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Sunrise goes Winter Wonderland

It’s been every South Floridian child’s dream to have a white, snowy Christmas. And the city of Sunrise is set on making those dreams come true with this year’s Winter Wonderland, this Sunday, December 13, at the Sunrise Civic Center, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Touched with a little magic from Santa himself, Winter Wonderland includes a Cornucopia of sweets and other tasty treats from Santa’s Sweet Shop. Kids can also indulge in classic holiday games. Meanwhile, Santa himself will be on hand (promptly arriving at 3 p.m.) to take holiday wishes (and special present requests) just in time for Christmas. And of course, no Winter Wonderland would be complete without snow. Kids 14 years and young are invited to dive in for some serious snow play. So get out those boots for a day of sliding and gliding fun.

The Winter Wonderland is “our centerpiece for the holidays in Sunrise,” says City of Sunrise communications director, Christine Pfeffer. “The snow really makes it unique – such a special memories for our kids every year.”

T&T faces economic recession

Central Bank Governor, Jawala Rambarran

The Trinidad and Tobago economy is officially under a recession, according to Central Bank Governor, Jawala Rambarran. Rambarran went on to identify some of the companies that are the largest users of foreign exchange.

The twin-republic recorded its fourth quarter of negative growth, thanks to prolonged supply disruption in the energy sector. Central Bank expects the Trinidad and Tobago economy to contract by 1.5 percent.

The country will begin to feel the effects as early as next month, the beginning of the new year.

In an attempt to stabilise the market, Rambarran says the Central Bank will provide a pre-announced schedule of its foreign exchange interventions to commercial banks throughout 2016.

Difficult times seem to lie ahead as the Central Bank Governor noted that energy exports are expected to decline by a whopping US $600 million next year, which would result in a drop in the country’s reserves.

Rambarran revealed that the retail/distribution market is the top user of foreign exchange.

The last time the country reportedly faced a recession was in 2012. Central Bank statistics at the time confirmed that T&T had entered a technical recession by the end of 2011.

JA Health Ministry to hire 1000 vector control agents

Jamaican Health Minister Horace Dalley

Jamaican Health Minister Horace Dalley has announced that the Ministry will be hiring and training one thousand young people as vector control workers.

 They will go into communities, and along with the Ministry’s vector control teams, identify and destroy mosquito breeding sites. Mr. Dalley has also charged senior officials in the Ministry to prepare the public in the event the Zika virus is detected in Jamaica.

 The Health Minister announced these initiatives at a National Training Seminar to prepare the health sector for the Zika virus, which is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

“We want to have every single hand on deck to protect our population. We are going to do everything, community by community, parish by parish to ensure that we try our very best to eliminate the mosquito, to identify the virus if it comes and make sure that we do our part to minimise the impact on our population, our economy and our people,” the Minister emphasized.

Zika symptoms include severe fever, joint and muscle pains, headaches, rashes and conjunctivitis. The symptoms appear within three to 12 days following a bite.  

Gas prices reach 6 year lows

Gas prices in Florida have hit a 6-year low, according to travel club AAA. The price of regular gas in Broward County averages at $2.25 per gallon, with the cheapest gas priced at $1.98 from three stations in Pompano Beach. Experts also predict that prices will dip further before the year’s end.

A global oversupply of oil has kept downward pressure on crude prices. According to the EIA, crude oil inventories remain near levels not seen for this time of year in at least the last 80 years. The price of WTI oil is trading around $41 a barrel, about $4 lower than what they were when gas prices hit their low point in January. Oil reached this year’s high of $61.43 on June 10. It has remained below $50 since July, helping to keep gasoline production costs low.

Prices are also now the cheapest since May 6, 2009 in Georgia and March 25, 2009 in Tennessee.

Former Antigua PM calls on government to submit report on CIP

Former Antiguan Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer

The government of Antigua and Barbuda has been called on to release a report on the country’s Citizenship by Investment programme (CIP).

The call came from former Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer who Prime Minister Gaston Browne must honour the law by presenting a report on the programme to parliament every six months.

Spencer, who is now opposition leader told supporters at a political rally last week, that although the president administration has been in office for 18 months, a report is yet to be submitted.

“While the law requires that they are supposed to come to parliament every six months with the full report outlining how many passports were granted, where the people came from and the basis upon which they came. Up to now, parliament has not received any report,” Spencer said.

