FREE
Your Passport to the Caribbean American Community
13
May/Jun 2022
5
June is Caribbean American Heritage Month
Caribbean-American Karine Jean-Pierre named White House Press Secretary
June is a celebration of Juneteenth
June is Pride Month
This Caribbean American Heritage Month we celebrate Karine JeanPierre. Karine is now the White House Press Secretary. In May, she made history by becoming the first openly gay spokeswoman and only the second Black woman to conduct a briefing from the podium of the White House briefing room. and of course the first person of Caribbean roots. in that role. Jean-Pierre was born in Martinique after her parents fled Haiti. When she was five years old, the family immigrated to New York. Even though her father had an engineering degree, he worked as a taxi driver, while her mother was employed as a home health aide. “They came here for the American dream that in many ways eluded them,” she said in an interview with PBS. “They still live check to check, but in their eyes, because I made it to the White House, because their daughter went to Columbia, they have received it.”
2
www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com
L I F E S T Y L E
Guenet Gittens-Roberts Owner/Publisher/Editor
Caribbean American Heritage Month
Samuel J. Roberts
Owner/Publisher/Editor
A Proclamation on National Caribbean-American Heritage Month, 2022
This month's editorial space is yielded to the President's proclamation honoring Caribbean American Heritage Month
America’s strength has always been rooted in our diversity. Since our Nation’s founding, generation after generation of immigrants have helped build this country, and the prosperity and opportunity that draw so many immigrants to America would not be possible without the contributions and legacies of Caribbean Americans. Today, millions of Caribbean Americans strengthen our country through their vibrant cultures, traditions, languages, and values. In recognition of National Caribbean-American Heritage Month, we honor the immeasurable ways Caribbean Americans have added to our American dream. This month, our Nation also celebrates the extraordinary leadership and achievements of Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black American of Jamaican heritage to hold this high office. I am also honored to celebrate alongside brilliant and dedicated public servants of Caribbean heritage — including Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, and Domestic Policy Advisor Susan Rice. Every day, we see the invaluable contributions Caribbean American communities have made to our country. Our Nation has seen the persistence and character of generations of Caribbean Americans who have fought for equity and equality despite continued discrimination and hardship. In addition, public servants like our Nation’s first Supreme Court Justice of Puerto Rican descent, Sonia Sotomayor, and the late General Colin Powell, the son of Jamaican immigrants and the first Black Secretary of State, have made essential contributions to American society and blazed new trails in service to the American people. Caribbean American entrepreneurs, scientists, medical professionals, teachers, artists, police officers, athletes, and contributors in every field have also left a lasting impact on our society. In spite of innumerable achievements and undeniable contributions, too many Caribbean Americans continue to face systemic barriers to success. Caribbean Americans have been impacted by systemic racism and disparities in opportunity. My Administration has taken a whole-ofgovernment approach to advancing racial justice and equity
in order to begin healing those wounds and strengthening opportunity for all. We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to ensure that every American — no matter who they are or where they come from — has equal access to the American dream. During this National Caribbean-American Heritage Month, we honor the generations of Caribbean Americans who have built our Nation, shaped our progress, and strengthened our national character. NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2022 as National CaribbeanAmerican Heritage Month. I encourage all Americans to join in celebrating the history, culture, and achievements of Caribbean Americans with appropriate ceremonies and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-sixth. JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.
1969 Alafaya Trail • Orlando, FL 32828 Office: 407-427-1800 Fax: 407-386-7925 Toll Free: 877-220-8315 For Media Information email: Publisher: sroberts@caribbeanamericanpassport.com Info: .Info@caribbeanamericanpassport.com
Should you desire to review past copies of the publication go to http:// caribbeanamericanpassport.com and click on the 'Print Archive'. Publisher & Editor................................................................................... Sam Roberts Publisher ............................................................................. Guenet Gittens-Roberts Editor & Contributing Writer................................................................Aleia Roberts Contributing Writers: ................................................................................ Tony Dyal Contributing Photographers ............ .......................................................Ted Hollins ....................................................................................................................Dillia Castillo Central Florida Distribution......................................................... .Danielle Browne South Florida Distribution .............................................................Norman Williams North Florida Distribution ...............................................................Kadeem Roberts Tampa Distribution ...................................................................................Julian Pina Copyright (C) 2016 GGR Marketing & Public Relations. All rights reserved.
