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One Love CARIBBEAN
November 2011
The Publisher’s Thoughts Today’s politicians are not the smart group of citizens that we once knew. They have effectively created a system that has filtered the world’s most valuable assets into the pockets of a few. In essence, the poor get poorer and the rich get richer. “To him that hath, shall more be given, and he shall have abundance. But from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away.” (Matthew 25: 29). Is that the new America? Is that the new reality?
One Love CARIBBEAN P.O. Box 70561 Houston, TX 77270 281-769 2253
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Now stop the weeping and gnashing of teeth; understand the game! While the Republicans and Democrats play “good cop/bad cop” (It depends on what side of the fence you are), they are meticulously ingraining into the psyche of Americans words, events, and possibilities. And yes, they expect us to drink it like soup. And some of us do, in fact, drink it. One such word which has been elevated to a new height is bullying. Bullying has been around for as long as anyone can remember. Yes, I know. Now, before you get on your “high horse” thinking that I am crazy, let us set some definition to the word bullying. Dr. Dan Olweus, a research professor of psychology and author of “Aggression in the Schools: Bullies and Whipping Boy”, defines bullying in this manner. “A person is being bullied when he or she is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more other persons.” We have heard of the negative impact of bullying on children - violence, fear and intimidation, depression, and even in suicide, to name a few. These acts are wrong and should not be condoned. But is it “bullying” every time kids in school disagree, even to the point where there may be a “loud mouth” and some physical fight. I say, “No.” My belief is that school bullying has been elevated to hide the shabby state of our public education system. When our public schools was the envy of the world, this word was used infrequently. Today, politicians have slashed school budgets. As a result, schools have to cut those behavioral modifier courses such as art, dancing, music, home-economic, civics, and sport from their curriculum. Some politicians call them unimportant. No wonder the kids are hostile. They have no constructive outlet for their feelings. They are feel trapped, and their anger comes out in the form of aggression towards themselves, their peers and others. Most kids who receive a public education lack the knowledge and fortitude to analyze and solve complex problems. They become aggravated and disilluisoned when exposed to the complexities of life. Skills we learned in kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Today, some of these life situations are considered bullying. As an adult, you may have worked with someone whom you considered a bully? I sure you handled it gracefully. So where did you learn that skill? My people this is a red herring. I believe politicians are attempting to take our minds off the real issue – our failing students. Instead of placing so much weight on school bullying (which I acknowledge does exist and needs to be addressed), politicians should place weight on student academic achievements, create ways which allows all students to attain basic life survival skills. Set goals such as all students attending college. With these goals set and implemented, we can focus on the real issues of our public schools in order of priority. Oh, on second thought, maybe these are the goals. Youth who are unable to learn, drop out, are unable to find work, become a menace to society, get arrested, have criminal records. Send them up the river. The bricks are laid and the guards are hired; all they need now are the residents. Oh well, it is just a thought! Congratulations to our local entrepreneur, Wendi-Ann Walker of Jamaica House one of the 2011 Finalists of the Pinnacle and Upstart Award sponsored by the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce. Wendi-Ann, we are proud of your achievement. Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving Holiday. So until then, One Love!
Sylvanus Donaie, BSEE, MBA, MTM Publisher
Of course, I love when you disagree with me, and I want to hear from you. If you disagree, please let me know. You can always email me at sdonaie@onelovehouston.com.
One Love CARIBBEAN is published monthly.
All materials published in One Love CARIBBEAN is Copyrighted by One Love CARIBBEAN and may not be reproduced without our written permission. All rights reserved. Disclaimer: One Love CARIBBEAN is not responsible for any claims made by advertisers. The views and opinions express herein do not necessarily reflect the publisher. One Love CARIBBEAN assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscript, photographs, and other material unless accompanied by a self addressed stamped envelope.
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A Guiding Word Matthew 5 (King James Version)
3.
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
November 2011
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One Love CARIBBEAN
The Caribbean After Gadhafi Why Are Caribbean Leaders Silent on his Death?
By Sylvanus Donaie OLC, November 1, 2011 -- Caribbean leaders may have been in a frenzy since overthrow of Moammar Gadhafi’s government and the death of the former Libya leader, on October 20, 2011. According to reports, Gadhafi died from a gunshot wound to the head.
The sole exception is Prime Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit. He condemned the extra-judicial killing of Gadhafi. “Like any civilized society we will never condone the manner in which a person is killed. We will never tolerate it, irrespective of who the person is, or what the person may have done, or alleged to have done. Extra judicial killings should never be supported or promoted by any civilized nation,” he said. Why the silence on Libya and its new government? Are there any concerns? The story continues. In April, members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) became very concern about the uprising in Libya. Many had adopted direct lines of engagement with Tripoli. The unrest could result in member states inability to benefit from millions of dollars in investments promised by the oil-rich country. One of the most vocal members was Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer. “The unrest in the Middle East has serious implications for all of us because whether we like it or not we are still very much dependent on oil from the Middle East, most of our economies are driven by that and to the extent that there is instability and war and so on it has an impact,” he told CMC. Several key projects are at risk. They include the opening of a Libyan embassy in St. Lucia, a Libyan Investment Bank in St. Kitts, and a grant of US$1.9 million for public works projects in Grenada. Grenada was also expecting Libya to forgive a US$6 million debt. Many of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ major development projects in recent years have benefited from Libyan funding. The opposition in St. Vincent and the Grenadines has criticized Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves’ government for accepting what opposition leader Arnhim Eustace describes as “blood money”. Gonsalves defended his government’s receipt of the aid. According to the Prime Minister, the 250,000 dollars handed over to the Housing and Land Development Corporation by Libya’s ambassador to the OECS, Ammat Ali, in February were to aid with rebuilding the country after the damage wrought by Hurricane Tomas last year.
Wanted: Light-Skinned Only, Please Kingston, Sep 27, 2011 (IPS) - Revelations that proprietors are requesting light-skinned workers from a government training institution is putting a new spin on Jamaica’s socalled obsession with skin bleaching. A Sunday Gleaner headline, “Brownings please,” referring to the specification by some employers and their agents for applicants with light complexions, is also reviving age-old resentments along with memories of sexual exploitation and a time when only light-skinned people held certain positions.
But as of October 30, Caribbean governments, in particular the ones who have established formal diplomatic relations with Libya, has taken a silent approach to his death. Former Libya leader, Moammar Gadhafi
“You know, that is blood money! That is blood money!” declared Eustace during a rally held to whip up support for a protest march against two controversial bills that were being taken to parliament. “I want Ralph to tell the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines… what is his position now about [Libyan leader Muammar] Gadhafi,” said Eustace. In nearby Dominica, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit reiterated his government’s position that Dominica will not break ties with Libya because of the ongoing political turmoil. “Why should we terminate relations with Libya,” said Skerrit, who also questioned the opposition’s call for him to simply review his existing relationship with Tripoli. The same stance has been taken by Prime Minister Stephenson King of St. Lucia, who said while his government is monitoring developments in Libya, they were not severing diplomatic relations. St Lucia’s Foreign Minister Rufus Bousquet says the march to democracy in the Middle East and North Africa is likely to impact investment projects in the OECS sub-region. “St. Lucia was right in the middle, among other countries in the OECS as a sub-regional grouping, and we were well on our way to establishing, certainly with Libya, an investment bank and investment fund both of which were funded to the tune of 100 million dollars from the Libyan Government,” Bousquet says. The Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis addressed the Libyan conflict. Dr. Denzil Douglas said, “The situation in Libya provides a lesson in democracy for the Caribbean. We have seen in countries where democracy has been absent, where people have been yearning for full freedom of expression from the Government that they would want to represent them, and eventually this has led to bloodshed as we have seen over the last six months in various Arab countries.” Meanwhile, in the wake of Gadhafi death, Caribbean leaders are quietly waiting. Parts of this article first appeared on the Inter Press Service news agency.
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The criterion, the article said, has been articulated both verbally and on application forms for the placement of trainees from the HEART Trust/NTA, Jamaica’s national training agency. The article continues to invoke indignation more than two weeks after publication and has been dubbed Jamaica’s 9/11 because it ran the same day and side-by-side with memories from the 10-year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Now, public defender Earl Witter is demanding the names and details of the offenders and has opened an investigation. “It should be brought home that racial discrimination in any form should never be tolerated in Jamaica,” he told journalists. According to him, the request constitutes a breach of the Jamaica’s constitution and in particular, the newly instituted Charter of Rights.
