Caribbean National Weekly December 29, 2022

Say hello to Lauderhill Fire Rescue’s newest paramedic recruits! – Contributed

Geng a Holiday Treat Cuts - a young client (right) gets his hair cut during the holiday give-back treat by Miami Gardens’ Councilwoman Shannon Campbell (le). – Contributed

Miami Gardens’ Councilwoman Shannon Campbell (right) poses with prolific barber as she gives back to the community throughout the holiday season with her ‘Holiday Cuts’ treat. – Contributed

Lauderhill’s Commissioner Melissa P Dunn (front le) enjoying a moment at her recently held Leading Ladies Circle Breakfast with her guests. – Contributed

The City of Tamaracs Mayor and Commissioners officially broke ground at Caporella Park to celebrate the new enhancement project. Park enhancements will include a shaded playground, covered fitness shelter, non-motorized boat launch with

shelter

more!

Lauderdale Lakes Vice-Mayor Karlene Maxwell-Williams (center in all black) visited Boyd H. Anderson High School and handed out Christmas treats and gi cards to some amazing students. – Contributed

Caroling at Christmas: City of Lauderdale Lakes’ Mayor Veronica Phillips Commissioner Mark Spence Commissioner Tycie Causwell, and Commissioner Sharon Thomas along with several residents went caroling in the Eastgate community bringing holiday cheer to the community. –Contributed

Tamaracs City officials bask at the ceremony to break ground for the Caporella Park enhancement project(le to right) Marlon Bolton, ViceMayor; Dr. Kicia Daniel, Commissioner; Michelle J. Gomez, Mayor; & Elvin Villalobos, Commissioner. – Contributed

President Joe Biden appointed Brigadier General Mahlock to the rank of major general, the Pentagon announced on December 6, and the Senate confirmed her Thursday Mahlock is the deputy director of cybersecurity

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Mahlock immigrated to Brooklyn, New York, at the age of 17 in 1985, according to a biography written by Marquette University

She enlisted in the Marine Corps three months later and became an air traffic controller

She received her commission through the Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Education Program in December 1991 after graduating from Marquette, according to a biography by the Women Marines Association

She has amassed multiple higher degrees, including two master's degrees in Strategic Studies from the U S Army War College and the Naval Postgraduate School

Mahlock was nominated to the grade of brigadier general in 2018, and she became the first Black woman to achieve that rank

She has since served as the Marine Corps' chief information officer and director of command, control, communications, and computers

One of the smallest military branches, the Marine Corps has the lowest percentage of women among its troops at nine percent Only three women in the corps' history have picked up the rank of lieutenant general, and all of them are retired

Rob Joyce, director of cybersecurity at the NSA, has called Mahlock a “groundbreaking Marine ”

“She is an awesome leader, great partner and blazing a trail as the first Black woman two-star Marine!,” Joyce wrote in a Twitter post General Michael Langley, now head of U S Africa Command, in August became the first Black Marine four-star general

for combat support at the National Security Agency at Fort Meade, Maryland

Marine Corps Times is reporting that Jamaica-born Lorna Mahlock will make corps history by becoming the first Black woman to serve as a two-star general in the service.

Honoree Lorna Mahlock accepts her medal on stage during the 34th annual Ellis Island Medals of Honor ceremony hosted by EIHS at Ellis Island in New York City on May 11, 2019. (Noam Galai/Getty Images)

Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Lorna M. Mahlock (right) speaks in 2020 to Marines during a tour of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. (Dalton S. Swanbeck/U S. Marine Corps)

Jamaicans being encouraged to apply for expungement

Jamaicans with criminal records for certain offences are being encouraged to apply for expungement through the Ministry of Justice.

Senior Policy Analyst at the Justice Ministry, Shanique Graham, said the initiative “aims to give persons a second chance, a clean slate to start over to be able to apply for a job, migrate and to have peace of mind, knowing they do not have a certain offence following them”

However, there are specific offences that the Criminal Records Rehabilitation of Offenders Act clearly specifies cannot be expunged at this time

“Murder and offence in relation to the distribution of child pornography, carnal abuse with a person under 16, and sex with a person under 16 are not expungable There are also

issues in relation to firearm possession and ammunition that are not expungable at this time There is a long list in the legislation that we are governed by,” Graham said

She said the persons must first be aware that they have a criminal record

“Usually this happens when a person is applying for a job and they are asked to get a police record When you get the police record and you realize an offence comes up, you may not have remembered there was an offence, because it happened 20 years ago,” she said

Once an offence has been identified, persons may contact the Ministry of Justice

“Not all offences are expungable Persons can get some information in terms of whether or not they would have met the rehabilitation period to be able to apply for expungement,” Graham said

Guyana Legislation for Electronic Medical Records being developed

The government of Guyana is determined to create a modern healthcare system for Guyana and as such, the Ministry of Health is in developing legislation for electronic medical records (EMR)

The EMR system is an electronic record of health-related information of a patient It can facilitate workflow and improve the quality of patient care and patient safety

According to Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony, the development of the legislation will protect patients' privacy

“One of the things that we ' ve already started working on is to make sure that by some time next year, we'll be able to pass the relevant laws to allow for digital or electronic record systems but to also create the legislative environment to ensure that these records and people's information are kept safe ”

He added that healthcare personnel will also be trained to operate the system and to also protect individuals' privacy

The Barbados government says the offshore licensing round, originally scheduled to have been launched earlier this month, will now take place in the first quarter of 2023

The Ministry of Energy and Business said “based on the fact that several companies have requested additional time to evaluate the acreage and data” the government has made the “difficult decision to postpone the permit round for this short period of time in order to comply with those requests and to address critical make changes to the legislative and licensing frameworks that will enable the country to improve the efficiency and ease of doing business within the sector

