New York Liberty Star by Ivrol Hines

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2010 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

50 CENTS COMPTR OLLER TO FIGHT FOR SMALL B USINESSES COMPTROLLER BUSINESSES USINESSES,, P6

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2010

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Entertainment

DENNIS BROWN HAILED PRINCE OF REGGAE

DENNIS BROWN: For most people, Bob Marley will always be the undisputed king of reggae. But for reggae purists, Brown also deserves mention. Page 23

Sports

REGGAE BOYZ LOSE TO SOUTH AFRICA

JAMAICA REGGAE BOYZ proved worthy challengers before crashing to a 2-0 loss to South Africa.

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 198

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2010 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

ARTHUR LOK JACK

JOHN LIU

COMPTROLLER TO FIGHT FOR SMALL BUSINESS

JAMAICA GETS SHARES IN CARIBBEN AIRLINES

DENNIS BROWN

RYAN JOHNSON

CLARKE

SEES

REGGAE BOYZ SLUMP TO DENNIS BROWN HAILED JUSTICE IN IMMIGRANT CROWN PRINCE OF REGGAE 2-0 LOSS VS S. AFRICADwight STATUS CHECK, P4.

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2010 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

Local News Clarke Sees No Justice In Immigrant Status Check

Evelyn Cunningham

Pioneering Journalist Evelyn Cunningham Dies In NY By Karen Matthews NEW YORK – Evelyn Cunningham, a pioneering journalist who covered the birth of the 1960s civil rights movement and later served as an aide to New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller, died Wednesday. She was 94. She died of natural causes at the Jewish Home and Hospital in Manhattan, said her niece, Gigi Freeman. Cunningham was a reporter and editor for the Pittsburgh Courier, an influential black newspaper, from the 1940s through the early 1960s. She earned the nickname “the lynching editor” for her reporting on lynchings in the segregated South. She interviewed prominent civil rights figures, including Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, and produced a threepart series on the King family. In 1998, Cunningham and other Courier staff members accepted a George Polk Award for the paper’s civil rights coverage. In an interview with The New York Times at the time of the award, Cunningham recalled walking up to Eugene “Bull” Connor, the Birmingham, Ala. police commissioner who had ordered fire hoses turned on civil rights workers, and asking for an interview. He used a racial epithet and walked away.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke joined her congressional colleagues in denouncing the enactment of the Arizona immigration enforcement law, SB 1070. “The great civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’ The enactment of the Arizona immigration enforcement law is indeed a threat to justice, not only in Arizona but across our nation. It’s akin to apartheid, and it tramples on the civil rights and civil liberties of everyone,” stated Rep. Clarke. “It is clear that this new law could lead to the legalization of racial profiling in the state of Arizona and only serves to create further division within our nation,” added Rep. Clarke. “It is so hypocritical of a nation built by immigrants… for immigrants to turn the clock back now.” Under the new law, Arizona authorities are required, “under reasonable suspicion” to determine the immigration status of anyone who they suspect are illegal immigrants. Individuals in question would have to provide proper documentation verifying their immigration status. Similarly during Apartheid, blacks in South Africa were required to show documentation to legitimize their status in their nation, essentially creating a legalized form of racial discrimination.

Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke “This new law in Arizona is a step backwards in addressing our broken immigration system. It is the unfortunate response to the federal government’s lack of action on comprehensive immigration reform,” said Rep. Clarke. “Now the question is… What are we as the federal government and as a nation going to do about it? Well, I stand here with you today to say that we are going to fight! We are going to fight to bring Comprehensive Immigration Reform legislation to the

LENECIA HINES EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

House floor for debate as soon as possible,” declared Congresswoman Clarke. “This must be resolved at the federal level. Unfortunately, Arizona has become a great example as to how handling such an issue at the state level can be counterproductive for our nation. Our national security is at stake; our moral standing in the world depends on it; and the American people, many of whom are first and second generation immigrants, demanded it,” said Rep. Clarke. “As a Brooklyn native, whose roots are firmly planted in my Jamaican heritage, and a Representative of one of the largest populations of first and second generation of immigrants, I see firsthand the dire need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.” “The truth of the matter is that this is not just a Hispanic issue, it is not just a border security issue, it is an American issue. I urge Congress to take a fresh look at the antiquated policies, bureaucratic backlogs that tear families apart and devastate our communities,” stated Rep. Yvette Clarke. “Let us never forget, that when we turn our back on those who come to these shores to become Americans to help build our great nation and to embrace the American Dream, we are turning our backs on ourselves,” concluded Rep. Clarke

Census Kicks Off Door-To-Door Follow-Ups NEW YORK, NY – Beginning May 1, more than 600,000 Census takers, commonly referred to as enumerators, will knock on doors in communities across the United States, signaling the launch of the Nonresponse Followup operation (NRFU). NRFU operation tasks enumerators with visiting households that did not mail back their 2010 Census form to make sure everyone is counted once and in the right place. The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting this important operation to ensure that the 2010 Census is complete and accurate. Enumerators are temporary workers hired from the local community by the U.S. Census Bureau. The census taker will have an ID badge with the Bureau of the Census seal, and may also be carrying a bag with “U.S. Census Bureau” on it. If asked, he or she will provide you with supervisor contact information and/or the Local Census Office phone number for verification. Census takers will visit homes to ask the same ten

SPIRITUAL READING Man from Jamaica Woman from Haiti

questions that were included in the mailed out questionnaire. They will not ask respondents about immigration or citizenship status, Social Security numbers, or bank accounts and any financial information. They will not solicit any monetary contribution. “Nonresponse follow-up is critical to achieving an accurate census,” says Lester A. Farthing, the U.S. Census Bureau’s New York regional director. “If an enumerator knocks on your door, please cooperate and answer ten simple questions so that your community can receive its fair share of federal funding and be fairly represented in government.” Census takers will visit each address up to three times and may try to telephone up to three times. If a resident does not answer, the census taker will leave a door hanger with a number the resident can call to schedule an interview time. If contact is made by phone, the census worker will conduct the interview with the household member.

“Saint Philomena “Saint Joseph keep us Keep us grounded.” steady in our doings.”

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www.nylibertystar.com New York Liberty Star welcomes letters from readers and press releases. We reserve the right to edit all materials, in keeping with publication standards. To submit an article, send email to: nylibertystar@yahoo.com. Hours of operation: M-F, 9 a.m. 5 p.m. All material due by 12 p.m., two days prior to publication. The New York Liberty Star is not responsible for typographical errors in ads beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Copyright New York Liberty Star 2001. All rightsreserved / Ivrol D. Hines.

This psalm is good for protection against enemies; also good for court cases. This is a good pocket piece as well. Psalm 35

“Saint Peter open all doors for us all.”

Saint Barbara

For reading call for appointment:

917-216-1507 or 614-805-6530

IVROL HINES MANAGING EDITOR

Read this prayer before going to bed.

One Remedy To Remove Jinx And Bad Luck & Bring You Good Luck

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In the name of Shango, Lightning and thunder for all our enemies.

Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me; fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. Draw out also the spear, and block the way against them that persecute me. Say unto my soul, “I am thy salvation ...” To be continued. Read three times daily. 917-216-1507

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FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2010 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

Dirty Air, A Health Risk For NYC Residents NEW YORK, NY — New York City, home to the largest Caribbean immigrant population, is one of the most polluted cities in the U.S. The American Lung Association’s State of the Air 2010 report finds that in many instances New York City’s air is getting cleaner but it is still among the dirtiest in the country. According to the report, over 12 million New Yorkers – more than 62 percent of the state’s residents — live in counties where unhealthy air threatens their lives and health. This year, 19 of the 33 counties in New York state with air quality monitors received failing grades. Nevertheless, the report also shows that efforts underway to clean up air pollution in the state are making a difference. “While many portions of this year’s report are encouraging, far too many residents of New York City are still breathing air that puts their health at risk,” said Scott T. Santarella, President and CEO of the American Lung Association in New York. “While most boroughs in the city showed reduced particle pollution, these levels are still unacceptably high. This report reinforces what we already know: the time is now for Mayor Bloomberg and the City Council to fully implement the air quality initiatives of PlaNYC 2030.” The State of the Air report, found at www.alany.org, provides an annual national air quality “report card,” based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s color-coded Air Quality Index. Using the most recent qualityassured data, the report assigns A-F grades to counties. The American Lung Association identified the number of days that each county with at least one air quality monitor experienced air quality designated as orange (unhealthy for sensitive groups), red (unhealthy), or purple (very unhealthy), to determine the grades. “Air pollution affects everyone but it is even more of a threat to people with lung disease,”

said Dr. Irwin Berlin, Chief of the Pulmonary/ Critical Care Medicine Division at Elmhurst Hospital Center. “Ozone irritates the lungs when it is breathed in, and, particle pollution can be deadly. For my patients to have healthier lungs, we need to have cleaner air.” Ozone, or smog-is the most widespread air pollutant. It is a gas formed most often when sunlight reacts with vapors emitted when motor vehicles, factories, power plants and other sources burn fuel. Breathing in ozone irritates the respiratory tract and causes health problems

like asthma attacks, coughing, wheezing, chest pain and even premature death. Particle pollution, called fine particulate matter or PM 2.5, is a deadly cocktail of ash, soot, diesel exhaust, chemicals, metals and aerosols that can spike dangerously for hours to weeks on end. The body’s natural defenses, coughing and sneezing, fail to keep these microscopic particles from burrowing deep within the lungs, triggering serious problems such as asthma and heart attacks, strokes, lung cancer and even early death.

ST ATE OF THE AIR 20 10 NY C REPORT STA 201 NYC BRONX COUNTY · Bronx County is the dirtiest county for both short-term and annual particle pollution. The county received the highest levels of year-round particle pollution in the metro area, but showed an improvement from last year and received a passing grade. (In 2009, both Bronx County and New York County were the only 2 counties in the state to fail for annual particle pollution). · Bronx County, which again earned an F for short-term particle pollution, experienced 21 orange days for this year, compared with 31 in 2009. Despite this improvement, the county still had the highest weighted average of seven days in the state. · Bronx County again received an F for ozone pollution through ozone pollution was slightly worse in this year’s report as illustrated by a higher weighted average of unhealthy days. In 2010, Bronx County had 16 orange ozone pollution days, up from 12 days in 2009. The county had one red ozone pollution day, a decrease from two days in 2009. KINGS COUNTY (BROOKLYN) · Kings County had six short-term particle pollution days, two fewer than in 2009, and improved its grade from a D to a C. The county again passed for long-term particle pollution and its annual level for this pollutant improved slightly. NEW YORK COUNTY (MANHATTAN) · New York County earned an F for short-term particle pollution with 12 orange, down from 15 in 2009. Still, New York is tied with Queens for the second dirtiest county for shortterm particle pollution. In this report, the county has inconclusive data for long-term particle pollution and could not be graded. Last year, the county failed and had been the most polluted county for long-term particle pollution. QUEENS COUNTY · Queens County earned an F for ozone with 14 orange ozone days down from 19 in 2009. The county had 12 orange short-term high particle days, down from 16 in 2009.Queens is tied with New York County for the second dirtiest county for short-term particle pollution.

NYC Comptroller Says He’s Fighting For Small Business BROOKLYN, NY -- New York City Comptroller Hon. John Liu says small businesses in the City are subject to too many fines and penalties and do not get enough government contracts. The comptroller was speaking at a Special Economic Development Leadership

Power Breakfast Meeting, Thursday, at the Brooklyn Navy Yard Headquarters in Brooklyn. During the event, hosted by the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Comptroller Liu says his office is working towards providing assistance to small businesses

Derek Broomes, CACCI Board Chairman, and New York City Comptroller Hon. John Liu at the Brooklyn Navy Yard Headquarters in Brooklyn, Thursday. (Photo by Ivrol Hines)

and “leveling the playing field” when it comes to procurement from the City. The President of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACCI), Dr. Roy A. Hastick, Sr., said “the event was an overwhelming success due to the enormous interest from the small business community in making contacts and obtaining contracts from the government and the private sector.” “As CACCI continues to celebrate our twenty-fifth year anniversary, we are planning to invite distinguished leaders like the comptroller to discuss critical issues affecting small business owners for them to survive and thrive in this economic crisis,” Dr. Hastick said. The New York City Comptroller is the Chief Financial Officer of the City of New York whose primary responsibility is to ensure the financial health of New York City by advising the Mayor, the City Council, and the public of the City’s financial condition. The Comptroller also makes recommendations on City programs and operations, fiscal policies, and financial transactions and manages the assets of the five New York City Pension Funds. Other special guest speakers that attended the power breakfast included include Andrew Kimball, President, Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation; Honorable Darlene Mealy, NYC Councilmember and Chair, NYC Council Contract Committee; Roger Green, Executive Director of the Dubois Bunche Center at Medgar Evers College. The theme for the event was: Contacts and Contracts: Opportunities to grow your business in today’s economic climate. Representatives from SCORE, JP Morgan Chase and City Bank were also on hand to provide information on how entrepreneurs can access financing for their business.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

You’ve Been Sentenced To: Jury Duty

Why do American citizens do whatever it takes to avoid jury duty? If you have yet to be called to serve on a jury or are confused by this question, simply do a quick Google search. The first ten websites provide you with a plethora of excuses on how to get out of jury duty. Sure, you can find information about the process and requirements to serve, 20 minutes later, 5 pages in. Jury duty tends to stir up first-day-of school jitters and trepidations. People don’t know what to expect and what tasks lay ahead. Some can’t afford to miss a day’s pay or find supervision for their children. Many people resent the process, as it gives them the power to decide someone’s future. Nonetheless, jury duty is a privilege of citizenship, a exercise of our basic rights as Americans. If you have ever served on a jury you probably found the trial to be more interesting than anything airing on television these days. Jurors get a front row seat while everyone at home must turn to the screen to quench their thirst for drama. Even high definition doesn’t do justice to being in the courtroom itself. What’s more, you join forces with your peers, with the goal of working as a team to arrive at an important and life-altering decision. Jurors are challenged to work through differences and put their prejudices aside to reach a unanimous vote. It becomes the ultimate test of one’s tenacity and intuition. There is no doubt that the jury deliberation process can be time-consuming and grueling. Many jurors will walk away from the experience admitting that the process was more difficult that they had expected. But the pay-off can be an overwhelmingly positive one. Not only do you earn the respect of your fellow jurors, but you are highly esteemed by everyone in the courtroom. Did you ever notice that when a judge enters a courtroom everyone must stand? Well, that same respect is paid to the jury panel. Closing statements, witness testimonies, evidence; it’s all presented to you. Your opinion matters. Court officials will make a number of accommodations to ensure that you reach a fair verdict. This includes replenishing your water canister and supplying headphones to enhance voices on the stand. If necessary, attorneys will even make copies of evidence sources for each jury member. You are practically waited upon like paying customers at a restaurant. In the end, your vote holds true meaning and impact, regardless of whether you sit on a murder trial for three weeks or a negligence trial for three days. You may be surprised by how much you enjoy having the power to promote justice. The educational experience of serving on a jury is exceptional. In addition to gaining a better understanding of how a victim collects damages, you are privy to learning the logistics attorneys must adhere to, and the role of a judge. You will discover details surrounding the judicial process you might not have known existed. What was once confusing and unclear is demystified. Consider your civic duty as Americans. Besides voting, serving jury duty is the most important thing you can do as citizens. Unfortunately, the civic duty argument usually fails to evoke the patriotic juror in you all. If you have yet to see the incentive for serving on a jury, consider this: besides voting, jury duty is the most important thing you can do as an American citizen. Civic responsibility reaps many rewards. Serving on a juror makes you smarter, more aware, more experienced. You will be enlightened, impressed with the court personnel and will gain a greater respect for the judicial process. So do yourself a favor. Get legally excused from work, enjoy the two hour lunch break, take a seat in the courtroom and enjoy the show. Amanda Zefi is in her third year at Providence College as a Political Science major and intends to go to law school upon graduation.

NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

Caribbean Caribbean Consulates In New York Antigua & Barbuda 610 Fifth Avenue, Suite 311 New York, N.Y. 10020 Tel. 212-541-4117 Bahamas 231 East 46th Street New York, NY 10017 (212) 421-6420 Barbados 800 Second Avenue, 2nd Fl. New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel. 212-867-8435 Belize 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400G New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel. 212-599-0233 Cayman Islands (Dept. of Tourism) 420 Lexington Ave New York, NY 10170 (212) 682-5582 Dominican Republic 1500 Broadway, Suite 410 New York, N.Y. 10036 Tel. 212-768-2480 Grenada 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400K New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel. 212-599-0301 Guyana 866 UN Plaza, Room 304 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel. 212-527-3215 Haiti 271 Madison Avenue, 17th Floor New York, N.Y. 10016 Tel. 212-697-9767 Honduras 80 Wall Street, Suite 415, 4th Floor New York, N.Y. 10005 Tel. 212-269-3611 Jamaica 767 Third Avenue New York, N.Y. 10017-2993 Tel. 212-935-9000 Martinique 444 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel. 212-838-6887 Montserrat 845 Third Avenue New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel. 212-745-0200 Panama 1212 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Floor New York, N.Y. 10036 Tel. 212-840-2450 Puerto Rico 666 Fifth Avenue, 15th Floor New York, N.Y. 10103 Tel. 800-223-6530 St. Kitts & Nevis 414 East 75th Street, 5th Floor New York, N.Y. 10021 Tel. 212-535-1234 St. Lucia 800 Second Avenue, 9th Floor New York, N.Y. 10007 Tel. 212-697-9360 St. Maarten 675 Third Avenue, Ste. 1807 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel. 800-786-2278 St. Vincent & The Grenadines 801 Second Avenue, 21st Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel. 212-687-4981 Trinidad & Tobago 125 Maiden Lane New York, N.Y. Tel. 212-682-7272

Jamaica Gets Shares In Caribbean Airlines

The Jamaica government will own 16 percent of the Trinidad-based Caribbean Airlines(CAL) as part of the merger involving its national airline, Air Jamaica, the CAL chairman, Arthur Lok Jack said on Wednesday. Lok Jack told a news conference that the Bruce Golding government had originally sought a 25 percent share holding in the company, as part of the conditions for CAL taking over the lucrative routes of the cashstrapped Air Jamaica. “We had originally said we would offer them 10 percent of Caribbean Airlines in consideration of the routes that they had. As we went along and we saw some of the value of the routes and the ability that we had to dispense with routes that we did not want and they would pay the legacy costs for, this became a lot more interesting to us. “They were putting pressure on us because they wanted a 25 percent of the company and the negotiations went backwards and forward and we finally ended up where the Jamaican government will now have a 16 percent shareholding in Caribbean Airlines.” Lok Jack said that CAL regarded the agreement as “a good deal” that offers “the opportunity and it offers us a good business and it offers us economies of scale by which we will

be able to reduce costs while increasing our revenue”. The Trinidad and Tobago government will be contributing US$49.2 million to facilitate the expansion of CAL, which from Saturday takes over five of Air Jamaica’s profitable routes. Jamaica’s Finance Minister Audley Shaw said that the details of the new divestment will be outlined, during a news conference later on Wednesday. The Jamaica government said it is “spending some US$200 million on meeting the airline’s outstanding obligations during the transitional period”. Lok Jack told reporters that because of confidentiality agreements signed by both parties, the negotiations took place in an environment of no public disclosure, even though many things had leaked and there “were a lot of press reports going left, right and centre”. He said most of these reports contained “misinformation” and described the agreement reached with Air Jamaica a “merger”. He said the debt and liabilities of

Arthur Lok Jack Air Jamaica were not part of the deal and that “only the people that remain with us actually will be paid by us after the 31st May. “So we are not taking on any costs at all and what we have happening here is that we are getting a clean operation with routes that we want, not routes that we don’t want,” he said, adding that the CAL had conducted its own study on the issue. “We found them (routes) to be very good routes with good load factors, they were developed routes with a number of people flying and the revenue at hand was quite substantial for those routes”. He said there were “no skeletons in the closets” and as a result CAL will now move from owning nine aircraft to approximately 15.

Guyana Slams Tax Evaders GEORGETOWN, Guyana - The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) says it is has discovered thousands of businesses that have been evading their tax obligations. The GRA said the offending businesses include rumshops, restaurants, grocery shops, and stallholders at municipal markets. “There are many stallholders at the Stabroek, Bourda, La Penitence, and New Amsterdam markets, as well as those in outlying areas that are either paying inadequate taxes or none at all,” the authority stated in a release. It also accused business operators of employing tax experts to falsify their income statements so that it declares less than what is actually earned, thereby leading to a significant loss in revenue for the State on a yearly basis. The GRA stressed that adequate revenue is needed for the government to maintain infrastructure and devel-

opmental works, education subsidies, and the provision of free medical and other social services in the country. It has also appealed to “all civic-minded citizens to pay their taxes so that the government can continue to make interventions that will ensure further development of Guyana,” the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported. The revenue authority has warned that persons who fail to comply with the tax regulations will be subjected to a penalty of up to five per cent per month of the unpaid taxes and that persons who failed to file returns within the allotted time frame may be required to pay an additional two per cent of the tax assessed. “In cases where a notice was issued demanding the returns, a penalty of five percent of the tax assessed will be applied if the returns are not submitted within the period specified stated in the notice,” a GINA statement said.

CARICOM Studies St. Lucia’s Free Movement CASTRIES, St. Lucia -- St. Lucia is participating in a study of its administrative systems and procedures to determine whether its laws facilitate the free movement of people, goods, services and capital under the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Single Market and Economy (CSME). A CARICOM Secretariat statement said that the study is also investigating the island’s “conformity with the laws to enable the establishment of business. “It is expected that technical ac-

tion plans for reforming the island’s administrative systems and practices will be developed to agreed standards. This will ensure harmonisation of procedures within the CSME and prevent unnecessary challenges for CARICOM nationals as they operate within a single economic space.” The statement said that a draft report is expected by the end of May and will be reviewed by officials representing the public and private sectors on the island as well as CARICOM and Organisation of Eastern Caribbean (OECS) Secretariats.

It said that another phase will evaluate the island’s legislative procedures. The analysis is being executed by the staff of the CARICOM and OECS Secretariats under the CARICOM Trade and Competitiveness Project (CTCP) which is funded by the Canadian International Development Fund (CIDA). The objective of the CTCP is to provide more and better opportunities for CARICOM nationals to participate in and benefit from the CSME,” the CARICOM Secretariat said.

