The Caribbean-American

CommentaryThe New Voice Reaching South Florida & The World August Special Edition 2010

SPECIAL EMANCIPATION DAY & JAMAICA 48th INDEPENDENCE EDITION

Ambassador Andrew Young Calls for Dynamic Leader-

ship in Haiti and Its DisaporaYoung welcomes Lauderhill Vice Mayor

Dole Holness as an Asset for the Broward County Commission

Disaporic Haitians, the Haitian bourgeoisie and the Eminent members of the President Williams “Bill” Clinton Reconstruction Committee for Haiti came in for uncharacteristic withering criti-cisms from one of the most promi-nent members of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. The special Assistant to the Heroic Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is very disappointed that the oldest Black Independent nation –State in the global commu-nity is saddled with perpetual inef-fectual leadership in the corridors of power and that there is a glaring absence of empathy for the millions of impoverished and homeless Haitians by the coterie of ethnic minority and their Black exploita-tive entrepreneurs who live on the hilltop in their palatalial homes.

The Ambassador to the United Nations during the Jimmy Carter Administration in an agonizing reappraisal of entrenched under-development and pauperization of this Historic country pointed out that “unless our brothers get the color issue solved, Haiti will not go forward”. He captured the Fran-cophone attitudes of the small and exploitative par excellent-ethnic white minority, the miscegenated or mix races and those Black entrepre-neurs who see France, rather than Haiti or Africa as their motherland. He does not see a promising future inspite of the unprecedented huge

international donors fund of more than $ 5 billion since the January 12, 2010 almost unGodly seismic destruction of the Country.

The former Mayor of Atlanta pointed out his tenure at City Hall during what is now regarded as “the Golden Age of Reconstruc-tion in America politics”. What took place during his Administra-tion (1980-88) is the model for the economic rebirth of Urban Cent-ers in this country and throughout Africa and the Caribbean. He asked, rhetorically, where is such a similar dynamic leadership and economic partnership with in-ternational and domestic Capital for Haiti’s Reconstruction? In the 1980s, it was Atlanta, rather than New York, Chicago, or Las Angeles which was “the jewel” of massive infrastructure development and the “marriage” of Euro-Asia-Arab finance with municipal projects and the regional entrepreneurial claass in banking and construction. In his caustic comments on the Haitian leadership Andrew Young stated that what took place in Atlanta dur-ing his tenure can and should take place in Haiti because there is more than enough funds available to engage in the economic reconstruc-tion of the entire country.

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Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister

Priorities A New Alliance within Caricom

By Rovan G. Locke

other fourteen member states on Trinidad and Tobago must be halted and replaced with a new relationship based on mutual tolerance and equita-ble trading relationships.

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In a startling revelation, the historic first female Prime Minister of the twin Island republic acknowledged its sub- imperialist role within the Caribbean Basins she insisted that this increasing micro dependency of the

Barrington Russell Sr. Mayor of the City of

Lauderdale LakesFaces Serious Ethical

Charges

Embassy Row

Unity Light of the World

Tea Party

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Forty Years Later, Publisher Honored By the University of

Michigan Students

A Personal Journey It was a bit frightening when a United States Government tel-ephone call came on this particular writer’s cellular phone. Initially the decision was to allow this telephone call to go straight to my

US .75¢Complimentary

prSrt Std U.S. poStage paidTamarac FL 33319permit no. 70

Caribbean Music Festival, IncJamaica Grand

Independence Ball 2010

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SEAGA IN TOWN

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Andrew Young, and Dale Holness Candidate, for District 9.

voice mail. It was at 10 a.m. on a bright sunny morning in mid June 2010. However, the decision was made to answer the telephone call from this Federal Government In-vestigator. It was surprising when Kenneth Cobb, asked if I were Dr. Rovan George Locke, the 1970’s Lecturer at the Center for African-American and African Studies at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He proceeded to inform me that he is a researcher at the Perot Systems Inc. in California. Furthermore, he is the organizer of the 2nd South Quad Dormitory’s Ambatana Reunion stated for July 15-17th, 2010 weekend on campus and that I was the Honoree and keynote speaker.

This invitation brought me to tears. Forty years after an exciting and turbulent student and academic experiences on this pre-eminent University, I have been asked to return by this group of African-American students who lived in the South Quad Dormitory in one of the most tumultuous decade in the University’s long and distinguished history.

This was the era of the epochal shattering BAMI – Black Action Movement which led to the mas-sive Black students’ demonstra-tions for over a week. It led to President Robert Flemming and the University’s Board of Directors ushering of the Affirmative Action Movement, not only on the Ann

Arbor Campus but throughout the entire country. It led to a direct confrontation between President Richard Nixon; Vice President Spiro Agnew and the University of Michigan President who resented the Oval office’s dismissive argu-ment that his Affirmative Action Directive would lead to lowering of academic standards and per-formance in the nation.

It was the time when there was the brutal death of the Negro personal-ity and the birth of the African-American mindset throughout the country. personality and the birth of the African-American mindset throughout the country. Continue to Page 5

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Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar

2 The Caribbean - American Commentary August Special Edition 2010www.miamigardensobserver.com

August Special Edition 2010 August Special Edition 2010 The Caribbean - American Commentary 3

Publisher’s Perspective From V.I Lenin to Bruce Golding: Toward an Understanding of Dudusgate.

Chairman/Editor-in-ChiEf: Rovan G. Locke, Ph.D.,Consulting Editors: Professor Ali A. Mazrui,

PrEsidEnt Malik E. Locke Jr, sports/Public affairs: Sanchia Allen,

dEsign & ProduCtion: Leona Minto, and Taruna Chin,sECrEtary: Zelpha henry,

trEasurEr: Winsome Vaughn Burke, sPECial Consultant CirCulation/ distribution Coordinators:

Trevor “Peppa Rock” Wynter, Delroy "Sizza" Gordon PublishEr: Caribbean American Communications Inc.

WEbsitE: www.miamigardensobserver.com

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We Lead ... Others Follow

It is at least arguable that in his quest to surpass his father,Tacuis Golding, the first speaker in the hallow halls of Parliament in independent Jamaica, this scion of society compromised his mid 1990s principled positions of the National Democratic Movement. Intriguingly, it is this volte face which provides the neat compari-son between the Bolshevik leader, V.I Lenin, and the Jamaica Prime Minister. This provides a better understanding of the Latter’s “po-litical marriage of convenience” with the Tivolian strongman’s criminal enterprise for the past five years. Without fear or favour, cannot it be argued convincingly that the political alliance between Bruce Golding and the Tivolian Don, alias the “President” was the logical culmination of the Young Turks within the Jamaica Labour Party namely, Bobby Montague, Dr. Christopher Tufton, Daryl Vaz and James Robinson, achieving their ultimate objective in the po-litical coup d’ etat which led to the removal of the “Maximum Leader” Edward Phillip George Seaga and replacing him with their “Chosen One”.

Aren’t there striking similarities between the political downfall/crisis of Prime Minister Bruce Golding, President Richard Nixon, Watergate-(1974) and President William “Bill” Clinton’s 1996, Impeachment Trial resulting from the Monica Lewinsky’s Sexcape, respectively? Can this permanently political wounded Prime Minister find the political will to fire Ed-mund Bartlett from his Cabinet and John Lynch as Chairman/ Execu-tive Director of the Jamaica Tourist Board for consistently violating the National Contractual Procedures Act? Isn’t the Member of Parlia-ment for Northwestern St. James, Attorney Clive Mullings breaking of his governing party’s ranks on the Six Crime Bills, an attempt to “save face” for his obnoxious obei-sance of his political leader during the Oppositional Party’s principled motion of No confidence in the Bruce Golding regime on Wednes-day, June 02, 2010.

