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Update on DACA: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a program that prevents some residents brought to the United States as children from being deported, is being restored to its former, Obama-era policies after a ruling on Dec. 4 that overturned the Trump administration’s attempt to limit and eventually end the program. DACA is a program started in 2012 by the Obama administration to protect those who came to the United States before age 16 from being deported. When granted DACA status, recipients are given a two-year work permit that they continually renew. To be eligible for DACA, someone must be born after June 15, 1981; have come to the United States before turning 16; physically present in the country on June 15, 2012, and when applying for DACA; have had no lawful status on June 15, 2012; lived in the United States from June 15, 2007, until the present; meet certain educational requirements; and have not been convicted of certain crimes. U.S. District Court Judge Nicholas Garaufis ordered the Department of Homeland Security to post an announcement to accept first-time applicants again and for two-year work permits. In September 2017, the Trump administration stopped new applicants from applying to DACA, only allowing renewals. Continued on pg 4
from our family to yours Electoral College makes it official: Biden won, Trump lost The meeting of the Electoral College normally takes place at the Capitol but was held offsite at a location not publicly disclosed because of concerns about protesters. A handful showed up at the Capitol but no incidents were reported. Members of the Electoral College met across the nation Monday, and by mid-afternoon Biden’s win was formalized when he crossed the 270 vote threshold to secure the presidency. Democratic Secretary of State Katie
Hobbs presided over the ceremony where the electors signed the certificates that confirmed Biden’s win. She had harsh words for the politicization of this year’s process, which she says is normally held amid pomp and circumstance and reverence for the American political system. “This year’s proceedings ... has unfortunately had a artificial shadow cast over it in the form of baseless accusations of misconduct and fraud for which no proof has been provided and which court after court has dismissed as unfounded,” Hobbs said.
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L I F E S T Y L E
2020 in closing...
Samuel J. Roberts
Owner/Publisher/Editor
Guenet Gittens-Roberts Owner/Publisher/Editor
This Guest Editorial was written by Natasha Solomon.
2020 has been a tough year for every one of us. We worried about the future, and we grieved for the past, knowing that when the pandemic finishes our lives will be different. We don’t know how/what those differences will be and it made the last few months stressful.
I believe that while we do have some of those stereotypes within our culture as a whole that is not who we are.
During 2020 I changed. I changed to protect my mental health and I changed so that I could have better boundaries, because I couldn’t handle 2020 and the nonsense that some people brought into my life.
In many Caribbean households we are taught to uphold our marriage vows, or to stay for the sake of the children. It is a double edged sword. Sometimes fighting thorough a bad patch can get you to another great part in your marriage. However if bad patches are your constant then the lesson you are teaching your kids is to accept toxic environments. Which makes thmn struggle with identifying toxic behaviors in their mates.
The elections back in Guyana, in several countries of the Caribbean and then here in the USA exposed deep divisions, and in early December came the Major Hype scandal. I made my stance on candidates very clear – I’m a democrat, and I identify with that party and with their values within and without of the USA. One party is okay with a leader who treats others in an abusive, demeaning way and it made me look at their support base differently. That alarm bells weren’t blaring for some made me wonder about what is normal in our lives; and how much toxic behavior do we accept before we say “enough.” How much do we gloss over with excuses? Is he just being a man? Is she just doing her job? Elections came and went, then it was December. Major Hype and Latisha Kirby - it was a toxic situation. Hitting is never okay, and I hope that Major Hype did not because the fact that he is male and physically bigger should have have been enough to make him walk away from any impulse to strike. And frankly women that goes both ways, emotional abuse is abuse, hitting a person or spitting at them is abusive. Major Hype always promoted himself as a Caribbean male, is that what he is? Is Latisha Kirby the traditional Caribbean female? Are many Caribbean men aggressive, a cheater, and someone who operates without boundaries? Is the Caribbean female someone who has a wicked temper, but is unable or unwilling to walk away from an unhealthy relationship until her life is very clearly threatened? Or a player juggling relationships.
However we do have to do some therapy to settle some of our issues.
