Caribbean American Passport News Magazine - October 2020 - South Florida Special Edition

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Your Passport to the Caribbean American Community

Oct 2020

South Florida Vol 1 . No. 1

It's our 10th Anniversary issue!

Caribbean Democratic Caucus of Florida unveils news logo.

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.

Their main goal this election season is to: Increase advocacy and civil engagement by Americans of Caribbean descent.

It has been 10 years. We are blown away that we are at such a significant anniversary and it seems like we just got started.

We remember the self doubt, the anxiety, the decision to create something that showed our community in it's diversity, showing our strengths and our contributions to America. This land that we chose as Caribbean- Americans.

What we do with this News Magazine is more of a service to the community than it is a money maker.

We make money to support the paper through our sister companies, through our events and through the ads featured in our pages. So we need you to keep the people who support us in business. Make a decision to purchase a product or service from one of our advertisers. While we can't host our usual array of events, we still have our marketing arm that can work with you to create a marketing campaign for you and your business - from a simple graphic creation, to digital marketing or website redesign.

We are here! I'm proud to say that it was hard, but it was also worth it. And most importantly the community needs it. Right now more than ever, independent media sources showing you people and situations that reflect your community, are more important than they ever were For those of you who can purchase a subscription through your company before. please do so, we would love to deliver But now more than ever, we need your copies to your office. Or let's deliver a help. Not just us, but all of the small subscription to your home, or to businesses in your community. someone you love.

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www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com

L I F E S T Y L E

Guenet Gittens-Roberts, Publisher/Editor

10 years old...a struggle that was worth it Samuel J. Roberts

A

new month, a new issue...but this

one is even more special. It is our 10th Anniversary issue. Yes! Ten years ago, we published our very first issue. Eleven years ago, my world had imploded, I was reeling from losing a career that I loved as a real estate agent. I was not making money, we were losing properties, losing money and losing hope.

Owner/Publisher/Editor

At that time, I couldn't see a light at the end of the tunnel, no one seemed to have an answer. We just knew the economy had crashed. Our home had lost more than half of it's value and we were upside down. Our tenants were not paying their rent, but we were continuing to pay the mortgages until we just couldn't.

It is surreal to think about those times and how we thought we knew it all prior to that crash...just because we were making money. But I have had to reflect as I spoke Dee Harrison for an interview this month. Listening to her took me back to that time in my life, and the events that lead to the birth to Caribbean American Passport News Magazine.

Dee's story is carried in this issue. It is about how she stayed in the real estate industry, sacrificing a lot to do so. It was her calling, she had realized that. Ten years later she is happy she did.

I didn't stay in the real estate industry. I used that time for deep reflection about what I loved and what I wanted. I had been in my marketing business for a few years at that point and my company was focused on the Caribbean community. I had also joined the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and had worked with Caribbean Sun Newspaper to create events and promote their advertisers. I loved being between the Caribbean community and I felt that it was very hidden and not celebrated.

With no career to focus on, my mind was focused on my past, the way I grew up in Guyana and how much of an appreciation it had given me for different cultures, people and religion. I really loved the way I had been raised and I wanted to celebrate it, I wanted to share it with my children. I wanted to ensure that they grew up surrounded by positive imaging of people like them, just as I had grown up.

I made up my mind to do something I love, while giving it the time to make money. Ten years later, I am so grateful that I made that pivot!

to simply create something that I wanted to do.

When he applied his structured brain to my creative one, we were able to set this business on a great path to one that is an expression of our love for our community and our love for our upbringing. It has taken us down roads of adventure that we will always be grateful for and I can say that whether we lost or made money along the way, we have been genuinely happy with the path we have taken as a result of this paper.

I am so thankful to that economic depression because without it, I would have never gone down this unknown path that has led me to a bigger and brighter future. When I look back, it is not with a sense of loss, it is with a sense of wonder that life opened up for us to realize our calling.

It is fitting that our ten year anniversary falls within a pandemic where people will face unprecedented hardships again, so that I can share this important lesson with you: "LIFE IS LESS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU, IT IS MORE ABOUT HOW YOU RESPOND TO WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU! CREATE A LIFE THAT YOU LOVE! BE RESPONSIVE, IT IS YOUR TIME...PIVOT!"