Is it a mere coincidence that Rev-erend Al Miller “found” Dudus and

was taking him to the American Embassy in Ligueana, St Andrew on the eve of Prime Minister Bruce Golding’s visit to the G20 Sum-mit in Montreal and on the eve of Ambassador Audrey Marks given an audience to present her Creden-tials to President Barack Obama? Would the President’s senior advi-sors have allowed the Jamaican Prime Minister to sit so close to him and engaged in animated con-versation if “Dudus” were still in hiding or in Bermuda where there is no Extradition Treaty with the American Government? How was it possible for Reverend Al Miller to travel from St. Ann to the Man-dela Highway, in St. Catherine, a distance of more than seventy (70) miles, without being detected until he was less than twenty miles from his Destination-The American Embassy?

Isn’t the People’s National Party

society, immediately after the case was adjourned?

Isn’t it a case of supreme irony for Professor Trevor Munroe to be such an enthusiastic endorser of Prime Minister Bruce Golding’s belated State of Emergency in metropolitan Kingston/ St Andrew and St. Catherine? Is he condon-ing, what Ken Chaplin the highly regarded Observer columnist and former Private Secretary to Prime Ministers Hugh Shearer, Edward Seaga, Michael Manley and P.J Patterson called “The Massacre in Tivoli Gardens”. Is Professor Trevor Munroe so effusive in his praise for Prime Minister Golding due to their umbilical bonds at St. George’s College and the Uni-versity of the West Indies, Mona Campus? Why there is no mention by Professor Trevor Monroe on the admirable tireless direct political and parliamentary assaults by his

Secretariat engaged in double standards by demanding Rev. Al Miller’s resignation as the chair-man of the National Transforma-tion Programme located in the Office of the Prime Minister but has kept so conspicuously quiet on one of its most alleged prominent “Dons”, the East Kingston based Danhai Williams who is now resid-ing in South Florida? How is it that this individual who is wanted by the Joint Security Forces, as a Person of interest to be living in North America while he has been placed on “Bail Supervision” until his mammoth Housing fraud case is resolved within the Judiciary System? How is it that the former controversial Senior Superintend-ent of Police Renato Adams can be so vocal in his criticisms of the former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Edward Seaga on the leadership qualities of Bruce Golding when his acquittal on the numerous murder charges was facilitated by the absence of a key Prosecution Witness who re-emerged in the

former Department of Government Colleague at U.W.I, Dr. Peter Phil-lips which triggered the beginning of the end of the most powerful criminal within our bodly politic since the 1938 birth of national politics to the eve of the first half-century of post colonial Jamaica? It is possible to argue that Profes-sor Trevor Monroe is nothing more than a political opportunist and is ideologically bankrupt now that he is an integral part of the “Brooks suit and Saville Row” post colonial society?

It is not surprising that professor Trevor Munroe has become the most vocal defender of the embat-tled Prime Minister and leader of the Jamaica Labour Party. This is a vivid case of the once privi-leged son of the soil, returning to his class. He has abandoned his communist beliefs and joined the ranks of the ruling elites. How come Professor Trevor Munroe can declare that Bruce Golding is the first Prime Minister to move against the Garrisons and the intelligentsia has not taken him to task for his dramatic shift of his previous radicalized positions as the state as the tool of the capital-ists or the family of 2 1 to oppress poor people? Wasn’t it impossible for Golding’s predecessors to move against garrission communities be-cause in most cases in the 1970s to the 1980s, he, Trevor Munroe was the most eloquent voice in defense of these shanty towns residents through the communist oriented Workers Party of Jamaica with linkages to the socialistic Michael “Joshua” Manley’s People’s Na-tional Party. It is critical that we pay attention to Trevor Munroe’s ideological shift in the Dudusgate Aftermath. This is a consistent pattern of behavior of his part, as was the case in October 1983 in the Grenadian Counter-revolution when he supported the Coardists who had assassinated the left of center, Prime Minister, Maurice Bishop because he refused to en-gage in an unique Co-Prime Min-

ister alliance with his deputy Prime Minister, the Stalinist Bernard.

It is note worthy that Trevor Mun-roe is reluctant to call for Bruce Golding’s resignation due to the lack of leadership talent within the government. However, he does not believe he is engaged in double standards when he calls for Gordon House to establish regulations which will lead to the immediate suspensions of Parliamentarians such as the governing member, Joseph Hibbert and the Oppo-sitional Kern Spencer who are under criminal investigations. This eminent constitutional scholar in his quest to remain in the political limelight has decided to trample on the cornerstone of our judicial system- the presumption of inno-cence of everyone who is charged with a crime or is under criminal investigation. His father, Huntley Munroe, Q.C, the 1960s Director of Public Prosecution must be turn-ing in his grave at his son’s hostile opposition to the presumption of innocence of indicted individuals.

Towards the Taming of Unbridled Political

Power

It is most appropriate that we return to the provocative theme of the political linkages between the Russian revolutionary leader V.I Lenin and the embattled Jamaican Prime Minister. Both political leaders abandoned their political principles when the opportunity presented itself to capture the reins of power in their respective society. In the case of the Zurich, Switzerland based Bolshevik exiled leader, he recognized the gravity of this huge ideological and political decision in his negotia-tions with Kaiser Wilhelm II. He was willing to pay the price for the greater good not only for his own society Tsarist Russia-but for the Europeanized colonized peoples in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. On the other hand, the pampered son of the Jamaican stratified class society, in his dynastic quest to attain the pinnacle of power, failed to take into consideration the “Al-batross around his neck” if he did not engage in a swift and ruthless decision to pulverize his benefac-tor Christopher Dudus Coke.

Both V.I Lenin and Bruce-Golding entered into “marriages of politi-cal convenience with forces they regarded as abhorrent to their inter-national; nationalistic and political objectives. The Jamaican Leftoc-racy and Third World Marxist Leninists are engaged in “ideologi-cal amnesia” in regards to Lenin’s acceptance of Kaiser Wilhelm II’s “Invitation” to return to revolution-ary Russia across German Territory in that famous “Sealed Train.” This decision took place during World War I, (1914-1919) and a century later, there continues to be heated disagreements by Lenin’s heirs on this “Treasonous decision” in order for him to return home. Lenin’s decision in 1917 eventually gave the Bolsheviks the leadership it required to capture the reins of political power from the Menshe-viks and the Alexander Kerensky’s Provisional Government. There were severe global consequences due to the Kaiser’s “Safe Pas-sage” to Lenin and his entourage to return home. Lenin agreed to pull Russia out of the War if the Bolshevik Party captured the reins of power. He carried out his part of the Agreement.

Lenin’s Agreement with Wilhelm II, almost led to the Germans winning World War I. He and the Colonized World paid a heavy price for this Sealed Train Agree-ment. The Western Victors penal-ized Russia by preventing Lenin from attending the 1919 Versailles Peace Treaty in Paris, France. The

Western Allies at this conference trans-ferred the German colonies of Tanzanika and South West Africa to Britain and to the Boer’s South Africa, respectively. The former colony became an independent polity in the mid 1960s with Mwalimu Julius Nyerere as its Founding Father. The Boers Colony became Namibia with its Founding Father, Sam Nujoma in the 1990s due to Castro’s military interven-tion in Southern Africa. This Trans-At-lantic military intervention triggered the military-diplomatic political forces which led to the release of Nelson Mandela and the end of minority White Settlerdom on the Ancestral Continent.

