National Weekly November 28, 2019 by Creative Network Media

NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, NOV 28 – DEC 4, 2019 | VOL. 16 NO. 47

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Jamaica's Next General Election “Highly Likely” In 2020 Twenty-20 may be shaping up to be the year of two very important elections for Jamaican-Americans—the U.S. presidential elections and, if we are to go by Prime Minister Andrew Holness' teaser, Jamaica's general elections as well.

Could Bloomberg Be The One Chosen To Challenge “The Chosen One?”

At the 76th staging of the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) annual general conference, Prime Minister Holness teased the possibility of the next general elections being held in the very near future.

By Garth A. Rose

The case for Michael Bloomberg’s presidential run may not be a bad one after all. A tried and proven billionaire CEO and threeterm mayor of New York City, Bloomberg might just be the answer to the Democrats’ challenge of beating President Donald Trump. If the polls are anything to go by, at least among CaribbeanAmericans, Bloomberg may already be garnering support. An independent survey conducted on behalf of CNW six weeks ago among Caribbean-Americans indicated Joe Biden, 51 percent, followed by Elizabeth Warren, 24 percent, and Kamala Harris, 20 percent, were the leading candidates among the crowded Democratic ﬁeld for the party’s 2020 presidential nomination. However, a new survey conducted in recent days revealed a very interesting change. Participants in the poll, and a related focus group, believe Biden isn’t being suﬃciently aggressive in his campaign; Harris is consistent in her proposed policies, and is being buoyed by her Caribbean heritage; Warren’s proposals for funding Medicare-

While Biden still holds the top spot among CaribbeanAmerican voters, support for him has slipped to 39 percent, while support for Harris rose to 31 percent, and surprisingly, although he recently entered the Democratic race, former mayor Bloomberg has knocked Warren out of the top-three spot, to rank third with 21 percent. For-All and eradicating student loan debt isn’t practical; and, signiﬁcantly, there’s the perception Bloomberg, with his wealth, is the best candidate to beat Trump, the self-acclaimed “chosen one.” The focus group expressed strong support for Bloomberg, with his supporters countering the argument he’s out to “buy” the nomination, claiming his wealth will prevent him from being bought out by any interest group, and as president would be

Constitutionally, the general elections are due within five years and three months of the date of the first sitting of the new Parliament; which means that the next election should be held between February 25, 2021 (five years after the February 2016 election) and June 10, 2021, (within five years and three months of the date of the first sitting of the new Parliament). Speaking to the thousands of roaring Laborites at the JLP's annual conference on November 24, Holness said the general

continues on B4 – The Chosen One

WHAT’S INSIDE NEWSMAKER

EMBODYING THE SPIRIT OF THANKSGIVING A3

60%

COMMUNITY

ARTWALK HOMESTEAD TO BENEFIT LOCAL SCHOOLS B1

continues on B4 – Highly Likely

ENTERTAINMENT

SPORTS

QUEEN OMEGA: ROOTS REGGAE TO THE CORE B3

TARANIA CLARKE TRAGEDY OVERSHADOWS REGGAE GIRLZ’ SUCCESS C1

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Thanksgiving Spirit: Kiwanis Club of Lauderhill a ended services at Praise Tabernacle Interna onal (PTI) and coordinated a Thanksgiving Giveaway, providing turkeys and nonperishable items to community members. L-r: PTI Senior Pastor Dwayne H. Dawkins, Carol Davidson - President of Kiwanis Club of Lauderhill, PTI church member receiving the baskets, Karrelle Chang - Kiwanis Lauderhill Community Services Chair, Oﬃcer Debbie Banner - Kiwanis Lauderhill Community Services Commi ee . – Contributed

Giving Thanks: Members of The Jamaican Women of Florida (JWOF) a ended thanksgiving services at Living Word Open Bible Church in Cooper City. – Contributed

Alpha Pride! These lovely ladies pose for the camera at the Alpha Alumnae of South Florida's White Nite Oldies Dinner/Dance held at FIU's Graham Center. L-r: Beverly Dixon, Sharon Gordon (center), Karen Johnson (back 2nd from right), Karen Hicks (back right), Jacqueline Richards (front 2nd from right), La fa Shorter (front right) – Photo Credit: Adrienne “Addy” Chin-Ogilvie

Shak's Luau: Andrea Hall of Shak's Hope and Suzanne Palmer at the Hawaiian Luau and Christmas Toy Drive for Shak's Hope Sickle Cell Founda on. – Contributed

Caribbean Writers: Eddy Edwards (center), moderator of Caribbean writers at the Miami Book Fair - Caribbean Myth, Mythology and Science Fic on panel is ﬂanked by two of the four panelists: Karen Lorde of Barbados (le ) and Imam Baksh of Guyana. – Contributed

Moses: Father Ho Lung and Friends' produc on “Moses” was a spectacular produc on played before a huge audience at Broward College. – Photo Credit: Norman Hemming

In Apprecia on: Jeremiah Campbell was the recipient of the Apprecia on Award for outstanding commitment to our community, presented to him by Senator Daphne Campbell at the 1000 Pastors Victory Breakfast in Tallahassee. (L-r): Dr. Norman White, Senator Daphne Campbell, Jeremiah Campbell, Brenda Francis, Dr. Hubert Campbell, and A orney Andre Williams. – Contributed Giving Hope: LaQuisha Williams (l) received the Humanitarian Award from Teshanne Philip (r), of the I am Hope Founda on, at the annual Hope Awards held at the Chateau Mar Golf Resort in Lauderhill. – Contributed

Olympians In The House: Three Jamaican Olympians, all former members of Jamaica's Flying Fish Swim Team met up with friends and fellow teammates at the Jamaica Kitchen restaurant in Miami. L-r: Belinda Phillips (Munich Olympics 1972), Deryck Marks (Los Angeles Olympics 1984), and Andrew Phillips (Los Angeles Olympics 1984). – Contributed