“Barbados continues to be encouraged by the continued sustained interest shown in its offshore acreage and remains unwavering in its commitment to partnering with industry pioneers to realize its offshore petroleum potential ”

The Mia Mottley administration in offering “sincere apologies for any

inconvenienced caused” by the postponement,” said it welcomes further” engagement, cooperation and dialogue with industry on issues related to the licensing round”

The auction will open 22 offshore blocks to bids from international oil companies

At present, there is no offshore exploration underway, but the Barbados National Oil Company produces approximately 1,000 barrels a day from onshore fields. Barbados reportedly has proven oil reserves of around 2 5 million barrels, in addition to 142 million cubic meters of natural gas reserves The government hopes that further exploration in its Exclusive Economic Zone will reveal the existence of much larger reserves

“We're hopeful that by sometime next year, we'll also start piloting the first steps of this electronic medical record system,” he added

This forms part of a holistic approach to modernizing the health system in Guyana as the health ministry is also piloting a telemedicine program in four remote communities in Region Nine –Gunns Village, Nappi, Yupukari and Parikawarinau

Villagers in these communities are now able to receive care from specialists and doctors stationed in Georgetown through their health centres that are equipped with technological devices

Graham

“Lions share” of oil production in 2023 to come from Guyana, Brazil

Oil production in Guyana and Brazil is expected to substantially increase in 2023, successfully anchoring production growth in the Latin America region, according to Hart Energy- a globally-recognized provider of information on the petroleum industry

Hart Energy, in a report published on Thursday, detailed that Guyana and Brazil are expected to produce an additional 850,000 barrels of oil per day in 2023 from new oil ships

Although other countries in the region, including Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela, are oil producers, the report said the continental neighbors will see the greater output “ the lion's share of the production will come from developments in exploration hotspots Brazil and Guyana,” the report noted

With production underway at two developments- the Liza I and Liza II- in Guyana's prolific Stabroek Block, the country is already producing about 360,000 barrels of oil per day

Canadian PM, family, headed to Jamaica for weeklong vacation

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is heading to Jamaica after Christmas for a one-week vacation with his immediate family

The Prime Minister's Office says Trudeau will remain in constant contact with Ottawa during the trip and continue to be briefed and updated on issues

The Prime Minister's office also said it checked with the federal ethics commissioner in advance of the travel to make sure it follows guidelines

This comes as Trudeau had been found in violation of conflict-of-interest rules in 2017 after a 2016 vacation he took to the Aga Khan's private island in the Bahamas

The prime minister must fly on a Royal Canadian Air Force plane for security reasons, even if it's for personal travel

The family's flights to and from Costa Rica over the Christmas holiday in 2019 cost the government about $57,000 and thousands more were spent on flight crews' stay in San Jose

Production at this block is managed by an ExxonMobil-led consortium that includes the United States' Hess Corporation and China's CNOOC

According to Hart Energy in late 2023, once production at the new development, Payara, starts, the output should increase by 220,000 barrels of oil per day

At Payara, a new Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel or oil ship, known as the Liza Prosperity will produce oil

In 2025 and 2026, new developments at the Yellowtail and Uaru projects are expected to come on stream

Meanwhile, Petrobras estimates that another 630,000 barrels of oil will be added to Brazil's production in 2023 This output is expected to come from five oil ships

The report also noted that another 13 new oil ships will start production in Brazil between 2024 and 2027

Former Haitian prime minister, Laurent Lamothe, has initiated legal proceedings before the Federal Court of Canada seeking to have a decision by the Canadian government to include his name on the list of people subject to special economic sanctions, overturned and annulled Lamothe, who served as prime minister between 2012 and 14, is among a number of “Haitian political elites” who Canada alleges provide illicit financial and operational support to armed gangs in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country in a bid to destabilize the country and remove Prime Minister Dr Ariel Henry from office

In the legal proceeding which started Thursday, Lamothe argues that “the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, Mélanie Joly, arbitrarily included his name on the sanctions list without providing any evidence or due process ”

He claims the allegations that he provided financial and operational support to armed gangs in Haiti, are unfounded and contrary to the actions taken by him during his term as prime minister Lamothe said he promoted law and order as a top policy

priority for the people of Haiti, and made the “fight against insecurity in the country one of his main objectives by implementing a zero-tolerance policy against armed gangs

“The Minister of Foreign Affairs’ recommendation is capricious, irresponsible, and not based on any verifiable facts Her allegations contradict Mr Lamothe’s public record and actions he took during and alter his term in office as Prime Minister of Haiti,” his lawyers argued

They have also criticized the Canadian minister of foreign affairs and Justin Trudeau’s government for “ a complete lack of transparency and failing to provide an account of the reasons his name was added to the list of special economic measures

They said upon learning of Canada’s decision via social media, Lamothe sent a formal notice to the minister of foreign affairs office requesting information on its actions but received no response Laurent Lamothe said he remains resolute in obtaining justice since he believes “the actions of the Canadian government against him to be defamatory, baseless, and unjust, and he will not stop fighting until he is cleared”

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EMERITUS

Many Americans began 2022 with hopes, resolutions, and prayers for a more united nation But they are likely very disappointed as the year ends as the nation seems more divided than ever, with politics at the root of the divide Underlining this division, most recent polls on political issues often split down the middle

The sharp divisions created by politics and political related issues in America are regrettably steadily creeping to create sharp divisions among workers at the workplace, within families, among members of churches; and has definitely sharpened the divide between races and ethnic groups

But Americans cannot, and must not, allow politics to become a powerful wedge that ruins whatever realistic chance there is to have even the semblance of an integrated nation