Under the CIP programme investors are granted citizenship on making substantial contributions to the island’s development in several areas.

Antigua and Barbuda is one of several Caribbean countries engaged in CIPs as a means of attracting investors.

US remembers Pearl Harbor attack on 74th anniversary

Battleship USS California sinking during the Pearl Harbor attack

On Dec. 7, 1941, a surprise attack by Japan on the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii claimed over 2,400 American lives. A day later, the United States entered into World War II.

Today, the USS Arizona memorial will honor the man who was the ship’s oldest surviving officer. The ashes of retired Navy Lt. Cmdr. Joe Langdell, who died at age 100 in February, will be interred in the ship with full military burial honors.

Langdell, wasn’t on board when the attack took place at the naval base in Hawaii but rushed back to help rescue survivors and collect the remains of his fallen shipmates.

Nationwide, states have shown their respect to the lives lost on the tragic day. Governor of Connecticut Dan Malloy has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff to remember the military and civilian victims of the Pearl harbor attack.Malloy said he wants to recognize the extraordinary sacrifices of all who served in Pearl Harbor nearly 75 years ago and the military members and civilians who died in the attack.

Ohio Governor John Katich has also ordered that all flags in the state to be flown at half-staff from sunrise until sunset on Monday.

CNW90: Jamaican dollar now worth J$120 to US$1

A look at some of the top stories making the news today, December 7, across your Caribbean-American community in South Florida.

55-year-old Bronx resident Suzanne Bent has been taken into custody by U.S. immigration and Customer Enforcement officers for illegal migrating to the U.S. as a 9-year-old child in 1969. Authorities say Bent applied for a US passport in 2013 with fraudulent documents. She has been sentenced on probation. Prosecutors say she has a length criminal record.

Though the month has just begun, this December is already marked as the third wettest December in Miami’s history, according to the National Weather Service. Rainfall has reached a total 7.67 inches. This weekend’ downpour alone caused flooding in Kendall and Homestead, leaving many stranded.

Former student from high schools across Jamaica gathered this Saturday to raise much needed funds for their alma maters at the 6th annual All-Alumni Walkathon at Central Broward Regional Park. Hosted by the Coalition of Jamaican Alumni Associations of Florida, the event’s proceeds will be donated for scholarships and school renovations.

In sports, Soccer Icon David Beckham’s plan to build a Major League Soccer (MLS) stadium in Miami got the seal of approval from MLS governors this past weekend.  Following several failures to find a home, the new stadium will now be built on the western edge of Overtown.

What’s trending:

The Jamaica dollar breaks a new exchange rate threshold, now being valued at $120 to $US1.  This marks a major fall from the $99.33 to US$1 valuation on May 1, 2013, following Jamaica’s new IMF loan agreement. IMF chief Christine Lagarde had then said Jamaican currency was overvalued.

For Today’s Weather Forecast:

Thunderstorms in Broward County with a high of 78 and a low of 68. For Miami-Dade, thunderstorm with a high of 79 and a low of 68. For more information on these and other stories, visit caribbeannationalweekly.com.

Chess Challenge takes over Lauderhill

Nearly 100 chess fans – students, teachers and parents alike – gathered in the City of Lauderhill this past Saturday for the latest round of Mayors’ Chess Challenge, played at the Lauderhill City Hall. The Lauderhill event marked the latest edition of the monthly chess events, spearheaded by Sunrise Mayor Mike Ryan to promote the benefits of the game for both schools and community.

From enthusiastic fourth graders to seasoned veterans of the game, local chess players from across the county tested their wits against each other. Friendly instructors were on hand to guide novices through the game. Meanwhile, local chess teams also came in the strut their stuff, including the Broward Sheriff Office’s Explorer Cadets. Local city mayors also got in on the action, such as Mayor of Tamarac Harry Dressler and host, Lauderhill Mayor Richard J. Kaplan.

“The tournaments have become great community events that allow residents to meet their local officials,” says Charlie Cuyler, Lauderhill’s Chess Club Coordinator. “Several chess clubs and organizations have toured to each event while many newcomers have made their very first chess moves.”

The event next heads to Coral Springs on January 23rd, at Mullins Hall in Mullins Park.

