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Dino Bouterse, son ofSuriname President DesiBouterse, has pleaded guilty tocharges of attempting to aidthe Lebanese paramilitarygroup Hezbollah and conspir-ing to import cocaine into theUnited States, page 2.

~ Women withCaribbean heritage areincreasingly becomingsuccessful stakeholdersin business, especiallyin South Florida. Thismonth, Caribbean Todayspotlights a few of themin a special feature,pages 17-19.

~ Reggae crooner Maxi Priest hasseen the ins and outs of the musicbusiness for decades. Now he’spromoting a new album, “Easy toLove”, which he says shows howage and maturity has made him somuch better, page13.

Before the 2014 athletics sea-son, Jamaica’s Jaheel Hydeposted a picture on a socialmedia outlet with the words“look out, greatness is com-ing.” The gifted and versatilehurdler has more than lived upto his claim, page 8.

INSIDE News............................................................2Local ............................................................6Feature ........................................................7Viewpoint....................................................9

Sports ........................................................11Food............................................................12Arts/Entertainment ..................................13FYI ..............................................................15

Classifieds ................................................16Successful Women In Business ..........17

Read CaRibbean Today onLine aT CaRibbeanToday.Com

Jamaica’s Minister ofAgriculture Roger Clarke,died in the United States

late last month.Clarke, 74, had been at

South Florida’s JacksonMemorial Hospital since mid-July, where he had undergonesurgery for a back problem,and was returning to Jamaicawhen he died at the airport,reportedly from a suspectedheart attack.

Prime Minister PortiaSimpson Miller led the trib-utes to Clarke, describing himas “one of a kind.” SimpsonMiller said that his passing hascreated a tremendous void inthe government as well as theruling People’s National Party(PNP).

“Roger was a one of akind politician,” she said. “A

son of the soil, a humble manand I will always rememberhim for his generosity of spirit,but also for his contribution toJamaica as councilor, mayor,Member of Parliament, andminister of government.”

REPLACEMENTSimpson Miller said a

decision on Clarke’s replace-ment in his government port-folio will be decided soon.

“I’m looking at whom Iwill keep there and perhapsuse one of the ministers ofstate as assistant, so that wecan get the job done,” sheexplained.

“We are all saddened and shocked by his passing,because he called a number ofus and said he would be com-ing home ... He was very

excited about returning toJamaica.”

Simpson Miller alsoexpressed condolences toClarke’s widow Sonia, mem-bers of his family, and his constituents of CentralWestmoreland. She said the residents of CentralWestmoreland “will indicatethe best person to fill the bigshoes of Roger Clarke” as MP.

‘SADDENED’The United States

Embassy in Jamaica said itwas “deeply saddened” at thedeath of Clarke, noting thathe had led Jamaica’s agricul-tural sector “with experience,deep knowledge and aware-ness of a field that he loved.

“He demonstrated leader-ship in many trade and devel-opment agreements betweenJamaica and the UnitedStates, proving his passion for the sector and Jamaica asa whole. We are thankful forthe opportunity to haveworked closely with MinisterClarke”, the embassy noted.

- Edited from CMC.

Æ

NEW YORK – DinoBouterse, the 41-year old son of Suriname President

Desi Bouterse, has pleadedguilty to charges of attemptingto aid the Lebanese paramili-tary group Hezbollah andconspiring to import cocaineinto the United States.

Bouterse, who once helda senior counter-terrorismpost in the Dutch-speakingCaribbean community(CARICOM) country, admit-

ted in a New York federalcourt on Aug. 29 that he hadtried to provide material sup-port to Hezbollah, which theU.S. has deemed a terroristgroup.

“In 2013, I knowingly pro-vided a false Surinamese pass-port to a person I believed tobe associated with Hezbollah,an organization I knew to bedesignated a terrorist organi-zation by the United States,”Bouterse told the court.

CONSPIRACYHe also pleaded guilty to

conspiring to import narcoticsand carrying a firearm duringa drug-trafficking crime.

Bouterse, who faces asentence of between 15 yearsand life in prison, was accusedof inviting people he believedto be from Hezbollah toestablish a base in Surinameto attack Americans, inexchange for an initial $2 million payment.

His plea came a year after

he was arrested in Panamaand extradited to the U.S. on charges that he conspiredto import cocaine into theU.S. The charge relating toHezbollah was added inNovember.

The court was told thatBouterse met in 2013 withpeople who claimed to workfor Mexican drug traffickers,but were actually confidentialinformants with the U.S. DrugEnforcement Administration.The U.S. indictment said thathe discussed helping themtransport cocaine and obtainweapons and, in July 2013,met with a DEA source todiscuss opening Suriname tothe informant’s purportedHezbollah associates.

The indictment said helater met in Europe with thesource and two other menclaiming to belong toHezbollah.

- Edited from CMC.

Æ

NASSAU, Bahamas – TheBahamas government iswarning nationals visiting theUnited States to be exercisecaution and care in light ofcriminal acts being commit-ted against Bahamians, espe-cially in South Florida.

The Ministry of ForeignAffairs, in a brief statementrecently, gave no details ofthe acts against Bahamians,but advised them that theyshould always seek to “travelaround in groups and voidremote and dimly lit areas.”

The ministry also urgedagainst leaving valuables invehicles, since the “break-inshave been of valuables left inthe trunks of cars.

“Additionally, travelersare advised to leave all traveldocuments including airlinetickets, police certificates andpassports in a secured placesuch as a safety deposit boxat the hotel.”

- Edited from CMC.

Æ

Jamaica’s agriculture minister dies at Florida airport

Suriname president’s son admits aiding terroristsBahamas warns citizensabout South Florida crime

2 • CARIBBEAN TODAY • SEPTEMBER 2014

NEWS

Our Open House is for those candidates interested in grades 6, 7 and 8.

Middle School Admission Open HouseWednesday, October 15th at 3:30pm

Ransom Everglades SchoolUpper School Campus3575 Main Highway in Coconut Grove

RSVP Required by Monday, October 13thto 305.250.6875

Ransom Everglades School

R

Bouterse

Clarke

CARIBBEAN TODAY • SEPTEMBER 2014• 3

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KINGSTON, Jamaica –Thecommissioners to preside over the West KingstonCommission of Enquiry weresworn in here late last monthbefore former Jamaican ChiefJustice Lensley Wolfe.

The commissioners areChairman SirDavidSimmons, aretiredchief justiceand formerattorney gen-eral ofBarbados;retired JusticeHazel Harris,formerly ofJamaica’s Court of Appeal ofJamaica; and ProfessorAnthony Harriott, director ofthe Institute of CriminalJustice and Security at theUniversity of the West Indies.

Following the swearing-in,the commissioners and thesupport team convened a pre-liminary meeting to chart theway forward for the enquiry,which is expected to get

underway shortly. They havebeen asked to conclude theenquiry within three monthsafter commencement.

The commissioners willcompile a report and recom-mendations concerning theevents surrounding the May2010 West Kingston incursionand submit them to the gover-nor general within two monthsafter concluding the enquiry.

In 2013, the governmentannounced that it had accepteda recommendation to establisha commission of enquiry intothe conduct of the 2010 opera-tion, during which more than70 people died. The May operation was launched to cap-ture the fugitive Christopher“Dudus” Coke, who was want-ed in the United States on anextradition request.

Weeks after the Tivolioperation, Coke was capturedand sent to the U.S. where he is now serving a lengthyprison sentence.

- Edited from CMC.

Æ

Jamaica names panel toprobe W. Kingston killings

NEW YORK – A 105-year-old Belizean-born woman anda prominent Caribbean com-munity advocate were amonghonorees during “HarlemWeek” here last month.

The Board of Directors of Harlem Week and the NewYork City Senior Citizen’sCommittee, bestowed thehonor on Caroline Lightburnand Vincentian-born VernaArthur, ManhattanCommunity Outreach direc-tor and senior advisory coun-cil liaison with the New YorkCity Department for theAging (DFTA).

They received the awardsduring the “Elders Jubilee”Luncheon and AwardsCeremony at the Adam

ClaytonPowell, Jr.State OfficeBuilding inHarlem.

“HarlemWeek” cele-brated its 40thanniversary,while theElder’s Jubilee celebrated its37th anniversary.\

ICONSLightburn, the oldest

female honored at the event,was born on Jan. 12, 1909 inSt. Ignace, formerly CayoDistrict, in Belize, and grewup in Belize City. She told theCaribbean Media Corporationthat she never drank nor

smoked, and was a baseballplayer and a member of theBelize All Stars team. As ahousewife, who later becamea domestic worker, Lightburnsaid she raised nine children,four of whom are still alive.She has 21 grandchildren and32 great grandchildren.

Arthur is also considered acultural icon in the Vincentiancommunity in New York. Shereceived the Public ServiceAward for her “many contribu-tions to the success of HarlemWeek, especially her commit-ment to the seniors,” organiz-ers said.

“I am truly humbled andhonored to receive this presti-

105-y-o among Caribbean nationals honored at ‘Harlem Week’ in New York City

NEW YORK – Five Haitianswere killed when the car theywere travelling in crashed inLong Island here last month.

On Aug. 23, MyriamLebrun 37, a Haitian-born resident of East Flatbush,Brooklyn, was heading west on the Southern StateParkway in Babylon, LongIsland with her three childrenand their grandmother, whenthe car veered off the high-way, crashed in to a tree andburst into flames.

Lebrun, her childrenMarcus Jeanty, 14, Marcel

Jeanty, nine, and Kayla Jeanty,eight, and their grandmotherMoise Yolande, 68, were allpronounced dead at the scene.

Dr. Mathieu Eugene, aHaitian American legislatorhere, expressed sadness overthe death of the five Haitians.

“My deepest condolencesand heartfelt prayers go out tothe relatives and loved ones of the five people who losttheir lives in (the) … tragiccar crash,” said Eugene, whorepresents the 40th CouncilDistrict in Brooklyn and is thefirst Haitian to hold elective

office in New York City.At a press conference

on the steps of City Hall inlower Manhattan on Aug. 29,Eugene, was joined byBrooklyn Borough PresidentEric Adams, and local com-munity and religious leaders.It was announced that dona-tions to the Lebrun familywere being accepted to helpalleviate the cost of funeraland burial expenses.

- Edited from CMC.

Æ

BOSTON, Massachusetts - AJamaican national, describedby law enforcement authori-ties as a major marijuana organja trafficker, was arrestedin Philadelphia, Pennsylvanialast month.

Dwight Langley, 49, wastaken into custody outside hishouse in the community ofStonehurst. Law enforcementofficials said that several bar-rels filled with 83 pounds of

marijuana, with a street valueof $360,000, were seized. Theysaid they also confiscated justover $8,000 in cash and drugparaphernalia.

Investigators believeLangley is a major drug trafficker with internationalconnections, and PoliceSuperintendent MichaelChitwood said Langley was being investigated formonths.

A judge arraignedLangley on charges of viola-tion of the Health and SafetyAct for possession of marijua-na, possession with intent todeliver, as well as possessionof drug paraphernalia.

Bail was set at $250,000pending his court appearancelast month.

- Edited from CMC.

Æ

Mom, kids among five Haitians killed in N.Y. car crash

‘Major ganja trafficker’ nabbed in Philadelphia


NEWS

Simmons

(Continued on page 6)

Lightburn

KINGSTON, Jamaica - TheFlorida-based attorney whorepresented the family of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, whowas shot andkilled in theUnited Statesby a neighbor-hood watchvolunteer in2012, is provid-ing support tothe family of aJamaicanational whodied in police custody earlierthis month.

Jasmine Rand will joinprominent U.S. civil rightslawyer Benjamin Crump inproviding support to the legalteam representing the familyof Mario Deane, 31, who diedin hospital in the western cityof Montego after being beatenat the BarnettStreet policestation wherehe was beingheld for pos-session ofmarijuana.

“I’m goingto bring anysupport,resources andhelp develop legal strategiesas best I can,” said Rand.

“This is a signature case,this will put the face to policebrutality and misconduct inJamaica by using this case wecan look at the greater sys-temic issue.

“I noticed that the primeminister made a statementthat she won’t see humanrights violated. So I’m hopingthat the government will staytrue to its word and put all ofits resources to providingtransparency for the people.”

