the gathering began marching along Biscayne Ave towards I-95 the crowd steadily grew to well over a thousand protestors. The marchers were extremely vociferous, but generally peaceful, closely monitored by city police. However, on different occasions the marchers encroached on main thoroughfares like the MacArthur Causeway that connects with Miami Beach and I-95 blocking traffic up to an hour. Although some motorists expressed annoyance at the traffic delay, most cooperated some even leaving their vehicles to show solidarity with the protestors, and honking their horns in unison with the chants.

A similar diverse group of some 600 protestors gathered and marched from the Huizenga Plaza in Fort Lauderdale down Las Olas Boulevard and return, on Sunday. As they did in the Miami event, protestors blocked traffic along the boulevard but received no interference from the police that closely monitored the protestors.

Characteristic in the Fort Lauderdale protest was the chant, and some placards, stating “Clinton Wins Popular Vote. Elect Her” and “We want the popular vote.”

Martin Haughton, 24, of Caribbean-American Heritage, who participated in the Miami rally with four other friends, said was protesting, “Not only because Trump is unfit to be president, but particularly because, technically, Hillary Clinton won the election by winning the popular vote nationally. We need to abolish the electoral college system and select our presidents based solely on the national popular vote.”

Tiffaney Lindsay, one of Haughton’s friends said, “We are protesting against Trump being our president because the majority of people voted for Hillary. In most other countries, it’s the national popular vote that elects presidents.”

The majority of the protestors in both cities were young people, under age 30, but also consisted of older folks, some noticeable in wheel chairs, and people of all races and as much men as women.

Bradford Atlee, 27, who said he is a member of an organization called “Americans United  for Change,” and Allyson Moore,31, of “Black Lives matter” both indicated the protests will continue. “Trumps election is a mess. Unfortunately, it seems enough Millennials didn’t vote nationally, but Millennials will protest vigorously during Trump’s administration if his policies are counter to the interest of America’s minority classes,” Atlee said.

 

 

UWI’s Vice Chancellor reiterates call for posthumous pardon for Garvey

UWI’s Vice Chancellor reiterates call for posthumous pardon for Garvey

 

Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, has joined the call for United States President Barack Obama to grant a posthumous pardon to Jamaica’s first national hero, Marcus Mosiah Garvey for his 1923 mail fraud conviction in the US.

“Marcus Garvey was the victim of trumped up charges orchestrated by the late J. Edgar Hoover, the famously anti-black director of the US’s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),” said Sir Hilary in a statement on Saturday.

“We are today calling on President Obama, himself the victim of racist campaigns, to de-legitimize his presidency, to exonerate Garvey before he leaves office. It is the right and proper thing to do.”

Sir Hilary’s call comes as the Caribbean and the world observes the United Nations’ declared “Decade for People of African Descent.”

“Garvey’s call for the upliftment of all Caribbean citizens through education and political engagement constitutes a critical part of the ideological and philosophical currents that gave birth to the University of the West Indies almost 70 years ago,” Sir Hilary said. “UWI’s mission and mandate are manifestations of Garvey’s struggles for quality education for the masses of Caribbean peoples, for self-respect, self-determination and cultural awareness in our region.”

A global petition campaign demanding that Garvey’s federal record be expunged has generated tens of thousands of signatures.

The campaign is supported, among others, by the Jamaican Government, the Caribbean Reparations Commission, the New York-based Institute of the Black World 21st Century and by members of the Congressional Black Caucus in the US House of Representatives.

The campaign has intensified in the US, with supporters being urged to visit justice4garvey.org to sign the petition.

 

Oil exploration continues in Guyana

Oil exploration continues in Guyana

The US-oil giant, ExxonMobil is continuing to test for oil in Guyana.

An article in the global oil and gas publication ‘Upstream’ notes that the “company’s ‘Stena Carron’ drillship left the Liza 3 location early Thursday for a 10-mile move north-east to the Payara location, where ExxonMobil and its partners will drill the latest wildcat on the sprawling Stabroek block.” Hess Corporation’s Chief Executive, John Hess told Upstream, “that Payara was a “very similar stratigraphic trap and same kind of reservoir sequence as the other Liza wells.”

United States’ Oil Company, Hess Corp and Nexen which is a subsidiary of CNOOC each holds a share in the Liza prospect. The oil companies are expecting results from the Payara exploration by January 2017.

