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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