Caribbean American Passport News Magazine - Sept 2021 by caribbeanamericanpassport

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Hispanic Heritage Month

Sept/Oct 2021

All roads lead to Miami Carnival 2021

Each year, the United States observes National Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept.15 to Oct. 15. It’s all about celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of people whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. This year's theme for Hispanic Heritage Month is "Esperanza: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage and Hope." According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data, more than 60 million Hispanics live in the United States. That includes more than 15 million in California. Data from the Pew Research Center shows people of Mexican origin accounted for nearly 62% - about 37.2 million - of the nation's overall Hispanic population as of 2019. Those of Puerto Rican origin are the next largest group, at 5.8 million. Six other Hispanicorigin groups in the U.S. have roughly 1 million or more people each: Cubans, Salvadorans, Dominicans, Guatemalans, Colombians and Hondurans. “Latinos are the largest minority group in the U.S.," said Dr. Elvia Ramirez, Professor of Ethnic Studies and Director of the Chicanx/Latinx Studies Program at Sacramento State. cont'd on page 17

MESSAGE FROM THE MIAMI CARNIVAL ORGANIZERS Welcome to Miami Carnival, the ultimate cultural experience that combines the various elements of Carnival with the beauty of Miami over Columbus Day Weekend in October. The annual event features four signature events, Junior Carnival, Panorama, J’ouvert and a costumed Parade & Concert and brings visitors and participants from across the globe, all who come to celebrate Caribbean culture. We are excited about getting back to the celebration of the Miami Carnival. But we want to do it safely and responsibly. Covid 19, along with the Delta variant, has changed the landscape of our world, so we must change with it.

As we plan for the 2021 Miami Carnival season, please know that the Miami Broward Carnival Host Committee, which produces the official Miami Carnival on Columbus Day weekend in Miami, is committed to our patrons’ safety masqueraders, vendors, and the community at large. With that said, we want to inform you that we will incorporate and go beyond the CDC’s minimum requirements. Traditional Carnival as typically celebrated in Trinidad and Brazil, is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent, usually in February or March. Here in South Florida, Miami Carnival celebrations begin the week before cont'd on page 7

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Guenet Gittens-Roberts Owner/Publisher/Editor

L I F E S T Y L E

Connection through Culture Samuel J. Roberts

Your culture is your connection to your heritage, your past and the fuel of your soul. Every group, every one of us from any part of the world craves the opportunity to connect or reconnect with our culture. This sense of connection can give our life purpose. Miami Carnival and the events surrounding the week long celebrations allow our family to reconnect. The food, the music, the costumes, the familiar faces and smells... Miami Carnival does this for us. The celebration of Carnival serves as a reunion of sorts, a reunion with more that just our culture but a reunion with the World-wide family of CARNIVAL. Owner/Publisher/Editor

For any first timers to carnival I would recommend that you clear your mind of any expectations. Attend Carnival with the freedom of your childhood and accept everything that comes your way as a cultural reconnection. The experience will be heart-warming, stomach filling and soul satisfying, you will leave Carnival tired, exhausted and sometimes longing for either more or home, but either way, if you approach it right, you will catch the carnival bug and will no longer be able to resist the calling of everything 'Carnival'. Over the last week we as a community, as a carnival community, a Caribbean American community, a Florida community we lost one of our own, Miya Marcano. We didn't have to be related to her family to feel their pain. This hurt us. Her death was wrong on so many levels. The pain, frustration and anger was felt deeply in our community throughout the long week from her being declared missing to being found dead. Miya was one of our own, a child of Caribbean parentage, a child of the Caribbean culture, a child of Carnival. Miya reminded us that we are a large family separated by distance, by countries, nationalities, by bloodlines but UNITED by our culture and our brought-upsy (up bringing). We came together to find her, we came together to support her family and friends and we will stay together in support of our now extended families and to make sure that Miya lives on forever in our hearts and souls. Chair of the Miami Broward One Carnival Host Committee, Joan Justin Hinkson issued the following

Photo

Credit @spydamanx LeVer Gordon - Wassi

Omes

2019

Band Launch

statement upon learning of the news. "With a heavy heart, the extended Miami Broward Carnival family extends our deepest condolences and prayers to DJ Eternal Vibes-Marlon Marcano, Yma Scarbriel, and Giselle Wassi One Blanche on the loss of their daughter Miya Marcano. Miya, a beautiful spirit who played mas at our Jr. Carnival and a student at Valencia College - graduate of Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines, was a special part of our Carnival family. We promise to wrap our love around your family as you journey through one of the most difficult moments in your lives. We extend love and support around them to provide the healing and peace they will need as they move forward. Your Carnival Family is here for you in any way that is needed. With love and our prayers," she said.

