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THURSDAY JULY 14, 2022
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TOP STORIES Boy dies in hot car parked outside Miami area Jewish center
Attorney Ezra Alleyne who successfully defended “Great Train” robber, dies
For the World Cup
Florida man sentenced in death threat to Minnesota Rep. Omar
Jamaica punched their ticket to the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in commanding fashion on Monday night, with a 4-0 win over Haiti that featured a Khadija Shaw brace.
Financial Woes, Visa Issues Threaten Trinidad Teams’ Participation in Regional Tourneys
The result in the Reggae Girlz final match of Group A of the 2022 CONCACAF Women's Championship (CWC) means they have qualified for a second straight Women's World Cup, making it the second time in history that a Caribbean team has qualified for a Women's World Cup. Haiti finished in third place and will advance to next continues on C3 – Reggae Girlz Qualify!
Former Jamaican University Lecturer extradited to Florida on Sexual Assault Charges A former Jamaican university lecturer has been extradited to the United States to face charges for several sexual batteries in Margate which took place over 20 years ago. Russell McLean, 65, was extradited Thursday and was being held in the Broward County Jail on 16 charges including sexual assault, burglary, and kidnapping. McLean is a former lecturer at the Northern Caribbean University (NCU) in Mandeville, Jamaica. According to the Margate authorities, McLean is responsible for several sexual crimes that happened in the city between June 1996 and
In 2018 authorities obtained DNA evidence linking McLean to 16 sexual assault charges in Margate, Florida. November 1997. He allegedly broke into homes and threatened victims with a gun in order to assault them. All the victims gave the same description of the perpetrator, but no suspects were identified. In
2007, evidence recovered in a burglary case led to the identification of McLean as a person of interest. When McLean realized he was being investigated for the crimes, he fled to Jamaica. In 2015, Margate Police Department detective Julio Fernandez reinvestigated the case involving the sexual batteries. In 2018, Fernandez obtained deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) evidence and compared it to DNA located in rape kits from 1996 and the results concluded that McLean's DNA was a match. In August 2020, an arrest warrant was issued for McLean. continues on B3 – Sexual Assault
New report estimates COVID-19 impact on Bahamas at US$9.5 billion
Outlook for drought across the Caribbean region alleviated
Guyana looking to French investors
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Caribbean
ENTERTAINMENT
Jamaican John-Paul Clarke Appointed Member of NASA Advisory Council A3
Barbados deals with upsurge in criminal activities
Jamaican gov’t facing defamation lawsuit from Dancehall artiste Popcaan C1
A4
Celebrate 60 Celebrating years of Independence with Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago at CNWnetwork.com
A2 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, JUL 14 – JUL 20, 2022 | CNWNETWORK.COM
PAGE A2 Residents in the City of Miramar show off their medals and prizes a er par cipa ng in the Miramar Marvelous Race on Saturday, July 9.
Danielle Domond, Chester Bishop, and Lauderdale Lakes Mayor Hazelle Rogers a end the People's Profile Awards 2022 held in Broward County on July 10.
Residents in the City of Miramar par cipated in the Miramar Marvelous Race on Saturday, July 9, which finished at the Vernon Hargray Center in Miramar.
Jamaican American Violet Edwards, the fi h oldest person in the world to receive a degree, poses with Parkland Mayor Richard Walker (le ) and Parkland Vice Mayor Ken Cutler (right).
United States Ambassador to Jamaica, Nick Perry signs the condolence book for former Minister of Tourism, Francis Tulloch at Gordon House on Tuesday (July 12). Miramar Commissioner Alexandra P. Davis and her son, Chevone a end the People Profile Awards 2022 on July 10 in Florida. Commissioner Davis received the Government Official of the Year award.
Jamaica's Consul General for Southern USA, Oliver Mair (le ) takes a selfie with Trinidad and Tobago's new Consul General for Miami, Joanne Brooks.
Jamaica's Consul General for New York, Alsion Roach-Wilson a ended the recent launch of the 2022 Grace Jamaican Jerk Fes val held at VP Records in Jamaica, Queens. CG Wilson poses with VP Founder Pat "Miss Pat" Chin (center) and President, Chris Chin (right).
CNWNETWORK.COM | NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, JUL 14 – JUL 20, 2022 –
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NEWSMAKER
Jamaican John-Paul Clarke Appointed Member of NASA Advisory Council Jamaican Professor John-Paul Clarke has been appointed as one of the new members of NASA Advisory Council (NAC). The announcement was made by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on Wednesday. Clarke is one of four new members of the advisory council who Nelson says, “will provide leadership counsel and advice on agency programs and priorities.” “I am incredibly proud of the accomplishments and progress we've made to date, and these new additions to the NAC will bring new ideas and solutions to complex problems we face. We are in the midst of another banner year at the agency, and I look forward to hearing from and working with an exceptional NAC,” Nelson added. Dr. John-Paul Clarke who will serve as chair of the NAC Aeronautics Committee is a past student of Calabar High School and Vaz Prep School in Kingston, Jamaica. He is currently a professor of aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics at The University of Texas at Austin, where he holds the Ernest Cockrell Jr. memorial chair in engineering. He is also a former researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. The University of Texas notes that Clarke “is a leading expert in aircraft trajectory prediction and optimization.” As indicated in his 2018 testimony to the Science Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, he is particularly interested in leveraging his expertise to enable increasingly
Clarke
NASA Advisory Council
autonomous aircraft-enabled mobility, especially in urban and regional settings. Clarke received his bachelors, master's and doctorate degrees in aeronautics and astronautics from MIT. His research and contributions to aerospace has earned him many honors, including the 1999 AIAA/AAAE/ACC Jay Hollingsworth Speas Airport Award, the 2003 FAA Excellence in Aviation Award, the 2006 National Academy of Engineering Gilbreth Lectureship, and the 2012 AIAA/SAE William Littlewood Lectureship. He has also co-founded multiple companies, most recently Universal Hydrogen – a company dedicated to the development of a comprehensive carbon-free solution for aviation.