Andrew Karim akarim@cnweeklynews.com

Dr. Garth A. Rose grose@cnweeklynews.com editor@cnweeklynews.com

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In the second half of the 19th century America was bitterly divided between northern and southern states over the philosophy and practice of slavery. This led to a bitter civil war, the repercussions of which are still being felt in areas such as racism

Today, the divisions created by political ideologies seem to be more powerful than those of the late 19th century While those divisions separated northern and southern states, the divisions being experienced today are creating sharp rifts within several cities and communities While in the past people of different parties and political ideologies could share friendly rivalry, today it is not surprising for political differences to spawn enmity and permanently destroy close relationships

So stark are the divisions being created by politics in the US, that there actually are people, including learned commentators, who believe if this divide is not breached soon, the country could again explode in serious civil turmoil

presidents, powers and principalities represent, or seek to command ultimate power Presidents will come and go; political institutions will hold and lose power; and political scenarios, even in totalitarian states, are temporary and transitional People should therefore not allow politics to shred the communities in which they live

contributes to national unity But this seems more possible in smaller nations than in the sprawling United States. However, a glimpse of such unity was briefly seen for a few days as Americans rallied behind the US teams in the recently concluded soccer World Cup tournament

from CNW Network

It is a really sad reflection that the growing divide threatening America's unity comes from an implicit trust in politicians and political institutions, rather than trusting a higher power This sadness is further enhanced by people who live and express, particularly through their various social media messages, that they are fanatically supportive of a system where

In the current divisional atmosphere of America, it may seem to some that it's easier to talk about national and community unity than to actual achieve such unity But that is a lie Unity begins at the core of communities It begins with people respecting each other and respecting each other points of view No two people, not even a married couple, will have exact views on every subject Married couples who live in a united relationship despite their differences, including political, are the foundation of united families and united families are the foundation of united communities

People, whether they are born Americans, or immigrants, must concentrate on respecting each other and each other views This could likely spawn more tolerant and united communities

National pride is another factor that

Although the US is a diverse nation racially, ethnically, and religiously, there are nonetheless several reasons why pride in various aspects of the nation's accomplishments should be able to provoke passions of national unity

It's pivotal for the sake of the quality and security of their lives that individually and collectively, Americans try to prevent politicians and political issues from ruining and destroying the potential for a truly united America This is especially important in what will likely be a very politically active 2023 with an incoming US House of Representatives led by Republicans, and a US Senate led by Democrats

Meanwhile, give thanks for surviving 2022, and to everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR

Haiti independence

P O W E R F U L HAITIAN WOMEN Resilience

Few countries have struggled with development like Haiti since breaking free from French colonial rule over two centuries ago. As the country celebrates 219 years of independence it is easy to identify everything bad about Haiti. The Caribbean state has weathered multiple foreign interventions, chronic political instability, and devastating natural disasters. The confluence of these forces has transformed what was once the wealthiest colony in the Americas into the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere

While it's easy to identify the bad in Haiti, if we look beyond the news reports and salacious headlines, we will also find the story of resilience and inner strength like no other

Since its independence from France, Haiti's development has been menaced by forces that run the gamut, including interference from foreign powers and domestic political malfeasance, but we have witnessed Haitians fighting for their freedom; fighting for their right to good governance; fighting for the right to be heard; refusing to accept the corrupt practices of politicians and choosing instead to protest against injustices

In the moments of their greatest despair, we have seen compassion, many can recall scenes from the devastating earthquake that hit the island in 2010. The people of Haiti worked tirelessly to free those trapped in the rubble, digging with their bare hands if necessary. After the 2010 earthquake, which killed hundreds of thousands left millions suffering, the people continued their fight. Strangers opened their doors to each other. Relatives adopted children left behind, schools reopened, and life went on

Epidemics and aid mismanagement further complicated matters. Dengue and malaria ran rampant, and cholera, introduced by UN peacekeepers from Nepal after the earthquake, killed ten thousand people and infected nearly one million more. At the same time, critics say nongovernmental organizations have poorly administered billions of dollars in aid. Once again Haitians proved their resilience by overcoming each challenge daily

It is amazing to see the kindness and compassion shown by most Haitians despite their continued despair. This year we salute the real heroes of Haiti, those who refuse to give up or give in to the challenges they face. Those who open their hearts to preserve what is good about Haitians

The health care workers who continue to fight epidemics with limited resources, the police officers who serve and protect despite the rise in kidnappings and gang violence, the journalists who risk their lives to protect free speech, and the teachers who continue to educate the next generation

We salute the Haitian American and other Haitians across the globe who continue to leave inspirational trails as you represent the pride and resilience of the nation of Haiti in everything you do

Happy Haitian Independence Day! (Bònn Fèt Lendepandans!)

Karine Jean Pierre

The first Black person to be White House press secretary

Karine Jean-Pierre is a French American political advisor and has served as the White House press secretary since May 13, 2022 She is the first Black person to be White House press secretary She previously served as the deputy press secretary to her predecessor Jen Psaki from 2021 to 2022, and as the chief of staff for U S vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris during the 2020 presidential campaign

Jean-Pierre was born August 13, 1974, in Fort-de-France, Martinique, France, the daughter of Haitian parents She has two younger siblings When she was five, her family relocated into the Queens Village neighborhood of Queens, New York City. Her mother worked as a home health aide and was active in her Pentecostal church, while her father was a taxi driver, who had trained as an engineer Jean-Pierre was often responsible for caring for her siblings (eight and ten years younger), because both parents worked six or seven days per week

In her memoir, Jean-Pierre describes how seeing former Congresswoman Barbara Jordan give a keynote speech at the 1992 Democratic National Convention altered the direction of her life and career: "She was the first Black woman in politics I had ever witnessed In a world of pretty, pearl-wearing charmers, Jordan was substantive and authentic "