Crump currently repre-sents the family of MichaelBrown, 18,whose fatalshooting by aMissouripolice officerhas ignitedviolentprotests in thetown ofFerguson andcontroversyacross U.S.

Six police officers havebeen interdicted and suspend-ed with immediate effect fol-lowing a probe by theInspectorate of Constabulary(IOC) into the circumstancessurrounding Deane’s death onAug. 3. Acting Commissionerof Police, Glenmore Hinds,has since urged for patiencewhile the investigations con-tinue.

Two men, AdrianMorgan, 25, and Marvin Orr, 35, have appeared incourt charged with the murderof Deane, whose death hassparked widespread criticismsand several protests.Æ

CASTRIES, St. Lucia – TheSt. Lucia government said itwon the latest round of ongo-ing arbitration with theUnited States-based oil andgas exploration and produc-tion company RSMProduction Corporation.

A statement from theOffice of the Prime Ministerlate last month stated that onAug. 13 the Arbitral Tribunalordered RSM to post a guar-antee of $750,000 to ensurethat it will pay St. Lucia’s legalcosts if it is ordered to do soat the end of the case.

“This is St. Lucia’s secondmajor success, following theTribunal’s order on December12, 2013, for RSM to pay all ofthe advances towards theadministrative costs of thearbitration – which in all pre-vious known cases have beenpaid 50 per cent by each party.

“Both of these orders arethe first of their kinds in thehistory of the InternationalCentre for Settlement ofInvestment Disputes (ICSID),which is administering the

arbitration. The three arbitra-tors are independent of ICSIDbut are deciding the caseunder the ICSID ArbitrationRules, which are designed fordisputes between host statesand foreign investors. TheGovernment is pleased tohave achieved these uniquesuccesses,” the statement from the Office of the PrimeMinister added.

FIRST ACTIONThe Colorado-based RSM

Production Corporation,owned by U.S.-based oil mag-nate, Jack Grynberg, had initi-ated the arbitration for breachof a multi-million dollar con-tract. The company took theaction against the St. Luciagovernment in respect of theexploration license, which itwas granted several years agoto undertake exploration foroil over a specified area ofwater offshore of the coast ofSt Lucia.

The main OppositionUnited Workers Party (UWP)claimed that the government

had announced in May 2012that Grynberg had filed a $500million claim against St. Lucia.

The statement from theOffice of the Prime Ministernoted that RSM must nowpost security because of theconcern that, if the tribunallater orders RSM to reim-

burse St. Lucia, RSM will failto do so.

RSM also claims that former prime ministerStephenson King signed athree-year extension to thecontract, but then retrievedthe document before it couldbe delivered to RSM.

RSM claims that theextension is valid, eventhough RSM never receivedit. RSM has asked the tribunalto declare that the explorationcontract is still in full forceand effect.

In reply, St. Lucia main-tains that the agreement “hasexpired or is at least notenforceable and thereforeSaint Lucia has no obligation(to RSM)”.

The St. Lucia governmentsaid the latest order does notdetermine which party is cor-rect on these matters. Itrelates only to the costs of theproceeding.

The hearing on the meritsof the case is scheduled forFeb. 2015.

- Edited from CMC.

Æ

U.S. lawyers back familyof JA man killed in custody

DAVID V. GOLIATH: St. Lucia wins arbitration round against U.S. oil giant


NEWS

Grynberg, left, and St. Lucia Prime Minister Kenny Anthony.

Deane

Crump

Rand

Attorney Jewel Scottwas last month namedJamaica’s new hon-

orary consul at Atlanta.Scott, whose appointment

became effective Aug. 26,replaces Vin Martin, whoserved as Jamaica’s consularrepresentative in the Georgia,United States city for manyyears. Martin died in July afterretiring in 2013.

As honorary consul, Scottwill provide consular servicesto Jamaicans and personswishing to visit Jamaica, andpromote the development ofsocial, cultural and commer-cial relationships betweenJamaica and Atlanta.

EXPERIENCEShe has over 30 years of

experience in the legal profes-sion and has served in manycapacities in Jamaica, theCaribbean and the U.S. In2004, Scott made history whenshe was elected the first blackfemale district attorney for the

Clayton Judicial Circuit inGeorgia.

In 2008, Scott returned toprivate practice were she focus-es on family law, criminal lawand mediation in civil matters.

Scott was born inManchester and grew up inHanover. She attended theUniversity of the West Indies,Norman Manley Law Schooland Mercer University Schoolof Law.

- Edited from CMC.

Æ

NEW YORK – The owners ofthe popular Golden Krustfood chain here have field alawsuit to stop a rivalJamaican food company SilverKrust from use of part of itsname.

In papers filed inManhattan Federal CourtAug. 29, Golden Krust saysit’s been “among the most successful minority ownedbusinesses in the country,”since opening in the 1990s,and the knockoff is hurting its reputation.

“Without plaintiffs’ knowl-edge or approval, defendantsset up a competing Caribbeanfood restaurant they, not coin-cidentally, called Silver Krust,”the suit says.

“Defendants use the distinctive K in misspellingKRUST, and have merely sub-stituted Golden with Silver incoming up with” their name,the suit adds.

Golden Krust claims thatSilver Krust sells some ofGolden Krust products, and“have gradually expanded

their Silver Krust restaurantlocations so they have becomecloser and closer to genuineGolden Krust restaurants,”according to the lawsuit.

‘CONFUSION’There are currently six

Silver Krust restaurants in

Brooklyn and Queens, andthat there’s been “actual con-fusion about the relationship”between the two chains.

The suit claims that whenGolden Krust communicatedwith Silver Krust about theproblem, a representative forSilver Krust “readily apolo-gized” for the name, but hasfailed to change it. GoldenKrust wants a court orderforcing Silver Krust to changeits name and to grant unspeci-fied money damages for the“blatant infringement of theirtrademarks.”

Up to press time, SilverKrust lawyer Bruce Colfinsaid he’d yet to see the law-suit, adding that the dispute is “more complicated than itsounds.” He told the NewYork Daily News newspaperthat Silver Krust has “been inbusiness for several years,”and that Golden Krust shouldhave spoken up earlier.

- Edited from CMC.

Æ

Jamaica names newAtlanta consul general

CORRECTIONS

FOOD FIGHT: ‘Golden’ sues ‘Silver’ over use of ‘Krust’

gious award,” Arthur told thereception. “Never in my 13½ years as a member of theHarlem Week Senior CitizensCommittee has the thoughtcrossed my mind that, oneday, I will be standing before

you as an honoree of this dis-tinguished cultureevent. Arthur’s role withDFTA involves advocacy ini-tiatives and community out-reach on aging-related issues.

Arthur is a past presidentof the Brooklyn-based ClubSt. Vincent, Inc., one of the

leading Vincentian education-al and cultural groups in theUnited States. She currentlyserves as the group’s publicrelations officer.

- Edited from CMC.

Æ

105-y-o among Caribbean nationals honored at ‘Harlem Week’


LOCAL

(Continued from page 4)

IN GARVEY’S HONOR

- Photograph by Derrick Scott.Shirley Natham-Pulliam, second left, Maryland House of Delegates representative and founding member of the JamaicaAssociation of Maryland (JAM), presents the 2014 Marcus Garvey UNIA award to Jamaican-born Dr. Basil Morgan, assistant pro-fessor of ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins University, during JAM’s ball commemorating the Caribbean nation’s 52nd year ofIndependence last month in Baltimore, Maryland. At left is Rick Nugent, president of the National Association of Jamaican andSupportive Organization. Noel Godfrey, president of JAM, is at right. “Dr. Morgan has given much to Jamaica and the Caribbeandiaspora in the areas of general health and eye care,” said Natham-Pulliam. The award is presented annually by JAM to aJamaican who has distinguished him/herself in a chosen career.

Scott

A Golden Krust restaurant in New York.

Dale Foti, executive produc-er of the movie “JamaicanMafia”, is female. In addi-tion, the movie will not beavailable for downloads aswas also reported. We apolo-gize for the errors made inCaribbean Today’s August

2014 issue. Also in Caribbean

Today’s August 2014 issue,the wrong date was reportedfor a job fair in our “FYI”section. We apologize forthat error as well.Æ

By all accounts,America’s emergingganja (cannabis) indus-

try is looking promising and isshaping up to be the country’sbiggest business experimentof the 21st century.

But the mushroomingniche sector couldquickly prove to be theproverbial bull in achina shop, with contra-dicting state and feder-al laws, the resultingapprehension of banksto touch the industry’sabundance of money,and the precarious lackof cohesion as dozensof states continue torethink their laws onthe substance.

While many entre-preneurs are eager toput business plans into actionif and when legalizationoccurs in their state, “thepatchwork nature of marijua-na legalization on the local,state and federal level createsproblems for buyers, sellersand users,” says Steve Janjic,Wall Street commoditiesexpert and chief executiveofficer of Amercanex, a fullyelectronic marketplaceexchange for the cannabisindustry.

“We will soon hit the tip-ping point at which state after

state will legalize cannabis likefalling dominos.”

What is the best way toinsure a legal, fair and account-able business model for theyoung industry?

The solution is a WallStreet-like model to allow the

young industry to participatein exchanges to buy, sell ortrade inventories in a fully-dis-closed and transparent mar-ketplace, Janjic says.

BENEFITSHe outlines the various

benefits, such a system wouldhave on the cannabis industry.

• Ensures regulatory andtax-agency accountability andreporting: One of the benefitstouted by cannabis legaliza-

MICHELLE CAWLEY

DRESERIS

Natacha SarthouKalicharan, “Mrs.West Indies

International 2014”, is on amission - and it’s not to build acollection of pageant sashes,crowns, or titles.

Kalicharan’s goal – alongwith serving God, family andcommunity – is to help impov-erished families living in theslums of her birthplace Haitiand the world.

“My goal is to buildhomes for the poorest of thepoor and to eradicate povertyand mortality among infants,”says Kalicharan, who graduat-ed Miami Killian Senior Highin 1988 and earned a bache-lor’s degree in business admin-istration finance from FloridaInternational University(FIU) in 1994.

Kalicharan – who is ofHaitian, French, English,Syrian and Lebanese heritage– said she left a well-paidcareer in banking, when sheand her Trinidadian husbandSean had children, to becomea stay-at-home mother andwife.

“I worked in banking forseveral years until I becamethe CEO of my home,” sheexplained.

Energetic and devoted,Kalicharan home schools herthree young sons. She is theauthor of two books, runs anonline business and is a com-munity volunteer for Food forthe Poor, Inc. and Habitat forHumanity. She is also an offi-cial pageant judge for twoSouth Florida beauty pageantsand uses her success in pag-eants to build houses for poorpeople in the Caribbean.

“My platform is ‘FromHuts to Houses: Buildinghomes for the less fortunate’,”she said.

Kalicharan’s desire to helpbegan when she was a littlegirl. She said she would givefood to the poor and laterdonated money to build wellswhich provide clean water inpoor countries.

“My mission is to shelterthe poor and to bring thegospel of Jesus Christ to them,”she explained. “I spend a lot oftime fundraising for this pas-sion of mine.”

Her immediate goal is tobuild two houses in differentislands.

“Ultimately, I want tobuild an entire village forextremely poor families,” saidKalicharan.

“In 2009, I started a shoe-box savings with my little sonsto build homes for the poor inthe Dominican Republic. Wewere living in Oklahoma whilemy husband went to college.We put a picture of the housewe wanted to build on a shoe-box, and made it into a piggy-bank. Then, we began collect-ing money from family andfriends. But, most of themoney came from change I

found in my husband’s pock-ets when I did the laundry.

“But, that $120 wasn’tenough to build a house.When the massive earthquakehit my homeland of Haiti, Iknew I had to do much moreto help them rebuild from thedevastation.

“When we moved back toMiami in 2012, I used my 1990title as Miami Orange BowlPrincess to take my cause tothe public.”

This year, Kalicharanbecame “Mrs. West IndiesInternational 2014” and sec-ond runner-up in “Mrs. HaitiInternational”. She is also“Mrs. Port-au-PrinceInternational” 2014 and 2013.But it takes more than titles tokeep her goals on track.

“It takes $3,200 to pur-chase a house for a family,”Kalicharan said. “I cannot do itwithout other people, so I’mraising awareness and funds. Ittakes $44 to feed one child forone year, $205 to provide awater pump, and $3,200 tobuild a house for a poor family.

