July2014v1

ONE LOVE Free Publication

Volume 7 Issue 7

JULY 2014

ARIBBEAN

COMMUNITY • CULTURE • CONNECTIONS

COMMUNITY

J’ouvert Came to a Halt Police Investigates Shooting - Page 4

CARIBBEAN

Barbados Called Moody’s Downgrade “Trash” - Page 6

CONNECTION

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Page 12

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Page 2 • ONE LOVE CARIBBEAN • JULY 2014

Caribbean EVENTS The Jamaica Foundation of Houston cordially invites you to attend Jamaica’s 52nd Independence Gala dinner and dance with silent auction. This event will take place July 26, 2014, at the J. W. Marriott Houston Hotel from 6:30 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. Tickets must be purchased in advance and can be procured from the following vendors: *Caribbean Cuisine *Cool Runnings *Grace’s Cafe *House of Manna

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Where to Eat LOVE BIRD RESTAURANT 281-933-1448 Front Page THEE TRINI HUT 832-367-4771 Page 2

CARIBBEAN CUISINE (713) 772 8225 (713) 774-7428 CARIBBEAN PEPPERPOT (281) 208-7964 Back Page

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The Publisher’s Thoughts WE DO IT WITH A FLAG, CARNIVAL STYLE

One Love CARIBBEAN P.O. Box 742291 Houston, TX 77274 281-769-2253

Website

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Sylvanus Donaie

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Sylvanus Donaie DJ Uncle L Marcelline Chitolie

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Terry Layne Thecia Jenkins Leslie A. Richardson Charmaine Bailey Attorney Latania Mena Advertising Tel: 281-769-2253 Tel: 832-881-9745 Tel: 504-460-9638

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I look forward to the month of June.

The sweltering Houston temperatures arrive, settings on air conditioners move to maximum, and the Gulf breeze blows hot air. But most importantly, it is Caribbean American Heritage month. It is the time that the eyes and ears of America hones in to reflect on the great contributions of the Caribbean Diaspora to the United States.

As with past years, Caribbeaners assemble at various venues such as the Houston City Hall waving their island colors and listening to our esteemed leaders talk about their interactions with the Houston Caribbean Community, and thereafter, returning to their daily routines.

And this year was no exception.

Kudos to our community leaders!

If visibility was the objective, I will give them five stars. Hopefully, their hard work will come to fruition in the future.

Dr. William had a task to influencing the various cultures to parlay their strengths and direct them toward the economic development of T&T. In a speech to his county, he said, “At all level, you have lack to training, inefficiency in management… The requirements are the same even though the job might be different. But above all, the mentality in which the group approaches the question is the same.

You cannot have dedication in one hand and something else in the other.

If we can only get, as I have said repeatedly, the sort of attitude that the population as a whole has with the entire carnival celebration, and we can have this throughout the year, Trinidad and Tobago would be the richest country in the world.” (www.youtube. com/watch?v=hWzTYifBr9k , 2014) As prime minister, Dr. Williams engaged the various sects in developing a roadmap for the future of T&T. His plans stressed on social services, improved education, and cautious attraction of foreign investment capital.

“The policy was fruitful in making Trinidad and Tobago the wealthiest Commonwealth Caribbean nation. He was successively reelected and served as prime minister until his death.” (www.britannica.com, 2014)

But, where do we go from here? The festive atmosphere at City Hall is a great process to begin showcasing sections of our unique cultures and our allegiance to our Caribbean homelands. But is that where we landing? Is that it? Going beyond this point is where my conundrum So what can we learn from Dr. Willies. Let me explain! liams’ works? It is simple: develop a Explaining the notion to my dearest comprehensive roadmap and engage friends oftentimes portrays me as a the community and the powers-to-be. disagreeable old man. They think I I know; this and of itself is not an easy just don’t get it. And, they are cor- task. The good Lord knows that. It’s rect; I don’t understand the sense of like driving a truck up a mountain in purpose of the entire process. At least the third gear. But, if, as a group, we for the past six years, I have seen have to be taken seriously, we cannot various factions stroll to Houston continue on the same track. We can City Hall, wave their colors, listen to learn from those who made the crosselected officials, receive a proclama- ing. While other ethnicities engage tion, and then go home. …until the politicians with a planned roadmap of following year! I cannot internally their economic survivability, we do it rationalize the purpose for creating with a flag, carnival style. such momentum only to let it die out.

It almost appears that we are suffer- The bottom line, we have to start ing from a severe case of melancho- thinking of the uniqueness of our lia, refusing to move to the next step. cultures and education and developing a frame of mind toward business In understanding this phenomenon, and entrepreneurialism. We have to let’s revisit some Caribbean history. develop our own economic structure: Back in the 50’s and 60’s, late Dr. identifying and starting a new busiEric Williams, a Caribbean scholar ness venture and sourcing and orgaand former Prime Minister of Trini- nizing the required resources. dad and Tobago (T&T), faced similar issues. The parties were not of If I may, allow me to add my two cents various islands bloc as they were all worth to the vision dutch-pot. Maybe, Trinbagoians; they were the various next June, we can put forth a modcultural sects with profound differ- est plan to hold the attention of our ences: Hindus, Chinese, Muslims, elected leaders, our communities, and Negroes, Amerindians, French Cre- our media. First, let’s start with the oles, Spanish Creoles, and Europe- groundwork, a designed area where ans. Despite their differences, all Caribbeaners can buy, sell and trade partied in one carnival. In fact, they goods and services. I am referring to a went further. Most Trinis would cel- Caribbean Zone. This is an idea that ebrate Diwali (the Hindu festival) has floated around the community for and the ending parties of Ramadan some years. Time to give it a fresh (Muslim’s fasting month). Simply new look. And most of all, let’s engage cities (Missouri City, Strafford, Bayput, anything for a bacchanal!

town…) in addition to the City of Houston in our quest. Cast your net widely, so you can attain a greater probability of success.

That being said, let me add. A robust and effective Business Council may be just the catalyst to propel such venture. Do you know that we are the only ethnic group in Houston without one? A council that build business communities to which Caribbeaners, visitors and investors are attracted, create partnerships to which Caribbean businesses and government are working toward a win-win outcome, and represent a unified voice for commerce which other communities can respect. Most of all, a savvy Business Council with the expertise to manipulate data, develop economic forecast, and highlight market trends. These reports will eventually be used as tools to grow Houston Caribbean businesses.

The economy in Texas, especially Houston, is gaining strength day by day, and we now have an opportunity to turn the page. “The Houston metropolitan area, with a population of 6.1 million, experienced a net migration gain of 313,800 new residents during the past five years.” (www.forbes. com, 2012) But alongside the positive signs are some pretty big question marks. Do we continue waving our flag, carnival style, or do we transform ourselves into savvy entrepreneurs? You pick.

Let me conclude with the word of Senator Mike Enzi (Republican) of Wyoming. If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.

So until then, One Love!

Sylvanus Donaie, BA, BSEE, MTM, MPM, MBA Publisher

Page 4

ONE LOVE CARIBBEAN

JULY 2014

J’Ouvert Came to a Halt Police Investigates Shooting

Rheisha Shol Wins 2014 Houston Caribbean Queen

By Sylvaus Donaie Staff Writer

The Houston Caribbean communities turned out in drove to enjoy and support the first annual Houston Caribbean Queen Pageant. It was a cultural, educational, and festive event that sort to celebrate the talent and intellectual abilities of young women of Caribbean heritage.

Parade of the Bands 2014

By Sylvaus Donaie Staff Writer

Twenty-year-old, Rheisha Shol of Belize emerged as the winner of the Houston Caribbean Queen Pageant held on Saturday evening June 26, 2014 at the Stafford Civic Center in Stafford, Texas.

A panel of judges declared Shol as the best of the eight young women, who competed for the crown. The judges included former contestant of the Face of Africa USA Pageant, Elizabeth Opara, Miss Black Texas, Brianna Ledet, Michael Otule, Ricardo Modeste, and Latania Mena.

The judges’ selection was aimed to bring a winner with the best qualities to include talent, public speaking skills, public service commitment, discipline, and drive for success. The contestants, themselves, brought their platform to showcase their community work and their Caribbean awareness. Most importantly, their platform includes their vision of how they would represent the Caribbean.

