Caribbean American Passport News Magazine - January 2019

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Jan/Feb 2019

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10 Honoring the Dream

The Diverse Roots of Presidential Candidate - Kamala Harris nia's Hastings College of the Law, she embarked on a rise through the California legal system, emerging as state attorney general in 2010.

Following the November 2016 elections, Harris became just the second African-American woman and the first South Asian American to win a seat in the U.S. Senate.

Since his assassination on 4 April 1968, Martin Luther King Jr has been sanitised and sanctified; coopted and embraced by the American establishment as a bland, unthreatening saint of racial equality.

However at the time, he was a radical dissenter who challenged the political, economic and military status quo at least as much as African American militants like Huey Newton of the Black Panthers and Malcolm X of the Nation of Islam. Hence the FBI’s obsessive, relentless attempts to discredit King and those around him, including smears that he was a communist, traitor, adulterer and pervert.

Now, many people think of King solely as a black rights champion. But he was much more than that. He opposed the US war in Vietnam, supported striking workers and demanded economic justice for poor Americans, black and white.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2019, she declared her candidacy for the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

Kamala Harris has announced her candidacy for the 2020 presidential race.

Former California Attorney General Kamala Harris became the second African-American woman and the first South Asian American to earn election to the U.S. Senate. Will she be the first to the Presidency?

Who Is Kamala Harris?

Kamala Harris was born on October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California. After attending Howard University and the University of Califor-

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L I F E S T Y L E W

It's a New Year...What does your New You look like?

e are in 2019. 2019 y'all! It's a new year, what are your resolutions?

I stopped making resolutions a few years ago. What I do now is use December to slow down, give thanks and reflect.

We run three different businesses, and our event season is so busy that once the year starts, I only pause for breath in the summer and then dive right back in.

Samuel J. Roberts, Publisher/Editor

Guenet Gittens-Roberts, Publisher/Editor

In December, I consciously slow down, I don't take any contracts after the 15th of December until the 15th of January. During that time, I can reflect on if we were able to live in the conscious way that we wanted to live as a family.

Are we growing? Or are we stagnant? Are we enjoying what we do? What can we do better next year? What are we missing?

Personally, what do I want? Am I happy dealing with the people that we are? Who do we need to push out of our circles? Who do we want to add to our inner circles?

So in January, I don't bother with resolutions, as I have my life mapped out, if you weren't added in December, chances are that you have to wait a year to be added.

Has it caused me to miss out on opportunities? Yes. Do I regret using this system to figure out who what and why we do what we do...NO! It's too easy to let your ego be massaged by others...be careful of people that make your life easy at the risk of your goals.

One of my favorite books is by Clarissa Pinkola Estes and one of the stories is about a poor little orphan girl, who couldn’t afford a pair of shoes. Over long months, she painstakingly stitched herself a pair of red shoes out of scraps of cloth. They were crude, but she loved them and they made her feel rich.

One day a gilded carriage pulled up beside her. Inside was an old woman who told her she was going to take her home and treat her as her own little daughter. So they traveled home together, and the child was cleaned and combed, but all her clothes were thrown away, including the red shoes.

The child was very sad, for even with all the riches surrounding her, the simple pair of shoes made with her own hands had given her the greatest happiness of all. She was now made to sit still all the time, to walk without skipping, and not to speak unless spoken to. As soon as she was old enough, the old woman took her to a shoemaker to choose a new pair of shoes. Much to the old woman’s disapproval, the girl picked a pair of red shoes made of the finest leather. The story goes on to share how those shoes then controlled the girl until she begged for them to be chopped off her feet.

What happened to this little girl often occurs in the lives of many of us. When we are in the middle of a new project and we are trying to do our best to reorganise our life, we are overwhelmed by the thought that it is too difficult for us and we should look for an easier alternative. The risk of falling in the trap of the gilded carriage is there. Blinded by the light emanated by the carriage, we end up marrying the wrong person, depending on other people’s judgment and approval, giving up work we were focusing on for the past ten years, and ceasing to express our opinions. We naturally tend to look for easier alternatives in order to reach a sense of comfort.

My purpose each New Year is to reach out to the the little girl inside each of me, to ensure she experiences the sensation she felt when she was designing and making her own life by hand, to remember the direction she was heading toward and to explore her own internal resources.

I do not want to be trapped in ‘gilded carriages’. They can come in many forms such as love, food, drugs (etc..) or a constant and strong sense of anxiety that forces us to sacrifice a part of ourselves and not live our life to our fullest potential. If we take the time to figure ourselves out...then do we really need resolutions?

