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Miami commissioners propose $15 living wage for city service workers

Miami commissioners propose $15 living wage for city service workers

City of Miami Commissioner and vice-chairman Ken Russell is pushing for a higher living wage for city workers. Supported by commission Chairman Keon Hardemon, Russell has filed a new ordinance seeking a minimum living wage of $15 an hour for workers employed through City of Miami Contracts.

The ordinance calls for city workers working on service contracts in which contractors provide services over $100,000 annually, be paid at least $15 per hour on or after January 1, 2017.

A final vote on the proposed ordinance is expected when the commission meets later this month for its monthly meeting.

Commissioner Russell has been pushing for a living wage for city workers as an “important necessity.” Commissioner Hardemon sees the implementation of the new living wage as a tool to fight poverty in the city.

The kinds of service contracts that would be include in the new living wage ordinance would include: food preparation or distribution; security services; maintenance services such as custodial, cleaning, computers, refuse removal, repair, refinishing and recycling; clerical or other non-supervisory office work; transportation and parking services; printing and reproduction services; and landscaping, lawn and agricultural services.

Contractors who fall under the ordinance would be required to pay to all of their employees who provide covered services no less than $15 per hour without health benefits or a wage of no less than $13.19 an hour with health benefits, as defined in the ordinance.

Workers in the City Of Miami and across Florida is paid te state minimum wage of $8.05 per hour, while the Federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, a rate that the presidential candidates seeking election on November 8 says they are committed to increase.

 

 

 

Hillary urges Caribbean Americans in South Floria to Vote Early

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With a look at some of the top stories making the news today, November 3rd, across your Caribbean-American community in South Florida, for CNW 90, 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:

Hillary Clinton made a short surprise visit to the Lauderhill Mall yesterday to rally voters to go to the polls. Clinton told the National Weekly it is important to vote in this election because everything is at stake. She said she is proud to have the support of so many Caribbean Americans and looks forward to improve the opportunities for everyone.

Enrollment for health insurance the Affordable Care Act reopened for the fourth consecutive year on Tuesday and will continue until the end of January. On Tuesday, there was aggressive activity on the federal website for enrolling or applying for Obamacare. Some South Florida potential enrollees had a difficult time in accessing the website site. Representatives of the US Department of Health and Human Services said the difficulty was because of heavy enrollment traffic during the first day of enrollment.

The Vogue-Esquire Fashion Show of Chicago returns to South Florida this Saturday with the theme ‘An Evening of Jazz & Elegance’. The Fashion show held at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center will feature exquisite fashions created by an electric mix of designers from around the world. The show will start at 6 p.m.

In sports:

Veteran Jamaican spinner Nikita Miller has been appointed captain of a 14 man Jamaica squad for the start of the Professional Cricket League next weekend. The left-arm spinner, who has played for West Indies replaces Paul Palmer Jr. who has also been left out of the squad for the opening match against defending champions, the Guyana Jaguars.

Now, here’s what’s trending:

The Marley Family and UMe are gearing up to release an expanded three LP/Digital version of Bob Marley & The Wailers Live on December 16. The LP will feature both nights of the historic 1975 concert that was held at Lyceum Theatre in London.

For today’s weather forecast:

Cloudy in Broward County with a high of 82 and a low of 68. Cloudy in Miami-Dade, with a high of 80 and a low of 70.

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: Dominica gained its Independence

On this day in Caribbean history, November 3, 1978, Dominica gained it independence. Dominica was the last of the Caribbean islands to be colonized by Europeans due chiefly to the fierce resistance of the native Caribs. The Caribs, who settled here in the 14th century, called the island Waitikubuli, which means ‘Tall is her Body.’ Christopher Columbus, with less poetic flair, named the island after the day of the week on which he spotted it – a Sunday.

Daunted by fierce resistance from the Caribs and discouraged by the absence of gold, the Spanish took little interest in Dominica. France laid claim to the island in 1635 and wrestled with the British over it through the 18th century.

In 1967 Dominica gained autonomy in internal affairs as a West Indies Associated State, and on November 3, 1978, the 485th anniversary of Columbus’ “discovery”, Dominica became an independent republic within the Commonwealth.

In July 1980 Dame Eugenia Charles was elected prime minister, the first woman in the Caribbean to hold the office. Within a year of her inauguration she survived two unsuccessful coups and in October 1983, as chairperson of the Organization of East Caribbean States, endorsed the US invasion of Grenada.

 

 

 

Lonelyplanet.com

The truth behind 2 popular ‘health’ foods

The truth behind 2 popular ‘health’ foods

Did you dance in delight the first time you heard that dark chocolate is good for you? Did you think that your favorite indulgence just became an official “health food?” Popular culture often makes too much of health benefit claims, especially when it comes to food and drink that many people consider guilty pleasures. It’s important to understand it’s not always the item itself, but certain components in it that have potential health benefits.

Here is the truth behind two common pop-culture myths:

Dark chocolate is good for you

Wouldn’t it be great if every time you bit into your favorite chocolate treat or candy bar you were actually doing something healthful?

Unfortunately, it’s not the chocolate itself that’s healthy. It’s the cocoa flavanols that are found in cocoa beans that are actually thought to be healthful. Numerous studies have demonstrated that cocoa flavanols help to support your health by promoting healthy blood flow.