www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com
3
Orlando Book Launch for Mr. Anthony Wendell DeRiggs. – a Grenadian Author, Poet and Storyteller.
by Sharon Best
The evening of Sunday June 5th was spent with friends and alumni. We gathered to celebrate the launching of yet another one of Anthony Wendell Deriggs books, “WE KINDA TALK.” The contents of the book took us back to the place of our birth, Grenada. The colloquialism used, and the tales that were presented kept you enthralled and wanting more. Mr. Deriggs has maintained this style of writing and as such it causes one to impatiently wait on his next read. The event drew people from various areas in Florida to The Bronze Kingdom located in Orlando’s Fashion Square mall where the atmosphere was nostalgic, enhanced by steel-pan music and artifacts from various African countries. The Bronze Kingdom is the largest Bronze museum in the state of Florida, with displays from over 62 different countries. It is time we can tell our stories ad and the museum captures the plight of our ancestors before slavery. There is a beautiful gift shop with stones and detailed tours of the museum and history of the artifacts. Definitely a hidden gem of Orlando deserving of more spotlight. Here acquaintances were rekindled, new friendships established, and discoveries were made. Among the attendees was a young man who had left Grenada at a very young age, probably about age 3 or 4. He was stunned to meet folks who knew and cared for him from his birth. That reunion brought such joy to him that he now has a burning desire to go back to Grenada for his very first visit since leaving. Also present was an alumnus from The St George’s University, a private medical school and international university in Grenada. What a pleasure it was to have him in our presence. The environment made him feel like he was back in Grenada. This was a real togetherness, a Grenadian reunion.
4
“We sought to make the ballot through petitions signed by members of our community. Residents in Orange County want to see real change and supported our efforts. They were motivated by our message and helped us do exactly that, we are honored to share we have qualified for the election by petitions. This campaign is historic and is made possible by your collective efforts. This truly is a campaign for the people, by the people. We thank you for your grassroots support.” —Sandra Fatmi-Hall
For more information, please visit vote4shan.com.
5
6
www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com
Seditious Conspiracy is a Crime That Almost Destroyed Our Democracy On January 6, 2021, there was an shocked America to its core, and the we live by every day. Many Americans how violent the insurrection was and people could have lost their lives, but to overthrow the government.
By Roger Caldwell insurrection that law. Seditious conspiracy is punishable by 20 years in federal constitution that prison. don’t understand As the special committee continues to start holding how many more its public hearings, many Republicans are calling the it was a coup criminals who violently attacked the Capitol protestors.
But, Rep Liz Cheney Republican, vice-chair of the committee said, “President Trump summoned the mob, There were 10 thousand participants that attacked the assembled the mob, and lit the flame of the attack. U.S. Capitol on January 6th, and 2 thousand who made it inside the building. The responsibility of the special It is important to remember that the special committee has a committee is to get to the truth, and find out how and why 5 responsibility to investigate the events, but it cannot individuals died and 140 officers were injured. litigate their findings in a court of law. President Trump
sided with the rioters even against his own vice-President Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson, the Mike Pence, and many of his own cabinet members. committee chairman on June 8, 2022 used part of his opening statement to set the tone of why Americans should In her opening statement Rep. Liz Cheney laid the blame for be interested in the committee’s finding. Thompson said the Jan. 6, attack on the U.S. Capitol squarely on the insurrection put democracy at risk -- and it didn’t stop former President Trump. “On this point there is no on Jan. 6, 2021. “The conspiracy to thwart the will of the room for debate.” Later, she said Trump had a 7 step plan people is not over,” Thompson said. to overturn the election over the course of several months. Many Americans have no clue to what a seditious conspiracy is and why it is a danger to our country. Seditious conspiracy is a federal offense defined in 18 U.S. C. 2384. It occurs when two or more people conspire to “overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force” the U.S. government, or to levy war against it, or to oppose by force and try to prevent, hinder or delay the execution of any
7
On Jan, 5th, Steve Bannon on his radio show predicted on Jan 6th, “All Hell is going to break out,” and there was no preparation for violence. Once violence erupted on Jan. 6, President Trump made no effort to call to get troops or police, and there was a dereliction of his duty. The president eventually did hold a press release to call off the mob, but the damage had already taken place with 7 hours of rioting. Cont'd on page
www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com
It’s official; Demings in the US Senate race. Tallahassee—Surrounded by family, friends, and clergy, Congresswoman Val Demings formally filed to run for the US Senate. It seemed fitting that she addressed supporters in front of the RA Gray Building, the state museum. The historic relevancy of her candidacy is expected to motivate Black and women voters who are central to Democratic victories. But Demings, a former Orlando police chief would own unrivaled political significance as Florida’s first Black US Senator and the second woman elected to the office, the first being Paula Hawkins, a Republican.
