CARIBPRWIRE, NEW YORK – MARCH 26, 2013 – Caribbean’s Next Top Model, a new model competition series created in collaboration with CaribeNTM, Inc. emerges across 25 Caribbean countries with partner brands to promote 11 episodes of the most popular and first of its kind reality television. The show debuted on Monday, February 18, 2013 on free-to-air – various Caribbean local TV stations, CaribVision and One Caribbean Television, WSEE TV in Puerto Rico during primetime.

Mark Rowen, President of Blue Collar Productions said, “We have been able to partner with CaribeNTM, Inc. to custom design and tailor television production content which highlights the unique attributes of the respective host countries.”

This one hour Reality TV program, co-produced by Blue Collar Productions, one of the leading producers of creative content for licensed television shows, provides a comprehensive look at eleven contenders competing individually and in teams for the chance to be Caribbean’s Next Top Model. Miss Universe ’98, Wendy Fitzwilliam serves as the celebrity host and judge, along with associate judges Pedro Virgil, International Photographer, Richard Young, Runway Coach and Creative Director of Trinidad and Tobago’s Fashion Week, and other special guest appearances from experts in the fashion industry and related fields.

Mr. Rowen adds, “We are excited to have had the opportunity to work with Caribbean’s Next Top Model television show. We have plans to continue working together to produce leading international content with a focus on television production, distribution, marketing and syndication. Our combined companies have the ability to broaden the future scope of entertainment television.”

The partner brands are included in the episodes in ways that range from product placements, credits, mentions in lines of dialogue, to numerous endorsements on the screen. “If you are watching the show, chances are you aspire to emulate the lifestyle of the CNTM program’s cast,” said Wendy Fitzwilliam. “So we want to align with those partner brands that add competitive value and reach.”

Brands such as bMobile, SACHA, and CHI were heavily featured to establish the reality of the worlds the girls lived in. Beverly Morrison, CEO of Caribbean CHI Ltd., and Juliana Fermin, Director of Ansura Wholesalers in Trinidad and Tobago are excited to be official hair sponsors of the first season.

Beverly Morrison says, “We remain committed to the Caribbean aesthetic and we look forward to the refinement of the contestants as the imagination and execution of CaribeNTM, Inc, beauty with CHI Biosilk exceeds expectations.”
Making brand connections that were organic to the characters became the signature for show. Juliana Fermin said, “We saw Caribbean’s Next Top Model as a vehicle for the enhancement of many industries that span; fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and television…week after week.”

Executives at SACHA Cosmetics have helped to position our footprint from the beginning to predominantly celebrate women. “As the official cosmetics of the inaugural season and leader in the cosmetics industry in the Caribbean and as we continue on our drive toward global expansion, we recognize that partnerships like these truly complement our journey,” said Kamla Regrello, Marketing and Retail Manager.

KCL Capital Market Brokers Limited, a licensed full service investment firm based in Trinidad became involved to provide authenticity in the television series financing. As stated by the company’s CEO Kerwyn Valley, “KCL is committed in its support for creative industries across our region.”

Other partners include Caribbean Airlines, The Carlton-Savannah, Lime Trinre, Factor Women, Caribbean Belle, Blue Waters, Kalloo’s, and Micles.

The CNTM series airs for 11 episodes and is midway through its inaugural season. The show is broadcast in over 25 Caribbean islands on terrestrial and cable television.

For a complete review of CNTM, our broadcast details, to share your thoughts on the show and to become a member fan, like us at www.facebook.com/caribbeansnexttopmodel or log on to: www.caribbeansnexttopmodel.com. Follow us @CaribeNTM on Twitter.

About Caribbean’s Next Top Model

CARIBBEAN’S NEXT TOP MODEL was founded in July 2011. CNTM’s mission is to unleash island beauties and the enchantment of the Caribbean. Executive Producers are Wendy Fitzwilliam and Dionyse Fitzwilliam of CaribeNTM, Inc., a production company created in association with AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL under license by CBS International, and Mark Rowen, CEO of Blue Collar Productions (USA).

About America’s Next Top Model

AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL is produced by 10 by 10 Entertainment in association with The Tyra Banks Company. The executive producers are Ken Mok (“Making the Band”), Tyra Banks and Laura Fuest Silva. The series was created by Tyra Banks and developed by Mok and Kenya Barris. Tyra Banks also hosts the series, which will soon begin airing its 20th cycle in the United States. Currently, AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL is under license in over 100 markets around the world and has 20 international versions in production. AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL and the AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL format are licensed internationally by CBS Studios International.

About Blue Collar Productions

Blue Collar Productions, is one of the leading producers of creative content for studio released motion picture films and licensed television shows, amassing a high caliber library that includes the production of Caribbean’s Next Top Model.

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Jan. 2013: A total of 55,742 criminal immigrants were sent packing from the U.S. and back to their homelands in the Caribbean and Latin America in 2012, New Americas has found.

