Caribbean American Passport News Magazine - April 2017 by caribbeanamericanpassport

FREE Your Passport to the Caribbean American Community

Carib Beer/Ansa McAl acquires Florida Beer Co. in Cape Canaveral.

New Oil Finds in Guyana

-Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) recently announced positive results on the Snoek well offshore Guyana, confirming a new discovery on the Stabroek Block. Drilling targeted similar aged reservoirs as encountered in previous discoveries at Liza and Payara. “The latest discovery at Snoek demonstrates the continued success we have achieved in this technically complex play, which is just part of the significant exploration province offshore Guyana,” said Steve Greenlee, president of ExxonMobil Exploration Company. ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd. commenced drilling of the Snoek well on Feb. 22, 2017 and encountered 82 feet (25 meters) of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs. The well was safely drilled to 16,978 feet (5,175 meters) in 5,128 feet (1,563 meters) of water on March 18. The Snoek well is located in the southern portion of the Stabroek Block, approximately 5 miles (9 km) to the southeast of the 2015 Liza-1 discovery. Following completion of the Snoek well, the Stena Carron drillship has moved back to the Liza area to drill the Liza-4 well. ...Continued on page 10

Florida’s third largest brewery - Florida Beer, has been acquired by by the ANSA McAL group of companies based in Trinidad and Tobago. Florida Beer began as Indian River Brewing Co. nearly 20 years ago near the Indian River Lagoon. In 2003, the company purchased the brewery equipment of the Tampa-based Florida Beer Co., and became the exclusive contract brewer for all of that company's products. In 2005 the company changed its name to the Florida Beer Co. and three years ago it expanded and moved

into the former Chrysler Space Operations plant in Cape Canaveral. The acquisition of Florida Beer marks ANSA McAL’s first purchase of a private brewing production facility in the United States. ANSA McAL is a conglomerate headquartered in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago and it's beverage sector includes CARIB Brewery which has operations throughout the Caribbean. It also has agreements with Heineken International B.V., Guinness, Interbrew, Ginseng-Up Corp and Diageo....Continued on page 10

Comcast to add 600 new jobs in Miramar Comcast plans to expand its new Miramar facility and hire 600 people, the cable company announced last Thursday. The new jobs are part of 5,500 being added across the country to improve customer service.

“The 600 new jobs here in Florida are an important part of our commitment to making the customer experience our best product. ...Continued on Page 10

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L I F E S T Y L E

Guenet Gittens-Roberts, Publisher/Editor

Family & Quality Time

ife is truly what you make it and my suggestion is to make yours and own it, it’s the only one you’ve got.

was when it happened. As we approached the open area, close to the beach, my kids and I noticed something was wrong, not my wife, she’s half blind and can’t see pass 20 feet in front of her nose.

This month my wife celebrated her birthday her way and…it turned out to be a beautiful experience for the entire family. From horseback riding, to going to the beach to Barnes & Noble to dinner with her in-laws (my parents).

We were at the NUDE part of the beach, we were at Playalinda beach, one of Florida’s famous NUDE beaches. As we stood there, half shocked and half

Samuel J. Roberts, Publisher/Editor

The kids were down from college and the celebrations were simple and priceless. As we work through the ups and downs of our lives it is important to make every effort to truly stop along the way and smell the roses or do whatever makes you happy. Many times we get caught up with the material aspects of enjoying life and don’t realize that life can be celebrated with the simplest of activities: • Playing cards

• Playing dominos • Playing any game with family or friends (not that there is a difference) • Going to the beach • Watching a movie or TV on the couch on in bed • Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner at home with everyone doing their part • Talking about your childhood days with your kids, your parents or your friends

Sometimes the simplest of activities could be the most rewarding, on Sunday when we all went to the beach, (no I won’t tell you that whole story)…oh heck, why not!!! For years we have been going to Canaveral National Seashore as the pristine federal park, is not only relatively remote, but also breathtakingly beautiful. This is Florida the way it was when the first explorers sighted them in Columbus’s day: dunes covered with a mantle of sea oats and seagrape, beach sunflowers and berries. It remains the longest undeveloped stretch of oceanfront on Florida’s east coast. However, there is where things went slightly different this time. Once you enter the Park there are about 15 to 20 parking areas which provide direct access to the beach. We have always parked in one of the first 3 or 4 parking areas simply to avoid driving all the way to the last one. This time we decided to go long, we drove to the end of the parking areas. When we got to the last 3 parking areas we noticed that something was different, the parking area was now rotated to the other side of the road. Who really noticed or wondered why, nobody. We turned around at the end of the road and drove back past 2 of the parking areas to find what looked like the perfect spot. We parked and walked over the boardwalk to the beach and that

