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Aug. 24-30, 2012 • Caribbean Life • Queens/Bronx/Manhattan/Westchester • Page 2Updated daily at www.caribbeanlifenews.comCARIBBEAN ROUNDUPBAHAMASThe Bahamas government willsoon announce sweeping changesto the operations of the RoyalBahamas Defense Force to includean improved Coral Harbor Base,more resources and a link withthe police in crime-fighting initiatives.Prime MinisterPerry Christiesaid the Ministryof National Securitywould make “a significantcommunication” on the issuesthat are impacting the work ofthe Defense Force and the government’scommitment to improvingthis.“Our commitment to add toyour manpower, ships and resourcesthat you have, the ability to protectour borders and be able tointerdict all of the criminal activitiesthat are taking place whetherhuman smuggling, drugs, gunrunningor whatever it is to add toyour capacity over the next periodof time, as a result of the commitmentwe made to the people of theThe Bahamas to be of assistancein a specific way to the DefenseForce,” he said.Christie said improvementswould have to be made to theDefense Force Base to improve itsinfrastructure and make it suitablefor the next two decades.The Prime Minister said thegovernment would find a way, toput in policy for the country totake advantage of the abilities ofthe Defense Force marines anduse them for the greater good ofthe country.GUYANAThe Chinese-owned Bosai MineralsGroup Guyana Incorporatedsays it is losing millions of dollarsas it is unable to fulfill its internationalobligations as a result ofthe protest action that has virtuallyshut down the mining town ofLinden.“We are notproducing nothing,so we can’tship nothing, inother words we can’t sell anything,’the company’s communityrelations officer, Vanessa Davis toldthe Guyana Times newspaper.Linden has been hit by protestaction after residents theretook to the streets to demand thatthe Donald Ramoutar administrationreverse a decision to increaseelectricity rates and cut the estimatedthree-billion dollar subsidyto the Linden Electricity CompanyIncorporated by one third.In addition, the bauxite pensionerssay they no longer enjoy300 kilowatt-hours free electricityand have been told they haveto pay for the remainder of theexisting market rates for othercustomers.At least three protestors wereshot and killed during clashes withthe police on July 18. The Inter-American Commission on HumanRights has condemned the killingsand the government has promiseda Commission of Inquiry into thematter.Davis said that the company,which in March this yearannounced plans to inject US$200million into expanding its operations,was only able to ship bauxitetwo weeks ago.GUYANALinden, Guyana’s Mayor andcouncilor Winston Smith are predictinga national economic shutdownif the Government does notmeet with protestors to discussthe issues affecting them, suchTHE NEWS FROM BACK HOMEJamaica’s 50th Independence GalaAttendees dancing to the pulsating sounds of Fab 5 during Jamaica’s 50th Independence Galain New York. See page 14.Photo by Ajamu Photographyas the hike in electricity ratesand unemployment which havesparked weeks of unrest.The residents of the bauxitemining town have been protestingsince July 18 over the proposedhike in electricity rates. The protestsresulted in the death of threepeople.There wasanother standoffwith the policerecently whichresulted in tear gas being throwninto the crowd of people, includingchildren.The action triggered a riot withseven buildings being gutted byfire and several people injured.Smith said the Governmentneeded to involve the people ofLinden in stakeholder consultationsto resolve the problem.He said more than 70 percentof the people in Linden, Guyana’ssecond largest town, are unemployed.JAMAICAThe Jamaican Government ismonitoring the elections in Venezuelaas the fate of the country’spetroleum sector is tied up in theoutcome of the polls which are duein less than two months.Energy Minister Phillip Paulwellsays he is hopeful that PresidentHugo Chavez retains power asthe stability of Jamaica’s economydepends heavily on the electionresults.This is because Venezuela’sopposition leader, HenriqueCapriles, whois seeking tounseat Chavez,has