Caribbean American Passport News Magazine - Jan 2022 by caribbeanamericanpassport

FREE

Your Passport to the Caribbean American Community

13 New Year's Resolutions...

Jan/Feb 2022

Jamaica Appoints First Female Head of the Jamaica Defense Force - Rear Admiral Antonette Sandra-Lee Wemyss Gorman

Tips For Keeping Your New Year's Resolutions This Year

Why do resolutions fail?

• Self-resistance. Our fears play a major role in holding us back from achieving our goals. We must take the leap to meet our higher self, which cause us to cross some hidden hurdles and end up finding our flaws. Only then can we face and address our flaws to achieve self-improvement. Fear of abandonment. We have a propensity to dive deeply into the valleys of “what ifs,”, which leads to fear of the changes that might come and there-by cause us lose love ones who were there when we needed them. We must be confident in ourselves and challenge both ourselves and our innercircle to stand by us as we evolve. Change your mindset to change your behavior. Unless you work on your inner self, you may not be able to accomplish anything completely. The loopholes will always maintain the gap between your goals and achieving them. Self reflection on your why. Is the why important enough for the effort required to achieve the goal? How would life be once your resolution is fruitful? Choose your circle wisely. If the people around you don't support you, it may be time to make a change. Like-minded people attract each other, and are more likely to keep pushing you to do better.

Cont on pg 14

Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Rear Admiral Antonette Wemyss-Gorman walk together at the JDF's 12th change of Command Parade

ear Admiral Antonette WemyssGorman, a career officer with more than 29 years of service, she has performed at strategic levels of command within her technical area of expertise and in other domains, both internal and external to the JDF. Rear Admiral Antonette WemyssGorman stands strong as a woman who has made history many times over during her life-time. - She stands as the first female officer to attain a Flag rank in the Jamaican army,

- She has assumed command and she takes this office as the the first woman Chief of Defense Staff. The holder of a master's degree with a distinction in national security and strategic studies from the University of the West Indies, she has held various command appointments across the force and is responsible for the establishment of the Caribbean Military Maritime Training Centre and the Maritime Air and Cyber Command, which includes the JDF Coast Guard, the JDF Air Wing and Special Forces.

Other notable appointments, external to the JDF, include a secondment to the Ministry of Transport and Works as deputy director for marine transport, appointments to the Fisheries Advisory Board, and the National COVID-19 Response Advisory Committee. Wemyss-Groman who joined the Jamaican Defence Force in 1992, said the JDF is prepared to tackle the crime and violence issue facing the country. “I will lead by example and encourage every member to execute their duty cognizant of our core values, we must do our jobs well and to the best of our ability,” she advised the force. "I must thank the Governor General and the Defense Corp for their trust and confidence in appointing me to this position. I consider the immense responsibilities inherited. It is hard to bear that my size seven-and-a-half feet have some very large shoes to fill,"she said.

www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com

L I F E S T Y L E

Guenet Gittens-Roberts Owner/Publisher/Editor

When you love what you do and do what you Love. Samuel J. Roberts

Owner/Publisher/Editor

There's an old saying, "If you love your what you do for a living, then you don't have to work for a living"...or something like that. We are lucky in that we launched businesses that give us the opportunity to do what we love. We LOVE our Caribbean culture and, while there are days when we collectively ask ourselves - "Why the hell are we doing this?" To be totally honest we don't always use the work "hell". We do what we do and we absolutely LOVE IT!!! In 2004 we launched Roberts and Roberts Management Services and our family business to serve as a management platform for small businesses, home owners, family members and others. We started off doing rental property management for ourselves, our family members and our friends. The company expanded in 2008 with the need to establish a marketing and advertising arm to support the small businesses owners who had great ideas, great plans but didn't understand the advertising and marketing needs to both sustain and grow their business - that was the birth of GGR Marketing and PR. GGR was and still is Guenet's baby and she has shown her passion for marketing and advertising, if you don't believe me, just ask her for help with your marketing....you'll be blown away by her enthusiasm and her passion. In 2010, yes, 11+ years ago, we launched the Caribbean American Passport News Magazine. The publication was launched to showcase the true strength and diversity of the Caribbean American community. There were so many business owners, non-profit National organizations and community groups doing amazing things within the community that nobody knew about. They were doing their thing in the streets of Central Florida, taking care our the needs of our Caribbean Americans who needed to adjust to life in America but needed a taste or a place or a group or an event that made them feel like they were back home in the Caribbean somewhere. Over the years through networking events, social events and professional exchanges we realized that the Caribbean American was no different from the African American or the European American or any other hyphenated American - we were all looking for people, places, groups, events or activities that made us feel at home.