On April 7, 2011, the constitution was amended to include the Charter, which, among other things, guarantees the right to freedom from discrimination on the grounds of color and social class. Few express confidence that the culprits will ever be named. In fact, corporate Jamaica has remained silent even as Labor Minister Pearnel Charles promised action and opposition leader Portia Simpson Miller urged people to boycott businesses lacking black faces. Bleaching: “An epidemic of color prejudice” While some seem stunned by the discriminatory requests, for others they are confirmation that color and class discrimination are endemic and remain a reality in modern Jamaica. According to Karl McKenzine Chin, a 24-year-old construction engineer, “Nothing has changed. There will always be a request for brown people over people of my complexion.” Chin, who admitted a “level of preference” for brown girls, noted that in addition to the fact that the brown people have more money and influence, preference could be linked to the level of violence in the society, he argued. Continue on page 15
Good-bye Debit Card Fees Thousands Move to Credit Unions OLC, November 3, 2011: Bank of America has decided to drop their plan to charge a monthly fee to account holders who use debit cards for purchases. In a statement released by the bank, they said, “In response to customer feedback and the changing competitive marketplace, Bank of America no longer intends to implement a debit usage fee. ‘’ “We have listened to our customers very closely over the last few weeks and recognize their concern with our proposed debit usage fee,” said David Darnell, co-chief operating officer. “Our customers’ voices are most important to us. As a result, we are not currently charging the fee and will not be moving forward with any additional plans to do so.” Chase, and Citigroup have announced that they would not impose monthly fees on debit cards. Reacting to rising fees at banks, hundreds of thousands of consumers have rushed to credit unions over the past four weeks, and have joined existing credit union members in depositing or shifting billions of savings to credit unions, according to estimates re-
leased today by the Credit Union National Assn. (CUNA), the nation’s largest credit union advocacy group. Based on the responses of a nationwide survey of 5,000 credit unions, CUNA estimates that at least 650,000 consumers across the nation have joined credit unions since Sept. 29 (the day Bank of America unveiled its now-rescinded $5 monthly debit card fee). Also during that time, CUNA estimates that credit unions have added $4.5 billion in new savings accounts, likely from the new members and existing members shifting their funds.
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ROUND DE YARD - Houston Caribbean News What St. Kitts and Nevis “Top Cop” Say?
November 2011
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Mr. Walwyn moved to the United States Virgin Islands at the age of 13 and later to the US Mainland where he has spent his professional life in the field of U.S. law enforcement.
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Walwyn, a twenty-five year veteran of U.S.
C.G. Walwyn, the son of Ms. Audrey Walwyn of Buckley’s Site and former Inspector of Police, Mr. Zephaniah Joseph who served in the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, is himself a national of St. Kitts and Nevis.
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Walwyn plans to develop partnerships between the business community and the police force. To that end, he announced that LeGrand Elebash, CEO for Christophe Harbour, and Mr. Bill Hughson, President of the Healthcare Group for DeVry Inc, gave the law enforcement agency a new patrol vehicle – a 2011 Toyota Fortuner. DeVry Inc. is the parent company of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine.
He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and a Master of Science in Security Management. He has completed his formal studies for the Ph.D in Public Safety-Leadership.
Some 200 people celebrated Jounen Kwéyòl, also known in English, as Creole Day on Sunday, October 30, 2011. It is a day of celebration of St. Lucian creole heritage. St. Lucia Association of Texas hosted the event.
PORRIDGE
As with many other Caribbean islands, St. Kitts and Nevis has seen a huge upsurge of violent crimes in recent years, a concern to the islanders. Walwyn explained his strategy. His plans to improve the communication line between islands’ residents and the police. “The public has to see a visible change in the in the police force... we are there to help.”
VEGGES & FRUITS
In his address, he assured the nationals that there will be no political interference in his administration. “While I will listen to suggestions, I will make my own decisions,” he said.
C.G. Walwyn has a wide range of skills and expertise in critical areas of law enforcement such as gathering intelligence to drive the crime fighting strategies of the Force, identification and apprehension of whitecollar criminals, surveillance of sexual offender, and the identification and apprehension of criminal gang members. A licensed Police-in-Service Instructor in Houston, Texas, C. G. Walwyn also served as a member of a Training Division responsible for training over 3,000 deputies and civilians in Houston, Texas.
TREATS
OLC October 30, 2011 -- On October 14, 2011, St Kitts and Nevis nationals welcomed the newly sworn Commissioner of Police in the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, Celvin G Walwyn, to Houston. He was delighted to address the Diaspora on his vision to ensure the safety and security of the twin islands.
law enforcement, has held the positions of Deputy First Class in the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Orlando, Florida; Deputy Sheriff, Harris County Sheriff’s Department, Houston, Texas; Interim Chief of Police, Kendleton Police Department, Kendleton, Texas and Surveillance Director at Equifax Services, Houston, Texas.
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The new website, www.findmytowedcar. com, provides access to information pertaining to vehicles stored as a result of nonconsent tows.This new system is more time efficient, allows the general public to make inquiries into missing vehicles without repeated phone calls, and the receipt and release of vehicles can be tracked by storage lot owners electronically and in real-time.
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Melvina Chapman-Audain, President of the St. Kitts Nevis Association of Houston welcomes Commissioner of Police in the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, C. G. Walwyn, to Houston. He is no stranger to Houston; He is a former Harris County Deputy Sheriff.
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November 2011
One Love CARIBBEAN
ROUND DE YARD - Houston Caribbean News
Jamaican Baby’s Life is Saved Houston Jamaicans Stepped in to Help
Page 5
Toward a broader Dominica-Diaspora Relationship What Nationals of the of Dominica Should Know
Little Odaney Shaw after surgery at Pediatric ICU Memorial Hermann Children’s Hospital
By MD Jones Staff Writer
Hubert J. Charles, Dominica’s Ambassador to the United States, and Gerald A. Bellot, President of Dominica Houston Association at their 15th annual Independence Ball, October 22, 2011
OLC, November 2, 2010 -- The Jamaica Foundation of Houston collaborated with Heart Gift to provide a host home and emotional and financial support for a Jamaican mother, JodiAnn Reid, while her 2 year old son, Odaney Shaw, visits Houston for life saving heart surgery and follow up services. Odaney Shaw suffered from Tetralogy of Fallot. It is classified as a cyanotic heart defect because the condition causes low oxygen levels in the blood. This leads to cyanosis, a bluish-purple color to the skin. In most cases, it can be corrected with surgery. According to PubMed Health, babies who have surgery usually do well. Ninety percent survive to adulthood and live active, healthy, and productive lives. However, without surgery, death usually occurs by the time the person reaches age 20. According to Director Heart Gift in Houston, Jerry Wische, they knew of Odaney from their Jamaican counterpart, ‘Chain of Hope’. Upon receiving the baby’s medical record, Heart Gifts gave it to their network of doctors to evaluate. Once the doctor was identified, Heart Gift arranged for transportation of the patient to Houston and went out to the community to locate a family who would be willing to host the patient and caretaker for at least a month. On October 20, Dr. William Douglas and his Nurse Coordinator Beth Gould performed successful surgery on little Odaney Shaw at Memorial Hermann Children’s Hospital.
By Sylvanus Donaie Days after the surgery, Odaney at the Houston Zoo.
He was then moved to the 9th floor of the Pediatric ICU and sedated overnight. The next day, he was alert and able to charm the chaplain and his well-wishing local visitors. Odaney and his mother, JodiAnn, were able to leave the hospital on the second day after the surgery to spend the remainder of their visit at the home of host, Mrs. Ina Foster, a director of the Jamaica Foundation of Houston and owner of Caribbean Cuisine restaurant. Odaney is already walking and has had followup visits with Dr. Douglas and the cardiology department in preparation for his return trip to Jamaica. Thanks to the generosity of the Dr. William Douglas, Memorial Hermann Children’s Hospital, American Airlines, and the Heart Gift Foundation, this miraculous surgery was performed on Odaney. A special thanks goes to Jerry Wische, and all the donors who make these life-saving surgeries possible. “Each year, the Heart Gift Foundation brings children from around the world for free surgery to correct life-threatening heart defects. They come for surgery because their home countries lack adequate health care. They leave Texas with repaired hearts - and a new sense of hope for the future.”
The Police -- Remember Please ! The Holiday Season are Upon Us
The holiday season is a special time for many people with family gatherings, parties, and all the hustle and bustle that goes along with this time of year. But the holidays also mean increased opportunity for theft. Crime rises during the holidays, particularly as people get in a rush and forget to take necessary precautions. “We see a lot of vehicle break-ins this time of year,” said Baytown Police Chief Keith Dougherty. “People leave packages and electronics in plain sight, forget to lock their doors or close their windows, and all of that makes it easy for thieves to do their holiday shopping in the parking lot.” Dougherty added that although the Baytown
Police will be increasing patrols through busy shopping centers, shoppers can help by following some simple guidelines themselves. Most “opportunity” crime can be eliminated through simply removing the opportunity. • Always close car windows and lock all doors. • Put packages in the trunk before leaving the parking lot. • Never leave anything of value in plain sight; this includes purses, wallets, CDs, GPS devices, laptops and cell phones. Take these items with you, leave them at home, or lock them in the trunk. • Lock bed tool boxes and never leave anything of value in the open bed of a truck. • Park in well lit areas. Dark secluded places are attractive to thieves and put you at personal risk.