A4 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, JUL 14 – JUL 20, 2022 | CNWNETWORK.COM
CARIBBEAN
Barbados deals with rise in criminal activities
Grenada Gov’t to Begin Paying Pension to Public Sector Workers
The Barbados government says the island has not “descended into a state of chaos” dismissing comparisons to it being described as “a wild, wild west” following a spate of killings over the past week.
The Grenada government says by November, it intends to begin paying pension to eligible public sector workers who retired as far back as 1985. However, newly elected Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell says a plan has to be formulated as to whether the retroactive payment of EC$60 million will be paid in full or over a period of time. “We reiterated our commitment to pay the pensions and we indicated to them we are not fighting legal entitlements and in that regard, we indicated that we want to address the retroactive part of the pension because we felt those persons would be the one most disadvantaged having not had the pensions paid at all,” Mitchell said, following weekend talks with trade union representatives on the issue. “The data coming out from the Ministry of Finance is that the retroactive payment is going to be in the region of EC$60 million. We indicated to the unions that one way or the other we intend to make a payment by the 30th of November. “The question is whether we pay all of it by 30th November or whether we make an initial payment and make proposals for the balance to be paid over a period of time,” said Mitchell, who had attended the meeting continues on A5 – Grenada Pensions
Marshall
Attorney General Dale Marshall, speaking at a news conference, acknowledged that there has been “a sharp increase in numbers over a short period of time,” adding that “the situation of gun crime did not develop overnight. “There are no three-point plans, and there are no immediate solutions to turn this thing around. It requires a steady hand, it requires a long-term commitment,” he said, adding that for those individuals who believe there would be an “immediate elimination that is far from the case.” He told reporters that the country has experienced a spike in a number of firearm events or incidents over a few weeks, resulting in a number of deaths and injuries. continues on B1 – Crime upsurge
Guyana President Ali promises full support in the preservation of Indigenous culture Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali says while his administration will provide full support towards the preservation of Indigenous culture and identity it will not do so at the expense of the economic development of Guyana. “A delicate balance needs to be created for sustainable development,” Ali said, announcing increased stipends for Indigenous community leaders as the National Toshaos Conference (NTC) got underway at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. “Every PPP/C (People’s Progressive Party/Civic) government wants to do the best it can do for Amerindians. Not just because we want to do it but because you are no different from the rest of the population and we will treat you with the same respect,” Ali told the start of the five-day conference.
He said the ruling PPP/C, which convened the first NTC conference in 2001, has a track record of preserving Indigenous heritage, noting that at the same time the government will sustainably use land and other resources at its disposal to transform the lives of those Indigenous people and their villages. “Preservation of culture and identity does not mean at the expense of the best quality of life. The government will work every single day to uphold the delicate balance of promoting livelihood and securing your cultural identity and the environment,” Ali said. Ali told the NTC that communities, many in the country’s interior regions, will benefit from the development being experienced all over the country fueled by the oil and gas resource.
“You have to go back and answer to them and we have to answer to you and that’s why the government needs to be integrally involved here… your rights will always be protected by this government,” he added. The conference is being held under the theme: “Good Governance and Fast-Tracking Amerindian Development,” and Ali said Toshaos, and deputy Toshaos will receive a 50 percent increase in their stipends, moving from GUY$30,000 (One Guyana dollar=US$0.004 cents) to GUY$45,000 and GUY$20,000 to GUY$30,000, respectively. Indigenous Community Senior Councilors and all regional councilors from the administrative regions of Guyana will receive an increase of GUY$15,000 to GUY$25,000; and GUY$10,000 to GUY$30,000, respectively.
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CARIBBEAN
St. Lucia confirms first case of BA5 variant of COVID-19 St. Lucia says it has received confirmation from the Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) of its first case of BA5 variant of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Sharon Belmar George, said the case is a 36-year-old female from Vieux Fort, who does not have a history of travel. She said this suggests in-country transmission of BA5 and the presence of other cases. “As we continue to note the return to normalcy with the opening up of events and mass crowd activities, we need to ensure that the proven public health protective measures are in place to prevent us from getting sick and to protect the most vulnerable. “The public is reminded that the
threat of COVID-19, long COVID-19, and its complications still exists, especially given St. Lucia’s low immunization rate. Personal responsibility is extremely important at this time, to reduce the transmission of infection to ourselves and our families. The public is guided to continue the use of facemasks in public and ensure hand washing and proper
general sanitization. The public is also advised to use their discretion, ensure they and their vulnerable family members are fully vaccinated and boosted before attending mass crowd events,” Dr. Belmar George added. Figures released by the Ministry of Health on Monday showed that as of July 8, the island has diagnosed a total of 27,254 cases of COVID-19 with 143 active cases. It said the daily infection rate for the last seven days is 11.4 per 100,000 population per day, with a 20 percent average testing positivity rate and a transmission rate of 0.91. “We have noted a total of 385 COVID-19 deaths. We have five positive COVID-19 cases admitted at the continues on B3 – Ba5 Variant
Antigua's ruling party endorses candidates for next general election Prime Minister Gaston Browne has defended the socio-economic policies of his ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) since coming to office in 2014 amid preparations for a general election that is likely to be called ahead of the constitutional deadline of June 2023. Addressing the ABLP's convention on Sunday, Browne giving an account of the stewardship of his administration, said significant sums of money had been spent on education, health, housing as well as providing duty and tax-free waivers exceeding millions of dollars (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents).