Lenin’s exile in Zurich-Switzerland and the tremendous global revolutionary ini-tiatives by his county since then, demon-strate quite vividly the indispensability of the volcanic Diaspora in the transforma-tion ,of society. It must be noted that Leon Trotsky, another influential member of the Bolshevik Triumvirate was exiled in New York when the Russian Masses revolted against Tsar Williams I. He returned home on a Norwegian vessel which it was widely rumored to be owned by the Kaiser regime. The other member of this “revolu-tionary Trinity” Joseph Stalin was exiled by the Tsar to Siberia. He returned to Rus-sia as soon as the Tsar was over thrown and was in charge of the Bolshevik army until Lenin both and Trotsky returned home. (Please see Roy Bainton-A Brief History of 1917 Russia’s year of Revolu-tion. Carroll and Graff Publisher’s, 2005, pp 82-120).

Lenin left his exiled abode on March 27, 1917 and reached the Petrograd Finland station on 3rd April 1917. His return home was a global Tsunami. His seizure of ab-solute political/military power in October 1917, allowed him and his successors to use their country’s vast military and eco-nomic resources through the Comintern otherwise known as the Third Internation-al to reverse the 1884 Berlin Conference’s partition of Africa to the various European powers. On the eve of the Centenary of that “Sealed Train Treasonable Agree-ment” the global polity is free of Euro-America’s cococolization. A revolutionary Russia, which is indebted to V.I Lenin, is immensely responsible for these post colonial societies in Africa, Asia and the Hemisphere Americas.

In the case of Bruce Golding he so far has not followed in Lenin’s footsteps to transform his society after compromising his political principles to gain political power. Instead that decision to negotiate with Christopher “Dudus” Coke triggered his political enunchnification. It took na-tional and international forces beyond his control to force him to take the necessary steps to confront his formidable opponent-the Tivolian Don.

In any assessment of Bruce Golding’s predicament, it has to be highlighted that he and his rebellious young Turks did not have a plan of action to dismantle the Ti-volian Don’s Criminal Enterprise after the constitutionally mandated 2007 general elections. Ironically the biggest benefi-ciary in this political “coup de grace” against Edward Seaga has been Christo-pher “Dudus” Coke. He single-handed es-tablished the new parameters for Seaga’s replacement in the strongest constituency for the Jamaica Labour Party throughout the Jamaica political landscape. He rel-ished the removal of his nemesis, Edward Seaga who had placed a price on his head in the mid 1990s due to his allegedly drug and gun running activities.

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Barrington Russell Sr.-Mayor of the City of Lauderdale LakesFaces Serious Ethical Charges (Continued from page 1)

4 The Caribbean - American Commentary

By Rovan G. Locke Ph.D

The Die appears to have been casted in regards to the political future of this ambitious mortgage/real estate broker. It will be difficult for him to avoid a similar fate as the former Broward County Com-missioner, Diana Wasserman-Rubin et al. He received in mid July 2010 ominous news from the State of Florida Commission on Ethics of “Probable Cause of Ethical Viola-tions” based on Ms Gwen Denton’s complaint in regards to her attempts to buy a house in Pine Cone Estates in the City of Lauderdale Lakes. Additionally there is more than enough convincing evidence, that in his political capacity, Barrington A. Russell Snr violated the Statues which explicitly make clear that an elected official has to recuse him or herself or avoid voting an matters relating to anyone he/she is doing business. Under the signature of its Executive Chairman, Phillip C. Claypool, dated May 4, 2010, the Commission of Ethics states that “It appears from the preliminary investigation of the complaint that the Respondent may have violated provisions of the Code of Eth-ics other than as referred to in the complaint, (possible violations of section 112.3143 (3) (a), Florida statutes regarding a July 22, 2008 measure of the City Commission concerning release of a letter of credit and that the possible viola-tions are materially related to the

allegations of the complaint.”

The primary reason for the delay of the announcement of the Mayor’s Probable Cause of Ethical viola-tions is due to his legal challenges to the Commission’s Findings. Equally shattering in these Find-ings is the level of the contractual relationship between the elected official/ Vice Mayor and now Mayor’s business contractual involvement through Barrington A. Russell P.A and Stillato Properties, doing business S and S Project. On January 25, 2008 S and S Projects and Barrington A. Russell P.A. “signed a Residential Listing Con-tract regarding the listing for sale of a private residence, (the records are contained in Exhibit A) and five vacant residential lots, (the records are retained in the investigative file) in the Pine Cones Estates subdivi-sion. The contracts reflect that they were in effect from the time they were signed until they expired on January 18, 2009. It was noted that the contracts in question stipulated that Barrington A. Russell P.A was to receive six percent of the gross sales price upon the sale of each of the six properties. Mr. Russell recalled that he and his son Bar-rington A. Russell Jr met with the principal owner of S and S projects Mr. Tony Stillato, when the subject contract was signed. Mr. Russell explained that that his son was the “Listing Agent” for the property.”

In the case of Diana Wasserman, the indicted Broward County Commissioner, she participated in the discussions and voted on financial matters before she and her colleagues which benefited her hus-band, as the consultant and grant writer for the City of Southwest Ranches. There are striking simi-larities with the present Mayor, the city of Lauderdale Lakes, who had a contractual relationship with Mr. Tony Stillato the principal partner of Stillato Properties which is do-ing business with the City as S and S Projects. It is very disturbing that

the then Vice mayor Barrington A. Russell Snr never recused himself from Legislative /financial matters concerning his contractual partner. It has placed him in a political and legal dilemma as in the case of the Indicted Broward County Commis-sioner, Diana Wasserman-Rubin; the three Palm Beach County Com-missioners who have been charged with Honest Fraud and have been given prison sentences. What is most bothersome in this matter leading to Barrington A. Russell’s ethical violations is his decision to play such a pivotal role in S and S Projects relentless pursuit to prevent Ms. Gwen Denton from moving into her residence.

It must be borne in mind that she had paid her deposit to the previ-ous developer of the neighbouring gated Pine Cone Estates. The new owners S and S Projects due to the then booming housing market immediately decided to increase the price of Ms. Gwen Denton’s residence from $163,098.00 to $339,000.00, which is in fact a doubling of the initial price.

If Barrington A. Russell were a business man with a conscience he would have objected to S and S Projects steep increase of its price to this Jamaican born and long time Community activist in his city. However, to those of us who know this money obsessed realtor/mortgage broker, his decision for Barrington A. Russell. PA to sign “a Residential Listing Contract for sale of a private residence” is not a surprise. It is his greed which has sealed his political future in the city of Lauderdale Lakes, in Broward County and the State of Florida Legislature. His small clique of conservative Jamaican support-ers in South Florida has received a mortal blow. They felt he is the most honest, most competent, most deserving, black politician to go to the highest position in Broward County politics. It is strange that not none of them was around him

to warn him that his political ar-rogance and his pro-white attitudes would lead him to his political Wa-terloo and possibilities of prison as the case of the City of Hollywood Commissioner who never disclosed his interest in the garbage deal with the potential city’s client.