kafuffled, trying to explain to my darling wife that we were at a NUDE beach, she kept saying but I can’t see anything…not necessarily because of her eyesight but because there really wasn’t much to see, if you get my point. After all, she’s accustomed to seeing much MORE (You can interpret this as you wish). We finally went back to the general population beach spread our beach blankets to relax and enjoy the beautiful sand, sun, sea, surf and swimsuits. We all took our places on the blankets to relax, 3 and a half hours later, we woke up. We simply fell asleep on the beach for over 3 hours…it was a simply beautiful day spent with the family sleeping on the beach, with clothes on...PRICELESS!!!

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 Sales: sales@caribbeanamericanpassport.com Info: .Info@caribbeanamericanpassport.com Should you desire to review past copies of the publication go to http://caribbeanamericanpassport.com and click on the

Print Archive.

Editor & Publisher ............................................................... Sam Roberts Publisher ........................................................... Guenet Gittens-Roberts Graphic Design & Layout ......................................Jan Longwell-Smiley Contributing Writers: ............................................................ Tony Dyal ..............................................................................................Ryan Davis

..........................................................................................Sandra Fatmi ............................................................................................ Gail Seeram

.........................................................................................Sasha Watson ........................................................................................ Kamal Abdool Contributing Photographers ............ .................................Ted Hollins ..................................................................................................Dilia Castillo .......................................................................................... Sandra Fatmi .............................................. .....................................Nancy-Joe Brown Central Florida Distribution...................................................Roy Benn South Florida Distribution ........................................Norman Williams NorthFlorida Distribution ...................................................Theo Jack Jr. Copyright (C) 2016 GGR Marketing & Public Relations. All rights reserved.

ImmigrationINFO

Immigration News For Our Community Child Traveling Internationally & Child Seeking to Emigrate to U.S. Need Consent of Both Parents By Attorney Gail S. Seeram, Gail@GailLaw.com 1-877-GAIL-LAW @GailSeeram

FREE In-Office Consultation FREE Live Chat www.MyOrlandoImmigrationLawyer.com

nless a child is accompanied by both parents while traveling internationally, the adult accompanying the child must have a note from the child's other parent (or, in the case of a child traveling with grandparents, uncles or aunts, sisters or brothers, friends, or in groups*, a note signed by both parents) stating "I acknowledge that my wife/husband/etc. is traveling out of the country with my son/daughter/group. He/She/They has/have my permission."

When traveling to the United States, U.S. Custom and Border Protection will ask for such written, signed, notarized consent, and if you do not have it, you may be detained until the circumstances of the child traveling without both parents can be fully assessed. If there is no second parent with legal claims to the child (deceased, sole custody, etc.) any other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, birth certificate naming only one parent, death certificate, etc., would be required.

Failure to produce notarized, signed permission letters and/or birth certificates could result in travelers being refused entry into the foreign country. This strict international requirement protects children from kidnapping and international custody dispute. Passports are necessary for minors traveling abroad via air travel, whether they are traveling with their parents, alone or with another adult. Further, if a child is seeking to get lawful permanent resident status (or green card) in the United States, a notarized, signed consent to emigrate to the U.S. is required by the non-custodial parent or parent living in a foreign country. If the non-custodial or divorced parent does not consent for the child to emigrate to the U.S. then the child is in the U.S. illegally and the U.S. government may be forced to return the child to his/her native country upon request of the non-custodial parent or parent living in the foreign country. Note, the notarized signed consent for a child to travel to the U.S. (under a B-1/B-2) is different from the consent required when the child is seeking to obtain a green card in the U.S.

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By Ryan Davis

NEVER GIVE UP!

(The Nicholas Pooran story) n February 2014, the West Indies played Australia in the quarter finals of the U-19 World Cup in U.A.E.

The Australian Bowling attack took a wrecking ball to the West Indies batting line up. With the score being 70 for 8, young wicket keeper batsman Nicholas Pooran, took his guard and went on to smash a marvelous 143 runs. Scoring a whopping 69% of his team’s total.