Very often staying makes you bitter. Staying leads to unnecessary fighting. Staying teaches your children that it’s okay to be treated badly because you should honor a vow you made even though the person you made the vow to is not the person that you live with. Continued on pg 16
1969 Alafaya Trail • Orlando, FL 32828 Office: 407-427-1800 Fax: 407-386-7925 Toll Free: 877-220-8315 For Media Information email: Publisher: sroberts@caribbeanamericanpassport.com Info: .Info@caribbeanamericanpassport.com
Should you desire to review past copies of the publicationgo to http://caribbeanamericanpassport.com and click on the 'Print Archive'. Editor & Publisher................................................................................... Sam Roberts Publisher ............................................................................. Guenet Gittens-Roberts Graphic Design & Layout .....................................................................Aleia Roberts Contributing Writers: ................................................................................ Tony Dyal ..................................................................................................................Aleia Roberts Contributing Photographers ............ .......................................................Ted Hollins .....................................................................................................................Dilia Castillo
Central Florida Distribution........................................................Kadeem Roberts South Florida Distribution .............................................................Norman Williams NorthFlorida Distribution .....................................................................Theo Jack Jr. Tampa Distribution ..................................................................................Julian Pina Copyright (C) 2016 GGR Marketing & Public Relations. All rights reserved.
If it is your normal, then clearly, we need to discuss healthy relationships and healthy boundaries. I do believe we have
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Update: on DACA Deferred Action for Child-hood Arrivals Continued from page 1
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services also announced they will be reinstating applications for an international travel permit called advance parole, which allows DACA recipients to leave the country and still return to the United States. Amy Rivera, president of University of Maryland’s Political Latinxs United for Movement and Action in Society, said PLUMAS has a dream fund for DACA recipients to help pay for legal fees. Rivera said it is important to keep a critical eye on the incoming administration’s actions to help DACA students as there is much more to be done, such as taking away renewal fees and creating a gateway to citizenship for recipients. “I know a lot of members were definitely worried about (the Trump Administration’s agenda) because when you are undocumented in the U.S., you are always in a type of limbo,” said Rivera. “You never know when the authorities in this country are going to decide whether you can stay in this place that you call your home or if you have to be forced back to a land you don’t know much.” However since the December 4th ruling there is news that although DACA survived the Supreme Court ruling, a Texas court case could end the immigration program. The case on DACA’s legality dates back to a 2018 challenging the legality of it. The suit argues that the U.S. government, through the executive branch, overstepped its boundaries. “If the nation truly wants to have a DACA program, it is up to Congress to say so,” the state attorneys argued in a federal filing. “Congress has not yet said so, so DACA remains just as unlawful today as it was when it was created through the 2012 DACA memorandum.
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A recent statement on the USCIS website states: I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals In compliance with an order of a United States District Court, effective December 7, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is: Accepting first-time requests for consideration of deferred action under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) based on the terms of the DACA policy in effect prior to September 5, 2017, and in accordance with the Court’s December 4, 2020, order; Accepting DACA renewal requests based on the terms of the DACA policy in effect prior to September 5, 2017, and in accordance with the Court’s December 4, 2020, order; Accepting applications for advance parole documents based on the terms of the DACA policy prior to September 5, 2017, and in accordance with the Court’s December 4, 2020, order; Extending one-year grants of deferred action under DACA to two years; and Extending one-year employment authorization documents under DACA to two years. USCIS will take appropriate steps to provide evidence of the one-year extensions of deferred action and employment authorization documents under DACA to individuals who were issued documentation on or after July 28, 2020, with a one-year validity period under the defunct policy. DHS will comply with the order while it remains in effect, but DHS may seek relief from the order.
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Senator Randolph Bracy Rings in the Holiday Spirit State Senator Randolph Bracy (D-Ocoee) be hosting a holiday toy giveaway in partnership the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. The halls of Kappa Administrative Building will be decked toys for children of all ages.
will with the with
Dec 10th, kicked off activities to celebrate the soft Grand Opening of the new location Bronze Kingdom Museum at 6464 International Drive, Orlando, FL. The new space features a museum, event hall, multiple bars and a restaurant. To find out more or to make a donation you can go to www.bronzekingdommuseum.com
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Jamaican born NY Nurse Sandra Lindsay Receives First FDA-approved Covid Vaccination On December 14, millions watched videos of Sandra Lindsay, a New York frontline ICU nurse who lost an aunt and an uncle to Covid-19, as she became the first American healthcare provider to receive a shot after the FDA approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for use in the US. “It’s safe to take it,” Lindsay told the Washington Post,. “People have heard about the side effects — fever, arm pain — but I don’t suspect that it will be any different from the annual flu vaccine. Even if there is a little soreness, or a lot of soreness, it’s still better than the alternative.” The few seconds it took for Dr. Michelle Chester to administer the shot marked a national milestone—a first step in the direction of herd immunity. The vaccination was also a personal milestone for the Jamaican-born Lindsay, 42, who has worked throughout the pandemic at Long Island Jewish Medical Center as an intensive care unit director in charge of five units of critical care nurses. Her brother, respiratory therapist Garfield Lindsay, said, “It’s not just managing other nurses and the stress. She has dealt with so many deaths. I reminded her how strong she is, how she prepared for this.” After her live-streamed Covid vaccination, Lindsay became an instant social media star and was deluged with inquiries from journalists. Although the attention seemed to surprise her, she handled the questions deftly, and very much as one could expect from a long-time nurse. Was Lindsay concerned about the safety of the new vaccine? “I have no fear,” she told CNN. “I trust the science. My profession is deeply rooted in science. I trust science. What I don’t trust is getting Covid-19, because I don’t know how it will affect me and the people around me that I could potentially transfer the virus to.”