Barrington A. Russell is a political opportunist who has exploited his Jamaican roots to reach the political pinnacle in the City of Lauderdale Lakes. He is a negrophobic-or self hating Black person who has been on a mission to carry out white peo-ple’s political and business interests in Broward County at the expense of Black people. Ironically he was such a hygienic politician who strongly opposed elected politicians doing business as lobbyists in the City of Lauderdale Lakes and yet he was more interested in the six (6) percentage commission from Tony Stillalo’s company-S and S Projects than the economic plight of the retired Jamaican Lady who had put “her savings” together to move into a more upscale residence less than a hundred yards away. Perhaps the class conscious politi-cian/mortgage/real estate broker felt that this Jamaican Lady from humble origins did not deserve the right to live in a gated community. This is a hypocritical politician who at the most recent Gospel Festival at Vincent Torres Park in the city of Lauderdale Lakes was seen laugh-ing with Ms. Gwen Denton, the chairperson of the most successful event in terms of attendance at this location where the Greater Carib-bean Culture Coalition holds their annual Unifest event.

It had to be mentioned that Bar-rington A. Russell Snr had to be fully aware that he was engaged in political suicide by getting into a business relationship with S and S Projects while he is an elected member of the City of Lauderdale Lakes Commission. Once again his supreme arrogance blinded him to the political and legal realities in

this country. On most occasions he acts as if he can trample on people’s integrity, Corporate, political and personal rights and properties because he has the right to do so. It is this vulgar arrogance which he flaunts which has now caught up with him. His closest advisers should have warned him about his arrogance a long time ago. He presents himself as the para-gon of virtue. Have we forgotten how the resigned from the Black Broward Elected Officials Organization (BBEOO) when a sister paper raised some unwarranted allegations against its then leader, Levoy Williams, a fellow Commissioner on the City of Lauderdale Lakes Commission/ Two years ago, this particular writer wrote about the Dark Clouds in the City of Lauderdale Lakes. The chickens are now coming home to roost. The St James Bible reminds everyone that whenever you dig a grave for your enemy, you need to dig one for yourself. If Mayor Barrington A. Rus-sell were not so money hungry, exploita-tive and colour/class conscious he would not be in this predicament. The Jamaican Colloquial “Him no tek telling.” applies to him. He is very stubborn and rude to his foes due to his false self consciousness of his personal, professional and political self worth in Broward County.

It will be very difficult for him not to be indicted by the State Attorney-General Of-fice in Broward County if these probable Ethical Violations are confirmed and he is fined by the State of Florida Commis-sion on Ethics. We have witnessed similar indictments and imprisonment of elected officials for similar ethical violations bordering on “Honest Fraud” in Broward, Dade and the Palm Beach counties. He should have been helping this Jamaican retired lady to get into her new residence at the initial price of $164,000 rather than helping a white Developer to deny her the right to move into the neighbouring “Gated Community”. In the final analysis is the former Jamaican Custom Officer/ policeman smarter than former Broward County Commissioners, Josephus Eggel-letion and Diana Wasserman-Rubin; City of Miramar Commissioner, Fitzroy Sales-man and Broward School Board member Beverly Gallagher?

Lauderdale Lakes Gospel Festival

August Special Edition 2010www.miamigardensobserver.com

Miss Gwen Denton

The Caribbean - American Commentary 5

Forty Years Later, Publisher Honored By the University of Michigan Students (Continued from page 1)

This emergence of a new Black Personality was sparked by the 1968 Hot and Violent Summer with the Detroit, Michigan and Watts, California riots. Black’s economic subjugation and racial humiliations over the post 1876 Reconstruction turned violent, in response to the April 04, 1968 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s Martyrdom.

It was my first summer on my undergraduate campus at Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti – six miles from the University of Michigan’s Campus and an hour drive from Detroit. Every Black person in the state of Michi-gan and perhaps throughout the country changed from a self-doubting and in most cases negrophobic or self-hating individual to a new and lasting personality of self pride and confident in one’s self worth. This rebirth culminated, almost half a century later in the political ascending of Barack Obama to the White House.

From Bam 1 to Barack Obama

On Saturday evening, July 16, 2010, my host packed the African-American Lounge in South Quad to honor me. Equally significant, these successful professionals from the various fields – arts, medicine, dentistry, academ-ic, administrative positions in hospitals, government bureaucracy, alumni asso-ciations, music and social welfare listened attentively as the keynote speaker drew the linkages between their peers’ revolutionary activities four decades ago on Campus which led to their admissions to this once almost segre-gated pre-eminent University. A few months earlier, there was the Historic presence of President Barack Obama as the Commencement speaker on our Campus. Yes, it will always be our Campus due to the role it played in shap-ing our views – whether bourgeoisie or radicalized – and the reciprocal burden on our shoulders to live exemplary professional and personal lifestyles as shapers and movers of our societies whether we live in the Carib-bean Basin, the Southside of Chicago, the suburbia of Southfield, California, Florida, New York, Boston,

Maryland etc.

These University of Michi-gan alumni were not fully aware of their umbilical bonds with Barack Obama’s administration. They were told of the critical links between themselves and Ms Valerie Jarrett, President Barack Obama’s closest policy advisor and his wife’s Michelle Obama’s closest personal friend. It is this University of Michigan alum-na, from its most prestigious Law School who “hooked them up together”. She was more than their “cupid”. It was this diminutive, attrac-tive and brilliant African-American lady who helped Michelle Obama in shaping not only her professional career but also helping her to make the most important personal decision in marrying the Ivy League Community activist on the Southside of Chicago.

Those of us who sat on the wall at the Union on State Street during the lazy sum-mers remembered Valerie Jarrett passing by “as fine as she could be”. Now is the time for these African-Amer-ican alumni to make contacts with their most powerful alumna in terms of further-ing their careers. Certainly, it was this White House’s influential policy advisor who persuaded her friend and her boss to give that Commence-ment Speech in mid May 2010. Now is the time for these University of Michigan Alumna to attend the Annual Black Congressional Cau-cus’ weeklong conferences/galas to make the necessary connections with Attorney Valerie Jarrett who is fully aware of her Alumni’s obli-gations.

Owning a Piece of Campus

The keynote speaker backed his hosts “against the wall” in terms of their lack of “Col-legial Entrepreneurship”. He brought to their attention the similar colossal entrepreneur-ial blunders of the predomi-nantly Jamaican dominated Caribbean alumna who were more interested in playing dominoes in the winter and

soccer in the summer rather than forming an Investment Club at the University of Michigan. We did not seize the numerous business op-portunities to pool our schol-arship funds and our salaries to buy up a lot of the cheap board apartment buildings which were up for sale. Ad-ditionally, they were condo-miniums on sale which if we were business oriented as the Asian students, we would have reaped substantial prof-its from our investments.

We were a large group of more than thirty (30) in Med-icine – Dr. Horace Levy- Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist; Dr. Paulette Moulton-Levy – Dermatologist; Dr. Howard L. Tingling Orthodontist; Dr. Rovan Locke, Lecturer; Dr. Lloyd Greig Obstetri-cian/gynecologist; Attorney Lloyd Blair, Ken Bernard M.S.W.; Egbert E.G. Hunter M.Sc.-Engineer presently, President/C.E.O. National Water Authority – Jamai-can Government; Donovan Dunelevy Civil Engineer; Attorney Jeff McLeod, Amy Parker-McLeod, Dental Surgeon; Larry Sangster M.Sc.-Engineer; Obika Grey – professor of Political Sci-ence – University of Wiscon-sin – Madison Campus, Dr. Wilton Braham Statistician (recently deceased); Ms Sha-ron Madison B.Sc. Construc-tion; Shelly Walker M.B.A.; Attorney Pauline Terrylone-Stone Ph.D. Political Science and Celia Terrylone M.B.A.