That incredible performance put him in the forefront West Indian selector’s minds and slotted him right behind, at the time, current wicket keeper Dennis Ramdin. The sky was the limit for this youngster and Pooran’s chance to play for the West Indies’ senior team seemed to be only a matter of time. On January 6 2015. Pooran just finished a training session with the Trinidad and Tobago national team and was driving home when a car tried to overtake another car, he swerved out of the way and hit a sand heap then came back into the road when another vehicle hit him. He was knocked out. When Pooran came back to consciousness his left patellar tendon was ruptured and he had a fractured right ankle. After being rushed to the hospital by an Ambulance. The first thing he asked the doctor’s was if he could play cricket again? Two surgeries later and the doctor replied, “It is up to therapy now to determine if you would play cricket again.” For the first four months Pooran spent most of his time in a wheelchair, which meant progress was painstakingly slow. He would fight thru bouts of depression as the days were long and slow. Yet every single day he would go to therapy no matter how tough or how boring it was, getting back on the cricket field was all he could think about. Pooran eventually found support from someone unexpected. West Indian all-rounder Kieron Pollard was going thru his own injury crisis, he reached out to Nicholas and soon both of them formed and unbreakable bound that propelled each other out of their plight. Fast forward a year later and Nicholas Pooran was starting his career over at the club level playing for Queen’s Park Cricket Club where he met a key ally in Coach Phil Simmons. Coach Simmons assisted in getting back his match fitness and gave him the confidence he needed to get back to the highest level.

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Soon the 2016 CPL draft was here and Pooran was selected in the fourth round for US $90,000 by the Barbados Tridents captained by none other than his good friend Kieron Pollard. It put Pooran in the top ten most expensive local players in the CPL. Currently Nicholas Pooran is a cricketer in demand. Four months into 2017 and so far he has been drafted by the ever popular Mumbai Indians in the IPL, he is playing for Islamabad United in the PSL playoffs and then he is travelling to Hong Kong to play in the T20 blitz. At a time when West Indies cricket is in such disarray, it is good to know that there are cricketers like young Nicholas Pooran who are dedicated to the sport and will never give up no matter how tough the situation gets.

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South Florida Lifestyles “All

That Jazz” Jazz in the Garden Miami Gardens

By Nouchelle Hastings

“No one else can receive the Glory” was a fitting and powerful opening for JITG2017 #Day2. The electrifying Pastor Smokie Norful and team opened Day 2 under windy conditions. It’s possible that the extra burst of wind was the stage on fire from the closing act of #Day 1 by the riveting Ms. Jill ‘from Philly’ Scott. Nonetheless, he brought church to the Gardens. Esperanza Spalding, the Roots, Andra Day, Common, and LL Cool J closed out the second day of Jazz in the Gardens 2017 at Hard Rock Stadium. JITG2017 Day 1 lineup included Grammy-winning singer and Miami native Betty Wright, the artist known for her hit “Clean Up Woman” celebrated 50 years in the industry. Fifty is the new 30 right? Wright (right) because she did that; she gave a Grammy-winning performance in her hometown and the crowds could not get enough. Other performers were Robin Thicke, Herbie Hancock, Chante Moore, Will Downing, DJ Z-Trip, Morris Day & The Time and Marion Meadows. The most inspirational and emotional moment was the presentation of the keys to the city to Alex Hibbert and Jaden Piner, residents and actors in the Oscar-winning move, “Moonlight,” and to Tanisha Cidel, their teacher. These young boys are from Liberty City which is also the backdrop to the movie’s story line.

I’m a people watcher by nature and usually find the essence of the small things that other people over look. The costumes, colors and t-shirts messages were in abundance and on every row there were as many messages as they were people filling the seats. Words have power! Power is what it takes to have a successful event of this magnitude. In its 12th year, the power of collaborative team work and preparation is commendable which was clearly seen by Mayor Oliver G. Gilbert III and the Jazz in the Gardens organizers. I took personal pride as I watched the crew clean and wipe down every single chair in the stadium. I was moved beyond words. The festival lined up rows of stands and local vendors behind the stage for patrons to enjoy between acts. Each performance featured a full, live band and a long 60- to 90-minute set. Orlandoians at the Garden who checked in and kept those who could not attend connected via social media were Attorney Kimra Major-Morris and her daughter, Niara and Karen Anderson, Chief Content Editor, Because Events Rock. Jazz in the Gardens 2018 is expected to be equally as exciting! Make plans now to attend. Images Courtesy of: JITG2017, Because Events Rock, Kimra Major-Morris and Caribbean American Passport News Magazine.

