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ISSUE 117 VOLUME 20
February 25, 2021
SERVING THE CARIBBEAN AND HISPANIC COMMUNITIES!
A Candid Discussion with First Lady McCray and Dr. Easterling on COVID-19 Vaccinations AG James Continues Fight to Stop Deportations ....16
BY VICTORIA FALK, SPECIAL TO CAW
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ew York City's First Lady, Chirlane McCray, and Dr. Torian Easterling, who serves as First Deputy Commissioner and Chief Equity Officer at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, have teamed up to send a message to all New Yorkers that the COVID–19 vaccines, First Lady McCray
continued on page 6
Dr Easterling
J&J Vaccine May Block Spread of Coronavirus, FDA Says .... 28
Caribbean People at Risk of Prolonging COVID-19 to Their Detriment BY SIR RONALD SANDERS
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eople in the Caribbean, who refuse to take vaccinations to counter the Coronavirus, will cause the COVID-19 pandemic to remain longer in the region, endangering lives, livelihoods, and entire economies. Whatever genuine fears may Sir Sanders
Dr Rowley: Region Must Address Crime and Violence ....2
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MP Walton Desir Slams Gov’t on Racial Discrimination ....2
continued on page 8
This is the Year to Legalize Millions ....3
Brian Figeroux, Esq., Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association
Brooklyn Judge Under Fire ....4
Just As I Am: A Memoir by Cicely Tyson ....24
Beres Hammond Inducted into YGB Hall of Fame in NY ....21
Leaving An Inheritance to Minors ....18
Divorce and Bankruptcy: What You Need to Know ....9
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CARIBBEAN ROUNDUP Caribbean Consulates Anguilla 845 Third Avenue New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-745-0200 Antigua & Barbuda 305 East 47th Street, Suite 6A New York, N.Y. 10020 Tel: 212-541-4117 The Bahamas 231 East 46th Street New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-421-6420 Barbados 820 Second Avenue, 5th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-551-4325 Belize 675 Third Avenue, Suite 1911 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-593-0999 Dominica 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400H New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-949-0853 Dominican Republic 1500 Broadway, Suite 410 New York, N.Y. 10036 Tel: 212-599-8478 Grenada 685 Third Avenue, Suite 1101 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-599-0301 Guyana 308 West 38th Street New York, N.Y. 10018 Tel: 212-947-5119 Haiti 815 Second Avenue,6th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-697-9767 Jamaica 767 Third Avenue, 2nd Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-935-9000 Martinique 444 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-838-6887 Montserrat 845 Third Avenue New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-745-0200 Panama 1212 Avenue of the Americas, 20th Floor New York, N.Y. 10036 Tel: 212-840-2450 St. Kitts & Nevis 414 East 75th Street, 5th Floor New York, N.Y. 10021 Tel: 212-535-5521 St. Lucia 800 Second Avenue, 9th Floor New York, N.Y. 10007 Tel: 212-697-9360 St. Maarten 675 Third Avenue, Suite 1807 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 800-786-2278 St. Vincent & The Grenadines 801 Second Avenue, 21st Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-687-4981 Trinidad & Tobago 125 Maiden Lane, 4th Floor New York, N.Y. 10038 Tel: 212-682-7272 For more Consulate information go to www.cawnyc.com/directory
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Region Must Continue to Address Crime and Violence as Public Health Issue
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ven as the Region focuses on recovery post-COVID-19 and the health and socioeconomic wellbeing of its people, it must remain committed to addressing crime and violence as a public health issue, according to CARICOM Chair and Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago, Dr Keith Rowley. Speaking on Wednesday at the opening of the Thirty-Second Intersessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago said pandemic-induced shutdowns have contributed to increases in domestic violence cases. He said there were also “unconscionable acts of violence against women and children in our Community”. In his remarks, Prime Minister Rowley, who holds responsibility for security in the CARICOM Quasi Cabinet, also spoke of illicit trafficking in goods and persons in the Region and said there had to be a multi-disciplinary approach to addressing those challenges. “Another issue of great concern to our Community, is the deepening sense of insecurity triggered by the scourge of illicit trafficking in goods and persons in our Region. Such threats to Law Enforcement and Security, specifically
the illicit trafficking in persons, have been particularly disconcerting as the Community continues its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. These illicit activities and their violent spill-over effects further intensify citizen insecurity throughout our Region. “We have acknowledged that to address these challenges, it is insufficient to rely on Law Enforcement alone and that a multi-disciplinary approach, which engages various sectors of our Community, must be adopted,” the CARICOM Chair said. He added that he hoped the Community could soon refocus its attention and efforts to convene a high-level summit of Member States and regional multi-sectoral partners to treat with crime and violence as a public health issue in the Region. At the last Intersessional Meeting, Prime Minister Rowley had committed to hosting the summit in April last year in Trinidad and Tobago, but, because of the pandemic, the meeting was not convened. The Chairman of CARICOM also zeroed in on the high incidences of mortality due to non-communicable diseases and called for the redoubling of efforts to explore the relationship with food and
Dr Rowley
nutrition security. “It is my hope that our deliberations on Advancing the Regional Agenda on Food and Nutrition Security can assist in this regard while also addressing the Region’s significant food import bill,” Dr. Rowley said. Food and nutrition security has become increasingly challenged by a number of factors including the COVID-19 pandemic with its disruptions to productivity and access to healthy foods. l —wiredja.com
Walton Desir Slams Gov't on Racial Discrimination
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EORGETOWN, Guyana, [February 22, 2021]: Coalition M.P. and Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Amanza Walton Desir, pulled no punches as she opened the 2021 budget debate with a stinging presentation which had Irfaan Ali’s PPPC administration on the ropes as she landed blows which bruised, scarred, and opened the PPP’s old wounds. Walton Desir who is considered as one of the brighter lights on the opposition bench, reiterated the widely held view that since the new administration has taken office, it has embarked on a policy of wanton discrimination against AfroGuyanese in the public service, rooting them out with vitriol. Walton Desir pointed out that the matter of race discrimination in Guyana remained relevant and pertinent and must be highlighted. “It is downright undeniable that this administration has embarked on an ethnicization of the public service. And so, what they are doing as well, is that they are not quite content to stop at firing you, but they go to the extent of making their disapproval known to anybody who would want to retain the professional services of these men and women.”
crass comments connotes the view that Coalition M.P.s, the majority of whom are AfroGuyanese, are “hungry belly dogs.” “It is no secret that Afro Guyanese have been branded as hungry belly dogs, and it is shameful, to say the least, that no less a person than the vice president of a nation would willingly MP Walton Desir. Photo wiredja.com reinforce, promote and endorse this insult of Guyanese people,” Walton Desir lamented. Walton Desir said. She slammed Vice President Bharrat “As a student of history, Sir, I am mindJagdeo over disparaging comments he ful of the fact that the Nazis referred to made on February 11, suggesting that the Jews as rats. The Hutus called the Coalition (APNU/AFC) Members of Tutsis cockroaches. Students of history Parliament, if not for anything else, understand that dehumanization, the would turn up to the Budget debate just attribution of “less than human” to a for the “food.” group or race of people, is a precursor to “…one thing I can predict, they will terrible evil. Therefore, it is incumbent come and eat the food; I can predict that; on every one of us to roundly condemn I can predict that with great levels of cersuch speech, whether from friend or foe,” tainty. There is no margin of error; there Walton Desir said, as she challenged the is no variability in that, that is a 100% House and its Speaker, Manzoor Nadir, certainty,” Jagdeo said to condemn Jagdeo’s statement.l The eloquent firebrand Coalition MP who hails from Linden said Jagdeo’s
—wiredja.com
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THOUGHTS
This is the Year to Legalize Millions BY AMERICA’S VOICE
The Public Is Ready; Now It’s Up to Congress to Act
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Publisher I.Q. INC. Pearl Phillip Legal Advisor Brian Figeroux, Esq. Assistant Editor Marilyn Silverman Graphic & Website Designers Praim Samsoondar Anvaar Sabirov
Editorial credit: Mark Scott Spatny / Shutterstock.comAgency / Shutterstock.com
tion as a wedge issue has lost its edge. In 2018, Trump nationalized the 2018 midterms around ‘caravans and criminals.’ In 2020, Trump attacked Biden for supporting a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. In both elections, Democrats leaned in and stood tall for immigrants. Today, Biden is the President and Democrats control both the Senate and the House. In fact, Trump’s relentless nativism forced many ambivalent Americans to make a choice: are we going to be a nation that welcomes immigrants as a source of collective strength, or are we going to be a nation that dehumanizes,
deters, detains and deports those who seek freedom in our country? The research is conclusive: the American people have never been more pro-immigrant and more pro-immigration (see a deep dive here). Trump’s racism and xenophobia backfired. On average, three-quarters of the public supports a path to legal status and citizenship for undocumented immigrants. The public debate is settled. America wants to formally recognize undocumented immigrants as the Americans they already are. Now it’s up to Congress to reflect the will of the majority.”l
Second Breach of Jamaica’s JamCOVID INGSTON, Jamaica (February 22, 2021): As the country awaits the official report on the security breach of the Jamaica government’s JamCOVID immigration site, TechCrunch is reporting that there was a second security lapse that exposed private keys and passwords for the government’s JamCOVID app and website. According to TechCrunch, the second lapse has since been fixed by the Amber Group, the contractors who built the website. According to the report, “a security researcher told TechCrunch on Sunday that the Amber Group left a file on the JamCOVID website by mistake, which
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. —Hosea 4:6
Managing Editor & Editor-in-Chief
T
he following is a statement from Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice regarding the introduction of the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, led by Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Representative Linda Sanchez (D-CA) on behalf of President Biden. “Welcoming immigrants is part of America’s secret sauce. Immigrants vote with their feet to start a new life in America for their families, and the enormous contributions they make strengthen our nation. President Biden gets it. His administration and Democrats in Congress, led by Sen. Bob Menendez and Rep. Linda Sanchez, are making immigration a priority. They get that the acceptance of immigrants and refugees is foundational to the American experiment. They get that the cruelty and chaos of the Trump era is antithetical to the nation we aspire to be. They get that the American people want their representatives to address longstanding challenges that enjoy broad public support. These Democratic leaders also get that the conventional wisdom regarding the politics of immigration is outdated. Xenophobic attack ads have become a staple of GOP campaigns, but immigra-
TEAM
contained passwords that would have granted access to the backend systems, storage and databases running the JamCOVID site and app.” The TechCrunch story explained that “this file, known as an environment variables (.env) file, is often used to store private keys and passwords for thirdparty services that are necessary for cloud applications to run. But these files are sometimes inadvertently exposed or uploaded by mistake, but can be abused to gain access to data or services that the cloud application relies on if found by a malicious actor.” It was noted that “the exposed environmental variables file was found in an
open directory on the JamCOVID website. Although the JamCOVID domain appears to be on the Ministry of Health’s website, Amber Group controls and maintains the JamCOVID dashboard, app and website.” TechCrunch went on to say that “the exposed file contained secret credentials for the Amazon Web Services databases and storage servers for JamCOVID. The file also contained a username and password to the SMS gateway used by JamCOVID to send text messages, and credentials for its email-sending server.”l —wiredja.com
Contributors Jennine Estes Erin Telesford Janet Howard Mary Campbell Tarsha Gibbons Travis Morales Email info@myiqinc.com Telephone 718-771-0988 Website www.cawnyc.com Editorial credit photo of Cicely Tyson: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com
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IN THE NEWS
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Brooklyn Judge Up for Key Role Paid Mom’s Home Care Worker $2.29 an Hour, Suit Charged Paul known to multiple Democratic district leaders. Paul, with the Kings County Democratic Committee’s support, was elected to Civil Court in Brooklyn in 2016. She has since been temporarily assigned to sit in Queens Family Court.
