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Jul/Aug 2020
7 Two Caribbean Americans appointed to Florida's Supreme Court Jamaican American Judge Renatha Francis and Cuban American Attorney John Couriel
Applications are now open for the 12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp Visa The 12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp Visa has gone live and interested persons can now apply at www.Barbadoswelcomestamp.bb for the opportunity to live and work remotely in paradise. The Covid-19 pandemic may have hurt the island’s tourism numbers but it is giving tourists a chance to live like a “Bajan” for a year. The Prime Minister says the pandemic is part of the impetus for the new visa. “Covid 19 has changed work globally, with a larger number working remotely from home. Now we can give you certainty for the next 12 months that you can work from here.” The Prime Minister Mottley further notes that part of the challenge relates to short term travel. “Rather than coming for the usual week, or three weeks or a month, why not plan out your business? We have a mechanism that allows people who want to take advantage of being in a different part of the world, of the sun, sea and sand, and a stable society; one that functions well. Barbados is a perfect place for you to come.” Barbados has been commended for how it has handled the virus thus far with robust and effective contact tracing protocols that are still in place. Cont'd on page 13
Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of two Caribbean Americans, Judge Renatha Francis and South Florida attorney John Couriel to the Florida Supreme Court. These two appointments make commercial litigator John D. Couriel of Kobre & Kim in Miami and Palm Beach Circuit Judge Renatha Francis two of Florida’s most powerful jurists. These two appointments replace former Justices Barbara Lagoa and Robert Luck, who were both promoted to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals last year. However, there is a legal nuance about Francis’ appointment. The Florida Constitution requires a Florida Supreme Court Justice to be a member of the Florida Bar as a lawyer for at least 10 years. Judge Francis’ bar membership began on September 24, 2010, which means that she could not fill the seat until
later this year after September 24, 2020. However, both conservative and liberal legal scholars say that she can legally be appointed and not assume the office until September. Of interest, Judge Francis’ appointment was supported by many prominent black lawmakers, including the Florida Conference of Black State Legislators and the Legislative Black Caucus. The Supreme Court has been without either a woman or AfricanAmerican member since Justice Peggy A. Quince resigned in 2019. Judge Renatha Francis was born in Portmore, Jamaica, in 1977. Francis is a past student of St Hugh’s High school and the University of the West Indies, Mona, where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in law. Afterwards, she migrated to the US, where she received her Juris-Doctor from Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, Florida in 2010. Cont'd on page 13
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L I F E S T Y L E
Guenet Gittens-Roberts, Publisher/Editor
Elections season - let's get out the vote!
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t seems like everytime we come up to Owner/Publisher/Editor an election it is the biggest and most significant election. However, here we are again, at the biggest and most significant election in our country's history. Samuel J. Roberts
Ya'll know where my preferences lie, I prefer Democrats and here is why...I am not supporting Republicans until there is a change in that party. Bottom line. There is an underlying disrespect from the Republican party that is aimed at minorities and immigrants. That is based on facts, according to research by The Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Eight in ten Republicans (78%) consider large numbers of immigrants and refugees coming into the United States to be a critical threat, up from 66 percent in 2018 and the highest percentage recorded in Chicago Council Surveys since the question was first asked in 1998. This elevated level of concern stands in sharp contrast to the views of Democrats. Fewer than two in ten Democrats (19%) consider immigrants and refugees a critical threat, the lowest number recorded in Council surveys. Independents, for their part, split the difference: four in ten (42%) consider large numbers of immigrants and refugees a critical threat. Make no mistake, if you're not white, you are looped in to the statistics of Black and Brown people here in America. In a recent YouGov poll, 59 percent of Republicans agreed: “If blacks would only try harder, they would be as well off as whites.” The same YouGov poll revealed that 59 percent of self-identified Republicans believe blacks are treated fairly by the criminal justice system. 70 percent of Republicans agreed that increased diversity hurts whites. Republican-appointed judges give black defendants longer jail sentences, according to a Harvard study released in May. 55 percent of white Republicans agreed “blacks have worse jobs, income and housing than white people” because “most just don’t have the motivation or willpower to pull themselves up out of poverty” according to the Washington Post’s review of data from the University of Chicago’s National Opinion Research Center. Nearly twice as many Republicans than Democrats (42 percent versus 24 percent) believe that blacks are lazier than whites, according to the same NORC poll.