Apart from winning the chance to represent the Houston Caribbean people at key functions, Shols also received a Western Caribbean cruise, formal gown from Very Venzant Collection, and a $1000 Educational Scholarship. First runner-up at the pageant was Euthelle Christmas representing Dominica, and second runner-up was Stephanie Alexander representing Haiti.

2014 Houston Caribbean Queen Rheisha Shol of Belize to get a better education and to live the ‘American Dream’. She has lived in the Houston area for 13 years and is currently living in San Marcos while attending Texas State University.

In high school, Rheisha was an outstanding student. She graduated at the top 10% of her class and served as Vice President of her graduating class. In school, she was involved in FCCLA (Family Career, and Community, Leaders of America) and won numerous awards for her active role in the organization and community. Another accomplishment that she is very proud of is the spot that she earned on the cheerleading squad. She enjoys lending a helping hand at the GRB Convention Center on Christmas Eve every year with her family. She has also been on a mission trip in Belize with her church, House of Prayer.

The other contestants were Akilah Edwards - Jamaica,

Ebony Brown - Trinidad and Tobago, Olivia Johnson - Jamaica, Micauri Perlata - Dominican Republic, and Jamile Williams – Dominica.

Olivia received the Miss Photogenic and Best Swimsuit Awards. Akilah and Rheisha were tied for the Best Evening Wear Award. Euthelle received Best Cultural Costume and Best Talent Awards.

Chardelle Moore and Fire Kyle Young cohosted the pageant.

Moore hails from Grand Bay, Dominica. She is a television host and produce for FOX45 and the CW Baltimore. Trinidadian Fire Kyle is a MC hosting parties around the nation.

Of course, the architects of the venture were two great Dominicans, Kelly St. Rose and Shamah Lloyd. Even with their busy schedule attending school, they directed the Houston Caribbean Queen Pageant to big success. Kudos.

“Thank you for giving me this opportunity! Thank you for the support! Belize isn’t big and not really known in the Caribbean Community, but I am proud to say that I am making it known. I’m going out supporting Belize and putting them on the map,” said Rheisha.

Rheisha Shol was born in Belmopan, Belize. Her family decided to move to Houston, Texas when she was 7 years old

Second Runner-up Stephanie Alexander

First Runner-up Euthelle Christmas

Despite the sounds and glamour of a proud and successful Parade of the Bands and the family fun day at Tom Bass Park in Houston on Sunday, July 6, 2014, the J’ouvert celebration was a disaster.

In the wee early morning Saturday (July 5), J’ouvert came to a halt as gunshots were fired into the crowd of thousands, injuring attendees. The party was held at the San Miguel Arena at 1700 Almeda-Genoa.

Houston police’s are investigating the shooting of four males.

One victim, 16, suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was transported to Ben Taub General Hospital in critical condition. The three other victims were transported to Ben Taub General and Memorial Hermann Hospitals.

Houston Police report stated that approximately 5,000 were attending the event The attendees were on the dirt arena floor dancing and throwing powdered paint and water on each other as part of the festivities. A fight broke out on the floor among numerous people.

At least one person then pulled a gun and began shooting, wounding four people.

The shooting then created a panic on the crowded floor and people began to run out of the one floor entrance. Several persons were then injured in the rush to exit at the same time. All attendees then fled the scene.

Harris County Precinct 7 deputy constables were working security at the event. When they were able to make their way to the arena floor, they found the victims and attempted to secure the scene. No eyewitnesses were located or have come forward since the shooting. The suspect is described only as a black male with a muscular build.

Hours after the event, Houston Caribbean Festival (HFC) who hosted the event, released a this statement: On behalf of the HFC our condolences go out to all of the families that were affected by the tragedy that occurred at the Friday night Jouvert event.

The mission of the HFC is to promote and preserve our diverse Caribbean culture to our fellow Houstonians and the world.

We would like the public to know that the HFC’s first priority in planning any event is the safety of our supporters.

We would like to thank all our supporters for the kind and encouraging expressions via social media and through all other forms of communication.

The HFC will work with the proper authorities to ensure that all measures are reviewed which will allow us to continue to celebrate our cultured diversity through a festive environment.

The HFC once again would like to thank our supporters and acknowledge that without your support we would not exist.

J’ouvert is derived from the French word, “jour ouvert” meaning dawn or day break.

However, it’s significance, in terms of Caribbean history, draws from the days of slavery in its ritual celebration of the darker elements of the island’s folklore. Slaves were banned from attending European’s Masquerade Balls; as a result they started their own party in their area. The party included wearing of costumes and smearing paint, chocolate colored powder, mud or oil to depict devils, demons, monsters and imps.

The tradition would start late night and continues to the dawn of the morning.

Houston Police asks that anyone with information in this incident is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

JULY 2014

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Prominent Jamaican Errol Anthony Wilks directed the play “Long Distance Love” at Fade to Black, a series of new works written by Black playwrights. The play was showcased on June 26-28 at the Obsidian Art Space.

L-R: Errol Anthony Wilks Megan Nix, Tom Stell, Danielle Bunch, Melanie Burke, Andrew Russell

Houston First Program Awards Over $1 Billion to Local Businesses April 21, 2014 -- Mayor Annise Parker today presented a Hire Houston First progress report that shows more than $1 billion of city business has been awarded to designated Hire Houston First (HHF) firms and 20,000 jobs have been sustained since the program began in late 2011.

More than 1,100 companies have sought HHF designation and 424 of those companies have won city contracts. Approximately 50 HHF firms had never before done business with the city.

“When we first started this pro-

gram we thought the designation would be necessary to give local firms a fair shot but we have found that Houston companies are competitive without using the advantage offered by HHF,” said Mayor Parker. “It is still important to get designated under Hire Houston First because we never know when the safety net will be needed to ensure our local companies retain a competitive edge.”

To qualify for designation, businesses must meet at least one of two requirements: Be headquartered in the incorporated city limits or the ten local counties of Harris, Brazoria,

Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Liberty, Montgomery, Waller, Austin and San Jacinto.

Have 20 percent or more of the entity’s workforce and a substantial part of its operations regularly based within the city limits or the ten counties.

HHF allows the award of contracts under $100,000 to a local firm if the local firm’s price is within five percent of the lowest bid from an out-of-town company. For contracts exceeding $100,000, there can be no more than a three percent difference between the out-oftown low bid and the next highest offer from a local vendor.

Baytown Library Introduces Driver Practice Tests Sterling Municipal Library in Baytown announced a new partnership with Driving-Test. org, a provider of online practice tests for driving permits, to help teens and other new drivers improve their driving skills.

“Driving-Tests” recently launched a public service initiative that will provide select public libraries with online driver education resources. With a full 40% of teens failing their practice permit exam on the first try, providing access to multiple practice tests and a variety of study resources will help Baytown teens become better

prepared to take the driver’s seat.

“Sterling Municipal Library is proud to offer this valuable and life-saving service to our community,” said librarian Jamie Eustace. “With over 26 million teen drivers in the United States, automobile accidents are the leading cause of death for US teens.”

Whether you want to get behind the wheel of an automobile or a motorcycle, practice tests and handbooks can be accessed free of charge through the library’s website. Multiple prac-

tice tests are available to new drivers. Tests cover everything from road signs, to driving scenarios, to traffic laws; and are similar to the real tests offered at the Department of Motor Vehicles. “Spending time studying the online material and working through the practice tests are wonderful ways to increase your confidence as you go in to take the real thing,” added Eustace. “We feel very fortunate to be able to offer these free resources to our patrons.”

Andrei Zakhareuski, founder of Continue on Page 14

Page 5

IMMIGRATION NEWS

Skipping Your Immigration Court Hearing In Absentia Orders of Removal

By Latania Mena Attorney at Law If you have been served with an NTA, you are being required to appear before an immigration judge to answer charges against you. NTA stands for “Notice to Appear”, and means in short, that the U.S. Government is attempting to deport you for some violation of federal immigration law.

In Absent Who? Many individuals rely on the advice of non-lawyers on immigration issues and often to their detriment. If you have been served with an NTA and your friends and families caution you not to show up, this is the one time you should not listen.

