the immigrant

Viola Desmond honored with Commemorative Stamp

Leguanite — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:52:02 +0000

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2012/01/14/ns-viola-desmond-commemorative-stamp.html

Nova Scotia civil rights activist Viola Desmond will soon be featured on a commemorative stamp from Canada Post.

Desmond, a black woman, went to jail in 1946 for sitting in a segregated section of a New Glasgow theatre reserved for whites.

Her sister, Wanda Robson, is thrilled by the national recognition of her struggle, 47 years after her death.

“It’s beyond my dreams that this would come about. It’s overwhelming, really,” Wanda Robson said.

She has a copy of a first draft of the postage stamp featuring her sister and the theatre where she refused to move from the whites-only section.

Robson made sure the final version was accurate, down to the title of the movie on the marquee.

“It’s a picture of her with her hair [in the style] of the ’40s, swept up, superimposed over the theatre. The story itself — the whole story — is important, of course,” Robson said.

The stamp that will be publicly unveiled Feb. 1 to kick off Black History month in Nova Scotia.

Robson hopes the stamp issued in her sister’s honour will prompt those outside the province to ask who she was and what she did.

Her struggle recently became the inspiration for a film called Long Road to Justice.

Apology and pardon

“She was beautiful, she was well dressed and she was very well spoken, and they carried her out to a patrol car, hauled her off to jail and she spent the night in the town lock-up,” the film tells viewers.

Her family received an apology and a pardon from the province in April 2010, and the town of New Glasgow paid tribute to Desmond in August 2010.

Desmond, then a 32-year-old beautician, was driving from Halifax to Sydney on Nov. 8, 1946, when her car broke down in New Glasgow. She decided to see a movie at the Roseland Theatre while she waited for repairs.

Desmond sat downstairs, unaware of the theatre’s rule that blacks could sit only in the balcony seats. She was asked to leave but refused. Eventually, the manager and a police officer pulled her out.

Desmond spent the night in jail. The next morning, she was convicted of tax evasion. Prosecutors made no mention of race. They told the judge that Desmond didn’t pay the full price to sit up front and therefore didn’t pay the proper tax — a difference of one cent.

She was fined $20 and sentenced to 30 days in jail.

Desmond, who owned her own hairdressing business, fought unsuccessfully to appeal both her conviction and fine.

Thanks to her public court battle, the Nova Scotia government dismantled its segregation laws.

St. Lucian Woman Writes of her Experience

Leguanite — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:34:11 +0000

Malaise Norah, 1997, St. Lucia

I am walking down a wide dirt road toward the marina in Rodney Bay, St. Lucia, a charming island known for some of the sweetest bananas in all the Caribbean. Figs, they call them here. Falcon and Fabian walk beside me, smoking weed that’s rolled in a dried banana leaf. My husband is pushing our 2-year-old daughter in the stroller and the both of them have fallen behind. The sun has already set, and the evening sky is a deep inky blue. We are meeting travelers from England at a restaurant on the water, a printer, his wife and two teenage girls, both of whom are natural blondes, which Falcon and Fabian confess to adore. Falcon is a Rastafarian who lives on the beach in Rodney Bay, makes his living off tourists as a pirate of sorts, recording dub and dancehall onto cheap cassettes, $10 a tape. Yes, he’s a Rastafarian with a boombox. Some of them even have got cars. You might know they are Rasta by the Lion of Judah bumper stickers.

Falcon hangs out around the Candyo Inn, a small, St. Lucian-owned hotel in the style of a traditional island home, just a short walk from the beach. It is white, the hotel, with emerald awnings and lots of lattice, fits in well with the local neighborhood. “The tourists here are friendly,” he tells me, “like you,” and so are the hotel employees. Fabian is Falcon’s oldest friend,…… click on the link

http://www.alternet.org/story/153696/some_feet_not_meant_for_shoes_-_novel_excerpt?page=entire

Ouch!