“I dedicate my time andeffort to collecting money forShelter the Poor. We do it onehome at a time, for one familyat a time, so we can build

homes, and restore familiesand lives!”

Kalicharan has partneredwith Food for The Poor, Inc.to raise money to build homesin Haiti, the DominicanRepublic, Jamaica, Guyana,Nicaragua, Honduras, andother Caribbean countries.Food For The Poor, Inc. is thelargest international relief anddevelopment organization inthe United States, according tothe Chronicle of Philanthropy.Since its inception in 1982,Food For The Poor, Inc. hasprovided over $11 billion inaid, and built more than 91,000housing units for the destitute,according to the website.

“Donate at Food For ThePoor, Inc., and use the SourceCode 86574/Natacha, if youare mailing a check to them,”said Kalicharan. “Your dona-tion is fully tax-deductible and100 percent of your donationwill be applied towards thebuilding of the homes, andrelocating families from slumhousing to a sanitary livingenvironment.”

Kalicharan is the authorof two books based on theBible: “Married, but Still a

The promising business ofAmerica’s ganja revolution

BUILDING BLOCKS: ‘Mrs. West Indies International’ raising minds, homes


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- Photograph by Vladimir DorsainvilKalicharan

- File photographA cohesive model is needed for emerging Industry to succeed in U.S.



Virgin” and “BEFORE Boymeets Girl, & AFTER”. Inthe latter, she encourages mento be financially successful sothat their wives can stay athome with the children, ifthey wish.

“My motto is: ‘A bettersociety begins at home:Building a solid foundationfor our future generation’,”she said. “My books arebased on the Bible because Iam a Christian, and I useprinciples from the Bible tosupport what I’m saying,”

said Kalicharan, who is writ-ing a third book.

“My next book will beabout parents teaching theirchildren the importance ofobeying. I’m striving tobring back the traditionalhome where values meansomething.”

Michelle Cawley Dreseris is a freelance writer forCaribbean Today. For morestories on Caribbean womenin business, turn to page 17.

Æ

Before the 2014 athleticsseason, Jaheel Hydeposted a picture on the

social media outlet Instagramwith the words “look out,greatness is coming.”

It was a bold statement tomake, but one the gifted andversatile Jamaican has morethan lived up to in a remark-able year in which he landedthe 400 meters hurdles title atthe IAAF World JuniorChampionships in Eugene,Oregon, United States inJuly, and who on Aug. 23posted a stunning worldyouth best time of 12.96 sec-onds en route to 110 metersgold at the Youth OlympicGames in Nanjing, China.

“I planned out my seasonand achieved everything that Iwanted to accomplish,” saidHyde. “It was the completeseason for me. I now plan ongoing home (to Jamaica) andgetting some rest.”

He deserves it.Born into a sports crazy

family – his father Lenworthwas a former Jamaican soccerinternational – Hyde has beenimmersed in sport for as longas he can remember. Of histhree brothers, and Hyde alsohas two sisters, two haveplayed representative agegroup soccer for Jamaica andthe other has been ranked inthe top three in Jamaica inequestrian events.

‘CALLING’Hyde himself excels at

both soccer and athletics. It

was the former sport whichheld the greater appeal forHyde up until discovering hur-dling aged “13 or 14” in whathe terms “his calling.

“I saw the hurdles wereout one day in training and I thought I can do this,”explained Hyde, who hailsfrom St. Catherine, just out-side of the capital of Kingston.

“I like the hurdlesbecause it demands a lot offocus and I am the sort of per-son who loves to focus. I justkept going back each year tohurdles training and slowlyimproved.”

Starring in soccer concur-rently with athletics, Hydefeatured as a left winger forthe Jamaica national under-17team, scoring a hat-trick forhis country in a 5-0 mauling ofBermuda to help his nationadvance to the area CONCA-CAF qualification phase ofthe under-17 World Cup. Yetto pursue his soccer ambitionswould have compromised hisgoals at the 2013 IAAF WorldYouth Championships and hedecided to forego his interna-tional career in The BeautifulGame to focus on his trackambitions.

“I guess I saw the light,followed my heart and I wentwith track and field,” saysHyde, a passionate fan of theEnglish Premier League sideArsenal.

‘PROBLEMS’Hyde admitted it was a

decision which caused “a lot

of problems” at home as hisfather was keen for his son topursue his soccer career, butthe decision was made and itproved the right one. LastJuly, Hyde, then aged just 16,secured the world youth titlein the 110 meters hurdles in ablistering time of 13.13 sec-onds, just 0.01 outside theworld youth best of France’sWilhem Belocian. It was aperformance which convincedhis father of his son’s trackability and he returned totraining last winter, finallywith his dad’s wholeheartedsupport.

It was a winter whichwould see a change in emphasis as his coachChristopher Harley – thecoach at Wolmer’s Boys HighSchool – asked his talentedyoung charge to target the400 meters hurdles at theWorld Junior Championships.Hyde, who ran 46.93 secondsfor the flat 400 meters in Mar.2013, which remains his per-

sonal best, agreed andquickly adapted to thefresh training demands.Once again, he spectacu-larly rose to the challenge.In Eugene, at this

year’s World JuniorChampionships, the rookie one-lap hurdlertrimmed 0.20 from his life-time best to strike gold in49.29 seconds with his par-ents in attendance. Whichbrought us to Nanjing and the Youth OlympicGames where, after a long

campaign this summer, Hydeand his coach opted to resettheir focus to the 110 metershurdles. The target was tolower Belocian’s world youthbest and on a hot, humid nightat the Nanjing Olympic SportsCentre Stadium, Hyde deliv-ered again, the first boy to runfaster than 13 seconds overthe youth barriers of 91.4 cen-timeters.

NO SURPRISERecording 12.96, to the

uber-talented Hyde, was all ina day’s work.

“I wasn’t surprised as thetimes I was producing in train-ing showed that I could dipunder 13 seconds,” said Hyde,who has had cause for doublecelebration in Nanjing afterreceiving the news when hefirst arrived in China that hehad successfully passed theCSEC school exams, whichincluded four grade-onemarks and a distinction inmathematics.

After taking a well-earnedrest for the next couple ofweeks before the new schoolyear starts, with his coach’sblessing, Hyde is likely to re-start playing high school soc-cer again. However, his mainpriority in the future is athlet-ics and he is already eyeing aquick return to China nextyear for the IAAF WorldChampionships.

“Next year I would like tomake the (Jamaican) team tocome back here to Beijing andthen I would like to be in Rio(for the Olympics) in 2016,”he said.

If his stunning success in 2014 is anything to go by,these both seem plausiblegoals, despite the fact that hewill have to cope with seniorhurdles and still be in the jun-ior ranks.

- Edited from an article writ-ten by Steve Landells for theIAAF. For more sports, turnto page 11.

Æ

BUILDING BLOCKS: ‘Mrs. West Indies International’ raising minds, homes

tion is radically increased taxrevenue, but could an under-staffed Internal RevenueService really track theunknown volumes of moneyin this embryotic market?

A digital commoditiesexchange system would moni-tor, track and audit orders,activities and transactions ofall market participants in ajurisdiction from a simpleonline user-interface or auto-mated reporting formats com-plete with e-mail capability.Growers and retailers couldcalculate, apply, debit andcredit taxes and related fees inreal-time at the point of trans-action and have revenues

accrued.• Helps cultivators, dis-

tributors and retailers stayconnected to market trends,insuring a fair and open mar-ket and business success: AWall Street-like model wouldoffer cultivators and vendors acentral electronic platform tosell/buy their inventoriesanonymously, so that onlyproduct, quantity and best-available pricing are shown,enabling a completely trans-parent, neutral and non-manipulated free market.

Under such anonymousconditions, supply anddemand are the only factorsaffecting price discovery.

• Forces the industry toself-regulate: The more states

that allow for cannabis usage,whether for medical or recre-ational purposes, the biggerthe industry will get. Thelonger the industry endureswithout a unifying and orderlystructure like a commoditiesexchange, the more exposureto scrutiny it’s likely toreceive.

An automated systemcould avert unnecessary criti-cism by allowing all parties tomonitor, track, account andaudit every aspect of everytransaction for every partici-pant within the intra-state net-work.

• Ensures fair and order-ly transactions, efficient dis-semination of pricing, markettrends and more: A Wall

Street-like model should dis-play the full depth of marketwith live, executable pricesand associated quantities per agiven product or strain.

A real-time interfacewould provide market accessto participants using prevalentbest sell/buy prices. Goals ofsuch a model should include adiverse base of clients withinthe market, true price compe-tition, tailored solutions to suitthe needs of all participantsand 24/7 access over theInternet.

- Edited from News andExperts.

Æ

The promising business of America’s ganja revolution

RISING STAR: Jamaica’s Jaheel Hyde making mark in world athletics


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- Photograph by Getty Images.Hyde claims top prize at Youth Olympics.

The following is one in aseries of letters addressed toUnited States PresidentBarack Obama.

Dear Mr. President,It’s amazing to me that

both chambers of the UnitedStates House cannot agree onmajor issues of interest toAmericans who elect them –includingimmigrationreform – butthey did man-age to passlegislationprovidingfinancing forIsrael’s IronDome anti-missile sys-tem beforethey leftWashington, D.C. for the sum-mer break.

Israel’s lobbying power isstrong – so strong that it doesnot matter what the UnitedNations or the world thinks.U.S. lawmakers will alwaysrace to pass anything Israelput before them. Screw immi-grants. Who cares about immi-gration reform? Let’s financemore anti-missile systems tobomb and kill thousands ofinnocents.

This as we’re hearing

from White House SeniorAdviser Dan Pfeiffer that thedepartments of Justice andHomeland Security have asyet failed to present you withrecommendations on how tomove forward administrativelyon a plan that would help the11 plus million immigrantswho are in limbo and face thedaily threat of deportation.

COUNTDOWNThe countdown to the

end of summer, the muchtouted deadline tossed aroundfor executive action on theheels of congressional inac-tion, is almost here. So whatwill you do or not do?

As a lame duck presi-dent, you certainly shouldmake some bold moves toagain show us the “Yes WeCan” president we elected.

The White House, accord-ing to many legal experts,almost certainly could delayindefinitely efforts to deportmillions of immigrants alreadyin the U.S. without workingpapers, and it can give themofficial work permits thatwould allow them to legallyfind jobs, obtain driver’slicenses and pay income taxes.As Leon Rodriguez, a former

The Jamaican diaspora isestimated to be consider-ably larger than the pop-

ulation inside the Caribbeanisland. In 2004, the country’sgovernment convened theJamaica diaspora conferenceto strengthen the links and support systems betweenJamaicans residing abroad and those at home; deepen collaboration and co-operationbetween the stakeholdergroups that serve them; andfacilitate and increase thescope and impact of the contri-bution of the diaspora to thedevelopment of Jamaicans.

Attorney Wayne Goldingwas recently elected to repre-sent the southern United Statesregion, which comprises 13states. Golding won the officewith an overwhelming vote, 77percent. His closest rivalAlexander A. Williamsreceived 17 percent.

Caribbean Today’s free-lance writer Jason Walkerspoke with Golding recently.

Jason Walker: Tell us a littleabout your background?Wayne Golding: I have been a

Jamaican diasporiansince1981, when I moved toNew York at the age of 17after graduation fromKingston College. I workedfulltime and went to under-graduate school where I grad-uated with a bachelor’s degreein economics.

While in New York I par-ticipated in many Jamaicandiasporic groups and activi-ties. I moved with my familyto Orlando, Florida in 1987where I ran several Jamaican-oriented business enterprises.

During this time Ireturned to law school andhave been a practicing attor-ney in the areas of immigra-

tion, criminal law and govern-ment litigation. During theseyears I have participated innumerous diaspora organiza-tion and activities. You canread more about me atwww.waynegolding.com.

J.W.: What qualifies you forthis position?W.G.: I know that I have theverifiable drive, dedication,commitment and professionalexperience and track record.

J.W.: Tell us about your pastwork with the Jamaican com-munity?W.G.: The many things whichI have accomplished includespro bono legal work for thelast 12 years, facilitatednumerous outreach programswithin my local communitywith the Consul General ofJamaica.

