Caribbean American Passport News Magazine - May 2018 by caribbeanamericanpassport

FREE Your Passport to the Caribbean American Community

May/Jun 2018

National CaribbeanAmerican Heritage Month marks Twelfth Anniversary in 2018 In June 2005, the House of Representatives unanimously adopted H. Con. Res. 71, sponsored by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, recognizing the significance of Caribbean people and their descendants in the history and culture of the United States. On February 14, 2006, the resolution similarly passed the Senate, culminating a two-year, bipartisan and bicameral effort. The Proclamation was issued by President George Bush on June 6, 2006. Since the declaration, the White House has issued an annual proclamation recognizing June as CaribbeanAmerican Heritage Month. This year marks the twelfth anniversary of June as National Caribbean American Heritage Month. The campaign to designate June as National Caribbean American Heritage Month, was spearheaded by Dr. Claire Nelson, Founder and President of the Institute of Caribbean Studies. Through the commemoration of this month, we hope to ensure that America is reminded that its greatness lies in its diversity, with Caribbean immigrants from founding father Alexander Hamilton, to journalist Malcolm Gladwell, who have shaped the American dream.

Bronze Kingdom introduces us to African Art

By Dr. Jeremy I. Levitt The Bronze Kingdom combines art with cultural discovery© Brilliance! Transcendence! Vivaciousness! These illuminating expressions personify my preopening VIP tour of the Bronze Kingdom Gallery at Fashion Square Mall. My tour was led by Rawlvan Bennett, President of the Bronze Kingdom Gallery, a genuine connoisseur of African art that possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of its breathtaking bronze statuaries dating back hundreds of years. A sage story teller, Bennet provided me with an illuminating tour de force of Africa’s royal art history. Quite impressive. For millennia, human history has been imagined, imparted and surmised through African history and African art has been its most profound story teller beginning with Black Egypt’s Predynastic Period in 6000 BCE. Africa’s mastery of bronze art is vital to discovering ancient knowledge and history because it was the preferred archival device of its royal potentates. Africa’s history is recorded on and in its bronze tablets, figures, masks, staff heads, rattles, bells, figures and armlets with its most preeminent bronzes being birthed in dynastic West Africa in about 700 BCE. Global recognition of the beauty of Africa’s

bronze art is rooted in the internationalization of the great empires of Ghana (7th-13th century), Mali (13th-16th century) and Songhai (15th-16th century). While I don’t consider myself an art aficionado, I am a student of it. Over the years I developed a familial connection to West African bronze art. African bronze art is not simply art, it is crafted and infused with life force that anchors the soul of its intended owner. You don’t pick bronze art, it picks you. Bennett encourages all African art enthusiasts and collectors to “purchase at least three legacy pieces in a lifetime.” A legacy piece is one that is acquired with the intent to bequeath to future generations, a legacy that must be embraced by African descendants not monopolized by the heirlooms of colonial conquest. Moreover, bronze art exponentially increases in value over time and serves as a

- Guyana gets ready for their first Carnival -

This idea was birthed out of Guyana's 50th Independence celebration when the country recorded thousands of arrivals of visitors to Guyana. The parade leaves from the newly built Kitty Roundabout and heads south along the eastern half of Vlissengen Road to the D’Urban Park. There will be no ‘floats’ as Guyanese are accustomed to seeing during the Mashramani celebrations. Rather, there will be people in five sections — each showing off their costumes.The theme for Carnival Guyana 2018 is “Genesis’, with the festivities being held during the period 18th-27th May. It is intended to be a destination event targeting those in the diaspora.

