Caribbean American Passport News Magazine - November 2019 by caribbeanamericanpassport

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Nov/Dec 2019

Diabetes Awareness Month: Diet and lifestyle play role in managing disease

Local Community Hero to Jamaican National Hero...Wayne Golding

the challenge with dedication and dignity, are the ones who make the difference. The prestigious recognition of CD, is a result of consistent efforts, hard work and a fearless spirit. Sir. Golding, you have earned your stripes and accolades. May you always be reminded, of your dedication to our diaspora and the contributions you have made to our nation. We wish you continued success and immense prosperity. Congratulations! You deserve it!

November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and with World Diabetes Day taking place on Nov. 14, we are doing our best to bring greater awareness to this disease. Here are the facts – according to the CDC, more than 30 million Americans have diabetes and it is a leading cause of heart disease, blindness, amputation, kidney disease and even early death. Over 90-95% of U.S. adults with diabetes have type 2, which is generally associated with obesity and physical inactivity. Your risk is higher if you have a family history of diabetes. The CDC also estimates that 84.1 million American adults have pre-diabetes, meaning their blood sugar is above normal but not high to diadnose diabetes. Unfortunately even pre-diabetes increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. However, what most people don't know is that up to 50percent of type 2 diabetes can be prevented. Cont'd on pg 5

Wayne Golding Sr., Kingston College Old Boy, prominent attorney and community activist based in Orlando, Florida, has received the Jamaican Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander (CD). In a congratulatory message, Mrs. Alsion Roach Wilson Consul General of Jamaica to New York extended congratulatory sentiments to: Mr. Wayne Golding — on his most recent accomplishments. The path of success is not a walk in the park. Those who are always ready to take

The honor of the Order may be conferred upon any citizen of Jamaica who renders outstanding and important services to Jamaica and upon any distinguished citizen of a country other than Jamaica (an honorary member). The motto of the Order is “Distinction through Service”. Wayne GOLDING, Sr. received this honor for significant contribution to the Jamaican Diaspora Community in the United States of America and to National Development. 2019 has proven to be a banner year of recognition for Wayne’s accomplishments. In June 2019, he was recognized in the United States Congressional records ......Cont on pg 4

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L I F E S T Y L E

Guenet Gittens-Roberts, Publisher/Editor

Flea and Elephant Training Lessons For Entrepreneurs rope pulls taut. So it walks around in a circle the length of the rope, which is the radius of the circus ring. Within that routine they are conditioned to know that they will be fed, bathed and given plenty of water to drink. The baby elephant grows to be a huge beast of several tons. It can easily pull the steak out, but doesn’t know it because it is conditioned that it can’t. It is like so many people in the 45-year plan that cannot break out of the rut when they are given the opportunity for freedom. That which holds them is only powerful in their own mind and conditioning, when all they need to do is walk away in order to be free. Our minds and dreams are certainly as powerful as the elephant’s physical strength and weight— Flea training: A flea has a built-in mechanism that allows it to but how many people can’t seize the opportunity for survive and propagate its species against all odds. They are able freedom because they think that it is not possible? to jump very high - several feet - in order to land on a Do not make the mistake of thinking that these lessons do new host to feed and breed. When you consider their body not apply to you because you are not a flea or an elephant. size, that would be equivalent to a human jumping 100 yards. The same thing happens to millions of people all the time. That is pretty amazing. We are victims of our environment and conditioning and But you can train a flea. Here is how...Put the fleas in a large, we limit ourselves by our beliefs and what we are told to empty gallon pickle jar. Put the lid on. Shake the jar and tap on believe. “Don’t think big; you will only disappoint the side to stir the fleas up. The stimulus causes them to jump yourself. You can’t do that. What, are you crazy? Don’t full force (several feet or equal to 100 yards for a human). They dream big; it is impossible.” Is it true? Only if you believe hit the lid of the jar with tremendous force. Hitting the lid of the it...Keep Growing! Part of this editorial was adapted from jar with such force is painful. After about 30 minutes of this, a speech by JR. Ringer Sometimes we come across a piece so powerful that we have to share it instead Publisher/Editor of writing our usual editorial. This one is especially important as we don't have to wait until January to get started on our resolutions. We have to believe that our success is a reflection of our attitudes, beliefs and thinking. We are prisoners of our own thinking and our limitations are set by conditioning our beliefs as what we accept to be true for us. Our outer world or what we are and have is basically determined by what we accept to be true. Nature has coded our DNA with what we need to succeed, but we determine what happens by our conditioning and thinking. Here are a couple of powerful, true analogies.