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 .......................................................................................................................Ryan Davis ...................................................................................................................Sandra Fatmi .......................................................................................................................Gail Seeram .................................................................................................................Sasha Watson ..................................................................................................................Aleia Roberts Contributing Photographers ............ .......................................................Ted Hollins .....................................................................................................................Dilia Castillo .............................................. .............................................................Nancy-Joe Brown 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.

Sam still had his 9 to 5 job and it gave me the security I needed www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com

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Jamaica Labor Party wins big in bet on early elections

Prime Minister Andrew Holness won big in his bet on early elections as his Jamaica Labour Party captured 49 of 63 seats in Parliament, swamping the rival People’s National Party.

Addressing the nation on a virtual livestream after the PNP conceded defeat Thursday evening, Holness congratulated Jamaicans for a smooth and fair election held amid restrictions aimed at stifling the coronavirus pandemic.

“Tonight the victor is the people of Jamaica. What it says to me is that the Jamaican people are maturing in their

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outlook; they understand that populist policies can have destructive impact on the national good,” he said.

A record number of eight women have been appointed to serve in the 21-member Senate. Four of the 13 selected Government Senators are women, while four of the eight appointed Opposition Senators are women.

This was noted by reappointed Leader of Government Business in the Senate, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, who was herself appointed for a third time by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness.

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For this teacher, this transition is bittersweet

Fed Ingram is a former Miami-Dade Teacher of the Year, former president of United Teachers of Dade, and outgoing president of the Florida Education Association. that you place on yourself. My students loved music,worked hard and overcame the odds to win top ratings and state championships. Today, some of them are doctors and lawyers – and please know that I couldn’t be prouder of former students who are now teachers.

Since I left the classroom to become a full-time union officer, I’ve marched, lobbied, negotiated, and advocated alongside Florida educators for better funding for students and schools and professional rights for educators. I did this first at the United Teachers of Dade (UTD) and later at the statewide Florida Education Association (FEA).

My passion has always been to open doors for every student, regardless of race, class, income or geography. That passion will be the center of my work at AFT –building on the grassroots activism and coalition-building that I learned in Florida.

As I write this, the FEA has just won an injunction preventing an out-of-control governor from re-opening our schools without a plan to prevent the spread of Covid-19. FEA won because we stood up for our students and public safety and we had strong support from parents and the community.

The beginning of the school year is a fresh start and a time of transition. For this teacher, it’s bittersweet.

I was recently elected secretary-treasurer of my national union, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

Beginning in September, I will serve as one of its top two officers, representing 1.8 million educators and public employees. I’ll be relocating with my family to Washington, D.C

We don’t know what the courts will ultimately deefor solutions to ensure that Florida students have safe and high-quality learning environments no matter if it is in brick and mortar or remote classrooms. It’s a bittersweet time for me to leave this state that I love, but I am taking our fight that this band teacher has been living my entire life to the national stage.

I’ve had an amazing and blessed journey here in the Sunshine State, although not always an easy one.

I started out as a poor kid with a stutter living in Miami’s housing projects. But my parents taught me the sky was the limit, so long as I worked hard, respected those around me, and valued education.

They were right. I could barely speak when I started school. My life turned around when a public school music teacher taught me to sing.

I learned to control my stutter, to speak in public, and I gained the desire to go on to become a teacher and a mentor to others.

After graduating from Bethune Cookman University, I spent 10 years as a band teacher at two inner-city Miami high schools, Booker T. Washington and Carol City, where almost all students qualified for free and reduced lunch. We had broken down instruments and second-rate facilities. Nobody expected much from our schools or our students... Except for those students who had other ideas and parents like mine, who taught them the only limits you can’t exceed at are those www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com

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-SUMMER READING CARIBBEAN AUTHORS

“Til’ The Well Runs Dry”

by Lauren Francis- Sharma (Trinidad) “When Lauren Francis-Sharma visited her grandmother’s birthplace, Blanchisseuse — a tiny beach hamlet perched on the windward side of Trinidad’s northern mountains — she was stunned by the beauty of the place, and she got a crazy idea.

