Caribbean Life News Update – 29 October 2016
Queens residents raise concern over trafficking of Guyanese children
BY TANGERINE CLARKE
Questions on how to combat trafficking of children from Guyana to the United States, were posed to newly appointed Guyana Consul General to New York, Barbara Atherly, who held the consulate’s first town hall meeting on Friday, Oct. 21, at the Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir on Liberty Avenue, in Richmond Hill, Queens.
BY TANGERINE CLARKE | ARTS & THEATER
In spite of the cold temperatures and persistent rainfall, Richmond Hill, Queens, lit up on Oct. 22, with dazzling lights to celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights on the Hindu calendar.
HEROC to stage Cancer Awareness Walk in Guyana
BY TANGERINE CLARKE | HEALTH
President of the New York-based, Health and Education Relief Organization for Cancer, HEROC – Lorna Welshman-Neblett, said after three years of legal formation, building, and fund raising, the organization will embark on its inaugural mission to Guyana for a week of planned events, that will include a Cancer Awareness Walk in the capital.
BY BERT WILKINSON | CARIBBEAN
Two countries in the Eastern Caribbean are preparing to hold referendums to determine whether to ditch the British Privy Council as their final courts of appeal but indications are that both governments may struggle to persuade citizens to do so in sufficient numbers.
Venezuela’s congress opens political trial against Maduro
BY JOSHUA GOODMAN AND JORGE RUEDA | CARIBBEAN
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s opposition-controlled congress has opened a political trial against President Nicolas Maduro for breaking the constitutional order, deepening a standoff triggered by the authorities’ suspension of a recall referendum against the embattled socialist leader.
Jamaican firm wins entrepreneurial innovation award
BY NELSON A. KING | CARIBBEAN
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) says a Jamaican firm is among three institutions from Latin American and the Caribbean to win the Inter-American Awards in Financial and Entrepreneurial Innovation.
Learning from past mistakes: Rebuilding Haiti after Hurricane Matthew
BY THARANGA YAKUPITIYAGE | CARIBBEAN
UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 23, 2016 (IPS) – As Haiti reels from another disaster once again, many are questioning the humanitarian system and looking for long-term solutions with Haitians at the heart of response.
ICS to honor Caribbean American stalwarts
BY NELSON A. KING | CARIBBEAN
The Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS) says it will present its annual Caribbean American Heritage (CARAH) Awards to nine Caribbean American stalwarts excelling in science, business, advocacy, technology and the arts on Nov. 18 in Washington, D.C.
Confused about Breast Cancer Screenings?
HEALTH
Breast Cancer Awareness Month serves as an annual reminder of the importance of living a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of getting breast cancer.
A tribute fit for a king-National Heroes Day, Jamaica
BY LORRAINE MUIR | CARIBBEAN
The National Heroes Day, National Honor and Awards ceremony held at Kings House Jamaica each year is the most prestigious ceremony held in Jamaica to recognize distinguished, gallant and notable citizens of Jamaica.
Schumer ready for leadership debate
BY VINETTE K. PRYCE | NEW YORK
With completion of both the presidential and vice presidential debates, voters might now be decided about which of the two presidential candidates might pose a clear and present danger to their future after the Nov. 8 election.
Vincentians begin independence celebrations
BY NELSON A. KING
Hundreds of Vincentians on Sunday crammed the pews of The Church of St. Mark, Episcopal (Anglican) in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn for an Ecumenical Service of Thanksgiving, as St. Vincent and the Grenadines celebrates its 37th Anniversary of Independence.
Nat Turner’s mental and military motivations
BY EZRAH AHARONE
Nate Parker’s movie “The Birth of a Nation” has revived the question: What caused Nat Turner’s 1831 uprising? Turner, first of all, was not a deranged misfit who acted outside of a historical context of previous African freedom fighter
An ocean of hope in these tumultuous times
BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER | BOOKS
You had hope that things might be better.
We elected a Black man as president, and there was a minute where you could almost see a bit of racial optimism.
Conference tackles violence towards transgender community
BY ALEXANDRA SIMON | NEW YORK
Domestic violence in the transgender community got the spotlight at the 14th Annual Domestic Violence Conference at St. Francis College on Oct. 21.
Tyler Perry back in drag for another adventure
BY KAM WILLIAMS | MOVIES
No one has ever accused Tyler Perry of being short on ideas. After all, the prolific writer/director has been the brains behind a profusion of plays, movies and television shows