Caribbean News - Holiday Edition 2003

CARIBBEAN NEWS - HOLIDAY EDITION
DECEMBER - 2003

PORT-OF-SPAIN,TRINIDAD(EXPRESS-12/13/03)- United Nations
Secretary General Kofi Annan is scheduled to visit Trinidad from
Jan. 2-4. Annan's visit is being arranged by the Foreign Affairs Ministry,
but officials were not in a position to give details.

Arrangements for Annan to meet officials working with the U.N. in
Trinidad are already in place. He will meet the staff of the various Trinidad
U.N. agencies on Dec. 2.

The Trinidad staff of the U.N. comprises some 300 employees, some of
whom are from Afghanistan, Iraq, the Middle East and Africa. There are 9
U.N. agencies in Trinidad.

PORT-OF-SPAIN,TRINIDAD(OBSERVER-12/4/03)- A region-wide program
to ensure food security, poverty reduction and improvements in health
and nutrition in the Caribbean is to be launched here. The Caribbean Food
Security, Health and Rural Poverty Programme is a joint project of
CARIFORUM(Caricom plus Dominican Republic and Cuba) and the U.N.
Food and Agricultural Organization.

Jamaica, Belize, Haiti, Suriname and Guyana are the countries within the
region where food insecurity appears to be more notably widespread.
The aim of the program is to improve the level and quality of food avail-
able to the population at affordable prices. It will provide specialized
expertise in areas such as irrigation techniques and public education
campaigns.

A leading partner in the program is Italy, allocating approximately $5
million.

KINGSTON,JAMAICA(OBSERVER-12/4/03)- The president of the
Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association appealed to Jamaicans to ensure
that the island experiences an incident-free winter tourist season.

"We better behave ourselves...The fragility, because of our behavior,
keeps us at an edge," Godfrey Dyer said, in reference to crime and
violence that have plagued the island. With over a thousand murders a
year, Jamaica has one of the highest crime rates in the world.

ST. THOMAS,VIRGIN ISLANDS(VI DAILY NEWS-12/4/03)- Home Depot,
the largest retail store in the territory's history is ready for its grand
opening Dec. 11. The 97,000 sq. ft. store has had 20 trailers unload and
is expecting more.

The local store has 24,000 different products for sale. "The community
has been asking for this for years", said Mike Bolton, sales merchant.
"Home Depot has been shipping products to the Virgin Islands for years".
(See related stories Archived News #10 and #8)

ST. ELIZABETH,JAMAICA(OBSERVER-12/3/03)- A total of 2,255 persons
were arrested on drug related charges in this rural parish over the last 11
months as the police continue their crackdown on ganja farmers.

About 156 acres of ganja and more than 900,000 seedlings were destroyed
by security forces and another 9,300 lbs. of cured ganja was also confiscated.

MONTEGO BAY,JAMAICA(OBSERVER-12/3/03)- The Organisation of
Eastern Caribbean States(OECS) is pushing for a greater share of the billion-
dollar Caribbean/Canadian Seasonal Agricultural Programme that employs
more than 8,000 persons in the region annually. Last year, 420 workers from
the OECS were contracted under the program, but Jamaica had the lions
share with over 5,500 workers.

Canadian officials warned that Jamaica's participation in the program is
being threatened by participants who try to smuggle drugs, as well as the
high number who abscond once in Canada. They say that these factors
may push them to looking to other countries for workers.

"We at the OECS want to increase our numbers in this program", said
St. Lucian Labour Minister Velon John. He urged participants at the
meeting to look into the "principle of equity".

In addition to St. Lucia, OECS member states include Antigua & Barbuda,
Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts & Nevis, St Vincent & The
Grenadines, Anguilla and The British Virgin Islands.

PORT-OF-SPAIN,TRINIDAD(EXPRESS-12/3/03)- "Master Baker", one
of the more colorful businessmen in San Fernando, was awarded $30,000
by a high court judge stemming from his detention by police in 1997.

It was ruled that the businessman's 35 hours spent in custody was
unconstitutional and illegal. He was also deprived of his right to a fair
hearing and his right to liberty and security without due process.

"Master Baker", whose real name is Pantro Home, climbed a T&TEC
pylon on August 13, 1997 demanding an apology from them after he
received a retroactive bill for $12,000 and was disconnected. He received
an apology later that day from T&TEC and climbed down.

