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Incumbent Miramar City Commissioners returnedBy Garth A. RoseIncumbent City of Miramar commissioners, Winston Barnes, Yvette Colbourne and Max Chambers were all returned to their respective commission seats in municipal elections held in that city on Tuesday, March 14.In Seat 3, Barnes won 68,7 percent of the votes in defeating his challengers Dalton Bonheur (13.7 percent) and James Hepburn (17.6 percent). In Seat 2, Colbourne received 59.8 percent of the votes over Dr. Venessa Walker with 40 percent, while Max Chambers with 56.7 percent of the votes refuted the challenge of Norman Hemming who received 43.3 percent.The results of the elections were in keeping with the satisfaction expressed by voters interviewed by National Weekly a week before the elections. Most voters expressed an “if ain’t broke don’t fix it,” and were of the opinion that the incumbent commission including Mayor Wayne Messam and Commissioner Darlene Riggs were doing a “satisfactory” job in developing the city of some 120,000 residents including approximately 40 percent Caribbean Americans.This vast Caribbean population is reflected in the composition of the commission which continues to be an all Caribbean commission. Two members, Barnes and Chambers, are Jamaican Americans, two, Messam and Colbourne are of Jamaican descent, and another, Riggs, is Haitian-American.Barnes, whose victory on Tuesday was described by one of his supporters Hispanic-American Alex Rodriquez, as “one hell of a shellacking” was gracious in victory. He said he was humbled to be reelected to the commission to which he was first elected in 2003, and thanked the diverse group of electors who returned him to office. He said “I look forward to working with the mayor and my associate commissioners for the welfare of residents in every area of Miramar.”Prior to the elections, Mayor Messam expressed support for challengers Norman Hemmings ad Dr. Venessa Walker. In a interview with National Weekly the mayor said although the former commission made great achievements in the City he believed if Hemming and Dr. Walker were elected their presence would make the commission even more effective.Despite the Mayor’s leanings, both Chambers and Colbourne said they are grateful to be returned to the commission, and plan to work relentlessly and cooperate to continue the positive advancement of the city.
The Broward County Commissioners proclaimed April 2017 as National 911 Education Month. Earlier this week, the Commission awarded two county 911 operators, Erin Kafka and Charmaine Buckner, for outstanding performance during the execution of their duties.Both operators were awarded the 2017 Tom Gallagher Memorial Public Safety Award.Kafka works for the Coral Springs Police Department, and was honored for the sense of calm she displayed during a 911 call she received during a deadly shooting incident at the Coral Spring Mall last November.Buckner, assigned to the Broward County Sherriff Office, was honored for the role she played in dispatching fire and police rescuers to save the life of an infant in Pembroke Pines from drowning last year.Buckner is a veteran of seventeen and one-half years at the BSO. The Jamaican who migrated to the US when she was age-5, and currently resides in Atlantis, Palm Beach County, says he became a Communications 911 Operator “by accident.” She said while working at the State Attorney office, she accompanied a friend to a job fair and was encouraged to apply for the job for which there were vacancies.She applied, was interviewed, had background check conducted, and was accepted to the Sheriff’s Academy where she underwent training. She has no regrets regarding her job, although it can be stressful and takes time away from her family.“It’s a mentally challenging job, so it can be quite mentally tiring, but I cope by letting everything go at the end of the day, and by exercising. I try to get sufficient exercise to cope with the stress.”Regarding her family life, the wife and mother of two says the long hours, normally 12-hour shifts, often takes away from time she would normally spend with her family on holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. She ways she works most weekends, and in her almost 18-years on the job “I have had weekends off during three years.”She says the most important thing about her job is it offers her an opportunity to “really help people.”She encourages Caribbean-Americans to enter the profession if they care about helping people. “Despite the long and demanding shifts, the pay and benefits, especially the pension plan are good, and the job is exciting and challenging.”Expressing humility, Buckner doesn’t regard the incident which played a role in her being honored as an act of bravery. “I was just doing my job.” She said when the frantic caller called screaming about a child in danger of drowning, the caller hung up without identifying the address where the child was in danger. Buckner said she to used the “longitude and latitude coordinates” of the call to identify the location that call came from. By doing this she was able to quickly dispatch fire and police rescue to the location to save the child.Buckner expressed great honor at being awarded by the County, after so many years on the job.