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NEWSMAKER

Father Richard Ho Lung

Embodying The Spirit Of Thanksgiving Many Caribbean-Americans see the true meaning of the Thanksgiving holiday as a time to be especially thankful for their blessings and a day to also lend a helping hand to those in need. One person that embodies the true meaning Thanksgiving is Jamaica's Father Richard Ho Lung—one of the most known religious leaders in the Caribbean, whose name is synonymous with kindness, spirituality and helping the less fortunate. Through Missionaries of the Poor, a religious order founded in 1981, Father Ho Lung has been in service of the poor, disabled and disadvantaged, not only in Jamaica but also Haiti, India, Kenya, the Philippines, and the United States. The devoted Catholic priest, who was born in St. Mary, Jamaica to Chinese immigrants, is no stranger to the poverty that plagues some Jamaicans, having lived in poverty as a child

Father Richard Ho Lung

with his parents and siblings. After completing his studies at St. George's College, one of the most prestigious all-boys high schools in Jamaica, Father Ho Lung immersed himself completely into Catholicism by joining the Society of Jesus. He was ordained to the priesthood on July 4, 1971, and diligently studied, earning master's degrees in philosophy, English literature, and theology, along with a licentiate in theology and a doctorate in humanities. During his tenure as an assistant priest

working in the Papine community in St. Andrew, Father Ho Lung said he experienced a spiritual awakening. “I was preaching the Word of God but not really living it,” he said. He made the decision to leave the Society of Jesus in 1980, and a year later, he started the Brothers of the Poor (BOP). Initially consisting of only four members, BOP set out to build family and community among the poor and disadvantaged, by ﬁrst establishing a community of brothers and priests that would go into the communities and preach God's word. The BOP was approved by the Catholic bishop of Kingston and eventually, they changed their name to Missionaries of the Poor. The brothers began their missionary work in a government-run house for the homeless, destitute and aged, where they succeeded in opening the consciousness of the public to the needs and struggles of the poor. They continued their work with prisoners, and helped to bring awareness to the need for rehabilitation among prisoners.

Father Lo Hung, now 80 years old, has lived a life in the service of others. As a religious leader, he has preached to communities around the world and successfully led one of the most-known religious organizations in the Caribbean for over 30 years. As the religious order grew in number and popularity in Jamaica, Father Ho Lung introduced other avenues of charity that could be used to transform people's lives. Father Lo Hung, who had long been passionate about Caribbean music, worked with Bart Hopkins, an ethnomusicologist, on his ﬁrst-ever LP. As “Father Lo Lung and Friends,” the pair, eventually joined by other musicians and

singers, performed at Missionaries of the Poor concerts in Jamaica during the 1970s. During the 80s, those concerts were transformed into musicals as more creative Christians joined the religious order, and the group began gaining international attention. In the course of almost four decades, the group has achieved an enormous amount of success from its various series of CDs, musicals and theatrical performances that have been a staple in the Jamaican Christian community, as well as an important part of the CaribbeanAmerican community in the United States. With all the recognition, accolades and awards that the group has received, their commitment has remained to the poor. Every year, the proceeds from each showcase are donated to help the disadvantaged through Missionaries of the Poor. Since its founding, the organization initiated by Father Ho Lung has received both papal and episcopal approval for their work and constitutions. The organization also became the ﬁrst male Catholic religious institute founded in the Caribbean to received Vatican approval. Today, Missionaries of The Poor has over 550 brothers serving in nine missions around the world.

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Caribbean Airlines Reports Strong Financial Performance For 2019 Caribbean Airlines reported its unaudited summary ﬁnancial results for January to September 2019, which show the airline continues to achieve an operating proﬁt and is net income positive. The implementation of new technology, expansion of the airline's route network, an increase in passenger demand and cargo business together with enhanced cost management; are some of the elements which contributed to the airline's success over the period. The unaudited results for the nine months ending September 2019 show earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of TT$121m, comprising of TT$153m on international and

other operations, and negative TT$32m on the Domestic AirBridge, between Trinidad and Tobago. Revenue for the period was TT$2.3bn, up 3.8 percent. Garvin Medera, chief executive officer, said, “It has truly been a breakout year for Caribbean Airlines. Another strong financial performance means we can continue our investments into new planes and services for our customers, building a better place to work for our employees, and supporting communities across the Caribbean.” The airline highlighted some of the key financial factors impacting their positive growth for the period,

CARICOM Defends Integrity Of The Caribbean's Electoral Systems The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has defended the electoral system in the region even as the United States sought to condemn the decision of Dominica not to invite the OAS to observe its December 6 general election. Opposition parties in Dominica have been calling for electoral reform ahead of the polls, but the Roosevelt Skerrit Administration said it had been stymied by Opposition legislators who refused to debate the necessary legislation needed to advance the electoral reform process. Dominica's Foreign and CARICOM Aﬀairs Minister Francine Baron recently Friday said Dominica had never had any instance of fraudulent elections since its independence from Britain in 1978 and that both the ruling Dominica Labor Party and the main Opposition United Workers Party (UWP) had won elections on the island using the present system. Speaking on behalf of CARICOM, St Lucia's ambassador to

the OAS, Anton Edmund, said “all electoral reform is complex. “We welcome eﬀorts at electoral reform within the framework of the governing principles and processes provided for in the constitution of any member state. The framework for democracy and the practices of its principles exist in Dominica including freedom of assembly and expression,” the diplomat said. Edmund said that the Caribbean has always had a “strong tradition of democracy, notably free and fair elections,” adding that considering previous electoral missions in the region “we know and are conﬁdent that the OAS as an institution understands this. “We encourage impartiality,” he said, adding “there must be the recognition that there are a number of highly credible bodies that observe elections and the Commonwealth of Dominica has invited four of them to observe its own elections.

including increased cargo revenue by 14 percent and year on year profit increase by 34 percent; adding three new cargo interline partners Alaskan Airlines, Air Canada and United Airlines; increased duty-free revenue by 1.1 percent and year on year profit increase by 36 percent. The airlines improved customer satisfaction with new products and services such as the Caribbean Airlines Mobile App, a revamped website, 24-hour call center, and Flight Notifications.