BY GREG B. SMITH THE CITY
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civil court judge up for a plum job in Brooklyn Surrogate’s Court has been accused of cheating a home care worker hired to help her mother out of $264,000 in wages, THE CITY has learned. Brooklyn Civil Court Judge Dweynie Paul paid the worker as little as $2.29 an hour to watch her aging mother for as much as 24 hours a day, five days a week, according to a lawsuit filed in Brooklyn Supreme Court. The underpayment went on for years, from November 2013 when the worker began the full-time job until the day she quit in December 2016, the suit charged. During that time, the worker racked up thousands of hours of overtime for which she received not a dime, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit, quietly settled in 2017 for an undisclosed amount, takes on new resonance now that Paul is the favored candidate for a Kings County Surrogate’s Court judgeship that’s open this year.
Judge Dweynie Paul Paul for Surrogate 2021/Facebook
She is backed for the job by the head of the powerful Kings County Democratic Committee, Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte, according to multiple party sources. An endorsement by the committee would virtually assure Paul the elected post, which has traditionally been used to
give out lucrative estate cases to lawyers favored by the party. Paul and Bichotte go way back. She was Bichotte’s campaign manager in 2012 and has, in the past, raised campaign donations for her. Bichotte, who has referred to her as “my sister,” has made her support for
‘No Meal Break’ The lawsuit was filed in Kings County Supreme Court in April 2017 by a domestic worker named Marie Coffy, four months after she left Paul’s employ. It detailed accusations of labor abuse against Paul alleged to have begun before she was on the bench, continuing through 2016, a year after she was elected to Civil Court. In her suit, Coffy said Paul hired her to care full-time for her mother starting in November 2013. Paul, then in-house counsel for the Traveler’s Insurance firm, enlisted Coffy to care for the elderly woman at the mother’s home in Massapequa, L.I., and at the judge’s home in Bedford-Stuyvesant, according to the lawsuit. continued on page 5
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IN THE NEWS Brooklyn Judge/ continued from page 4
From November 2013 through the end of 2015, Coffy served as a live-in caretaker, working “five days a week with no meal break or any other daily break required by law,” the suit alleges. Her usual schedule, she says, was Wednesdays starting at 10:30 a.m. straight through until Monday at 10:30 a.m. That worked out to 120 hours each week. Through May 2015, Paul paid her $275 a week, or $2.29 an hour, Coffy alleged. From June 2015 through December 2015, she got bumped to $300 per week. That worked out to an hourly rate of $2.50. During that time, the minimum wage in New York rose from $7.25 to $9 per hour. In 2016, the year Paul became a judge, she gave Coffy another raise to $400 per week, which continued through the end of her employment that December, according to the lawsuit. Paul cut back Coffy’s schedule to 50 hours per week, five days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., which still came out to $8 an hour, the lawsuit says. New York’s minimum wage rose from $9 to $9.70 per hour at the end of 2016. The suit noted that Coffy “frequently worked a spread of hours that exceeded ten hours in a single day.” And during Coffy’s entire tenure working for Paul, she was never paid time and a half for any hour worked past 40 hours in a given week as required by state law, the
suit alleges. Judge Cites Mom The suit, filed by attorney Michael Taubenfeld, estimated the total amount owed to Coffy to be $264,142 and alleged Paul violated state labor laws by failing to pay minimum wage and overtime. Court records indicate the suit was settled in September 2017 but do not disclose what, if anything, Coffy received in compensation. THE CITY tried to reach Coffy through Taubenfeld, who did not respond to multiple inquiries. The lawsuit states that Paul “set (Coffy’s) rate of pay and provided her pay by cash or by check.” The judge declined to comment Tuesday when THE CITY reached her by phone. But through a spokesperson, Paul attributed the arrangement with Coffy solely to her mother, a retired nurse who has since passed away. “The relationship was created and managed by Judge Paul’s disabled firstresponder mother,” the spokesperson said in a statement. The spokesperson added, “This was her mother’s obligation and its exact nature was never explained to Judge Paul who was at no time the employer.” Paul declined to discuss the allegations of violating state labor law. “In the interest of protecting her mother’s name, and to save her from a potentially arduous legal proceeding, the matter was resolved,” the spokesperson wrote.
Bichotte, through a spokesperson for the Kings County Democratic Committee, declined to comment on the allegations leveled against Paul. In December, Paul filed papers to run for Surrogate’s Court in Kings County, records show. She held her first fundraiser Feb. 11, according to her Facebook page. Paul has a powerful backer in Bichotte, the head of the Kings County Democratic Committee. Last week, Kings County Democratic Committee Executive Board member Joe Bova confirmed to THE CITY that Paul is Bichotte’s choice, and that he supports the judge as well. Two other Brooklyn Democrats, Councilmember Darma Diaz and District Leader Anthony Jones, also told THE CITY they believed Bichotte was backing Paul. The party’s executive committee is set to take a formal vote in the coming days. Where There’s a Will... Surrogate’s judges play a crucial role in the Democratic party’s ability to dole out patronage and maintain a steady flow of campaign contributions to its favored candidates. The judges serve 14-year terms and award lucrative appointments to the lawyers to handle the estates of Brooklynites who died without a will. Nearly all counties in New York have one per county. Kings County has two. Campaign finance records show many of the lawyers who get estate appoint-
ments from Brooklyn’s Surrogate’s Court judges contribute to the party’s favored candidates, and pocket a steady stream of fees for managing cases before the judge. It’s a quid-pro-quo arrangement that’s both legal and ancient, dating to the days of Tammany Hall. Back in the 1970s, when Meade Esposito was the Kings County Democratic boss, the party used to send the Surrogate’s Court judges a weekly list of attorneys who supported the party financially and were to be rewarded with estate appointments. In 2005, Surrogate’s Judge Michael Feinberg was kicked off the court after appointing his friend and law school classmate to oversee estates — and then approved $9 million in fees for the lawyer, including $2 million the state Commission on Judicial Conduct found to be “excessive.” Since 2010, lawyers appointed by Kings County’s two Surrogate’s Court judges have steered at least $50,000 in donations to the party’s candidates, according to THE CITY’s review of court and campaign finance records. And they’ve received a steady stream of fees. In 2019, the last full year before the pandemic greatly cut back courtroom activity, Brooklyn’s two Surrogate’s Court judges awarded 34 lawyers $223,156 in fees for handling dozens of estate cases, court records show. l This story was published on February 23, 2021 by THE CITY.
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DIASPORA CONCERNS
your First Lady, about a physician such as me, getting the vaccine, this is to ensure, to increase confidence, that the vaccines are safe."
A Candid Conversation/ continued from page 1
currently being distributed in New York, are safe and effective. Both the First Lady and Dr. Easterling have received their first dose of the vaccine for COVID-19. They received their vaccination shots publicly to show others their experiences. They are on a mission to educate people about COVID–19 vaccinations and encourage more people to get vaccinated. At the time of this writing, there remains no known cure for COVID-19, and the current vaccinations are the best-known defense against the disease. According to public reports, women and people of color have been hit harder by COVID-19 than Whites. Blacks, Latinos, Asians, Native Americans, and other Indigenous People have all been devastated by COVID-19 during this pandemic. However, Black people reportedly are contracting COVID-19 and dying of COVID -19 at a rate disproportionally higher than other minority groups. Limited access to the COVID-19 vaccines in Black and Brown communities and a mistrust of the COVID-19 vaccines seem to be contributing to the racial disparities in the vaccination rollout. Public sentiment about the vaccines has been mixed, with many people posting their opinions on social media. Some people are eager to get vaccinated, a larger number seem hesitant and want to wait and
see how other people are affected first before scheduling their vaccination appointment. Then others are firmly against getting vaccinated and plan to refuse the shot when it becomes available to them. While people are waiting to see when they will become eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccines and others are still trying to decide whether they will choose to get vaccinated when they become eligible, COVID-19 continues to spread, and death tolls are increasing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's COVID -19 Data Tracker, as of February 14, 2021, a total of 27,417,468 cases have been reported in the United States. Of those reported cases, 482,536 deaths have been reported in the United States. Of the reported cases in the United States, 867,467 total cases have been reported for New York State, with 29,238 new reports coming into the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention between February 7 to February 14, 2021. Reportedly there have been a total of 669,306 COVID-19 cases in New York City, with 30,502 new cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between February 7 to February 14, 2021. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that a total of 70,057,800 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were delivered to the United States. Of that total, 52.9 million doses have already been administered. Reportedly, minority groups are getting vaccinated less often than Whites, with Blacks representing the minority group that has received the smallest number of doses. According to recent data reports, only 5% of Blacks have received the COVID -19 vaccination. During an exclusive interview with Caribbean American Weekly, First Lady Chirlane McCray and Dr. Torian Easterling answered questions about COVID– 19 vaccinations; members frequently ask our community. FAQs: 1. How safe are the vaccines that are currently being distributed? First Lady McCray: "I got my first shot a couple of days ago, and I feel fine. The vaccines are safe. We know that 30,000 volunteers received their vaccines during the clinical trial, and there were no serious safety concerns. I can't encourage people enough to go ahead and get it if they're eligible because we know what is happening to those who don't get the vaccine. Our communities of color have been hit so hard. We've lost more people, proportionately speaking, than any other community. We need our people of color, who are eligible, to get the vaccine so that they can protect themselves, their family, and of course, not to spread it throughout the city." Dr Easterling: "One, I cannot agree more with Madam First Lady. The vaccines are safe and effective. Vaccines save lives. We know that they're providing protection, the immunity against SARS-CoV-2 (also known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. Second, the virus that leads to COVID-19. You've already heard from the First Lady that we know the trials have given us science and information. I trust the science and information. I also received my first dose of the vaccine this past week. This is Black History Month, and so I think it is essential also to reflect. We recognize that there are questions and concerns within the Black and Brown communities, so when you hear about
2. What do people need to know about the different strains of the Coronavirus and the vaccines' effectiveness in fighting them? Dr Easterling: "We have two vaccines that are available right now. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are over 94% effective. Now you're asking about the variants. We do know that the variants are there. We know that viruses can mutate. We know that both vaccines are effective, they may not be as effective. They are looking at ways that they can improve effectiveness against the new variants. But the point is they are effective against the new variants. If you are eligible, you should get the vaccine because it will provide immunity against the SARSCoV-2 virus and will provide some protection against the variants." First Lady McCray: "…Some protection is better than no protection. Getting vaccinated could mean the difference between getting hospitalized or just getting flu-like symptoms. Better to have some protection and to be able to help your family and community by having that protection. This is really a terrible, terrible virus. This is not something we want to put our families through. Getting sick is not a small thing when it comes to this virus. We encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated." 3. How would you address the concerns of people who want to be vaccinated but worry about the lack of immunization in the Black and Brown communities? First Lady McCray: "…Supply has been an issue. But it's increasing every week. Going forward, we can expect there will be more sites within New York City. We are opening new sites every week. We are making sure there are vaccination sites within the hardest-hit communities, communities of color. We know that the federal government is making sure that there is more of a supply in the future. People need to know where to get information about where they can sign up and, of course, where they would like to go. We have a Task Force on Racial Inclusion and Equity, which covers 30 communities now. These communities are grouped into five different areas: health status, social inequities, and, of course, how hard COVID-19 hit them. These are communities that we're really, really concerned about. Communities that when we want people to get the vaccination, we will make sure there is equitable access to the vaccine. We're making sure there are vaccination sites in these communities. We're partnering with community-based organizations. We're listening and responding to community concerns and input and making sure that there's reaching out to continued on page 7
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DIASPORA CONCERNS A Candid Conversation/ continued from page 6 the elderly who may not be able to get to these sites themselves. We're doing everything that we can. But we need people like you to get the word out about what is available to people." 4. What assurance can you give undocumented immigrants who fear getting vaccinated due to their immigration status? First Lady McCray: "The COVID-19 vaccines are available to people of all immigration statuses. It doesn't matter to us. People will not be asked about it at the vaccination site, and the vaccine is provided at no cost for everyone. We want to dispel the myth that people will be tracked or that someone is going to be looking for them. This is about health. I understand the fear, but the vaccines are really to protect people and their families."
