Caribbean American Passport News Magazine - February 2021

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Feb/Mar 2021

Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett

Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett Represents the U.S. Virgin Islands in the U.S. House of Representatives

Before serving in the Capitol, she attended Georgetown University where she received a degree in history and diplomacy before attending American University’s Washington College of Law.

HOW CAN THE USVI ENERGIZE CARICOM? BASIL SPRINGER COLUMN The Caribbean is a multicultural, multiethnic, multireligious, multilingual region.

The Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM-1973) was initially a group of former British colonies. Today, CARICOM is a grouping of 20 countries: 15 Member States and five Associate Members.

The islands of St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas remained under Danish rule until 1917. They were then purchased by the United States and became the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), a territory of the United States.

Stacey Plaskett, representative of the U.S. Virgin Islands, made history on the Senate floor when she became the first nonvoting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives to serve as an impeachment manager. Plaskett is a delegate because she represents a US territory rather than a state, so she is not able to cast votes on the House floor. That means she couldn't vote to impeach Trump when the full House took that step in January. But Plaskett was appointed to argue the case to convict the former President.

The majority black population of approximately 110,000 people mirrors that of most of the former British CARICOM countries, blended with a Puerto Rican and Hispanic cultural influence. There are Diasporic linkages on the U.S. mainland and strong family ties between the people of CARICOM, Stacey Plaskett opened by recounting the wider Caribbean, and the people of her years spent in Brooklyn before she returned to the Virgin Islands, the the USVI. homeland of her parents. “I’ve learned throughout my life that preparation and The U.S. Virgin Islands is part of the truth can carry you far, can allow you to Caribbean brand, which constitutes speak truth to power,” she said. cultural diversity, agricultural history, “I’ve learned that as a young Black warm weather, tourism, oil refining, girl growing up in the projects in English language, the Blue Economy, Brooklyn, a housing community on St. soccer, American football, baseball, Croix, sent to the most unlikeliest of settings, and now as an adult woman basketball, and cricket. representing an island territory speaking to the U.S. Senate.”

Continued on pg 5

Her experience and evident and we are proud of the case she presented. Plaskett has prior prosecutorial experience.

Before her election to Congress, she served as assistant district attorney for the Bronx District Attorney's Office and as senior counsel at the US Department of Justice.

She was also general counsel for the Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority.

As Impeachment Manager, she made a compelling case for the conviction of former President Trump. However, it did not matter to the many Republican senators who would not choose to impeach Trump...at least publicly.

In an interview with Chris Cuomo, Plaskett noted that several Republican senators told her privately that she "made the case" to convict former President Donald Trump, despite their decision to acquit him.

“You can hear the mob calling for the death of the vice president of the United States,” Plaskett said, adding that she was certain that, if the rioters had found the vice president and the speaker of the House, they would have killed them both. Charged Plaskett: “They did it because Donald Trump sent them on this mission...President Trump put a target on their backs and his mob broke into the Capitol to hunt them down.”

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L I F E S T Y L E

Guenet Gittens-Roberts Owner/Publisher/Editor

$NCEM *KUVQT[ /QPVJ NQQMKPI CV VJG RCUV DWKNFKPI QP VJG HWVWTG Samuel J. Roberts

Owner/Publisher/Editor

Five years ago, Sam and I presented Caribbean American Passport News Magazine's first Black History Month event. We have long held the belief that if we don't see something that we want in the marketplace, we can create it.

We did just that with our Black History Month event.

Our focus was to be on an Art exhibition and Presentation, “TRACES: Honoring Our Past, Present and Future.”

The reason we chose to do this was because in America it felt to us that Black History was very focused on civil rights and slavery. However as a Caribbean American person that was not how we perceived Black History.

That was a part of it but not all of it. To be honest, slavery was such a distant part of life for me growing up in Caribbean that I paid no real attention to it as part of who I was. But in America it felt very real and very much a ghost in everyday life.

It took me several years to understand that while in the Caribbean, people of color were so fully in their power that they were leading countries into Independence, while in America, especially in the South people of color could not sit at certain lunch counters, at the front of the bus or drink from the same water fountains.

For example, on February 21, 1965 Malcolm X was assassinated. On March 7, 1965, John Lewis and 600 civil rights activists, led the march on Selma and were beaten on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Meanwhile in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago they had gained Independence in August 1962.

Guyana gained Independence in May of 1966 with Barbados Independence coming later that same year in November.