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 .................................................Samuel Roberts Contributing Writers: ............................................................ Tony Dyal ................................................................................................Ryan Davis .............................................................................................Sandra Fatmi ...............................................................................................Gail Seeram ...........................................................................................Sasha Watson ..........................................................................................Kamal Abdool Contributing Photographers ............ ...................................Ted Hollins ..................................................................................................Dilia Castillo .............................................. .......................................Nancy-Joe Brown Central Florida Distribution...................................................Roy Benn South Florida Distribution ...........................................Norman Williams NorthFlorida Distribution ......................................................Theo Jack Jr. Tampa Distribution ...........................................................Kadeem Roberts Copyright (C) 2016 GGR Marketing & Public Relations. All rights reserved.

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Four Tips to Discover Wellness for 2019 Lisa Kahn, award-winning interior designer and shaper of sanctuary spaces, offers her top tips

Resolving to live healthier in 2019 doesn't have to mean a gym membership and a vow of allegiance to the latest keto diet.

In fact, the best route to a healthier, happier you is a lot simpler—incorporating activities that you actually like into your daily life.

That's because, research shows, only 1 in 10 people out of the half of Americans who make new year's resolutions actually stick to them. This is attributed to setting unrealistic, and quite frankly, unappealing goals.

Among the proponents of a new way to health, a path with built-in rewards rather than punishments, is award-winning Florida-based interior designer Lisa Kahn, CEO of Lisa Kahn Designs.

With that in mind, here are Kahn's top Wellness Tips for 2019: • Calm your mind with meditation or an activity

you

love.

.

"Any physical practice that regularly encourages us to quiet our minds—even a little bit—is a good thing," Kahn says. "It can be meditation, a hike or tai-chi, or something as simple as knitting or doing Zen-tangles, a form of doodling—or even doodling itself. It's really just about focusing our brains and giving them time to settle down. The repetition—of each step or each movement— calms our thoughts and makes us feel more centered."

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Embrace the healing power of nature.

Research shows that being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear, and stress. Exposure to nature and natural elements reduces blood pressure, heart rate, and tension.

That's why walks outside are so important—and so is bringing natural elements.

Take time for a musical interlude.

Studies show that music can fend off depression, improve your mood, and send stress-related hormones packing. So, turn on the tunes!

"Matching the energy level of your

music with the energy level you're trying to achieve is a fabulous way of creating a mood or shifting a mood.

•

Pop a different "vitamin C" — chocolate

"While I do so love chocolate for its taste, I also love it for its wellness properties," Kahn says.

"Antioxidant-packed dark chocolate is a natural antidepressant, and it can reduce your risk of heart disease, improve brain function, and even protect your skin from sun damage. What's not to love?"

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King’s civil rights campaign played a pivotal role in ending racial segregation and the denial of voting rights to African Americans in the southern states. It also created a cultural shift in attitudes on race issues in much, but not all, of the US. In the Deep South, long after race equality was secured in law, statues commemorating pro-slavery Confederate leaders remained on their plinths and new ones were added.

The Confederate flag continued to be flown from many public and private buildings. This was proof that changing the law to end racist discrimination and voter suppression was not enough.

The focus of the black civil rights movement was legal equality. While this was understandable and the immediate priority, it also had a downside. Once official discrimination was ended and formal legal equality won, the movement dissipated. The direction, coherence, dynamism and coordination that were its great strengths, and powered its many successes, were lost. Moreover, racism was not vanquished. It continued to plague the lives of African Americans. Civil rights was not the panacea that many had assumed.

This illustrates the danger inherent in any struggle that is pivoted on the sole and limited goal of equal rights.

King understood this limitation. That’s why, post legal equality, he wanted to push the movement into a new phase focussing on economic injustice, which he saw as the other major factor holding back African Americans.

51 years later we understand the full depth of his dream.

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History of Calypso The Calypso in Trinidad and Tobago, is mainly of African origin, and can be traced to the traditions of West Africans in terms of music , structure and function.

Calypso , which has been called a poor man’s newspaper in times when literacy was not wide spread , traces its roots to African traditions of improvised songs of selfpraise and scorn for others, brought here by enslaved peoples. It developed to become both a dance and cultural record of events at first in single tone style with implicit meanings and a spicy flavour.

The roots of “Calypso” are diverse. Some argue it came from “kaiso” a Hausa word for “ bravo” ; some say the word came from the French “carrousseaux” a drinking party; or the Spanish “ calliso” a tropical song ; or the Carib “ carieto” ,meaning the same thing.

