Security lines at Penn Relays 2013.

News Americas, PHILADELPHIA, PA, Sun. April. 28, 2013: Tighter security manifested itself inside and outside of the stadium with a heavy presence of police officers and security personnel at the just-concluded running of the 119th Penn Relays in Philadelphia, PA Saturday.

More detailed and methodical searches of bags and belongings and law enforcement keeping a watchful eye on just about every aspect of the event were part of this year’s reality at Penn 2013. But the relays went off without a hitch.

Penn Relays Media Official Chas Dorman said late in the afternoon Saturday that he was not aware of any major security breaches.

“All week, we were talking about no large bags or backpacks being allowed into the stadium,” he said. “We’ve been trying to limit what people bring in and I haven’t seen any issues all week. People have been complying. Some people have come to us saying bags were unattended. Everyone understands why we do this. We’re responsible for 110,000 people and have to keep them safe as they enjoy the day.”

Dorman said the university had sent out more than 50,000 emails, with information about the enhanced security procedures, distributed advisories in the 10 days following the bombings at the Boston Marathon and used social media, including Facebook and Twitter to get the word out.

Maryland resident Sheron Leigh, who walked into the stadium with Richard Noble, said security officials at the gate took the drawstrings of her small knapsack.

“When I got there, they said I can’t have a bag with a drawstring. They didn’t say why. Maybe they thought I was going to hang myself,” she joked.

Leigh, however, added that the extra steps taken for security reasons didn’t bother her.

“It helps that they caught the bombers. And you know in a place this size, anything could happen,” she said. “It would have been helpful if we’d known beforehand.”

Noble agreed.“I don’t have any problem with security but I would like to know why they took the drawstrings. They told us to leave the bag or the string,” said Noble who said he’s has been a fixture at Penn Relays for many years.

Fun to be Found All Around Franklin Field

Activity around Franklin Field stadium was as busy as on the field inside. Nike occupied a large tent which housed the Penn Relays Speed Burst, where passersby could get advice from coaches and world-class athletes on how best to fly out the blocks. Sensors and cameras measured their efforts and videos captured each attempt, a Nike analyst explained. Sprint phenoms Allyson Felix, Jamaican-born US sprinter Sanya Richards-Ross and two-time 400m Hurdles Olympic champion Felix Sanchez stopped by to coach some participants on the finer points of their techniques. Sanchez’s time on Friday was the top time for male participants on the leader board.

Accompanied by loud, pulsating up-tempo music, prospective shoppers and the curious strolled around the tent. In the back, shoppers could pick up Nike sneakers, T-shirts, customized socks, shades, shoe laces and other paraphernalia. Many were Jamaica-themed with the flag’s color predominating. Next door, a DJ livened up the proceeding with smooth reggae sounds and he constantly reminded passersby that they could sample plantain and banana chips, soup and natural coconut water.

Athletes and visitors lounged in the grass, some played with a Frisbee, others tossed a football.

Not to be outdone was Grace Kennedy. Grace Kennedy executive Noel Greenland was succinct in explaining why a tiny island-nation of only three million has such a large footprint on the track and field world stage.
“Three things make us excel,” said Greenland, senior vice president for Grace Kennedy Money Services. “God has blessed us and we have recognized God’s blessings; Jamaicans have a passion for Jamaica; we’re proud people, love our country and seek to excel; and we’re giving – willing to give to anyone who comes.”

Grace Kennedy was one of Penn Relays’ major sponsors and provided meals, transportation and other support to Jamaican athletes, as it has done for the past 19 years.

“This is great seeing athletes … and giving them a good experience,” he said. “Penn Relays has grown tremendously. There are more schools, more countries and more participants. One reason for doing this is to say thank you to Jamaicans, Caribbean people and others around the world.”

Greenland’s colleague Andrew Collins agreed.

“Penn Relays is an opportunity to experience Jamaican high school athletes in international competition,” added Collins, Marketing Manager for Grace Foods, International. “We support anything that is in the best interest of the development of Jamaican athletes. We support Team Jamaica Bickle (TJB) which provides nutrition for all Caribbean athletes.”