“I am blessed to be leading the ABLP, the greatest political institution in this hemisphere,” said Browne, who has on more than one occasion informed supporters to be prepared for a snap general election. He told cheering supporters that the government had provided student grants from preschool to tertiary levels amounting to over EC$240 million. He said other expenditure on education included the expansion of most secondary school plants and the establishment of the fourth landed campus of the University of the West
Indies located at Five Islands, which he described as the crowning jewel of the country's education system. Browne said significant sums of money had also been spent to improve and expand the health care infrastructure, more than EC$300 million on over 1,000 subsidized homes and duty-free and tax waivers exceeding EC$250 million to facilitate car ownership, home ownership, and for capital purchases for small business development. The ABLP, which in the 2018 general election won 15 of the 17 seats in the Parliament, on Sunday endorsed its slate continues on A8 – Antigua Elections
Grenada Pensions from A4
accompanied by his Economic Development Minister, Lennox Andrew, and the Attorney General, Claudette Joseph. A statement issued by the Public Workers Union (PWU) on Monday confirmed the commitment by Mitchell that his administration would honor a High Court ruling upholding the outstanding pension payments for public officers. In the statement, the PWU said trade unions representing teachers, prisons and police met with Prime Minister Mitchell last weekend to “discuss the single item agenda, pension and gratuity.” According to the PWU the unions received “firm commitment” from Prime Minister Mitchell to upholding the March 29, 2020 High Court ruling, as well as the “government will commence the payment pensions and gratuities to all affected retired public officers from 1985 to present” and that the payment will begin from November 30 this year. In addition, the PWU said the unions were given the commitment “that the estates of all eligible officers and teachers who have since died, will be subsequently paid” and that “all public workers retired in 2022 will be paid their gratuity and pension commencing 2022”. The PWU said the meeting was conducted in “a cordial manner” and Prime Minister Mitchell, who came to office after leading his National Democratic Party (NDC) to a 9-6 victory in the June 23 general election, has also given an assurance to honoring the payment of pensions to all eligible public officers and teachers “who qualify under the law, according to the various Pension Acts going forward”. The government's proposals have been submitted to the unions and staff associations for review with a second meeting scheduled for the end of July. “We made it clear in our campaign that we were serious about addressing the pension issue and in a broader context, I think anyone who works all their life, retires and find themselves unable to live must ask what type of society I am living in and more importantly what does the future hold for those who are working,” Prime Minister Mitchell said. In April this year, the former government, said it had appointed the former president of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Sir Dennis Byron, to a five-member committee to provide technical advice and general guidance following a High Court ruling that could result in the government having to pay a significant amount of money to public servants. The workers were disqualified from receiving a pension following the enforcement of the Pension Disqualification Act (PDA) in 1983 and their representative trade union bodies took the government to court challenging the PDA.
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A6 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, JUL 14 – JUL 20, 2022 | CNWNETWORK.COM
EDITORIAL
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Jamaican Ladies Carry the load of World Championships Medals Not since the days of the great Usain Bolt has the anticipation and expectations been this high among Jamaican fans, especially for the women’s sprints. The World Athletics Championship has always been a good hunting ground for Jamaica, and with a track made for speed, some spectacular performances are expected in Eugene, Oregon starting on July 15.
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Since Merlene Ottey won silver in the 200m and then helped the women’s 4x100 team to bronze in the first championship held in Helsinki, the Jamaican women have been carrying the medal load for the country. Apart from 1991 in Tokyo and Moscow in 2013, when Usain started his dominance, the ladies outnumbered the men in medals every other year. Overall, the Jamaican ladies have won 79 of the 127 medals won by Jamaica at 17 championships. They also have an edge in the quality of the medals, edging their male teammates 18 to 17. Excluding Bolt, no male athlete has come close to the achievements of the ladies. Merlene Ottey has won the most medals for Jamaica at the World Championships. Her 14 medals include three gold, four silver, and seven bronze. She is the oldest female World
Champion after winning the 200m in 1995 at 35 years and 92 days. And she became the oldest female medalist at the games in 1997, winning bronze in the 200. Current 100m defending champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has won the most gold medals. She is the only person to win four gold medals at the World Championships. In Moscow, 2013 she became the first woman to win the 100, 200, and 4x100m at a single championship. Over the last six World Championships, Jamaica has won every female 4x100m except in 2017 when they got bronze. They have also won five of the previous seven 100m titles at the games. This year the ladies will carry the burden of Jamaica’s medal success again. Medals are expected in the 100, 200, 4x100, 4x400, 100m hurdles, and the 400 m. In the 100 and 200m, there is also a chance for multiple medals. Jamaicans are crazy about their track and field performance. After dominating the Olympics, they will now turn their attention to the World Championships. With the United States having the largest diaspora population and so near to Jamaica, Hayward Field will undoubtedly be covered in black, gold, and green as fans enjoy what is expected to be a “Jamination” of the 2022 World Championships.
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A7
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A8 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, JUL 14 – JUL 20, 2022 | CNWNETWORK.COM
la section haitienne
US allocates funds to boost security in Haiti United States Under Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, says the Biden administration has allocated US$48 million in additional security assistance through of the United States Department of State's Bureau of Narcotics and Law Enforcement to bolster security across the country. Sherman made the announcement in a message on Friday, on the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse. She also assured the French speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
member state that Washington is committed to supporting a democratic and prosperous future for the Haitian people. She recalled that Haiti has not yet recovered from the devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake in 2021 which devastated the southern peninsula while rising food prices and fuel make the situation particularly difficult for citizens and based on this, millions of Haitians will need humanitarian aid this year. Sherman added that the assassination of President Moïse has affected Haiti's political system and reaffirmed the need for worldwide intervention in the midst of the crisis. Sherman
Suspect in Haitian president's assassination pleads not guilty One of the main suspects in the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse pleaded not guilty last Wednesday in a federal court in Miami. Businessman Rodolphe Jaar is charged with conspiracy to commit murder or kidnapping outside the United States and with providing material support resulting in death. If convicted, Jaar faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. At a hearing that lasted less than five minutes at a downtown federal court in Miami,
Judge Chris M. McAliley accepted Jaar's plea and his request for a jury trial. Jaar, 49, was present at the hearing, but did not speak. His attorney, Frank Schwartz, requested the government to present all the evidence it has. The businessman, a dual Haitian-Chilean citizen, looked serious but calm. His hair was pulled back in a ponytail and he was wearing a beige prison uniform. He was handcuffed, with shackles on his ankles and had a face mask that covered his beard. His plea came almost a year after a squad allegedly made up of former Colombian soldiers, Haitian police officers and others
went to the president's residence and killed him on July 7, 2021. The Miami case involves three foreign defendants: Jaar, former Haitian Senator John Joel Joseph, and former Colombian soldier Mario Palacios. The Haitian government, meanwhile, has arrested more than 40 people for alleged involvement in the murder, including 18 former Colombian soldiers. Jaar, who remains in federal prison in South Florida, arrived in the United States in January after being detained in the Dominican Republic. According to the US authorities, he voluntarily agreed to be transferred to Miami to face the charges.