The first wave of professional calypsonians became known as the Old Bridgade, including singers such as Growling Tiger, Lord Beginner, Atilla the Hun , the Roaring Lion and Lord Pretender. By 1945 a new wave of singers rose to meet the demand for more entertaining songs. This Young Brigade included Lord Kitchener , Mighty Spoiler , Mighty Dictator and Lord Wonder, and later the Mighty Sparrow.

History of Carnival and its Elements Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago is celebrated before the commencement of the Lenten season. From 1783 for half a century, the French developed their Carnival , which was noted to be a season of gay and elegant festivities extending from Christmas to Ash Wednesday. These festivities consisted of dinners, balls, concerts and hunting parties.

The Africans started to participate in the festivities from 1833 after the Emancipation Bill was passed. The Africans brought Canboulay to its festivities. Canboulay was first played on August 1st, Emancipation Day , but subsequently took place after midnight on Dimanche Gras, the Sunday before Carnival.

In early celebration of the festival by the masses activities were held over the three days preceding Ash Wednesday.

However in the face of over 60 years of criticism from the upper class about the low standard of Carnival and strong feelings expressed about the desecration of the Sabbath, in 1943 Carnival on the street was restricted to the Monday & Tuesday.

The Black Power marches in 1970 once again triggered a new generation of singers such as Black Stalin and Brother Valentino. A broad range of voices and musical experimentation was ushered in by Shadow, Maestro, Merchant and Explainer. In 1978 saw the Calypso Monarch competition being won by a woman for the first time. Calypso Rose signaled the entry of many more women on the Calypso stage.

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Soca Monarch competition now in hands of Fay Ann Lyons-Alvarez decision to appoint Lyons-Alvarez because she is a “good, loyal soca professional’. “We are giving her the opportunity to put her stamp on it,” he said, expressing optimism that she could be successful with the support of the artists and corporate Trinidad and Tobago.

Scoon, who held the position of Chairman previously, said he is taking time to see about himself. Scoon revealed that the National Carnival Commission (NCC) will be funding the event in the same way it funds the Calypso, Pan and Mas events. “They are investing in the event with the intention of getting it back and helping the show,” he said.

The International Soca Monarch is now in the hands of Fay Ann Lyons-Alvarez. The only woman to hold a Power Soca Monarch title, Lyons was announced as the new head of ISM. Scoon told Loop that they made the

Lyons-Alvarez competed in the finals of the ISM from 2002 to 2011 when she decided to withdraw from the competition.

In 2009, she made a clean sweep, winning the Power and Groovy categories as well as People’s Choice with ‘Meet Superblue’.

Trinidad & Tobago Carnival Schedule

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Ex-felons in Florida enjoy new freedom: Registering to vote Desmond Meade served time in prison for drug-related offenses in the early 2000s. On Tuesday, he registered to vote after not being eligible for the last several years.

He wasn't alone. An estimated 1.4 million Floridians with felony records were eligible to register to vote on Tuesday thanks to the passage of Amendment 4 in the November elections.

The landmark ballot initiative restored voting rights to state residents with felony convictions who have completed their sentences, with the exception of those convicted of murder or a sexual offense.

Around 8 a.m. Tuesday, Meade, his wife, Sheena, 36, and three of their five children met up with other formerly incarcerated people at the Orange County Supervisor of Elections office in Orlando.

“That whole process just reminded me of back in the civil rights era when dad and mom went to vote they brought the whole family," said a tearful Meade as his daughter, Xcellence Glenn, 15, a high school freshman and an organizer with Black Youth Vote, helped him fill out his voter registration form.

"It was just overwhelming," he said. "This is a moment that seemed so far away at one point, but now it’s here.”

Desmond Meade, president of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, fills out a voter registration form Tuesday as his wife, Sheena, looks on at the Supervisor of Elections office in Orlando.John Raoux / AP

sentences before being able to apply to have their voting rights reinstated, and approval was at the discretion of the governor.

The campaign to pass Amendment 4 received bipartisan support from the American Civil Liberties Union and Freedom Partners, a Koch Brothers-backed conservative nonprofit organization.

And Meade, who said he registered as an independent on Tuesday, said that political operatives who think they know how formerly incarcerated people will vote based on demographics are deluding themselves.

“Any elected official on either side of the aisle, they need to earn the vote of the 1.4 million people,” he said. “They don’t just get it.”