Consuming your favorite chocolate bar may make you feel happy, but chocolate also contains a lot of things you don’t need too much in your diet, like calories, fat and sugar. Plus, the traditional process of turning cocoa beans into chocolate destroys most of the cocoa flavanols, leaving chocolate tasty but without its original good stuff.

Taking a daily supplement that contains cocoa flavanols, such as CocoaVia(R) supplement, is a more sensible way to tap the potential health benefits of cocoa flavanols. The supplement comes in two forms – capsules and powdered stick packs that you can mix into the food or beverage of your choice.

The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated these claims, nor is the product intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Visit Cocoavia.com to learn more.

Red wine promotes health

Red wine’s claim to fame is largely tied to the presence of a powerful compound, called resveratrol, in the skin of grapes. Population studies have shown that individuals who include wine in their regular diet have better overall cardiovascular health, a benefit that may be related to wine’s resveratrol content.

Red wine typically contains some resveratrol, but not much. You would have to drink a lot of wine for many years to get enough resveratrol into your system to see any benefits from it. However, red wine contains calories and alcohol, making it an occasional treat.

But luckily red wine is not the only source of resveratrol. If you would like to increase your resveratrol intake, you can more of other things that contain it, such as peanuts, pistachios, blueberries, cranberries and, yes, grapes! These foods are also rich in other beneficial nutrients, including vitamins, minerals and fiber!

It’s human nature to wish everything you love to eat and drink would also be healthful. And while there’s no denying that a piece of chocolate or glass of red wine can be spiritually satisfying, the reality is a balanced diet, rich in fruit, vegetables, whole grains, dairy and lean protein sources according to the USDA’s dietary guidelines, will always be best for your body.

Pregnant? What you should know about preterm birth

Pregnant? What you should know about preterm birth

Not long after the joy of discovering you’re pregnant, the worries set in. You may think you know all the threats – Zika virus, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes – and take appropriate steps to minimize them. But what do you know about one of the most common pregnancy complications – preterm birth?

About one out of every 10 babies born in the U.S. are preterm – before the 37th week of pregnancy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Globally, preterm birth rates are on the rise and the U.S. ranks sixth among the 10 countries with the highest numbers of preterm births, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It is the only developed country among the top 10.

Effects of preterm birth

Around the world, complications from preterm birth are the leading cause of death among children younger than 5, the WHO reports. While in the U.S., more preterm babies survive, they’re still at a higher risk of lifelong health effects, including problems breathing and eating, developmental delays, behavioral problems, vision and hearing impairment and cerebral palsy.

“In addition to the health-related effects preterm birth has on babies and children, we must also consider the emotional and financial toll on parents and families,” says Jill Hechtman, M.D. Medical Director, Tampa Obstetrics. “Reaching full term is best for babies and their families.”

The March of Dimes estimates that preterm births cost employers more than $12 billion annually in healthcare costs. The high cost is attributed to prenatal services, delivery and postpartum care for the mom, as well as the high cost of the hospital NICU and outpatient medical care for the premature babies through their first year of life. Specifically, babies born prematurely spent an average of 15 days in the hospital and averaged about 20 outpatient medical visits, compared to full term babies, who spent approximately two days in the hospital and had 14 outpatient medical visits.

Identifying risks

No one knows exactly why preterm births occur, but some factors seem to indicate a mother might be at a higher risk, including:

* Having already had one preterm delivery.

* Age – being very young or older.

* Carrying multiples.

* High blood pressure or other chronic disease such as diabetes.

* Smoking.

* Alcohol use during pregnancy.

Many women have no symptoms, warning signs or obvious risk factors for having a preterm delivery. And, until now, there has not been a clinically validated, prenatal blood test, for asymptomatic women, to assess possible risks for preterm birth. A new test, The PreTRM test, provides mothers with singleton pregnancies (carrying one child) with their individualized risk of having a preterm birth. This blood test is done early in pregnancy, during the 19th or 20th week. It measures and analyzes specific proteins in the blood that have been shown to be highly predictive of premature birth.

“Knowing the risk of preterm birth can empower women and their partners to talk to their doctors about the chances of having a baby prematurely, and to learn what they can do to address that risk,” Dr. Hechtman says.

What you can do

As with any health concern, the first step is talking to your doctor. Discuss any potential risk factors that you and your doctor may be aware of, and whether testing is right for you. The CDC also recommends steps that could help reduce the risk of preterm birth, including the following:

* If you smoke, quit.

* Avoid alcohol and illegal drugs.

* Get routine prenatal care.

* Know the signs of preterm labor – which can lead to preterm birth – and get medical help immediately if you experience the symptoms.

“A lot of important development takes place during the final weeks of pregnancy,” Dr. Hechtman says. “Research and real-world experience shows us that for most babies, making it to full term will give them the best possible start in life.”

 

 

brandpointcontent.com

Gonsalves says Deputy has not sworn allegiance to United States

Gonsalves says Deputy has not sworn allegiance to United States

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves says his deputy prime minister, Sir Louis Straker, has not sworn allegiance to the United States, reminding politicians that the veteran politician had sworn for five general elections here that he is not “under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience, or alliance to a foreign power or state”.