you can take the lid off of the jar and the fleas will not jump out. They react to the impact of hitting the lid and adapt by jumping with less force and are conditioned to jump just shy of hitting the lid. When you take the lid off and give them the opportunity to use their innate potential again and jump far, they continue to jump just shy of the height of the lid as if it were still on. Isn’t it interesting that we as humans respond the same way? When limitations are taken off, we refuse to use our potential because of conditioning and pain of prior limitation. We will not go as far as we can go or think bigger to achieve great things. The moral is simple. Do not be like a flea when the lid is taken off of opportunity. Think big and go for it. You will never be bigger than your thoughts and you are capable of going much further than your limitations, which are nothing more than past conditioning.

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 .......................................................................................................................Ryan Davis ...................................................................................................................Sandra Fatmi .......................................................................................................................Gail Seeram .................................................................................................................Sasha Watson ..................................................................................................................Aleia Roberts

Elephant training: Elephant’s may appear docile as animals in a Contributing Photographers ............ .......................................................Ted Hollins circus, but in the wild they are ferocious beasts weighing many .....................................................................................................................Dilia Castillo tons and are definitely not docile. They are territorial, very .............................................. .............................................................Nancy-Joe Brown protective and can do tremendous damage. How does the circus Central Florida Distribution........................................................Kadeem Roberts South Florida Distribution .............................................................Norman Williams train them to walk around in a circle, do stunts and obey the NorthFlorida Distribution .....................................................................Theo Jack Jr. ringmaster or trainer’s every command? Obviously, part of it is Tampa Distribution ..................................................................................Julian Pina for rewards or treats for tricks repeated over and over. But Copyright (C) 2016 GGR Marketing & Public Relations. All rights reserved. elephants are much too strong and powerful for that to work unless they have been conditioned. They get the elephants when they are first born and little. They tie a rope around its foot and drive a stake in the ground to which the other end of the tope is tied. The baby elephant tries to walk away, but stops when the www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com

Jamaica’s Women’s Lacrosse Team Makes History she was extremely proud of the team’s recent accomplishments. Brentlinger praised the performance of youth players Johanna Silvera and goalkeeper Shannen Graham, who are also members of the senior team. Graham was awarded Player of the Match against Mexico, and Silvera was invited to play in a special all-star match on Saturday that will follow the Olympic rules that will be applicable for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Jamaica’s

senior

women’s

lacrosse

team

recently

made history, becoming the first Caribbean team to qualify for the 2021 Women’s Lacrosse World Cup. They finished in third place at the Pan American Championship in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, defeating Mexico 9-8 to secure their spot.

Local Community Hero to Jamaica National Hero... Wayne Golding...Cont from pg 1

“This latest achievement adds to a good run for historymaking Jamaican teams over the past few years. It shows the success of sport development initiatives and we must congratulate our athletes, their support teams including the coaches and administrators,” she added

for his contribution to the Caribbean Diaspora. Additionally, in July he was honored with the Governor General’s Achievement Award for Excellence at the 8th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference on June 17, 2019, at the Jamaica Conference Center in downtown Kingston, Jamaica. The theme for the 2019 event was “Jamaica and the Diaspora: Building Pathways for Sustainable Development.” The Governor-General, in lauding the recipients, described them as “exemplars of the simple ways that we can execute our duty of care to others”. He said that this year’s awards represent the culmination of “hard work done voluntarily” through Jamaica’s Embassy and High Commissions. The award is for significant contributions to the Jamaican Diaspora Community in the United States of America and to National Development.

The achievement follows the Under-19 team’s historic appearance at the Under-19 Lacrosse World Championships in Canada, this summer. The squad had wins against Colombia and Argentina on its road to securing qualification. Head coach of the lacrosse team, Karli Brentlinger said that

As a community we are proud to call Wayne our HERO but to see him recognized for his contributions by the Government of Jamaica as a National Hero is even more special. Congratulations and continue to keep up the good work Attorney Wayne Golding.

The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, congratulated the team on their historic achievement. “This is historic, it’s the first time that a team from Jamaica, and indeed the Caribbean, has qualified for the Lacrosse Women’s World Cup. They deserve our congratulations and our full support as they continue to beat the odds,” Grange said..