Two days later, Home once again climbed a pylon in San Fernando to
protest a media release by T&TEC justifying its treatment of Home. He
remained on top of the pole for 2 days, and was subsequently arrested
and charged with trespassing and creating a public nuisance. However,
no bail was fixed and Home was placed in a cell, where he remained for
35 hours without legal representation.

ST. JOHN,VIRGIN ISLANDS(VI DAILY NEWS-12/3/03)- Environmental
experts and educators from across the territory and the mainland will
discuss ways to protect the local environment from land-based pollutants
at the 8th Non-point Source Pollution Conference here.

In the Virgin Islands, contaminants such as oil, animal waste and septic
leach fields are washed into the bays by rain. The conference's goal is
to showcase projects in the territory that reduce pollution and introduce
new ideas from the mainland.

Up to 150 people are expected to attend the conference, which will feature
keynote speaker Thomas Schueler of the Center for Watershed Protection
in Maryland. He is called the "stormwater guru", spending 20 years re-
searching stormwater pollution prevention.

The conference will also discuss methods of monitoring water quality,
reducing the amount of used oil entering into waterways, using man-made
ponds for crop farming and addressing marine debris.

ST. CROIX,VIRGIN ISLANDS(VI DAILY NEWS-12/3/03)- The territory
has received help in the form of a $5 million federal grant to build 2 man-
dated wastewater treatment plants. The money will help fund the design,
construction and operation of 2 secondary wastewater treatment facilities,
one each on St. Thomas and St. Croix.

The V.I. government is under a federal mandate to bring the territory's
sewage systems into compliance with the Federal Clean Water Act of 1972.
The total cost of building the 2 plants is $60 million. The territory has been
in federal court since 1984 regarding its wastewater treatment systems. In
August, the government agreed with the EPA and the U.S. Justice Dept.
to abide by a strict timetable.

The deadlines for compliance are Feb. 2006 for St. Croix and Feb. 2007 for
St. Thomas.

SPORTS:

HARARE,ZIMBABWE(CMC-12/1/03)- Chris Gayle literally blew Zimbabwe
away with a telling all-round performance that set up an 8 wicket triumph
for West Indies in the final and deciding One-Day International. Gayle
undemined Zimbabwe with 4 wickets for 24 runs from 10 overs and then
plundered an undefeated 112 from 75 balls to help West Indies complete
a 3-2 victory in the series.

BRIDGETOWN,BARBADOS(NATION-12/1/03)- Barbados has another
world champion in the field of sports. Top local boxer Christopher "Shaka"
Henry reigned supreme, when he won a unanimous decision over Amer-
ican Dumont Welliver to capture the vacant International Boxing Union
super welterweight title.

"I always knew I would win a world title... It has been a long time...I've
worked hard-18 years-for this", he said.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT:

BRIDGETOWN,BARBADOS(NATION-12/13/03)- It was a historic day
in Barbados' literary history and in 9-year-old author Justin "Gold A-Wardie"
Ward's life. Just in time for Christmas, he launched his book, "Memories".

The National Independence Festival of Creative Arts gold award winner
was the first child to win an award in the Children's Poetry section. He also
collected 2 silver awards and a bronze in the Children's Prose section.

The book, written when he was 4 years old, shares his thoughts on his
teachers and a visit to the doctor. Ward also illustrated the collection of
essays. Two years ago, the boy and his mother approached the National
Cultural Foundation with a mock-up of the book and they undertook to
publish, market and distribute it.

ST. CROIX,VIRGIN ISLANDS(VI DAILY NEWS-12/13/03)- The Crucian
Christmas Festival kicks into high gear with the annual Panfest and
crowning of Festival royalty.

The sweet sound of steel pan music will echo as Panfest gets underway.
Eleven steel pan groups will show off their talents, playing popular tunes
and original compositions. Prince Donnell Francis and Princess Ashley
Garcia will lead an entertainment gala in Frederiksted. The entertainment
will include a fashion show, presentations and awards.