Meade, 51, of Orlando, was one of many volunteers who went door-to-door in 2017 and 2018 collecting more than 766,000 signatures to put the measure on the ballot.

Having earned a law degree in 2014, he is now the president of the grassroots group behind the measure, the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition.

Meade was joined by David Ayala, 45, a community organizer for Latino Justice who served seven years in federal prison for drug-related crimes.

Desmond Meade, left, and David Ayala, with copies of their voter registration forms after they registered at the Supervisor of Elections office on Jan. 8, 2019, in Orlando,

Ayala was accompanied by his wife, Aramis Ayala, 43, a state prosecutor, and his sister, Mariely Feraro, 38, who surprised him by taking the day off from work.

Next on Meade’s agenda is launching a statewide engagement campaign to ensure that all who are eligible to register to vote thanks to Amendment 4 are aware of their rights and do so in 2020. “We’ve still got work to do in getting people registered to vote and engaged and educated on the issues,” Meade said.

David credited his wife and sister with helping him change his life, noting that millions of other Americans are released from prison without the necessary support from friends and family, let alone the government.

“My sister was the one picking me up at the halfway house when she was eight months pregnant,” he said. “I didn’t know she was going to be there. That’s when the tears really started to roll down. I was thinking back to the time in my life. If I didn’t have the support from her, I wouldn’t be here today.

"The easy part is doing the time. The hard part is getting out and staying out and being able to navigate all these obstacles that are thrown at you.”

Under the former governor, Rick Scott, formerly incarcerated people were forced to wait five years after finishing their

David Ayala is joined by his sister, Mariely Feraro, left, and his wife, state attorney Aramis Ayala, as he fills out his voter registration card at the Orange County Supervisor of Elections in Orlando, Florida, on Jan. 8, 2019.Esther de Rothchild

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The best and worst ways to borrow money during the federal shutdown From personal loans to credit card advances, there are a number of ways to access cash to bridge the gap. But not all types of borrowing are created equal.

Here are some of the best and worst loans out there.

Payday loans Also called cash advances, payday loans are the worst offenders. Even though these short-term loans, generally for $500 or less, are relatively easy to get — often through storefront payday lenders or even online — the interest can easily run into the triple digits.

Depending on your state's laws, payday loans are typically due two weeks later and must be paid off in one payment along with a "finance charge" (the service fees and interest).

Many states set a maximum amount for payday loan fees ranging from $10 to $30 for every $100 borrowed. But still, a two-week payday loan with a $15 per $100 fee is the equivalent of an annual percentage rate of almost 400 percent, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Tapping a 401(k) Although many financial advisors also say 401(k) loans should be off-limits entirely, federal law allows workers to borrow up to 50 percent of their account balance, with a maximum of $50,000.

Borrowers then have up to five years to pay back their loan, which comes with an interest rate that typically is lower than with other borrowed money, such as credit card advances.

There is a significant downside to borrowing from your own retirement account, which is a permanent setback to your retirement planning.

Credit card cash advance Credit cards are one of the most common — and also one of the most expensive — ways to borrow money. Currently, credit card rates are at a record high, at an average of about 17 percent, according to Bankrate. The rate on a credit card cash advance is even higher.

For example, the Chase Freedom card has an interest rate of 16.74 percent to 25.49 percent, depending on your creditworthiness, but the cash advance APR is a flat 26.74 percent, according to Ted Rossman, an industry analyst at CreditCards.com.

In addition, consumers must pay a transaction fee — which is usually 3 percent to 5 percent of the cash advance amount — as well as interest on the loan.

"The truth is that a credit card cash advance can be among the best of a bunch of bad options when times get really tough, and a situation like the government shutdown can certainly be one of those times," said Matt Schulz, chief industry analyst at CompareCards.com.

But before paying 30 percent interest or higher for a cash advance, "it's much smarter to make purchases with the credit card itself, rather than taking out a cash advance," added Ashley Dull, a credit strategist at CardRates.com.

Better yet, "consider taking a short-term loan from a credit union, where you can get much lower rates versus tapping into your personal line of credit," Dull said.

Personal loans Personal loans, or unsecured loans, do not require borrowing against something of value, like a house, which makes them particularly attractive for those without that kind of equity. However, that generally means the loans come with a higher interest rate than a home equity loan.

Personal loans are also locked in over shorter terms, like one to five years, and payments are generally automatically deducted from a checking account, which decreases the odds of missing a payment or defaulting.

Personal loans are well suited for smaller loan amounts than a typical home equity loan, but more than one would want to run up on credit cards — generally, anything up to $35,000.