Data NAN obtained and analyzed from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency on deportee rates to Latin America and the Caribbean, found that while some 4,898 of all criminal immigrants were sent back to the Caribbean last year, Latin America accounted for over 12 time that number with 50,844.
A “criminal alien” is defined under U.S. immigration laws as a migrant who is convicted of a crime. Most of those deported were sent back for murders and sex and drug crimes.

Non-criminal immigrants deported to the Caribbean totaled 1,612 while to Latin America the number was a whopping 176,589. In total, the number of all immigrants sent back to the Caribbean region in 2012 was put at 6,510 by ICE and 227, 433 to Latin America.

But the number was actually a marked drop from 2011 when 14,912 Caribbean migrants were sent back and 555,801 Latin Americans.

For the Caribbean in 2012, the most criminal deportees were sent back to the Dominican Republic with a massive 2,264 while Jamaica was second with 1,213.

The rates for other countries were as follows:
Haiti: 758 total removals (568 criminal and 190 non-criminal);
Trinidad and Tobago: 242 total removals (187 criminal and 55 non-criminal);
Belize: 217 total removals (152 criminal and 65 non-criminal);
Guyana: 182 total removals (154 criminal and 28 non-criminal);
The Bahamas: 123 total removals (98 criminal and 25 non-criminal);
Cuba: 66 total removals (55 criminal and 11 non-criminal);
Barbados: 50 total removals (45 criminal and 5 non-criminal);
Dominica: 41 total removals (19 criminal and 22 non-criminal);
St. Kitts-Nevis: 40 total removals (32 criminal and 8 non-criminal);
Antigua & Barbuda: 36 total removals (25 criminal and 11 non-criminal)
St Lucia: 28 total removals (14 criminal and 14 non-criminal);
Grenada: 25 total removals (15 criminal and 10 non-criminal);
Turks Caicos Islands: 10 total removals (7 criminal and 3 non-criminal).
British Virgin Islands: 9 total removals (7 criminal and 2 non-criminal);
Bermuda: 8 total removals (5 criminal and 3 non-criminal);
Suriname: 6 total removals (6 criminal and 0 non-criminal);
Guadeloupe: 2 total removals (1 criminal and 1 non-criminal);
Montserrat: 2 total removals (2 criminal and 0 non-criminal);
Netherlands Antilles, inclusive of St. Maarten, Curacao, Saba, Bonaire: 2 total removals (1 criminal and 1 non-criminal);
Anguilla: 1 total removal (0 criminal and 1 non-criminal);
Cayman Islands: 1 total removals (1 criminal and 0 non-criminal);
Aruba: 0 total removal;
For Latin America, Mexico topped the list with 289,686 total removals including174,003 criminal and 115,683 non-criminals while Guatemala was second with 40,498 total removals (14,251 criminal and 26,247 non-criminal).
Other country rates were as follows:
Honduras: 32,464 total removals (14,180 criminal and 18,284 non-criminal);
El Salvador: 19,694 total removals (9,095 criminal and 10,599 non-criminal);
Brazil: 2,804 total removals (509 criminal and 2,295 non-criminal);
Ecuador: 1,976 total removals (819 criminal and 1,157 non-criminal);
Colombia: 1,681 total removals (1,121 criminal and 560 non-criminal);
Nicaragua: 1,507 total removals (777 criminal and 730 non-criminal);
Costa Rica: 380 total removals (152 criminal and 228 non-criminal);
Venezuela: 284 total removals (131 criminal and 153 non-criminal);
Argentina: 226 total removals (119 criminal and 107 non-criminal);
Bolivia: 197 total removals (131 criminal and 66 non-criminal);
Panama: 137 total removals (100 criminal and 37 non-criminal);
Uruguay: 119 total removals (63 criminal and 56 non-criminal)
Chile: 115 total removals (74 criminal and 41 non-criminal);
Peru: 908 total removals (504 criminal and 404 non-criminal);
Paraguay: 18 total removals (10 criminal and 8 non-criminal).

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said they deported 409,849 immigrants who broke criminal laws, were threats to national security and were recent border crossers and repeat violators of immigration law, around the globe in 2012.

Of the total number removed, approximately 55 percent, or 225,390 were convicted of felonies or misdemeanors – almost double the removal of criminals in FY 2008. This includes 1,215 immigrants convicted of homicide; 5,557 immigrants convicted of sexual offenses; 40,448 immigrants convicted for crimes involving drugs; and 36,166 aliens convicted for driving under the influence.

ICE said it continues to make progress with regard to other categories prioritized for removal. Some 96 percent of all ICE’s removals fell into a priority category – a record high.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director, John Morton, said the administration’s focus remains on removing from the country convicted criminals and other individuals that fall into priority areas for enforcement.

“Smart and effective immigration enforcement relies on setting priorities for removal and executing on those priorities,” said Director Morton. “In order to further enhance our ability to focus enforcement efforts on serious offenders, we are changing who ICE will issue detainers against. While the FY 2012 removals indicate that we continue to make progress in focusing resources on criminal and priority aliens, with more convicted criminals being removed from the country than ever before, we are constantly looking for ways to ensure that we are doing everything we can to utilize our resources in a way that maximizes public safety.”