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 publication go to http:// caribbeanamericanpassport.com and click on the 'Print Archive'. Publisher & Editor................................................................................... Sam Roberts Publisher ............................................................................. Guenet Gittens-Roberts Editor & Contributing Writer................................................................Aleia Roberts Contributing Writers: ................................................................................ Tony Dyal Contributing Photographers ............ .......................................................Ted Hollins ....................................................................................................................Dillia Castillo Central Florida Distribution......................................................... .Danielle Browne South Florida Distribution .............................................................Norman Williams North Florida Distribution ...............................................................Kadeem Roberts Tampa Distribution ...................................................................................Julian Pina Copyright (C) 2016 GGR Marketing & Public Relations. All rights reserved.

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Miami Carnival Weekend Guide to Events Sunday, October 3rd - Open Season – Virginia Key Beach Park, Miami, FL – 1pm-7pm - Backyard Miami “Farmer Nappy & Friends” – Lauderhill, FL – 5pm-until Tuesday, October 5th, - Travis’ World – Racket Wynwood – Miami, FL – 7pm-12am Wednesday, October 6th - Nation of Love Miami – North Beach Bandshell – Miami, FL – 4pm-10pm - Welcome to Miami – Miami, FL – 9pm-2am - Good Vibes Only Miami Carnival Kick-Off – Miami, FL 9pm-2am - Hello Miami Carnival – Stache Drinking Den + Coffee Bar – Fort Lauderdale, FL – 10pm-2am - Bon Ami – Lauderhill, FL – 10pm-3am Thursday, October 7th - Plunge Breakfast Party – Miami, FL – 8am-2pm - Mawnin Miami – Miami, FL - 11am-7pm - Booze & Bacchanal – Miami, FL – 10am-2pm - Luge Lime Miami: The Breakfast Party Edition – Miami, FL 10am-4pm - Twisted Brunch – Miami, FL – 2pm-10pm - FOF Miami – MAD Wynwood – Miami, FL – 3pm-9pm - Njoy Miami – Carnival Yard – Miami, FL 3pm-9pm - Trini Jungle Juice Arrivals Miami Pool Party – Rooftop Pool – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – 5pm-11pm - Welcome to Miami: Jumpstart – 12691 NW 42nd Ave – Opa Locka, FL – 6pm-2am - Darkers – Miami, FL – 9pm-11am - Carnival Lyfe – Miami, FL – 9pm-11pm - Fete Miami – Miami, FL – 9pm-3am - TRIBE Ignite Miami – Miami, FL – 9pm-3am - Entice Miami – Miami, FL – 9pm-3am - Sweet Dreams Miami – Secret Penthouse Location – Miami, FL 10pm-3am - Indiglow BYOB Rave – Miami, FL – 10pm-3am - Miami Army Fete 2021 – Lauderhill, FL – 10pm-4am - Socavivor: Welcome 2 MIA: Lyrikal & Friends – Miami, FL – 10pm-5am Friday, October 8th - Medz Miami – Miami, FL – 8am-2pm - Wake Up Miami – Miami, FL – 9am - Sun, Rum & Soca Cruise – Crandon Park Marina – Miami, FL – 10am-8pm - Splash Cooler Wet Fete – Soca Warehouse – Miami, FL – 10am-8pm - Socavivor: Rise MIA Meets Shine NYC – Virginia Key Beacch – 11am-5pm - Fete-ish: The Sexiest All Inclusive Brunch for Miami Carnival – Miami Beach, FL – 11am-4pm - Soca y Sol: The Soca Sundance – 1-800-LUCKY – Miami, FL – 12pm-6pm - Shorts & Shades MIA Noon Boat – Sea Isle Marina – Miami, FL – 12pm-4pm - Citrus Miami Carnival 2021 – The Orchard - Miami, FL – 1pm-7pm - Beachnic: The Beachwear Boatride – Hollywood, FL – 1pm-7pm - Carnival Lyfe Foam Fete – Sea Isle Marina & Yachting Center – Miami, FL – 2pm-8pm Miami Nice 2021 Soak-N-Wet Pool Party – Duffy’s Sports Grill – North Miami, FL – 2pm-8pm - Release – The Garden – Miami, FL – 2pm-9pm - Duck Work Miami – Riverside Miami, FL – 3pm-9pm - Tipsy Miami All White Party – Hollywood Arts Park – Hollywood, FL – 3pm-11pm - Tanked “The Luau” Miami Carnival 2021 – Hollywood Beachfront – Hollywood, FL – 3pm-10pm - Trope’z South Beach – Miami, FL – 4pm-10pm - Reggae Carnival – Fort Lauderdale, FL – 4pm-10pm - Sundown: The Ultimate Carnival Cooler Fete – Miami, FL – 4pm-10pm - Shorts And Shaded Miami Evening Boat Ride – Sea Isle Marina & Yachting Center – Miami, FL – 5pm-10pm

