ONE LOVE Free Publication
Volume 7 Issue 6
JUNE 2014
ARIBBEAN
COMMUNITY • CULTURE • CONNECTIONS
COMMUNITY
Understanding the Caribbean Culture Page 4
CARIBBEAN
Dominica Election 2014 Page 6
CONNECTION
Prostate cancer: Highest in Caribbean Men
P
Page 13
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Page 2 • ONE LOVE CARIBBEAN • JUNE 2014
Caribbean EVENTS Sunday, June 01, 2014** Caribbean Heritage Day & College Breakout Friday, June 06, 2014** Film & Dialogue on the Maroons of Jamaica Sunday, June 08, 2014 ** World Oceans Day Celebration Thursday, June 12, 2014 ** FIFA Watch & Professionals Mixer Tuesday June 3, 2014 *** City Hall Proclamation Houston City Hall Saturday June 14, 2014 *** Non-Profit and Business Forum Cool Runnings Jamaican Grill
Sunday June 15, 2014 *** Kids & Family Carnival At Plazamaericas Mall PlazAmericas Shopping Center Saturday, June 21, 2014 2014 Tropical Explosion Boat Ride Moody Gardens 1 Hope Blvd, Galveston, TX 77554 houstonpanamanians.com/id4.html Saturday, June 28, 2014 Houston Caribbean Queen Pageant 1415 Constitution Ave, Stafford, TX 77477 houstoncaribbeanqueen@gmail.com
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The Publisher’s Thoughts
One Love CARIBBEAN P.O. Box 742291 Houston, TX 77274 281-769-2253
Website
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Sylvanus Donaie
Founder/Publisher Phone: 832-881-9745 sdonaie@olchouston.com
Andrea Jean Baptiste
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Entertainment Editor DJ Uncle L djunclel@olchouston.com
Medical Editor
Dr. Ka-Ron Y. Wade kwade@olchouston.com
Staff Writers
Sylvanus Donaie DJ Uncle L Marcelline Chitolie
Dr. Daintee G. Jones
Terry Layne Thecia Jenkins Leslie A. Richardson Charmaine Bailey Attorney Latania Mena
Since the dawn of the United States, Caribbean Americans have made significant contributions in the shaping of this great nation. And there is no doubt about it. The history is long. From the War of Independence to fighting slavery, segregation, and poverty to serving at the highest levels of government, we have put in our “two cents” in one form or another, and as a result, superimposing our culture, values, and knowledge on the communities we live in. In his 2014 Proclamation of Caribbean American Heritage Month, President Barack Obama gave an eloquent twist summarizing us. “Caribbean Americans are part of a great national tradition, descendants of hopeful, striving people who journeyed to our lands in search of a better life. They were drawn by a belief in the power of opportunity, a belief that through hard work and sacrifice, they could provide their children with chances they had never known. Thanks to these opportunities and their talent and perseverance, Caribbean Americans have contributed to every aspect of our society -- from science and medicine to business and the arts. During National Caribbean-American Heritage Month, we honor their history, culture, and essential role in the American narrative.” (Obama, 2014) And, as we celebrate this inextricable link of the Caribbean and the United States, you will hear the names of the “top guns” reverberating over our public media. Names such as Alexander Hamilton, Eric Holder, Shirley Chisholm, Godfrey Cambridge, Malcolm X, Governor David Pat-
terson, Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, Tim Duncan and Colin Powell are among the many that will be mentioned. Yes, these greats have spotlighted our strong-minded personalities, solid work ethics, our zealousness, and can-do attitudes in a country, where people of African ancestry have had many difficult challenges. (Just in case you disagree, despite our many ethnicities, the people of the Caribbean are primarily of African heritage, but this topic is for another time.) But are these “guns” the only ones? I don’t think so! They just have the eyes and ears of the mainstream media directed on them. And that’s a good thing. However, here in Houston, we have our own celebrities, those who take the time without being paid to contribute to the wellness and nurturing of our community through the One Love Caribbean newspaper. They contribute their time and skills to ensure that this newspaper reaches the newsstands every month. This is a labor of love for everyone including myself. What a life! There is much that takes place behind the scenes before the paper is deemed complete. Some of our celebrities not only contribute on the production side writing articles, but on the administrative and the delivery side, ensuring that the newspaper gets to the very shelf where you pick your copy. Oftentimes, I seek the help of two friends, one in London, UK and another in North Carolina, for reviewing purposes. It is a network of people collaborating towards a common goal, and it’s you, our readers. Thanks to technology.
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It is a daunting task, but as you see, you are able to have a copy month after month after month. Therefore, it is quite fitting that as we, Caribbean Islanders (or Caribbeaners), celebrate Caribbean American Heritage Month, we direct the shining light at our own celebrities: Terry & Marva Layne • Andrea Jean-Baptiste • Thecia Jenkins • Marcelline Chitolie • Dr. Karon Wade • Uncle L • Leslie Richardson • Professor Marilyn D. Jones • Attorney Latania Mena • Pastor Cliff and Charmaine Bailey • Roberta Hector • Brother Alkebu Motapa • Veronica Parkin “Lawd, ah hope mi na forget nobody.” Translation: “Lord, I am hoping that I did not forget a soul.” In closing, I want to leave you with this message. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13) So until then, One Love! Sylvanus Donaie, BA, BSEE, MTM, MPM, MBA Publisher
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ONE LOVE CARIBBEAN
JUNE 2014
A Chat with Ina Foster
A Houston Caribbean Icon in the Food Service Business By Sylvanus Donaie OLC Houston OLC: This and every June, the United States celebrates Caribbean American Heritage Month. It is a time to focus and recognize the achievement of the men and women with Caribbean roots. Generations of Caribbean Americans have helped shape the spirit and character of our country. “These individuals are justly proud of their Caribbean roots, and they enrich the American experience by sharing their traditions, history, and values. Caribbean Americans of all walks of life have added to the vitality, success, and prosperity of our country. Their hard work and determination inspire all who dream of a better life for themselves and their families.” (George W. Bush, 2007)
trepreneur figured that her ideal startup restaurant should be in a location of a prior establishment. Her smart antic gave her a legup on the learning curve. Next, identifying her demographic was key. “Since, most people from the islands had settled in Southwest Houston, so that was where I was looking,” she explained.
Having said that, it is quite fitting to honor a celebrity chef and business woman, who for over 30 years served Caribbeaners a taste of their island foods in Houston. She is Mrs. Ina Foster (retired) is former owner of Caribbean Cuisine.
After about an 18 month search [talking about determination], she settled for the present location of Caribbean Cuisine on Bissonnet, despite being cautioned by the existing tenants that “nothing survive in this strip center.” Now, that’s tenacity.
Now, if you have never met Miss Ina, as she is affectionately called, then you have missed the time of your life. To hear her story affirms that America is a land of opportunity, where one must be able to see the vision, grab it, and work it to success.
Unable to get the necessary financing, Mrs. Foster started her business anyway, serving her signature patties. “I opened and I wanted to be just a pastry shop. I had a few friends that would come almost every day,” she commented. But her newly established customers were seeking more. “Ina, we cannot have patties every day for month… you really need to start cooking.” As a result, she began cooking one entrée per day. “They were happy, but then the question would be “…is that all you have?” I went to 2 entrees per day.” The growth continued day after day.
When Ms. Ina moved to Houston in 1981, a restaurant was the furthest thing from her mind. Having never visit Houston, she said that it was sight unseen. “We met a few Jamaicans, and in conversations, I discovered a little secret. They were unable to get the foods that they were accustomed to.” It was the birth of her vision in food service. “I started trying to make patties in the evening after work. The word got out in the community. Now I have to confess, these patties were not the best, I was learning the art, but people were ordering them. I would make them and deliver on a Saturday. It was exhausting; the family was watching TV, and I was rolling the dough in the kitchen,” a committed Ms. Ina said. Thereafter, friends encouraged her to start a restaurant. For her, it had only just began. Ms. Ina had no experience in the food service business. “I had never worked in one,” she commented. Therefore, the beginner en-
Understanding the Caribbean Culture Ms. Ina and her Family L-R: Cheryl (daughter), Dennis (husband), Ms. Ina, and Paula (daughter).
On the employee front, the business started with one employee and Ms. Ina’s brother who came in from Florida to help. “After a year, I had to expand. In other words, the need was there, and I tried to satisfy the need,” she said. Now, I had an unforgettable opportunity to chat with Ms. Ina. Here is an excerpt of the interview: Donaie: You employed some major food service strategies. When I patronized the business, the food taste was always consistent. If I order your jerk chicken, I knew exactly what I was getting. Foster: I don’t know, if it was the correct approach. But it worked.