The Crucian Christmas Festival Schedule:

12/13, 8PM- Junior Calypso Show, Island Center
12/14, 3PM- Prince and Princess Show, Paul E. Joseph Stadium
12/19, 8PM- Calypso Elimination, Paul E. Joseph Stadium
12/20, 8PM- Festival Dance, Glimpses Night Club
12/21, 5PM- Festival Queen Pageant, Paul E. Joseph Stadium
12/26, 8PM- Festival Village opens, Festival Village
12/27, 8PM- Reggae Show-featuring Culture and Inner Visions,
********* Paul E. Joseph Stadium
12/28, 7PM- Quelbe Tramp and Cultural Night, Frederiksted Post Office
12/29, 8PM- Children's Day and Youth Extrevaganza, Festival Village
12/30, 8PM- King and Queen of the Bands, Paul E. Joseph Stadium
01/01, ***- J'ouvert
01/01, 8PM- Calypso Monarchy, Paul E. Joseph Stadium
01/02, 11AM- Children's Parade, Markoe Elementary School
01/03, 11AM- Adult's Parade, Markoe Elementary School
01/04, 8PM- Musical Extravaganza, Festival Village
01/05, 8PM- Latin Night, Festival Village
01/06, 8PM- Traditional Three Kings Day, Festival Village

ENVIRONMENT:

BRIDGETOWN,BARBADOS(NATION-11/26/03)- Social historian Dr.
Karl Watson has called for at least 5000 more trees to be planted in the
city. If he had his way, he would plant 10,000 trees that would make for
a healthier and more attractive capital. He is in no doubt that plants
would be a considerable environmental boost to the country's main
commercial area of activity.

"Trees create a micro-climate of their own. It is far more pleasant to
walk under trees than under hot, broiling sun. I think that plants exude
a type of positive energy that people can feel and associate with. It is
no accident that where you create pleasant environments, people's
health improves and the level of aggression drops.", Dr. Watson says.

ST. JOHN,VIRGIN ISLANDS(TRADEWINDS-8/25/03)- In a study of
Caribbean reefs, British researchers found that coral has declined by
about 80% in some areas, a loss that may take many decades to recover.

The study examined the health of the coral reefs across the entire Carib-
bean basin and found that at some sites the coverage of coral has
dropped from 50% to about 10% in just 3 decades. Coral loss was the
highest in the 1980's. The researchers said the decline has slowed, but
continues at a significant pace.

A total of 263 sites were included in the survey. They ranged from reefs
along the South American coast, north to Florida and Jamaica, and west
as far as the Gulf of Mexico near the coast of Texas.

Studies of ancient coral deposits suggest that the recent loss of coral
cover is unprecedented within the past few millennia.

Th researchers say there is no evidence that can convincingly attribute
the loss to climate change from global warming. They suggest coral is
being killed by disease, storms, overfishing, pollution and habitat
destruction.

The researchers report, "Given current predictions of increased human
activity in the Caribbean, the situation for reefs does not look likely to
improve in either the short or long term."

WEATHER:

Two unusual weather disturbances occurred during the past month in
the Caribbean, after a relatively mild hurricane season.

During the week of Nov. 10-14,, a broad swath of low pressure extending
from the Dominican Republic to the Virgin Islands, combined with moist,
unstable air over the central Caribbean Sea and dumped over a foot of
rain on St. Thomas and St. Croix, with over 7 inches reported on St. John.

On Dec. 4, a tropical depression formed off the coast of Venezuela and
was named Tropical Storm Peter the next day, the first ever in December.
Peter headed north-east, landing squarely over Hispaniola, dumping a
foot and a half of rain in some locales before weakening and moving out
over the Atlantic. The storm was also responsible for another 6 inches
of rain in the Virgin Islands.

For up-to-the-minute weather information in the Caribbean, go to our
link with caribwx.com.

CULTURE:

The State Visit of Emperor Haile Selassie I to Jamaica - April 21-23, 1966

"All hail the King of Kings, the Lion of Judah, the Almighty One.
Ye shall break every chain again and again."- A welcome banner at
Montego Bay reception for Selassie I - 4/22/66

The heat that rose from the tarmac of Kingston's Norman Manley Inter-
national Airport was nothing compared to the level of expectation that
was seeping through the thousands gathered there that 21st day of April,
1966. The day was declared a public holiday in honour of the Emperor
and people had started arriving from places near and far. They came to
the airport any way they could: by car, truck, bicycle or by foot. Drum
beats and chants were heard almost non-stop. The smell of ganja wafted
through the air completing a welcome unprecedented in size and expectation
for the Emperor on his first state visit to Jamaica.