- Big Phat Fish All White Party – Miami Marine Stadium – Miami, FL – 9pm-3am - Socavivor: International Flag Party: Mas Ha to Play – Mad Club Wynwood – Miami, FL 10pm-2am - Rock the Yacht 2021 All Black Yacht Party – South Beach Lady Yacht Hollywood, FL - 10pm-2am - Miami Carnival Warm-Up 2021 – Miami, FL – 10pm-3am - Ultra All White - Blume Miami – Miami, FL – 10pm-4am - Miami Big Bang 2021 – The Mansion – Pembroke Pines, FL – 10pm-5am - Vybz in Miami: Carnival Edition – The Black Door – Miami, FL – 11pm-5am Saturday, October 9th - Vale Vibe Miami Breakfast Party – Jungle Island – Miami, FL 4am-10am - Miami Carnival J’ouvert – Miami-Dade County

Fairgrounds – Miami, FL – 7am-3pm

- Immortals – Miami, FL – 8am-3pm - Breaking Dawn Breakfast Fete – The Deck Wynwood – Miami, FL – 9am-3pm - Daybreak Florida – Miami, FL – 9am-2pm - Waikiki Pool Party with Nessa Preppy – Grand Hotel – Fort Lauderdale, FL – 12pm-8pm - Miami Nice 2021 Soak-N-Wet Pool Party – Miami, FL – 2pm-8pm Sunday, October 10th

- Miami Carnival Parade of Bands and Concert – MiamiDade County Fairgrounds – Miami, FL – 11am-11pm

- Best of the Best Music Fest – Bayfront Park – Miami, FL - 2pm-10pm - Detour – The Oasis – Miami, FL – 3pm-12am - Endless Jam Fete: Carnival Cyah Done – Miami, FL – 9pm-3am - I Love Soca Miami – Mango’s Tropical Café on South Beach – 9pm-4am - Carnival Ecstasy Miami – Miramar, FL – 10pm-3am - Carnival Lyfe Indulge BeachWear Cooler Fete – Miami, FL – 10pm-3am - Jabba Strikes Back – Story – Miami Beach, FL – 10pm-4am - Rep Your Flag Miami Carnival After Party – Truth Bar & Lounge – Fort Lauderdale, FL – 10pm-4am Monday, October 11th SUITS Miami 2021 – Miami., FL – 7am-12pm - #SSS Blue J’ouvert - #SSS Grounds – Miami, FL – 11am-5pm - Revive Brunch + Pump: Miami White & Rosé – Miami, FL – 11am-5pm - Bacchanal Monday: Monday Wear Event – Virginia Key Beach – Miami, FL – 12pm-until - Glasshouse Miami 2021 – Miami Marine Stadium – Miami, FL – 1pm-9pm - Drip-N-Wet Pool Party Miami Carnival 2021 Columbus Day Weekend – Miami, FL – 2pm-8pm - Cruizin Miami Beach – South Beach Lady Yacht Charter – Miami, FL – 2pm-8pm - Foam Wet Fete Miami Carnival 2021 – America’s Backyard – Fort Lauderdale, FL – 5pm-12am - Captain Cruise: Bright Colors & Captain Hats – Sea Isle Marina – Miami, FL – 7pm-10pm - SSAMIA2021 Midnight Cruise – South Beach Lady Yacht – Hollywood, FL – 10pm-3am - Socavivor: Last Lap Liv Yuh Life – Miami, FL – 10pm-5am - Miami Last Wuk Up – Miami, FL 10pm-until