An individual’s failure to appear before the immigration court, after being properly served with notice of their hearing has devastating consequences. It is like shutting the doors to the pearly gates indefinitely. If you fail to appear you will be removed “in absentia” – meaning you will be deported in your absence. In other words, even though you did not appear in court to defend yourself, you have nonetheless been deported, and an In Absentia Removal Order will be issued against you.

The Consequences of the In Absentia Removal Order An in absentia removal order operates almost like a warrant.

If you are ever arrested for any reason, the local police will now have ammunition to turn you over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). If you show up for an interview with the immigration service, you could be detained on spot and deported as a result of this order. If you come into contact with ICE in any manner, that could lead to your deportation. Once there is a removal order against you, you lose the right to go to court, because the judge loses jurisdiction over your case, and ICE now has the power to detain you and arrange for your deportation to your home country.

You also lose the right to pursue other immigration benefits, unless you can prove you did not get notice of the hearing, or there were some exceptional circumstances, such as severe illness, that prevented you from attending. Immigration courts are generally reluctant to reopen cases, and your simply not understanding the importance of the notice will not be enough to save you.

It will not matter that your wife and three children are U.S. citizens.

An in absentia removal order makes it difficult for you to call on any potential immigration benefits

you believe you are eligible to receive. So if your son’s petition for you is finally approved, you will not be able to complete your adjustment of status to a lawful permanent resident, because the removal order will now prevent that from happening.

Assuming the notice to you was properly served, an in absentia order makes it extremely difficult for an individual to immigrate back to the U.S. with a visa. For you to become a lawful permanent resident after such a removal order, you would be required to leave the U.S. and re-enter on a valid visa. The cruelty of the situation is that once you leave you will be considered inadmissible for failing to appear for your removal proceedings, and must wait outside the U.S. for at least 5 years before applying for a visa; you may face additional time bars for any period of unlawful presence you accrued while here in the U.S. Even more devastating is the reality that you will not get a second chance to go before the immigration court, unless you fall within the exceptions and can have your case reopened.

How will they find me, I moved so many times?

Changing your name, address or even using a different passport will not bring you any relief. The Department of Homeland Security maintains an extensive database of fingerprint records. If you have ever been fingerprinted upon your arrival to the U.S. the Immigration Service will discover your removal order, even if you used an assumed name or a different name.

If you currently have a case pending with the Immigration Service and you moved, it is imperative that you update your address so you will receive any notices issued to you. You do not have a fighting chance if you do not know what is going on with your case, or because you believe immigration cannot find you. If you already have an immigration court case, you must do everything necessary to avoid being deported. If you are not a U.S. citizen, the law requires that you notify the Department of Homeland Security of all your Continue on Page 14

Page 6

ONE LOVE CARIBBEAN

ARIBBEAN Briefs

Antigua and Barbuda PM Promises Dawn of a New Era

Barbados Called Moody’s Downgrade “Trash” OLC: Moody’s Investors Service downgraded Barbados’ government bond rating to B3 from Ba3 on June 02, 2014.

The outlook remains negative.

The three-notch downgrade is driven by reinforcement of negative fiscal trends, increasing government debt ratios, Moody’s expectation of a decline in international reserves this year, and the Central bank financing of the fiscal deficit.

Reacting to Moody’s decision, Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has described Moody’s recent downgrade of Barbados as nothing more than trash. “What they say is only relevant if we want to embark on

an orgy of foreign borrowing in which people should know how much we should have to borrow and how much our money should cost.”

“But if we are not intending in the short or medium term to go to the capital markets to borrow money, what they say has as much value as what you would see in any garbage dump collected by the Sanitation Services Authority,” he said during a tour of the Barbados Manufacturing Association’s Expo According to Moody, Barbados deficit was driven by lower-than-expected revenues in the islands slight economic

JULY 2014

OLC: On June 13, 2014, the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ALB) overwhelmingly defeated the United Progressive Party (UPP) of Former Prime Minister W. Baldwin Spencer in a general election.

The ALB won 14 seats and 3 seats went to the UPP. Gaston Browne, 47, became the fourth prime minister of the island nation of Antigua and Barbuda. Governor General Dame Louise Lake-Tack swore the PM into office less than 24 hours after his landslide victory.

downturn. And, despite recent efforts, expenditures remain high and rigid, particularly the public sector wages and inefficient public enterprises, and increased interest payments.

Early this year, Barbados lay off many government workers Continue on Page 14

Prime Minister Elect Gaston Browne outlined that he is humbled by the confidence that the people of Antigua and Barbuda have placed in him and the ALP. “The work has just begun. The country is in dire straits and requires the effort of all, the entire population to join our efforts to move forward. We must remain

Gaston Browne Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda

a strong united nation in order for us to achieve our goal of rebuilding the nation,” he said.

“The ALP has set an impressive vision for Antigua and Barbuda to transform it into an economic powerhouse. The country is in dire straits and we must remain hopeful for a bright future. We have the capacity to achieve that vision to make Antigua and Barbuda the envy of the Caribbean.

We have the capacity to create full employment. We have the capacity to attract investment to grow this country,” Browne stated.

EU Lifts Visa Requirements for Caribbean Countries GE Mosquitoes Released in Panama OLC: The European Union lifted visa requirements on 19 countries in the Caribbean and Pacific. Nationals from five Caribbean countries will benefit from the waivers when traveling to the Schengen zone in Europe.

The Schengen zone covers 25 countries to include France, Spain, Italy, and Germany.

The EU Council adopted a regulation amending the regulation listing of countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that

requirement.

According to the report to the European Parliament and the Council, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago will be exempt from the visa requirement when traveling to the Schengen zone.

This exemption will come into force only when bilateral agreements on visa waivers between the union and the countries concerned have been concluded in order to ensure full reciprocity, according to a statement from the council.

This amendment, the report said, “will enter into force before mid-June, but effective visafree travel for nationals of these countries will only become a reality once visa waiver agreements between the EU and each of the countries enter into force.”

A release from the EU council said, “This exemption will come into force only when bilateral agreements on visa waivers between the union and the countries concerned have been concluded in order to ensure full reciprocity.”

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They’ve been called “suicide mosquitoes,” dead-end bugs, and even Frankenskeeters. They are genetically engineered (GE) mosquitoes, which are designed to combat the pests that spread dengue fever. A wide area testing of the mosquitoes’ abilities is being assessed in Panama.

the evaluation (males do not bite or spread disease) have been engineered with a lethal gene, which will kill the offspring of any female mosquito which mates with them

With approval from the Panamanian’s authorities, Oxitec’s technology released the first GE mosquitoes in a suburb of the Arraijan district, west of Panama City.

According to Dr. Nestor Sosa, Director of the Gorgas Institute in Panama, “Dengue fever is a major concern in Panama. The methods we have for controlling the dengue mosquito are limited and are increasingly of limited effectiveness; dengue cases in this country tripled between 2012 and 2013.”

The male mosquitoes used in

Continue on Page 14

Southwest Airlines Begins Service to the Caribbean OLC: Texas-based Southwest Airlines launched an international future by inaugurating service to three Caribbean destinations from three of its US gateway cities. The airline began flying from Baltimore/Washington to Aruba, Jamaica, and The Bahamas. The airline will also operate daily service out of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International and Orlando’s International Airports.

In Jamaica, the inaugural arrived on July 1, 2014 with a non-stop international flight from Baltimore/Washington to the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay. Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill welcomed the flight.

There will be two flights daily from Baltimore/Washington into Montego Bay. The airline will also operate daily service out of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson In-

Captain Mark Schultz presents a Southwest Airlines airplane replica to Jamaica’s Minister McNeill

ternational and Orlando’s International Airports.

Minister McNeill said the entry of Southwest into Jamaica will provide a “tremendous boost for our tourism.”

One Love Caribbean News

JULY 2014

ONE LOVE CARIBBEAN

Page 7

NYPD Helps T&T in Crime Fighting Know-How

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The Return of the Mini-MOKE Caribbean Style OLC: Do you remember the mini-moke? It was a low-cost, easily maintained utility vehicle that tracked Caribbean islands in the sixties and seventies.