Gonsalves was responding to a question filed in the Parliament by opposition legislator Julian “Jules” Ferdinand regarding Sir Louis’ citizenship.

Ben Exeter, who contested the December 2015 general election for the Central Leeward constituency on behalf of the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP), is also threatening to take legal action to determine whether Sir Louis had given up his United States citizenship prior to the last general election.

Sir Louis defeated Exeter for the constituency as the ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) won a fourth consecutive term in office by a single seat.

Ferdinand had asked Prime Minister Gonsalves to indicate whether Sir Louis had given up his US citizenship prior to being named as a candidate for the ULP as required by the laws of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

He also wanted to know the date when the United States government confirmed Sir Louis’ renouncing his citizenship. But Gonsalves said in 1994, 1998, 2001, 2005, and 2015 general elections, under the House of Assembly election rules, Sir Louis swore that he was “duly qualified” to be elected as a member of the House of Assembly.

 

Opposition leader not impressed with Cabinet reshuffle

trinidad kamla

Opposition leader not impressed with Cabinet reshuffle

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar has dismissed the cabinet-re-shuffle of Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley insisting that the government after more than one year in office has not been able to deal with the priority areas of crime fighting, job creation and management of the economy and, good health care.

“Overall, this second Cabinet reshuffle coupled with three budgets in one year, would not make a difference in the quality of life for citizens who are burdened by threats to their lives, high cost of living, unemployment and sharp cutbacks on social and safety measures,” Persad Bissessar said in a statement.

On Monday, Rowley axed his Energy and Energy Industries Minister Nicole Olivierre and the Public Utilities Minister retired Brigadier General Ancil Antoine.

A statement from the Office of the Prime Minister noted that Rowley had advised President Anthony Carmona to appoint the Mayor of San Fernando Kazim Hosein as a Senator and Minister of Rural Development and Local Government. He will replace Sarah Budhu, whose appointment as a Senator was revoked.

Prime Minister Rowley also named Rohan Sinanan, a Senator, as the Minister of Works and Transport in the first major re-shuffle of his Cabinet since leading the People’s National Movement (PNM) to victory over Persad Bissessar’s Coalition People’s Partnership government in September 2015.

Opening day of Obamacare enrollment looked good

Opening day of Obamacare enrollment looked good

Enrollment for health insurance the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare reopened for the fourth consecutive year on Tuesday November 1, and will continue for the next 90 days until the end of January.

On Tuesday, there was aggressive activity on the main portal Healthcare.gov, the federal website for enrolling or applying for Obamacare. Representatives of the US Department of Health and Human Services responsible for assisting South Floridians in the enrollment process for Obamacare said the traffic on the federal website was so heavy “several potential enrollees had a difficult time getting o to the site.”

Local broker, Margaret Barrett from Broward County, said that, interestingly, of the persons who contacted her t enroll or re-enroll for Obamacare on Tuesday on processing their applications it was realized they would pay the same premium for the Silver plan, the most popular plan being sold by insurance companies participating in Obamacare.

Last week, days before the opening of the 2016/2017 enrollment, opponents of Obamacare renewed criticism of the healthcare plan with news that premiums would increase up to 25 percent in Florida and other states. Most of the increase was affiliated to the silver plan which averages some $300 per individual and offer policyholder more benefits than the lower cost Bronze plans. However, as Barret, represents of the DHHS and other brokers pointed out, this increase will be offset by tax credits that most enrollees are qualified for. With the tax credits, the real cost of monthly premiums to the policyholder holding a silver plan will be approximately $120.

During this enrollment period, the DHHs, and insurance companies are hoping for a significant increase in enrollment by younger, healthier people.

Several major insurance companies like Aetna and United Healthcare have pulled out of the Florida market for Obamacare because of the demand on these companies from older policy holders who tend to be more sick and in need of healthcare. With more younger enrollees, health insurance companies would be better able to balance the revenue inflow with the expense required to fund the healthcare needs of older, less healthy Obamacare enrollees.

 

Teenager killed as Haitians protest delayed food distribution

Teenager killed as Haitians protest delayed food distribution

Authorities in Haiti are investigating the latest case in which a teenager was killed as Haitians protested the delay of distribution of food supplies following the passage of Hurricane Matthew early last month.

Mayor Jean Gabriel Fortune said the teenage boy was killed as police clashed with protesters when they tried to climb aboard a boat that had arrived from Puerto Rico late last month carrying supplies.

He told reporters that an investigation is underway into the second killing after a young woman died during a similar protest last week in the nearby village of Dame Marie. Five other people were also injured when a fight broke out as authorities distributed food to hurricane victims.

The Mayor said that the police are trying to ease the tension, “but they are in a very difficult position”.

He said that he was also frustrated by what he called the inability and weakness of the central government of Port-au-Prince to act on aid streaming into Haiti after Hurricane Matthew hit the country’s southwest region nearly a month ago.

“We don’t even have the ability to move aid off a boat. The food has been there for days,” he added.

The death of the teenager on Tuesday resulted in protestors demanding revenge and setting up road blockades with burning tires, tree branches and downed utility lines.