guage access is available in multiple languages. This is something we are committed to. But we're going above and beyond by ensuring that we have more than the ten languages we're mandated to have. We're also making sure our staff at our sites speak multiple languages. When we're in Queens, our Brooklyn sites and our Staten Island sites, we know that this is a very diverse city. We want to make sure that we have staff who can receive individuals in multiple languages."
Dr Easterling: "I totally agree, and I can add, in making sure we message that vaccines are for everyone, I think we want to be super clear and underscoring that the vaccines are for all New Yorkers. We partner with community-based organizations, particularly those that have the relationship and ties to New Yorkers who are undocumented. We're working with them every day to help identify those who are eligible, who are also in undocumented communities. Our website, our call center – we are making sure that lan-
5. Despite reports of the growing death toll due to this pandemic, we still have people who refuse to wear face masks and plan to refuse the vaccines. What are your thoughts about the federal government making the use of face masks and COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory? First Lady McCray: "When it comes to our public spaces, there are places now where people are not allowed unless they have a mask on. This is certainly true for anyone who wants to fly, and certainly
true for people who wish to enter certain businesses or even a hospital. You'll have to have a mask on. There are no government requirements for people to get vaccinated. But we are strongly encouraging people to protect themselves and their loved ones. The government does not make people get a vaccine, and we've always provided reasonable accommodations to people, employees who object to the vaccine on grounds related to a disability or otherwise. That's the law. Going forward, I don't know if that will change or not. I think there's quite a bit of time between now and the end of the summer to see how this disease plays out in the public space." 5. In closing, please sum up for our audience the benefits of getting vaccinated and how to make their appointment. Dr Easterling: "Vaccines are safe and effective. Vaccines save lives. Vaccines provide immunity against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. We need to get as many people as we can vaccinated, and since we have a limited supply, certain individuals are eligible at this time. We need to continue to message that if you are eligible, there are ways to find out if you're eligible, and how to get an appointment. To find out about your eligibility, you can go to our website at nyc.gov/covidvaccine. To sign up for an appointment, there are multiple ways. You can go onto our web-
site – vaccinefinder.nyc.gov. There we list multiple sites: our city sites, federally qualified health centers, and the state sites. There you can log on where you can schedule an appointment. Also, we do have a call center: 1-(877) VAX 4NYC. You can speak to a Call Agent. If you speak another language, you can have an interpreter on the line as well to help you schedule an appointment. This is the way we can really help ensure that individuals in New York City are getting vaccinated. Also, the federal retail pharmacy program has come online as well. You can find out more on vaccinefinder.nyc.gov or call your local pharmacy-Rite Aid/ Costco – to find out where they are at with getting the vaccinations as well. If your provider is not vaccinating, they can also help you navigate the system as well.l Caribbean American Weekly is pleased to do our part in sharing information about COVID-19 vaccinations, on behalf of First Lady Chirlane McCray and Dr. Torian Easterling, with our audience. The information provided in this article was based mainly in part from our exclusive interview with First Lady Chirlane McCray and Dr. Torian Easterling, and public data reports accessible from the Centers for Disease Control and Protection website. We aim to provide current and accurate information. Please know that as we learn more about this disease, data changes rapidly and may differ by location. Visit www.pppradio.nyc for a podcast of this interview.
6 feet for good measure! COVID-19 is still here. Keep practicing physical distancing: • Anytime you are around someone that does not live with you • If you or someone you live with has any COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 And wear your face covering to protect yourself and those around you. COVID-19 vaccines are now available to certain groups in New York City. To learn more about COVID-19 and vaccines, visit nyc.gov/health/coronavirus.
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Health
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2/3/21 5:00 PM 2/3/21
CARIBBEAN SPECIAL REPORT Caribbean People at Risk/ continued from page 1 exist, these people must be educated about the value of the vaccine to their own health and they must be encouraged by all influential agencies to take it. If they need convincing, they should look at the experience of other countries where more than 139 million people have taken the vaccine and not one of them has died from it. The Churches, whose leaders have been preaching against the vaccine, are doing neither their followers nor their countries any good. Similarly, the representatives of trade unions, who argue that their members have the right not to take vaccines, might consider enlightening them about the benefits of the vaccine to their individual well-being, their families, the wider community, and the businesses from which they derive a living. At the rate at which vaccines are currently available and being rolled out in the world, the Caribbean will be behind Britain and the U.S. in controlling the virus by at least a year. If a significant number of people remain unvaccinated, the delay will be even longer. Caribbean countries cannot afford a year, let alone a more extended period, to suppress the virus. Many economies are already in dire straits, poverty is expanding, unemployment is rising, economies are declining, hospitals are besieged, and many more people are dying. This is why at a meeting of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) on February 17, all independent CARICOM countries joined Antigua and Barbuda in promoting adoption of a resolution calling for equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines globally. Action is necessary to get vaccines into Caribbean countries so that at least 80 per cent of the people can be inoculated to build ‘herd immunity’. This is achieved when a large part of the population is immune to the disease. If enough people are resistant to the coronavirus, it will have nowhere to go and it will peter out. Right now, every country in the Caribbean is way behind developed countries with which they interact for tourism, trade in goods and other commercial and social activity. For example, at the time of writing (February 18), Britain has inoculated 23.7 per cent of its population with the first dose of the vaccine; the U.S 12.3 per cent; Canada 3.48 per cent; and many of the countries in the European Union almost 3 per cent. No country in the Caribbean has vaccinated
8 Coronavirus Relief Continues for Housing and Student Loans BY EMILY LU, ATTORNEY FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
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s the Coronavirus pandemic continues, so does its financial impact. For people who need help with rent or mortgage payments, or have student loans, there may be some good news about the federal relief response. more than 0.9 per cent of their populations. The main reason for this is that rich countries, representing only 16 per cent of the world’s population have bought, and are hoarding, 60 per cent of the available vaccine candidates. This means that 40 per cent is left for 84 per cent of the global population, including the Caribbean. This situation demands urgent attention if the Caribbean is to survive the already devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. That is why the Antigua and Barbuda initiative at the OAS was strongly and fully supported by other CARICOM nations. It is also why the resolution received full support at the OAS. Twenty-nine of the Organization’s 34 member states, including the Caribbean, are among the over 100 nations that have vaccinated less than 1 per cent of their people. The Caribbean needs greater access to vaccines and at an affordable price. Hence, the donation of 570,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine by India to CARICOM countries is a great relief. The rollout has started in a few countries. But there are not sufficient stocks to accelerate the inoculation program to get all CARICOM countries to at least 80 per cent of their populations. The main vaccine manufacturers have to be urged to ramp-up their production at an affordable price. Concentrating on selling only to the rich nations will not eliminate the global pandemic. A research study, sponsored by the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research in Massachusetts, shows that even if wealthy countries are fully vaccinated by the end of this year, but poor countries remain largely shut out, “the global economy would suffer losses exceeding $9
trillion, a sum greater than the annual output of Japan and Germany combined”. What should worry every citizen and resident of Caribbean countries is that their economies have already declined so significantly that, even if there is recovery later in 2021 or in 2022, it will not be sufficient to return them to 2019 levels. Foreign direct investment in the Caribbean declined last year by more than 50 per cent. With many economies across the region in a state of prolonged inactivity, the downward investment trend for 2021 is even more precipitous. The year 2022 is unlikely to get any better unless each country gets the virus under control. The populations of Caribbean countries, amounting to 20 million people, are competing with 450 million people in Latin America and another 360 million in the U.S. and Canada to achieve 80 per cent inoculations. They are also competing against 7 billion people globally. They cannot afford to leave themselves behind – they must get themselves inoculated. Leaders and influencers in every sector – the Churches, the trade unions and the media – have to support Caribbean governments that have tried their best with scarce and reduced financial resources to manage the coronavirus and now to inoculate against it. No Caribbean country can afford to be a year behind the nations with which they interact for their livelihood and development.l
Sir Ronald Sanders is the Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the Organization of American States.
Renters — The temporary stop on evictions for certain renters now runs through March 31, 2021. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has information on who is eligible and the steps to take. Homeowners — If you’re struggling to make your federally backed mortgage payments because of the pandemic, payment forbearance may still be available, and the pause on foreclosures runs through at least March 31, 2021. The Federal Housing Finance Agency tells you how to find out if your mortgage is federally backed. Contact your mortgage servicer to find out what other help is available to you. Student Loan Borrowers — For those federal student loans that are covered, the U.S. Department of Education has automatically paused payments through September 30, 2021. Remember that scammers are paying attention to this news and may try to take advantage of you. Here are some ways to protect yourself: •Don’t pay to get these benefits. Be wary of anyone who contacts you to offer financial services or rental assistance for a fee. If you need housing assistance, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has a list of approved housing counseling agencies organized by state or territory. •Don’t give your personal or financial information to anyone who contacts you. Even if you reached out for assistance, make sure you know who you are talking to. And know that government officials will never contact you and ask for your Social Security, bank account, or credit card number. If you’ve given that information to someone you don’t know, visit IdentityTheft.gov to learn what to do. l
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9
MONEY MATTERS
Filing for Divorce and Bankruptcy: What You Need to Know for bankruptcy after the divorce is final, you need to make sure that your finances are squared away so that you aren’t going to be faced with any more debts.