The original Mini MOKE has a long-standing history in the Caribbean. Since the MOKE is a representation of the carefree, tropical island lifestyle. People who waited for the MOKE’s revival won’t have to wait much longer.

It has been over 20 years since the last new Moke entered the Market. Moke International has started producing the Mokes

with the Caribbean being one of the initial five launch territories. The Caribbean is the superlative location for the MOKE because of its ideal weather, tourism-based economies and lifestyle the MOKE brand em-

braces.

People will use the MOKE as their mode of transportation to relax while on vacation, enjoying the wind in their hair and sun on their backs.

Juan Carlos Varela Rodríguez was sworn as the President of Panama on 1 July, 2014. He was elected on 4 May 2014.

Juan Carlos Varela Rodríguez President of Panama

He was born in Panama on December 12, 1963. His undergraduate studies were conducted at the Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States, where he obtained a degree in Industrial Engineering. He is married to the journalist Lorena Castillo and the father of three children.

TTPS Community Awareness in San Fernando, Trinidad

OLC: Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) seeks to team with the New York Police Department (NYPD). Minister of National Security Senator Gary Griffith met with Deputy Commissioner John Miller of NYPD to discuss the operation.

The TTPS needs the experience and knowledge transfer that can be gained from interacting with officers of the NYPD. This initiative was developed through the input and agreement of the NYPD Commissioner, Bill Bratton, who visited Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) last year for a Crime Conference. Bratton had a catalyst role in turning around crime in several cities around the world, including New York City.

New York City has, over the years, gone from being one of the most crime-ridden cities in the mid-nineties to being one of the safest cities today in the

USA. This drastic change was as a result of the revamping and improvement of policies associated with law enforcement.

Teaming the TTPS with the NYPD will allow officers to get first hand exposure to how the NYPD manages COMPSTAT and, by extension, domain awareness, community policing intelligence and counter-terrorism.

They will also get real-time exposure on the beat, including covert operations. Detectives from the NYPD will also visit T&T to provide updates on practices and techniques that can improve crime scene investigations and will aid in improving the detection rate.

Teaming with American finest, the NYPD, Minister Griffith hopes to reap similar positive rewards with respect to crime in Trinidad and Tobago.

St Kitts-Nevis Take Action to Protect Economic Citizenship OLC: St Kitts Prime Minister Denzil Douglas promised to take concrete action to protect its billion-dollar St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program.

“There are specific things that we have to do to insulate our program from being misused and abused in the way that the US Treasury Department advisory has indicated,” Douglas said in a recent radio program.

St. Kitts/Nevis is willing to work with any entity, and any government to ensure that their program continues to maintain its highest standards and to lead globally. “The Citizenship by Investment Program that has been so successful and has attracted so much support to the point where other countries have patterned it around the world. We will continue to work with the authorities to ensure that any issue with our particular program is corrected,” Douglas said.

In a recently issued alert, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCEN) of the US Treasury Department noted that

certain foreign individuals were abusing the St Kitts and Nevis Citizen by Investment Program for the purpose of engaging in illicit financial activities.

FINCEN accused the Federation of running a program with sloppy controls that accommodated illicit actors. In particular, despite the government announcement in 2013 that it would suspend applications request from Iranian nationals, they were in fact still being issued passports. Prime Minister Douglas refuted this allegation saying that the passport in question was issued in 2012.

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ONE LOVE CARIBBEAN

JULY 2014

2014 Houston Caribbean Queen

JULY 2014

ONE LOVE CARIBBEAN

PHOTOS

Houston Caribbean

Page 9

LIEE LIFE

CARIBBEAN

PHOTOS THE MONTH

Prominent Saint Lucian Andrea Jean Baptiste receive Certificate of Recognition for community activism from Houston City Councilman Mike Laster of District J - June 22, 2014

Patrick Lewis of Houston Caribbean Festival receives Certificate of Recognition Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (U.S. Representative for Texas’s 18th congressional district) for his works in maintaining and uplifting the Caribbean Cultures. - July 6, 2014

Comandantes Terron Henry of Cool Running Restaurant and Patrick Lewis of Houston Caribbean Festival and Sylvanus Donaie of OLC with Texas State Representative Dr. Alma Allen - June 14, 2014

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ONE LOVE CARIBBEAN

ONNECTIONS We too Sing America June 11, 1963. In late Oct of the same year, JFK called then congressional leaders to the White House to secure the votes necessary for passage of the Bill. And

by November 22, 1963, President Kennedy was assassinated.

By Terrance Layne OLC Staff Writer By the time you’ve read this Volume of One Love Caribbean News, we would have celebrated the 238th Birthday of our adopted home-land, the United States of America. Without a doubt, we have all opted to be a part of this great nation of immigrants, since every ethnic group represented here in the U.S. migrated from somewhere else at some given time in history. Of course, that’s aside from the Indigenous peoples, believed to have been living here for up to 40,000 years prior to the arrival of Europeans in the 16th and 17th centuries).

So it is against this background of information that I highlight our presence here as active participants in this great American experience; while asserting the claim that “We too sing America!”

Clearly, the assertion does not preclude anyone’s right to sing “One Love,” or other tune of pride and connectedness to another land of “birth right.” But as we focus on our festive sustainability on this 4th of July, there are some other “rights,” I believe to be significant and deserving of our conscious appreciation. I invite your attention to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (CR Act-‘64).

As a part of our Independence Day celebration this year, our Congressional leaders commemorated the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by ceremonially bestowing the Congressional Gold Medal posthumously upon Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK Jr.) and his wife, Coretta Scott King for their untiring efforts toward the attainment of what became known as the most important legislation in modern history of the United States of America.

Signed into law on July 2, 1964 by then President Lyndon B. Johnson, the Bill was first introduced by his predecessor, President John F. Kennedy (JFK) on

It was MLK Jr., along with other civil rights workers, who energized, planned, and implemented strategies at the grass root and high government levels; including giving his own life for the civil laws that made this country into what it is today. And America has been in major transition, since that time and even as we speak today.

Through the years that followed we’ve had people running to America from every corner of the globe, (frequently stomping over those already born here) reaping benefits and rights bequeathed

by MLK Jr. and others; while remaining oblivious to the “costs;” or even doing homage to those upon whose shoulders they stand.

For this, I say we ought not only to be singing “America;” but we should also sing, “Lift Every Voice,” and all those other endeared tunes of the Civil Rights Era . This is my focus for America’s 238th Birthday! Clearly, it wasn’t a perfect Bill at that time; and I doubt whether we ourselves could ever fix all the problems in America with a single legislation. But the following summary highlights that pivotal point in U.S. history when the margins of rights and liberties were broadened to include everyone. Yes, everyone! That’s why “We too Sing America!”

Prominent Items in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 include:

Title I – Voting Rights: Disallowed unequal application of voter registration requirements; but did not end literacy tests used to disqualify some applicants.

Title II – Public Accommodations: Prohibited discrimination in hotels restaurants, theaters and other pub-

lic facilities; exempted private clubs; no definition of “private.”

Title III – Desegregation of certain Public Facilities.

Title IV – Desegregation of Public Education.

Title V – Civil Rights Commission: Procedures for the Commission.

Title VI – Non discrimination in Federally Assisted Programs.

Title VII – Equal Employment Opportunity.

Title VIII – Registration & Voting Statistics – Collection of registration and voting statistics based on race, color and national origin with provisions for voluntary withholding of such information.

Title IX – Intervention & Removal of Cases: Reviewability of federal district courts in high federal courts.

Title X – Community Relations Service: Service to assist communities in resolving disputes related to race, color, or national origin.

JULY 2014

Lucy’s Ethiopian Restaurant The Taste of Ethiopia

By Catherine Flowers Contributing Writer Entering through the doors of Lucy’s Ethiopian Restaurant in Southwest Houston, you are not walking into a restaurant but an opportunity. The brand comes from the world’s most famous early human ancestor and the first Australopithecus Afarensis skeleton which was found in Ethiopia in 1974.

Like Lucy, coffee is another original treasure that was found in Ethiopia. It is a liquid gold that is now a billion dollar industry in the United States, but right in the heart of Texas you can partake in an extraordinary cultural experience. It’s the sights, smell and sounds of an epicurean’s dream.