PWFS the last several years. Today, 71% of Americans say this, up from 63% three years ago. The rise in positive views of affirmative action programs in college admissions is evident across the political spectrum, though substantial partisan differences remain. Today, about half (52%) of Republicans and Republican leaners say these programs are a good thing, while 39% say they are a bad thing. In 2014, Republican views were divided (46% good, 47% bad). Democrats have long expressed positive views of affirmative action programs. Currently 84% of Democrats and Democratic leaners view these programs positively, a modest increase from 78% in 2014. As Caribbean people we benefit from these same programs. Make no mistake, there is no 'them' that is different from 'us', we are in the same fight. John Lewis, rest his soul, was the first prominent civil rights recognized that and fought for the rights of everyone, whether it was immigrant rights, women's rights, LQBTQ rights, Native American, elderly, poor or the disabled. That more than ever is the fight that America is on at the moment and that's why I stand with the Democrats. 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 Contributing Photographers ............ .......................................................Ted Hollins .....................................................................................................................Dilia Castillo .............................................. .............................................................Nancy-Joe Brown Central Florida Distribution........................................................Kadeem Roberts South Florida Distribution .............................................................Norman Williams NorthFlorida Distribution .....................................................................Theo Jack Jr. Tampa Distribution ..................................................................................Julian Pina Copyright (C) 2016 GGR Marketing & Public Relations. All rights reserved.
How does that impact you? The share of the public saying affirmative action programs “designed to increase the number of black and minority students on college campuses are a good thing” has JODSFBTFE www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com
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Back to School Planning: Checklists to Guide Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers For many families, back to school planning will look different this year than it has in previous years. Your school will have new policies in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. You may also be starting the school year with virtual learning components. Whatever the situation, these checklists are intended to help parents, guardians, and caregivers, plan and prepare for the upcoming school year. Some of the changes in schools’ classroom attendance or structure may include: Cohorts: Dividing students and teachers into distinct groups that stay together throughout an entire school day during inperson classroom instruction. Schools may allow minimal or no interaction between cohorts (also sometimes referred to as pods). Hybrid: A mix of virtual learning and in-class learning. Hybrid options can apply a cohort approach to the in-class education provided. Virtual/at-home only: Students and teachers engage in virtual-only classes, activities, and events. Planning for In-Person Classes Going back to school this fall will require schools and families to work together even more than before. Schools will be making changes to their policies and operations with several goals: supporting learning; providing important services, such as school meals, extended daycare, extracurricular activities, and social services; and limiting the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Teachers and staff can teach and encourage preventive behaviors at school. Likewise, it will be important for families to emphasize and model healthy behaviors at home and to talk to your children about changes to expect this school year. Even if your child will attend school in-person, it is important to prepare for the possibility of virtual learning if school closes or if your child becomes exposed to COVID-19 and needs to stay home. Actions to take and points to consider: • Check in with your child each morning for signs of illness. If your child has a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher, they should not go to school. • Make sure your child does not have a sore throat or other signs of illness, like a cough, diarrhea, severe headache, vomiting, or body aches. • If your child has had close contact to a COVID-19 case, they should not go to school. Follow guidance on what to do when someone has known exposure. • Be familiar with local COVID-19 sites in the event you or your child develops symptoms. These may include sites with free testing available. •
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Make sure your child is up-to-date with all recommended vaccines, including for flu. All schoolaged children should get an influenza flu vaccine every season, with rare exceptions. This is especially important this year because we do not yet know if being sick with COVID-19 at the same time as the flu will result in more severe illness. Review and practice proper hand washing techniques at home, especially before and after eating, sneezing, coughing, and adjusting a face cover. Make hand washing fun and explain to your child why it’s important. Develop daily routines before and after school—for example, things to pack for school in the morning (like hand sanitizer and an additional (back up) cloth face covering) and things to do when you return home (like washing hands immediately and washing worn cloth face coverings). Talk to your child about precautions to take at school. Children may be advised to: Wash and sanitize their hands more often. Keep physical distance from other students. Wear a cloth face covering. Avoid sharing objects with other students, including water bottles, devices, writing instruments, and books. Use hand sanitizer (that contains at least 60% alcohol.) Make sure you’re using a safe product. FDA recalled products that contain toxic methanol. Monitor how they feel and tell an adult if they are not feeling well. Develop a plan as a family to protect household members who are at increased risk for severe illness. Be familiar with your school’s plan for how they will communicate with families when a positive case or exposure to someone with COVID-19 is identified and ensure student privacy is upheld. Plan for possible school closures or periods of quarantine. If transmission is increasing in your community or if multiple children or staff test positive for COVID-19, the school building might close. Similarly, if a close contact of your child (within or outside of school) tests positive for COVID-19, your child may need to stay home for a 2-week quarantine period. You may need to consider the feasibility of • Continued on page 5
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Back to School Planning: Checklists to Guide Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers Continued from page 4
teleworking, taking leave from work, or identifying someone who can supervise your child in the event of school building closures or quarantine. • Plan for transportation: • If your child rides a bus, plan for your child to wear a cloth face covering on the bus and talk to your child about the importance of following bus rules and any spaced seating rules. • If carpooling, plan on every child in the carpool and the driver wearing cloth face coverings for the entire trip. If your school uses the cohort model, consider finding families within your child’s group/ cohort at school to be part of the carpool. • If your school uses a cohorting model, consider limiting your child’s in-person out-of-school interactions to children in the same cohort or to activities where physical distancing can be maintained. • Reinforce the concept of physical distancing with your child. • Talk to your school administrators and teachers about their plans for physical education and physical activity (e.g., recess). • Safer options include being outdoors when possible, reducing the number of people in an indoor space, and encouraging students to stay at least 6 ft apart. • Ask how your school plans to help ensure that students are following practices to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Try to attend school activities and meetings. Schools may offer more of these virtually. As a parent, staying informed and connected may reduce your feelings of anxiety and provide a way for you to express any concerns you may have about your child’s school. Ask your school about any plans to reduce potential stigma related to having or being suspected of having COVID-19. Check if your school has any systems in place to identify and provide mental health services to students in need of support.