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Orlando, Tampa, Miami among 10 best markets for flipping houses Investors looking to flip houses may want to consider Orlando, Tampa, or Miami, which were all named among of the 10 best markets in the nation for that activity. A new report from real estate listing website Realtor.com looked at the 100 largest metropolitan areas based on the amount of investment sales, a purchase where a corporation or non-individual buys a property, and median home cost in each city. Orlando came in as the eighth best market for investors looking to flip a home. According to the study, 15.1% of property sales in the City Beautiful were investment properties. The city also had the fifth highest median home value of the top markets. Investors are vying with each other for houses here that cost less than $150,000 and were built between 1990-2007, said the report. Single-family rehabs have been "the bread and butter" for the flipper set in Orlando, says real estate broker John Murdock, of JMO Real Estate Group, in Winter Park, FL. But folks are also sinking money into duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes, all the way up to massive apartment complexes. He's seen more flipping than rentals in the market, although there are those who renovate homes to rent them out. Tampa was ranked as #4, with a median home sale price of $230,000 and the percentage of investment property sales at 16.2%. It's no mystery why Tampa is popular with investors. The smaller, waterfront city sits boasts great weather, plenty of gigs, no state income tax, andâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;wait for itâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;reasonable home prices and costs of living. Take that, pricey Southern Florida! This may explain why the Greater Tampa area has the third-highest percentage of home flips of all of the metros on the list. Ranked as #3, Miami is also a hot spot for home flipping. Having the words "home flippers" and "Miami" in the same sentence is bound to give some folks Great Recession PTSD. Speculation in South Florida was rampant leading up to the housing bubble and subsequent crash.

Guess what? Investor activity in the Magic City is ticking up again, rising about 1.3% over the past year, according to the realtor.com analysis. (Relax, we're not seeing a ton of subprime mortgages this time around.) And the new investor boom is just the beginning, says Southern Florida real estate analyst Jack McCabe. While many of the big financial companies, hedge funds, and other institutional investors left the market over the past few years as dirt-cheap foreclosures and short sales dried up, mom and pop investors have emerged to pick up the slack, he says. And they're increasingly looking to the single-family homes to flip. "We're on the verge of the next big wave of flipping," says McCabe. "They're able to make some nice profits [on singlefamily homes] because prices have shot up so high." Other cities on the list included Philadelphia, Columbus, Pheonix, Las Vegas, Memphis, and St. Louis.

Diabetes Awareness Month: Diet and lifestyle play role in managing disease cont'd cont'd from from page page 11

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to choose whole grains and foods that are naturally high in fiber, such as beans, peas and sweet potatoes. Never be afraid to fill up half your plate with vegetables like broccoli, green beans, kale, Brussels sprouts and carrots. Whenever you have a hankering for something sweet, pick fruit instead of cakes, cookies or pies. If you eat meat, make the switch to something leaner like chicken, turkey without skin, pork tenderloin or beef sirloin. Choose heart-healthy fats like olive oil, canola oil, nuts and avocados. Try to avoid drinking sugar-sweetened beverages like sodas, fruit punch, sweet tea and most lemonades; drink as much water as you can. Drinking water instead of juices and sodas can significantly improve your over-all health and help keep diabetes away.

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Thanksgiving: More to the Celebration we know It seems like an all-American holiday, but Thanksgiving is more universally celebrated than we might think. Nearly a dozen countries observe such a day of gratitude, usually in the fall, and traditionally held in recognition of a bountiful harvest. Although dates and specific traditions vary, here are some of the countries that have a designated holiday for giving thanks. Canada Our friendly neighbor to the north is one of four countries that actually call their fall celebrations Thanksgiving. Canadians, however, observe their Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October rather than the fourth Thursday of November when the holiday is celebrated in the U.S. Declared a national holiday in 1879, it’s a big deal for citizens of the Great White North, who gather with friends and family for a Thanksgiving feast on any one of the days of the three-day holiday weekend. Liberia Freed slaves from the United States carried the tradition of Thanksgiving with them when they founded the West African nation of Liberia in the 1820s. Liberians celebrate Thanksgiving on the first Thursday of November. It’s said to be a day for people to give thanks for freedom and the founding of their country. Much like in the United States, families gather for music-making, dancing and a special meal — typically, roasted chicken, mashed cassavas and green bean casserole. Brazil In Brazil, Thanksgiving Day, or Dia de ação de Gracas in Portuguese, unsurprisingly serves as an opportunity for carnival-like festivities. Celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, it is, in a spiritual sense, a time to express gratitude to God for an abundant harvest and bountiful resources. In reality, it has evolved into a huge carnival. Houses are colorfully decorated and music rings through the streets. In every home, spectacular feasts are prepared, traditionally including turkey, mashed and sweet potatoes, corn stuffing and pumpkin pie. The resemblance of this menu to our own can likely be attributed to the fact that the tradition of Thanksgiving was introduced to Brazil in 1949 by the country’s then