The Caribbean American Passport News Magazine has evolved into your collective "Passport" to a taste of home! Whether it is small Islands in the Caribbean, small towns in the big cities or small villages in India, Africa or small communities in Europe, we share more in common than we realize. Over the 11+ years of writing and producing this monthly paper we have had articles written by family members, friends, children and even strangers. Every month the production of this publication gives us a special feeling of pride, of relief, of appreciation of the opportunity, sometimes the paper or the editorial is a reflection of our experiences within the community. However, every month for the past 11 years and five months we have produced this labor of love. Our personal reward comes from walking into a store, a restaurant or supermarket and seeing someone reading it or picking it up to take with them. We've even seen it lining the bottom of freezers as padding for special produce (LOL). Once in a while we get a letter, an email, a phone call or we meet a random person who expresses their appreciation for the Caribbean American Passport News Magazine. Today was a special day, a teacher from Orange County Public schools called and asked if he could get 25 to 30 copies of the paper because he gives it to his 4th and 7th Grade students to read in class and they ABSOLUTELY LOVE reading the Caribbean American Passport News Magazine!

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 publication go to http:// caribbeanamericanpassport.com and click on the 'Print Archive'. Publisher & Editor................................................................................... Sam Roberts Publisher ............................................................................. Guenet Gittens-Roberts Editor & Contributing Writer................................................................Aleia Roberts Contributing Writers: ................................................................................ Tony Dyal Contributing Photographers ............ .......................................................Ted Hollins ....................................................................................................................Dillia Castillo Central Florida Distribution......................................................... .Danielle Browne South Florida Distribution .............................................................Norman Williams North Florida Distribution ...............................................................Kadeem Roberts Tampa Distribution ...................................................................................Julian Pina Copyright (C) 2016 GGR Marketing & Public Relations. All rights reserved.

www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com

FROM PANDEMIC TO ENDEMIC: WILL WE EVER BE THERE? by Ethnic Media Services

From left to right: Dr. Ben Neuman, Chief Virologist at the Global Health Research Complex, Texas A&M University; Dr. Dali Fan, Health Science Clinical Professor, UC Davis; Dr. Monica Gandhi, Professor of Medicine and Associate Division Chief of the Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine, UCSF/San Francisco General Hospital

Even as Covid-19 hospitalization rates surge in some parts of the U.S., many public health experts are advising a shift from thinking of the crisis as a pandemic to an endemic, in which Covid will continue to be around for an unknown number of years, but at levels that are low and controllable. At a round-table news briefing Jan 21, hosted by Ethnic Media Services, Dr. Ben Newman — chief virologist at Texas A&M University’s Global Health Research Complex — and Dr. Dali Fan, Health Science Clinical Professor at the University of California, Davis, debated the issue in a lively discussion. Fan likened Covid-19 to the flu. “We have to learn to live with this virus, like we do with angina or cancer.” Newman disagreed. “In the US, in a given year, the flu will kill between 12,000 and 16,000 people. And in a given year, Covid will several hundred thousand people. So this is a very much more serious problem.”

When do we expect to see a peak of the Omicron variant? And what target number or percentage must we reach before we can say we have effectively fought off this variant? DALI FAN — Omicron started in South Africa, and then went to England very quickly. So if you look at those countries, they peaked very quickly within the first week or two, and then they come down very quickly as well. That’s the hallmark of Omicron across the globe. I think that’s the same thing happened in the US. It started in New York, then spread towards the middle part of the country, and to the West Coast right now. I think we’re peaking in the West Coast it. In California, I think we should spike now or in the next week, and then come down by early February.

“I’m not done with this thing until we have exhausted every possible opportunity to get rid of Covid once and for all, because the reward for doing that is a world where you don’t have to worry about Covid, and you don’t have to live with that number of deaths and hospitalizations in the ones you love. And I think that’s worth fighting for,” he said

BEN NEUMAN — Testing centers are overwhelmed: we are under-reporting because we are under-testing at the moment. So to some extent, I’m not sure how much we can believe the apparent slowing in the number of cases.

QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES

Can we move towards an endemic, in which we acknowledge that Covid-19 will be with us for the long-term, and re-open our society to pre-pandemic norms?

The Centers for Disease Control announced Jan. 21 that booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have proven highly effective at preventing Omicron-related hospitalizations, and 90 percent effective at keeping people out of hospital after they had become infected with the Omicron variant. DALI FAN — Well, that's hardly surprising. We know that even the protective effect of two shots of the Pfizer vaccine, wanes after some time from 80 percent to about 30 percent, but a booster shot really elevates it back up to 70 percent. So this was a really good piece of news. Given that that the vaccine’s effectiveness wanes after a period of time, will we have to get fourth and fifth boosters as we go along, maybe boosters every six months? BEN NEUMAN — It’s not clear whether this is the case, but at the moment, based on the data we have, I think I would agree that more boosters are likely. Additional doses of the vaccine raise both the levels of cellular immunity and antibody immunity. And they give you both broader protection and more protection. They are a good idea, and they are the best idea that we have so far to deal with this virus.

DALI FAN — It is not only whether we should have a fourth or fifth shot or not, but also the time of those shots, whether it’s six months or 12 months or later. That is still unknown. I think time will tell.