I checked the flavor of the food. But I believed that if I liked it, other people would too. I attended many workshops. One of the things, we were taught in the restaurant business was, if your food was mediocre, keep it mediocre. If it’s bad, keep it bad. If it’s good, keep it good. However it is, maintain that because fluctuations are going to kill you. One day, I was talking to a professional in the food industry, and I told him how I started. He said if I had come to him for advice, when I wanted to start and with the money I had, he would have told me, it could not be done. He would have said to keep your money in the bank. From that point of view, I guess ignorance was bliss. I really did not know anything about this industry. Donaie: You took a tremendous risk, it appears. Do you believe that your boldness was a result of how you was raised? Foster: I guess! It is something in me. As an adult, even in Jamaica, I was always trying to sell something. Whether it was Avon, Christmas cards, or Stanley products! Whatever! Donaie: What made Caribbean Cuisine a famous icon? Foster: I don’t know! I need someone to tell me. Donaie: You did not only operate a restaurant. It was a meeting place, a post office, a bakery, and a grocery store. Foster: I guess, it boils down to giving of yourself… making yourself available to other people. Donaie: Your business was probably one of the oldest Caribbean businesses in Houston. Where do you see the Caribbean community in terms of business? Continue on Page 8
Carnival - Fusion of the European and African Cultures in the Caribbean
OLC: Carnival is a cultural tradition, and it is deeply-rooted in the hearts and souls of the Caribbean people. In fact, it is one of the most important representation of its people’s creativity, liberty, and imagination. In term of its simplistic historical definition, it is the resulting fusion of the European and African cultures in the Caribbean. The beginning of carnival was directly related to the Catholic religious observance of Lent. If fact, the word “Carnival” derived from the term carnevale, which means “the flesh is worthy” or “honor the body.” And traditionally forty days in Lent was marked by fasting, both from foods and festivities. Believers, as act of penance, was to abstain from meat. Therefore, carnival was the last big push to party before the solemn religious weeks. Carnival ends on “Fat Tuesday” or “Mardi gras,” the day before Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of the disciplined season of Lent. For the next forty days, no parties or other celebrations are held, and many Christians “put away meat.” This is important in the history of Caribbean people. In the time of colonialism, enslaved Africans looked forward to the week before Ash Wednesday because the plantation owners and their labor enforcement crews would relax their harsh
treatment and allow them to party in preparation for Lent. The party included dancing, story-telling and singing. Upon emancipation, the slaves shed their usual drab clothing and put on specially crafted costumes in celebration. The festival is of colossal importance to the Caribbean people. They brought the idea of costumes from Africa where their ancestors would parade around the village in a circle, often wearing costumes and masks to ease the angry spirit of a relative who had passed on to the next world. Materials such as feathers, bones, and shells were used on costumes to represent various types of spiritual forces and as a visual depiction of their rise above problems, illness, and pain. This popular phenomenon continues to evolve, combining with indigenous Caribbean rituals, stilt dancers, music, food, and in some countries large puppets have begun to appear in the festival. Today, these historical activities have exploded into a viable economic activity for Caribbean and American nations. The concept has evolved into major festivals, namely Mardi Gras in New Orleans and Rio Carnival in Brazil. Moreover, many Caribbean people who have migrated and settled in large cities in America continue their Continue on Page 14
JUNE 2014
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SKNAH Open Their 2014 Scholarships scholarship. Completed applications should be returned to SKNAH’s Scholarship Committee. Application forms are available at www.SKNAH.org. The application requirement includes completing the application form and writing a 500 word essay. SKNAH President, Melvina Audain, Scholarship Recipient, Gayle Jeffers, and St. St Kitts/Nevis Minister Mark Brantley
OLC: The St. Kitts and Nevis Association of Houston (SKNAH) announced the opening of their 2014 SKNAH scholarship; it is focused toward at least one student, who is registered in a degree program. The scholarship will award a minimum of $1000. Applications will be accepted through August 16, 2014. The 2014 SKNAH scholarship supports Kittitians, Nevisians and their relatives in pursuit of higher education. As a result, applicants must be native of St. Kitts and Nevis or relative of a
Kittitian/Nevisian native with selection based on the following criteria and weighting factors: • High school senior or college student pursuing full-time or part-time undergraduate studies at a college, university, or trade school. • Candidates, whether pursuing their degree onsite or via distance education, must be registered for a minimum of 6 credits per semester. • Candidates must have a proven record of involvement in community service. • Candidate must not be on full
The winner(s) will be announced at our annual Independence Scholarship Gala to be help on September 20th, 2014. SKNAH has awarded five scholarships since 2012. Formally established in 2008, SKNAH is a grassroots nonprofit organization with the purpose of providing support and enhancing the lives of Kittitians and Nevisians in our Federation and the Greater Houston, Texas area. The organization is involved in educational, cultural, and social service programs and volunteerism, which are designed to keep their culture strong and vibrant.
Caribbeaners Walk Raising Breast Cancer Awareness By Sylvanus Donaie On Saturday, May 17, 2014, Caribbean Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) held its first breast cancer walk at the Buffalo Run Park in Missouri City. It was an inspirational opportunity to bring awareness to the risk of getting breast cancer and to raise money in the fight against this disease. The walk in itself is a usually a group of supporters walking to a distance and returning. But, Dr. Paula Abramson and her organizers at the Caribbean Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) in Houston crank it up a few notches. They infused a piece of the islands culture in to the walk. Participants, who just wanted to walk, were able to do so. However, most followed the j’ouvert style option. Soca music was blasting from a slowly moving truck and supporters followed doing their jump-up moves. Thereafter, five women of Ca-
ribbean heritage spoke of their battle with battle with breast cancer including Paula, Abramson. “Cancer is a worrisome diagnosis, regardless of the prognosis. Five years ago, the doctors diagnosed me with breast cancer. At the time, I thought that I was living the American dream because of my accomplishments. Unfortunately, they were not able to prevent the ugly attack of cancer. It was a harsh reality, which dramatically changed my life,”
she explained. According to the National Cancer Institute, black women have a greater chance of being diagnosed with more aggressive, advanced-stage breast cancer. They are also more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age and tend to have a worse prognosis. The Pan American Health Organization reported that more than 408,200 women were diagnosed with breast cancer Continue on Page 14
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IMMIGRATION NEWS
Thinking of Overstaying Your Tourist Visa?