ambassador to the U.S. who was fascinated by the concept and wished it to be celebrated in his home country. Grenada Thanksgiving came into being in the Caribbean island nation of Grenada under the most unusual of circumstances. It takes place on Oct. 25 and commemorates the United States military’s coming to the country to help restore order after its communist leader, Maurice Bishop, was killed in a coup in 1983. Soldiers stationed on the island lamented to locals that they would be missing their upcoming Thanksgiving dinners — and to their surprise were served an American-style feast, complete with turkey and all the traditional sides. It was an endearing gesture, now observed as an official holiday in Grenada. Germany Thanksgiving in Germany has a long tradition but one much different from that of the United States. Erntedankfest (“harvest festival of thanks”) is primarily a rural and a religious celebration. It is celebrated on the first Sunday of October, but that can vary by locale. A typical Thanksgiving celebration in Germany begins with church services followed by a procession that leads to music, dance and food. An evening church service gives way to a lantern or torch parade and fireworks. Owing perhaps to the influence of the large numbers of American troops stationed in the country, turkey has in recent decades earned a prominent spot on the holiday table along with the more traditional pork roast. Malaysia This multiethnic Southeastern Asian nation of 32 million people calls its Thanksgiving Kaamatan, and it occurs in May when Malaysians come together to give thanks at the end of the annual rice harvest. The holiday is celebrated with dancing, traditional games and buffalo races. A variety of rice-based dishes is served along with tapai — a wine made from (what else?) but rice. Thanksgiving, in its various iterations, also is celebrated in many other countries across the globe.

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ST. THOMAS NAMED BEST CARIBBEAN CRUISE DESTINATION U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS (November 12, 2019) - St. Thomas has been named the number one cruise destination in the Caribbean. The "Best Caribbean Cruise Destination" honor was bestowed upon the island by Porthole Cruise Magazine's readers in its 21st Annual Readers' Choice Awards, the results of which are published in the November/December 2019 issue. Award winners were determined by thousands of readers and online fans of the magazine, who voted for their favorites in 51 cruiserelated categories. "We are encouraged by this accolade, which tells us that even as we work on improving our visitor experience, we have an excellent foundation upon which to build," said Joseph Boschulte, Commissioner of Tourism. At the recent Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association's Cruise Conference and Trade Show in Puerto Rico, Governor of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) Albert Bryan Jr. shared essential developments within the sector. These include dredging projects, the addition of a new port in the Charlotte Amalie harbor, improvements on Main Street and upland plans for Crown Bay. "I always look forward to seeing the results of our Readers' Choice Awards because our readers are discerning travelers who have stunningly high standards for every part of the cruise experience," said Bill Panoff, publisher and editor-in-chief of Porthole Cruise Magazine. "For St. Thomas to be voted the Best Caribbean Cruise Destination

in the 2019 Readers' Choice Awards truly illustrates St. Thomas' stature as the gateway to the Caribbean and the absolutely stunning way that all the island has to offer - the landscape, the music, the food, the hospitality - really exceeds our readers' expectations," he added. Commissioner Boschulte said the cruise industry is a critical pillar of the tourism sector and he was motivated by Governor Bryan's declaration to position the USVI as the number one tourism destination in the Caribbean by employing robust public-private partnerships. Porthole Cruise Magazine is a leading cruise-travel magazine, available on newsstands and online. About the U.S. Virgin Islands For more information about the United States Virgin Islands, go to VisitUSVI.com, follow us on Instagram (@visitusvi) and become a fan on Facebook (www.facebook.com/VisitUSVI). When traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. citizens enjoy all the conveniences of domestic travel - including on-line check-in - making travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands easier than ever. As a United States Territory, travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands does not require a passport from U.S. citizens arriving from Puerto Rico or the U.S. mainland. Entry requirements for non-U.S. citizens are the same as for entering the United States from any foreign destination. Upon departure, a passport is required for all but U.S. citizens.

