Caribbean Times 04.06.2017

Times
NASSAU, Bahamas, Parliament will be
dissolved on April 11 ahead of the upcoming
general elections. Prime Minister Perry Christie,
who made the announcement, also encouraged
voters to register before the dissolution of
Parliament.
“For general information, especially for the
benefit of all those persons who would like to
vote in the forthcoming General Election but
have not yet registered to do so, it is my intention
to cause the present Parliament to be dissolved
on Tuesday, the 11th April, and to cause
writs of election to be issued the same day.”
“I would therefore encourage all my fellow
Bahamians to play their part in our democracy
by registering to vote if they have not already
done so, and to do so without further delay.”
Christie has not yet disclosed the date –
however last week, it was confirmed that foreign
observers, including those from the Caribbean
Community (CARICOM), have been
invited to monitor the polls that will be held
sometime next month.
Times
One People Under The Sun
www.caribbeantimesnyc.com | April 6-19, 2017
Parliament to be
dissolved April 11
Continued on page 14
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Defendants
convicted of
international
drug trafficking
WASHINGTON, USA — Two Caribbean
defendants were convicted in Washington
on Friday after a 12-day jury trial for their
roles in an international drug trafficking
conspiracy that aimed to transport more
than 2,400 kilograms of cocaine aboard US
registered aircraft.
Dwight Knowles, a Bahamian national
also known as “Arizona,” and Oral George
Thompson, a Jamaican national also known
as “Chad,” were convicted of conspiracy to
distribute, and possess with intent to distribute,
five kilograms or more of cocaine
on board a US registered aircraft. Thompson
is set to be sentenced on June 21, 2017, and
Knowles is set to be sentenced on June 23,
2017. US District Court Judge Amy Berman
Jackson of the District of Columbia presided
over the trial and will impose sentence.
According to the evidence introduced
at trial, Knowles and Thompson sought to
acquire US registered aircraft to transport
large quantities of cocaine from Colombia
and Venezuela. Thompson moved to
Colombia by 1997 and Knowles followed
by 2010. From their base in Colombia, the
defendants were better able to connect with
Continued on page 12

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Caribbean Times | April 6-19, 2017
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Caribbean Times | April 6-19, 2017
Resource Guide
Caribbean Consulates in NY
Antigua & Barbuda
(212) 541-4117
The Bahamas
(212) 421-6420
Barbados
(212) 551-4325
Dominica
(212) 949-0853
Grenada
(212) 599-0301
Guyana
(212) 947-5110
Haiti
(212) 697-9767
Jamaica
(212) 935-9000
Montserrat
(212) 745-0200
St. Kitts & Nevis
(212) 535-1234
St. Lucia
(212) 697-9360
St. Vincent & The Grenadines
(212) 687-4490
Suriname
(212) 826-0660
Trinidad & Tobago
(212) 682-7272 / 4
Contact Us
Caribbean Times, LLC.
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Contributors
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Stephen Carr
Carlyle Harry
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Michael D. Roberts
Caribbean Times, LLC. is published
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commentary
America’s (addictive) opioids epidemic
Political and other Institutional
Leaders in several American
States have been expressing
increased concerns over the use
and destruction being caused by
prescription and illegal drugs.
The concerns go further into
the illegal prescription of medication(s)--especially
pain-killers
for Celebrities who have become
addicted to them(e.g.Prince and
Michael Jackson); as well as the
invasion of illegal drugs such as
heroin through the Nation’s airports,
seaports and borders.
MEANING
Most of us have knowledge
about what Illegal drugs are and
do--they include substances like
opiates and heroin.
Opioids (on the other hand)
are legally-approved medications
which are over or illegally
prescribed by Medical Doctors,
who along with pharmacies-pharmaceuticals
(allegedly)
“receive lots of financial and material
benefits”
Opioids are indicated for the
relief of mild to severe pains, but
users can become quite habitual-users,
dependent and addicted
to them.
--Physical dependence is the
psychological adaptation of the
body to the presence of a substance
or substances.
Simply put, Drug-addiction
is a complex set of behaviors
that is typically associated with
the misuse of legal and illegal
drugs...Addiction includes psychological
compulsion to the extent
that ‘the sufferer’ persists in
actions leading to dangerous or
unhealthy outcomes.
THE PROBLEM(s)
This increased use of legal and
illegal drugs is resulting in frequent
deaths and hospitalization
, with the latter having to be financed
from State budgets, and
the Federal purse.
The issue has grown so serious
that last year’s Presidential and
Down-Ballot Candidates gave
different undertakings for preventive
and curative measures
for dealing with this epidemic.
As a reminder, several years
ago, American communities had
to deal with the ‘crack’ epidemic
By Carlyle Harry
which devastated thousands of
homes and households...Today’s
main (illegal) drug of choice is
heroin.
** ON TUESDAY February
28th, in an address to a joint
session of Congress, Donald
Trump vowed to end America’s
“terrible drug epidemic”....When
discussing America’s social ills,
Mr Trump has a tendency to
exaggerate. But on the subject
of drugs, the President’s characteristically
dark and apocalyptic
tone may well have been warranted.
In 2015 more than 52,000
Americans died of drug overdoses,
according to the Centres for
Disease Control and Prevention.
That is an average of one death
every ten minutes.
Approximately 33,000 of
these fatal overdoses—nearly
two-thirds of them—were from
opioids, including prescription
painkillers and heroin. Although
the absolute death toll from opioids
is greatest in big cities like
Chicago and Baltimore, the devastation
is most concentrated in
rural Appalachia, New England
and the Midwest (see map).
Many of the victims hail from
white middle-class suburbs and
rural towns.
The opioid epidemic has its
roots in the explosive growth
of prescription painkillers. Between
1991 and 2011, the number
of opioid prescriptions
(selling under brand names like
Vicodin, Oxycontin, and Percocet)
supplied by American retail
pharmacies increased from 76m
to 219m. As the number of pain
pills being doled out by doctors
increased, so did their potency.
In 2002 one in six users took a
pill more powerful than morphine.
By 2012 it was one in
three.
States have since cracked
down on prescription opioid
abuse, creating drug-monitoring
programmes and arresting unscrupulous
doctors.
Pharmaceutical companies
have reformulated their drugs to
make them less prone to abuse.
Unfortunately, as the supply of
painkillers has dropped, many
addicts have turned instead
to heroin (see chart), which is
cheap and plentiful. In 2014
more Americans sought treatment
for heroin than for any
other drug. In 2015, as total opioid
deaths grew by 15%, heroin
deaths increased by 23%.
To stem the tide of deadly
overdoses, States rely increasingly
on naloxone, a drug that
reverses heroin’s effect on the
brain and jump-starts breathing
in addicts who have overdosed.
In recent years, States struggling
with a surge in overdose
deaths have passed laws making
the drug available to police officers,
firefighters and addicts’
friends and family. A recent
working paper suggests that such
laws—which are now on the
books in 45 Stated and in Washington,
DC—reduce opioid-related
deaths by 9-11%.
That is still not enough. Data
released in recent months show
that the opioid epidemic is worsening,
driven largely by the rise
of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid
painkiller 50-100 times more
powerful than morphine. In
2016 fatal overdoses (for example)
increased by 26% in Connecticut,
35% in Delaware, and
39% in Maine.
During the first three quarters
of 2016, deadly overdoses
in Maryland jumped by a whopping
62%, prompting the state’s
Governor to declare an official
state of emergency. Mr Trump’s
promise to end the scourge of
opioid abuse in America is looking
more challenging by the day.
IN OTHER WORDS
Whether by prescription,
Whether by description,
Drugs lead to addiction
causing human destruction.
You see what I mean,
Stay healthy and clean.