Understand the Consequences before You Act By Latania Mena Attorney at Law Most persons treat buying a home or a car as a life changing decision, and make their purchases only after sufficient research and considerable effort. They scout out as many options as possible, reconcile their budget, discuss over dinner, sleep on it and take that final leap after much careful thought. Many persons given the opportunity to come to the U.S. on temporary visas, however, make the decision to stay here permanently, without appreciating that such a decision is also a life changing event. Staying past the expected departure date permitted by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, can carry serious consequences. We will focus today on the tourist visa. WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF YOU OVERSTAY? There are three levels of penalties for overstaying your tourist visa and accruing unlawful presence: if you accrue unlawful presence of more than 180 days but less than one year and then leave the U.S., you will be barred from reentering the U.S. for three years; if you accrue more than 365 days of unlawful presence and then leave, you will be subsequently barred from re-entering the U.S. for 10 years. If you accrue more than one year in aggregate, then leave and subsequently attempt to, or enter without inspection, you will be barred permanently from re-entering the U.S. It is important to note that these consequences apply only if you depart the U.S. and then attempt to return. And while there are exceptions to the rule, only a few persons will meet the criteria for waiving the unlawful presence. Many make the decision to stay on the belief that if they are eligible for a green card, all they need to do to avoid the time bars, is to adjust their statuses in the U.S. That is, submitting all their paperwork and attending the interview inside the U.S. The bad news is…….not everyone is eligible to adjust status in the U.S. BUT IF MY BROTHER’S WIFE CAN ADJUST STATUS, THEN I CAN TOO You can’t just choose to adjust status in the U.S. You have to be eligible for adjustment in accordance with Section 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This means you must be eligible for a green card through a U.S. employer or a relative who is a U.S. citizen or a green
card holder, or by having received refugee or asylee status. If your eligibility is based on employment or family you must already have an approved visa petition (I-130 or I-140) on file and your priority date if any, must be current. Priority dates apply to immigrants in preference categories, who because of the annual limits on visas must wait until a visa becomes available before proceeding with their green card application. A restricted category of people are exempt from this rule of having an approved petition, these persons fall into the category of “immediate relatives of U.S. citizens” or those qualifying under specialty rules of Section 245(i) of the INA or the LIFE Act. Section 245 outlines several other components that may impact one’s ability to adjust, of the most critical of these, and impacting most islanders, is that you must be in a valid visa status at the time of your adjustment of status application, including that you have not stayed past the expiration of your permitted stay or engaged in unauthorized employment. Again, only a very restricted group of persons will beat the bullet of this requirement, by virtue of them being “immediate relatives” of US citizens. An immediate relative of a U.S citizen is a parent, spouse or unmarried child under the age of 21. Everyone else falls into a preference category. You must make a conscious effort to evaluate the consequences of overstaying your tourist visa. Many persons believe that once there is an approved visa petition (I-130), they will be eligible for work permits, and can go on living and working here until a visa becomes available. This is not true-reconsider this strategy. Overstaying your tourist visa automatically voids that visa, and you will not be readmitted into the U.S without first obtaining a new nonimmigrant visa in your Continue on Page 14
Page 6
ONE LOVE CARIBBEAN
Caribbean Writers Some Of The World’s Finest
ARIBBEAN Briefs Dominica Election 2014: The Struggle for the Leadership OLC- June 2014: The 2014 election campaign is heating up in Dominica. The party that is out, the United Workers Party (UWP) led by Lennox Linton, will speak of nothing but approaching disaster, while the party that is in power, the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) led by Roosevelt Skerrit, will sing all the Hallelujah praises to reflect “Happy Days Are Here Again.” However, remember, economics is always the fuel that fuses the voter’s hearts and minds to the politician’s rhetoric. Early last month, the DLP told Dominicans that the Government is not ready to announce an election date, but instead is focusing on bringing continued development to the people of Dominica. At a campaign meeting in St. Joseph, he said, “This Government is not talking elections this evening. We are talking projects and programs. We are talking progress for Dominica and an enhanced quality of life for its citizens and residents.” “I shall be taking to cabinet in a matter of days a comprehensive plan for the upgrade and redevelopment of Roseau. We already have the designs and conceptual drawings for total transformation of the city of Roseau; it involves the covering and ceiling of drains, installing of utility lines, widening of sidewalks, and installing of planters,” he explained. Skerrit revealed plans to sim-
Left: Dominica’s Opposition Leader, Lennox Linton, of the United Workers Party. Right: Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, leader of the Dominica Labour Party.
In a meeting in Portsmouth, a community on Dominica’s northwest coast, PM Skerrit spoke of his intention to establish a modern gateway to the historic town setting the stage for the increasing in commercial and industrial activities. “We have told the planners to include for example facilities for a walk-off cruise landing facility and shopping arcade, and also bulk storage and loading bay for the export of fresh potable water,” said the Prime Minister. “It also includes a new Government Administration Building, to provide essential services for the north, a modern bus terminal and a general road and highway improvement,” the PM continued.
However, the opposition leader, Lennox Linton, saw a different picture; he is appalled at PM announcements. In a rebuttal, he said, “The Labour Party Government knows that there are a number of people that do not know better about many important areas of Dominica’s affairs.” “The Labour Party promised an international airport in the year 2000,” Linton said. He claims credit to the idea. “Last September, I said in my acceptance speech of the UWP, that we will construct an international airport because we cannot continue to operate as the only Caribbean country without an international airport,” he stressed. He explained that most of the projects, the PM made mention, are original recommendations of the UWP.
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The Caribbean has produced some of the “finest writers” in the world. The words of the Prime Minister of Barbados, Freundel Stuart, to members of the Writers Ink when they paid him a courtesy call at Government Headquarters. Writers Ink members are committed to the promotion of the literary arts. We feel strongly that an alternative must be offered to the dominant “wukup” culture in Barbados which claims a 98% literacy.
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The English-speaking Caribbean had produced not only three Nobel Laureates - Sir W. Arthur Lewis in 1979, Dr. Derek Walcott in 1992, and Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul in 2001, the latter two in Literature, but also a stellar company of especially good writers, the equal of the best that could be found anywhere in the world. “I am was pleased to see the amount of writing being done in and about the Caribbean,” Stuart said. “This is all very positive; keep up the good work and keep the flame burning. We have tended to see things through eyes other than our own for too long, and it is time to look through the right set of lenses. It will do a lot for our self-confidence as a people,” he continued.
Justice Burgess presents Legal Text to PM Stuart
He told the writers that their efforts would greatly assist in the liberation of self. Acknowledging that the region still had a little way to go in developing that confidence, he stressed, however, that it had done very well in the past 50 years. “It is important that we continue those efforts and continue to reinforce that dignity of self which our people desperately crave,” he stated. The Prime Minister noted that few politicians had published any work, but said he hoped to do some writing, especially since he had a deep interest in literature. He pointed out, also, that there were some legal issues that excited him, and which he wanted to write about.
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St. Kitts/Nevis Citizenship Program in Question SKNIS: Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas has responded to an advisory issued by the United States Treasury Department claiming “Abuse of the Citizenship-by-Investment Program Sponsored by the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.” In his monthly press conference, the PM said, “We are very pleased that these attempts by some economic citizens have been uncovered by the United States,” he explained. “We have long stressed our commitment to working with regional and international allies to halt the spread of international crime, and the matter of our Citizenship by Investment Program is no exception in this regard. We are in the process of
determining at this moment exactly what changes, if any, should be made to the program, and we will be sure to advise you accordingly as these decisions are arrived at.” Douglas indicated that the unit is aware of the everevolving ingenuity of criminals and has prioritized training in cyber-crime to assist in detection and apprehension and will establish an advisory board to protect the integrity of the program. He also stressed that the Treasury Department does not wish the advisory to affect the maintenance of normal relationships between financial institutions in the United States and
the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis more broadly. Dr. Douglas issued another declaration of the government’s no-tolerance policy of criminals attempting to enter the program. “It is already a matter of established policy that St. Kitts-Nevis will revoke citizenship if any St. Kitts-Nevis economic citizen becomes involved in criminality. This is a current policy. And we will not hesitate to enforce it.”
JUNE 2014
ONE LOVE CARIBBEAN
The Oldest Trinidadian Dies at 110 lowed in the ward as the doctors were trying to resuscitate her. “I knew her for so long, I thought she would live forever. I used to boast about her and hold her up as an example. Now she is no longer there,” he said sadly.
Source: T&T Daily News Limited Soogaree Jattan, the oldest surviving indentured worker who turned 110 on Indian Arrival Day, Friday, has died. Indian Arrival Day is a celebrated on May 30 in Trinidad and Tobago to commemorate the first arrivals from the Indian subcontinent to Trinidad, on May 30, 1845, on the ship Fatel Razack. Soogaree, who came to Trinidad from India in 1908 when she was just four years old, was pronounced dead at 4.10 pm yesterday at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Com-
plex where she was warded for three days prior to her passing. Chief Executive Officer of the North Central Regional Health Authority Kumar Boodram confirmed her demise. He said he was in the ward when she “ took her last breath”. On her birthday on Friday, Soogaree was visited by a few family members including her daughter Anandai Ramlagan. Genealogist Shamshu Deen, who has known Soogaree for over 25 years told Sunday Newsday he went to the hospital to see her yesterday but was not al-
Deen said he met Soogaree’s great-grand-daughter at the hospital yesterday who told him that she had grandchildren. He said that means that Soogaree has great, great, great grandchildren. “That is exceptional, as a researcher I have never met someone with great, great, great grandchildren, it’s a first for me,” he said. Deen said Soogaree never knew her exact date of birth so decided to celebrate her birthday on Indian Arrival Day. Soogaree who is believed to be the oldest living person in Trinidad and Tobago, if not the Caribbean, was admitted to the Mt Hope hospital on Thursday. She was receiving oxygen and drips at the hospital and was being treated for fluid in her lungs.
