Caribbean American Passport July 2013 by Guenet Gittens-Roberts

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Caribbean Youth Spot Light An Interview with Michael Brun by Samuel Roberts

Thousands enjoy the CAHM Festival at Lake Eola By Samuel Roberts Chairperson, CAHM

his year’s Caribbean American Heritage Month (CAHM) Festival was a tremendous success. Every aspect of our plan fell into place,

perfect story of our Caribbean culture and diversity ...a Guyanese student of Chinese decent, studying in Miami meets the love of her life, of Afro-Haitian decent and gets married. They move back to Haiti to live and raise their family. Their eldest son while studying medicine takes time off to pursue a career in music as a DJ – Michael Brun Q - Who was your first inspiration to get into the music industry? A - I guess the very first was my dad. He used to have his own band called Skandal and I would sometimes be in the studio with him while he worked. I was still a baby but it definitely had a big impact on me. Q - Do you think you’ll ever go back to studying medicine? A - I hope so. At this point in my life music is my main focus, but education and medicine have always been very important to me. Ideally, I’d like to be able to return to school at some point in the future and finish my studies.

See Story & More Photos on page 12

Holding his own tenor sticks, Pope Francis looks at the President of Trinidad & Tobago Anthony Carmona playing a tenor pan during a private audience at the Vatican July 6, 2013. — REUTERS/Gabriel Bouys/Pool

— Continued on page 19 — Continued on page ??

L I F E S T Y L E ummer is here! With it comes the vacationing! The kids being off of school allow us freedom to travel if we want to for long stretches and many of us do just that. The week of Fourth of July we left for a two week road trip. Our intention was for the first time in three years to enjoy a period of uninterrupted family time as we travelled to Georgia, Maryland and New York visiting family. We got to New York by Fourth of July weekend and stayed there for a week. The idea was to finally show the kids where I went to school in New York, where we had both lived while in New York. The idea was for us to show the kids why New York was one of the greatest cities in the World. The reality hit us upon entering the city....it was hot! hot! hot! We quickly realized that we’d taken our cushy central air in Orlando for granted. We couldn’t cool down enough to think clearly, but we would soldier on...we would. We quickly scattered into any area that had an a/c unit. The kids slept at one home, we slept at another....sleeping locations were set up directly in front of the air conditioning units in those houses.

Guenet Gittens-Roberts, Publisher/Editor

displayed on television, in the news and media through the tones of negativity, some sympathy and even dismissal. Each of which come from a lack of humble understanding. I was born in America but I grew up eating Haitian food. I grew up celebrating Haitian Independence Day, and to each American holiday Haitian essence was poured all over to give them a different flavor. I grew up listening to old-school Haitian music and watching the movies. I grew up understanding and speaking the language. I know there are many stories like mine out there. I know there are descendants of the island in America waiting on a voice to represent the nation correctly. I have also learned the culture through a family of natives who refuse to forget where they stem from. This rebellious state of mind has influenced me throughout the years and inspired the desire to rejuvenate and fertilize this island’s identity.

I am taking a sojourn to my roots so that my eyes can reveal to my soul the raw truths of an island so beautiful, filled with a rich history of culture, politics, natural events and pain. I will be taking this trip in order to better comprehend where the Haitian zealots comes from, why there are who they are. I want to unDespite the heat, the reminiscing with family and friends was cover the strength of a people so intent on surviving in a world worth every drop of sweat. We let go of the chains of technol- where they are ignored and misunderstood. The essential compoogy that bound us every day and just chatted with the kids. nent of the human spirit can best be seen by groups and indiAs kids growing up in Guyana my siblings and I had always viduals that have endured the most extreme hardships. By going spent the summers in New York, with my cousins on Eastern to Haiti I will be able to see how the human spirit thrives in the Parkway. Big, noisy family gatherings marked summer, with face of adversity. In one of the most financially poor countries in trips to Coney Island - as the highlight of the vacation every the world I want to discover the richness of the human heart. I time. In showing them where we lived, they realized that their am in no way so naive as to believe no darkness or negativity dad turned up in New York, and then realized his dad hadn’t exists. These traits are omnipresent. I am ready for the deepest made the calls to arrange a place for him to stay...the best forms of real. I need to see how people survive, how they still part of living in New York is that it forced you to figure it manage to smile, dream, hope and live each day when all the out...he did. We showed them how at their age we were riding odds in the world are against them. the trains figuring out on our own how to get around by reading the maps. In telling them my story of why I left New York I believe in my heart that this sojourn will change me. It will elevate to go back to Guyana - I remembered that I was the editor of my awareness to a level never met here in the states. These roots are the newspaper at my school. Once a week I had to take the real, they are strong and they are vital. I intend to report back all file to the printer. One wet, winter day I fell on a slippery that I see so that a different Haiti can be seen all over the world. piece of ice and as I sat there with people milling around me going their busy way, I realized that I didn’t want to be a part Peace and blessings. of this self absorbed city any more, once school was finished, Miss Hilaire I was on a plane back to Guyana with no plans of ever living in New York again. “Mom, we didn’t know you had edited a newspaper before you did passport” they both stated...I had forgotten too. Sometimes, it’s great to take a trip down memory GGR Marketing & Public Relations lane. Next Summer around 4th of July weekend, we’ll take 1230 Hillcrest Street, Suite 101 • Orlando, FL 32803 them to Guyana... 407-427-1800 • guenetroberts@yahoo.com I want to share a note we recently received from someone planning a trip to Haiti, we’ll get her perspective when she returns and share it with you... Sojourn to My Roots: My Trip to the Island of Haiti I am going home. I will soon visit the soil of my roots. I will journey to the land where my bloodline began. For the first time since my premature youth I will plant my feet in the island of Haiti. I will be going there for so many reasons. I am twenty-four years old and have yet to know the truth. I have only known Haiti through the stories told to my siblings and I by my mother and father. Whenever they reminisce on their days in the island I could see a shift in their eyes, a change caused by fond memories and a certain pain brought on by knowing the reality of the island today. I also know the Haiti