5
Caribbean Times | April 6-19, 2017

6
Caribbean Times | April 6-19, 2017
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organizational profile
New York Tutorial Support Group,
Inc. (AKA) New York Tutorial Chapter
FORMATION
The New York Tutorial Support
Group was formally established
during 2004, with a mission to “
provide financial and material support
to our alma mater , so as to
restore and enhance its educational
prominence among the schools in
Guyana.”
Over the years this mission has
been extended to help other organizations
in the United States of
America, which have similar goals
and aspirations.
7
Caribbean Times | April 6-19, 2017
A cross-section of the leaders and members of the organization.
By Carlyle Harry
ORIGINS
The Eighth triennial reunion of
Tutorial High School (THS) , Guyana,
was planned for the year 2002.
There was much excitement and
high enthusiasm among alumni
and friends residing in the United
States to attend and participate in
that event.
The then President of the Guyana
chapter , Mr. Malcolm Parris
visited New York, and after a caucus
with a group of New Yorkbased
alumni, it was decided to
form a New York Chapterof The
New York Tutorial Support Group
Inc. better known as New York Tutorial
Alumni Chapter.
The founding members of that
Chapter were:--DavidBryant,Keith
Cadogan,John Callender,
Cheryl Ferdinand, Jennefer( Pamela)
Grannum, Wilton ( Lennox)
Grannum, Pauline Granville,Pansy
Greene(deceased) ,Joyce Jervis-Henry,
Richard Jones, Ingrid
London, George London,Lear Matthews
and Barbara Sampson.
Following the reunion-gathering
in Guyana , this group continued to
hold formal meetings, and the New
York Tutorial Support Group, Inc,
(NYTSG) grew stronger and stronger.
The Leadership made a great
Institutional step when it obtained501(c)
(3) not for-profit status.
CONTRIBUTIONS
Consistent with NYTSG’s
commitment to its overseas
partner--a Computer Laboratory
has been outfitted and is fully operational;
yearly financial awards
have been given to graduating students;
and the first and only Journalism
Institute has been established.
Upon reviewing the recent
CXC Examination great progress
was demonstrated in the areas of
Technology and the Arts.We look
forward to elevated levels of academic
performance by students in
the future.
NYTSG has been the main financial
sponsor for the annual St.
Gabriel’s (Brooklyn) Christmas
party for children ages 6 months to
12 years . The group also donates
gifts to help off set the total cost of
that event.
community mobilization
Planning for risk and change
By Carlyle Harry
Edmund Sadio and Gerry Hopkins
co-hosted another successful
‘monthly Networking Wednesdays’
on Wednesday evening, March
29th. at the Trelawni restaurant in
Brooklyn.
The March event featured
presentations from three speakers--Stephen
Thomas; Debra Cesare;
and Valence Williams; as well
as a Fashion-show that displayed
‘spring-garments’ by Gail Lynch.
(i)..Ms.Cesare--a Community-Activist
delivered an evidence-based
address to support
her call for citizens to mobilize
against the anti-poor, anti-aged,
anti-school and anti-minority policies
of the new Government.
Ms.Cesare showed the success
that street-protests and expressions
at Town Hall meetings had with
defeating the Republican Party’s
and the Government’s efforts to repeal
and replace Obamacare.
She urged similar activism
against the President’s attempts to
defund worthy programs that help
the poor and school children, while
he was seeking to increase spending
on military hardware.
(ii)..Real-Estate salesperson and
Insurance Broker--Stephen Thomas
shared useful advice on why individuals
and groups should invest
in Life and Business Insurance policies.
Mr.Thomas insisted that the
main purpose of investing in those
insurance assets, is to guard against
uncertainties and accidents.
He went on to describe the variety
of policies which were available
to individuals, groups, and business-persons.
(iii)..Wall-Street Financial-Expert--Mr.Valence
Williams outlined
several examples as he encouraged
the Caribbean business
persons to buy stocks and commodities.
He explained how those purchases
work, as well as the nature of
relations that should exist between
purchasers and their brokers.
Mr.Williams opined that if the
present Government stuck to its
current policies and courses of action,
there was likely to be an upsurge
of activism throughout the
country.
He urged members of the audience
to pay careful attention to
technological changes and shifts
that were occurring.
An important feature of the
evening was the exchange of business-cards
and information among
the participants.