A number of online lenders, like Lending Club and Prosper, have popped up in recent years making these types of loans more accessible.

The average interest rate on an unsecured loan is currently about 11 percent, according to Bankrate, although those with very good credit can get a rate as low as 5.5 percent.

That's notably less than the APR on a credit card.

Home equity Before the Great Recession and the historic housing crash, homeowners used their homes to access as much cash as the bank would allow. But borrowers who were burned by falling housing prices, not to mention today's tighter lending standards, are considerably more wary now when it comes to home equity loans and lines of credit — despite the more favorable terms.

One of the most common ways to access that equity is through a cash-out refinance (which is when you refinance your current mortgage and take out a bigger mortgage) or a home equity loan.

A home equity loan can be withdrawn as a lump sum with a fixed rate and a repayment period generally of five to 15 years or as a home equity line of credit with a variable rate.

The average interest rate on a home equity loan is 5 percent to 6 percent but, under the new tax law, the interest is not tax-deductible unless the money is used to improve your home.

Government shutdown assistance programs In some cases, financial institutions that cater to federal workers and members of the military are offering furlough relief loans to help affected workers stay afloat in the short term.

For example, the Congressional Federal Credit Union has a relief line of credit with an initial rate of 0 percent for 60 days. After that, the rate on the remaining balance is 4 percent.

So check with your financial institution first to see if they offer any type of relief for federal workers and members of the military before trying any other loan process.

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Reggae Month was officially proclaimed and first staged in 2008, spearheaded by the Ministry of Culture and powered by the Jamaican Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA). The focus of Reggae Month is “edutainment”, highlighting Jamaica’s musical history and heritage.

The annual celebration has been a huge success, attracting on average 40,000 attendees each year.

The goal of Reggae Month is to attract international acclaim for Jamaica as the reggae mecca of the world, enhance travel and tourism for the month of February, and provide an educational platform of entertainment for all ages.

Recognised as one of the country’s greatest exports, Jamaica reggae music has officially been added to l2018's

UNESCO’s cultural heritage list. The United Nations has deemed the music genre worthy of protecting and promoting. Music has always been central to Jamaica’s culture and reggae is known to have revolutionised Jamaican music.

Travellers can immerse themselves in the music genre with a host of reggae themed events and experiences taking place throughout the year across Jamaica.

Whether it’s going back to the roots of one of the biggest reggae legends at the Bob Marley Museum, or celebrating the 27th anniversary of Jamaica’s biggest summer reggae festival, Reggae Sumfest.

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6 of the best places to retire in the Caribbean Crashing turquoise waves, clear blue skies, white sand -- a little slice of Caribbean heaven to retire in sounds like a dream.

And it’s an attainable one for many, even on modest budgets.

There are plenty of places in the region that offer not only gorgeous scenery, but also good health care and a reasonably sized expat population to keep those social circles strong.

We’ve spun six castles out of the air that aren’t actually all that far-fetched -- keep reading to see which one is your version of a golden-years paradise.

1. Cayman Islands If your retirement fund looks more like a dragon's hoard than a few bills under the mattress, the region's most notorious tax haven, the Cayman Islands, might be your dream destination.

The British Overseas Territory probably has one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean, and its Seven Mile Beach regularly makes the most-beautiful lists.

There's public and private health care options, plus an air ambulance to Miami if needed.

However, the cost of living is nothing to sneeze at: It's almost 10 percent more expensive to live there than in New York City, with the only difference being cheaper housing.

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2. Puerto Rico Puerto Rico might be your best choice if you'd like the thrill of living in a different culture without leaving the U.S. -- and want to brush up on your Spanish along the way (hey, you're never too old to learn something new!).

You'll still pay in dollars, you can access Medicare and Walgreens is just around the corner. But you'll also have the history, culture, culinary and nightlife scenes, outdoor activities and beaches that make the island such an attractive destination in the first place.

The cost of living isn't bad, either: In the capital of San Juan, the amount of money it takes to make it through a month is still 42 percent less than in New York City, with clothing being the only thing that's a bit more expensive. Housing and transportation costs, on the other hand, are half or less than half the price.

3. Anguilla If you just aren't ready to completely stop working, Anguilla might be the place to go: There's no tax on capital gains and no income tax for individuals or companies. Due partly to its money-friendly tax laws, you'll find a global community of expats here. And while development is tightly controlled, there are plenty of restaurants and nightlife. Plus, immigration is fairly straightforward: if you're retired and have purchased property on the island, it should be simple to get residency.