Montserrat's Opposition Party Wins General Election Montserrat's main opposition, Movement for Change and Prosperity (MCAP), reversed its 2014 electoral defeat and won Monday's general election in the British Overseas Territory (BOT). Outgoing Premier, Donaldson Romeo, who had been ousted as leader of the People's Democratic Movement (PDM) weeks before the election, was the only successful independent candidate in the election, according to preliminary results issued early Tuesday. The MCAP, which is led by former agriculture minister Easton Taylor-Farrell, won ﬁve of the nine seats in the Legislative Assembly, while the PDM headed by the outgoing Communications, Works, Energy and Labor Minister, Paul Lewis, won three seats. With 95 percent of the votes counted, MCAP's Crenston Buﬀonge led all of the 35 candidates in the election, receiving 1,311 votes, ahead of Lewis, 1,195 and Taylor-Farrell, 1,149 votes in the island's post-volcano single-constituency, nine votes-perperson system. Romeo had polled so far 1,009 votes.

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NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, NOV 28 – DEC 4, 2019 | VOL. 16 NO. 47 –

Talk UP What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving? Sharon - I am extremely thankful that I am surrounded by people that care about me as much as I care about them. This is true for both personal and business relationships. Also I am thankful that I am still in a position to be a force for change, this means having the ability to create pathways for the next generation. Donna - All thanks and praise to God for my son and my wonderful family, growing larger every day. I am now blessed with close family found through Ancestry.com. I am grateful for the decision I made at the beginning of this year to go deeper into my journey of my yoga practice and mindfulness meditation. This journey paved a clear path for me and for that, I am thankful. Gilda - When I wake up every morning, I give God thanks for life, for health and strength, for family and friends and for his continued blessings but there is always something to be thankful for. “In all things give thanks.” Giving thanks opens our eyes to all the blessings that surround us and as I prepare to celebrate this Thanksgiving with my family, I am thankful for the opportunity to wish everyone love, joy, peace, hope and happiness and a fabulous turkey day. Donna M - I am so very thankful and grateful for my life, great health, wealth, amazing and wonderful family and friends. I very thankful and grateful that I'm able to bring value to the world through my work and organizations. I'm thankful and grateful for higher awareness and higher consciousness of who I am as a child of God, and for the great relationships and the wonderful people I continue to meet daily! I'm thankful and grateful for successful businesses, community aﬃliations and partnerships! Namaste. Jolie - I am most thankful for waking up every day and to live in this world and experience life. God has blessed me more than I could have ever imagined. To be able to do some of the things that I do every day, is something that I try not to take for granted. I am also very thankful for my family, my parents and my daughter. Also, to help people who need it and to give back to the community. Ella - As Thanksgiving approaches, I am grateful that God is in my life and that I live in a country that I can worship him. I am extremely grateful for a blessed and bountiful life, my loving family, and that I have been given the opportunity to express this. Also grateful for all the love and aﬀection shown to me from my friends (and they know who they are). Though sometimes life has challenges, gratitude is a must! Carlton - I am grateful that God has spared our lives or another Thanksgiving so that we can be with friends and family to eat and drink and be merry, as that's what the Bible says, you must eat and drink and enjoy the fruit of your labor; that's the gift of God. I wish that the world will remain peaceful and that we will all have a peaceful election 2020, God's willing. Carl - For me personally, I am thankful for family, a job, good friends, and on a whole, just day-to-day health and strength. Helping others when I can - I am happy that I am able to help others to climb the ladder. Thanksgiving for me, like a lot of people, is time to connect with family members that you haven't seen for a while, a time when you usually have family gettogethers. This year I am not able to make it to the family reunion in DC, but it's something that I usually look forward to. I'll be spending it with my wife, and catching up with old friends.

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Can't We Extend The Giving Season? It's almost here—the beginning of the “season” with its variety of adjectives and interpretations. For some, it's the shopping season, for others the Christmas season, the holiday season, and for most, the giving season. The giving season begins with Thanksgiving Day and is easily recognized with a plethora of announcements from individuals, groups and community organizations hosting Thanksgiving dinners for the homeless and less fortunate, or making donations of turkey and other foods. The giving season will continue through to Christmas or year's end with various organizations and most of the community adopting a spirit of kindness and brotherly love not seen for most of the passing year. When the giving season arrives, people who usually pay scant attention to the plight of the poor will take time out to recognize those who have little or no clothing and food, maybe homeless or living in deplorable conditions, and children who have nothing to play with or nowhere to play. Then comes the New Year, and the giving season will fade away like the old year. It is gratifying that for at least four to five weeks at the end of each year, there are people who exercise this giving spirit. But, unfortunately, the poor revert to poverty, the hungry to hunger, and the sufferers to suffering when the giving season ends. Several community organizations and other charitable groups should be commended for their planning and execution of missions to feed the needy from Thanksgiving through to the end of the year. However, those who are concerned about fighting poverty year-round often question why the same diligent planning for fundraising, food collections,

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clothes and toy drives, and a general spirit of goodwill and generosity can't extend throughout the year. On Thanksgiving Day, a few years ago, a local pastor was asked to offer the blessing at a Thanksgiving dinner held for poor residents in Overtown, Miami-Dade. His prayer was brief and simple, “Lord, teach us to always give thanks and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, not just for today, but always.” Many were touched not just by its simplicity, but the depth of the message. Asked why his blessing was so brief, the Catholic priest said he didn't need to pray a long prayer to make people understand that love and charity towards each other—neighbors, coworkers, political rivals, between the 99 percent less well-off and the one percent extremely well-off, shouldn't be just a highlight of the Thanksgiving and Christmas season. He said every year he was perplexed that people seem oblivious that the giving

spirit they displayed during the holiday season was absent for the rest of the year. This Thanksgiving, as individuals prepare treats for the poor, and as this generosity extends during Christmas, they are urged to give thanks for their broad variety of personal blessings and seek means to realistically continue this generosity to their neighbors. This generosity shouldn't be committed just for “the season,” but be part of a longer-term commitment. Something seems seriously awry for charity to be placed on hold for 11 months, then unwrapped and displayed with much proﬁle and pomp for just one month. As the community gives thanks on Thursday, and the more-fortunate enjoy the holiday, they ought to be aware poverty takes no holiday and cannot be alleviated with a once-a-year deluge of kindness. HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all.