BY CHRIS TOBIAS
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ivorce can be exhausting on your emotions and affect your life more than you anticipated. If bankruptcy is heaped on top of it, it can become even more worrying. Divorce is one of the most common reasons cited as the leading cause for a bankruptcy filing. If you believe that you and your partner are headed for divorce, and both have a lot of debt, it might be a good idea to decide to file for bankruptcy before you begin to file for divorce. This will pave the way for the divorce to proceed much more quickly because it will allow you to get rid of some of your debt and clear the way for a clean break. If you can file for bankruptcy, you can have a better idea of dealing with the debts that do remain between the two of you. It will also mean that if your ex files for bankruptcy later on down the road, you can be protected because you will take care of your debts before the divorce. How It Works The way it works is relatively simple. When one or both of the spouses file for bankruptcy, all of the property they have
shared will become a part of the estate and then be available to pay for the debts. This will also mean that you have been granted an automatic stay, which means that the creditors can’t hound you for money. Remember that this stay does not prevent you from getting spouse or child support from your ex. The next thing that will happen is that the bankruptcy court will decide what shared property is exempt from bankruptcy, meaning that it cannot be sold to pay for your debts. Then, the divorce court can divide that property between you and your exspouse.
If you are trying to negotiate property settlements and going through bankruptcy, you will be dealing with very complicated issues. Some of the debts related to a property settlement might not be wiped out during the bankruptcy, so you will still need to pay them. However, these debts can be wiped out if you can show that you can’t pay the debt and still take care of yourself or your children, or that if you wipe out the debt, it is going to be better for you than the harm that would be done to the people that you owe by not paying it. This means that if you think your spouse is going to consider filing
Fresh Start Divorce and bankruptcy present an opportunity for a fresh start for you, your ex, and your families. By understanding both, you can make a more informed decision and emerge stronger than ever. However, both of these processes can be extremely detailed and complex and should not be handled without experienced divorce and bankruptcy lawyers on your side. Remember, it’s always best to consult with a lawyer that can advise you through the process and get the result you deserve. Free Evaluation If you are thinking about divorce, bankruptcy, or both, the Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates is experienced and knowledgeable in both matters. Get a free case evaluation by calling 855-7688845 or visiting www.askthelawyer.us Remember, the lawyer you hire does make a difference!l
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continued on page 11 The Law Offices of Figeroux & Associates, 26 Court Street, Suite 701, Brooklyn, NY. Visit www.311bankruptcy.com VISIT WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR THE LATEST CARIBBEAN NEWS, IMMIGRATION UPDATES, VIEWPOINTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MORE!LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @CAWNYC!
EDUCATION
10
5 Ways the Biden Administration May Help Stem the Loss of International Students BY DAVID L. DI MARIA THE CONVERSATION
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ver the past four years, the Trump administration made it increasingly difficult for students from other countries to study in the United States. In 2017, the number of new international students enrolled at American colleges and universities – that is, those just coming to the U.S. for the first time – declined for the first year on record. Restrictive immigration policies, frayed relations with foreign nations and travel bans all contributed to further drops in new enrollment over each of the following years of Trump’s presidency. President Joe Biden’s election signals a new day for international education. This is evident based on a slew of Biden’s executive orders, many of which revoked immigration and travel restrictions imposed by the Trump administration. Additionally, Biden sent a bill to Congress aimed at reforming the nation’s immigration system. As a university administrator who spe-
cializes in international education, I foresee five major ways the United States may once again become the top choice for students from around the world during the Biden administration. 1. Reform of the immigration system In 2019, the total number of enrolled international students – that is, newlyarrived students as well as those already studying in the U.S. – dropped for the first time since 2005. And the economic impact of international students
decreased by US$1.8 billion. While the declining number of international students wreaked havoc on U.S. colleges and universities, as well as the communities in which they are based, there is renewed optimism that things will change. That’s because the Biden administration has expressed a commitment to modernizing the nation’s immigration system in ways that respond to economic needs and prevent the U.S. from losing talent to other nations. This includes
making it easier for international students who are working on advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics – or STEM – to stay and work after graduation. How much Biden can actually reform the immigration system remains to be seen. But international applications to U.S. colleges for this fall are already up 9% compared to a year ago. This suggests a renewed interest in the U.S. as a study destination. It also serves as a hopeful sign that international enrollment will soon rebound, presuming Biden’s handling of the pandemic instills more confidence abroad than that of his predecessor. 2. Elimination of discriminatory bans On his first day in office, Biden revoked the Trump administration’s so-called Muslim ban and other discriminatory restrictions on travel and entry in favor of strengthening information-sharing relationships with foreign governments. While many of the country-specific continued on page 11
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EDUCATION International Students/continued from page 10
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restrictions did not directly affect people with student visas, the policy had a broad cooling effect. Consider the sharp decline in student visas issued to applicants from countries included in the bans. For instance, student visas issued to Iranian nationals fell by 59%, from 3,139 in 2016 to 1,970 in 2019. Biden’s approach to national security aims to keep would-be threats from entering the U.S. while allowing for citizen diplomacy efforts, such as student exchange programs, to resume. This tactic will ultimately increase the diversity of nations represented on college campuses. Such diversity enhances learning opportunities for all. 3. Protections for Dreamers Undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children – often known as Dreamers – faced an uncertain future under Trump. The Trump administration refused to accept new applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program – which extends certain protections to Dreamers – that was established under the Obama administration. And this occurred even after the program was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. Biden issued a memorandum aimed at preserving and fortifying DACA the same day he was sworn in. While further actions are needed to achieve these goals, the memorandum should provide the country’s more than 200,000 DACAeligible college students with the hope that a pathway to citizenship is not far off.
5. Boost for global science According to a recent survey, the top recommendation that researchers around the world have for the Biden administration is to expand scientific collaborations between the U.S. and other countries. The exchange of ideas between students and scholars from different parts of the world is important for advancing knowledge and addressing global threats that range from climate change to COVID-19. However, research indicates that two of the most significant barriers to international collaboration are a lack of funding and restrictions on sharing data. Biden’s decisions to elevate the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology to a Cabinet-level position, rejoin the Paris climate accord and reverse the previous administration’s move to depart from the World Health Organization all indicate that science will inform future policy decisions. This could help address current barriers to international collaboration. Biden’s commitments to “lead with science and truth” and attract top global talent to the U.S. not only bode well for U.S. colleges, universities and companies but also hold the promise of reclaiming lost ground by restoring U.S. leadership in science and technology.l
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David L. Di Maria is an Associate Vice Provost for International Education, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
4. Options for graduates to stay Even before he was elected, former President Donald Trump regularly claimed that immigrants were taking jobs away from American workers. This is a notion largely disproved by economists, disputed by employers and rejected by 64% of the general population. In sharp contrast to his predecessor, Biden has proposed making it easier for international students with advanced degrees in STEM fields to receive work visas and apply for permanent residency. If successful, Biden would enable the U.S. to retain a greater number of STEM workers who are critical for continued economic growth. Just consider that nearly 25% of billion-dollar startup companies had a founder who first arrived to the U.S. as an international student. STEM products and services are the focus of many of these companies, which create an average of 1,200 new jobs each. VISIT WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR THE LATEST CARIBBEAN NEWS, IMMIGRATION UPDATES, VIEWPOINTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MORE!LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @CAWNYC!
ISLAND FOCUS: HAITI
12
Haiti on the Edge of Disaster Again BY SIR RONALD SANDERS
H
aiti – a country to which all other countries that suffered slavery are deeply indebted – is once again in turmoil. Therefore, no Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country should stand aside, silently, while Haiti is sliding into further catastrophe, retarding its already impoverished economy and depriving the Haitian people of hope for an improved future. Of course, no country should interfere in the internal affairs of any other state. CARICOM has never done that. In the times, when the organization has played a role in resolving political, electoral, and constitutional issues in a CARICOM member-state, it has done so at the invitation of the Government and other political parties. This occurred most recently in Guyana, where CARICOM played a pivotal role in upholding democracy and ensuring the credible result of elections. Non-interference in the internal affairs of a state should not be construed as approval. And, when conditions reach the point of loss of lives, the least that friendly states should do is to offer to help to bring about peace and to assist in resolving the issues that are causing violence and destruction. While the Haitian
government might not agree, the present circumstances of the country are crying out for remedial action. Hence, CARICOM was right, on February 11, to issue a public statement “encouraging all parties to engage in meaningful dialogue in the interest of peace and stability” and “strongly urging that action be taken to foster a safe environment, a return to normal life and the building of sustainable democratic institutions”. Since October 2019, when President Jovenel Moïse postponed parliamentary and local elections, there has been no legislature in Haiti. The President has ruled the country by decree, contrary to its Constitution. Even at the municipal level, when the terms of elected Mayors end, Moïse has appointed persons of his own choosing. Further, in the absence of a legislature which, under the Constitution, is required to approve appointments to independent institutions and law enforcement agencies, including the Police, President Moïse has unilaterally installed favoured persons. For over a year, these circumstances have infuriated opposition parties as would be expected, but they also caused alarm among human rights groups within the country and internationally.
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PORT-AU-PRINCE - AUGUST 28: A young man who sells ice cubes in the tent cities explaining his situation in one of the tent cities in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti on August 28, 2010. Editorial credit: arindambanerjee / Shutterstock.com
More recent events in Haiti, however, have attracted strong criticism of Moïse. The most compelling condemnation has come from seven members of the House of Representatives of the United States of America (U.S.). In early February, they wrote to the Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, demanding the departure of Moïse “in accordance with the Haitian Constitution”. For several months, the contention has been made by political and civil rights groups in Haiti, that in conformity with the Constitution, the President’s term ended on February 7 – five years after the last elections in November 2016. He has contended that, notwithstanding the position stated in the Constitution about the life of the President’s term, he is entitled to remain in office for another year, since he did not assume office until February 2017. In a situation in which a President’s stewardship has brought peace, economic development and social progress, the Haitian society may have gone along with Moïse’s view. Unfortunately, the situation on the ground in Haiti has been very different. Moïse was not a popularly elected President. The 2016 elections had a low turnout of voters. His actions, since then, especially his ruling by decree, weakened his approval still further. In this atmosphere, the country slipped into lawlessness – some of it allegedly engendered by Moïse’s ruling party. Kidnappings and killings haunted rich and poor alike, and marauding gangs ruled districts driving fear into communities. Massacres occurred in neighborhoods where opposition to Moïse is strong. All this led to street protests which the government met with an iron fist. In recent weeks, Police have fired live ammunition into crowds, killing and wounding people including two journalists, one of whom is in a critical condition. During this, on February 7, Moïse alleged that there was a plot to overthrow him. Police arrested and detained 23 persons, including a former presidential candidate, a high-ranking police inspector and a judge on the country’s highest court. Additionally, Mosie, arbitrarily sent three judges of the Court of Justice
on retirement. One of these judges was named jointly by the Opposition parties as the “Interim President” of Haiti – much as happened with Venezuela’s Juan Guaidó. The U.S. Embassy in Haiti issued a statement questioning the merits of the action to unseat the judges. Several non-CARICOM countries, looking for a solution to the current problem, are doing what they usually do – focusing on Presidential elections to end the conflict. The problem is that there is no credible election machinery in Haiti, including no up-to-date and verifiable electoral list. What is more, Moïse appointed a Committee of his associates to make recommendations on institutional and political reform, including of the provisional electoral council (CEP) which administers elections. The much greater problem is that he plans to hold a referendum on April 25 on a draft constitution that his Committee has drafted. Amongst other things, the draft constitution, will set the stage for Presidential and other elections. The process has no credibility and no support from opposition political parties and civil rights groups and, therefore, will continue to rouse protests and crowd demonstrations. Haiti, including President Moïse, and all the other actors – political and civil – need the help of honest brokers and mediators to help create agreed conditions to remedy the institutional issues, including the election machinery. Without it, the situation in Haiti will worsen. No country or organization can impose itself to assist Haiti. The Haitian players must invite such help. Until they do so, all organizations, including CARICOM and the Organization of American States should express their concerns and stand ready to be helpful to the people of Haiti who deserve the chance for a better life.l
Sir Ronald Sanders is the Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the Organization of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London and at Massey College, University of Toronto.