However, be warned that your home probably won't be on a sandy beach: On the whole, private buyers are restricted

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Federal shutdown means tax refunds may be delayed - By Darla Jones As the partial shutdown of the federal government hits the two-week mark, a new worry has emerged: the possibility that some tax refunds may be delayed.

The House, now led by Democrats, passed legislation Thursday night to end the shutdown; the president, however, could still veto it even if the Senate acts to approve it.

"The October 2013 shutdown caused a lot of angst for practitioners," said Edward Karl, vice president of taxation for the American Institute of CPAs. That shutdown took place from Oct. 1 to Oct. 17 – right in the heart of the 2013 tax extension filing season.

"If there were some issue and you needed to contact the IRS, you couldn't get them," Karl said. "There were many folks concerned about that."

A spokesman for the IRS would not speculate on how long the shutdown would have to last in order to result in a delay of refunds. However, millions of taxpayers tend to be early birds and submit their returns as soon as they can.

Households might need the refunds to help pay off remaining holiday debt or just to bolster their savings.

Last year, the IRS kicked off the filing season on Jan. 29.

By the end of that week — Feb. 2 — the taxman received 18.3 million returns and processed 6.1 million refunds, with an average refund of $2,035. In all, the IRS received 154.4 million returns by Nov. 23 of last year, the most recent date available, and issued an average refund of $2,899.

Providers of tax prep services say they are ready to receive early bird returns. Many offers refund advances – short-term loans that you can receive within days of the IRS accepting your return. You would then use your tax refund proceeds to pay off the loan.

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6 of the best places to retire in the Caribbean...

from buying on the sandy coastlines reserved for resorts and hotels -- which means your coastline will be a rockier one. It's also among the pricier of the Caribbean islands: Costs are just 10 percent less than they would be in NYC, making retirement there more expensive than in some places in the U.S. 4. Curaรงao Curaรงao's culture is fascinating, with a blend of Dutch, African and Jewish heritage shining through in its architecture, food and music.

And although it's a diver's paradise, there's an area on the island to fit pretty much any personality -- for instance, artsy folks gravitate toward Pietermaai on the secluded west side while sun worshippers head to the beaches out east.

The climate is sunny nine months of the year and temperatures hover right around 80 degrees. Plus, it offers public and private healthcare -- St. Elizabeth Hospital is one of the most advanced in the Caribbean. It's also easy to get back to the States: The capital, Willemstad (where the cost of living is about 30 percent less than in NYC), has nonstop flights to Miami and Atlanta.

There are incentives to retire here, too: With the pensioners' program, there's no capital gains tax, and income is taxed at just 10 percent -- to qualify, though, you have to purchase property within a year and a half and be at least 50.

One downside is that taxis are really expensive, but depending on where you live, you might not be taking one all that often.

5. Dominican Republic If the financial crisis took a chunk out of your retirement savings, you don't have to write off your dreams of spending your twilight years on the beach.

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The Dominican Republic is incredibly affordable for many Americans, and it's especially charming outside of the tourist-filled resort towns like Punta Cana. As long as you have $1,500 a month coming in somehow (like through Social Security pensions), you can get a residency permit here -- and it'll go far, with that same amount more than easily getting you through the month. Plus, you can bring over your household goods and car tax-free, and it's easy to work if you want to take a part-time job.

Golf is plentiful and health care is cheap and easy (many prescription meds in the States are over-the-counter here).

With the cost of living this low, you won't be alone: The island draws expats in from all over the world. Las Terrenas is a popular spot on the island for retirees -- a large French and Italian community has brought some amazing food, though expats from all over Europe flock here.

However, the area has still retained its colorful, charming island vibe, thanks in part to laws that prevent chain hotels from building here.

6. U.S Virgin Islands The best part about living in the U.S. Virgin Islands is that you're still technically in the U.S., meaning that you won't need passports to visit family still on the mainland.

And, if you want to take on a part-time job to keep from getting bored, you won't need a visa to do it. St. Thomas is where most retirees choose to set up shop, and although the island is popular with tourists, the industry has brought in many American conveniences.

Of course, this comes at a price: A three-bedroom rental in the U.S.V.I.'s capital, Charlotte Amalie, will run you about $2,250 per month, and one outside of the city center about $3,000, while other living costs, such as food and clothing, tend to be a bit pricier.

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The Diverse Roots of Presidential Candidate - Kamala Harris - Cont'd from pg 1 One of the top Democratic candidates, Harris joined a field that already included Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and New York Senator Kirsten Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in a bid to push President Donald Trump from the White House after one term.