Antigua Elections
from A5
of candidates with the chairman of a Suitability Committee, Hilroy Humphreys, telling supporters that the incumbent Member of Parliament for St. Peter's, Asot Michael, was deemed unsuitable by two of the three members of the panel. Humphreys explained that the committee was only empowered to make recommendations, with the final selection of candidates left to the selection of the convention. Michael had filed several court actions to stop the ABLP executive from removing him as the candidate and also from the party. In May, the High Court granted injunctive relief and restrained the party from naming a new candidate until the matter is heard or the party abided by its rules for selection. But following several amendments to the party's constitution, the 17 candidates, minus Michael were presented and all approved by the convention. In his remarks, ABLP chairman, Foreign Affairs Minister E. P. Chet Greene said the party has proven itself through its record of achievements over the past eight years. “We introduced measures to keep our economy afloat and to continue paying government workers and paying pensions, even though the economy had declined by more than 20 percent and the government was getting little or no revenue. We fought hard to ensure there was at least one person per household being paid,” he said. Greene said people are now back to work, hotels have reopened and ports of entry to the country are bustling. “There is no denying that our economy is bouncing back, that has happened despite the blows delivered by COVID-19 and, it happened only because the government of this great ABLP rose, once again, to the occasion of safeguarding our nation's economy and protecting the welfare of our people,” he added.
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LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of iSimplify Bookkeeping intends to register the said name with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, Tallahassee FL and/or Clerk of the Circuit Court of Broward, FL. Kerrian Robertson P.A., 2850 NW 69th Ave, Margate, FL 33063
CNWNETWORK.COM | NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, JUL 14 – JUL 20, 2022 –
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COMMUNITY
Jamaica's Opposition Tour of the Diaspora begins this Week Angels Episcopal Church in Stone Mountain, Georgia on July 17 and interact with the community at a town hall meeting and reception following in the church hall.
Caribbean Forum – DC/Maryland While in the DC/Maryland area the Opposition Leader will celebrate the Jamaican community at a Caribbean Forum in Silver Springs, Maryland where he will deliver the main address on “The Future of Caribbean Regional Integration.” The forum is hosted by Caribbean Research and Policy Center. It will see members of the Caribbean community coming together to celebrate Jamaica 60. In addition, the opposition spokesperson on foreign affairs & foreign trade, Lisa Hanna, will deliver remarks on the opposition's diaspora policy.
Lecture and Celebrate Jamaica 60 – New York Jamaica's Leader of the Opposition Mark J. Golding, and a delegation of the senior leadership in the People's National Party will embark on their Jamaica 60 Diaspora Tour of the United States this week. The delegation will visit Jamaican diaspora communities in South Florida – July 14 and 15, 2022; Georgia – July 16 and 17; Washington DC/Maryland – July 18 and 19 and New York July 20, 21 and 22. Mr. Golding and the delegation will celebrate Jamaica 60 with several events in South Florida. These range from a showcase of Jamaican culture in the City of Miramar and culminating with a
traditional Jamaican street dance on the lawn of the City Hall. Performances that run the range of Jamaican culture spanning emancipation to present day. It will take attendees on a nostalgic journey and introduce the range of our culture to first and second generation JamaicanAmericans. The Opposition Leader will also meet with Jamaican stakeholders in the diaspora in small roundtable meetings. He will listen to their experiences as Jamaicans in America and celebrate their accomplishments.
Town Hall Meeting Reception – Georgia The delegation will worship with the Jamaican community at the St. Michaels and All
In New York, the delegation will make various stops in Jamaican communities in the Tri-state area and the Leader of the Opposition will deliver a lecture on the Caribbean Diaspora's influence on the United States at the Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, New York on July 21. The Opposition Leader and his delegation will also celebrate Jamaica 60 with the community at a public soirée in Brooklyn following the lecture. Jamaicans overseas are Jamaica's biggest champions and brand ambassadors, and the Opposition Leader and his delegation consider them an integral part of Jamaica. This tour will cement the importance of Jamaicans in the diaspora regardless of place of birth and thank Jamaicans overseas for their resolute support of their homeland. It will also celebrate the contributions Jamaicans have made to their adopted home.
Crime Upsurge
from A4
“Other incidents not connected to the use of firearms but also resulting in the loss of life have also occurred. These are all tragic circumstances and acutely felt in a small country such as ours….,” Marshall told reporters. In the latest incident, a 47-yearold man was shot and killed, and five others injured last Thursday, and on Wednesday, a man who was stabbed ran to the Central Police Station where he collapsed. “This is not an indication that Barbados has descended into a state of chaos or outright lawlessness. We have dealt with spikes in crime before and effectively so,” Marshall said, announcing a new security strategy designed to stop a “worrying” influx of illegal guns into the country. He said part of the strategy is to deal with the countries from where these weapons are coming, adding “we have settled on an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with certain specialized United States agencies to do a number of things which will assist in our mutual ability to deal with the illegal trafficking of firearms.” He said local authorities will equip the border security officials to be able to identify those methods and act on them. The Attorney General told reporters that over the last five years, Barbados had recorded 23 gunrelated murders in 2017, 18 in 2018, 30 in 2019, 26 in 2020 and 17 the following year. But he noted that so far this year, the island had recorded 17 murders with 12 involving the use of firearms. Between 2017 and 2022, police recovered 465 firearms.
B2 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, JUL 14 – JUL 20, 2022 | CNWNETWORK.COM
FEATURE
People Profile Awards 2022 Last Sunday the 7th Annual Prestigious People Profile Award highlighted the glitzy, glamorous, and beauty of our community. Several persons were awarded including the Life Time Acheivement Award which went to Beverly Evans-Smith the 26th National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. The entertainment was highlighted by Ghaleb who serinated the audience with his powerful and velvet tenor voice and his amazing electric Classical / Flamenco Guitar skills. Overall the event was a success - congratulations to all the recipients and well done to the organizers.