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FAMILY MATTERS
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Parenting in a Pandemic: How to Develop Stronger Family Relationships During COVID-19 BY TINA MONTREUIL THE CONVERSATION
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or parents facing uncertain school schedules, new ways of working and concerns about the health and safety of their families, life in a pandemic is stressful enough. Add in the potential for children to feel overwhelmed or unable to cope with the unfamiliar and many families feel they are in no-win situations. The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly affected us. It has increased our worries and concerns about physical health. COVID-19 has added to the existing challenges parents face, and has also created greater awareness surrounding the fragility of mental health. Yet, the second wave has also paved the way for a larger discussion on ways to promote mental well-being. As a researcher and a clinical psychologist, I lead a research group that investigates how emotion regulation, values and beliefs affect the development and inter-generational transmission of mental
or behavioural disorders, and how these problems can impact educational achievement. The Childhood Anxiety and Regulation of Emotions (C.A.R.E.) research group has developed a school-based program as well as a parenting program, both of which teach core coping skills that have been associated with resilience. Resilience is the capacity for an individual to remain engaged, available and optimistic instead of withdrawn, overwhelmed and defeated when faced with hardship and adversity. Our research group believes that when
parents are aware of their own emotional self-regulation, and when they can find space to structure meaningful family activities that promote mutual bonding, both they and their children are in a better position to learn core coping skills that will benefit individuals and family relationships. Impact of the pandemic on family life A recent report by the Australian Human Rights Commission investigated COVID-19-related concerns experienced by children aged five and older and emerging adults from January to April
2020. The report suggested that “mental health concerns resulting from COVID19” and “impacts on family life” were among the top five concerns endorsed by youth. Similarly, a July 2020 Statistics Canada report revealed three out of four parents experienced concerns and worries about balancing child care, their child’s schooling and their own professional work irrespective of the child’s age. More than half of parents surveyed reported greater difficulty managing their child’s emotions as well as their own. The arising parenting challenges surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic may represent an opportune time for us to improve our resilience and model more adaptive strategies and skills. In turn, such skills can promote the development of resilient behaviours in our children. Not everyone reacts in the same way to a given situation. The ability to manage strong negative emotions and shift our mindset to a more adaptive perspective can be developed at any age. Since our continued on page 14
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FAMILY MATTERS Parenting in a Pandemic continued from page 13 brain is most adept at performing a new task early in life, it’s most beneficial for people to become socialized in these fundamental life skills early. This will help children to become self-regulated, adaptive and thriving adults. Parental emotions Findings from our research group’s recent study, conducted with mothers, suggest that parents’ abilities to regulate their own emotions predicted how frequently and effectively they rely on supportive parenting practices. Supportive practices are things like comforting children when they experience negative emotions; engaging in problem-solving strategies aimed at reducing children’s distress; and discussing children’s emotional experiences with them. As such, these results suggest that supportive parenting is associated with children who are better at managing difficult emotions. We also found that invalidating children’s emotional expression or ignoring or dismissing the child’s emotions contributed to poorer emotion regulation skills in children, and that such less-supportive parenting practices were linked to anxiety in adulthood. When parents themselves match or exceed their child’s emotions, they also offer less adaptive emotional coaching.
Parents may have heard the airplane safety tip to always don one’s own oxygen mask before helping a child: the same applies with emotional regulation. As parents, when we prioritize managing our own stress, tolerating greater uncertainty and engaging in self-care activities like exercise, good sleep hygiene and relaxation, this expands our capacity to respond calmly. This teaches our children that they too can cope and manage stress and related threats. Supportive parenting is best achieved when a connected, caring and responsive relationship with children is fostered early on. Supportive parenting that builds resilience is comparable to an early investment that grows with time. It is key to create as many early positive and reinforcing experiences as possible. Failure: An opportunity for growth Parenting is difficult and striving for perfection is unrealistic and unattainable. We can instead chose to model that mistakes and failures can be a renewed opportunity for growth. Raising resilient children means that we value teaching them self-compassion, gratitude, delayed gratification and self worth to leverage life experiences that facilitate the development of their sense of purpose. It is as critical for parents to value teaching children these core social emotional skills, just as much as we might encourage them to become expert swimmers or gifted mathematicians.
14 When supportive parenting and strong family relationships consistently provide opportunities to strengthen coping skills and the ability to regulate emotions, these are also opportunities for children to become skilled at accepting hardship and remaining committed toward achievement. Supportive parental practices contribute to children’s long-term healthy emotional and psychological development. Parents can help their children develop these key social-emotional abilities in a variety of ways. 1. As a first step, parents should evaluate whether their own emotional and psychological needs are met and do their best to find, advocate for or create structures or supports to meet these. In return, they may gain the capacity to model these adaptive behaviours. 2. Parents can learn more about core coping skills like emotional regulation. This includes the ability to pay attention to and accept (not judge) our emotions, to label and differentiate emotions. It also means understanding varying levels of emotional intensity, to learn how to tolerate and be open to the experience of distressing emotions and to control our emotions by changing how we think about the situation at hand. Mindfulness and problem solving can also be easily taught through interactive read-along
activities and lessons. 3. Regardless of a family’s structure, parents can improve family relationships and connectedness. They can do this by dedicating common time for the family members to congregate and bond with one another through activities like meal time, game or movie night and outdoor or sport activities. 4. Parents can work on identifying mutual family values through activities like developing a values coat of arms. Identifying mutual values can be useful when seeking to carve out time spent together based on identified commonalities and shared interests. Adversity creates accidental opportunities to build skills to endure ongoing or future hardship. This is the essence of resilience: accepting that a door has closed behind us, and being optimistic about what awaits. By being more emotionally and mentally grounded as parents, parents can lead collectively stronger families. Let’s stay strong together!l Tina Montreuil is an Assistant Professor, Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, Associate Member, Department of Psychiatry, and Director of Childhood Anxiety and Regulations of Emotions (C.A.R.E.) Research Group, McGill University
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COMPLETE YOUR 40-HOUR SAFETY TRAINING BEFORE MARCH 1, 2021 TO STAY ON THE JOB SITE. As a requirement of Local Law 196 of 2017, workers at major construction sites must complete their 40-hours of safety training by March 1, 2021.
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IMMIGRATION
16
Attorney General James Continues Fight to Stop Deportations
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ew York, NY: Attorney General Letitia James led a coalition of 16 attorneys general from around the nation in fighting alongside President Joseph Biden to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation. On the first day of the Biden-Harris Administration, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a memo ordering a moratorium on deportations for 100 days, while a thorough review of the DHS’s polices took place. Two days later, the state of Texas sued the administration, seeking to overturn the moratorium. Texas is now seeking a preliminary injunction to halt the moratorium while the case makes its way through the courts. In an amicus brief filed in Texas v. United States, Attorney General James leads the coalition in asking the district court to reject Texas’s request for a preliminary injunction and deny the state’s efforts to dictate federal immigration policy through a last-minute “agreement” with the Trump Administration. “This eleventh-hour deal by the Trump Administration and the state of Texas is nothing more than a last-ditch effort by the former president on his way out the door to hogtie every other state in the
Editorial credit: Rena Schild / Shutterstock.com
nation while simultaneously punishing immigrants,” said Attorney General James. “As we continue to reel from a public health crisis that has affected every corner of this country, the last thing we should be doing is moving to deport more immigrants — many of whom are working on the frontlines of the pandemic and delivering essential services to Americans nationwide. I am proud to lead this coalition in supporting President Biden’s efforts to freeze deportations as the administration seeks to reform our nation’s overall immigration policies. As
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I have done since the beginning of my career, I will continue to stand shoulderto-shoulder with our immigrant communities as we fight for reform.” As part of a series of sweeping immigration reforms, the Biden-Harris Administration halted the deportation of undocumented immigrants for 100 days on January 20, 2021. However, days before President Biden took office, the state of Texas entered into an agreement with the Trump Administration that sought to hamstring the incoming BidenHarris Administration before it had the opportunity to put in place its own policies and priorities concerning removal. In the amicus brief — filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas — Attorney General James leads the coalition in arguing that Texas’ agreement with the previous administration is not only unlawful, but that it also presents serious issues related to federal immigration enforcement in New York and the other amici states, which are home to a significant share of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. Texas’ request for nationwide enforcement of an agreement that it alone signed with the DHS not only conflicts with federal law, but also undermines the sovereignty of its fellow states. As the amicus brief notes, an outgoing presidential administration — after losing a national election by millions of votes — cannot handcuff the discretion of a new administration in its efforts to change national policies to reflect the will of the voters. In fact, the Supreme Court has repeatedly rejected attempts to prevent a newly elected executive branch from exercising the authority granted to it by Congress. Further, Attorney General James and the coalition highlight the overwhelming contributions undocumented immigrants bring to the nation. Specifically, undocumented immigrants contribute approximately $6.8 billion in state and local taxes annually. And immigrants — both with and without documentation — are also critically needed employees in essential sectors, including those sectors vital to combatting the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health cri-
sis by delivering goods and food, providing technological and human-resources support for telecommuting, offering telehealth and other in-person health care, assisting at grocery stories, and more. Finally, the agreement was not validly executed by the DHS, as it was signed on behalf of the federal government only by Kenneth Cuccinelli II, who, at the time, was unlawfully acting as a senior official performing the duties of the deputy secretary. Several courts, as well as the Government Accountability Office, have already found that Cuccinelli was not lawfully appointed because he assumed his role in violation of two federal acts related to the succession of power: The Federal Vacancies Reform Act and the Homeland Security Act. Thus, Cuccinelli’s execution of the agreement with Texas here is in excess of statutory authority and without force or effect. While Texas now seeks a preliminary injunction, it was previously successful in garnering a two-week temporary restraining order, which was extended until February 23, 2021 to allow for further briefing. The amicus brief in opposition to Texas’ unlawful agreement with the Trump Administration is the latest in Attorney General James’ opposition to the many unlawful immigration policies the Trump Administration utilized to hurt New York and other states, including sabotaging and seeking to rig the 2020 Decennial Census multiple ways, setting up a family separation policy at the border that sought to separate parents from young children, illegally diverting funding from other needs to build an unnecessary border wall, denying asylumseekers requesting sanctuary, seeking to arrest immigrants outside state and local courthouses in effect endangering the safety of all New Yorkers, threatening to deport immigrant students who were not attending in-person classes during the peak of the COVID-19 lockdowns, and more. Joining Attorney General James in filing the amicus brief are the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and the District of Columbia. This matter was handled by Special Counsel Morenike Fajana of the Executive Division and Deputy Solicitor General Steven C. Wu of the Division for Appeals and Opinions. The Executive Division is overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy. The Division for Appeals and Opinions is overseen by Solicitor General Barbara D. Underwood.l
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IMMIGRATION
17
DHS Strikes Down Trump Deal with ICE Union, Paving the Way for Biden’s Changes to Immigration Enforcement BY MELISSA CRUZ
J
ust days before it was due to take effect, the Biden administration has struck down a last-minute deal made between the Trump administration and the union for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The agreement would have given ICE’s union the authority to veto President Biden’s immigration enforcement policies. The union—which endorsed Trump for president in 2016 and 2020—signed the agreement with Ken Cuccinelli, who was previously found to be serving unlawfully as the senior official performing the duties of the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. The deal was struck on January 19, the day before Trump left office. By law, the Secretary of Homeland Security had 30 days to approve or disapprove the agreement after it was signed. Newly-confirmed DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas just made the cutoff—the agreement was due to go into
Editorial credit: Robert P. Alvarez / Shutterstock.com
effect on February 19. Under the agreement, Biden administration officials would have needed “prior affirmative consent” from the ICE union’s 7,000 members before enacting any new enforcement policies or practices. It would have also allowed ICE agents to broadly reject enforcement guidance, like Biden’s recent order to focus on violent offenders over other undocumented immigrants. The deal included other red flags—such as a provision that barred any legal challenges to the contract for eight years.
