Caribbean American Weekly - Issue 156

FREE

A D.B.A. OF I.Q. INC.

ISSUE 156 VOLUME 22

July 14, 2022

SERVING THE CARIBBEAN AND HISPANIC COMMUNITIES!

Is Monkeypox a Pandemic? An Epidemiologist Explains Why It Isn’t Likely to Become as Widespread as COVID-19, But is Worth Watching It is not uncommon for there to be small outbreaks of monkeypox in Central and West Africa, but in the last few weeks, dozens of countries from other world regions have reported thousands of cases of monkeypox.

As an infectious disease epidemiologist, I’ve received many inquiries from colleagues and friends about whether a monkeypox pandemic will be the next big disruption to our lives. A disease is continued on page 17

BY KATHRYN H. JACOBSEN THE CONVERSATION

M

onkeypox is the latest global public health threat to make headlines. Most people who contract the monkeypox virus experience flu-like symptoms and a blistery rash that lasts two to four weeks, but a small percentage of infected people develop sepsis or other severe and potentially fatal complications.

Barbados’ Prime Minister Is Concerned About Crime ....10

Employment-based Adjustment of Status Applicants: Do’s and Don’ts ....13

BY CHRIS TOBIAS

Knowledge is Power when you use it!

Get the BEST Consultation!

Ask the Lawyer:

Guyana’s Contract with ExxonMobil Leaves Country Exposed to Risks ....2 Editorial credit: Ron Adar / Shutterstock.com

DiNapoli: New Yorkers Struggling to Pay Utility Bills, Attorney Figeroux Discusses Options

Call 855-768-8845

T

he devastating number of job losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant increase in the number of residential customers owing money to their utility companies, with one in eight customers in arrears as of March 2022, according to a report released today by State continued on page 7

Why Does Love Feel Magical? It’s An Evolutionary Advantage ....18

Jamaican Sandra Lindsay Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom ....3 State Comptroller DiNapoli. Editorial credit: OSC

Being a Paralegal Is a Great Career Choice! ....14

Brian Figeroux, Esq., Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association

Ways to Celebrate Summer, Saint Lucia Style ....16

Local 100 Secretary-Treasurer Earl Phillips Retired at 60, Gets Send Off to Barbados ....20

VISIT WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR THE LATEST CARIBBEAN NEWS, IMMIGRATION UPDATES, VIEWPOINTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MORE! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @CAWNYC!

CARIBBEAN NEWS ROUNDUP Caribbean Consulates Anguilla 845 Third Avenue New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-745-0200 Antigua & Barbuda 305 East 47th Street, Suite 6A New York, N.Y. 10020 Tel: 212-541-4117 The Bahamas 231 East 46th Street New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-421-6420 Barbados 820 Second Avenue, 5th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-551-4325 Belize 675 Third Avenue, Suite 1911 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-593-0999 Dominica 685 Third Avenue, 11th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-949-0853 Dominican Republic 1500 Broadway, Suite 410 New York, N.Y. 10036 Tel: 212-599-8478 Grenada 685 Third Avenue, Suite 1101 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-599-0301 Guyana 308 West 38th Street New York, N.Y. 10018 Tel: 212-947-5119 Haiti 815 Second Avenue,6th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-697-9767 Jamaica 767 Third Avenue, 2nd Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-935-9000 Martinique 444 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-838-6887 Montserrat 845 Third Avenue New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-745-0200 Panama 1212 Avenue of the Americas, 20th Floor New York, N.Y. 10036 Tel: 212-840-2450 St. Kitts & Nevis 414 East 75th Street, 5th Floor New York, N.Y. 10021 Tel: 212-535-5521 St. Lucia 630 Third Avenue, 7th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-697-9360 St. Maarten 675 Third Avenue, Suite 1807 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 800-786-2278 St. Vincent & The Grenadines 801 Second Avenue, 4th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-687-4981 Trinidad & Tobago 125 Maiden Lane, 4th Floor New York, N.Y. 10038 Tel: 212-682-7272 For more Consulate information go to www.cawnyc.com/directory

2

Gang Violence in Port-au-Prince Threatens More Than a Million Food-insecure Haitians

I

n addition to being hit hard by the global food and fuel crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in recent decades, Haitians have been subjected to devastating earthquakes, tropical storms, landslides and flooding, in addition to chronic lawlessness and impunity.

“The situation is spiralling out of control already,” said Jean-Martin Bauer, WFP Haiti Country Director. “Large parts of Port-au-Prince are controlled by gangs; the data we have, show that the situation over the past 90 days has gotten worse…based on what is a very vulnerable place, we already had one million people in this city who were acutely food insecure.”

Speaking via Zoom from Port-au-Prince, Mr. Bauer explained that between 150 and 200 gangs operate there, and that things were getting “worse by the day” for Haitians.

No-go zone “Since Friday there’s been fighting downtown in the port area, in Cité Soleil, and yesterday in La Saline, places that are very close to the port and also close to

where hundreds of thousands of very poor people live.”

These included a heavily pregnant woman who had to shelter on the floor of her home for an entire day, for fear of being caught in the crossfire during a prolonged gunfight, the WFP official explained. The next day, just as she was able to leave her house, someone set fire to it. She later gave birth and now lives in a centre for displaced people.

Recruited to fight According to two local youth-focused organizations, 13 per cent of the children surveyed in one troubled neighbourhood in Port-au-Prince, had been in contact with members of armed gangs who tried to recruit them.

“The context is gang violence, people are not able to work, people are not able to sell their produce and at the same time food prices are increasing,” Mr. Bauer said.

“And, Haiti is an import-dependent country so really at the forefront of what’s going on” – a reference to the fact that the Caribbean island imports 70 per cent of its food needs, and as elsewhere,

has suffered from the Ukraine-driven global food and fuel crisis.

“Inflation here has been running at 26 per cent,” the WFP official said. “Food inflation has been 52 per cent, this is according to the Haitian Government and the analysis of the food basket they do here.”

Aid solutions To continue to ensure that the vulnerable Haitians receive assistance outside the capital, WFP has resorted to using sea routes, rather than target-prone trucks.

“WFP set up a maritime service to bypass the gangs that are around Port-auPrince, so what we do is we send the trucks to the port, they board a WFPchartered ferry and that vessel goes either to the south or to the north, to ensure that humanitarian aid continues reaching all Haitians, no matter where they are.”

According to WFP, 4.4 million Haitians need immediate food assistance, representing almost half the population. The UN agency has appealed for $39 million to fund its assistance over the next six months. l —UN News

Guyana’s Contract with ExxonMobil Leaves Country Exposed to Financial and Environmental Risks

E

arlier this year, in its April 2022 World Economic Outlook, the IMF projected a nearly 50 per cent rate of economic growth for Guyana this year. Beyond 2022, the IMF said Guyana is expected to record a 34.5 per cent increase in 2023 and a 3.7 per cent increase by 2027.

“Guyana’s medium-term prospects are more favorable than ever before, with increasing oil production having the potential to transform Guyana’s economy.”

Between now and 2026, oil production offshore Guyana is expected to increase significantly. In the Stabroek Block alone, where a local affiliate for ExxonMobil has already commenced production, the oil reserves are estimated at over 11 billion barrels.

The IMF said that this amount of oil reserves is the third largest in Latin America and the Caribbean, and among the highest in the world relative to the country’s population size.

Higher oil prices and more discoveries of oil and gas could significantly improve Guyana’s long-term prospects, too.

Despite the foregoing however, the World Bank is not happy with Guyana over its offshore oil production arrangement with ExxonMobil and wants the Guyana Government to revisit its oil pro-

duction arrangement with ExxonMobil and has criticized the government for its performance in overseeing its massive offshore oil production project.

The result of this is that the World Bank has downgraded its rating of Guyana's oversight of the project. Despite this however, Guyana's “Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo does not want any interference from any quarter, and has made it clear that he does not welcome any outside reviews of the oil deal, including the reports issued by the internationally recognized Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, IEEFA. The World Bank review, however, makes it equally clear that the government of Guyana does not have the right protections in place. In their haste to move forward with drilling, the government and the oil companies have left the country and its people exposed to a series of pollution and financial risks, says the IEEFA. Only recently, Guyanese citizens filed the first constitutional climate case in the Caribbean to challenge fossil fuel production on the grounds that it exacerbates global warming and threatens human rights. The case, before Guyana’s Constitutional Court, claims that Guyana’s approval of a massive, ExxonMobil-led oil and gas buildout off the country’s coast violates the govern-

Guyana’s VP Dr.Bharrat Jagdeo

ment’s legal duty to protect the rights to a healthy environment, sustainable development, and the rights of future generations. The case reflects a growing concern within Guyana regarding the risks oil extraction poses on a national, regional, and international level.