DALI FAN — if you look at cancer, or in my field, chronic angina, you try a bypass, you do everything you can to mechanically provide more circulation back to the heart. But at some point you’re going to have to say enough is enough. And then the patient has to live on. There’s a life to live, their families, work that needs to be done. So at that point, you have to live with angina. By that same analogy, we have to learn to live with Covid, no matter how brutal it is. BEN NEUMAN — I do not believe we have come to the point where we have to give up. And that’s essentially what people are talking about when they talk about the the disease becoming an endemic. I’m not done with this thing until we have exhausted every possible opportunity to get rid of Covid once and for all. Because the reward for doing that is a world where you don’t have to worry about Covid, and you don’t have to live with the number of deaths and hospitalizations in the ones you love. And I think that’s worth fighting for.

www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com

Sir Sidney Poitier, KBE A look at his life and contributions

“We admire the man, not just because of his colossal achievements, but also because of who he was: his strength of character; his willingness to stand up and be counted; and the way he plotted and navigated his life’s journey. The boy who moved from the tomato farm of Cat Island to become a waiter in the United States; the young man who not only taught himself to read and write, but who made the expression of words and thoughts and feelings central to his career; the man who expressed his rage against racial injustice through quiet dignity; the humanitarian who used his steely determination not just to better himself, but to better the world that he lived in, filtered through the milk of human kindness. And all of it achieved without sacrificing integrity, charm, elegance or wit.” — Philip E. Davis, Prime Minister, The Bahamas “Sidney Poitier, through his acting and the roles he played, was part of my education and contributed to my understanding of racial discrimination and prejudice, and the struggle to overcome. He was a distinguished actor, positive role model and symbol of dignity in the struggle for equality and justice. May his soul Rest In Peace.” — Andrew Holness, Prime Minister, Jamaica “Despite the many odds stacked against him, Poitier defied racial barriers and personal circumstances to become an acclaimed, history-making black actor. He leaves behind a body of work on and off camera which has inspired many generations. May his life remind us that our own struggles are not insurmountable, if only we are willing to do the work. Rest in Peace Sir Sidney Poitier.” — Philip J. Pierre, Prime Minister, St. Lucia “The son of tomato farmers in the Bahamas, Sidney became the first Black man to win the Academy Award for Best Actor — but the trail he blazed extended leaps and bounds beyond his background or profession. He blazed a path for our Nation to follow, and a legacy that touches every part of our society today.” — Joseph Biden, President, United States of America

NorthStar First Properties, LLC.

“For over 80 years, Sidney and I laughed, cried and made as much mischief as we could. He was truly my brother and partner in trying to make this world a little better. He certainly made mine a whole lot better.” — Harry Belafonte, Caribbean-American singer, songwriter, activist and actor (Black Enterprise) “It was a privilege to call Sidney Poitier my friend. He was a gentle man and opened doors for all of us that had been closed for years. God bless him and his family.” — Denzel Washington, American actor, director, and producer (BBC) “I was happy for me, but I was also happy for the ‘folks’. We Black people had done it. We were capable. We forget sometimes, having to persevere against unspeakable odds, that we are capable of infinitely more than the culture is yet willing to credit to our account.” — Bahamian-American Sir Sidney Poitier (on becoming the first Black actor to win an Oscar in 1964, from his memoir.) (Associated Press)

3 Lots for Sale Near UCF (University of Central Florida) and Quadrangle Corporate Office Park PRIME LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION Current Zoning can be 2 Homes on each Lot or Executive Homes Future Zoning Multifamily

www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com

valdainternational@hotmail.com . 407-536-6635

MIYA’S LAW UNANIMOUSLY PASSES FIRST COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE This week, Senator Linda Stewart (D – Orlando) unanimously passed SB 898, known as “Miya’s Law” through its first committee of reference. The bill would improve tenant safety in apartment buildings through required background screenings of employees. “I am thrilled with the committee’s decision. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their homes, and yesterday’s unanimous vote brings us a step closer to establishing important protections for all renters,” said Stewart. The bill will require landlords to conduct background screenings for all apartment employees. The background screening must include a national screening of criminal history records and sexual predator and sexual offender registries. The screening would specifically include criminal offenses involving violence or a disregard for the safety of others, and allow a landlord to disqualify individuals with criminal records from employment. “We are encouraged that the bill made it through the first committee. This is indeed an important first step towards making apartment living much safer for tenants. We truly wish it did not take the death of Miya to highlight the safety issues that tenants are often confronted with,” said Daryl K. Washington, Attorney and representative of the Marcano family. The bill also strengthens requirements regarding access to individual units, increasing the required notice to 24 hours and requiring apartments to establish policies for the

issuance and return of all keys and maintain a key log to ensure that access is only given to authorized individuals at authorized times. Marlon Marcano, Miya Marcano’s father and Board Member of the Miya Marcano Foundation, had the following to say after yesterday’s committee. “My entire family watched the Senate Committee meeting and was overcome with emotion. Our main focus is the protection of others and to ensure that no one will have to go through what we as a family are going through. I firmly believe this bill, Miya’s Law got it right with the unanimous vote that happened in the Community Affairs Committee meeting. We appreciate all of Senator Stewart’s hard work and dedication. Now we turn our focus to the Judiciary Committee and the Regulatory Committee in the House.”

www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com

Leadership handed over in the Greater Haitian American Chamber of Commerce of Florida Inc. Message to the community from Marlyn Bonzil-Juste, Incoming President Dear community members, constituents and friends, on Thursday January 21, 2022 I stood in front of our City and State representatives,business leaders and members of our chamber at the City of Orlando building, to accept the role of President of the Greater Haitian American Chamber of Commerce - Orlando. I took an oath to serve our valued members of our chamber, community members and affiliates with the utmost integrity and dedication, to bring reform where needed and help take our mission to greater heights. I step into this role with an overwhelming sense of humility and responsibility, and look forward to inspiring through the collective work of our Board of Directors alongside me, an increased sense of confidence and sense of pride in each of you.