Candidate Raquel Regalado loses lawsuit her opponent incumbent Mayor Carlos Giminez

With a look at some of the top stories making the news today, November 2nd, across your Caribbean-American community in South Florida, for CNW 90, 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:

On Monday Oct 31, Miami Judge Michael Hanzman ruled against a lawsuit filed by Miami-Dade County mayoral candidate Raquel Regalado in her attempt to disqualify her opponent incumbent Mayor Carlos Giminez from being on the county ballot in the general elections. Regalado claimed Giminez paid the county election office with a bad check for his election registration fees. However, in his ruling the judge stated the electoral office had returned the check to the mayor to correct an incorrect date, and the check wasn’t returned by his bank for insufficient funds.

US Congresswomen Republican Ros-Lehtinen and Democrat Frederica Wilson recently visited Haiti for a first-hand witness of the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew and discuss details of relief efforts needed from the US. During their visit the Congresswomen was able to ascertain the scope of the disaster, and determine the extent, type and priorities of the relief required. They also received information on necessary measures need to be taken in Haiti to cope with the potential worsening of the cholera outbreak.

Grammy-nominated reggae artist, Matisyahu announced the release of his latest EP, ‘Release The Bound’. The five-track set scheduled for a November 18 release date, will be distributed by Thirty Tigers. According to the Jewish-American reggae vocalist, the concept of the album will leave listeners in a spiritual mood.

In sports:

Jamaica under-17 national team will contest a friendly home match against the United States today at the National Stadium East Field, and on November 6 at Winchester Park. Both teams are preparing for the next CONCACAF Under-17 Championship in Panama in April. On Sunday, Jamaica will open a training camp at the Jamaica Football Federation Technical Centre at the University of the West Indies.

Now, here’s what’s trending:

Maria Daly, the wife of a Massachusetts cop allegedly staged a robbery and vandalized her own home to make it look like Black Lives Matters supporters were involved. She reported a break-in at the couple’s home telling police $10,000 worth of jewelry and money had been stolen in addition to spray-painting the letters ‘BLM’, a popular acronym for the Black Lives Matter movement.

For today’s weather forecast:

Partly Cloudy in Broward County with a high of 84 and a low of 71. Mostly Cloudy in Miami-Dade, with a high of 82 and a low of 74.

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: Coronation of Haile Selassie

On the day in Caribbean history, November 2, 1930, the coronation of H.I.M. Haile Selassie I took place. 38-year-old Ras Tafari Makonnen, 225th descendant of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia, receiving the title of Haile Selassie, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of the tribe of Judah. More than 72 nations converged on Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the coronation.

Haile Selassie introduced Ethiopia’s first written constitution on 16 July 1931, providing for a bicameral legislature. The constitution kept power in the hands of the nobility, but it did establish democratic standards among the nobility, envisaging a transition to democratic rule: it would prevail “until the people are in a position to elect themselves.” The constitution limited the succession to the throne to the descendants of Haile Selassie, a point that met with the disapprobation of other dynastic princes, including the princes of Tigrai and even the emperor’s loyal cousin, Ras Kassa Haile Darge.

In 1932, the Sultanate of Jimma was formally absorbed into Ethiopia following the death of Sultan Abba Jifar II of Jimma.

 

 

 

 

 

wikipedia.com

US based singer who threatened to kill PM permitted to leave

US based singer who threatened to kill PM permitted to leave

A US-based calypsonian who was arrested at the E.T. Joshua Airport earlier this year and charged with making threats to kill Prime Minister Dr.  Gonsalves, is now free to leave St. Vincent and the Grenadines, although the charge has not been disposed of in the court.

Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias Monday reviewed the bail conditions for the singer, Paul “I-Madd” Scrubb, after the prosecution told the Serious Offences Court they were not ready to proceed — after a three-month adjournment.

The prosecution alleges that Scrubb between December 9 and 31, 2015, “maliciously sent or uttered threats to kill” Gonsalves as well as his “whole damn family”.

He is also charged of uttering “seditious words” to kill the prime minister and his family.

When Scrubb appeared in court on July 25, he was not required to plead to the indictable charges and was granted EC$25,000 bail. He was also ordered to report to the police twice weekly and had to surrender all travel documents and obtain the permission of the court to leave the country. Stop notices were also placed at all ports of entry and exit and the preliminary inquiry was set for October 31.

But when the case was called on Monday, the prosecution told the court that they were not ready to proceed and requested a further adjournment.

The matter has been adjourned to January 26, next year.

 

Nikita Miller to captain Jamaica’s PCL team

Nikita Miller to captain Jamaica’s PCL team

Veteran Jamaican spinner Nikita Miller has been appointed captain of a 14 man Jamaica squad for the start of the WICB Professional Cricket League next weekend.

The left-arm spinner, who has played for West Indies at various levels, replaces Paul Palmer Jr., who has also been left out of the squad for the opening match against defending champions Guyana Jaguars.

Out-of-favor West Indies players, wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh Jr and all-rounder David Bernard Jr. have again been omitted from the squad announced by selectors on Monday.

Baugh Jr. and Bernard Jr. missed several matches last season after a string of poor performances.

Selectors have also excluded former West Indies batsman, Barbadian Kirk Edwards, who after being drafted as a regional overseas player last season, was dropped for the final set of matches due to poor performances.