The highlight of the dining experience is the Ethiopian coffee ceremony, which is considered to be the most important social occasion in their culture. It is a sign of respect and friendship to be invited to a coffee ceremony, and at Lucy’s everyone is invited. Guests at a ceremony are given an ultimate networking opportunity to discuss topics such as politics, community

and even gossip. After the first round of coffee, there are typically two additional servings.

The three servings are known as abol, tona and baraka. Each serving is progressively weaker than the first. Each cup is said to transform the spirit, and the third serving is considered to be a blessing on those who drink it. Regardless of the time of day, the ceremony usually follows a distinct format, and usually last an hour and a half.

Lucy Ethiopian Restaurant, two years old, greatly contributes to Houston, being an international city. The owner, Suzani Grant, was a refugee and landed in Houston at just the right time to infuse this African culture into the height of Houston’s diversity. The food is tasteful. Special meals of lamb, chicken, lentils and vegetarian options are our diner’s favorites.

Mr Gezahegn Kebede, the Ethiopian Consulate in Houston, praise the restaurant is the epitome of what Ethiopia has to offer.

No matter if you looking for good food or great coffee, your bucket list is not complete without having experiencing Lucy’s.

Title XI – Miscellaneous – Issues dealing with various parts or several items.

On a closing observation, it is interesting to note that Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. briefly met for their first and only time when they both went to Capitol Hill to hear the Senatorial debate on the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The meeting was reportedly brief, casual, and polite.

Having contrasting characters, Malcolm was murdered less than a year after that encounter with MLK; while Martin was assassinated in 1968.

Sylvanus Donaie, Publisher of OLC, Catherine Flowers, Contributing Writer to OLC, Gezahegn Kebede, the Ethiopian Consulate in Houston, and owner, Suzani Grant, Owner of Lucy’s

…Stony the road we trod; Bitter the chastening rod; Felt in the days when hope unborn had died…Yet with a steady beat; Have not our weary feet …

Come to a place for which our fathers sighed?

One Love Caribbean MLK and LBJ after the signing of the Civil Rights act of 1964

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JULY 2014

ONE LOVE CARIBBEAN

BIRTHDAYS IN THE DIASPORA

Page 11

AN INSPIRATIONAL MOMENT Encouragement from the Word of God

Somebody Paid… price for it. The food we eat everyday – somebody sweated, planted, reaped, shipped and marketed it; somebody prepared and served it. Somebody paid the price!

Camillus Jones Saint Lucia

Kelvin S. Moulton Jamaica

Alma Gaston Saint Lucia

Edith Mitchell St. Lucia

Virginia Fevrier Saint Lucia

Gena Davis Texas

Supa Neil Trinidad

Kiemesha Samuel Baytown/St. Lucia

Daisy Belle Romans Jamaica

Judy Foster Barbados

Teclesha Blanchard Baytown/St. Lucia

Tribute to My Sister, Mrs. Marcelline Chitolie

By Andrea Jean Baptiste The Lord called my eldest sister, Marcelline Chitolie, home. I do not question why, but I know that he needed you with him; you were a good and faithful servant. We will miss your wisdom, your wit, and your laughter.

In Houston, she was a regular contributing writer for One Love Caribbean newspaper.

How do you celebrate a Phenomenal Woman? How do you capture the essence of who she was? Mrs. Marcelline Chitolie, a wife, a mother, a daughter, sister, friend, confidant and mentor.

She was the epitome of a Phenomenal Woman.

She was a lover of God, blessed Mother of two boys – Trevan and Shannon, wife to Felix, and devoted

The ride in the bus, train or plane, the streets we walk on - somebody went before and paved the way; somebody paid.

Someone risked their lives, went to jail, so we could be free to sit in the front of the bus. Our education - the privilege to study, learn and earn somebody fought the unjust system to make it possible, somebody spent the dollars, paid the tax or donated the funds for the scholarship.

Nerissa Coker Jamaica

Saint Lucian. She was a leader and a community organizer.

Being our oldest sister, she was the glue that held us together. Marcelline (at home, we called her Marso) always in-

Charmaine Bailey Staff Writer cbailey@olchouston.com As we celebrate America’s independence and the independence of many Caribbean nations, there is a heightened focus on the subject of freedom and all it entails.

But when one really thinks about it, is there anything that is really free? Somebody always pays the price. A lot is taken for granted and often there is a sense of entitlement to the things, the privileges and the liberties that exist around us. But nothing is really free. Somebody paid the price.

The freedom that is enjoyed in the United States of America or in any free country – someone fought and gave limb or life for it. The prosperity enjoyed in this country – many people over the centuries fought and worked hard to make it happen.

“Free” public assistance or public services – free food, free lunch, - hardworking taxpayers pay for it every day - somebody pays the price; The sense of security we have at home, and the relative safety from criminal elements – law enforcement officers devote their time and jeopardize their own safety to secure it. Home with its comforts and modern conveniences - parents sacrificed and worked hard for them. The apparent freedom that exists in our insurance plan – both employer and employee pay a high

spired others to be their best self. She, herself, blazed her own trail and carved and nurtured her own dreams.

She was quiet, dignified and regal. But better, she was spiritual and a seeker of truth. She stood for peace, love and justice embracing the positive, and reveled in beauty, especially nature. She was compassionate towards others. She served as a mentor, a teacher, confidant to many, even from a distance. And being a writer, television personality, a raconteur and an avid reader, she never met a magazine that she did not love.

When Marcelline retired from OECS after almost 30 years, she could have stayed home watching television and eating bonbons (cake) all day. Instead

The freedom you have that you think is your right, Somebody struggled for it and even now still fights, Somebody challenged with courage and bravery And eventually won the fight against slavery So you can be free today, somebody died.

Don’t take it for granted, don’t feel entitled, Instead be grateful for those who went before, Who paved the way and opened the door.

There are folks who yearn for the blessings we’ve gained The life we have now…

Somebody paid the price, somebody bore the pain Your precious and eternal soul – Someone died to save Christ paid with HIs blood, His precious life He gave.

This He did not have to do, but He loves me and He loves you ..

So that salvation is free to all.

All of those who answer His call.

.

Thank God for the many “somebodies” who gave their lives for a cause that was bigger than themselves, and won the many freedoms for the rest of us. “Greater love hath no man than this…”

Charmaine Bailey is a speaker and a Christian Education Teacher. She studied Christian Education at Jamaica Theological Seminary and hold a BA Linguistics from the University of the West Indies.

she chose to start her own consulting business and working side by side with her husband. What we, her brothers and sisters, learned from Marso over the years is that you are never too old to learn and grow, to stretch oneself, to fly and to pursue your dreams.

When Marcelline wanted to pursue a goal, she did it unfailingly. She returned to school to study for her Bachelors and Master degrees. Likewise, she encouraged, loved and nurtured her sons and her husband, Felix, and always celebrated them every time they walked into a room.

She always said one of her strongest supporters was our Dad, Mr. Hermenglide... Continue on Page 14

Page 12

ONE LOVE CARIBBEAN

OPEN EDITORIAL Wanna have a Party at Your Gravesite?

It’s Nothing New in Jamaica

Written by Clinton Lindsay Foundation Radio Media Net In May this year when former Prime Minister of Jamaica PJ Patterson reiterated the need for a national strategy and program of action to address declining moral standards across the country, he was yet again criticized by his detractors.

Among the loudest critics were some who were probably too young to know that he made an attempt at having the country deal with this issue 20 years ago. Those people we can forgive.

However, there were others who, while armed with the truth of that 1994 effort by Prime Minister Patterson, thought it politically expedient to chastise him anyway.

That latter group, we believe, have done younger Jamaicans a great disservice, for they have a responsibility to use history to frame their comments.

We are not here claiming that Mr. Patterson, during his tenure in office, was perfect. No human being is. However, no one can successfully challenge the fact that he did make an attempt to deal with this sore issue of values and attitudes.

In his address to the Rotary Club of Spanish Town on May 27, 2014, Mr. Patterson correctly stated that even those who doubted the validity of his plea in 1994, “or contended that the call was driven by partisan political motive, now openly admit its national urgency as our condition has deteriorated beyond belief.”