U.S. Senator In November 2016, Harris handily defeated Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez for a U.S. Senate seat from California, thereby becoming just the second African-American woman and the first South Asian American to enter the Senate.

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Harris has since joined the chamber's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Select Committee on Intelligence, Committee on the Judiciary and Committee on the Budget. She has supported a singlepayer healthcare system and introduced legislation to increase access to outdoor recreation sites in urban areas and provide financial relief in the face of rising housing costs.

California Attorney General Harris continued her political ascent by narrowly beating Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley for California attorney general in November 2010, making her both the first African-American and the first woman to hold the position.

She quickly made an impact in her role by pulling out of negotiations for a settlement from the country's five largest financial institutions for improper mortgage practices, eventually scoring a $20 million payout in 2012 that was five times the original proposed figure for her state.

Her Background Harris' mother, Shyamala, emigrated from India to attend the University of California, Berkeley, where she met Harris' Jamaican-born father, Donald. Shyamala carved out a career as a renowned breast-cancer researcher, while Donald became a Stanford University economics professor.

Kamala Devi Harris was born October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California. Reared in a predominantly AfricanAmerican neighborhood of Berkeley, she was brought to civil rights demonstrations as a toddler and sang in a Baptist choir. Her mother also ensured that Harris and her younger sister, Maya, maintained ties to their Indian heritage by raising them with Hindu beliefs and taking them to her home country every couple of years.

Harris' parents divorced when she was seven years old, and at age 12 she moved with her mother and sister to Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She learned to speak some French during her time in Quebec and demonstrated her burgeoning political instincts by organizing a protest against a building owner who wouldn't allow neighborhood kids to play on the lawn.

Harris is married to lawyer Douglas Emhoff and is the stepmother of his two children, Ella and Cole, www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com

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Update on Guyana No Confidence Vote and where matters stand A lawmaker from the ruling coalition in Guyana voted late Friday with the opposition for a no-confidence motion, potentially bringing down the administration of President David Granger and forcing fresh elections by March.

Government legislator Charrandass Persaud said: "I voted with my conscience." Opposition leader and former President Bharrat Jagdeo said Persaud might have been impacted by the layoff of about 7,000 sugar workers from the area where he lives and practices as an attorney.

However, Guyana's Police Commissioner Leslie James confirmed that the ongoing investigation of former government Member of Parliament (MP) Charrandass Persaud stems from a report of bribery and possible plans to move gold out of the country.

“It’s a report of alleged bribery and perhaps some movement of gold from the state of Guyana,” James told a press conference that was called at his office to specifically address the probe.

Guyana’s government is challenging in court the parliamentary no-confidence vote in court according to the country’s attorney general.

The position that the number of votes which carried the no-confidence motion against the Coalition Government is inadequate gained momentum with more attorneys-at-law coming forward to support the theory.

Unity (APNU) + Alliance For Change (AFC). The remaining 32 belonged to the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).

An attorney and chartered accountant, Christopher Ram however submitted to the High Court that based on the principles of interpretation, 33 votes constitute a majority for the passage of the no-confidence motion against the government.

He also argues that in accordance with the Interpretation and General Clauses Act, the Cabinet must resign with “all convenient speed” and thereafter the government becomes a caretaker administration until elections are held due to the passage of the motion and elections should be held no later than 21 March 2019.

The government has gone to court and is arguing that the motion needed 34 votes to pass, rather than the 33 it received, and that the lawmaker who cast the deciding vote was ineligible to be a member of parliament because he also holds Canadian citizenship, attorney general Basil Williams said.

Arguments continue in Court and a Court decision is expected by January 30th and both the Government and the opposition are putting forward arguments in support of their position. It is understood that the Courts decision will be final and all parties will accept and move forward.

Deliberations on the issue emerged soon after the vote when prominent local attorneyat-law, Nigel Hughes put forward his position on social media stating: “For a no-confidence motion to pass and be valid, the motion has to enjoy more votes than one- half of the full House.”

At the time the no-confidence motion was debated and passed, there were 65 sitting members of the National Assembly present, 33 of whom were represented by the A Partnership for National

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Tony Deyal | Duppy day out The Spirit of Christmas is one thing, but the Ghost? The first time I experienced the Ghost of Christmas Past was in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. It was an angelic and caring spirit and showed the main character, the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, scenes from his past hoping they would help him to change his penny-pinching ways.