For Media Information email: capnewsmagazine@yahoo.com Should you desire to review past copies of the publication go to http://www.issuu.com/caribbeanamericanpassport and search for Caribbean American Passport News Magazine.

Publisher ........................................................... Guenet Gittens-Roberts Editor ..........................................................................Natasha Solomon Graphic Design & Layout ..................................... Jan Longwell-Smiley Contributing Writers: ................................................... Rosemarie Roth ..................................................................................... Natasha Gittens ........................................................................................ .Karlyn Hylton ............................................................................................ Gail Seeram ........................................................................................ Kamal Abdool . .................................. ................................................... Roger Caldwell ................................................................................ Nouchelle Hastings Contributing Photographers .................................... Tahara Thompson ......................................................................................... Dillia Castillo ..................................................................................... Ronald Williams ....................................................................................... Mark Bannister Distribution.................................................................... Samuel Roberts ....................................................................................... Frank Ambrose Copyright (C) 2013 GGR Marketing & Public Relations. All rights reserved.

The Urban Advis r arlier this year, January 2013, the National Urban League launched its “Jobs Rebuild America” initiative. This initiative is designed to employ, educate and empower communities hardest hit by the Great Recession. I would like to share with you some thoughts of our National Urban League President, Mr. Marc H. Morial: African American unemployment, which has hovered at twice the national average for decades, has now climbed to 14% and the Hispanic jobless rate of 9.6% also continues to exceed the national average. Despite the efforts of the Congressional Black Caucus and other progressive voices in Congress, the jobs crisis in urban America has reached emergency proportions and is tearing at the economic and social fabric of many communities. Our campaign is a two-pronged effort. First, through a $70 million public-private expansion of existing Urban League job training, education and business development programs, we intend to directly assist thousands of jobseekers and entrepreneurs in dozens of cities over the next five years. The second component of the Jobs Rebuild America initiative is a public engagement campaign to increase pressure on Washington to invest in the education and skills enhancement of at-risk youth and disadvantaged young adults. We also call for passage of targeted jobs legislation and a responsible fiscal plan and deficit reduction initiatives that do not exacerbate the unemployment crisis. This effort is an outgrowth of the National Urban League’s historic mission of economic empowerment for African Americans and other hard-pressed urban citizens. It also builds upon the work that our network of nearly 100 affiliates has been engaged in since the start of the Great Recession. Our affiliates have served as economic first responders for communities devastated by job loss. They have also been successful in creating economic opportunity and preparing thousands of people to avail themselves of those opportunities. We’ve worked closely with our partners in the private sector and the federal government to maximize resources and mobilize the strength of our collaborative efforts. For this expanded effort, we have put together a powerful coalition of public and private partners who have pledged their expertise and other resources. They include, the U.S. Department of Labor, Nationwide Insurance, Everest College, Pitney Bowes, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Stonehenge, UPS, State Farm, Target, Best Buy, the U.S. Department of Justice, AT&T, Time Warner, Chevron, BP and the New York Stock Exchange. Our collective message is this: While we believe it is important to tackle deficit reduction, job creation remains the nation’s number one priority. We urge the President and the Congress to adopt a balanced approach that marries compassion for the most vulnerable Americans with protections for the nation’s jobs and sacrifice from all. In support of this effort, the Central Florida Urban League has partnered with Walmart to help fill its more than 300 positions in the local Orlando area. As a result of this partnership, one of our Urban Empowerment College Bound/GED students was hired at the Walmart Neighborhood Market Store #4160 in the Washington Shores community. This is an excellent example of how private and community based organizations can work together to build stronger communities. The Central Florida Urban League will continue to work with Walmart as it opens additional stores in our Central Florida region.

What Democrat Will Run Against Rick Scott in 2014? Buddy Dyer, state Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith, former state Senator Nan Rich, Alex Sink, and U.S. Senator Bill Nelson will throw their hats into the race. This appears to be a big mess for the Democrats with no significant front runner.

