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Your Passport to the Caribbean American Community
Feb/Mar 2020
2 MACHEL MONTANO GETS MARRIED
New Guyanese airline ‘Air Demerara’ prepares to launch A new airline, Air Demerara, is fine tuning its plans to operate from Guyana’s main international airports by the year 2021. The company announced that it plans to operate international and regional flights between Guyana and the Caribbean, North America and Brazil from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at Ogle. Air Demerara was incorporated in June of 2019 and will operate a fleet of brand-new,fuel-efficient aircraft with a list price of US$500M. President and Chief Executive Officer, Zain Tulsie Issurdutt, who is of Guyanese parentage, has returned to Guyana accompanied by his father and Chairman, Tulsie Ram Issurdutt to set up the firm. Cont'd on pg 12
Machel Montano added a wedding - his own - to his annual concert event Machel Monday. Machel married his longtime girlfriend Renee Butcher a few days before and then hosted the final staging and ended with a wedding on stage in front of his fans. That was the last Machel Monday as the event will not be held anymore. But his fans got a treat, he asked them to dress for a wedding, so most were wearing white- some more formal than others. Some fans received a wedding cake when they arrived at the venue.
The Montanos - Renee and Machel
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L I F E S T Y L E Samuel J. Roberts
Owner/Publisher/Editor
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Guenet Gittens-Roberts, Publisher/Editor
It is important to figure out your why? n a world where distractions are all around you as a business person, it
is very important that you are very clear about your mission and vision and ensure that clients and the business you work on everyday stays closely aligned. This February, as part of an Orlando Business Journal's Black History Month special feature, I was asked to share what shaped me and what shaped our business. In preparing for that article, it reminded me that years ago, when we started GGR Marketing and PR and Caribbean American Passport, there was no marketing agency that focused on only Caribbean businesses, people or culture. Even when I would explain to Caribbean business owners that it was easy to scale their business growth in the Caribbean markets, they would not trust and believe that. The local Caribbean radio stations were the only ones who led the charge on challenging Caribbean people to do business with Caribbean businesses. They paved the way in connecting us. But many people did not know and still do not know how to find the Caribbean media. Our approach was a bit outside of the box, we believed not in just appealing to the Caribbean audiences that were deeply rooted in their food and music and would therefore find us at a restaurant, supermarket or festival. We went looking for our people in every place that we could. We knew something important: all Caribbean people aren't to be found in the places you expect them to be. They are out there living their lives, blending in. But when you find them at a networking event where they don't expect to see you and you expose them to all the Caribbean flavor they could experience without losing their professional vibe...they are happy to see us! Some Caribbean people would like us to stay in a box, play with only each other and hide away in an effort to keep it real. But they have lost an important lesson, Caribbean people like more than just Caribbean music, they love more than just Caribbean food, they love more than just Caribbean culture. So it is important that we reflect the entire Caribbean community and not just that small sample that you think it is. We are wonderfully complex, wonderfully diverse and I am proud to be from Guyana where we shared each other's food, music and culture. I am not sure, how in Guyana we learnt to keep our cultures alive, but share them and celebrate them
without prejudice and judgement. It's a very important thing that we take for granted. Most cultures stay separate but equal or they get so standardized that nothing stands out but one culture representative of that region. I am happy that we were not brought up that way. It makes me as passionate about Phagwah and it's importance as a religious and cultural tradition to be celebrated and held as significant as I do Christmas or Eid. With all of the differences in religion and race being highlighted and seen as bad, it's time we led an awakening that we could be different and still enjoy those differences. Why does everyone have to be the same? Our exposure to differences prepare us to understand that there is nothing wrong or scary in someone being different...it just is what they are. That's a profound lesson that we learn at a very early age. It is what has shaped WHY I do what I do. Guyana with all of it's imperfections, all it's growing pains, was able to teach me that. I will forever carry my country with me and be grateful for it's lessons of inclusiveness and diversity. As Guyana turns 50 years as a Republic I pray that her citizens remember these lessons as they go into elections and I pray for peace and continued prosperity 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.