The Stabroek Block consists of 6.6 million acres offshore Guyana and is where the Lizas are located. According to Upstream, the Stena Carron “drilled Liza 3 to a total depth of 18,100 feet in 6000 feet” and Hess noted that Liza 3 has the e “same high-quality reservoirs” as the other two Lizas.

This year, ExxonMobil’s Liza-2 offshore exploration found high propensity sandstone reservoirs that could produce more than 1.4 billion barrels of recoverable high quality oil.

Hess Corp and ExxonMobil are looking to the end of 2017 to develop the Liza field.

Earthquake rocks Haiti

Haiti 2010 earthquake
Archive Photo

Earthquake rocks Haiti

Haiti was rattled on Saturday by an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.4 but there were no immediate reports of deaths of injuries.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) said that the quake, which occurred at 1.00 am (local time) was located on land at a depth of 12.3 km, at least five kilometres north of Les Anglais (South), 51 km northwest of Les Cayes, 35 km southwest of Jérémie.

The quake was also felt in the capital, Port-au-Prince.

In 2010, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 killed more than 200,000 people and caused widespread damage in the country. Haiti is now recovering from the battering it took from Hurricane Matthew that hit the country on October 4 killing hundreds of people.

This Day in History: Lyda A. Newman

On this day in history, November 15, 1898 African-American hairdresser and inventor Lyda Newman patented an improved hairbrush design in New York City in 1898.

Lyda Newman, born in Ohio circa 1885, was an African-American inventor and women’s rights activist. A hairdresser by trade, she received a patent for an improved model of hairbrush in 1898. She also fought for women’s right to vote, working with well-known women’s suffrage activists. Newman lived much of her adult life in New York City.

Little is known about the life of Lyda D. Newman. According to official census records, she was born in Ohio around 1885. By the late 1890s, she was a New York City resident.

In 1898, Newman applied for a United States patent for a new style of hairbrush. She received the patent on November 15, 1898. Her hairbrush design included several features for efficiency and hygiene. It had evenly spaced rows of bristles, with open slots to guide debris away from the hair into a recessed compartment, and a back that could be opened at the touch of a button for cleaning out the compartment.

In 1915, Newman was mentioned in local newspapers for her suffrage work. She was one of the organizers of an African-American branch of the Woman Suffrage Party, which was fighting to give women the legal right to vote. Working on behalf of her fellow African-American women in New York, Newman canvassed her neighborhood to raise awareness of the cause and organized suffrage meetings in her voting district. Prominent white suffragists of the Woman Suffrage Party worked with Newman’s group, hoping to bring voting rights to all of New York’s female residents.

 

 

biography.com

National Weekly November 10, 2016

Unicef Haiti begins Cholera vaccination campaign

Welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world today is Monday, November 14th, across your Caribbean-American community in South Florida, this is CNW 90, and I’m Suzette Speaks.

Today’s news is brought to you by Grace Aloe, Aloe Vera Drink, Refreshingly Delicious.

Here’s a look at our top stories:

Ave Maria, the Lauderhill preschool where nearly two dozen youngsters suffered intestinal disorders that sent them to hospital emergency rooms reopened today. Last week parents and emergency responders from three different fire departments took about 20 children to three different hospitals for treatment of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration.

Haiti began a vaccination campaign last week to battle a cholera outbreak after Hurricane Matthew. Concerns remain about the country’s capacity for longer-term improvements to both water and sanitation infrastructure that are needed to help eradicate the disease. A cholera outbreak in Haiti has sickened more than 800,000 people and killed about 9,000 since 2010, when the bacteria was brought into the country by a group of United Nations peacekeepers.

Florida alumni chapter of Munro College and Hampton School in St Elizabeth, Jamaica will be hosting the Munro College 160th Anniversary Fall fundraiser dance on November 19 starting at 9 p.m. held at the Kiwanis Club in Lauderdale Lakes. The proceeds from this Fundraiser will go to support student scholarships in Jamaica.

In Sports:

The American Tennis Association, in collaboration with the United States Tennis Association, is focusing on creating a Miramar base to spark interest in the sport among African Americans. The organization is currently raising funds to build a $6.6 million facility at the Miramar Regional Park featuring a clubhouse, training area, 20 auxiliary courts, a Black Hall of Fame Museum, and the organization’s offices.

Now, here’s what’s trending:

Friday evening a crowd of some 500 people bearing a variety of placards gathered outside the Bayfront Park Amphitheater in Miami to protest the election of Donald Trump to be the next US president chanting “Not My President”. A petition has been circulating on Social Media where voters are pleading with the electoral college to change their votes calling Donald Trump, “Unfit the lead”.