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CCTV Cameras Take Shape in Antigua OLC: The Government of Antigua and Barbuda in collaboration with Digicel have implemented a Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) to monitor areas around their capital city of St. Johns. The Government has recognized that these solutions are quickly becoming an invaluable tool for local law enforcement and emergency management throughout the Caribbean. This system will translate to a safer environment for the citizens, residents and visitors of Antigua and Barbuda. Thirty cameras have been installed in ten strategic locations in first phase of the project. In the second phase, an additional 78 cameras will be installed. The multi-million dollar CCTV project involves high tech 24hour monitoring that will allow for rapid responses by the police and other security forces. In
the event of criminal activity being observed on a camera, the CCTV operator can quickly direct police response to the incident. The cameras which have been installed in strategic locations are capable of zooming in on facial details from hundreds of yards away and have built in night vision capability. The pan tilt zoom cameras also can withstand extreme weather conditions. The footage is recorded and will be archived by law enforcement authorities for an undisclosed period of time.
2014 Hurricane Season Forecast Predicts Fewer Storms Colorado State University researchers predicts that 2014 Atlantic hurricane season include 10 named storms - including four hurricanes. It is important to remember the impact of September 2005 Rita and September 2008 Ike on the Houston Metro Areas. Storm predictors, Dr. Phillip J. Klotzbach and Dr. William Gray, continue to predict a below-average hurricane season for the Atlantic basin, citing the likely development of an El Niño and the persistence of cool anomalies in the tropical Atlantic. But researchers upped their predictions from nine named storms to 10 and from three hurricanes to four with one reaching major strength with sustained winds of least 111 miles per hour, because they are unsure how strong the expected El Niño will be. In addition, the Atlantic has anomalously warmed since early April, although it is still significantly cooler than in most active hurricane years. “The tropical Atlantic remains cooler than normal, and the chances of a moderate to strong El Niño event this summer and fall appear to be relatively high,” said Phil Klotzbach, lead author of the CSU hurricane report. “Historical data indicate fewer storms form in these conditions. But we have seen some conditions
Hurricane Rita at peak intensity
change in a manner to make the season slightly more favorable for storm formation, which prompted us to increase our predictions.” The team bases its forecasts on over 60 years of historical data that include Atlantic sea surface temperatures, sea level pressures, vertical wind shear levels (change in wind direction and speed with height in the atmosphere), El Niño (warming of waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific), and other factors. “So far, the 2014 season is exhibiting characteristics similar to the 1957, 1963, 1997, 2002, and 2009 hurricane seasons, all of which had normal or below-normal hurricane activity,” Klotzbach said.
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ONE LOVE CARIBBEAN
A Chat with Ina Foster
A Houston Caribbean Icon in the Food Service Business Continue from Page 4.
Foster: It has expanded; others have opened restaurants. I think there is room for growth. It is not just catering to people from the Caribbean, but people from other ethnicities. We need to introduce them to the enjoyment of Caribbean cooking. Well, sometimes it just boils down to determination.
JUNE 2014
CARIBBEAN
LIEE LIFE
Houston Domino Competition
Donaie: Twenty years from today, where do you foresee the community? Foster: It would be a vibrant community, because it has grown. People are maybe impatient, but how fast do you want it to grow? Growth is there. It depends on where you are putting your focus. You cannot focus on catering just for your people. Donaie: Now retired, do you have any final words? Foster: I dedicated myself a little too much to the business at the expense of family. I forfeited vacations, and missed my grandkids recitals and games. What I am focusing on now is my God and family, and whatever the Lord has in store for me at this stage of my life. It was a wonderful journey, and the way
Mrs. Ina Foster I look at it, it was God’s plan. I never envisioned myself to be in that type of business. When people are glorifying me, it was two sided; it is not just me. They had a need, I supplied it. If there were concerns, I tried to meet the concerns. It took two! Any award I get, my customers kept me there for that length of time. I was really blown away when, I heard, there were customers who cried [after I sold the business]. God has a plan for us all. We all know domino playing is a serious game for Caribbean folks, and it was all serious business to the game when the Houston-Missouri City Domino Club took on their competitors from Dallas, Texas and Atlanta, Georgia. Well, the Dallas team won; Houston took second place.
Houston Caribbean Queen Contestants
Jamaica Foundation of Houston Gave 15 Scholarships
The Jamaica Foundation of Houston gave scholarships to 15 deserving students at their Annual Scholarship Luncheon on Saturday, May 24, 2014. The award ceremony was held at the First Methodist Church in Houston. Through their scholarship program, the foundation provides financial assistance, based on academic performance and family financial needs, to the most qualified college students, who are selected for a pool of quality applicants. Funding for the scholarships is a major thrust for JFH, which requires a continuous ongoing and dedicated effort to accomplish the set goals for each year. The number of scholarships awarded each year is based on the number of applicants, their qualifications, and the amount of available funds.
Roberta Hector at her R & E Cosmetology School. She hails from the island of Aruba.
JUNE 2014
ONE LOVE CARIBBEAN
PHOTOS
Houston Caribbean
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CARIBBEAN
LIEE LIFE PHOTO THE MONTH
Prominent Jamaican Ed Herron dialogs with Sylvanus Donaie of OLC Houston at the Jamaica Foundation of Houston Annual Scholarship Luncheon - May 24, 2014
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ONE LOVE CARIBBEAN
JUNE 2014
Caribbean Diaspora Bids Farewell to Literary Icon
ONNECTIONS Reparations for Enslavement:
Dr. Maya Angelou
New Voices and New Thrusting have received studied attention and intellectual analyses from “intellectuals and grass-root thinkers across the Diaspora for many years. Not only are we now able to see the horrors of the European enslavement, but also, the destructive consequences of “forced free labor” from those enslaved over centuries of criminal victimization.
By Terrance Layne OLC Staff Writer The history of enslavement of tens of millions of African peoples by Europeans for the purpose of developing colonies throughout the Americas and in the Caribbean Region; and further exploiting these lands and peoples to financially benefit several countries in Europe is without doubt, among the darkest pages of written history on Earth. This human tragedy of catastrophic proportions remains difficult to discuss even in ordinary conversations today, despite having help from acceptable historical documentation. But a far greater and present challenge to us today, is to hold purposeful and conclusive conversations about Reparations for the historical enslavement and its residual effects on descendants of people of African descent now living in the Western Hemisphere. The debate on either side of this issue promises to be intense and prolonged. It is to this point that we credit our combined group of Caribbean leaders (CARICOM) for their tenacity in developing a 10 Point Demand for Reparations from those European nations which actively participated in the brutality of enslavement and its history of exploitation that followed (see One Love Caribbean-April 2014). The call for Reparations is hardly new. Voices have been raised from among the ranks of Marcus Garvey; in addition to Randall Robinson (Trans-Africa), and other people at the grassroots level long before the collective voices of CARICOM Leaders sounded off in March 2014. No longer is it a call from “lone, angry wolves and radicals.” What seems new is the collectivity of Caribbean leadership, adding its coalescing sentiments to the list of proponents for Reparations. The issues of enslavement
Clearly, the task of calling for and outlining demands for Reparations required tremendous work and commitment from many advocates across the Caribbean nations, too many to list. But I make mention of those working in the background for readers’ appreciation; and to underscore the growing consciousness surrounding this globally unfinished business of Reparations. While the focus of this writing is on the Caribbean region it is a global problem for Afro-descendants and Indigenous peoples all around the world. And as I speak, it comes to mind that we can hardly address poverty around the world without some discussions about Reparations. Having said that, I would be remiss not to inform about our beloved academian and advocate, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Chairman of the CARICOM Reparations Committee (CRC), University of the West Indies. Dr. Beckles is a strong proponent of Reparations; and he bases his arguments on historical documentation, particularly connecting these events to where we are today as a result of having experienced the European enslavement and its aftermath.
I can appreciate the large number of people, who will struggle with cynically externalized reactions to the idea of Reparations. Add these to those who would remain quiet about their skepticism, and privately dismiss it as a pointless cause. But I would further urge those who would dare to examine the merits of both arguments, for and against the issue. In fact, I believe we owe it to our children and grandchildren to “tell the story” of the European enslavement and the struggles for Reparations. In my own experience, I find it difficult to overlook the potential transgenerational difficulties of one single traumatic event; let alone the potential trauma of the horrors of the enslavement experienced over three hundred years or more. And since we are a Bible reading community, I believe it’s also important to include some Biblical teachings in this regard. Factually, there is scriptural guidance which favors Reparations too! The Holy Bible charges slave masters to release those held in bondage after a specified time and to release them, not empty; but ”furnished liberally from your flock, your floor, and from your winepress” (Deuteronomy 15: 12-15). It rests upon the hearers to make decisions about their own beliefs; and to decide whether not the Europeans were in harmony with the Scriptures they taught. So now we have an expanded voice from within ourselves added to the list of witnesses (if I may) in support of recompense. The choice remains with us, to speak or not to speak.