Jean-Pierre graduated from Kellenberg Memorial High School, a college-preparatory school on Long Island in 1993 Her parents wanted her to study medicine, and she studied life sciences at the New York Institute of Technology as a commuter student but performed poorly on the Medical College Admission Test Changing career tracks, she obtained a

Bachelor of Science from the New York Institute of Technology in 1997 She earned a Master of Public Affairs from the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University in 2003, where she served in student government and decided to pursue politics

Prior to her work with Kamala Harris during the 2020 election and with the Biden–Harris administration, Jean-Pierre was the senior advisor and national spokeswoman for the progressive advocacy group MoveOn org She was also previously a political analyst for NBC News and MSNBC and a lecturer in international and public affairs at Columbia University

During the Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign, Jean-Pierre was the campaign's southeast regional political director and was the regional political director for the White House Office of Political Affairs during the Obama administration's first term, and National Deputy Battleground States Director for President Obama's 2012 re-election campaign

Jean-Pierre lives in the Washington, D C with her partner CNN correspondent Suzanne Malveaux, and their daughter Her book, Moving Forward: A Story of Hope, Hard Work, and the Promise of America, was published in 2019

Sheila Cherfilus McCormick

The first Haitian American Democrat elected to Congress

Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick was elected to the U S House of Representatives in January 2022, becoming the first Haitian American Democrat to be elected to Congress She now proudly represents Florida's 20th district having won a special election to fill the seat left vacant after the death of Alcee Hastings

Following a remarkably close race Cherfilus-McCormick was declared the winner of the Democratic primared Republican Jason Mariner in the January 11, 2022, general election She is the only Haitian American Democrat ever elected to Congress and only the second overall, after Republican Mia Love of Utah

Cherfilus-McCormick was born in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, to parents from Haiti and raised in the borough of Queens She moved to Florida at age 13 to attend high school She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and government from Howard University and a Juris Doctor from the St Thomas University School of Law

After graduating from college, CherfilusMcCormick served as a project manager for the New York City Transit Authority From 1999 to 2007, she worked as the vice president for operations of Trinity Health Care Services, a Florida-based family home health care company co-founded by her stepfather, Gabriel Smith She later served as CEO

During the campaign, she loaned $3 7 million to her campaign organization She campaigned on progressive policies such as a Green New Deal, Medicare for All, and a $1,000-a-month universal basic income Her campaign was supported by Brand New Congress, a progressive organization that also backed candidates such as Alexandria Ocasio-

Cortez and Rashida Tlaib

Rep Cherfilus-McCormick is honored to serve on the House Committee on Education and Labor, as well as the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs She is also a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Haitian Caucus, and the Caribbean Caucus

As a Haitian American woman in Congress representing one of the largest Haitian communities in the United States, she vows to be a voice for the voiceless representing her beautifully diverse district Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick has established herself within her district as a healthcare executive working up to the position of chief executive officer for Trinity Healthcare Services Inc She has an established track record within the healthcare industry improving the quality-ofcare people needed for nearly two decades

Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick is married to Corlie McCormick and is a proud mother of two

Claudine Gay is a political scientist and university administrator On July 1, 2023, she will become the 30th and first Black President of Harvard University She serves as Harvard's Wilbur A Cowett Professor of Government and of African and AfricanAmerican Studies, and Edgerley Family Dean of the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences She is vice president of the Midwest Political Science Association

Gay grew up the child of Haitian immigrants to the United States; her parents met in New York as students (her mother studying nursing, and her father engineering ) Gay is a cousin of writer Roxane Gay

Gay spent much of her childhood first in New York, then in Saudi Arabia where her father worked for the U S Army Corps of Engineers Her mother was a registered nurse Gay attended Phillips Exeter Academy, then studied economics at Stanford University, receiving the Anna Laura Myers Prize for best undergraduate thesis in economics Gay earned her Ph D (1998) from Harvard, winning the university's Toppan Prize for best dissertation in political science

Gay's research addresses American political behavior, politics of race and identity, and voter turnout, among other topics

Though Gay has not previously held a presidency, she has a long history with Harvard She earned her Ph D in government at the university in 1998, and in 2008 joined the faculty in the Department of African and African American Studies, where she first taught before later climbing the administrative ranks in July 2015, she became Dean of Social Science at Harvard University In July 2018, she was named the Edgerley Family Dean of the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Prior to Harvard, she taught at Stanford University, where she earned her undergraduate degree in economics Gay served as

assistant professor, then associate professor in Stanford's Department of Political Science from 2000 to 2006 In the 2003-2004 academic year, Gay was a fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences

At a university event announcing her appointment, Gay reflected on her journey from the child of poor Haitian immigrants who believed firmly in the power of education to a career in academe, leading right up to the Harvard presidency

“My parents are immigrants from Haiti They came to the U S with very little and put themselves through college while raising our family,” Gay said “My mom became a registered nurse and my dad a civil engineer And it was the City College of New York that made those careers possible College was always the expectation for me My parents believed that education opens every door ”

P O W E R F U L h a i t i a n w o m e n Haiti independence

Karen Andre An Inspirational Political Powerhouse

Karen Andre is the former White House Liaison for the U S Department of Housing and Urban Development She's dedicated her life to public service and advocacy and has an active hand in organizing Haitian-American communities all over the country

The Haitian American born in New York and raised in Florida had been a state-level political operative in various roles since 2004 Andre has advocated for Haitian and African-American communities on social justice issues ranging from criminal justice reform to immigration issues, including helping mobilize for the passage of the Haitian Refugee and Information Fairness Act (HRIFA)