Adding to her contention that Rubio is soft on curbing gun violence, she said, “I don’t believe in playing with people’s lives. “ For months Demings has out-raised Rubio, which has caught the eye of national players. CNN ranks the Demings - Rubio match up as one that is among the 10 US Senate races "likely to flip".
Five months before election day Deming’s opponent, Republican US Senator Marco Rubio is nowhere to be found on the campaign trail. It's an opportunity for Demings to tell her story. “We are living in the greatest country in the world and I’m on a mission to make sure every man, woman, boy, and girl will have an opportunity to succeed. Service to the people of Florida is my priority.” Responding to a question about a Rubio law enforcement endorsement, Demings quipped, “This race is about him and me. As a law enforcement officer, I would put on a bulletproof vest and go out and serve every day.”
Congresswoman Val Demings files paperwork in Tallahassee to challenge Republican US Senator Marco Rubio.
www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com
8
Sweven Jamaican Delights & Tings opens in Apopka Caribbean American Passport NewsMagazine and the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce of Florida Inc were pleased to cut the ribbon to open Sweven a new Jamaican bakery and authentic organic food in Apopka Florida. The bakers at Sweven Jamaican Delight start work early each day to ensure that every batch is as fresh as possible before it gets to you. The warm smell of baking often escapes onto the street before they're even opened. They're dedicated to kick starting your morning with warm muffins, buttery biscuits with cream cheese a cup of hot cocoa or coffee! Jamaican potato pudding, cinnamon rolls. At Lunch time their Jamaican beef Patty, chicken wrap, their home-made chicken sandwich, southern sauce melt in your mouth, additionally they offe smoke Jerk Chicken, escovitch Snapper Fish, with festival. The Bakery is at 424 S. Central Ave. Apopka FL. 32703
12
13
www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com
Caribbean-American Heritage Awards 2022
TEACHERS or STUDENTS
LAWYERS or JUDGES
DOCTORS or NURSES
PERFORMERS or DJ's
BUSINESS OWNERS
CAHA2022@CARIBBEABAMERICANPASSPORT.COM
Please include CAHA 2022 in the Subject Line RESTAURANTS or CATERERS or COOKS
15
www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com
Mo Sallah, Regional Director of Operations, Divi Resorts “My experience over the years has included serving in executive roles at luxury properties, top-rated resorts, and villa management portfolios in the Caribbean region. In my new role at Divi Resorts, I’ll be working closely with each resort to ensure guests are enjoying unique and safe travel experiences while creating memories that last a lifetime.” – Mo Sallah, Regional Director of Operations, Divi Resorts
“Hosting this premier global event [World Free Zones Organization’s 8th Annual International Conference & Exhibition - AICE 2022] provides Jamaica with the opportunity to host a number of key individuals specializing in sustainable economic growth and the advancement of international trade.” – Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica “Barbuda’s pink sand beaches, turquoise waters, magnificent Frigate Bird Sanctuary, and laid-back lifestyle have for years been an attraction for visitors. Those arriving in Barbuda for the Whit weekend will be drawn into the vibrant celebrations and revel in the feelgood vibes that will surround Caribana City during the festival.” – Maria Blackman, Marketing Communications Manager, Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority
“Humanizing local communities in popular global tourism destinations is still frighteningly not happening as it should, but Puerto Rico’s new campaign shares local stories told about, and by, real individuals to portray a genuine picture of who they are.” – Mary Ann Ha, Editorial Intern, Skift
“Too often we see the diaspora as almost like an ATM machine ... yes, we want to encourage their investment in the Caribbean, but we also have to recognize how to give them space to contribute to the development of the Caribbean, not only in remittances and investment and projects and things of that nature but through their “As Barbados is a beautiful island, I think knowledge and their ideas.” – Dr. Ronnie Yearwood, Bollywood directors and producers would like to shoot President, Democratic Labour Party, Barbados (Barbados their products here. [It would create] a lot of Today) employment, a lot of investment, a lot of things will come because Bollywood is great.” – Rakesh “The outlook for trusted projects that are building a longSabharwal, Indian film producer (Barbados Nation) term roadmap based on a clear vision and that have utility and impact is encouraging. This is because teams that are reputable, doxxed, and committed to the long term actually end up thriving in bear markets.” – Lucía Gallardo, co-founder of The Aeternals (NFT collection)