The squad, which has Antiguan Devon Thomas and young Guyanese opener Trevon Griffith as its mandatory two regional overseas players, features one uncapped player in fast bowling all-rounder, Derval Green.

Green, a former national Under-19 captain, has represented Jamaica in four List-A regional Super50 matches, but is yet to make his four-day debut.

Jamaica, who finished fourth, fifth and third, respectively, in the three seasons staged, will this year be coached by former West Indies opener Robert Samuels, who has replaced longstanding coach, Junior Bennett.

Jamaica Scorpions squad – Nikita Miller (captain), John Campbell, Trevon Griffith, Devon Thomas, Jermaine Blackwood, Brandon King, Shacaya Thomas, Andre McCarthy, Chadwick Walton, Damion Jacobs, Derval Green, Marquino Mindley and Jason Dawes.

Public asked to refrain from destroying natural habitat of Jaguars

BELIZE 

Environmentalists in Belize have appealed to farmers and others to refrain from destroying the natural habitat of various wildlife animals amid recent reports of jaguar sightings and attacks on livestock in some areas.

A government statement said a Forest Department response team has been dispatched to assist farmers and ranchers in livestock husbandry techniques to prevent loss of livestock.

It said the team, consisting of wildlife conservation experts, are also monitoring hotspots and conducting public awareness in these communities in order to better mitigate and reduce human-jaguar conflicts.

Forest Department representative, Shanelly Carrillo, explained that even-though jaguars are recognized as an important flagship species both for conservation and tourism, farmers often see them as a nuisance.

She noted that with the continuous expansion of farming communities into once pristine forested areas, there is an increasing likelihood of jaguar encounters.

“Apart from their shrinking habitats, the jaguars’ dwindling natural food sources due to overhunting have also forced them to seek other alternatives outside of the protected areas. Consequently, they pose a direct threat to livestock and other domesticated animals. In some instances, these human-jaguar conflicts lead to the retaliatory killing by residents,” the statement noted.

Chief Forest Officer, Wilber Sabido, said that while the livelihood and safety of people are paramount he is also echoing concerns for wildlife conservation.

Opposition leader prepares for general election

BARBADOS

Leader of the opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP), Mia Mottley has sounded a rallying cry to supporters of the party to prepare take up the reins of government.

Addressing the BLP’s 78th annual conference on the weekend, Mottley told party faithful that they are “girding our loins and preparing for battle.

She knocked the Freundel Stuart administration’s management of the country’s affairs over the past eight years, which saw government introducing a home-grown austerity programme to revive the country’s ailing finances, saying that Barbados cannot survive five more years of Stuart’s “uninspired leadership”.

“So the task at hand is much bigger than winning the upcoming election, that’s just our first stop. The future of our country is at stake.  And you know in some respects our election mirrors that of the one currently underway in the United States of America, where people wonder what will be the fate of their country after November 8.”

The former attorney general argued that the BLP is the island’s “best hope” at this time, and announced that early in the New Year the party will make a detailed presentation of its full slate of candidates which were nominated before the weekend conference.

Mottley also outlined the party’s plans for the country, should it be victorious in the next election, which is constitutionally due in 2018.

According to her, among the BLP’s priorities will be to ensure that every household has access to water – a reference to the prolonged water shortage in several communities; tackling criminal activity, and ensuring that every household earns a living wage.

Preterm Birth Rate in Florida Increases to 10 Percent

Preterm Birth Rate in Florida Increases to 10 Percent

Florida’s preterm birth rate increased slightly to 10 percent in 2015 from 9.9 percent in 2014, according to the 2016 March of Dimes Premature Birth Report. The state received a “C” grade on the annual report.

“Despite promising programs and some localized improvements, this year’s report shows additional steps need to be taken in Florida to give more babies, especially those in specific communities, a healthier start to life,” said Dr. Karen Harris, March of Dimes Florida Maternal and Child Health Committee Chair. “The issue of preterm birth has become too common and too accepted in all of our communities.”

The U.S. preterm birth rate increased for the first time in eight years, also resulting in a “C” grade for the nation.

The report also stated what it called “an unfair burden of premature birth among racial and ethnic groups as well as geographic areas.”

The report cited variations is preterm birthrates is different Florida counties and races. For example, the rates range from 9.3 percent in Palm Beach County to 11.2 percent in Duval County. Among black women in Florida, the preterm birth rate is 46 percent higher than the rate among all other women in the state.

In the United States, preterm birth accounts for more than $26 billion annually in avoidable medical and societal costs. The March of Dimes says It will take a multi-faceted, innovative and collaborative approach to address the unfair toll premature birth has on mothers and babies.
The March of Dimes supports eight evidence-based interventions to help reduce the preterm birth rate in communities with the highest burden of preterm birth. One such intervention, stop pregnant women from smoking,  has demonstrated considerable success in reducing preterm births.  The organization said although tobacco use is a known contributor to preterm birth and other adverse birth outcomes, one in 10 women continue to smokes while pregnant.
In Florida, the March of Dimes recently convened a Prematurity Summit bringing together community leaders from high-need areas to create localized action plans to reduce preterm birth in their communities. The summit also focuses on creating equity in birth outcomes at the community level by collaborating with many partners from across the state.