In America blacks remained under the chains of slavery and oppression long after the Caribbean. In most Caribbean countries blacks are the majority and therefore were free to chart their own destiny and were not oppressed or marginalized. As Caribbeans we come to America and wonder why Black Americans feel limited or restrained - but understand this - this generation is the fruit of the folks who were fighting for equality and they are now coming into their power and owning it. That will lead to discomfort but that is how you grow, you get comfortable being a little uncomfortable for the growth you need.

In the 1960's many Black people of Caribbean heritage took part in that fight, we wanted to add our strength, our voice and our independence to the story of Black History - This is why we wanted to mix Caribbean Black History with 'A Walk through Africa through Art'. We added the art of the black experience through dance, painting, sculpture and mixed media while exploring and honoring the fighters throughout American history by exploring the history of the Urban League and the March on Selma. Join us on February 28th for a retrospective of our Black History Month events.

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 .....................................................................................................................Dilia Castillo Central Florida Distribution...............................................................Gia McQueen South Florida Distribution .............................................................Norman Williams North Florida Distribution ...............................................................Kadeem Roberts Tampa Distribution ...................................................................................Julian Pina Copyright (C) 2016 GGR Marketing & Public Relations. All rights reserved.

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Citizenship/Immigration Status and National Origin Discrimination in Employment Article by HAWM The Coronavirus pandemic has created a national unemployment crisis that has seen unemployment rates skyrocket to as high as 14% in April 2020. That coupled with office closures and production delays, many authorized US workers have not received their approved work permits, social security cards, driver’s licenses, or other critical documents necessary to obtain gainful employment.

Employment authorized workers, be it, permanent residents, work visa holders, or work permit holders, are finding it difficult to obtain or maintain their employment due to the inability to produce the required verification documents despite government announced flexibility. Many employers are in danger of running afoul of the anti-discrimination policies of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and the Civil Rights Act because they fail to properly understand the current and changing document requirements.

Hires non-immigrant visa holders but rejects qualified U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who apply for the same jobs.

The Immigration and Nationality Act bars employers from discriminating against employment-authorized individuals based on their citizenship or immigration status or based on their national origin. This federal law prohibits:

Rejects valid employment authorization documents from non-U.S. citizens.

Citizenship status discrimination in hiring, firing, or recruitment or referral for a fee, national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, or recruitment or referral for a fee, unfair documentary practices during the employment eligibility verification, Form I-9 and E-Verify, and retaliation or intimidation.

AN EMPLOYER MAY BE DISCRIMINATING IN THE HIRING AND FIRING PROCESS WHEN IT: Refuses to hire workers who sound or appear foreign.

Prefers to hire U.S. citizens (unless a law, regulation, government contract, or executive order requires that the position be filled by a U.S. citizen).

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Hires undocumented workers instead of employmentauthorized individuals.

Fires employment-authorized workers for misrepresenting their prior work status but does not.

AN EMPLOYER MAY BE DISCRIMINATING IN THE FORM I-9 PROCESS WHEN IT: Demands specific documents from non-U.S. citizen workers.

Asks non-U.S. citizens and foreign-born citizens for more documents than needed to complete the Form I-9.

Demands that lawful permanent residents present a new “green card” when the card expires.

Employers found to be engaging in discriminatory activity may be required to pay civil penalties and back pay to injured parties.

Despite the pandemic, all US employers are still required to comply with the mandates of the I-9 verification process and require (1) all new hires complete Section 1 of the Form I-9 on or before the first date of employment for pay, (2) the employer must complete Section 2 of the Form I-9 after reviewing original documents, and (3) the employer must complete Section 3 of the Form I-9 (or otherwise appropriately update the Form I-9) when re-verification is necessary. Failure to properly complete the I-9 verification

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HOW CAN THE USVI ENERGIZE CARICOM? – BASIL SPRINGER COLUMN Continued from page 1

So what are the opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration between the USVI and CARICOM?

The “low hanging fruit” are (1) Education and training – partnerships between the University of the West Indies and the University of the Virgin Islands); (2) Tourism – embracing, enhancing and benefitting from the work already done by the Caribbean Tourism Organization and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association; (3) Food – mobilizing a Caribbean Food Revolution U.S. market-pull initiative for Caribbean countries to supply products to the U.S. market; (4) Entrepreneurship – rationalization of the various initiatives in CARICOM and the USVI; (5) Cricket – a stronger bond between the USVI cricket authorities and Cricket West Indies; and (6) Oil refining given Guyana is one of the newest petroleum-producing regions in the world.