By Roger Caldwell

s the governor election of 2014 gets closer, Governor Scott is getting stronger and stronger. Our governor has a record and he can brag about the low unemployment numbers. He and the Republican Party will spend $80 million on television, and they will still have another $60 million to spend on other aspects of his campaign. He has the support from the Republican Party, the major companies in the state, and he will spend some of his own money. The numbers are staggering when the experts examine the kind of money Governor Scott will spend not to lose. Any Democrat who is planning to run is at a disadvantage, because their fundraising potential cannot match Scott dollar for dollar.

When Alex Sink ran against Governor Scott in 2010, there was no strategy to build trust and enthusiasm in the Black and Hispanic communities. If the Democrats plan to win in 2014, they must register more Blacks and Hispanics to vote in the 2014 election, and that will take an organized plan and strategy. In the 2012 election cycle President Obama proved that a Democratic candidate can win in Florida which is traditionally a red state. The clock is ticking and the Democrats in Florida must stop procrastinating and build a strong ground game and infrastructure across the state. At the beginning of this year Scott’s approval rating was in the thirties, but it is starting to improve. The old line Democrats keep saying that they will win the governor’s mansion in 2014, but the Blacks and Hispanics will put the Democratic candidate over the top. The Democrats need a formidable candidate, who has a consistent message and a high level of integrity. Many pundits and political experts argue that Senator Bill Nelson is a game changer and could beat Governor Scott. There are rumors that he has always wanted the job, and he has the charisma to build a strong organization.

The numbers are staggering when the experts examine the kind of money Governor Scott will spend not to lose.

The present Florida State Democratic Party is disorganized with a crowded field that will have a slugfest during the primary, which will resemble the Republicans in 2011. The Republicans spent weeks beating each other up, while President Obama fine tuned his machine, and organized his ground game.

At this point in Florida there are rumors that Broward County state Senator Jeremy Ring, former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, former Republican Governor Charlie Crist, Orlando Mayor

Last week Senator Nelson said he is not interested, but Sean Sullivan says he can always change his mind. “There are two overarching questions that need to be answered when it comes to judging how likely it is that Nelson will run: 1) Does he want to? And 2) Is he getting encouragement from within his party to make a bid? The answer to the second question is yes and the first question we will know soon,” says reporter Sean Sullivan.

Buyers & Sellers Wanted!

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Letters to My Lawyer™

Violence Centers throughout the state. Information about these centers can be found at http://www.fcadv.org/centers. With respect to your immigration status, you may be eligible to obtain a green card through a self-petition under the Violence Against Women Act. Under the act, spouses and children of US citizens (USC) or lawful permanent residents (LPR) who are the victims of physical, emotional or psychological abuse, including in certain circumstances abandonment, are able to apply for a green card on their own without the help of their abuser. In order to be eligible, you must be able to establish that: • You entered into a good faith marriage with a USC or LPR; • You or your child were abused by your USC or LPR spouse, or the child was abused by his USC or LPR parent;

By Sasha A. Watson

• You have lived with the USC or LPR abuser at some time; • You are a person of “good moral character

In order to establish the requirements above, you must be able to present documentary evidence supporting each criterion. You may also apply for work authorization pending your applicahave been married to a US citizen for the past five (5) tion to adjust status once your petition has been approved. years. I am from Trinidad and I currently do not have any papers. I came to the US on vacation about six There is no requirement that you file the application within a years ago. I had overstayed and just before I was plancertain period of time. However, the law requires that, you file ning to go back home, my husband proposed and we the petition within two years of the abuser’s death, or within got married. Since then he has been promising to file two years of final termination of the marriage, if the divorce or the paperwork to legalize my status. We have a annulment were related to the abuse, or within two years of two year old daughter. Our marriage has not been a good the abuser losing or renouncing his citizenship status. one, he is verbally, emotionally and physically abusive to me and I cannot take it anymore. He uses my immigration These types of applications are now a well-established part of status to keep me hostage and tells me he will call immigrathe US immigration law. Please contact an immigration attortion and get me deported if I try to take his daughter or call ney as soon as possible to discuss your case and options. the police. I would like to stay in this county for my daughter’s sake but I am scared for my life and I don’t know what to do. Regards, Sasha Watson, Esq. Please help Scared Wife HAWM, PLLC Dear Lawyer:

This column is primarily for educational purposes as well as to give the reader general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide any legal advice whatsoever. By reading this column you underThis most important thing is the safety of yourself and your child. stand that there is no attorney-client relationship between you and writer/ As such, you may seek refuge in one of the certified Domestic publisher. This column should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney. This column is not published for advertising or solicitation purposes. The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Dear Scared Wife:

Letters to My Lawyer™ is a publication of Karlyn Hylton & Sasha Watson of Hylton, Adamson Watson, PLLC 120 E. Colonial Drive |Orlando, FL 32801 P: 407-802-3223 | F: 407-377-1971 E: letters@hawmlaw.com

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ImmigrationINFO

Immigration News for Our Community Immigration watching you on Facebook, Twitter, etc.