- Miami Carnival Panorama – Miami Dade County Fairgrounds Miami, FL – 5pm-12am

- I Am Soca: Army Fete – 2022 NW 1st Court – Miami, FL – 7pm-2am - Chutney RAVE Miami Revolution Live – Fort Lauderdale, FL – 7pm-4am - Soca or Die Miami Carnival – MAPS Backlot – Miami, FL – 9pm-3am

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Friday October 7th

Every year, the Miami Carnival brings together hundreds of people to celebrate Caribbean culture in South Florida. One of the largest draws of this annual event is the Panorama, the steel drum competition. The Panorama competition is held every Friday of The Miami Carnival. Each year several teams compete for the title of best band of the year. Judges for the panorama have a 100 point criteria that they use to critique competing bands. Bands in the panorama are judged off of visual impact, creativity, craftsmanship,

relation to the current theme, portability and presentation. Steel drums have been a vehicle to deliver the sounds of the Caribbean for over 80 years. This instrument originated from Trinidad and Tobago and crossed over to different parts of the world. Steel drums are played in ensembles, or steel bands, of about 4 to 100 performers. Drums are commonly made in four sizes from bass to treble, called boom, cellopan, guitar pan, and ping pong. Today it is an integral part of Carnival Season.

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Saturday, October 9th

J'ouvert (pronounced "Jou-vay") is derived from French patois and means 'daybreak'. It usually officially commences in the early hours of the morning. This year at Miami Carnival, J'ouvert will get started at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 9th. This early "Mas", known as "J'ouvert", (a contraction of the French "jour ouvert", or "day open"), is for the true die-hard players. Many skip sleep the night before and go straight from the previous fete to J'ouvert morning.

It's a ritual enacted to the accompaniment of mud, oil, paint, and powder. Some view it as the celebration of the darker side of human life! Most revelers usually join sections in which hundreds of people party together. J'ouvert consists of early morning jumping, dancing, shouting (and drinking), but it is truly fueled by the exhilaration of the occasion

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Sunday October 10th

MESSAGE FROM MIAMI CARNIVAL CONT'D

Columbus Day in October. It kicks off with the Junior Carnival on Saturday the 2nd before Carnival Sunday, followed by the Steelband Panorama competition on Friday of Columbus Day weekend. The official J’ouvert is held on Saturday morning of Columbus Day weekend and the carnival celebrations peak with the Kings, Queens and Individuals Show and Competition and the parade and concert on Carnival Sunday, the day before the 2nd Monday of October. MBOC has put together this guide to making the most of your carnival experience. This family event has many different types of entertainment, and we want to ensure you don’t miss out on anything each year. The concert segment of Miami Broward One Carnival on Carnival Sunday allows for the showcase of international Caribbean talent. The concert has featured powerhouse soca acts and live bands including Machel Montano, David Rudder, Super Blue, Stalin, Crazy, Rikki Jai, Shurwayne Winchester, Byron Lee’s Dragonaires, Leon Coldero and Code 868, Kes The Band, Burning Flames, Hot Flames, Jam Band, Alison Hinds, Bunji Garlin, Fay-Ann Lyons and many more. Every year soca lovers flock to Carnival to experience the high energy, live performances of these entertainers. Each year Miami Broward One Carnival promises to deliver an exceptional line up of acts, which include performances

by well-known Hispanic and Haitian acts, in an attempt to attract those who share similarities in culture and in the Carnival tradition. Who goes to a cultural event and does not indulge in the food and drink? At Carnival it won’t be any different. The Miami Broward One Carnival food vendors, numbering over 50 vendors and representing just about every Caribbean culinary delight, features food and drink indigenous to the Caribbean region. Foods from the islands of Bahamas, Jamaica, Haiti, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Dominican Republic and many more are all available in our food court. You will also be able to enjoy rums, beer and beverages from the distillers and breweries representing many islands of the Caribbean. Make your list of those Caribbean dishes you want to taste and come prepared to satisfy that Jerk, Curry, or Stew craving you get as you enter the Park. Be sure to come hungry! Arts and Craft vendors from as far away as New York and Boston travel to South Florida with t-shirts, flags, toys, games, jewelry, souvenirs, paintings, wood carvings, incense, pottery and more. Bring cash or use one of our ATMs conveniently located throughout the Miami Broward One Carnival village www.MiamiCarnival.org