This would have made the contract nonnegotiable throughout Biden’s first term and a potential second term. The agreement would have also granted lucrative financial deals to ICE’s union, including restoring reimbursement for union-related travel expenses. The agreement also provided ICE’s senior union officials several million dollars of “official time” to carry out union duties at work, a much higher amount than what the significantly larger federal union representing immigration officers at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services receives. In voiding the agreement, a DHS spokesperson said the deal “was not negotiated in the interest of DHS and has been disapproved because it is not in accordance with applicable law.” Even former Trump administration officials were surprised by the deal. Tom Homan—who served as ICE’s acting director between 2017 and 2018— objected to it. “It was not good for the agency because management lost a lot of rights on how they run the agency. To run an agency this big efficiently and effectively, management needs to make decisions and can’t be hamstrung by a union that’s going to slow down or impede quick action by the agency.” Cuccinelli’s heavy involvement in getting the agreement across the finish line further complicated matters, given the likelihood that he was not serving lawfully. A government whistleblower who first continued on page 18
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GENERATIONS
18
Leaving An Inheritance to Minors
DHS Strikes Down Trump Deal continued from page 17
BY CHRIS TOBIAS WILLSANDESTATES.NYC
Editorial credit: Naresh777 / Shutterstock.com
W
hile it’s not easy to think about, estate planning to provide for your children in case of an untimely death is vital. The consideration of who will raise them is only one factor to consider. You should also delegate what happens with any money or property you leave behind and who will manage the inheritance until they become adults. If you have young children, you may not think you are old enough to worry about making end-oflife plans. However, it’s never too early to begin making plans to secure your family’s future. When planning an inheritance and custody plan, hire a professional attorney to ensure your last will and trust are legally certified and uncontestable. Property Guardian Unless you directly appoint a guardian for your children, the process will be settled in probate. The court process occurs when there is no legal will that expresses your wishes and the state handles your estate. While in most cases, the surviving parent will manage the property or inheri-
tance until the child reaches adult age, this isn’t always the desired result. It’s essential to document your choice for your children’s property guardian legally. Set Up Trusts Another strategic option is to set up a trust for each of your children. Within your will or living trust, appoint a trustee to oversee the minor’s inheritance until a specific age of your choosing. The trusted family member or friend is required to act in the beneficiary’s best interests while following your written instructions. Typically, a financial inheri-
tance can be used to cover costs such as those for the child’s health, education, and living expenses. Make sure to ask your chosen trustee if they are up for it, as the role requires regular challenges. For instance, they must file annual income tax returns for the trust. They are also limited to what’s allowed in the will, except for the section that outlines their authority. For this reason, they may be asked to bring the physical document to banks or other facilities when they attempt to perform business on behalf of the beneficiaries. l
sounded the alarms over the agreement referenced Cuccinelli directly in their complaint. The complaint accused Cuccinelli of “gross mismanagement, gross waste of government funds, and abuse of authority” by signing the agreement the day before Biden was set to take office. Now that the agreement has been voided, the Biden administration can focus on finalizing and implementing new immigration enforcement priorities. With clear guidance to the field, the administration can better ensure faithful and consistent application of the law and minimize the damage done by indiscriminate and harsh enforcement practices.l
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19
JOBS & RECESSION
The 5 Do's and 3 Don'ts of Real Estate Networking BY EVAN TARVER, FIT SMALL BUSINESS KAPLAN REAL ESTATE EDUCATION
P
eople in the real estate industry know how important networking is to the success of their business. However, many real estate agents fail to implement this tactic strategically, which makes them feel inadequate at sales. While salesmanship is another skill altogether, a precursory skill that any real estate agent should master first is the ability to effectively network. After all, there won’t be anyone to pitch to if you don’t have the leads. If you are struggling in this area right now, read on to find out the dos and don’ts of real estate networking. The 5 Dos You Need to Follow to Get More Leads 1. Do: Have a professional website Even casual conversations can lead to an exchange of contact information. In order to come across as a credible agent, you should have a professional website in place that’s listed on your business cards. People these days will take you more seriously if you have your own website and a strong online presence. 2. Do: Dress appropriately You should always have advance knowledge about the attire requirement for every event, meeting, or occasion you are going to attend. If you are attending events for your local chamber of commerce or networking group, you should show up in business casual attire to look professional. If you are volunteering for charity work, you can dress more casually. 3. Do: Master the art of listening Being a successful agent doesn’t always mean you’re doing all the talking. In fact, those who have mastered the art of listening are winning more sales. If you listen more than you talk, you have more opportunity to gain insight about the things that matter to the people with whom you’re communicating. You can understand their frustrations, their wants, their pain points, and more. This will give you valuable knowledge on what to offer them, which can put you in a position where you are helping them instead of selling to them. 4. Do: Give more than you get Many people think that when they attend events to network, they should go on a frenzy in asking for referrals or asking to be introduced to as many people as possible. That can be annoying to most, and it can make you look desperate. When you go to events, always make helping your primary goal. Instead of asking for referrals, give referrals. People will naturally be more proactive in recommending you or introducing you to their network because of your good nature.
5. Do: Save your new contacts to your CRM immediately It can be easy to forget about the new contacts you made, lose their information, or forget about the important details you made a mental note of while talking to them. Right after your networking event, save your new contacts and pertinent details about them to your CRM. This will also help you create a strategy and schedule for how and when you should connect with them to eventually turn them into clients. The 3 Don’ts that Will Keep You from Networking Success 1. Don’t: Be constantly on your phone Don’t be on the phone while you’re at an event unless you absolutely have to be. You might be losing out on opportunities to network if you are constantly busy with your phone. Trust your voicemail or secretary to do the phone work for you, and you’ll most likely walk away with a larger network. 2. Don’t: Be too salesy A lot of people are allergic to sales people. So if you don’t want them to avoid you, don’t be pushy with your sales talk. People are more willing to buy from people they know and trust, so when you’re networking, earn people’s trust. Be sincere and try to help them out. You will eventually reap the rewards of your labor—people will approach you to do business with you because you earned their trust first. 3. Don’t: Be just a card giver, be a card taker What are the odds that people who receive your card will call you immediately after the event? It’s probably slim, unless you really made an impact during the event. You can be more successful in networking if you ask for your new acquaintances for their business card, instead of you giving them yours. This allows you to be the first to contact them and continue the connection you had with them during the event. On the other hand, if your strategy is to give out as many of your cards as possible, you might end up waiting for calls, which may never come.
Bottom Line Networking is not rocket science, so there’s no reason for you to feel intimidated by it. It is an art that can be fun and rewarding, as long as you implement the tips detailed above every time you’re out networking. Within no time, you’ll have quality leads that can turn into sales.l
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Evan Tarver is a small business and investments writer for Fit Small Business, fiction author, and screenwriter with experience in finance and technology. When he isn't busy scheming his next business idea, you'll find Evan holed up in a coffee shop working on the next great American fiction story.
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Beres Hammond among Jamaicans Inducted in YGB Hall of Fame in NY
Happy Birthday Rihanna!
BY STAFF WRITER, JAMAICANS.COM
T
he veteran singer Beres Hammond is slated to be inducted into the Young, Gifted & Black (YGB) Caribbean Music Entertainment ICON Hall of Fame in New York. His induction, along with the inductions of other iconic Jamaican entertainers Beenie Man, Freddie McGregor and Marcia Griffiths, coincides with Black History Month. According to the president of YBG, Carl Gray, the ICON Hall of Fame was established to memorialize trailblazing individuals in their roles as historical members of their culture and of society. Gray founded the YGB awards in 2006 in honor of Black History Month, and since its inception, the awards program has grown in prominence and is now a civic event with significant importance in the New York area. The program attracts public and private sector leaders who have local, national, and global appeal. The awards provide peer-to-peer recognition of “Unsung Heroes & Heroines for their Talent, Ambition and Achievements toward the Continued Pursuit of Success” in hopes that their stories will inspire others toward achieving their goals. Beres Hammond first saw success in the 1970s with his recording of “One Step Ahead,” a song that was on the charts for 14 consecutive weeks. His place in reggae history was solidified with his subsequent hit recordings like “Tempted to Touch,” “Rockaway,” “What One Dance Can Do,” and “Putting Up Resistance.” Hugh Beresford Hammond, known professionally as Beres Hammond, was born in 1955 in Annotto Bay, St. Mary. His style of “lovers rock” brought him broad popularity in the 1970s, while his greatest successes were achieved in the 1990s. He was the ninth of ten children and grew up listening to his father’s American soul and jazz records. He was also influenced by Jamaican ska and rocksteady, with particular influence coming from Alton Ellis. After entering local talent contests in the
Rihanna.Editorial credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com
O Beres Hammond. Photo: Facebookom
early 1970s he made his first recording “Wanderer” and joined the band Zap Pow as its lead singer in 1975. He also sought a solo career and released his debut album “Soul Reggae” in 1976. Hammond created his own record label Harmony Records in 1985 to release the album “Make a Song.” This included two chart-topping hits influenced by the nascent dancehall genre. After a home invasion in 1987, Hammond left Jamaica for New York and made recordings there, including “How Can We Ease the Pain,” a duet single with Maxi Priest. Hammond signed with Penthouse Records in 1990 and returned to live in Jamaica permanently, recording the dancehall hit “Tempted to Touch.” In 1992, he released “Fire,” a song that was highly praised by the reggae music industry and that prompted interest from major recording studios like Elektra Records. He released five additional albums in the 1990s and a number of compilations to become one of the top lovers rock musicians in the world. In 1994, he released “Love Has No Boundaries,” which featured Buju Banton and Big Youth. His 2012 album ‘One Love, One Life” reached the top of the Billboard Reggae Album chart and was nominated in 2014 for a Grammy
Award. In 2018, the album “Never Ending” was released featuring musicians including Errol Holt, Mafia & Fluxy, Dean Fraser, and Robbie Lyn. It topped the Billboard Reggae Albums Chart after its first week of release. Hammond was presented with the Order of Jamaica in 2013 by Jamaica’s government in recognition of his contribution and dedication to the nation’s music industry.l
ur Caribbean and world megasuper star Rihanna celebrated her 33rd birthday on Saturday, February 20. While Rihanna didn’t share her birthday celebrations with fans this year, there was an incredible outpour of celebrity and fan love. Among those offering birthday wishes were Dancehall artist and Love and Hip Hop Atlanta star, Spice who also showed love for the pop star with an Instagram post captioned, “Happy birthday good body @badgalriri big up yuh nice clean self wid rich pocket, yuh clean mouth and yuh good stomach. Love you mi gal, gwaan inspire us. Caribbean gyal run this ask Riri.” Blessings for many more Riri! We love ya!l
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22
HEALTH
Listen to Your Heart: Women and Heart Disease BY MICHAEL MERSCHEL AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION NEWS
H
eart disease is the leading cause of death in women of all ages, races, and shapes and sizes in the United States. But women sometimes experience heart disease differently than men. Healthy eating and physical activity go a long way to preventing heart disease, and keeping it from getting worse if you already have it. Read on to learn more about heart disease, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, how to find out if you’re at risk, how to protect your heart, and more. Symptoms of a heart attack: •Women are somewhat less likely than men to experience chest pain. Instead, they are more likely to experience: -Dizziness -Fatigue -Nausea -Pressure or tightness in the chest -Stomach pain •Women are also more likely than men to have no symptoms of coronary heart disease. Because women and their doctors
may not recognize coronary heart disease symptoms that are different from men’s, women may not be diagnosed and treated as quickly as men. It is important to seek care right away if you have symptoms of coronary heart disease. Follow-up treatment for heart disease: •Doctors are less likely to refer women for diagnostic tests for coronary heart disease. •Women are more likely than men to
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experience delays receiving an initial EKG, are less likely to receive care from a heart specialist during hospitalization, and are less likely to receive certain types of therapy and medicines. •Younger women are more likely than men to be misdiagnosed and sent home from the emergency department after cardiac events that occur from undiagnosed and untreated vascular heart disease. Risk Factors for Heart Disease Risk factors are conditions or habits that make a person more likely to develop a disease. They can also increase the chances that an existing disease will get worse. Many of the risk factors that affect men also affect women. Important risk factors for heart disease are: •Having high blood pressure •Having high cholesterol •Unhealthy lifestyle •Being overweight or obese •Diabetes and prediabetes •Smoking •Being physically inactive •Having a family history of early heart disease •Having a history of preeclampsia during pregnancy •Unhealthy diet •Age (55 or older for women) Family history of early heart disease is a risk factor that can’t be changed. If your father or brother had a heart attack before age 55, or if your mother or sister had one before age 65, you are more likely to get heart disease yourself. You may wonder: If I have just one risk factor for heart disease—say, I'm overweight or I have high blood cholesterol— aren’t I more or less "safe"? Unfortunately, no. Each risk factor greatly increases your chance of developing heart disease. But having more than one risk factor is especially serious, because risk factors tend to "gang up" and worsen each other’s effects.