Incoming President Marilyn Bonzil-Juste with outgoing President Idler Bonhomme

Our community, even through these challenging times, continue to be strengthened by our compassion toward each other, our commitment to our objectives, and our faith in God. We know we have a lot more work ahead of us, but with God’s help and your support we will embrace the challenges ahead triumphantly. I look forward to your feedback on all issues, and I invite you to visit our chamber’s website, www.GHACC.org, to join forces with us by becoming a member and staying connected. Once again, thank you for this tremendous opportunity and honor.

www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com

NEW REDISTRICTING MAPS INBy:SOUTHERN STATES SHUT OUT VOTERS OF COLOR Jenny Manrique

From left to right: Sean Morales-Doyle, Acting Director in the Democracy Program, Brennan Center for Justice; Charles Mann, redistricting intern, CROWD, South Carolina; Mitchell Brown, Voting Rights Counsel, Southern Coalition for Social Justice; Deborah Chen, community activist, OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates.

As redistricting ends in over half the country, the new maps in southern states–far from being “race blind”–have reduced or dismantled electoral opportunities for the region’s fast growing communities of color. The harsh diagnosis was shared by experts convened by Ethnic Media Services on Jan. 14. Combined with a “tidal wave” of new voter restrictions, the “extreme racial gerrymandering” and “partisan gerrymandering” represent an unprecedented threat to participatory democracy, speakers warned. In the words of Charles Mann, a redistricting activist in Spartanburg, South Carolina, “If you can’t believe now that our democracy is under attack, you must be tone deaf.” “By ignoring where black people live, where Latinx people live, where AAPI communities are in North Carolina, you’re ignoring the humanity of voters who are trying to elect candidates of choice,” said Mitchell Brown, Voting Rights Counsel at the Southern Coalition of Social Justice. “You are not allowing them to be full citizens of the states in which they live.” Brown noted that for southern states this is the first round of redistricting since the Supreme Court’s 2013 Shelby County decision ended the preclearance provisions of the Voting Rights Act. “So states don’t fear retribution from the federal government or from the courts. They are drawing maps that dilute the voting power of the very populations that have grown exponentially…They are leaving it up to civil rights attorneys to challenge them and tell them they’re wrong.” Brown’s organization recently filed a lawsuit in the state court challenging North Carolina’s maps because the legislators ignored the racial data when they drew the districts. Although they lost the case, the state Supreme Court is hearing the appeal arguments on February 2. Texas gained two new seats in Congress based on census data, a growth fueled by people of color. But the maps drawn do not reflect these communities and instead make the new districts more white and safer for Republicans. Deborah Chen, a lawyer and community organizer with OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates in Texas, said that while legislators were working on the maps, her coalition requested public audiences and participatory comments. “What happened was we would get notifications in the middle of the night, that the hearing is going to be in one day or two days, and it may or may not be available virtually.” The maps were not made available in advance, there was no information to understand how lines were drawn, and therefore, a congressional district like District 22 “was drawn to make it more white.”

Some residents even flew from El Paso to Austin to attend a hearing, but names that sounded ethnic were never called to speak. “For those of us who sat there from 8 o’clock in the morning until almost eight o’clock at night, we were the only remaining people of color in the room who hadn’t spoken,” Chen said. “They were just hoping we would give up.” As for next steps, Chen said “There is this other layer of voter suppression bills that we’re working hard to try and prevent so people won’t literally be lifted off the voting rolls. We’re trying to help people find out information about how to get registered and where to go to vote.” As for South Carolina, Mann prefaced his remarks by saying “it breaks my heart we’re having to deal with such viciousness over the drawing of lines, or creating fair opportunities to elect people that we want.” The maps for the State House were signed by the governor even though the congressional seats are still under consideration. None of the Democratic members of the Senate committee were consulted before the Senate maps were released to the public, even though the committee had received input from the National Republican Redistricting Trust. Lawsuits challenging the maps have been filed. But Mann and other redistricting advocates have turned their attention to organizing local redistricting advisory committees “where things are more personal.” The aim is to make people aware that the same struggle for representation at the state and federal level is just as urgent at the local level. “Some people had never seen a city council district map or a school board district map. Some people didn’t know what district they were in,” he explained. “We had a lot of education to do… but now we can focus on the upcoming election cycles, and we can increase voter awareness.” Their efforts aim to counter the current assault on voting rights across the country. The Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice has identified 19 states that passed 34 laws restricting access to the right to vote in 2021, “a tidal wave of laws that will continue in 2022,” said Sean Morales-Doyle, the program’s Acting Director. “We are starting the year off with more bills restricting access to voting pending in state legislatures than we normally see in an entire year.” One key trend, Morales-Doyle said, are laws aimed at restricting access to mail voting – a trend that happened immediately following the 2020 elections when there was a dramatic increase in people voting by mail. “As we see people of color using new methods of voting, then the response is to start restricting those methods of voting. New restrictions piled on old restrictions… it’s carving away votes here and there, making it harder for certain groups, particularly voters of color, to vote. “Congress needs to act and pass the John R. Lewis Act (pending in the Senate), it will restore the voting rights and stop maps from being drawn in a way that discriminates against voters of color,” he concluded.