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Cigar of the Month

by El Dorado Cigars

The first Dominican brand from Warped Cigars is heading to retailers today. Called Chinchalle, which is Cuban slang for “little factory,” the new smokes are made at Tabacalera La Isla, the small, start-up cigarrolling operation—or chinchalle—owned by Hostos Fernandez Quesada in the Dominican Republic. The new Chinchalle comes in one size, a 5-inchby-50-ring robusto, and is packaged in 25-count boxes. It consists of an Ecuador Havana 2000 wrapper, Dominican Havana Vuelta Arriba (HVA) binder and Dominican filler. Warped owner Kyle Gellis says that he plans on adding more sizes to his Chinchalle brand in the future.

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Gone but never Forgotten - Miya Marcano After an intensive search of areas around the Central Florida area, authorities have found a body, believed to be the remains of missing college student Miya Marcano. John Mina, the Orange County sheriff, said they are "very certain of the identity" but declined to identify what is believed to be the 19-year-old's body, saying confirming the identification and cause of death was the medical examiner's responsibility.

Her body was found in a wooded area outside of an apartment complex in Orange County. The police were led there when investigating the movements of "prime suspect" Armando Caballero, a 27-year-old maintenance worker who worked at Marcano's apartment complex, where she was also employed. Caballero was found dead three days after Miya's disappearance, of an apparent suicide.

Petition by Arden Villas Residents Arden Villas is responsible for the kidnapping of Miya Marcano. She was kidnapped in broad daylight by a coworker in the apartment complex she hoped would keep her safe, and due to Arden Villas' lack of safety measures, there is little evidence to go on. For years, residents have reported inappropriate behavior of the maintenance men that enter their apartments. Please go to The world’s platform for change to sign the petition to show Arden Villas the list of safety demands and help to make them implement them.

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Hispanic Heritage Month Cont'd. from pg 1 ...

"National Hispanic Heritage Month is about recognizing our history. Latinos have a long history in the U.S., but I don't think enough of the history is included in our educational system. As students, we don't learn it. We grow up thinking Latinos are newcomers, or that we don't have a long history. Hispanic Heritage Month is about inclusion, feeling seen and being validated, and we don't get that a lot. It’s one small step towards greater inclusion, but there is much more we can do as a society.”

NorthStar First Properties, LLC.

The observation of Hispanic heritage started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan expanded the observation to cover a month-long period starting on Sept. 15 and ending on Oct. 15. It was enacted into law on Aug. 17, 1988, upon the approval of Public Law 100-402. The day of Sept. 15 is significant. It's the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day, or Día de la Raza, falls on October 12.

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Life through the Eyes of an Organ Donor As the world pauses to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the September 11th terror attacks, I too will reflect on the 20 years since receiving my liver transplant. It was on September 29, 2001, through the grace of God, a brave, selfless, forward-thinking family choose to say YES to organ donation. As a result of this wonderful gift of life, I have made it my mission to educate people about saving lives through organ donation. Approximately 90% of the US adult population supports organ donation, yet only about 60% are registered donors. According to the Health Resources Services Administration (organdonor.gov), there are over 106,000 individuals, including children, waiting for organ transplants. Key contributors to these grim numbers are a lack of knowledge, fear, falsehoods and misconception regarding organ donation. Let me dispel some of the common distortions. • NO, you will not be left to die in an accident because your driver’s license indicates that you are an organ donor. Medical professionals adhere to a high standard of ethics for every individual life. In that moment, they will do the utmost to save that person’s life without considering his/her designated organ donation status. It is their Hippocratic oath. According to the Gift of Life Donor Program (https://www.donors1.org/), the organ donation process begins after all life-saving measures are exhausted, permission is given by the family and the prospective donor is in hospital on a ventilator and pronounced brain dead. • NO, there is no cost associated with donating an organ!