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L I F E S T Y L E

Guenet Gittens-Roberts, Publisher/Editor

Bronze Kingdom introduces us to African Art Samuel J. Roberts, Publisher/Editor

conduit to understanding the manifold The four-step formula is quite simple. First, Bronze contributions of African people to human Kingdom will assist you to identify a legacy piece given what Bennett calls a “connected link.” Second, if you civilization. purchase $500 worth of art Bronze Kingdom provides you with a free AncestryDNA kit to help you discover exactly where you descend from in Africa or elsewhere. Third, once discovered Bennett’s woke staff will assist you in identifying a statuary or painting that reflects your ancestral homeland. Fourth, if that were not enough, Bronze Kingdom then utilizes a portion of the profits from your purchase to support humanitarian projects in the towns and villages where the artwork originates. This includes the building of bridges and schools, digging water wells, funding orphanages and entrepreneur programs in, among other places, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Mali, Burkina Faso and Congo Kinshasa. It’s a win win that begins in the heart of Orlando with a soft opening on Friday May 11, 2018, and grand opening on the evening of May 18, 2018. See you there and please remember that I have first dibs on the 13-foot-high bronze warrior horseman! By Dr. Jeremy I. Levitt

1969 Alafaya Trail • Orlando, FL 32828 Office: 407-427-1800

Bronze art is not cheap! I’ve had my eyes on a large Egyptian Bronze statuary of Isis and Horus from Egypt’s 25th Dynasty (747-656 BCE) for years. Unfortunately, the famed art dealer Christies recently sold it for nearly $1.5 million. Not! Nevertheless, Bennett identified a bronze legacy piece that fit my budget and paid homage to my Mandinka lineage; far more alluring than buying bitcoin or fabricated masks. I have lived and worked in every region of Africa for nearly 30 years and with every experience marveled at her rich and illustrious art history. I’ve canvassed the top museums in Africa, Europe, and the United States, yet, none of those experiences captivated me like my visit to the Bronze Kingdom. Why? Its exquisiteness largely rests in is accessibility to the average person especially those seeking to more closely connect with their ancestry—something that can’t really be done at national and international museum. Bronze Kingdom personalizes the experience. I was taken by Bennett’s notion of “lineage art” intended to create transformative connections between African descendants and others with Africa through the prism of African bronze artwork that tells the collective stories of Africa and her people.

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 .................................................Samuel Roberts Contributing Writers: ............................................................ Tony Dyal ................................................................................................Ryan Davis .............................................................................................Sandra Fatmi ...............................................................................................Gail Seeram ...........................................................................................Sasha Watson ..........................................................................................Kamal Abdool Contributing Photographers ............ ...................................Ted Hollins ..................................................................................................Dilia Castillo .............................................. .......................................Nancy-Joe Brown Central Florida Distribution...................................................Roy Benn South Florida Distribution ...........................................Norman Williams NorthFlorida Distribution ......................................................Theo Jack Jr. Tampa Distribution ...........................................................Kadeem Roberts Copyright (C) 2016 GGR Marketing & Public Relations. All rights reserved.

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Caribbean American Heritage Month Event Calendar June 1st . 6pm - 8pm Caribbean American Heritage Month Ribbon Cutting City of Orlando, City Hall Rotunda www.caccfl.com

CHAMBER

Thursday, June 21st, 2018 . 6pm - 8pm Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce of Florida Inc. Business After Hours

At: GGR Events, 3201 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando Fl. 32803

Sunday, June 24th, 2018 . 1pm - 6pm Caribbean American Heritage Month Festival FREE At: Orlando Fashion Square Mall 3201 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando, Fl. 32803 www.cahmfestival.com WHAT'S MISSING IN YOUR MARKETING PLAN: 407-427-1800 CONTACT US FOR AN ASSESSMENT

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Kids and teens can receive free meals all summer long!

With Florida schools closing for the summer, more than one million students who rely on free and reduced-price meals will have to look elsewhere for food. Because of this need, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will soon start Summer BreakSpot. The program provides free meals and snacks for kids at thousands of locations statewide. Last year, Summer BreakSpot provided 15 million meals at more than 4,600 schools, churches and community centers. The program has grown nearly 20 percent in recent years. To find your nearest location, visit www.SummerBreakSpot.org.

