Caribbean American Passport News Magazine - October 2020 - Tampa, Kissimmee, Orlando Special Edition

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Your Passport to the Caribbean American Community

Special 2020 Edition Oct. 29th - Nov. 2nd

2 SPECIAL ELECTION EDITION TAMPA, KISSIMMEE, ORLANDO

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L I F E S T Y L E

Guenet Gittens-Roberts, Publisher/Editor

For what it's worth I am excited !

Samuel J. Roberts

I

do believe that this election is the

most important one of my lifetime. I thought that was true when Barack Obama ran for President. I remain profoundly grateful that I was alive to encounter a candidate who was able to speak to my fears, my hopes, my dreams. It was the first time that a candidate represented me in such a profound way.

Owner/Publisher/Editor

I was proud of the empathy he exhibited, the brilliance, the ablity to rise above hatred and negativity.

He was elected to that office and carried with him the hopes of millions. Billions even, because across the world people were able to look at him and see themselves and be proud. He didn't let us down.

But his character is one part of his

Minimum wage was increased by an executive order to from $7.25 to $10.10 for all workers on federal contracts.

The Paris Agreement central aim is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change.

Immigration reform was done by executive power to create work. DACA which would allow illegal immigrants currently living within the United States to legally stay and obtain a work permit.

A pandemic response unit was formed under Obama in 2016, President Barack Obama expanded the National Security Council to include the Directorate of Global Health Security and Biodefense.

This election is important for negative reasons that I will not even go into in this editorial.

legacy. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden went into office during an economic downturn and turned that around and did the following: The Child Care and Development Block Grant of 2014 was signed into law. This act provides grants to states so they can assist low-income families in finding child care for their children.

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act become law. The bill makes it easier for people to challenge unequal pay complaints and is designed to help address the wage gap between men and women.

The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 became law. This act sought to provide increased protection for women under the law by improving law enforcement tools to combat the violence, improving services for victims of violent crimes, and improving awareness and violence reduction practices.

The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act became law to help jurisdictions to investigate and prosecute hate crimes more effectively.

The American Taxpayer Relief Act extended tax breaks for the majority of Americans while raising the tax rates for top earners.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, became law. This was the most significant regulatory makeover of the U.S. healthcare system since the 1960s.

I don't even need to. The Democrats have provided me with a slate that I am excited about. Joe Biden proved that in his work with President Obama. Kamala Harris is a qualified woman of Caribbean, Black and Indian descent, I see my friends, my community, my family in her. I am more than good with this slate, I am excited!

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 publicationgo to http://caribbeanamericanpassport.com and click on the 'Print Archive'.

Editor & Publisher................................................................................... Sam Roberts Publisher ............................................................................. Guenet Gittens-Roberts Graphic Design & Layout .....................................................................Aleia Roberts Contributing Writers: ................................................................................ Tony Dyal ..................................................................................................................Aleia Roberts Contributing Photographers ............ .......................................................Ted Hollins .....................................................................................................................Dilia Castillo

Central Florida Distribution........................................................Kadeem Roberts South Florida Distribution .............................................................Norman Williams

NorthFlorida Distribution .....................................................................Theo Jack Jr. Tampa Distribution ..................................................................................Julian Pina Copyright (C) 2016 GGR Marketing & Public Relations. All rights reserved.

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One Caribbean - One Future - One Yard Virtual Benefit Concert

Mr Anthony N. Sabga III, Group Chief Executive Officer of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, the ANSA McAL Group on Thursday launched, the ONE Barbados, Ms Betty Alleyne – Headley joined the conference CARIBBEAN. ONE FUTURE. ONE YARD VIRTUAL virtually. Minister Powell thanked the ANSA McAL Group BENEFIT CONCERT. for the ONE YARD initiative and stated, ‘It is difficult to It will be held on Friday 30th October 2020 8.00 p.m. (AST) imagine the future of education without technology”.

7.00 p.m. (EST) and televised on CNC3 TV, CNC3 YOUTUBE Channel and on Permanent Secretary, Mrs Alleyne expressed optimism at WWW.ONEYARDCARIBBEAN.COM. the initiative and looked forward to the collaboration Mr Sabga was joined at the Press Conference by Mrs between the Group and the Ministry of Education, Frances Bain-Cumberbatch, Chief Legal and External Technological and Vocational Training. The Group also Affairs Officer of the ANSA McAL Group and Dr. the declared, in the first phase to assist twenty-five (25) schools Honorable Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Minister of Education, throughout Trinidad and Tobago with devices valued at Trinidad and Tobago. The Honorable Jonel Powell, Minister of Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, for St Kitts approximately TT400,000.00 towards the Ministry’s Adopt a School Program.