At the TJB tent across campus, a steady stream of athletes, coaches, officials and others enjoyed meals provided by volunteers. Vincent Hosang, founder of Royal Caribbean Bakery, and his daughter Sabrina, oversaw the operation, providing 700 athletes with three meals a day for the duration of the relay carnival.

He said he had to install hot and cold water, buy a generator and run electricity to make sure that his phalanx of volunteers could provide the meals for the athletes. Hosang was self-deprecating as he explained his role.

“I contribute just a small slice of this,” he said. “If people didn’t support my business, I could do this. God has blessed me and I’m happiest when I’m giving back.”

Hosang has spent well over $1 million out of his own pocket in the 19 years since Team Jamaica Bickle began providing meals, transportation and other amenities to Jamaican and Caribbean athletes.

Natalie Neita-Headley, a Minister who holds portfolio responsibility for Sport in the Office of the Prime Minister, was effusive in her praise of the competition.

“I was very pleased with the results. Jamaica performed with distinction,” she said. “It was amazing to see the numbers of supporters in the stands in green, yellow and black. It was a great Diasporic indicator that clearly Penn Relays is the Jamaican relays. I was happy for the warm weather and elated that as a group, the student/athletes and teams did so well. As a country, we’re showing that we continue to dominate and that in 49 Penn Relays’ 119 years, we continue to play a pivotal role.”

USA v World 4x100m winners - Jamaica's Sherone Simpson, Anneisha McLauglin, Kerron Stewart and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce 42.42 sec. (Hayden Roger Celestin image)

News Americas, PHILADELPHIA, PA, Sun. April. 28, 2013: The specter of the Boston bombing did little to quell the almost rabid enthusiasm of almost 50,000 fans that made it to Franklin Field in Philadelphia, PA, on the last day of the Penn Relays, Saturday, April 27th.

Close races at every level – high school, collegiate and professional – had spectators jumping out of their seats, encouraging the runners on and screaming themselves hoarse as they yelled support for individuals and teams.

All around Franklin Field at the University of Pennsylvania, the throng in the stands enjoyed all the atmosphere, color and ambiance of the 119-year-old event.

As has become commonplace at the relay carnival, the colors of the Jamaican flag dominated. Green, black and gold dotted the landscape in the form of clothing, bandanas, sneakers, earrings, scarves, capes, T-shirts, shades and running gear. Not to be outdone, American supporters proudly donned their national colors and prior to a number of races, the chants of USA! USA! USA! blended in with the rival cheers of JA-MAI-CA! JA-MAI-CA! JA-MAI-CA!

More than 15,000 athletes from track clubs, colleges and high schools around the U.S. and points abroad, vied for supremacy and bragging rights during the three-day relay carnival, site of America’s oldest and largest international track and field competition.

In one of the most anticipated races of the day, the Jamaican national women’s team – comprised of three Olympic silver medalists – beat the USA women’s Blue Team in one of signature US vs. the World events. Jamaica crossed the finish line at the end of the 4x100m race in a sparkling time of 42.42 seconds.

Anchor Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was ecstatic after the win in for the sprint quartet ended a nine-year drought against their American rivals.

“This was great. Every year, we came 2nd, 2nd, 2nd. This year was special. We came out and decided that we’d do our best to win,” said Fraser-Pryce, two-time Olympic gold medalist in the women’s 100m. “It was a team effort. We had four girls showing grit, determination and good execution. We’re doing well going into the World Championships. This definitely bodes well for the future.”

Fraser-Pryce was joined on the podium by Kerron Stewart, Sherone Simpson and Anneisha McLaughlin, cheered on by the throaty cheers of their Jamaican supporters and all who love track and field events.

Jamaica Makes Its Mark

Last year, the US dominated the US vs., the World races; this year offered a mixed bag both countries. US men and women owned the longer distance races and split with Jamaica in the 4x100m. The men’s 4x100m was won by the team of Justin Gatlin, Doc Patton, Ryan Bailey and Mike Rodgers, in a time of 38.26 seconds.

2008 marked the re-emergence of Jamaica as a track and field powerhouse and a fitting rival to America’s previous dominance in the sprints and 4x100m relays at the Olympics and World Championships.