Motorists frustrated by delays at Florida driver’s vehicle registrations

Motorists frustrated by delays in renewing Florida driver’s licenses/vehicle registrations

Recently, some South Florida motorist have complained of delays the have gone through while getting their vehicle registration and/or their driver’s license renewed.

Checks with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor vehicles (DHMV) found that the motorists’ complaints were valid. The delays are due to a faulty computerized database system.

Terry Rhodes, executive director of DHMV admitted the database system which houses information of millions of Florida motorists is aged. The agency is aware of the situation and trying to fix it. He said the agency received some $8 million from the Florida Legislature earlier this year to upgrade the system, and the agency is currently collaborating “every day” with the Agency for State Technology on the upgrades. The not-so-good news is that the system’s upgrade isn’t expected to be completed until June 2017.

Tamara Lewis, a clerk at a DMV office in West Kendall, explained the database system “is crucial” to renew driver’s licenses and motor vehicle registrations. “The renewal applications we obtain have to be matched with the motorist’s information that’s already stored in the database. If we can’t access the database, we can’t complete the renewals.” She said the breakdown in the database system happens “at least once a week. She called these breakdowns “sporadic, and bad timing, usually when there’s a rush to conclude renewals, creating delays for motorists.”

Another report said the database system has broken down “on average, once every four days between April 1 and Sept. 30 of this year.”

Anthony Porter of Sunrise was one of several motorists who experienced delays in renewing his truck registration on October 21. “It took me almost a half day to get the registration completed, because the computer was down, when it usually took about 30 to 40 minutes in the past when I went to renew my vehicle’s registration.”

Lewis admitted that on October 21 the database system “was down for some time.”

Not only is the HDMV system used to store data on motorists and is key to renewing their driver’s license and  vehicle registration. It’s also a very critical tool in verifying and storing data related to Florida’s registered voters, and enables voters to provide valid driver’s licenses as an ID when voting. Information from the HDMV database is also used to Identify people for state benefits such as food stamps.

On contacting the Supervisor of Election Offices in South Florida there were no indications the problems with the database system had negative effecs on either the verification of data to complete recent voters registration, nor affected voters who use their driver’s licenses for identification during early voting.

The problems with the renewal of driver’s licenses and vehicle registration not only affects motorists who visited DMV offices but some who tried to process their renewal online.

“We really hope the system is fixed way before next June,” Lewis said, “The delay in processing renewals isn’t fair to motorists nor employees.“

Miami Judge rejects Regalado lawsuit

Miami Judge rejects Regalado lawsuit

In her quest to unseat Carlos Giminez as the Mayor of Miami-Dade County his challenger former Miami-Dade School Board member Raquel Regalado filed a lawsuit on October 27 seeking that Giminez be disqualified because he allegedly paid his election registration fee of $1,800 with a bad check.

However, county Judge Michael Hanzman denied Regalado’s claim, thus retaining Giminez’s right to be on the county ballot and seek reelection. The mix up came following Giminez writing a check dated June 17, 2015 instead of 2016 and submitted to the Miami-Dade Supervior of Elections Office. Consequently, the election’s office contacted Gimenez’s campaign to fix the error the day before the June 21 qualifying deadline, however, the check was not sent to Giminez’s bank and returned.

The judge told Regalado’s attorney that the lawsuit had little  “likelihood of success,” and ruled against Regalado’s request for a court order disqualifying both Gimenez and all votes already cast for him in the mayoral run-off election underway since early voting started in the count on October 24. In the primary elections on August 31, Gimenez received 48 percent of the votes cast, falling by just 2 percent to obtain the required 50 percent to be re-elected. Regalado received 32 percent of the votes in the primaries.

However, despite the ruling against her, Regalado’s attorney is persistent in trying to disqualify Giminez’s bid. Her attorney indicated he planned to file an amended lawsuit claiming since the county election office is a county agency, under the supervision of the mayor, it could have acted improperly properly in by advising Giminez’s campaign about the incorrectly dated check.

The judge has scheduled a new hearing for Wednesday morning, November 2 to hear the amended lawsuit, although he expressed being skeptical of the claim.

Prior to Monday’s hearing, Giminez’s attorney filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, calling it bid by Regalado to confuse voters in a race that “she has no chance of winning.”

The average of several polls on the Miami-Dade County Mayoral race has Giminez leading by an average of 20 percent.

Jamaica’s U-17 team announced

Head coach Andrew Edwards of Jamaica’s under-17 national team has named the 25-man squad for friendlies against the United States set for November 2 at the National Stadium East Field and November 6 at the Winchester Park.

The squad is highlighted by the addition of two forwards who earned Best XI honors at the finals of last month’s Caribbean qualifying tournament for the 2017 CONCACAF Under-17 Championship. Jamaica will open a training camp Sunday at the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Technical Centre at the University of the West Indies.

Both teams are preparing for the next CONCACAF Under-17 Championship, which is scheduled to be played in Panama from April 21-May 7, 2017.

Recipe: Protein Packed Oatmeal

Want to up the ante for breakfast without spending any extra morning time in the kitchen? Try this recipe for delicious overnight oats that can be made in the evening and customized for each family member.