OLC October 30, 2011 -- In recent years, Caribbean governments have become more engaged in working with their Diaspora. Why? As more and more foreign investments become less available, leaders are forced to depend on remittances from their nationals to fill the void. It is a well known fact that the Diaspora contributes significant funds to their island’s economy. In that light, many governments have worked directly with their overseas nationals to draft and adopt a Diaspora Policy. However, if such strategy is to be sustainable, it must result in creating mutually beneficial relationships and partnerships between the homeland and the Diaspora. So how is the ‘mutually beneficial relationship’ harnessed? In an unspoken manner, all too often it appears that the island government is asking, “What can the overseas nationals do for us?” Instead, to engage their nationals, they should be asking themselves, “What can we do for the Diaspora?” And here is how the Commonwealth of Dominica approached it. The Government of Dominica approved the policy in October 2010. According to Hubert J. Charles, Dominica’s Ambassador to the United States and Permanent Representative to Organization of American States, Dominica Diaspora Policy “…clarify matters relating to the privileges you [Dominicans] are entitled to as citizens of the Commonwealth of Dominica who live, work and have made your homes outside of the homeland.” He explained “the privilege of Dominican citizenship is extended to the children and grandchildren of Persons of Dominican Origin. A key responsibility of parents of children born in the United States and who are by dint of that fact nationals of the United States, is to ensure that they are also vested with the symbol of Dominican nationality — the Dominica Passport.”
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The policy clarifies the question of voting rights of Dominican nationals. Thus, it indicates that while the capacity to take part in the selection of government is an important right of the citizen, the right to vote is not automatic even for persons who are born and resides in Dominica. The right to vote is contingent on the citizen having reached the age of majority (eighteen years of age) and on having been duly registered in accordance with our electoral laws. Thus, there is a residency qualification, linked to the constituency in which registration is expected to be adhered. The policy provides specific encouragement for nationals in Diaspora to engage in activities that are likely to benefit the homeland. Thus, the policy provides encouragement for involvement in tourism, in the sale of Dominican produce and for the promotion of investments in Dominica. The policy clarifies the benefits that accrue to Dominicans who have decided to return home either to retire or to invest. Support is provided as well for those engaged in the preservation of cultural forms in the Diaspora. The policy acknowledges the Government of Dominica will ensure that all information pertinent to investment and procedures for relocation of returning residents, employment vacancies, and consultancy announcements are communicated to all Missions and posted on web sites for easy access by members of the Diaspora. In addition, government is committed to a policy of non-discrimination between domestic, foreign and Diaspora investors. They will waiver import duties on machinery, vehicles and materials used in the production of a goods and on materials used in construction or furnishing hotels and guest houses. Also the government will provide exemption from VAT for initial capital investments up to the time of commencement of operations. Finally, Government is committed to creating an environment that is conducive to retaining skilled Dominicans and to encouraging skills utilization on temporary and volunteer bases such as facilitate visiting medical teams to supplement the provision of health services. Hubert J. Charles was the keynote speaker at the Dominica Houston Association 15th annual Independence Ball, October 22, 2011.
One Love CARIBBEAN
Page 6
November 2011
NEWS FROM HOME - Caribbean News
End Tribalism and Garrison Politics. Create a Better Jamaica Create Policies to Manage the Economy and Create Jobs and Opportunities
OLC October 30, 2011: KINGSTON — Social responsibility and the economy were the main issues addressed by Prime Minister, the Most Hon Andrew Holness, in his inaugural speech after being sworn in by the Governor-General at King’s House, Sunday, October 23, 2011. Speaking to a huge crowd massed across the green, sun-drenched lawns of King’s House, Mr. Holness said that on the eve of the nation’s 50th independence anniversary, Jamaicans must commit to building on their achievements, correcting the errors and developing the courage and energy to chart new paths to success. “Today, I take responsibility for the direction of this country. Today, my generation must take responsibility for charting new pathways to fulfilling our destiny. Today, let us start a new ethos of responsibility in all Jamaicans for Jamaica,” the Prime Minister said. On the issue of social responsibility, Mr. Holness focused primarily on the need for consensus across party lines, reduced tribalism and garrison politics, or “better politics”, and increased support for vulnerable Jamaicans, including children.
stating that Jamaica is yearning for a new politics to emerge, which will allow citizens to express their conscience and make their choices on a ballot. “Zones of political exclusion are incompatible with freedom, and aspects of our politics are an affront to liberty. It is time to end garrison politics,” the West Central St. Andrew MP argued. Turning to the economy, the Prime Minister noted that Jamaica’s potential for prosperity has not been realized and the country has underperformed. The country cannot continue to borrow indefinitely, “as a palliative for short term gratification of social needs”, he cautioned. He said that the Government has developed a practical plan to gradually reduce the debt, while maintaining its support for the most vulnerable in the society. “The first strategy in borrowing less is getting more revenue, and the first strategy in getting more revenue is increasing the efficiency and simplicity of our tax administration and waiver systems,” he declared. He expressed the need for a “fairer, broader and less burdensome” tax system.
Former Jamaican Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, and the new Prime Minister Andrew Holness
also reduce waste, inefficiency, corruption and profligacy as part of expenditure management. Turning to investment and jobs, Mr. Holness said that the country was well on its way to sustainable and meaningful job creation.
“Let us be responsible for the education of our children, there is no reason why in modern Jamaica a child should leave school illiterate,” the former Education Minister said.
Another strategy in borrowing less was managing the expenditure, including the public sector wage bill, he said. He noted that Government is now in dialogue with the trade unions and other stakeholders, to come up with a consensus position on managing the wage expectations.
“We have set the necessary macro pre-conditions for investment and growth with stable exchange rates, stable interest rate and stable inflation. Our next task is to resolve the micro economic environment for business,” the Prime Minister said, expressing optimism for increased and sustained investments in Jamaica.
He urged the removal of the “garrisons”,
However, he said that Government must
“The people are central to all our develop-
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Monday October 24 2011 - Saint Lucia continues to receive a vote of confidence from reputable international agencies and authorities with respect to its economic performance. The latest development is the announcement today that the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation have ranked Saint Lucia first in the Caribbean for doing business. This determination was arrived at following completion of the 2012 Doing Business Report.
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Closing his speech, Mr. Holness insisted that Jamaica’s collective capabilities exceed its challenges, but only through participation these capabilities and this potential can be seized. “I know that a better politics which allows broad participation and honest conversation with the electorate will lead to better, more sustainable policies to manage our economy and create jobs and opportunities. This is how we create a better Jamaican: Better politics, better policies, better people,” he said.
St Lucia Receives World Bank Rating as Top CARICOM Island for Doing Business
The ranking by the World Bank is not isolated and follows similar positive pronouncements from other internationally recognized agencies. In May 2011, the Caribbean Information and Credit Rating Services Ltd (CariCRIS) made a determination to retain Saint Lucia’s Credit Rating within a rank of positive creditworthiness. This decision was based on the following factors:
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ment activities and the poor and vulnerable are the focus of our social support,” he maintained.
The Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) earlier this year provided its assessment of a 4.4% growth rate for the local economy during the year 2010. This rate ranked highest in the OECS and amongst the highest in CARICOM. An IMF Press Statement issued following a Country mission visit to Saint Lucia from August 2nd to 12th, 2011 also presented a positive assessment of Saint Lucia’s economy. According to the IMF statement: “St. Lucia’s economy recovered rapidly from the global crisis, supported by timely policy action by the authorities and a rebound in construction and tourism. The successive pronouncements by these reputable and well respected international agencies is certainly a firm statement and vote of confidence in the performance of the Government of Saint Lucia in the management of the economy of Saint Lucia in these challenging times.
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Eyewitness misidentification contributed and has been involved in more than 75 percent of wrongful convictions overturned by DNA testing. The Innocence Project
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November 2011
NEWS FROM HOME - Caribbean News
Six Cops Arrested for Killings in Trinidad Three months after a triple police killing sparked fiery protests in Moruga, jubilation reigned yesterday as news spread quickly that six police officers implicated in the deaths were detained for questioning. Up to late yesterday, official charges were not laid.