The way forward to explore how the USVI could energize CARICOM would be to convene a CARICOM-USVI summit based on the tenets of the Commonwealth Partnership for Technology Management smart partnership movement, albeit in a virtual environment.

For those who may think this is a pie-in-the-sky pipe dream, how about one CARICOM country at a time partnering with the USVI in mutually agreed sectors?

In many ways, the USVI is a microcosm of the Caribbean as a whole, a veritable melting pot where countless residents of CARICOM countries have made their homes and raised families for generations. It is not at all unusual to meet Vincentians, St. Lucians, Dominicans and many other nationalities living, working or playing in the USVI.

Remember that iron sharpens iron, and nothing ventured means nothing gained. Now, those that have ears to hear, let them hear.

(Dr. Basil Springer GCM is a Change-Engine Consultant. His email address is basilgf@marketplaceexcellence.com.

His columns may be found at www.nothingbeatsbusiness.com/basil-springer-column/ and on www.facebook.com/ basilgf).

The USVI has its own internal self-government, persons born there are U.S, citizens, its currency is the U.S. dollar, and the Territory benefits from U.S. federal government support programs. There are few, if any, trade barriers between the USVI and the U.S. mainland as the islands are on U.S. soil.

The USVI pre-COVID-19 Gross Domestic Product per capita is at least double that of CARICOM countries.

In the COVID-19 dispensation, the USVI Department of Tourism and Department of Health implemented a crisis communications protocol to facilitate the seamless and safe travel of tourists from the mainland to the Territory.

Caribbean Journal, a leading digital travel news publication focusing on the region, recognized the USVI as Caribbean Destination of the Year for its continued popularity, an early-2020 campaign to spotlight the island of St. Croix, the swift and agile response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the successful crisis communications protocol.

Compared to the USVI, CARICOM countries are much more vulnerable to the lack of access to markets for locally produced goods and services. There is also a paucity of funding for structural adjustment, stabilization and economic growth, which the region needs to produce a better quality of life for their citizens and residents. www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com

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Citizenship/Immigration Status and National Origin Discrimination in Employment Article by HAWM

process and keep proper employee records may result in hefty government fines against the employer.

Virtual Review of Documents The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has provided a temporary option allowing for virtual review of employment verification documents under certain conditions where the pandemic has resulted in stay-at-home orders or quarantining. However, employers would later (within three business days after normal operations resume) have to physically review original documents in the presence of the employee. DHS has extended the flexibility allowing for remote verification in certain situations several times— either in 30-day or 60-day time periods. The current extension expires on March 31, 2021.

Acceptable Immigration Documents US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has continuously provided updated guidance on the validity of certain documents throughout the pandemic given the delay in the production of certain verification documents. As of January 31, 2021, the following documents are acceptable for employment verification and potential employees in possession of said documents should not be excluded from eligibility for employment: Employment Authorization Documents (EAD / Work Permit) - new employees and current employees requiring reverification who are waiting for their EAD may present a Form I-797, approval notice, through Feb. 1, 2021, as an acceptable I-9 verification document issued by the DHS that establishes employment authorization, even though the notice states it is not evidence of employment authorization.

For the notice to be acceptable, it must include a Notice Date from Dec. 1, 2019, through and including Aug. 20, 2020, and indicate that USCIS has approved the employee’s Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.

an acceptable document. On May 1, 2020, USCIS issued additional guidance related to identity documents that could not be renewed due to COVID-19 related closures of government offices. In addition to auto extension situations, USCIS has allowed for any I-9 document set to expire on or after March 1, 2020—and which had not been extended by the issuing authority—to nonetheless be an acceptable I-9 verification document. Meaning that in certain circumstances an employer could accept an expired driver’s license or state ID card and treat it similar to the receipt rule for Form I-9 purposes. In this scenario, an employer has an obligation to follow up with the employee within 90 days after the termination of this policy by DHS, at which time the employee must present a valid unexpired document to replace the expired document presented when they were initially hired.