By Attorney Gail S. Seeram, Gail@GailLaw.com 1-877-GAIL-LAW @GailSeeram n recent days, there has been much unease about the government surveillance program. Although President Obama assured Americans last week that no one is listening to your phone calls, many still do not trust the government. The Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, declassified certain information about the surveillance program to resolve the misunderstanding that the contents of phone calls are not surveil but rather the program allows the government to observe the sending and receiving of telephone numbers and the length of the call. In any case, the issue has been raised about how far can the U.S. government reach in term of surveillance and invading the privacy of those living in and outside the United States. The Department of Homeland Security has been observing petitioners and beneficiaries through social media platforms like Facebook, MySpace, Hi-5, etc. The internet provides a platform where people can easily connect and through social media tools like Facebook, people tend to accumulate a large group of friend (some known and some unknown). In turn, social media has provided the Department of Homeland Security with a tool for them to “observe the daily life of beneficiaries and petitioners who are suspected of fraudulent activites”. These words taken exactly from a memo published by the Department of Homeland Security and posted on our Facebook page– see Facebook.com/ GailSeeram (post on 06/07/2013).

Additionally, the memo states, “[t]his social networking gives FDNS [Fraud Detection and National Security] an opportunity to reveal fraud by browsing these sited to see if petitioners and beneficiaries are in a valid relationship or are attempting to deceive CIS [Citizenship and Immigration Services] about their relationship.” What types of fraud are we talking about? (1) marriages that are not based on love but rather a business arrangement to help the beneficiary get legal status in the U.S.; (2) immigrant that was deported and returned to the U.S. without permission or proper entry; and (3) investigations into misrepresentations made to an officer during questioning to gain an immigration benefit. Fraud can be detected in various stages of the immigration process – submission of petitions, pre-interview, post-interview, admission at the U.S. port of entry, deferred inspection, and removal/deportation proceedings. The following are common I-130 family based petition fraud indicators: (1) short time between entry and marriage: (2) unusual marriage history; (3) children born during marriage to other parent; (4) unusual number of children and large discrepancy in age; (5) unusual dates on submitted documents; (6) divorce/new marriage dates close; (7) large age discrepancy

...social media has provided the Department of Homeland Security with a tool for them to “observe the daily life of beneficiaries and petitioners who are suspected of fraudulent activites.” between spouses; (8) unusual cultural differences; (9) same employer of petitioner/beneficiary; and (10) unusual associations between family members. Based on various fraud indicators, an officer may investigate petitioner and beneficiary on various social media sites to verify the relationship and/or statements made during the interview process. Petitioners and beneficiaries are urged not to engage in fraud or misrepresentations, as they will be subject to jail, fines, and visa denial.

Investment Veteran Insists Caribbean Is Ripe With Promise

“

At Avalon Invest Caribbean Now 2013

he Caribbean is ripe for significant investments to spur the region in sustained economic and human growth.”

Hard Beat Communications; Dr. Grace Lappin of Avalon Partners, Inc. and Arthur Piccolo of the Bowling Green Association. Private sector attendees included representatives from JP Morgan Chase, Nomura, Aegis Capital, Merrill Lynch, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd, Frontier Markets Capital, Ltd.; Waterloo Investments Holdings Ltd.; RBC Merchant Bank Caribbbean; efm Hospitality; CIBC World Markets; RBC Royal Bank and Ibis Investments among others.

That’s the consensus of 30-year investment veteran, Alan Loewenstein, managing partner of Wedgewood Investment Group. In delivering the keynote speech at the 2013 Avalon Invest Caribbean Now forum in New York City on Wednesday, June 5th, Loewenstein said “The government that can lure the most investment will be the long term winner Over twelve dozen delegates attended the Avalon Invest Caribbean Now Forum at the Radisson Martinique Hotel in mid-town, Manbecause these investments will spur the local economy.” hattan, including Premier of the Turks & Caicos Islands, Dr. Rufus He said the Caribbean is a safer bet for investors compared to Ewing and his Minister of Finance C. Washington Misick; Minister Africa and Latin America since growth in the LATAM has much of Tourism & International Transport, International Trade, Indusmore political risk than the Caribbean while investments in try, Commerce & Consumer Affairs St. Kitts, Ricky Skerritt; Minister Africa is “still too early stage with unstable governments that for Tourism, Heritage and Creative Industries, St. Lucia, Lorne Theophilus; Minister of Tourism Nevis, Mark Brantley; Minister of cause the potential for tremendous risk.” Tourism of Antigua & Barbuda, John Maginley; Minister of Tour“Investments now will be on the ground level of a growth and ism, Sports & Culture, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Cecil McKie; a building boom that will spur more growth in the future,” Assemblyman Tracy Davidson-Celestine, Deputy Chief Secretary predicted Lowenstein, adding that the time to buy is when valu- and Secretary, Division of Tourism and Transportation, Tobago; Nicolaas Sneek, Commissioner, St. Eustacius; Minister of Tourism ations are cheap. of The Bahamas, Obie Wilchcombe and Chairman of the CaribBut he said governments must do their part to attract the baby bean Tourism Organization, and Commissioner of the United States boomers and new millionaires and billionaires who are grow- Virgin Islands, Beverly Nicholson Doty.; Parliamentary Secretary of Tourism of Anguilla, Haydn Hughes; Juliana Johan-Boodram, ing globally including in China and Russia. Permanent Secretary of Trinidad & Tobago’s Ministry of Tourism; “These people are accustomed to the modern conveniences of soci- and Russell Harrigan, chairman of the Board of Directors of the ety,” said Loewenstein, so to entice them to come, all the technology needs to be in place, the marina has to be built, the service industry has to be trained and all the comforts of home British Virgin Islands Tourist Board. need to be transported and this requires significant investment.” Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean International copped the presOther speakers and presenters at the Avalon ICN 2013 included tigious “ICN Corporate Leadership Award” for 2013 for it’s Anthony Eterno of the Caribbean Affairs Office of the Western over $200,000,000 investments in the Caribbean region in Hemisphere Division of the U.S. State Department; Dr. Rufus the past 10 years. Ewing, Premier of the Turks & Caicos Islands; C. Washington Misick, finance minister of the Turks & Caicos Islands; Felicia Invest Caribbean Now is the brain child of Felicia Persaud and Persaud, founder of Invest Caribbean Now and CMO at Hard is now in its third year. Beat Communications; Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization and Commissioner of tourism of the USVI, Beverly Kara Coleman, news anchor of One Caribbean Television emNicholson Doty; Miguel Reyna, director, Port Business Develop- ceed the forum which was sponsored by Avalon Partners; The ment and Asset Management, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.; Turks & Caicos Islands Investment Agency; Royal Caribbean Heather Flossiac of Belle Vue Properties of St. Lucia; E. Jay Cruise, Ltd; One Caribbean Television, the American Chinese Saunders, CEO of Digicel TCI; Brian Lilly, founder of One Carib- Commerce Development Association and The Chinese Ameribean Television and Ganesh Ramanathan, creative director at can Business Development Center.