That idea became ‘Til the Well Runs Dry (Henry Holt), a savory, sensuous, and seductive debut novel steeped in the full and pungent flavor of life on the island, and an homage loosely based on her grandmother’s story.” –ELLE Magazine, May, 2014 “This expansive first novel opens in Trinidad in 1943, when a fiery 16-year old becomes involved with a seductive but unreliable police officer; their relationship sets off a chain of events that brings a family’s dirty laundry into public view.” –10 Titles to Pick Up Now! O, The Oprah Magazine, May, 2014

“Land of Love and Drowning”

by Tiphanie Yanique (St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands) Set in Trinidad, in 1865. Michel Jean Cazabon returns home to be at his beloved mother’s deathbed. Life on the island seems very different after the freedoms of post-Revolutionary Paris, where his paintings have hung in the Louvre.

Despite the Emancipation Act, his childhood home is still in the grip of colonial power, its people riven by the legacy of slavery. Michel Jean finds himself caught between the powerful and the dispossessed. As an artist, he enjoys the governor’s patronage, painting for him the island’s vistas and its women; as a Trinidadian he shares easy wisdom and nips of rum with the local boat-builders. But domestic tensions and haunting reminders of the past threaten his equanimity. His fiery halfsister, Josie – the daughter of a slave – still provokes in him a youthful passion; his flirtatious muse, Augusta, tempts him as he paints her ‘for posterity’. Meanwhile, letters from his white, French wife and children remind him of their imminent arrival on the island.

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Barbados plans to become a Republic - No More Queen as Head of State Barbados has announced its intention to remove the Queen of England as its head of state and become a republic by November, 2021.

The statement was part of the Throne Speech, which outlines the government's policies and programs ahead of the new session of parliament.

While it is read out by the governor-general, it is written by the country's prime minister. Prime Minister Mia Mottley quoted the Caribbean island nation’s first premier Errol Barrow’s warning against “loitering on colonial premises” and went on to say “The time has come to fully leave our colonial past behind. Barbadians want a Barbadian Head of State. “This is the ultimate statement of confidence in who we are and what we are capable of achieving.

“Hence, Barbados will take the next logical step toward full sovereignty and become a Republic by the time we celebrate our 55th Anniversary of Independence.”

The country gained its independence from Britain in 1966, though the Queen remains its constitutional monarch.

In 1998, a Barbados constitutional review commission recommended republican status, and in 2015 Prime Minister Freundel Stuart said “we have to move from a monarchical system to a republican form of government in the very near future”.

Most Caribbean countries have kept formal links with the monarchy after achieving independence. Barbados would join Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica and Guyana if it proceeds with its plan to become a republic.

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

WE MARKET BETTER CALL FOR DETAILS. www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com

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CARIBBEAN AMERICAN PASSPORT AND OUR SISTER COMPANIES If you are looking for ways to support our local community during this time of uncertainty, we ask you to please remember to continue supporting Caribbean American Passport in one of a few ways: 1 - MARKETING WITH US

2- SUBSCRIBING TO US

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Dee Harrison, celebrating 30 years in the Title Industry

Dee Harrison President/ CEO and her Alpha Reliable Title team Dee Harrison is President and CEO of Alpha Reliable Title in Orlando Florida. She was born in Jamaica and started her career in Banking in Jamaica after obtaining a two-year college diploma in Accounting. When she moved to the US, she simultaneously worked two jobs at two different TV stations but it didn't take her long to get into the Title Industry‌and stay. September 2020 marks 30 years of her being in the Title Industry.

30 years ago, Dee began working with Ensure Title Corporation, a Jamaican owned Title Company in Hollywood Florida owned by Joan Lake. Dee worked there for three and a half years before she transitioned to Excel Title Corp., where she worked for two years. The birth of her daughter also was the catalyst for the birth of her own title career. Dee wanted to get back to work as soon as possible to support her family. However, the Title Company wanted her to take her entire maternity leave.