Mental Health & Social-Emotional Wellbeing Considerations: Since the school experience will be very different from before with desks far apart from each other, teachers maintaining physical distance, and the possibility of staying in the classroom for lunch, it is unlike anything your child is used to. Before school is in session, you may want to talk to your child and explain that all these steps are being taken to keep everyone safe and healthy. The list below provides actions and considerations regarding your child’s mental health and emotional well-being as they transition back to inperson school. Talk with your child about how school will look different (e.g., desks far apart from each other, teachers maintaining physical distance, possibility of staying in the classroom for lunch). Talk with your child about how school is going and about interactions with classmates and teachers. Find out how your child is feeling and communicate that what they may be feeling is normal. Anticipate behavior changes in your child. Watch for changes like excessive crying or irritation, excessive worry or sadness, unhealthy eating or sleeping habits, difficulty concentrating, which may be signs of your child struggling with stress and anxiety.
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-SUMMER READING CARIBBEAN AUTHORS
Maria T. Padilla and Nancy Rosado In October 2017, a month after Maria ripped through Puerto Rico as a high Category 4 hurricane, Nancy Rosado visited the island to take supplies of solar light bulbs and other material to the devastated population. People were still stunned but piecing together some semblance of their former lives. Here are some outtakes of Rosado’s photos that didn’t make it into the book, Tossed to the Wind, a collection of oral histories of more than a dozen people who fled Puerto Rico for central Florida in the aftermath of near total destruction and deprivation on the island. María T. Padilla is the former editor of La Prensa in Orlando and founding editor of El Sentinel, the Spanish-language sister newspaper of the Orlando Sentinel. Nancy Rosado is a retired NYPD sergeant, whose disaster response experience includes 9/11, the Pulse Night Club and Parkland shootings, as well as hurricanes Katrina and Maria.
Janet Autherine has a heart for storytelling and
youth and women’s empowerment. She uses her extraordinary journey from a struggling Jamaican immigrant to a respected attorney, author and administrative law judge to inspire others to embrace their unique journey. Janet is the author of Growing into Greatness with God: 7 Paths to Greatness for our Sons & Daughters (youth), and Wild Heart, Peaceful Soul (poetry). In her latest book, Island Mindfulness: How to Use the Transformational Power of Mindfulness to Live an Abundant Life, Janet invites you to slow your pace, and in the spirit of the islands, mindfully and intentionally embark on a journey to nourish your mind, body and soul.