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Black History Month Immigration Fact Courtesy USCIS
This image shows a group of women from the island of Guadeloupe who landed at EllisIsland in 1911. Courtesy USCIS
An estimated 100,000 black immigrants passed through Ellis Island during its busiest years of operation, from 1892 - 1924. Mostly from the Caribbean islands of Jamaica and Trinidad, as well as African countries, many immigrants settled in nearby NewYorkCity, contributing to the growth of Harlem’s black population, starting the political and cultural movement known as the HarlemRenaissance.
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“My story might have turned out very differently if I had been Black,” Mike Bloomberg to push $70 Billion investment in Black Communities Democratic Presidential Candidate Mike Bloomberg has a problem with the systematic racism and societal bias that has kept Black America from achieving the economic equity. And he is the only presidential candidate to confront the issue with a proposal to address one of the nations’ most prevalent dilemmas. Bloomberg’s belief
“As someone who has been very lucky in life, I often say my story would only have been possible in America – and that’s true. But I also know that my story might have turned out very differently if I had been Black, and that more Black Americans of my generation would have ended up with far more wealth, had they been white,” said Mike Bloomberg. “Instead, they have had to struggle to overcome great odds, because their families started out further behind, and excluded from opportunities – in housing, employment, education, and other areas.”
that the wall of discrimination has kept Black America from building generational wealth was reinforced when he visited remnants of the little-known Black Wall Street Massacre site in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was more evidence of America’s dark history. So, Bloomberg unveiled his Greenwood Initiative that will bring about economic justice to Black Americans at a time when it is essential.
Mike’s plan, the Greenwood Initiative, lays out a path to create more than 1 million new Black homeowners and 100,000 new Black-owned businesses in the next decade. As President, he has committed to investing $70 billion in the country’s 100 most disadvantaged neighborhoods. Bloomberg has a solid record of philanthropic programs that have changed the lives of people of color.
He personally reflected on the enduring legacy of racial discrimination — crystallized by the unbelievable statistic that the typical Black family owns one-tenth the wealth of the typical white family. He acknowledges that biased policies in the financial, criminal justice, and electoral voting systems have stood as concrete barriers for many Black Americans for far too long, and that the impact of discrimination over centuries has meant an enormous loss of wealth for generations.
In Florida, Mike’s plans continue to draw support and endorsements from prominent Black lawmakers, including Florida House Minority Leader Kionne McGhee, State Senator Darryl Rouson, Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch, Jacksonville Council Member Reggie Gaffney and West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James. By Jeri Yonder
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New Guyanese airline ‘Air Demerara’ prepares to launch Cont'd from pg 1
Tulsie Ram Issurdutt was born at Leonora on the West Coast of Demerara. The Issurdutts are no strangers to the airline business. In the 1990s, they created their own airline, TriStar Airlines, which was based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The carrier operated under an exclusive marketing agreement with Japan Airlines. For the TriStar venture, Tulsie Ram Issurdutt holds the distinction of being one of only three foreign nationals to create and certify a Part 121 scheduled commercial airline in the United States,the other two being JetBlue Airlines’ Brazilian- born David Neeleman and Virgin Atlantic’s British-born Sir Richard Branson.