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Greater Haitian American Chamber of Commerce host Holiday SoirĂŠe GHACC Holiday Soiree, a night of connections, collaboration, and celebration of our actions, causes change. Thank you to the board of directors, members, and all those who supported this event. Let's continue to connect and build relationships.

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Grace Jerk Fest presents the authentic flava of Jerk in South FL The 18th Annual Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival (JJF) was held on Sunday, November 10th at its new venue the Miramar Amphitheater in Miramar, FL. “After 14 years at Markham Park, we have decided to take the festival to the City of Miramar at the Miramar Regional Park,” stated Eddy Edwards, Chief Executive Officer of Jamaican Jerk Festival USA, Inc., organizers of the event. “We are always looking to improve on the patron experience and enhance the quality of the event and this new venue offers an opportunity to create a new, refreshed and superior experience as well as strengthen the financial viability of the festival, while enhancing quality,” Edwards stated. Miramar Mayor, Wayne Messam who was also a celebrity chef for the day had previously expressed his pleasure in having such a signature event come to the City and pledged full support for the event and the community that have come together for over 18th years to enjoy the international talent, the food and the fellowship the festival offers. We could sum up our story in two words, “Miramar Amphitheater” and everyone would know the EPICNESS that took place – but the event was far too amazing to describe. The mixing of the showcased talent during the event was over the top. Most of the times artists are known to show up just before their stage time but not this time – the artists not only mingled with the crowd, but they took part in the festival all around, almost like JFF Ambassadors. In the three years of covering the festival, this is the first year that I didn’t make it to the VIP tent area but honestly there was no need to because the VIP’s, the artists, the sensationalism was throughout the festival grounds. Much to add about the big screens giving those in the other pavilions a birds eye-view of the performances on the main stage (a brilliant idea). The artists were first-class and the lighting, sound was fitfully vibing. Big ups to Chris Martin, Bugle, Third World (one of the longest-running reggae bands of all times), Mistah Honor Rebel and yes Miss Lou is still everyone most loved “Big Mama.” You cannot have a Jerk Festival without Jerk and gosh oh my jerk it was. Everything jerked and the lines to all the food vendors long (but moving) was proof that good food cannot be contained. Talking about the food if you missed the cooking demonstrations you missed glory almost. The invited chefs were carefully thought out and it showed in all areas from preparation, to presentation to information surrounding the food, again five stars. I noticed that there was such a brotherhood/sisterhood amongst the chefs that added to the flavorful moment. If I could use the term, head chef for the day, Chef Irie was off the charts amazing. Not only did he keep the demonstrations flowing but when things needed to be changed due to scheduling of dignitaries and such, he kept the vibes spinning and the chefs on point, Big Ups again and again.

Left to Right - Chef Irie, Nouchelle Hastings, Mayor Wayne Messam, and Cat Coore

Teen Jamaica). The picture was entitled, The Happiest Pictureon Social Media and from the likes and comments, our readers agreed. It was a special moment to judge the cook off and to share the stage with the cook-off contestants, event officials and Todd’s loving wife as the trophy, in Todd’s honor, was unveiled. Todd although a cook-off three-time champion is a champion forever in our hearts. We want to wrap up our story with these words from the man who has been there since sub day one … “The response from patrons has been very positive to this year's festival. Most loved the new venue and commented on the ease of getting in and out of the parking lots and the good overall festival experience. We received a lot of positive feedback on the inclusion of children and family areas too. We are grateful for the support from the community and look forward to making even more improvements for next year. Our team worked hard to ensure that this year's festival would meet patron's expectations and it could not have been done without the support from various City agencies, sponsors and vendors. There were many concerns going in to this new venue, but our diligence to listen, evaluate and hard work resulted in a successful presentation, enjoyed by all our guests – thank you one and all for making our 18th year unforgettable." Eddy Edwards CEO Jamaica Jerk Festival

We send a resounding thank you to Grace Jerk Festival for having the Caribbean American Passport as a Celebrity Guest Judge of the Cook-off. Some of our readers are aware and others are not that our magazine was the last team to speak with the late Todd Tongen during the 2018 festival where he told us that “This will be my last competition, I am hanging up my apron.” We took a photo of Todd, Roxanne Vargas of NBC 6 and reggae singer, Naomi Cowan (also former Miss

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Grace Jerk Fest coverage continued...