 

Jamaican dollar now $120 to one US dollar

The Jamaica dollar breaks a new exchange rate threshold, now being valued at $120 to $US1.

This marks a major fall from the $99.33 to US$1 valuation on May 1, 2013, following Jamaica’s new IMF loan agreement. IMF chief Christine Lagarde had then said Jamaican currency was overvalued.

However, last month, Bank of Jamaica Governor, Brian Wynter declared that the Jamaican dollar is no longer overvalued and therefore less susceptible to unpredictable depreciation.

The Opposition Jamaica Labour Party and some manufacturers have campaigned against devaluation, saying it will result in increased cost of imports which would limit economic growth.

In a report in September, the IMF argued that analysis of quarterly exchange rate data for Jamaica from 1996 to 2014, showed that “real depreciation (against the US dollar) of 10 per cent is associated with around 0.5 percentage point increase in economic growth.”

Wreck of ship laden with gold found in Caribbean sea

A shipswreck laden with gold, silver and precious stones, has been found in the Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Columbia, three centuries after it was sunk by the British.

“This is the most valuable treasure that has been found in the history of humanity,” said President Juan Manuel Santos on Saturday. “I am very pleased, as head of state, to inform you that, without a doubt, we have found, 307 years after its sinking, the galleon San Jose.”

He was speaking from the northern port city of Cartagena, located on the country’s north coast, close to where experts made the hugely valuable find.

Described as the holy grail of shipwrecks, treasure hunters had searched for the San Jose, for decades.

The value of the San Jose’s treasure, believed to include gold, silver, emeralds, and other precious cargo — has been estimated at more than US$10 billion, with a range of US$4-$17 billion often invoked. Much of the bullion came from mines in what is now Peru.

However, according to a US based company, Sea Search Armada, the value of the loot has dropped significantly due to the falling price of silver, according to US-based Company Sea Search Armada.

The company, whose subsidiary claimed in the early 1980s that it had found the galleon’s final resting place, was engaged in a long-running battle with the government of Colombia.

The find was not confirmed and a US court ultimately ruled it was Colombian property.

The San Jose was sunk in June 1708 near the Islas del Rosario, off Colombia’s Caribbean coast, during combat with British ships attempting to take its cargo, as part of the War of Spanish Succession.

The galleon was the main ship in a treasure fleet carrying gold, silver and other valuable items from Spain’s American colonies to King Philip V.

Experts confirmed that they found the San Jose on November 27 “in a place never before referenced by previous research,” Santos said.

At least five other major shipwrecks were discovered when searching the ocean floor.

The experts confirmed that they located the San Jose, which was lying on its side, identifying it by its unique bronze cannons with engraved dolphins.

The discovery “is an unprecedented event for the country,” said Cartagena Mayor Dionisio Velez.

 

David Beckham gains MLS support to build Miami stadium

Soccer icon David Beckham’s plan to build a Major League Soccer (MLS) stadium in Miami got the seal of approval from MLS governors this past weekend.  

Following several failures to find a home, the new stadium will now be built on the western edge of Overtown.

It was the Beckham team’s fourth attempt to buy a suitable Miami site.

The former Manchester United midfielder hopes to turn Miami Beckham United into a super-club with the financial clout of Manchester City and Paris St-Germain and aims to attract the world’s top players.

Meanwhile, the MLS board has said it supports expansion of the league to 28 clubs. MLS, however, opened a further avenue for Beckham’s consortium if they are unable to meet the 2020 expansion plans with a desire to further expand the league to 28 teams.

The league’s current plans are to expand from 20 to 24 teams by 2020.

Barbados sees increase in tourist arrivals

Barbados recorded an increase in tourist arrivals last month and forward bookings for December are “very encouraging”.

This was disclosed by acting Prime Minister Richard Sealy who added that 2015 will be the strongest year on record for tourist arrivals

During with Australia’s Ambassador to Barbados, Ross Tyscoe, last week, Sealy noted that “steady, hard work from tourism officials, went in to increasing airlift into the country, attracting more visitors.”

However, he stressed that there were still opportunities to increase the number of visitors coming from other parts of the world, and identified Germany as one such country.

During wide-ranging talks, the officials also discussed climate change issues, including the Convention on Climate Change, currently under way in Paris.