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BRIGHTLINE TRAINS TAKE YOU FROM Miami to Fort Lauderdale to West Palm Beach

Travelers going between Miami and West Palm Beach, Florida, just got more options: a rail service. Brightline, the only privately owned and operated passenger rail in the U.S., opened its second travel route in Florida on May 19. The company's owner, Wesley Edens, told CNBC that the railway is perfect for those trips that are "too long to drive, too short to fly." "We think there are other city pairs that have similar characteristics," he said on "Squawk Alley" Friday. He mentioned possible routes that included Atlanta to Charlotte, North Carolina; Houston to Dallas and St. Louis to Chicago. "There's many [cities] we think are viable," said Edens, who is also co-founder, co-CEO and principal of Wall Street private equity firm Fortress Investment Group. "And we think economics are compelling," he said. He said tickets sold out on the new route for its first weekend. Travel between Miami and West Palm Beach aboard Brightline is beginning with eight daily weekend round trips. The first leg of service â&#x20AC;&#x201D; between West Palm Beach and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida â&#x20AC;&#x201D; opened in January 2018. Edens said he envisions the service going all the way from Orlando to Miami, two major travel hubs in the U.S. "We're really excited," Edens said.

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CHTA PRESIDENT WELCOMES BARBADOS' FIRST FEMALE PRIME MINISTER

Commissioner Victoria Siplin kicks off Reelection Campaign

Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley The resounding mandate that Barbados' first female prime minister earned from the electorate is a vote of confidence for women in leadership throughout the Caribbean, says Karolin Troubetzkoy, President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), as she congratulated incoming Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley on her, and her party's, recent 30-0 victory at the polls. Troubetzkoy, who on International Women's Day this year called for an acceleration of gender parity to help Caribbean women advance and unleash their potential, applauded the Barbadian public for its record of advancing women to the forefront of leadership. "From the late Dame Nita Barrow to Dames Billie Miller and Sandra Mason, and now Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Barbados has a proud history of investing in and placing confidence in women in decision-making positions," said Troubetzkoy, who added that the Caribbean should be proud of this latest development. Professional development and a vibrant speednetworking session will feature again this year at CHIEF, which will also host Taste of the Caribbean, where the region's best chefs and their teams will compete. Taste of the Caribbean also offers insight and experience for food and beverage participants, who can learn the latest trends and techniques emerging from Caribbean kitchens. Also returning to Miami this year will be CHTA's Caribbean305 event, where flavors from more than a dozen Caribbean nations will be simmering at the culinary and cultural celebration taking place on Miami's Jungle Island on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at 8 p.m.

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Commissioner Victoria Siplin has started on her campaign for re-election for Orange County Commissioner district 6. ----Friends and supporters Sandra Fatmi and Allie Braswell were on hand to lend support. The Campaign kicks off on Saturday May 26 at 1320 North Pine Hills Road

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ImmigrationINFO

Immigration News For Our Community Five Ways Trump Successfully Cut Immigration Benefits By Attorney Gail S. Seeram, Gail@GailLaw.com 1-877-GAIL-LAW @GailSeeram

"When it comes to putting immigrants on a path to deportation, it doesn’t seem to matter how long they’ve been here, the conditions they fled in the first place, the contributions they have made or the impact on their families, employers and communities, or the fact that they’ve had legal status for years and years," said Frank Sharry, executive director of America's Voice, a progressive immigration reform advocacy group. "The bottom line seems to be this: get ready to get out; this is especially true if you are from what the president calls 'shithole countries'” he added. The termination of special protection programs show that Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen are "intent on driving millions of immigrants out of the country." #1: DACA In September 2017, Trump ended Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and the decision directly affected around 690,000 so-called Dreamers — immigrants who arrived in the country illegally as minors who were given an employment card and deportation protection. The 690,000 pre-enrolled DACA recipients can currently maintain and renew their two-year permits thanks to a federal court order against Trump's move to end the program. But uncertainty over the program's future has created a slew of other issues for the program's beneficiaries. #2: TPS Under Trump, the Department of Homeland Security has announced the end of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 260,000 Salvadorans, 60,000 Haitians, 5,000 Nicaraguans and a few hundred Sudanese. Salvadoran TPS has been renewed every 18 months since 2001, after