8
poetry corner
letters to the editor
Caribbean Times | April 6-19, 2017
TRIBUTE to WALCOTT
From small St.Lucia,
Derek showed that size did not matter.
He was a thoughtful writer,
and an extensive traveler.
Hailing from Castries,
He made history
with paper and pen
from the age of eighteen.
Walcott was a Novelist,
A distinguished Lyricist,
A devoted Composer
He left us a poetic reservoir.
The Nobel Prize for Literature
guarantees the Caribbean’s future
as well as our culture
in the Global structure.
Walcott wrote for the masses
He touched various classes.
He educated workers
He gathered lots of supporters.
Through his Poetry
Walcott became a celebrity
Writing with passion
as well as clear vision.
— Carlyle Harry.
CHILD OF BEAUTY
Let no one define you or make you a label
You are more that random letters
marching
You are unscrambled and
phonetically poised
A child ordered in the universe of beauty
Your Rhythm and musical chord
defines your passion
You are the discriminating eyes and ears
of this beautiful Landscape
When mired in the quicksand of fashion,
plagued by the venom of symbolism
You must speak in muted silence –
with a thunderous echo
You are a child of beauty swelling with
the pride of your ancestors
Radiant with the brilliance of the sun
Singing the songs of the ancestors with
defiant rage
Let no one define you – ever
With a voice as mighty as the wind
Swelling as an angry sea
You must resolutely declare; I am a child
of beauty!
VETTING IMMIGRANTS?
Dear Editor,
Hitler united the German people by making
scapegoats of the Jews.
Most of us have ancestors who fought in
World War II, as part of the greatest generation.
Are we now going to make our own scapegoats
of Muslims, or Muslims, or some other
group.?
How do we want to be remembered?--as the
worst generation? Are we going to cower behind
walls? Is that who we are now?
I say, vet all the immigrants equally, and if
they pass welcome them.Yes, some bad apples
will get in--they always do.
We will deal with them, we are America,
home of the brave, and we are not going to slam
the golden door.
— Roberta Miller
THE TRAVEL-BANS
Dear Editor,
Some people seem to be deliberately confusing
the reasons for the protests against the travel-bans
The protests were not against screening people,
they were because the countries that Trump
chose to ban, have no connection to terror acts
in the U.S. other than being predominantly
Muslim and do not have any Trump businesses.
People were hauled off planes, visa holders
were blocked, and innocent people victimized.
As for vetting, refugees already go through
extreme vetting involving the State Department,
the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Center, the Department
of Defense, and the Department of
Homeland Security.
Their biometrics are recorded, they are interviewed
repeatedly, and backgrounds are checked
during a process that can take two years.
So, Trump isn’t doing his job,--he’s just making
up catchy phrases and alternative facts.
— Robert Donavan
OPRAH !
Dear Editor,
I hope that Oprah does run for the Presidency
in 2020, she will get my vote.
Oprah has several pluses and minuses.
The first plus is that she is extremely rich, and
she has the popularity and contacts that can help
her to raise tons of money which are necessary
for today’s elections.
I believe that she still has a lot of Radio and
Television fans who will vote for her, and she can
use her Television station to advertise her candidacy.
There are however two minuses that will
come against Oprah, the first is that she is not
married; and the second, and may be of greater
significance is if a racially divided America is
ready for another Black President, so soon after
President Obama.
May be, Oprah and her backers will have to
place greater emphasis on America needing its
first Female President.
I believe that by 2020, America is going to
have so many angry people that they are going
to view someone like Oprah as their Savior.
— Rhonda Lawrence
HIGH RENTS !
Dear Editor,
Can someone please explain to me, why the
rents in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and the
Bronx are so expensive?
Why does a person have to use one of two
monthly pay checks only for the rent?
And I am not talking about the people who
live in Dumbo or Brooklyn Heights, or areas
where people from Manhattan are moving into.
Why are so many buildings being built for
people who cannot afford to move into them?
Why are there so many lotteries for a small
number of affordable apartments?
I am a single mother with three teen angers,
and I had to use one paycheck just to pay for a
drafty apartment, and use my second check to
pay for everything else.
Talk about anxiety 24/7...Neither the Governor
nor the Mayor is doing enough for lower
and middle-class New Yorkers.
NOT BEATTY’S FAULT !
Dear Editor,
No one should blame Warren Beatty for
the best picture screwup on Oscars’ night.
A presenter’s job is to simply read what is
on the card.
Beatty clearly looked flustered, but may
be his not asking for help had more to do
with the fact that he’s 80 years old , and not
that he’s an actor and therefore incapable of
thinking on his feet.
— Stefanie Rosner
MY BARBADOS!
Dear Editor,
Perhaps, because I had to come to America
with my parents, I cannot help but harbor
tremendous love and adoration for the land
of my birth.
Because, if I had my own way, I would not
have left Barbados to come here.
I hold so much love for Barbados that I
ensure that I return home at least one time
a year.
Editor, because of what I stated above, you
can understand why I have become so upset
over the bad economic news coming out of
the country of my birth.
I had felt for a long time, that different
Governments that run Barbados, did not try
to diversify the country’s almost total dependence
on Tourism, and with so many small
and large countries competing for shrinking
tourism dollars, that might be one of the major
reasons for the economic tragedy facing
my homeland.
I can only hope that the current economic
circumstances will force the Government to
change its courses of action.
Alicia Clarke.
JOB-REPLACEMENTS!
Dear Editor,
President Trump is continuing to voice his
promises to coal-miners and others, that he
is going to bring back their jobs.
Frankly speaking, I do not think that that
is going to happen, I do not believe that those
jobs are going to come back, because automation,
modernizing technologies and robots
are going to continue to take the place
of workers.
Just before leaving Office, former President-Barrack
Obama mentioned in a farewell
interview that”jobs are going away,
because of automation, and that is going to
accelerate”.
Instead of promising to bring back those
jobs, I believe that the President would be
better off spelling out the facts to today’s
workforce; and to start training courses for
them to fill redeployment positions.
It is time that Politicians stop fooling the
working class, and taking advantage of their
ignorance and emotions.
For example, just imagine the dislocations
that self-driven cars are going to cause to
chauffeurs and taxi drivers.
— Craig Percival
SUICIDAL RATES!
Dear Editor,
At a recent Conference that was held in
Trinidad and Tobago, it was disclosed that
Guyana had the highest suicidal rate in the
Caribbean, followed by Trinidad and Tobago,
and Suriname.
The principal reasons being blamed for
those high suicidal rates are romantic and
emotional conflicts, domestic-violence, and
economic hardships.
I believe that counseling outside of the
home, especially by schools and churches
could help to reduce those suicidal rates, as
well as the operation of effective suicidal prevention
telephone lines.
I realize that for the counseling and prevention
lines to be meaningful, persons with
personal problems will have to know about
their existence, and they will have to be encouraged
to seek them out.
Finally, Caribbean Governments will have
to do a better job of finding employment opportunities
for the lesser educated, as well as

ural residents, in order to reduce the latter’s
economic hardships.
Adrian Cort
SUPPORTING NEW PARTIES!
Dear Editor,
It has become popular to hear calls in the
United States of America and other parts of
the world, for the formation of new Political
parties to take the place of the traditional two
party system that have dominated societies.
It can be understood why especially the
younger people would be calling for new Political
parties, because they were not around
when the older ones were put together.
I am in support of the calls for the formation
of new Political groups, because the older
parties continue to satisfy the needs and
the greed of their own members, and in spite
of their promises, they are not doing much
for those who not support them; or for poor
or younger people.
I know that it will be an uphill task to start
new Political parties because of the way that
money has taken over politics all over the
world, and the older politicians are not going
commentary: Telling it as it is
to give up easily.
Another important reason for staring new
Political parties, is to get rid of the racial and
class divisions that the traditional parties
have caused.
— Ramesh Narine.
THE BUDGET!
Dear Editor,
We cannot afford to be distracted or disconnected
regarding President Trump’s proposed
Budget which would cut the Meals on
Wheels for seniors, and also defund effective
after school programs that feed and empower
America’s children to learn.
Starving America’s poor seniors and poor
children does not sound presidential to me
at all.
It sounds like a vicious act, Trump seems
much more interested in standing up for
Russia than he does for America’s own seniors
and children.
We need to stand up for our seniors and
children.
— Pastor Arthur Mackey, Jr.
Is a homosexual union equal to a
marriage under law, but yet different?
By Gerry Hopkin, JD
I do believe that as thinking
beings, that we are capable
of recognizing commonalities
and distinguishing
disimilarities in things and
experiences that are existentially
alike. This we can
do while preserving equality
and respect, especially if we
truly believe in and practice
the Golden Rule -- ‘do unto
others as you would have
them do unto you.”
Life and education has
led me to subscribe to the
principle that every man and
woman must be free to conduct
and associate himself/
herself in whatever manner
and with whomever he/she
cares to, as long as such conduct
and association brings
no harm to the existence and
the rights of other individuals
nor the wider human
community, nor mother
earth.
Similarly, I am a proponent
of the belief that adults
must be free to form and hold
their own beliefs, without interference
of any organized
religion or state, while being
respectful of the well-established
and time-tested beliefs
and practices of religions
and states, which do not necessarily
harm an individual’s
existence or human society
and nature, at large.
As such, I believe that it is
only fair and just, that indivuduals
who choose to have
committed same-sex relationships,
based on their beliefs
and orientation, ought
to be entitled to protections
and guarantees of entitlement
(insurance coverage
and inheritance rights, etc.)
under secular laws of our
various states.
However, there is simply
no historical, legally sanctioned
basis that justifies
that “marriage”, known to
be between a man and a
woman, from the old testament
times to now, may now
be seen as also meant to be
between two people of the
same sex.
Two people of the same
sex may under secular law
have a relationship based
on their beliefs, which are
different from mine, but
there is simply no historical
or other legal basis, for such
a relationship to be called a
“marriage,” even if in that
same-sex relationship, those
two individuals are afforded
and entitled to all of the
protections and entitlements
Continued on page 24
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Caribbean Times | April 6-19, 2017