Police said another police officer was expected to surrender. At Indian Walk, Moruga, several residents expressed satisfaction with the arrests. “We did not expect this to happen at all...We thought it would be another cover-up by the police,” resident Patterson Bronson said. “But while we are happy, we want this investigation to go a step further. “We want them to find the person who hired the police to make this hit on innocent people.” He said since the deaths of Abigail Johnson, 20, her best friend, Allana Duncan, 27, and construction worker Keron Eccles, 29, life in the community was not the same. Eccles’ wife, June, now has to work to care for her children. Meanwhile, at Johnson’s home, her family also expressed satisfaction with the arrests. Grandmother May Johnson said Abigail was the sole breadwinner and caretaker. “She was the one who took care of me...I am suffering from arthritis and back injuries,” May said. “Since she died, I really suffering a lot.” Clutching her rosary and wiping away tears, May said: “I forgive the police... Nothing they do now will bring back my granddaughter. “I want to see the people who do that to my child,” she wept. She added that Johnson’s uncle, Francis, was still distraught. Francis, however, refused to comment, saying he did not have any details. “All I know is what I hear on the news, so I do not know anything for sure,” he said. “I would rather withhold my comment.” Another relative, Patricia Mitchell, said she wanted to see the faces of the people who allegedly shot Johnson and her friends. “I want to know if they have children and family...I want to see them when they go to court,” Mitchell said. Meanwhile, Director of the Police Complaints Authority, Gillian Lucky, who initiated investigations after the killings, said it was inappropriate for her to comment. President of the Police Social and Welfare Association, Sgt Anand Ramesar, said yesterday that he had no confirmation that any of the officers were charged. Saying he did not know the nature of the charges, Ramesar said this incident would weaken the morale of police officers. “Most times police officers work very hard and sometimes things may go wrong because of a multitude of factors often which are not the fault of the police,” he said. He said the association would continue to lend support to the officers. Allana Duncan, 27, of Duncan Village, San Fernando, Keron Fernando Eccles, 29, of
Island Toastmasters Went Head to Head
Abdul Ali OLC Caribbean Reporter
Puerto Rico was the host country to the Fall Conference of District 81 Toastmasters, held recently at the Embassy Suites, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The October 14th to 16th weekend conference was the District’s seventeenth bi-annual Toastmasters conference. Close to hundred Toastmasters from the Caribbean were represented at the conference from islands like Trinidad & Tobago, Haiti, Curacao, Barbados, St. Vincent, Bonaire, Grenada, St. Maarten, St. Croix, Tortola, Jamaica and Puerto Rico.
A source said, however, that Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard had given the green light to lay murder charges. Investigators said around 5 am yesterday, five constables, among them a female, and a corporal were arrested at their respective homes. They were taken to the Northern Homicide Bureau where they were interrogated for several hours.
May Johnson
Abigail Johnson Moruga Main Road, Moruga, and Abigail Johnson, 20, of Burton Trace, Moruga, were shot dead around 9 pm on July 22. It was alleged that they were travelling in a car driven by Duncan when it was reported that police officers of the San Fernando Robbery Squad intercepted the vehicle. Police reported that the occupants opened fire on the officers who returned fire, killing the three friends. Eyewitnesses later denied the police account, saying the three friends were innocent victims. A recording of the killings was reportedly provided to the police. The triple deaths later sparked outrage in the Moruga community and led to daily protests in which villagers called for justice, blocked roads and set fires. This article first appeared on the Trinidad & Tobago Guardian.
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Conference aimed at providing professional development training and creating a better understanding of the new toastmaster’s brand. Toastmasters were taken along an image-building journey and also one that focused on confidence-building and the use of the kinds of strategies and skills needed to be of influence to others. “A great brand has the power to change perception, influence preferences and command loyalty,” Distinguished Toastmaster, Eileen Wolfe said. District Governor and conference chair, Essie Gardner of Jamaica, told the conference participants that they were blessed to be a part of an organization that offers opportunities for the self development and the personal growth of its membership, all at the same time. Several training workshops were offered during the conference. These included ‘Time Management’ led by Advanced Communicator Silver and Competent Leader, Marlene Hall of Barbados, ‘Dealing with Difficult People’ led by Distinguished Toastmaster, Godfrey McAllister of Jamaica and ‘Under Construction’ led by Distinguished Toastmaster, Ruben Huertas of Puerto Rico. In addition, a number of communication training insights were offered to club officers and the District 81 leaders by Toastmasters Region Advisor, Cindy Cannon. Other highlights of the conference included a humorous speech contest, an evaluation contest and a banquet and awards ceremony.
During the banquet several clubs were presented with awards for their distinguished achievements over the last year. Nine Toastmasters participated in the humorous speech contest but in the end Jacqueline BlenmanBlackman of Guyana emerged as the winner with a speech that won the hearts of the audience. It was entitled, “Where is my husband?” Anthony Alleyne of Barbados, who has been in Toastmasters for just under two years, surprised many with his evaluation presentation and he emerged as an easy winner in that contest. Alleyne, who beat some nine other contestants for the top spot, was judged on his analytic abilities and the techniques he used to get his point across. Advanced Communicator Bronze Toastmaster, Sandra Bastian-Carty of St. Croix Toastmasters Club. With regard to the humorous speech contest, Blenman-Blackman was judged on speech development, audience response, originality of thoughts and materials, voice flexibility and volume and body language. One Toastmaster summed things up nicely when she said that the conference had given her a new lease on life and had helped her to begin to think about her legacy. She was referring to a speech made by Toastmaster, Rodrigue Osirus of Haiti, who posed the question, “What will be your legacy?” Needless to say, the question was one that left many Toastmasters thinking about their lives and the directions into which they were heading. Toastmasters International was formed in 1932 by Dr. Ralph Smedley. It has experienced significant growth over the years and now boasts a membership of over 270,000 members in over 13,500 clubs around the world. The Caribbean Territorial Council of Toastmasters was formed on February 15, 2003, at a conference held at the Terra Nova Hotel Kingston, Jamaica. Its tagline is “Toastmasters-where leaders are made.” Individuals interested in joining Toastmasters can go on line to www.Toastmasters.org for information about clubs in their area.
Trini Makes it Big
OLC, Oct 28, 2011 -- After showing a collection inspired by the sultry and easygoing vibe of the Caribbean that epitomizes island life’s quintessential, effortless sexy way of dressing, the Trinidadian designer Anya Ayoung Chee has been named the winner of Season Nine of “Project Runway”. Beating out fellow designers Joshua McKinley, Viktor Luna and Kimberly Goldson, Ayoung Chee was praised for her designs and their universal appeal by host Heidi Klum, judges Michael Kors and Nina Garcia, and guest judge, fashion designer L’Wren Scott.
“The palette and textiles of my collection were inspired by the colors and textures seen on my first deep sea diving experience off the coast of Tobago, a trip I took just days before I began creating my final collection,” said Ayoung Chee.
Ayoung Chee walks off with an editorial feature in Marie Claire magazine’s upcoming January issue, $100,000 from L’Oreal Paris to start her own line, a $50,000 technology suite from HP and Intel to enable her creativity and run her business and the opportunity to design and sell an exclusive collection on Piperlime.com. Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Kamla Persad-Bissessar extended congratulations to Ayoung-Chee for her bold and unique style and her courage and composure under intense pressure and scrutiny. Prime Minister said, “Anya is a fine example of the talent of the young people of Trinidad and Tobago. She has much to offer to the Region and the World through her artistic abilities.”
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Dominica Houston Association 15th Annual Independence Ball
November 2011
Jounen Kweyol in Baytown
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November 2011
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Member of the St. Kitts Nevis Association of Houston welcomes Commissioner of Police in the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, C. G. Walwyn, to Houston.
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HISTORY IN PHOTO
Former Dominica Prime Minister Dame Eugenia Charles was the Caribbean’s first woman prime minister. Dame Eugenia was best known outside of Dominica for her staunch anticommunism during the last years of the Cold War in the Caribbean and, as Chairman of the OECS, for leading the invitation to the United States government under President Ronald Reagan to invade Grenada in October 1983. For this she was often referred to as ‘The Iron Lady of the Caribbean’.
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EDITORIAL
TRAVEL CONNECT
Vacation Layaway Plans Are Back when going through a travel advisor since many promotions are not available online to the general public.
All These Single Ladies No Viable Single Men “traditional” marriage as society’s highest ideal.” But before jumping up either to celebrate or to defend against this challenge, let’s look at some of her findings.