There were a few philosophical moments for me as I was able to experience a woman who through her music has emancipated women all over the globe. Andra Day’s “Rise Up” has crossed continents of cultures and has been used in many commercials and television sitcoms; to see her perform took my very breath away. And I got the chance to feel like a groupie when LL Cool J did his warm up and sound check. I was like a kid in the candy store in the middle of the garden and the moment will never be forgotten.

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Carib Beer/Ansa McAl acquires Florida Beer Co. in Cape Canaveral..

cont. from cover

Carib Brewery is an industry leader and has dominated the regional market in the production of go-to beverages for locals and visitors. Carib Brewery brands are internationally recognized and the Carib Beer insignia is known around the world as a symbol of the Caribbean’s blue waters and yearround sunshine.

This is the story of how it all began…

The British get kudos for introducing beer to the Caribbean in the 1880s, but it was Sir Gerald Wight, then Chairman of Alstons Company Limited (now McEnearney Alstons Limited) and a Royal Air Force veteran from World War I, who saw the establishment of a new brewery and a glassworks factory as a life-preserver to an economy that was traditionally sugar and oil dependent. Caribbean Development Company Limited (CDC) was formed in 1947 and led by Sir Gerald to do just that, but, there was someone else who saw the potential success of beer in the Caribbean long before CDC was established.

Trinidad Brewing Company which produced and sold Royal Lion Ale, Royal Extra Stout and Black Velvet Stout. In 1957, in the midst of increasing competition from CDC, Mr. Walters sold the Trinidad Brewing Company to CDC thus adding his brands to their already growing portfolio.

And the rest is beer history… Since then we CDC has grown from strength to strength. They continue to innovate and develop their portfolio in to ensure that every consumer can find a beverage they can call their own. In their words "Our products are key ingredients in every gathering and we are proud to bring the fun and vibes that an island lime is known for, to over thirty countries across the globe. We cater to the young and the young at heart, with a guarantee that from the first sip to the last, each product will be recognized by the sound of the refreshing “aaaaahhhhh!”…"

An individual, known only as Mr. Walters, lifted the spirits of many during the worldwide depression that followed World War I with his dark porter brews. He owned and operated the

New Oil Finds in Guyana...cont. from cover “As we continue to evaluate the full potential of the broader Stabroek Block, we are also taking the necessary steps to ensure the safe, cost-efficient and responsible development of this world-class resource, which can provide long-term, sustainable benefits to the people of Guyana,” said Greenlee. The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometers). Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited is operator and holds 45 percent interest in the Stabroek Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30 percent interest and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25 percent interest.

Comcast to add 600 new jobs in Miramar...Cont. from cover

The investments we are making and the jobs we are creating in Florida will have a positive impact on our customers,” Reggie Scales, Comcast’s vice president of Business Services, said. The Miramar office expansion “gives us the opportunity to add more touchpoints [for customer service]. You have everyone under Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam one roof,” he continued. Comcast is located at 15800 SW 25th St., in Miramar, where about 300 employees work at its Spanish-language Center of Excellence to serve Spanish-speaking customers. Scales said the center is well-located to draw employees both from Broward and Miami-Dade counties, but even some Palm Beach County residents make the commute. The new jobs will be in business customer care and technical assistance, according to the Sun Sentinel.

At the announcement Thursday, Comcast reaffirmed its support for members of the National Guard and Reserve. Comcast also signed a commitment Thursday to support members of the National Guard and Reserve in Miramar and elsewhere.

The company, which matches the difference between military pay and Comcast pay when workers are called to duty, said it is on track to hire more than 10,000 members of the military by the end of this year. Gov. Rick Scott was on hand to praise the company for its commitment to hiring those who serve in the military. Scott said, “Today’s announcement shows that our focus on economic development and making Florida the most business-friendly state in the nation is clearly keeping our state on track to becoming first for jobs. I look forward to seeing Comcast’s continued success across the state.” Those interested in employment opportunities with Comcast can review job profiles and apply for open positions at jobs.comcast.com. Comcast currently employs more than 30,000 Floridians at more than 300 locations across the state. Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam said, “Comcast truly stands out for its continued investment in both our community and in the families whose lives will be positively impacted by these new jobs.”