The Honoree bemoaned the lack of entrepreneurial spirit and the personal pettiness which prevented this group from seeing beyond their nar-row academic professional goals to a bigger picture of long term investment for egg nests in retirement. There was a bit of discomfort amongst these successful African-American profes-sional elites in the Ambatana Organization who have not gone beyond seeing their group as a social club. In this organization there are inde-pendently financial wealthy professionals. What is most disappointing is that they have not yet had that initial discussion on why they have not come together over the past three decades since they have left the “Big U” to buy a vacant lot on Campus and build an Apartment complex or an office building. This is the next phase of their Black alumni economic empow-erment amongst them on Campus.

They should not have to come back every two years on Campus for their “Get Together” and have to stay

in neighbouring hotels or at their parents or friends’ homes in Detroit, Ypsilanti or Ann Arbor. The white frater-nities and sororities own their condominium complexes and also own other rental prop-erties on the vast campus. Ambatana Organization; the Black Fraternities/Sororities; the more than 9,000 African-American Alumni Associa-tion members and those of us from the Caribbean who at-tended that prestigious cam-pus in the 1960’s – 1980’s have short changed ourselves and future generations by not taking advantage of those entrepreneurial opportunities while we were undergradu-ates, graduate students and professional elites.

Why is it that we hear or have witnessed white room-mates or fraternity brothers/sisters as investment part-ners and this cannot be said for the Black Alumni who attended the University of Michigan in the 1960’s – 2000? Our paths meet up again in the islands and in North America and we have not developed that sense of economic trustworthiness and unity amongst us. Eve-ryone is doing their “own thing” whether as family or remaining exclusively in their trained professions. It is important to point out that the owner of the Miami Dolphins is a Michigan alumnus who had partners in his main busi-ness – related ventures – a building/architectural con-glomerate which made him a billionaire. We, Black Alumni have to engage in some serious “Soul Searching” to recognize our “Achilles tendons” as prod-ucts of the great University of Michigan. We see in the case of this writer, siblings rivalries based on negropho-bia – self hatred which have prevented the Locke fam-ily in Savanna-la-Mar from taking a prominent role in the indigenous reconstruc-tion of the town. In a sad but

amusing vein two of my siblings – a light skinned big brother and a class conscious big sister who resented my academic success at the University of Michigan and ganged up against me to prevent an upgrade of the family property in the most bustling area in the town – less than a chain from one of the largest markets in the entire coun-try. In addition, more than 100,000 thousand people come to the town on the weekends for banking, shop-ping, market and fishing products. In a town that sleeps 20,000 and more than 100,000 thousand come every weekend to carry out profes-sional or personal business.

This town of Savanna-la-Mar has the most Chinese business places in the one mile stretch of the main road St. George’s Street. The Indians from India and Pakistan are now coming to the town to establish businesses. The only two main Black owned businesses on that one mile shopping ship is my joint venture restaurant with my son Malik/a frozen meat with Fritz Francis and Brooks’ Plaza across the street. The former Bank manager at National Commercial Bank in the town is another of the co-conspirators who tried to stifle other black entrepreneurial inter-ests in the town. He and his inner circle then and now do not believe highly educated Inner off springs from downtown Savanna-la-Mar should become major business people.

The Ambatana Organization’s hier-archy and its members made a bold decision to honour this particular writer. It allowed me the occasion to share with my vast experiences in East Africa’ Tanzania – Zambia (1973-74) in West Africa’ Nigeria (1978-81); Jamaica, 1981 – 84 and 1992 – 98 and South Florida 1967 – 1992 and 1998 – present. They heard of the enormous burdens placed on our shoulders as alumni from that great University. They have my personal family and pro-fessional battles to guide them as they move into middle age prosper-ity.

I thank them for that wonderful invitation. It was a great pleasure to see a few of my favorite students namely Kim Arthur, M.D.; Amy Parker, D.D.S. and Mike Brown, the most controversial student in the 1970’s in my classes. Thanks to Howard (Micky)Tingling one of my closes childhood friend and his lovely wife, Catherine who were my hosts. It was also refreshing to see Ms. Karen Aldridge-Easton at lunch on Monday 19th July, 2010. I look forward to Homecoming in mid October to continue this dis-cussion on the future of the Black Alumni’s Association and the Am-batana Organization.

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Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Priorities A New Alliance within Caricom

6 The Caribbean - American Commentary

Ambassador Andrew Young Calls for Dynamic Leadership in Haiti and Its Disapora (Continued from page 1)

Young welcomes Lauderhill Vice Mayor Dole Holness as an Asset for the Broward County Commission

Ambassador Andrew Young would like for the anemic leaders in Haiti and the Haitian Diaspora to be as bold and daring as he was in his short tenure as Ambassador to the United Nations. His decision to engage in “Secret Negotiations” with the Yasir Arafat’s Palestinian Liberation Organization led to his immediate dismissal by his friend, President Jimmy Carter due to the Israeli Lobby’s pressures. It is this innovative and uncompromising leadership qualities he is demand-ing from those who hold leadership positions “in all walks of life” in Haiti and the Diaspora.

This confidante of the assassinated Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr took his audi-ence through a brief discussion of Gloriana Pax Africana. In a brief history lesson he recaptured the Historic feats of Haitians from their participation in the 1770s Ameri-can Revolutionary War against the British Colonizers. Certainly, 1790s he addressed the (1890s) Heoric

actions of Toussaint L’Overture, Dessalines and Henri Christopher which culminated in the 1801 birth of the first Black Republic in Hemisphere Americas. The Head of the Atlanta Committee which led to that city hosting the 1996 Olympics wondered out loud how come that the descendants of unlet-tered Haitian soldiers who defeated the French Emperor, Napoleon in his attempts to recapture Haiti, are unable to build their country so that it is free of the inexplicable squalor and the largest permanent impover-ished underclass in the Caribbean Basin. The victory over Napoleon forced him to sell off those huge territories in the famous 1812 Loui-siana Purchase. This led to America increasing its size by least one-third (1/3) of its presents size.

Looking Toward Brazil and Haiti

The Chairman of the Southern Af-rica Enterprise Development Fund

is not an admirer of the “Chinese Miracle.” He does not share the view that Diasporic Blacks should join the bandwagon to do business in the octopus market in China. This close friend of retired Jamai-can Prime Minister, Percival James Patterson, (March 30, 1992-March 30, 2006) an Eminent Member of the Clinton Commission on Haiti is a dedicated enthusiast of high returns on Diasporic investments closer to home. It is a bit startling that this global entrepreneur did not mention one word in regards to Diasporic investments in Nigeria where he is a very close friend of former President Olesegun Obas-anjo.

Andrew Young mentioned that there are huge and fertile areas for Diasporic investments in Haiti with its 12 million residents and Brazil. The latter, he highlighted has the second largest Black population in the global village. He touched on the fact that many Diasporic Blacks do not know that only Nigeria has more Blacks than this regional gi-ant in Hemisphere Americas. Let us hear him in his southern accent as he states, “We need to look at Haiti and Brazil. That is where the future is, but it is going to take as it was the case of Atlanta during my ten-ure at City Hall, Europe’s money, Asian money and Arab money. We must remember that the only thing that matters is green so these two countries are not worried where the money is coming from for the nu-merous investment opportunities”.