Leguanite — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 22:13:13 +0000

Trini family on ‘scam’ charges gets 418 years

Published:

Friday, January 13, 2012 (Trinidad Guardian)

NEW YORK—A Queens judge sentenced three members of a Richmond Hill family to serve a combined 418 years in jail for a brazen immigration and real-estate scam. The couple and their daughter, all originally from Trinidad and Tobago and dubbed “The Ramsundar Gang” by Queens Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Holder, were found guilty of defrauding 19 families of US$1.8 million over six years. Holder said his harsh sentences were nothing compared to the street justice the Ramsundar family would have faced back in their native T&T. He said: “You and I know that if you did this fraud and paraded and strutted it in your own country, you would have probably been hacked to death,” Holder told the family, which immigrated from T&T in the ’90s.

Shane Ramsundar, 53, wife, Gomatee, 47, and daughter, Shantel, 24, were found guilty of grand larceny, money laundering, criminal impersonation and other charges during a three-month trial. Holder had no sympathy for any of them. The tough judge even had one of their victims, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, stand up in court so Shane could see him. Holder said the family’s crimes nearly killed that victim, who lost so much money he couldn’t afford medication. “Now it’s your turn to hear your return on your investment for these crimes,” said Holder, before sentencing the ringleader dad to 781/2 years to 235 years in prison and fining him US$1.8 million. Wife Gomatee was sentenced to 51 to 153 years in prison and fined US$221,090, while daughter, Shantel, was sentenced to ten to 30 years and fined US$182,180. The courtroom was packed with victims and even jurors wanting to hear Holder scold the trio for swindling neighbours out of their life-savings to fuel their lavish lifestyle.

Dad Shane pretended to be an FBI agent and swindled 12 victims out of US$300,000, promising to get them removed from a terrorist watchlist and a deportation list, while also scoring them green cards. The Ramsundars also claimed their ties to “Feds” allowed them to buy cut-rate properties seized in Florida and Queens from tax evaders and drug dealers. The couple then convinced victims to give them money, promising to obtain mortgages for them.

Guyanese born Justice Kendall faces the courts himself

Leguanite — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:44:28 +0000

INJUSTICE IN THE US VIRGIN ISLANDS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu4Re3PjdqA&feature=youtu.be

Murder of Jassi Sidhu

Leguanite — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 06:12:42 +0000

The death of a Sikh girl at the hands of her parents because she married a boy from the wrong class. This cold-blooded murder has cast a shadow on all Sikhs in Canada. Most do not subscribe to this behaviour. Honour killings apparently are carried out by lower class wanna bee’s. Those who have to prove that they are worthy of respect from people who are in higher classes. The Sidhu family wanted that respect but I think after what they did they were shunned by the community. This is a wake up call for Canada about what can happen in this free country if the government turns a blind eye on this murder.

As Canadians we do not want this sort of cultural practice here in Canada. We call on the government to extradite those responsible to be tried in India. Jassi’s death must not go in vain, please.

http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/2011-2012/escapefromjustice/

Suicide rates in Guyana is highest in the region

Leguanite — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 02:45:30 +0000

Why are our people killing themselves? We need to get to the root cause.

http://youtu.be/d3DEnjSkLx8

New Direction for Jamaica

Leguanite — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:51:20 +0000

Jamaica will become a republic,

new prime minister vows

Miller, installed as Jamaican prime minister for a second time, has said she will restore prosperity and drop the Queen as head of state. Photograph: Reuters

Portia Simpson Miller has been sworn in for the second time as Jamaica‘s prime minister with a pledge to ease poverty, boost the economy, heal political divisions and drop the Queen as head of state.

Simpson Miller, who was prime minister for a year and half until 2007, took the oath of office before roughly 10,000 guests on the grounds of the governor-general’s official residence.

The 66-year-old politician scored a dramatic victory in last week’s national elections, leading her centre-left People’s National party to a 2-1 margin in parliament over the centre-right Jamaica Labour party. Her opposition faction won a dominating 42 seats in the 63-seat legislature, leaving the incumbent party with 21.