Guyana is ExxonMobil’s largest oil development outside of the Permian Basin. The company is pushing to extract over 9 billion barrels of oil and trillions of cubic feet of gas from ultradeep wells off Guyana’s coast. Melinda Janki, who leads the legal team for the applicants, emphasizes the project’s global significance: “Guyana’s petroleum production is a potential 3.87 gigaton carbon bomb, putting Guyana at the forefront of the fight to save the planet from oil and gas.”l —WiredJA News Team

VISIT WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR THE LATEST CARIBBEAN NEWS, IMMIGRATION UPDATES, VIEWPOINTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MORE! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @CAWNYC!

Photo courtesy: Brooklyn Borough President Office

3

THOUGHTS

Jamaican Sandra Lindsay Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom

BY MATTHEW LIBASSI NORTHWELL NEWS During a special ceremony held at the White House on Thursday, July 7, President Joseph R. Biden bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Jamaican-born Sandra Lindsay, RN, DHSc, for becoming the first American to receive an approved Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine and her continued advocacy for public health equity.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made exceptionally meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace and cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. Sixteen others received the high honor with Dr. Lindsay in recognition of their accomplishments and advocacy to drive change. Dr. Lindsay is the first Jamaican-born Jamaican American to receive the medal.

“At 18 years old, Sandra Lindsay immigrated to Queens, NY from Jamaica to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse.

During the height of the pandemic she poured her heart into helping patients fight for their lives and to keep her fellow nurses safe. And when the time came, she was the first American to become fully vaccinated outside of clinical trials,” President Joe Biden said. “Sandra, as I told you before, if there are any angles in heaven, they are all nurses. Sandra’s vaccination card, hospital scrubs and badge are part of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History’s exhibit on COVID-19 and today she receives our nation’s highest civilian honor.”

Other honorees include gymnast Simone Biles, Fmr. Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, Olympic gold medalist Megan Rapinoe, Brigadier General Wilma Vaught and actor Denzel Washington. Among the recipients is fellow Long Islander, Father Alexander Karloutsos, pastor of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons in Southampton, who has counseled several U.S. presidents.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom was established in 1963; since then, more

TEAM My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. —Hosea 4:6 ublisher I.Q. INC. Managing Editor & Editor-in-Chief

Pearl Phillip Legal Advisor Brian Figeroux, Esq. Graphic & Website Designers Praim Samsoondar Kenrick Williams Feature Writers Linda Nwoke Victoria Falk Sandra Lindsay receives COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine.

Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

"The embodiment of courage and selflessness" than 650 medals have been bestowed.

Leading by example On December 14, 2020, the world watched as Dr. Lindsay, a critical care nurse, made history when she rolled up her sleeve and received the first Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Pfizer vaccine at Long Island Jewish Medical Center (LIJ-MC) in Queens, New York. Since then, Dr. Lindsay has been a vocal proponent of the need for vaccinations and has made it a personal mission to dispel medical misinformation and fight for equal health care access across the globe.

“During the pandemic, while working with my fellow nurses and colleagues on the frontlines, we waited for that sliver of hope – a vaccine – to help keep us going.

It was an honor to raise my hand and volunteer to take the vaccine,” said Dr. Lindsay. “I am beyond thankful to President Biden for recognizing that momentous day and my continued efforts to end vaccine hesitancy and promote health care for everyone, no matter where you live, who you are, or the color of your skin.”

Dr. Lindsay has more than 27 years of nursing experience, most of which in critical care. During the pandemic, Dr. Lindsay was responsible for leading a team of nurses in some of the sickest COVID-19 wards at LIJ-MC. Northwell Health, the largest health care provider in

New York, was the nation's epicenter of the pandemic in March 2020 and has since treated more than 300,000 COVID19 patients through all of its facilities, which include 21 hospitals.

"Sandra is the embodiment of courage and selflessness. That small brave act of getting the vaccine has rippled across the world and continues to leave a lasting impact,” said Michael Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell Health. “We are proud of Sandra and what she represents to our Northwell family and beyond.”

This is Dr. Lindsay’s second trip to the White House and meeting with President Biden. Last July, Dr. Lindsay was given the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Outstanding Americans by Choice recognition during a special naturalization ceremony.

Since the historic vaccine shot, Lindsay has worked tirelessly to spread a message to eliminate vaccine hesitancy in the U.S. and abroad. Last March, Dr. Lindsay met with the President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Abdulla Shahid, about the importance of vaccinating citizens of underserved nations.

Last year, Northwell Health and Dr. Lindsay donated items from the historic day to the Smithsonian Institute, including her vaccination record card, scrubs, employee identification badge and the now-empty Pfizer-BioNTech vial, along with other items. l

Contributors Jennine Estes Tarsha Gibbons Janet Howard Mary Campbell Travis Morales Chris Tobias Email info@myiqinc.com Telephone 718-771-0988 Website www.cawnyc.com

REAL ESTATE AGENTS WANTED: APPLY NOW! It's time to make a career choice that you will LOVE. Send your resume to info@equitysmartrealty.com

VISIT WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR THE LATEST CARIBBEAN NEWS, IMMIGRATION UPDATES, VIEWPOINTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MORE! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @CAWNYC!

4

CIVIL RIGHTS

Survivors and Immigrant Rights Organizations Submit Complaint Against ICE, Nurse and Private Prison Company Demanding Justice and Investigation into Stewart Detention Center

O

n July 13, four survivors of the Stewart Detention Detention Center (Stewart) in collaboration with the Black Alliance for Just Immigration, El Refugio, Georgia Detention Watch, Georgia Human Rights Clinic, Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights (GLAHR), Owings MacNorlin, LLC, Project South and the Southern Poverty Law Center, filed an administrative complaint against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and a male nurse employed by the country’s largest private prison company, CoreCivic, detailing a pattern of sexual assault and retaliation by guards for reporting repeated assaults against people who were detained at Stewart. The complaint details firsthand accounts from a group of survivors who were detained by ICE at Stewart from July 2021 to January 2022 and sexually assaulted by the nurse, while seeking medical care.

While in detention, two immigrant survivors notified Stewart officials of the nurse’s behavior. Both survivors submitted multiple reports and were repeatedly threatened with retaliation, legal action,

prison time, and prolonged detention.

Officers also withheld food from one survivor to discourage participation during internal investigations.

“I’m livid knowing that this man is still working at Stewart after having abused me and so many girls, even when the entire Stewart staff knew what happened,” stated Complainant Viviana Doe. “It scares me so much to see Stewart staff cover up to allow the abuse of so many women, and that the employee who sexually harassed me is still there, exposed to hundreds of women.”

The complaint was filed with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division, DHS ICE Detention Ombudsman, DHS ICE Atlanta Field Office and Stewart Detention Center. The four women, through counsel, also submitted licensing complaints against the Nurse with the Georgia Licensing Board seeking disciplinary actions for the nurse’s violations of the rules and laws governing his nurs-

ing practice. Advocacy organizations also filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for records related to medical care of persons in ICE custody at the Stewart Detention Center.

The allegations against the nurse form part of a series of complaints regarding medical abuse and reckless misconduct at Stewart and other ICE detention facilities. Stewart has long been at the center of multiple investigations surrounding its abusive treatment of immigrants in detention and is currently under investigation by the DHS OIG. Nationwide, Stewart has the highest reported number of deaths due to COVID-19 of any ICE facility, and the highest reported numbers of COVID19 cases in ICE detention centers throughout the country. Immigrant rights advocates and civil rights groups issued reports and letters, repeatedly calling for the closure of Stewart and release of people in detention. They highlighted Stewart’s improper use of solitary confinement, numerous deaths from suicide, horrific conditions, forced labor, widespread exposure to COVID-19, failure to follow pandemic response requirements,

medical neglect and racial discrimination.

Stewart also has been at the center of investigative reports on the use of force by staff of CoreCivic, the country’s largest private prison company.

“I can’t sleep just thinking about so many women being abused by this male nurse, and I don’t understand how they allow that man to keep working at Stewart Detention Center, after all the staff know he is a sexual offender,” stated Complainant Maria Doe. “Why do they continue to cover up his actions? For what purpose? How many more women must be victims of this corrupt center? All I want is for justice to be done and for this man to never abuse more women. They must stop violating the human rights of all women at Stewart. Enough of torturing us!”