Cont'd on pg 6 and Nevis and the Permanent Secretary (Ag.), Ministry of

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One Caribbean - One Future - One Yard Virtual Benefit Concert Cont'd from pg 5

The ACCESS TO REMOTE LEARNING FOR EVERY CHILD IN THE CARIBBEAN educational component was announced at the conference. Through the ANSA McAL Foundation (Est. 1993), the Group has created a special ONE CARIBBEAN FUTURE FUND where donations made prior, during and post-concert, will be used solely towards technology to support home-based learning.

There will also be text to donate platforms, details of which will be announced soon. The ONE CARIBBEAN FUTURE FUND donation platform will be operational from Friday 23rd October until Friday 13th November 2020.

The ANSA McAL Group, through the ANSA McAL foun-

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dation will work with regional arms of the Ministries of Education in providing support to the Education Sectors challenged by the effects of the pandemic.

The concert will feature an all-star regional cast of Caribbean artistes from Jamaica to Guyana.

ONE CARIBBEAN. ONE FUTURE. ONE YARD virtual benefit concert invites the world to our ‘yard’ and showcases the resilience of Caribbean people in what continues to be a challenging year.

The concert is being produced by Ultimate Events Ltd, a member of the Tribe Group of Companies.ANSA McAL’s investment towards this concert is valued at TT$1.5 million dollars.

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Turn Up Turn Out Vote! your questions about the voting process. For the TurnUps, Voting IS Black Culture! and is a family affair. Each family member has a unique story that leads them to the 2020 ballot box.

Turn Up Turn Out Vote!

A joint venture between Black & Blu Research, LLC and Real Women Radio Foundation launched a unique civic engagement program, Turn Up, Turn Out, Vote! to drive participation of Black voters during this critical election season.

Turn Up, Turn Out, Vote! is a multi-generational Black and African American Florida voter education program, that places all the information you need in the palm of your hand to become a knowledgeable voter, through a mobile app. The Turn Up Turn Out Voter Pro App 2020, contains videos, frequently asked questions, election tools, and covers every county of Florida.

Participants will follow the adventures of the TurnUps, a civic minded-multigenerational family, addressing all of

Xiomara TurnUp, Puerto Rican born, and proud of it, provides motherly advice to ensure you have everything you need and are prepared on election day. Little sister, Tiffiny TurnUp will keep you informed on what steps you need to take to cast your 2020 Florida ballot successfully; while her big brother Trey, will use the TurnUp app to help him decide how he wants to cast his first time ballot.

Will he vote by mail and if so, does he need a stamp?

Or will Trey vote in- person, and what about ID should he bring?

Join The TurnUps on their journey to share accurate upto-date Florida voting information for all 67 counties!

Text TurnUp-APP to 90407 to download the Turn Up Turn Out Voting Pro App 2020 for in your pocket, onthe-go voting info. Click on the merch button for a free T-Shirt, mask or stickers (while they last).. Voting IS Black Culture!

Statehood is on the ballot for Puerto Ricans this November Puerto Ricois poised to vote on statehood — and make political waves from NYC to Washington, D.C. this November.

On Nov. 3, millions of the island’s residents will cast their ballots and answer an important question: Do they want to ask for statehood? If so, it’s a decision that would dramatically shake up the political status quo from the Bronx to Washington, D.C. For Ritchie Torres, the soon-to-be congressman from the Bronx, statehood, or estadidad, is simply about Puerto Ricans getting the same rights as any other American citizen.

“If you don’t have a seat at the table, you’re going to be on the menu,” said Torres, who will succeed Jose Serrano (DBronx) as representative of the most heavily Puerto Rican congressional district in the nation. “The people on the island should not be at the mercy of presidents and Congress.”

Statehood means Puerto Rico would get two U.S. senators and an estimated five seats in the House of Representatives. It would get a crucial seven electoral votes in presidential elections.

More importantly for statehood advocates, it would be much more difficult for President Trump or anyone else to treat Puerto Rico differently from the other 50 states.

“The momentum of history is with statehood,” Torres added. Polls show more support for statehood than ever before, especially compared to past disputed referendums. Puerto Ricans favored the measure by an 18-point margin in a recent poll.

And Americans on the mainland are also surprisingly supportive of the idea of adding new stars to the flag. A recent poll said Americans support statehood for Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, if they ask for it, by a powerful 59%-26% margin, including a huge 70% backing from political independents.

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The Caribbean Democratic Caucus of Florida (CDCF) unveiled a new logo.

The logo was designed by the GGR Marketing & Public Relations, the sister company of Caribbean American Passport News Magazine.