The First African-American Republican woman in Congress Mia Love

As the first African-American Republican woman in Congress, Mia Love brought a unique personal history and diverse résumé to the House Love, the daughter of Haitian immigrants, was born in New York, studied theater in Connecticut, converted to the Church of Latter-day Saints, moved to Utah, and was a staunch proponent of small government

Mia Love was born Ludmya Bourdeau December 6, 1975, in Brooklyn, New York Her parents, Jean Maxime and Marie Bourdeau had fled the hostile regime of Haitian dictator François (Papa Doc) Duvalier in late 1974 They did not bring their older children to America, but after Mia was born, the family applied for citizenship and brought her two siblings over from Haiti

The Bourdeaus moved to Norwalk, Connecticut, in 1981, where her mother worked as a nurse and her father took on several jobs to make ends meet Later on, during her political career Love recounted her father's words, “Mia, your mother and I never took a handout You will not be a burden to society You will give back ”

As a testament to her civic service, Andre was named one of South Florida's 50 Most Powerful Black Professionals and one of 20 South Florida Freedom Sisters by the Ford Motor Company She was inducted into the Haitian Round Table's 1804 List of Haitian-American Change-makers In 2019, and honored in the inaugural class of Next Generation Cultural Crusaders by the Ayiti Community Trust Andre was recently appointed by President Biden as Associate Director for Consumer Education and External Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

Previously, Andre served in the White House as Special Assistant to the President for Economic Agency Personnel, after her historic turn as Senior Advisor for Florida & Senior Advisor for National Faith Outreach in the 2020 presidential election

She also served as a Senior Advisor to Andrew Gillum, the 2018 Democratic nominee for governor of Florida From 2014 to 2017 Ms Andre is a sought-after political strategist, professional speaker, host, trainer and commentator She holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Florida International University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law

Bourdeau fell in love with the theater while attending Norwalk High School, where she graduated in 1993 She went to the University of Hartford in West Hartford, Connecticut, for its fine arts program and graduated with a bachelor of fine arts degree in 1997 While in college, she met her future husband Jason Love, a software engineer then on a Latter-day Saints mission Mia Love converted from Catholicism to the Church of Latter-day Saints and moved to Utah in 1998 The couple has three children: Alessa, Abigail, and Peyton

It was not long before she jumped into public service In November 2009, she was elected mayor of Saratoga Springs, taking 59 percent of the vote and becoming the first African-American woman elected mayor in the state of Utah Love served as mayor during the Great Recession's crippling economic downturn, and early in her tenure she overcame a budget shortage of $3 5 million and managed to keep the municipal government solvent

In late 2011, Love announced her intention to challenge six-term incumbent House Democrat James David (Jim) Matheson in the suburban congressional district that stretched south of Salt Lake City She fell short of unseating Matheson by a mere 768 votes Love announced in June 2013 that she would seek a

rematch with Matheson. “I'm better prepared, I'm a better candidate Having gone through this, I understand the issues so much better, how campaigns work,” she said In December, Matheson announced his retirement from Congress, and Democrats nominated Doug Owens, son of former Utah Representative Douglas Wayne Owens Love downplayed the historic nature of her candidacy and instead focused her campaign's message on her family's story and her conservative record as mayor Love won the election with 50 percent of the vote to Owens's 46 percent Love defeated Doug Owens again in the 2016 election and improved on her 2014 vote totals, garnering 54 percent of the vote

During her two terms in the House, Love was assigned a seat on the exclusive House Financial Services Committee, which meant that party rules prevented her from serving on any other standing committees simultaneously

She was the only Black Republican in the Congressional Black Caucus during her House service, and regularly attended caucus meetings, including sit downs with Presidents Barack Obama and Donald J Trump By 2018 she had developed strong relationships with the caucus, insisting that “if my leadership asked me to go after a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, I won't do it ”

During the 2018 midterm elections, she faced Salt Lake County's Democratic mayor Ben McAdams Following a close election and a prolonged count of mail-in ballots, Love conceded the election on November 26, 2018 After leaving the House, Love became a political commentator for a major broadcasting company

Wyclef Jean, by the name of Nel Ust Wyclef Jean, original name Nel Ust Wycliffe Jean, was born October 17, 1969, in Croix des Bouquets, Haiti The Haitian rapper, producer, and philanthropist whose politically inflected rhymes and keen ear for hooks established him as a legend in music

At the age of nine, Jean immigrated to the United States with his family Jean's father, a Nazarene minister, prohibited rap music and encouraged him to channel his musical talent into the church choir His efforts proved futile as Jean joined the Tranzlator Crew, (later known as the Fugees) a rap group founded by Prakarel (Pras) Michel

and Lauryn Hill in the late 1980s

Jean studied music at Five Towns College in New York before dropping out to concentrate on his rapping He continued to perform with Michel and Hill, and in 1994 they released their debut album, Blunted on Reality Though the album was only moderately successful, the trio continued to record and in 1996 released their sophomore effort The Score as the Fugees The recording, which innovatively blended elements of jazz, soul, reggae, and hip-hop which sold more than 18 million copies and won two Grammy Awards

Wycleff would follow this with the release of his first solo studio

album, Wycleff Jean Presents The Carnival in 1997, which contains the hit Gone till November

Jean would continue to have a successful music career as a soloist He released an additional eight studio albums; including the RIAA Platinum certified album, The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book in 2000, which reached the top ten on the Billboard 200 chart He also released the commercially successful singles 911 featuring Mary J Blige, and Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill) featuring Akon, Niia & Lil Wayne; he was also featured on Destiny Child's No, No, No, as well as the US Billboard Hot 100 number one single Hips Don't Lie by Shakira; and composed the single Maria by