ICE’s continued failure to provide safe and adequate medical care is left unchecked at Stewart. The call is for a thorough investigation of these allegations, the immediate closure of Stewart, release of people currently in detention, reparation, and a path to immigration relief in the United States.l

VISIT WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR THE LATEST CARIBBEAN NEWS, IMMIGRATION UPDATES, VIEWPOINTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MORE! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @CAWNYC!

Caribbean American Weekly- July 14, 2022

VISIT WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR THE LATEST CARIBBEAN NEWS, IMMIGRATION UPDATES, VIEWPOINTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MORE! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @CAWNYC!

Caribbean American Weekly- July 14, 2022

How to Get Rid of Your Stuff Recycling and proper disposal of harmful products is the law, and helps keep NYC clean, safe, and healthy!

Use our search tool at nyc.gov/HowToGetRidOf for help!

Stay informed!

Scan this code with your phone or visit nyc.gov/dsnynews to receive service and program updates by email.

nyc.gov/sanitation | call 311 NYCsanitation • NYCzerowaste

sanitation

HTGAD-0522: HTGRO AD 10X14 CAW 0522 VISIT WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR THE LATEST CARIBBEAN NEWS, IMMIGRATION UPDATES, VIEWPOINTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MORE! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @CAWNYC!

DIASPORA CONCERNS

7

Struggling to Pay Utility Bills/ continued from page 1 Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. More than 1.2 million customers statewide owed $1.8 billion with customers from New York City and Long Island comprising 60% of those in arrears and 68% of the amount owed.

In the first quarter of 2022, the number of customers behind on their bills fell by about 50,000 to 1.2 million while the total amount owed grew to $1.8 billion, an increase of close to $1 billion from March 2020. The average amount customers owed over this period doubled from $768 in March 2020 to $1,467 in March 2022.

“The pandemic’s effects continue to be felt in multiple aspects of life, including the elevated number of New Yorkers who continue to have trouble paying their utility bills,” DiNapoli said. “Failure to pay these bills may result in service shutoffs, which increases economic stress on families and can damage local economies by reducing household spending, leading to job losses. State lawmakers and the Public Service Commission have acted to provide meaningful relief to low-income customers through the Utility Arrears Relief Program and the Phase 1 Arrears Reduction Program and should continue to consider mechanisms to help utility customers that cannot pay their bills.”

DiNapoli’s report, includes: •Arrears by state’s largest electric and gas utilities; •Regional breakdown of residential customers and amount in arrears; and •Allocation of state funds and authorized cost recovery.

Caribbean American Weekly spoke to Attorney Brian Figeroux of Ask the Lawyer Radio Program (www.askthelawyer.us) about the mounting debt in the Caribbean community and how we can get out of it. Attorney Figeroux has over two decades of practicing bankruptcy law. In addition to being a lawyer, he has an education and experience in economics, accounting, and banking.

Figeroux explained, "There's a lot of debt that we have accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic. After the pandemic, the stock market is now a bear

market. Shares are going down, then going up, then down again. So, people are speculating based on what? Who makes a bad mistake? I'll benefit from it.

But most of us are not involved in the stock market unless we have a pension plan and professionals managing our monies or 401K plans, et cetera. Then there's inflation. Inflation means prices are going up. Prices are going up because of demand and supply, and there's not enough supply. Prices are going up because of the war in Ukraine. Prices are rising because the gas stations, Exxon, and other oil companies are increasing prices. They are not following demand and supply but are price gouging, meaning they are taking advantage of us. And nobody could save us, not even the President of the United States, President Biden. The only person who could save us is ourselves."

Getting Out of Debt Given everything, how do we get out of this rut? What happens when we accumulate debt? Answering those questions, Figeroux gave the following advice, "When do we deal with this issue?

Should we file debt consolidation? Debt consolidation is where you put all your debt into one pool, and you pay a monthly a month. It never ends. And then you complain that, hey, the debt is not going down. It's like a Chapter 13 bankruptcy where you consolidate it to your debt, and then you pay it back. In fact, The New York Times has an article that says that white lawyers tell black people and brown people to do a Chapter 13 bankruptcy rather than a Chapter 7. And as I just explained, Chapter 13 is like debt consolidation, and all of your guys are doing debt consolidations. And if you listen to some of the "best black radio stations," they have a lot of advertisements that say consolidate debt. And the answer is no. Do not consolidate your debt.

Please do not do a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. You only do it if you must. No attorney in their right mind who understands bankruptcy laws would recommend a Chapter 13 bankruptcy."

Understanding Your Legal Options Figeroux added, "They [lawyers] should tell you about the legal options, the benefits, and the disadvantages so that you continued on page 8

Creditors’ Harassments!

Lawsuits! Foreclosures!

Get the legal help you need NOW! Call 718-222-3155!

GET YOUR BANKRUPTCY CONSULTATION Documents Required: Save Your: *Home *Business *Car

*Health *Peace of Mind/Health *Marriage/Relationship

*List of debts *Your most recent tax returns *Correspondence from creditors *Lawsuit documents *Social Security and ID *List of assets

Filing a Chapter 7, 11 or 13 bankruptcy may be your only choice!!!

Call 718-222-3155 for a consultation today!

The Law Offices of Figeroux & Associates, 26 Court Street, Suite 701, Brooklyn, NY. Visit www.311bankruptcy.com VISIT WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR THE LATEST CARIBBEAN NEWS, IMMIGRATION UPDATES, VIEWPOINTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MORE! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @CAWNYC!

DIASPORA CONCERNS

8

Buying a House after Bankruptcy

BY JANET HOWARD

F

iling for bankruptcy doesn't have to be the end of the world. As time passes, and if you take steps to rebuild, you can be creditworthy again, even enough to qualify for a mortgage.

But repairing your credit isn't the only issue you face. Depending on the type of mortgage you're looking for, the law imposes certain waiting periods.

Credit Considerations The first issue is lifting your credit score while you're waiting to be eligible for a mortgage post-bankruptcy. You may be stuck with the bankruptcy appearing on your credit report for up to 10 years, and even longer if you apply for a loan or mortgage of more than $150,000, but you can take steps during this time to raise your score anyway. You might take out one or two secured credit cards and religiously pay on them every month. If you kept your car in your bankruptcy and redeemed the loan against it, stay current with these payments as well. The good news is that if your credit score was shaky before you filed for bankruptcy, it probably didn't have far to fall when your bankruptcy was reported. The difference might not be as bad as you think.

Federally Insured Loans Mortgage options exist for those with

less-than-perfect credit. FHA-backed loans are usually the easiest to qualify for because they accept lower scores. You're not taking out the mortgage directly from the Federal Housing Authority (FHA).

The FHA insures your loan; if you default and go into foreclosure, the FHA pays your lender the amount of your outstanding balance. The Department of Veterans Affairs also guarantees mortgages for armed forces veterans, service members, and surviving spouses. When you apply for a VA loan, the lender can ignore any bankruptcy discharges that are more than two years old.

The Waiting Periods Federal law says you must wait at least two years after your Chapter 7 discharge if you want to apply for an FHA loan. If your bankruptcy came about because of an unanticipated hardship that caused

your household income to drop by 20 percent or more, this can reduce the waiting period to one year. If you filed for Chapter 13, you don't have to wait for your discharge before you can get a mortgage. If your credit score is good enough, you can qualify after you've successfully made your Chapter 13 plan payments to the trustee for one year, but you must get approval from the bankruptcy court before you can take on a new debt. Loans that aren't guaranteed by the federal government have the longest waiting periods: four years after Chapter 7 and two years after Chapter 13.

Extra Efforts In addition to repairing your credit while you're waiting to be able to qualify for a mortgage, you can take other steps. Even if your income didn't drop by 20 percent or more prior to your bankruptcy, you can still provide proof of whatever happened that led you to file, and this might affect a lender's decision. Both the FHA and the VA typically want some sort of explanation for your bankruptcy in any event, but smaller private banks and credit unions may take your explanation into account, particularly if your income is good. If you can save some money while you're waiting, putting down a larger down payment on a house can tip the odds of approval in your favor.l

Struggling to Pay Utility Bills/ continued from page 7

can make the best decision. But they shouldn't be making decisions for you because some of these lawyers give you advice so that they can charge the most legal fees, unfortunately, especially when they don't look like you. And if you don't understand that, then it means that you don't understand black history. And you don't even understand the concept of Juneteenth. We celebrate our "emancipation," but we haven't been emancipated yet.