What To Do If you or a worker you know has suffered citizenship status or national origin discrimination we encourage you to contact our office to discuss your case or call the Immigrant & Employee Rights Section of the Department of Justice Worker Hotline at 1-800-255-7688, 9 am-5 pm, EST (TTY for the hearing impaired is 1-800-237-2515). You may also file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Employers can call the IER Employer Hotline at 1-800-255-8155, 9 am-5 pm, EST (TTY for the hearing impaired is 1-800-237-2515) for guidance on how to avoid citizenship status and national origin discrimination. For more information, visit https://www.justice.gov/crt/ immigrant-and-employee-rights-section

Expired Documents - USCIS has also announced a limited exception to the requirement that all documents presented for I-9 purposes must be valid at the time of completion of Form I-9. If a driver’s license has expired on March 1, 2020, or later AND the state has announced an auto extension of expiring driver’s licenses, then the expired document can be

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Frontier Airlines Adds Miami-St. Thomas Service This Spring Responding to strong demand for travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), Frontier Airlines has announced new twice-weekly service between Miami and St. Thomas, on Sundays and Thursdays, beginning March 7, 2021.

Frontier requires all customers and crew members to wear a face covering throughout their travel journey. Plus, anyone flying with Frontier must complete a health acknowledgement prior to flying confirming that:

USVI Commissioner of Tourism Joseph Boschulte welcomed the announcement from the Denver-based carrier, which earlier signaled the start of service between Orlando and St. Thomas, with flights twice per week (on Mondays and Fridays), beginning February 19, 2021.

Neither they nor anyone in their household has exhibited COVID-19-related symptoms in the last 14 days

“We are once again thankful for this partnership with Frontier as the carrier works to meet existing and create new demand for travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands with affordable fares,” said Commissioner Boschulte, who along with Governor Albert Bryan Jr., Virgin Islands Port Authority Executive Director Carlton Dowe and other senior government officials, met with Frontier executives in Miami in March last year to explore airlift possibilities.

They will wash/sanitize their hands before boarding the flight.

They understand and acknowledge the airline’s face covering policy and pre-boarding temperature screening policies

Daniel Shurz, Frontier Airlines’ senior vice president of commercial, cited the airline’s “exceptional growth at Miami’s convenient airport” to herald the new service, which starts in time for spring break travel. He said the new flights will maintain Frontier’s high health standards, including required wearing of face masks, temperature screenings and enhanced onboard cleaning.

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During flight, main cabin air is a mix of fresh air drawn from outside and air that has been passed through an air filtration system that features HEPA filters capable of capturing respiratory virus particles at more than 99.9% efficiency – similar to those used in hospital environments. Frontier’s modern all-Airbus fleet is among the youngest in the world; all aircraft currently in operation are less than four years old. For additional information, visit https://www.flyfrontier.com/ committed-to-you.

Every traveler aged five or older who enters the U.S. Virgin Islands, by air or sea, including anyone intransit to another destination, is required to use the USVI Travel Screening Portal and submit a COVID-19 test result prior to travel at usvitravelportal.com.

Guyanese Entrepreneur family seeks to bring quality Guyanese products to the American market

Ernest Newsum migrated to the USA many years ago as a child, he spent a few years here then decided to go back to Guyana. After a few years there he made the decision to migrate, this time he moved here as an adult.

Ernest grew up in a single parent family and saw his mother “hustle” to provide for their needs. He credits her with his entrepreneurial drive.

When he became a parent, then later when he met his wife Melissa; he credits his wife and his daughter with becoming the flow in his life. He credits them with making sure systems are in place so that his business can grow and thrive.

When his son was born, his luck improved. He had tried different business avenues, but the one that blossomed was Hustle and Flow Luck LLC.

Through Hustle and Flow Luck, LLC, Ernest and Melissa partnered with Pomeroon Oil Mills to distribute their products. The JUV brand of scented coconut oils, which have been released in several fragrances and Golden Brook Refined Expeller pressed Coconut Oil. Coconut oil is an extremely versatile health and beauty product. People use it for all sorts of things, from cooking and cleaning to moisturizing their skin and removing their makeup. Many Caribbean people also use it to help improve the health and condition of their hair.

Pomeroon Oil Mills products are Guyanese grown and have refined coconut oil as its base. Their products are vegan based and the ingredient list is minimal. (The Juv line has 3 ingredients). They are committed to the authenticity of the products. I have used the JUV line and the products have left my skin and hair feeling and smelling amazing!

While sharing his vision for the distribution company Ernest stated that he plans to grow to the point where his products will be found in supermarkets nationwide, just like Goya.