Instead of waiting, Dee began temporary jobs with two law firms while she studied for her Title License. By the time her maternity leave was over and the Title Company was ready for her to go back to work, Dee had earned her License and was ready to get into business for herself. The business was started out of her car. Lack of resources, a newborn, and two other little children were not going to hold Dee back. People called her Mobile Title since she worked so much out of her car. That was it, Trinity Title and Escrow was started. Once she was able to get a location, the office opened in Hollywood Florida.

The housing market in Orlando was booming and Dee's company grew rapidly. Dee was able to purchase a new location in Metro West. After 5 great years of growth in Orlando, the economic recession hit, affecting the housing market the most. Business declined to the point where Dee had to close her company and like many in the market, lost a lot, including her first office space. Many people in the real estate industry moved into different careers - but while Dee had lost everything and closed her offices, she knew that she had found her passion in the Title Industry and she wanted to remain in it. It was what she wanted to do forever. People were not making money in Real Estate, but Dee knew that it couldn't last forever. She had to wait it out.

Dee says at the beginning of her success as the market was booming, she was praying about every decision. After things started taking off, Dee felt convicted that she failed to pray as much and just started buying properties. Upon reflection, she strongly feels as though "God slowed her down to get her attention". She wanted to get back to basics and for her, that meant God. Since then she has prayed before making any big decision.

Continued on page 15

The Hollywood location stayed open for 10 years. It had always been Dee and her husband's intention to raise their children in Orlando based on their preference for the Orlando school system. So, even though they divorced, they settled in Orlando to co-parent. Upon moving to Orlando Dee set up Alpha Title Corporation on Pine Hills Road.

For a while, she kept both companies alive by spending 3 days in South Florida and 4 in Orlando. Raising kids and commuting and keeping both offices open was tough, so she closed the Ft. Lauderdale location and concentrated on building the Orlando office.

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Dee Harrison, celebrating 30 years in the Title Industry Continued from page 14

Dee says that she knew she had to let it all go, she had to fall and then start getting back up. A quote by Les Brown,"When life knocks you down, try to land on your back. Because if you can look up, you can get up. Let your reason get you back up." was key to her survival. She says her children remember that time as a period when she simply kept looking out the window of her home, deep in thought.

Her business was closed. She took a regular job, but stayed in the Title Industry, by taking a job with Lawyer's Advantage Title. For Dee, it was important that she kept her License. She focused on her mind and her relationship with God and felt the need to remain busy.

When her kids were at their father's she volunteered with Hospice. She went back to school. She earned her paralegal degree with Florida Memorial University. As a single mother, working full time, she graduated with a 4.0 GPA, Summa Cum Laude.

Three years later she was able to reopen a new Title company, Alpha Reliable Title. That was eight years ago…

Over the last ten years, Dee has brought her experience as a paralegal, her experience as a real estate investor, and her experience in the Title Industry together to provide her customers with first-class service and peace of mind. That's an important combination in the Title Industry.

That is evident in a recent award that Alpha Reliable Title has been nominated for by a customer. The award for ‘ALTA Honors – We Deliver’ is through the American Land Title Association, the National Trade Association representing more than 6200 Title Insurance companies, Title and Settlement Agents, Independent

Dee Harrison, Alpha Reliable Title

Abstracters, Title Searchers, and Real Estate Attorneys.As if to validate that it was all worth it, in the month of her 30th Anniversary in the Title Industry, Dee Harrison won that award for ‘We Deliver’ from the American Land Title Association.

As a Caribbean National, Dee is proud to be recognized on a National Level by a prestigious organization such as ALTA. When asked about the motivating factors in her life Dee had two words, “my kids.”

When asked what she would say to anyone who has doubts about their business ideas, Dee says her advice is to pray first, listen to God, then act on your instincts, always remaining true to yourself and surround yourself with positive people.

Congratulations to Dee Harrison and her team at Alpha Reliable Title! Happy Anniversary Dee!

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Toots Hibbert, Reggae Ambassador And Leader Of Toots And The Maytals, Dies At 77...he was the first to use the word Reggae Revival Zion and Pocomania, were essential in shaping Hibbert's performances. Hibbert also cites Elvis Presley, gospel icon Mahalia Jackson, and soul superstars James Brown, Wilson Pickett and Otis Redding as influences.