Anyone who doubted the truth of Mr. Patterson’s statement need look no further than today’s lead story in our Observer North East sister publication.

Two weeks ago, our news team happened upon a most disgraceful display of disrespect for the dead that has taken root in St Thomas.

Basically, funeral homes, in a bid to attract business, have been packaging grave-digging parties to relatives of deceased persons. These packages include music, card and bingo games, give-aways and other so-called fun activities staged in the cemetery where the dead person is to be laid to rest.

Apart from the fact that people converge on the cemeteries for these activities, we still are unable to get over the blatant lack of regard for the sacredness of what is really a place of rest.

ting on graves playing cards and bingo, others danced atop tombs to the latest dancehall hits, while others were noticed drinking alcohol and eating food. Have they no shame?

At the grave-digging party that we saw, the brother of the deceased man admitted that while this form of revelry was unusual in a cemetery, it was what his brother would have wanted.

“He was a very fun person and this is what he would have wanted and so, while it is a sad time, we are enjoying ourselves for him,” the brother told us.

But that, dear brother, is an awful excuse for what was taking place inside the Golden Grove Cemetery. That behavior is almost a desecration of the final resting place of other people’s relatives and friends.

The question that the individuals engaging in this practice should ask themselves is how would they feel if all these activities were taking place on the graves of their loved ones?

The St Thomas Parish Council, we hold, has a duty to put an end to this depraved activity.

Our news team saw people sit-

Gravesite Party (Download at www.clintonlindsay.com, July 2014)

OneCall Love Caribbean 281-769 2253 The Voice of the Caribbean in Texas

JULY 2014

Would Comprehensive Immigration Reform in the United States Mean Anything for Caribbean Island Nations?

Like in other areas of law, many people have been and can be successful muddling through obtaining immigration benefits, like applying for a visitor visa (B-1/B-2) or permanent residency (Green Card), for example. On the other hand, others fail after trying what a friend or family member did, not knowing that a material fact present in someone else’s case is nonexistent in their own. Rarely are two cases exactly the same … and family and friends who succeed likely tell only the parts they want you to know, not all that you should know.

On its face, immigration law appears seemingly simple. After all, it’s just filling out a bunch of forms, right. So you may think.

Immigration is a very complex area of the law that requires a great deal of analysis that often crosses over into other legal areas such as criminal and family law. Also, it’s constantly changing. Almost every day a new decision is rendered from a government agency such as the Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) or the Administrative Appeals Office (“AAO”), or some new policy change from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USICS”) is issued or it could even be a decision handed down from the Supreme Court changing the laws altogether.

I write this article to say that immigration law is far from just filling out a bunch of forms for an approval after filing with a U.S. Consulate or USCIS. What few people understand is that the immigration forms published by various government agencies are legal forms, and that the questions contained therein track the relevant provisions of the Immigration & Nationality Act (“INA”) and the immigration regulations.

Without a complete understanding of the immigration laws, and knowledge of the interplay between the various provisions, one answer to a seemingly simple question on a form can result in a denial or a significant delay in your case.

Time and again, I find clients in my office with a denied or returned petition or application.

While these types of situations help to keep immigration practitioners busy, it ends up costing you, the client, more money in the long run rather than if legal counsel was retained at the outset. Reason being is that we, the immigration lawyers,

must spend the time figuring out what the client did on his or her own, and undoing what was done. More often than not, the result is re-filing the case from scratch; very seldom is the outcome correcting a minor error.

As we all know, time is money!

Our analyzing the facts of your case to determine the probability of success does not end there. Our analysis extends to the documents provided from our clients to prove up each and every element of the law for the type of immigration case being filed. This analysis is then laid out in a persuasively written legal memorandum or brief directed to an immigration officer adjudicating the case explaining why the applicant qualifies for the benefit being sought coupled with well organized and indexed evidence for easy review.

Now, please do not misunderstand me to mean that retaining an attorney to handle your immigration case would always conclude your matter with an approval thereby completely dispensing with any chance of receiving a request for evidence, a returned form, or a notice of intent to deny. No, it doesn’t.

However, retaining an immigration attorney minimizes the risk of delays and denials. Legal counsel can advise you on trends where the government is issuing requests for evidence in certain areas, helps you to foresee pitfalls not obvious to the unsuspecting eye, makes the process easier and smoother, and puts you in a position to be guided through a maze of laws and regulations instead of having the burden of interpreting them for yourself.

While all this may come at a price, it’s far less expensive than spending your precious time “doing-it-yourself,” and then end up having to spend the money anyway after things didn’t work out in your favor.

One Love Caribbean

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JULY 2014

ONE LOVE CARIBBEAN

Health & Wellness Take Control of Children’s Diet If BMI is High

SIMPLY NATURAL HEALTH CORNER TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR HEALTH

By Drs. Sally Robinson and Keith Bly

4. Get a good night sleep - at least 8 hours.

Having just completed the holiday season with all the wide variety of delicious foods and having made our resolutions, many of us are thinking about diets.

5. Drink lots of water; avoid sodas and canned fruit juices.

6. Avoid processed foods.

Read the labels. If you cannot pronounce the words, it should not go into your body.

As we all know, obesity is now a very common problem for Americans and for American children.

Body Mass Index is a reliable indicator of body fatness for most children and teens. It is calculated using accurate measures of your child’s height and weight. Kids’ body fat percentages change as they grow.

Kids’ BMI’s vary based on their age and gender.

For you to calculate your child’s BMI, visit www.pediatrics. about.com and they will have a calculator for you.

The guidelines are as follows: • Overweight is having a BMI greater than 85 percent and obesity is having a BMI greater than the 95 percent. Your child’s physician also can help you with this calculation.

• Endocrine or gland studies should not be preformed routinely unless the child’s height shows poor growth or is too

small for the family history.

• If there is evidence of a genetic problem, consultation with a geneticist is indicated.

• If a child’s BMI is greater than 85 percent, they should be evaluated for some of the diseases that are associated with obesity.

• The first recommendation for treatment is an intensive lifestyle change, including dietary, physical activity and behavioral habits.

Dietary recommendations include the following: 1. Avoid calorie-dense, nutrient-poor foods such as sweetened beverages and fast foods.

This includes fruit juice.

2. Control portions.

3. Reduce saturated fats for

children 2 and older. Low-fat milk and yogurt are rich in calcium and vitamin D. 4. Increase intake of fiber, fruits and vegetables.

5. Eat regular meals, particularly breakfast.

6. Avoid constant grazing, particularly after school.

Many foods can be enjoyed with portion control and attention to the calories. Perhaps the most important part of any meal is the sharing of attention and affection for those sitting around the table.

Sally Robinson is a clinical professor of pediatrics at UTMB Children’s Hospital, and Keith Bly is an associate professor of pediatrics and director of the UTMB Pediatric Urgent Care Clinics. This column isn’t intended to replace the advice of your child’s physician

“EYE TALK” With Dr. Romea – The Vision Dealer

Diabetes and Your Eyes

By Dr. Romea Mitchell O.D. Contributing Writing Diabetic retinopathy is a condition occurring in persons with diabetes, which causes progressive damage to the retina, the light sensitive lining at the back of the eye. It is a serious sight-threatening complication of diabetes and the leading cause of blindness in American adults.

Diabetes is a disease that interferes with the body’s ability to use and store sugar, which can cause many health problems.

Too much sugar in the blood can cause damage throughout the body, including the eyes.

Over time, diabetes affects the circulatory system of the retina.

Diabetic retinopathy is the result of damage to the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina.

They leak blood and other fluids that cause swelling of retinal tissue and clouding of vision. The condition usually affects both eyes. The longer a person has diabetes, the more

Page 13

likely they will develop diabetic retinopathy. If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can cause blindness.

Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include: • Seeing spots or floaters in your field of vision • Blurred vision • Having a dark or empty spot in the center of your vision • Difficulty seeing well at night In patients with diabetes, prolonged periods of high blood sugar can lead to the accumulation of fluid in the lens inside the eye that controls eye focusing. This changes the curvature of the lens and results in the development of symptoms of blurred vision. The blurring of distance vision as a result of lens swelling will subside once the blood sugar levels are brought under control. Better control of blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes also slows the onset and progression of diabetic retinopathy.