two earthquakes hit the country. TPS allows citizens of countries that are going through man-made or natural disasters to live and work in the United States. #3: ICE Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the federal government's top immigration law enforcement agency. Under Trump, the agency has become "unshackled," allowing it to prioritize for deportation immigrants who were deemed out of bounds by previous administrations. ICE can no longer use prosecutorial discretion to stop or pause deportation so the deportee can remain united with his U.S. citizen spouse or minor child. #4: USCIS United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the agency that grants visas, permanent residency and citizenship to foreign applicants. Under Trump, USCIS Director Francis Cissna changed the agency's mission statement, removing references to the United States as a "nation of immigrants" in favor of language about "protecting Americans." USCIS is considering a proposal to tighten the rules on foreign citizens' use of tax breaks and welfare programs, said Tyler Houlton, a spokesman for Homeland Security. If the White House approves the proposal, foreigners on visas or with permanent residency could be barred from using popular tax breaks, like the earned income tax credit or public health subsidies. #5: Refugees and travel ban Trump issued an executive order in January 2017 banning the entry of citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries to the United States. The so-called travel ban was blocked by three courts using Trump's public statements as evidence that it unfairly targeted Muslims. But after each reversal in court, the administration released a new set of rules to impose a travel ban that could pass constitutional muster. The Supreme Court is scheduled to permanently rule on the travel ban's constitutionality in early May 2018. Copyright © Law Offices of Gail S. Seeram, 2018. All Rights Reserved.

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GraceKennedy CEO receives Key to Broward County “I was happy to assist with bringing the Town Hall to Broward County. The Caribbean Diaspora makes up a large portion of the population in Broward County, and any time we can have the Diaspora come together to share ideas and an action plan on how to make our communities stronger economically, here and for those back home, the better we are for it,” the Commissioner said. Present at the event were: Florida State Representative for District 95 Barrington Russell; Vice Mayor Howard Berger of the City of Lauderhill; Vice Mayor Yvette Colbourne of the City of Miramar; Deputy Mayor Mark Douglas of the City of Sunrise; Commissioner Winston Barnes of the City of Miramar and Commissioner Maxwell Chambers from the City of Miramar. Group CEO, Senator Don Wehby, received the key to the city of Broward County during his opening remarks

Don Wehby, Group CEO of GraceKennedy Limited was on Saturday, May 19 presented with A Key to Broward County by Commissioner Dale V.C. Holness. Broward County is located in Florida, USA. The presentation was made at the GraceKennedy Money Services/Western Union Town Hall meeting held at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center located in the City of Lauderhill. Lauderhill is within District 9, the area represented by Commissioner Holness.

Along with Mr Wehby and Mr Golding, other participating speakers were: Michelle Allen, Chief Executive Officer of GraceKennedy Money Services, Noel Greenland, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Customer Experience. Rodrigo Garcia Estebarena Western Union’s Vice President and General Manager for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, and Andre Largie, Western Union’s Country Director for the Caribbean. GKMS has been Western Union’s Agent for almost three decades, and currently offers Western Union® Money Transfer services in: Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Anguilla, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, the Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos and The Bahamas.