J.W.: What do you thinkaccounted for the margin ofvictory that you had?W.G.: I think my track recordis well established and we ableto galvanize and have an

Summer of immigration discontentWomen Golding isnew Jamaica diasporarep in southern U.S.


VIEWPOINT

FELICIAPERSAUD

Golding

(Continued on page 10) (Continued on page 10)

Justice Department lawyerand the newly confirmeddirector for U.S. Citizenshipand Immigration Services,said recently on Capitol Hillduring an oversight hearingfor the House JudiciaryCommittee: “There is prose-cutorial discretion which canbe exercised in these sorts ofsituations. In most enforce-ment realms, generally thereis pretty broad discretion.”

TOUGH CHOICESRodriguez also reiterated

the arguments many havemade before him to those law-makers who prefer to vote forIsrael over immigration. Thereality is that the U.S. govern-ment does not have theresources to deport the morethan 11 million immigrants liv-ing “illegally” in the U.S.

“So, the question is, arewe going to let them persist inthe shadow economy or are

we going to have them workand pay taxes?” askedRodriguez.

Mr. President, you knowwhat the answer is and whatthose billions in taxes canmean to the U.S. coffers. Mostof all, we hold you to yourword. You “have to makesome tough choices to meetthe challenge, with or withoutCongress.”

Let’s not let the summerpass by without making thosetough choices for the immi-grants who desperately needyour help within the bordersof this country.

Respectfully,Felicia Persaud

The writer is CMO of HardBeat Communications,which owns the brands NewsAmericas Now, CaribPRWire and Invest CaribbeanNow.

Æ

effective outreach. However, Imust recognize the over-whelming support fromCentral Florida.

J.W.: Considering how manyJamaicans could have votedwhy was there such a lowturnout?W.G.: This was a first timeprocess of an open election inthe region. There was defi-nitely a concerted effort ofoutreach to the regionthrough the available mediaoutlet and other sources dur-ing the two-week electionperiod.

The process may havebeen better served with morelead-time, but the process waseasily accessible. The partici-pation level was lower than Ipersonally expected.However, this indicates thatthere is definitely a need toconcentrate on improving out-reach and providing informa-tion to the entire region.

J.W.: What have you beendoing since being put in

office?W.G.: I have been just collect-ing information and consult-ing with those we have onrecord as being involved inthe region. I have alreadystarted my outreach to thenew individuals and diasporicorganizations that I have dis-covered during this process. Ihave also been in communica-tions with the Minister ofState – Honorable ArnoldoBrown.

J.W.: What is your vision forthe Jamaica DiasporaConference?W.G.: Access to the confer-ence for all interestedJamaicans in the southernregion.

JW: How do you see yourposition facilitating that?W.G.: I have recently beenprovided with a draft agenda,which I will be advising withinthat context after I have hadthe chance to fully review.

J.W.: What are some of themain issues that you see forthe diaspora conference?

W.G.: Availability of partner-ship between the diaspora andthe local governments of the14 parishes (of Jamaica).

J.W.: How will you get morepeople in the diaspora to beengaged in your vision andthe conference?W.G.: Through technologyand direct points of contactwhether businesses or dias-poric organizations.

J.W.: What is the best way forpersons to get engaged?W.G.: Identify your area ofconcern either as an individ-ual or organization, develop apractical solution and sourcethe resources to implement iteither in your own communityor in Jamaica.

J.W.: What message do youwish to send to persons in thediaspora?W.G.: Get yourself organizedproperly to be able to accessresources that are alreadyavailable.

Æ

Shaggy sings, “It wasn’t me,” ashe denies, denies, denies. Andguess what, the woman believeshim too, as she’s in denial.

The same applies to otherpeople who are in denial. Theysee all the evidence aroundthem, feel it breathing downtheir neck, hear it, can almosttouch and taste its bitterness,and yet choose to deny its veryexistence.

Some bury their heads inthe sand and think that if theydon’t see the problem, then itwill go away. Is this what theycall a fool’s paradise, or is it justthat ignorance is bliss?

Whichever way you cut it,whether you are ignorant to thefacts, or shown the facts butdeny their existence, the resultis the same … you are cursedwith the folly of your ways.

So many people live indenial, especially from actionsof those close to them. Everymother thinks that her son ordaughter is the best, even whenshe’s faced with the hard evi-dence that the child is worth-less. Remember also, everymother thinks that it’s the othermembers of the marching bandin the parade who are out ofstep and not her son. That’sdenial.

‘DRUG’They say that denial is the

most potent drug in the world,and I really have to think thatthere is some truth to that state-ment. Denial will engage, takeover, consume some peopleuntil they are overwhelmed byits narcotic powers. So much so,

that just like drugs, many peo-ple thrive on it as they live theirlives in complete denial, feed onit, and exhibit the same symp-toms as a junkie who is hookedon crack or heroin.

“How come she so happyand flighty and her husband hasother women?”

“Oh, she’s high on denial,that’s why.”

And isn’t that true of somany people who live with theirhead in the clouds, even as theirfeet are stuck in the mud?

Denial mostly affects peo-ple who are deeply embeddedin a relationship, but their part-ner has decided to venture outand graze in greener pastures.

SIGNSThe telltale cliché signs are

always there, and the denial fol-lows right after. The man startsto come home late at night, orhe may come home early, take ashower, dresses and hits thestreets to attend a “lodge meet-ing”, “service club meeting” or“just hang out with the guys”.These are things that he neverused to do before, but suddenlyhe takes up these interests. Tomake it worse, they are alwayslate night activities and he’salways dressed to the nines andreeking of cologne when heattends.

It’s as plain as day and thewriting is on the wall for all andsundry to see … except for thewife of course, for she’s living inthe euphoric state of denial.

She refuses to see, she can-not see, she is unable to see,because her vision is blocked by

the shroud of denial. If you askher how things are, she’ll saythat they are great, that themarriage is perfect and thathubby is hardly home becausehe’s so busy at night at his serv-ice club.

Oh, he’s at the club allright, and he’s being servicedmarvelously, or maybe he’sdoing the servicing, but the wifewould never admit to anywrongdoing on his part. She hasto deny; it’s what keeps her saneand it’s what keeps her lifetogether and her lifestyle intact.

PRIDEMen go into denial too, and

pride is what feeds this denial.Mark you, it’s not as common aswith the women, and it can alsolead to violence on the man’spart, but if his wife stops show-ing him affection, always avoidsspending time with him, stayslate at the office many evenings,joins late night prayer meetings,he too may live in denial.Instead, he’ll tell people thatshe’s just busy, having thechange of life, and not admitthat she stopped loving him.

There are other subtlesigns that women choose toignore but are as plain as thesun to other folks looking on.Remember that they always saythat the spouse is the last toknow? Well, they know, but arejust the last to admit to it … ifthey ever do. Example: When aman who was away for a longtime, maybe months, returnshome, and doesn’t even go andvisit his woman. Or when it’sher birthday and he forgets

again, just likelast year, or hemakes upsome lameexcuse thathe’s tired andcan’t take herout. Or whenit’s New Year’sEve and he’sdisappearedfrom the faceof the Earth.Not to mention Valentine’s Dayand he spends the evening withhis mother.

The woman is aware ofthese things, yet she still clingsto the belief that the man lovesher and will ask her to marryhim one day.

WAKE UPWake up girl, stop snorting

the denial as it has addled yourbrain. The clouds of denial areblocking your vision.

Denial affects more womenthan men. Is it because morewomen have a desire to belongto a man and to be loved byhim, rather than the other wayaround? So much so that they

will blind their eyes to all thewrongdoings of the man anddeny that he’s doing them.

“Can’t you see that the manis married and not leaving hiswife?”

“Oh no, he WILL leave her,for he told me so up to lastnight.”

He’s been telling her so forthe past five years - a classiccase of denial that is as old astime itself.

Denial, just like drugs, runsriot through mankind, and itcomes in many forms: Parentswho turn a blind eye to theirchildren who are alcoholics oron drugs; mothers who knowthat their daughters areinvolved with older men, some-times even their stepfathers,but refuse to see it, for themoney’s running good.

The list is endless.There is nothing as power-

ful as denial. It does have a pos-itive side though, as it keepsmany people sane, for denial,like ignorance can be bliss.

[email protected]

Æ

Summer of immigration discontent

When in doubt – deny, deny, deny


VIEWPOINT



Golding is new Jamaica diaspora rep in southern U.S.

TONYROBINSON

Caribbean communitynations once againmade their mark in a

prestigious internationalsporting competition, earningfour gold medals at the YouthOlympic Games in Nanjing,China last month.

Theregion showedits quality inthe competi-tion, gearedfor athletesages 15 to 18,led byJamaica’sthree wins andone bySuriname.

Jaheel Hyde landedJamaica’s first gold, winningthe men’s 110 meters hurdlesin a games record time of12.96 seconds, 0.16 secondsbetter than the old mark.Hyde, who won the 400meters hurdles crown at theIAAF World JuniorChampionships in July, saidhe expected to do somethingspecial in the shorter event.

“I am not surprised (bythe time),” Hyde explained inNanjing. “My times in training

suggested I would run thisfast. I was a bit nervousbeforehand. That is just rac-ing. I knew I had to follow mycoach’s instructions, keep acool head and win that goldmedal.

“To come here and winmeans the world to mebecause it now means I’vewon all the major goldmedals in my age group;World Youth, World Juniorand now Youth Olympics.What more can I ask for?”

MORE WINSHyde’s compatriot Martin

Manley also won gold, in themen’s 400 meters, clocking46.31 seconds.

“It meansso much (towin),” saidManley. “Ittakes a heavyburden offme.”

HenriDelauze ofThe Bahamasearned bronze in the event.

Jamaica’s NatalliahWhyte, in the women’s 200meters, and Suriname’s

Miquel van Assen, in themen’s triple jump, also earnedgold for the region. VanAssen’s jump of 16.15 metersin the finals was not as goodas his 16.29 qualificationeffort, but it was goodenough towin.

“I am soproud to win agold medal forSuriname. Itwas not easy,but I got it,”he toldreporters afterthe event.

Jamaica’s Obrien Wasomeearned silver in the men’s longjump and Melenie Rodney ofGrenada finished third in thewomen’s 400 meters to roundout the Caribbean’s haul.

Jamaica was the highestCaribbean country on themedal table, finishing sixthbehind first place winnersChina, but ahead of the UnitedStates (ninth), Suriname(12th), and The Bahamas andGrenada (tied for 32nd).Æ

Four Caribbean nations willjourney to the United Statesnext month in search of placesin the 2015 Women’s WorldCup finals to be staged inCanada.

Haiti, Trinidad andTobago, Jamaica andMartinique, will join four othernations from North and CentralAmerica for the CONCACAFround of qualifiers Oct. 15-26after they advanced from theCaribbean Football UnionWomen’s Caribbean Cup lastmonth.

That quartet earned the topfour spots in the tournament.T&T won the championshipafter defeating Jamaica 1-0 inthe final. Haiti beat Martinique5-1 to secure third place.

The Caribbean nations willbe joined in the CONCACAFround by the host U.S., plusMexico, Costa Rica andGuatemala. The teams will beplaced into two groups, withmatches to be staged in theAmerican cities of Chicago,Kansas City, Philadelphia andWashington, D.C.

The top teams will advanceto the semi-final and the win-ners there will receive automat-ic places in the World Cup. Athird place game will decide athird automatic qualifier. Theteam that finishes fourth willplay-off with a country fromanother region for a chance toplay in Canada next year.

Æ

Caribbean women huntWorld Cup soccer spots

LONDON, England – FormerGrenada international DelroyFacey has been charged withconspiracy to commit bribery,media reports here have said.

The 34-year-old, who wasarrested last November overhis involvement in a match-fixing scandal, was scheduledto appear in the CannockMagistrates Court on Sept 2.

“The Crown ProsecutionService’s Organized CrimeDivision authorized thecharges on the basis that thereis a realistic prospect of con-viction and that a prosecutionis in the public interest,” anNCA spokesman was quotedas saying.

ONGOING PROBEFacey’s charge followed

the National Crime Agency’songoing investigation into thescandal, which has already

seen footballer MichaelBoateng and businessmenChann Sankaran and KrishnaGaneshan, convicted andjailed on the same charge.