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City of Orlando'sAnnual Event Honors Orlando's Black History
Left to Right: District 6 Commissioner Bakari F. Burns, Mayor Buddy Dyer, Artist Peterson Guerrier, District 5 Commissioner Regina I. Hill
Desmond Meade, Keynote Speaker
Ericka Dunlap Miss Florida 2003 & Miss America 2004
Artist Peterson Guerrier with Dr. Marie Francois
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and City Commissioners hosted the city’s annual Black History Month reception in the Orlando City Hall Rotunda, recognizing the contributions and positive influence of African Americans in the Central Florida community. “This month we celebrate and honor all of those who have contributed, both large and small, to the advancement of our city in the fight for equality for all people,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “The City of Orlando embraces our community’s diversity, believes in inclusion and acknowledges the invaluable contributions of African Americans to our county, state and city as we celebrate Black History Month.” This year’s event explored the rise of black elected and appointed officials and celebrated the struggles and accomplishments on the part of black men and women for their right to vote. To help honor the achievements of African Americans in Central Florida,
the City of Orlando hosted the grand opening of the "Zuri" art exhibition by local visual artist Peterson Guerrier, which celebrates the strength, struggle and perseverance of Orlando’s black history. “The story of African Americans is a story of resilience, perseverance and achievement,” Mayor Dyer remarked. “This celebration gives us another opportunity to recognize the individuals who’ve shaped our country in so many different ways, from fighting for civil rights, to making the arts accessible for everyone, to providing educational opportunities that have changed lives.” Event highlights also included a proclamation declaring February “Black History Month” in the City of Orlando, remarks from keynote speaker Desmond Meade, President of Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC), and the announcement of the winners of the Black History Month youth art competition.
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U.S. Housing Supply Reaches All-Time Low
Realtor.com: Housing inventory dropped 13.6% in Jan. – the steepest year-over-year decline in over four years. The current supply of for-sale homes in the U.S. is the lowest it’s been since realtor.com began tracking it in 2012. It’s down 10%-20% in the four Fla. cities tracked.
National housing inventory declined 13.6% in January – the steepest year-over-year decrease in more than 4 years – pushing the supply of for-sale homes in the U.S. to the lowest level ever since realtor.com began tracking the data in 2012. Based on realtor.com’s analysis, January’s steep year-over-year decline amounted to a national loss of 164,000 listings that tightens the housing shortage plaguing the U.S. And based on realtor.com’s data, a dearth of for-sale homes shows no signs of easing in the near future as the volume of newly listed properties also declined by 10.6% since last year. “Homebuyers took advantage of low mortgage rates and stable listing prices to drive sales higher at the end of 2019, further depleting the already limited inventory of homes for sale,” says Danielle Hale, realtor.com’s chief economist. “With fewer homes coming up for sale, we’ve hit another new low of for sale-listings in January.”
The median U.S. listing price grew by 3.4% year-over-year, to $299,995 in January, while prices in 18 metros grew by more than 10%. Of the 50 largest metros, 46 saw year-over-year gains in median listing prices, with Philadelphia as the nation’s standout with a 16.0% increase over last year. Additionally, with the lack of supply, homes are selling in an average of 86 days – two days more quickly than January of last year. Florida housing markets’ year-to-year changes Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater: Active listings down 20.2%, with 4 fewer days on the market Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford: Active listings down 15.8%, with 6 fewer days on the market Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach: Active listings down 11.2% with 3 fewer days on the market Jacksonville: Active listings down 10.5% with 5 fewer days on the market
Hales calls it a “challenging sign for the large numbers of millennial and Gen Z buyers coming into the housing market this homebuying season, as it implies the potential for rising prices and fast-selling homes – a competitive market.” The supply shortage is found at every price tier throughout the U.S., but it’s especially pronounced at the entry-level. In January, properties priced under $200,000 declined by 19%, an acceleration compared to December’s decline of 18.1%. The decline in inventory of mid-tier properties priced between $200,000 and $750,000 also accelerated, to a decline of 12% year-over-year, compared to December’s 10.2% decline. Even upper-tier properties priced at more than $750,000 declined by 5.9% year-over-year compared to December’s decline of 4.4%. As inventory dropped, both listing prices and days-onmarket reacted to the imbalance of supply and demand.
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6 Tips for Healthy Aging 1. Eat & Drink Healthy Make healthy choices— like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, low-fat dairy products, and water.
2. Move More, Sit Less Throughout the Day Being active can help you prevent, delay, and manage chronic diseases; improve balance and stamina; reduce risk of falls; and improve brain health.