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Florida Caribbean Students Association Conference 2017 FLORIDA CARIBBEAN STUDENTS ASSOCIATION CLOSE SUCCESSFUL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE AT UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN GAINESVILLE. By Marlon Hill & Sam Roberts

ainesville, Florida -- Over six hundred (600) Caribbean college student leaders from around Florida and the United States convened at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida to participate in professional and personal development workshops, a Talent and Cultural Showcase, civic community service projects, and among other activities. Hosted by the University of Florida Caribsa organization, the Conference welcomed respected business, academic, and community leaders from around the State of Florida and the University of Florida community. Celebrated Caribbean artist and entrepreneur, Kees Diffenthaller, made a guest appearance and shared keynote remarks at the Annual Miss FCSA banquet. Kees encouraged the students to pursue excellence at all times and to be proud of their heritage. FCSA students also participated in a day of community service with beautification and landscaping of the popular Gainesville MLK Community Center.

The future for Caribbean Americans in Florida and across the World looks bright with the quality of students showcased at the University of Florida hosted FCSA Conference 2017. The students at the conference were a typical representation of our Caribbean culture, as can be seen in the pictures below. During their clean-up activities at the MLK Community center the rythm of the Caribbean was in the air and in their spirits, many groups broke into dance at randum times during the clean-up process, with garbage bags in their hands, gloves on their hands and music in their souls ...it was a pleasure to see them do their thing. Caribbean American Passport along with Island 360, Grace Kennedy Foods, Mark's Restaurant, Bamboo Shack, Bahiasearch.comand Lens Worthy were the major sponsors for the FCSA Conference 2017 The next FCSA conference is scheduled for Spring 2018 at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

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CRICKET – THE NUMBERS GAME

oliticians use statistics the same way that a drunk uses lamp-posts—for support rather than illumination. Mark Twain, who first said this, is also credited with this observation, “Statistics are like ladies of the night—once you get them down you can do anything with them.” Lacking familiarity with nocturnally inclined ladies, I prefer to base my statistical speculations on the field of cricket which allows greater scope for experimentation and also provides enough lamp posts of sufficient stature to shed light on even the most arcane assumptions, conjectures and speculations. Fortunately for me, I am not a mathematician but a cricket fan and this is why I am unlike most of the number-crunchers. I do not fit Mark Twain’s glib observation that “A statistician is a mathematician broken down by age and sex.” And before anyone else comments, I still maintain my teenage love for figures but not necessarily numbers and certainly not statisticians although they can help shed light on some phenomena including cricket as conducted under the auspices of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). We say "the figures don't lie" and yet we accept, as Lord Disraeli the former British Prime Minister is reputed to have said, "There are lies, damn lies and statistics." Following Mark Twain, Stephen Leacock, the Canadian humorist, quipped, "In earlier times they had no statistics so they had to fall back on lies." Another humorist stated, "97.3 per cent of all statistics are lies." However, the remaining 2.7 per cent give some interesting information. For example, three out of four Barbadians make up 75 per cent of the population of Barbados. A person can have his head in the oven and his feet in a bucket of ice and on average will feel fine. Experience teaches us if there is a 50-50 chance that something can go wrong then nine out of ten times it will. Perhaps the best example of how statisticians and statistics work is the story about three statisticians who went out hunting and came across a large deer. The first statistician fired, but missed by a meter to the left. The second statistician fired, but missed by a meter to the right. The third statistician didn't fire, but shouted in triumph, "On the average we got it!" Despite these extremely cynical observations from meanspirited critics, when it comes to cricket I trust the figures. Wisden, the famous British Cricket publication and its website espncricinfo.com, have demonstrated that cricket is literally a numbers game and that the statistics do matter. The combined batting averages of the eleven players who represented the WICB in the final One Day International (ODI) match in the series against Pakistan in Guyana last Tuesday, April 11, 2017, is 221.44. The batting average of the Pakistan team which played that game is 301.32. The West Indies made 233 for nine wickets or just 12 runs above average. Pakistan scored 236 for four wickets, which is about 13 runs higher than the combined averages of the six players who batted for Pakistan. As an old gambler once told me, “The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong but that is the way to bet.” Those who bet with statistics would have lost one and won two bets on the ODIs.