The acting Prime Minister acknowledged that Barbados was very passionate about climate change because it could have a devastating effect on the region. Tysoe noted that Barbados and Australia shared similar concerns, and suggested that both countries could learn from each other in the area of climate change.

Mother to child transmission of HIV and syphilis eliminated in some C’bean countries

The Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) says 17 countries and territories in the Americas, including the Caribbean, have supplied data indicating that they may have eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis.

According to the report, “Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV and Syphilis in the Americas, Update 2015,” the 17 countries and territories reporting data consistent with dual elimination account for 34 percent of all births in the region.

The countries are: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Cuba, Dominica, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saba, St, Kitts and Nevis, Turks and Caicos Islands, United States, US Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands.

“The countries of the Americas have made tremendous efforts to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV, cutting new infections by half since 2010,” said Dr. Carissa F. Etienne, the Dominican-born PAHA director. “We can do more to protect mothers and children to achieve a generation free of AIDS.”

In 2014, PAHO said 96 percent of pregnant women in Latin America and the Caribbean had at least one prenatal check-up, 75 percent were tested for HIV, and 81 percent of those needing treatment received it.

PAHO said these figures have increased by 2 percent, 21 percent, and 45 percent, respectively, since 2010, when PAHO and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) implemented the Regional Initiative for the Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV and Congenital Syphilis in Latin America and the Caribbean to support countries with the elimination of these diseases.

If left untreated, PAHO said women living with HIV have a 15–45 percent chance of transmitting the virus to their babies during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.

With regard to syphilis, the report said screening of pregnant women in Latin America and the Caribbean has remained stable at around 80 percent since 2010, while the percentage of women treated ranged from 50 percent to 100 percent in the countries that supplied data.

This year, the report said Cuba became the first country in the world to receive official WHO validation that it has eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. An additional 16 countries are in a position to request validation.

PAHO said an estimated 2 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean are living with HIV, and there were about 100,000 new HIV infections in the region in 2014.

 

Record wet start to December in South Florida

Though the month has just begun, this December is already marked as the third wettest December in Miami’s history, according to the National Weather Service. Rainfall has reached a total 7.67 inches.

A cool front slid down across the state Thursday, December 3 then slowed and stalled right over the southern part of the state Friday and Saturday.

During that three day period, a total of 7.67 inches of rain fell. Normally a common place in the subtropics to see heavy rain, this event fell in the midst of what is known as the dry season.

This weekend downpour alone caused flooding in Kendall and Homestead, leaving many stranded.

 

New Broward County buses in service

More than 30 new Broward County Transit buses are currently or will soon be on the road serving customers. Those customers will benefit from Broward County’s nearly $26 million investment by having a more comfortable ride and more reliable vehicles.

All buses are equipped with updated technology as part of the MyRide Broward real time bus tracking system, coming soon to BCT!

Seventeen of the new vehicles are articulated buses, vehicles that are extended with two connecting customer compartments for a total of 60-feet in length. The articulated buses will seat up to 57 customers and will offer voice announcements for upcoming bus stops and connecting routes.

Five new NABI 40-foot, diesel hybrid-electric powered buses are scheduled to hit the road this year. The new NABI buses seat 38 customers and are fully accessible with a low-floor design and easy to use ramp for wheelchair boarding through the entrance door.

The additional nine vehicles are 45-foot Motor Coach Industries (MCI) buses to be used for long-distance service, and will serve the Express routes to Miami. MCI buses have 55 high-back seats with extra hip-to-knee space, LED reading lights,  air conditioning vents, electrical outlets, and USB ports at each seat.

“This year we have been working hard on enhancing services and fleets of buses,” said Chris Walton, Director of Transportation for Broward County. “At the same time, we’re investing in new technology that modernize our services to keep up with the needs of our growing audience.”

The 31 new buses will serve various routes and serve thousands of customers each day.

West Indies players left out of ICC team of the year

Not one West Indies player has made it into the International Cricket Council’s Test or One-Day International team-of-the-year for 2015.

Players from five nations comprise the Test side, while those from seven nations make up the One-Day side, but no players from the Caribbean have found favour with the selection panel headed by legendary former India spinner Anil Kumble.

There are no West Indies players in the top ten of either the Test or ODI player batting rankings.

Discarded veteran left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul is the highest-ranked West Indies Test batsman at 14th while fast bowler Kemar Roach lies 15th in the bowling rankings.