Terry Layne Staff Writer
In mid October 2011, I was captivated by a segment on Nightline (ABC13/TV) covering a problem of single, adult, AfricanAmerican women in the United States of America. Actually, the footage included excerpts from a book entitled, “Is Marriage for White People?” What an interesting title, I thought to myself! Not only did I find the story a bit catchy, but it also included an urging from the author that the 70% of adult, single, African-American women should begin seeking marriages and meaningful relationships with men outside of their own race. Really, I wondered! And that’s not all! The author, Ralph R. Banks, was himself, an African-American law professor from Stanford University. I must admit that I initially felt threatened, as though I was listening to an indictment against all men of African lineage. But as I listened and looked at a young AfricanAmerican woman in her 30’s seriously “interviewing” potentially “viable men” of other races, I realized that we were dealing with a pretty serious situation across the social sphere. What happened to all the single men? Certainly, this wasn’t a new problem to me. But I guess what was new about it was the public and earnest manner in which the African American woman sought after “viable men” outside her race. They weren’t chasing after her; she was after them! So that caused me to stop and really think about this problem of non-available men. My guess is that most generalist spectators could accurately identify to a couple of reasons to explain this situation, beginning with the historically alarming rate of incarceration of African-American men. But the more careful observers would find that the issue of non-available men was both historical and global in nature and transcendent to the African-American community. It is really a global problem with historical precedents that viable men will not always be available for heterosexual romance and marriage. Kate Bolick reported on this topic of nonavailable men in the Atlantic Magazine of November 2011. In fact, she took the argument to the level of challenging us to “embrace new ideas about romance and marriage; and to acknowledge the end of
Looking at the problem with contemporary eyes, we are now seeing a generation of women, who represent a maturing wave of feminist thinkers…a generation of women raised by feminists mothers, who coached them through a paradigm of college first, career next, then marriage, only if you want it. Not only was marriage a tertiary consideration, but it needed to be with a man who was her “equal” in more ways than one. Along with this philosophical orientation to life came a relaxation of sexual mores. Premarital sex with any or all of her dating partners was not scorned as in the pre-sexual revolutionary years of the 1950’s. Well, one observation made by Bolick in her study was that as women were climbing higher in educational achievement and building careers; men were inversely falling behind. So we have a scenario where women were arriving to the top of their stairs, only to find a room sparsely filled with men who didn’t “measure up” to expectations. So this impacts marriage right at the front end today. But there is also a historical perspective the evolution of marriage. Stephanie Coontz, a social historian conducted a study covering the habitual arrangements of human beings from our days of hunting and gathering up until the present. According to her findings, marriage had been essentially an economic and political contract negotiated between two people and monitored by families, church, and community. The arrangement called for collaboration between the two people to successfully manage a farm or a business. So it was as important to select mates based on skills, resources, money management, and potential to contribute to the farm or business, as the case would be. It was envisioned to be a true partnership in entrepreneurship. Hmm! How did we get to this stay at home person anyway? Personality and attractiveness were also important; but not singularly. It was not until the 1700’s that labor became sharply divided along a line separating wage earning men on one side and unpaid women, who maintained the household and took care of the children. In fact, it wasn’t until the late 1600’s that the value of women’s contribution to the economy of the family was openly recognized. But we can see the power arrangement taking shape in western relationships around who earns the money. (This may not have been the anthropological beginning of the gender-based power play between the sexes, but it marks a time when this country was taking shape and setting up the order of social operations, according to the founding communities.) And so it was the arrangement of marriage was complex and varied, according to the “teams” that were “consentingly picked and formed.” An important observation made in the study was that it was not until the post-war years of the
November 2011
Leslie Richardson Staff Writer
With the holidays just around the corner, I’ve noticed several retailers are advertising that layaway plans are back. Widely popular in the 1970’s, layaway is an easy way to do holiday shopping without using credit. Instead, a modest down payment is required and weekly or monthly payments are due in order to get the merchandise just in time for the holidays. What many people don’t realize is that a vacation has always been available by layaway. Although the travel industry doesn’t use the term ‘layaway’, it has always allowed travelers to place a modest deposit and make payments over time. Complete vacation packages with airfare and hotel often require a deposit as low as $150 per person. Cruise deposits vary by cruise line and length of cruise with 3 night cruises requiring on average of $100 per person and 7 night cruises requiring $250 per person. Sometimes, tour companies, cruise lines, or travel agencies may have a special promotion offering an even lower initial deposit. These programs are always available from professional travel advisor but may not be available from online travel companies. Prices are usually competitive if not better
Once paid, the initial deposit locks in a traveler’s rate so if the price increases, the reservation is safeguarded. If the price drops after the initial payment, a traveler may be able to get a rate adjustment depending on the cruise line or tour company. (With land packages, rate changes are only allowed when trip insurance was purchased at deposit.) The policies vary by tour company and cruise line, so it’s best to ask about the details for the ‘what if’ situations before any money is paid. After the required minimum deposit is made, passengers are free to create their own ‘layaway’ program as long as the balance is paid no later than final payment due date. Typically, the outstanding payment is due anywhere from 45 to 90 days prior to departure date depending on the tour company or cruise line. Without question, the best vacation ‘layaway’ plans are for those vacations that are planned early, well outside of final payment due date. The farther out a trip is planned, the longer a traveler has to pay toward it and the more flexible the payment arrangements can be made. In essence, buying a vacation for a loved one can be one of the best holiday gifts ever given or received. Unlike traditional gifts that have a limited shelf life, expiration date, or depreciating value, the gift of travel has the ability to create memories and experiences that friend and families share for the rest of their lives. Leslie Richardson is a Master Cruise Counselor (MCC) and Franchise Owner with Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Services Agency. She can be reached at (713) 491-4989 or www.jetsetterscruises.com.
Panama Canal Expansion Project at the Pedro Miguel Locks. Paraiso community North of Locks exit and Pedro Miguel community is East of the Locks. The planned expanded area at the Locks is marked by solid line on the left.
1950’s that a majority of American families were able to live comfortably off a single salaried household. Clearly, that level of comfort was dependent on other sociological factors including race. Looking at where we are today, Coontz doesn’t see that marriage is falling apart, as we commonly hear from generalist spectators. What she found was that “traditional marriage” was being radically transformed in unanticipated ways, and that our current attitudes and arrangements for marriage are unprecedented. I’ll look at some additional
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factors in part two of this article. But we have moved from what is happening in the case of African-American women seeking meaningful relationships with men outside of their race to a broad summary of parts of the social evolution taking place in this country. In general agreement, we see can see that the phenomenal changes have a different impact on different communities within the nation. Nevertheless, on face value, it is apparent that these changes are pervasive and far-reaching in nature. So we will look further at this situation before making early conclusions.
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November 2011
DIASPORA AN INSPIRATIONAL MOMENT Encouragement from the Word of God
Remember Who You Are
By Charmaine Bailey Staff Writer “Identity” is a common buzz word today as major efforts are made and systems put in place to protect individuals from identity theft. Twenty years ago it was hard to imagine such an abstract concept being stolen, but now it has become the thing to fear even more than the theft of material belongings. It is an intangible reality that encompasses one’s individuality, distinctiveness and personal details and represents the essence of one’s uniqueness and who one is. It is crucial for folks to know and be confident about who they are and have a positive sense of self. It is not uncommon to hear news reports of children of celebrities, royalty and heads of state who forgot about their position or station in life and publicly behaved as if they were underprivileged and (in the case of royalty) “commoners”. Oftentimes these “poor” privileged folks were either tired of their status or they temporarily forgot who they were. Some people are confused about who they really are and experience an identity crisis, leading to social, mental and emotional dysfunction. This is sometimes true of those who are in Christ. As we go through life’s experiences
Linda Sealey-Cipriani Trinidad
Dennis Warner St. Kitts
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Panama, America, and the Caribbean Houston Panamanians Celebrate Independence
By Terrance Layne Staff Writer
it is possible to become so distracted, downtrodden, defeated or distraught that we also forget who we really are and thus experience our own identity crisis. Sometimes it’s because we did not know who we were in the first place. (This brings to mind the story of the prince who grew up with paupers and had no idea that he was actually the heir to the kingdom).
OLC, November 1, 2011 -- On November 3, 2011 the Republic of Panama celebrated its 108th anniversary of sovereign independence as a nation. The Houston community and friends salute the Consul General of Panama in Houston, Alvaro Enrique Dutari Ferrari and staff at the Panamanian Consulate on this special national occasion.
It is important to understand one’s identity in Christ. The Scriptures clearly describes who we are in our relationship with Christ and also assure us that no outside force can change that (Romans 8:38-39). God cares about us as individuals; the very hairs on our heads are numbered. There is no condemnation for us when we do wrong but rather, there is an open invitation to confess and the promise of our Father’s forgiveness when we do. We are sons of God, loved and accepted. We are heirs with Christ; we share His divine nature. That’s our true identity. (I John 3:1-2 and others)
In fact, this celebration also marks the three year countdown to 2014, when Panama will celebrate 100 years of the opening of the Panama Canal to commercial traffic. It will also be the year of completion of the Canal Expansion Project currently in progress. At that time, the Panama Canal will be able to service much larger ships with greater cargo capacity, giving way to increased maritime trade with Houston Port and other sea port cities around the world. So we are celebrating this Independence Day 2011 with great expectations for future economic growth, not only in Panama, but also in Houston and the Gulf Coast Region as well.
No matter what circumstances you are facing, you have a Father who cares and upon whom you can call any time, any place and in any situation, no matter how bad things may be. Your identity never changes, can never be stolen or lost and there is no need for confusion or crisis. Explore the Bible and discover or remind yourself of what God says about you. And never forget who you are! Prayer: Thank you Father that I have an identity that no one can steal. Help me to always remember that I am your child; that makes me royalty and therefore I’m strong. Help me to always remember who I am.