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NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, NOV 28 – DEC 4, 2019 | VOL. 16 NO. 47 –

LA SECTION HAITIENNE

Children Lose 50 Days Of School Amid Crisis As part of World Children's Day, UNICEF and UNESCO urge Haitian institutions including all political, social and economic actors to work together to allow the immediate resumption of normal activities in all public and private schools in Haiti. Since the beginning of September, political unrest, road blockages and rising violence in Haiti have signiﬁcantly reduced access to basic social services, including schools and universities. According to the Ministry of National Education, 70 percent of schools in Haiti are closed, which means that more than three million children are out of school and have not been able to start or continue their education. In

addition to this, more than 500,000 Haitian children aged ﬁve to 18 who are currently outside the school system. Fifty days (26 percent) of a total of 189 planned days have already been lost, creating a

significant learning deficit for students. The Ministry of Education, in consultation with the stakeholders concerned, is working on a modified catch-up plan and a new school calendar, which should be proposed very soon to schools to recover 250 hours of lost classes, out of the 945 that count the school year. UNICEF and UNESCO have stated that "Education is a right and one of the most powerful tools that enable excluded and socially and economically excluded children and adults to overcome poverty and participate fully in society. If all adults completed secondary school, the number of people affected by poverty in the world could be halved or even more..."

Moïse Warns Of Humanitarian Crisis, Calls For Support In an interview with Reuters, embattled Haitian President Jovenel Moïse said Haiti needs international support to tackle an unfolding humanitarian crisis and he endures two months of protests against him and his administration that have increased food insecurity in his country. Moïse also told Reuters he was holding closed-door talks with civil society groups and the private sector, and with radical and moderate members of the opposition in a bid to break political gridlock by creating a government of unity. However, Moïse did not identify the people with whom he is having these discussions. “We are in the midst of a humanitarian crisis,” Moïse told Reuters in the interview at his home in the suburb of Petionville, overlooking Port-au-Prince. “We need international support to get through this crisis.” More than one-in-three Haitians need urgent assistance to meet their daily food requirements—nearly 3.7 million people, the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) said earlier this month. But aid organizations are struggling to provide relief due to the protests and related violence. The WFP has said it is ready to launch air and maritime transport operations but needs to raise $2.9 million to do so. Moïse said his acting government had written to the Trump administration requesting aid last month and the U.S. Agency for International Development agreed to provide 2,000 tons of food aid to address urgent needs. Those opposed to Moïse accuses the U.S. of supporting Moïse and ignoring the Haitian people. The U.S. government has urged all stakeholders to work toward an inclusive dialogue without pre-conditions. Moïse said he started meeting “lots of people” behind closed doors a week and a half ago, rather than continuing to meet in public. Two of the most prominent opposition leaders, Andre Michel and Moïse Jean Charles, as well as the spokesman of the Episcopal Conference Father Loudeger Mazile, told Reuters they were not participating in the conversations and did not know of any significant figure or group that was. Haiti has not had a government since March, as parliament is required to ratify the president's choice of prime minister and the minority opposition has blocked such a vote from taking place. The lack of a government is preventing Haiti from accessing hundreds of millions of dollars in international aid funds as well as loans from the World Bank, Inter-American Bank and others earmarked for it. “We don't want to govern the country without democratic institutions,” said Moïse. “But unfortunately it looks like we are headed in that direction and that's why today we are working on finding a political accord.” He reiterated that he had no intention of resigning or holding early elections. Instead, he said, he wanted to carry out reforms including changing the constitution to strengthen the president's powers so he is not held hostage by parliament.

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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 CARIBBEAN K-8 CENTER AND MYRTLE GROVE K-8 CENTER 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. 01777100 CARIBBEAN K-8 CENTER ADDITION 11990 SW 200 STREET MIAMI, FL 33177

PROJECT NO. 01883000 MYRTLE GROVE K-8 CENTER ADDITION 3125 NW 176TH STREET MIAMI GARDENS, FL 33056

BIDS DUE: Sealed bids will be received by The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida, for the project listed herein, until 2:00 P.M. local time, January 7, 2020, at 1450 N.E. Second Avenue, Room 650, 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 Conference Room 654, 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 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, Lourdes Rodriguez (lourdes@rodriguezarchitects.com), Rodriguez Architects, Inc., 2121 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Suite 1010, Coral Gables, Florida 33134. MANDATORY PRE-BID CONFERENCE* (Caribbean K-8 Center): December 10, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. local time, at the Caribbean K-8 Center on 11990 SW 200th Street, Miami, Florida. 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. MANDATORY PRE-BID CONFERENCE* (Myrtle Grove K-8 Center): December 11, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. local time, at the Myrtle Grove K-8 Center on 3125 NW 176th Street, Miami Gardens, Florida. 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. * Prime Contractors who are interested in submitting a bid for both projects are required to attend both Pre-Bid Conferences in order to be eligible. 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 (or at 1450 NE 2nd Avenue, Room 311, Miami, Florida 33132), 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 MiamiDade 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 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: http://www.neola.com/miamidade-fl/. 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., 3715 Grand Avenue, Coconut Grove, Florida 33133, on and after, November 25, 2019. 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 June 20, 2018, 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: Caribbean K-8 Center: S/MBE Mandatory Subcontracting Goals: 20.04% Construction and 20% Local Work Force, within a County-wide radius. Mandatory M/WBE Subcontracting Goals: 4.96%- African American, Native American and Asian American firms. Myrtle Grove K-8 Center: S/MBE Mandatory Subcontracting Goals: 19.92% Construction and 20% Local Work Force, within a County-wide radius. Mandatory M/WBE Subcontracting Goals: 5.08%- African American, Native American and Asian American firms. The Board reserves the right to waive informalities and to reject any and all bids. THE SCHOOL BOARD OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA By: Alberto M. Carvalho Superintendent of Schools

NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, NOV 28 – DEC 4, 2019 | VOL. 16 NO. 47 –

Art

Hamlet In The Hood

Charity

2019 ArtWalk Homestead to Beneﬁt Local Schools

Homestead residents who enjoy art and who love giving back to local schools can do both at the 2nd Annual ArtWalk Homestead on Sunday, December 8, 2019. The event, hosted by Homestead Councilwoman Jenifer N. Bailey, is an art festival showcasing county-wide artists from various mediums, fostering the love of art, and highlighting the beautiful city. Schnebly Redland's Winery & Brewery located at 30205 SW 217th Ave, Homestead, FL will host the day of excitement from 10 am to 6 pm. Artwalk Homestead will feature live music & performances, a DJ, food trucks, vendors, games, pop-up art gallery, wine tastings live painting, pottery, face painting, a giant bubble station, interactive art stations and more. Children and youth can enjoy chalk easel art drawing, painting by numbers, sand art, canvas art stations, and DIY jewelry art. ArtWalk Homestead was born out of the passion of its creators to cultivate an atmosphere to converge art, community and great food all while giving back to the communities in which they serve. The purpose of Artwalk Homestead is to raise funds for the annual community event, Art Walk Homestead's Art in the Park, which

takes place in May of each year. Art Walk Homestead's Art in the Park brings various community-based organizations to residents of Homestead during a free funﬁlled day of art, music, and games. The event provides residents with access to community services such as The Children's Trust, The Early Learning Coalition, and FarmShare to name a few. The event is also a vehicle to generate funds to support non-proﬁt organizations serving the

residents of Homestead and the surrounding community. All the profits from Artwalk Homestead are donated to local non-profit organizations. This year proceeds will be donated to four local schools, five performing arts programs and two local artists The festival seeks to use art as an economic and cultural generator for Homestead, fundraise for schools, and provide resources to support parents throughout the school year.

The City of Miramar is excited to present the Community Theatre Program – Shakespeare in the Park. The performance entitled “Hamlet in the Hood” is scheduled for Sunday, December 8, 2019, at 4:00 p.m. It is an original music production written and directed by JoMarie Payton (TV personality, Singer, Actress Director) from the hit TV show, Family Matters, and featuring students from the program. JoMarie will be available for interviews before the performance. Miramar Community Theatre is structured as 10 week sessions where students will engage in hands-onparticipatory activities that culminate in the development of a full stage production. This learning through the arts initiative encourages creative thinking, breaks down barriers and builds self-conﬁdence while honing both on stage and behind-the-scenes skillsets. Their dedicated Community Theatre youth will present Shakespeare in the Park: Hamlet in the Hood produced by JoMarie Payton! Enjoy an afternoon in the park and watch the Miramar Community Theatre put on a one-ofa-kind free performance ﬁlled with comedy and fun for the entire family! Come 30 minutes early and enjoy free face painting for children 12 and under! Don’t forget your lawn chairs! This event is FREE and open to the Community! RSVP at mccshakethepark.eventbrite.com.

B2 – NATIONAL WEEKLY

| THURSDAY, NOV 28 – DEC 4, 2019 | VOL. 16 NO. 47

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 GULFSTREAM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL **REVISED** 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. 01442702 GULFSTREAM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUS DROP OFF 20900 SW 97TH AVENUE CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA 33189 BIDS DUE: Sealed bids will be received by The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida, for the project listed herein, until 2:00 P.M. local time, Tuesday, December 10, 2019, at 1450 N.E. Second Avenue, Room 650, 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 Conference Room 654, 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 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, Tony Rosabal (tony@livs.net) LIVS Associates, 2121 Ponce De Leon Boulevard, Suite 610, Coral Gables, Fl 33134. MANDATORY PRE-BID CONFERENCE (Gulfstream Elementary School): Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. local time, at the Gulfstream Elementary School, 20900 S.W. 97th Avenue, Cutler Bay, Florida. 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 (or at 1450 NE 2nd Avenue, Room 311, Miami, Florida 33132), 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 MiamiDade 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 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: http://www.neola.com/miamidade-fl/. 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. 3715 Grand Avenue, Coconut Grove, Florida 33133 on and after, November 18, 2019. 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 June 20, 2018, 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: Gulfstream Elementary School: S/MBE Mandatory Subcontracting Goals: 12.23% Construction and 20% Local Work Force, within a County-wide radius. Mandatory M/WBE Subcontracting Goals: 2.77% African American, Native American and Asian American firms. The Board reserves the right to waive informalities and to reject any and all bids. THE SCHOOL BOARD OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA By: Alberto M. Carvalho Superintendent of Schools

NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, NOV 28 – DEC 4, 2019 | VOL. 16 NO. 47 –