One of the most pivotal forces in the sea changing of the once apart-heid political Landscape in Amer-ica was in town to be the Keynote Speaker at a Haitian Reconstruction Fundraiser. This event took place at the Fort Lauderdale Women’s Club in down town Fort Lauderdale. He hailed the dedicated efforts of everyone, regardless of race, color, nationality or creed who is very in-volved in the numerous Humanitar-ian efforts in the devasted historic Haiti. He mentioned that to be more effective in these socio-economic efforts those in North America, including the Haitian Diaspora,

partnered with organizations and civic groups in that country. He re-minded us that “we have to see to it that as much investment as possible comes into Haiti and there need to be a partnership”.

The Mayor of Cap Haitien, Saint-Fleur Pailican praised Ambassador Andrew Young for his Herculean efforts during the 1960s tumultuous Civil Rights Movement. Perhaps it is that type of dynamic leadership, he pointed out which is desper-ately needed now in Cap Haitien which suffered immense human and infrastructure damages during the June 12, 2010 unforgettable dislocation of the country. This Haitian Mayor wears another hat as the president of the Association of Northern Mayors. This embryonic coalition is committed to a radical departure of the traditional corrupt politics within their region and the rest of the country. He asked that we help his organization by an ag-gressive public relations campaign which highlighted “a new approach to Haitian politics” so that people outside his country will want to become enthusiastic partners in the re-engineering of his country. In a pained voice, the states” Saving Haiti is saving mankind…together we are able, yes we can”.

The Broward County District 9 Primary

Undeniably, Andrew Young’s pres-ence at the Women’s Club in down-

town Fort Lauderdale should have drawn an audience at least four hundred African-American and Caribbean-American power elites. Perhaps the linkage of his visit to Fort Lauderdale to the Vice Mayor of the City of Lauderhill, Dale Holness’ cam-paign for the Broward County District 9 seat presented such a low African-American turnout. The other three Black Candidates for this seat, the incumbent Al. C. Jones; the term limited former city of Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Carlton Moore and the City of Lauderhill, Mrs. Margaret Bates did not show up, nor did any of their supporters. The District 9 contest is an interesting one. The incum-bent Al C. Jones was appointed by the then Republican governor, Charlie Crist to replace the corrupt Josephus Eggel-letion. This imprisoned politician lost such an influential position in Broward County’s politics and society due to his greed inspite of the combined incomes of $225,000 with his wife, a principal in the Broward School District.

The Vice Mayor of Lauderhill Dale Hol-ness is the most committed of the four candidates in the only “Black District” in Broward County. He has a broader vision to the entire minority-majority population within Broward County than the other three Black competitors for this County Seat. He is very visible on a daily basis throughout the district and we rarely see the three competitor across State Road 7/ 441 unless it is the once a year Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Banquet on the weekend of January 17.

The Governor replacement, Al C. Jones recent resident of District 9. It can be said that he does not have a personal or political commitment to the entire Black Community. His flip-flap political al-legiance has to be seriously scrutinized by the voters prior to August 24th, 2010 election. Both the City of Lauderhill Commissioner Mrs. Margaret Bates and the former Commissioner Carlton Moore do not have the energy and the defiance to deal with the numerous issues within the Broward Commission on behalf of the entire ethnic minority and the traditional communities in District 9. Andrew Young in his speech was correct when he stated that such a dynamic and young politician as Dale Holness deserve the full support of anyone regardless of race, nationality, color or creed so he can sit on the Bro-ward County Commission Dias.State Rep. for District 94 Hazelle

Rogers

Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar is fully cognizant that this was one of the festering issues between her predecessor, Patrick Manning and his colleagues in this regional body. She tells us, “I want to showcase our dynamic country. This trip follows the thirty seven Caricom Conference in Mon-tego Bay. In a similar gathering in Kingston where I lived for fourteen years I highlighted that now is not the time to be combative. In some quarters it was felt that Trinidad and Tobago had adopted a hard line approach to funding certain projects and programme but we believe that previous promises perpetuated dependencies rather than promoting accountabil-ity, responsibility and independ-ence”.

The newly elected Prime Minis-ter seized the opportunity in her first visit to South Florida in this enviable position to set out her administration economic policies for her Caricom neighbors; the Hemispheric Americas and the rest of the global Community. She was the Keynote Speaker at the City of Lauderhill Regional Cham-ber of Commerce’s Luncheon at Casino Grill restaurant at 310 N.E Broward Boulevard in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Monday, July 12, 2010. The University of the West Indies, alumna and former high school teacher at St. Andrews High School in Kingston, Jamaica, is a seasoned politician who held the post of attorney-general in the Basedo Panday regime (2000-2005). Although she has been in office less than a month, she has al-ready emerged as the most influen-tial politician within the Caribbean Basin. This results not only from her energy based economy but also due to the grave illness of David Thompson, the Barbadian Prime

Minister and the precarious pres-ence of Bruce Golding in Jamaica House due to Dudusgate. There was a time when the Jamaican Prime Minister was the dominant voice within Caricom inspite of the fact that the Trinidad and Tobago’s economy far exceeded the hemor-rhaging Jamaica economy. This political imbalance took place dur-ing the Percival James Patterson’s regime, (1992-2006) when both Basdeo Panday and Patrick Man-ning conceded the leadership of the regional body to this dynamic, persuasive, unmatched regional leader.

Prime Minister Persad Bissessar relished her enormous national, regional and international respon-sibilities. She reminded those gathered at the Luncheon that her country was the pioneer in the pe-troleum industry, (1908) and there

was a time, the leading producer of oil throughout the world. Presently, it is the largest producer of Liquid Natural gas with the United State of America as its largest client. However, she believes that the time has come for the diversity of this energy oriented economy or else a quarter century later, with

oil depletion, there will be serious socio-economic issues within the society. “We need to start to diver-sify our economy because soon we shall have depleted oil economy. We must build a non-energy sector. We are now looking at an energy downstream economy-methanol; renewal energy research, expansion of the Tourism industry. The diver-sification of Trinidad and Tobago economy will take time. However, we are unparalleled in Caricom. To put it simply we continue to strive in the global economy”.

She noted that the global recession has a negative impact on her coun-try inspite of its oil related wealth. Last year, the economy experienced a 3% percent contraction from its previous year 8% growth, “still Trinidad and Tobago is in good shape”. She has put together and impressive team of economic advi-

sors or “Think Tank “unlike Bruce Golding’s Jamaica, which is work-ing on an investment policy for the country. She praised her Minister of Trade and Industry, Honorable Stephen Cady, who had preceded her at the podium. This ministry has accelerated the process toward a “one stop shop global window”

to facilitate an easier way to do business with the government. Furthermore, there is this emphasis on knowledge based economy. She takes particular pride in the Tamino Investment Park of more than 100 acres. This former air base will be the epicenter of the Information and Communication industry which is critical to attract investors in manufacturing Pharmaceutics; the Tourism industry and the marine industry, poultry industry and food processing.

The high import bills for chicken and juices are worrisome features of the economy which the Prime Minister pointed out that the government has to pay immediate attention. There should be local entrepreneurs who should see these two industries as prime areas for huge profitable returns. This is an example of the dangers of an ener-gy based economy where due to the huge financial returns the citizens believe that they do not have to invest in the agricultural arena. The Prime Minister believes that her country has to strengthen her Trad-ing relationships with her regional neighbors and the major players in the rest of the global polity. In luring investors to Trinidad and To-bago, she believes that this will not be a difficult task due to its 600,000 highly educated and English speak-ing workforce. The national po-litical stability as witnessed by the peaceful transfer of power less than a month ago is an additional asset in enticing investors to her country. She intends to work closely with the Obama Administration. She sees America as her country major business partner due to its proxim-ity, its huge markets and the large Caribbean Diaspora.