“It didn’t feel any different from taking any other vaccine,” Lindsay said. “I feel hopeful today, relieved. I feel like healing is coming. I hope this marks the beginning of the end of a very painful time in our history." Said Nurse Lindsay
Lindsay also told CNN, “I want to be a part of the solution to put an end to this pandemic once and for all. I think also as a leader in the organization that I lead by example. I don’t ask people to do anything that I would not do myself.” African American nurses are playing a historic role in their efforts to encourage Americans to roll up a sleeve to help end the pandemic. The example of ANA president Dr. Ernest Grant’s participation in the Pfizer-BioNTech trials depicted scientific testing in one of its most life-affirming aspects; now, Sandra Lindsay is an icon of hope in a nation longing to wake from its Covid nightmare.
Local Artist, Published Author, Education and creator of Clare and the Chocolate Nutcracker signs with Holloway Literary Agency. Holloway Agency will now pave the way for Beverly to develop and produce a Clare and the Chocolate Nutcracker Animation and other lucrative deals in both film, tv and books. Beverly is the wife of former Mayor and Commissioner Ernest Page. Beverly has created a Clare doll and Chocolate Nutcrackers which are now sold on Etsy.com and Walmart.com
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Clearing Up Confusion about Types of COVID-19 Testing
Since late April 2020, Orange County Health Services has been rotating locations throughout the County each week to offer free COVID-19 testing to all of its residents. In fact, a variety of testing options have become available nationwide, but given these options, how do you know which test is right for you? Two kinds of tests are available for COVID-19: viral tests (diagnostic tests) and antibody tests. A viral test tells you if you have a current infection. An antibody test might tell you if you had a past infection. DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
If your antigen test shows a negative result but you have symptoms of COVID-19 and/or have been at-risk for exposure to COVID-19, you should receive a PCR test to ensure accuracy. Prior to an outpatient procedure, hospitals may conduct a rapid test first and confirm that rapid test with a PCR test to ensure accuracy.ANTIBODY TESTS (AKA Serology Test or Blood Test)
Molecular Tests
Antibody tests check your blood by looking for antibodies, which can tell you if you had a past infection with the virus that causes COVID-19, regardless of whether you ever showed symptoms. These tests generally produce results in a few minutes based on a drop of blood taken from the finger; some tests may take 1-3 days if blood is drawn for testing. Locally, OneBlood is testing all blood donations for the COVID-19 antibodies.
Molecular tests, such as RT-PCR tests, detect the virus’s genetic material. PCR tests are considered the most accurate and “gold standard” for diagnosing active coronavirus infection. This test is typically highly accurate and usually does not need to be repeated.
Antibody tests can provide quick results but should not be used to diagnose someone with an active infection. It can take days to several weeks to develop enough antibodies to be detected in a test.
A diagnostic test can show if you have an active coronavirus infection and should take steps to quarantine or isolate yourself from others. Currently there are two types of diagnostic tests – molecular tests and antigen tests. Both of these tests are currently available for free at Orange County Health Services.
Most PCR tests use a nasopharyngeal swab, which goes deep into your nose to the back of your throat. Other things to note: Results may take 2-3 days or up to a week (longer in some locations with many tests) to be returned. If you need to travel out of the country or for any other purpose, a molecular test may be required. Antigen Tests Antigen tests detect specific proteins from the virus. Most antigen tests use a nasal or nasopharyngeal swab. Results may be returned very quickly (15-30 minutes), depending on the test. Because of this, antigen tests are in high public demand. Antigen tests are intended for use on symptomatic persons within the first 5-12 days of symptom onset. Positive results are usually highly accurate, but false positives can happen. Negative results may need to be confirmed with a molecular test. Antigen tests are more likely to miss an active COVID-19 infection compared to molecular tests.