Simpson Miller, Jamaica’s first female prime minister, takes over from Andrew Holness, a 39-year-old Labour MP who led the government for just over two months.

“After being tested and tempered I stand before you today a stronger and better person prepared to be of service to my country and people,” Simpson Miller said at the start of a spirited 45-minute speech.

She said her government intended to abandon the British monarch as Jamaica’s official head of state and instead adopt a republican form of government. Jamaica declared independence from Britain in 1962 but remains within the Commonwealth and has the Queen as head of state……

Help the women in Somalia from thugs who call themselves soldiers

Leguanite — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:59:00 +0000

Imagine a woman being stoned to death for refusing to marry a thug. Women in war-torn countries become pawns and are used and abused at will by thugs who call themselves soldiers.
More ought to be done by the United Nations and peace-loving, democratic nations to help women in these countries after the war is over.

It is disheartening to read of the lives some women have to leave. They have no rights, they live in poverty and their dignity is wrenched from them like animals.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/28/world/africa/somalia-faces-alarming-rise-in-rapes-of-women-and-girls.html?src=recg

Jamaica Grabs Top Prize

Leguanite — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:41:05 +0000

Don’t ever underestimate your intelligence because you are from a so-called, third world country. There are no borders when it comes to intelligence. In the right hand an intelligent person of any colour, race, or creed will succeed. Bravo Jamaica. Good job

__________

The Norman Manley Law School has again captured first prize in the World Human Rights Moot Court Competition.

After a victory in the worldwide contest last year, the Jamaican team travelled to Pretoria, South Africa, last week and, for the second successive year, emerged number one.

This year’s competition, organised by the Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, and the United Nations Office of Human Rights, saw three selected law schools from each of the United Nations regions in the semi-final round of the competition.

The Norman Manley Law School team included Jermaine Case and Love Odih, with Leslie Mendez as the reserve speaker, and Nancy Anderson, tutor at the law school, as coach.

In the semi-final round last Thursday, Norman Manley defeated the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

In the final, the Jamaicans faced the prestigious Yale Law School and again prevailed.

Case was selected second best oralist (tied) in the competition, while Odih, third best oralist.

Principal of the Norman Manley Law School, Professor Stephen Vasciannie, was overjoyed with the victory.

“I am ecstatic that Norman Manley has once again brought home the World Human Rights title. Love, Jermaine and Leslie have been a model team, putting in long hours on research, writing and advocacy.

“With coach Anderson, Senior Tutor Emerita Dorcas White and the entire school willing the team forward, we went to South Africa with confidence, and left with success. Yale and other schools will have taken note of our very high standards at home; the Caribbean should be proud of our students and this wonderful accomplishment,” said Vasciannie.

Last year, the Norman Manley Law School, as a first-time entrant, with a team consisting of Merrick Watson, Lori-Ann Green and Gabrielle Elliott-Williams, won the World Human Rights Competition, and enjoyed much success in various other international mooting and client counselling competitions.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20111219/news/news4.html

Give where it makes a difference

Leguanite — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:01:46 +0000

This event is past but it’s nice to see Damian Marley giving back to the community in such important ways. We in Winnipeg spend a lot of time working to help well to do children in Winnipeg and Canada why not extend the reach to children who really need the help, children with little access to education or resources vis-a-vis children in Canada and the US with 100 times more access to all kinds of resources to make a better life for themselves. It is something we immigrants should think about, not only immigrants from the Caribbean but from all over the world. We spend so much time and energy raising funds, giving out scholarships, and working for children who are already doing very well where a few thousand dollars from our trickle down fundraising efforts will not make a dent in the bills of these students have to pay but they have access to student loans, bursaries etc. On the other hand, many children from developing countries still have to pay for secondary education, many do not go to school because they cannot afford to do so. If those of us who are fortunate to be living in a land of plenty, could look back to where we have come from and lift up some of the children and adults for whom a few dollars can mean going to school for a better life or a life on the street with little hope. Let us offer hope to children who need our help and that one child will help the village and village by village your dollar will influence.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 17, 2011 – Multiple Grammy Award-winning Reggae Superstar Damian Marley has partnered with the Caribbean Education Foundation, Inc. (CEF) to headline its “STAND UP – Educate the Youths” BENEFIT CONCERT to help children in Jamaica attend high school.