“The government that can lure the most investment will be the long term winner because these investments will spur the local economy.”

U.S. immigration overhaul may wall off pathway from Africa, Caribbean By Ali Watkins McClatchy Washington Bureau

not been. Fraudulent third-party organizations have coerced cash from immigrant-hopefuls with promises that they have sway with lottery officials. Security officials and lawmakers have rancis Nkam was happy in Cameroon. He had gone suggested that the program threatens national security, citing to college, had gotten his bachelor’s degree in edu- the difficulties of performing background checks in many elication and was teaching high school. gible countries and the acceptance of applicants from state sponsors of terrorism. But greater opportunity called in America, and rather than spend the money on a visa application, Nkam entered Despite the criticisms, the program has supporters in Congress. the visa lottery. The Congressional Black Caucus backs Nkam’s claim that the visa lottery is one of the few paths to permanent American “Each time we played the Diversity Visa Lottery, we played in a citizenship for sub-Saharan Africa natives. group of five or six people,” he recalled. “And each time someone would win. And I kept saying my time would come.” While the odds of being selected are poor, winners from Cameroon said an entry in the lottery had far better chances Come it did. On his seventh try, Nkam won a visa, and he than formal visa applications. immigrated to the U.S. in 2003. Not long after, he landed a job as a high school French teacher in southern New Jersey, got “I don’t know of anybody who came through any other means,” two master’s degrees from Rutgers, married a woman from Nkam said. The U.S. Embassy “has about a 1 percent visa-grantCameroon and is expecting his first child later this year. ing rate. For every 1,000 people who actually apply for a visa, you’ll be lucky if 10 people from that number get a visa. That Supporters of the Diversity Visa Program say it opens up path- is almost impossible.” ways for people such as Nkam from underrepresented countries in sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean countries. Crit- The free entry of the lottery provides opportunities for those ics, though, say it’s rampant with fraud in the application pro- who don’t wish to apply formally. But therein is the most longstanding argument against the program: It hands out, largely based on luck, 50,000 permanent resident visas every year while family members of U.S. residents and prospective employees wait in queues up to 24 years for the same benefit. With the backlogged visa list multiplying continuously, wait cess. Now the program is in danger of being eliminated, as the times aren’t expected to drop anytime soon. Senate killed it in its recent immigration overhaul and a similar fate awaits it in the House of Representatives. The House The lottery “programs cannot be justified given all the more comalready voted to cancel the program last November. pelling, competing demands for the limited number of green cards that we can make available,” House Judiciary Committee ChairPart of the Immigration Act of 1990, the Diversity Visa Pro- man Robert Goodlatte, R-Va., said in a June announcement. gram was intended to create new avenues for residents of countries that were underrepresented in America’s immigration Supporters of the program say it’s not the lottery itself that melting pot, offering permanent resident visas to 50,000 lucky matters but rather the goal of open pathways for winners each year. Natives of countries with fewer than 50,000 underrepresented demographics. immigrants to the U.S. over the past five years are eligible for entry. Each year, based on immigration data, countries are “I think that our bigger concern is not so much a lottery, but added or removed from the lottery-eligible list. our bigger concern is to ensure that people from underserved countries – Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean – are included Prospective immigrants must have at least high school diplo- in what is called a comprehensive immigration bill,” said Rep. mas or the equivalent or a minimum of two years of work ex- Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, the chairwoman of the Congressional perience in fields that require training. The application pro- Black Caucus. “And I don’t know what form that is going to cess opens for one month, with a strict limit of one entry per take, but if there is some language that allows that to happen, applicant. More than 14 million applied in 2012. then I’m favorable to it.”