Protein Power Packed Overnight Oatmeal Recipe
Courtesy of WhipperBerry.com

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 8 hours
Serves: 1-2

What you’ll need:

1/2 cup old fashioned rolled-oats
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
1/4 cup pecans
1/4 cup fresh blueberries and raspberries
Large spoonful of Jif(R) Peanut Butter and Naturally Flavored Cinnamon Spread (or Maple if you prefer!)
1 to 1-1/2 cups milk (basically cover what’s in your jar)

Optional:
1 teaspoon chia seeds
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon honey

What you’ll do::

1. In a large jar, layer your ingredients starting with about a 1/2 cup of old fashioned rolled oats.

2. Then add about a 1/2 cup of your favorite yogurt, your favorite nuts and fruit.

3. Next, add a spoonful of Jif(R) Peanut Butter and Naturally Flavored Cinnamon Spread

4. If you want, add chia seeds and a drizzle of honey and vanilla extract.

5. Cover with your favorite kind of milk. You can use cow, almond, coconut or soy milk.

6. Gently stir your ingredients, top with a lid and place in the fridge overnight.

In the morning, you’ll have a jar full of yummy oatmeal ready and waiting for you.

5 hacks to simplify your family’s morning routine

5 clever hacks to simplify your family’s morning routine

Getting the family out the door on time every morning is no small feat. Seemingly simple tasks like getting dressed, packing backpacks and making breakfast can quickly turn into chaos. Before you know it, you’re running late and the kids haven’t even eaten as you dash to the car.

Stop dreading the stressful start to the day and start taking control of your mornings. A few simple tips and tricks will turn the morning craze into smooth sailing. Plus, when you have a stress-free start, the rest of the day just seems to go better.

Select a week’s worth of clothes Sunday night.
Instead of choosing outfits the night prior, supersize your time-saving efforts by doing this task just once on Sunday night. Involve kids in selecting their clothes for the week so they feel empowered in their choices. Then hang entire outfits in the closet or stack in one drawer dedicated to weekday wear. When mornings come, kids know exactly where to find the day’s duds. Bonus: you don’t have to worry about midweek laundry.

Create a routine and set alarms.
Create a morning routine and stick to it. For example, kids wake at 7 a.m., eat breakfast at 7:15 a.m., get dressed and ready at 7:30 a.m., then out the door by 8 a.m. And if the kids need to share a bathroom, set a daily bathroom schedule with alarms to keep kids on track and avoid arguments in the morning.

Get ready before waking up the kids.
Trying to ready yourself for the day while helping the kids is a recipe for disaster. This is why waking before the rest of the family really makes mornings happier. Try getting up 30 minutes before the kids so you have time to get ready and enjoy a cup of coffee. You’ll be fully awake, much happier and can focus on helping the kids stay on-task.

Create morning rules.
Just like you don’t let kids eat dessert before dinner to ensure they eat well, set rules for the morning to keep things moving. For example, no TV until all morning tasks are completed. For teens, smartphones and other mobile devices must remain on the kitchen table until they are ready to go.

Sundays = meal prep.
Make a week’s worth of PB&Js on Sunday and put them in the freezer. This way lunch items are ready to go and the sandwiches will be thawed and ready to eat by lunchtime. For breakfast, make it easy for kids by setting out shelf-stable items they can make themselves. New Jif(R) Peanut Butter and Naturally Flavored Cinnamon Spread keeps mornings interesting. Set out a jar by a loaf of bread and kids can quickly make a tasty sandwich they’ll devour. Learn more at jif.com.

 

TCI boosts border security following prison break in Haiti

Turks and Caicos

The Turks and Caicos authorities have increased security around its borders following the recent jail break in Haiti.

Haitian officials said that at least one prison official had been detained following the jail break in which 174 inmates escaped from a prison in the north of the in the French Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country. TCI’s Immigration Minister Donhue Gardiner said  he had instructed the relevant authorities including the Director of Immigration and the Supervisor of the Coastal Radar Department (CRD) to “heighten our alert systems in the Immigration Intelligence Unit, and be more diligent especially as it relates to persons coming out of Haiti”.

Haitians  have long been known to head to The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, routinely risking their lives fleeing on sloops in pursuit of a better living.

“The CRD have also been put on the highest alert and officers at our ports of entry and all of our permitting agencies, including the Visa Section in the Immigration Department have been asked to heighten their scrutiny of passengers travelling from Haiti and applications for persons from that area, even if it may mean greater delays,” Gardner said in a statement.

 

South Florida US Congresswomen visit Haiti during Hurricane aftermath

South Florida US Congresswomen visit Haiti to determine assistance needed after Matthew

A South Floridian bipartisan commission including US Congresswomen Republican Ros-Lehtinen and Democrat Frederica Wilson visited Haiti on October 29 and 30 to see first hand the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew and discuss details of relief efforts from the US.

Among the places the Congresswomen visited was Jérémie, a city particularly devastated by the hurricane. During their visit the Congresswomen received information from the staff of the US Embassy and the UN Mission in Haiti regarding emergency efforts to cope with the hurricane disaster and measures to cope with the potential worsening of the outbreak of cholera. They also had a meeting with the Haitian Prime Minister Enex Jean-Charles.