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Pregnancy and Heart Disease Preeclampsia—high blood pressure during pregnancy with signs of damage to another organ system such as the kidneys—is another heart disease risk factor
you can't control. However, if you've had the condition, you should take extra care to try to control other heart disease risk factors. This is because preeclampsia raises your risk for heart and blood vessel problems later in life. Aside from preeclampsia, having heart disease or heart problems before pregnancy can raise your risk for pregnancy complications or pregnancy-related death during or after childbirth. Menopause and Heart Disease Heart disease increases with age, including during and after menopause. In middle age women tend to develop more risk factors for heart disease, in part due to increasing body weight and in part because their body's production of estrogen drops. Women who go through early menopause, especially if they had a hysterectomy, are more likely to develop heart disease as women of the same age who have not yet gone through menopause. Treatment with menopausal hormone therapy immediately after menopause may reduce risk of heart disease but not of stroke, but treatment later in life increases the risk of both heart disease and stroke. Take Action for Your Heart Health While some risk factors, such as age and family history of early heart disease, can't be changed, the truth is, there is something we can do at every stage of life to reduce our risk of heart disease. Being more physically active and eating a healthy diet are important steps for your heart health. You can make the changes gradually, one at a time. But making them is very important. Here’s some things you can do now for your heart health: •Move more •Improve your nutrition and eat healthier Check your heart health stats/numbers •Improve sleep and reduce stress •Stop smoking •Aim for a healthy weight So, the message is clear: Every woman needs to take her heart disease risk seriously—and take action now to reduce that risk.l
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24
BOOKS & SPORTS
PNP Wants Plan for Reopening of Sports Industry
K
INGSTON, Jamaica: The Shadow Spokesperson on Youth and Sports is again calling on the Government to urgently put forward an operational plan for the phased reopening of Jamaica’s Sports Industry. Senator Gabriela Morris has taken careful note of sporting events in the Caribbean region which have been phased and is demanding that our Government does right by its people and move with alacrity to facilitate sports in Jamaica. “The Government continues to drag its feet on such a critical sector. The Sports Medicine Association compiled and submitted a detailed list of recommendations to the Jamaican Government last year, and we expect that the government will at least provide a response,” said a concerned Senator Morris. Senator Morris’ concern remains with upcoming key international schedules where Jamaica normally participates. She said, “It is important that the athletes are allowed to prepare to be able to compete at the highest level. It is possible for the health and safety of all Jamaicans to be prioritized, while also allowing our elite athletes to get on with their prepara-
Reading for Winter
Just as I Am: A Memoir by Cicely Tyson
M PNP's Spokesperson on Youth and Sports Gabriela Morris. Photo: wiredja.com
tions for international competitions, from which they and their support teams earn. We are aware of the spike in the numbers for COVID-19, but like any other elite organization, the athletes should have an opportunity to meet the demands of their industry through work.” The Opposition is once again calling on the Government to acknowledge the plight of the industry and open the channels for dialogue, so that a discussion on the phased reopening of the Sports industry can be urgently advanced. l —wiredja.com
s. Cicely Tyson (December 19, 1924 – January 28, 2021) was an actress, fashion modelm lecturer, activist, and one of the most respected talents in American theater and film history. From her starring role on Broadway in The Blacks (1961), to the Emmy-nominated 1999 HBO film A Lesson Before Dying, her work has garnered critical and commercial applause for more than sixty years. Her two Emmys for The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman made her the first AfricanAmerican woman to win an Emmy for Best Actress. In 2013, Ms. Tyson won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her performance as Miss Carrie Watts in The Trip to Bountiful. A capstone achievement came in 2018, when she became the first Black woman to receive an honorary Oscar. The Board of Governors voted unanimously to honor her with the award, which came 45 years after her Academy Award nominated performance in Sounder. She was born in East Harlem on December 19, 1924, the daughter of Fredericka (Huggins) Tyson, a domestic
worker, and William Augustine Tyson, who worked as a carpenter and painter. She was one of three children. Her parents were immigrants from Nevis in the West Indies. Her father arrived in New York City at age 21 and was processed at Ellis Island on August 4, 1919. Tyson grew up in a religious atmosphere. She sang in the choir and attended prayer meetings at an Episcopal church in East Harlem. Tyson's mother was opposed to her becoming an actress and would not speak to her for a time. She changed her mind when she saw Cicely appear on stage. “In her long and extraordinary career, Cicely Tyson has not only succeeded as an actor, she has shaped the course of history.” –President Barack Obama, 2016 Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony
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"Just As I Am is my truth. It is me, plain and unvarnished, with the glitter and garland set aside. In these pages, I am indeed Cicely, the actress who has been blessed to grace the stage and screen for six decades. Yet I am also the church girl who once rarely spoke a word. I am the teenager who sought solace in the verses of the old hymn for which this book is named. I am a daughter and mother, a sister, and a friend. I am an observer of human nature and the dreamer of audacious dreams. I am a woman who has hurt as immeasurably as I have loved, a child of God divinely guided by His hand. And here in my ninth decade, I am a woman who, at long last, has something meaningful to say.” –Cicely Tyson —Google Books
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LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS
25
Sex Tips: How to Improve Intimacy in Your Marriage BY JENNINE ESTES ESTES THERAPY
I
ntimacy is an all-encompassing word, with sex merely being one aspect of it. Intimacy in your marriage takes more than just spicing up your sex life. Intimacy is a vital substance in the healthiest of relationships, and its existence allows partners to share their physical and emotional selves with each other, openly and safely. If you can find it in yourself to be more emotionally intimate in your relationship, both you and your loved one will definitely reap the rewards in the bedroom! Stay close in and out of the bedroom Here are the top ten ways to increase and maintain intimacy in your marriage: •Compromise when in disagreement. When you and your partner aren’t seeing things eye-to-eye, take it upon yourselves to reach a happy medium that you can both agree on. Ask each other, “What would make us both happy?” •Do the 30-minute focus. Spend a minimum of 30 minutes per day with your
full attention focused on your partner. This could take place at the dinner table, in the family area/living room with the TV off, cuddled together in bed, etc. Eliminate interruptions, such as roommates, friends, and even children, so you can take the undivided time you need to discuss each other’s day and other personal, intimate topics. •Plan a “date night.” Date nights help kindle romance and intimacy. Plan the evening together or surprise each other, get dressed up for one another, spend time focusing on each other, and laugh together. •Empathize and validate. Everyone dis-
agrees once in a while, but make sure when you are in disagreement, you show empathy, monitor your tone of voice, and validate your partner by letting them know you don’t think they are “crazy” for how they feel. •Take mutual interest in one another. Showing interest and curiosity in their day or things that they like not only helps your partner feel important and special, but also motivates them to do the same with you! Imagine how great it feels when they listen intently to what you have to say. Make sure you do the same for them. •Spend your free time doing things together. Surprise your partner with an activity that the two of you can enjoy together. Try hiking, picnics, board/card games, etc. •Leave them love notes. Write things you admire about your partner on sticky notes and hide them in places where you know he or she will find them throughout the day. •Focus on the positive. If you acknowledge and reinforce the things you appreciate about your partner instead of focusing on the negative, you’ll find they will eagerly repeat the desired behavior, instead of feeling dejected from belittle-
ment. •Show respect. By listening, avoiding critical language and minimizing your anger (intonation and context), you will show your partner that you have the utmost respect for their thoughts and feelings. •Stop critical language. “You should …” “You must …” “You are too …” “You never …” “You always …” — each of these are examples of how we point our fingers at our partners while telling them they are not right. Give them a chance and let them carry things out the way they’d like to. Changing the way you interact with your partner outside of the bedroom can make all the difference for how things go inside the bedroom. By taking time to validate and appreciate your partner, treating them with respect, and spending quality time together, you are increasing the chances that you’ll feel close and connected. A couple that is emotionally connected will have an easier time feeling physically connected. Intimacy in your marriage is an on-going process, never ignore it! l Reprinted with kind permission. Visit www.estestherapy.com
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26
KITCHEN CORNER Are you looking to get into the health & wellness business?