Rock the Vote - Register to Vote, Find Election Info:
www.RocktheVote.com
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CRITICAL PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT PROCURED FOR CARIBBEAN FRONTLINE MEDICAL WORKERS Critically needed personal protective equipment (PPE) is on its way to medical workers on the front lines of the Caribbean’s COVID-19 pandemic response. Yesterday, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) took delivery of the majority of US$3 million worth of PPE at the Port of Bridgetown. CDB procured and purchased the equipment with concessional resources through the Bank’s Special Development Fund. Speaking at the event, President, Dr Wm. Warren Smith reiterated the Bank’s commitment to helping its Borrowing Member Countries to cope with the effects of COVID-19. “The coming months are likely to be particularly challenging, given the uncertainties surrounding COVID-19. Helping our Borrowing Member Countries to build resilience against shocks like COVID-19 remains high on CDB’s development agenda,” stated Dr Smith. In her welcome remarks, Executive Director (ag.) of CDEMA, Elizabeth Riley shared the work the agency has done to establish the regional hub that will be used to distribute the PPE to 13 other Caribbean countries. “To support our Participating States, CDEMA has established an Integrated Regional Logistics Hub in Barbados, which serves as a primary repository and transhipment point for COVID-19 related relief supplies and aids the coordination of humanitarian logistics. This critical and timely support from the Caribbean Development Bank will strengthen the capacity of our Participating States in times of greatest need,” noted Riley. Cooperation between key regional partners was central to being able to source and distribute the equipment in the face of the intense competition for PPE, once the global pandemic started severely affecting many countries. In light of such competition, CDB purchased the equipment on a pooled basis so that each beneficiary country could take advantage of economies of scale. At the agency level, Barbados Port Inc. (BPI) agreed to offer warehousing facilities at the Port of Bridgetown to facilitate
the storage, sorting and repacking of the equipment. BPI also agreed to the waiver of associated port charges. In his address, Barbados’ Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, Hon. Kirk Humphrey, noted that recent improvements in port operations aligned with BPI’s vision of becoming a regional logistics hub. “The Port is becoming a lot more digital… we are working with the Caribbean Development Bank on the [development of a] port community system as well as we transform the way we do business. This is a good time to make the Bridgetown Port your integrated regional logistic hub,” stated Minister Humphrey. Further cooperation came from the Pan American Health Organization and the Caribbean Public Health Agency, which worked closely with national governments to identify their PPE needs and provide guidance on what goods should be supplied. The shipments include 35,000 protective suits, 111,000 isolation gowns, over 67,000 goggles, 250,000 protective gloves and 160,000 masks. CDB also partnered with Crown Agents out of the United Kingdom to secure the equipment which was sourced from providers in Germany and China. The PPE will go to Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.
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PART PROCEEDS FROM THE SALES OF THESE FACE SHIELDS GO TO PROMOTE THE CONTINUED PRODUCTION OF CARIBBEAN AMERICAN PASSPORT NEWSMAGAZINE. MORE THAN EVER WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT. BUSINESS HAS CHANGED AND WE COUNT ON YOUR SUPPORT THROUGH THE PATRONAGE OF OUR ADVERTISERS, SUBSCRIBING TO THE NEWS MAGAZINE, DOING BUSINESS WITH OUR SISTER COMPANIES GGR MARKETING & ROBERTS & ROBERTS MANAGEMENT SERVICES. MORE THAN EVER WE NEED YOU.
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- CONGRATULATIONS LaShawnda Jackson LaShawnda Jackson is the 2020-2021 president of the Orange County Bar Association. LaShawnda will serve as the first black president in the bar association’s 87-year history. The Orange County Bar Association is dedicated to meeting the legal needs of low-income residents, the working poor, children, and disadvantaged groups with special needs in the community through its support of the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc. The Legal Aid Society was established by OCBA leadership in the 1960’s to fulfill the Bar’s strongly-held value of ensuring access to justice for all. The needs were – and continue to be – multiple and widespread. The relationship between the OCBA and the Legal Aid Society is unique in the nation. As a requirement of OCBA membership, attorney members must take two pro bono cases annually, make a financial contribution, or undertake specific community projects through the Legal Aid Society. LaShawnda K. Jackson, Esq., is a partner at Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell, P.A.
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Alisia Adamson-Profit Alisia Adamson Profit is the 2020-2021 president of the Orange County Bar Association Foundation. Alicia will serve as the first black, female president in the bar association foundation's 87 year history. The Orange County Bar Association Foundation, Inc. is part of the Orange County Bar Association and it focuses on community education. From the consequences of one’s actions, to how the judicial system works, to supporting the local schools, to mentoring, the Foundation helps citizens gain a better understanding of the judicial system. The OCBA Foundation participates in the statewide Justice Teaching Program and Orange County Public Schools AVID program. OCBA members donate their time by visiting schools to teach students at all grade levels about how our government works and the importance of participating in our democratic process. Alisia Adamson Profit Esq. is a founding partner at HAWM Law (Having an Attorney When it Matters) where she specializes in criminal defense, and serves as a legal analyst for several national and local news stations, including WESH2.
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Poor Diet & Coronavirus How are they Connected? By Aleia Roberts MPH Candidate at The George Washington University Milken Institute of Public Health
A healthy, balanced diet is a major influence in so many parts of our lives. Unfortunately, most of us are malnourished in some sense of the word and this has negative repercussions on our health. In fact, a March 2020 report on Food, Nutrition, and Health by leading federal scientists described a poor diet as “now the leading cause of poor health in the U.S.” and the cause of over half a million deaths every year. All of the major chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease (high blood pressure and high cholesterol are major contributors to CVD and are heavily dependent on diet, Type 2 diabetes, and obesityrelated cancers can be tied back, in some capacity, to poor metabolic health. In an interview with New York Times writer Jane Brody, Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, dean of the Freidman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, dropped the horrifying statistic that “only 12 percent of Americans are without high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or pre-diabetes.” But this is all stuff that we’ve been talking about precoronavirus. Now we’re examining the role that it plays in risk of contracting and coping with COVID-19. We now know that besides age, these chronic diseases are the biggest risk factors for illness and death from this virus. Why is that? Characteristics of metabolic syndrome (including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, poor cholesterol, excess fat around the midriff, and high triglycerides are all associated with mild inflammation throughout the entire body. This suppresses our immune system and makes us more vulnerable to things like infections, cancers, and of course, COVID-19. The need to shut cities down and quarantine ourselves only causes greater risk. We’re not moving around as much if we don’t leave the house, some of us are relying more on canned and processed foods, and the stress of it all isn’t helping either. This challenge is even greater for poor communities of color, who are suffering the most during this pandemic. We need to address the social and economic disparities that are contributing to these poor health outcomes.