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2010 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Air Jamaica An Airline Beset With Treachery By Jose Richards When the people of Jamaica were released (so we thought) in 1962 from what was left of the British imperialist empire, their flag, the Union Jack, came down and the flag of Jamaica (the black, gold and green) went up with shouts of great pride. Some of us could envisage a Jamaica of freedom, equal rights, justice for all and true independence, that many have died trying to attain. But our dreams were deferred, because we have had more than our share of politicians with no vision of nationhood, and who still thinks that elected office gives them omnipotent power over the rest of us. They don’t feel that they have to consult (but rather insult) the people before disposing of the legacy of present and future generations, that was paid for with the blood, sweat and tears of our ancestors. Which brings us to Air Jamaica, our national airline and the treachery that’s about to take place before our very eyes. Air Jamaica was established in 1968 with some financial, technical, maintenance and logistical support from the government and people of Canada. It started its operations in April of 1969, another proud national moment in our small nation’s history. But the years of mismanagement has taken its toll on our beloved airline. I don’t believe our politicians would run their businesses the way they allowed the meltdown of our national airline to take place. I believed in the Caribbean Federation, as I believed in a sincere regional airline, but this deal with the governments of Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and the other mystery investors, does not make a regional airline. This is a dastardly deed that was conjured up in the minds of traitors, one that I portend will live on in infamy, and the people of both nations will live to regret it. Those of us who love Jamaica, are fully aware of the airline’s many problems, most of it self-inflicted. But the Jamaican Airline Pilots Association (JALPA) has put forth a proposal to retain the airline in the hands of Jamaicans, which was presented to us at a town hall meeting in Brooklyn on Feb, 26, 2010, and it is worth the support of the Jamaican people. If the prime minister would spend half the time supporting our airline pilots (JALPA) and the Air Jamaica employees, as he spends supporting the rights of some Jamaicans, and we come together as one nation, I am sure we will find the solution that will save the jobs of our people, give us an independent access to the world, and keep Air Jamaica our national carrier, for the next generation and beyond, to take it to an higher level.

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2010 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

Jamaica’s Governance Challenge Within a few days of the start of the year, Paula Llewellyn, Jamaica’s director of public prosecutions warned that corruption will remain a major problem until Jamaicans decide to actively fight against it. “Jamaicans will have to be prepared to assist in exposing corruption. They have to be prepared to give a statement and give the evidence, cost it what it will,” she told The Gleaner Newspaper. Her position was supported by Dr. Trevor Monroe, director of the National Integrity Action Forum, who opined that Jamaicans must be prepared to take a stand against corrupt practices even in the face of possible violent repercussions. Now, a lowly police constable is at risk, facing 5 years or a charge of $5 million for sharing such evidence. As we now know, the evidence Jamaica claimed was illegally collected against Dudus was in fact collected legally in response to a request from the U.S. but was allegedly passed on to the U.S. by this constable who was not authorizated to shared the information. Could it be that the constable was of the same mindset as Ms. Llewellyn and Mr. Munroe? In any case, the Jamaican authorities want the U.S. to identify the constable so he can be charged and tried in Jamaica for doing exactly what Ms. Llewellyn and Mr. Munroe are encouraging Jamaicans to do. In a commentary titled “Jamaica’s Crime Dilemma––Leadership by Example” Real Talk pointed out in January that while Rasta don’t work for no CIA and the proposition might be

difficult to achieve, if Ms. Llewellyn and Mr. Munroe truly want people to put themselves in harms way to solve the crime problem in Jamaica, they should insist that the prime minister and the justice minister lead by example and cooperate with the US in the Dudus case, “cost it what it will”. As if things were not bad enough, the news this week is that as of last Saturday, 417 people have been murdered in Jamaica since the start of the year, 20 per cent more than in the corresponding period last year and at this rate, Jamaica could reach over 2,000 homicides this year. Meanwhile, three unnamed senior government ministers are now under investigation by the Grand Jury which indicted Dudus, suspected of conspiring to prevent information from reaching the Grand Jury in that case. The investigators were focusing on two areas: conspiracy to prevent information reaching the Grand Jury, and conspiracy to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Many who support the government’s position in this matter do so on the grounds of sovereignty but just how sovereign is Jamaica when, as the Justice minister revealed to parliament last week, Jamaica recently employed an additional supreme court judge in order to meet conditions for receiving funds from the European Union. “The conditions” she told Parliament, “have to do with fighting corruption.” It is said that in a democracy, you get the government you deserve and the people of Jamaica are now challenged to do something about Jamaica’s governance, unless of course, they are happy with the government they have.

Police Who Tapped Dudus’ Phone Wanted By Kathy Barrett The government has said it is calling on the United States to indicate which police officer broke the law by sharing information gathered in wire-taps placed on Christopher “Dudus” Coke’s phone calls. Justice Minister and Attorney General Dorothy Lightbourne said that if the unnamed policeman is in the United States, the government is demanding that he be sent back here to face prosecution. On February 2, 2007 the Supreme Court issued a warrant to intercept calls made by or to Coke on a particular telephone number. Under the Interception of Communications Act the information gathered by this means was to be disclosed only to the Commissioner of Police, a Superintendent of Police and the Head of the Military Intelligence Unit of the Jamaica Defence Force. An unidentified police constable, referred to as “John Doe”, is cited by the US in its request for Coke’s extradition as being the officer who confirmed the legitimacy of the information which it used to support its request for Coke’s extradition. If the police officer is found guilty he could be imprisoned for up to three years and also face a maximum fine of three million dollars (US$33,917).

St. Lucians In NY To Give Back NEW YORK, NY — On Sunday, St. Lucians and supporters in New York will gather at the St. Lucia House (formerly Helenites) in Brooklyn to officially launch a new initiative called Project Education. The brainchild of Jeremiah Hyacinth of the World Scholar Foundation, Project Education is a new initiative that provides St Lucians and fellow supporters an opportunity to help students and their families in St Lucia. Through Project Education, students start their school year with donated bags filled with school supplies. “Project Education offers St Lucians around the world a unique opportunity to give back to their beloved home country,” said Hyacinth, “and more importantly, to play a crucial role in the education of St Lucian children. Our long-term goal for Project Education is to enrich all subject areas that struggling St Lucian students face.” Hyacinth remains optimistic that after Sunday’s launch, “St. Lucians and friends of our homeland residing around the world will seek to collaborate on this profoundly important initiative.” Highlighting Sunday’s event is a performance by St. Lucian dancehall reggae artiste Nelson “Cherry L” Seriuex. Originally from the Mon Repos community, Cherry L is noted for his riveting live performances that have endeared him to fans in many venues, from acoustic sets in small cozy clubs to large outdoor concerts.

New Yorkers Pay Tribute To Late Caribbean Icon Hon. Rex Nettleford By Sharon Gordon Founders Hall was alive with the spirit of Professor Rex Nettleford on Sunday, April 18th though it’s been more than two months since his passing on February 2nd. The evening coordinated by E. Wayne McDonald, Artistic Director of the Caribbean Cultural Theatre, paid tribute to the life and legacy of Prof. Nettleford with performers representing the Caribbean and the United States. The evening’s proceedings began with a libation and invocation by Guyanese Menes De Greiot. This was immediately followed by Jamaican Valerie Forbes performing Roy Cayetano’s Drums of Our Fathers. Barbados former Consul General to New York, Jessica Odle Baril, who is also a Board Member of the Caribbean Cultural Theatre brought greetings and introduced E. Wayne McDonald as host for the evening. Paying tribute to Rex Nettleford, was songwriter, composer and inductee in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Irving Burgie, who was interviewed by E.Wayne to the delight of the audience. Mr. Burgie is well known for pen-

ning a string of chart topping songs including Jamaica Farewell and Coconut Woman which he wrote for Singer, Harry Belafonte’s first Calypso themed record, “Day –O” which was No.1 for 32 weeks in 1956 and 1957. The album was the first to ever sell a million copies. Mr. Burgie has the distinction of having written the lyrics of the National anthem of Barbados. After his interview, Mr. Burgie was honored by the members of the Brooklyn Caribbean Youth Festival who paid tribute with a “new age” interpreta-

tion of Day O and Shake Shake Shake. Guyanese guitarists and folksingers, Wrickford Dalgetty and Avis Joseph performed Caribbean classics which had the audience participating in sing along. Hartford based, Jamaican folklorist, Janice “Miss MattieLou” Hart told “duppy stories” which evoked much laughter in the audience. The Hartford, Connecticut based Caribbean American Dance Company, headed by Adrian Fletcher, who formerly performed for over fif-