By MD Jones OLC Staff Writer The Caribbean Diaspora, especially our authors and poets, joins Americans and the global literary community in extending warmest condolences to Mr. Guy B. Johnson and family on the passing of his mother Dr. Marguerite Ann Johnson, aka Maya Angelou aka Miss Calypso, who departed this life on May 28, 2014 to be with her ancestors. Marguerite Johnson was the second child born to Vivian Baxter Johnson, a Trinidadian American nurse whose father and grandfather had both migrated to the U.S. from Trinidad & Tobago on a banana boat and jumped off in Tampa, Florida. There her grandfather learned to roll cigars and took care of his family even though he was an undocumented immigrant. He managed to evade immigration agents successfully all his life as Angelou wrote in ‘MOM & ME & MOM’ and “spoke often and loudly with pride at being an American citizen.” “No one explained to him that simply wanting to be a citizen was not enough to make him one,” she added. Guy Johnson’s official statement on behalf of the family reads: “Dr. Maya Angelou passed quietly in her home before 8:00 a.m. EST. Her family is extremely grateful that her ascension was not belabored by a loss of acuity or comprehension. She lived a life as a teacher, activist, artist and
human being. She was a warrior for equality, tolerance and peace. The family is extremely appreciative of the time we had with her and we know that she is looking down upon us with love.” Dr. Angelou was scheduled to be honored on May 30 in Houston during the Civil Rights commemoration activities: Her acceptance speech was prerecorded, and her official apology on May 26 stated, “An unexpected medical emergency caused me the greatest disappointment of having to cancel my visit to the Major League Baseball Civil Rights Game ceremony. I am so proud to be selected as its honoree. However, my doctors told me it would be unadvisable for me to travel at that time. My thanks to Robin Roberts for speaking up for me and thank you for all your prayers. I am each day better.” Her final entry on Twitter was May 23, “Listen to yourself and in that quietude you might hear the voice of God.” She obeyed when that Voice called her home. As we contemplate the contributions of this Caribbean heritage icon to humanity as an extraordinary human being mother, actress, dancer, singer, poet, novelist, film professional, educator, activist - may we choose to celebrate her legacy instead of mourning our loss. Her Facebook page remains for our edutainment.
DID YOU KNOW?
Sugar Plantation Slaves 1858 engraving of slaves in the British West Indies working the sugar cane. Photo: Lordprice Collection/ Alamy
www.olchouston.com
Although the high school graduation rate for young black males is improving, data shows that they still substantially lag their white peers. ABC News reports that while more African-American men graduated high school over the past decade, and more are doing it in four years, that rate is still nearly 30 percentage points lower than the graduation rate for white males.
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ONE LOVE CARIBBEAN
AN INSPIRATIONAL MOMENT Encouragement from the Word of God
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BIRTHDAYS IN THE DIASPORA
“Oh My Pa-pa”: A Tribute to Fathers
Charmaine Bailey Staff Writer cbailey@olchouston.com Dad, Daddy, Pop, Poppa, Papa, Pops! There are so many names to embody one very dear person – Father. We currently live in a society where often fathers are ridiculed and portrayed as not being too smart or not quite as capable as Mom. However, Mom could never be Mom without Dad. One of the meanings of the word “father” is originator and that is who Dad is - the one in whom the seed began, and when it was implanted in Mom, it brought forth a new life. Dad, who often underestimates his own importance within the family, is irreplaceable. Sons need a father to train them and model for them what manhood looks like. Daughters need Dad to validate them, give them significance and help them “find their place in this world”. Mother or Dad cannot adequately replace or fill in for each other. Both are anchors needed for the stability of the family. The concept of fatherhood originated with God the Father; it was His idea and He was the first Father – the Creator Who invested Himself in His creation. He demonstrated His plan for fathers and showed
us how it was done. He showed Himself to be first of all a Communicator. All through the Bible He is the Initiator making contact and revealing Himself to mere mortals. He is also a Nurturer, Listener, Provider, Protector, Encourager, and Teacher. He corrects, reproaches, leads, guides, forgives and gives “second” chances over and over again. One of the most important characteristics that God the Father demonstrated to us, however, is His presence. God is described as being Omnipresent; i.e. present everywhere. He visited with and communed with man in the Garden of Eden. He accompanied the children of Israel on their entire journey through the wilderness, manifesting Himself as a thick, protective cloud during the heat of the day and a warm, comforting, way-lighting fire during the cold desert nights. Throughout the Bible God went to lengths to make His presence known to mankind and the fact that He was always present and desiring a personal relationship with each person. “… For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” Hebrews 13:5 (NLT) Likewise, in families, fathers’ presence is important to children. It says: “I care about you; I put your needs ahead of my own; you are important to me – you are the apple of my eye”. It says: “I’m here for you; I’m your Father; I love you”. “The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate…” Psalm 103:13 (NLT)
Ma Harry Saint Lucia
Daisy Romans. Jamaica
Linda St.Hill Barbados
Ashmead Ali Trinidad
Gail Longmore Jamaica
Earlyn Carrera Trinidad
Alexandra Hyacinth Saint Lucia
Naomi Nicholas Saint Lucia
FireKyle Young Trinidad
Harmando Savory Sr. Panama
Jillian Raffington Jamaica
Judy Vialva Trinidad
Gloria Romeo St. Croix
Garry Randolph St.Croix
Marsha Edwards-Godfrey. Jamaica
Dad, you are special! Even if your children do not openly express it, they love you and they would be lost without you. Even if they are all grown up, your children still need you to be a part of their lives. Fatherhood is one of the best gifts that you have been given.
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.
Death of a Legend: Ma Eddie By Andrea Jean Baptiste On Sunday May 25, 2014 one of the world’s bright lights was dimmed. Mrs. Philomene Gaston, also known as Teacher Beulah or Ma Eddie, passed away at age 91 in Houston, Texas. Mrs. Gaston formerly of Mon Repos, Saint Lucia, left behind to mourn an extended family of children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and many friends both here and abroad.
Email your birthday announcement to birthday@onelovehouston.com
To the very end, she was mentally sharp and had a wicked sense of humor. She played a mean game of dominoes and could beat anyone she played. She also enjoyed entertaining visitors. Mrs. Beulah Gaston began her adult life as a school teacher. Later, she became the postmistress for her community of Mon Repos in St. Lucia. The Gaston
family are one of the most well known families in Saint Lucia, this is due partly to their business acumen, their belief in giving back to their community and also Mrs. Gaston’s prominent role as
a community organizer, a passion she passed on to her family, particularly, her youngest daughter Irayle Gaston. A devoted Catholic, Teacher Beulah was a member of the Legend of Mary, and for over 20 years, she organized the Mon Repos celebration of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. In 2009, Mrs. Gaston received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Saint Lucia Association of Texas. Family, friends and in some cases perfect strangers came from far and wide
to attend the Memorial Service for Mrs. Gaston which was held on Friday, June 6, 2014 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Baytown, Texas. This is a testament to the woman she was, kind, strong and personable. She will be missed by everyone she came in contact with. Her light though dimmed will continue to shine brightly for her giving, kind and generous spirit. Mrs. Gaston will be buried in her beloved community of Mon Repos, Saint Lucia.
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OPEN EDITORIAL How well can we predict climate change? By Marston S. Johnston Contributing Writer Climate models are important tools to quantify how much we affect the climate, which helps understand how we should act in order not to destroy our home - Earth. But how well do climate models of the atmosphere approximate reality? Marston S. Johnston at Chalmers University of Technology knows.
confidence in climate models and makes it harder to know how to quantify the coming climate change.
A growing problem today is that many of the satellites currently used for research are no longer state of the art and do not provide the most detailed data. It is therefore important to investigate how new observational instruments and satellites can provide more relevant data, explains Marston that have investigated how well climate models describe reality.
The satellite data Marston used concern the tropical troposphere. The troposphere contains approximately ninety percent of the atmosphere and it is in the tropics that about half of all people live, together with the greatest diversity of animals and plants. A large part of the atmosphere’s water is found in the troposphere. Climate change as we note today depends to a large degree on the subsequent water vapor increase as the temperature increases. The temperature increase is a direct result of increased carbon dioxide levels, which have increased by 30 percent over the past 100 years. This increase of carbon dioxide is primarily anthropogenic.