A Key to Broward County is a symbol of goodwill from the Broward County Board of County Commissioners (BCBCC) and is given to visiting dignitaries, esteemed visitors, or valued members of the community who have contributed to the county by way of public service or charity. Commissioner Holness lauded GraceKennedy for its business and social contributions to Broward County over the years. “GraceKennedy has been a vital part of the fabric of Broward County for decades and have demonstrated their commitment to building this community. As a successful Jamaican company, they have set a strong example of social responsibility from the top down,” Commissioner Holness said. Mr Wehby was surprised and humbled by the presentation. “I did not expect this at all, but on behalf of GraceKennedy and especially our staff and customers who live in Broward, I’m really honoured to accept this recognition. The ties between Jamaica and Florida are deep and GraceKennedy continues to work hard at expanding our business in the State of Florida and our services to the Caribbean Diaspora in the US,” Mr Wehby said. Town Hall meetings are held annually in various markets, which sometimes include the UK and Canada. This year, two meetings were held in Florida and in New York (May 17) under the theme “The Caribbean Diaspora: In Pursuit of a Better Tomorrow…Today” with the keynote address presented by the Honourable Bruce Golding, former Prime Minister of Jamaica.

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Cubans prepare for Castro’s stepping down

uban President Raul Castro is set to step down on Thursday, passing the baton to a new generation in a transition that brings to a close the Castro brothers’ six-decade grip on power. “We have come a long way ... so that our children, those of the present and those of the future, will be happy,” Mr Castro said in one of his last speeches as leader last month.

economy at a time when Cuba’s key regional ally Venezuela, its source of cheap oil, is stumbling through an acute economic crisis, and amid a resurgence of the US embargo under President Donald Trump.

On the island, the transition is fueling moderate debate between fervent Castro-ites and their critics, who expect few changes after the election, in which they have no direct The 86-year-old has been in power since 2006, when he took participation. over after illness sidelined his brother Fidel, who seized power in the 1959 revolution. Between them, father of the nation Fidel and younger brother Raul ruled Cuba for nearly 60 years, making the Caribbean island a key player in the Cold War and Cubans last month elected a new National Assembly, whose helping keep communism afloat despite the collapse of the 605 members are tasked with voting in the new president. Soviet Union. “We will continue ... the path of the revolution. The triumphant march of the revolution will continue,” said Mr Diaz-Canel after voting in last month’s assembly elections.

Raul Castro has been in power since 2006, when he took over from his brother Fidel, who seized power in 1959.

However, despite striving for a low-key transition, there’s no getting away from the fact that this represents a monumental change in Cuba. It will be the first time in almost six decades that the Cuban president will not be named Castro, will not be part of the “historic” generation of 1959, will not wear a military uniform That chapter of history will come to a close when the National Assembly elects a new president of the Council of State, catapulting the island into the postCastro era. The Assembly will begin gathering tomorrow, although the vote itself will take place on Thursday.

and will not be the head of the Communist Party. If elected, Mr Diaz-Canel is expected to be able to make up for his lack of revolutionary pedigree with the support of Raul Castro watching benevo-lently from his perch atop the allpowerful Communist Party.

Members are widely expected to select current Cuban President Raul Castro (top) First Vice President and First Vice President Miguel DiazCanel and President Raul Castro Miguel Diaz-Canel, a 57(center & right). year-old who has climbed the party ranks and has been Raul Castro’s right-hand man since 2013. The outgoing president will remain at the head of the Communist Party until its next congress in 2021, when he turns 90, time enough to ensure a controlled transition and to watch He will be expected to build on the reforms introduced by over his protégé when, inevitably, old-guard communists chal- Raul Castro in recent years, particularly those giving greater lati-tude to the island’s tourism industry and small business lenge his reforms. sector. Cuban political scientist Esteban Morales said the two would likely work in tandem, with Mr Castro continuing to The date of the historic vote is heavy with symbolism. act as the ideological figurehead, while Mr Diaz-Canel concentrates on the “very complex and difficult” task of It falls on the 57th anniversary of the Bay of Pigs invasion, when the CIA tried to overthrow Fidel Castro in 1961, an epirunning the government. sode Havana has long proclaimed as American imperialism’s The heir to the Castro’s will be faced with modernising the first great defeat in Latin America.