Miami,

Digicel present in the 2019 Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival

Florida. November 5, 2019 – Digicel, the total communication and entertainment provider for the Caribbean, Central America and the Asia Pacific, was present in the 2019 Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival at Miramar Regional Park on Sunday, November 10. During the event, attendees learned about products such as Digicel MyCash, Digicel Top Up, and Digicel International Calling, all of them exclusively created to connect communities with their loved ones and help them be present at all times. “We have participated in the Florida Jerk Festival for many years. The Jamaican and Caribbean community is very dear to us, and being at the Festival is a great way to support them. We also want to keep them informed on all the services we have to help them keep that connection to home that we all need,” said Richard Mass, General Manager for Diaspora Talktime, which is Digicel’s partner in the US territory. Digicel’s products are created to make it easier, faster, and more convenient to stay connected across our 34 markets in the Caribbean, Central America, and Asia Pacific. Their purpose is to help everyone feel close to their loved ones no matter the location and at all times. Digicel MyCash, a prepaid MasterCard, enables people located in Florida and New York to deposit, send, and spend money in any location MasterCard is accepted. With this card, everyone can send money to Jamaica within minutes. They can sign up via the Digicel MyCash app and receive your card in the mail. They will only need to provide your full name, Date of Birth, Social security number, or ITIN for US citizens and address. Digicel’s Top Up and Stay Connected plans, allow for people to add credit or minutes to any Digicel prepaid mobile phone

number and/or purchase unlimited prepaid plans. After signing up, new customer will be able to Top Up in more than 5,000 retail locations in the United States, at digiceltopup.com, or via the Digicel Top Up App. Digicel Call International (DCI), a mobile pinless application, allows users to call from the United States to anywhere in the world. This app does not require any contract and once the balance is added, it will not expire, and customers can call a mobile phone or a landline. For more information, be sure to visit our Digicel stand at the 2019 Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival. We will also have a photo booth at our Jerk Festival for you to enjoy and have an excellent time with your friends and family. Additionally, you can also learn more about our products at any of our retail locations, or digiceltopup.com.

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Need to import or export items? We offer every service you need to ship, from brokerage to door to door, from online shipping to full containers!

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What is Taste of Pine Hills? Organized by the United Foundation of Central Florida, Inc. in Conjunction with the Pine Hills Neighborhood Improvement District. The Taste of Pine Hills is an annual event that was established to unify the community. This event demonstrates the many talents of the residents, as well as the diversity amongst our community members. The day will be filled with music, youth activities, food and entertainment along with health and wellness resources. Our Vendors are organizations and businesses in the community that want to inform our residents of the resources available to their families. We are dedicated and committed to serving our community and would like to take this opportunity to give back to the Pine Hills area. All proceeds from the event will go to supporting the youth initiatives implemented in Pine Hills by the United Foundation of Central Florida, Inc. 501 C3 Non-Profit Organization. For more information on how to become a Sponsor, Vendor, Volunteer, and or performer please do not hesitate to reach out to us! Ms. Sandra Fatmi - Sandrafatmi@aol.com Mr. Julien M. Serrano-O'Neil Joneil@Unitedfoundationcf.org

Yours for the Cause of Peace and Unity,

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Caribbean American Heritage Awards 2020

Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) Leadership Awards

27th June 2020

December 14 in Miami.

Tinhere are so many Caribbean Americans doing great things in their individual fields of business, music, art, engineers, entrepreneurship, restaurateurs, fashion design, medicine and so much more that this year, 2020, you, the Community will have the opportunity to nominate your favorite Caribbean American in any field of their profession. We simply ask that you submit your nomination by email to CAHA2020@caribbeanamericanpassport.com: Please include the name Caribbean American Heritage Awards 2020 in the subject line.

This year the Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) honorees will include leading Caribbean journalist and entrepreneur Janet Silvera; Chef José Andrés of World Central Kitchen; veteran airline executive Christine Kennedy of Delta Air Lines; Joseph Boschulte, Commissioner of Tourism for the U.S. Virgin Islands; Frank Comito, Director General and CEO of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association; and attorney and philanthropist Marlon Hill.

Please note that these is an opportunity to recognize anyone of Caribbean or American heritage who has done or continues to do great this within their respective fields.

Additionally, Calypso great “Lord Relator" will be the feature performer. "Lord Relator represents the true cultural genius of the Caribbean and we are honored to have him share his talents with us as we rally for a good cause,” said CMEx President Bevan Springer, who explained the awards fundraiser will support the educational efforts of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Educational Foundation and the Errol and Nita Barrow Educational Trust.