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Andrea Marshall Barbados
Andrea Jean-Baptiste St. Lucia
Errol Anthony Wilks Jamaica
Marilyn Douglas-Jones Jamaica
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The City of Houston is positioned to become a major port of call and geographic distribution point for the anticipated increase in goods and cargo entering and leaving the United States of America (USA) via the Panama Canal. This translates into endless economic opportunities for those visionaries who dare to risk in businesses. “If you can see it, then you can be it” becomes the guiding principle. We know, for example, that Home Depot and Wal-Mart Stores already have built distribution centers here in the Houston area. But I’m not just talking about major investors. Clearly, economic growth opportunities are potentially global and should not be limited in scope to big businesses, or even to Panama and the USA. We have the human resources already in place. The ties between Panama and the United States go back to 1903 when the USA as-
Caribbean worker came between 1907 and 1914 to build the US-run construction of the Panama canal.
sumed a protectorate role over Panama in establishing its independence from Colombia. Today, Panama is positioned to become a major player in world trade as an independent and sovereign nation. We know by historical accounts that there is hardly a Caribbean nation, whose citizens didn’t migrate to Panama to participate in the construction of the Panama Canal. Three-quarters of the 50,000 workers who built the canal were Afro Caribbean migrants from the British West Indies. Thousands of Afro-Caribbean workers were primarily recruited from Jamaica, Barbados, St. Lucia, and Trinidad. Today, the are large Afro-Caribbean community areas such as Colon, Cristobal and Balboa, in the former Canal Zone, Rio Abajo area of Panama City, and Bocas del Toro on the Caribbean coast. So, it is on this premise, that I invite the greater Caribbean community of Houston to envision all possibilities of participating in the anticipated “economic after party” of the Canal expansion, both individually and collectively. We were all there when it started, and we all ought to be there when things get to “the next level” in 2014.
Yvonne Clark Jamaica
Beverly Ford Jamaica
Kim Gaitan Dominica
Original Dragon Jamaica
Cristal Wilson St Lucia
Ina Foster Jamaica
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SUGARCANE ALLEY - Open Editorials
November 2011
SHARING WITH YOUR GIRLFRIENDS Sisterhood or Crabs in a Barrel
Dzifa Job Staff Writer
Sharing with friends. This is what sisters are supposed to do but let’s be real, that’s not always the reality of our interaction with our girlfriends. Fact: Not all of your girlfriends will be happy that you went on a ‘bess’ date, or that the guy you’ve been dating for months wants to get serious. In fast-paced, cutthroat cities like New York, good friends can be hard to find. You learn quickly to cherish the girlfriends who drink with you, dish out fashion advice, and listen to your endless complaints about the opposite sex. It may be human nature to instinctively share our joy and excitement with those closest to us, but as a single woman living in New York, I sometimes question the wisdom of keeping my girlfriends up to date on the latest happenings in my “love life.” This may be because single women in cities like New York are fed a constant stream of dour news about how slim our prospects for marriage are. Coupled with our own dating horror stories and those we’ve heard first-hand, it’s easy to understand how some women in this environment turn into “Debbie Downers” when it comes to love and relationships. These individuals may claim that their pessimistic statements are made out of genuine love and concern, but personally I don’t think there’s any excuse for ‘crab in a barrel behavior’ among girlfriends. One of my closest friends who I’ll refer to as CC, recently agreed to do long-distance with a London-based guy. He’d been wooing her since they met nine months prior in New York, and she was initially skeptical of his intentions because he was only going to be in the city for a few months. To his credit he didn’t let the distance faze him. He called; he texted and he bought her a plane ticket to London. When she agreed to be his girlfriend, my immediate response was “Yay! It’s about darned time.” Another girlfriend who is undoubtedly a Debbie Downer was far less cheery about the situation. Her first comment was – “Well he’s in London” as if my home girl could somehow forget that obvious fact. This was then followed by, “did he request the Facebook relationship change or did you? I want to know who initiated that.” When CC didn’t respond to this pointed question Ms. Downer said, ” Well I’m not going to talk to you about it because you’re not going to like what I have to say. It’s really none of my business who you date but if he’s going to be visiting us, I don’t think he should stay more than three days.” You’re probably thinking bitter much right? That was my first thought too before I said,
“misery really does love company.” In fact I’d been going through something similar, though far less toxic with my own girlfriends. There was muted excitement over my recent dates with an older guy who insisted on doing the dishes after I made us dinner, and didn’t mind holding my oversized handbag saying, “it’s clearly heavy and nobody in their right mind would look at me and think I’m gay.” If his age was red flag number one, it didn’t help that he had three dogs and no kids. Maybe the dogs were his family so he didn’t need any, and why was I even considering dating someone who was more than five years older than me – was I looking for a father figure? Part of me understood their concern; but I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was now practically impossible for women to help each other savor a good moment without passing judgment. Should we really push our friends to worry about what was coming next, or where something was going after four dates? Relationships are challenging enough as is. I’m not sure it’s healthy for us to actively discourage a friend from having one based solely on our own negative experiences. The older I get and the longer I stay single, the more open I am to taking things one day and one date at a time. I have also come to the conclusion that this is not something I can, or should try to share with my girlfriends. Friends may mean well, but it is entirely possible that their questions and advice will do nothing more than reinforce your own anxieties about men and relationships. Stress is contagious, and talking to my girlfriends was starting to stress me out. The only unassailable fact I know about love and relationships is that there is no cookie cutter way to create one, so I told my friends thanks for the advice but at this point I was really just going to go with my gut. All relationships even platonic ones are fraught with challenges. No one wants to see a true friend hurt, but the safety net of friendship should never become a prison cell. True friends should help each other find the good in bad times, and celebrate joyous moments however fleeting they may seem. Life happens. True friends not only recognize this, they understand that the best thing they can do is share your joy and support you without judgment. That’s what sister’s do.
Let’s Talk About Suicide
history of suicide, family violence, physical or sexual abuse, access to firearms in the home, chronic physical illness, and exposure to the suicidal behavior of others. Some warning signs that a friend of family member may be considering suicide as a way of alternative to life are:
Thecia Jenkins Staff Writer “Hope is grief’s best music.” - Anonymous We all have those days that we mentally check out and just momentarily wish we could disappear or be removed from current situations and circumstances. However, no matter how stressful it becomes, suicide is not the an appropropriate response to dealing with the daily stressors of life. Suicide is a mental health issue that is extremely traumatic for the surviving friends, family members, and the community. It is the process of purposely ending one’s own life. The way societies view suicide varies widely according to culture and religion. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports, one suicide occurs every 15 minutes; almost 100 suicides a day and more than a million people attempt to take their own lives each year. Statistically, suicide is the third leading cause of death for youth ages fifteen to twenty-four. Moreover, there are four male suicides to every female suicide. It is an issue that is often not discussed and is shrouded in feelings of shame and guilt for those left behind. Suicide may be preventable when we are aware of the risk factors associated with it. They may be present in an individual’s life leaving them hopeless or feeling not in control of their life. These factors include previous suicide attempts, family history of mental disorders or substance abuse, family
• Always talking about death. •Making statements such as “it would be better if I wasn’t here” or “I want out”. • Taking risks such as running red lights or driving fast. • Losing interest in things they once cared about. • Change in physical appearance or hygiene practices. • Making amends and saying goodbye to family and friends. • Giving personal items away. • Sudden changes in mood: going from extremely depressed to very happy. If someone is expressing suicidal ideation/ thoughts, please be extremely cautious if there is a past history of attempts. If you recognize these signs in a loved one or friend, encourage them to talk to you or a professional such as clergy, counselor or psychiatrist. Too often thoughts and statements about suicide is an individual’s way of saying “I have exhausted everything I know to do to help myself and I need help from outside.” For those who have experienced the actual loss of a loved one as a result of suicide, please remember, it is not your fault. Ultimately, the decision to take one’s own life is a personal decision based on their personal pain. In the aftermath of losing a loved one, it is important to seek counseling for yourself and those connected to the deceased. It is a time to come together as family, friends and community to encourage one another and make the commitment to openly talk about life stressors and situations; and develop support systems. Community resources for family and friends may be accessed through the United Way’s help line 2-1-1. Suicide hotline is 1 866-9704770.
Little Known FACTS...
Almost 70 percent of high school students are not getting the recommended hours of sleep on school nights, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published online by Preventive Medicine. Insufficient sleep is associated with a variety of health-risk behaviors, including physical inactivity, drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, fighting, and being sexually active. Advertise Your Business in OLC. Call 281-769 2253
November 2011
HEALTH AND WELLBEING
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nica, which is part French/Creole, going to the market daily to purchase fresh produce and fresh meats and fish is part of the culture, a way of life. This is where you meet friends and catch up with the latest news. The foods are picked the day before or the animals are slaughtered the very morning. Those foods are fresh – not preserved with anything and are cooked right away.