...the program is in danger of being eliminated, as the Senate killed it in its recent immigration overhaul and a similar fate awaits it in the House of Representatives.

As recently as last year, the program displayed crucial weaknesses. Faulty programming led false results of the 2012 lottery to be posted online, informing many prospective immigrants that they’d been selected for green cards when they had

The House is expected to take up discussions on immigration Wednesday in a closed-door meeting. Reprinted from the Miami Herald.

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Continued from page 1

place, even the unexpected events appeared to be planned because of the positive, professional efforts of the team. Our CAHM committee has mastered the planning and implementation process for our CAHM celebrations. To simply say ‘We did it’ just does not do justice to the efforts and support we had from a hard working, result oriented planning committee. Everyone stepped into their role and responsibility with focus and determination and the results are a reflection of those efforts. Our attendance this year was estimated to be in excess of 10,000 people. We must also be thankful to the powers of the heavens who provided just the right amount of rain at precisely the right time to provide just the right temperature drop to make it a perfect day for our CAHM Festival. This year we welcomed some new sponsors and we have made every effort to showcase their support and recognize their businesses as we presented a showcase festival that exemplifies the diversity of our Caribbean American Heritage and culture. Let us take every opportunity to go out and show our sponsors that we support them the same way they support us. As we have previously stated “we have built a foundation that can support the vision we have to showcase our Caribbean American culture in Central Florida”. Our motto for this year was “One Caribbean ……….Many Flags” - the cultural presentation and the crowd that came out to celebrate Caribbean American Heritage month was definitely a true reflection our motto taken world wide……”One World……Many Flags”. Our projections to shut-down Lake Eola and the downtown area by 2015 are all falling into place.

Members of the Hilton Grand Vacations African American Team Member Resource Group

Caribbean Experience All White Party with a Splash of Caribbean Color

From the moment Father Cecil said the opening prayer, it was a visit to the “Caribbean without going through border control” on the evening of June 22, when musicians and performers of Caribbean background gathered at the St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1709 John Young Parkway, Kissimmee for the first ever Post Father’s Day Gospel Fiesta. On left: Barbadian Saxophonist Terry Blackman; On right: Puerto Rican Trumpeter Carlos Perez.

European Trade Deal Could Undermine Important Regulations Here At Home By Alan Pyke

such as derivatives that benefit investors but not the real economy. Wallach fears those limits on regulation would be enforced through orthcoming trade negotiations between the U.S. and what’s called an “investor-state dispute resolution,” whereby fithe European Commission threaten to undermine nancial firms could sue the government and demand “taxpayer environmental, workplace, and financial regula- compensation for any financial regulation that they believe untions, according to a July 8 letter from a slew of Ameri- dermines what would be extraordinary investor rights” in the agreement, Wallach said. The letter sent to necan and European public interest gotiating parties on Monday notes that “ingroups sent to President Barack vestor-state” rules in other treaties have let Obama and his European counterpolluters and tobacco companies underparts. The letter includes a demand mine public safeguards. that documents and transcripts from the negotiations be made public. On a conIlana Solomon, trade representative for the ference call with reporters Monday, represenSierra Club, expressed concerns that the tatives from five of the American signatotrade agreement might prevent future efforts ries to the letter said that business interests to combat climate change by constricting legwill use the talks to advance deregulatory islative options that rely on taxes or regulaschemes that have failed to pass legislations to take action on such controversial fuel tures on either side of the Atlantic. sources as natural gas produced by “fracking.” AFL-CIO trade speOn financial regulation, the coalition fears a group called the cialist Celeste Drake said European business groups “are looking to Transatlantic Business Council (TBC) will push to undermine go after Buy America,” referring to a 1983 law requiring governprovisions of the landmark Dodd-Frank law of 2010. “No place ment contracts for transportation infrastructure go to U.S. compais the economic downside [of the agreement] more probable nies, and worried about a host of other worker protections. than in rolling back important financial regulations,” Public Citizen’s Lori Wallach said. Financial firms on either side of On the question of genetically-modified foods, U.S. companies the ocean are aligned, Wallach said, in seeking a system of want to ease Europe’s restrictions on such foods, and Karen “mutual recognition” that would allow what she called weaker Hansen-Kuhn of the Institute for Trade and Agriculture Policy European regulations to govern multinational bank behavior said the agreement is likely “to promote the interests of multiin America. The industry disputes the notion that it’s seeking national corporations over those of local communities” by to undermine Dodd-Frank, as this Financial Times article notes, making it easier for companies to avoid distinguishing between modified and natural foods. but the Obama administration shares Wallach’s concerns. At least, in part. Wallach went on to explain that the administration has endorsed a proposal that would bar U.S. lawmakers from enacting “five core areas of financial regulation,” including limits on bank size and bans on exotic and risky financial products

There are fewer differences to work out when it comes to taxes or tariffs, so regulations are more likely to take center stage in these talks than in most trade negotiations. The discussions begin this week, but a final agreement could be more than a year away.