www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com

Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick Becomes 2nd Haitian American in Congress

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of Calif., administers the House oath of office to Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla. during a ceremonial swearing-in on Capitol Hill in Washington

Progressive Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick has been elected to Congress in a landslide victory over Republican candidate Jason Mariner in a special South Florida election. She previously defeated Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness. Cherfilus-McCormick was projected Tuesday night to win Florida's 20th Congressional District with a commanding 78.7% of the vote compared to Mariner's nearly 20%, according to state election data.

celebrated her victory on social media. She was heavily favored to take the Democrat-leaning district that encompasses the counties of Broward and Palm Beach, the seat for which became available following the death of longtime district representative Alcee Hastings from pancreatic cancer in April.

Cherfilus cheered on Facebook "It's officially official!". Later she also stated, "This is just the beginning. Thank you for standing with me. I'm ready to stand in the gap and prioritize the needs of my fellow residents, of our families and of the next generation. It's time for a district that works for every resident." Cherfilus-McCormick victory makes her the first Democratic House representative of Haitian descent, according to the National Haitian American Elected Officials Network, which

www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com

CACCF BUSINESS CORNER “Simplicity”- The Best Competitive Edge by Shan Shanbhag Ph,D. Mentor and "Business Sherpa" Principal, Shanbhag Enterprises Confronted by a world of complexity, what we most desire is simplicity. Though our sophisticated technology has simplified many things like data storage and number-crunching, it has also come with a bundle of complexity. It drives us to distraction and goes against what we want most- simplicity. Have you ever noticed how we usually try and solve problems by adding more, rather than subtracting some? More meetings, more forms, more buttons, more systems, more codes, more features, and so on. Most of us know that we are wasting our precious time. Time is the best asset all of us have. Unfortunately, our brains default to addition rather than subtraction when it comes to finding solutions. We can do something about it. One person who understood the importance of simplicity was Steve Jobs. Simplicity is at the heart of Apple’s products, from their smooth, sleek esthetic to their easy-to-use functionality and customer service. That is the chief reason behind Apple’s success; the most valuable company in the world with a $3 trillion market value! These are the three actions required when you open an iPhone or an iPad: Open, Discover, and Enjoy. No manual required! Apple ID allows you to seamlessly move between all your Apple devices. Can it be simpler than that? Apple is a money-printing machine!

companies in the world, they all have a few things in common:Very simple Business Model, obsession with their customer experience, and simplicity. Some of the examples are Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Tesla, SpaceX, Salesforce, Netflix, Disney, Lego, J&J, Merck, Pfizer, Cigna, P&G, Unilever, 3M, Costco, Ikea, Toyota, Zappos, Southwest Airlines, Disney, LinkedIn, HubSpot, Massey, Starbucks, Panera Bread, 4 Rivers, Chipotle, Publix, Whole Foods, Chobani, Trader Joe’s, Chick-fil-A, Instacart, and many more. Strive for creating and maintaining a “simplicity mindset” as a habit. Turn simplicity into a healthy mental, physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and professional habit. The simplest way to keep from overcomplicating things is to keep asking yourself, “Is this the simplest solution for our customers? Be honest. If the answer is “No”, watch out. Soon your competition will be eating your lunch.

In fact, if you take a closer look at the most successful

Island Fever Radio + on Dash Radio and C-Pod Studios Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Dash Radio unveils all-new, 24/7 Caribbean music station, "Island Fever Plus" Starting January 28th at 10:00, a new partnership will see Dash Radio’s featured Caribbean station rebranded as Island Fever Plus. However, this is much more than just a rebrand in name. "Our partnership with Dash allows us to continue this education to a much larger global audience,” says Candice Buchanan, Founder and Executive Producer of Island Fever Plus

Candice Buchanan cuts the ribbon to open the new studio and radio station.

From the right: Lansdale “Feva” Lewis - Correspondent/ Show Host Island Fever+ and Island Fever FM Orlando Justin “Jae” Fortune - Program Manager -Island Fever+ on Dash Program Director - Island Fever FM Orlando Candice Buchanan - Founder/Executive Producer Island Fever+ on Dash -Island Fever FM Orlando -cPod Studios Ethan (Dj Ding876) Christie Sr - DJ /Presenter Island Fever+ on Dash Micheal “Mike” Shear - Head Audio Enguineer - Island Fever+/Island Fever FM and cPod Studios Treston Mayo - Production Manager - cPod Studios