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Other things to note:
Whether you test positive or negative for COVID-19 on a viral or an antibody test, you still should take steps to protect yourself and others. We do not know how much protection (immunity) antibodies to the virus might provide against getting infected again, so you should continue to take steps to protect yourself and others. Free Testing Resources Both molecular (PCR) and rapid antigen tests are now being administered at the Orange County Government Health Services testing site. For more information on this free testing site and which test may be the best choice for you, visit ocfl.net/Testing and click on #1 on the testing map.
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Covid and Conspiracies | by Natasha Solomon What a year 2020 has been! Covid has really altered our reality. In a month of Sunday’s we didn’t see it coming.
May 30th 2021
We, at least I believe, I have heard all the conspiracy theories – • China is behind it, Russia is behind it, the USA is behind it. • Bill Gates is behind it; he wants to control the population. He wants to put a microchip in all of us. He wants us to be at home so that we can buy more computers! (The computer one made me pause) • It’s a practice for bio-chemical warfare • They are using it to silence us, which is why they demand that we wear the mask. • They are trying to control us. • It was a way of getting us to stay indoors while they set up 5G towers. • 5G was known to have these kind of results and it was known that it would make us sick. We may not understand how it started, but we know that we will have to be vaccinated for the economy to reopen. The stimulus cheques and the other forms of government funding will not continue for as long as WE want. The government decided when to start it and they will decide when to end it. That a vaccine has been manufactured, the assumption is that once a vaccine is safe, then we will take it, so that life can go back to normal. I am not trying to debate about what’s in the vaccine either; I will say that that vaccine is in our future. And if the majority of people get it, and a minority of people don’t take it, then those who don’t take it put themselves in a position that I don’t want to be in. The likelihood of us taking this vaccine becomes more of a reality with each day, and because of that reality, let’s talk about getting our body in it’s best shape so that any negative impact from the vaccine are kept at a minimum. The way to do that is to eat a healthy diet, so reduce the carbs- bread, rice, roti; increase the vegetables, salads and proteins – meat, fish, peas, beans and nuts. Increase the amount of time that you exercise. Go for a walk around the neighborhood. Touch your toes. Get moving, and stay moving for a minimum of 30 minutes each day (if you can exercise for a longer time then please do). I'm Caribbean, of course I will wait and see what happens to the first set of folks who take the vaccine. I will wait patiently at home, so I don't get sick with Covid just before the cure. But I will take the vaccine. I will probably be among the middle set of folks to take it, I will build my body up to it's peak condition in the meantime. I want to go back outside and back to normal and so yes, I will wait for the tweaks that may come or the side effects it may have...just so I understand it better. But this vaccine is a calculated risk that I will take.
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Event Marketing by the GGR Marketing & PR Team
Guenet 407-421-8118
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Sending a barrel for Christmas is the right thing to do, it's expected. Sending a barrel for the tough times in January...now that's just plain thoughtful!
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Buju Banton, Skip Marley, Maxi Priest, Toots & The Maytals, and The Wailers Nominated for 2021 Best Reggae Grammy Award
Skip Marley’s 7-track project, “Higher Place” was recorded as a “call to action” to his fans, his generation, and listeners at large and is meant to inspire people to reach for a higher place of consciousness and love. The project includes new concepts as well as the wisdom passed down through the Marley family that Skip calls “Marley Mantras.” The new Maxi Priest album “It All Comes Back to Love” was released in August 2020 and was produced by Shaggy. It features Anthony Hamilton, Estelle, Bounty Killer, Inner Circle, and more. His unique vision has brought him considerable success, and he is the first reggae artist to have a Number 1 hit worldwide.
“Got to Be Tough” from Toots & The Maytals features the last performances of Frederick “Toots” Hibbert, who died at age 77 in 2020. For much of his long music career, Toots sang about being resilient in hard times, and this last album continues that tradition and was inspired by an event at a concert in 2013 when a bottle was thrown at a concert and put the artist out of commission for a time. Commenting on Competition for the Best Reggae Album Grammy award is the event at age 77, Toots said he had to “get the job done” stiff in 2020. The nominees are Buju Banton for his album and went on to produce, arrange, and write all but one of the “Upside Down 2020,” Skip Marley for “Higher Place,” Maxi songs on the album. Priest for “It All Comes Back to Love,” Toots & The Maytals The Wailers brand has a long history in reggae and “Got to Be Tough,” and The Wailers for “One World.” continues to thrive and grow, even without the legendary Buju Banton’s “Upside Down 2020” album is his first full- Bob Marley as the group’s central figure. The group’s legacy length recording since December 2018 when he was released continues in various forms now that OM Bunny Livingston from prison after serving seven years in the United States on Wailer is the only singer from the original trio still living. He federal drug charges. Featured on the album are John Legend, passed the torch to Asadenaki, his son, who brought “The Wailers Trio” into existence with “Blvk H3ro” and Pharrell, Stephen Marley, and Stefflon Don. “Written.”