Wrickford Dalgetty with Avis Joseph (Photo Credits to Roland Hyde)

teen years with the National Dance Theater Company is geared to enrich students in culture through dance and this was seen when the young dancers, displayed well choreographed movements in the kumina piece which was well received by the audience. Also in attendance was Gertrude “Che Che” Sherwood who joined the National Dance Theatre Company at its inception in 1962. She remained a principle dancer with the company until 1976. During her interview with E. Wayne, there was a slide presentation which revealed her and other dancers on Jamaican postage stamps as well as scenes from performances with the NDTC over the years. Karlene Largie, another former dancer with the National Dance Theatre Company and the current president of the Union of Jamaica Alumni Association led a group of former NDTC dancers in a spoken tribute to Prof. Nettleford. Something Postive, a group founded by the late Trinidad born Cherly Byron performed a unique blend of storytelling, poetry, theater, music and dance in a colorful tribute to the professor.

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WHAT’S PLAYING AT THE MOVIES? New Releases Kick-Ass How to Train Your Dragon Date Night Death at a Funeral Clash of the Titans The Last Song Why Did I Get Married Too? The Back Up Plan Hot Tub Time Machine The Bounty Hunter

Jr. Gong Hails Dennis Brown The ‘Crown Prince’ of Reggae F

or most people, Bob Marley will always be the undisputed king of reggae. But for reggae purists, there’s another person who deserves mention alongside the king. As Marley’s youngest son Damian recently told NPR, “If they say that Bob Marley is the king of reggae music, then Dennis Brown is the crown prince.” Though it’s been over a decade since Brown’s death at the age of 42, the accolades for his body of work, and for his uniquely mellifluous voice, have only grown louder. Since recording his first single, ‘No Man Is An Island,’ at the ripe old age of 11, Brown went on to record over 75 albums in a career that spanned a full three decades. Fellow reggae artist Freddie McGregor says that Brown “was our child prodigy. Although I started recording way before Dennis, when Dennis started recording, he immediately became successful.” When asked about the first word that comes to mind when listening to Dennis Brown’s music, Damian Marley simply responded, “joy.” “He was one of those persons who made it cool to smile in reggae music,” the youngest Marley said. “When I listen to his music, I can hear that he really loved singing. It almost sounds like he smiles while he’s singing.”

Dennis Brown

Who Mash Up Reggae? By Sharon Gordon

THE BACK-UP PLAN After years of dating, Zoe has decided waiting for the right one is taking too long. Determined to become a mother, she commits to a plan, makes an appointment and decides to go it alone. That same day, Zoe meets Stan - a man with real possibilities. Trying to nurture a budding relationship and hide the early signs of pregnancy becomes a comedy of errors for Zoe and creates confusing signals for Stan. When Zoe nervously reveals the reason for her unpredictable behavior, Stan commits fully and says he's in. Never before has love seen a courtship where a wild night of sex involves three in a bed - Stan, Zoe and the ever-present massive pregnancy pillow. Or, where 'date night' consists of being the 'focal point' at a near-stranger's water birth which does for kiddie pools what "Jaws" did for swimming in the ocean. The real pregnancy test comes when both of them realize they really don't know each other outside of hormonal chaos and birth preparations. With the nine month clock ticking, both begin to experience cold feet. Anyone can fall in love, get married and have a baby but doing it backwards in hyper-drive could be proof positive that they were made for each other.

The Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music (CPR) recently announced the primary participants in the next forum in their community conversation series: WHO MASH UP REGGAE? (Part One). This forum will examine the role of radio deejays and seek to develop a strategy for reining them in. The forum takes place on Wednesday, May 5th inside the auditorium at the historic Boys and Girls High School, 1700 Fulton Street, near Utica Avenue in Brooklyn from 6:30pm to 10pm. An esteemed group of panelists and commentators reflecting the diversity of the industry will be on hand to share their insights and the community should come prepared with recommendations for remedying what is fast becoming a cancer in our midst and threatens to destroy an entire industry. Panelists are Bob Frederick, former Program Director and on air personality at 1190AM, WLIB who is heard weekdays on 93.5FM and Saturdays on the new Caribbean Star 87.7FM;

Bob Frederick

Long time radio broadcaster Rennie Bishop who has been Program Director at WWRL 1600 AM since 2000 where he also host “All Things New York” heard Saturdays at 6pm; and drummer turned radio station owner and on air personality, Dexter Blake, founder of Linkage Radio 101.5FM in Mount Vernon. Commentators include King Simon (f.k.a. Simon Templar) who has had a long career as an on air personality and event host throughout the New York tri-state area; “The original Rootsman” Earl Chin, credited for his work not only as a radio personality but also as a veejay, for his ground breaking television program, Rockers TV and researcher Junior Raddix, formerly of Link Up Media. Over the past decade or two, radio has become very diverse, ranging from traditional mainstream operations to the ubiquitous “pirate” stations to the now emerging online radio phenomena. As a result, there are no uniform standards for the airing of music and the conduct of radio personalities. As a follow up to last year’s forum which asked the question “Do Radio Deejays contribute to the state of popular Jamaican music?” This

Dexter Blake

King A Aswad-El forum will challenge radio operators to engage with the community in developing practices that reflect today’s realities while continuing to enhance the growth and development of the art form and its practitioners. The Metro New York community is invited to be on had on Wednesday, May 5th at Boys and Girls High School to lend its voice to this effort of reining in the radio deejays. The event is free and open to the public but a reservation is required and donations will be accepted. To make a reservation and to speak, please email cpr@tsoproductions.com or call 718-421-6927. The CPR Community Conversation Series is endorsed by Reggae A.M.P.P.S., ZYNC TV, Liberty Star Newspaper, and E2OnAir.com About CPR: The Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music (CPR) is a charitable organization working to raise the bar in the creation, development, promotion and presentation of reggae music. CPR conducts educational forums, presents music events and conducts research to codify, curate and disseminate information about reggae music.

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Death At A Funeral Death at a Funeral sounds like a classic case of a production that probably sounded like a “can’t miss” when its assorted elements were being pitched to studio execs. First of all, it’s a remake of a recent British hit which quintupled its $9 million budget at the box office.

Martin Lawrence and Chris Rock in Death at a Funeral

The fact that the original was just released in 2007 wouldn’t be a problem, theoretically, because they’d be going after a different demographic, as this version would feature a predominantly African-American cast. Furthermore, not just any black actors would be asked to execute this dark comedy, but a trio of A-list comedians in Chris Rock, Tracy Morgan and Martin Lawrence, plus a bevy of accomplished thespians like Keith David, Zoe Saldana, Danny Glover and Loretta Devine. And the icing on the cake that got it greenlighted involved attaching art house crowd darling Neil LaBute to the project, the director of such critically-acclaimed indies as In the Company of Men and Your Friends & Neighbors. Unfortunately, while all of the above must’ve looked great on the drawing board, this blackface variation on the theme adds up to far less than the sum of its parts. Here’s why. Rather than overhaul the screenplay to appeal to an Afri-

can-American sense of humor, LaBute opted to recycle one designed to tickle British fancies. Consequently, Messrs. Rock, Morgan and Lawrence seem almost shackled sticking to a script which allowed them little room to improvise or to horse around in their trademark styles. Instead, what’s served up here is a farce reminiscent of an extended episode of Benny Hill, Mr. Bean, Fawlty Towers or one of those other slapstick BBC-TV sitcoms. I know what you’re thinking: that’s pretty good company. Yeah, until you get a load of a bunch of black folks attempting to behave in identical fashion. Anyhow, Death at a Funeral revolves around a very eventful day in the lives of an extended family gathering to mourn the passing of a beloved patriarch. Edward (Frank Minor) is survived by his wife, Cynthia (Devine), siblings, Russell (Danny Glover) and Duncan (Ron Glass), and