For today’s weather forecast:

Mostly Sunny in Broward County with a high of 82 and a low of 61. Partly Cloudy in Miami-Dade, with a high of 80 and a low of 65.

For more information on these and other stories, visit

Caribbean national weekly.com. Remember to pick up this week’s copy of our Caribbean National Weekly at your nearest Caribbean – American outlet. Today’s news is brought to you by Grace Aloe. Aloe Vera drink, Refreshingly Delicious.”

You’ve been watching CNW90, I’m Suzette Speaks.

This Day in History: Jimmy Cliff awarded honorary degree of Doctor of Letters

On this day in history, November 14, 1997, Jimmy Cliff is awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters by the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. Cliff is a Jamaican ska & reggae musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer and actor. He is the only living musician to hold the Order of Merit, the highest honor that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievements in the arts and sciences.

Cliff is best known among mainstream audiences for songs such as “Wonderful World, Beautiful People”, “Many Rivers to Cross”, “You Can Get It If You Really Want”, “The Harder They Come”. Cliff is not a member of the Rastafari movement, although he briefly was before converting to Islam from Christianity. He now describes himself as having a “universal outlook on life”, and does not align himself with any particular movement or religion, saying that “now I believe in science.” He has a daughter and a son, and resides in Jamaica.

2016 Miami Book Fair features ReadCaribbean program

2016 Miami Book Fair features ReadCaribbean program

One of South Florida’s more iconic events the Miami Book Fair opened yesterday at the Wolfson Campus of the Miami-Dade College in Downtown Miami, and continues through to Nov 20. The 33rd anniversary of the annual book fair features over 600 authors this year including Caribbean-American authors and those from the Caribbean.

With South Florida having a large Caribbean population, estimated at over 500,000 including immigrants from the English, French and Spanish Caribbean in recent years the organizers of the Fair has been making a special effort to engage Caribbean authors.

Underscoring the growth of Caribbean and Caribbean American authors this year the Fair includes ReadCaribbean, a program featuring extensive Caribbean-specific events, including readings and panel discussions, children’s writers to inspire young readers, book signings, storytelling and music, plus publishers at the Street Fair.

One of the highlights of ReadCaribbean will be held on Saturday, Nov 19 at noon when four Caribbean women authors, Anjanette Delgado, Fabienne Josaphat, Katia D. Ulysse, and Donna Aza Weir-Soley., participates in a panel discussion, themed, “The Politics of Pleasure: Caribbean Women Writing About Sex. The panel discussion will be moderated by Hector Duarte Jr.,  and Jennifer Maritza McCauley.

This year the fair also features popular Americans, headed by 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. Sanders will be featured on November 19 at 6:30 pm at an event to held at  the Chapman Conference Center at the Miami-Dade College.

Other popular names and authors featured this year include political commentator James Carvelle on Nov 14; novelist Geraldine Brooks and columnist Maureen Dowd on Nov 15; talk show host Travis Smiley on Nov 16 and legal analyst and CNN commentator Jeffrey Tobin on November 17.

The full schedule of the fair including speakers and authors is available at the Fair’s official website www.miamibookfair.com.

 

I Have Sensitive Teeth!

I Have Sensitive Teeth!

Tooth sensitivity is something that affects a number of people. It is often caused by eating or drinking something hot, cold, sweet or acidic. Under normal conditions, the underlying dentin of the tooth (the layer that immediately surrounds the nerve) is covered by the enamel in the tooth crown, and the gums that surround the tooth. Over time, the enamel covering can get thinner, thus providing less protection. The gums can also recede over time, exposing the underlying root surface dentin.

The dentin contains a large numbers of pores or tubes that run from the outside of the tooth to the nerve in the center. When the dentin is exposed, these tubes can be stimulated by changes in temperature or certain foods.

What causes it?

Exposure of the dentin can occur due to a number of factors. Some of the more common reasons are:

  • Gum recession due to age or improper tooth brushing
  • Acidic beverages (such as soda) that cause enamel erosion and dentin exposure
  • Tooth grinding – this may actually cause most or all of the teeth to feel sensitive
  • Brushing with a very abrasive toothpaste, brushing incorrectly and/or brushing more than three times a day could result in a loss of enamel
  • Gum disease, which can result in gum recession
  • A chipped or fractured tooth may expose the dentin

In addition, some dental treatments can cause sensitivity. Treatments such as such as teeth whitening, professional dental cleanings, having braces put on or getting a filling placed have been known to cause sensitivity during or after the procedure.