On June 27th 2020 there will be the Caribbean American Heritage Awards gala where the final selection will be recognized for their achievements and accomplishments.

The event will help support Bahamian scholars who have been impacted by the devastating Category 5 storm, which lashed The Abacos and Grand Bahama in September.

Nominations will close on June 1st 2020 and the selection and award committee will review all nominations and make the final selection.

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BAHAMAS ECONOMIST TO ADDRESS CARIBBEAN AWARDS EVENT IN FLORIDA MIAMI (November 13, 2019) - Former Bahamas Minister of Finance, Zhivargo Laing, currently the World Trade Organization Chief Negotiator for The Bahamas, will deliver the feature address at the 2019 Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) Leadership Awards slated for December 14 in Miami. The respected economist, who also serves as the Executive Director and Senior Policy Fellow of the Government and Public Policy Institute at the University of The Bahamas, is a popular Bahamas radio talk show host who develops programs and initiatives to guide youth leaders. Laing will address attendees at the highly antiZhivargo Laing, cipated event, which raises money to support Bahamian scholars impacted by the devastating Category 5 storm, which lashed his home island of Grand Bahama, and The Abacos in September. Fellow Bahamian Andy Ingraham, President and CEO of the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators & Developers (NABHOOD), is among the honorees selected for recognition at the event, in part for tirelessly raising relief and assistance for Bahamians lashed by Hurricane Dorian. Ingraham, who continues to lead recovery efforts, has more than 26Andy Ingraham years in the tourism industry developing specific expertise in multicultural and Caribbean tourism. Ingraham's NABHOOD is well known across the tourism sector for working to increase the number of African Americans developing, managing, operating and owning hotels. It also increases vendor opportunities and executive level jobs for minorities, and creates wealth within the African American community.

AndrĂŠs and World Central Kitchen; attorney and philanthropist Marlon Hill; Caribbean-American television anchor/reporter Neki Mohan of WPLG, ABC TV's local affiliate in Miami; Muriel Wiltord, Director of The Americas for the Martinique Promotion Bureau; Commissioner of Tourism of the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) Joseph Boschulte; and Frank Comito, Director General and CEO of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Providing a neutral platform for the industry's movers and shakers to address pressing tourism concerns, CMEx, which is partnering with the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Education Foundation (CHTAEF) as well as the Errol and Nita Barrow Educational Trust on the fundraiser, also helps Caribbean and American communities by sharing expertise, financial and in-kind assistance. The 2019 CMEx Leadership Awards, which will feature the musical talents of Trinidad and Tobago's Lord Relator and Virgin Islands steel pan player Stan Brown, is supported by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, Caribbean Airlines, International Career and Business Alliance (ICABA), Island Syndicate, Marketplace Excellence, Tropical Attractions, Inc., and the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. For tickets, visit www.tinyurl.com/CMEx-Awards-2019. About Caribbean Media Exchange, Inc. (CMEx) CMEx's mission is to support and develop the ability of the media, government, the travel and tourism industry and communities to consider the importance of tourism in sustainable development, while lending a hand to the communities involved by sharing relevant expertise, financial and in-kind assistance. For further information, visit www.cmexmedia.org.

This year's CMEx honorees include leading Caribbean journalist and entrepreneur Janet Silvera; veteran airline executive Christine Kennedy of Delta Air Lines; Chef JosĂŠ