Frederick "Toots" Hibbert, the lead singer and songwriter of Toots and the Maytals and one of reggae's foundational figures, died Friday in Kingston, Jamaica. He was 77.

The cause of death was not revealed, but his Facebook account confirmed on Aug. 31 that Hibbert was tested for coronavirus in the last two weeks and placed in intensive care.

Hibbert's soulful, electrifying performances thrilled live music lovers for more than 50 years and brought a distinctive Jamaican expression to international audiences.

His 1968 song "Do The Reggay" gave a name to Jamaica's signature beat, but his artistry defied boundaries. His vocals are an amalgam of rousing gospel, vintage soul, gritty R&B, and classic country fused with pliant, indigenous Jamaican rhythms. Hibbert brought a stunning island lilt to Otis Redding's standard "(I've Got) Dreams to Remember," he transformed Ann Peebles' "I Can't Stand The Rain" into a scorching serenade, and forever altered John Denver's "Country Roads" into a beloved sing-along reggae anthem.

Hibbert's humble demeanor and affable personality belied his towering global stature. Regarded as a national treasure in Jamaica, in 2012 he was conferred the Order of Jamaica, the country's fifth highest honor.

"For my generation, Toots is the ultimate performer," said Roy "Gramps" Morgan of the reggae group Morgan Heritage. "The [kind of] artist that leaves everything on the stage, physically and spiritually. Toots is the James Brown of reggae, and one of the greatest Jamaican singers of all time. You won't find another singer that sounds like Toots and you are not going to hear that sound again."

Frederick Nathaniel "Toots" Hibbert was born on Dec. 8, 1942, in rural May Pen, Clarendon,. Hibbert's parents were preachers and he was raised singing gospel in what he calls "a salvation church." The hand clapping, foot stomping, and soul-shaking vocals associated with Jamaica's Afro-Christian religious traditions, including

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In his early teens, Hibbert moved to Trench Town, an economically poor yet musically thriving community in western Kingston, also home to future reggae artists including Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer and Bob Marley, who became The Wailers. While working as a barber, Hibbert met Nathaniel "Jerry" Matthias and Henry "Raleigh" Gordon and they formed The Maytals vocal trio, circa 1961, at the dawn of Jamaica's ska era.

Matthias and Gordon had previously cut a single together and they knew Hibbert's powerful voice would enhance their sound. The Maytals went on to release numerous singles for the top Jamaican producers of the 1960s. They signed with Clement "Sir Coxsone" Dodd's Studio One label in 1962, releasing such ska gems as "Hallelujah," "Fever" and the exceptional "Six and Seven Books of Moses," featuring Hibbert's galvanizing gospel delivery.

Studio One was regarded as Jamaica's Motown, home to many outstanding young singing, songwriting and instrumental talents, including The Wailers, Bob Andy, The Heptones, Marcia Griffiths and Jackie Mittoo. The Maytals, however, were dissatisfied with Dodd's payments and moved on. They recorded the rollicking "Dog War," which alludes to leaving Dodd and working instead with his rival Prince Buster. They made history with producer and band leader Byron Lee when their joyous ska romp "It's You," and its b-side, the R&B ballad "Daddy," both topped the Jamaica charts. In August 1966, The Maytals' "Bam Bam," also produced

by Lee, won the inaugural Jamaica Festival Song competition, held annually to coincide with the island's Independence Day celebrations. (The chorus of "Bam Bam" was featured in Sister Nancy's 1982 song of the same name.) Hibbert was arrested shortly after The Maytals' victory and sentenced to 18 months for possession of marijuana; he described the incident as "political, a means to keep me down."

At the time of Hibbert's release from jail, the jaunty ska beat created in Kingston studios had slowed down and morphed into rocksteady. The reunited Maytals began recording their first release "54-46 (That's My Number)," which Toots wrote about his prison sentence,. It became The Maytals' biggest hit of that era Kong's other productions with The Maytals include "Monkey Man," which broke through to the UK singles charts, and "Do The Reggay," which became the first song to brand the beat that followed rocksteady, which is Jamaica's most successful (musical) export.