How do you handle all this debt and the pain that comes with it? How do you plan your future? The Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates has the experience to handle these issues. Get the best advice to make the right decision for you and your family. Visit www.askthelawyer.us or call 855-768-8845. The lawyer you hire does make a difference!l

Call 888-670-6791 26 Court Street, Suite 701, Downtown Brooklyn VISIT WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR THE LATEST CARIBBEAN NEWS, IMMIGRATION UPDATES, VIEWPOINTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MORE! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @CAWNYC!

Caribbean American Weekly- July 14, 2022

Avoid Fires!

Lithium-ion Batteries in Electronic Bikes and Scooters Can Cause Serious Fires Safe Usage

Safe Charging

Safe Storage

• Check that devices meet fire safety standards—look for the (UL) trademark.

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

• Do not place devices in direct sunlight—keep at room temperature.

• Do not block doorways and windows with devices.

• Do not charge near beds and couches, or charge overnight or unattended.

• Do not store near anything flammable or combustible.

Safe Disposal • It is illegal to discard rechargeable batteries in the trash or recycling.

• Visit nyc.gov/batteries for disposal options.

• If you notice changes in the batteries of your electroninc bikes, scooters, or hoverboards (odor, change in shape/color, leaking or odd noises), call 911 immediately.

In Case of Explosion or Fire 1. Evacuate immediately 2. Close the door behind you 3. Call 911

nyc.gov/batteries | call 311 NYCsanitation • NYCzerowaste

sanitation

BFAD-0622: BATTERY FIRES AD 10X14-CAW

VISIT WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR THE LATEST CARIBBEAN NEWS, IMMIGRATION UPDATES, VIEWPOINTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MORE! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @CAWNYC!

ISLAND FOCUS: BARBADOS

Barbados’ Prime Minister Is Concerned About Crime

B

arbados is facing a new difficult situation: Homicide rates are now higher than ever in 2019 and 2020. The question is, will it be able to curb the violence down or will it catch up with some of its Caribbean neighbors?

According to an article last month by Chris Dalby, Insight Crime, the numbers can seem paltry when compared to some of its Caribbean neighbors. In 2019, the island saw a record 49 murders, dropping to 42 in 2020. But homicides have still more than doubled since 2012.

The government has pointed to the influx of illegal guns as helping to facilitate the increase in violence. While it has a much smaller population, the country sees the most gun-related crimes among English-speaking Caribbean nations after Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, according to a report by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force.

InSight Crime Analysis Barbados has so far avoided the major risk factors that have seen homicides soar in other Caribbean nations. But these advantages do come with some important caveats.

Firstly, it has little presence of international organized crime. Its gangs are

highly localized and involved primarily in micro-trafficking, as the island is not part of any significant overseas drug trafficking routes, a major cause of violence in Jamaica or the Dominican Republic.

However, these gangs are far from harmless. They are behind many of the country’s homicides and members reportedly rent guns to each other for 10,000 Barbadian dollars ($5,000), according to Cheryl Willoughby, director of Barbados’ National Task Force on Crime Prevention.

Secondly, the country has been a regional leader for having low rates of official corruption, police brutality and criminal impunity, according to a 2020 US State Department report.

But its response to gang violence has seemed inconsistent, with sweeping pledges for tougher sentencing laws often failing to pass Parliament or containing loopholes.

Prime Minister’s Attention According to an article by Sharon Austin on the Barbados Government’s website, the spate of crime in Barbados has the attention of Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, and she will speak on the issue shortly. Mottley said over the course of

10

a whole of country approach if we are to overcome all of these challenges, not just the inflationary ones, but the ones that are hitting us all at once, whether they are social, or related to crime, economics or environmental.”

Mottley also discussed a number of initiatives her Government would be introducing to help Barbadians cope, as food and oil prices continue to escalate across the world.

Mottley said, “The attempts to keep everyone’s head above water requires that mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, famiBarbados PM Mottley lies and friends must not uphold those whose involvement in the next week to 10 days, she will have reckless and criminal activity are underconversations addressing issues relating mining our best efforts nationally and to social security, and a whole of nation internationally.” approach to how to treat crime. She She continued, “Not only does it comadded that she would be reinforcing the promise the safety of all of us, but it comrecent messages of Attorney General promises our capacity to attract tourism Dale Marshall and Commissioner of and other investment revenue that keeps Police Richard Boyce. our people in jobs and keeps our heads At a recent address to the nation, the above water, and that keeps us being able Prime Minister stated: “Every citizen of as a government to do more to help you this country must recognize that we need as citizens.” l

IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW? Are you under investigation or accused of a felony or misdemeanor?

Get legal advice from the law firm you can trust: Figeroux & Associates.

We handle: nDUI (Driving Under the Influence) nCourt Order Violations nPossession of Drugs (with or without Intent to Distribute) nCrimes with Impact for Deportation with Non-Citizens nFraud nCrimes of Economics

PUT YOUR FUTURE IN OUR HANDS. WE CAN HELP. CALL NOW. 718-222-3155.

Remember: The lawyer you hire, does make a difference!

VISIT WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR THE LATEST CARIBBEAN NEWS, IMMIGRATION UPDATES, VIEWPOINTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MORE! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @CAWNYC!

FAMILY MATTERS

11

As Children Catch Up On Summer Fun, Catch Them Up On Their Routine Vaccines

F

or kids, summertime comes with a lot of pent-up excitement. It's that time of year when kids can get out, take a break, try something new and make lifelong memories. It's the return of favorite summer activities, like riding bikes through the neighborhood, swinging at the playground for hours, cannonballs in the pool and summer camp with friends. But as summer activities ramp up, it's important for children to catch up on any missed well-child visits and routine vaccinations to help protect them against serious diseases like measles and whooping cough.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending these "Top Four Tips" to help make sure your kids are in tip-top shape for summertime fun: * Talk to your doctor to find out if your child is on track with well-child checkups and routine vaccinations. If your child missed a checkup during the past two years, you're not alone! Many families missed vaccinations due to disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic. It's not too late to get back on track. Help

protect your little explorer as they embark on their summer adventures with routine vaccinations. * Find out if your child qualifies for no cost vaccines. The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program offers vaccines at no cost to children who qualify. About half of American children younger than 19 years old receive VFC vaccines, so ask your doctor if your child may quality. * Prepare for your vaccination visit. You can help make shots less stressful for both you and your child. Check out CDC's easy-to-read Child & Adolescent Immunization Schedule to see the vac-

cines recommended for each age and the diseases they prevent. * Remember, it's never too late to get your child vaccinated. CDC created a catch-up schedule to help children who may have missed vaccinations get back on track.

You may not be able to prevent every bump or bruise, but you can ensure your child is better protected against some serious diseases with routine vaccinations. Summer is the time to play catchup. Help protect your child's health by ensuring they are caught up on their regular checkups and routine vaccinations.l (BPT)

Party Rentals for All Occasions

lBounce Houses & Slides lFun Food Concessions lGames lPackage Specials lTent, Tables, Chairs & Other Party Essentials

www.onestophop.com onestopshoprentals @gmail.com

848.999.4928

VISIT WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR THE LATEST CARIBBEAN NEWS, IMMIGRATION UPDATES, VIEWPOINTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MORE!LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @CAWNYC!

IMMIGRATION

12

CBP Concludes Investigation Into Del Rio Incident Without Interviewing Any Migrants

BY WALTER EWING

U

.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has concluded in a new report that Border Patrol agents on horseback did engage in the “unnecessary use of force” against Haitian migrants entering the United States near Del Rio, Texas, on September 19, 2021.

However, CBP denied allegations that some of its agents had whipped migrants with the reins on their horses. The agency reached this conclusion without interviewing any migrants who were involved in, or may have witnessed, the incident in question. The CBP report was released on July 8 by the agency’s Office of Professional Responsibility.

The report describes a brief period in September when thousands of Haitian migrants seeking refuge crossed the Rio Grande into the United States. Haiti had recently experienced a devastating earthquake and the assassination of its president, leaving the country in a state of economic and political collapse. In addition, nearly 100,000 Haitians who had

A Haitian migrant man and woman cross the Rio Grande natural border between Mexico and the United States to request political asylum.Editorial credit: David Peinado Romero / Shutterstock.com

left the country after the 2010 earthquake were being displaced from countries like Brazil and Chile where many had been temporarily residing.

Over the course of two to three days, 15,000 migrants trying to escape these grim conditions gathered in a makeshift camp under the Del Rio International Bridge after crossing the Rio Grande.