Marcelline Chitolie Staff Writer
I received many emails from you on my article on Mediterranean Diet. This month, I want to highlight some international customs which we can incorporate in our daily lives. Let’s begin and as the French would say “Bon Appétit et Avoir une bonne vie” Have a good appetite and have a good life. Mexico – Eat their traditional foods Mexico is our neighbor and their foods have gotten a bad rap - that it is fattening. However, traditional Mexican dishes are fresh, flavorful and good for you, too. Of course, we are not referring to fried enchiladas, cheese soaked nachos, fried quesadillas and overstuffed burritos that are synonymous with Mexican food here in the US. These foods are served at fast food restaurants and do not represent traditional foods. For healthy traditional Mexican foods visit a real Mexican Restaurant. Their traditional foods are high in legumes, vegetables and uses meat sparingly. The food is also cooked with olive oil or charbroiled baked and steamed – not fried and processed. Skip the heavy sauces and creams, when making your favorite Mexican meals at home. Use lots of herbs and spices, cilantro, chili peppers and limes. Even though, avocados, which are utilized as the base for guacamole, are high in calories from fat, they are full of healthful nutrients and should be enjoyed. Tomatoes are also used frequently in Mexican meals. France - Love of wine The French loves their wines. Research has shown that cultures that include wine in their daily living may be on to something. Red wine is rich with powerful antioxidants like flavonoids and resveratrol. Numerous studies show that these grape compounds may slow Alzheimer’s disease and cut the risk of ulcers, some cancers, arthritis, asthma, and hypertension. This might explain why the French, who eat a high-fat diet and smoke more than Americans, have lower rates of heart disease than we do. Vive le vin! With all that good food, the French have been able to remain slim; one of the secrets is that although the food is rich, they eat very small portions. They exercise and do a lot of walking. They also believe in eating fresh produce. Caribbean - Eating Fresh Produce/Meats In some of the islands, such as the French islands of Martinique, Guadeloupe and Domi-
Fruits are picked the very day; they are so fresh that you can smell the sunshine on them. You can incorporate those eating habits by driving around and discovering your farmers market that sell fresh produce. It is worth it not only for the excellent taste, but it is healthier to eat foods in season. Herbs, spices and traditional medicines are also sold in the market. In the Caribbean, the fishermen go fishing early in the morning, and by early afternoon, they are back with his catch at the market. The fish is cleaned seasoned, fried or steamed, and ready for the plate; all within a few hours. The taste will be completely different from what you are used to. Tokyo, England, and Japan - Drinking Tea These are all tea drinking countries and we can learn a thing or two from them about tea drinking. Green, black and oolong tea contain antioxidants called polyphenols. Research indicates that drinking tea may protect against cancer, heart disease and strokes. Experts recommend two or four cups per day. Tea has less caffeine than coffee. It is calorie free unless you add sweetener or milk. It increases your metabolism, protects against cancer, bolsters your immune defenses and protects your bones. It also may reduce your risk of heart attack and strokes. Millions of people around the world drink tea. What are you waiting for “Have a cuppa?” Spain, Latin America, and South Asia - Siesta It is common in many parts of the world to take a siesta after lunch, which is the traditional daytime sleep in Spain. And through Spanish influence, of many Latin American countries has adopted that practice. A midday snooze is more than an indulgence. It can actually improve performance and mental alertness. In a study conducted by NASA, flight crews who were allowed to nap for 40 minutes were more alert and performed better on long haul trips than those who did not nap. So go ahead and take a “power nap” even though it is only on weekends. Mediterranean and S.America - Family Time Family meals are important in those cultures. It is usually dinner, where the whole family sits down and family life is preserved and honored. Some have Sunday lunch every week with children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Everyone knows that there are no excuses for not coming to dinner. The cooking is usually shared and dinner can last for hours, where everyone including the grands contributes to the conversation at the table. By strengthening family ties, we are also strengthening the community – the Country.
The Mouth
Page 13
A Window To Your Overall Health By Dr. Ka-Ron Y. Wade Medical Editor Oral health cannot be separated from general health. Oral problems, with your gums, teeth and/or tongue, could be indicators that serious health troubles may be lurking beneath the surface. It’s critical to pay attention to any and all signs or symptoms of mouth disease. If your mouth is causing you even the slightest discomfort, or you’re having trouble cleaning your teeth and gums, it is time to make an appointment to see your dentist. One common, yet frequently overlooked oral issue is bleeding gums. Many people ignore inflamed or bleeding gums; they sweep it aside thinking it is the result of brushing or flossing. The truth of the matter is that bleeding or inflamed gums is one of the body’s clearest signs that something is awry. Think of the gums as being similar to the skin on your body. If you developed an open sore every time you wash your hands, you would likely be very concerned and take immediate action to address the issue. The gums should be tended to with an equal amount of attention and care. Besides plaque build-up, there are several reasons for bleeding gums. These include pregnancy and hormonal changes, excessive stress, smoking, a challenged immune system, disease and illnesses, such as cancer, HIV. diabetes, and more. And it’s not just about the bleeding gums alone. When you allow your gums to bleed chronically, your entire circulatory system is vulnerable to the harmful bacteria in the mouth. If the bacteria gains entry into your bloodstream, it can cause a number of problems. The bacteria can bond to platelets in the blood and cause clots, which can lead to heart attacks, stroke, even dementia. As bleeding gums go untreated, inflammation of the mouth can result in the inflammatory process, setting up in other areas of your body and vital organs, such as the brain and
Dr. Ka-Ron Y. Wade, DDS
blood stream, possibly resulting in death. The bottom line is that good dental health is essential to good overall health. Pay attention to clues that your mouth is giving you and follow these tips to be the healthiest you can be. Brush & floss at least twice a day. Avoid fatty & sugary foods, as these can lead to plaque build-up Create a smile-friendly diet by eating foods high in fiber such as fruits and vegetables, which strengthens the hard and soft tissues of the mouth, and take calcium and Vitamin C supplements to promote healthy gums. Additionally, fruits and vegetables raise the PH in the mouth which creates a healthier environment for the good bacteria to thrive. Resolve to manage your stress levels. Too much stress can overload the mouth and affect the gums. Care for your teeth, gums and tongue like any other body part, brushing and flossing regularly. Have a professional cleaning at least twice a year. If you have sensitive or inflamed gums, or have had a good deal of dental work, you will need to see your dentist more than twice a year. Small oral care steps you make today can bring a healthier tomorrow.
Smokin’ Joe Frazier was the first man to beat Ali, “knocking him down and taking a decision in the so-called Fight of the Century at Madison Square Garden in 1971. He would go on to lose two more fights to Ali, including the epic ‘Thrilla in Manila.’ “ Now, the 67-year-old Frazier is in hospice care. He has liver cancer.
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Page 14
BWOY ... GO GET YUH MODDAH I LOVE MY ISLAND IN THE SUN A boy and his father from the Jamaica were visting Houston for the first time. The first time they went to a mall, they were amazed by almost everything they saw, but especially by two shiny, silver walls that could move apart and then slideback together again. The boy asked, “Ah whahdat, daddy?” The father (having never seen an elevator) responded, “Son, minevah see notting so inna mi life! Mi nuh know what it is!” While the boy and his father were watching with amazement, a fat old lady in a wheelchair rolled up to the moving walls and pressed a button. The walls opened and the lady rolled between them into a small room. The walls closed and the boy and his father watched the small circular numbers above the walls light up sequentially. They continued to watch until it reached the last number and then the numbers began to light in the reverse order. Finally the walls opened up again and a gorgeous, voluptuous 19-year-old woman stepped out. The father, not taking his eyes off the young woman, says quietly to his son, “Bwoy... Go get yuh moddah!”
ONE SUNDAY MORNING
Sunday morning in Dallas, Texas. The church is packed and the devil decides to pay a visit. The doors burst open; a black cloud rolls in with the devil in its midst. People jump out of the pews and run outdoors, screaming - all except for two people. One is the Pastor, and the other is a Grenadian. Satan is a bit perplexed. He points to the Pastor and says, “You! I can understand why you didn’t run away! You are in your Lord’s house. You preach against me everyday and you aren’t afraid of me.” But you (points to the Grenadian), why didn’t you run out scared like everyone else?” The Grenadian crosses one leg over the other and replies, “See one, see de other! I been married to you sister for 36 years!”