What can I do about it?

The first step in doing something about dental sensitivity is to find out what the cause is – a dental professional can help you with this. If the sensitivity is due to exposed dentin, there are a number of steps you can take, as can your dental professional, to help reduce the sensitivity. These can include:

  • Using a very soft bristle tooth brush
  • Brushing correctly to help prevent abrasion of the enamel and recession of the gums
  • Using a toothpaste specially formulated to help reduce sensitivity
  • The dental professional can:
    • Apply a fluoride varnish on the sensitive areas to help strengthen the tooth
    • Prescribe a high fluoride tooth paste to use every day
    • Place a dental restoration to build up the areas that have lost enamel

In the end, whether you need an in-office procedure or over-the-counter products, the most important step is to see a dental professional so that he or she can determine the cause of the tooth sensitivity and help you find a solution that will work.

 

 

Recipe: Christmas Fruit Cake – Have you soaked your fruits yet?

Christmas Fruit Cake – Have you soaked your fruits yet?

By: Shakira Thomas

Who is baking this Christmas? I know all the yearly bakers already have their containers of mixed fruits soaking and ready for the biggest baking time of the year. Good stuff!

If you didn’t know, soaking your mixed fruits in advance before baking your Christmas fruit cake is the key to that moist, rich and tasty texture. The flour, sugar and other ingredients are just props; it’s really the fruits and nuts that are the star of this delight.

Can you remember that time you had the best Christmas cake ever and the first bite brought happy tears to your eyes? You remember thinking that there must be a secret ingredient in this Christmas fruitcake? Well I’m here to tell you that the secret is fruit soaking in advance. When you soak the mixed fruits it gives you that rich, moist texture with bursting flavors.

There are different timelines you can choose to soak your mixed fruits, I will inform you of the different ways but the rule of thumb is the longer you soak the fruits the better the taste. It’s like the wine aging concept the older the wine the better the taste, well it’s the same for soaking your mixed fruits, the longer you soak your mixed fruits in alcohol the better the taste of your Christmas fruit cake.  Yearly bakers start to soak their mixed fruits the beginning of the year and bake first week in December and feed the cakes with alcohol once a week up to Christmas. Some say the traditional way is to soak fruits three months before Christmas that would be first/second week of September and then bake approximately five weeks before Christmas. The easiest timeline is to soaking your mixed fruits overnight just three-four weeks before Christmas, bake the next day and brush alcohol once a week until Christmas. This is probably the best option for busy moms on the go. The key here is to give your fruits adequate time to marinate in alcohol to get that rich, scrumptious taste you want.

If you are planning on baking this year for the first time, have no fear we will be your guide to the process. We have the same recipe and method that ‘Grandma’ and ‘Aunt Mae’ used when you were a child, so you’re in good hands. To start the baking process right, I want you to first get rid of the fear that baking a Christmas fruit cake is hard.  It’s really easy; once you have good directions (we got you!) and all the ingredients the process is effortless.

This week we will start with the simplest step in the process, and that is to soak your mixed fruits.

Items you will need:

Fruits
Glazed cherry – 100g
Apricot – 120g
Date – 180g
Prune – 100g
Cranberry – 100g
Fig – 50g

Raisins:
Black current – 150g
Raisin – 100g
Sultana – 150g

Nuts:
Almond – 50g
Walnut – 50g
Cashew – 50g

Other:
Brandy: 700ml (sherry, whisky or dark rum)
Orange zest of 1 large orange

Equipment:
Large glass bowl with lid or large glass jar with air-tight lid
Spatula/Wooden serving spoon
Chopping board
Sharp knife

Direction made simple:

  • Chop all the fruits and nuts in bite size pieces. It will increase the total amount of fruits present in your cake. This will ensure that fruits and nuts are in every bite of your cake.
  • Place the chopped fruits and nuts in the clean and dry containers (as listed above) and pour the brandy (or alcohol of your choice) over the fruits. Make sure fruits are completely covered with the liquid.
  • Stir gently with the wooden spoon and cover with the lid. The glass container should be air tight.
  • Place the container in a dry and dark place, may be in your kitchen cupboard.
  • Stir (or shake) the fruit mix with a wooden spatula/spoon on each day or at least on alternate day until the baking day.

How easy was that?!

Cooking tips:

It’s best to use a glass container, as alcohol could have a reaction to other types of material.