 Shams West Indian Market – 2013 Wellfleet Ct, Orlando, FL 32837  Antashia West Indian Grocery –1314 N John Young Pkwy, Kissimmee, FL 34741  Bravo Super Market – 2701 N Hiawassee Rd, Orlando, FL 32818 Bravo Super Market – 4065 W Oak Ridge Rd, Orlando, FL 32809  Chand’s West Indian Grocery –2623 N Pine Hills Rd, Orlando, FL 32808  La Primeria –9 S Semoran Blvd, Orlando, FL 32807  Caribbean Supercenter – 5111 W Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32808  Caribbean Market Farmers – 1446 N Pine Hills Rd, Orlando, FL 32808(Spanish)  Fancy Fruit Produce – 7192 W Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32818  Lil Buddy’s Caribbean Market – 123 Ridge Center Dr, Davenport, FL 33837  Sagar Indian Grocery – 3405 SW College Rd # 227, Ocala, FL 34474  Hari Om Indian Grocery – 4120 SW 38th Ct #104, Ocala, FL 34474

In 2021 the full line of products will be available for purchase online on Amazon.

The products can be found at the following stores:  Super Caribbean Grocery & Shipping – 247 S John Young Pkwy, Kissimmee, FL 34746.  Global Market - 6235 W Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32808  Big Bazaar- 485 S Kirkman Rd Unit 108, Orlando, FL 32811  Shantees Caribbean Market & Pooja - 2560 E, FL-50 Suite 110, Clermont, FL 34711  KC Caribbean Market LLC – 1029 S Dillard St, Winter Garden, FL 34787  Tex West Indian Store – 26 E Cypress St, Winter Garden, FL 34787  Key Food – 624 S Dillard St, Winter Garden, FL 34787  Pine Hills Fruits & Vegetable – 31 N Pine Hills Rd, Orlando, FL 32808

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The Wells'Built Museum celebrates 20 Years Bold

The Wells’Built Museum of African American History and Culture opened in the former Wells’Built Hotel in Parramore in February of 2001 and will celebrate 20 years of BOLD activities in 2021.

Before the phrase "Black Lives Matter" became popular, organizers of the Wells’Built took bold action and stepped out to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of African American individuals when few others were focused on those lives.

Opening Day Ribbon Cutting Jerry Purcell, Rep. Geraldine Thompson, Virginia Townes, Comm. Daisy Lynum

Please join the Board of Directors of The Wells’Built Museum for a year-long focus on Black lives as the Museum celebrates 20 years of bold initiatives to open and operate a historical institution in Parramore, the heart of Orlando’s inner city, which for decades had experienced significant disinvestment. Starting February 2021, join the Association to Preserve African American Society, History and Tradition, Inc. (PAST, Inc.) for Wells’Built Wednesdays as we demonstrate that Black Lives truly do Matter!

Each Wednesday throughout the year you will receive information on African American history in Central Florida.

Each Wells'Built Wednesday will include a trivia question.

When you correctly answer questions regarding the information provided, you will be eligible to receive a prize which you can collect at the Wells’Built Museum.

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THINKING ABOUT SELLING? At Next Home My Way IT’S ALL ABOUT THE HOUSE.

WE MARKET BETTER...CALL FOR DETAILS.

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BBIF hosts Black Finance in Florida Conference during Black History Month This conference seeks to share business insights, trends and opportunities available throughout Florida.

The Black Business Investment Fund (BBIF) has announced their virtual broadcast of the Black Finance in Florida Conference to be hosted on February 24th, 2021 from 9 am to 2pm.

The conference will explore issues impacting the state of Black finance. Participants will witness insightful conversations from industry thought leaders, and chart a course to an equitable and sustainable future.

The conference agenda includes panels and breakout sessions for investors and business owners alike that focus on the betterment of Black finances, businesses and communities.

Some key topics that will be discussed include: · The importance of Black finance · Building a strong foundation for social justice movements · Identifying resources available for success, including  Allyship and support  Leveraging the wealth gap for Black-owned businesses.