5. Know Your Family History Share your family health history with your doctor, who can help you take steps to prevent chronic diseases or catch them early. 6. Be Aware of Changes in Brain Health Everyone’s brain changes as they age, but dementia is not a normal part of aging. See your doctor if you have questions about memory or brain health.
3. Don’t Use Tobacco If you use tobacco, take the first step towards quitting by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW for FREE help.
4. Get Regular Checkups Visit your doctor for preventive services, not just when you’re sick. This can prevent disease or find it early, when treatment is more effective.
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Orlando Carnival Band Launches Fete Massterz February 29th, 2020 Backyard Mas Band March 1st, 2020 6pm @Rum Jungle Highlander Mas Band March 7th, 2020 7:30pm @Island Mix Bar & Grill
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SERVICES INCLUDE: • OCEAN FREIGHT - LESS THAN CONTAINER (LCL) & FULL CONTAINER LOAD (FCL) • AIR FREIGHT • EXPRESS SERVICES: PRIVATE MAIL BOX (PAK) • MOVING & PACKING • WAREHOUSE & CONSOLIDATION • CUSTOMS BROKERAGE & INSURANCE
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3 Helpful Tips For Your Companies Merchant Services Account Avoiding Chargebacks If your business accepts credit cards for payment, you’ve probably had to deal with a chargeback. If you’re in an industry like Travel or take a lot of online payments, this could be a more frequent occurrence. Let’s look at what a chargeback is. It’s when a customer disputes a previous sale with their credit card issuer, and if the dispute seems valid, the issuer reimburses the cardholder their money. Now it’s up to the business to prove otherwise to have a chance of getting the refund reversed. Some chargebacks may be due to fraud. While others may be for less valid reasons like the customer didn’t like what they ordered or didn’t recognize the charge. This is an area where the right payment processor can be of tremendous help by educating the Merchant on how to combat this. Whether it is using the correct payment descriptor or dealing with customer service issues promptly, a team effort between the processor and their business clients is the recipe for success in limiting chargebacks. Moreover, it’s important to work with a processor who takes the time to monitor your account to further help protect your money. What am I really paying in charges, and should I be paying them at all? After over a decade of looking at merchant statements, I haven’t spoken to many business owners that knew 100% of the answers to these questions. I don’t blame them. Trying to decipher every fee on a statement and every potential fee that could be charged can be a confusing venture, even to a savvy business owner. And with every business trying to identify ways to increase profits, understanding the charges you’re paying can be a difference maker. The higher volume of credit cards your company takes means a potential mountain of overpaying if you don’t know what to look for. Some fees on your statement may look legitimate, however they may be an unnecessary “convenience” fee added by your processor. And since a lot of Banks, for instance, use other companies to process their merchant accounts, you can find additional fees there as well. If you’re using the “popular” companies to take payments on your phone or other devices, the charges can be even higher. Therefore, it’s important to work with a company that takes a consultative approach, one who is willing to share their knowledge of the industry with each customer. Knowing what charges are legitimate, how different payment methods can affect the rate, and what actually is a good rate, are critical components to effectively run your business. The first step I take with my new clients is to analyze their current processing statements. This not only allows me to educate them on what they’re truly paying, it also gives me the opportunity to customize a solution based on their individual processing needs.