When asked about the origins of the word, reggay, shortly thereafter spelled "reggae," Toots offered: "Streggay was a slang word in Jamaica, it meant something that looked raggedy, scruffy so one day I was talking with Raleigh and Jerry and just changed the word to reggae and said, let's make music, let's do the reggae."

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United Foundation of Central Florida Message from the President Sandra Fatmi-Hall Dear UFCF Community, Dr. Trisha Bailey of Bailey's Pharmacy partnered with the United Foundation of Central Florida to feed families in Orange County’s Pine Hills Community. We had such a large number of people in the community reaching out and calling, which is why we selected the Pine Hills Community Center as the event site and now 98.5 FM The Wire. We will be increasing the meals donated to accommodate more individuals in our community Since the start of our Food Distribution Program in July, we've grown our partnerships of purpose to ensure we are meeting the needs of our community. Our new Food Distribution Partners are Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, Samaroo Law Personal Injury led by Attorney Avita Samaroo, Sierra Rainge of Limitless Cares, Inc., Onyx Magazine, One Heart For Women & Children, Caribbean American Passport News Magazine, Jay Yoko Entertainment, Orlando's 105 The Beat.

As of September 14th, 2020 we have fed 5,300 families which is the equivalent of 26,500 people in our community.

The upcoming dates for our Food Distributions are as follows: September 17th, 2020 from 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM September 24th, 2020 from 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Location: The Wire 98.5 - 6003 Silver Star Road Suite 1, Orlando, FL 32808 This is a drive-thru event walk-ups are welcome.

With Pompeo trip, oil boom raises focus on Guyana, Suriname Mike Pompeo is the first US secretary of state to visit Guyana and Suriname as the discovery of oil fuels a sudden new interest in the small South American nations. The stops come at the start of a three-day tour that will also take Pompeo to Colombia and the Amazonian border areas of Brazil, part of his campaign to highlight the economic devastation in Nicolas Maduro's Venezuela.

Pompeo will meet freshly elected leaders in Guyana and Suriname, which are also being courted by China as the two nations -- underdeveloped and with sharp ethnic faultlines -- seek a surge of investment.

"I used to work at the State Department and getting any secretary of state to travel anywhere in Latin America and the Caribbean was a heavy lift," said Eric Farnsworth, vice president of the Council of the Americas. "For him to go to both of these countries is extraordinary and shows that something big is happening."

ExxonMobil in 2015 announced it had found one of the world's largest oil reserves in years in the waters off Guyana, with the US giant also heavily involved in Suriname.

Pompeo's trip comes as Guyana reviews its deal with Exxon in which the country would keep about half the oil revenue -- an arrangement that some advocates for developing nations say is too paltry. A State Department official said that Pompeo was not traveling to lobby for Exxon -- but that he would encourage both countries to be responsible with the financial windfall.

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2020 BROWARD COUNTY GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT RECOMMENDATIONS BY CDCF Justice of the Supreme Court Shall Justice Carlos G. Muñiz of the Supreme Court be retained in office?

No

President and Vice President Joseph R. Biden/Kamala D. Harris Representative in Congress - District 20 Alcee L. Hastings DEM Representative in Congress - District 22 Ted Deutch DEM

Fourth District Court of Appeal Shall Judge Alan O. Forst of the Fourth District Court of Appeal be retained in office?

No

Representative in Congress - District 23 Debbie Wasserman Schultz DEM

State Representative - District 96 Christine Hunschofsky DEM

Representative in Congress - District 24 Frederica Wilson DEM

State Representative - District 101 Marie Woodson DEM

State Attorney - 17th Judicial Circuit Harold Fernandez Pryor DEM

State Representative - District 103 Cindy Polo DEM

Public Defender - 17th Judicial Circuit Gordon Weekes DEM

State Representative - District 104 Robin Bartleman DEM

State Senator - District 29 Tina Polsky DEM

State Representative - District 105 Maureen Porras DEM

State Senator - District 35 Shevrin “Shev” Jones DEM

Sheriff Gregory Tony

State Representative - District 92 Patricia Hawkins-Williams DEM

Supervisor of Elections Joe Scott DEM

School Board At Large - Seat 9 Jeff Holness

State Representative - District 93

County Commissioner - District 7 Timothy M. “Tim” Ryan DEM

Broward Soil and Water Conservation District - Seat 5 Fred Segal

Linda Thompson Gonzalez

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DEM

DEM

County Commissioner - District 9 Dale V.C. Holness DEM

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Fourth District Court of Appeal Shall Judge Mark W. Klingensmith of the Fourth District Court of Appeal be retained in office?