Speakers include: • Cliff Barber - Chief Strategy Officer, Archdiocese of Chicago • Lynette Bell - President, Truist Foundation • Bill Bynum - CEO, Hope Community Credit Union • Kevin Cohee - CEO, OneUnited Bank • Gary L. Cunningham - President & CEO Prosperity Now • Byna Elliot - Head of Advancing, Black Pathways • Dr. Anna Etienne - Program Director, Start FIU • Connie Evans - President & CEO, Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) • Donna Gambrell - President & CEO Appalachian Community Capital (ACC) • Dell Gines - Senior Community Development Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City • Cat Goughnour - Director of Racial Wealth Equity Strategy, Prosperity Now • Christina Graham- Executive Director, Catapult • Jodie Harris - Director, U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI) • Robert E. James - President, Carver Development CDE, LLC • Amir Kirkwood - Chief Lending and Investment Officer Opportunity Finance Network • Sadaf Knight - CEO, Florida Policy Institute • Ester Marshall - Vice President Community & Economic Development Manager, Fifth Third Bank • Lisa Mensah - President & CEO, Opportunity Finance Network • Jay Mukhey - Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, Finastra • Melissa Slover - Senior Vice President & Director of Community Engagement, South State Bank • Connie Smith - Wells Fargo & Company • Robert West - Vice President & Community Development Manager, TD Bank

• April Atkins - Community Affairs Specialist, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation • Walter Diaz - Project Leader, Boston Consulting Group • Talpha Harris - Entrepreneurship Hub Program Manager, Bridgeway Capital • Xavier Ramey - CEO, Justice Informed • James C.D. Wahls - Portfolio Manager, Annie E. Casey Foundation As an organization aimed at supporting the Black community, BBIF felt it especially important to have this educational seminar during Black History Month as a means of educating and uplifting Black business owners.

The Black Business Investment Fund (BBIF), a non-profit community development financial institution (CDFI), was founded to address that economic gap and spearhead the advancement of Black businesses across the state of Florida.

After 33-years of operation, BBIF has distributed over $60 million in loans, creating over 14,700 jobs and creating over $140 million in Economic impact.

To learn more and register for the virtual event, please visit https://www.bffc2021.com, or for more information about BBIF, visit https://bbifflorida.com.

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Tribute for Heather Chisolm - Gone but never forgotten

by Rosemarie Roth —

Heather Chisholm was born into a loving family in Maroon Town, St. James Jamaica. With joy this baby girl was received into the arms of her mother and then handed to her father.

He looked at his child as a special gift from God, and to the world. The town of her birth also had adopted Nanny of the Maroons as a Patriot who fought to secure many of her kinsmen from slavery. Heather was to exhibit many traits of Nanny the Maroon through her resilience by acquiring knowledge, work experience and being an enthusiastic community leader with high integrity.

Education to the master’s level in Social Services became her quest so she could advocate for the less fortunate. She was unwavering to find resources to improve her client’s lifestyle.

She sought housing upgrade and environmental change to change their perspectives. All this probably have saved a life.

I have seen her walk confidently into a drug infested neighborhood without fear, simply focused to accomplish her task of making a relocation of a client to better housing. She carried fresh meats, vegetables, and fruits as gifts to those left behind. She knew the limit of her resources but that did not detour her.

In the evenings, her mission usually takes on a glamorous tone by accepting girls from all neighborhoods and she would set aside the time to groom them to think outside the hand of being an “under-achiever”. With zeal in one hand and a crown in another she motivated the girls to put one foot in front of another. She was to accomplish all this in a noticeably short life. All this was done as a contribution to the betterment of mankind.

The message of Heather’s death shrouded my entire being.

My mind could not conceive the magnitude of the loss of someone I considered a sister, a partner, a friend, and a celebrant worshiper.

Heather Chisolm Heather gave her best, and yes, she heard the words, “…

Well done, good and faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things; I will make thee ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord”. St. Matthew 25:23.

Thank you from: Caribbean American Passport, Jamaican Cultural Connection, Jamaican American Association of Central Florida, Rosemarie G. Roth - Alpha Point, Cornerstone Christian University and Light House High School.

Such news to me was incomprehensible even though the scripture says, “..it’s appointed unto man once to die.”

Yet,the news resonated the end of a vibrant human being. A person who studied to help her human family to cope with the changes of life. I remember her removing Joseph, an amputee from an unsafe neighborhood to a safer dwelling which he attributes the relocation to his longevity, when he celebrated his eightieth birthday. With such testimony she persevered and passed the entrance examination to study law at FMU in Orlando.

Heather’s strength was in her determination to succeed.