Often there are no visual symp-

Dr. Romea Mitchell O.D.

toms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy. That is why the American Optometric Association recommends that everyone with diabetes have a comprehensive dilated eye examination once a year. Early detection and treatment can limit the potential for significant vision loss from diabetic retinopathy.

Treatment of diabetic retinopathy varies depending on the extent of the disease. It may require laser surgery to seal Continue on Page 14

By Marcelline Chitolie Staff Writer The lifestyle choices we make today will determine if we are mentally alert, physically fit, and healthy tomorrow. Good health must be constantly preserved by choosing different lifestyles than the generations before us.

Our grandparents never managed their stress - they ate all those delicious foods with too much salt, and sugar, and did not monitor their intake of processed foods. They smoked and drank excessively. Many died of cancer, diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure and kidney problems. Some lost their eyesight and some developed complications because of excess weight due to improper diets. We have a choice; we can take responsibility to stop the cycle. Just because your parents had a disease does not automatically make it your inheritance.

The population of the United States is living longer, however, in the black community the opposite is true. In our community, we have a shorter life span because of the lifestyle choices we have made. If we do not change, we will not be around to teach our children and generations to come the right path to healthy living, We will have failed ourselves and go to an early grave.

Let us start today by introducing a few lifestyle changes that can make a big difference to improve the quality of our lives: 1. Make quiet time every day to reflect, to pray.

2. Eat as many raw fruits and vegetables as possible. Eat local produce and eat what is in season. You have no idea how long the products have been sitting on the store shelves and what was sprayed on them for preservation.

3. Take a good supplement.

7. Avoid fried foods as much as possible. Let it be a treat rather than your daily fare. It may be cheap now to buy that burger, but you will be spending much more to see the doctor when you are ill.

8. When cooking, try to grill, steam, boil or poached your fish or chicken.

9. From now on do not eat any white rice, white pasta, white bread.

Eat whole grains whole grain breads, brown rice and whole wheat pasta.

10. Curb the urge to snack on unhealthy foods. Keep an apple, a banana, a handful of walnuts and almond nuts in your bag to satisfy food cravings between meals.

11. Use cold-pressed coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil when cooking.

12. Drink alcohol in limited amounts, preferably a glass of red wine occasionally.

13. Regular exercise and a good diet are the magic bullets to keeping the weight off.

14. Know your numbers – blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels - LDL (bad) and HDL (good).

15. Do your annual physical and visit the dentist and the eye doctor regularly Caution: Before starting any lifestyle change, please consult your doctor.

Marcelline Chitolie, since 1990 has been the owner of Simply Natural Health Shop in Castries, St. Lucia. She is currently studying for her Masters of Science in Natural Health. She is the holder of an MBA from the University of Leicester in the UK and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management Studies from the University of the West Indies.

One Love Caribbean

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JULY 2014 • ONE LOVE CARIBBEAN • Page 14

COMMUNITY MARKETPLACE Mount Bethel House of Prayer in Houston 6818 Cullen Boulevard Houston, TX 77021‎

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From Page 6 to rein on its burdensome fiscal deficit. Despite, the government’s debt burden has climbed sharply and debt affordability has deteriorated significantly.

bonds should be treated in a particular way.”

From Page 6 Dengue is a debilitating disease spread by mosquitoes, primarily by the ‘dengue mosquito’, Aedes aegypti. It creates severe flu-like symptoms, and is sometimes, though rarely, fatal. The disease is estimated by the WHO to affect 50-100 million people a year, which is increasing rapidly around the world. In Panama, 2013 saw over 3,000 cases resulting in more than triple the number of 2012.

“They are free to express their opinions about Barbados because we are paying them to do that. But it doesn’t mean when they express opinions that we meekly and compliantly submit to what they say because we know the reality here in Barbados,” he concluded.

From Page 5 Driving-Tests.org, explains why his company chose to partner with libraries. “Libraries are the ‘hubs’ that point their visitors in the right direction, and we believe we’re that ‘right direction’ when it comes to safe driving.

Our cyber study program gives teens and other learner drivers access to library resources when and where they want, thus saving lives by promoting driver education before kids get behind the wheel.”

One Love Caribbean

One Love Caribbean

Stuart said Moody’s opinions “are designed to send signals to the capital markets as to whether or not Barbados’

Call 281-769 2253 From Page 5 address changes on form AR-11, and if you have a case in immigration court, on Form EOIR-33C. You can also call the immigration court’s toll free number at 1-800898-7180 to check on the status of your case.

The consequences of failing to appear are extremely harsh and your best strategy should include consulting and retaining an immigration attorney experienced in deportation to handle your defense. If you received an NTA and

From Page 13

Sugar Plantation Slaves 1858 engraving of slaves in the British West Indies working the sugar cane. Photo: Lordprice Collection/ Alamy

leaking blood vessels or to discourage new leaky blood vessels from forming. Injections of medications into the eye may be needed to decrease inflammation or stop the formation of new blood vessels.

If you are a diabetic, you can help prevent or slow the development of diabetic retinopathy by taking your prescribed medication, sticking to your diet, exercising regularly, controlling high blood pressure and avoiding alcohol and smoking and having regular eye exams.

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From Page 11 Jean Baptiste, who she said cheered and championed her ever cause.

now? She would say, Okay go ahead and cry a little, let it out.

Now dry your tears and carry on.

Licensed & Insured

Dr. Romea Mitchell, O.D. is a Board Certified Therapeutic Optometrist and Optometric Glaucoma Specialist. she can be reached at (281) 469-7610 or drromea@ romeamitchell.com

Licensed & Insured

Call 281-769 2253 you did not go to court, you also need to consult an experienced immigration attorney to see if your case can be reopened. Reopening your case is a legally technical issue, and simply writing a letter to the judge will not suffice.

live, work and stay here in the U.S. The NTA, once issued means only the immigration judge can determine what benefits you are eligible for and the path forward.

An in absentia removal order makes you ineligible for many immigration benefits including adjustment of status, for a period of at least 10 years of the date of the removal order. Before you decide to be a no-show in immigration court, appreciate that you will be depriving yourself of the right to

The

Until next time, walk good! analysis and suggestions offered in this article do not create a lawyer-client relationship, is for information only, and are not a substitute for personalized representation that is essential to every case.

Latania Mena is an Immigration Attorney and a Caribbean National based in the Southwest Houston, Texas.

Marso lived life fully on her own terms. Now, this Phenomenal Woman has journeyed home, but is never far away from us.

She is now our spiritual guide, our angel. We will miss her.

What would she say to us right

How do we honor her memory?

The best way to honor Marcelline is to be the Light that she was in the world… to love to those we meets, to live out our dreams, to blaze our own paths, and to surround ourselves with beauty.

ISLAND STYLEE

JULY 2014 • ONE LOVE CARIBBEAN • Page 15

JOKES, SATIRE AND POEMS Remember the days When Trinidad was like this...

ULTURE

ISLAND RECIPES THE ART OF CARIBBEAN COOKING

It’s all about Pigeon Peas

Pigeon peas, popular throughout the Caribbean, are small, oval beans with a nutty flavor that make a tasty side dish. It is also known as gungo peas in Jamaica and guandule in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

Vinci Pigeon Peas Soup Ingredients 2 cups pigeon peas, 3 tbsp. margarine, ½ lb. soup meat, 1 large onion 6 cups hot water, 2 sprigs celery, 6 oz. pumpkin, 1 lb yucca, 3 tbsp oil 1 green plantain, 1 lb potatoes 1 large carrot (sliced) salt and pepper to taste, 1 clove garlic Preparation Peel and cut pumpkin, plantain, and yucca into cube. Cut up meat into small pieces. Heat oil at medium heat.

Sauté seasoning and pumpkin. Add meat and fry till slightly brown. Add hot water. Add peas and allow to cook until peas are soft. Add to soup with salt and pepper to taste. When soup is almost done add green plantain, potatoes, carrot, yucca, and margarine. Allow to cook 15 minutes. Check taste.

Add remaining ingredients. Simmer until flavors are developed and meat is cooked.