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Comcast RISE Program Expands Eligibility to Small Businesses Owned by Black, Hispanic, Indigenous and People of Color Comcast is now accepting applications for the next phase of Comcast RISE with expanded eligibility to include Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and Hispanicowned small businesses. The program will help thousands of small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic over the next three years with consulting, media and creative production services from Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, or technology upgrades from Comcast Business, based on their specific needs. Interested business owners can apply at www.ComcastRISE.com. More than 700 businesses around the country, including 37 in Florida, were selected as recipients of the first round of the Comcast RISE program. Comcast RISE consists of the following main components: • A media and technology resources program: This pillar combines Effectv’s renowned media platform and marketing expertise, its award-winning creative agency, Mnemonic, and state-of-the-art technical support from Comcast Business to help small businesses foster and elevate growth. Recipients will receive help with their marketing, media campaigns and creation of 30-second commercials, as well as equipment and technology upgrades, including: o
Consulting: Advertising and marketing consultations with local Effectv marketing, research and creative teams to gain insights on how to grow your business
o Creative Production: Turnkey :30 TV commercial production for their businesses. o Technology Makeovers: Computer equipment and Internet, Voice and Cybersecurity services for up to a 12-month period. (Taxes and other fees may still apply for tech makeover services.) •
Business resources to help with curated content: Comcast has launched the Comcast RISE destination complete with aggregated small business news, tips, insights and more on the X1 platform. The destination is designed to help businesses grow by empowering them through education, inspiration and entertainment. Just say “Comcast RISE” into the X1 voice remote.
• Grants: In early 2021, Comcast will be awarding grants of up to $10,000 each for U.S.-based small and diverse businesses that have been in operations for three to five years. Comcast RISE is part of a larger $100 million Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiative that Comcast launched this summer. In June, Comcast NBCUniversal announced the development of a comprehensive, multiyear plan to allocate $75 million in cash and $25 million in media over the next three years to fight injustice and inequality against any race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation or ability. Visit www.ComcastRISE.com to apply, for more information and the latest updates.
o Media: A linear TV media campaign to run over a 90-day period.
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Girl from Guyana uprooted to the Highlands inspires film and song The fascinating story of a young girl from Guyana who was uprooted to the Black Isle by her plantation-owning father is the subject of a new film.
Eilidh Mackenzie said: “Eliza’s story is an emotional one and provides us with an insight into the part played by Highland communities in the global slave trade.
Eliza, a new Gaelic drama based on the life of Eliza Junor, will receive its first public showing at the Blas Festival.
“Schools throughout Scotland where Gaelic is taught as a first or additional language have been invited, in the lead up to Blas Festival, to watch the film and participate in accompanying workshops.
The short film was made by Angus Macleod and produced by the Gaelic arts organisation, Fèisean nan Gàidheal. Eilidh Mackenzie, from Fèisean nan Gàidheal, has also composed a new Gaelic song, Òran Eliza, which is performed by Inverness Gaelic singer Ellen Macdonald as part of the festival. The film will be available for download from the Fèisean nan Gàidheal Bandcamp on November 27, with money raised going towards a crowdfunding campaign for hungry children in Guyana. Eliza was the daughter of Hugh Junor who owned a wood-cutting estate in Guyana in the 19th century that used slave labour. In 1816 he took Eliza, then aged 12, and her brother William, who was seven or eight, from Demerara to settle in Fortrose, travelling thousands of miles by boat and horse-drawn coach over six weeks to their new home. Local historian David Alston has been researching the story for more than 20 years and, although little is known about Eliza’s mother’s background, she was either a slave or a “free coloured woman” and did not accompany her children to Scotland. Eliza and William were baptised at Rosemarkie and later attended Fortrose Academy where they both won prizes. Eliza became a dressmaker and lived for a time in London. She died in 1861 and was buried in Rosemarkie churc-hyard. In the film, Eliza is played by Edinburgh-based student Tawana Maramba, 18, while Ronan MacColla, 19, from the Black Isle, plays Hugh Junor.