their assorted offspring. The picture’s everything but the kitchen sink plotline wastes little time to thicken, beginning with the arrival of a gay dwarf (Peter Dinklage) who demands a share of the inheritance as the deceased’s ex-lover. Since the grieving widow had no idea her hubby was on the down-low, her protective sons (Rock and Martin) agree to try to hide the evidence from their mom. This, of course, proves easier said than done. Then there’s niece Elaine’s (Saldana) jittery boyfriend Oscar (James Marsden) who’s accidentally slipped several tabs of LSD from a vial marked “Valium,” a running joke which is repeated with a couple of other guests. Eventually, Oscar pulls a Full Monty on the roof in front of all the open-mouthed mourners. Later, Uncle Russell pulls the same prank on the same roof under the influence of the same hallucinogen. A scene so hilarious you just had to shoot it twice, I guess.

ride around the harbor. Plus cuttingedge hip-hop, a site-specific performance from Cora Dance (“the modern-dance version of an eloquent short-story writer.”- New York Times, “enormously sophisticated”- Village Voice), and much more. The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At June 5th’s IKEA relay you can support this great cause while enjoying family-friendly fun (including music and a big “birthday cake” celebrating the extra years made possible

by cancer research). At sunset “The Luminaria Ceremony” creates a poignant image, as a winding row of candles is lit, each bearing the name of someone touched by cancer. CIRCUSundays/SHOWBOAT SHAZZAM features professional performers from around the globe who will dazzle, mystify, and make you laugh, all in a truly unique setting. The Waterfront Museum & Showboat Barge is the last covered wooden ship of its kind- floating just off land in New York Harbor. June 6th marks the first performances of the year, continuing every Sunday through the end of the month. And with shows at 1 & 4pm, the Circus is the perfect activity to organize a Red Hook trip around.

Jam-Packed Weekend Marks Start Of Summer For Waterfront Neighborhood

owhere in New York is quite like Red Hook, Brooklyn, and on the weekend of June 5th there’s nowhere else to be. With the Red Hook Fest now in its 17th year (a perennial favorite for locals and adventurous hipsters alike), a Relay For Life event to fight cancer at the big, blue, big-box IKEA, and the kick-off to New York’s only on-the-water circus, 48 hours may not be enough. The Red Hook Fest brings exceptional music, dance, and spokenword poetry to new audiences at its breathtaking waterfront locationLouis J. Valentino, Jr. Park & Pier. Running all day Saturday, you can catch a set from La Excelencia (“New York’s most sought after group”Mambo Scene Magazine) or a kayak

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Travel St. Lucia Welcomes Increased NY Flights * Lucians Get Into Groove Before The Start Of Jazz Fest NEW YORK (April 26, 2010) As the island of Saint Lucia bucks the trend and harvests strong growth from the United States travel market, tourism officials are welcoming additional JetBlue Airways flights from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Saint Lucia’s Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) almost two months ahead of the official start of the summer season. Saint Lucian tourism officials report that the airline which began service to the island last October, will increase flights from three to five per week from May 1, 2010 through to Labor Day weekend in early September, to meet travelers’ demands and just in time for the start of the 2010 Saint Lucia Jazz festival which will be held May 1 to 9. Saint Lucia’s Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation reports traveling to Saint Lucia on JetBlue continues to be both accessible and affordable. “We welcome these additional flights from the important New York gateway,” stated Senator Allen Chastanet, who reported the island had already registered five consecutive months of increased US visitor arrivals, averaging more than 30 percent from November through the end of March. With flights on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, JetBlue is currently offering special fares from US $99(a) each way between New York and Saint Lucia

for travel purchased by May 1, 2010. The tickets are valid for travel between May 6 and June 16, 2010 (a). JetBlue also offers full vacation packages for Saint Lucia and 35 other JetBlue destinations. JetBlue Getaways customers book discounted vacation packages, including airfare, hotel, airport transfers and/or various activities at one time, saving valuable time and money. Customers can book a JetBlue Getaways vacation package to Saint Lucia at www.jetblue.com/ getaways or through the JetBlue Getaways desk by calling 1-800JETBLUE (538-2583), option 3. Current special offers on air and hotel packages to Saint Lucia include a 5 night stay at the St. Lucian by Rex Resorts for only $425, departing from JFK in New York and available for travel between May 1 and June 15, booking is available though May 5. Director of Tourism Louis Lewis noted that with the strong exposure the island generated from hosting ABC Television’s “The Bachelor,” the forecast beyond the close of the winter season looks very positive. “Saint Lucia continues to be a top-of-mind destination and we are pleased to be able to accommodate travelers’ needs with increased airline seats, newly renovated hotels, new and improved spas, restaurants, and attractions for couples, families and singles,” he said. He added that with the 19th anniversary of Saint Lucia Jazz set for May, and a revamped

Carnival and Homecoming Celebrations scheduled in July, business prospects were more than encouraging. In September and October this year, JetBlue returns to its thrice weekly schedule, before ramping up the schedule to five weekly flights in time for the busy winter season. This May, the sounds of jazz converge on Saint Lucia in a fabulous week-long celebration that attracts performers and patrons from around the world. This year, Saint Lucia welcomes Grammy Award winners NeYo, Corinne Bailey Rae, Shaggy, Steel Pulse and many other chart-topping artistes. About Saint Lucia One of the Windward Islands of the West Indies’ Lesser Antilles, Saint Lucia (pronounced Saint LOO-sha) is nestled halfway down the Eastern Caribbean archipelago. The “Helen of the West Indies,” Saint Lucia is known for its natural beauty and diverse attractions, including the signature Piton Mountains - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - a tropical rainforest and one of the world’s few drive-in volcanoes. Culturally rich offerings include the bustling marketplace in the capital of Castries, quaint fishing villages along the coastline, and the annual Saint Lucia Jazz festival. Saint Lucia’s wide range of accommodations includes world-class five-star resorts, all-inclusive resorts, intimate inns and value-oriented properties.

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Florida............................... 168 Trinidad..............................238 Kingston............................ 238 Montego Bay..................... 238 Haiti................................... 298 London...............................541 St. Lucia.............................318 Barbados........................... 278 St. Vincent......................... 480 George Town..................... 458 Grenada............................ 622

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Health

Low Testosterone Raises Heart Death Rates In Impotent Men Among men with erectile dysfunction, those who also have low testosterone levels face a higher than normal risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, a new study has found. In a second study, the same team of researchers also found a link between obesity and impairment of blood flow to the penis, which, in turn, is linked to cardiovascular disease in erectile dysfunction patients. In the first study, researchers led by Dr. Giovanni Corona, of the University of Florence, examined the testosterone levels of 1,687 men seeking treatment for erectile dysfunction. After an average follow-up period of 4.3 years, 137 of the men had had a heart attack or other major heart problem, and 15 had died. Those who had lower levels of testoster-

one were the most likely to die of heart problems, the study authors found. “Our work shows that screening for testosterone deficiency in men with erectile dysfunction may help clinicians identify those at higher risk from cardiovascular events,” Corona said in a news release from the European Society of Endocrinology. “However, at the moment we can’t say whether low testosterone levels are the cause or the consequence of this higher risk.” A second study looked at the same group of men and found a link between clinical obesity, which means a body-mass index of greater than 30, and reduced blood flow to the penis. This reduced blood flow was significantly related to an increased incidence of major cardiac events, such as heart attacks, in obese men but not in leaner men. The findings were scheduled to be presented at the European Congress of Endocrinology, held April 24 to 28 in Prague, the Czech Republic.