by Tony Deyal

So what made the WICB win the first game of the series, successfully breaking the record for run chases by scoring 309 in reply to Pakistan’s 308? Jason Mohammed, whose average is 41.28 made 91 runs or more than twice his average. Powell scored 61, also more than doubling his average of 25.97. Pakistan, in fact, made about seven runs more than their average but the fact that two batsmen from the WICB’s team performed much better than average changed the outcome of the match. The downside of this is that after 25 matches, averages generally remain around the same figure so that when you exceed your average in one game, say by scoring a century when your average is 20, you can expect many low scores afterwards. The good news is that averages can improve with changes in leadership and team selection. However, there are four "Ps" in team selection and one of them is the killer. The first "P" is "Performance" and if you follow that you will do well. The second "P" is "Potential" and that will work as a philosophy if you have a judicious blend with your Performance. The third "P" is for "Playing Conditions" or even "pitch" conditions which would mean that you pick horses for your courses. The one that destroys them all and has always been the most powerful "P" in West Indies Cricket, especially under the WICB, is the "Politics". For example, can anyone explain to me why Chadwick Walton who is almost 32 years old with an average in ODIs of 7.57 was chosen for all three ODI matches? If we look at the bowlers, Jason Holder, the Captain and one of the top bowlers, has an average of 32.9 per wicket. If he gets ten wickets in a match the opponents will, on average, score 329 runs, or about one hundred runs more than the batting average of the WICB’s team. Ashley Nurse has an excellent bowling average in ODIs of 24.35 but if he gets all the wickets in a match, the WICB’s team will still lose. Jason Mohammed, reputedly an all-rounder, has been hit for 103 runs without taking a wicket in ODIs. Jonathan Carter, another all-rounder goes for 44.66 runs per wicket. It can and will get worse especially with the present selection panel. If you include "Parochialism" and "Pressure" among the Ps you have the present situation— a team which, to win a series, needs to play against opponents who cannot make more than 220 runs per ODI. Tony Deyal was last seen saying that statistics are so weird that three percent exceeds two percent not by one percent but by 50 percent.

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Caring for our elderly loved ones

am reflecting on my life and remembering the times I spent in a wheel chair, recovering from several surgeries or being laid up because of a flu attack. These events compelled me to consider what will happen when I am older. I was not a good patient because I wasn’t able to move around freely and do things the way I was accustomed to doing. My moments of frustration came when I couldn’t go to the bathroom on my own and sometimes left there longer than I would have liked to. Recently I cared for my grandmother until her death. It was a crowning time for me because I comforted her as she must have comforted me when I was a child. I looked in her eyes as she was laying on her bed and I saw the eyes of trust, no fear but peace.

I remember telling her once that I could hear Gabriel blowing his horn and she replied that she did not hear him so it’s me he is blowing for. Her favorite times were going to McDonalds for a happy meal and she would always offer to share her bounty with me. She was still trying to care for her “child”. In the end, she stopped talking but she could hear me singing all her favorite songs of Zion. How would your loved one feel about the love and care you’re giving them now? I’m here to remind you that they would express gratitude if he or she was healthy and able to speak. Each person’s journey to death is unique as God transitions us back to Him. Some people have a gradual decline for months or years; while others transition quickly. Aunt Merle had dinner with us one evening at the dining table and passed the following evening at four. Grandma Mag took thirty years to transition. Either way, they made it home! I was told that the elderly who came to America in their declining years do not receive public assistance and all the responsibilities are placed on the “caregiver”, children. This could be over whelming when the cost of a helper encroached upon your budget. There is a major need for you to care for yourself and for your loved ones. Do not neglect church, temple or civic group gatherings, go whenever possible. Schedule visits from friends, even

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By Rosemarie Roth

phone calls back home to keep in touch with current events. Should you be caring for a loved one now, please feel our love and gratitude towards you. And onbehalf of your loved one, “thank you” and our prayers are with you. Your role is to be present, provide comfort, and reassure your loved one with soothing words and actions that help maintain their comfort and dignity. The Bible says, “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—”that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth” (Ephesians 6:2-3) When we honor and care for our parents, we are serving God as well. The Bible says, “The church should care for any widow who has no one else to care for her. But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God very much....But those who won't care for their own relatives, especially those living in the same household, have denied what we believe. Such people are worse than unbelievers” (1 Timothy 5:3-4, 8). For support, prayer or supplies: please call Rosemarie Roth at (352) 321-0932.