“Let There Be Reggae” Jamaican Reggae Photographer On Display At Art Basel “Let there be Reggae” a feature at the annual hosting of South Florida's premier art and cultural extravaganza Art Basel will highlight the work of Jamaican reggae beat photographer Steve James. James' work will be on display at The Lab Miami (400 NW 26 Street) in trendy Wynwood from December 5 to 8, with an opening reception from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on December 5th. For this years' exhibition, James who has covered the reggae scene in and outside Jamaica for over 25-years has decided to feature photographs from the memorial services of several late reggae artists including Dennis Brown, Alton Ellis, and Gregory Isaacs. James who was born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, is confident the theme of his exhibition will attract visitors to “Let There Be Reggae.” “The memorial service segment is something that has never been done before and I thought it would be a very unique angle, so I pitched it to the exhibition's curators,” he explained. “When I attended Dennis Brown's funeral in 1999, I realized how many more interesting tidbits you can learn about a public figure when their tributes, personal anecdotes, and eulogies are shared, so I began collecting the memorial service programs of all the reggae artists and others connected to the music industry ever since. I now have more than 40 in my possession, and they vary in shape, content, and design.” Popular South Florida and Jamaican photographer David Muir, an organizer of Art Basel, was instrumental in inviting and having James mount his photographs at this year's event. James' display comprises 30 pieces that cover “the reggae and dancehall music scene through the lens of concert photography, musicians' portraits, Rastafari culture, studio sessions, and fashion.” Considered an authority on British lover's rock reggae, James featured that sound and scene as a disc jockey on his Real Rock radio program on Bess FM in Jamaica. He showcased the music of Maxi Priest, Vivian Jones, Peter Hunnigale and Macka B. James has also toured as an official photographer with Beres Hammond. Most 'reggae photographers' over the years are American, including (the late) Diana Issachar and Kate Simon. Steve James says the gig has its ups and downs. “Being a reggae photographer in Jamaica can be both exhilarating and challenging. The thrill of being immersed in such a vibrant aspect of our culture is always satisfying and that feeling never gets old, but sometimes the cost of equipment maintenance and constant upgrades can be an uphill battle,” he noted. “Other challenges include the lack of appreciation of the value of your work by some entities who do not want to compensate you appropriately or credit you for your images, which is equally important in today's digital landscape.”

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B4 – NATIONAL WEEKLY

| THURSDAY, NOV 28 – DEC 4, 2019 | VOL. 16 NO. 47

ON THE COVER

Chosen One beholden to none. “I agree Bloomberg is extremely rich, but I think it’s a good thing. His own money can finance his campaign straight to Election Day in November. Funds that the National Democratic Party would apply to fund the Democratic presidential candidate, could be instead used to support candidates in various U.S. House and Senate races. Democrats need to win the White House, U.S. House, and Senate. I believe Bloomberg could make this happen because of his financial strength,” commented a respondent. It was also argued that the Trump campaign is focused on building a formidable campaign chest, and that campaign’s financial advantages would “be effectively countered by Bloomberg’s money.” But aside from Bloomberg’s wealth, the advantage expressed in his candidacy include: his track record as a three-term mayor of New York City; his active advocacy for critical issues like climate change, gun control and healthcare, and “his proven ability as a public service manager.” “Bloomberg has spent millions in support of climate change; as New York Mayor he supported gun control and wasn’t fazed by the NRA, and he advocated for citizens to live healthier by reducing obesity, going as far as reducing the sugar content of some drinks. He has the experience and personality to defeat Trump,” said another respondent. Those not in favor of Bloomberg’s candidacy cited the “Stop and Frisk” policy he introduced as New York’s mayor. “I lived in Brooklyn at the time and saw black and Hispanic residents stopped and searched on the streets by the police searching wantonly for unlicensed firearms. This was wrong. The program seemed to target only people of color,” a young woman commented. Bloomberg recently admitted the policy was wrong and apologized for it. Responding to the observation that

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Bloomberg cannot win the nomination without the black vote which seems divided between Biden, Harris and Cory Booker, there emerged keen support for a possible Bloomberg/Harris ticket. “They are both relatively moderate and Bloomberg has the potential to win the traditional white vote. With Harris as his running-mate, they could also attract youth, women, and the allimportant black vote. This could be a formidable combination to defeat Trump,” was one viewpoint. Some respondents argued at age 77, Bloomberg, like Biden, is too old to be president, but the counter-argument was Bloomberg seems more assertive than Biden. Additionally, Bloomberg has the credentials as a successful CEO and, for better or for worse, an effective mayor of the city at the epicenter of the United States. With former Massachusetts governor Duval Patrick also joining the Democratic field the party’s nomination race has become even more interesting. The election process gets underway on February 3 with the Iowa caucuses, and the top candidate could emerge after Super Tuesday on March 3 when primaries are held in fourteen states. The Florida primaries are scheduled for March 17. It’s hardly likely either Bloomberg or Patrick will compete in the caucuses and primaries to be held in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina in February, but should be in the hunt in March’s Super Tuesday and other key primaries. However, Bloomberg’s financial advantage is already in evidence. Jumping into the campaign without the traditional launch rally, he’s currently blitzing the nation with over $30 million worth of TV ads. Judging from the revelations from the recent CNW survey, and related focus group, the ads are having an early effect.

1289

Highs and Lows While Holness and his administration have achieved much since 2016—a decline in unemployment, the conclusion of the IMF program, economic growth, a leading stock market, a new income tax threshold and higher minimum wage, among other positives; his tenure has not been without its challenges. Holness sought to address incidences of corruption in his administration, which could be among the reasons that Jamaicans may choose not to re-elect him. “I couldn't leave the stage without saying to you that corruption is an issue that occupies the front of my mind. I couldn't leave here today and not say to you that we still need to tighten up on the anti-corruption systems and framework that exists,” he said. “It is not for want of putting in the legislative and institutional processes. They are there. But you have to bear in mind that we are also very new on the scale of dealing with anti-corruption issues. So, there is a learning curve,” he stated.