A plan to give investors permission to build a gun assembling plant in the proposed Economic Zone, has been cancelled by Prime Minister Gaston Browne.The announcement of a cancellation was made on Saturday, just hours after the Prime Minister called Observer Radio confirming that the plan was going ahead and that all of the guns manufactured would be for export.But following mounting criticism from the public, the Prime Minister called the radio station later in the day saying that the Cabinet had not made a formal decision to establish a gun factory.“However, an informal undertaking was given to an Italian hand gun manufacturer to establish a hand gun factory in the special economic zone. This occurred on an occasion while I was off island. I subsequently heard about it and indicated to the agent of the investor that it was a bad idea,” Browne revealed in a statement on Saturday.“I was told at the time that the guns would have been manufactured based on international standards and for exportation only. And that, they would have not been eligible for sale in the domestic market. At the time, i maintained for various reasons that we should not proceed with the proposed investment.”“I thought it was a dead issue until yesterday (Friday),” the Prime Minister said adding that “when it was brought to my attention, that a letter was sent to a Minister to expedite the passage of the necessary laws and regulations to expedite the investment. This request was made despite the fact that the matter never came before the Cabinet for ratification.”The Prime Minister said that having heard the public sentiments, which were in keeping with his concerns – “I directed the Attorney General to cease any further negotiations or discussions on this proposed investment.”He said a firm policy decision will be taken at the next Cabinet meeting and communicated to the public.
The controversial Zones of Special Operations Act is now in effect across Jamaica.On Wednesday, Minister of Information, Senator Ruel Reid, received a copy of the Jamaica Gazette indicating that the legislation is in place.Law passed after 13 amendmentsThe law was tabled in the House of Representatives on March 21 and passed in the Senate on July 7 after 13 amendments.The new law gives the Prime Minister, on the advice of the National Security Council, the authority to declare any high crime area of Jamaica a zone for special security operations and community development measures.The measure is part of a national security strategy that targets strategic subject areas: Violence and Crime, Public Order, Corruption, Community Safety, Territorial Integrity, Crisis Response, and Resilience. The other areas are Justice, Cyber Defense, Critical Infrastructure Protection and Economic Security.Associated budgetary allocationMeanwhile, in an effort to boost the effectiveness of this new measure, the budgetary allocation to the Ministry of National Security has been increased by J$2.6 billion.Crime has been a persistent problem in Jamaica. Measures to solve the problem which has created trepidation in Jamaicans in the Diaspora in returning home has challenged different administrations since the 1970s. Since this year various types of crimes, especially violent crimes have escalated to crisis proportions.More Draconian measures soughtJamaicans home and abroad have been calling for the government to introduce more Draconian measures. These include impromptu law enforcement intrusion of communities with high incidences of crime. Accordingly, most people welcome the new Special Operations Act.
PAHO said the migration and shortages of healthcare workers in the Americas, and particularly in the Caribbean region, are impacting on health systems and services.40 million new healthcare jobs globallyThe problem is also a global one, with an estimated 40 million new health care jobs required to meet people’s health needs and achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals related to health by 2030, according to the latest projections from WHO and the World Bank.PAHO said it is working to address migration-related shortages of human resources for health in the Caribbean.The recently-approved PAHO Strategy on Human Resources for Universal Health urges countries to increase public investment in human resources for health, especially at the first level of care.PAHO said the strategy aims to guide national policies to cover a shortfall of nearly 800,000 health workers in the Region of the Americas. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has launched a new study to survey current migration trends of health care workers in the Caribbean region.PAHO said that the results of the survey will be used to develop recommendations on migration within the health sector of the countries involved.Three-month studyThe study will be conducted over a three-month period in 16 Caribbean countries and territories including Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands and the English-speaking islands of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), PAHO said. The research team is planning to meet with representatives of ministries of health, hospitals, organizations, governments, general practitioners, and primary health care groups, among others.Critical shortage of healthcare personnel loomsPAHO said the outcomes of the survey will inform regional policy on migration in the Caribbean and contribute to the implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO)/PAHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel.“The region will soon face one of the most critical shortages in the labor market of health workers in its history, if nothing is done to reverse the trend of low in-migration and high out-migration levels within the Anglo-Caribbean”, said Jessie Schutt-Aine, coordinator of the PAHO Sub-regional Program for the Eastern Caribbean.“The undersupply of these practitioners will impact negatively on both the quality and sustainability of health systems, especially in the smaller islands of the region,” he added.