"It is hard to put in words what seeing this man, the lord of lords, in Jamaica
meant to us in the Rastafarian community", says Brother George Huggins.
"We had heard so much about him for so long." On the tarmac, some waved
palm leaves, some Ethiopian flags. Everyone kept their eyes on the skies
wondering when the plane carrying His Imperial Majesty from Trinidad
would arrive. Rain began to fall and the crowd continued to wait, hoping
for just a glimpse of the plane through the thick clouds.

When the insignia of a roaring lion and stripes of red, green, and gold finally
came into view, the rain stopped! The sound from the crowd was deafening
as masses of people rushed to get closer. The crowd broke down any
barriers that stood in their way. But the Emperor did not appear immediately
as expected. The door to the plane did not open for another 45 minutes. The
crowd responded with a roar that "was louder than the sound of thunder
rolling."

The sight must have surpassed even the Emperor's wildest imagination, as
tears came to his eyes as he held up his hands in what was half a royal
gesture and half a call for calm. A Rastafarian leader mounted the landing
steps, bowed to the Emperor, and beseeched the crowd to be calm and let
the Emperor pass. With assistance His Majesty, his daughter and the rest
of his entourage were able to leave the airport.

They were whisked away to a civic reception at the National Stadium where
another large, excited crowd awaited. The Ethiopian and Jamaican National
anthems were played. The Emperor was presented the keys to the city and
was welcomed by acting Prime Minister Sir Donald Sangster. His Majesty
replied in Amharic, calling the visit the fullfillment of a life-long desire and
thanking the people of Jamaica for their outpouring of affection. The
Emperor later attended a state dinner at King's House.

The next day, He embarked on a packed schedule that included visits to
downtown Kingston where he would lay a wreath at the War Memorial
and attend a sitting of Paliament. That afternoon the Emperor visited Vale
Royal to see an exhibition of local craft by the Rastafarian Brethren which
he was told were His to take back to Ethiopia if He desired. That evening
He received an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of the West
Indies in a special ceremony.

On Saturday April 23, the Emperor and his entourage embarked on a train
trip to see the western side of the island. Crowds turned out to greet Him
along the 8-hour journey where stops were made before ending in Montego
Bay. There was a stone and bottle throwing incident in Spanish Town
created by police trying to keep Rastafarians away from the immediate
vicinity of the Emperor. However, when His Majesty's car came into view,
cheering crowds gathered to welcome Him at a 30-minute civic reception.

Emperor Haile Selassie I left Jamaica on Sunday April 24 after inspecting
an honour gaurd mounted by the Jamaican Regiment. In contrast to His
boisterous welcome, His departure was a somber scene, with only a few
hundred solemn-faced people on hand to say farewell at the Montego
Bay Airport.

Jamaican Proverbs

"Proverbs are short sentences drawn from long experience."- Don
Quixote

In Jamaica, proverbs stand as an example of creolization. Their proverbs
reflect African and European influences and are uniquely Jamaican. As
in many cultures, the ability to understand them rests on the level of
familiarity one has with the Jamaican culture.

The following proverbs are written in a loose combination of standard
English and Patois which reflects the 2 languages used on the island.
Do you know their common meanings? Answers are at the bottom.

1."One, one coco full a basket."
2."Every mickle mek a muckle."
3."Wat doan kill, will fatten."
4."Chicken merry, hawk dah near."
5."Every dawg has his day and every puss his 4 'o clock."
6."Wanti wanti, cyan getti getti, getti nuh wanti."
7."Sorry fi mawga dawg, him tun round and bite you."
8."Duppy know who fi frighten."
9."See mi a one ting, come lib with mi another."
10."De olda de clock, de fasta it wine."
11."When coco ripe, it must bus'."
12."Hog say, 'de first dutty water mi ketch, mi wash'."
13."One eye man king in blind man country."
14."Fool foot pickney mek fowl get away from him two time."
15."Nuh fatten cockroach fi fowl."
16."Saltfish sit down pon di counter a wait fi bread and butter."
17."Mi old, but mi nuh cold."
18."Disobediant pickney nyam rockstone."
19."Dawg say if him have money, him would buy him own fleas."
20."Talk and taste your tongue."