The cast of “The Real House Wives of Atlanta” on the beach in Anguilla following the vow renewal ceremony of Cynthia and Peter. (Bravo TV image)

The first episode featuring Anguilla began airing on Dec. 9th and featured not just the natural beauty of the island and its luxurious villas, but also the country’s permanent secretary in the Ministry of Finance & Tourism, Haydn Hughes.

Hughes told News Americas Thursday that he is “extremely happy that the BRAVO network accepted our invitation to host the Real Housewives of Atlanta on Anguilla.”

The show attracts the most viewers in the 18-49 and 25-54 age groups during the 9 and 10 p.m. hours on Sunday nights.

Hughes said he believes the TV exposure “will equate to more visibility for Anguilla that will include persons across the income spectrum.”
“We look forward to the increase exposure and more visitors to our shores so they can enjoy not only the great food and spectacular beaches, Hotels and Villas but also the warmth and hospitality of the Anguillian people,” added Hughes.

Of course what would “The Real Housewives Of Atlanta” be without drama? Fans saw a lot of that including the open flirtation of Kenya Moore, the latest addition to the cast, who many are now learning teamed with a former date to get on the show and pretend she was in a relationship.

Moore not only flirted outrageously with the husband of fellow cast member, Phaedra Parks, but then turned up the drama in last week’s episode by having a verbal blow out with Porsha Stewart in which the “b” word and tramp was thrown around a lot.

Peter and Cynthia following their beach ceremony. (Bravo TV image)

“The Real Housewives of Atlanta” is produced by True Entertainment for Bravo. Steven Weinstock, Glenda Hersh, Lauren Eskelin, Omid Kahangi and Megan Sanchez-Warner serve as executive producers.

Tune in to Bravo TV at 9 p.m. on Sunday night for another episode of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.”

Catedral de San Cristobal, Cuba

News Americas, THE VALLEY, Anguilla, Tues. Nov. 13, 2012: With a second term assured, President Barack Hussein Obama, the 44th President of the United States, pledges to be more flexible as a leader.

This pledge was overheard on an open mike on March 26th 2012 while speaking to Russian President Dmitri Medvedev. In that conversation, he said, if given “space,” he’ll have more flexibility “after my election.” The mike was supposed to be off but what did that pledge really mean? In my opinion, it means many things including of course, the issue of nuclear proliferation.

There has been a lot of speculation over that statement but here is what I think he meant as it relates to our space – the Caribbean. I believe, and it has been confirmed, that the current Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham-Clinton, will step down just as General Colin Powell Stepped down after one term as Secretary under the George W. Bush administration.

There have been speculations of this with two names touted namely, John Kerry the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts and Ambassador Susan Rice. If Rice became Secretary of State, it would mean the end, at least for the next four years, of her vacationing on Anguilla. This is a vacation which she has broken just once in the past eight years. I am doubtful President Obama will chose Rice as Secretary of State due to the Benghazi scandal and upcoming investigations so most likely, the President will go with the experience of Mr. Kerry.

Attorney General Holder is of Caribbean Heritage, (Barbados), and by adding Mr. Kerry to his Cabinet, the President I am predicting, will pursue an end to the Cuban embargo. Yes, after some fifty-three years in isolation from the US and vice versa, Cuba’s embargo will end. I am no prophet but I have followed Obama since 2004 and have seen how he has subtly changed many, many things. Besides, Cuba is no threat to the USA and Mr. Obama recognizes this.

The end of the embargo will also be due in part to the massive investment from Europe and Canada and the safety and security of Cuba as a Tourism destination along with tremendous trade possibilities. Of course, Cuba already sits in second place the Caribbean in terms of tourism arrivals with 2.7 million a year. Only the Dominican Republic receives more tourists with some 4.3 million tourists a year mostly due to all inclusive packages.

Mr. Obama will again go down in history for more than ending don’t ask don’t tell, signing into law the Lilly Ledbetter Fair pay act, credit card reform, the Health care bill (Obamacare), investing heavily in renewable technology, regulating tobacco and improving the FDA food safety thought the food safety modernization act, passed the act that reduced sentencing disparities between crack and powdered cocaine, ending the ridiculous war in Iraq, getting Osama Bin Laden when Bush said he don’t even think about him, increasing support for veterans, turning around the Auto industry with new fuel efficiency standards, new EPA restrictions that are closing down the biggest pollutants, expanding Pell grant spending and improving America’s image around the world. He will also go down in history as the man who ended the most ill-conceived embargo ever in history and one that has outlasted ten US Presidents.

President Obama will ensure that the embargo does not outlast him and the world, in particular, the Caribbean, will celebrate this bold move!

Editor’s Note: Hadyn Hughes is the Parliamentary Secretary of Tourism for the island of Anguilla.