No Fourth District Court of Appeal Shall Judge Martha C. Warner of the Fourth District Court of Appeal be retained in office?

Yes Circuit Judge - 17th Judicial Circuit Group 16 George Odom Jr

2020 BROWARD COUNTY GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT RECOMMENDATIONS BY CDCF No. 1 Constitutional Amendment Article VI, Section 2 Citizenship Requirement to Vote in Florida Elections No. this amendment is not expected to result in any changes to the voter registration process in Florida.

No. 2 Constitutional Amendment Article X, Section 24 Raising Florida’s Minimum Wage Yes. No. 3 Constitutional Amendment Article VI, Section 5 All Voters Vote in Primary Elections for State Legislature, Governor, and Cabinet.

No No. 4 Constitutional Amendment Article XI, Sections 5 and 7. Voter Approval of Constitutional Amendments No - the financial impact of this amendment cannot be determined due to ambiguities surrounding the amendment's impact.

No. 5 Constitutional Amendment Article VII, Section 4 and Article XII. Limitations on Homestead Property Tax Assessments; increased portability period to transfer accrued benefit.

Financial Impact Statement: It is estimated that this amendment will have no financial impact to Broward County. No THE FOLLOWING CITIES WILL HOLD AN ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 3, 2020: Coconut Creek, Cooper City, Coral Springs, Dania Beach, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Lauderdale Lakes, Lauderhill, Margate, North Lauderdale, Oakland Park, Parkland, Plantation.

Find your voting location and down ballot candidates at https:// sunshine.vote

No No. 6 Constitutional Amendment Article VII, Section 6 and Article XII. Ad Valorem Tax Discount for Spouses of Certain Deceased Veterans Who Had Permanent, Combat- Related Disabilities Yes Broward County Issues Broward County Ballot Question Approves Special Law CS/HB 989 (2020) Relating to Broward County’s Governmental Functions Approves special law enabling County Administrator to continue serving as ex officio clerk of the County Commission and enabling County to continue serving as auditor and custodian of all County funds, which duties County has performed since 1975 and would otherwise be required to be transferred to the Clerk of Courts in 2025; and authorizing agreement to transfer County recorder duties to the Clerk of Courts before 2025, when such duties would otherwise automatically transfer.

Yes Broward County Charter Question County Regulation of the Development of Surtax-Funded Transportation Improvements on County Property to facilitate implementation of surtax-funded improvements to the countywide transportation system, shall the Broward County Charter be amended to provide that County ordinances regulating the development, including zoning, permitting, construction, operation, or admi-nistration, of transportation improvement projects that are (1) on County-owned or County-leased property and (2) funded in whole or in part with proceeds from the transportation surtax approved by the County’s voters in 2018, prevail over conflicting Municipal ordinances? www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com

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Tony Deyal | Monday Night For Rum I have known Kamla Persad-Bissessar for more than fifty years, taught her at school and was her netball coach. I can say that she is not a racist. We who grew up in the town of Siparia could not be. However, her remarks about Dr. Rowley and the people of Syrian descent were inconsistent with both her history and her position. They cannot be justified. I will not be posting pictures on this one.

"She gone stark raving crackers," said one of my friends.

"Who?" I asked. "Kamla," he replied, referring to the former prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago and now leader of the Opposition. "What happen? What she do now?" Pause.

"She call de prime minister of the country an 'oreo'." I got it immediately.

According to Wikipedia, "Oreo is a commercial brand of cookie (or biscuit) usually consisting of two chocolate wafers with a sweet creme filling in-between ... . Oreo has become the best-selling cookie in the United States."