Those in the camp were hoping for a chance to apply for asylum in the United States.

According to the report, the official policy of the Border Patrol on September 19 was to allow migrants in the camp to

move freely back and forth across the Rio Grande to buy food, water, and other supplies in Mexico. This was because the Border Patrol reportedly did not have sufficient resources on hand to feed everyone in the camp.

Despite the official permission to cross back to Mexico for food and supplies, Border Patrol agents and Texas police officers attempted to stop any migrants from crossing into the United States near a boat ramp on the U.S. side of the border for about 30 minutes. During this incident, mounted Border Patrol agents chased many of the migrants who were

either already gathered by the boat ramp or attempting to cross the river at that location and forced them back into the water.

The report blames the events of September 19 on “a lack of command, control, and communications” among the Border Patrol agents and officials who were present at the scene. The mounted Border Patrol agents who were involved in the incident were responding to a request for help from Texas police who wanted to disperse the crowd of migrants at the boat ramp. However, doing so directly conflicted with the Border Patrol’s policy of not preventing migrants in the camp from moving back and forth across the Rio Grande.

Videos and photographs taken by members of the media and by CBP Air and Marine Operations confirmed that Border Patrol agents on horseback did chase down migrants in a threatening manner.

In one instance, a Border Patrol agent grabbed a migrant by the shirt and spun him around to force him back into the river. In another instance, a Border Patrol continued on page 13

VISIT WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR THE LATEST CARIBBEAN NEWS, IMMIGRATION UPDATES, VIEWPOINTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MORE!LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @CAWNYC!

IMMIGRATION Employment-based Adjustment of Status Applicants: Do’s and Don’ts for Your Medicals to Enable More Efficient Processing

U

.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) plays a significant role in the processing of employment-based visas, and we want to ensure we use as many available visas as possible in fiscal year (FY) 2022, which ends on Sept. 30, 2022.

We are still doing our part with the U.S. Department of State (DOS) in processing employment-based immigrant visas for those applicants living outside the U.S. We urge anyone within the United States who may be eligible for an employmentbased adjustment of status to note these important reminders regarding Form I693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record: •If you have a pending Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, please do not send an unsolicited Form I-693 to USCIS. We are proactively identifying employment-based adjustment of status applications with available visas that lack a valid Form I-693 and are directly

contacting applicants to request that form.

•If you know that your previously filed Form I-485 does not have a valid Form I693, your underlying petition is approved, and a visa is available to you, it will help USCIS use the available visas and adjudicate your application if you visit a civil surgeon and have a valid Form I-693 on hand when we send the request to you.

•If you are planning to file an adjustment of status application in the future, be sure to include a valid Form I-693.

•A Form I-693 is valid for two years from the date that the civil surgeon signs the form.

More Information USCIS is well-positioned to use all the available employment-based immigrant visas in FY 2022 despite the higher annual limit.l — USCIS

13 Investigation into Del Rio Incident/ continued from page 12 agent chased a migrant while yelling obscenities, and narrowly avoided trampling a small child.

The report concludes that some Border Patrol agents did engage in the “unnecessary use of force against migrants who were attempting to reenter the United States with food.” In addition, the report notes that some of the people who were chased back into the river by mounted Border Patrol agents had already been issued numbered “tickets” by the Border Patrol when they first arrived at the migrant camp. These tickets were supposed to be used to establish the order in which migrants in the camp would be processed by the Border Patrol.

The report also concludes that there was “no evidence” Border Patrol agents struck migrants with the reins on their horses, forced any migrants to return to Mexico, or ultimately prevented any migrants from entering the United States.

These conclusions are based on the photos and videos taken at the scene, interviews with Border Patrol agents and officials, and interviews with Texas police officers.

Notably absent is any mention of interviews with migrants who were subjected to or witnessed the abusive actions of Border Patrol agents. Lawyers representing some of the migrants condemned the

report for CBP’s failure to interview the affected individuals and include their perspective in the investigation.

CBP has referred four of the Border Patrol agents involved in the September 19 incident to a Discipline Review Board. Unfortunately, as the report states, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General declined to investigate the matter only one day after it occurred. And the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas decided in March 2022 not to prosecute any of the Border Patrol agents involved.

The new CBP report represents an attempt by the agency to hold itself only partially accountable for the actions of Border Patrol agents on September 19. A truly serious investigation of the Del Rio incident would have included interviews with the migrants who were the targets of Border Patrol abuse.l

VISIT WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR THE LATEST CARIBBEAN NEWS, IMMIGRATION UPDATES, VIEWPOINTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MORE!LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @CAWNYC!

14

JOBS & RECESSION

Being a Paralegal Is a Great Career Choice! attorneys, opposing counsel, vendors, staff members, clients, and others. The work is varied, and each day brings new challenges.

BY THE CHAMBER COALITION

A

career as a paralegal (also known as a legal assistant) can be a wonderfully fulfilling profession. Paralegals perform legal, regulatory, and business-related research for lawyers working at their organization.

Most of the time, paralegals work for law offices, non-profits, corporations' legal departments, or courts. These professionals also provide legal support services to attorneys. They assist lawyers in filing motions, memoranda, pleadings, and briefs in various court systems and accompany lawyers to see clients and go to court. Here are five great things about being a paralegal: 1. Rise in Pay Paralegal compensation has risen steadily in the past decade. As paralegals perform a broader and more complex range of tasks (paralegals even represent clients in court in certain countries and administrative tribunals), their earnings continue to rise. The average paralegal salary hovers at around $50,000 per year, but paralegals often make more through bonuses. Overtime hours can also add significant cash to a paralegal's paycheck.

2. Explosive Employment Outlook The paralegal field is one of the fastestgrowing professions on the globe. The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, predicts the employment of paralegals and legal assistants by over 25 percent, much faster than the average for all occupations. Among the factors driving this growth is client demand for cheaper, more efficient delivery of legal services. Since hourly rates charged by attorneys are typically double or triple the rates of paralegals for the same task, law firm economics mandates the increased use of paralegals to minimize costs. As a result, a paralegal career is one of the hottest non-lawyer jobs in the legal industry.

3. Easy Career Entry Unlike lawyers who must complete seven years of formal education and pass the bar exam to practice law, you can become a paralegal in as little as a few months of study.

4. Intellectual Challenge Paralegal work is intellectually challenging and involves a range of high-level skills. The most successful paralegals are problem-solvers and innovative thinkers.

Paralegals must become subject matter experts in their specialty areas and master legal procedure, research, drafting, and other skills. They must stay on top of ever-changing laws and new legal trends and developments while interfacing with

5. Rising Prestige As paralegals perform more complex and challenging work, paralegal prestige is rising. Paralegals are no longer simply lawyer's assistants; they assume corporate management roles, leadership roles in law firms, and entrepreneurial roles in independent paralegal businesses. Over the years, paralegals have transcended the image of glorified legal secretaries to become respected legal team members.

Ready to Take the Leap?

A career as a paralegal can be rewarding professionally and personally and offers a unique opportunity to help others; options vary, depending on the paralegal's practice area. Paralegals in the public interest sector help poor and disadvantaged segments of the population with legal issues ranging from protection from domestic abuse to assistance preparing wills. Ready to take the leap, the next step? Call us at 718-722-9217 or visit www.freeparalegal.org to complete your registration which includes payment.l

Orientation is Monday, July 18, 2022

Join us via Zoom at 6pm

VISIT WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR THE LATEST CARIBBEAN NEWS, IMMIGRATION UPDATES, VIEWPOINTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MORE! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @CAWNYC!

nHEALTH

nENTERTAINMENT

nRELATIONSHIPS

nRECIPES

nSPORTS

nHOROSCOPE

Jazz at Lincoln Center: Celebrating 60 Years of Jamaican Independence

Kitchen Corner

Caribbean Jerk Stir-Fry

T

his combination of Asian stir-fry and fiery Caribbean seasoning makes a sweet and spicy dish.

Serve over hot cooked white rice.

—Clifford Randall Lyde, AllRecipes.com

D

izzy’s is proud to present bassist Russell Hall and The Brethren Court as we celebrate Jamaica’s 60th Anniversary – Diamond Jubilee, in association with the Consulate General of Jamaica. Russell Hall has quickly become a first-call bassist and a veteran bandleader of shows in the Appel Room and Dizzy’s and has toured the world with a who’s who of bandleaders, including the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra

with Wynton Marsalis and with Branford Marsalis’ quartet, among many others.