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Judge rules administration must accept new DACA applicants

By Associated Press

Bates is giving DHS 90 days to “better explain its view” that DACA is unlawful. After that, he says, DHS “must accept and ASHINGTON — A federal judge has process new as well as renewal DACA applications.” ruled against the Trump administration’s decision to end a program protecting some young DACA temporarily shielded from deportation so-called Dreamers — immigrants brought illegally to the US as immigrants from deportation. US District Judge John D. Bates in Washington children. Presi-dent Donald Trump announced last year that says the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to he would end the program. rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Bates’ ruling Tuesday night comes in a pair of cases whose program “was unlawful and must be set aside.” lead plaintiffs are the NAACP and Princeton University.

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Buddy Dyer joins ex-mayors in backing Jerry Demings for Orange County mayor By Jeff WeinerContact Reporter, Orlando Sentinel

skills to do the job” of mayor. Demings, a Democrat, joins Commissioner Pete Clarke and businessman Rob Panepinto, rlando Mayor Buddy Dyer is backing Sheriff both Republicans, as top contend-ers to replace Mayor Teresa Jerry Demings in his bid to become mayor Jacobs, who is term-limited and cannot run for re-election. of Orange County, the Demings campaign said Wednesday.Also endorsing Demings The nonpartisan election is scheduled for Aug. 28.

are former Orange Mayor Linda Chapin and ex-Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood, the campaign said. “Over the last 30 years, I have had the distinct honor of working alongside Jerry Demings and have seen first-hand his commitment to making our community a stronger, safer place to live,” Dyer said in a statement. “I am proud to stand with him and to officially endorse his candidacy for Orange County Mayor.” Dyer went on to praise Demings for his “proven track record of success” and said he is “the only candidate with the experience to lead Orange County.” Chapin, in a statement, cited Demings’ “long history of service to our community,” calling the Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings officially announces his campaign to be the next mayor of Orange County, with his wife Congresswoman Val Demings (left) at sheriff “an outstanding mentor and advocate for his side, during a press conference at the Orange County Administration our young people.” Hood, who appointed Building, in Orlando, Friday, July 7, 2017. (Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel) Demings in 1998 as Orlando’s first black chief of jeweiner@orlandosentinel.com, 407-420-5171 or @JeffWeinerOS police, called him a “strong leader with the on Twitter

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UN: Trinidad Forcibly Deported Venezuelan Refugees ORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD — The United forced and said the Venezuelans had been detained at the Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) criticized what immigration detention center (IDC) for various offenses. it called the forced deportation of 82 Venezuelan asylum seekers by Trinidad and Tobago, while the “At the airport, each person was asked if they had any fear or Government insistst that this was voluntary. The UNHCR said the people had been held in detention in Trinidad and Tobago and that they were deported without the agency being given access to them. “The forced return of this group is of great concern,” Volker Turk, UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Protection said in a statement. “We are in contact with the authorities and are seeking clarification on the legal process which has led to the deportations,” Turk said. The UNHCR said the group was made up of registered asylum seekers and others who had declared an intention to apply for refugee status, and the government had not granted the agency access to the detainees prior to deportation.

objection to returning to their homeland; all stated that they wanted to leave,” the Ministry of National Security said in a The agency in March reported a 2,000 percent increase in the statement. “No one was forced or coerced to leave the IDC.” number of Venezuelans seeking asylum world-wide since 2014, encouraging countries to give them access to refugee UNHCR spokesman Chris Boian said established procedures measures and warning that it was crucial people were not agreed with the government of Trinidad and Tobago had not forcibly deported. been followed. The agency has been working with governments in the Caribbean to help them cope with the influx of refugees. Venezuela has descended into an economic and social crisis, with millions suffering political insecurity. Economic collapse has driven an estimated 3 million people from the country.Trinidad and Tobago denied the deportations were

“Registered asylum seekers who decide to return home must first receive counseling from UNHCR and submit a written statement,” that the decision was voluntary, he said. The ministry said the repatriation of the 53 men and 29 women was a collaborative effort with the Venezuelan embassy, which arranged for the detainees to return to Caracas on a Venezuelan government aircraft.