The STAND UP Benefit Concert will be held on Thursday, November 17, 2011at the beautiful outdoor music venue, Jannus Live in St. Petersburg, Florida. Proceeds from the concert will be donated to the Caribbean Education Foundation Jamaica Scholarship Programs. It is highly anticipated that STAND UP will be a spectacular event!

The theme of the concert is “leadership, pride, compassion and action” and how they intertwine to “educate the youth”. “STAND UP – Educate the Youths”, CEF’s 2011 Education Benefit Concert, features Damian Marley and music artists who exemplify the qualities of leadership, pride, compassion and take action to support education for poor youths. These global music leaders will lend their voices to the need for educational access in countries such as Jamaica.

When asked the reasons Caribbean Education Foundation chose international reggae superstar Damian Marley as its Partner and Headliner for STAND UP, CEF President & CEO, Nikiki T. Bogle, Esq. explains, “STAND UP exemplifies artists who are taking positive actions for a better world and Damian Marley is a natural fit with this tremendous effort. Damian Marley is not only a Spectacular Entertainer and Musical Genius, but he is also a Humanitarian who deeply cares about disadvantaged children and understands there is a critical need to provide them with meaningful access to education. Therefore, it was natural for us to request that Damian Marley partner with CEF and he immediately embraced our efforts and took action.”

Damian Marley has won Three Grammy Awards for Blockbuster Albums. In 2002, he won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album for “Half Way Tree”. In 2006, he won Two Grammy Awards for “Welcome to Jamrock” for Best Reggae Album and Best Urban/Alternative Performance. He is the only Jamaican reggae artist in history to win two Grammy Awards on the same night. He is also the only reggae artist to win in the Best Urban/Alternative Performance category at the Grammy Awards. Damian Marley is the son of King of Reggae, Bob Marley and Cindy Breakspeare, Miss World, 1976.

The Caribbean Education Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3), tax deductible nonprofit organization based in the United States. It is dedicated to helping brilliant, poor children receive meaningful access to quality education in the Caribbean. Its current mission country is Jamaica, where public education is NOT FREE starting in high school. CEF awards Scholarships which pays school fees, purchase text books, school supplies, uniforms, meals and transportation. CEF provided scholarships to needy students in Jamaica in 2011, 2010 and 2008. CEF has awarded over $2 million JA dollars (excess of U.S. $25,000) in student scholarships.

In discussing the importance of education in the developing world, CEO Nikiki Bogle reasons, “Our society must provide youth with meaningful access to quality education – – a necessary and important tool to change their own lives. After all, where would you or I be if our access to education ended at 12 years old? CEF’s goal is to take action, to ensure things will change to break the poverty cycle and give youth meaningful choices and opportunities in this world.”

It is the goal of Caribbean Education Foundation to help many more children, but this is challenging as the number of qualified students in financial need greatly exceeds the funding capabilities of the organization. STAND UP – Educate the Youths Benefit Concert will go a long way to help facilitate this goal.

Ms. Bogle added, “CEF is incredibly thankful and grateful to Damian Marley and his entire team for this partnership, and in particular, for donating one hundred percent of his performance for this important cause.”

The Foundation is asking everyone to STAND UP and support its fantastic benefit concert on November 17th, 2011 at Jannus Live in St. Petersburg, Florida. CEF is also urging corporations, organizations and individuals to help sponsor the STAND UP Benefit Concert, Adopt a CEF Scholar or Donate on its website.