By Denise Smith-Lewis
O Lawd! Ella gal, you did hear de news? Poor Miss Genie up deh, she so confused. She tried so hard fo bring up her son; Working from morning, till night come; He didn have no Father, so she was the only one. Now like tree chop from de roots, all her dreams gone dung! You did know Doctor Bailey? de lady from Gunthropes? Well is she las boy, who Miss Genie boy shoot up! Gal when me hear bout it, me heart nearly drop. Like everything in me constitution jus come to a stop. And me drop down pun de pavement wid one big plop! Now police gone with Miss Genie boy; he gone go lock up! Is wat happen to dem young people in dis here land? Why deh can’t play like we use to, in a Chin Chin band? Remember how we enjoy ourselves and frolic in the sand? Now deh behaving bad, like deh some kinda brigand; And we, fraid fo straighten them out, wid one back hand. But you see dem children God give me, me nah mek nuh excuse! Even if dem international people say, to hit is abuse. Well deh can say wa dem want, deh can go ahead and accuse; For de good book says to train the children, and is de rod, dat we must use. So nah bodder with dem, fo them counsel you betta refuse. O Lawd, my beloved country, so beautiful, so tranquil, so sweet! I remember how we would hug up we friends, when we meet. And boy and girl did have dem own special way fo greet! Now nearly everyday some poor modder crying, de next one buying wreath. Because deh children killing off dem one another in de streets. But why all these killings, and whe deh get dem guns? Fo hold up so many people? Everybody even police, on the run! O me heart is bleeding, for I love my island in the sun. Where I use to play and play and have so much fun. Lawd like dem good times gone, like dem good times dun… O me soul churn up within me for my lovely, little nation! Too much fighting and killing, and political separation; We are accustomed to live be loving, and not all this vexation. But like human decency and self respect gone on vacation; People we got to rise up and change this bad situation! We haffu stop all dem rapes! Treat our women with dignity! For God sake jack is woman, woman bring all a we! We nuh need de drugs and guns, fa everything is not money. Look the stick that licking you, is the same one licking me; We betta change or wake up tomorrow, jus like Miss Genie.So hold you neighbour hand, leh we go mek de wrongs dem right. We go work fo heal de land, work from morning till night. For this land a fo awe land, we pride and delight. We mus teach our children well, so their days can be bright. And make we island beautiful, beautiful in our sight. Oh from you, my beloved country, I would never, ever part; From de day me modder birth me, me love for you did start. So leh me play me warri, and ride me donkey cart; Then drink me lickle bebrige and eat me bun and tart; For you me darling country, a de pride and joy a me.
November 2011
Virgin Islanders’ Thanksgiving
ROAST GOAT Ingredients 2-3 pound boneless leg roast 2-4 cloves garlic 1 tablespoon rosemary 1 tablespoon thyme 1 1/2 cups white wine peeled whole onions
CRUZAN POTATOES STUFFING Ingredients 3 lbs potatoes; 6 tbsp olive oil 3 tbsp butter; 1 medium onion, minced 1/2 stalk celery, minced 1/4 medium sweet pepper minced 1/4 tsp thyme; 1/2 cup tomato sauce 2 tsp parsley; Dash black pepper 3-4 tbsp brown sugar 1/4 cup milk; 1/2 cup raisins; 2 eggs
Direction Peel potatoes, boil in salt water, drain and mash. While potatoes are boiling, warm frying pan and add oil and butter. (Pan should not be too hot or butter with scorch). When oil is heated add minced onion, celery and sweet pepper. Cook over low flame until tender. Add thyme, tomato sauce, parsley, black pepper and sugar. Cook for about 3 minutes. Add this mixture to mashed potatoes and mix thoroughly. Add milk, raisins and eggs. The mixture should be a little more moist than mashed potatoes. If not sufficiently moist, add a little more milk and butter. Pour into a greased flat casserole dish, and bake at 325 degrees for about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Top should be golden brown when done. This comes from “Native Recipes,” the University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension cookbook of traditional Virgin Islands cuisine.
VI THANKSGIVING HAM Ingredients 1 (5 to 7 lb) fully cooked, half bone in ham Juice from two oranges; 1 tbsp whole cloves 1/3 cup packed brown sugar; 2 tbsp rum (optional) 1 tbsp honey; 1/2 tsp prepared mustard 8- pineapple slices (reserve juice)
Direction Insert knife into roast to create small pockets for garlic slices. Add garlic to taste (2-4 cloves). Place roast and herbs in dish (or pot or bag). Add 1 ½ cups water or substitute white wine for the water. If desired, add peeled whole onions, small whole unpeeled potatoes, and chopped carrots. Roast at 325F for approximately 1 ½ to 2 hours or until internal temperature reaches 145F for medium rare, or 160F for medium. Remove from oven, allow to rest, slice thin and serve with cooking juices spooned over the meat. Left over juices and meat make a wonderful soup or stew. COQUITO Ingredients 1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk 1 (14-ounce) can condensed milk 1 (15-ounce) can coconut milk 2 egg yolks; Pinch salt 1 tsp cinnamon 1 cup Cruzan Rum Directions Place all ingredients in a blender and mix well. Store in a glass container, refrigerate and serve chilled.
Direction Preheat oven to 325 degrees Place ham in a baking pan or casserole dish Cover the ham with pineapple slices. Press whole cloves through the pineapple slices into the ham to secure them in place.
COCONUT SUGAR CAKE Ingredients 2 cups of sugar; ½ cup of water 1¼ cups of coconut; ½ tsp nutmeg ½ tsp cinnamon; 2 bay leaves, dried
Combine brown sugar, orange juice, rum (if desired), honey, prepared mustard and reserved pineapple juice; pour over entire ham. Cover tightly with aluminum, foil and bake 2 to 2 ¼ hours, basting halfway through and towards the end of the baking period.
Direction Mix together all the ingredients in pot. Cook slowly, stirring only occasionally to avoid sticking, until mixture form a soft ball when dropped in water that is room temperature. Remove from heat and beat a while. Drop by spoonful on cookie sheet that has been lined with waxed paper. Let cool to form sugar cakes.
In the last 15 minutes of cooking, remove foil and allow to brown.
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Page 15
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281-919-1517 valued above others, began in the cane fields From Page 3 ‘Light Skinned...” Tamara Bailey, on the other hand, is of the and with the rape of slaves to produce girls of mixed race who frequently became house view that the prejudice is endemic. slaves, mistresses and prostitutes. “Even your parents let you believe that you have to be a certain color… then the society The culture remains, she says, because “big also gives that impression and people point men want the browning girl with or without it out so often that you begin to believe it, brains or abilities. He wants a ‘gyal’ for his and want to do something about it,” the sex toy and as a generalized titillator to entice the customers who all have been social27-year-old said. ized to prefer light-skinned people.” Although she hasn’t done so herself, Bailey noted that particularly for young women, Challenging custom and beyond doing something often means bleaching. Witter is confident that his team of invesSimilarly, Carolyn Cooper, a noted cul- tigators will get the information it needs to tural commentator and university profes- pursue the case, although there have been sor, blamed the skin- bleaching epidemic few other challenges to local laws based sweeping the nation on “generations of co- on discrimination and no legislation that prohibit discrimination based on gender or lour prejudice”. race, aside from the constitution and specifi“If we really want to control the spread cally the new amendment. of the skin-bleaching virus, we first have to admit that there’s an epidemic of color “Prior to the Charter of Rights, the governprejudice in our society,” Cooper wrote in ment was the sole guarantor of fundamental rights, which meant that only servants or an article. agents of government could have infringed Skin bleaching is particularly prevalent the fundamental rights guaranteed by the among members of Jamaica’s poverty- Constitution. That’s no longer the case,” stricken inner-city communities, and despite Witter said. both the health ministry’s awareness campaigns about the dangers of bleaching, skin- Social commentators believe, however, that lightening products remain in high demand. while discrimination may not be promoted, it is definitely practiced. They point to a reAt least one popular entertainer, Adijah cent “Police Standing Orders” - the docu‘Vybz Kartel’ Palmer, has embraced the ment that outlines rules and regulations governing the force - banning braided hair and practise in deed and song. any form of locks, among other things. “Look on my face. The girls love my brown cute face. The girls love my bleach-out Jamaica’s corporate culture, they say, face,” Palmer, who launched his own line evolved from plantations, and today’s busiof skin care products, sings about his ever- ness community consists largely of the anlightening complexion and the reaction of cestors of the slave owners of colonial Jamaica. In fact, the biggest businesses have his female fans. their roots in slavery. Sociologists have argued that the preoccupation with bleaching, especially among Chin believes the situation will not change poor women, is a manifestation of self-ha- because “the brown people who have the tred and low self-esteem caused by poverty. money and make the rules” are the ones who Social commentator and women’s rights ac- “own the biggest companies”. tivist Glenda Simms believes much of the bleaching is due to the desire to be accepted. Others believe outrage will dissipate over time and offenders will remain anonymous, “They bleach so that they can be accepted despite the labour minister’s promise to in the front office of even the most disorga- “throw the book” at the perpetrators. It renized and rat- infested haberdashery down- mains, however the desire to erase the signs of blackness - the lips, nose, hair – that town or uptown,” she said. keeps the prejudice alive. In a Sep. 18 newspaper article entitled “Brownings, bimbos and other drivers of underdevelopment”, Simms argued that corCall 281-769 2253 porate culture, where light-skinned girls are
One Love Caribbean
MARY KAY
Friday, November 18, 2011 Scorpios Do it Better Avani Lounge 5711 Harwin Ave Houston, TX 77036
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