A major problem that climate scientists have been facing for a long time is that climate models have a differing results. There has been a large gap where some climate models have shown an increase in temperature at a given location by one degree Celsius, while another showed up at ten degrees Celsius. Such a big difference undermines
By collecting data from a large variety of satellites to then compare these with climate model calculations, Marston could lay a foundation for how we can improve climate models in the future. He has through his work identified where we can improve climate models, which gives us a greater opportunity to establish a more clear
picture of how we should deal with the climate change earth is undergoing today. Climate models’ complexity will make the road difficult and for us to overcome obstacles, we must have more observations that probe the atmosphere from different perspectives. This would give us a greater understanding for various atmospheric processes. With a deeper understanding of these processes we can improve climate models’ ability to predict the changes that will affect our earth and all life that exists here including humanity. Will we eventually be able to predict future climate change with 100 percent certainty? “It is not the intention. Man has always affected the earth, but we do it in a larger and to a more destructive extent. The more our technology evolves, the more we humans are affected by the development. But we can make great strides in improving climate models.”
Marston S. Johnston defends his thesis “Evaluating Tropical Upper-tropospheric Water in Climate Models Using Satellite Data,” on April 25
Caribbean Community Joins in Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Weekend By MD Jones History’s purpose is to serve as collective memory, so multiple stories must be told of an event to increase its accuracy. Most American history books do not teach that Memorial Day was started in the Southern United States by African American women who wanted to honor their fallen soldiers of the Civil War. Since the established leadership had no plan or program to even account for or bury their own back then, these women gathered on May 1 in southern fields and cemeteries to pour libations in the African tradition and also to lay flowers at the graves of unidentified soldiers. Since then, the nation followed, and a presidential proclamation later established the last Monday in May as Memorial Day. This 2014 Memorial Holiday weekend turned out to be the most fitting occasion for Houstonians to pay a proper tribute to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as diplomats, city and state officials joined Mr. Ovide Duncantel and the Black Heritage Society at the unveiling ceremonies of the King statue in Southeast Houston’s McGregor Park. After multiple ongoing challenges and delays over the years, the statue of Dr. King was raised and unveiled and the Metro Transit
Station named in his honor was opened by Dr. King’s son and nephew, Martin Luther King III and Dr. Derek King respectively, at McGregor Park on the corner of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Old Spanish Trail. Weekend celebrations began with Friday’s private VIP cocktail reception in McGregor Park where guests included members of the Houston Diplomatic Corps such as Hon. K. Omari Fullerton, Honorary Consul of Jamaica in Houston, community leaders such as Prof. Marilyn DouglasJones of Caribbean Impact Network, and guests of honor Rev. Joseph Lowery and Dr. Derek King. This gathering of diverse ethnicities, nationalities, classes and faiths set the tone for Saturday’s main events in the true spirit of Dr. King’s Dream. Saturday’s program began with a parade from the market plaza on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard at Griggs Road led by Martin Luther King III , Ovide Duncantel, Rev. Lowery, Congressman Al Green, Dr. Derek King, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, and the father-son sculptors Kenneth Washington and Kenneth Washington, Jr. The procession of bands, public officials and organizations ended at McGregor Park with a ribbon cut-
The unveiled statue of Martin Luther King Jr. standing in Houston’s MacGregor Park
ting at the historic Metro transit stop named in honor of Dr. King and where dignitaries graciously allowed photo opportunities to the media and public. The official party then followed the concrete path of 39 granite inlays representing milestones in the life of Dr. King with additional photo sessions along the way before arriving at the staging area where the statue would be unveiled after a program of speakers and brief entertainment. Continue on Page 14
JUNE 2014
Would Comprehensive Immigration Reform in the United States Mean Anything for Caribbean Island Nations? By Attorney Melissa N. Salvador Contributing Writer Hot on the minds of everyone last year was comprehensive immigration reform, especially for those who are living in the United States without “papers.” Much of the hype surrounding this issue has died down, but not died out. The conversation is still on the lips of many and it should be in the Caribbean community, because there are provisions in the proposed immigration reform bills that speak directly to foreign nationals from Caribbean Island Nations. Two proposed immigration reform bills were debated in Congress last year. The first was S.755 – the immigration reform billed passed by the full Senate on June 27, 2013. The second was H.R.15, which was passed on October 2, 2013 solely out of the House Judiciary Committee in the House of Representatives. Both bills are almost virtually identical with the exception of the security related measures. However, the two bills seek to expand the E visa category to nationals from countries of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (“CBERA”). CBERA countries are Central American and Caribbean countries that have duty-free access to the U.S. market for most goods; there are currently 17 CBERA countries. The E visa is for treaty traders and treaty investors, and it is used by many foreign nationals with an entrepreneurial spirit. The E visa allows a foreign national to come to the United States to work and live so long as they are a citizen of a country that has a treaty of commerce and navigation with the United States to carry on substantial trade or to develop and direct the operations of an enterprise in which he or she has invested in the United States. The spouse of the principal beneficiary of the E visa is permitted to obtain employment authorization to work for any company in the U.S., and unmarried children under 21 have the opportunity to attend any U.S. school. However, the E visa can only be used by citizens of four (4) of the CBERA nations – Grenada, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad & Tobago. These are the only countries in the region that currently have a treaty of commerce and navigation with the United States. The Senate and House Judiciary Committee immigration reform bills propose that the E visa category be expanded to set aside 10,500 visas each fiscal year for beneficiary countries of CBERA so that nationals from theses countries would have the opportunity to work in the U.S. for an employer willing to hire them. The
sole criteria for doing so is a high school education or its equivalent; or the attainment of two (2) years of work experience in an occupation that requires two (2) years of experience or training in the most recent five (5) year period. According to both bills, U.S. employers seeking to hire CBERA country nationals would not need to file a labor certification with the Department of Labor, which is a hurdle that most U.S. employers have to jump through to obtain foreign talent for their companies. If the provisions of the proposed immigration reform bills are signed into law as presently written, then the E visa category would make it less complicated for U.S. employers to hire nationals from the Caribbean region and for CBERA country nationals to obtain work authorization in the U.S. The provision in these proposed bills would free up the movement of people between the United States and CBERA countries thereby making it easier for CBERA nationals to work and live in the U.S. instead of relying on the traditional paths of the student and H-1B visas to stay in the United States for an extended period of time. Since last year, however, we all know that comprehensive immigration reform has been stalled in Congress. Therefore, the ease of moving to the U.S. from Caribbean nations has also been put on hold. While the E visa is still a viable option for foreign nationals to take advantage of in order to work and live in the United States, its applicability is only limited to people from the four CBERA islands. Everyone is else in the region, on the other hand, is left to continue working within the confines of the current broken U.S. immigration system to find a way to live and work in America. CBERA Countries Antigua and Barbuda • Aruba The Bahamas • Barbados • Belize British Virgin Islands Dominica • Grenada • Guyana Jamaica • Montserrat • Haiti St. Kitts and Nevis • St. Lucia St. Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad & Tobago This article is solely for informational purposes, is not legal advice, and does not create an attorneyclient relationship.
JUNE 2014
ONE LOVE CARIBBEAN
Health & Wellness Prostate cancer: Highest in Caribbean Men Dr. WD Aiken Division of Urology, The University of the West Indies Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer in the world and the leading cancer affecting men in Jamaica. If PCa is identified early in its natural history, it is eminently treatable with great potential for cure. The Caribbean has the highest age standardized PCa-specific mortality rates in the world. High rates of PCa have been reported in several Caribbean territories and PCa may rightly be considered a major health problem in most of these countries. Of greater concern is the recent report on global cancer statistics indicating that the Caribbean region has the highest age-standardized PCa-specific m ortality rate in the world at 26. In Jamaica, the local cancer registry which records all cancers diagnosed in the Kingston and St Andrew area reports that the age-standardized PCa incidence
for the period 2003-2007 was 78 making it by far the leading cancer affecting men in Jamaica. Significantly, PCa is also the leading cause of male cancerrelated deaths in Jamaica at 53. In the French territory, Guadeloupe, PCa incidence has recently been reported at 168 and in Tobago, a high prevalence of screen-detected PCa three times that typically seen in Caucasian populations has been reported. Prostate cancer is also three
times more common in AfroTrinidadians compared to IndoTrinidadians. In Barbados, incidence and mortality rates for PCa are high at 160. The high incidence of PCa amongst Afro-Caribbean men is also seen in emigrants to the United Kingdom (UK) and their descendants with incidence rates being three times higher in these men compared to Caucasians in the UK. Despite the increasing use of prostate specific antigen (PSA)
since its introduction to Jamaica in 1989, approximately 50% of men with newly diagnosed PCa in Kingston and St. Andrew are still discovered on the basis of symptoms and signs and therefore present with locally advanced and metastatic disease with its attendant morbidity and mortality. Indeed, no appreciable downward stage migration has been observed in Jamaica as was experienced over a decade ago in the United States of America (USA) with widespread use of PSA as a screening tool. While PCa does not discriminate between men of different socio-economic positions, its impact upon men and their families from the lowest socioeconomic stratum is especially devastating. These men are the ones most likely to present with advanced and incurable disease through lack of awareness and inaccessibility to early detection. Advanced PCa presents a significant caregiving, emotional and financial burden to the families of these mostly middleaged and elderly men. Given that increasing age is a risk factor for PCa, the ageing of Caribbean populations is likely to be accompanied by an increasing prevalence of PCa and a corresponding increase in the financial and
Page 13 caregiving burden to families given the cancer’s relatively long natural history. There is also the financial burden to the already fragile and resource-limited health sectors of the developing countries of the Caribbean. The costs incurred in treating advanced disease and castration-resistant PCa and its resultant complications are known to outstrip the costs involved in the early detection and treatment of organ-confined disease. Management of advanced disease usually involves recurring costs for expensive drugs as well as frequent clinic and hospital visits, typically for the remainder of the patient’s lifetime. In the terminal phase of the disease, significant costs are incurred in the rendering of palliative treatments which may involve expensive interventional radiological, urological and radiotherapy interventions.