Caricom Concerns

Prime Minister Persad Bissessar returned to the urgency of better relations within the regional body. She does not want to be seen as another “bully” as was the case of her predecessor. However, she has signaled to her Caricom colleagues both in Montego Bay and Kingston that it cannot be business as usual when it comes to the financing of the regional organization and providing stand by funds for the underper-forming regional economies.

At this Monday Luncheon in downtown Fort Lauderdale, Florida she re-iterates her concerns. She wants to see greater accountability and Transparency in the Petroleum Fund and the Caribbean Development Fund (CDF) both of which benefit enormously from funding provided by the oil producing twin island Republic. A week earlier at the 37 Caricom Sum-mit she was a bit undiplomatic when in her characteristic blunted style she states “a lot of money has been shelled out by Trinidad and Tobago without no transpar-ency and accountability. We just cannot continue to do things in that way, and each time there is a shortfall we cannot continue to think that Trinidad and Tobago is an ATM machine. You come in you put in the card there and you come back out with cash.” This blatant financial irre-sponsibility cannot continue especially in this frightening recessionary decade. The retired Jamaica Prime Minister Percival James a few days later in Port of Spain, at an Investment Forum on Haiti expressed his displeasure at Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s injudicious remarks to her Caricom colleagues. He responded in a similar blunt vein that, speaking on behalf of his country, he states, “I can only speak for Jamaica and I would have to say we did not line up or benefit from any ATM Machine and I confine that remark to Jamaica”. Quoted in the Jamaica Ob-server Newspaper, Monday, July 19, 2010.

Let us now return to the provocative theme of Trinidad and Tobago as a sub-imperialist rather than an understanding original energy rich entity amongst its

By Rovan G. Locke

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The Caribbean - American Commentary 7

Publisher’s PerspectiveFrom V.I Lenin to Bruce Golding: Toward an Understanding of Dudusgate. (Continued from page 3)

It was not an accident of history that Dudus became the Tivolian Don or Gang Warlord. A central factor in Dudus pre-eminence in the Jamaican body politic was primarily due to Bruce Golding’s obsession to dynastic politics and his naiveté on national and interna-tional politics. This darling of the Jamaican intelligentsia, the media-especially the Gordon “Butch” Stewart’s the Observer; and corporate Jamaica lacked then and now a Leninist; Stalinist; Machi-avellian; Syria’s Assad’s, Michael Manley; Edward Seaga or Percival James Patterson’s pragmatic but also whenever necessary, (nerves of steel) and “take no prisoner” ap-proach to tough decisions when-ever necessary to retain political supremacy with real and potential challengers to their authority.

Politics-A Badge of Lost Innocence

Irrefutably, the Jamaican Observer, Mark Wignall is correct that Chris-topher “Dudus Coke cemented his Donmanship during the long tenure of the Patterson regime, March 30, 1992-March 30, 2006. However, it has to be noted that Dudus’s pre-eminence in the “mother of all garrisions” resulted from the frat-ricide within the Jamaican Labour Party and the young Turks within allying themselves with him in their determination to remove Seaga before the 2007 general election. It was inconceivable on Dudus’ part during the Patterson regime to go beyond his “Turf” in Kingston and St. Catherine. There was this Gentlemen’s Agreement between the then Prime Minister and the Oppositional Leader Edward Seaga, that the Latter should keep his garrisions under his tight super-vision. This became very difficult in the end due to the paradigm shift in the political equation which saw Seaga’s political eclipse and / or

political oblivion. The almost fatal political mis-steps by the Prime Minister in the Manalt, Phelps, Phillip legal fiasco demonstrated Dudus overwhelming influence not only on him, but also on the hierarchy of Busta’s revered political institution. Never in the short history of post colonial Jamai-ca that one man held the country at ransom. Indeed, the heroic figure, Michael “Joshua” Manley did not trigger as serious a confronta-tion between the Oval Office and Jamaica, as this Napoleonic and Robin Hood figure. At the time of the tumultuous 1970s in Jamaica, the occupant in the Oval Office Jimmy Carter was not a believer of the Monroe Doctrine. If he were, it would have led to “surgical military strikes” in the region. In the case of Prime Minister Bruce Golding his lack of a “think tank” with the inclusion of a few highly edu-cated Diasporic figures from North America led to his political predica-ment. His lack of understanding of American politics almost led to another Noriega Incident within Hemispheric Americas. Bruce Golding decision to carry out to his part of the bargain with Dudus prior to the 2007 general elections came back to haunt him. We wit-ness the close call in the Vote of No Confidence in terms of his political survival and the possibilities of being charged as a co-conspirator or an obstructionist to justice in the Southern District Federal Judiciary System in New York.

Certainly, the manner in which President Barack Obama handled the extradition imbriglio will lead to stronger the bonds between diasporic Jamaicans and African-Americans. If it were John Mc-Cain in the White House, Prime Minister Bruce Golding would not have the luxury of delaying the “inevitable” Extradition of Christopher “Dudus” Coke. Both Michael “Joshua” Manley in the

1970s and Bruce Golding have to count their political blessings that it was not a Republican occupant in the Oval Office. In the case of Michael Manley the Watergate Crisis diverted President Richard Nixon and his successor Gerald Ford from the “Civil War” in Ja-maica. Understandable this political crisis would have guaranteed Gun Boat Diplomacy by a Republican Administration.

Nixon-Clinton-Golding

The month of May 2010 will forever be a special one in our body politic. It was the Baptism of fire for Bruce Golding who came close to suffer a similar fate as Richard Nixon in 1974 Watergate After-math. It is important to point out that if it were the American System of Government with the Separation of Powers which he is a staunch admirer rather than the Westminster Model which exists in Jamaica, the Prime Minister would have been re-moved from the Presidential office. The close margin of victory which he received in the Oppositional People’s National Party’s vote of No Conference (30-28) on Wednes-day June 03, 2010, is reminiscent of President William (Bill) Clinton’s Impeachment Trial, in 1996 for lying to the Independent Investiga-tor that he did not have any sexual contact with Ms. Monica Lewinsky the White House Interim. The big question is whether or not Bruce Golding will rebound from his Parliamentary and party’s blunders as was the case of William “Bill” Clinton who had an enormous posi-tive relationship with the American voters, and now is one of the most popular persons in America and throughout the global polity.

It is a case of moral hypocrisy and academic/ journalistic dishonesty by those who came to the defense of the Prime Minister on the vexing issue of his resignation but still has

kept quiet on the brutal manner in which he fired Attorney Clive Mullings from his Cabinet. Equally surprising is Clive Mullings impas-sionate speech in Gordon House in defense of his party Leader during the Vote of No Confidence. The Kingston college alumnus and the former President of the Cornwall Bar Association placed Bruce Golding on a pedestal and compro-mised his own legal and profes-sional integrity by this charade. Furthermore, the Prime Minister is not engaged in any act of recipro-cal goodwill by reappointing him to the Cabinet. The Member of Parliament from the Northwestern St. James Constituency lost the “historic opportunity” to put the Golding Administration through a similar embarrassment as he experienced at the vindictive hands of his own leader, a few months after his marriage to that “charming browning”. It had to be the most injurious act meted out to him in his entire life and yet we saw him in the forefront in the party defense of his permanently wounded leader.The Prime Minister still has not told the nation why he dismissed Clive Mullings from his Cabinet. It is seen in some quarters as a retalia-tory action for removing the Chair-man of the Petroleum Company of Jamaica (PCJ) who is a very close friend of the occupant at Jamaica House. The then Minister of Energy ; Mining and Technology felt the Chairman might be involved in a conflict of interest by his partner-ship with a local corporation which has become a significant player in the pending contract for liquid Natural gas to Petro Jam. It was the former Minister of Energy Mining and Technology who had triggered an inquiry into the questionable relationships of this partnership. He has been vindicated by the office of the Contractor General’s “Boltlike” raid on the offices of the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) where numerous boxes of

files were removed to conduct a proper investigation.