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Patrick Gaspard rom former campaign operative to U.S. ambassador to South Africa – the son of Haitian immigrants has indeed come a long way. President Obama on Thursday confirmed New Yorker, Patrick Gaspard, the son of Haitian parents, to become the new ambassador of the United States to South Africa. Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes praised Gaspard as “somebody who is close to the President (and) somebody who cares deeply about South Africa.” In a brief email to the Daily News, Gaspard Patrick Gaspard said he is “ecstatic and deeply humbled” at being chosen by Obama. Gaspard was a political strategist and organizer who worked at the New York-based 1199/SEIU, the nation’s biggest healthcare workers union. He then went on to work as the National Political Director of the Barack Obama presidential campaign and was later named White House adviser after the historic win in 2008. By 2011 he had moved on to the executive director’s job at the Democratic National Committee.

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Caribbean Youth Spot Light

Continued from pg 1 Q - As a young/upcoming DJ what would you say to someone who wants to get into the industry? A - Dedicate as much time as possible to working on your production skills and finding a unique sound, stay focused and be open to critical feedback from your peers. Those are all pretty simple concepts but it’s always good to be reminded of them. Q - Is there any traditional Asian/Chinese or Guyanese influence in your music? A - I actually wrote my song “Dawn” while in Guyana trying to do exactly that. The chords sound somewhat asiatic and there’s one section in particular near the middle of the song where I tried to recreate the sound of woodblocks. Q - Where do you see yourself in 5 years? A - Working on Haiti’s renaissance, whether it be through promoting the country through my music or serving in the medical field!

“

he Board of Regents has made an outstanding selection for the next president of Fort Valley State University (in Georgia). (Guyanese) Dr. (Ivelaw) Griffith is an accomplished scholar whose career and academic training will take this institution to a level of achievement and quality so critical in the global world of tomorrow. I and the other members of my staff are totally committed to supporting President Griffith as he leads the students, faculty and the extended Fort Valley Community into the future. I know all who are committed to assuring a successful future for the University will lend their support to President Griffith’s administration.” - Hank Huckaby, Chancellor, University System of Georgia “Today the people of Barbados have lost a true patriot and a champion of democracy, the medical profession has lost an inspirational pioneer, and I have lost a dear friend and trusted mentor. In the ruthlessly adversarial and bruising Dr. Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith atmosphere of partisan politics in Barbados, Richie Haynes (Sir Richard Haynes) stood apart. He was a selfless politician for whom integrity, transparency and respect for the principles of good governance were paramount, and never worth sacrificing on the altar of power and personal ambition. Throughout his political career Richie was a courageous and uncompromising defender of the national interest and a deep and thoughtful exponent of policies that would strengthen the development process and enhance the quality of life of all Barbadians. For them he was the authentic voice of conscience, a proponent of the politics of ideas not of pointless partisan confrontation, a creator of space for alternative views to be heard and respected.” - Mia Mottley, Opposition Leader, Barbados (Barbados Nation) “Some people often referred to Sir Richard (“Richie”) Haynes as possibly the best Prime Minister Barbados never had.” - Albert Branford, Journalist, Barbados Nation (Barbados Nation)

“The question of power has not even entered my consciousness because I feel that if you are people oriented then representation must be your main interest. I am convinced that once good and honest representation is sought for the people who elect you, then all else will fall into place.” - The late Sir Richard Haynes, former Minister of Finance, Barbados (Barbados Nation) “American (Airlines) is committed to providing our customers with easy and convenient access to destinations around the globe. This new codeshare relationship with Seaborne (Airlines) affirms that commitment by expanding our global network to include more travel options to the Caribbean.” - Kurt Stache, Vice President - Strategic Alliances, American Airlines “It was you, the CEO of Delta, vaguely familiar from the safety video. It was you, Richard Anderson, who gave up your seat for me. It was you, the Delta CEO, who helped me with my bag. It was you, acting just like an ordinary Mr. Anderson, who showed me to my seat. You, Richard Anderson, the CEO of

Delta, did all that for me, just an average, middle-aged, woman with, as far as anyone at Delta knew, no special reason to get home. But more importantly, it was all of your employees that day that did so much helping me to get home - and now I know why. Because Delta is led by you, Richard Anderson, a dedicated and inspiring leader who so clearly demonSir Richard Haynes strates, at his very core, that he leads by example, and does not set himself above all those who allow this airline to exist.” - Jessie Frank, Delta Air Lines passenger (TravelIndustryTODAY.com) “People of mediocre ability sometimes achieve outstanding success because they don’t know when to quit. Most men succeed because they are determined to.” - George Allen, American football coach “Quotable Caribbean” is compiled by Marketplace Excellence Corporation, a fullservice, integrated marketing agency committed to excellence in the fields of public relations, marketing and media coaching.