expressedplans to scrapthe PetroCaribeagreement.Under the agreement, Jamaicaand other selected Caribbeancountries receive preferentialtreatment in buying oil from Venezuela.Paulwell says Jamaica is not in aposition to lose PetroCaribe.The Energy Minister said if thePetroCaribe deal should end, oneof the biggest impacts would besee in the amount of foreign currenciesthat Jamaica would haveto pay out to purchase oil.The elections in Venezuela arescheduled for October 7.JAMAICASouth African President JacobZuma has reached an agreementto strengthen ties with Jamaica.Zuma, who was in Jamaica toattend the celebrationsmarkingthe island’s50th anniversaryindependencefrom Britain,told reporters “we are committedto encouraging and facilitatingSouth African companies doingbusiness in Jamaica,”Speaking at a joint news conferencewith Jamaica’s Prime MinisterPortia Simpson-Miller, theSouth African leader said that anumber of other draft agreementsand memoranda of understandingbetween the two countries in theareas of sport, defense and security,public works, education andsocial development.“These agreements will serveto foster mutual cooperationexchanges and best practices inthe respective fields,” he said.Simpson-Miller said that someof the areas being looked at includescience and technology, tourism,the crafting of an air service agreementand increased trade betweenboth countries.TRINIDADHeavy rains and flood causedmore than TT$100 million in damagesto homes and infrastructurein the North Western peninsula ofTrinidad recently.Surrounding communities inthe Diego Martin area in WestTrinidad were hit by severe floodingover the August 11 week-end,leaving two residents dead andhundreds homeless.Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar who toured the floodstrickenarea declared a disasterzone.A total of 12 homes weredestroyed and appliances lost inclose to 1,000homes, chairmanof the Diego MartinRegional CorporationAnthonySammy told a news conference.He said that while the totalinitial assessment stood at morethan $109 million, the figure isexpected to climb.More than 1,100 people havebeen carrying out mopping upoperations.Compiled by Azad Ali
African women of the Muslim faith came together inprayer at Claremont Park in the Bronx on Sunday, aspart of Eid ul-Fitr, celebrating the end of Ramadan.Festive RamadanBy Tequila MinskyDressed in stunning festivegarb, Muslims enteredClaremont Park in the Mt.Ghana, but Nigeria, Togoand francophone Benin andMali were represented.Above the hubbub andEden section of the Bronx excitement, communitystarting early this past Sundayto celebrate the grandest,most historical, andmost important Muslimholiday of the year, Eid ul-Fitr.From sunrise to sunset,Ramadan’s fasting for 30days is an exercise in selfcontrol,sacrifice and obligation.The day after Ramadanis over is Eid ul-Fitr, theday that Muslims gather ingroup prayer, recognition oftheir religion’s obligationsand celebration.Bronx mosques Tajul-Huda and Yankasa reachedelders gave talks of inspirationand local politiciansgave good wishes.A full afternoon of familyday activities followed.Jallof-yellow fried rice,wachey-rice and black-eyedpeas, cooked vegetables withAfrican spices, and barbequedchicken filled the communalfood tables for any topartake.A horse took children fora ride.By the end of the day at7:30 p.m., more than 2000celebrants shared in thegood spirits of the day.out to the African Muslim Naaimat Muhammedcommunities, bringingcongregants from about 10local mosques. In the grassylarge open space in ClaremontPark, more than 1,000area African Muslims prayedtogether.The majority of the WestAfrican celebrants were fromwho prays at the Yankasamosque was on the organizingcommittee. “We did outreachto the African Muslimcommunities,” she said,“This was our second yearand we couldn’t have askedfor a better time. We’re lookingforward to next year.”This musician with his talking drum entertains duringthe Eid ul-Fitr celebration.Tequila MinskyThousands attend inaugural Vincy PicnicBy Nelson A. KingOrganizers were hoping for a largegathering, but they, clearly, did notanticipate such a massive turn-out, asmore than 5,000 nationals last Saturday,Aug. 18, converged on HeckscherState Park on Long Island for the inauguralVincentian Picnic.Vincentians flocked the picturesquesite in the afternoon after heavy overnightand morning thundershowersthreatened to dampen the historicoccasion.They came by bus and car loadsfrom all over New York, as well as fromfar away as Toronto, Boston, Philadelphiaand Washington, D.C.All, with whom Caribbean Lifespoke, said the convergence was longoverdue.