Furthermore, this is not an attempt to cast aspersions on the personal nor profes-sional character of the present Minister of Energy and Mining. However it is hard for the Prime Minister to convince the Jamaican people that James Robertson is a better choice to be in charge of this highly technical ministry which requires a legal background to deal with the other global players in the petroleum industry. Ad-ditionally, it has been said that the Prime Minister removed Clive Mullings from his Cabinet due to the latter’s decision to cir-cumvent the “Ministerial Car Procurement Process”, which led to him becoming the owner of a Mercedes Benz being valued over $US 100,000. If the Prime Minister fired Clive Mullings from his Cabinet for going through the legal channels to buy a vehicle of his choice, then he, himself should walk away from Jamaica House/Vale Royal for placing the awesome powers of the highest elected office in the country at the disposal of the most notori-ous criminal we have witnessed so far within the Jamaican political Landscape.

We need to raise the issue of the Prime Minister’s vulgar double standards also in the case of the omnipresent Minister of Tourism, the Westmorelite born, Edmund Bartlett who has bypassed Cabinet twice in making deals with international airlines. A few months ago the Prime Minister on the floor of Gordon House apologized for Bartlett and John Lynch, Chairman/Executive Director of the Jamaican Tour-ist Board for engaging in business with American Airlines without a full discus-sion and approval of Cabinet. Perhaps, the Minister and the chairman of the Tourist Board believe that the Prime Minister is nothing more than a figure head and lacks any moral /legal authority to rule. They have continued in this arrogant manner by engaging in similar behavior with US Air. The Prime Minister is fully aware of this second incident and sent both government officials to deal directly with Greg Chris-tie, the Contractor-General.

Continued on Page 17

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Priorities A New Alliance within Caricom (Continued from page 6)

Caricom members. A year ago the diminutive and attractive Trinidad and Tobago’s career diplomat, Honorable Marie West was greeted by this particular writer to her new position in Miami, Florida with this perception of her country’s sub-imperialistic manufacturing and in-vestment activities in Jamaica and the rest of the region. She treated this challenge with her characteris-tic disarming smile and drawing on her enormous intellectual and dip-lomatic resources present a more positive outlook on her country’s a involvement in the region. Interest-ingly a former Prime Minister of the Eastern Caribbean, at a function at Nova Southeastern Law School where he was the Keynote Speaker two years ago concurred with me on this vexatious point.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad Biss-essar at the Jamaica Manufacturers Association Luncheon in Kingston on Friday July 10, 2010, heard similar resonance. She was pre-pared for this Baptism of Fire from the local manufactures, financiers and entrepreneurs who see their business relationships with their Trinibogan colleagues as disadvan-tageous to their interests and seek redress to these numerous exploita-tive commercial relationships.

The same outcries are taking place in the smaller and neighboring Caribbean states. In Jamaica we

see the predominance of Trinida-dians in the rum, banking, insur-ance and drink industries. It is a major positive political stroke for Prime Kamla Persad Bissessar who promised the Jamaican business community that their concerns will receive her immediate attention. At the Luncheon on Monday, July 12, 2010 in downtown Broward Coun-ty, her opening remarks demon-strated a sincerity and commitment on her part to move in a friend-lier environment with the non-oil Caricom economies. It needs to be highlighted that the then Prime Minister Percival James Patterson and the rest of his colleagues were very angry at the Prime Minister Patrick Manning who opposed virulently the Petro Caribe Treaty between Venezuela and the non oil

Caricom economics. The Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning believed that they were violating the spirit and intent of Caricom solidarity by engaging in such an oil deal to the detriment of a sister state. He was reminded by his colleagues that he was behaving as a “big bully” or much worse, as the British colonial master treated their predecessors before the Wind of Change took place in the 1960s in the region which ushered in Independence.

Prime Minister Bissessar did not address the other vexing issue of

Caribbean Airline’s acquisition of Air Jamaica. The Bruce Golding regime made a poor decision in “giving away” Air Jamaica to the Trinidian Government. Caribbean Airline has received a “sweetheart deal” similarly to what is euphe-mistically seen as “a fat rat in a cheese factory.” The Trinidad and Tobago government should not be given the profitable routes “of Air Jamaica and not given the debt of the National airline. Madame Prime Minister is correct when she pointed out in her visit to Jamaica that this transaction is not to her country’s best economic interests since the Jamaican Government has gone ahead and signed more than twenty contracts for open air space to other airlines.

Furthermore, how is it that the Jamaican government only has a 16% ownership of the National airline when it has given away the “Air Jamaica Brand/the Yellow Bird Slogan” without receiving one Jamaican dollar from Carib-bean Airline. The decision to close down the Doral, Florida and New York offices of Air Jamaica is also not a responsible one. It will be interesting to see how this “new airline” operates from its headquar-ters in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. There is a “penny pinch-ing” mentality within Caribbean Airline/ Air Jamaica which will have deleterious effects on Radio Waves 1170am and its brokers and for the South Florida’s Caribbean print media.

In closing, it is a bit dishearten-ing that the Prime Minister was in South Florida for three days on those around her did not contact the “Caribbean-media” for a press conference with her. Although it was primary a “private visit”, those close associates of her most know that she is now a public figure and the press must have access to her whenever, she comes into our region.

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The Caribbean - American Commentary 8

Unity Light of The World Church Tea Party August Special Edition 2010www.miamigardensobserver.com

The Caribbean - American Commentary 9

1972 -1979 South Quad Ambatana

2010 Reunion, South Quad Afro Lounge

Delhi Metropark, Ann Arbor, Michigan

July 16-18, 2010

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Kim Arthur M.D; Dr. Rovan Locke and Dar-lyda (Kay) Bogle

Ambatana Members

Dr. Kim Worthy, Janet (May) Moore and her Triplets

Kenneth Cobb and classmate

Dr. Kim Arthur and Janet (May) Moore

Michelle (Lawson) Henry, Darryl Walker, and Dr. Kim Worthy

Kim Arthur M.D; Kenneth Cobb

Dr. Deborah Thompson, Janet (May) Moore and Dr. Kim Arthur

Marquita (Pierce) Chawford, Dr. Miguel West, Pamela Williams and Dr. Kim Arthur

Ambatana Sunday Picnic

Ambatana Sunday Picnic

Musomi Kimanthi, Dr. Rovan Locke, Mikel Brown M.S.W.

Dr. Kim Arthur and classmate

Janet (May) Moore and kids

Derwin Jallice, Cheyrl (O’Donald) Smith and Dr. Amy Parker McLead

Doris (Williams) Jallice, Derwin Jal-lice and Cheyrl (O’Donald) Smith

Tom Stanton, Dr. Kim Arthur, Dr. Miguel West

Kenneth Cobb and classmate

Ambatana Members

Teddy Dobson; Amy Parker-McLeod D.D.S; Dr. Rovan Locke

Pamela Williams, Dr. Aubrey Miller and Dr. Kim Arthur

The Caribbean - American Commentary 10 August Special Edition 2010www.miamigardensobserver.com