Sankaran and Ganeshanwere hit with five-year sen-tences, while Boatengreceived a 16-month term.

Facey played for 14 dif-ferent clubs in a 16-yearcareer, including Hull City,West Bromwich Albion andBolton Wanderers, for whomhe made 10 premier leagueappearances.

Facey was born inHuddersfield, but qualified toplay for Grenada because hismother was Grenadian.

He made his debut for theSpice Boys in 2009 and made15 appearances.

- Edited from CMC.

Æ

Ex-Grenada soccer star faces conspiracy charges in England

Four of the biggest namesfrom the West Indies interna-tional cricket team have signeda deal that will make them co-owners in the new CanadianPremier League T20.

West Indies one-day inter-national captain DwayneBravo, Test captain DeneshRamdin, batsman KieranPowell and former captainShivnarine Chanderpaul havesigned on to become stakehold-ers of the forthcoming a NorthAmerican T20 cricket league.

The inaugural tournament,according to officials, will com-mence on Aug. 1, 2015.

Roy Singh is chief execu-tive officer and chairman of theCanadian Premier League T20.

The 10-team league will

consist of professional crick-eters from Canada, alongsideglobal cricketing stars, leagueofficials said in a press releaseissued last month. Æ

Windies cricketers becomestakeholders in T20 league

Golden show by Caribbean athletes at Youth Olympics

Jamaican club WaterhouseF.C. produced a convinc-ing performance to earn

victory at home, but Guyana’sAlpha United suffered elimi-nation with their third straightloss, as the two English-speak-ing Caribbean sides experi-enced contrasting fortunes inthe group stage of the CON-CACAF Champions Leaguelast month.

In a Group 4 encounterat the National Stadium inKingston, Waterhousebrushed aside Panamanianside Tauro F.C. 4-1, while inGroup 5 at the EstadioTiburcio Carias Andino inTegucigalpa, Honduras,Alpha were crushed 6-0 byhost Olimpia.

The result propelledWaterhouse to the top of the

group with six points and keptit unbeaten. But Alpha’s losscemented the club at the bot-tom of the group and sent itcrashing out of the competi-tion with a game still to play.

Waterhouse was carried

by striker JermaineAnderson’s two goals asthe club surged to victo-ry in its first ever CCLfixture at home.

Waterhouse willplay its final group gamewhen it hosts MajorLeague Soccer teamD.C. United on Sept. 16.The Jamaican club lostto the MLS team 1-0 inthe first meeting onAug. 20 in Washington,D.C.

There was nosuch good fortunate forAlpha, meanwhile, as it

was blitzed by Fredixon Elvir’shat-trick and never in con-tention.

- Edited from CMC.

Æ

Mixed bag for Caribbean clubs in Champions League


SPORTS

BRIEFSJamaican soccer playerkilled in Florida

Rollin Francis, a Jamaican-bornsoccer player, died last month frominjuries suffered when he was hitby a car in South Florida.

The 37-year-old Francis, whorepresented several clubs in theCaribbean island, was reportedlycrossing Oakland Park Boulevardon Aug. 10 when he was hit.

New West Indies selectorsFormer captain Clive Lloyd of

Guyana has been named head of

the selection panel for West Indies’senior men’s cricket team.

Lloyd has been joined byanother former captain, CourtneyWalsh of Jamaica. The selectionpanel is completed by ex-wicket-keeper Courtney Browne and for-mer fast bowler Eldine Baptiste,both of Barbados.

Miami Soccer FestivalThe Miami Soccer Festival

returns to Kendall Soccer Park inSouth Florida, Nov. 1-2.

This two-day event features

back-to-back FYSA-sanctionedtournaments for boys and girlsages 12 and under, from 8 a.m. to5 p.m.

Admission for spectators isfree.

For more information, visitwww.miamisoccerfestival.org or contact Scott Georgeson, at 305-965-9855 or [email protected].

Compiled from various sources.Æ

Whyte

van Assen

Manley

Anderson

Ingredients* 1/2 cup tropical fruit salad injuice (papaya, pineapple),drained * 1/2 cup mango nectar* 1/4 cup ketchup* 1/4 cup reduced-sodium soysauce* 1 tablespoon fish sauce(optional)* 2 tablespoons extra-virginolive oil* 1 tablespoon minced garlic* 1 lb large peeled/deveinedshrimp, thawed* 2 oz crispy plantain strips(or chips)

StepsPlace fruit in food processor;process 20 to 30 seconds oruntil smooth. Add mangonectar, ketchup, soy sauce,and fish sauce; process 10to15 seconds or until wellblended.

Preheat large sauté panon medium-high for threeminutes. Place olive oil inpan, then add garlic andshrimp; cook and stir three tofive minutes or just untilshrimp are pink.

Add mango/papaya mix-ture; cook two to three min-utes or just until sauce begins

to boil. Serve shrimp andsauce over palm heart sauté.Top with plantain strips.

PALM HEART SAUTÉIngredients2 tablespoons fresh cilantro,finely chopped1 medium red bell pepper,thinly sliced2 tablespoons extra-virginolive oil1 (14-oz) can cut hearts ofpalm (drained)1 teaspoon red pepper flakes1/4 teaspoon salt1/8 teaspoon pepper

StepsChop cilantro; set aside. Cutpepper into quarter-inch-widestrips. Preheat large sauté panon medium-high two to threeminutes.

Place oil in pan, then addbell pepper, hearts of palm,and red pepper flakes; cookand stir five to six minutes oruntil peppers are tender.

Stir in cilantro, salt, andpepper; cook and stir two tothree minutes for flavors toblend. Serve.

Æ

Jennifer Ortegon, a dieti-cian at Florida MedicalCenter, will discuss recog-

nizing foods that benefit ahealthy lifestyle during a pres-entation titled “BecomingSupermarket Savvy” thismonth in South Florida.

Ortegon will offer tips on

how to make good decisionsat the grocery store and pro-vide nutritional informationon popular foods.

The lecture will be heldfrom noon to 1 p.m. Sept. 18at the Florida Medical Centerauditorium, 5000 W. OaklandPark Blvd. in Lauderdale

Lakes.To make a reservation

or get more information, call1-866-498-5433.

Florida Medical Center isan acute care hospital andhome of The Heart Instituteof Florida.

Æ

Papaya mango shrimpwith palm heart sauté

Tips on ‘Becoming Supermarket Savvy’

Salad season is year round, butSeptember is the ideal time tosample a Caribbean broccolichicken version and goldenfruit bread compliments ofPublix Aprons Recipes.

CARIBBEAN BROCCOLI CHICKEN SALADIngredients3-4 deli chicken tenders (.75 lb)1 mangoJuice of a lime1 head bibb (or iceberg) lettuce3 tablespoons mango chutney2 tablespoons peach preserves3 tablespoons plain low-fatyogurt2 tablespoons light mayonnaise1 (12-oz) bag broccoli slaw1/2 cup golden raisins2 tablespoons sunflower seeds

PreparationCut chicken tenders into

thin slices. Peel and slice

mango (1 1/2 cups).Squeeze lime for juice (1 table-spoon). Remove lettuce core;separate individual leaves.

StepsPrepare dressing in medi-

um bowl by whisking chutney,preserves and lime juice untilsmooth. Stir in yogurt andmayonnaise until blended.

Add slaw, chicken, mango,and raisins; toss to coat.

Arrange lettuce leaves onserving plates and top with

salad; sprinkle with sunflowerseeds. Serve.

GOLDEN FRUIT BREADIngredients2 naan or flat breads (regularorwhole grain)1/4 cup peach preserves, divided1/4 cup golden raisins, dividedCooking spray

StepsPreheat large nonstick sautépan on medium two to threeminutes. Place two tablespoonspeach preserves and two table-spoons raisins on one-half ofeach bread; fold over.

Coat bread with cookingspray and place in pan; coverand cook two to three minuteseach side or until golden. Letstand three to five minutes tocool. Cut in half and serve.

Æ

Caribbean broccoli chicken salad and golden fruit bread


FOOD

Broccoli chicken salad.

DAWN A. DAVIS

After an eight-year hiatus,Maxi Priest is back in therhythmic saddle with a newalbum titled “Easy to Love”.

Influenced by the likes ofMarvin Gaye, Frank Sinatra,Phil Collins, John Holt,Gregory Isaacs and DennisBrown, the British-born singerof Jamaican descent is notedfor smooth vocals that redefinereggae with an R&B flair. His11-track CD won’t disappointfans who crave Maxi Priest’ssignature style.

On tour throughout theUnited States, Priest made astop in South Florida lastmonth to promote “Easy toLove” at the Stache bar indowntown Fort Lauderdale.With distributor VP Recordson hand, guests got a chance topurchase autographed copies,listen to a live sample of someof his early songs accompaniedby a young guitarist, andreceive insights into the cre-

ation of the album and themusic business.

Priest said the new albumwas written in collaborationwith others, although he wrote several tracks, amongthe most popular of the night,“Holiday”. Beres Hammond,Assasin and DeLaRose arealso featured on three tracks,which should increase cross

JASON WALKER

Three decades is a long timefor any non-Caribbean area tohost the largest physical mani-festation of the region’s culture- carnival.

Miami Broward Carnivalreflects the historic unificationof two carnivals that werestaged for several years inclose proximity in SouthFlorida. The vision of carnival30 years ago has manifestedinto one of the most popularCaribbean events in NorthAmerica. The carnival evenhas hit songs about that carni-val, such as Alison Hind’s

“Never Too Late ForCarnival” featuring TrevorOffkey.

Kathryn D’aryc, corporatesecretary for the organizingcommittee, said this year the“theme is a celebration of the30th annual Miami Carnival.The first Miami Carnival wasin 1985 in what is now the Cityof Miami Gardens.”

JUMP OFFThe carnival has become

one of the most recognized inthe world. Its organizing com-mittee has to make sure there

‘Wiser’ Maxi Priest launchessmoothe ‘Easy to Love’ album

NEW YORK - A Guyanesenational recently wrapped up a one-woman show here whichput the spotlight on the landshe once called home.

Ingrid Griffith’s“Demerara Gold”, whichended its scheduled run playedat the June Havoc Theatre lastmonth, is the story behind theheadlines about immigrationto the United States.

The play focuses on aseven-year old girl who is leftbehind in Guyana when herparents get visas for the U.S.and forces her to tap into herrebellious spirit to break freeof her two grandmothers – onea rigid recluse, the other a reli-gious fanatic.

When she finally arrives inAmerica to reunite with herparents, she finds a family tornapart by bitterness and vio-lence. That’s when she discov-ers her true birthright is brav-ery.

Griffith plays 18 charac-ters in “Demerara Gold”. She

is explores farce and con-frontation and with adjust-ments of voice and bearing,transforming herself from anarthritic grandmother to aswashbuckling gold prospector.

BUSY RIDEThe classically trained

Griffith has had a busy 18months. In May, 2013 sheentertained audiences at theSouthampton Cultural Centerin a supporting role in“Buckingham”, a period pieceby Tina Andrews about slav-ery and African bloodlines inBritish royalty. In June 2013,she performed excerpts from“Demerara Gold” at SohoPlayhouse as an opening actfor Debra Erhardt’s “JamaicaFarewell”.

In April, Griffith per-formed at the John Jay BlackBox Theater as “Mama Nadi”,the lead character in“Ruined”, a play by LynnNottage about brothel womenin war-torn Congo.

Yet Griffith shines as shetells her own story through thewords of a range of characterson a bare stage in “DemeraraGold”. With the help of herdirector Margit Edwards, shesheds light on the personalprice of assimilation. Her agili-ty and artistry brings the playto hilarious and dramaticheights and its heart-poundingconclusion.

- Edited from News Americas.

Æ

Guyanese shines in N.Y.one-woman stage show

Carnival in Miami, Broward counties revs up for 30th year

NEW YORK – At least oneperson was shot and killedand four others were injuredduring the West IndianAmerican Carnival Parade onLabor Day, Sept. 1, policesaid.

They said 55-year-oldMichael Sampson was shot inthe Crown Heights section ofBrooklyn and that a suspecthad been taken into custody.The suspect is also linked toshooting and wounding two

other people.However, other media

reports have questioned thepolice’s link of the shootingsto the carnival, including thetime and location of the tragicindicent.