WHITHER BARBADOS? – BASIL SPRINGER COLUMN (Dr. Basil Springer GCM is a Change-Engine Consultant. His email address is basilgf@marketplaceexcellence.com. His columns may be found at www.nothingbeatsbusiness.com/basil-springer-column/ and on www.facebook.com/basilgf). The snap election in Barbados is now history. Notwithstanding many issues which were raised to postpone the election, the people have spoken. We must (1) congratulate Prime Minister Mia Mottley and the Barbados Labour Party (BLP); (2) urge the dynamic and charismatic Mia Mottley to become the leader of a larger more viable Caribbean; (3) use Mia’s international image and popularity to garner support and raise funds for Caribbean development; (4) nurture new leaders of the BLP and the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) to build a strong parliamentary democracy; and (5) train young Caribbean talent to systematically build strong political parties by adapting existing international training programs. Congratulations to the BLP on their massive 30-0 victory, twice in less than four years, thus extending their mandate until at least 2027. This victory is no surprise to me. I previously wrote that a snap election was a brilliant move because it was going to take some magic from the DLP to energize a wave (swing) to begin to systematically topple BLP seats won in the last election. The DLP must now rebuild to achieve a semblance of parliamentary democracy by the time the next election is called. In this column, on November 15, 2021, I shared my view that Mia is a brilliant, outstanding, exemplary Caribbean leader “who cares”, the likes of which is a once-in-alifetime experience.

I stated recently on Irwine Clare’s IRIE JAM RADIO show in New York that “she is fearless and forceful and often quotes The Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow, the first Prime Minister of Barbados: ‘We’ll be friends of all (and) satellites of none.'” The world is her oyster. What if we could design a model as to how Mia’s intellect and charisma could be used to mobilize the talents of the wider Caribbean in their best interests? In the Irwine Clare interview we discussed the impact of her international image at COP26 in Glasgow at which she eruditely and comprehensively analyzed the issues and made succinct proposals for addressing the funding required to address climate change. At that meeting she charged that if immediate action were not taken it would accelerate the demise of the most vulnerable states, including the Caribbean. Can this thrust not be extended to garner funds for regional development? Mia hinted in her victory speech on the morning of Thursday, January 20 that she entered politics in Barbados over 30 years ago and that this election victory could signal the beginning of her last term in party politics. It is a stressful business, if you take it seriously, especially if there is no godparenting country to provide a safety net in the event of a natural disaster. She will be 61 years old at the end of this term (Deo volente) and must be often reminded of the life span of her predecessors David Thompson (48), Tom Adams (53) and Errol Barrow (67) who each died in office well before the expected three score and ten. She would be best advised to select a successor and nurture him or her to take over whether or not she opts for a regional assignment in a non-party political space. The DLP has been decimated and must find a young leader around which to rebuild. Political parties are at the core of our democracy, and we must systematically engage in skill set change, mindset change and cross-cultural communication change, if we are to build strong political institutions around the Caribbean. We should not ignore training modules already developed elsewhere to train parties in internal democracy, communications, governance and transparency.

Online Portal Opens Tuesday, February 1, 2022 at 8 a.m. for the City of Orlando’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP2) On Tuesday, February 1, 2022 at 8 a.m. the City of Orlando’s online portal will open to begin accepting applications to provide Emergency Rental Assistance for households that have been financially impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rental assistance is provided for past-due rent and up to three months of prospective rent payments. City of Orlando households looking to apply should visit orlando.gov/ assistance.

www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com

Jamaica arrests a former senator sought in Haitian president's assassination PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Haiti's National Police (HNP) Police spokesman Gary Desrosiers told The Associated Press that John Joël Joseph was in custody. No further information was immediately available. HNP spokesman stated that the former senator sought in the July 7 killing of President Jovenel Moïse has been arrested in Jamaica. Jamaica Police Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay stated in a report to the AP that the arrest took place before dawn on Saturday and that other people were arrested along with Joseph and that authorities were trying to determine whether they are family members, Lindsay declined to share other details. "For more than one reason, we're not sharing more information," she said.

John Joël Joseph is a Haitian politician and long time opponent of the Tet Kale party that represented President Moïse.

Claude Joseph, Haiti's former minister of foreign affairs who briefly served as interim prime minister following Moïse's killing wrote "The arrest of John Joel Joseph shows that there will be no hiding place for those who are directly or indirectly involved in the assassination," stating that the international effort he initiated continues to bear fruit. In late October, Jamaican authorities arrested former Colombian soldier Mario Antonio Palacios. which makes Joseph the second suspect to be arrested in Jamaica. Mario Antonio Palacios was recently extradited by the U.S. and awaiting another court hearing after being charged with conspiracy to commit murder or kidnapping outside the United States and with providing material support resulting in death, knowing or intending that such material support would be used to prepare for or carry out the conspiracy to kill or kidnap.