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Two Caribbean Americans appointed to Florida's Supreme Court Cont'd from page 1
Judge Renatha Francis currently sits as a trial court judge on the 15th Circuit Court in Palm Beach, a position she was appointed to by Governor DeSantis in 2019 and immediately prior to that served as a county court judge in Miami-Dade County. She primarily represented insurance providers in personal injury protection litigation matters, specializing in the interpretation and application of automobile insurance policies. At a recent press conference, Francis said she was honored and humbled by the appointment. The jurist was raised by a single mother who had no high school diploma. “From very humble beginnings, standing before you all today, I am truly the epitome of the American dream,” Francis said. John Couriel, is a partner at Kobre & Kim LLP, an international law firm specializing in disputes and investigations. Prior to joining Kobre & Kim, he served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. Mr. Couriel received his bachelor’s degree from Harvard College and his Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School. “I’m grateful for the trust that Governor DeSantis has placed in me by inviting me to serve on the highest court of our state,” said John D. Couriel. “Alexander Hamilton said, ‘courts have neither force nor will, but merely judgment,’ and I intend to exercise that judgment to the best of my awelcomed my parents to America from Cuba 60 years ago, when they and their parents sought justice, a better life and most of all freedom. Once again, I’m thankful to the Governor for this opportunity to serve Florida and its citizens.”
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- Leading LadyDee-Ann Kentish-Rogers - Bold. Ambitious. Not too young.
First ever black Miss Universe GB, barrister, Commonwealth Games athlete, Cabinet Minister and she’s only 27 'When people tell me their daughters, those me understand what others by becoming said. In her rousing
that I've been an example to messages floor me and make an honor it is to inspire the first black winner,' she
campaign launch she said:
“Sisters and brothers, tonight is the beginning of everything. For tonight, our sights are set on the sun that shall rise tomorrow, and the hope that this should bring,” she declared in announcing her candidacy at Island Harbour. “Tonight represents a down payment with faith on a future that abounds with possibilities,” she declared. In advocating for change, Kentish-Rogers said it won’t come without people like her being “bold.”
She made history as the first black Miss Universe Great Britain, and her resume also includes barrister and Commonwealth Games athlete. Now Dee-Ann KentishRogers has topped it all by becoming a government minister on the Caribbean island of Anguilla – and she's still only 27. She joined the government after a stunning election victory in which she defeated Victor Banks, the 72-year-old premier of the British overseas territory. He had held a seat on the assembly for more than 40 years. It is another stunning achievement for a young woman who grew up on a humble farm on the island. As a teenager, she ran the 400m at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi for Anguilla, then followed her father and aunts into law, traveling to England to study at Birmingham University. While still a student, Ms Kentish-Rogers competed at the 2014 Games in Glasgow, finishing 11th in the heptathlon. After finishing her degree, she returned to the Caribbean and became Miss Anguilla in 2017 before a completing her legal qualifications. She was called to the Bar a year later. By that time, she had set her sights on the Miss Universe GB competition and won the title that same summer,. The significance of becoming the first black woman to win the British crown passed her by initially, she said, but now she feels 'privileged' to be a role model.
“Let tonight suggest that our generation would not bow to cynicism any longer; and shall not give in to silence,” Kentish-Rogers said to loud applause. “Our generation shall no longer look at the disappointment of yesterday and allow it to become a force against fighting for something better.” Kentish-Rogers addressed skeptics who have suggested she might be too young, by alluding to people like American civil rights leader Martin Luther King, former Grenadian leader Maurice Bishop and the students of Soweto who rose up against apartheid, declaring: “The greatest revolutions; the greatest political movements have been inspired by young people.” “At this moment; in this place; in this environment; this generation of Anguillian youth shall resurrect the dreams of our forefathers,” she declared. Saying that she could not turn her back in a moment of crisis on a society that has given her a lot in her short life, Kentish-Rogers declared: “They say that to whom much is given, much is expected. I embrace those expectations – and I have returned early – to give back.” She added: “We shall salute the past on our way to a better future.”