New York PoliceDepartment (NYPD)Commissioner WilliamBratton said he had deployedmore than 4,000 police offi-cers to keep the peace alongthe two and a half mile parade

route.The parade was attended

by hundreds of Caribbeannationals residing in theUnited States, who despitethe sweltering heat andhumidity, converged onEastern Parkway for what isconsidered the largest carni-val parade in North America.

- Edited from CMC and othersources.

Æ

1 killed at West Indian American Carnival Parade~cops


ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Kia Hidspire, representing Grenada andSt. Lucia, along with Nicole Williams,representing Jamaica, in Tribal MasBand at the 2013 Miami BrowardCarnival.Maxi Priest



Griffith

Trinidadian-born rap star NickiMinaj has surpassed the lateMichael Jackson for recordingthe most hits on the BillboardHot 100 chart.

According to a story pub-lished by News Americas last

month,which quot-ed a Yahoo!Music report,Minaj’s latestsingle“Anaconda”debuted atnumber 19,giving therapper her51st Hot 100hit, beatingJackson’s

previous record of 50.Minaj made her chart debut

in Feb. 2010 when she featuredon Lil Wayne’s “Knockout”. Herfirst as a lead artiste came fourmonths later with “Your Love”.

“Made history today,”Minaj, 31, reportedlyannounced on her Instagramaccount last month. “I didn’teven know I was tied withMichael Jackson with 50 Hot100 entries on Billboard.Anaconda makes 51 and nowI’m tied with Rod Stewart.

God bless, and thank you.”Jackson’s posthumous

releases “Slave to the Rhythm”and “Love Never Felt So Good”became his 49th and 50th Hot100 hits earlier this year.

Teams of Caribbean film-makers are scheduled to participate in the

ninth annual CaribbeanTalesInternational Film Festival(CTFF) to be staged thismonth in Toronto, Canadaunder the theme “Our Lens,Our Perspective”.

The event takes placefrom Sept. 3-13. ThroughSept. 7, the festival will host a “Market Incubator”, whichgives selected Caribbean film-makers an opportunity tohone their creative and busi-ness skills through workshopsand one-on-one mentoring byspecialists.

Eight teams of filmmak-ers of Caribbean descent willbe participating. This yearfocuses on series development

for television and the web andis aimed directly at audiencesin the African and Caribbeandiaspora.

The incubator featuresCTFF events at the Universityof Toronto, which will presentopportunities for participantsto network with internationalindustry representatives. Itculminates in a pitching ses-sion in front of internationalfunders and buyers at theTIFF Bell Lightbox.

Participants in CTFF 2014will be mentored by a panel offilmmaking professionals fromthe Caribbean/African diaspo-ra. These include NicoleBrooks (producer, director,playwright); Dr. Rita SheltonDeverell (television, theater,academia); Rodney V. Smith

(director, producer, author),Christopher Laird (BanyanLtd, Gayelle: The Channel)and Nick Davis (director, program development CBC).

Incubator 2014 partici-pants are: Peyi Guzman(Dominican Republic),Camille Selvon Abrahams(Trinidad and Tobago),Melissa Gomez (Antigua),Rene Holder, (Trinidad andTobago), and from Canada:Faisal Lutchmedial, StephenYoung-Chin, Jelani Nias,Chartrisse Dolabaille, KerronSchullere and HannahYohannes.

For more information onCTFF, visit caribbeantales-events.com.

Æ

Vocalists and musicians fromthe Caribbean are scheduledto headline the Holy FamilyChurch’s Annual MusicFestival in Miami Gardens,Florida this month.

The event, now markingits fourth year, is scheduled

for 7 p.m. Sept. 13 and 4 p.m.on Sept. 14 at the church,18501 N.W. 7th Ave.

Among the scheduledperformers are vocalistsCarole Reid, Rory Baugh andReverend Grace Jervis, plusvocalist Harold Davis on key-

board, and vocalist AndreShepherd on guitar.

For ticket information,visit the church, call 305-652-6797 or go online athttp://www.holyfami-lyevents.com/.

Æ

is buy-in from the non-Caribbean community, thegoverning municipalities inSouth Florida and other carni-vals to avoid conflicting sched-ules. It’s not been easy forthose involved.

“I was not there in 1985,but I was in 1986 and everyyear since,” said D’aryc. “I’vebeen a bandleader, a mas play-er, a competitor, an onlookerand an organizer of MiamiCarnival. I have seen andbeen a part of different facetsof Carnival and from an orga-nizational perspective I’ve seenevery problem, every triumphover adversity - and there havebeen a lot of them.”

Director of Marketing

John Beckford (formerly partof the Broward Carnivalorganizing committee) saidcarnival means “embracingheritage and celebration ofCaribbean arts and culture.

“It means food, drinksand music indigenous to theCaribbean,” declaredBeckford. “It means, gettingtogether with friends and fam-ily if not for this one timeeach year ... It means old manwinter is about to set in.”

PLUGCarnival brings thousands

of persons to South Floridaconsistently - from NorthAmerica, the Caribbean,Africa and even Europe. It’s a huge boost to the SouthFlorida economy, a great plug

for Florida tourism and a fan-tastic display of Caribbean cul-ture.

People get engaged in thecarnival in diverse ways. Theyare not just standing andgrooving to music anymore,but becoming part of the show- joining bands and wearingcostumes. Caribbean and non-Caribbean people volunteer tohelp organize carnival. Fansupport is catching on.

“Some embrace carnivaland are curious of the diversi-ty,” said Beckford. “Thanks toT.V., Internet and world travel,more non-Caribbean folksexplore and embrace carnival.Each year I see non-Caribbeannumbers grow in attendance.”

Miami Broward Carnivalwill be staged in two parts.

The the Miami BrowardJunior Carnival will be held onOct. 5 at the Central BrowardRegional Park and CricketStadium, 3700 N.W. 11th Placein Lauderhill, Florida. On Oct.12, the Miami Broward Paradeof Bands will be held at the Miami-Dade County

Fairgrounds, 10901 Coral Way, Miami.

For more informationvisit www.miamibrowardcar-nival.com.

Jason Walker is a freelancewriter for Caribbean Tody.

Æ

Minaj passes Jackson formost Billboard Hot 100 hits

Maxi Priest launches ‘Easy to Love’ album

‘Our Lens, Our Perspective’ focus atCaribbeanTales Film Festival in Canada

Holy Family music fest in Miami Gardens

Carnival in Miami, Broward counties revs up for 30th year


ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

section appeal.

BACKSEATAsked why reggae music is

not more in the mainstream,why it usually takes a backseatto other music such as R&Bthat is widely aired on radioand television, Priest’s answertook some by surprise.

“Those that are in themedia have to also take someresponsibility because we haveto make our people understandthat if we don’t support it, it willfail,” he explained. “We cannotsit aside and wait on other peo-ple to support our music. It’s assimple as that. The problem liesin the lack of support.”

“What’s the differencebetween Maxi’s first album andthis one?” a patron asked.

“Age and maturity,” hereplied. “We get wiser, we getsure, we get comfortable inunderstanding who we are. Ithas taken some time for me tounderstand and get comfort-able with myself and say this is

the position where I am in thislife. Make use of it.

“I love what I do,” Priestadded. “I am blessed to bedoing what I do. Because thereare so many people out therethat do things that is not theirfirst choice. So, I don’t take itfor granted that what I do iswhat I am supposed to do.”

The reggae crooner talkedabout his humble beginnings -growing up with nine brothersand sisters, having to share abed with four siblings.

“I don’t want this for mykids,” he said. “I don’t wantthis for you. That is why I dowhat I do and push the way Ipush.”

With this, Maxi Priestshowed the stimulated audi-ence just how much he pushedto create this long-awaitedalbum and his special class ofmusic with guitar-accompaniedversions of songs old and new.

Dawn A. Davis is a freelancewriter for Caribbean Today.

Æ



… Shows off ‘twerking’skills at VMA show

Trinidadian-born Nicki Minajshowed the MTV VideoMusic Awards audience herversion of the art of “twerk-ing” last month.

The rapper from the landof soca and carnival threwdown at the VMA during aperformance of her new song“Anaconda”.

Minaj, wearing a shim-mery green top and sequinedshorts, later had to hold thefront of her outfit togetherafter a long split appeared.Ariana Grande, Minaj andJessie J kicked off the 2014VMA with a medley of theirsummer hits “Break Free,”“Anaconda” and “BangBang”.

- Edited from News Americas.

Æ

Minaj

CITIZENSHIP PREP

Help in preparing for the UnitedStates citizenship test, includinginformation on civics, govern-ment and the interview/testprocess, will be offered from12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdaysduring September at the MiramarLibrary.

The library is located at 2050Civic Center Place in Miramar,Florida.

For more information, call954-357-8090.

VOTER RALLYTo celebrate National VoterRegistration Day, Miami-DadeCollege (MDC) will join severallocal and national partners tohost a rally encouraging voterregistration and participationfrom 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 23 atits Wolfson Campus.

For more information, toregister to vote and to receiveupdates, visit https://mdc.tur-bovote.org/register.

‘DREAMERS’ SCHOLARSHIPS

Applications are currently beingaccepted for “TheDream.US”scholarships at Miami-DadeCollege.

Applications for the scholar-ships, created specifically forDREAMer students, will beopen through Oct. 12.

For more information,including eligibility requirements,visit www.TheDream.US.

To apply for the scholarship,visit www.scholarshipsapply.org/thedreamus.

BIRTHRIGHT PROGRAMApplications are being accepted,through Nov. 30, for theGraceKennedy JamaicanBirthright internship program.

Applicants must be betweenages 18 and 25, currently enrolledin university and born in theUnited States, Canada or theUnited Kingdom with Jamaicanparents or grandparents.

For more information, visitwww.gracekennedy.com or [email protected].

ALUMNI BALLMontego Bay High SchoolAlumnae Association-New YorkChapter will present its inaugu-ral ball at 8 p.m. Sept. 13 atMaestro’s Caterers, 1703Bronxdale Avenue Bronx, N.Y.

BANQUETThe Jamaican AmericanConnection’s fourth annualTrailblazer Scholarship banquetwill be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 20 atAmarante’s Sea Cliff, 62 CoveSt. in New Haven, Connecticut.

DINNER DANCEThe New York chapter of theGlenmuir Alumni Associationwill present its fifth annual dinner and dance at 9 p.m. Oct. 11.

For more information, call917-593-9918 or 646-496-6868.

ERIC WILLIAMS LECTURE

St. Lucia’s Prime Minister Dr.Kenny Davis Anthony has beenselected to give the 16th AnnualEric Williams Memorial Lectureon “Slave Trade Reparations:The Political Implications ofCaricom’s Stance” at 6:30 p.m.Oct. 17.

The lecture will be held atthe Wertheim Performing ArtsCenter on Florida InternationalUniversity’s Modesto MaidiqueCampus in Miami. Admission isfree and open to the public.

MEDWEEK REGISTRATIONRegistrations are being acceptedfor the MEDWeek BusinessMatchmaker Conference andAward Gala to be held Oct. 16and 17 in South Florida.

Visit www.medweekflorida.org or call 305-576-7888 for moreinformation.

CIBC SCHOLARSHIPSCIBC FirstCaribbeanInternational Bank has awarded$10,000 for two new scholar-ships for Caribbean nationals.

Scholarship recipients arepursuing a higher education orprofessional development in thehospitality and tourism indus-tries.

The 2014 FirstCaribbeanscholarship winners are:

Kirvez E. Ferguson (TheBahamas) - Culinary arts andfood service management,Johnson and Wales.

Domonique Sturrup (TheBahamas) - Baking and pastryarts, Johnson and Wales.

REGION• The Permanent Council of

the Organization of AmericanStates (OAS) has adopted a dec-laration calling on the threebranches of government in Haitito comply with an agreement tohold legislative and municipalelections by the end of this year.

• Montserrat’s two mainpolitical parties have nominatedcandidates in all nine constituen-cies for the Sept.11 general elec-tions.

• St. Vincent and theGrenadines Prime Minister Dr.Ralph Gonsalves has announceda minor Cabinet re-shuffle, shift-ing the Ministry of Works to theOffice of the Prime Minister.Minister of Works Julian Franciswill become a minister of state inthat ministry.