Jamaica completed a clean-sweep of all the individual sprints (100 and 200 m), and confirmed the island-nation’s superiority when Usain Bolt took the 100m in a time of 9.69 seconds and eclipsing Michael Johnson’s 200m world record with a time of 19.30 seconds. In the women’s 100m, Fraser-Pryce stormed to the finish line ahead of her compatriots Kerrone Stewart and Sherone Simpson. Stewart and Simpson earned joint silver medals after clocking identical times, making Jamaica the first country to effect a clean sweep of the medals in the women’s 100m during the Olympic Games.

Then in the 200m Veronica Campbell-Brown defended her 200m title ahead of Allyson Felix and Kerrone Stewart.

These performance led Jamaica to be dubbed “The Sprint Factory” and America has been looking over its shoulder ever since. One factor that has been of enormous importance to the development of the new crop of Jamaican talent was the decision by track coaches including Glen Mills and Stephen Francis to encourage athletes to stay in Jamaica rather than go overseas to study and run.

“Our emphasis on sports in Jamaica has largely been at the high school level (especially for track and field),” said a longtime observer of Jamaica track and field. “The University of the West Indies and U-TECH has traditionally not devoted resources or effort to encouraging sporting excellence (in contrast to the US college system). Thus, it’s not surprising that our college teams have had difficulties matching US college teams.”

“But this is changing or has changed. Coaches Stephen Francis, Glen Mills and others have encouraged star athletes to stay at home, and have taken them to the highest levels. And both U-Tech and UWI have embraced these initiatives. GC Foster [has also contributed much to improvements in this area. Thus, we see the quality at the high school level continuing, but now joined by U-TECH taking the gold in the 4x100m.”

U-TECH’s Andrew Fisher, Adolphus Nevers, Nicholas Watson, and Julian Forte won the College Men Championship of America 4x100m in 38.92 seconds. St Augustine finished second and Auburn University third. Jamaica’s Hydel High School replicated U-TECH’s feat, winning while competing in Philadelphia for the first time. In the High School Boys 4x100m category, five teams from Jamaica – Kingston College, Wolmers, Munro, Green Island and Calabar finished in the top five spots.

Jamaica’s schools also excelled on the field, winning the high school boys’ triple jump, long jump and high jump. Wolmer’s Christoff Bryan won the high jump in successive years with a clearance of 2.15m. Jamaica College’s Ashani Wright (2.06m) was third.
Former 100m world record holder and UCLA track coach Maurice Greene said Jamaica has surpassed America’s as a sprinting juggernaut adding that Jamaica’ rise to sprinting prominence “didn’t just happen.”

“America is in trouble and it will take some time to come back,” he said during an interview on the stadium infield. “I’ve always seen the talent Jamaica has. They have really dominated.”

Prime Minister of Jamaica, Portia Simpson Miller at Penn Relays 2012. (Hayden Roger Celestin/NAN file photo)

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. April 26, 2013: Tens of thousands of Caribbean and other track and field aficionados began descending on the University of Pennsylvania’s Franklin Field on Thursday, April 25th for three days of intense athletic competition, but this year security is tighter on the heels of the Boston bombing.

The bombing that rocked Boston on April 15th also cast a shadow over the Penn Relays in Philadelphia. Chas Dorman, Penn Relays media relations director, told NAN this week that the tragedy opened officials’ eyes and made everyone associated with the event take a closer look at security measures.

He said backpacks and large duffel bags will not be allowed into Franklin Field and there will be stepped up security as well.

“We’ll be augmenting security,” he said. “The media and athletes will be allowed to bring in bags but everyone will be thoroughly checked.”

Fans need to also prepare for longer waiting periods at security and to be wanded. Penn officials also say fans must ensure if they are taking in food items and sealed water bottles or juice boxes, place them in clear plastic bags.

Additionally no coolers, glass bottles and cans will be allowed along with animals except service animals; contraband items such as weapons, flag poles, sticks, and other poles; barbeque items and any open flames and of course – smoking.

Irwine Clare of the non-profit group, Team Jamaica Bickle, which hosts Caribbean athletes at the relays annually, disclosed that some parents from Trinidad and Tobago, as well as some from Jamaica called with concerns about sending their children to the event.

