NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, DEC 29 – JAN 4, 2016 | VOL. 13 NO. 52
N E T W O R K T H E
M O S T
W I D E L Y
LOCAL
SOUTH FLORIDA CELEBRATING SEVEN DAYS OF KWANZAA PAGE A3
WHAT ARE YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOR 2017? PAGE A5
C I R C U L A T E D
C A R I B B E A N
A M E R I C A N
N E W S P A P E R
I N
F L O R I D A
SNAP ELECTION MYSTERY ILLNESS TALKS LOOM strikes Jamaica Bartlett believes Jamaican snap election not necessary by Dr. Garth A. Rose
Ever since the Jamaica Labor party (JLP) won the general election earlier this year, with a mere one seat majority in Parliament, there were speculations that party leader and Prime Minister Andrew Holness, in order to remove the legislative risks with such a meager majority, could call a general election long before the constitutional 5-year term. However, in a recent interview with National Weekly during a visit to South Florida, veteran JLP Member of Parliament and Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, seemed not in favor of a snap election. He believes this could disrupt the positive rhythm the government has developed since February. “There's an increasing appreciation by the people of the administration and
U.S., CANADA, MEXICO COULD TEAM UP FOR WORLD CUP BID PAGE B7
Health authorities in Jamaica are still trying to determine the cause of a mysterious illness that was contracted last week by recruits from the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF).
Bartlett
ENTERTAINMENT
STEPHEN MARLEY REPLIES TO GRAMMY LASH OUT PAGE B1
HEALTH
AFRICAN AMERICANS A HIGH-RISK GROUP FOR BRAIN ANEURYSMS PAGE B3
Threat to in-state college fees for Florida immigrants A bill that will seek to reverse a 2014 law that is beneficial to non-US citizens who live and attend colleges in Florida, will be up for debate when the state legislature convenes on March 7. That date also represents the deadline for state legislators to file or introduce new bills, but already some bills have been introduced which are creating concerns among some Floridians. But the bill that concerns several Floridians, is one proposed by State Republican Senator Greg Steube of Sarasota. This bill, seeks to reverse the 2014 law. Prior to 2014, students attending Florida colleges who were not legally documented citizens were required to pay the much more expensive out-of-state tuition fees despite growing up and living in Florida. The state offers a discount of approximately one-third of the tuition fees paid by students who are not residents of the state. Following appeals from immigration advocates and university officials, the Florida Legislature in 2014, passed a bill into law enabling students who were not US citizens but lived in Florida for over a year, eligible for in-state tuition. According to Jasmine West, the Caribbean-
Defense Force; recruit admitted to Florida Hospital by Kathy Barrett
continues on B4 – Snap elections
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American mother of Kevin and Keneisha West, before the 2014 law was implemented, she was unable to meet the cost for sending the 23-year old twins to FIU. “Paying in-state tuition costs approximately $9,000 less for each child. It would be devastating if the law is reversed, and woefully unfair for students who live in Florida for almost all their lives to pay more expensive out-of-state tuition fees.” Steube wants the 2014 law to be revoked, because he believes it offer rewards and incentives to illegal immigrants. The bill proposed by Steube is expected to receive strong opposition from Democrats, and even some Republicans in the state Legislature, continues on A8 – In-state tuitions
The symptoms emerged as training was in progress at the JDF's camp in Twickenham Park in the central parish of St. Catherine. On that day, 80 recruits started to display flu symptoms and were rushed to the JDP base - Up Park Camp. While several have now been released and have even returned to training, others are being closely monitored, including a young recruit who was flown to a Florida hospital last week, is on the mend.
“Information from the Florida hospital's intensive care unit is that the young recruit was able to correspond with his mother. He is gradually being taken off the incubator and showing signs of improvement.” De La Haye According to the Chief Medical Officer of Health in Jamaica, Dr. Winston De La Haye, the young man – whose name has not been disclosed, showed signs of improvement. Meanwhile, the JDF has confirmed that several instructors have also been affected by the mystery illness. Civil/Military Co-operation Officer for the JDF, Major Basil Jarrett says based on the close-knit nature of the training environment in which instructors and recruits work, it is not alarming that some trainers have been affected. However, the source of the illness remains a mystery and this has prompted continues on B5 – Mystery illness