• Senators late last monthpassed a controversial bill toamend Trinidad and Tobago’sconstitution, by 18 votes to 12,giving voters here power unprece-dented among CommonwealthCaribbean countries to recall theirelected representative.

• Legal Affairs MinisterElvin Nimrod says the referen-dum on Grenada’s constitutionalreform will be held in Mar. 2015and not on Feb. 10, as previouslyannounced.

- Compiled from varioussources.

The Aug. 26 Florida primaryelections captured the direpolitical health of Florida vot-ers. Only 17 percent - evenless in South Florida - ven-tured to the polls.

More Democrats are reg-istered statewide thanRepublicans. However,Republicans cast more votesin their primaries due to theadditional 19 races for partyraces across Florida.

The increasing numbers inthe Caribbean American pop-ulation across the state werenot reflected in the voterturnout. Mostcandidatesrunning inhighly popu-latedCaribbeanAmerican dis-tricts did notbenefit fromthe paltryturnout.

Formerstate Senator Nan Rich couldnot overcome the clear namerecognition of Charlie Crist,the former GOP governor-turned-independent-turnedDemocrat, for the chance tochallenge incumbentRepublican Governor RickScott. Crist received theendorsement of Democrats ata three to one margin, includ-ing in Broward County - homeof Rich.

In the race for attorneygeneral, George Sheldon out-lasted former DemocraticLeader Perry Thurston. In

Thurston’s open seat,Democrats sent BobbyDuBose, a Fort Lauderdalecity commissioner to repre-sent House District 94 in central Broward County overfellow Democrat LevoydWilliams, a city commissionerin Lauderdale Lakes.

In northern Miami-DadeCounty, incumbents stateRepresentative BarbaraWatson of District 107 andstate Senator Oscar Braynonof District 36 assumed secondterms. Both Watson andBraynon fended off challengesfrom HaitianAmericans RePhillip Brutusand AnisAugusteBlemur. Inaddition,incumbent andHaitianAmericanRep. DaphneCampbell ofMiami warded off competitionto retain her seat to face elec-tions in November.

NATIONALOn the national front,

incumbent CongressmanAlcee Hastings handilydefeated his primary chal-lenger and will again facethe general electorate inNovember.

A packed roster of GOP candidates, including the embattled formerCongressman David Rivera,scrapped at each other for the

chance to challenge Rep. JoeGarcia in the general elec-tions. Carlos Curbelo, a long-time political insider and for-mer aide to a United Statessenator, led the pack with over47 percent of the vote.

The Caribbean Americancommunity showed feeble signsof collective impact on Floridacommission and countywideraces. In the race betweenincumbent District 8 BrowardCounty Commissioner BarbaraSharief and City of MiramarCommissioner AlexandraDavis, voters decided to retainthe current Sharief by a two toone margin.

Jamaican-born incumbentBroward County Judge IanRichards survived the primaryand is expected to face a chal-lenge in November fromattorney Claudia Robinson.However, Dominican-bornattorney Jahra McLawrencecould not beat Circuit CourtJudge Lynn Rosenthal.

In Miami Dade County,Caribbean Americans showedsome force in lending supportto challenger Danielle LevineCava, who defeated incum-bent District 8 CommissionerLynda Bell.

Voters now turn theirattention to the general elec-tions on Nov. 4. They must beregistered to vote on or beforeOct. 6. Early voting is sched-uled to begin on Oct. 20.

- Contributed.

Æ

Sluggish voter turnout marks Florida primaries


FYI

Sharief won. Davis lost.


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DAWN A. DAVIS

Talking about horticul-ture and her love ofplants, Patricia “Patsy”

Lee’s passion is obvious. Sheblooms like her belovedanthurium with its kaleido-scope of intense colors andsignature spadix reaching forthe heavens.

“I was always a lover ofplants and, as a teenager Iused to go to Woolworth’s onKing Street (in Jamaica) andbuy imported rose plants,”Lee gushed. “I also had a gar-den of rose bush and a fewother plants like crotons anddiffenbachias, which I nowproduce commercially today.”

Jamaican-born Lee owns and operates FloridaTropiculture, Inc., a successfulfoliage enterprise in Homestead,the heart of Miami’s green belt.Established in 1987, the whole-sale grower ships throughoutthe United States, Canada andthe Caribbean.

Although communingwith and nurturing plants isher passion, Lee didn’t startout as a horticulturalist. Sheowned a thriving bakery inJamaica’s Liguanea Plaza inthe 1980s, making cakes andother goods for weddings and

special occasions. Among her noted clients was thenJamaica Prime MinisterEdward Seaga and Mayor ofMandeville Cecil Charlton.

FLEEBut, the growing violence

and political strife on theisland led Lee and her familyto flee.

“My decision to leaveJamaica was filled with mixedemotions,” she explained.

“It was a difficult choice. Iwas troubled by the crimescene in Jamaica and was frus-trated with having to alter ourlife’s plan every time therewas a change in the govern-ment. The fierce politicalupheavals were very disturb-ing, especially for a motherwith youngchildren. Migrating to the U.S.was extremely emotional andtook its toll for a while, buttoday I have no regrets.”

In Miami she was deter-mined to continue in theentrepreneurial spirit, butwasn’t sure where to start. Achance visit to an uncle’s plantnursery re-ignited her sensesand love of plants. A seed wasplanted and she began think-ing about opening a nurseryherself.

“I thought it would begreat to use my time to dosomething that I loved andwhich gave me much pleasure- my hobby on a grand scalewith income as a bonus!

“With my husband’sencouragement, we purchasedten acres of land and FloridaTropiculture Inc, Producers andDistributors of Indoor Foliageand Tropicals became a realityin 1987.”

DISASTERLee noted that this type

of business, at least in theU.S., was male dominated.Going in as a woman andminority put her at a disad-vantage, but she was up to thechallenge, dealing with diffi-culties that usually definestart-ups. Excavating the landand building greenhouses wasjust the beginning. Her hobbyhad now taken on reality thatpushed her to the physical andmental limit. But early successbuoyed Lee’s spirit when a bigbuyer took the entire produc-tion of the company’s first

crop of plants.Yet just five years into

the business, a devastating disaster brought FloridaTropiculture, Inc. to its knees.Hurricane Andrew hit Floridain 1992, destroying Lee’sentire investment and herdream. But Lee could not beknocked out. She rebuilt andwas one of the first plant nurs-eries to start shipping flowersafter the hurricane that rav-aged virtually all ofHomestead.

Business picked up andfor the next 12 years the com-pany enjoyed success, untilthe infamously unlucky 13thyear - when Hurricane Wilmahit Florida. Again the compa-ny was devastated. Again, Leethe fighter rebuilt.

“One would think thatafter these two devastations,the human spirit would bediminished, but the grace ofGod prevailed and we rebuiltour business for the thirdtime,” she said.

“We enjoy the support ofmany big distributors and ourplants can be found in thestores of Home Depot,Costco, Lowes and manywholesalers, garden centers

MICHELLE CAWLEYDRESERIS

On Aug. 18, several excitingnew career programs openedfor high school students inHomestead and Florida City,about 30 miles south ofMiami, Florida.

In Jan. 2015, new andadditional programs will alsobe offered for adults whowant to start a new career orupgrade job skills for today’smarketplace.

South Dade EducationalCenter (SDEC) andHomestead Senior High(HSH) – two Miami-DadeCounty Public Schools (M-DCPS) – have partnered toprovide high school and adulteducation students with jobskills classes and certifica-tions that are in highdemand.

“We are building newcareer programs to encompassthe unique needs of our SouthDade community and to pro-vide a highly skilled work-force,” says Dr. Susana Mauri,SDEC’s principal. “At thesame time, we will be positive-ly affecting the economic via-bility of our area.“

EXPANSIONDr. Mauri has been the

principal for SDEC’s twoHomestead campuses forabout eight months. She haspartnered with GuillermoMuñoz, principal ofHomestead Senior High, toexpand HSH’s programs.

“We will offer coursesthat are comparable to thoseat a technical college,” saysDr. Mauri.

Students will have thechoice of career technical education certificate pro-grams,including air condition-ing (HVAC) repair (1,350hours); animation and appliedcyber security (1,350 hours);electricity (1,200 hours); 3-Dweb development (600 hours);licensed practical nursing(1,350 hours); medical assist-ing (1,300 hours); and phar-macy technician (1,100 hours).

After successfully com-pleting certain programs, stu-dents will be awarded indus-try certifications in their cho-sen field. Classes will also beoffered in business technolo-gy, gaming, graphic arts andheating ventilation.

OPTIONHSH‘s students have the

option to be dually enrolled intechnical courses. They willreceive high school credits forcourses and credits towards

technical certificates - at nocost.

“Tuition is a fraction ofthe cost for students in ouradult education classes,” saysDr. Mauri. “They can alsoapply for district financial aidat HSH after December 1,2014, when registration beginsfor January 2015.”

To be eligible for In-statetuition, students must provethey have lived in Florida forat least a year.

“Adult education studentsshould also apply on-line forthe FAFSA – FreeApplication for FederalStudent Aid, athttps://fafsa.ed.gov/,” says Dr.Mauri.

In-state tuition is $2.56 anhour, while out-of-state tuition

is $10.25 an hour, according toDr. Mauri. Adult educationtuition costs are significantlyless than tuition at most col-leges.

“Homestead is mostly alow, socio-economic commu-nity with very poor, olderareas and more affluent, rap-idly growing new areas,” shesays.

‘POOR’“Many of the students at

HSH are the children of poor,hard-working, migrant work-ers who move with their par-ents to pick crops, or to workin the packing houses,” Dr.Mauri adds. “They are tran-sient. Their attendance inschool fluctuates during theschool year, depending on thecrops, and the work their fam-ilies can get.

“I see many of my stu-dents picking crops in thefields in the morning. Then, atnight, they’re making a con-centrated effort to get theireducation. They value an edu-cation. They know it’s theirway out of poverty. But, theyhave many challenges, includ-ing transportation to get toschool.

“We are seeing moremigrant adults coming to livein Homestead, and working in

agriculture. They live in SouthDade because it’s cheaperthan living in Miami,” Dr.Maueri says. “Many of ourmigrant students are refugeesfrom Guatemala, Haiti, andCuba. Some of theGuatemalans speak only theirindigenous language. This isneither English nor Spanish.”

The school district pro-vides translators for students.

“We have students fromCentral and South America,Africa, Jamaica and severalother countries,” says Dr.Mauri.

SDEC also provides otherclasses for migrants, includingadult basic education, Englishfor speakers of other lan-guages, general educationaldevelopment (GED) prep andcommercial foods and culinaryarts.

To register forSDEC/HSH Adult Educationcourses in Jan. 2015, visitSouth Dade EducationalCenter, 109 N.E. 8th St.,Homestead. Call. 305-247-7839or visit Newcareerpreptech.orgfor more information.

Michelle Cawley Dreseris is afreelance writer forCaribbean Today.

Æ

GROWTH SPURT: Love of horticulture germinates success for Patsy Lee

Dr. Susana Mauri leads push for career education in South Florida


SUCCESSFUL WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Lee feels at home at Florida Tropiculture, Inc.

Dr. Mauri

~ A CARIBBEAN TODAY SPECIAL FEATURE


MICHELLE CAWLEYDRESERIS

Jamaican-born entrepreneur,Elizabeth “Liz” Burns beganher career in South Florida 36years ago as a senior accountanalyst, after studying busi-ness in her homeland, movingto New York in 1977 and thenVirginia.

“It was too cold anddamp,” she says of her briefnorthern United States experi-ence, “so we moved to Miamiin February 1978. It’s easy togo back to Jamaica when youlive in Miami. The climatehere is like Jamaica, and wecan get all the foods we hadback home.”

Burns then worked as the

M.I.S. manager and systemssecurity officer at Banco DoBrasil in South Florida – oneof the largest internationalbanks – for 10 years.

“I was the first female tohold that position in the bank-ing system,” she says.

In 1999, Burns openedher own company, UniqueCreations by Liz, Inc., inBroward County, Florida. Sheis the president. A premierevent planner, decorator andcaterer, Burns loves hercareer.