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appreciate the gem that you have in the Jamaica Labor Party and its leader,” he said to JLP supporters. “Do not disappoint me. I would like to continue with the next three years as prime minister of Grenada with the vision and support of Andrew Holness.”

elections are “not too long to come, but we [the JLP] are not there yet. Very soon we will have everything in place, and when everything is in place, you will see me reach for the bell.” General Secretary of the JLP and Minister of National Security, Dr. Horace Chang also added that with a 2020 general election highly likely, he is conﬁdent that the party will be ready to respond. “In the meantime, we will continue the training and recruitment that is ongoing in the party to ensure that we are in the best of shape. We have some time; we'll do it at the right time,” he said. Prime Minister Holness received resounding support at Sunday's conference from JLP members of parliament as well as guest speakers, Former Prime Minister and JLP leader, Bruce Golding, and Prime Minister of Grenada, Dr. Keith Mitchell who both sang Holness' praises. “For the three years and nine months that he has been prime minister, he has stamped his leadership on this country, and he has ignited the hopes and dreams of the vast majority of Jamaicans, especially young people who see him as an example of what they, too, can achieve,” Golding said. Similarly, Dr. Mitchell said that he is looking forward to Andrew Holness' next tenure as prime minister. “Continue to recognize and

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NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, NOV 28 – DEC 4, 2019 | VOL. 16 NO. 47 –

COMMENTARY

Loss Of Tarania Clarke Dims Light Of Success In Football By L. Bronson

egardless of one's vantage point, there is no denying that the year 2019 has been a fairly successful one for Jamaica's football. It culminates with an Under-22 squad led by senior men's team head coach Theodore Whitmore testing themselves against their Japanese counterparts in the Kirin Challenge Cup on December 28 at Transcosmos Stadium in Nagasaki, Japan. There, Whitmore will test some of his young guns against the bulk of the Japanese team which will contest next year's 2020 Olympics, being hosted by the Asian country. The women's team's historic participation in the FIFA Women's World Cup Finals in France in the summer, as well as the men's team's run to the CONCACAF Gold Cup semiﬁnals, after two consecutive ﬁnals appearances, would have been seen as successes. However, there were some failures and losses as well, including the failure of the Olympic team to progress from the home series, the non-participation of the Under-15s in the regional tournament due to the Jamaica Football Federation's (JFF) negligence. But there was no greater loss than that of the life of female prodigy Tarania Clarke, who was killed after a stabbing in Kingston. The 20-year-old was stabbed by another woman following a disagreement over a cell phone on Thursday, October 31 in Half-WayTree, a few miles from Kingston's capital city. The incident shocked the football fraternity, as Clarke, an Excelsior High School student, had made her debut with the senior women's team a month earlier when she scored twice in helping the Reggae Girlz cruise through the

Clarke

Olympic qualiﬁers on home soil. She appeared destined for greatness as evidenced by her participation at the various international age-group teams at Under-15, Under-17 and Under-20, and was set to depart for university in the USA in January. Miss Clarke's family and her Mountain View community would have felt this latest homicide more than any, as we are told that not too long-ago Clarke brother was gunned down in the tough community which has experienced its fair share of violence. Tarania's mother, Charmaine Riley-Clarke, was in pain when she spoke to the media. "I don't know what the Devil want with my

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children…but in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I am just asking God to handle it because I can't." For the football fraternity, the young footballer's tragic loss was a bitter blow to the sport due to her vast potential and wonderful talent. In a statement to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), JFF President Mike Ricketts said he was "deeply saddened" by the incident. "I must use this opportunity to personally, and certainly on behalf of the JFF, extend my profound condolences to the immediate family members and friends of Ms. Clarke, her school

family at Excelsior and, of course, her club Waterhouse," Ricketts said. "The JFF must give as much support as we can during this time of bereavement to her mother and close friends." We understand death is inevitable, but it pains the heart each time, nonetheless, leading to many questions. And the senseless manner in which Clarke's life was snuffed out cripples the soul. A promising life which looked set to possibly blossom and help her parents out of a difficult situation was savagely taken over a phone…statistics which add to Jamaica being regarded as one of the murder capitals of the world. Her football ability aside, we are told that Miss Clarke had a warm and friendly personality and was a natural leader, as evidenced by her captaincy of both school and club teams. "It's tough for the whole community, everybody feels it. If that little girl has any enemy, we don't know about it, not even the girl that stabbed her…" added Tarania's mother. Everyone would understand if the deceased's family and community were to remain hopeless and cynical, but that would betray her short but positive life on earth. Instead, we urge the mourners to bring to the fore young Clarke's positive character traits, which gave them so much promise, and for the wider public to take stock of this senseless homicide and try to figure out a better and more productive way to iron out differences without resorting to violence. Let's learn from this bitter and unforgettable incident.

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260

JAMAICA

250

ST. LUCIA ST. MAARTEN DOM. REP. NEVIS MONTSERRAT BARBADOS DOMINICA GRENADA GUYANA ST. KITTS ST. VINCENT TRINIDAD SURINAME

300

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130

ANTIGUA

*Boxes need to be packed in accordance with speciﬁc dimensions. ABSOLUTELY NO BULGING. IF OVER-PACKED, A DIFFERENT RATE APPLIES.

C2 – NATIONAL WEEKLY

| THURSDAY, NOV 28 – DEC 4, 2019 | VOL. 16 NO. 47

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NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, NOV 21– NOV 27, 2019 | VOL. 16 NO. 46 –

of New York to set up a thrilling finish against the returning Champions NHT-“A”. NHT-“A” set the pace early in the short rally-format taking a 5-point lead over CARICOM with an 8-3 score by the end of the first half. CARICOM stepped up their defense in the second half—holding NHT-“A” to 6 points and doubling their first-half output but were never able to overcome the 5-point lead by NHT-“A”. Summary of Results:

3-pete Jamaica National Housing Trust “A” Wins Florida Netball Classic For Third Time National Housing Trust “A”, (NHT- “A”) out of Jamaica registered a 3-pete as they emerged the winners over local team, CARICOM—walking away as the inaugural winners of the Grace Bailey Memorial Trophy—in the Florida Netball Classic 2019 last weekend.