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“With the rise in the Black Lives Matter movement, most children have an awareness of the topic but little understanding of Scotland’s direct connections to slavery and these are important topics to raise through education.” The film is making its debut at a time when more is being done to highlight the links between the north and the slave trade. Following a talk given by Mr Alston to the Cromarty Peace Group it was agreed that some reparation should be made for the exploitation of enslaved Africans and their descendants. Cromarty families the Barklys and the Davidsons of Tulloch were among plantation owners in the early 19th century and their legacy is still evident in the Guyana villages of Cromarty and Nigg which Mr Alston visited in February. The local group is now raising money for a project to help children in the town of New Amsterdam, a few miles from Cromarty and Nigg, A project costing £5,000-£6,000 will refurbish a kitchen to provide free lunches for more than 50 children in the local primary school. Support this effort and enjoy the remarkable story of Eliza Junor from Guyana that follows her life after she was taken to the Black Isle near Inverness in the year 1816, told through this new Gaelic drama.
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JetBlue is now flying from JFK Airport in New York City to Cheddi Jagan Airport in Guyana JetBlue Airways has launched service between New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Georgetown, Guyana’s Cheddi Jagan International Airport (GEO), with the first roundtrip flight arriving back in New York the next morning. The new service launches with four times weekly service on JetBlue’s Airbus A321neo aircraft. “JetBlue’s arrival in Guyana introduces our low fares and award-winning service to another new market in the Caribbean and Latin America where customers have long faced high prices and little competition,” said Andrea Lusso, vice president network planning, JetBlue. “We remain committed to this important region of our network and continue to connect more travelers with the people and places they want to see.” JetBlue’s A321neo aircraft feature the Collins Meridian seat – which is the widest seat available for the single aisle Airbus family of aircraft – with enhanced cushion comfort, adjustable headrests, power connections at every seat and the most legroom in coach (a). Inflight entertainment is powered by Thales AVANT and for the long hours of discussions and negotiations over the ViaSat-2 connectivity. With this system – featuring 10.1 last few years. Guyana reaps the benefit of your hard work! inch, 1080P high definition screens, more than 100 channels of live television with DVR-like pause and Jet Blue is here, with an all Guyanese cabin crew!" rewind functionality, picture-in-picture function and more – JetBlue offers customers expanded entertainment choices in nearly every region the airline flies. Schedule between New York (JFK) and Georgetown (GEO) Beginning December 11, 2020 JFK - GEO Flight #1965 GEO - JFK Flight #1966 3:40 p.m. – 10:13 p.m. 11:59 p.m. – 5:00 a.m. (+1) in a statement, the former Minister of Tourism Cathy Hughes said, " In 2016 as Minister of Tourism I had the privilege of meeting with a team of Jet Blue reps at the CTO conference in New York. They were interested since then and explained their lead time to enter a new destination was no less than three years. At the time it seemed like forever but tonight I was part of another defining moment. Thank you to Minister David Patterson and Minister Carl Greenidge and many others
THINKING ABOUT SELLING? At Next Home My Way IT’S ALL ABOUT THE HOUSE.
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2020 in Closing... by Natasha Solomon Continued from pg 3 This article isn’t about divorce or separation, I’m trying to help us look for toxic traits early on, so that we don’t get into situations then have to leave, or run. Or sadly as in Majah Hype's case present your argument on social media and pray for the best. There are different types of relationships, some are romantic, some are not; but when we speak about healthy relationships, there are 4 general things that are present: 1. Healthy communication. You should be able to talk to your partner about anything. You should be able to communicate honestly and respectfully, especially about things that are difficult. Keeping the peace, so that there can be peace does not work. Discussion is better than fighting. You and your partner should be able to sit together and discuss goals and the role that you will both play in achieving those goals. 2. Healthy boundaries. Yes, couples fight. Back home they say “teeth and tongue must bite.” Disagreements are natural, but when we disagree it shouldn’t escalate into something that tears down the other person. If it happened months ago, let it ago. Weight, income, family members, education etc. are off limits in a fight. Try to see the issue from your partners' point of view. Alternately, try patience. (Sometimes spice is good, and sometimes patience is better.) Being together forever is a long time, having healthy boundaries helps the other person to want to stay.
Do they understand or care to understand who I am? Will they love me in spite of my flaws? If your answer is “No” then I encourage you to re-evaluate your relationships and your place in it. Better yet, find your own tribe. Find the people who celebrate you for you are, and who love you for who you are. Every moldy biscuit has he own vum vum cheese, find your cheese. And as we usher in a new year, I wish you health, strength and happiness. Often, we have to grasp that wish with both hands, but it’s only when we deliberately choose change will change come, whether that’s political, romantic or something else. We said goodbye to too many people this year to not change our lives and live it fully and happily. Let us never forget 2020 and it's lessons.