Depending on the sizes of the fruits, cut is quarters and halves. The bigger pieces of fruits cut in quarters, and the smaller cut in halves.

Look out for the follow-up article on this topic – closer to baking time. I will give you the list of items, best brands you need to shop for your cake; in the meantime get those fruits soaking.

Shakira Thomas is the creator and founder of Caribbeanchick.com. The official internet destination for Caribbean women worldwide.

– See more at: http://www.caribbeanchick.com

PM on official visit to US

BELIZE  

Prime Minister Dean Barrow is currently in United States for talks the government’s legal and financial advisers. A brief statement issued by his office on Tuesday, gave no details of the discussions only saying that the talks will be on “various pending matters”.

Belize has in the past complained at the decision by banks in the United States to end their relationship with banks in Belize and other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states.  Belize says the so called correspondent banking and de-risking issues could lead to economic problems.

Barrow is scheduled to return to Belize on the weekend.

 

Deadly Drug Hitting Streets of South Florida

Deadly Drug Hitting Streets of South Florida

More than 50 Broward deaths in 6 months appear to be due to Carfentanil –

The Office of Medical Examiner and Trauma Services in a statement release earlier this week is warning people of the danger of Carfentanil – – A powerful drug used to sedate 6,000 to 13,000 pound elephants have made it to the streets of South Florida, and people are dying according.

New laboratory testing strongly suggests that a suspected 53 recent deaths handled by the Broward County Office of Medical Examiner and Trauma Services are due to Carfentanil, a synthetic opioid that’s 100 times deadlier than fentanyl, which itself is nearly 50 times more lethal than heroin. Ingesting just a few granules of Carfentanil the size of table salt can lead to death. It is to be by far the most deadly of the opiates readily available to those who use street drugs.

Carfentanil is found to be so dangerous that First Responders, Medical Examiner and Medical personnel, and even drug-sniffing dogs who breathe its fumes are at risk and must be immediately treated with Narcan (Nalaxone) – a medication used to block the effects of opioids – or face death.

In most circumstances, those buying and using drugs off the street don’t even know they’re ingesting it until it’s too late. Even if they have a dose of Narcan available, Carfentanil can kill them before they can use it, according to Dr. Craig Mallak, Broward’s Chief Medical Examiner. “If you’re buying heroin or cocaine, or any drug on the streets for that matter, it could be laced with Carfentanil, and if it is there’s a very high chance you will die,” said Mallak. His office has seen three cases this week alone that are most probably due to Carfentanil.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has issued a Carfentanil warning to the public and law enforcement across the country to educate them about the dangers of this and other synthetic opiates.

The DEA says most synthetic drugs such as this one come from China, through Mexico, but Dr. Mallak says it can also be made using recipes found on the internet.

The Office of Medical Examiner and Trauma Services are asking if you, or a loved one has a drug problem, please contact the Broward Addiction Recovery Center at 954-357-4880 for help.

Trump’s main objective is to now heal the divisions

Trump’s main objective is to now heal the divisions

Saying the outcome of the US presidential elections, with Donald Trump winning, shocked most Caribbean-Americans is an understatement.

It’s no secret; the majority of Caribbean-American voters were Hillary Clinton supporters, who were convinced she would have been elected.

However, the majority of polls and predictions by most analysts were badly off. Trump is the president-elect of the United States.

Despite the pain of the loss, there’s no sense in the community giving way to doubts, hopelessness and fear. The Democrats have lost elections in the past. Al Gore’s narrow and controversial loss to George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential elections was also devastating, but America prevailed and Democrats eventually rebounded.

Now is the time for Democrats to do so again and find strength from Tuesday’s humiliating loss.

The immediate response to Clinton’s defeat and Trump’s election is for Americans of whichever party and race to heal the vast divide created by the bitter election campaign.

This should be one of the priorities of President Trump. He made controversial comments during the course of the campaign, including about immigrants that created fear among a large percentage of Americans.

Exit polls conducted on Tuesday indicated 30 percent of Americans are scared of a Trump presidency, and 26 percent concerned. It’s Trumps responsibility to dissuade this fear and administer the country in a manner that restores hope and faith in America.

Hillary Clinton should also be involved in the healing process. She received a significant percentage of the popular vote. When all the votes are confirmed she could even win the popular vote nationally.

Moreover, she won the majority vote in the urban areas of pivotal states like Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and North Carolina. Although she no longer holds an elected office she still is a voice of influence and should not be reluctant to collaborate with Trump.

It will also be incumbent on Congress to work hard to represent their respective districts, support the president, and promote diversity in their districts.