Lucky Mint Brownie Perfection
Contact:
Stacy Young Board Certified Holistic Health Coach Tel: 917-459-8431 Stacy@HealthCoachStacyNYC.com
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H
ow lucky you must be to come across this recipe just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. This one is a twisted combination of mint and sweet chocolate that’s sure to have almost anyone’s taste buds screaming “yum.” This dessert might just be the pot of gold at the end of your rainbow this year. These Mint Brownies have three delicious layers. First, a supreme brownie on bottom. Then a fluffy, green mint layer that’s full of flavor and color. Last, but definitely not least, a chocolate layer on top made with chocolate chips, butter and a little whipping cream. All of these layers create a smooth, sweet, minty, bite-sized dessert perfect for any occasion but especially St. Patrick’s Day. The green mint color really pops off the plate, giving it some extra flare and an appetizing glow. To start, create the soft, chocolate filled brownie. Combine brownie mix, vegetable oil, one egg, water and the chocolate syrup pouch. Bake and cool completely. Then it’s time for some colorful, festive fun. Make the filling with powdered sugar, butter, whipping cream, softened cream cheese, a splash of peppermint extract and a few drops of green food coloring. Beat and pour over the cooled brownie pan. The last layer is simple. In a saucepan, melt whipping cream, chocolate chips and butter until smooth. When it’s cooled to lukewarm, pour it over the filling for the final layer. Refrigerate the Mint Brownies for two hours before serving. Cut them into bitesize pieces for small chunks that will melt in your mouth. Find more seasonal dessert recipes at Culinary.net.
1 box supreme brownie mix with chocolate syrup pouch 3 tablespoons water 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1 egg
Mint Brownies Servings: 9-12
Tips: Cut brownies with wet knife for cleaner cuts. Store covered in refrigerator. (FamilyFeatures)l
Filling: 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar 1/4 cup butter, softened 1/4 cup whipping cream 5 ounces cream cheese, softened 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract 5 drops green food color Topping: 1/2 cup whipping cream 1 bag (12 ounces) chocolate chips 1/2 cup butter Heat oven to 350 F. Spray 8-by-8-inch pan with nonstick cooking spray. In large bowl, mix brownie mix, water, oil and egg until combined. Pour into prepared baking pan. Bake 35 minutes. Cool completely, about 1 hour. To make filling: In large bowl, beat powdered sugar, butter, whipping cream, cream cheese, peppermint extract and food coloring. Spread over cooled brownies. Refrigerate 1 hour, or until set. To make topping: In saucepan, melt whipping cream, chocolate chips and butter until smooth. Cool until lukewarm, about 10 minutes. Pour over filling; spread to cover. Refrigerate 2 hours, or until set. Before serving, let brownies set 10 minutes at room temperature.
Nonstick cooking spray
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28
CORONOVIRUS
J&J Vaccine May Block Spread of Coronavirus, FDA Says BY LINDSAY KALTER & DAMIAN MCNAMARA, WEBMD NEWS
F
eb. 24, 2021: New findings suggest the Janssen/Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine can reduce the risk of an immunized person unknowingly passing along the virus to others. The FDA released new documents today that link the single-dose vaccine to a 74% lower likelihood of asymptomatic transmission to others at 71 days compared to placebo. "The decrease in asymptomatic transmission is very welcome news, too, in curbing the spread of the virus," Phyllis Tien, MD, told Medscape. "While the earlier press release reported that the vaccine was effective against preventing severe COVID-19 disease, as well as hospitalizations and death, this new data shows that the vaccine can also decrease transmission, which is very important on a public health level," said Tien, professor of medicine in the Division of infectious Diseases at the
University of California San Francisco. "It is extremely important in terms of getting to herd immunity," Paul Goepfert, MD, director of the Alabama Vaccine Research Clinic and infectious disease specialist at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, said.. "It means that this vaccine is likely preventing subsequent transmission after a single dose which could have huge implications once
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we get the majority of folks vaccinated." The FDA cautioned that the numbers are relatively small and need to be verified. However, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine might not be the only product offering this advantage. Early data suggests that the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine also can decrease transmission, providing further evidence that the protection offered by immunization can go beyond the individual. Governors and federal officials are awaiting the green light to issue the onedose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, which FDA scientists also say is safe and effective. “Governors are carefully planning their efforts and getting ready for the possible new vaccine,” White House COVID-19 Coordinator Jeff Zients said at a news briefing this morning. “If authorized, we are ready to roll out this vaccine without delay.” The Johnson & Johnson shot, which would be the third vaccine for a pandemic that has killed more than 500,000 Americans, was found to be more than 85% effective at preventing severe illness and 66% protective overall. The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines were tested before the discovery of variants from the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil, meaning those two vaccines likely benefited from higher efficacy rates and more straightforward results. But once the Johnson & Johnson shot receives emergency use authorization, which could come shortly after a scheduled scientific committee meeting this Friday, the administration will begin working to get it out right away. Once they get the go-ahead, Zients said, 3 million to 4 million doses will be delivered by next week, and 20 million are scheduled to be delivered by the end of March. Johnson & Johnson is required by contract to deliver 100 million doses by the end of June. “While we await the decision, we want the American people to know we’re doing the work. So if the emergency use authorization is granted, we’ll waste no time getting the lifesaving vaccine into
the arms of Americans,” Zients said. When the Biden administration assumed power 5 weeks ago, he said, it became clear the company was behind on manufacturing. Since then, the White House has helped with equipment and raw materials to speed up the process. “It was disappointing when we arrived,” Zients said, “and I think the progress is real.” The White House response team also announced the delivery of 25 million fitted cloth masks for adults and children to health centers and food banks nationwide in a continued effort to protect underserved Americans. As officials scramble to get vaccines and protective gear to the public, scientists are also working overtime to learn more about the long-term effects of COVID-19, said Anthony Fauci, MD, the White House COVID-19 Response Team's chief medical adviser. On Feb. 23, the National Institutes of Health launched an initiative to further study this phenomenon. Fauci called post-acute sequelae of COVID-19— or PASC —“alarming” and “puzzling,” stressing that even those with moderate cases of the virus can be inflicted. Symptoms include fatigue, digestive system problems, “brain fog” (not being able to focus), depression, anxiety, problems sleeping, and, in extreme cases, lung problems. “New symptoms sometimes arise well after the time of infection, or they evolve over time and persist for months,” Fauci said. “They can range from mild or annoying to actually quite incapacitating.” He referenced a study from researchers at the University of Washington, published Feb. 19, that found a whopping 30% of the 177 participants reported persistent symptoms for up to 9 months. “It’s very difficult to treat something when you don’t know what the target of that treatment is,” Fauci said. “There are a lot of important questions with this series of initiatives that we will ultimately answer.”l
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30
CONVERSATIONS
Reality Check: What Trump’s Impeachment Should Remind Us BY ASHLEY ALLISON CIVILRIGHTS.ORG
L
ike most of America, I watched, horrified, as a violent mob ransacked the seat of our federal government on January 6. This month, I watched, horrified again, as Trump’s lawyers and Republican members of the very body that was under siege tried to sell a wholly fabricated story of that day to the American people — as if we didn’t see the destruction with our own eyes. With the impeachment trial behind us, one conclusion is certain: We are a nation living in two realities. One is a reality striving for truth, justice, and democracy; the other is clinging to white supremacy. The Senate’s vote to acquit the former president of inciting the Capitol attack signals the willingness of Republican leadership to tolerate extremism within its own ranks. The Republican Party no longer even hides behind doublespeak and dog whistles. It has surrendered to its most publicly racist and anti-democratic players. The days following the insurrection presented an opportunity for every
Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com
leader to look squarely into the eyes of racism, acknowledge Trump’s deceit, and denounce the systems of white supremacy that fueled and enabled the attack. Instead, many Republicans made clear they prefer to live a lie than embrace truth. When senators reconvened on that infamous night to certify the election results, then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell condemned the right-wing
extremists. He said, “The free choice of the American people is what shapes our self-government and determines the destiny of our nation.” Those are admirable words. But when faced with the choice of truth or white supremacy, Senator McConnell chose the latter. Immediately following the Senate impeachment trial, he gave a hypocritical speech on the Senate floor and said Trump’s actions were connected to the events on January 6. Still, he voted to acquit. The Senate performed by giving a standing ovation to the courageous Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman one night and then cowardly voted to acquit the very next day. That is not the truth. The truth must be consistent. Lawmakers cannot praise American ideals following a crisis, and then disappear and distort them during the trial that decides whether to hold the perpetrator accountable. Ten House Republicans, seven Senate Republicans, and every Democrat in the House and Senate selected the truth with their vote to impeach and convict the former president. Their votes put country over party. Truth over white supremacy. And unfortunately, the acquittal was no surprise. Black, indigenous, and people of color are often disappointed by leaders who fail to choose truth. The people wanted their elected leaders to stand in the gap and risk political backlash to hold Trump accountable. Yet, too many would rather cede their party to white supremacy than expel the enemy within and go back to business as usual. As more than 400 years of American history has taught us, votes to acquit help maintain the status quo and keep the institution of white supremacy alive. Telling lies about the election and inciting the insurrection were intentional efforts to cling to power that run deep within white supremacy. And let’s be clear: white supremacy is more complex than the familiar symbols of swastikas and confederate flags we know we must condemn. It fuels a system where leaders permit the nation’s prisons and jails to unjustly swell with Black and Brown bodies. It allows them to borrow from
Jim Crow’s playbook and put up barriers to the ballot to suppress the Black vote, and flaunt conspiracies about COVID-19 as the pandemic disproportionately devastates communities of color. It empowers them to refuse a vote on D.C. statehood and leave more than 700,000 people — predominantly people of color — disenfranchised. During the trial, Trump’s lawyers tried to falsely equate civil rights leaders and protests for racial justice with the white supremacist mob that we saw on full display at the Capitol. Their argument was as hollow as their indignation. Last year, after a vicious cycle of violence stole the lives of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks, and so many others, more people peacefully protested than ever before in American history. The marches were multiracial and multigenerational. The Republicans’ version of reality makes no room for the pain at the heart of the summer protests, or the truth of its goals: justice. The events of January 6 should jolt America awake. Those teetering between two realities must shake off the invisible cloak of white supremacy. When leaders turn away from the truth and fail to make the hard choices, hate in our country only calcifies further. The Republican Party deliberately pushed falsehoods to their base about the election outcome and signaled to the president that he will not be held accountable for future violence. But here’s the thing: where there is people, there is power. No amount of lies can erase the truth about January 6, because the people were witnesses to that day. This impeachment trial is a reminder that there have always been two realities: slavery or emancipation, segregation or integration, suppression or democracy. When this country has been forced to shrink the reality of white supremacy, it is rarely our elected leaders who sound the rallying cry. It is the people. People rejected racism during the 2020 election — and we will make sure 2021 is no different. We will not forget. The people will organize, we will fight, and we will win because we are in a reality with truth, justice, and democracy on our side. Will you join us?l
Ashley Allison is the former executive vice president of campaigns and programs at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and currently serves as CEO of the Turner Conoly Group.
www.cawnyc.com
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Your work is essential! Protect yourself & others from flu and COVID-19 this fall and winter:
MASK UP
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Wear a face mask that covers your nose and mouth. And keep your distance (at least 6 feet) from others when you can.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever. Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every season.
A flu vaccine can protect you, your loved ones, and your co-workers from flu. You can also protect those around you by staying home if you are sick.
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