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This segment on Guyana is sponsored by Caribbean Travel Passport & Roraima Airways The Guiana Shield was formed some two billion years ago during the precambrian period. The shield is covered with 2.5 million km sq of tropical forest. The massive granite craton underlying the Guyana Shield are covered with sandstones, quartzite, shales, conglomerates and boulder beds. The Guyana shield is the world's largest remaining tract of mostly undisturbed and unexplored tropical rainforest and is one of the only four such remaining forest in the world. This issue will focus on Guyanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mountain regions which are not very well known.

Mount Roraima Is the most famous Tepui in the World. Over 1,700 million years old, this ancient formation is one of the most acclaimed sights in South America forming a tripartite border between Guyana, Venezuela and Brazil. For hundreds of years this ancient flat-topped mountain formation inspired travelers - tales and rumors abounded concerning the mysterious, inaccessible summit above the clouds. Mount Roraima is the highest point in Guyana with a plateau standing at 2700m. Forming part of the ancient Guiana Shield, Mt. Roraima was once part of Gondwanaland before tectonic activity moved apart the continents of Africa and South America. The lunarlike surface is home to many unique flora species which huddles for shelter in pockets on the exposed, windswept plateau. Amazing rock formations have been carved by wind and water, and the ground is uneven and rocky with frequent crystal clear pools of excruciatingly cold water (good for the circulation apparently!) There are crystal beds that contain large, individual crystals in interesting shapes, and stunning views. Mt. Roraima has made a deep impression on western literature and thought, influencing such men as Charles Darwin and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. After the publication of Darwin's 'Origin of Species' there was great public interest in 'missing links' and 'relic species' preserved by isolation. Roraima mysterious summit was an excellent possibility for an area at evolutionary standstill and the last place on earth where dinosaurs could exist. Conan Doyle, fascinated by the descriptions of early explorers such as Im Thurm, wrote in 1912 what is considered to be one of the best science fiction novels ever written "The Lost World."

Roraima Airways CEO, Capt. Gerry Gouviea inset at a presentation on Guyana's Eco-Tourism potential held in Orlando.

Kanuku Mountains The Kanuku Mountains â&#x20AC;&#x201C; recognized by Conservation International as being one of the few remaining pristine Amazon habitats - is located in southwestern Guyana. This picturesque mountain range forms a spectacular backdrop to the Rupununi Savannahs with its sculptured crowns peaking just below the clouds. The range, divided by the Rupununi River, is noted for its high diversity of bird and animal species, with approximately 80% of the known mammal species of Guyana being recorded. With little or no human settlement on the eastern range, the area is still pristine and is perfect for the nature and adventure traveler to experience the diversity of the tropical ecosystems. A trip down the enchanting Rupununi River provides you with the opportunity to see Black and Spectacled Caiman, Puma, Tapir and Giant River Otters. Explore forest trails that lead into the virgin Kanuku Mountains in search of the Harpy Eagle, the Cock of the Rock, Cotingas, Three-toe Sloth, Tyra and many more exotic animals. Contact Caribbean Travel Passport for customized vacation packages through Roraima Airways to discover or rediscover Guyana. Tel: 407-427-1800

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Where Would America be without the Immigrants

byKamal Abdool

or over two hundred years America has prospered because it opened its doors, not just to immigrants, but to individuals with special talent as well. Think of Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers who was born on the Caribbean island of Nevis. Hamilton was the United States first Treasury Secretary and established the American Financial System which was the platform that made the United States the richest country in the world. In addition, Hamilton was the Founder of the United States Coast Guard and the New York Post.

You may know his name if you borrowed books from the Carnegie Free Library.

I thought of Alexander Hamilton as President Trump signed an Executive Order severely reducing the H1B Visas which allowed highly skilled workers to enter the United States. What if that reduction prevented someone like Hamilton from entering the US? Donald Trump has promised substantial changes to US Immigration policy, some of which may threaten America's preeminence in attracting innovative immigrants.

These companies may not exist if the Founder's parents hadn't moved to the United States. Steve Jobs of Apple father is Syrian, Amazon Creator Jeff Bezos has a Cuban father, Walt Disney's dad is Canadian and the parents of the McDonald brothers emigrated from Ireland.