Further efforts included Sak Pasé Presents Welcome to Haiti: Creole 101 released in 2004, Carnival Vol II: Memoirs of an Immigrant in 2007, Toussaint St. Jean: From the Hut, to the Projects, to the Mansion released in 2009, Carnival III: The Fall and Rise of a Refugee in 2017, and Wyclef Goes Back to School, Vol 1 in 2019

A great musician he is indeed A song writer, actor and producer, Jean co-wrote My Love Is Your Love for Whitney Houston's album of the same name He produced and wrote songs for the soundtrack to Jonathan Demme's 2003 documentary The Agronomist, about the Haitian activist and radio personality Jean

several million dollars for those affected

In August 2010, Jean filed for candidacy in the 2010 Haitian presidential election However, Haiti's Provisional Electoral Council ruled him ineligible to stand for office, as he had not met the constitutional requirement to have been a resident in Haiti for five years prior to the election

Jean's highly publicized efforts to raise relief funds after the 2010 Haitian earthquake were channeled through his charitable organization, Yéle Haiti The charity, which conducted education and welfare activities in Haiti between 2005 and 2010, effectively closed in 2012 The New York Times reported that much

Duplessis, Jean also composed the score of the documentary Ghosts of Cité Soleil He helped produce the film and appears briefly on screen speaking by telephone in 2004 to a chimere gang-leader and aspiring rapper, Winston "2Pac” Jean

Not only is Jean a great musician, his philanthropic side also cannot go unnoticed In 1998, he founded the Wyclef Jean Foundation (later known as Yéle Haiti) The organization raised money and engineered programs to assist victims of poverty in Haiti Following the Haiti earthquake of 2010, Yéle Haiti raised

of the money raised by the organization in the Hope for Haiti Now telethon was retained by Jean for his own benefit and that little of the money raised had actually gone to assist victims of the earthquake

Jean later chronicled his life in Purpose: An Immigrant's Story in 2012; with Anthony Bozza He also performed his single Dar um Jeito (We Will Find a Way), at the closing ceremony for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil

Santana

Dominique With Jerry 'Wonder'

Deputy fatally shot during Christmas Eve standoff

A sheriff's deputy in the Florida Panhandle was fatally shot Christmas Eve during a standoff with a suspect who was being served a warrant.

Timothy Price-Williams has been charged with premeditated firstdegree murder in the killing Saturday of Cpl Ray Hamilton in Fort Walton Beach

Hamilton was setting up a perimeter around a townhouse that Price-Williams had refused to leave when shots were fired from inside the residence, striking the deputy, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office said in a statement

Hamilton was taken to a hospital where he died

According to the sheriff's office, deputies were trying to serve PriceWilliams a warrant on a domestic violence charge, but he refused to leave the home The special response team from the sheriff's office was called in to negotiate with the suspect to come out peacefully

After Hamilton was shot, Price-Williams for some time refused to leave the home When he eventually went outside, Price-Williams acted in a manner that “caused another deputy to fire on him,” the sheriff's office said The suspect was wounded in his right arm

Price-Williams was taken to a hospital for treatment He was denied bond and remained in jail on Sunday There was no online court docket yet for him, so it wasn't known if he has an attorney

Florida high court OKs grand jury probe of COVID-19 vaccines

The Republican governor, who is often mentioned as a possible presidential candidate in 2024, earlier this month called for the investigation He suggested it would be in part aimed to jog loose more information from pharmaceutical companies about the vaccines and potential side effects

Vaccine studies funded by pharmaceutical companies that developed COVID-19 vaccines have been published in peer-reviewed journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, and government panels reviewed data on the safety and effectiveness of the shots before approving them for use

DeSantis' request argues that pharmaceutical companies had a financial interest in creating a climate in which people believed that getting a coronavirus vaccine would ensure they couldn't spread the virus to others

Statewide grand juries, usually comprising 18 people, can investigate criminal activity and issue indictments but also examine systemic problems in Florida and make recommendations Recent panels have tackled immigration issues and school safety

The grand jury will meet for one year

Miami-Dade County cautions against fraud when applying for Emergency Rental Assistance

Miami-Dade County Public Housing and Community Development (PHCD) is cautioning residents against fraudulent activities when applying for Emergency Rental Assistance PHCD has received complaints that people are being charged $500 in fees – by individuals not employed by the County – to complete and expedite ERAP applications

“The Miami-Dade County ERAP program is completely free to apply, and the County never asks participants to pay for an application,” said Michael Liu, Director, Miami-Dade PHCD “Unfortunately, some in our community are preying upon residents in need of emergency rental assistance by promising expedited approval in exchange for a fee This is completely false and no one has the ability to facilitate or expedite approvals of ERAP applications ”

Miami-Dade County recently expanded its successful Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) to include residents earning up to 140 percent of the area median income (AMI) A single person earning less than $95,620, couples making less than $109,200, families of three earning less than $122,920, and families of four earning less than $136,500 can now qualify for rental assistance

ERAP can help renters with issues such as past due rent, utility payments, some relocation assistance, and increases in rent of up to 30% for a period of 3 months

Anyone interested in applying for ERAP assistance can visit our website at https://miamidade gov/housing or call our ERAP hotline at 305-723-1815 or 311 We also ask that you contact Miami-Dade County immediately if anyone approaches you asking for a fee to complete your ERAP application

The Florida Supreme Court will convene a grand jury at Republican Governor Ron DeSantis' request to investigate any wrongdoing with respect to the COVID-19 vaccines, the court announced Thursday

Price-Williams

Hamilton

Why giving back is important to this

Jamaican, NYC-based entrepreneur

The season of giving comes early for 2022 Inc 5000 honoree, Prospect Cleaning Service, which is Jamaican owned and based in Brooklyn, New York. Every year the company's owner and CEO, Ingrid Murray, spearheads various outreach programs both in her home country of Jamaica, and her adopted home of New York City.