New Board Members, being sworn in by the Honorable Renatha Francis. Pictured L-R: Laselve Harrison (Board Member); Tanya Williams (Board Member); Sasha Francis (Secretary); Tricia-Gaye Cotterell (President-Elect); Nikeisha Pryor (Board Member); Hilary Creary (Vice President); Dominique Burkhardt (Board Member); Charise A. Morgan-Joseph (President); Niyala A. Harrison (Immediate Past President). The Caribbean Bar Association (“CBA”) held its 22nd Annual Scholarship and Awards Gala on Saturday, October 13, 2018 at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.The Gala is the primary fundraiser for the CBA’s Scholarship Program, which funds paid judicial and public service internships for law students in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.2018 Caribbean Bar Association Scholarship RecipientsLoune-Djenia Askew and Blairr Miller, students at FIU College of Law, and Daren Hooper, a student at the University of Miami School of Law, were recognized as scholarship recipients.The theme for this year’s Gala was “For Such A Time As This: A Call to Action.” CBA honored individuals and entities who answered the call to make a difference in the Caribbean-American community.Caribbean Bar Association HonoreesThis year’s honorees were John W. Kozyak, Esq., Co-Founder of the Kozyak Minority Mentorship Fellowship and founding partner of Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton; White & Case, LLP; Broward County Commissioner Dale V. C. Holness, and Nadege Green, a journalist with South Florida’s NPR Affiliate, WLRN.The motivational keynote address, delivered by the Community Guardian Awardee, Nadege Green, recounted her own journey to becoming an award-winning journalist and the difference a navigational mentor made in ensuring that she arrived at the platform she today uses to tell stories that capture the attention of our South Florida Community. She urged attendees to answer the call to become navigational mentors at this critical point in our community and nation’s history.During the Gala, attendees participated in a raffle to win a variety prizes with proceeds also going towards the Scholarship Fund.The event was attended by judges, attorneys, elected officials, judicial candidates and community leaders from across the state, and featured entertainment by Robert “Bobby” Rose, guitarist, and DJ Dorenzo.Caribbean Bar Association 2018-2019 Executive BoardThe Honorable Judge Renatha Francis, 11th Judicial Circuit (Miami Dade County) swore in the Caribbean Bar Association 2018-2019 Executive Board:Charise A. Morgan-Joseph, President – Litigation Associate, The Joseph Law Firm, P.A. in Miami, FL.Tricia-Gaye Cotterell, President-Elect – Litigation Associate at Kim Vaughan Lerner, LLP in Fort Lauderdale, FL.Hilary Creary, Vice President– Partner at Benjamin-Wise Creary, PLLC in Boca Beach, FL.Dominique Burkhardt, Treasurer– Managing Attorney at Burkhardt Legal Services in Boca Raton, FL.Sasha Francis, Secretary – Managing Partner at Francis Law Firm, PLLC in Plantation, FL Informing, Educating, Empowering.Laselve Harrison, Board Member – Litigation Associate at Boies Schiller & Flexner, Miami, FL.Nikeisha Pryor, Board Member – Commercial Litigation Associate at Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm, P.A. in Fort Lauderdale, FL.Tanya Williams, Board Member – Division Chief/Managing Attorney, Juvenile Justice, at the Office of Regional Counsel, in Miami, FL.Niyala A. Harrison, Immediate Past President– Public and Corporate Finance Attorney at Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP in Miami, FL.