Answers:
1. Don't expect to achieve success overnight.
2. Every little bit counts.
3. Don't waste time worrying over something that does no real harm.
It may be turned into something positive.
4. Be vigilant as danger can be found in unexpected places.
5. Don't act as if you are better than others- your day will come.
6. Count your blessings and do not take what you have for granted.
7. Sometimes it is those that we help who are the least grateful.
8. Bullies know to pick on those least able to defend themselves.
9. To see me is one thing, to live with me another.
10. The older a person is, the wiser.
11. Actions speak louder than words.
12. Seize opportunities as they present themselves.
13. No matter how bad it seems things may be, there is always
another for whom things are worse.
14. Never allow yourself to be fooled the same way twice.
15. Don't waste time doing things for which others will be ungrateful.
16. Lazy people wait for life's blessings to come to them.
17. Don't under-estimate the value of the elderly.
18. Disobediant children will come to a bad end.
19. When some people get money, waste it on unnecessary things.
20. Think before you speak.

Caribbean Holiday Recipes:

Chocolate Crusted Key Lime Pie
Crust:
1/2 cup sugar
1 stick butter
1 egg
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tspn. baking soda
1/2 tspn. baking powder
1/2 tspn. salt
2 cups flour
8 0zs. raw rice for baking pie shell
Filling:
14 ozs. sweetened condensed milk
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup key lime juice

Crust: Mix sugar and butter until creamy. Add whole egg and mix. Sift
cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt and flour. Add to mix.
Place mix between parchment paper. Flatten slightly and chill 1 hour.
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness and place
in pie pan. Cut circle of parchment large enough to cover bottom and
sides of dough and place on dough. Place rice on paper. Bake 10 minutes.
Remove parchment and rice. Bake for an additional 10 minutes. Let cool.
Filling: Combine milk and egg yolks at slow speed. Slowly add key lime
juice, mixing until blended. Pour into crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 20
minutes. Chill until cold, preferably overnight. Garnish with sweetened
whipped cream.

Mango Chutney
20 cups loose packed diced mangoes- mature but not ripe
4 cups sugar
1 lb. brown sugar
6 tblspns. grated ginger root
1 tspn. ground ginger
1 bulb cluster of garlic- peeled and diced fine
1 qt. cider vinegar
8 0zs. dark, seedless raisins
2 tblspns. salt
3 large green peppers- diced fine
1 1/2 tspns. dry mustard
1 tblspn. mustard seed
1 tspn. celery seed
1 tspn. ground cinnamon
1/2 tspn. ground cloves
2 tblspns cayenne pepper
4 ripe hot peppers- diced fine

Mix all ingredients together and stir thoroughly in a large, heavy pot.
Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium and stir to prevent sticking.
Cook slowly until mixture reduces to consistency of jam.
Yields 26 - 28 half pints.

Pineapple Chow
1 ripe pineapple
2 cloves garlic- minced
1 tblspn. minced cilantro
1 tblspn. lime juice
Pinches of salt and pepper

Peel and core pineapple and cut into chunks. Place in a bowl and
sprinkle with the remaining ingredients. Mix well. Cover and chill
overnight to allow flavors to penetrate the fruit.

Pepper Shrimp
1 lb. raw medium shrimp- unpeeled
1 tspn. salt
3 large garlic cloves- minced
1 tspn grated ginger
1 tspn. red pepper flakes
4 green onions- chopped
4 tblspns. vegetable oil
1 tblspn Worcestershire sauce
2 tblspns. tomato paste
1/4 cup water
1 tblspn white wine
2 tspns. sugar
1 1/2 tspns. cornstarch

Rub shrimp completely in the salt. Combine garlic, ginger, red pepper,
onions and 2 1/2 tblspns. oil. Pour over shrimp and mix well. Cover and
refrigerate overnight. In a small bowl, mix together Worcestershire
sauce, 1/2 tspn. salt, tomato paste, water, wine, sugar and corn starch.
Set aside. Remove shrimp from marinade. Heat 1 1/2 tablspns. oil in a
skillet. Add cooking sauce. When bubbly, add shrimp and cook for 5
minutes when shrimp turn pink. Serve in the shells. Serves 4.

Caramelized Ripe Plantains
4 ripe plantains
1 tblspn. butter
1 tblspn. sugar

Peel plantains and slice into 1/4 inch rounds. Heat butter to foaming
in skillet over medium heat. Add plantain slices and cook 5-8 minutes
or until lightly browned and slightly caramelized. Sprinkle slices with
sugar and allow sugar to caramelize slightly. Remove plantains from
skillet. Serve warm over vanilla ice cream, topped with the caramelized
butter from the skillet.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM ARAWAKROOTS !

11/21/2008