CNWNETWORK.COM | NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, JUL 14 – JUL 20, 2022 –
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LOCAL
Loud music banned from vehicles in Florida as sound law takes effect Drivers in Florida who enjoy rolling down their windows and blasting their favorite music may now need to think twice if they want to avoid a fine as the new sound law takes effect. Beginning Friday July 1, Florida statue 316.3045 prohibits loud music that's plainly audible within 25 feet. This law will allow law enforcement officers to give tickets to drivers playing music too loudly in their cars. The law will also allow officers to ticket drivers for playing music too loudly in areas around churches, schools, or hospitals. Any sounds that a person can detect using
their normal hearing are considered to be plainly audible, according to rules from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The new law's intention is protecting residents and businesses from a public nuisance. The Broward Sheriff's Office said it plans to have deputies “write warnings and provide education on the law for approximately the first 30 days as a first step prior to enforcement.” The fine for an infraction, which isn't considered a moving violation, could be as
Boy dies in hot car parked outside Miami area Jewish center MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — A 3-year-old boy died after being left in a car outside a South Florida preschool where both his parents are staff members, police said. The child was one of several children from the same family who attend Lubavitch Educational Center in Miami Gardens, the Miami Herald reported. Temperatures outside were in the mid-90s Fahrenheit. The unresponsive child was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The boy’s father was being interviewed by police late Monday, the Herald reported. “This tragedy hits close to home, and many in our school community have been affected by it. No words can capture the heartbreak and sadness we feel,” Rabbi Benzion Korf, the center’s dean, said in a short statement issued late Monday. Korf said a therapist and grief counselor would be available for staff and students at the center on Tuesday.
much as $115. The measure was part of a wider bill proposed during this year's legislative session aimed at cracking down on unsanctioned popup parties that have been seen in Daytona Beach and elsewhere. Critics say such gatherings draw massive, noisy crowds that inundate roads with traffic. The sound law statute has raised alarms among critics, who say they worry about how police will decide when to enforce it and fear it gives law enforcement a pretext to pull over drivers for unrelated reasons, including to
Sexual Assault
from A1
With the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service, McLean was located in Jamaica on May 24, 2022. On July 7, 2022, he was extradited to Broward County, where he remains in jail without bond. Up to the time of his arrest, McLean was still a faculty member at the university, which is said to be the world's largest English speaking Seventh-day Adventist tertiary institution. He was a lecturer in the College of Humanities, Behavioral and Social Sciences, according to NCU. He worked at the school for more than 18 years. In a statement, NCU said prior to his employment, a thorough background check was done and nothing damaging was uncovered. "At the time of Mr. McLean's employment, approximately 20 years ago, the normal background checks were done and nothing damaging, such as these allegations, were uncovered. The University Administration regrets this unfortunate development regarding a faculty member," the statement read. NCU says it will now allow the law to take its course and will therefore refrain from commenting on the matter any further.
conduct searches. Florida had a similar law in the past, but the state Supreme Court struck it down in 2012 after a St. Petersburg lawyer challenged it as unconstitutional for prohibiting certain forms of speech while permitting others. That law had allowed an exemption for commercial and political advertising from vehicles. Lawmakers changed the statute this year to remove that exemption.
Ba5 Variant
from A5
Respiratory Hospital. This past week we continue to register cases daily although we note the general hesitance by the population to testing of symptomatic and direct contacts of cases. We estimate that the actual number of positive cases to be higher than recorded,” the CMO said. The Omicron Variant of Concern (VOC) continues to be the dominant variant circulating. Among Omicron lineages, the proportions of BA5 and BA4 continue to increase. In some countries, the increases have led to surges in hospitalizations, intensive care unit admissions, and deaths. The COVID-19 vaccination is still expected to provide substantial protection against severe disease although it is noted that the coverage is lowest with these as compared to the original disease. BA4 and BA5 are the fastest spreading variants reported to date. The CMO said in an effort to manage COVID-19 cases in country, the Ministry of Health has received 105 vials of the COVID-19 anti-viral drug tocilizumab 400mg from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). She said this drug will be used to treat severe cases of COVID-19. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health says it is closely monitoring the multi-country Monkeypox outbreak and has increased its surveillance for early detection and management of cases.
B4 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, JUL 14 – JUL 20, 2022 | CNWNETWORK.COM
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ENTERTAINMENT
Jamaica government facing defamation lawsuit from Dancehall artiste Popcaan The Jamaica government has been slapped with a defamation lawsuit after popular dancehall entertainer, Popcaan, Friday filed court documents claiming that his action stemmed from a statement issued by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). Attorney Bert Samuels of the law firm Junor & Samuels, filed the lawsuit on behalf of Popcaan, whose given name is Andrae Sutherland, naming the attorney general as the defendant. The law firm had earlier indicated that a statement issued by the JCF last Wednesday regarding the entertainer and alleged legal issues in Barbados was false. The statement was issued to explain the entertainer's long wait for processing by immigration in the United Kingdom last week Tuesday. But the law firm had warned that if
the JCF did not issue an apology by noon on Thursday, a lawsuit would be filed. Samuels, who is representing his client who is currently outside of the jurisdiction, said no response was received from the JCF and so the suit was filed. The attorney said the only charge against Popcaan was for possession of marijuana in
2009, for smoking a spliff (marijuana cigarette), and that had been expunged from his criminal record in Barbados. In the lawsuit, the entertainer said the JCF press release made false and malicious statements without cause, resulting in the entertainer suffering loss, damage, and injury to him. Popcaan is claiming general damages, damages for defamation, interest, legal costs, and any further relief that the court may deem fit. Popcaan states he has never been arrested in Barbados or any other place for possession of a controlled substance and that his conviction in relation to marijuana was wholly expunged in Barbados on April 21, 2016. The lawsuit notes that Section 17 of the Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) Act of Barbados stipulates that “A rehabilitated person shall, in relation to any expunged conviction, for all purposes in law, be deemed to be a person who has never been charged with, prosecuted for, convicted of, or sentenced.