CARIBBEAN MEN Time for Health screening
Know the Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer Source: American Cancer Society A risk factor is anything that affects your chance of getting a disease such as cancer. Different cancers have different risk factors. Some risk factors, like smoking, can be changed. Others, like a person’s age or family history, can’t be changed. But risk factors don’t tell us everything. Many people with one or more risk factors never get cancer, while others who get cancer may have had few or no known risk factors. We don’t yet completely understand the causes of prostate cancer, but researchers have found several factors that might change the risk of getting it. For some of these factors, the link to prostate cancer risk is not yet clear. Age: Prostate cancer is very rare in men younger than 40, but the chance of having prostate cancer rises rapidly after age 50. About 6 in 10 cases of prostate cancer are found in men over the age of 65. Race/ethnicity: Prostate cancer occurs more often in AfricanAmerican men and Caribbean men of African ancestry than in men of other races. African-
American men are also more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage, and are more than twice as likely to die of prostate cancer as white men. Prostate cancer occurs less often in Asian-American and Hispanic/Latino men than in non-Hispanic whites. The reasons for these racial and ethnic differences are not clear. Nationality: Prostate cancer is most common in North America, northwestern Europe, Australia, and on Caribbean islands. It is less common in Asia, Africa, Central America, and South America. The reasons for this are not clear. More intensive screening in some developed countries probably accounts for at least part of this difference, but other factors such as lifestyle differences (diet, etc.) are likely to be important as well. For example, men of Asian descent living in the United States have a lower risk of prostate cancer than white Americans, but their risk is higher than that of men of similar backgrounds living in Asia. Family history: Prostate cancer seems to run in some families, which suggests that in some
cases there may be an inherited or genetic factor. Having a father or brother with prostate cancer more than doubles a man’s risk of developing this disease. (The risk is higher for men who have a brother with the disease than for those with an affected father.) The risk is much higher for men with several affected relatives, particularly if their relatives were young at the time the cancer was found. Diet: The exact role of diet in prostate cancer is not clear, but several factors have been studied. Men who eat a lot of red meat or high-fat dairy products appear to have a slightly higher chance of getting prostate cancer. These men also tend to eat fewer fruits and vegetables. Doctors are not sure which of these factors is responsible for raising the risk. Some studies have suggested that men who consume a lot of calcium (through food or supplements) may have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. Dairy foods (which are often high in calcium) might also increase risk. Most studies have not found such a link with the levels of calcium found
Slam the Health Screening in the average diet, and it’s important to note that calcium is known to have other important health benefits. Obesity: Most studies have not found that being obese (very overweight) is linked with a higher risk of getting prostate cancer overall. Some studies have found that obese men have a lower risk of getting a low-grade (less dangerous) form of the disease, but a higher risk of getting more aggressive prostate cancer. The reasons for this are not clear. Some studies have also found that obese men may be at greater risk for having more advanced prostate cancer and of dying from prostate cancer, but not all studies have found this. Smoking:Most studies have not found a link between smok-
ing and the risk of developing prostate cancer. Some recent research has linked smoking to a possible small increase in the risk of death from prostate cancer, but this is a new finding that will need to be confirmed by other studies. Workplace exposures:There is some evidence that firefighters are exposed to substances (toxic combustion products) that may increase risk. Inflammation of the prostate: Some studies have suggested that prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland) may be linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer, but other studies have not found such a link. Inflammation is often seen in samples of prostate tissue that also contain cancer. The link between the two is not yet clear, but this is an active area of research.
JUNE 2014 • ONE LOVE CARIBBEAN • Page 14
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From Page 4 ...Caribbean Culture homeland traditions, another machine for the economy of these cities. And many American cities have embraced the tradition. For example, the West Indian American Day Carnival in Brooklyn, New York, draws over a million Caribbean Americans and visitors to Brooklyn each September. Of course, the Caribbean carnival is incomplete without the music of soca, calypso, zouk, and cadence. From Page 12 MLK The crowd in attendance on Saturday was again a diverse multitude, including members of the Caribbean community and other immigrant communities in Texas, including Colin Garvey, grandson of Hon. Marcus Mosiah Garvey. It is noteworthy that the youth jazz band under Maestro Tom Jones included Caribbean American bassist Khalfani Fullerton and historically significant that the 39 granite plaques were inserted by Caribbean master craftsman Daniel Gonzales. Additionally, while the MLK2 statue in Washington, DC was the work of a Chinese sculptor, Houston’s King statue was sculpted by the African American father-and-son Team Washington and was very well received.
have occurred without the vision and tireless activism of one Mr. Ovide Duncantel of the Black Heritage Society, who even had to chain himself to the Tree of Life that the King family had planted in the same spot as the new MLK2 plaza so that the city could not cut it down as they were constructing the transit stop; instead, it was transferred to a new spot near the statue. It was also Mr. Duncantel who started the MLK2 parade in Houston in 1978 with “Daddy” ML King as the first Grand Marshall, long before it became a national holiday, and who has had to battle in court to maintain the rights to continue the original parade, with little support from the same public that couldn’t get enough pictures of him at the unveiling and ribbon cutting once they saw his realized vision.
None of this 2014 Memorial Weekend’s historic events would
Of course, the success of this event was also due to the as-
From Page 5 ...Tourist Visa home country, or you manage to convince the consulate that you are eligible for an immigrant visa. Do not make the decision to stay in the U.S. nonchalantly, by omission or based on a story you were told about your neighbor’s daughter getting her green card the last time she visited the U.S. and never left. You may not have all the facts of her case or know all the rules applicable to her.
must leave the U.S. on or before the expiration of the authorized period of stay or any extensions you were granted. Many persons believe the expiration date of their tourist visa is the date on which their lawful status ends. The expiration date of your visa is simply the last day on which you could use the document to enter the U.S. The date on your I-94 is the critical date governing your departure time
HOW TO AVOID OVERSTAYING AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
2. If you think you will need to extend your stay in the U.S. beyond the permitted time, you must apply for the extension before your lawful stay ends. Persons who remain in the U.S. after this time are not able to ex-
1. First establish when you are expected to leave. Check the expiration date on your I-94 Arrival/Departure Record. You
sistance of corporate sponsors and government officials such as Rep. Al Green (D-9), Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-18), former City Council member Jolanda Jones, Student Minister Robert Muhammad (Mosque 45-Houston), Sandra Massie Hines, NBUF, the New Black Panther Party, Brother Alkebu Motapa, and so many more who will be profiled in the future. Houston, Texas, like the United States in general, is a vast space in a modern age of informal communication media meant to accommodate the spread of communities. It was heartwarming to see that many in our Caribbean community are abandoning the elitist expectation of private invitations and have adopted a more progressive attitude to online correspondence so that we may participate in the life of the larger community and reflect a less self-centered approach to our adopted city. tend their stay or change status to another nonimmigrant status. The consequences of overstaying your tourist visa are numerous and often harsh. If you overstayed your tourist visa, you should consult an immigration attorney to determine what options are available to you, if any. If you are thinking about overstaying, understand that you may find yourself with a dilemma: becoming an undocumented immigrant or facing an unlawful presence bar. Choose to act wisely, if you are here on a tourist visa, enjoy your stay, but align your visit with the nature of your visa and make it a temporary one. Until next time, walk good!