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Safety tips for using digital cash apps More people are replacing cash with digital apps, but there are safety measures to keep in mind when exchanging money with your phone Cash once was king, but more wallets are now getting ditched for digital. It started with payment programs from big names like Apple, Samsung, and Google; it's now grown into apps that let friends directly exchange funds through their phones. You may have even seen the ads for Zelle, run by several of the nation's largest banks; and Venmo, owned by PayPal. Venmo has more than 2 million reviews on Apple's App Store, and has become so popular you might even hear it as a verb - as in, "I'll Venmo my share of the rent." "Everyone is getting into the mix because it can be so convenient and easy to use," said Mike Johnson, who leads the security technologies program at the U of M's Technological Leadership Institute, and previously oversaw operations risk management for a local bank. "Features are important, security needs to be as important. People need to demand that their devices and applications are secure." Most digital wallet apps let you set up an account tied your bank account or credit card; exchanging money only requires the email address or phone number of another person. It's simple, but potentially problematic. "Email addresses and phone numbers are not identification tools," Johnson said. "People think that they are, but they're not. They could be spoofed, they could be taken over. So systems that are completely designed based on those controls

have an inherent weakness." Connecting a digital wallet to a bank account is usually free; sounds appealing, since connecting a credit card often adds a fee per use-- that's how these apps make money. However, credit does offer the protections you already get with that card, while the apps don't include any buyer or seller protection. "If you have $10,000 in your checking account and a criminal gets access to the funds, there's some limits, daily limits, but they could theoretically drain all $10,000," Johnson said. "Versus the credit card, you can work with the credit card company to dispute the charges." These apps can be used safely, with the right precautions. Johnson says digital wallets should only be used to exchange money with someone you already know-something Venmo and Zelle say right on their websites. The apps also advise against paying for goods or services from a stranger, like sports tickets, or something you bought off Craigslist. Instead, the apps are best for things like splitting a dinner tab with someone you trust. "If you read the agreements for most of these services, they use that word quite a lot. 'These are for trusted transactions with trusted parties.' People you know and trust, the word keeps coming up," Johnson said. He also recommends strong, two-factor authentication to log in; and turn on notifications, both for the app and your connected bank or credit account, so you'll know right away if someone else gets access. Even if you don't use these apps now, you could get invited in, since money can be sent to any email or phone number, even without being connected to an app. "Cash is dead. For most people. Many people," Johnson said.

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Prince’s Caribbean compound set for auction in July By Jack Flemming, LA TIMES rince’s Caribbean estate, a five-acre island compound in Turks and Caicos, is up for auction.

bids for the auction, handled by Premiere Estates Auction Co., are due by July 12, and each one requires a $100,000 deposit. A pair of properties owned by the Purple One sold last year for around $400,000, records show.

The Caribbean kingdom of Prince will soon go to the highest bidder at auction, his estate recently The legendary singer, who died two years ago at 57, was announced. The island compound in Turks and Caicos was assembled by the late pop star as a getaway from his main home in Minnesota. The estate combines mul-tiple parcels that total over five acres. A 10,000-square-foot mansion with six bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms is the centerpiece of the property, but it’s the road to get there that makes the retreat so quintessentially Prince. It’s purple — a color that became synonymous with the multiGrammy winner during his musical career. The home wraps around a palm-dotted pool and spa, and the premises also include a tennis court, a 200-foot dock and two private beaches. Ocean views are abundant. Planning to throw your hat in the ring? Come prepared. Paper

one of the bestselling artists of all time. He won seven Grammys, a Golden Globe and an Oscar during his illustrious career, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.