In ODIs, West Indies batsmen do not feature inside the top 30 with stroke-maker Marlon Samuels the highest ranked at 33rd.

Living with asthma? Get smart about the flu

For asthma sufferers, a cold or flu can require extra care

Across the country, Americans are arming themselves by receiving the annual flu vaccine, defending themselves against the telltale sniffles, sneezing, chills and fever. While the flu virus can be unpleasant for anyone who contracts it, for the approximately 25 million Americans living with asthma, the flu can present even more physical challenges.

Asthma symptoms, including coughing, wheezing, trouble breathing and tightness in the chest, are caused by inflammation of the large and small airways in the lungs. The flu, a contagious respiratory illness, can exacerbate the existing inflammation in asthma patients’ lungs, putting them at an increased risk of experiencing worsened asthma symptoms and even an increase in frequency or severity of asthma attacks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“For those living with asthma, it’s especially important to be extra vigilant at this time of year,” says Dr. Jack Becker, an allergist and immunologist from Main Line Allergy in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. “While symptoms can be a result of allergies, as the weather gets colder, they’re more likely to be caused by viral illness. Make sure to communicate regularly and openly with your doctor about your asthma and taking your daily medication to stay healthy and help keep your symptoms under control during peak flu season.”

As cold and flu season ramps up, preparedness is crucial in asthma management. Dr. Becker recommends creating an Asthma Action Plan with your doctor. “This tool helps track what kind of medicines you’ve been prescribed, how to manage asthma long-term and how to handle emergencies or attacks when they arise,” says Dr. Becker. Dr. Becker suggests one line of defense to consider ahead of this season is a flu vaccine. The flu vaccine is recommended to everyone ages six months and older, and is widely available at doctors’ offices, pharmacies, college health centers and offered through vaccination programs by an increasing number of employers and schools.

Beyond receiving a vaccine, people with asthma can also help protect themselves through simple, everyday habits, such as washing hands regularly, avoiding others who may be ill and taking their daily asthma medication as prescribed. By being smart about this year’s cold and flu season, patients with asthma may be able to prevent a worsening of their symptoms and even asthma attacks as a result of the illness.

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FL adult day cares may offer solutions for families

Caring for aging relatives while at work has been a perennial problem for South Florida families. The anxiety was very familiar for Miramar resident Pauline Tapper, who was forced to leave her ailing 82 year-old mother at home while she went to work in Miami.

“I was always worried, calling her hourly to check she was alright,” says Tapper.

Tapper finally found some relief when she discovered an Adult Day Care center in Hollywood – a new kind of senior care specializing in temporary, daily-time oversight. Tapper now takes “my Mother there daily. She’s cared for and interacts well with other seniors. And I no longer feel guilty or stressed to leave her at home alone.”

The concept has been expanding through Broward County, mostly recently with the City of Miramar’s upcoming 3,800 square foot facility. The planned center in Miramar is among several in South Florida that provide a new alternatives for families and caregivers seeking specialized day-care for their loved ones without resorting to nursing homes – a key need in a county with over 350,000 residents.

According to Edith Leberberg, the executive director of the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Broward County, the demand for their adult day-care centers is high, with several waiting lists to accommodate seniors over 60. The ADRC operates 10 facilities in the county, while more and more private operations are also opening in the region to serve the demand.

All are regulated by the Areawide Council on Aging (AAC) of Broward County, and Florida Department of Elder Affairs. Funding also come from these institutions, as well as Broward County Commission and local municipalities, plus voluntary donations to some centers.

Leberberg explained that through state-funding assistance, “seniors can pay for services on a sliding scale based on family income.”

The average fee is $7 per hour, but this can be significantly lower based on the client’s financial evaluation,” said Leberberg.

These are some drawbacks, however, with some financial obstacles. Tamarac resident Ossie Watts said he couldn’t afford to place his grandfather in county day-care center “because it didn’t accept Medicaid insurance.”

There are centers that don’t accept Medicaid,” said Leberberg, “but most patients should qualify under the state’s sliding scale financial program.”

Regulating this growing senior care service has been a county, particularly for private operations.

But State Representative Hazelle Rogers express confidence in the system.