accounting software, and of course, the classic POS credit card terminal. While there are some great options to choose from, be careful that your terminal or software doesn’t come with a hidden surprise. Some software providers and credit card processors (yes, the name brand ones too) have made it nearly impossible for their customers to choose an alternative merchant services provider. They do this by altering the software and/or equipment to only allow their “preferred” processor access to it. Sometimes the preferred processor is a company they own, or one who they receive a cut of the profits from. We all know that having only one provider to choose from means you’re at the mercy of what rates they choose to charge you. And although the rates may start off competitive, there’s not much you can do when they start to rise. When considering a merchant services provider or accounting software, make sure to ask the company some key questions before you take the plunge. Does your software or terminal allow me to use any merchant services provider I choose? Can other processors integrate with your equipment or software? Does your agreement state I have to use your “preferred” processor? Asking these questions can save you and your business a lot of money and heartache down the road! Questions or comments? Feel free to contact me at: Chris Bouille Director of Sales JJS Global Main: 224-535-9462 Direct: 407-687-5242 Fax: 224-535-9747 Email: Chris@jjsglobal.net Website: www.jjsglobal.net
Don’t get “Trapped” by your Software or Processor Being able to accept credit cards for your business in 2020 is an obvious must. And because of that, businesses now have a variety of ways to take payments; from online gateways to
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SAVE THE DATE: Apr. 5th FOR THE SOCA REGGAE 5K & WELLNESS FAIR
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Engineers Week “The Talk with William J. Pyznar, Principal of The Falcon Group” Who’s the GOAT (Engineer) of all time? That’s an open question with no right or wrong answer; only opinions, theories and opportunities for debate. There are plenty of engineers who have gone before us and paved the path to a modern world that grants us access to so many inventions that make our lives easier. In reflection to asking a grade-school student who they thought was the greatest engineer, one said Sir Isaac Newton. While the answer is incorrect it does have merit because Sir Newton is considered one of the most influential mathematicians of all times and in order to be an engineer one must certainly have a deep understanding of math and math theory. While we appreciate the value of engineers of the past, we must bring to our forefront the contemporary engineers to balance ingenuity, experience and relevance of our modern-day society. Recently we had the delightful opportunity to talk with Mr. William Pyznar, Principal of The Falcon Group. The timing could not have been more perfect as The Falcon Group is celebrating it’s 23rd Anniversary (Feb. 2020). The Falcon Group is a unique, full-service Engineering, Architectural & Energy Consulting firm. Falcon’s primary focus is on restoring and evaluating existing facilities ranging from site, building envelope and energy improvements. “Our full-service capabilities focus on your building’s specific needs. Falcon’s mission is to ensure each of our clients are held at the highest level of individualized service.” said Pyznar. Mr. Pyznar, how and why did you choose to become an engineer? I have always been fascinated with buildings and the field of engineering opens doors to a variety of career paths and opportunities including design, evaluation and construction. What does it take to become an engineer? It takes a lot of work. There are several paths, but the typical path is a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college, passing the fundamentals exam, working for 5 years in engineering and then passing the PE exam. Looking back was the process to becoming an engineer rewarding or regretful and why? I recall a time when I was having difficulty with math in collage and wanted to give up, but my dad pushed me to finish. He helped me get a tutor and I went on to graduate with two (2) engineering degrees. School was a lot of hard work for me, but if I could go back and do it again, I would not change anything. Many millennials are of the persuasion that if you’re good at something, you can start a business doing it and have instantaneous success. What would the modern William say to the younger William about this? I have met very many smart engineers, but engineering and operating a business are two separate things. The more the business grows, the less engineering you do. So, it is important to ask yourself if you want to be an engineer or you want to manage a business. Starting and maintaining a business takes a lot of hard work and sacrifices in other areas of your life; so, it’s very important to ask yourself where your priorities are and how much of the other important things in life you are willing to sacrifice. That being said, if you are very good at something, there will always be opportunity to be successful at it with the right timing. Who were some of your influencers and why? My father who taught me discipline. My mother taught me to respect hard work and the value of money. I read the book “The Art of the Deal” by Donald Trump when I was 18 and it opened my eyes to ‘the hustle’ and how to maintain my focus on business. My first boss of my first full time engineering job – I learned what NOT to do! And my children – they teach me every day what is most important. As the Falcon Group (Falcon Engineering) is nearing the quarter of a century milestone, where do you see the company growing, changing or maintaining? As Principal, this is a most exciting time for me. As a company, we are focusing on improvements across the board, including the use of technology to produce better results and service and most importantly