Had the comment been about Prime Minister Rowley's sweetness, popularity and appeal, it would have been taken as a compliment. However, and rightly in this instance, the comment was not seen as complimentary and reference was immediately made by Mr Rowley's supporters, and others, like me, who want the country to vote on principle rather than personality, reason rather than race, to the Urban Dictionary.

The Urban Dictionary is a 'crowd-sourced' and open online reference for slang words and phrases. It tells you how language is applied in real life and specific situations. Under the word 'oreo', I found several different meanings. One is: "A very cute dog that is black in colour and has a white stripe on its belly."

I saw a picture of a shirtless prime minister at the beach, and although visibility was not 100 per cent, there was no white stripe to be seen on any part of his anatomy. A second, and I expect some supporters of the opposition leader to jump on this as a belated explanation for her referring to Dr Rowley as an 'oreo' is, "A good cookie; made up of two chocolate cookies with vanilla filling, and sometimes peanut butter and can come in double-stuffed and Halloween varieties."

Betraying roots Where the trick or treat ends is in the third and most supported meaning. It is a "term for African Americans that the black community is generally offended with for betraying their roots usually for dating Caucasian girls, dressing too white, talking too white, etc. The term is branded OREO since they are 'black on the outside, white on the inside."

Mrs Persad-Bissessar made the Oreo remark at a weekly meeting held by her party called 'Monday Night Forum'. I have often said that if I were someone accused of alcoholism, as the opposition leader has been for many years of her political life, I would not call my party gathering a 'forum', which has been twisted by many into a 'foh rum'.

But in the Oreo meeting she went a step further. During a

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lunch with the now-deceased celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, a local businessman, Mario Sabga-Aboud, said that the one per cent of people of Syrian descent, the majority of whom were born and live in Trinidad and Tobago, controlled the economy of Trinidad and Tobago. This immediately precipitated a massive backlash against people of SyrianLebanese descent, causing one of my friends to complain bitterly, "Boy, yesterday I was 100% Trini and today I become 1%."

Although it is believed that all political parties receive support from that powerful interest group, the opposition leader did not spare them in her 'Forum'. According to the Trinidad Guardian newspaper, which incidentally is owned by one of the so-called 'one per cent', the 'one per cent owns Keith Christopher Rowley." She is quoted as saying, "They tried to own Mr Manning, eh, they couldn't do that, they didn't get away with that ... . They tried their luck ... . They tried to own me, but I sent them packing ...They have their 'Oreo' now, who is their guy in Keith Christopher Rowley, and that's how the one per cent friends and family of Rowley control him."

Guilty of racist comments Opposition supporters will inevitably claim that the government speakers at various events in the past and over the years are also guilty of statements about them that may be interpreted as racist. However, when I raised that with my friend, his immediate response was, "Two wrongs don't make a right."

He also reminded me of a previous public statement by the opposition leader when she referred crudely to who did or did not "put down pipe" by her. I had no answer to that, but got lost thinking about whether any biscuit would be appropriate for describing Dr Rowley or anyone else. Oreo produces a 'Chocolate' variety that is dark inside, but although this slur lessens the political impact of what was termed 'Afro-Saxon' by the Black Power leaders in the early 1970s, it also makes it more directly racist instead of less.

Would Dr Rowley's clean-shaven scalp or my lack of hair entitle her to call us 'Garibaldi'? While saying someone is a 'Boortsog' might sound like an insult, it is really a Mongolian dessert with lots of honey and sugar dipped in tea. There are people who might compare a minister in the present government to a 'Caramel Shortbread', also known as the 'Millionaire's Shortbread', because of its rich caramel and chocolate mix.

A great statesman or woman would earn the accolade 'Lincoln Biscuit', but, given the level to which our politics, made even worse by blatant racism has descended, none of our leaders has yet reached this elevated status, and it would take more than four score and seven years for them to do so.

There is one cookie I favour called the 'snickerdoodle' because of its cracked surface. If anybody asks me why, it is because that is the way the cookie crumbles.

Tony Deyal was last seen saying it is a rum thing for an Oreo to leave a bad taste in his or anyone else's mouth.

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