Join me on the journey over the next six months with a recurring contribution at MarlonHill.com
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Applications are now open for the 12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp Visa The country of more than 280,000 people has had just over 100 cases of the novel coronavirus and seven deaths. Even as it has re-opened its borders the country has maintained a proper set of travel protocols making travel not onerous but safe. The 12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp offers new opportunities for anyone whose work is locationindependent. This now includes entire offices, multidisciplinary creatives, digital nomads and bold entrepreneurs. Chairman of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) Sunil Chatrani says with many companies moving the majority of their workforce to the working from home (WFH) model, Barbados also presents an excellent option for corpo-rate teams or individuals. “Recently Barbados was growing as a destination for Millennials and it was firmly established as a leisure destination but we can easily accommodate working from on island. Barbados boasts the fastest fibre internet and mobile services in the Caribbean and with a range of different flexible office space locations the working environment in Barbados definitely enables you get things done! As our country also offers excellent health care and a high education standard, we know it is ideal for those who want to bring their families to the island for the 12-month period.” Barbados has worked to ensure the process to apply is as simple as possible to facilitate travel. Fees are US $2,000 for individuals and there is a family bundle fee of US$3000 avail-able. The visa is valid for one year but may be reapplied for. Applicants will not be liable for Barbados Income Tax. Head of Global Markets at the BTMI Petra Roach says Barbados’ established multi-tiered tourism model has positioned it to easily accommodate the different types ofremote workers, “Barbados as a destination has always
been very much in demand, so we have a wide range of accommodation from budget-friendly studios to beachfront luxury condos. Added to our yearround warm climate, beautiful countryside, world class beaches and countless activities, this is an ideal backdrop for the more sustainable work-life balance many are craving for themselves and their families.” “Covid-19 has placed a severe strain on people’s mental wellness,” Prime Minister Mottley told Today’s WorldView in an interview. “The sunshine is powerful. The seawater is powerful. They’re both therapeutic in ways that are hard to explain. And we felt that, why not share it?” Visa Requirements People wanting to work remotely in Barbados can apply electronically at barbadoswel-comestamp.bb. Documents needed include: Two passport sized photographs Bio data page of passport Birth certificate (self/spouse/children) Proof of relationship of dependents Entry visa (where applicable) Upon approval the following non-refundable fees are applicable: Individual – Fee of US $2,000.00 Family Bundle-Fee US $3,000.00
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CAFA'S Scholarship Program gets new funding thanks to Dr. Pascual The Caribbean & Floridian Association, Inc. of Central Florida was formed thirty years ago. The main focus of this group was to assist and welcome new arrivals to the region, particularly those with Caribbean backgrounds. It was determined that members would be involved in all aspects of the community-cultural, political and educational. Over the past thirty (30) years, hundreds of scholarships have been awarded at their Annual Education Banquet. Some of these graduates have gone on to become doctors, dentists, engineers, teachers and more. This year even though covid -19 impacted their fundraising events they are still able to meet the goals of their scholarship program.
Jose F Pascual, MD a native of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. Dr. Pascual completed his medical education at the Ponce School of Medicine June 1992. His residency and fellowship were completed at University of South Florida in Internal and Pulmonary Medicine respectively. Dr. Pascual currently practices at West Pasco Pulmonary Associates located in Hudson, FL.
That's in large part due to the generosity of Dr. Jose F. Pascual. During late fall of 2019, Dr. Pascual generously donated to the Caribbean And Floridian Association, Inc. (CAFA) Scholarship fund and more recently has made another generous donation to assist students drawn from the diverse Central Florida Community with a monetary scholarship as they prepare for College. In a recent statement, CAFA thanked Dr. Pascual for his generous donation to the CAFA Scholarship Fund.
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July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month It is very difficult for anyone to discuss mental health, and even more so during a global pandemic. Feelings of depression, anxiety, and other signs of stress become more pronounced, when you have unprecedented unemployment, and no one knows how long these conditions will last. In 2017, 3.5 million young adults age 18 to 25 had serious thoughts of suicide, and in 2017, 2.5 million young adults age 18 to 25 had serious mental illness, according to Substance Abuse and Mental Health services Administration. Between a stigma about mental health, and a lack of access to treatment, many minorities may find it difficult to get the help they need. There are no quick fixes to mental illness and mental health in 2020. "It is time for all people and especially those of color, to perform a mental health check-in, if you feel it, say it and now act on it, and seek support. It is time to journey towards our healing," says Dr. Agard.
Mental health disparities have been prominent with African Americans and other minorities since the beginning of this great nation. Mental health is a public health problem, and many Blacks and minorities are in a state of social helplessness and desperation in finding treatment in certain communities. There is a negative perception about mental illness, and health in general and there is a need to remove barriers with more education. Dr. Eugenia Agard is a strong advocate for mental health in Central Florida, and in Osceola County, where her private practice "HUGS"-(Healing Understanding Guiding Supportive Services) is located.