@kw.com
16
www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com
Seditious Conspiracy is a Crime That Almost Destroyed Our Democracy By Roger Caldwell There are three months left for the special committee to criminal investigations in the court of law. finish its work. At this point, after interviewing over 1,000 Every American hope’s that an insurrection or seditious people, there were almost 20 million Americans watching conspiracy never happens again, but our democracy is the public hearings of the special committee on television. extremely fragile. There is a political war in America and Americans want to know what happened on Jan. 6th, and the Democratic and Republican Party no longer respects how did it happen in the most affluent country and each other. democracy on the globe. At the center of the battle are the constitution, and the soul There are very few things that President Biden and his team of America. Integrity and diversity is the solution to the can do, and the Department of Justice really has the power American experiment, and everyone must communicate in its hands. The special committee can make criminal with each other. Many times we will not agree but we must referrals to the DOJ, but the DOJ must follow through with be able to compromise.
17
www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com
Has Beans and Ever Was - By TONY DEYAL
The tea and coffee are married, but the tea leaves. Does that give the coffee grounds for divorce? Today's article in the Barbados Nation, Jamaica Gleaner, Caribbean News Global, Point-X-Press etc is about my favourite hot, morning drink, coffee. There is a lot of new research and at this time in the morning, nothing better to learn about it than with a cup of coffee.
Because I didn’t have the money to study law, and in the cold winter nights of Canada I drank lots of coffee to keep me awake, instead of a barrister I became a barista. If anyone asked me how I took my coffee, I told them, “Seriously. Very seriously.” I grew up with coffee. I was born in 1945, just after the Second World War ended, and every hot drink was a ‘tea’. We had coffee tea, bush tea, Milo tea, Ovaltine tea, Cocoa and ‘green’ tea. Why I stuck to coffee was not just the taste but the company. Female wrestler AJ Lee warned, “Never trust anyone who doesn’t drink coffee.” David Letterman, who next to Johnny Carson was my favourite television host, claimed, “If it wasn’t for the coffee, I’d have no identifiable personality whatsoever.” Steven Wright, my favourite stand-up comedian, in addition to one-liners like, “A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory” and “Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy”, said, “I put instant coffee in a microwave oven and almost went back in time.” My favourite coffee lady is Louisa May Alcott. Whether it was praise for Little Women, Little Men or Jo’s Boys, she made it clear, “I’d rather take coffee than compliments just now.” What also strengthened my love for coffee was its association with different kinds of rituals almost everywhere in the world. As Newsweek said, “Long before Starbucks had a location on every street corner, unique traditions had developed around preparing and serving the daily brew in almost every country. Whether you preferred a coffee spiced with pepper, a half-caf venti no-foam soy latte from your favourite barista; or a coffee with cheese … .” It could be lengthy ceremonies lasting hours, like those in Ethiopia, or the ‘fika’ of Sweden which is both a noun and a verb, meaning you can fika with friends or just by yourself. If you don’t give a fika for fika, you can go to Italy and start with moka, followed by an espresso or two (or even three) and then head for Turkey, not to eat one but to try their ‘cezve’, a small brass or copper pot in which the finely ground coffee is prepared. TASTES LIKE DIRT Perhaps this is what started the joke, “This coffee tastes like dirt!” with the reply, “It has to be. It was just ground a few minutes ago.” Interestingly, in Turkey