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Caribbean Times | April 6-19, 2017
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news
11
Travel and tourism partnership:
Dynamic Airlines boosts Guyana travel
By Michael Derek Roberts
In business, especially and in particular,
the travel and tourism business, partnerships
and relationships are everything. But
the travel and tourism business is particularly
fickle one and sometimes-unintended
consequences can produce negative effects
and outcomes. The flip side of the coin is that
when the partners get it right the outcomes
positive, mutually beneficial and produce a
win-win situation.
This is the case with a partnership in the
building between an American international
airline company and a local Guyanese travel
and air transportation company. They came
together to improve the both the quality of
air transportation between the United States
and Guyana (and the reverse) while helping
to build that South American country’s tourism
product.
Dynamic International Airways, a U.S.
Certificated airline, is a privately owned
company founded in 2010. Formerly known
as Dynamic Airways, the company added
“International” to its official name to reflect
its transition from a charter airline into
scheduled international services. Dynamic
is headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina,
and offers service from New York to
South America.
At a recent press event in Queens, New
York, officials from Dynamic’s local Guyana
partner, Roraima Airways, and the airline
feted journalists, Caribbean nationals and
members of the diplomatic community and
brought them up to date on plans to improve
and boost air travel to Guyana and St. Vincent
& the Grenadines to take advantage of
that CARICOM nation’s brand new international
airport.
“The people who travel on airlines must
enjoy and be satisfied with the quality of the
services that the airlines provide. I can report
that Dynamic’s in-flight services are second
to none. We can safely say that they have met
with the satisfaction of the Guyanese traveling
community,” said Wesley Kirton, the
master of ceremonies at a reception held at
Zen (www.zenlounge101.com), a popular
restaurant and nightspot in Richmond Hill,
Queens.
Citron is a Guyana-born South Florida
businessman and leader of the Guyanese-American
Chamber of Commerce. He
also serves as Chairman of the Private Sector
Council at the Institute of Caribbean Studies
in Washington DC. Citron led a delegation
of American business people to Guyana last
May as part of the 50th Anniversary of Guyana’s
independence.
Captain Gerald Gouveia, a famous Guyanese
pilot with over 40 years of experience,
and co-founder of Roraima Airways (www.
roraimaairways.com see backgrounder below),
Dynamic’s local Guyana partner, spoke
at length about the impact of the partnership
on the Guyanese economy, and the potential
for growth and development in the future. He
had high praise for what he called “Dynamic’s
commitment to providing high-quality,
on time services to the Guyanese traveling
community.” Captain Gouveia informed
those present that there would always be
unexpected problems and hiccups in the
travel and airline industries but that did not
translate into insensitivity or a lack of commitment.
He stressed, “Guyana was open for
business” and urge Guyanese in New York to
“get involved and invest in their homeland.”
“How and what we learn from those problems
and mistakes is what helps us grow. I
can say to all of you that Dynamic is a committed
partner in this venture as we build
Guyana’s tourism product. They are in this
for the long haul. I want to commend Dynamic
and its awesome staff for their professionalism
and for the importance they have
placed on working with the people of Guyana,”
Captain Gouveia said.
Ms. Karen Kraus, Interim CEO, Dynamic
Airways International, also reiterated Dynamic’s
and her respect, and commitment
to helping improve and expand travel between
Guyanese living in the United States
and the South American nation, as well as
looking at other opportunities for collaboration
with other Caribbean island nations.
She expressed satisfaction with the airline’s
Christmas holiday services, despite one or
two glitches, that got thousands of Guyanese
nationals living in North America “home for
the Christmas Holidays.”
“We were also excited and honored to help
play a part in Guyana’s 50th anniversary of
independence as well as being the first international
airline to touch down at St. Vincent
and the Grenadines brand new and beautiful
Argyle International Airport on Valentines
Day, February 14th. Dynamic will be soon,
possibly in April, begin services to St. Vincent
and the Grenadines,” Ms. Kraus said.
Backgrounder:
Roraima Airways was established in November
1992 commencing its operations as
a domestic airline doing charters in Guyana,
South America, and the Caribbean with particular
emphasis on executive clientele. Over
the years, the company has expanded its range
of services into ten divisions all of them connected
with vertical integration and cross fertilizing
synergies operating in support of the
mining, logging and tourism industries specifically
and Guyana’s National Development
generally. The co-founders of Roraima Airways
are Captain Gerald and Debbie Gouveia
both of whom are experienced professional
airline transport rated pilots.
LIAT pilots call for removal of airline management
ST JOHN’S, Antigua -- The Leeward Islands
Airline Pilots Association (LIALPA) said in a
statement on Monday that it has no other choice
but to call on the shareholder governments to
remove the current LIAT management.
“We reluctantly make this call because we
will not stand by and watch the airline’s financial
health continue to deteriorate at massive levels,
to the point where LIAT can’t even pay salaries
on time,” LIALPA said.
“First of all, we want to clear the air and state
categorically that a just recent LIAT press release
referencing “Flight Disruptions Due To Industrial
Unrest” has nothing to do with LIALPA and
we are not involved at all. As a matter of fact, we
continue to pledge to the Caribbean people that
we are currently going above and beyond the call
of duty to get the airline running at optimal levels,
even to the extent of not having meal breaks
and working 11 hour shifts. We have already
worked almost an extra week without pay. However,
this is not sustainable,” the pilots association
continued.
According to LIALPA, concerns relayed to
management over many years about the loss of
market share, insufficient crews and poor scheduling
practices, continue to fall on deaf ears,
providing what it described as a few examples
of incompetent management and poor decision
making:
• The aircraft fleet has decreased from 18 to
10. Lack of adequate crew.
• The head of flight operations’ incompetence
was exposed as he stood idly and did nothing to
address the mass departure of 19 experienced
pilots, after the airline just spent over $100,000
to train each pilot. Now the attention is on hiring
new inexperienced pilots.
• Loss of $10 million in hangar fire due to records
not being properly backed up off site.
• Loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars for
removing a flight route from Grenada schedule.
• Loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars in
routes being taken over by competitors.
• Seeking to hire a high-priced consultant to
train the head of flight operations, and to study
LIAT’s problems and make recommendations to
management and the board. The fact is that this
consultant is being brought in to do an exercise
that was already half-way completed by several
LIALPA members at no cost to the airline.
“To make matters worse, management refuses
to accept responsibility for the sad state
of the airline’s affairs, and instead is focusing on
making the crew the scapegoats. The traveling
public deserves to know the truth: The current
management at LIAT is not capable of running
the airline at this critical time. Their track record
speaks for itself,” LIALPA said.
LIALPA, along with other LIAT unions, are
scheduled to meet with shareholders in Barbados
on 4 April 2017. However, management has
reportedly not given LIALPA’s executive council
members the adequate time off to meet and consult
their other union partners before attending
this meeting.
“We hope this is not a plan to stop us from
attending this critical meeting, and to restrict the
number of LIALPA participants, where we intend
to make our position clear: We are strongly
against deferral of salaries and we will no longer
subsidize the incompetence of management.
“We are telling you the Caribbean public
what management does not want you to know.
We have done this hoping that public pressure
will cause the shareholders to make the only decision
that will save LIAT: Remove the existing
management. We are also doing this publicly
because of LIALPA’s unwavering commitment
to LIAT’s survival and the improvement of its
financial health; but sadly this is not achievable
with the current management team.
Caribbean Times | April 6-19, 2017