Back-To-School Program

It begins at the end of summer with their Back-To-School program Prospect Cleaning provides children in both New York City and Jamaica with books, tuition, stationery and uniforms Also, knowing that teachers are the sculptors of the minds of children and are often underfunded, the company provides classroom essentials such as dry-erase markers, textbooks, and other necessities

Week of Kindness

In October, Prospect Cleaning implements the Week Of Kindness For this initiative, throughout the year, Murray works closely with her boots-on-the-ground team in St Catherine, Jamaica to identify the needs of her one-time community, which gave her so much. “When I started my own business, I saw the need to give back, because people have helped me over the years to get to where I am today, so it pressed upon me to do the same,” Murray explains With the problems identified – it could be a

damaged roof that needs repair, an out-ofcontrol lawn that needs regular maintenance, or simply paying off an electric bill – Prospect Cleaning Service provides the funding for the Jamaican team to help in community maintenance Where possible, permanent solutions are enacted by doing such things as linking community members together to support each other or introducing solar panels to reduce the reliance on utility companies

Thanksgiving Outreach

Thanksgiving Outreach Every year Prospect Cleaning Service partners with a charity to

implement this special outreach in New York City. In 2022, the company partnered with the Seeds In the Middle organization, which prioritizes health, arts, and education to provide needy New Yorkers with the means to prepare Thanksgiving meals

Senior Treat

Prospect Cleaning Service wraps up the year of giving wraps with the Senior Treat in December “We work with the same team in Jamaica that assists with the Week of Kindness to provide a charitable donation that goes towards giving the elderly an incredible day just for them,” Murray notes Many of these

esteemed citizens live alone and are given catered food, pedicures, manicures, hair grooming and other care services Finally, they're provided with grocery packages filled with essentials, such as rice, flour, cooking oil, codfish and more

Why she does it…

This level of outreach is not common, but Murray says it's a very important aspect of her business and life

“I took a long, hard and meandering road to arrive at success,” she says “I want to pave a smoother road so a younger version of me will get here easier ”

Whether it was her community, her relatives, her friends, or the church, Murray believes she has benefited from the kindness of others, and sees herself as next up in the chain of support to pull up whoever needs it

Also, for Murray, the importance of education cannot be overstated School is a formative and difficult enough time for both students and parents, which is compounded for those who have to worry about inequalities outside of their control According to Murray, “No student should be lost in the system because of external circumstances ”

“Life moves fast and sometimes those among us who have given so much, and have so much wisdom left to give, fall through the cracks,” Murray says “I believe the best days of our esteemed elderly are never behind them, they should be treasured and cared for ”

For Murray and her team at Prospect Cleaning Service, giving back simply brings joy and happiness It's just a part of Murray's nature, she says It's something she's been doing since childhood She's happiest making others happy, and it's an example she wants to set for her children

I took a long, hard and meandering road to arrive at success. I want to pave a smoother road so a younger version of me will get here easier.”

“

– Murray

Bob Marley's grandson Joseph Mersa dies at 31

Jamaican American reggae artiste Joseph Mersa Marley has been found dead at the age of 31. The musician was found unresponsive in a vehicle in the US on Tuesday.

He is the grandson of musician iconic reggae musician Bob Marley and the son of Stephen Marley

Born March 12, 1991 Marley spent his early years in Jamaica, where he attended Saints Peter and Paul Preparatory School, before moving to Florida to attend Palmetto High School and Miami Dade College (where he studied studio engineering)

He debuted in 2014 releasing, through iTunes and Spotify, an EP "Comfortable" He also appeared on the Grammy-winning album Strictly Roots by Morgan Heritage

Bob Marley tragically died of cancer in 1981 at the age of 36, but he is widely considered one of the pioneers of reggae music The late star had 11 children with seven different partners

There is a new movie about Bob Marley in the works Lashana Lynch will play Bob Marley's wife in a new biopic

The No Time To Die star - who portrayed MI6 agent Nomi in the James Bond motion picture - is said to be in line to take on the role of Rita Marley in the as-yet untitled film for Paramount

Tracee Ellis Ross Living It Up on Vacation in Jamaica

Golden Globe Award winning actress Tracee Ellis Ross is living it up on vacation in Jamaica The actress on Monday took to Instagram to show off a number of photos from a trip on the island

It's undeniable how stunning Tracee looks at 50 years old The actress shared pictures and videos of her getting out of the water and captioned the photos with a Jamaican flag

The actress and producer also showed off her natural hair, wet from a recent swim She kept her overall look simple and fresh to enjoy her time on the island — no makeup,

no glam, no filter, just natural beauty

Vacationing at Golden Eye, a luxurious oasis that overlooks the Caribbean Sea in the quiet village of Oracabessa in St Mary, the haven features lagoon huts, private beach villas, and lagoon cottages perched on the clear water

There's no question that the beautiful location provided the perfect backdrop for her photos

The comment section was loving the post, especially the star's famous pals Gabrielle Union simply typed “Gorgeous ” Kate Hudson seems to have been at the same vacation spot before writing, “Oh how I miss that spot!!! Enjoy The best place ” A heart emoji topped off her message

Calypsonian Black Stalin dies at 80

The calypso fraternity has been plunged into mourning with the death of accomplished Trinidadian calypsonian Black Stalin on Wednesday morning at the age of 80

Stalin, whose name is Dr Leroy Calliste, passed away at his home in San Fernando, Trinidad

Black Stalin was a leading calypsonian known for his lyrics against European colonial oppression He won the Calypso Monarch competition on five occasions and the Calypso King of the World title in 1999