With obstacles like not having enough sponsors for the pageant contestants she would still set the date, select the girls, and groomed them into confident queens who are now her ambassadors. Training them to not compete against each other but to compete against their growth. She molded them from the inside out. She says, “…beauty is skin deep while character stands from within”. Each contestant got her undivided attention to be molded into what was to be greatness. On the night of a pageant each young lady would present the training they received from her before the judges and an audience of well-wishers. I could hear the cheers and shouts, right now, as they affirm the approval of excellence and a job well done.

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2021 Special Enrollment Period in response to the COVID-19 Emergency The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) national emergency has presented unprecedented challenges for the American public. Millions of Americans are facing uncertainty and millions of Americans are experiencing new health problems during the pandemic. Due to the exceptional circumstances and rapidly changing Public Health Emergency (PHE) impacting millions of people throughout the US every day, many Americans remain uninsured or underinsured and still need affordable health coverage.

In accordance with the Executive Order issued today

by President Biden, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) determined that the COVID-19 emergency presents exceptional circumstances for consumers in accessing health insurance and will provide a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for individuals and families to apply and enroll in the coverage they need.

This SEP will be available to consumers in the 36 states served by Marketplaces that use the HealthCare.gov platform, and CMS will conduct outreach activities to encourage those who are eligible to enroll in health coverage.

Starting on February 15, 2021 and continuing through May 15, 2021, Marketplaces using the HealthCare.gov platform will operationalize functionality to make a SEP available to all Marketplace-eligible consumers who are submitting a new application or updating an existing application. These consumers will newly be able to access the SEP through a variety of channels: through HealthCare.gov directly, the Marketplace call center, or direct enrollment channels.

Additionally, consumers can work with a network of over 50,000 agents and brokers who are registered with the Marketplace, along with over 8,000 trained assisters, ready to assist consumers with their application for coverage.

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Orlando Carnival launches 3 days of a Caribbean Village for 2021 Orlando Carnival has launched it's 2021 event, but to be spread over three days to minimize attendance.

In a recent statement, Orlando Carnival Downtown, Event Coordinator Guenet Gittens-Roberts said "we plan to create a festival that has a covid plan in place, which means reducing the amount of attendees and creating areas for groups to stay within their own table or area. We also have to reduce attendance in the park by half of the amount of people that the space is designed to hold. We are taking those things into consideration. We are having three separate events at the same park, with folks being able to attend the part of the event they like to reduce attendance on any one day.

May 28th Friday is for the art lovers, the creative part of the Carnival community. It will be about fashion, and will give up and coming designers a platform to show that they can design costumes locally.

May 29th Saturday morning, the park will be stage for Orlando Carnival's Official J'ouvert Celebrations.

May 29th Saturday evening, will be the cultural part of Carnival in full effect, we will create an outdoor dinner theater type atmosphere for that event. Ideally our older Carnival lovers can feel comfortable with this setting as it's not a party but a show where they can sit, eat, drink and enjoy.

May 30th Sunday Afternoon is Carnival day and while we will have a smaller parade on the road, many of the mas bands are not participating in the parade on the road, but will be in the park hosting their usual revelers in their designated area.

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Tony Deyal | COFFEE AND CRICKET: Drinking It All In Even though coffee is reputedly the best aphrodisiac for older Financial Review (January 1989) concluded, “For this, deep men, now it is cricket mainly, with some minor assistance from down, is the real problem. Cricket is a mug’s game, causing the coffee, that keeps me awake at nights. bruises and bother.” In fact, there is even an English umpire Having reached three-score-and-fifteen, I find the T20s and named Kettleborough and some of the West Indian One Day Internationals (ODIs) to be like instant coffee, a cricketers, and the Pakistanis in Grenada during a West palliative to keep me going, but the real deal, the Blue Indies tour, went to pot. Like coffee, those players ended up Mountain of delight, continues to be the Five-Day Test Match. in hot water.

In coffee terms, it is the only thing that can still create a stir.