How many others who can make significant contributions will now be denied the opportunity. Instead of limiting highly skilled Engineers and Scientists, Immigration Officers should be at the top Universities handing out Green Cards to PhD Graduates in the Engineering and Science portfolios. Here are some Immigrant Americans who made significant contributions. Entertainers who were once unauthorized include Bob Hope, Elizabeth Taylor, Michael J. Fox, Charlize Theron and John Lennon. Immigrants who founded great American Companies include Alexander Graham Bell - AT&T, from England Elihu Thomson who co-founded General Electric, James Gamble is Irish and with Englishman William Procter co-founded Procter and Gamble. Comcast co-founder is the German Daniel Aaron as was Charles Pfizer who co-founded Pfizer Drugs. The great Steel Magnate, Scotsman Andrew Carnegie founded US Steel.

DuPont Founder is French as is the e-Bay founder, Nordstrom's Founder is Swedish, Jerry Yang of Taiwan created Yahoo Inc. James Kraft founded Kraft Foods and the cocreator of YouTube is Bangladeshi. Google co-founder Sergey Brin is Russian, Goldman Sachs founder Marcus Goldman is German, Maxwell Kohl of Kohl's is from Poland, Big Lots Founder Sol Shenk is from Russia and William Colgate is English.

Look at some iconic American things that wouldn't exist without immigrants. Levi Jeans invented by Jacob Davis of Latvia and Levi Strauss of Germany, Hamburgers by Louis Lassen of Denmark, Adolphus Busch created Budweiser Beer, Charles Feltman of Germany inventor of the Hot Dog, James Naismith of Canada created the modern day Basketball Game and Serbian immigrant Irving Berlin wrote God Bless America. We love today's computer processing speed thanks to the inventor of the Pentium Processor Indian born Vinod Dham. Trump supporters believe the President will bring back factory jobs to middle America. Automation, Robotics, faster and cheaper shipping and technological advances will make this promise an elusive dream and a figment of the imagination. Whites are losing their prominence in today's social structure and someone is to be blamed. The Immigrant is the preferred and easy target.Trump supporters are easy to fool and will believe anything the President tells them and yes, they also believe Mexico will pay for the Wall.

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Letters to My Lawyer™ Concerned Grandfather

This column is primarily for educational purposes as well as to give the reader general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide any legal advice whatsoever. By reading this column you understand that there is no attorney-cliet relationship between you and writer/pub-lisher. This column should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney. This column is not published for advertising or solicitation purposes. The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements.

by: Kafi D. Kennedy Swanson, Esq.D

ear

Dear Lawyer: I am the grandfather of an 8 year old and 10 year old. My daughter has had some mental health issues and currently is in a psychiatric facility. I have my two grandchildren with me but had a problem when I went to pick one of the up from school early. I wasn’t listed as an emergency contact and the school didn’t want to release the child to me. I realized that I can’t even take the children to the doctor if they get sick. What can I do to protect the children while my daughter is away? Please help, Concerned Grandfather Dear Concerned Grandfather: The best way to protect your grandchildren while your daughter is away is to ask the court for Temporary Custody by an Extended Family Member. This will allow you to temporarily act as the parent to your grandchildren. This petition will need to be filed in the Court where the children reside. You will need to contact the father of the children and serve him with a copy of the petition as soon as it is filed. This will allow him to make any objections he may have to the petition. If you know the father will not have any objections you may

also have him sign a consent affidavit consenting to you becoming the temporary custodian of the children. Prior to the hearing on the custody please gather documents as well as witness that will help the Judge make a decision as to why you would be the best person to have custody of the children. Documents showing how long your daughter will be in the treatment facility would be helpful. Also any witnesses which can help show how you have been taking care of the children as well as the environment they are living in. If the Judge grants the petition you will have all rights and responsibilities of a legal parent. You will be allowed to make all necessary decisions for the children including medical, schooling, extra-curricular activities, etc. However, the court may limit your ability to travel outside of the courts jurisdictions. After you have received a copy of the order you will want to go to the children’s school to update their emergency contact information. I always recommend to my clients that they keep a copy of the order with when trying to conduct any business related to the children. This is a temporary solution while your daughter is away. You should contact an experienced attorney in order to discuss the pros and cons of each of your options so you may make the best informed decision. Please submit your letters to letters@hawmlaw.com. Each month a reader’s letter will be chosen for response. Letters to My Lawyer™ is a publication of Karlyn Hylton & Sasha Watson of Hylton, Adamson Watson, PLLC 1820 W. Colonial Drive |Orlando, FL 32801 Phone: 407-802-3223 | F: 407-377-1971 Email: letters@hawmlaw.com