12
caribbean history
Caribbean Times | April 6-19, 2017
The Grenada Revolution 1979-1983
A brief Snapshot By Michael Derek Roberts
BROOKLYN, New York — Standing out
in a crow is the hallmark of true success,
especially in a highly competitive discipline
as medicine. In fact becoming a genuine
standout take much more than simple
achievements – it takes over achievement.
Grenada-born Dr. Trevor Layne a trailblazer
who is changing the world – one patient
at a time - with medical breakthroughs and
social change. In the daily battle against disease
there are many victim and few victories
but this doctor is a true medical warrior. He
has dedicated his life to taking the battle to
cancer. And the results are stunning: as an
oncologist and hematologist Dr. Layne and
his team has performed well over 20 bone
marrow transplants that have extended life
and reversed the progress of cancers.
Today, he’s at the forefront of medical innovation
as a specialist who treats the most
Senator Persaud partners with
Housing and Family Services
of Greater New York to provide
housing-related counseling
Senator Roxanne Persaud is partnering
with the Housing and Family services
of Greater New York, in order to provide
counseling on a variety of housing-related
topics to residents of Brooklyn.
In the past, Senator Persaud had provided
fair-housing services for Brooklyn
residents.
The Counselors will assist residents
with advice on eviction-prevention; accessing
entitlements; mortgage-foreclosure
mediation; and the denial of housing
services.
The next counseling session will be
held on Monday, April 17th, from 2.00 to
5.00 p.m. at Senator Persaud’s office, 1222
East 96th street, Brooklyn.
(For additional information, call 718-
649-7653).
trafficking
Continued from page 1
sources of cocaine who were seeking aircraft,
mostly from the United States, to transport
their cocaine from Colombia and Venezuela
to Central America and the Caribbean, for
eventual distribution elsewhere.
The evidence introduced at trial also revealed
that from 2011 through May 2012,
Knowles and Thompson sought to acquire
a US registered aircraft to transport at least
three loads of cocaine from Venezuela to
Honduras. The evidence showed that a total
complex cancers using only the most advanced
technologies. Dr. Layne is one of the
very best in his field in the United States and
his native Grenada. A highly recognized and
acclaimed doctor he decided quite early in
life that he wanted to make his mark in the
medical profession. He is one of eight children
born to the late Lincoln Layne and his
wife Theresa Layne.
Perhaps influenced by his resilient and
optimistic mother on a mission to see her
children succeed, Dr. Layne exhibits that
caring streak that has endeared both friends
and colleagues. His mother understood the
value of education and encouraged her children
to pursue education as a way to improve
the quality of life for the family while working
for individual success. When the family
lost their father, who was a farmer and the
family’s support it was his mother who shouldered
the task of raising the family and motivating
them to do better. Her steely resolve
kept her children on a firm footing pushing
them forward towards success.
Growing up in a house with eight brothers
and sisters, Dr. Layne learned the importance
of independence and teamwork. His mother
taught all of his brothers and sisters lessons
on morality, integrity and honesty. Dr. Layne
attributes the family’s success to the foundation
given to them their mother.
“Having that bond, no matter how different
we are and the different personalities we
have, I believe it helped to keep us together,”
Layne said.
Even as a young man he’d always been
both intrigues and repelled by diseases and
ailments of the human body, something
that helped propel him towards a career in
medicine. Dr. Layne received his early (High
School) education at the St. David’s Secondary
Catholic School in Grenada where he
graduated with honors. From all accounts
he was a brilliant student and remained so
through his school and college life. After
graduating from high school he studied medicine
at the St. George’s University (SGU)
(Grenada) and earned his doctorate in 1989
graduating at the top of his class.
Dr. Layne then moved to the United States
where he began his career as an oncologist at
Jamaica Hospital in Queens in 1989. Since
then he’s emerged as among the best medical
minds in Grenada, the Caribbean, and
the United States in his field. He has received
several awards and honors, including America’s
top oncologist and inducted into the
Leading Physicians of the World. Dr. Layne
is one of the oncologists at St. Barnabas Medical
Center in Livingston, New Jersey, and
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.
Dr. Layne completed his residency at Jamaica
Hospital in Queens, in internal medicine,
and racked up experience working as a
Fellow at the Department of Medical Oncology
at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center.
He did a stint at SUNY Health Science
Center in Brooklyn.
Dr. Layne is a member of the American
Board of Internal Medicine, a Board certified
Medical Oncologist licensed to practice in
the state of New Jersey. A leading specialist
in his field of oncology, Dr. Layne has distinguished
himself as a creative, aggressive and
collaborative colleague, who brings hope to
his many patients.
“I frequently remind myself that medicine
puts me in a position to speak for those who
may not otherwise have a voice. It’s a privilege
that I sometimes forget when focusing on the
routine of the workday. Medicine gives me a
sense of humility. I have learned some of life’s
biggest and profound lessons through the
stories, struggles, and triumphs of my many
patients and this makes my career in medicine
a journey worth living, while I strive for
perfection,” Dr. Layne explained.
Dr. Layne said that his ultimate aim was
to be a strong bridge between Grenada and
the United States and to establish an institute
that will provide training, patient care, and
state-of-the- art medical research in Grenada.
“For me personally, that would be my ultimate
life’s mission,” he said, “because it’s very
needed, it’s important, and it would help not
just Grenada, but the entire Caribbean.”
Dr. Layne is a talented doctor who wants
to transform an uncaring health care system
in Grenada to refocus on and putting the
needs of the patients first. He believes in excellent
patient care and is determined to be
an outspoken champion and activist for patients.
of at least 2,400 kilograms of cocaine could
have been transported in the three loads.
The plan was to acquire a US registered
Beechcraft 1900 aircraft in The Bahamas, fly
the plane to Haiti to refuel and pick up a second
pilot, fly to Venezuela where the cocaine
would be loaded on the plane, and then fly to
Honduras to deliver the cocaine.
In May 2012, Knowles and Thompson arranged
for a Bahamian pilot to fly the Beechcraft
1900 aircraft to Haiti; however, upon
arriving in Haiti, the pilot and two other men
on the plane were arrested and the plane was
confiscated by Haitian authorities.