“A tight regulatory and monitoring system is enforced through agencies like the Florida Department for Elder Affairs,” says Rogers. “The objective is to ensure consistent quality care for seniors trumps the nefarious actions of some people who may want to make money off of seniors.”

Rogers also notes that The Department of Elder Affairs “regularly inspects these facilities to ensure that they meet the rights, safety, health and welfare of seniors, ensuring these facilities are in compliance with the state statutes and federal laws. And in case of a breach of these laws, seniors have the legal right to file a civil suit and demand compensation.”

Obama administration files Supreme Court appeal in executive actions case

The U.S. Justice Department formally appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court recently to review the denial issued by the 5th Circuit appeals court against allowing implementation of the President’s Executive Actions for parents of Citizens and Residents (DAPA) and expanded DACA for Dreamers.

The formal petition filed by the Obama Administration requesting Supreme Court review, called “ a writ of certiorari”, asks the Court to overturn the injunction blocking DAPA and expanded DACA which had been issued by a Texas Court earlier this year in February.

On November 23rd, the State of Texas then requested a 30 day extension of time to respond to the Justice Department’s petition for review by the Supreme Court, which is widely seen as a delay tactic in an effort to prevent the case from being heard by the Supreme Court during the current term. But experts predict that the court will nevertheless put the case on an expedited schedule to make the decision whether to grant or deny review in the next several months.

If granted, the case will be heard by the court in the Spring of 2016, with a final decision expected by late June 2016.

Jamaica PM agrees to stakeholders’ demands for commitments

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has agreed to commit to some key issues believed to be critical in the development of the nation.

Simpson Miller, who is also president of the ruling People’s National party (PNP) made the commitment based on demands recently made by a group of key stakeholders.

The members of the private sector and civil society, in a letter to Simpson Miller and leader of the main opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Andrew Holness pointed to five areas  –

fiscal responsibility, price stability, social safety net, public/private partnerships and ease of doing business.

Simpson Miller told party supporters at a rally in the eastern parish of St. Thomas on Sunday, that she views the request as a vote of confidence in her administration.

“the response from me , the PNP and the government is a resounding yes … I consider the request to be a vote of confidence in the policies of our government because our government has put these policies in place,” she said.

The stakeholder group of representatives of  the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association (JMA), the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, the Jamaica Civil Society Coalition (JCSC) and the Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CAPRI), has expressed frustration with what they called frivolous platform promises and the tribal approach to governance that they say continue to set the country back.

At a press conference last week, co-executive director of CAPRI Damien King said the passage of fiscal accountability legislation is not enough for comfort.

It is expected that Jamaicans will head to the polls in a general election early next year.

Although it was widely speculated that a general election would have been held before year end, Simpson Miller recently told party supporters that she is waiting “for a touch from God” before announcing the date.

At a mass rally in the southern parish of St. Elizabeth last week, the Prime Minister said the nation would probably know the date for the polls only after the Voters List is published.

The number of persons added to the Voters’ List  – that will be used in the upcoming general election should be known by Monday  Once approved and signed by Director of Elections, Orrett Fisher, it will be published.

Meanwhile, despite an indication that there will be no general election this year, both major political parties continued to campaign on the weekend.

A general election is constitutionally due by December 28, 2016.

In the last general election, the PNP won 42 of the 63 seats.

What you can do to protect yourself from card fraud in 2016

You may have already received your new credit or debit card equipped with a microchip. If you haven’t received your new chip card, you most likely will by the time your card expires. The EMV chip technology is intended to help reduce debit and credit card fraud, and thanks to a collaboration between America’s payment networks and card-issuers, you’ll see many more merchants using EMV-equipped card readers over the coming months.

Chip-enabled cards store the same basic information that’s already in the magnetic strip on the back of your card, such as the card number and expiration date. They add a layer of fraud protection by producing a single-use code to validate every transaction. While EMV technology is intended to reduce card fraud, it’s still important to be aware of how fraud happens, what you can do to prevent it and what your card-issuer does to help protect you.

“Fraud prevention is a partnership between cardholders and the bank,” said Pam Codispoti, president of Chase Consumer Branded Cards. “By working together, we can help customers keep their accounts safer and more secure.”

Chase offers some tips to help you stay alert to fraud while you holiday shop and in the New Year:

* Keep your contact information, including phone number and email address, up to date so the card issuer can contact you quickly if they detect signs of fraud on your account.