3. Mutual respect. If you don’t want it done to you, don’t do it to your partner. You want to be treated with respect? Be sure to treat your partner respectfully. Do you like when your partner does little things to let you know that you are appreciated? Do things to let your partner know that they are appreciated. Value your partner’s opinion and time. Value your partner’s privacy. 4. Support each other. A healthy relationship is when two people get together and help each other become a better version of themselves. Two people should be able to connect with each other, but still maintain their differences and their individuality. Differences should be respected and valued. Individual freedom to still have friends, goals and hobbies is necessary. If their friends would lead them astray, then leave that one in the streets. I don’t know of too many adults who changed because of nagging or fighting, adults change when they are ready to change. Maybe they matured, maybe they went to counselling, maybe they fell in love and decided to change. Not because you can fight a battle means that you should. Certain battles you should simply walk away from. You want the room painted cream, and he wants it painted bottle green- go ahead discuss, discuss vigorously. He hits you, no discussion. She puts you down, no discussion. When we look at a situation and decide to be in a relationship with that person whether political or romantic ask yourself – Does this person value my opinion? Does this person see me as a human being?
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Did you know? Did You Know George Dallas is the First U.S. Vice-President of Jamaican Descent?
Did you know that the Fort Pierce doctor who led the clinical trial on 'antibody cocktail' given to President Trump is Guyanese?
U.S. Vice-President Elect, Kamala Harris, is being lauded as the first vice-president to have Jamaican descent, but it’s not an accurate representation. George Mifflin Dallas was actually the first individual with Jamaican ancestry to serve as vice-president of the U.S. Dallas was born in Philadelphia, PA in 1759, the second of six children. His father was Alexander James Dallas who was born in Kingston, Jamaica. His mother, Arabella Maria Smith Dallas, was born in Devon, England. Dallas’ father was educated in Scotland, served as Secretary of the Treasury, and briefly as the Secretary of War. The 11th vice-president was focused on a legal career, attending Princeton University where he earned a BA. He was admitted to the bar in 1813 before becoming involved in politics. That involvement included the following positions:
Fort Pierce based Guyanese Dr. Moti Ramgopal, of Midway Immunology and Research Center, is a principal investigator on research for REGN-COV2, among other COVID-19 treatments, including Remdesivir. REGN-COV2 is what maker Regeneron Pharmaceuticals calls the antibody cocktail, of which Trump was given a single 8-gram dose, according to his physician, Sean Conley. Ramgopal, who is leading research at at one of the nation's 89 clinical trial sites on the "antibody cocktail", said that giving Trump the cocktail made sense from a medical perspective. He wishes more people would get it. I think all hospitalized patients should be getting this, and we're probably heading in that direction as soon as these studies are done."
58th Mayor of Philadelphia from 1828-1829 S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from 1829-1831 S. Senator from Pennsylvania from Dec. 13, 1831-March 3, 1833 17th Attorney General of Pennsylvania from Oct. 14, 1833-July 29, 1939 Appointed U.S. Minister to Russia, serving from Aug. 6, 1837-July 29, 1839 Appointed U.S. Minister to the UK, serving from April 4, 1856-May 16, 1861 11thS. vice-president under President James K. Polk
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Tony Deyal | Sand In My Shoes There is a character in German literature and folklore called the ‘Sandman’ who puts people to sleep and encourages and inspires beautiful dreams by sprinkling magical sand onto their eyes. The sand in Siparia, Trinidad, the southern town to which we moved when I was 11, was everywhere, as were the chiggers (pronounced ‘jiggers’), which I did not know anything about until I got too big for my boots. The creatures had lodged under my skin and, while my feet were swollen, I was feeling very far from swell. I learnt, however, that sprinkling sand in the eye of anyone was a good self-defence strategy, provided that they did not wear sunshades or glasses and you were able to run really fast. In other words, as Usain Bolt might say when running the 200 metres, your future is in your lap. I had left Picadilly E.C. School in Port-of-Spain, which was shunned because it was ‘behind the bridge’ to live in an area of Siparia, the oilfield town in the deep south of Trinidad, that was ‘behind the Savannah’ or what, because Siparia has sand instead of dirt or clay, we called the ‘Sand-vannah’. My parents hoped I would settle in and settle down to my studies, so I could get a scholarship to go to secondary school. I actually exceeded their hopes because I settled into the culture of Siparia far too quickly. Apart from playing cricket or football in the evenings after school or work, we had nothing to do but hang out or “‘lime’ under the streetlight where we