13
Caribbean Times | April 6-19, 2017
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14
legal notes
Caribbean Times | April 6-19, 2017
Choosing an attorney:
Is free consultation, really free?
By Wayne Marsh, Esq.
The new norm in the American legal culture
seems to be the buzz-phrase or sales
pitch, “free consultation”. Sounds free, right?
The reality is that the old idea that nothing
is free is still true today as it was yesterday.
In today’s competitive market, lawyers
are definitely feeling the pinch and must
come up with innovative ways to bring potential
clients into their offices.
While free consultation may sound irresistible
to many, potential litigants must be aware
that this is often only sales talk and nothing
more. First off, a lawyer’s time is expensive, he
or she may not have time to listen to anyone
who will not pay. At best, what the lawyer will
do is to briefly listen to your issue to decide
whether you have a case that is worth his firm’s
time and energy. Should the lawyer decide
that you have a case, it is only imaginable that
the time he spent listening to you will in one
way or the other be reflected in his bill. This is
not to suggest that many lawyers do not offer
pro-bono service, but the reality is that a law
firm is a business.
Potential litigants must also be aware that
lawyers do not know all the law on all issues;
at times it will be necessary for a lawyer to
research the issues at hand and get back to
the would-be client. How committed can
anyone be to doing research when he is not
being paid? At the end of each month, most
law firms, like any other business will have
utilities, staff, rent and other bills to pay.
The lawyer will also have other paying
clients’ matters to attend to. If this is the
case, can we reasonably expect a lawyer to
dedicate adequate time talking with someone
who will not pay? Understanding this
will help one to appreciate why those who
say free consultation sometimes limit their
consultation to a stated time.
Lawyers who purport to offer free consultation
are at best doing as the word consultation
suggests. He or she is merely engaging
in dialogue with the would-be client to see
if there is any real chance that the would-be
client will become a paying client. He may
not intend to offer advice and one should
not expect advice. Perhaps what should be
expected from free-consultation is an evaluation
of a potential case by the lawyer to see
if the case is worth the firm’s time. Advice on
the other hand, which includes the lawyer’s
professional opinion, will come after a lawyer-client
relationship is established.
The preceeding is not legal advice and
readers should not to take the above as legal
advice. On the contrary, the preceeding is
simply intended to stimulate discussion.
Anyone needing legal advice in encouraged
to contact the author.
NYS Sen. Jesse
Hamilton authors
legislation
requiring Black
and Caribbean
history in NYC
schools
Bill would require Regents to incorporate
in curricula New York State’s Black History
Brooklyn, NY – NYS Senator Jesse Hamilton
has introduced legislation that would
require the Board of Regents to incorporate
New York State’s black history in NYC schools
curricula for K-12 students. In the Senate, the
bill is S. 5454; the bill will be sponsored by
Assemblywoman Diana Richardson in the
NYS Assembly.
Senator Hamilton said, “Black history’s importance
extends far beyond a single month,
and New Yorkers have made profound contributions
that need to be taught in our schools.
From the women abolitionists, who broke
barriers in advocacy and helped end slavery,
to the Harlem Renaissance, whose literary
and artistic dynamism we benefit from even
today, to the pioneering achievements of
Shirley Chisholm, who paved a path for future
public servants of color, men and women
alike, New York has an important history our
young people should engage with. Serving as
part of our collective, national heritage, we
need to uplift this history and teach it in New
York City Schools.”
About Senator Hamilton:
Senator Jesse Hamilton has spent his entire
career helping people, including over 15 years
as President of the School Board and District
Leader. He is a husband, father, and public servant
delivering and fighting for one of the most
diverse Senate districts in New York State.
parliament
Continued from page 1
A general election was last held here on May
8, 2012.
Christie’s Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) then
won a majority in a landslide, taking 30 of the 38
seats in Parliament.
Following its defeat, the then leader the Free
National Movement Hubert announced his retirement
from politics, having served in Parliament
for 35 years.
This election will be a battle between Christie’s
PLP and the FNM, led by Dr. Hubert Minn

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Caribbean Times | April 6-19, 2017

entertainment
New York: Popular US gospel singer/
preacher Travis Greene, who garnered
international attention for performing
at the inauguration of President Donald
Trump is heading to the Caribbean
for the Easter celebrations. Greene will
headline the Unity In The City concert,
slated for Easter Monday, April
17, 2017 at the National Indoor Sports
Complex in Kingston, Jamaica.
Accepting Trump’s invitation in
January, was seen as a diss by some
members of the African American
community, because of rhetoric Trump
used in the Presidential campaign that
some persons found offensive. Greene
however felt, he was answering a higher
calling by performing at the Liberty
Ball in DC.
“I’m overwhelmed by the favor and
the love of our Jesus Christ,” Greene
posted on a video Instagram after accepting
the invitation.
“After much prayer, deliberation and
soul-searching, I literally spoke to most
of my spiritual advisers throughout the
country, and it was an overwhelming,
‘Go!’ -- they believed this was the will
of God.”
Greene sang his hit song “Intentional,”
which peaked at #1 on Billboard’s
Top Gospel Songs chart. The song remains
a favorite of gospel fans around
the world.
When contacted, the organiser
coordinating the Kingston concert
(SWOT Business Solution) said they
choose to book Greene because he is
not afraid to do the work of God, no
matter where it leads him. Greene is a
Continued on page 17
Travis Greene heads
to the Caribbean
US Gospel singer Travis Greene performed at inauguration of President Donald Trump
17
Caribbean Times | April 6-19, 2017
Groovin’ 2017 to Freddie McGregor,
Ken Boothe and Leroy Sibbles
NY: In the early sixties, long before
there was reggae, a haunting,
captivating and blissfully bouncy
beat called rock steady captured
the imagination of music lovers
on the island of Jamaica. This
beat was an offspring of ska, and
it first emerged from the belly of
inner city of Kingston. It spread
like wildfire, quickly dominating
dance floors, parties, sessions and
radio play from coast to coast and
it was later exported to the rest of
the world. The dominant instruments
in this hypnotic new wave
were the bass and the drums. A
chorus of ‘rude boys’ emerged
who chanted their message of protest
against a harsh police and justice
system, and the end product
was a body of some of Jamaica’s
most alluring and unforgettable
anthems ever- the Rock Steady
collection.
This year, Groovin’ In The
Park, New York City’s premier
reggae and R&B summer concert
will celebrate the magic of the
Rocksteady era, but with a twist.
A number of iconic proponents
of the genre- hit machine Freddie
McGregor, chart topper Ken
Boothe and music magician Leroy
Sibbles with Lloyd Parks and
We The People Band will grace
the hallowed stage of Groovin In
The Park. But this powerful galaxy
of stars will be supported by
Continued on page 18