Congresswoman Wilson said the trip was very important especially as her Congressional District in Florida consists of one of the US’ largest Haitian-American communities. Many who “still have deep ties to Haiti and are desperate for accurate accounts of the damage caused by the hurricane.” She said seeing the damage firsthand was the best way to witness the damage and understand the assistance that is required from the US to help the situation in Haiti.

Wilson said while the US government will continue in providing humanitarian assistance to Haiti to recover from the hurricane, the government regards it as crucial that the assistance provided reaches those who are most affected, those with desperate needs for food, water, shelter and sanitation. She said one of the key objectives of her visit as to meet with U.S. and UN officials, and relief workers, to examine the distribution of essential humanitarian services.

Ros-Lehtinen said it was important to obtain first-hand information for  the US efforts to help 1.5 million Haitians needing humanitarian assistance following the storm, including about 175,000 in temporary shelters and 806,000 with immediate food needs.

While Americans are willing to provide assistance to Haiti following the latest natural disaster to impact that Caribbean country, some are skeptical the assistance they provide will not reach those who were directly impacted by the storm. Congresswoman Wilson said, “We must ensure that the assistance reach those affected as quickly as possible.”

Ft. Lauderdale CRA spent funds on parties while city projects stall

Fort Lauderdale CRA spent funds on parties, fireworks while city projects stall

An audit of the City of Fort Lauderdale Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), requested by the city commission, has incidents of the mishandlings of funds that has been allocated to redevelop the city’s beach neighborhoods.

According to reports, the audit conducted by the City’s internal audit department, found among other flaws, that some $22,000 had been incorrectly used to meet the cost of farewell and retirement parties for a former city commissioner and former city official respectively; and some $80,000 spent to fund the city’s annual Fourth of July fireworks display since 2012.

According to the reports, the city’s Mayor Jack Seiler was surprised by the expenditure on the parties as he originally assumed the parties were funded by funds sourced elsewhere on the city budget or from private sponsors.

The CRA funds had been earmarked to redevelop the city’s beach lands, including remodeling a parking lot along the beach into an event plaza, constructing a parking garage, improving the city’s aquatic center and constructing pedestrian crossways from the Las Olas Boulevard Bridge to the beach.

The audit revealed several major projects are incomplete although funding have been allocated, while at the same time $41.8 million in the CRA budget had not been spent. The projects should have been completed within three years with the funds allocated, but the projects are not finished, and contrary to city rules the funds are sitting idle. Since the funds have not spent or the projects completed in the designated time, the funds may have to be returned to the agencies that provided them. These agencies include Broward County, Broward County Hospital District and the county’s Children’s Services Council.

It is left to the respective agencies to determine if they want their contributions refunded, or agree to extend the completion deadline for the projects.

The reports also stipulate City Manager Lee Feldman is in agreement with the audit’s findings, and has promised the city would return the funds that was incorrectly spent from the CRA account by the end of December, and to proceed with the incomplete projects as a matter of priority.

 

This Day in History: The Caribbean islands of Antigua and Barbuda gain independence

On this day in Caribbean history, November 1, 1981, the islands of Antigua and neighbouring Barbuda form an independent state ending nearly 350 years of British rule.

Demand for self-determination developed in parallel with a concern to create political and economic linkages with other small Caribbean countries. The labour movement became the main focus of political development, and gathered strength during the economically troubled mid-years of the 20th century. Vere C Bird formed the country’s first trade union in 1939, and later became leader of the Antigua Labour Party (ALP).

The first elections under universal adult suffrage took place in 1951, and were won by the ALP. The country joined the West Indies Federation at formation in 1958; this arrangement

replaced the earlier Leeward Islands federal grouping of which Antigua and Barbuda had been part. The West Indies Federation collapsed in 1962 – too late to revive the old Leeward Islands federation, since most of the eligible Eastern Caribbean countries were in the process of moving towards independence.

Under the West Indies Act 1967, Antigua became an associated state with internal self-government, the UK retaining control of foreign affairs and defence. Vere Bird Sr became the first Premier, but the ALP was ousted at the next elections in 1971 by the Progressive Labour Movement (PLM), led by George Walters. Both parties had their roots in the labour movement; the main difference at that time was that the PLM was campaigning for early independence, while the ALP wanted stronger economic foundations to be developed first.

The ALP returned to power at the 1976 elections. Following the ALP’s victory, Bird led the country to full independence on 1 November 1981. Antigua and Barbuda joined the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States at its formation in 1981.

The ALP remained in power during the 1980s, its position enhanced by divisions within the opposition. However, by the late 1980s divisions also appeared in the ALP, precipitated by allegations of financial misdealing in 1986, and of armaments sales in 1990, both involving senior government ministers. These matters led to ongoing parliamentary controversy.

In April 1992 three opposition parties merged to form the United Progressive Party (UPP). In September 1993, on the retirement of Vere Bird, his son Lester Bird became Prime Minister. In March 1994 the ALP won its fifth consecutive election victory, securing 11 of the 17 seats in the House; the UPP led by Baldwin Spencer took five and the Barbuda People’s Movement one.

 

 

The Commonwealth

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