"Minorities are really stressing, they were stressing before, and now there's an extra level of stress when we look at COVID, when we look at police brutality, when we look at the things that are going on in our nation," says Monica Sparks - Kent County Commissioner. Dr. Eugenia Agard is offering Telehealth Services for those who are experiencing high levels of anxiety and depression as we face a worldwide health crisis. She has made a commitment to help frontline essential workers with Free Virtual Healing Hugs Telehealth sessions. For more information call 407-791-1900, or email Eugeniaagard4hugs@gmail.com.
According to the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) reports that racial and ethnic minority groups in the U.S. are less likely to have access to mental health services, less likely to use community mental health services, more likely to use emergency department, and more likely to receive lower quality care. Poor mental care access and quality of care contribute to poor mental health outcomes, including suicide, among racial and ethnic minority populations.
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Senate Passes Legislation Banning ICE Agents From Making Arrests In New York’s Courthouses The Senate recently passed legislation to ban Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) agents from making arrests in New York courthouses. The bill S.425A, sponsored by Senator Brad Hoylman, protects New Yorkers from civil arrests while going to court and conducting or returning from a court proceeding. “No New Yorker should fear participating in the justice system, regardless of their documentation,” Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said. “The Protect Our Courts Act will give undocumented New Yorkers the peace of mind and sense of safety they deserve while visiting a court, and I commend Senator Hoylman for sponsoring this legislation. By advancing this good bill, the Senate Majority is continuing our efforts to support immigrant communities and ensure New York is a more welcoming place for new Americans.” Bill Sponsor, Senator Brad Hoylman, said, “Donald Trump’s heartless immigration policy is a cruel perversion of justice. We cannot allow our courthouses to become a hunting ground for federal agents attempting to round up immigrant New Yorkers. Already, ICE arrests in or around courthouses in New York have spiked by 1,700% since Donald Trump took office. The Protect Our Courts Act will get ICE out of our courthouses and make our justice system more just. It will allow all New Yorkers to attend judicial proceedings, whether as a litigant, witness or family member. I’m grateful to Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly sponsor Michaelle Solages for working with us to pass this crucial legislation, and thankful to the immigrant
New Yorkers who made a clear, compelling moral case for why New York must pass this bill.” This legislation, S.425A, will: Ban ICE agents from arresting people attending or conducting court business in New York State. The purpose of this legislation is to ensure continued access to the State courts by all people in New York without fear of arrest or deportation. According to New York’s Immigrant Defense Project, from 2016-17 arrests by ICE agents at courthouses in New York increased by 1,200 percent. The Project said that fear of being targeted, either due to a lack of documented immigration status or concern about the uncertain status of a family member, have dissuaded many individuals from contacting law enforcement or following through with necessary court proceedings.
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Congratulations Nicholas Johnson Princeton's First Black Valedictorian Nicholas Johnson is the first black valedictorian in the 274 -year history of Princeton University and he is of Caribbean heritage. The 22-year-old scholar who from Montreal, Canada, was also named valedictorian years earlier at Selwyn House High. Nicholas is the son of Dr. Dexter Gregory Johnson a Bahamian, and Dr. Anita Brown-Johnson a Jamaican. He said he appreciates the encouragement he has received at Princeton in developing his academic interests. The University’s support through opportunities including international internships and cultural immersion trips to Peru, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom were especially significant, Johnson said. But most of all, he treasures his relationships with his classmates. “My favorite memories of my time at Princeton are memories of time spent with close friends and classmates engaging in stimulating discussions — often late at night — about our beliefs, the cultures and environments in which we were raised, the state of the world, and how we plan on contributing positively to it in our own unique way,” Johnson said. Johnson plans to spend this summer interning as a hybrid quantitative researcher and software developer at the D. E. Shaw Group before beginning Ph.D. studies in operations research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in fall 2020. Along with his concentration in operations research and financial engineering, he is pursuing certificates in statistics and machine learning, applied and computational mathematics, and applications of computing. In an interview with CNN, he said that it felt empowering being the first black valedictorian given Princeton’s historical ties to the institution of slavery and said he hopes his achievement motivates other black students.