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improving the work experience for all of our employees. With this, we are also looking at the next generation of leadership to bring continued growth and opportunities to all in the company. We have such an amazing team in place, across the board at every level – we are very, very lucky. Mr. Pyznar, I want to turn your attention to a statement shared at an annual NSBE convention “It was reported that nearly 3.5 million engineering jobs in the United States would need to be filled but 2 million could go unfilled because too few people have the required skills to fill them and the numbers are even lower in people of color. Now more than ever business leaders must be at the forefront of engaging the future generation of engineers especially the African Americans with college preparation, academic support and career-readiness activities in engineering fields.” – Michael McGarry, CEO of PPG First, let me address the statistics portion of the question. In borrowing context and thought processes of Dr. Rose Mary Stiffin, Professor of Chemistry, Chair - Division of Health and Natural Sciences and Ayivi Huisso, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Physics and Coordinator of Pre-Engineering Programs both of Florida Memorial University. We all agree that learning is not color associated and that with the success of the programs in engineering and other STEM areas the globalization of engineering is expanding. What is lacking is the amount of mentoring and access that are challenging to students in Urban areas. Falcon is extremely proud of FMU and the testimonials that are coming out of the school “Several years ago, Florida Memorial University entered into a MOA with Florida International University’s School of Engineering (FIU). Students were recruited into the program via the advisor, Dr. Ayivi Huisso. The students took the prerequisite courses, mainly Mathematics, Physics with Calculus, and certain Chemistry courses or Computer Science courses, depending on the path the students wished to pursue. Over the years, greater than fifty students have entered the program and graduated with a degree in engineering. Some of the more notable graduates from FIU who went on to diversify the world of engineering are Ms. Dasney Joseph, Dr. Kemau Pierre, and Dr. Babacar Cisse. Under Dr. Huisso’s guidance and tutelage, the students also became award winning researchers, often presenting at the annual FGLSAMP Expo, and winning in the area of theoretical physics and applications of engineering theories. The success of this program has shown that Florida Memorial University (in an urban environment) is positively contributing to the diversification in the STEM workforce.” This was due in part to galvanizing the best mentors. Mr. Pyznar, in closing, what form of encouragement or resources would you share to students heading into college and entering the workforce and choosing a career-path? I’m a believer that you excel at what you are passionate about; choose something you like to do since it is what you will spend most of your waking hours doing, and to be good at something for an extended timeframe, you must like it. That being said, you also need to be practical since not everyone can get paid for playing sports or a tech-guru. I would encourage the future generation of leaders to explore what vocations are of interest and within them, find your passion. I also think many young people take it too literal that you need to follow your passions (and leave out practicality). I would rephrase the slogan to “follow your passions that apply to a given career path and accept that working hard is a good thing.” You can either spend your days, weeks and years going to work unhappy because you must work, or you can embrace it and make the most of each moment, in which case you can only succeed. The Falcon group is headquartered in Bridgewater, NJ and have several offices from NJ to Miami. To learn more about Falcon, please visit thefalcongroup.us. We also want to thank the Florida Memorial University for their participation in this interview. #engineersweek
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Nursery Rhymes And Whodunnits
by Tony Deyal
Goosey Goosey Gander, whither shall I wander? Upstairs and downstairs and in my lady’s chamber. There I met an old man who wouldn’t say his prayers, So I took him by his left leg and threw him down the stairs.
The Mary in the children’s rhyme is Queen Mary I, who became queen after the deaths of her father, Henry VIII, and half-brother, Edward V. She was a staunch Catholic and immediately started to undo what her father had put in place.
If you think the treatment of old people in the nursery rhyme is bad, wait. It can, and possibly will, get much, much worse. According to emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Kent Frank Furedi, prominent academics are pushing for the World Health Organization (WHO) to include old age on its list of diseases. In other words, people of my age will soon be listed in WHO’s Who.
This accounts for the “quite contrary” description in the nursery rhyme, and the “garden” is her Lord Chancellor, Stephen Gardiner. The “silver bells” were a thumb crusher, and the “cockle shells” were a torture device attached to a man’s ‘cockles’. The pretty maids were the many women Mary had executed, including Lady Jane Grey.
