NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, JUL 6 – JUL 12, 2017 | VOL. 14 NO. 27
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‘Don't fool yourselves!’ Miramar Vice Mayor, warns Jamaicans hoping to migrate to the U.S. by Karyl Walker
City Of Miramar Vice Mayor, Winston Barnes, has a warning for Jamaicans hoping to migrate to the United States. Do your research on what life is like there before leaving. “Don't fool yourselves. America is not Heaven. My first trip here was 50 years ago and I am yet to see Heaven,” he told CNW. “The business of America is business. You are told 'come to America and work hard and you may make it'. Nothing could be further from the truth. You have to work smart, and not hard, working three jobs is not necessarily smart,” Barnes added. “People need to come to America far more educated about the American way of life.” Barnes is part of the South East United States Diaspora delegation which will attend the Jamaica 55 Diaspora Conference. It will be held at the Jamaica Conference Center in Kingston from July 23–26. He is strongly against any argument that Jamaicans living in the Diaspora should be allowed to vote in the country's general election, based on contributions they make to its economy through remittances. Barnes said while remittances strongly support the Jamaican economy, it cannot be the sole reason for demanding a right to vote. “The kind of contribution that is made to the Jamaican economy is only an indirect benefit to the Government. It does not go directly into the Government's coffers,” he explained. “They often confuse it with the American system. When you are an American living outside of the U.S., you vote for a President, not the Mayor or a locally elected representative.” Statistics from the Jamaican Government consistently shows remittances from the U.S., Canada and United Kingdom as Jamaica's highest earner, just ahead of tourism. In April, Jamaica's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson-Smith, launched the Jamaica 55 Diaspora Conference in Miramar. She addressed the importance of engaging as many delegates as possible. The 2015 conference attracted 2,500 delegates, mainly from the U.S., United Kingdom and Canada.
“People need to come to America far more educated about the American way of life.” – Barnes
More ticket outlets on board for CPL It's getting near to match time. Hero CPL match time, that is. The popular T20 cricket tournament's South Florida leg bowls off on August 4 at Lauderhill Sports Park with St. Lucia Stars playing Trinbago Knight Riders.
Jamaica Tallawah’s Sri Lankan player Kumar Sangakkara
Peter Miller, head of the Hero CPL's media and communications unit, told CNW that fans will be able to access tickets for matches at 18 outlets. That is a considerable jump from last year's four. “The number of outlets increasing to 18 is a sign of the commitment from the
Hero CPL to make the USA leg of the event a success this year and for many years to come,” said Miller. “Last year the marketing strategy was very much focused on the Diaspora community in South Florida and beyond. While that is also part of our strategy for 2017 we are branching out to mainstream media outlets in an attempt to gain traction into those that are new to cricket.” Since the CPL was launched seven years ago, high-profile players from outside the West Indies have played in the tournament. For Miller, it is important to attract fans from other member countries in the International Cricket Council. “Interest in the tournament in South
Florida is spreading and with the CPL now into its second year of visiting Lauderhill there is name recognition for the event. That will only increase with the plan to come back to South Florida,” he explained. “With cricket being a growing sport in the USA, the audience comes from the Diaspora communities for the most part. They could be from any of the six nations that have CPL teams or from South Asia, Australia and South Africa.” Defending champions Jamaica Tallawahs, last year's runners-up Guyana Amazon Warriors, St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots and Barbados Trident are the other teams in the Hero CPL. – Howard Campbell
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