Rumors circulating in South Florida and Jamaica of the death of former Jamaica Labor Party Leader and Jamaican prime minister, Edward Seaga is just that, rumors. While the former prime minister, who turns 89 on May 28, is hospitalized in a Miami hospital, he is still very much alive, and according to his wife Carla Seaga, is in good spirits.Attempts by CNW to ascertain which hospital Seaga is being treated in Miami, or the nature of his illness, has been fruitless. However, sources close to him said he fell ill while travelling overseas, is being treated for two illnesses.As the rumors of the former prime minister circulated, Carla Seaga issued a statement indicating, “We would like to thank everyone for their love and prayers.” She added that her husband was receiving excellent medical care.According to the Jamaican Observer, the JLP confirmed Seaga “is ailing, but he is certainly not dead.” Individuals close to the former PM contacted by CNW said, “Really there’s no cause for alarm. But, right now in deference and respect to his family we rather not disclose the hospital in which he is being treated, nor the nature of his illness.”Seaga led the JLP to victory in 1980, defeating the People’s National Party led by the late Prime Minister Michael Manley. Appointed Jamaica’s 5th prime minister, Seaga remained in office until 1989, when the JLP was in turn defeated by the PNP led by Manley.Sega, who holds the record as Jamaica’s longest serving member of parliament, is also the incumbent Chancellor of the University of Technology in Jamaica.
SOUTHAMPTON, England – Rain has forced a no-result in West Indies’ third match of the World Cup against South Africa at the Rose Bowl here Monday.Play was halted in the eighth over with South Africa stumbling on 29 for two, and persistent rain here left match officials with little choice but to abandon the encounter at 4:15 pm.Left-handed opener Quinton de Kock was unbeaten on 17 and partnered by captain Faf du Plessis who was yet to score.Left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell had given West Indies the perfect start when he knocked over opener Hashim Amla for six and Aiden Markram for five, to claim two for 18 from his four overs.
Denver, Co – The 2020 Juneteenth Music Festival is proud to present a full day of online programming that will include panels, performances, a virtual marketplace and The DREAM BIG Awards powered by US Bank. The newly imagined event will take place on June 18, 2020, on www.JuneteenthMusicFestival.com. This year’s platform is also a global stage for musicians, vocalists and artists of many genres to celebrate the importance of art, storytelling and inclusion. Joy-Ann Reid of the “Reid This Reid That” Podcast and MSNBC, Tiffany Aliche; “The Budgetnista”, Chanel Turner, founder of The Black Owned Wine and Spirits Festival and John Burns Founder of Icon Talks and Wanda James of Simply Pure, who the first Black Woman to legally own a dispensary, grow facility and edible company are just a few examples of this year’s DREAM BIG Award recipients. The DREAM BIG Awards honors individuals who have set high standards for achievement in business, education, arts, and service, community activists, leaders and entrepreneurs who DREAM BIG enough to have a profoundly positive impact on their communities and the African American community as a whole. The day ends with an explosive “90s vs Everybody” after-party hosted by DJ Jazzy Jeff starting at 9:00 pm EST.
The goal of the 2020 Juneteenth Music Festival Juneteenth Music Festival is to educate the larger population about the important American milestone that is Juneteenth and mobilize to make Juneteenth a national holiday. The full day of programming will also include exclusive and live content such as a Women’s Panel, LGBTQ Panels, an “Icon Chat” with Senator Rhonda Fields, a throw-back session with the founder of the first black radio station in Denver; Jim “Dr Daddy O” Walker, and more celebrating the African American and Black experience and Juneteenth history. Attendees tuning in can expect a Virtual Barz Cypher featuring MCs from Denver, Dallas, DC and LA, DREAM BIG Awardee highlights plus extras such as a vendor marketplace and downloadable swag from kid’s coloring books and curriculum to recipes from prominent African American Chefs. 
Spanish international, Jesus Navas, returned to former club Sevilla on Tuesday following his release from Manchester City where he spent four years.In a subtly hilarious gesture, Sevilla welcomed the 31-year-old winger with a video showing him being kidnapped on the streets of Seville, before dropping him off at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium, home of Sevilla FC? Sevilla decided to go for a kidnapping video to announce the signing of Jesus Navas… pic.twitter.com/liiAnHlY4a— Coral (@Coral) August 1, 2017Navas, who began his career at Sevilla before moving to Man City in 2013, was part of the Sevilla set up that won 2006 and 2007 Uefa Cup. Video Credit: Twitter.com – Coral Related