Santo Domingo Rice N Peas Ingredients 3 cups long grain white rice 4 cups water, 3 tbsp. olive oil 4 tbsp. sofrito, 2 tbsp. Spanish olives 1 can green or dry pigeon beans 1 envelope sazon with annatto 1/2 tsp ground oregano, cilantro, 2 bay leaves. 1/2 tsp tomato paste salt and black pepper to taste Preparation Heat oil in a pot at high heat. Add the Sofrito. Allow to brow for about 1 minute. Add the olives, the tomato paste, and all spices to include sazon. Blend well. Add the water, peas, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and then stir in rice. Reduce heat. Cover pot and allow to cook for about 30 - 40 minutes on a low heat setting. Stir occasionally

Preparation Place pigeon peas in a pot. Add onion, celery, bay leaves and thyme into water and bring to a boil. Add the pigeon peas, salt and pepper to taste.

Reduce the heat and allow to simmer until good. Add water as needed.

(every 10 minutes) until the rice is tender.

Stewed Pigeon Peas Ingredients 2 tbsp. vegetable oil, 1 tsp. minced garlic ¼ cup chopped onion, 1 tsp. salt.

2 cups shelled pigeon peas 1 tbsp. green seasoning ½ lb. pumpkin, cut into cubes ½ cup chopped fresh tomatoes ½ tsp. black pepper 4 cups water Preparation Heat oil and sauté garlic and onion until soft. Add peas and green seasoning and cook on medium heat for 15 minutes stirring occasionally. Add pumpkin, tomatoes, salt, pepper and water.

Bring to the boil, lower heat, cover and cook until peas and pumpkin are soft and most of the liquid is evaporated.

Add salt and pepper to taste.

Cream of Pigeon Peas Soup Ingredients ½ lb. pigeon peas, 2 cup water 1 large onion, 2 tbsp. thyme 4 tbsp. celery finely chopped 2 bay leaves, 2 cups milk 2 oz. flour, 2 oz. butter Salt and pepper to taste

Make a white sauce using margarine, flour and milk. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove the stock from the heat. Pass the soup through a sieve to remove any big pieces. Serve hot with croutons.

Curried Chicken With Pigeon Peas Ingredients 3 lb. chicken, cut up 2 large garlic cloves, chopped 2 small onions, diced 6 cloves garlic, 6 pimentos seeded 3 cups cooked pigeon peas 3 medium potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/2 cup coconut milk, 1/4 cup oil 2 tbsp. curry powder, 4 tbsp. of water 1 tsp cumin powder, Salt and pepper Green seasoning: chive, thyme, parsley, chadon beni, finely chopped Directions Season chicken with green seasoning, 2 garlic cloves, black pepper and salt. Allow to marinate for two hour.

In a large pot, heat oil and add 4 cloves of garlic to burn. Remove garlic and add onions, pimentos and remaining 2 cloves garlic cut in pieces. Sauté for 2 minutes. Mix curry powder and water, and add to hot mixtureallow cook for 2 minutes. Stir well.

Add seasoned chicken and allow to coat with curry mixture. Add coconut milk. When chicken is about 80% cooked, add pigeon peas and potatoes.

When potatoes are cooked, add cumin.

Mix well. Add salt and pepper to taste.

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Close your eyes, and go back . . .

Before the Internet or the Mac! Before guns and crack! Before Nike and Reebok! Before Maxi Taxi! Before the Priority Bus route! Before burglar proofing and KFC! Before soca, dub and chutney!

Before children’s rights and women’s lib!

Way back... I’m talking about hide and seek at dusk. Looking through the window, sitting in the gallery, licking your lips over hops and condensed milk!

Drinking cocoa tea, green tea, lime bud and orange peel tea; and don’t forget drinking fever grass, worm grass and shining bush tea, when you didn’t feel well. Carrying bake and butter in a brown paper bag to school. Eating chili bibi and press with yellow and red syrup, with or without milk.

Bathing in cold water from a barrel with a calabash, or going by the river to bathe and filling the bucket with water for Mammy to wash wares. When we used to hammer the edge of an orange juice can to make a tin-cup that would make rain water taste cold because we didn’t have a fridge. When you used to iron your clothes with a heater on the coal pot and wash your clothes on a river stone with your partners from the neighborhood.

Hopscotch, butterscotch, hoop, Jacks, Police and Thief, Rounders. Hundred holes for bokey and Rings, and when you fats, you have to go back to bonks.

Remember bumpaling and hallay cord and three line jig. Playing cricket in the road with a lime. Lying on the floor reading Mandrake and Katzenjammer Kids, Mutt and Jeff and The Phantom on a Sunday morning.

Finishing your homework on Sunday evening because you could get licks on Monday for not doing it. And you want to beat the boy who cut the guava whip for Sir Hula Hoop. Eating ice block, kazer ball and paradise plum, biscuit cake, fudge and sugar cake. Buying tuloom for a cent and you could not put the whole thing in your mouth. Bathing in the rain as it runs off the galvanize roof and filling the barrel to save having to carry water. Going for walks on Sunday afternoon! School concerts for ten cents admission, and we thought it was too dear. Your class treat at the end of the term was every student gave five cents and you got sponge cake and ice cream. That was a really treat!

Wearing old pants to the beach and collecting sea shells and pretty stones.

Wait. . . The excitement of catching candle flies in a jar and batimamselles. Putting timarie to sleep. Hunting birds with a sling shot,and then cooking and eating them.

Pitching marbles, running jockey in the canal… And, when a calypso on the radio in Lent would have caused a scandal.

When going to town was a major outing, requiring serious preparation. Spending holidays by your grandmother and aunts.

Castor oil, Epsom salts, and senna pods at the end of August to clean you out.

Eating caimite, mammy seipote and pom-

me cythere, sapodilla and sugar apple and tying up your mouth with half ripe cashew. Climbing trees, and skipping rope and eating a bucket of long mango. Gru Gru Bef or Gri Gri. Making a Christmas tree from a guava branch with cotton for snow. You thought apples and grapes only grew at Christmas time. Cowboys and Indians, keeping an eye out for soucouyant and la diablesse. Not going in the bush alone because you are afraid of Douen.

Sliding down the bannister, jumping on the bed. Pillow fights. Saving match boxes to make a train. Having a pet chicken, duck, rabbit or goat and crying when it became a meal. Being tickled to death. Running till you were out of breath. Laughing so hard that your cheeks and stomach hurt.

Stooping down to sip water straight from the river. Being tired from playing....remember that! Going to the parlor for Trebor and a penny sweet biscuit, mauby and a rock cake. On Saturday morning you had to cut the broom to sweep the yard.

There’s more... Scratching your mother’s head and pulling out grey hair. Fighting for the bowl when your mother made a cake. Churning coconut or sour-sop ice cream on Sunday and licking the palette.

Peeling cane with your teeth and climbing the pomerac tree to pick pomerac.

Mango chow and home-made bread.

Remember when... When there were no sneakers, only washekongs and you washed them every Saturday and whitened them. When you knew nothing of Rottweilers or pit bulls, you knew only pot hounds. The rich people had Alsatians. When a penny for recess was plenty and another penny a huge bonus.

When you’d reach into a muddy gutter for a penny! When fashionable young ladies wore white socks and shoes and their dress fell under their knees. When your mother wore stockings that came in two pieces and had garters. When all of your male teachers wore ties and female teachers had buns.

When you had to be rich to have a car or a radio. When there was no TV and you went to sleep at seven o’clock. When there was no designer water. When laundry detergent had free glasses, or toys inside the box. When any parent could discipline any kid, or feed them or use them to carry groceries, and nobody, not even the kid, thought a thing of it. When every kitchen had a safe with wire mesh where you kept the good wares. Milk came in rum bottles.

When they threatened to keep kids “down” if they failed...and they did!

When your mother used to say that your licks hurt her more than it hurt you.

When adults spoke in code so “little ears” wouldn’t hear. Basically, we were in fear for our lives but it wasn’t because of driveby shootings, drugs, or gangs. Disapproval of parents and grandparents, godparents, tanties... was a much bigger threat!

If you can remember any of these things, well, sir/madam, I swear you must be about ten to fifteen years around my age!

And doh forget tippy tambo, chataigne and peewah