It was further noted that Section 22 of the Act makes it an offense, punishable by imprisonment, to disclose that a person whose conviction has been expunged, has committed, been charged with, or convicted for an offense that was the subject of an expunged conviction. The JCF is being accused of acting maliciously and that it failed to carry out any or any proper investigations in pursuance of the due administration of justice, or otherwise, before publishing the press release. The entertainer is contending that the words used by the JCF meant or were understood to mean and conveyed to the public and ordinary, intelligent, and unbiased persons with the ordinary person's general knowledge and experience of worldly affairs that he was allegedly involved in criminal activity.
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Marcos James Returns for Season 2 Of Keeping Up with The Joneses Best known for his performance as White Rat in HBO's Emmy Award winning series Game of Thrones, Marcos James is returning to season two of the Lifetime Movie Network (LMN) film series Keeping up with the Joneses: The Wrong Family, executive produced by Vivica Fox and narrated by Kandi Burruss from Real Housewives of Atlanta. Premiering Friday July 8, season two comprises four two-hour films and will air on Friday nights on LMN until July 29. In Keeping Up with The Joneses, Fox portrays Robin Jones, matriarch of the wealthy Jones family, who assumes control of the family
business following the death of her husband. When the family and business come under threat, she and her four stepdaughters will stop at nothing to protect themselves and all that they own. The Jamaica-born, LA-based actor will continue his role of William French, the conniving and unfaithful former fiancé of Fox's stepdaughter Kayla Jones (Shellie Sterling, Snowfall). According to James, in season two his character William resurfaces in the story and is once again “up to no good.” “Without giving too much away, what I can
say is that as always, where William goes, trouble follows and season two is no different,” he laughs. “He is as manipulative and unpredictable as ever. It felt like second nature stepping back into the role, because although I'm certainly not anything like him personally, I did feel a very easy and instant connection with the character from the beginning of season one. Additionally, the camaraderie that we established among the cast from our first season remained very strong, so it was a great experience to be invited back for season two.” James is grateful to the series production company Hybrid, believing that this played a continues on C4 – Keeping up with the Joneses
C2 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, JUL 14 – JUL 20, 2022 | CNWNETWORK.COM
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CNWNETWORK.COM | NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, JUL 14 – JUL 20, 2022 –
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HORSE RACING
Joseph wins $300 000 Cornhusker, logs brace at Gulfstream Hall-of-Famer Javier Castellano got 8-1 choice Officiating up in the final strides to win the US$300 000 Grade 3 Cornhusker Handicap on Saturday, and deliver another American stakes success for Barbadian trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Going a mile and eighth for the first time, Officiating was given a stalking ride by Castellano before challenging in the stretch and reeling in pacesetter Fleetridge, to win by 1¼ lengths in a time of one minute, 50.04 seconds. Officiating had previously won three stakes sprinting at either six or seven furlongs, Saturday's distance representing his only attempt at two turns. “I really liked the way he did it today. He finished really well,” Castellano said afterwards. The Cornhusker was one of three wins for Joseph on Saturday, the 34-year-old logging a brace at Gulfstream Park in Florida. Four-to-one chance Moclips won race one over a mile and 70 yards with Edgard Zayas who then piloted 2-1 bet Picking Up
Pennies to victories in race seven over a mile. However, the Cornhusker proved the big prize for Joseph, the feature at the midwestern US track one of four addedmoney races on the ten-race programme. Going off in race eight, Castellano settled Officiating in third as Fleetridge and 11-1 chance Flash of Mischief pulled the field through fractions of 23.70 for the quarter and 49.52 for the half, with the back three a length off Officiating. The field became bunched on the backstretch to be covered by just three lengths but coming off the turn, Fleetridge and Flash of Mischief still held sway. Castellano kept Officiating to task on the outside, however, and the four-year-old bay colt caught Fleetridge with a sixteenth to run to draw clear late. At Gulfstream, Joseph opened his account when Moclips came from just off the pace to catch 5-1 bet Hotter Than July in midstretch, the three-year-old bay filly eventually beating the three-year-old and upward maiden fillies and mares by two lengths.
WEST INDIES CRICKET
Reggae Girlz Qualify! from A1
February's 10-team 2023 Women's World Cup Playoff in New Zealand for another chance to reach Australia/New Zealand. The blistering pace at the start of Monday's game at the Estadio BBVA in Monterrey made for a back-and-forth affair. Haiti's Melchie Dumornay almost scored the opener with a dazzling solo run from her own half that ended with her shot ringing off the post. Jamaica were the ones to break the deadlock as some nice work from Shaw set up Trudi Carter, whose right-footed shot beat Haiti goalkeeper Nahomie Ambroise to make it 1-0 to the Reggae Girlz in the 26th minute. Haiti went right to work to try to find an equalizer and Roselord Borgella had it all there to get it in the 52nd minute off a Jamaica turnover, but instead swung her shot wide of the post. Haiti continued to push forward in search of a goal, but it left space behind for the Jamaican attack and Shaw was happy to take advantage of it by firing in a right-footed shot to double Jamaica's lead to 2-0 in the 58th minute. Nevertheless, Haiti kept pushing and almost pulled a goal back in the 63rd minute through a blazing effort from Dumornay, only to see Jamaica goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer parry the ball on to the post and eventually out of play. However, the night belonged to Shaw and Jamaica and after a Haiti handball in the area, the Manchester City striker stepped up and fired in her third goal of the CWC from the penalty spot for a 3-0 lead in the 70th minute. They then capped off their magical night nine minutes later with a well-placed header from Drew Spence off a free kick to complete the winning 4-0 score line, earning their first-ever CWC win against Haiti in three attempts.
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“Urgent solutions needed to fix performances” – Estwick
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Assistant coach Roddy Estwick said Wednesday it was critical West Indies urgently found solutions to the problems plaguing their One-Day International performances, after slipping to another series defeat to Bangladesh. West Indies were hammered by nine wickets after mustering a paltry 108 off 35 overs – their second lowest-ever total against the Tigers – to go two-nil down in the threematch series. The defeat was their second in four days after losing the opener by six wickets on Sunday after a similar lackustre batting effort where they managed only 149.