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Tony Deyal | A Future Bleak And Blank During my early schooldays, cowboy comics were our models for sketches, and we did not need Doc Holliday, Marshall Dillon or Jesse James to draw a gun. What I never understood, though, was how, despite a slate and plenty chalk, I was never able to draw a blank but my father, trying desperately to find a job, always complained about drawing one. Worse, my parents wanted me to become a doctor, but I failed the exam. I got one of those ‘fill-in-the-blanks’ questions that asked, “When a young female faints, you immediately feel her p--s-.” Answering “pulse” was like money in the blank, and those who did became very successful doctors. Then having made drawing blanks the story of my life, I had to learn that there are different types, including a “blankety blank” or phrase which replaces an adjective considered obscene or vulgar such as “What the blankety-blank happened to your blankety-blank promise to come home by me last night?” Blankety Blank was also a TV Game Show which, after a 37-year run, was dumped by the BBC. Now it seems to have resurfaced in Trinidad as a “silly season” or election time-slot special. It started with a bang and a blank. During the filming of the film The Crow in May 1993, actor Brandon Lee, son of Bruce Lee, was killed by a shot from a pistol that was supposedly loaded with blank cartridges. Perhaps, still spooked by what happened to Brandon, and several other deaths by supposed “blanks”, the supporters of Trinidad’s Prime Minister Keith Rowley were aghast when his opponent and Leader of the Opposition, Kamla PersadBissessar, questioning what Rowley had done for the people of the country, referred to him as “blank”. Worse, as the written copy of her speech makes clear, she continued to poke fun at Rowley by saying that she did not “even have to name the man yet you could fill in the blanks”. Then, she asked the online audience, “What has ‘blank’ done for Trinidad and Tobago in the last five years? What has blank done for you? Not a blanking thing!!!” The first prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Eric Williams, had a hearing aid which he switched on and off, depending on how he felt about the people who were speaking and how much he valued what they were saying. Fortunately, the present prime minister has no such disability, but it seems that many of his supporters do. They heard the word “black” and not “blank”, and in the heat of an election and the global concern that created the Black Lives Matter movement for Freedom, Liberation and Justice, voiced their anger, outrage and spleen on social media. Pandemonium reigned and the blankety-blanks blanketed us with posts that rained down like bullets from a Gatling gun. RAINBOW NATION Within the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago is a place which, because of its multi-racial mix, was lauded by Archbishop Desmond Tutu as a “rainbow nation”, a term he coined and used to describe South Africa after its first democratic election in 1994. Unfortunately, especially when elections are imminent, neither country lives up to the hype, and the racial division widens into a chasm of despair and a slough of despond. The years since 2015 have been the
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worst in my experience of national politics. What we have, as the political temperature rises, is more heat than light. A few months ago, seemingly angry with people of Indian descent, the prime minister referred to them as a “recalcitrant minority”. He totally ignored the most recent census (July 2018) which found that people of Indian descent formed 35.4% of the population, compared with 34.2% of African descent. In other words, he was shooting blanks. While some of the senior members of Rowley’s government have referred to people of Indian descent as “alligators from the same murky lagoon” and warned voters about the dangers of “the Calcutta ship”, Persad-Bissessar has called Rowley an “Oreo” (black outside but white inside). Rowley accused her of “jammetry” or acting like a lady of the night who is no lady. In this climate and context, both the leaders and their parties seem to be crossing the lines of good sense and taste. Persad-Bissessar and I come from the town of Siparia, which was as close as one could get to an integrated community in Trinidad. I taught her English and was her athletics and netball coach at secondary school. She also played for the community’s representative team. What I found about this slim and seemingly fragile kid was that she relished the competition and delighted in the rough-and-tumble of the sport. During one game against much bigger girls from a city team, she was pushed, fell on the concrete court, and got a deep cut on her knee. I bandaged the cut and told her she should not continue. She ran back on the court and played through the whole match. In the case of Rowley, the first time I saw him was at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad, watching cricket. He used to sit by himself in the front row of one of the stands, quietly waving a tiny Trinidad flag. My friends and I used to feel sorry for him. We were quite surprised when we heard him speak fiercely and ferociously on the hustings as his party’s main platform speaker, and in Parliament where he became known as the “Rottweiler”. I am not sure if politics, racial pride and the hunger for power at any cost are the forces that drive the two Trinidad and Tobago party leaders and the majority of their supporters into the extremism of racial division. However, the Guyana situation should make them, and the rest of us, worry about the future, not just of our country, but the entire Caribbean. The St Kitts and Nevis government has been served six petitions by the Opposition, claiming election irregularities including corruption. St Lucia is heating up and Jamaica is always heated. While Trinidad and Tobago is closer to Guyana both geographically and racially than the other countries, there are still deep “tribal” divisions between the supporters of the two major parties in all the countries of the Caribbean. If there is hope for the future, it is that, if the leaders and their party bigwigs are given a choice between race and riches, I can tell you point-blank what all of them will choose. We have, and will always have in the Caribbean, the best politicians money can buy. Tony Deyal was last seen replying to the question, “What language do Trinidad politicians speak?” Rottweiler or not, they all talk Rott.
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