18
entertainment
Caribbean Times | April 6-19, 2017
World premiere of new Caribbean musical
New York — Welcome to America- A Caribbean
Musical, will have its World Premiere
performance in Jamaica Queens on Thursday
April 20 at the Milton G. Bassin Performing
Arts Center at York College.
The performance will begin at 8pm and will
kick off a limited run of the new Caribbean
musical which ends on Sunday April 23.
The show is produced by Braata Productions
and features an award winning creative
team with book by Karl O’ Brian Williams,
music by Andrew Clarke, Karl O Brian Williams
and Joel Edwards, and Lyrics by Andrew
Clarke and Karl O’Brian Williams.
It is directed by Dominican born Yudelka
Heyer.
Described by its creators as a universal
story of hope and aspiration, Welcome To
America explores the assimilation of a newly
arrived undocumented Caribbean immigrant
in the United States, and the complex
pursuit of the American dream.
It tells the story of Sabrina Barnes, a talented
and ambitious ingénue from the Caribbean,
who leaves her home behind with big
dreams and her determination to become a
star. She soon learns however, that her island
naiveté and the harsh realities of her newly
Pictured left: Karl Williams. Pictured right: Andrew Clarke
adopted country may put both her goals and
her future in great jeopardy.
The production employs both original
songs as well as established selections from
throughout the Caribbean Diaspora, enhanced
with contemporary musical theatre
styling.
Award winning Jamaican playwright Karl
O Brian Williams, who began crafting the
story several years ago with collaborative
input from Braata Productions’ Artistic Director
Andrew Clarke, says that the timing
of the new production could not be more
appropriate.
“We had been discussing the idea for a
new musical that would tackle these issues
of immigration, isolation and the pursuit of
the American dream from a Caribbean perspective
for some years now,” he says, “And
then, just when we were putting the finishing
touches on the script, the election happened.
And the world and America as we knew it
were now living in a totally different reality.
And that we are doing this show now, which
has so much relevance for immigrants not
only from the Caribbean but from around
the world, is truly a blessing. I think the production,
while very entertaining, also has a
hugely important message in very challenging
times.”
The production’s short run at the Milton
Bassin Center will precede a longer run to be
announced in due course.
Welcome To America will play for five
performances only, with a special Preview on
Thursday April 20 at 12 noon followed by the
World Premiere performance later that day
at 8pm. It continues on Friday and Saturday
at 8pm with the final performance on Sunday
April 23 at 6pm.
groovin’
Continued from page 17
a jaw-dropping orchestra called GITPRO,
(Groovin’ In The Park Reggae Symphony
Orchestra).
GITPRO will saturate Roy Wilkins Park
in Queens with the sweet sounds of violins,
violas, cellos and a harp, plus a choir. Reggae
industry insiders are describing the celestial
sounds for Groovin’ as a first for outdoor reggae
events. The 17-man orchestral ensemble
will be directed by Michael ‘Ibo’ Cooper, former
member of the critically acclaimed Third
World band and music educator/ lecturer at
the Edna Manley School of the Visual and
Performing Arts in Kingston, Jamaica.
Another important feature of this year’s
Groovin In The Park festival is that the acts
that will pay tribute to the Rocksteady era
will each get an opportunity to perform
a few songs with the Lenox Road Baptist
Church Mass Choir from Brooklyn.
“We are tremendously excited about the
new energies that this groundbreaking orchestra
and Brooklyn mass choir will bring
to an already superlative show, and we have
no doubt that this initiative will raise the bar
for reggae concerts in and around New York
City”, Chris Roberts, founder and executive
​L-R: Ibo Cooper, formerly of Third World Band; Chris Roberts, CEO, Groovin In The Park; Leroy Sibbles;
Ken Boothe; Freddie McGregor and Lloyd Parks at the NY launch of Groovin In The Park 2017
director of Groovin’ In The Park said.
The 2017 installment of Groovin In The
Park was officially launched at the Crowne
Plaza Hotel in Queens, NY. In attendance
were Freddie McGregor, who will anchor
the Reggae/Rocksteady package, Ibo Cooper,
formerly of Third World Band; Leroy
Sibbles; Ken Boothe, Lloyd Parks and members
of the Lenox Road Baptist Church Mass
Choir.
Groovin’ In The Park takes place on Sunday
June 25 and the gates open at 12 noon.
For more, go to www.groovininthepark.
com.
greene
Continued from page 17
talented performer who has consistently delivered
solid performances around the world.
He has a strong fanbase in Jamaica and based
on the recent rise in crime in the island (especially
against women & kids), they feel, he is
the ideal candidate to promote the message of
“Unity in the City.”
Greene began his music career in 2007 with
Stretching Out, a studio album, which was a
breakout hit for him. Singles “Still Here” and
“Prove My Love”, peaked at # 17 and 29 on the
Billboard Top Gospel Songs chart. His newest
single “Made a Way” made it all the way to #1
on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart recently.
The impressive lineup of performers for
Unity In The City include Papa San, Jermaine
Edwards, Kevin Downswell, Rondell Positive
along with comedians Ity, Bello and Blakka,
Leighton Smith and Kevin Heath.
Get current news stories,
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Caribbean Times | April 6-19, 2017
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20
entertainment
Caribbean Times | April 6-19, 2017
IAMSTYLEZ, ‘the Drake of dancehall,’ set
to perform in event with John Legend
“Everything is possible,” is the motto for the
buzzing Reggae artist IamStylez. He has come a
long way from being in a music duo with a classmate
in a small town in Jamaica to recording
with John Legend; IamStylez has made everything
possible for himself. IamStylez’ new single
“Light up the Night” featuring John Legend, is a
meaningful collaboration that sets the tone for
the release of his upcoming album. On Monday,
April 3, IamStylez announced the name and displayed
the artwork for the album slated for release
in August 2017. The album is called Back to
My Roots and it will feature 13 tracks including
“It’s a Pity” and “Tic Likkle”.
IamStylez blazed summer sixteen with his
dancehall tracks “It’s a Pity,” and getting the girls
to bubble with “Tic Likkle,” these records gave
him the nickname “The Drake of Dancehall.”
Having over 800k views on Youtube, endless
streams on Spotify and SoundCloud “It’s a Pity”
made its mark on the dancehall scene last summer-
and definitely, has his fans anticipating his
new tunes.
Spending his childhood weaving through
neighborhoods in Jamaica, IamStylez learned
how to acclimate quickly in any given surrounding
which has allowed him to remain current
and in tune with his audience. His versatility can
be credited to his “rolling stone” upbringing.
IamStylez has been musically inclined
from a young age. He was impacted by artists
such as Michael Jackson and Vybez Kartel,
naming the latter as one of his major influences.
He wants to affect his fans in much
the same way both artists has impacted his
upbringing.
His spirituality guided the creative process
for the new single “Light up the Night,” he ex-
plains how when making music he attempts
to turn back time and take his dancehall listeners
to a feeling only going back in time can
excite. IamStylez and his team have been in
the lab working on just that with new video
and single releases in the upcoming weeks.
IamStylez has recently enlisted the services
of Playbook Media Group and is lining up
events across the city to promote “Light up
the Night,” and the new album Back to My
Roots. With guest appearances and plenty of
champagne, these events are going to be exactly
where you need to come August 2017.
To follow and keep updated on appearances
and releases follow both IamStylez on the
following platform:
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/iamstylezmusic/light-up-the-night

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21
Caribbean Times | April 6-19, 2017
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Caribbean Times | April 6-19, 2017
Annual Spring Dance
The St. Stanislaus College Old Scholars’
Association (Canada) is holding its annual
Spring dance on Saturday, April 22nd., from
7.00p.m. at the West Rouge Community center,
270, Rouge Hills drive.
For information, contact Arthur
Veerasammy at 416-431-1171.
Trial by judge or jury
Attorney-General of Trinidad and Tobago,
Faris Al Rawi has indicated that accused
persons in High Court trials would soon be
allowed the choice of a trial either by Judge,
or by Judge and Jury.
This could make Trinidad and Tobago the
first country in the Bloc of fifteen Caribbean
Community Nations to seriously consider
doing away with Jury trials.
University of Guyana to host
conference
The University of Guyana is hosting a ‘Diaspora
Engagement Conference’ from July
23 to 28 at the Ramada Princess Hotel in
Georgetown.
The goals of this Conference are to improve
communications and beneficial ties
Producer George A Brash
Events Such As:
• Vending
• Workshops
• Party Promotions
• Fundraisers
• Small Businesses, etc.
Our rates are affordable
• 1 minute spots
• 30 second spots
• Live interviews spots, etc.
what’s happening
with Carlyle harry
Fundraising Breakfast
between the Diaspora and the University of
Guyana.
The Conference-Planners are now in the
process of assembling proposals and papers
to be presented at that Conference.
Culture Zone Radio Show
Culture Zone Radio Show
Saturday 4 to 9 PM Live suicide On rate The AIR
Saturday 4 to 9 PM Live On The AIR
Culture Zone radio program on WPAT 930am rate in is the a Caribbean, program followed dedicated by Suriname to
building a strong community for today and and tomorrow Trinidad and through Tobago. motivation
and exposure to different aspects of American
Speaking
and Caribbean
at a media-sensitization
life. By
workshop
in Trinidad and Tobago that the most
that
we bring to the airwaves experienced and qualified
common factors
professionals
leading to suicide
in
were
their
family
or relationship broadcast issues, domestic-violence segment of
field to give guidance during our weekly magazine
Culture Zone show. Culture Zone program and is economic independently hardships. produced by
Culture Zone Company that is solely responsible for its contents therefore
all financial responsibilities for air time and cost of programming is the re-
Culture Zone radio program on WPAT 930am is a program dedicated to building a strong
community for today and tomorrow through motivation and exposure to different aspects
of American and Caribbean life. By that we bring to the airwaves experienced and qualified
professionals in their field to give guidance during our weekly magazine broadcast
segment of Culture Zone show. Culture Zone program is independently produced by
Culture Zone Company that is solely responsible for its contents therefore all financial
responsibilities for air time and cost of programming is the responsibility of Culture Zone
Company.
Program airs every Saturday sponsibility from 4 PM to 9 of PM Culture with the best Zone in American Company. and Caribbean
music.
Program airs every Saturday from 4 PM to 9 PM with the best in American
and Caribbean music.
Contact us at
(646) 269-9820
www.wpat930am.com
P.O. Box 230173 • Jamaica, NY 11423
Dinner Dance and Awards
Ceremony
The Guyana Ex-Police Association is holding
a Dinner/Dance and Award ceremony on
Saturday, April 15th. at the Grand Prospect
hall--263, Prospect Avenue, Brooklyn.
For information, contact Ms.Joy Burkett
at... 718-344-0230.
New President of Caribbean
Hotel and Tourism appointed
Stacy Cox from the Bahamas is the new
President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism
Association.
Ms.Cox will primarily represent the membership
of the CHTA on matters affecting the
tourism and hospitality industry both inside
and outside of the Caribbean.
HEROC 4th Annual tea party
The Health and Education Relief Organization
for cancer(HEROC) is holding its
fourth annual tea-party on Sunday, April
23rd. at St.Gabriel’s, 331, Hawthorne street,
from 3.00 to 8.00 p.m..For information, contact
Barbara Chase at 718-288-2060.
GUYDA hosts gospel concert
GUYDA is holding its Spring Gospel concert
from 5.00 to 8.00 p.m. on Sunday, April
23rd., at the Cristo Rey High school, 1377,
Brooklyn avenue.
For information, call 908-693-2667.
Fundraising breakfast
The Tutorial High school Old Scholars’ Association
is holding its annual fund-raising
breakfast from 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m., on Saturday,
April 22nd. at St. Gabriel’s, 331, Hawthorne
street.
The Flanbayan Haitian Literacy
Project helps immigrant students
and their parents
The Flanbayan Haitian Literacy Project
has recently launched a ‘Your School, Your
Choice’ campaign, which is aimed at helping
immigrant students and their parents with
High-school enrollment processes.
China donates $10 M Bds in teaching
equipment to Barbados
China has donated Bds.$10 million in
teaching equipment to boost the education
system in Barbados.
The donation was handed over to Barbados’
Minister of Education, Science, Technology,
and Technology-Ronald Jones by China’s
Ambassador-Wang Ke.
Guyana ranks number 1 as the Caribbean
country with the highest
Psychiatrist-Gerard Hutchinson has disclosed
that Guyana had the highest suicide
Stay connected
to your
Caribbean
community
Get current news stories,
entertainment and sports
www.caribbeantimesnyc.com