“I have concerns too,” said Clare. “Usually, we have not had pleasant experiences with security. The community needs to be educated. Don’t bring six plates and a dining room set, white rum and a $20 umbrella.”

Jamaica & Penn Relays

As they have since 1964, a number of Jamaican high school teams will travel from the tiny island nation to match their skills against some formidable teams from the United States and other parts of the world.

Dave Johnson, the Frank Dolson Director of Relays, said officials have received 1,070 entries and expect 50 foreign teams to participate. The Penn Relays, which began in 1895, hosts high-schoolers, athletes from colleges and universities around the country, and between 45 and 50 elite professional teams.

He said about 110,000 people would be a part of the three-day event, adding that with good weather forecast for Saturday, he anticipated the number of fans on Saturday to top 50,000 as U.S. Olympians take on the world in a rivalry that pits them largely against Jamaican Olympians on the tracks and fans from Jamaica against those from their adopted home in the stands.

Jamaicans from as far away as London, England – and all points in between – congregate at the Franklin Field every year to soak up the atmosphere, indulge their passion for track and field and cheer for team and country. Jamaica’s black, green and gold colors are emblazoned on flags, T-shirts, bandanas and an assortment of paraphernalia and the chants between American supporters and their Jamaican counterparts during the US vs. the World relays threaten to rock the rafters.

One highlight every year is the fierce rivalry generated by the US vs. the World relays which has seen the likes of Usain Bolt, Michael Johnson, Veronica Campbell Brown and Allyson Felix vie for supremacy. Last year, Team USA swept the world relays for the first time in history, and a stellar international contingent will be seeking to topple them this time. More than 15 countries will compete, with relays contested in the 4×100, 4×400, women’s 4×800m and men’s distance medley relays.
On Saturday, US Olympic silver relay medalists Justin Gatlin, Trell Kimmons, Ryan Bailey, Doc Patton and Jeff Demps will be going up against the Jamaican team of Nesta Carter of the 2012 Olympic gold medal relay, along with Jason Young, Kimari Roach, Dexter Lee and Rasheed Dwyer on Sat. in the Men’s 4×100-m
While in the Women’s 4×100-m, the Team USA women will be the record setting relay line-up of Allyson Felix, Tianna (nee’ Madison) Bartoletta, Bianca Knight and Carmelita Jeter facing-off against Jamaica silver medal Olympic team with two-time Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart. The international field will also include: the Bahamas, Canada, Germany, Nigeria and Trinidad and Tobago.
And in the Women’s 4x400m Relay, 2012 Olympic gold medalists Sanya Richards-Ross, Allyson Felix, DeeDee Trotter and Francena McCorory will face three members of Jamaica’s bronze medal team with Christine Day, Shericka Williams and Novlene Mills.

Such is Jamaica’s impact on the relays in the form of team and fan participation, that last year, relay organizers declared that Jamaica’s national flag would officially fly at this year’s Penn Relay Carnival in Philadelphia from April 25-27. Jamaica’s national colors will be flown every year, “into perpetuity,” in recognition of Jamaica’s celebration of 50 years of independence last year, and the contributions made to the track and field festival for nearly five decades by Jamaican athletes.

The special ceremony cemented Jamaica’s place in the games and Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller was on hand at the ceremony last year to personally deliver the flag to be flown at all future Relay Carnivals.

“Jamaica’s participation in the games has greatly influenced the yearly attendance. This is evidenced by the great turnout and vast number of black, green and gold colors all throughout the stands on a yearly basis,” said Johnson last year.

Natalie Neita-Headley, a Minister who holds portfolio responsibility for Sport in the Office of the Prime Minister, said Jamaica is honored by the gesture.

“I won’t say it, but there are many who say Jamaica makes Penn Relays,” she told NAN. “Kingston College was the first team in 1964 and there are many teams that go to Penn Relays every year. Schools from all over the country, even those in deep rural areas, participate.”

Ambassador Stephen Vasciannie, Jamaica’s Ambassador to the US and a distinguished Kingston College graduate, said Penn Relays holds a special place for him.