Just a week ago we were winning the Test series, we were winning the T20 series. We come here, we’re two-down in this ODI series – we’re obviously very, very, very disappointed but you’ve got to try and lift the group. – Estwick
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“The key thing is not to allow the confidence to drain out of the group. We’ve got to find a way to lift people, we’ve got to find a way to have open discussions and come up with solutions that will move us forward. “We’re still planning for the 2023 [World Cup]. We know the areas we’re falling down in, we know that teams are going to come and bowl a lot of spin against us and we’ve got to find ways to make sure we get better at rotating the strike and different things like that.”
Keeping up with the Joneses
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The toss has played a key role in both matches, Bangladesh calling correctly on both occasions and opting to bowl on Guyana National Stadium pitches with plenty of moisture, due to the heavy recent rain here. However, Estwick said West Indies batsmen had failed to adapt, and pointed to all-rounder Keemo Paul, who top-scored with an unbeaten 25 on Wednesday, as the template for batting in the conditions. “We didn’t adjust to the conditions. We obviously struggled to get any kind of momentum,” Estwick pointed out. “We’re very very disappointed – we can’t make any excuses. Once you get bowled inside 50 overs, obviously it’s a worry, it’s a concern. The players are all very disappointed – [captain Nicholas] Pooran is disappointed, the coaches are disappointed. “[The other team] winning a toss should not mean you’re going to lose a game. We’ve got to find a way to counteract these spinners, to play this spin a lot better. They’ve been causing us a lot of problems but it’s not for a want of trying. The boys are trying. “It’s finding a way that’s going to be very very important for us going forward. We’ve still got one more game to play – we continue to learn and I hope we can take some lessons
away from it.” Despite the tricky nature of the pitches, Estwick refused to use conditions as an excuse for West Indies’ poor performances. “I don’t want to be too critical because people will say you’ve lost and Bangladesh have batted on them,” Estwick noted. “I thought this one (pitch) was a bit better than the first match. I thought the first match had a lot of moisture. “But you’ve got to understand that there’s been a lot of rain around Georgetown and groundsmen can’t put in as much work as they would like, so you don’t want to be too critical. “Bangladesh have won the toss and they’ve put us in both times. Normally Bangladesh like to try and set a score and put you under pressure but they’ve gone away from that because of the surface. “But like I said, there’s been a lot of rain and the pitches are under covers for most of the time and it’s going to be very difficult, once you bat first, to get any sort of momentum.” The final ODI is set for Saturday at the same venue.
large part in him being invited back for the new season. “In a business that really thrives on relationships, I think I have fostered a great one with Hybrid, due to my work on camera as well as my off-screen ethic and overall professionalism. It's so important for actors to remember that we are an important part of what is really a much bigger picture. So when asked for actor advice, I always say show up prepared, show up on time and show up a team player. Because really great things happen when you do.” Since the premiere of Keeping Up with The Joneses, James has completed work on two new films- the horror feature Headless Horseman, due to start streaming in the fall, and the independent thriller Eyes in The Dark. James has always credited his success to the training he received in Jamaica. Before his onscreen career took off internationally, James was honing his craft as part of some of Jamaica's premier performing arts institutions. A former member of Cathy Levy's Little People and Teen Players Club, the Ashe Performing Arts Ensemble and L'Acadco Dance Company, Jones admits that it was his foundational training in Jamaica that groomed him for the international stage. “My success so far is not just about me; it's about the possibilities that existed because of what I gained through training in Jamaica. Pretty much everything I booked early on in my career was because of my training at home,” said James, noting that even though he was up against great talent overseas, his local training prepared him for the challenge. “I was up against some phenomenal international talent, and I was on the same level with them. The Lion King was the moment I realized I could actually have a career in the performing arts on an international level, and that was all because of everything I gained in Jamaica,” he said.
C4 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, JUL 14 – JUL 20, 2022 | CNWNETWORK.COM A D V E R T I S E M E N T
THE SCHOOL BOARD OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION BIDS FOR CORAL GABLES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida (Board), intends to award one Construction firm for the following General Obligation Bond (GOB) project:
PROJECT NO. 01433200 CORAL GABLES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL RENOVATIONS 450 BIRD ROAD CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA 33146 BIDS DUE: Sealed bids will be received by The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida, for the project listed herein, until 1:00 P.M. local time, Tuesday August 16, 2022, at 1450 N.E. Second Avenue, Lobby in the N.E. Fifteenth (15th) Street entrance, Miami, Florida, following which time and place, or as soon there-after as the Board can attend to the same, the said bids will be publicly opened, read and tabulated in the Board Auditorium, Miami-Dade County School Board Administration Building, by an authorized representative of the Board. Award of the contract will be made to the lowest, pre-qualified responsible and responsive bidder for the actual amount bid considering base bid and accepted alternates (if any) as listed in the bidding documents. The Board will award the contract based upon the results of the tabulations as covered by applicable laws and regulations. Bidders desiring to participate in this solicitation must be pre-qualified by the Board prior to submitting their bid in response to this solicitation. Contact the Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) Office of Economic Opportunity at (305) 995-1307 or via email at oeo@dadeschools.net for information regarding Contractors' Pre-qualification procedures. QUESTIONS: Written questions regarding this project will be accepted. All written communications must be sent to the Project Architect/Engineer, Lee Feinberg (lfeinberg@mcharry.com), MC Harry Associates, 2780 SW Douglas Road, suite 302, Miami, Fl 33133. Questions will be accepted until 5:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. Answers will only be issued to the Contractors who attended the mandatory Pre-bid Conference MANDATORY PRE-BID CONFERENCE: (Coral Gables Senior High School): Tuesday, July 26, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. local time, at Coral Gables Senior High School 450 Bird Road, Coral Gables, Florida 33146. There will be a sign-in period from 10:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Potential bidders arriving after the fifteen (15) minute sign-in period will not be allowed to participate in this solicitation. Proposals