* Review your card agreement to be sure you understand what anti-fraud measures the issuer takes. For example, Chase uses specialized monitoring tools to keep an eye on your account 24/7.

* If your card company or bank offers it, sign up for account alerts to monitor your finances and keep your accounts safe. Most issuers will allow you to choose to be alerted to any unusual account activity via text, email or phone call.

* Review your statements every month to ensure all charges are accurate and authorized by you. If you spot a charge you don’t recognize, contact the card issuer or bank immediately. With the shift to greater use of EMV technology, if fraud occurs on your account and you have a chip-enabled card, the merchant will be responsible for the costs in most situations. Also, banks like Chase offer zero liability protection — you won’t be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.

* Monitor your credit reports. Although you’re entitled to a free report from all three major credit bureaus once a year, checking your report more often can help catch signs of fraud earlier.

* Opt for secure paperless billing. Theft of paper documents, such as from your mailbox or trash, is still a top way fraudsters obtain information. By going paperless, you eliminate an opportunity for someone to steal your statement and get your account information.

* Switch to secure online or mobile payments to help protect your account information. Online payments add layers of security to your transaction and can help ensure you never miss a payment.

* When using your card in a store, never allow the card out of your sight. If you have to enter a PIN number to use the card, be aware of who’s standing around you and shield the keypad from view when you type in your PIN.

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Nova Eisenhower Elementary School wins $10,000 for participating Hour of Code activities

Nova Eisenhower Elementary School has won a $10,000 prize recognizing the school’s commitment to having all students participate in Hour of Code activities during National Computer Science Education Week, December 7-13, 2015.  

As part of the Hour of Code, Code.org is selecting one school in every state to receive the $10,000 award to purchase a class-set of laptops or other technology.

In 2013, Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) became the first school district in the nation to partner with Code.org to increase access to computer science in schools.  BCPS is joining the Hour of Code initiative by having 100 percent of District’s schools, as well as 100 percent of the District’s elementary and middle school students participate in Hour of Code activities.

CEP President says Commission of Inquiry won’t verify Haiti election results

President of the Provisional Electoral Council has once again dismissed a call for Commission of Inquiry to verify the results of the October 25 election runoff.

According to Pierre Louis Opont, despite the call of the group of opposition presidential candidates and others who have stated that he “qualifies as a bad loser” and their call for the Inquiry – their demand will not be met.

According to Opont, there is no legal provision in the Electoral Decree to establish such a Commission.

He stated that the verification work had already been done at the Tabulation Center Votes (CTV) by decision of the Office of the National Litigation (BCEN) which is last and final legal recourse available to challengers.

Regarding street protests and repeated protests in the media, including the opposition – group known as the G8 led by presidential candidate Jude Célestin – the CEP President described the stance taken by the group as a “poisoning campaign aimed to serve the political interests of the parties concerned”.

He said he was determined to set a course for the second round, despite the criticism and challenges.
He also revealed that several advisers of the CEP, due to threats against them, no longer slept at home, fearing for their lives.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops of the Church of Haiti of the Episcopal Commission released a report on the October 25 election in which they glaring irregularities and fraud from various sources marred the elections in several places.
The Bishops stressed that it is “a recurrent deviance which has become almost concomitantly to the elections in the country, affecting both the voters, staff of voting centers and polling stations, observers, representatives electoral judges or foreign executives. It is unacceptable whenever it surfaced. Today more than ever we condemn it with the utmost rigor.”

The church leaders said that in order to save the electoral process they have made certain recommendations.


They have called on the CEP to make known the truth about what really happened and who discredit the results.

Classic Jamaican plantain tart recipe

Fire up the oven for these delectable Caribbean confections

The Kid Favorite: Guyanese Mithai

Grated coconut, anise seeds, cinnamon, and ginger make this simple recipe from Guyanese-American food blogger Alica Ramkirpal-Senhouse a sophisticated and crunchy bite

Ingredients

3 cups flour

1/3 cup freshly grated coconut, (squeezed to drain milk)

1/4 cup white granulated sugar

3 tbsp. butter

1/2 tsp freshly grated ginger

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp anise seeds (optional)

3/4 cup evaporated milk

1/4 cup water

Vegetable or canola oil for frying

1 cup white granulated sugar

1/2 cup water

1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Directions:

  1. Mix flour, coconut, sugar, and spices in a deep bowl. Cut butter into mixture until small pea sizes are formed.
  2. Combine evaporated milk, water, and grated ginger, stir, then add to flour mixture. Knead to form a dough ball. Set aside for 1/2 hour minimum.
  3. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into thin strips.
  4. Heat oil on medium fire. Fry strips until golden brown. Let strips cool completely before tossing in sugar syrup.
  5. Combine sugar, water, and vanilla, if using. Boil on low for about 35 minutes, or longer depending on your stove. Test sugar in water to see if it has reached the “soft ball” stage. When ready, pour sugar over mithai strips and toss until sugar is white.

Inner-gourmet.com

 The Classic: Jamaican Plantain Tart

This recipe from ReCaFo – Real Caribbean Food L Catering in New York City is the perfect blend of flaky sweetness.

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup cold butter, cut into 1/2 inch pieces

3 tablespoons shortening, chilled and diced

1 egg, beaten

1 tablespoon ice-cold water

3 very ripe (black) plantains

1/4 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon grated nutmeg

2 drops red food coloring (optional)

1 egg white, beaten

white sugar for decoration

Directions

  1. Mix flour and salt in a bowl. Rub in butter and shortening until mixture takes on a sandy appearance. Combine egg and water, and stir into the flour mixture until a dough forms, then knead to bring the dough together. Wrap well, and chill for 3 hours.
  2. Peel plantains and cut into thirds. Place into a small saucepan with a little water. Bring to a simmer and steam until tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Once soft, pour out the water, and mash plantains with sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, and red food coloring. Set aside to cool.
  3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  4. Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thick. Cut into circles using a 4 or 5-inch round cookie cutter. Spoon a little plantain filling into the center, then fold in half, to form a half-moon shape. Place the tarts on a baking sheet, brush with beaten egg white, and sprinkle with sugar.
  5. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown. Allow tarts to cool to room temperature before serving.

Romantic Reunion at “Prayer Partner”

David Tulloch play revived to local fans’ delight

The second time around proved just as sweet at this weekend’s David Tulloch revival of his play “Prayer Partner,” performed at the Miramar High School Theater and the Coral Springs Center for the Arts, presented by Sunshine Theater.

The stage was full of Jamaica’s theater elite – an ever hilarious crew of writer/director/actor David Tulloch, Michael “Stringbeans” Nicolson, Chris McFarlane, Deon Silvera and ingénue Allison McLean. The cast put in some phenomenal performance for this romantic comedy revival. Originally performed in 2005, “Prayer Partner” tells the story of Danielle (McLean), who is pursued by her fiancé Giovanni (McFarlane) and longtime friend Peter (Tulloch). After finding out Giovanni is a low down cheater, she seeks a fresh start in a prayer partner program. To woo her in disguise, Peter transforms himself into the awkward “Peta Gaye,” with hopes of getting close to Danielle as her “prayer partner.” The play skyrockets into a circus of shenanigans when real prayer partner, “prayer warrior” Sister Grace (Silvera), shows up.

Stepping into the role of Peter marked Tulloch’s first return to the stage in 10 years, making this Florida performance a particular thrill, says Tulloch.

“I use to live here, once upon a time,” said Tulloch in an interview with National Weekly after the performance. “It’s great to come back and do my work here and be appreciate the way we were appreciated today.”

“Stringbeans” Nicolson took on a slightly more serious persona for his performance as politician and Danielle’s father, Abe. And he made sure Jamaican audiences would recognize his character’s profession, donning a “distinct hair color, black and white – just like a politician you know,” says Nicolson.

For her performance as rabble-rousing revivalist Sister Grace, Deon Silvera took inspirations from her own family. “The signature sounds she makes are based on grandmother, who was a revivalist,” said Silvera. “When she was in the spirit, that’s the exact sound she use to give.”

Young and talented Allison McLean also tapped into her school-days’ past for her character, Danielle. She could definitely identity “being attracted to the bad boys. It was all about the thug look, feeling protected.”

In all, with fresh actors and a new South Florida stage, David Tulloch is thrilled “Prayer Partner” is still so much fun. “He’s still a big winner,” joked Tulloch. “He’s all of ten years, and he’s handling himself quite fine.”

 

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