Casual Sex Increasing in U.S.

eople in nonromantic sexual relationships today are likely to have multiple partners, researchers have found, and that behavior could promote the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, they note. “The United States has seen a major shift toward nonromantic sexual partnerships — people becoming sexually involved when they are just casually dating or not dating at all,” study author Anthony Paik, a sociologist at the University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, said in a university news release. He and his colleagues asked 783 heterosexual adults, ages 18 to 60, how many people they had been sexually involved with during their most recent nonromantic sexual relationship and found: · 17 percent of the men and 5 percent of the women said they had been with someone other than their relationship partner. · 17 percent of women and 8 percent of men said they’d been exclusive but their partner had not. · 12 percent of women and 10

percent of men said neither they nor their partner had been monogamous. · Being sexually involved with a friend increased the likelihood of not being monogamous by 44 percent for women and 25 percent for men. Involvement with an acquaintance or stranger increased the likelihood by 30 percent for women and 43 percent for men. Respondents who got along with each other’s parents were less likely to have multiple sex partners. This may be because people are less likely to risk a relationship when they consider the impact on family, Paik said. The findings were published in the March issue of Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health. “People can make their own choices, but we hope this information will be useful as they weigh the risks and rewards of nonromantic sexual relationships,” Paik said. “We encourage people to be aware of the potential for sexual concurrency and take appropriate precautions to avoid sexually transmitted infections.”

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YOUR WEEKLY HEALTH WATCH What You Eat Affects You, Your Kids And Your Grandkids While cancer victims usually blame themselves - I shouldn’t have smoked, should have eaten better, should have exercised - or the cruelty of chance, they may now have a new scapegoat: Grandma. Eating poorly during pregnancy can increase your children’s and your grandchildren’s risk of cancer, even if they themselves eat healthily, a new study on rats suggests. The risk associated with high-fat diets, especially those high in omega-6 fatty acids, “can be passed from one generation to another without any further exposure,” said lead researcher Sonia de Assis of Georgetown University. While done in rats, the diets used by the study mirrored some typical American eating habits, and so the researchers suspect the results could hold for humans as well. The research was presented last week at the American Association for Cancer Research’s annual meeting in Washington D.C. During the study, some pregnant rats were fed a diet high in omega-6 fat while others received standard fare. After the babies were delivered, all the mothers, their children and their eventual grandchildren ate healthy moderate-fat diets. Granddaughters of the rats that gobbled excess fat during pregnancy had a 30-percent greater chance of developing breast cancer than those with grandparents who ate healthfully. When only one grandmother, on either the mother’s or father’s side, had indulged, the granddaughter’s disease risk was 19-percent higher. For the high-fat diet, the study used a chow that was 43-percent fat, predominantly from omega-6 rich vegetable oil. Most recommendations for a healthy diet include keeping fat intake at 25 to 30 percent, de Assis told LiveScience, “but with fast foods and everything, a lot of people eat more than that each day.” Fat gone rogue This should not imply that fat causes cancer - many fats are quite good for you, after all. But it is more bad news for omega-6 fatty acids, found in corn oil and most non-grass-fed meats. Omega 6s, while essential to a healthy diet, should be balanced with omega 3s. The optimum ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 is likely between 4:1 to 1:1, but in the typical American diet the ratio is more like between 20 and 16:1. This imbalance has previously been linked to a host of health problems, including depression, infertility, heart disease and, yes, cancer. In the new study, the researchers theorize the increased cancer risk might be a result of

the epigenetic effects of omega-6 fats. (Epigenetics refers to the idea that even if genes themselves aren’t altered, how they function can change.) Omega 6s may indirectly turn off genes that slow cell apoptosis (normal cell death). Cells can then proliferate and lead to tumors, which are essentially a bundle of multiplying cells gone wild. Somehow, the fat must also be affecting the “germ line,” the pathways that lead to viable sperm and eggs, for the effect to be crossing multiple generations. DNA is not in the driver’s seat Epigenome, which literally means “on top of the genome,” refers to all the factors that control how a gene is expressed. The new study potentially adds to the growing body of research suggesting the epigenome may be at the root of many health problems. “People think there is nothing you can do (about your disease risk),” said researcher Rod Dashwood of Oregon State University, who gave a lecture this afternoon on epigenetics at the Experimental Biology 2010 conference in Anaheim, Calif. “But you are not just what your genes are.” (Dashwood has conducted separate research from de Assis.) Rather, you are your genes under the influence of your epigenome, which, during critical periods, is shaped by your environment, your lifestyle, your life experience - and those of your immediate ancestors. “Genes only account for 5 to 10 percent of the familial risk of breast cancer,” said de Assis, by way of illustration. Something inherited in the epigenome could account for the rest. Take hold of the steering wheel For decades, studies have been associating diet with disease risk. Now, research on the epigenome may be revealing the mechanism at play. For example, Dashwood’s work indicates that many whole foods - including broccoli sprouts, onions, garlic, radishes, wasabi, daikon, horseradish and wheat bran - may help prevent epigenetic processes that lead to degenerative diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, stroke and even aging. “The (epigenetic) effect may be contributing to the overall health benefits of these particular foods,” Dashwood told LiveScience. While the multi-generational impact of veggies has not been studied, Dashwood said, “some epigenetic marks can go through six, seven generations.” More research is needed but the lunchroom choice between a bacon-cheeseburger or stirfry may not only affect your own health, but that of your children and grandchildren.

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Commentary

How Can I Protect Myself Against Kids With HIV/AIDS? Q. As a classroom kindergarten teacher, I’m in close contact with my students. They often hug me, lean on me, sneeze on me and cry on me. I’m concerned about contracting a serious ailment like HIV/AIDS. How can I protect myself without being dismissive and cruel to my students? Shouldn’t teachers be told who has AIDS in their classroom? What is the incidence of children who have HIV/AIDS? A. It’s a heartbreaking thing to see children suffering from the symptoms of AIDS. This is information that should be reviewed in the beginning of every school year to staff in public schools as a reminder of the precautions a teacher should take on a daily basis and to weed out myths about HIV/AIDS as well. Let’s explore this topic! Do parents or guardians have to disclose to the school that their child has HIV/AIDS? Parents have to disclose to healthcare professionals, (doctors, nurses, physician assistants, dentists) that their child has HIV/AIDS so they can treat the child accordingly. The law does not require parents and guardians to share HIV-related information with a child’s school. However, it may be in the child’s best interest for some school employees to know about the child’s HIV infection (for example, if the child needs help taking medicines). Parents and guardians of children with HIV should also think about whether to share their child’s HIV status with people directly involved in the child’s life, such as babysitters, friends, and relatives. They do not have to tell anyone. However, it may be overwhelming to care for a young person with HIV/AIDS without telling others and getting support. Can I get HIV from casual contact? No. HIV is not transmitted by day to day contact in the home, the workplace, schools, or social settings. HIV is not transmitted through shaking hands, hugging or a casual kiss. You cannot become infected from a toilet seat, a drinking fountain, a doorknob, dishes, drinking glasses, food, or pets. HIV is a fragile virus that does not live long outside the body. HIV is not an airborne or food borne virus. HIV is present in the blood, semen

or vaginal secretions of an infected person and can be transmitted through unprotected vaginal, oral or anal sex or through sharing injection drug needles. Children who bite will not transmit HIV. Although the virus sometimes can be detected in the saliva of an infected person, experts say the concentration is too weak to cause infection in others. Can the Department of Education bar students infected with HIV from attending classes? Can HIV-infected employees be removed from their jobs? No. Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 protect the right of persons with HIV/AIDS (which are considered disabling conditions under these laws) to continue working as long as they are able to perform the essential functions of their jobs. Under the same laws, students with HIV/AIDS have the right to attend school and cannot be denied access to any educational opportunity for which they would otherwise be qualified. As we have seen, there is no reason to exclude students or personnel with HIV/AIDS because they do not pose a danger to others in a school setting. How can teachers protect themselves? First, you have probably hugged and held the hand of a child who has AIDS already in your career. You should practice the same precautions you would use to avoid catching pink eye and the swine flu. Most parents don’t disclose this information because they do not want their children isolated, rejected and mistreated. The United Federation of Teachers, which is the teachers’ union across America, offers the following information when teaching children who have HIV/AIDS: Some school employees, such as school nurses and health aides, have job duties that involve routine exposure to blood. Just like health care personnel working in hospitals, these school employees face some risk of contracting the HIV virus if they sustain direct contact with infected blood. Examples of direct contact include being pierced with a needle or other sharp object contaminated with the virus or being splashed with infected blood on the eyes, nose, mouth or an open wound.