"GGR Marketing was pleased to work on a logo that expressed the diversity, vibrance and energy that the Caribbean Democratic Caucus has brought to the community." Said CEO Guenet Gittens-Roberts. "All flags of the Caribbean are represented as they cover Florida from top to bottom. This reflects the fact that people of Caribbean descent are found throughout the state of Florida." Gittens-Roberts continued. The fact that Kamala Harris is of Jamaican descent has energized the Caribbean community. The caucus wanted to share that energy as we head towards election day with a new logo.

However behind the new logo the dedicated team continues their work. Led by Mayor Hazelle Rogers, the caucus has been working behind the scenes to engage Caribbean voters throughout Florida.

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Why Vote?

By Katia Saint Fleur, Political Strategist with Florida For All.

Katia Saint Fleur, Political Strategist, is working with Florida For All, leading the Caribbean & Black Constituency Voter Outreach. They are leading an unprecedented voter outreach coalition to engage and motivate 1.5 million black voters in Florida.

Florida For All has built a very deliberate and detailed program to engage Caribbean voters because they could be the difference-makers in this election.

As a first-generation Afro-Caribbean woman, there were many things I was told and taught from an early age by my parents to succeed in America. Words I’m confident every Black child heard growing up, that I needed to be twice as good as anyone else just to stay afloat. I needed to study twice as hard and work twice as hard just to get my foot in the door, and if I expected to make it further, I’d have to do even more. I was told to dress a certain way and talk a certain way just so people who looked at me didn’t have an extra reason to think less of me. I spent my entire life with these little things drilled into the back of my mind, and in light of everything that has happened in 2020, those words and teachings never seemed more relatable, never seemed more real.

I was taught to survive in a country where even if I were an outstanding citizen and the nicest person in the world, I could take one wrong step, be at the wrong place at the wrong time, and it could all go to waste. The scariest possible timeline had slowly become a reality in the back of every black person’s mind: that no matter how hard we’ve tried to be kinder, smarter, better, we’re still viewed as less of a person than our peers. However, despite their persistent efforts to keep us down, there are certain liberties and truths that can never be taken away from us, namely the right to vote.

Black America plays a huge role in the upcoming 2020 election, with the Afro-Caribbean voter staring as the belle of the ball in this election cycle. Florida, in particular, is notorious for its close elections, as seen during the debacle of Gore/Bush, the narrow margins in the Hillary/Trump election, and the last gubernatorial election which was won by less than 52,000 votes. As in any swing state, campaigns look for any advantage that they can find, every voter they can talk to, and any group they can persuade, because in these states every vote does in fact count.

In a recent visit to South Florida, Vice President Joe Biden made a special trip to Little Haiti in Miami and was met with a number of community leaders and made it very clear that he believed that Caribbean and Haitian Americans can and will decide who the next president of the United States will be.

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Why Vote?

By Katia Saint Fleur, Political Strategist with Florida For All.

On the opposite side of the coin, President Trump’s campaign is focused on targeting young Caribbean males, unlike past republicans, knowing it would lead to a more secure victory in the 2020 election.

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Our community is only made stronger when we vote, and the more people that participate, the louder our voice is.

Want a say on how money should be allocated across your neighborhoods? Vote. Want better infrastructure and more support to allow yourselves and your families to have more opportunities for higher education and better-paying jobs?

Vote. Are you angry or disappointed with the way that Caribbean people are being treated in your own neighborhoods and abroad? Vote. Are you worried or scared about the future of your city, town, state, or country?

Vote.

Haitians and Jamaicans make up the majority of 800,000 Afro-Caribbeans in Florida, with half of all persons of Haitian descent in the United States living in Florida(460,000). Both political parties courting AfroCaribbeans and organizations like Florida For All Education Fund have created ground-breaking voter empowerment and education programs directed specifically to engage Caribbean voters for this simple reason. Caribbean In her memoir, Becoming, former First Lady, Michelle Americans will decide the next President.

Obama said, “There’s power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using So why vote? To vote is to make your voice be heard, with your authentic voice. And there’s grace in being willing to Merriam Webster defining the word as simply, “to express know and hear others.” Take the time to think about your an opinion.” While you may think to yourself, a single vote wants, your needs, as well as your community’s. Our voices doesn’t matter, remember that no one knows what you matter, your voice matters, and this coming Election day, want, better than yourself, and if you don’t vote, if you take the initiative to not only make sure your voice is heard, choose to not speak up, you won’t have an elected official to but your family’s, your friends, and your neighbors are represent you, and the ones you do have will not cater to heard as well. you, or your needs. Remember that, voting not only represents your individuality and power as a citizen and Engage and encourage them to take their opinions to the member of this country, but it also highlights the power of polls and make sure the Caribbean voice of Florida is loud your community, your city, your county, and your state. and clear for all to hear!

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