“The Jamaican crowd in the stands is a sight to behold — a symbol of unity reminiscent of independence celebrations and dancing in Half-Way-Tree during the Olympic Games,” he said. “I still remember the black and white photograph of Lennox Miller, Tony Keyes and other icons of the Kingston College glory years, as they posed with the Penn Relay shields which they took home from Jamaica’s first foray into the distinguished event in the 1960s. This was early evidence of Jamaica’s role in the globalization of school sports, and a harbinger of great achievements to come for the country as a whole. If you look at the records of Penn Relays, Jamaica’s prominence, indeed dominance, is a matter for superlative praise.”

“Long may this tradition of success continue and long, long may male and female athletes, from country and from town give their best at the Relays,” added Vasciannie.

Penn Relays: Reward and Exposure

George Forbes, competition officer for the ISSA Grace Kennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships in Jamaica, estimates that between 20 and 30 schools would be making the trip from Jamaica.

“Historically, Penn Relays has been used as a recruiting ground with Champs and then Penn Relays gives coaches a second look,” said Forbes during an interview from Jamaica. “It’s exposure for the athletes. They usually perform before 25,000 people in conditions that are very different from Champs. At Penn Relays, you warm up in the cold. It’s exposure to a new environment, truth be told.”

“Champs” is the largest high school championship in the world and the level of competition is indicative of how seriously Jamaicans regard track and field, said Neita-Headley.

Holmwood Technical High School Coach Maurice Wilson added that often it’s a big adjustment for Jamaican athletes coming to Philadelphia.

“For those people who haven’t traveled before, it always takes a while to recover,” said Wilson, who guided Holmwood to 10 girls’ championships in 11 years. “Some of them have never taken a plane ride. It takes a lot of preparation and psychological preparation.”

In the months leading up to the track meet – acknowledged by many as the biggest track meet in the world –Clare and an army of volunteers have been laying the groundwork to provide transportation, warm meals and a helping hand to hundreds of Jamaican and Caribbean athletes.

“We used to assist our Jamaican athletes but we now include athletes from Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago and St. Vincent,” Clare said. “We’ve more like the head of the Caribbean family. We have an obligation to the Caribbean.”

Clare, founder and head of operations for Team Jamaica Bickle, said his organization has to raise about $100,000 in cash “to make the operation worthwhile.”

“The in-kind contribution is three times that,” said Clare. “Without Caribbean Food Delight’s $50,000 in man-hours, we could easily be looking at [costs of] $250,000.” He said the money helps reduce some of the costs associated with accommodations, ground transportation and tickets for athletes who want to be in the stadium before they compete in their events. Each year, Team Jamaica Bickle, which is in its 19th year, gives between $8,000 and $10,000 to GC Foster College of Education and Sport in Jamaica, he said.

Anthony Lawrence, global brand manager for Grace Kennedy, said Penn Relays is a big deal.

“It’s a way of connecting to the Diaspora,” he said. “The density at Penn Relays is about 60 percent Jamaican. It’s a good alignment. We’re looking to engage clients, expose our products and broaden markets. We’ve been supporting Jamaican teams for 19 years.”

Lawrence said the 91-year-old publicly traded company has relished the opportunity to care for athletes and provide them with meals at Penn Relays and also at Champs.

Clare said he looks forward to Jamaican and Caribbean athletes doing well.

“Athletically speaking, I expect of Jamaican and Caribbean athletes will be at the top of their game,” he said. “I expect them to be at their zenith. Penn Relays is the standard by which folks evaluate themselves. This is the Olympics for young people and allows us in the Diaspora to experience this. It restores national pride for us as a community. You can’t put a dollar value on that.”

Neita-Headley agreed.

“This shows how engaged we are in the world of sports since 1948,” she said. “Penn Relays continues to provide for athletic exposure and the ability for athletes to test their own skills and see where they are. It is a fantastic place to test our prowess and a fantastic place to be too.”

The 2004 Vere Tech girls’ 4×100-meter relay team holds a nine year record of 44.32. The team of Indira Spence, Maris Wisdom, Sharneter Stewart and Simone Facey broke a meet record that had lasted six years. An earlier Vere Tech team had held the record previously for three years.

The Vere Tech girls team was selected this year along with three other teams and four individuals by a panel of Penn Relays experts.