New Year's Resolutions If you're tired of the 'new year, new you' videos littered across the Internet, you're not alone. While most of the world is still processing the dumpster fire that was 2021, the last thing anyone wants to do is 'better themselves with New Year's resolutions for 2022. But as cringe-worthy as they are, having New Year's resolutions can sometimes be fun. Some may even go as far as to say they're inspiring. If you want to make New Year's resolutions that you'll stick to, keep reading. The terrible ones have been left out! 1. Work On Your Fitness Spending hundreds of dollars on gym memberships that won't be used isn't a fun New Year's resolution. Instead, why not begin with a fitness goal that isn't intimidating or difficult to achieve? This could be as simple as trying one new exercise each month. Whether it's done at the gym or in your bedroom, doing one new exercise a month will ensure you get your juices flowing for at least one day -- after all, we all have to start somewhere! Sometimes one day of fitness is all it takes to inspire active days ahead. Setting a New Year's resolution to style your hair every day sounds exhausting. Nobody has time for that. So how can one make a New Year's resolution based on beauty for 2022? Simple -- get lazy! Simple things such as

... cont from page 1

committing to shower the night before each day of work or sleeping in easy heat lesscurls is a great way to feel beautified each day in the new year with minimal effort. The easier something is, the more likely we are to do it. It's just human nature. If you are one of the very dedicated (crazy) people who have the ability to wake up at 5 a.m. without any qualms, please skip this one. It isn't for you. If you are like the rest of the world and would rather contemplate quitting your job for two extra minutes in bed, listen up. The truth is, most people don't enjoy waking up early. Sure there are people who boast about their early wake-up times, but the majority of people who wake up early do so out of habit. Stop looking for motivation that isn't there and instead create routines. You'll be surprised how quickly your body thrives when you wake up at the same time each day. So why not set a resolution to wake up before 6:30 a.m. every day? Just know that it won't be enjoyable -- at least to begin with. While most people tend to make New Year's resolutions that they give up on before February hits, it's difficult to stay on track with resolutions you didn't want to make in the first place. The trick? Embrace your laziness, set small and achievable goals, and don't count on motivation but routines instead. You may be surprised how much your 2022 self will thrive.

www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com

Caribbean-American Heritage Awards 2022

TEACHERS or STUDENTS

LAWYERS or JUDGES

DOCTORS or NURSES

PERFORMERS or DJ's

BUSINESS OWNERS

CAHA2022@CARIBBEABAMERICANPASSPORT.COM

Please include CAHA 2022 in the Subject Line RESTAURANTS or CATERERS or COOKS

www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com

REGIONAL CULTURAL COMMITTEE MEET ON RECOVERY OF CULTURE, CREATIVE SECTORS

The recovery of the culture and creative industries from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, featured prominently when the Regional Cultural Committee (RCC) met for its 29th Meeting, to devise the way forward in setting the sectors on a sustainable path. Under the chairmanship of Mr Thomas Matthew, Chief Cultural Officer within Grenada’s Ministry of Youth Development, Sport, Culture and the Arts, the RCC tackled a full agenda from 2-3 December. The Directors of Culture of CARICOM Member States were joined by partners in cultural development from the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) Creative Industries Innovation Fun (CIIF), Caribbean Export, the University of the West Indies and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). They discussed issues pertaining to the future of the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA), financing the regional cultural agenda, implementing a regional strategic framework for the development of the sector, and the Region’s continuing pursuit of Reparations for Native Genocide and Slavery. In setting the tone of the meeting, Director within the Directorate of Human and Social Development, Ms Helen Royer, described how the culture and creative sectors have been hard hit with cancellations of national festivals and carnivals, stages shows and in-door events in theatres, cinemas, and museums during the pandemic. The RCC therefore had an important task of advising on the revitalization of the creative sector and economy, she said. Noting that CARICOM was counting on the support of its partners, she added: “Your collaboration is critical in devising and implementing appropriate strategies and providing much needed resources to artists and entrepreneurs in the sector.” Along with the work of the RCC, Ms Royer said the culture and creative industries will need tangible support and incentives to be robust and resilient. Measures to support that, she noted, have been articulated in the Draft Regional Development Strategy for the Creative Industries in CARICOM and the Cultural and Entertainment Services Strategy for CARIFORUM. However, the Human and Social Development Director said that the resources to action some of the recommendations within those strategies had not materialized. In this vein, she commended the much anticipated roll-out of a project financed by the European Union with the support of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS). Titled Creative Caribbean: An Ecosystem of ‘Play’ for Growth and Development, the project valued at 3 Million Euros, will provide grant funding for artists, professional arts associations and cultural entrepreneurs in 14 CARICOM Member States, and contribute to the recovery of the creative sector in the region. In facilitating public education and dialogue on reparatory justice, through national events and within the context of the International Decade for People of African Descent.

It will offer vital resources to develop the enabling environment for the creative sector, including registries of artists, Ms Royer said, adding that it will also facilitate a draft model legislation for Creative Industry Development Acts in Member States, to protect and incentivize the sector. The Human and Social Development Director said that CARICOM also continues to place emphasis on Reparations for Native Genocide and Slavery as it seeks redress from Europe for 400 years of slavery and colonialism that left in its wake, systematic underdevelopment, and persistent poverty. She said Heads of Government are keen on a coalition with the African Union to “take forward what is arguably one of the most important human rights movements of the twenty-first century.” Ministries with responsibility for Culture have an important role she stated, in facilitating public education and dialogue on reparatory justice, through national events and within the context of the International Decade for People of African Descent.