Monday, July 29 at 6:00 PM Greater Orlando CARES and Hope for Danielle Thanksgiving Vigil for Danielle Sampson Join us for A Prayer of Thanksgiving: Monday, July 29 at 6:00 PM will mark one year of the tragic shooting of Danielle Sampson. Hope for Danielle and partners as we come together for an evening of thanksgiving for the life and strength of Danielle and her family. Informational updates will be posted on Facebook at the following pages: Greater Orlando CARES and Hope for Danielle.

Field Hockey Clinic Greater Orlando CARES Field Hockey Clinic Monday, August 5, 2013 through Saturday, August 10, 2013 Contact: Sam Roberts 407.810.6435

LEADING LADIES BEHIND THE SCENES AND ON THE FRONT LINE Welcome to my column on Leading Ladies behind the Scenes. Our column will introduce you to leading ladies who have branded their own recognition and blazed their own trails. These ladies work behind the scenes but manage the front line with high impact results. You might have heard their names or admired their work, but never met them up close and personal. Our column will give you the chance to meet these ladies so you can place a face with the name and their trendsetting work in our community, various organizations and in business. Thank you for celebrating their value with us.

Nouchelle Hastings: “Girl What Do You Bring to the Table?”

Dominique Greco Marketing Manager for the V Group f anybody has spent more than five minutes in my company, then you know how much I love New York and how much I love good food especially when I can get a twist of the ‘city’ with my dining experience. A few months back I left my office in trace of something different for lunch. As I stepped onto the sidewalk wouldn’t you know it the rain started to come down really hard. The OMG what about my hair gave way to OMG my stomach desires to be dazzled – stopping and looking around my eyes locked in on this V across the street. I thought how wet can my hair get just running across the street and thus I made my way.

ronment is fun however at Vixen girls rule (Vixen Bar where it’s all about the women and laid-back libations). “Coming to work here every day is ‘motivating’ and you get to meet great people. I have been a counselor, friend and match-maker, many of those I introduced are now engaged to be married….. I love it here” says Liz Ellis.

It was at the Vixen where I saw the real woman in Dominique – sometimes women can become squally when they are in the presence of other equally beautiful and dominant women and it makes for a bad mix, but not Dominique she was totally open about the robust wall art and shared on how these babes get to grace the Vixen walls and even What I wasn’t expecting to find was a sultry introduced me to the artist (who she knew New York appeal restaurant with warm all the information on). Dominique is the friendly faces. I stepped inside and on first type of marketer one covets to have on their glance thought “what’s a bar doing opened team she is all about the business of the V during this time of day” and then I slowed Group and she is such a morale booster. Each Dominique Greco down and took it all in and it was dazzling to venue we visited welcomed us with open arms my spirit…..with Native New Yorker playing around in my head, and smiling faces, and I strongly believe it’s because DominI asked a question and then another and it was marriage within ique is a power giver of resources and shares an open door minutes. The restaurant is called ‘The Fifth’. The Fifth is a unique policy. It was one of the best downtown experiences I have ever Downtown destination serving a new flavor of classic plates and had, well honestly, it was my first but it’s already a ‘best’. I will premium drinks in a relaxed, upscale and unforgettable atmo- no longer tell folks that there really isn’t anything to do downsphere. The Fifth’s sleek and modern design captures you right town or no place to enjoy when you are visiting from out of as you walk in the door with the beautiful white rock finishing town because I have been wowed by the V. I will share the V adorning the walls front to back, stylish Onyx bar and columns Group Concepts for another major reason and it has everything and dynamic lighting throughout; this concept not only will to do with Dominique a young lady who interned with the comsatisfy your thirst, but also please your palate day and night. pany, went away to further her education and returned to join the team who believes that a great company is built on a great With such manicured presentation you have to wonder about family. Dominique says she finally made it back home and the presence of the management and staff – well I was wowed welcomes all of Orlando and visiting guest to stop over at one of by the bubblicious personality of the Marketing Manager with the V Groups homes for drinks and a classy time anytime you’re the power name Dominique, sought of reminds you of Strange’ in the neighborhood. in Boomerang that is until you experience her. I must admit that what makes Dominique so expressly powerful is her soft The V Group, dedicated to making Orlando’s night life an unand sullen presence and the confidence of her knowledge. Not forgettable experience. Consisting of Vintage Lounge, Vixen Bar, only does she know V Group concepts inside and out, she is a The Fifth, and NV Art Bar. http://www.vgroupconcepts.com/ believer in the company and speaks about her team with passion. Spending time with her on a recent UCF Cornerstone *UCF Business majors (all ladies) in their Cornerstone class Team Wish Avenger event, I learned so much from her shar- working towards raising funds for a little girl with Cardiomying. The V Group is family for her and mostly all of the team. opathy who is part of New Hope for Kids. They exceeded their She introduced me to one of the female bartenders, Liz Ellis class-required goal of $700 by over $3000 - allowing them to who has been with the V group since forever. Liz poised and actually grant 2 child’s final wishes. powerful as well, shared that same confident smile as Dominique, she explained that working in a male dominated envi- Girlwhatdoyoubringtothetable.com