Born in Jamaica and educated at Juilliard, Hall has assembled an all-star band to commemorate Jamaica’s independence, including another artist of Jamaican descent, vocalist Shenel Johns.

The evening will also highlight some special guests from Jamaica, joining Hall and friends onstage.l

Ingredients 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 green bell pepper, seeded and cubed 1 red bell pepper, seeded and cubed ¼ cup sliced sweet onions ¾ pound skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into strips 2 ½ teaspoons Caribbean jerk seasoning ½ cup plum sauce 1 tablespoon soy sauce ¼ cup chopped roasted peanuts Directions Step 1 Heat oil in a large skillet over mediumhigh heat. Cook and stir bell pepper and

onion in hot oil until slightly tender, 5 to 7 minutes; transfer onto a plate and set aside.

Step 2 Add chicken to the same skillet and season with jerk seasoning; cook and stir until chicken is cooked through and no longer pink inside.

Step 3 Return bell peppers and onions to the skillet and pour in plum sauce; toss to combine. Cook until peppers and onions are heated through, 3 to 5 minutes.

Sprinkle with soy sauce and chopped peanuts to serve.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 549 calories; protein 44.3g; carbohydrates 41g; fat 21.4g; cholesterol 103.7mg; sodium 1620.6mg.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 344 calories; protein 17.2g; carbohydrates 33.7g; fat 14.9g; cholesterol 52.1mg; sodium 1331.6mg. l Prep: 15 mins Cook: 20 hours Servings: 2

VISIT WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR THE LATEST CARIBBEAN NEWS, IMMIGRATION UPDATES, VIEWPOINTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MORE! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @CAWNYC!

LOVE, HEALTH & TRAVEL

16

Ways to Celebrate Summer, Saint Lucia Style

BY CAMILLE GUZMAN TRAVEL ZOO

S

waying in a seaside hammock somewhere along Saint Lucia’s nearly 100 miles of coastline—a frosty Piton in hand and the bottle’s namesake emerald slopes in the backdrop—you’ll feel like you’ve already achieved peak summer vibes.

And the point is hard to argue. But this is an island where “the diverse landscapes—the mountains, valleys and culture of the sea” are, to borrow from local Nobel Laureate Derek Wolcott, just the start of what’s special. So, you’ll definitely want to venture beyond the powder sugar shoreline.

That said, the pull of the hammock is undeniably strong. So for anyone who needs a little bonus incentive to get out and explore, consider that many of the island’s top experiences are on sale this summer—from deep discounts on fabled resort rooms to special offers for tours and excursions. Read on for eight greats.

Tet Paul Nature Trail If you’re a hiker who associates the biggest panoramic payoffs with the toughest trails, meet Saint Lucia’s most compelling counterpoint. Though you’ll be walking for only about half a mile on this easy-to-moderate loop trail, you’ll be rewarded with views for days.

For starters, you’ll gain stunning perspectives on the island’s signature emerald peaks: Gros Piton and Petit Piton, or

simply “the Pitons”—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And on a clear day, you’ll also take in views of Martinique, St. Vincent and Maria Island, among others.

Plus, an onsite guide will in walk you through the lush trailside flora, a working organic farm and a local history lesson.

Mud baths at Sulphur Springs Having last erupted in the 1700s, the Soufriere Volcano—for which the famed neighboring town is named—remains a hotbed of activity: boiling mud, steaming earth, bubbling water…and a steady stream of wellness seekers. In a newly expanded mud bath complex, you’ll see what draws these travelers here from across the globe, whether they have a skin condition, or arthritis, or just a general craving to detox.

There’s little that feels more restorative (okay, or fun) than a good dip in the mud.

While you’re onsite, you’ll also want to do a tour of the famed “drive-through” volcano.

Snorkeling or diving at Anse des Pitons Saint Lucia is home to countless gorgeous snorkeling and dive sites, with a range of accessibility and difficulty that accommodates any experience level and vacation schedule. For sheer majesty, however, you can’t beat this spot off Sugar Beach between the Pitons, which stand sentinel over the teeming turquoise waters of the National Marine Reserve.

Beneath the surface of Anse Des Pitons,

Photo courtesy: Saint Lucia Tourism Authority

look out for Technicolor parrot fish, trumpet fish, moray eels, eagle rays and so much more. “Anse,” by the way, means bay or cove, so wherever you see that word around the island, beauty is sure to follow. Another great example is Anse Chastenet, home to not only the fabled resort of the same name, but also another beloved snorkeling spot.

Toraille Falls On an island of rain-forested peaks, waterfalls go with the territory. But you need not wander too far into the wilderness to reach the most beautiful and beloved among them.

Pouring over a flora-festooned cliff, for example, Toraille is a little slice of Eden you can find by following an easy nature trail through a botanic garden. And just because you didn’t work hard to arrive doesn’t mean you should deprive yourself of a proper reward. Be sure to swim in the pool beneath the waters’ 50-foot drop before refueling at one of the onsite picnic tables.

Walking tour of Castries One of several experiences on sale this summer, a stroll around the island’s capital is a must. Arguably the heart of any tour is the iconic market. Opened in the 19th century and recently renovated, this orange-roofed emporium of all things local is so special as to have ranked among National Geographic’s top 10 food markets around the world.

At a minimum, pick up some of the most famous island-grown spices (think cinnamon, cloves, mace, star anise and turmeric). But to go all in on the experience, try such specialties as accras (fish cakes), coconut-filled turnovers and tamarind balls. The market is also home to exceptional crafts, from straw baskets woven by artisans in a rural coastal community to handcrafted herbal soaps.

Beyond the market, be sure to take in some of the most important neighboring cultural sights—not least, Derek Walcott Square, named for the aforementioned Nobel Laureate, who was born in Castries.

Gros Islet Though he was a child of Castries, Walcott lived out his later years in Gros

Islet—at the heart of which lies an atmospheric old fishing village. Some fans make the pilgrimage here to see the principal setting for Walcott’s famed epic poem Omeros.

But even if you knew nothing of the author or his work, you’d still want to make the trip to the island’s northern reaches just for the Friday night Jump Up. Starting at sunset and running into the wee hours, this fish fry and street party in one is a beloved, decades-old tradition that blends music, dance and whatever the local fishermen have just brought in. Then again, you can find grilled deliciousness of any kind—from chicken to conch to pork—on the local BBQs. To experience a more mellow version of Gros Islet, visit during the day and head out for a scenic horseback ride — one of the many experiences that's discounted this summer.

A stay at a gorgeous getaway On an island so stunning, the best stays distinguish themselves by—at least for starters— showcasing the land- and seascapes to the max. Some of the most legendary examples are the neighboring sister properties of Jade Mountain and Anse Chastenet, where you’ll find rooms that would seem to be missing entire walls.

The effect is, of course, intentional— leaving you with floor-to-ceiling, openair windows onto the jaw-dropping surrounding nature. And these are just two of the A-List resorts (and stays of all kinds) that are on sale here this summer.

Whether you’re seeking romance, wellness, water sports, foodie finds or all of the above, you’ll find at least one discounted stay that calls to you.

A sunset sail At day’s end, there’s nothing better than a sail around the island in pursuit of the mythic green flash—that moment when the sun hits the horizon and maybe, just maybe, there’s an emeraldine blaze to rival the island’s bright green slopes.

But even absent the flash, the pinkorange skies and free-flowing rum punch (a hallmark of private charters) make for a dreamy way to wind down your day— or your entire stay. l

VISIT WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR THE LATEST CARIBBEAN NEWS, IMMIGRATION UPDATES, VIEWPOINTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MORE! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @CAWNYC!

LOVE, HEALTH & TRAVEL

17 that monkeypox is not a pandemic – at least not yet. But it could become one soon.

Monkeypox/ continued from page 1 considered to be pandemic when two separate conditions are met: cases are occurring globally and the number of cases being diagnosed is large enough to qualify as epidemic. An epidemic is characterized by new cases of a disease occurring at a higher than typical rate in at least several communities.

While the monkeypox situation is certainly newsworthy, as of mid-July 2022, it did not clearly meet both of the requirements for pandemic status. More importantly, the current evidence suggests that monkeypox is very unlikely to become a global health catastrophe even if the virus spreads and becomes pandemic.

Is monkeypox global?

Both the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus and the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that emerged in 2019 quickly spread to every region of the world. Global health experts were in full agreement that those were pandemic events. By contrast, the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa from 2014 to 2016 was mostly contained to just that one region of the world and never spread globally.