www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com

@kw.com

www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com

Big Fish in a Small Pond - By TONY DEYAL At one stage in my life I wanted to be a fisherman but I realised that the net income wasn't enough. My column in today's Jamaica Gleaner, Barbados Nation, Caribbean News Global, Caribbean News Now, Pointe-Xpress (Antigua) etc. I WAS in the Bahamas working with health department employees, community leaders and hospital staff on dengue prevention. When we wrapped up a session, one of the participants who knew I was staying at the Atlantis asked, “So you’re in the casino tonight, right?” “Not me,” I replied. “I am going fishing.” He laughed, “I know how you deal with people and all the jokes you tell in your lectures, but how do you communicate with a fish?” The others snickered. I put on my serious face, paused a second or two, and then quipped, “I drop it a line.” Fortunately, he didn’t ask me what kind of music I listen to while fishing, because I would have said, “Something catchy!” This preamble is really a red herring. It is like the question, “Why was the seafood restaurant being investigated by the Inland Revenue Department?” The owners were suspected of being a shell company in some fishy business. I smiled as I thought of it because I was in our car being driven by my son Zubin along the mountainous North Coast Road of Trinidad with the sea and Atlantic Ocean below us. It could have been any other Caribbean country, especially since we were on ‘fishing’ and not ‘fishy’ business. Hook, line and sinker Henry David Thoreau, the famous naturalist, believed, “Many men go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.” While he might be right most of the time, he was definitely wrong in our case. Fishing as a sport, hobby, or way of life has caught us hook, line and sinker. It is said that the two happiest days of your life are when you buy a boat and when you sell it. However, as we pushed the 27-foot pirogue (fishing boat) out from the sheltered bay with the boat’s owner and our friend Peter, who knows all the ‘banks’ and with whom we have trolled for king fish, we could not think of any happier days, past or future. This was our present – to ourselves. I had taught Zubin to fish for the love of it. I know that, if you give a man a fish, he will have a meal but I also learnt that, like me, if you teach a man how to fish, he is very likely to spend thousands of dollars on fishing equipment. Or, if you give him one, he might eat for a day and then will come back hungry the next day. In that case, it is better to catch a man a fish and sell it to him. However, if you teach him to fish, you will ruin a wonderful business opportunity. Or, instead of eating for a lifetime, if you teach him fishing, he will turn around and behave as if he invented it and you’re just an idiot. In that case, it is better to cut him up into little bits so that he will become your chum. The only thing worse than that is teaching 100 men to fish, because you will end up creating the biggest single threat to our regional ecosystem. I always thought that I could stand on a jetty or sit in a boat with my sons and friends around me, cast lines all day long, never catch a single fish, come home, and still feel I had a great and wonderful time. Except that the day we chose was not as wonderful as it was memorable. The Atlantic was either trying to take us to Atlantis or provide us an immediate date with either destiny or mermaids. I threw down a 16-ounce sinker and it floated. We didn't have pull up the anchor, it never really went or stayed down. Occasionally, the sky above and the sea below changed places and, instead of ups and downs, we experienced boat and both.

However, I decided that, come hell (the high water was already with us), we would let our lines into the water, even if we had to go down with them, and hook ourselves to the boat. While fighting the currents and the hurly-burly, and waiting for a bite or even a solitary nibble, I thought of the big fish, little pond way of life I had given up for the big pond and deep sea.

Some experts swear by the ‘BFLPE’ (big fish, little pond effect). They preach that children perform better if they are with a less capable group, and being a big fish in a little pond is better than trying to become a big fish in a big pond. Unfortunately, almost all the big fish in the little ponds of the region become, and behave, like Jaws in a village ravine. The West Indian Federation failed and CARICOM has never really worked because every prime minister, media magnate, police commissioner or even public servant wants to remain the biggest fish in a little pool of people and resources. They are afraid that, if they try the big league, they will lose the power, respect, wealth and ‘freeness’ they enjoy. I have seen a lot of big fish in our little regional ponds clinging with teeth, nails and skulduggery to their little bits of sand and rock while making sure there is no election for the leadership of CARICOM. Instead, there is a schedule giving each shark a small ceremonial bite, very limited time and no power. Fortunately, there are still Caribbean people who are willing and prepared to take on the challenges of the big pond. The Jamaica bobsled team took on the world without fear. They joined our cricketers and other athletes who were already there. We have academics, media and other professionals who are in the big league. For many of us, even being small fish in the big pond is a triumph in its own right. As Victoria Beckham said, “In England, David and I are big fish in a small pond. But in L A, we are tiny, tiny, tiny fish in a big pond.” Yet, they’re still there. I remember, when I was the Government’s television producer and I walked into a New York store, the owner asked, “You from Trinidad?” Then added without waiting for my answer, “You’re in the right place. Dr Williams shops here. Even Tony Deyal comes here. You know Tony Deyal?” However, after I had left television, a woman took a long time on Frederick Street looking at me and, finally recognising me, said beaming, “You used to be Tony Deyal?” Unlike people who describe themselves as 'media celebrities'™ or 'former' anything, I prefer to be a small and slightly overweight fisherman in the big pond catching my fish or my 'nennen' in the Atlantic. I see my friends in the regional media who are content with only one-sided stories and I let them be. In the meantime, I try to be the best I can be and will continue to reach out and show the people of this region how much we can gain from togetherness in this slightly bigger pond that is the Caribbean. Tony Deyal was last seen telling a friend how tough things were for him in Trinidad. His friend asked sagely, “Would the fish have ever been caught if it had kept its mouth shut?”