gambled, told tall tales and delved into other people’s business. We constantly teased the girls passing by with endearments like, “Darling, of all my sugars you are my granulated!” or threatened their boyfriends if they were not from our neighbourhood. Because we were on the outer boundary of an area named ‘Cassava Alley’ (later ‘Peyton Place’), which had no streets, no lights, was linked by tracks in the sands and harboured fugitives from the law who were “cooling out”, we always had a lot to talk about, and even more to hide from the police. Some of my friends who left school early to “learn trade” (become apprentices in garages or with carpenters, masons or electricians) were not successful either in the accumulation of wealth or its management. There was Nolan, the cattle thief, who, when caught with Miss Popely’s cow that she had tied in the “San-vannah”, told the police that he saw this piece of rope on the ground and picked it up intending to use it to tie his goat. He did not realise there was a cow at the end of it. The problem is that Nolan did not own even a second pair of pants at the time, much less a goat. Then there was the day the police raided a card game in a cornfield in the back of the alley. In a desperate effort to save themselves from being beaten with police ‘bull pistles’, Nolan and his father, Papa Shewey, ran to the same outdoor, rickety latrine, with boards sticking out on the side, and while hurrying to take their pants off, started to fight for the right to the seat. At that point, the fastest of our runners, Jimmy, took off so quickly that all you could see was the parting of the corn as he whizzed through. I doubt he saw the tightly nailed board which jutted out on the side of the facility. Jimmy hit it with his right shoulder and the pain spurred him on to even greater speed. Unfortunately, he did not look back to see that he had caused the latrine to lose its moorings, taking Nolan and his father along with it in a scramble of legs, arms, rusty galvanise and bits of ‘Gazette’ paper. It was a wipeout. One story I have not forgotten because of its moral, or lack
of it, is the one about my recently deceased, quiet but deadly friend Ross whose last name was, significantly, ‘Arson’. He, the accurate ‘pelter’ of beer’ bottles named ‘Bread Boy’ because his parents owned a bakery, and Boyie, who later ended up in charge of a gambling club in La Brea, had an early stint in the Youth Training Centre and came out worse criminals than when they went in for assault with intent. Kindred Spirit They robbed a man and threw him into an oil tank. I met them when they returned and maybe they identified me as a kindred spirit, or perhaps they felt sorry for me, but all three, especially Ross, adopted me. He had stolen a whole roll of tickets for the Siparia Plaza Cinema and, anytime that colour (yellow) was used, we went to the show for free. What I will never forget is one All Saints night when I took time out from studying for my A’ levels (the CAPE equivalent) to hang out with my girlfriend in the crowded cemetery. While everybody was busy lighting candles, three boys of about my age started to harass my friend. As I ran towards them, intending to fight, I was rudely pushed aside, Ross growled quietly, “You have exam to write!” and he beat up the three boys and left them lying in the sand. No cussing, no shouting, and he disappeared without another word. Ross never worked in his life. He was always maintained by at least one woman. When the one he was living with was transferred to Port-of-Spain, he had to go with her. So he asked a couple of the guys what he should do in Portof-Spain to make sure he wasn’t terrorised by the ‘bad johns’ there. I’m not sure if it is Bread Boy who advised him to go into ‘town’ (as we called it), find the biggest bad john around and ‘buss’ his head. Later, as I read history and strategy, I realised that, as a tactic, it was well-known and used over the years, and even had a better-than-even chance for a king and his army to gain ‘nuff’ respect. So, Ross went up to town, entered a busy club with the toughest men around drinking and behaving really and dangerously bad, ordered a beer and sat sipping it while looking around for the man who was most feared in the joint. When he identified the appropriate ‘example’, Ross quietly walked up to the man and hit him on his head with the beer bottle. The man got angry and then, realising that Ross had not moved or said anything, muttered, “This is a mad feller here. Better leave him alone before he kill somebody.” Even the worst criminals in the city never went too close to Ross after that. In later life, Ross followed his lady to Montreal where he was supposedly a hired gun. However, even now, I look back to those days in Siparia and still remember the lesson Ross taught me from early in my life. It was that, in Siparia, because of its geology, it is easy to have sand in your shoes, but in the bigger, more dangerous world we live in (as Mark Twain wrote in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn), it is much better to have the sand in your craw. Tony Deyal was last seen recalling a Western film line Ross constantly quoted, “There never was a horse that couldn’t be rode; there never was a rider that couldn’t be throwed. “
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