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No Laughing Matter Because it is frustrating when you think you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions, you advertise a lecture and, in addition to signs everywhere, including posts on Facebook, you promise free admission, food and drinks. Or, like me, you decide on a workshop. Mine was called ‘Writing Humour Is No Joke’, and one of the first of the 10 most popular forms of humour I identified for the 14 people who showed up was “self-deprecating” an area in which Rodney Dangerfield excelled, “I could tell my parents hated me. My bath toys were a toaster and a radio”... “My uncle’s dying wish: he wanted me on his lap. He was in the electric chair” ... “My wife was afraid of the dark ... then she saw me naked and now she’s afraid of the light.” Interestingly, researchers at the Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Centre (CIMCYC) of the University of Granada (UGR) have established that individuals who frequently use self-deprecating humour aimed at gaining the approval of others through self-mockery exhibit greater levels of psychological well-being and are extremely high in happiness and self-assurance. OBSERVATIONAL HUMOUR Now, as secure in my well-being as Fort Knox, I spend time looking after yours truly and from the Everest of superiority, I can reveal that not many people, including humorists, are willing to laugh at themselves. The biggies in the business of writing humour or telling jokes go for observational and other forms of humour. One of the best examples of observational humour is by comedian Chris Rock: “You know the world is going crazy when the best rapper is a white guy, the best golfer is a black guy, the tallest guy in the NBA is Chinese, the Swiss hold the America’s Cup, France is accusing the US of arrogance, Germany doesn’t want to go to war, and the three most powerful men in America are named ‘Bush’, ‘Dick’ and ‘Colin’. Need I say more?” ANECDOTAL HUMOUR Anecdotal humour based on our supposedly real-life situations is also a popular choice. Here are some examples: “I never wanted to believe that my dad was stealing from his job as a road worker. But when I got home, all the signs were there.” ... “It’s important to have a good vocabulary. If I had known the difference between the words ‘antidote’ and ‘anecdote,’ one of my good friends would still be alive.” ... “Some people ask the secret of our long marriage. We take time to go to a restaurant two times a week. A little candlelight, dinner, soft music and dancing. She goes Tuesdays, I go Fridays.” SITUATIONAL HUMOUR Situational humour is something I first encountered when one of my cousins let me read his Reader’s Digest. An example is when a guy in the FLOW cable installation van stopped and asked me what time it was. I told him it was between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Here’s another which shows that you can mix types in the way this one combines situational with self-deprecating humour: “The photographer was positioning my new husband and me for our wedding photos when he asked, ‘Have you ever modelled?’ My cheeks instantly turned red. ‘No, I haven’t,’ I said. ‘But I always thought …’ The photographer interrupted me: “I meant him.” Irony, or a situation that is strange or funny because things

by Tony Deyal

happen in a way that seems the opposite of what you expected, is one of the best vehicles for humour. Did you know the most shoplifted book in the US is the Bible and the founder of Acoholics Anonymous asked for whiskey on his deathbed? Even more ironic is that the nurse refused. There is the case of a vertically challenged individual who walked into the library and asked, “Have you got a book on irony?” The librarian replied, “Yes sir, it’s on the top shelf.” What I consider the perfect irony is the story of the climate change expert who just published a book on preserving the rainforest and what we can do as a human race to help protect it. The book is over 2,000 pages long. What is increasingly dominating the world of humour are one-liners, delivered staccato like machine-gun bursts by some writers and comedians. My favourite examples include: “I ate a clock yesterday. It was very time-consuming.” ... “I don’t have a girlfriend, but I know a girl that would get really mad if she heard me say that.” ... and from my favourite deadpan comedian, Steven Wright, “I think it’s wrong that only one company makes the game Monopoly.” Another is: “When life gives you melons, you might be dyslexic.” There is: “Sit on my lap and we’ll talk about the first thing that pops up”, and another by my favourite British comedian, Jimmy Carr: “I did a gig in the US once for the homeless. I said, ‘It’s nice to see so many bums on seats.’” EXAGGERATION HUMOUR Exaggeration is another increasingly popular way of getting laughs or carrying a reader along with you. One example is: “She’s so dumb, she thinks Taco Bell is a Mexican phone company.” There are: “My car is so expensive you have to put Perrier in the radiator”. And: “It was so cold, I saw politicians blowing hot air.” TWISTED PROVERBS What I tend to have a lot of fun with are twisted proverbs. My favourite examples are: “Where there’s a will, there’s a (family fighting over it)” ... “A fool and his money (were lucky to get together in the first place)”... and “If at first you don’t succeed (then skydiving isn’t for you)”. I also use the unexpected: “Talk is cheap – unless you own a cell phone”, or quote Mark Twain, “Familiarity breeds contempt – and children.” What I also stress to the few people who ask my advice about writing humour is to use the English language like one of the great masters, P.G. Wodehouse: “The fascination of shooting as a sport depends almost wholly on whether you are at the right or wrong end of the gun”, and “I could see that, if not actually disgruntled, he was far from being gruntled.” Fortunately for me, the people who attended my humourwriting session were not gruntled. In fact, they wanted another session which pleased me “no end”, as Wodehouse would say, and add, “As we grow older and realise more clearly the limitations of human happiness, we come to see that the only real and abiding pleasure in life is to give pleasure to other people.” Tony Deyal was last seen saying that his mother always wanted him to be a doctor and since laughter is the best medicine, that’s as good as it gets.