A person can either donate directly to someone or as part of a donation chain where multiple people receive compatible organs. In 2020, approximately 5,700 lives were saved because of the generosity of living donors. Itis also important to note that living donors are given preferential treatment should they ever need an organ in the future. I am alive today to share my story, the stories of others and advocate for organ donation because a generous family chose to donate the organs of their loved one. In the 20 years post-transplant, I have completed multiple degrees, returned to work, and traveled the world. As part of my advocacy, I have started a YouTube channel (Life After Transplant with Juvita Layne-Abrams (https:// youtu.be/1A0dMuGUkI4). Through this channel, I am afforded the opportunity to encourage transplant recipients, those waiting for an organ, donors, and professionals to share their stories and other information regarding organ donation. The organ transplant journey has been a family affair. For me journaling was an important part of the process. Hence, I have created the “While We Wait Journal” for individuals and families to document their transplant journey. Organ donation is truly the gift of life. Unfortunately, most of us do not pay it enough credence until someone that we love needs one. Please act not! Choose YES and register today at organdonor.gov. -Juvita Layne-Abrams

• NO, you are not too old for organ donations. This too is a misconception. Each donor is assessed on a case-bycase basis. Racial disparities exist at many levels of society. However, in healthcare, we have the greatest opportunity to change lives by becoming organ donors. According to the Gift of Life Donor Programs, minority patients account for approximately 60% of the national organ transplant waiting list. That is a staggering 64,000 people who are waiting on life-saving organ transplants. If we all take the time to understand the process and put aside the misconceptions, we can have a better control of the situation and change the narrative. We may not be able to change the number of people waiting for organs, but we can improve their chances by becoming organ donors. If you make this decision today, it will increase the potential number significantly and reduce the waiting time. We can close the gap now! We know that the fears surrounding organ donation cannot be ignored. It may be easier to believe the many incredulous things that we hear regarding this subject. However, I am asking you to do your research, arm yourself with facts, and reject the myths. Here are the facts: • approximately 17 people die daily waiting for an organ • one organ donor can save the lives of up to eight people • one tissue donor can help hundreds of individuals Frequently, it is assumed that organ donation can only happen after someone dies. This is another misconception. Living donors are a critical part of saving lives both directly and indirectly via donation chains.

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Batt Head - By TONY DEYAL BAMC & BATT HEADSs

Sir Michael (Mick) Jagger has not yet drawn the interest of Trini rapper, Nicki Minaj, whose surname ‘Maraj-Petty’ says it all, but he has certainly attracted mine which goes beyond Jagger’s ‘Rolling Stones’ even though, according to Wikipedia, they are rooted in blues and early rock and roll. Worse, as one of the most popular and enduring bands of all time, their music has been described as ‘swell’ and ‘massive’ and they are hugely popular. Their leader is not only a musical ‘jagger-naut’ but is a serious cricket fan who puts his money where his mouth is. Unlike Trinidad, where a ‘jaggerbat’ is a lady of the evening with very loose virtue, morals and other parts, in England, a ‘Jaggerbat’ could be a much-valued and very valuable gift which is neither vampirical nor a fly-by-night, one-shot deal.

JAGGER-BATTERS Interestingly, the English don’t use the term ‘jagger-bats’ in cricket, although there are many bats that are autographed or signed by male cricketers or ‘batsmen’. From now on, there will be no ‘batsman’ or ‘batsmen’ but only ‘batter’ and ‘batters’. There is already a serious battering of the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) which lays down the laws of the game. In fact, some people have already described the move as ‘batty’ which in England means ‘insane’ or ‘crazy’ but in the Caribbean stands for ‘rear-end’ or ‘bottom’, as in the Jamaican expression (found in Richard Allsopp’s Dictionary of Caribbean English Usage), “You see how Joan and Susie now come like batty and bench?” In fact, besides changing the English meaning of ‘batty’, we have added to, or extended it with words like ‘hole’, ‘man’ or even ‘wax’. ‘Batty’ generally has the same meaning as ‘bam-bam’, except in Guyana, Grenada and St Vincent where it can also be a variety of cassava bread, or in Jamaica where it is called ‘bammy’. This should not be confused with ‘barmy’ which, for the British, can be mild and pleasant weather, and ‘barmy’, meaning someone crazy or, when it is the ‘Barmy Army’, a group of fans who follow the England cricket team and are known for their ‘vociferous’ support.