The current distribution of monkeypox cases is somewhere between those two scenarios. As of mid-July 2022, about 9,200 total cases of monkeypox had been

Hand and foot of a child with monkeypox

reported by 63 countries. For reasons that are not yet fully understood, almost all of those cases happened in Europe and the Americas, and only a few cases were reported by African, Asian and Middle Eastern countries.

Is that distribution sufficiently global to meet the definition of a pandemic?

Maybe.

Is monkeypox an epidemic?

The next condition to meet the pandemic threshold is whether places where monkeypox is present are experiencing epidemics.

Europe and the Americas typically have zero cases of monkeypox per year, so the current case counts in these regions are much higher than normal.

But it is also important to look at how much community transmission is happening. If hundreds of people get sick after attending a single event – like a concert or festival – that would typically

be classified as an outbreak. The situation would only become an epidemic if infections started occurring among many people who were not close contacts of event attendees. Once widespread and sustained community transmission begins occurring, it is much harder to control a virus.

Most of the people diagnosed with monkeypox in May and June 2022 were 20- to 50-year-old men who identify as members of the LGBT+ community. In July 2022, cases were not yet occurring at significant levels in multiple age and sociodemographic groups.

Is the current pattern of spread sufficient to classify monkeypox as an epidemic rather than an outbreak? Maybe, but only in some of the countries that have reported monkeypox cases this year.

Since the answers to whether monkeypox is global and an epidemic are both “maybe” rather than “yes,” this suggests

How worried should you be about monkeypox?

Pathogens like monkeypox are usually spread through touch and other types of close contact with an infected person.

Epidemiologists worry much less about pathogens with “person-to-person” transmission than they do about respiratory viruses like influenza and the coronavirus that can spread easily through the air.

Over the course of just a few months, COVID-19 transitioned from a local concern in Wuhan, China, into the worst pandemic in a century. That is not going to happen with monkeypox.

Why? First, the monkeypox virus is much less contagious than the circulating strains of coronavirus. Second, monkeypox is less deadly than COVID-19. The case fatality rate during the current international outbreak is less than one death for every 1,000 adult cases, which is lower than the percentage of unvaccinated people who die after getting COVID19. And, third, existing vaccines will be able to help slow the spread of monkeypox in high-risk populations if problems with limited supplies can be resolved.

The World Health Organization follows a set of rules called the International continued on page 20

Big protection for little New Yorkers.

COVID-19 vaccines now available for kids 6 months and older.

To learn more, visit nyc.gov/vaccine昀nder or call 877-VAX-4NYC.

Eric Adams Mayor Ashwin Vasan, MD, PhD Commissioner

VISIT WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR THE LATEST CARIBBEAN NEWS, IMMIGRATION UPDATES, VIEWPOINTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MORE!LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @CAWNYC!

LOVE, HEALTH & TRAVEL

18

Why Does Love Feel Magical? It’s An Evolutionary Advantage contributed to survival and reproduction, such as highly nutritious foods and potential mates likely to rear healthy offspring.

So how could the dizzying feeling of falling in love and the illogical belief that one’s relationship is “meant to be” have helped our ancestors to survive or reproduce? According to one explanation, the key to love’s ancient purpose lies in the apartment lease agreement.

BY BENJAMIN KAVELADZE, JONATHAN SCHOOLER, OLIVER SNG THE CONVERSATION

I

n this age of science, many people see supernatural forces as illusions rooted in wishful thinking. But love remains a profound exception to humanity’s trend toward rationality.

People are used to seeing romantic love presented as it is on the reality show “The Bachelor” – as a force cosmically bound to one’s destiny. It’s an idea that is at once laughable and uncannily relatable for anyone who has been in love and felt their pairing compellingly “meant to be.”

Our research suggests that magical notions of fated love and soulmates are very common and deeply felt.

As psychology researchers interested in why human beings think, feel and behave in the ways they do, we ask a basic question: Why does love feel magical? We hope that answering this question might offer some insight into the quandaries that have long plagued people in love.

Should you blindly trust your heart to lead you to happiness, despite the chaos that’s as much part of love as bliss is? Or should you instead regard the tendency

to magical thinking about love with skepticism, striving for rationality in the search for a fulfilling relationship?

What is love and what does it want from me?

Far from an invention of poets or reality TV producers, romantic love has been a part of human nature for many thousands of years. Love letters written 4,000 years ago in Mesopotamia are remarkably similar to those written today, and although cultures differ in their stories and expectations about romantic love, the phenomenon appears to be virtually universal.

Moreover, our research suggests that

magical notions of fated love and soulmates are very common and deeply felt.

But why is love a part of the human mind? Our research explores this question through the lens of evolutionary psychology.

Evolutionary psychology is centered on the idea that people think and act the way they do today because, over hundreds of thousands of years, our ancestors with traits that made them think and act that way were more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those helpful, or “adaptive,” traits on to the next generation. Through this process, the human mind evolved to prioritize things that

Love is like signing a lease Why do people agree to yearslong leases for apartments? After all, the tenant might soon find a better apartment and the landlord could find a better tenant.

The answer is that searching for the perfect apartment or tenant is such an annoying and costly process that both parties are better off making a long-term commitment to an imperfect but sufficient lease. The signed-lease agreement provides the crucial bond, keeping the temptation of other options from ruining their useful arrangement.

People face a nearly identical commitment problem when it comes to choosing partners. Humans likely evolved to pricontinued on page 19

VISIT WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR THE LATEST CARIBBEAN NEWS, IMMIGRATION UPDATES, VIEWPOINTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MORE! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @CAWNYC!

LOVE, HEALTH & TRAVEL

19 Deisseroth put it, love is an “unreasonable bond that becomes reasonable by virtue of its own existence.”

So even if magical love doesn’t make sense, it makes sense for love to feel magical. Our reading of the research suggests that love’s magic helps people make the tremendous commitment required to successfully pass their genes down.

Why Does Love Feel Magical?/ continued from page 18 marily favor monogamous relationships that last at least long enough to co-parent children. Given this commitment’s magnitude, there’s plenty of motivation to get it right by finding the best possible partner.

However, searching for an ideal partner is resource intensive and challenging – that is, dating sucks. To solve the commitment problem and successfully pass down your genes, it is generally better to not endlessly chase perfection, but instead to commit to a good enough partner. Thus, evolution may have created love as a biological lease agreement, both solving the commitment problem and providing an “intoxicating reward” for this solution.

Although love may have primarily evolved because it supports sexual reproduction, love is of course still very much a part of life for gay, asexual and other people who do not sexually reproduce.

Researchers who’ve investigated the evolution of same-sex attraction have argued that romantic relationships can provide adaptive advantages even without sexual reproduction. Importantly, variation is the engine of evolution – from a strictly evolutionary perspective, there is no single “normal” or “ideal” way of being.

Love keeps you committed After you’re through the breathtaking

phase of falling for a partner, love helps to ensure commitment in several ways.

First, it makes other potential mates seem lackluster; people in satisfying relationships rate other good-looking people as less attractive than single people do. This perceptual shift makes one’s partner seem like more of a catch in comparison and discourages partnered people from pursuing other romantic options.

Second, love causes jealousy, a “mate guarding” adaptation that motivates vigilance and defensiveness toward those who might threaten your relationship.

Even though jealousy is a burden with horrible consequences at its extreme, evolutionary psychologists argue it could help prevent infidelity and attempts by others to steal your partner.

And finally, as our team explores in ongoing research, the supernatural

“meant to be” stories people tell about love might increase their confidence in the value of their relationship.

Why magical beliefs about love may be useful Our work investigates how magical thinking can be adaptive despite being based in fantasy. Unlike a lease agreement, emotions are often turbulent and unpredictable. More than just a feeling of connection, believing in a narrative that suggests your relationship is magically “meant to be” could provide a consistent reason to stick together for the long haul.

While a magical belief in fated love is almost certainly objectively false, if it helps to cement a long-term commitment to a good partner, it fulfills an adaptive purpose and can therefore be considered “deeply rational.” As neuroscientist Karl

Don’t overthink it But what are you to do with the knowledge that love’s magic exists to fulfill evolution’s bluntly practical aim of passing your genes on to future generations, rather than to lead to happiness or even an accurate perception of reality? Surely we can improve on the advice of so many contestants on “The Bachelor” to “follow your heart,” blindly trusting that you will find meaning in the pursuit of a biological imperative.

Yet, there is a grain of truth in that cliché. If you revolt against that magical thinking, you might be overthinking your way out of one of life’s greatest gifts.l Benjamin Kaveladze is a PhD Candidate in Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine. Jonathan Schooler is a Distinguished Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara.