Every night during the last few weeks, I made a cup of coffee, EMPHASIS ON BALANCE took a seat on a comfortable chair in the living room or study, and switched on the TV to watch cricket from Bangladesh What is also interesting is that, while the West Indies had to which started at 11.30 pm, and then changed channels to the send, what was considered by many, a second-rate team India game at midnight. From then on, I hopped back and consisting of the dregs among the available players to forth depending on the state of the game. What did not change Bangladesh for a Test series, the big shots were earning was the coffee. It has been ever thus after dusk and before Starbucks in the Big Bash and elsewhere. dawn, coffee and cricket with the classic “Wodehouse At The Wicket” for keeping me awake during the breaks for lunch, tea In coffee this is called ‘richness’ and several players have this or bad weather. “satisfying fullness” of wallets. But coffee is always good to the Before that, it was India’s successful tour of Australia and the last drop, unlike cricket which drops players regularly, some West Indies disappointing tour of Sri Lanka. But long, long of them for dropping catches which cost matches. before then, at four in the morning of December 13, 1960, as a 15-year-old schoolboy whose physiognomy required beauty Both coffee and cricket also put much emphasis on “balance”. sleep on a 24-hour basis to be passable, I was shaken, stirred and awakened by my father. He pulled off my sheet, handed In coffee, it is one in which no single characteristic me a cup of black coffee and we sat with our ears almost overwhelms any of the others like taste or smell, but is still touching the gold-coloured cloth covering the speakers of the sufficiently complex to be interesting. old Blaupunkt radio, glued to the excitement at the end of the first-ever tied Test Match in the history of cricket.

In cricket, it is choosing a team with enough batting and bowling variations and options to win matches in different LOT IN COMMON circumstances, running up and bowling like the ‘whispering It is why, in my mind and heart at least, cricket and coffee are death’ Michael Holding, and playing forward to a ball and not inextricable. I also know that, in terms of history and language, they have a lot in common. The word ‘coffee’ entered the falling on your face.

English language in 1582 from the Dutch ‘koffie’ which Good coffee also has ‘body’ or the sensation of heaviness, originated from the Turkish ‘kahve’. richness, thickness or texture when you taste it.

The first definite reference to cricket was on Monday, January 17, 1598 when, in a court dispute over a piece of land in Surrey, In cricket, you had “body-line” bowling in the old days, hits the coroner, John Derrick, testified that he had played “cricket” on the body that the Australians meted out to the Indians, on the land when he was a boy. What he did in essence was to especially Cheteshwar Pujara, or Antiguan, Rahkeem ‘Jimbo’ draw the first and major link between cricket and coffee. He had grounds for supporting the land claim but not as many as Cornwall, the West Indies spinner who weighs over 300 lbs. coffee, which has more grounds than all the cricketing Coffee and cricket both have ‘finish’. Coffee aficionados see it countries in the world put together. as “the sensory experience of coffee just as it’s swallowed”, a Yet, while an appeal for leg before wicket, a stumping, or a sensation which varies from one coffee to the next. catch by a player can be deemed groundless by the game’s umpire – and even if you know the decision is wrong, you have The experts say, “Some coffees may transform as they make to stand your grind – groundless coffee still, fortunately and their way across the palate, others may remain constant.” happily, remains unknown.

In the case of cricket, I consider ‘finish’ as the satisfaction of In fact, coffee is now so widely accepted and used that it has seeing the West Indies team beat Bangladesh when they had legal sanction as a basis for the dissolution of a marriage. been written off by the experts, or India win the series against A man who had suffered for years from the terrible coffee his Australia when they were given no chance at all by the very wife made, took the percolator to his lawyer demanding action.

Taking one taste and then examining the particles lodged in biased media in that country. the filter, the lawyer shook his head in agreement, “Yes,” he Even now, as I head towards a score of 76 not out, I am concluded, “You do have grounds for divorce.” reminded of T.S. Eliot’s The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.

While the Rush Hour star, Jackie Chan, insists “Coffee is a It is true that I measure out my life in coffee spoons. It is also language in itself”, cricket is the same. In fact, they have a lot true that, when a game ends to my satisfaction, I declare that more in common than just the grounds or playing fields. it “done finish”.

Once when I told a ‘barista’ that his coffee tasted like mud, he insisted that it was ground just a few minutes before. I have But when a cricket match is exceptionally good, I use the been to matches where rain caused the game to grind to a halt coffee and not the cricket meaning and observe, “Good to the or, waiting for the rain to end, last drop!”

I drank some very milky coffee from a lovely beaker my wife gave me. It is my way of saying, “I don’t mind waiting to restart. Better latte than never.”

Tony Deyal was last seen hoping his cricketing son, Zubin, Actually, my choice of vessel to drink my coffee in is will get him a new coffee cup which says, “I might look like I’m listening to you, but in my head, I’m Playing Cricket.” appropriate since it reflects what Alan Atwood, writing in the www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com

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