ACRONYMS ABBREVIATIONS

If you think I’m letting my anger loose because of the terrible treatment I got from RBTT recently, let me introduce to you the way we in the Caribbean deal with acronyms and abbreviations. In the Bahamas, the Agriculture and Marine Science Institute is ‘BAMSI’ and you get newspaper headlines like ‘BAMSI chief tells of agricultural decline in nation’. In Barbados, you will find the Barbados Agency for Music Culture Inc. or BAMCI, and the Barbados Agricultural Management Company Limited (BAMC). Each of these has its own BAMCI or BAMC head. When I read about an “episode in the life of the BAMC” and an editorial on ‘Getting the BAMC back on track’, they were enough to tighten my own. What made the BAMC or BAMSI business even more interesting were songs by Barbadian Alison Hinds, a lady who, like her music, always leaves me ‘so bazodee’. One calypso invites “Come up to my Bamsi boy!” and another demands, “Come up to my Bumsy.” In addition, the Barbados Union of Teachers has a BUT head. And while all this reminds me of a calypso by the Mighty Funny about a fellow named ‘Bam’ who, if you went anywhere at all, “Bam see”, St Vincent has its own organisation Banana Accompanying Measures or BAM. I went to St Vincent many times but have no idea if BAM was ever able to see me. The Statistical Institute of Jamaica is STATIN, which is also “any of a group of drugs which acts to reduce levels of cholesterol in the blood”. RADA or Rural Agricultural Development Authority borrowed the acronym from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art which was founded in 1904. Also in Jamaica, PMES is the Performance Monitoring and Evaluation System and it is pronounced the same way as PMS or Pre-Menstrual Syndrome. The one that I feel is most appropriate is OPM, which in both Jamaica and Trinidad is used as the acronym for Office of the Prime Minister. Significantly, and this might be no laughing matter given the politics of today, it also stands for US Office of Personnel Management. Maybe these two heads of government or as CARICOM says, HOGs, are seeking help for further extensions of their present contracts. Or perhaps the US President is just Biden his time to take over. WORK AGAINST THEM

THE BATT HEAD

When it comes to real backing, there is nothing even close to the way the Trinidad media took up the appointment of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) big shot, Richard Downie, as the new leader of the Bankers Association of Trinidad and Tobago or BATT head. It was such an important event for the country that the Trinidad Express ran the story this Wednesday, September 21, headlined ‘Downie Takes Up BATT Baton’, even though the paper made it clear that Downie took up the post more than a month ago, on August 12th. What was funny is the BATT head supposedly has “a direct line of sight for Trinidad and Tobago’s 16 branches”. I had this vision of the BATT head, sitting in a glass-paned office, getting and being a pain in the neck, while, instead of wondering about the whereabouts of Beavis, he is keeping his eyes peeled on 16 branches. Whether these include Canadian Maple needing picking, or Trini Palms requiring greasing, is anyone’s guess. What requires no guessing games is what many of us would like to do with the BATT head’s baton if we had it.

I always wonder about organisations which choose names with acronyms that can work against them. The Caribbean Association of Nutrionists and Dietetics is CANDi for short. Why, especially in these times, would any sensible or sensitive organisation which looks after the health and eating habits of an entire region, especially children, call itself CANDi and want us to love and use its services? Then there is the Media Association (Media Ass.) of Trinidad and Tobago which is known as MATT. This surely makes it easy for others, especially the government, to wipe its feet or step on the Media Ass. Only in Trinidad would you find an airline called ‘CAL’ which stands for Caribbean Airlines. Obviously, the hotshot who named it was either not aware that ‘airlines’ is one word or that ‘Caribbean’ is not two, with the first one being the Caribbean ‘C’ and the second beginning with ‘A’. I used to have a lot of fun with the United Nations organisation or UNO. When asked what the letters stood for, I invariably replied, “If UNO, I don’t know either.” It was even better when I was in Barbados working for the World Health Organization. If anyone who knew me from my old days in Trinidad asked, “Who you working for now?” I nodded sagely and responded, “Yes, that self. Is there I work.” However, the one that really gets me is the Trinidad Certificate of Environmental Clearance or CEC. My question is, what should I ask for if I need more than one certificate? - Tony Deyal was last seen saying that the Association of Trinidad and Tobago Insurance Companies is called ‘ATTIC’ and, while it is flying high, it needs to add a ‘K’ to the end of its name so we would know what insect is its mascot.