One of the reasons exit poll data showed 60 percent of American voters expressed anger with Washington was because for the past eight years some representatives spent their time derailing the urban policies of President Obama.

Residents in every congressional district, House and Senate, must be aggressive in insisting the demands of their district, respective communities, states and the nation are effectively addressed by their Congressional representatives.

America elected a new president, and representatives in the US House and Senate, to improve the standard of their lives, must not spend the next four years railroading policies critical to the people.

One fear of Caribbean-Americans is Trump’s threat that under his administration the Affordable Care Act, Obamacare, will be repealed. However, this threat, endorsed by other Republicans, is easier said than done. It takes a two-third majority in Congress to repeal a law, and every Democratic representative in Congress must fight hard to prevent such a majority from prevailing for the majority of Americans who depend on Obamacare.

Mr. Trump must be commended on his victory. Throughout his presidential bid he confounded his critics. He won the Republican nomination from a field of 16 other contenders, defeating experienced politicians including former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. After his nomination, he was given little chance to win the presidency, but he successfully built a coalition of white voters and is victorious.

Unfortunately, his campaign polarized the nation further than it had been. He should now cast his campaign strategy aside and seek not only to be the nation’s Commander-in-Chief, but also its Uniter-in-Chief.

He has the most effective platform in the nation and the world from which to reach out to Democrats, Liberals, African Americans, Hispanics, Muslims, and other groups, to make America even stronger and greater.

Despite the pain from Clinton’s loss, all those who didn’t support Trump and those who supported him, must insist his presidency is one that brings Americans together. This will be one of the key objectives of his administration.

Donald Trump elected 45th President of the US

Donald Trump elected 45th President of the US

Caribbean-Americans shocked, disappointed over Hillary Clinton’s defeat

Garth A. Rose

In what many in South Florida’s Caribbean-American community describe as a “shocking and devastating” upset, Republican Donald Trump convincingly won the US presidency in general elections held on Tuesday, November 8.

In preliminary results, as of Wednesday morning, Trump needing 270 electoral votes to be elected, had won 289, including Florida’s 29. Democrat Hillary Clinton tallied 218, with the race in Michigan, Minnesota and New Hampshire too close to call, but even if she won those states, it would not change the result.

Clinton, who was the overwhelming favorite of South Florida’s Caribbean-American community by over 80 percent, conceded to Trump in a congratulatory telephone call at approximately 2:30 Wednesday morning. But she did not make a concession speech to her supporters. This was done later on Wednesday.

In it, she thanked them and urged the nation to come together after the bitter and divisive election campaign.

President Obama, who campaigned aggressively for Clinton, also called Trump to congratulate him. Trump is expected to visit Obama later this week at the White House to begin discussions for the transition which officially takes place January 20  when Trump is inaugurated as the nation’s 45th president.

On Tuesday evening, several Clinton supporters and campaign volunteers gathered at an election watch party at a West Kendall restaurant. The mood was initially buoyant and optimistic around 8:00 pm but slowly turned glum as the votes for Florida came in and showed Trump was leading by a large margin and eventually won the state.

The mood worsened when the national results showed Trump winning Ohio and North Carolina, states the Democrats needed to win.

Granville Simmons, a Caribbean-American Clinton supporter who had confidently projected her winning Florida, and the presidency with 303 electoral votes, said the loss was “A devastating and shocking defeat. It makes one numb with shock like hearing of the sudden death of a very dear, loved one.” Simmons’ response was similar to Caribbean-Americans across South Florida.

Commenting on the election results, a Clinton campaign coordinator in South Florida, Gabbie Marsh said, “What makes the loss the more devastating is that the campaign succeeded in turning out the Caribbean and African-American votes. Some 80 percent of Caribbean-Americans voted and 75 percent of African-Americans. South Florida voted for Hillary some 64 percent to 36 percent for Trump, but it still was not enough to win the state. It’s devastating.”

 

Although the results showed the coalition of Hispanics, Caribbean-Americans, African-Americans, women, and millennial voters voting in favor of Clinton, exit polls indicated 34 percent of Hispanics still voted for Trump.

The black vote was down some five percent compared to the 2012 presidential elections and the vote by millennials declined 10 percent.

Marsh speculated. “Perhaps Hillary would have won if more Hispanics had voted for her, and more young people turned out to vote. However, even then those votes may not have been enough to overcome the surge of votes Trump received in the western and northern counties of the state from the coalition of white voters.”

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