The tournament which took place at the Coral Springs Gymnasium saw 28 teams representing six countries, Cayman, Barbados, Jamaica, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago and the USA. CARICOM advanced to the ﬁnals via a controversial semiﬁnal win over Rising Eagles

Open Championship Results: 1st Place: NHT “A” (JA); 2nd Place: CARICOM (FL); 3rd Place: Upsetters (NY); 4th Place: Rising Eagles (NY). Tournament MVP: Abigail Linton of NHT “A” Consolation – Plate Division: 1st Place: Appliance Traders (JA); 2nd Place: Rockerz “A” (FL); 3rd Place: JN Group (JA); 4th Place: NHT “B” (JA). Mixed Division: 1st Place: Upsetters (NY); 2nd Place: Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force; 3rd Place: Sparkles-Loverz (FL); 4th Place: Rockerz (FL). Uniform Parade: LASCO (JA) Shooting Competition: 1st Place: Appliance Traders (JA); 2nd Place: Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force; 3rd Place: Ministry of Education (JA) Other Netball News: The City of Miramar will be renaming the netball court at Ansin Sports Complex as The Grace Bailey Netball Court.

Windies Coach Says Plenty Work To Be Done West Indies Assistant coach Roddy Estwick has hailed the performance of the team's bowlers but believes there is still much work to be done if West Indies are to become a major force again in the one-day cricket format. Speaking following the Windies' recent defeat in the three-match Twenty20 series against Afghanistan, Estwick said it was important that the team continue to learn from their mistakes and improve, especially in preparation for next year's T20 World Cup. “There's lots of work to be done in all white-ball cricket. That's an area we've been falling down,” Estwick said. “Obviously the three-nil victory [in the

ODI] series was very, very good. We played decent cricket. We started well in the T20s but we fell oﬀ a bit but we've got to keep learning from it. “We're building towards the World Cup next year in Australia so we've got to keep building blocks and we've got to keep learning, and we've got to keep teaching as well because once teaching takes place then learning will take place and once we can grow together as a group and learn from our mistakes, I'm sure we'll be a lot better for this.” The reigning T20 World champions, West Indies opened the T20 series with a 30-run victory but then suﬀered back-to-back defeats

in the games following, to concede the series. However, Estwick said he had taken some positives from the outing, one being the way West Indies had executed with the ball to restrict Afghanistan to manageable totals. “A lot of the plans we put together, obviously the guys went out and executed and when you look at over the three games, the highest score scored against us was 156…so we've got to be happy with that,” he pointed out. “We're not happy with the result because, obviously, it's a team performance but overall from the bowling group I thought we did reasonably well.”

52nd JA Open Attracts International Golfers President of the Jamaica Golf Association (JGA) Peter Chin said there was significant international interest in the 52nd Jamaica Open to be held from December 11 to 14 at the Tryall Course in Montego Bay, adding that they have received entries from all over the world of golf to participate in the event, along with Jamaican golfers. He was speaking at last week's press launch of the event. “The tournament will be truly an international event,” said Chin. As reported by the Jamaica Observer, Chin said the 54-hole tournament that will be played on the newly renovated par-72 course, and offers a first prize of US$100,000. Chin said to date there were over 55 entries and “considering the field will be no more than 105-110, we are more than halfway to go [and] we are expected to be fully subscribed.” He said it was the first time that the tournament ever had such a high level of interest weeks before the tournament. Entries have been received from Latin America, North America, South America, Canada, the Caribbean, and Europe. The entries include 10 players from the PGA LatinoAmérica tour and others from the McKenzie Tour in Canada. Chin said the Jamaica Open, which is the “oldest running open in the Caribbean” has always attracted world-class players and also they were experiencing “growth both in terms of sponsorship and the caliber of players that have been attracted to the event.” Ewan Peebles, director of golf at Tryall, said they were happy to be hosting the event and hoped it would not be the last time, adding that the timing was perfect. “We are particularly excited to host the Jamaica Open this year because we have just completed a three-year renovation project of the golf course...over three painstaking years we have completely renovated all our the greens, the greens complexes, our bunkers and we have put in a new irrigation system,” he said.

C4 – NATIONAL WEEKLY

| THURSDAY, NOV 21– NOV 27, 2019 | VOL. 16 NO. 46

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 NORTH COUNTY K-8 CENTER 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. 01618000 NORTH COUNTY K-8 CENTER REMODEL/ RENOVATIONS 3250 NW 207TH STREET MIAMI GARDENS, FL 33056 BIDS DUE: Sealed bids will be received by The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida, for the project listed herein, until 2:00 P.M. local time, Thursday, January 9, 2020, at 1450 N.E. Second Avenue, Room 650, 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 Conference Room 654, 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 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, Norman I. Schwartz (nschwartz@saltzmichelson.com), Saltz Michelson Architects, 8400 NW 36th Street, Suite 450, Doral, Florida 33166. MANDATORY PRE-BID CONFERENCE (North County K-8 Center): Tuesday, December 10, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. local time, at the North County K-8 Center, 3250 NW 207th Street, Miami Gardens, Florida. 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 (or at 1450 NE 2nd Avenue, Room 311, Miami, Florida 33132), 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 MiamiDade 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 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: http://www.neola.com/miamidade-fl/. 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 Thomas Printworks, 5000 SW 75th Avenue #114, Miami, Florida 33155 on and after, November 25, 2019. 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 June 20, 2018, 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: North County K-8 Center: S/MBE Mandatory Subcontracting Goals: 14.92% Construction and 20% Local Work Force, within a 10-mile radius. Mandatory M/WBE Subcontracting Goals: 10.08% African American, Native American and Asian American firms. The Board reserves the right to waive informalities and to reject any and all bids. THE SCHOOL BOARD OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA By: Alberto M. Carvalho Superintendent of Schools