Born and raised on Coffee Street in San Fernando to George and Elcina Calliste, he is one of four children He attended San Fernando Boys’ R C School He worked as a limbo dancer before taking up singing calypso in 1959 when he made his debut at the Good Shepherd Hall in St Madeleine, but did not join a calypso tent until 1962 when he joined the Southern Brigade He was given the nickname Black Stalin by fellow calypsonian Blakie in the mid-1960s In 1967 Black Stalin joined Kitchener’s Calypso Revue tent and managed to place in that year ’ s Calypso Monarch competition

Stalin won the Calypso Monarch competition for the first time in 1979 (with “Caribbean Man” and “Play One”) and went on to win it again in 1985, 1987, 1991 and 1995

In 1979 he moved over to the Mighty Shadow’s King of the Wizards Tent and recorded his first album, To the Caribbean Man That year he walked away with his first Calypso Monarch crown for his two compositions, “Caribbean Unity” and “Play One”

In 1985 he won the crown again with “Ism Schism” and “Wait Dorothy”, and again in 1987 with a tribute to steel band entitled “Mr Panmaker” and “Bun ‘Dem”, a song calling for St Peter to cast the likes of Christopher Columbus, Cecil Rhodes, Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan into hell

In 1987 he was also awarded the Hummingbird Medal (Silver) for his contribution to Trinidad and Tobago culture

After finishing as runner-up to Mighty Sparrow in 1985, in 1999 Black Stalin won the title of Calypso King of the World with the calypsos “Ah Feel to Party” and “Wine Boy”, poking fun at the politician Dhanraj Singh

Stalin celebrated his 80th birthday in September and was celebrated at an event in Gasparillo, Trinidad

Marley

SOCCER

“I want my Hammers place back!”

Jamaica Reggae Boyz forward Michail Antonio has two personal goals when the English Premier League returns on Boxing Day after the break for the World Cup: win back his place as a centre forward for West Ham United, and lift the Hammers clear of a relegation battle

He said he did not watch the World Cup final, won by Argentina, or a great deal of the rest of the tournament, either, apart from a few England matches and a bit of Brazil, instead stepping back from football, enjoying a holiday in Dubai, time with his family, and the rarity of a mid-season break

The break came at a good time for the Hammers, who are only a point clear of the drop zone after winning only four League matches this season, but they have cruised out of the Europa Conference League group stage with a perfect six from six

“We were a bit up and down,” Antonio, 32, told the Evening Standard newspaper “The break has given us an opportunity to work on our consistency, get back into the season and do what we know we can do: play like we have over the last couple of years and try to get our

philosophy back

“We are a team that believes we should always finish around the European places, so it's just about getting it to gel again I think we hit a slump from the massive season we had last year and, after this nice little break, hopefully we can turn things around ”

Goals have been the issue for the side managed by David Moyes They have scored only 12 in 15 League matches, but they have

scored eight in three friendlies this month after a summer of major recruitment

“We've been working on why things have been breaking down going forward because we ' ve not been conceding much, but we ' ve also not been scoring as much as in the past,” the Jamaica forward said

The lack of League goals has been a major headache for Moyes, who spent U S $36 6 million on making Gianluca Scamacca a

signing this summer Italian has gradually become the man for Moyes, and while the s' hectic schedule means Antonio has red regularly, he has not started a atch since mid-September ' ve not been happy (with the number s I've played],” he said “I'm someone s to play I'm never going to settle for ff the bench and being involved that

“That's something that's driven me to where I am now I'm not really about the rotation type of thing — if I'm fit, I want to play It's the gaffer's decision on what he wants to do, but I'm always going to let him know that I want to play ”

Although this World Cup did not capture Antonio's attention, he already has eyes on the next in 2026, where the expansion to 48 teams, and the fact that Mexico, Canada, and the United States qualify as joint hosts means Jamaica has a major chance of reaching its first tournament since 1998

“That's one of the reasons why I chose to play for Jamaica, to help them get to a World Cup,” Antonio said “It's always been my dream ”

Roland Butcher appointed new selector for WI

Barbados-born former England batsman Roland Butcher has been appointed the newest member of West Indies men's senior and youth selection panels

Butcher, 69, will reunite with lead selector Desmond Haynes, his former Middlesex t e a m m a t e i n t h e E n g l i s h C o u n t y Championship, on the senior panel, and will work alongside former Jamaica captain and West Indies leg-spinner Robert Haynes on the youth panel

“It's a great honour and a privilege to be given the opportunity to serve West Indies cricket,” Butcher said in a Cricket West Indies (CWI) news release on Friday

“I'm eager to get started to work alongside the other members of the selection panels as we look to ensure the growth and improvement in West Indies cricket at all levels ”

CWI said Butcher's appointment was confirmed at a board of directors meeting last Monday

The first task for Butcher and the senior selection panel that also comprises interim head coach Andre Coley will be to select squads for upcoming tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa between February and March next year

Butcher, the first Black man to play for England, played three Tests, all on the 1980-81 tour of the Caribbean, and three ODIs

After his playing career, he went into coaching – not only cricket – but football too, earning a UEFA coaching badge, and he counts

Leicester City manager Brendon Rogers among his contemporaries in that regard

Butcher was Bermuda cricket head coach from 2000 to 2001, and was director of sports on the Cave Hill campus of the University of the West Indies in Barbados from 2004 until his retirement three years ago

Debutant Marquino Mindley then edged Neser behind in the next over, Carey pouching his sixth catch of the innings to equal the Australian record

As we close out another year, one that may have brought a mix of experiences, let’s stand ready to embrace all that a new year offers. 2023 can be whatever we would like it to be, whatever we work to make it become. From our CNW family to yours, here’s to 2023 being a year of abundance, love, laughter, success, inner peace & all our hearts desires fullled- gracefully.