In understanding the Caribbean carnival, they are some terminologies the goes handin-hand with the event than one should know: Jouvert: It derived the French word, “jour ouvert” meaning dawn or day break. However, its significant, in terms of Caribbean history, draw 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 From Page 5 ...Breast Cancer and 92,000 women died from this disease, in 2012. If current trends continue, by 2030, the number of women newly diagnosed with breast cancer is projected to increase 46% in the Americas. Several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean exhibit some of the highest rates for risk of dying from breast cancer. A greater
depict devils, demons, monsters and imps. The tradition would start late night and continues to the dawn of the morning. Bachcanal: Also known as “Fete.” Simply put, it’s a party, indoor or outdoor. Jump-up: It is street dancing, jumping and “wining” (gyrating of the hips) to the sound of soca, usually blasting from speakers piled on trucks. Panorama: It is the ultimate test of a steelband’s skill and selected bands compete before thousands of spectators. Brassorama: It is a competition of the best brass bands showing their in arrangement, rhythm, and fans acceptance of selected song. Play Mas: It is being part of a carnival band (or troupe) expressing yourself as part of a street theatric scene wearing the band’s costumes of the beads and bikini extravaganzas (by the ladies) while jumping-up in the street. Jab Jabs: The act of smearing paint, chocolate colored powder, mud or oil on one’s body.
proportion of breast cancer deaths occur in women under 65 years of age (57%) as compared to North America (41%).
ISLAND STYLEE
JUNE 2014 • ONE LOVE CARIBBEAN • Page 15
JOKES, SATIRE AND POEMS
ULTURE
Big Shot Lawyer
ISLAND RECIPES THE ART OF CARIBBEAN COOKING
Crab Kallaloo
Carnival Cooking
Trini Chicken Pelau
Ingredients: 2 tbsps butter 1 medium onion, diced 1/2 cup chopped celery 1 clove garlic, minced 4 cups chicken stock 1 cup coconut milk 1/2 pound smoked ham 2 1/2 cups washed, coarsely chopped callaloo or substitute spinach leaves 1 cup sliced okra 1 tsp dried thyme 1/4 tsp black pepper 1 scotch bonnet pepper 1 pound cooked crabmeat, chopped 1 tbsp butter (optional) Salt to taste
Ingredients 3 tbsps. vegetable oil 3/4 cup brown sugar 3 lbs. 1 chicken, or beef, cut up 2 cups rice ● 1 onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced ● 3 cups water 1 1/2 cup pigeon peas or black-eyed peas, soaked overnight 1 tsp dried thyme ● 1 cup coconut milk 2 cups cubed squash2 carrots, chopped 1/4 cup chopped parsley 1 bunch scallions chopped 1 scotch bonnet pepper, chopped 1/4 cup ketchup ● 3 tbsps. butter
Crab Kallaloo
Directions Heat the butter in a large saucepan and saute the onion, celery, and garlic until cooked. Add the chicken stock, coconut milk and ham and bring to a boil. Add the callaloo or spinach, the okra, thyme, black pepper, and scotch bonnet pepper.
Direction Heat the oil in a heavy pot or skillet. With the heat on high, add the sugar and let it caramelize until it is almost burned, stirring constantly. Add the chicken (or meat) and stir until all the pieces are covered with the sugar. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the onion and garlic and cook. Stir constantly.
Spicy Jerk Burgers
Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, covered, for about 50 minutes or until the callaloo is thoroughly cooked. Stir frequency
Drain water from the pigeon peas and add to the mixture. Allow pea to cook until tender. Add rice, water, and coconut milk. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes.
Whisk the soup until very smooth, or puree it in small batches in a blender. Add the crabmeat and heat thoroughly. Add salt to taste.
Breakfast Saltfish
Breakfast Saltfish Ingredients: 1 med onion, minced 1 med green bell pepper, minced 2 med tomatoes chopped 2 clove garlic, minced 3 tbsp lime juice 1/2 tsp minced Scotch bonnet 1 tbsp adobe Canola oil
Add the remaining ingredients. Stir until well mixed. Cover pot and allow to cook until the vegetables are tender. The pelau should be moist at the end of the cooking time.
1 tomato sliced 1 cucumber grated
Caribbean Rum Punch
Directions Saute onion and bell pepper until cooked. Add tomatoes, garlic, and scotch bonnet pepper. Add saltfish and allow simmer for 5 minutes.
Ingredients: 1 cup lime juice 2 cups fruit syrup 3 cups Cruzan rum 4 cups orange/pineapple juice
Place sautéd saltfish in a dish. Garnish with egg and avocado.
Mix all ingredients everything together in a blender and serve over ice.
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Big shot Trini, Joe grew up in Barataria by Jumbee bridge, then went away to attend college and law school. He decided to come back to T&T because he felt he could be a Big Shot at home. He really wanted to impress everyone. So he returned and opened his new law office on St Vincent Street among the big sawatees. The first day, he saw a man coming up the passageway. He decided to create a big impression for this new prospective client when he arrived. As the man came to the door Joe grab up the phone. He motioned the man in, all the while talking. “No. Absolutely not! You tell those clowns in New York that I won’t settle this case for less than one million. Yes, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear that case next week. I’ll be making the primary argument and the other members of my team will provide the necessary support.” He went on playing himself, “Okay, tell the DA that I’ll meet with him next week to discuss the details.” The “conversation” went on for almost five minutes. All the while the man sat patiently and quite unperturbed as Joe rattled instructions filled with endless legal jargon. Finally, Joe put down the phone and turned to the man, “I’m sorry for the delay but as you can see, I’m very busy. What can I do for you?” The man replied, “I’m from TSTT, the telephone company, I came to hook up your phone.”
Traveling by AMTRAK Three Americans and three Jamaicans are traveling by an AMTRAK train to a conference. At the station, the three Americans each buy a ticket and watch as the three Jamaicans buy only a single ticket. “How are three people going to travel on only one ticket?” asked an American. “Watch de ride my friend!” answers a Jamaican.
When they get to the station, they buy a single ticket for the return trip. To their astonishment, the Jamaicans don’t buy a ticket at all. “How are you going to travel without a ticket,” asks one perplexed American. “Watch de ride my friend!!” says a Jamaican. When they board the train the three Americans cram into a restroom and the three Jamaicans cram into another one nearby. The train departs. Shortly afterward, one of the Jamaicans leaves his restroom and walks over to the restroom where the Americans are hiding. He knocks on the door and says, “Ticket, please.”
Caribbean Mothers’ Teaching Mi Mother taught me about: ANTICIPATION. “Chile, just wait till we get home.” RECEIVING. “You goin get a good cut ass when we get home!” TO MEET A CHALLENGE. “What di backside yu thinkin bout ‘? Answer me when me talk to you...Chile....doh talk back to me!” CONSEQUENCES. “If yu run cross de road an’ a car lick yu dung, a goin’ kill yu wid licks.” THE VALUE OF EDUCATION. “If yuh doh go to school, yuh go be a tief or walk an’ pick up bottle.” MEDICAL SCIENCE. “If yu tun over yuh eyelid an a fly pitch on it, it go stay so fi evva.” TO THINK AHEAD. “Is not one time monkey goin’ want wife” ESP. “Yu tink a don’t know what yu up to nuh?” HUMOR. “If yu don’ eat food, breeze goin’ blow yu ‘way.” How to BECOME AN ADULT. “Come an’ tek yu beatin’ like a man.”
They all board the train. The Americans take their respective seats, but all three Jamaicans cram into a restroom and close the door behind them. Shortly after the train is departed, the conductor comes around collecting tickets.
SEX. “Yu tink pickney yuh just drop from sky?”
He knocks on the restroom door and says, “Ticket, please.” The door opens just a crack and a single arm emerges with a ticket in hand. The conductor takes it and moves on. The Americans saw this and agreed it was quite a clever idea.
And my all time favorite...
So after the conference, the Americans decide to copy the Jamaicans on the return trip and save some money.
GENETICS. “Yu jus’ like yu fadda.” WISDOM OF AGE. “When yu get to be as ol’ as me, yu will understan’.”
JUSTICE. “One day wen yu have pickney, a hope dem treat yu de same way.
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