Nice though this spirit was in spirit, in appearance, it was "now a thing with one arm, now with one leg, now with 20 legs, now a pair of legs without a head, now a head without a body: of which dissolving parts, no outline would be visible in the dense gloom they melted away."

My first Christmas ghost, or duppy, was more like my doppelganger. I did not see him but, whoever or whatever he was, he badly scared the telephone operator in the gloomy basement of Whitehall, the prime minister's office in Trinidad, in the Christmas of 1970. It was not fatal so much as verging on the faecal.

The desks of the prime minister's public-relations people, mine included, were in the basement of the old building, dating back to the slavery days some said, and there were stories about typewriters clicking furiously late at night and a carriage flying over the entrance gate and being hitched by a top-hatted coachman to a rail in front of what used to be the stables.

The cellar The basement office led to the cellar, a dark, dank and gloomy place where books written by Dr Eric Williams, the prime minister, were carelessly strewn and rats lived in total abandon. As a book lover, I was not deterred by the environment and with a cheerful 'good morning' headed past the busy telephone operator on her switchboard into the dungeon where, it was said, slaves used to be chained and beaten. I took almost 30 minutes checking out the books, and as I made my way out, I saw the alarm on the face of the operator who nearly fainted when she saw me.

"But didn't you just pass here?" she asked, her voice highpitched in obvious alarm and befuddlement. "No," I said.

"Not me." She dropped all the cords and switches and ran out screaming, "Oh, God! Oh, God!" Later, when things settled down with some Limacol, a hint of smelling salts, handkerchiefs and female support, the lady explained that someone who looked exactly like me had come out of the cellar, she had smiled at the person and whoever it was went into my little cubbyhole. It had to be what is known as a doppelganger - a lookalike or double of a living person by a ghostly or paranormal phenomenon. In other words, a duppy.

there for so many years, we were into Christmas in a big way and the spirit was not singular. It was legion. No matter that the spirits were the same ones in which my family and other seekers after spiritual salvation sought solace during the year, but at Christmas, these spirits abounded, multiplied, spilled over even, and in such a celebratory atmosphere, came out of the closets and cupboards and flowed freely.

Water shortage I cannot say "like water", since rural Trinidad, in which I lived at the time, always had (and still has) serious water shortages. The drought, fortunately, only applied to water and did not affect the spirits of the inhabitants. I still have old photographs of Christmas and our high spirits are captured in black and white, among others. The malignant spirits were given the treatment they deserved.

We beat the Johnnie Walker until it became black, then blue, then green. Long before the imposition of value added tax we were savouring it in spirit. Vat 19 Rum and Vat 69 abounded and keeping up the momentum was taxing enough. The amount of spirits we raised, you could call each Christmas a seance.

But the first Antigua Christmas was different. My mom woke at 1 a.m. on New Year's Adam (the day before New Year's Eve, aka Old Year's Day), went into the kitchen for a glass of water and assumed I had fallen asleep in front of the television set, a skill I shared with my father.

Early on New Year's Day, she jokingly referred to my falling asleep in the living room. I told her that she was mistaken since Indranie and I had both been asleep since 10. I might be a somniloquist, and even a som-pillowquist, but I am not a somnambulist. There was a startled silence. Could it be my father visiting us in Antigua now that his old haunts in Trinidad were no longer ours?

After all, for the first time since his death, we were gathered together, his wife, son, four grandchildren and Indranie.

The flesh was more than weak. It had to be non-existent since he was a daddy and not a mummy.

I have no idea how he reached Antigua in the Christmas season of 2006, and later surmised he might have a parttime job as the Ghost of Christmas Past, but he did arrive there to the utter consternation of my dearly beloved mother.

The spirit, however, seems to have been willing, and while the other spirits were not flowing with the accustomed rapidity of the past, his coming late for Christmas meant that, as usual, he had made many fuel stops along the way.

I don't believe in ghosts, and even though we lived in a hamlet called Longford's in Antigua, not even in my father's ghost. But my mother seeing my doppelganger, or my father's, made me change my opinion. While I do not accept that we had a Christmas spirit, I can truly define a ghost as an invisible object usually seen at night.

I am sure that in the comfort of Heavenly peace, my father and mother, for once, would find one thing on which they could both agree.

She had spent time with us in Belize without any untoward experiences or appearances but, in Antigua, was confronted by him though not in any way to cause alarm so much as speculation. Growing up in Trinidad and having lived

- Tony Deyal was last seen asking what would have happened if the doppelganger got lost in the Atlantic Ocean fog on the way to Antigua? He would have been mist

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