23
Caribbean Times | April 6-19, 2017
Free Weekend Summer Pool Passes for the Entire Family
Evening Family BBQs at our Pools $500 Value

24
Caribbean Times | April 6-19, 2017
commentary
Continued from page 9
that a heterosexual couple may enjoy in a traditional
“marriage.”
This position has nothing to do with the
righteousness or lack thereof of any individual,
whether homosexual or heterosexual,
because I personally believe that anyone can
be a good or evil person, regardless of his/her
orientation. We should judge no one.
However, the answer to the question of
whether two people of the same sex may
marry each other, given the established
meaning of marriage as practiced from the
Old Testament times through New Testament
times to this day, is a very simple one.
They may not be married, especially not in a
church that subscribes to the teachings of the
Bible, although they should be entitled to all
the secular protections that the law provides
to married people.
Fairness and justice demand that we see all
as equal under the law, hence no homosexual
person in a committed union with another
should be denied the rights and privileges
that married heterosexuals are afforded.
However, my sense of fairness and reasonableness,
dictates that while my homosexual
friend may be entitled to the protections of
the law, which allow him or her to inherit and
pass on property, as well as, to provide health
insurance benefits to a partner with whom he
or she has a commited union, I am not prepared
to label the union between two such
individuals, a “marriage.” Call that union
with all of the attendant rights attached and
protected by statute, whatever you care to
under the sun, but reserve the designation
“marriage” for the relationship between a
woman and a man, which has been the norm
for as far back as human history will take us.
In other words, to each his own, as long as
no harm is being done to your neighbor; and
as long as you are not high-jacking and unnaturally
redefining the meaning of a word,
“marriage,” that has always necessarily involved
the sacred bonding of two individuals
of the opposite sex -- a husband and a wife.
May heterosexuals respect homosexuals
who are involved in commited-same-sex
unions that are protected by the law of the
land, as much as we expect homosexuals to
respect the traditional sanctity of heterosexual
marriage as practiced from time immemorial.
Get current news stories, entertainment and sports
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sports
Guyanese athletes for Penn Relays
By Carlyle Harry
The Penn Relays relays are an
annual track and field event that has
been in existence for over years at the
university of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia,
PA at the end of every April.
This event has seen its share of
world class runners come and go
from all across the globe. Representatives
from all across the Caribbean
have taken part in this prestigious
event over the years, with the exception
of Guyana.
However, In 2016, thanks to
the persistence and consistence of
MARK WEBSTER and TANYA
BARRY Guyana was able to make its
first appearance at the Penn Relays
despite many financial and structural
obstacles.
The Guyanese athletes were able
to win a gold medal on their first attempt.
This year, Mr.Webster and Ms.Barry
with the help of several sponsors
are bringing another batch of Guyanese
athletes to once more take
part in the PENN relays. The sponsors
include DYNAMIC AIRLINES,
G.A.P.F, members of the Guyanese
American Law Enforcement Association
(G.A.L.E.A) and a number of
Guyanese contributors.
25
Caribbean Times | April 6-19, 2017
Stay connected to the
Caribbean Community
Get current news stories, entertainment
and sports by visiting us at
www.caribbeantimesnyc.com

26
Caribbean Times | April 6-19, 2017
Dr. Derek Lezama with a member of his healthcare team.
Photo by Gerry Hopkin
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growing, reliable forms of medical care today,”
says Caribbean-American Dr. Derek
Lezama, DC, who has been practicing for
over 20 years, mostly at his clinic located at
5455 Kings Highway, corner of Avenue D in
Brooklyn.
Dr. Lezama, who has roots in Trinidad
and Tobago and Grenada, obtained his undergraduate
degree in Mathematics at SUNY
Purchase, and went on to complete his Doctor
of Chiropractic degree at the New York
Chiropractic College.
He has been serving the Brooklyn community
by meeting the chiropractic needs
of his patients, based upon the belief that
one’s body has the ability to self-regulate
and self-heal. As Dr. Lezama explains, “chiropractic
care is a natural means of treating
pain and injury.”
It is common knowledge that millions of
Americans suffer from back and neck pain,
sciatica, and pinched nerves; while others are
plagued by the direct and indirect injuries of
auto-accidents -- from whiplash to disc herniation.
At Dr. Lezama’s clinic, every patient is
provided with one-on-one care, while the
the entire team of professionals will listen to
each patient’s needs so that an individualized
treatment plan can be prepared for each patient.
According to Dr. Lezama, “my mission is
to provide patients with the best treatment
available, as well as, to deliver the finest quality
customer service.”
Appointments may be made to be examined
by Dr. Lexama and the other healthcare
professionals on his team, by calling 718 629
4020 or 347 350 4285.
for the most current news from the
caribbean Visit us at
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SPIRITUAL READER & ADVISOR
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Caribbean Times | April 6-19, 2017
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28
Caribbean Times | April 6-19, 2017
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