Send email to Lisa-Anne Ray Byers at speechlrb@yahoo.com

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Sports WEST INDIES CRICKET

3RD T201 WI Women Stung By Pakistanis

Reggae Boyz Slump To 2-0 Loss After Resilient Display Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz proved worthy challengers before crashing to a 2-0 loss to South Africa as the Bafana Bafana warmed up for next month’s FIFA World Cup in their backyard.

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – West Indies Women were setback in their preparations for the Women’s Twenty20 World Cup, when Pakistan Women crushed them by eight wickets in their third and final T20I on Thursday. The Windies Women were restricted to 105 for eight from their allocation of 20 overs, and the Pakistani Women replied with 102 for two to win with seven balls to spare at Edgar Gilbert Sports Complex. Cordel Jack led the way for the Windies Women with 46, after they were sent in to bat on a hard, true pitch. No other Windies Women’s batter scored more than 20. Pakistan Women’s captain Sana Mir was her side’s best bowler with three for 17 from three overs. Opener Sajjida Shah then anchored the Pakistan Women to victory with five fours in 51 from 54 balls. West Indies Women have been placed in Group-A of the Women’s T20 World Cup with defending champions England, archrivals Australia, and sports rivals South Africa. Pakistan Women have been drawn in Group-B alongside 2009 runners-up New Zealand, as well as fellow Asian sides India and Sri Lanka. The Women’s T20 World Cup opens next Wednesday, May 5. All of the group matches will be contested in St. Kitts before the semifinals in St. Lucia on May 13 and 14, and the Final on May 16 in Barbados.

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2010 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

Ryan Johnson of Jamaica (R) controls the ball as Siyabonga Sangweni of South Africa looks on during the international friendly match between South Africa and Jamaica at Bieberer Berg Stadium on Wednesday in Offenbach, Germany.

The Caribbean side, devoid of its top flight players, kept the South Africans at bay before falling victim to fatigue and conceding goals early and late in the second half at the Bieberer Berg Stadium. Surprise Moriri scored five minutes after the restart while Siyabonga Nomvethe sealed the win five minutes from the end, to give South Africa their first win in four outings over the Jamaicans. The fixture, hastily arranged after China pulled out of an arranged friendly at the last moment, saw Jamaica arriving in the country just hours before the game. South Africa’s coach Carlos Alberto Parreira praised the Reggae Boyz’ quality though the Caribbean side lost. “Jamaica was a very strong team, even though they only arrived in Germany on the same day as the game,” he said. “They ran for 90 minutes and made our life difficult. They were the strongest team we have played during our preparations, even stronger than Paraguay or Cruzeiro, whom we played during our training camp in Brazil.” Following a goalless first half in where chances were few, South Africa capitalised on the Jamaicans’ fatigue to take the lead when Moriri converted Teko Modise’s pass. They were forced to wait over half an hour before they could find the nets again when former Serie A player Nomvethe added the second goal. He ran onto the end of substitute Andile Jali’s pass before beating goalkeeper Dwayne Kerr with a powerful volley. Jamaica’s best chance of the game came in the 18th minute when Xavian Virgo header narrowly missed its target. South Africa will clash in Group A of the World Cup against Mexico, Uruguay and France.

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Team Jamaica Bickle Celebrates 16 Years By Sharon Gordon

eam Jamaica Bickle hosted their 16 th Annual Penn Relays Launch Reception at the Luntey Commons Rooms on the campus of Long Island University in downtown Brooklyn, recently. The highlight of the evening was the launch of the official TJB song and video entitled, Black, Gold and Green (To The World). The song wass written and performed by New York based artists Sheila Hylton, Elvis D and Lushy Banton, three Jamaicans with a strong sense of national pride who are proud of their athletes. “It was just like magic,” says Lushy Banton, “we just showed up and before you know it the vibe was just right.” Shelia and Elvis both agreed that the creative process was in “Divine order.” “We just clicked and then the lyrics just flowed,” said Sheila. Each of them is extremely pleased with the final result. The trio treated the supporters and friends of Team Jamaica Bickle who were gathered to a live performance of Black, Gold and Green to much applause. Another highlight for the evening was a special presentation made to Olympian, Sandie Richards a native of Clarendon who attended Vere Technical High School. Sandie Richards has represented Jamaica in five Olympics games from 1988 to 2004. Sandy has since retired and is now a coach. Team Jamaica Bickle is in dire need of support as they prepare for this year’s Penn Relays. As such, when Karlene Largie, president of Union of Jamaica Alumni Associations presented Team Jamaica Bickle with a check for $9,000, the room erupted in loud applause. TJB organizers expressed their delight and appreciation to UJAA, a committed supporter of Team Jamaica Bickle over the past 16 years. Carl Gray of Netlinks Group has created a “One Caribbean” themed tee shirt series to support the Team Jamaica Bickle effort for 2010. Colorful tee shirts were on sale at the launch. During his presentation, Irwine Clare, Founder of Team Jamaica Bickle took the time to encourage

SOLUTION to Sudoku, P18

folks to support the organization which began in 1994 as a means of providing nutritious meals and amenities to young Jamaican athletes who compete at the annual Penn Relays in Pennsylvania. Clare announced that this year, in the spirit of “One Caribbean” Team Jamaica Bickle will be hosting and assisting athletes from Trinidad and Tobago as well. Jamaica National who was once a sponsor of TJB will not be sponsoring the program this year and GRACE Food who has long been the beverage sponsor for TJB has lessened their sponsorship capacity at this time,

however, GRACE will be a major sponsor of the main event at Penn Relays. Food sponsor, Vincent HoSang and his team of volunteers from Caribbean Food Delights will be on hand to serve up hot meals to the athletes at Penn Relays this weekend. In addition, CHAMPS 100 will be recognized on the field at Penn Relays on Saturday with a presentation to Dr. Small of Inter Secondary School Athletics Championship. Masters of Ceremony for the evening were Robert DeSouza and Aubrey Campbell.

UJAA officials present a check for $9,000 toTeam Jamaica Bickle. (Photo by Roland Hyde)

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2010 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

Recipes Glazed Bananas INGREDIENTS: 3 firm bananas 3 tbs butter 3 tbs brown sugar 1/4 c orange juice 1/4 c spiced dark rum 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp ground allspice vanilla ice cream

METHOD: Cut bananas in half lengthwise and then into 1 inch pieces; set aside. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook butter and brown sugar until bubbly. Remove pan from stove -- be careful not to add rum near flame. Stir in orange juice, rum, cinnamon, allspice, and bananas. Saute until glazed but still firm, about 1 minute. Serve immediately over ice cream. Note: Can substitute light or dark rum for spiced rum; or omit rum and increase orange juice to 1/2 c. Makes 6 Servings Best served as a side dish or with bammie and fried plantain or breadfruit for lovely vegetarian breakfast.

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