“I have always been busi-ness-minded,” she says. “Ispecialize in providing clientswith excellent and impeccableservice, and the perfect blendof creativity and design. I

focus on each client’s individ-ual style and taste and I payattention to the smallest ofdetails. I cater, and designbackdrops, centerpieces, andentire events and locations forweddings, parties or any event

that needs my creative touch.“When I’ve finished

designing a location or anevent for a client, I love totake a few moments and enjoythe beauty of the scene,” shesays. “I personally overseeevery event, and I especiallyenjoy designing locations inthe colors of Jamaica’s nation-al flag: black, green and gold.But, I can design in any colorsmy client likes.”

‘EXPRESSIONS’For the past five years,

Burns has been the producerand event planner for twoannual expositions to highlightsmall businesses in SouthFlorida.

She held “Expressions

Caribbean-AmericanExhibition” in recognition of National CaribbeanAmerican Heritage Month onJune 6 at the Sheraton FortLauderdale Hotel.

“On November 16th,businesses and individuals areinvited to attend our AnnualExpressions Travel andTourism Expo,” says Burns.

“The mission of my exposis to mobilize and bringtogether people of varyingbackgrounds, ethnicities andcultures – mostly from theMiami-Dade, Broward andPalm Beach counties in SouthFlorida. I’m promotingJamaican, Caribbean and

Liz Burns offers ‘Unique Creations’ for designs, event planning

DAWN A. DAVIS

Realizing their dream ofgiving back to Jamaicain a meaningful way,

sisters Felice Campbell anddermatologist Dr. PatriciaYap, a dermatologist, aretransforming lives throughcare products for the AfricanCaribbean skin type.

Balancing the businessside with the medical, the pairhas created products for com-mon skin problems manycaused by the Caribbean envi-ronment they’ve experienced.

AriSulfur Facial & BodyTreatment Bar, a leading skin-care soap in Jamaica, waslaunched in June 2012, whilethe AriScalp Blend started in2013.

So, how did a local der-matology practice grow into asuccessful manufacturer ofinternationally available skin-care products? According toCampbell, besides wanting tohelp build Jamaica, it wastime to come up with answersfor neglected consumers.

“The motivation stemsfrom a very underserved mar-ket,” she explained. “Our peo-ple do not have very effectiveover-the-counter solutions. Sowe are just responding to thatdemand for affordable solu-tions for them so that they canhave healthy scalp, healthy

skin, healthy nails.”

BIRTH OF ALINE

In her privatepractice, Dr. Yapprovides productsfor patients suffer-ing from acne, seb-orrheic dermatitis,Keloid scarring,abnormal pigmen-tation and hair loss,with much success. Affectedby severe acne as a teenager,she was determined to helpothers with similar problems. After graduation from theUniversity of the West Indies(UWI) with honors in appliedchemistry, she enrolled in theUniversity of London’s presti-gious dermatology school,graduating with distinction.Dr. Yap returned to Jamaicain 1993 and opened her prac-tice.

Campbell is the business-minded half of the duo. Aftergraduation from UWI, shewent on to Grace Kennedywhere she received “true busi-ness training.” She bought andran Jamaica Prepack Group, ameat distribution and packag-ing company, for seven yearsbefore migrating to LosAngeles where she did a mas-ter’s degree in business. Shethen went on to mergers andacquisitions at fortune 500

companies Citigroup, FirstAmerican Corporation andSage. But, after many years in the American corporateworld, Campbell wanted toreturn to Jamaica.

“I really wanted a reasonto come back home and createjobs by getting a manufactur-ing business going and reallycontributing to the countryagain,” she explained.

“I knew that my sister hada successful practice and Iknew that over the years, a lotof people from our diaspora,from New York, Atlanta,London, Florida, would fly toJamaica to see her becausethey couldn’t find any derma-tologist who could addresstheir very common skin con-cerns.”

It was Campbell who gavebirth to the commercial line ofproducts, coming up with theidea of “putting Pat in a box.

“This became the motiva-

tion for creating the over-the-counter products. I reallywanted to come back homeand create a line of productsin Jamaica by Jamaicans forJamaica,” Campbell added.

BUSINESS MODELCampbell’s business

model was inspired by theProactiv line of skincare prod-ucts made famous by develop-ers Rodan and Fields, wholeveraged their reputation tocreate the successful product.

“I think Proactiv is good,and it works for certain skintypes,” Campbell said. “But,certainly for our diaspora wehave not seen the results thatwe would like to see. Becauseof the direct sunlight and ourparticular environment, theissue is not bacteria, it is fun-gus. And a lot of the ingredi-ents in these products do notaddress fungus.”

The ARI products aredeveloped through AriLabs,the scientific arm of ApexResearch Institute (ARI).They also operate ApexHealthcare Associates, thelargest medical center inJamaica, as chief executiveand chief financial officer.

AriSulfur Facial & BodyTreatment Bar and AriScalpBlend are known for their nat-ural ingredients including vol-canic sulfur, Jamaican black

castor oil, Jamaican lemon-grass oil, eucalyptus oil,moringa oil, and willow bark,which are effective in treatingacne, liver spots, itchy dryscalp and razor bumps.

“Some of the ingredientswe have to import, like sulfur,which is a natural-occurringelement,” explainedCampbell. “Sulfur is said to be God’s medicine. In fact, inearly times the treatment ofchoice in Roman days was tosoak in a sulfur bath for manyskin conditions. What we’vedone is to bring the sulfur toyou in the form of a treatmentbar so that you can create abath for yourself.”

Now with United StatesFood and Drug Administrationapproval, the skincare productsare available in Caribbeanbeauty and grocery stores inFlorida and New York throughdistributor CariMed.

The sisters are consider-ing a distribution networksimilar to MaryKay and willtest a course in Jamaica inOctober for hair dressers andcosmetologists in associationwith the National Associationof Hair Dressers andCosmetologists.

“We are very committedto Jamaica,” said Campbellexpressed. “We are from that

and florists throughout the United States andCanada. We also export to the Caribbean.”

ALPHA’S HELPThe business owner cred-

its her spirit and tenacity toher high school years at AlphaAcademy, which she calls an

oasis that nurtured her gen-erosity and willingness to helpothers.

“I know what it is to needand so I’m very cognizant andsensitive to the needs andstruggles of the underservedstudents,” Lee explained.

“I was very happy to havehad the opportunity nineteenyears ago to help establish theAlpha Alumnae Chapter of

Florida – Convent of MercyAcademy Alpha AssociationInc, a 501c(3) charitableorganization. From annualfundraisers over the years, wehave been generous in ourdonations in the form ofscholarships to the studentsand have assisted with foodand health programs ... Wealso share our blessings byoffering donations to charita-

ble organizations within the wider communities ofFlorida.”

Her generosity is also evi-dent in how she deals withemployees and daily opera-tions. Lee sets the pace byexample, rolling up hersleeves and taking on thephysical work. After all, onecan’t work with the beauty ofnature without communing

with them. And, she certainlycan’t just walk by her favoriteplants - orchids and anthuri-ums - without touching, prun-ing, nurturing the plants thatflower her success.


Æ

SKIN DEEP: Jamaican sisters create care for African Caribbean type

GROWTH SPURT: Love of horticulture germinates success for Patsy Lee


SUCCESSFUL WOMEN IN BUSINESS~ A CARIBBEAN TODAY SPECIAL FEATURE


Campbell, left, and Dr. Yap



Burns

American businesses, espe-cially small businesses.”

She also produces twoprint and online magazinesannually to complement bothexpos.

HELPING OUTBurns has been a member

of the Jamaica United ReliefAssociation (JURA), a non-profit organization in SouthFlorida, for about 23 years,and is on the board of TheLauderhill Sister Cities.

The purpose of the organ-ization is to promote exchangeof commerce, culture, educa-tion and charity. Burns hasserved on several communityboards and committees, andreceived multiple proclama-tions from mayors in SouthFlorida for her communitywork.

“Making money is impor-tant,” she says, “but just as

important is doing what youlove form your heart, withintegrity and caring.”

Burns is a religious blendof Hinduism and Catholic.

“I meditate often,” shesays.

“My grandparents werefrom India and I attendedCatholic schools in Jamaica.”

Burns’s husband was diag-nosed with Parkinson’sDisease about five years ago.

The Burns have twodaughters, Michelle andShelley-Ann, and two grand-daughters, Nya and Kayla.

“I love designing andplanning unique creations formy clients,” says Burns. “Icreate from my heart, and Ilove when my clients enjoywhat I have designed.”

Michelle Cawley Dreseris is afreelance writer for CaribbeanToday.

Æ

DAWN A. DAVIS

According to the UnitedStates Department of State,there were 388 adoptions fromHaiti to the U.S. in 2013, a sig-nificant increase from the 154adopted the year before.

That uptick comes from aCaribbean nation that wasdevastated by a 7.0 magnitudeearthquake on Jan. 12, 2010.U.S. parents were moved toadopt the masses of orphansand abandoned children leftbehind in wake of the mostdestructive natural disaster indecades. Many new familiescarried a strong connectionwith Haiti.

“After the earthquakethat destroyed part of Haiti,there was an outpouring ofkinship adoption by relativesin the U.S., Canada andEurope who wanted to assumecustody of their nieces,nephews, younger siblings andgrandchildren that becameorphans or abandoned afterthe earthquake,” explainedGuilaine Victor-Adam, presi-dent and chief executive offi-cer of the Miami, Florida-based Children’s Connection,Inc., an adoption service thathelps prospective parents withadoptions from the Caribbean,particularly Haiti, but whichalso services children fromJamaica and locally.

PRINCIPLEFounded in 2006,

Children’s Connection, Inc. isbased on the principle of con-necting the Haitian communi-ty in South Florida with needychildren from the Caribbeannation with legal and socialservices provided by profes-sionals who speak the samelanguage and share the samecultural perspective.

“When language barrier isadded to the process, it makesit harder for the family, or itsimply precludes a group fromadopting altogether,” saidVictor-Adam.

A native of Haiti, sheknows the plight of poor chil-dren in her homeland, whichdrives her to create an avenueto help them.

“I’ve witnessed first-handthe suffering of Haitian chil-dren and their need for safe,loving and permanenthomes,” she explained.

Victor-Adam said theadoption process, a two-foldprocedure, is long and unpre-dictable at times. In general,adoptive parents must bedeemed fit to take a child andare subject to investigationsunder what is termed a homestudy. These evaluations,Victor-Adam said, includecriminal and child abusechecks, medical and psycho-

logical evaluations, financialassessment, reference letters,proof of marriage or termina-tion of marriage, and theoverall ability to properly carefor a vulnerable child.

A favorable adoption isalso based on the adoptiveenvironment, said Victor-Adam - how safe is the neigh-borhood, is the home clean,and how will other familymembers interact with the

new addition.Adoptions are finalized in

Haiti. Therefore, parents mustgo to the Caribbean island toreceive their child.

The adoption processdoesn’t stop once the child isplaced. Child and family areobserved in the new home toensure the adoptee is adjusting.If there is a problem, Victor-Adam said, therapeutic servic-es are offered to the family.

WARNINGAdoptees range in ages,

from two to 16. On averageseven to nine children areplaced annually. The processcan take up to a year, butVictor-Adam warned that,depending on the circum-stances in the adoptive coun-try, it could take longer. InHaiti, for example, politicalunrest and natural disaster,like the 2010 earthquake,

often impedes the process.Despite the legal, social

and bureaucratic issuesinvolved, Victor-Adam findsmotivation to run an adoptionagency.

“My greatest reward iswhen a parent calls toannounce that one of ‘my’children is attending one ofthe most prestigious schools inthe U.S. or has gotten a schol-arship or is about to graduatefrom college or an Ivy Leagueuniversity, or simply movingon with their lives,” she said.

“Looking at a successfuladult, and remembering thatyou have also invested inhis/her future and given theworld one more productivecitizen, is priceless to me.”


Æ

Liz Burns offers ‘Unique Creations’

Jamaican sisters create care...

KIDS CONNECTION: Agency finds new homes for orphans, abandoned children


SUCCESSFUL WOMEN IN BUSINESS~ A CARIBBEAN TODAY SPECIAL FEATURE


Jamaican Chinese traditionthat want to give back becausewe owe Jamaica so much interms of what the island has

given us, and we are doing ourpart.”


Æ

Victor-Adam



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