Oliver Sng is a Assistant Professor of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine.

VISIT WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR THE LATEST CARIBBEAN NEWS, IMMIGRATION UPDATES, VIEWPOINTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MORE! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @CAWNYC!

CARIBBEAN STAR

Local 100 Secretary-Treasurer Earl Phillips Retired at 60, Gets Send Off to Barbados

A

fter 11 years as TWU Local 100 Secretary-Treasurer, the second highest position in the Union, Earl Phillips, retired in May 2022. He was warmly congratulated on his tenure

by President Tony Utano and other Union leaders and staff at a small reception in his honor. International President John Samuelsen also attended the event.

Brother Phillips, 60, was born in Barbados and came to America in 1987 to join his mother and sisters in America.

He started an auto-repair business in Brooklyn and was hired by NYCT as a Chassis Maintainer in 1993, working out of East New York Bus Depot in Brooklyn as well as Gun Hill and Kingsbridge Depots in the Bronx.

Witnessing work situations that compromised worker safety, he became active with the Union and became a Field Safety Representative in 2002.

In 2009, he was named Director of Safety and Health. In February of 2011, the Union’s Executive Board elevated him to Secretary-Treasurer. He has been serving as Secretary-Treasurer ever since, winning office in four consecutive union elections, expertly managing the Union’s finances, and overseeing a steady increase in the membership rolls.

At the same time, he has also been serving as TWU Local 100 Safety Director, managing the Union’s team of field safety reps.

Earl is also an elected International Vice President of the Transport Workers Union of America and has earned numer-

20 It’s Now Dr. Usain Bolt as UK University Awards the Fastest Man Alive an Honorary Doctorate

BY STEPHANIE KORNEY JAMAICANS.COM

J Editorial credit: PP/IQInc

ous honors and awards for labor advocacy, Caribbean-American community service, and charitable work.

On Sunday, July 10, the Barbados Consul General for NY, Hon. Mackie Holder and the Barbados Support Group hosted a retirement sendoff for Phillips with a Soiree at The Palace on Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn. The very wellattended event included family, friends, colleagues, and several high-profile electeds such as Mayor Eric Adams, State Attorney General Letitia “Tish” James and newly-elected Assemblymember Monique ChandlerWaterman.

Retirement wishes came from a close friend in Barbados, his former Executive

assistant, Helen Mahoney, and the Prime Minister of Barbados, Hon. Mia Mottley, who hinted she had plans for him.

Phillips shared that his plans were “to cut grass” and wondered what the Prime Minister and Consul General had planned for him.

Phillips received gifts and a citation from the Consul General for his immeasurable contributions to the Barbados Diaspora. He left for his home island the next day with warm wishes and wonderful memories.

Caribbean American Weekly salutes Caribbean star Earl Phillips and wishes him and his beautiful wife the very best as he beginshis retirement!l

amaican Olympic champion sprinter and the “fastest man alive” Usain Bolt has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Brunel University in London. Bolt is familiar with Brunel University as he trained there several times during his career, including preparations for the 2012 London Olympics where he won three gold medals. He said that he has only fond memories of the time he spent training at Brunel and that the university helped him to “conquer the world.”

Bolt thanked the university for the honorary degree and said he appreciated it.

He went on to tell graduates at the university’s Indoor Athletics Center in Uxbridge that “hard work does pay off” and advised them to remember that the path to success is not easy and to expect “ups and downs.” “You will fail,” he warned, but added that they should use any failure as an opportunity to learn and to try again. He said that he never knew when he started out as a young man that he would “be this great.” Bolt also told graduates to never give up their dreams, “always work hard, dedicate yourself, and remember, anything is possible.”l Monkeypox/ continued from page 17 Health Regulations that guide global public health responses to emerging threats. Under these regulations, the WHO has the authority to declare a “public health emergency of international concern” – commonly shortened to the acronym PHEIC – when an infectious disease is spreading internationally and might “potentially require a coordinated international response.” The goal is to detect and respond to potential global health crises and prevent them from becoming pandemics.

An expert panel convened by the World Health Organization on June 23 determined that monkeypox was a “multicountry outbreak” but did not meet the criteria to be a public health emergency of international concern. The panel will meet again on July 21 to examine the distribution and frequency of new case reports. If the rate of new cases continues to increase and there is evidence of transmission within more diverse populations, monkeypox may be declared a public health emergency.

But even if monkeypox is declared to be a public health emergency of international concern, it is not going to become a devastating pandemic like COVID19.l

VISIT WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR THE LATEST CARIBBEAN NEWS, IMMIGRATION UPDATES, VIEWPOINTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MORE! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @CAWNYC!

Caribbean American Weekly- July 14, 2022

VISIT WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR THE LATEST CARIBBEAN NEWS, IMMIGRATION UPDATES, VIEWPOINTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MORE! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @CAWNYC!

CONVERSATIONS

22

Regional Manufacturing of Vaccines to Bolster Pandemic Preparedness in the Americas

W

ashington DC: As Omicron sub-lineages BA.4 and BA.5 drive a new wave of COVID19 infections across the Americas, and cases of monkeypox continue to rise, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director Carissa F. Etienne has called on countries to work together to meet the growing demand for vaccines, medicines, and other health equipment in the region.

The emergence of Omicron sublineages is “yet another reminder that the virus keeps evolving every time it is transmitted, and that we must remain vigilant,” the Director said during a media briefing today.

“Manufacturing capacity will continue to be sorely needed in our Region to help deal with COVID-19 and other pathogens. There are likely to be outbreaks of other diseases that will require us to rapidly develop and deploy new vaccines, diagnostics, and drugs to fight them,” she added.

Dr. Etienne highlighted that at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the region struggled to meet the growing demand

for drugs, diagnostics, and personal protective equipment, with many countries relying on imports to protect their populations. When COVID-19 vaccines were first rolled out COVID-19 vaccines, countries also scrambled “to secure supplies.”

“We must be better prepared for the future,” the Director said, announcing a three-step plan to work with countries and international donors to bolster regional capacity to manufacture vaccines and medical tools.

The first phase will focus on efforts to strengthen research and development in Latin America and the Caribbean, particularly in the area of mRNA vaccine development.

The Regional Platform to Advance Manufacturing of COVID-19 Vaccines and other Health Technologies, launched last year, aims to train and support local companies in utilizing mRNA vaccine technology. So far, Sinergium Biotech from Argentina and the Institute of Immunobiology Bio-Manguinhos from Brazil are participating in this initiative.

The second phase focuses on develop-

ing a strong regional regulatory system to ensure that new medical tools are safe and effective.

For the third phase, PAHO is working with regional and international partners to create a shared roadmap to improve the production of health technology in the Americas, including partnerships with the European Union to strengthen the region’s capacity for medical product development.

“All these efforts combined have the potential to transform how our region develops and manufactures health products, especially highly sophisticated

tools such as vaccines,” the Director said.

However, Dr. Etienne also warned that improving manufacturing capacity alone “is not sufficient to guarantee access,” and that PAHO’s pooled procurement mechanisms such as the Revolving Fund will be key to ensuring that vaccines and other health technologies are available to everyone in the region.

The Revolving Fund shows the “impact we can have when we leverage our history of solidarity and collaboration,” the Director said. With this same spirit, we can build up our region’s medical production capacity to “save and protect even more lives.”

Turning to the COVID-19 situation in the region, countries reported approximately 1.6 million cases and 4800 deaths last week — a 0.9% and 3.5% decrease respectively.

Central America reported an increase in cases — by 54.9%, and South America reported a 2% increase.

In the Caribbean, cases fell by 5.2%, and in North America, cases fell by 4.5%l

GREEN CARD SLAVERY?

Don’t put up with ABUSE anymore! Whether married or not, whether your spouse is a U.S. citizen or Green Card Holder, we can get a Green Card for you and your children PLUS a divorce.

Call 855-768-8845 now for a consultation!

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! VISIT WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR THE LATEST CARIBBEAN NEWS, IMMIGRATION UPDATES, VIEWPOINTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MORE! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @CAWNYC!

The lawyer you hire, does make a difference!

VISIT WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR THE LATEST CARIBBEAN NEWS, IMMIGRATION UPDATES, VIEWPOINTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MORE! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @CAWNYC!

VISIT WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR THE LATEST CARIBBEAN NEWS, IMMIGRATION UPDATES, VIEWPOINTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MORE! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @CAWNYC!