While the advocates for this move see it as improving the lives of old people, Professor Furedi is convinced that in reality, it will give everyone the excuse to write us off. He says, “Being old is already considered to be an unattractive and undesirable stage of life. The call to diagnose ageing as a form of illness will merely enhance its negative image.” LIFE IN YOUR YEARS The fact is that while all life is eventually fatal, it does not have to be an illness or treated as one. As Abraham Lincoln said, “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” I still remember my early years, the games we played and the nursery rhymes we learnt at school. My friends and I thought that what Goosey Goosey Gander did to the old man was funny, and we laughed uproariously at the ending. I can still remember our class demonstrating for the teacher the satisfying process of kicking the old man down the stairs. What we did not know was that when you take a close gander at Goosey, there is a very dark story behind that rambling rhyme and most of the others we recited so loudly and with so much gusto in those days. In one version of the story, the rhyme is about the religious persecution of Catholic priests who would hide themselves in order to say their Latin-based prayers, and so when asked to say his prayers in English, a priest refused and was thrown down the stairs. Another version is that in the 16th century, when that rhyme was composed, Catholic priests were very unpopular. Not only were they considered corrupt, but there was proof that many had broken their vows of celibacy. In fact, there was even a bounty on the heads of priests who indulged in activities that were inconsistent with their religious commitments. In the ‘Goosey, Goosey’ rhyme, a priest was caught literally with his pants down in the bedroom of a ‘goose’, a slang term for ‘prostitute’. He was put to the test of reciting the new English prayers that had been recently introduced, and not the Latin ones. In this case, however, the priest refused and was killed by being thrown down the brothel’s flight of stairs. Then, there is, “Mary, Mary, quite contrary/ How does your garden grow?/ With cockle shells and silver bells/ And pretty maids all in a row.”
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POLITICAL COMMENTARIES Many of the other nursery rhymes we grew up with, including ‘Ba Ba Black Sheep’, ‘London Bridge is Falling Down’, ‘Jack and Jill’, ‘Humpty Dumpty’, and especially ‘Georgie Porgie’ (about a fat Prince, later King George IV, who, despite his 50-inch waist, was a ‘ladies’ man’), started as lightly disguised biting and bitter political commentaries, in some ways like the early calypsoes of the Caribbean. It is perhaps why, looking at what seems to be a great idea to make life better for older people, I join Professor Furedi in his doubts about the rationale and outcomes of declaring ageing a disease. What happened to the old man in ‘Goosey Goosey Gander’ might well happen to us. In other words, our goose might be already cooked. I have always believed that age does not matter unless you’re a cheese or a wine, and, even so, the cheese gets sharper and the wine gets better and stronger as they grow older. Indeed, I am convinced the whole business of getting old is all mind over matter, and if you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter. However, Professor Furedi points out that Western society rarely associates old age with any positive attributes and that the elderly are dismissed as out of date and irrelevant people whose archaic views ought to be ignored. In addition, we are demonised and scapegoated for robbing the young of their future and condemned for being responsible for the environmental crisis facing the world. In addition, many doctors, especially the younger ones, tend to be very impatient and harsh with older people. One, who did not see the need to change his approach and was giving his patients hell rather than health, was actually called “thrombosis” by the nurses at an English hospital because he was “a bloody clot that messed up the system”. There is a story about an American reporter who tried to interview a famous doctor. “And what,” she asked naïvely, “is your favourite recreation?” “Actually,” he smiled, “It’s sleighing.” “No,” she protested. “I mean outside your profession.” As I head into my 75th year, I believe I know the difference between ageing and illness. I can distinguish between blood pressure and societal pressures. I don’t agree that old age is a disease. What I believe is best expressed in another nursery rhyme: Doctor Bell fell down the well, And broke his collarbone. Doctors should attend the sick, And leave the well alone. *Tony Deyal was last seen suggesting that we in the Caribbean can slow the ageing process down considerably if we pass it through the CARICOM Secretariat.
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