“We wanted to be part of this,” saidAmelia Edwards, president of the St.Vincent and the Grenadines’ Associationof Massachusetts, Inc.“That’s why we left Boston (Massachusetts)in all the rain, and arrived inthe rain to be part of this,” she added,flanked by her vice president, MonicaLaBorde. “We always go to 1,000 Is.(in eastern Ontario, Canada, for theannual Vincy Unity Picnic),” continuedEdwards, whose group pooled five carsto be part of history. “We’re Vincentians,so we need to stick to our culture.”Sam DeBique – a Brooklyn residentand former defender for the defunctNotre Dames football (soccer) teamin St. Vincent and the Grenadines –said he was happy to link up with hisEmancipation Day Celebration for TrinidadiansThe Trinidad and Tobagoconsulate in New York,in collaboration with theTrinidad and Tobago InterfaithCouncil of New Yorkand the Committee for theCommemoration of EmancipationDay (Brooklyn) heldthe first Emancipation Daycelebrations at the verdantProspect Park in Brooklynon Saturday, August 4.The celebrations startedoutside the Park witha parade comprising Trinidadand Tobago nationalsin traditional African garbaccompanied by drummers.The occasion was consecratedwith prayers by EmancipationCommittee memberswith traditional Yorubarituals. Representing theTrinidad and Tobago InterfaithCouncil in New Yorkwere Dr. Glenville AshbyYoung members of Century Steel Orchestra, U.S.A. playing Vincy hits.Nelson A. Kingbrother Raymond DeBique, a nationalsoccer defender, from 1954-56, wholives in Uniondale, Long Is.“I think this is a great idea,” he saidabout the picnic, with his wife, AdelleDeBique and other relatives listeningin. “It’ll pick up (in future years). Thisis togetherness.”As Century, U.S.A. Steel Orchestra,headed by Raymond Ballantyne,another former national soccerdefender, beat out the latest hits fromVincy Mas and other soca rhythms, afamily group, dubbed the South RiversPossé, reveled in the merriment,feasting on local delicacies at thesame time.Consul General R.N. Ramgoolam with Vice Consul MatthewMurray (far right) and celebrants at the EmancipationDay 2012 event.and Bishop Allan Baxter.Consul General RudrawateeNan Ramgoolamaddressed the enthusiasticgathering and complimentedthem on their efforts tostart the Emancipation Daytraditions in New York. Shenoted that the event was alsoauspicious because it coincideswith the 50th anniversaryof Independence ofthe Republic of Trinidad andTobago. She also thanked“This is the first Vincentian picnic(in New York), and I love it,” exclaimedDaphne James, a registered nurse atSt. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital in UpperManhattan.“We hope this is going to be a yearlything,” she added, eating saltfish andcooked bananas. Other local delicaciesincluded roast breadfruit, pelau,barbecue pork, curry chicken, saltfishcake and potato pudding.“We all cooked,” James continued.“Everybody got together and made adish.“I’m having a blessed day,” chimedin cousin Terazin “Laverne” Lynch,“It’s a wonderful day.”sponsor Conrad Ifill of Conrad’sFamous Bakery for hisgenerous contribution tothe event.Other activities are beingorganized by the consulatefor the 50th anniversary.Follow activities on the consularwebsite: www.ttcgny.com, Facebook and Twitterand You-Tube for eventupdates, photos and videos.The New York consulateexercises jurisdiction inConnecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,New Hampshire,New Jersey, New York,Pennsylvania, Rhode Islandand Vermont, and is focusedon promoting Trinidad andTobago and providing servicesfor its Diaspora.Inquiries may be directedto consulate@ttcgny.comand (212) 682 7272 ext 1103or 1109.Page 3 • Caribbean Life • Queens/Bronx/Manhattan/Westchester • Aug. 24-30, 2012
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