submitted by firms not represented at the Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference will not be considered. BOARD POLICIES: Cone of Silence A Cone of Silence, pursuant to Board Policy 6325, shall commence with the issuance of this Legal Advertisement and shall terminate at the time the item is presented by the Superintendent to the appropriate Board committee immediately prior to the Board meeting at which the Board will award or approve a contract, reject all bids or responses, or take any other action that ends the solicitation and review process. Any violation of this rule shall be investigated by the Board's Inspector General and shall result in the disqualification of the potential applicant from the competitive solicitation process, rejection of any recommendation for award, or the revocation of an award to the vendor as being void, rendering void any previous or prior awards. The potential vendor or vendor's representative determined to have violated this rule, shall be subject to debarment. General questions regarding the legal advertisement will be sent to the Office of Capital Improvement Projects via email at ocip@dadeschools.net, and a copy filed with the Clerk of the School Board at celiarubio@dadeschools.net, who shall make copies available to the public upon request. Lobbyist Lobbyist requirements, pursuant to Board Policy 8150, shall be applicable to this solicitation and all proposers and lobbyists shall strictly conform to, and be governed by, the requirements set forth therein. Contact the Clerk of the School Board for additional information. Vendor and Employment Preference Local-Vendor Preference, pursuant to Board Policy 6320.05, shall apply to this solicitation. Based on Board policy, Local Business means a vendor or business that has a valid business tax receipt, issued by a jurisdiction located in Miami-Dade County, that has either (1) its headquarters, manufacturing facility, or locally-owned franchise located within the legal boundaries of Miami Dade County, for at least twelve (12) months, or (2) has an office with a street address within the boundaries of Miami-Dade County for at least twenty-four (24) months, calculated from the bid or proposal opening date. Post office boxes are not verifiable and shall not be used for the purpose of establishing said physical address. In order to be considered for local preference, vendors must provide a copy of their business tax receipt and the Local Business Affidavit of Eligibility with their proposal. Proposers who fail to submit the required documents will not be considered for Vendor Preference. Jessica Lunsford Act The successful proposer(s) shall fully comply with the State of Florida's House Bill 1877 “Jessica Lunsford Act” (JLA); FS 1012.465, 1012.32, 1012.467 & 1012.468 and Board Policy 4121.01, Employment Standards and Fingerprinting of all Employees (also refer to Board Policy 8475). Ethics, Conflict of Interest and Anti-Fraud Proposers responding to this solicitation shall comply with the following ethics, conflict of interest and anti-fraud policies: - Board Policy 6460, Business Code of Ethics; - Board Policy 6460, Disclosure of Employment of Former School Board Employees; - Board Policy 8700, Anti-Fraud; and all related Board policies and procedures, as applicable Contractor Debarment Procedures Pursuant to Board Policy 6320.04, Contractor Discipline Procedures, debarred contractors are excluded from conducting business with the Board as agents, representatives, partners, and associates of other contractors, subcontractors or individual sureties. Commercial Anti-discrimination, Diversity, and Inclusion Proposers responding to this solicitation shall comply with the following anti-discrimination policies: - Board Policy 6465, Commercial Anti-discrimination, Diversity, and Inclusion (proposers shall be required to certify compliance with Board Policy 6465); - Board Policy 1362.02, 3362.02 and 4362.02, Anti-discrimination/Harassment Complaint Procedure; and - all related Board policies and procedures, as applicable Protest Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed and in the manner specified in Board Policy 6320 (Purchase Approval and Competitive Bidding Process Requirements) or in accordance with FS Section 120.57(3) shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under FS Chapter 120. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The proposer acknowledges that all information contained in their RFQ Response is part of public domain as defined by the State of Florida Sunshine Law. Therefore, any information received is subject to public inspection and copying in accordance with FS 119. No action on the part of the proposer would create an obligation of confidentiality on the part of the School Board including, but not limited to, making a reference in the RFQ Response to trade secrets FS 812.081 and FS 815.045. It is recommended that potential proposers exclude from their response any information that, in their judgment, may be considered a trade secret. Board policies, as amended from time to time, can be accessed and downloaded at: https://go.boarddocs.com/fl/sbmd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=BK6KUF4FFE14. The successful proposer(s) shall fully comply with the State of Florida's House Bill 1877 “Jessica Lunsford Act” (JLA); FS 1012.465, 1012.32, 1012.467 & 1012.468 and Board Policy 4121.01, Employment Standards and Fingerprinting of all. Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed and in the manner specified in Board Policy 6320 or in accordance with §120.57(3). Fla. Stat. (2014) shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under Chapter 120, Florida Statutes. Pre-qualified bidders may obtain a CD of the documents for construction or a full set of printed documents for construction at the bidder's expense from the office of Go Green Document Solutions, Inc. on 3715 Grand Avenue, Coconut Grove, Florida 33133 on and after, July 11, 2022. OFFICE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY Small/Micro, Minority/Women-Owned, and Veteran Business Enterprise Programs, Board Policy 6320.02 Awarded firms will be required to comply with Board Policy 6320.02 and submit a monthly report via the Online Diversity Compliance System for compliance with Small/Micro, Minority/Women and/or Veteran sub-consultant goals, subcontractor goals, local workforce information, and/or any affirmative procurement initiatives. Awarded firms will be required to submit monthly compliance reports online at: http://miamidadeschools.diversitycompliance.com. Please note that the “Small/Micro Business Enterprise Program Administrative Procedures Manual”, Board-approved January 15, 2020, shall be applicable to this solicitation. Please contact the Office of Economic Opportunity at 305-995-1307 or via email at OEO@dadeschools.net for additional information. Assistance levels, as established by the Goal Setting Committee: Coral Gables Senior High School: S/MBE Mandatory Subcontracting Goals: 15.59% Construction and 20% Local Work Force, within a county-wide radius. Mandatory M/WBE Subcontracting Goals: 9.41%- Based on the M-DCPS 2020 Comprehensive Disparity Study only Non-minority Women, African American, Native American, and Asian American-owned firms are eligible to meet the M/WBE goals on this solicitation. The Board reserves the right to waive informalities and to reject any and all bids. THE SCHOOL BOARD OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA By: Jose L. Dotres Superintendent of Schools