the colour ‘brown’ is know as ‘kahverengi’ or ‘coffee colour’. In Vietnam, war or no war, even in the years without electricity, the favourite brew is like a thick, strong espresso with a chocolate flavour. One of their favourites is iced coffee with condensed milk. Mexicans have their ‘café de olla’ which is coffee with cinnamon and brown sugar in an ‘olla’ or clay pot. In Ethiopia, the beans are roasted, ground and brewed in a clay pot called a ‘jebena’. They have three levels of coffee but the ‘ground’ floor is ‘abol’, condensed and very strong coffee flavoured with sugar, salt, and butter. In Brazil, wherever you go, whether to the dentist or even the gas station, the coffee is free. The only coffee I am likely to run from is Austria’s ‘Kaisermelange’ which, though it means ‘fit for a king (or Kaiser)’ is espresso combined with egg yolk, sweetened with honey and spiked with brandy or rum. In Trinidad and six other Caribbean countries, we also have our own Rituals Coffee shops. When the company first started, the coffee was great but then quickly dropped in quality. One of my friends complained to the owner that the price of the coffee had gone up but the taste had gone down. In fact, my friend joked that the coffee was like a ‘fortnight’ (two weak).
The owner’s reply was, “Listen. I am not in the coffee business. I am in the money business.” From the time I heard that, I got out of the Rituals business and returned to my morning ritual, my cup of black coffee. The Rituals boss and other coffee vendors can make all the Star Bucks they want but not from me. Every day, very early in the morning, I let out both my steam and esteem from my percolator. I am like the Dogace Soldier song of the US Marines but will make a slight change in the lyrics from, “I wouldn’t give a bean. To be a fancy pants Marine. I’d rather be a dog faced soldier like I am,” to “I wouldn’t take a bean, from a Rituals machine. I’d rather take a sup from my enamel cup.” There are many reasons to do this. A Dallas media network grabbed my attention with the headline "Coffee Makes Your Brain Run Better". It explained, "Coffee is pretty much rocket fuel for your brain", according to recent research, it may be doing more than just providing an additional jolt of energy; coffee may be rewiring your brain. SERIOUS BUSINESS Now, that is very serious business. I doubt that even a rewired brain can be better or smarter than an unwired stomach. While our stomachs warn us that they’re empty, the brains, especially those of politicians, do not. In fact, since the dawn of time, the brain has been a big grey area, and those of most Caribbean politicians demonstrate daily that on the left side of their brains there’s nothing right, and on the right side, there’s nothing left. If what I wrote about the brain makes you think, I have some good news to sweeten your mood. CNN reported that coffee protects your heart and aids in treating other diseases like liver problems. Its flavour and aroma can not only act as antioxidants but also have anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing properties. An article in ‘marthastewart.com’ showed that moderate coffee consumption (three to four cups per day) could have a positive effect, especially in dealing with blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias (an abnormality of the heart’s rhythm) or diabetes mellitus. The Annals of Internal Medicine just published a study which proves that, no matter how you take your coffee, there’s good reason to stick with it because added sweeteners don’t make a difference. In fact, adults who drank ‘moderate’ amounts of coffee (1.5 to 3.5 cups a day), either unsweetened or with sugar, are more likely to enjoy improved longevity and longer life spans. The only problem is that the people tested were averaging about one teaspoon a cup, and that is much less than you would get in a tin of condensed milk. CNN, in a report on the same research, stressed that “If you drink sugar-laden lattes and caramel macchiatos, you’re out of luck.” The way to deal with this is to tell your partner, “Hold the sugar please, darling. You’re sweet enough for both of us!” *Tony Deyal was last seen quoting the woman who when asked, “Why are men so much like coffee?” answered, “The best ones are rich, warm and keep you up all night long.” www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com
18
19
www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com
20
www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com