The sole restriction in the nomination process is that only retired athletes (or those now competing as masters) may be nominated, and inductees are honored solely for their accomplishments at the Penn Relays; achievements in any other meets are not considered. Any relay team may be nominated, and nominations of relay teams and individuals will be accepted by the Penn Relays office at any time and from any interested party.

The Penn Relay Carnival Wall of Fame tradition begun in 1994 at the time of the 100th running and the class of 2013 is the 20th group of inductees. This brings the number of individuals selected to 95, with 85 relay teams having been chosen.

This year’s other relay team honorees are the 1963 Fordham University 4-mile relay team, which is being honored on the 50th anniversary of setting a Carnival record; the 1969 Villanova 2-mile relay team of Andy O’Reilly, Chris Mason, Marty Liquori and Frank Murphy set a Relays record of 7:20.1, a mark which was not bettered on conversion until 1977, and the 2003 South Carolina shuttle hurdles team of Corey Taylor, Fred Townsend, Charles Ryan and Kenneth Ferguson ran 53.94 for the 4×120-yard distance, setting a collegiate record while still stands.

The individual inductees are:

Michelle Bennett of Cardinal Spellman (Bronx) High School ’87 and Villanova ’91, one of the few women to have won seven relay Championship of America watches and who was an important cog on several Villanova relay teams;

DeHart Hubbard of Michigan ’25 who as a sophomore in 1923, won a long jump-triple jump double;

Alberto Salazar of Wayland (Mass.) High School ’76, who was the runner-up in the high school 2-mile run in 1975 and came back as a senior and blazed an 8:53.7, nearly seven seconds faster than the former record and the first Carnival time under nine minutes

and Brian Sternberg of Washington ’63 who was one of the greats during the transition to fiberglass poles, Sternberg came to Penn in 1963 and set a pair of meet records.

This year’s 119th running of the Penn Relays is set for April 25-27 at the Ben Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

For more log on to www.thepennrelays.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=1720&ATCLID=207162876

Democratic NYS Senator, Malcolm Smith.

Democratic NYS Senator, Malcolm Smith, whose district includes the Caribbean immigrant populated areas of Hollis, St. Albans, Cambria Heights, Queens Village, Springfield Gardens and parts of Jamaica, and Haitian-American Mayor Of Spring Valley, Noramie Jasmin, were both charged in what federal prosecutors say was a scheme to bribe New York City Republican Party Committee Leaders.

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara and the FBI, say Smith allegedly arranged for cash bribes totaling $40,000 to be paid to Vincent Tabone and Joseph Savino, two New York City Republican county leaders, as part of an effort to appear on the Republican primary ballot as a mayoral candidate in the 2013 election.

Senator Malcolm Smith, speaking at Senator John Sampson's, Spirit of Essence Awards, at the El Caribe, in Brooklyn, NY in 2008. (Hayden Roger Celestin image)

All six defendants were arrested On tuesday, April 2, 2013, and appeared in White Plains federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisa Margaret Smith. They were released on $250,000 bail each and will return to federal court in White Plains on April 23rd.

Halloran is alleged to have received approximately $20,500 in cash bribes to act as an intermediary with Tabone and Savino on Smith’s behalf. In the second scheme, Halloran allegedly received approximately $18,300 in cash bribes and $6,500 in straw donor campaign contribution checks in exchange for agreeing to steer up to $80,000 of New York City Council discretionary funding to a company he believed was controlled by those who paid him the bribes.

The final scheme involved Jasmin and Desmaret, the mayor and deputy mayor of the Village of Spring Valley in Rockland County, and their alleged receipt of financial benefits, including Jasmin’s receipt of a hidden interest in a real estate project and Desmaret’s receipt of approximately $10,500 in cash bribes, in exchange for official acts.

On Feb. 10, Smith met with the undercover agent and the cooperating witness and discussed how to structure the payments to Savino and Tabone, the complaint says.

“I wouldn’t give them more than, like, 10,” Smith suggested. “Just to start out.”

The charges against the defendants arise from an undercover investigation of three distinct but related bribery schemes involving public corruption.

“Today’s charges demonstrate, once again, that a show-me-the-money culture seems to pervade every level of New York government,” said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. “The complaint describes an unappetizing smorgasbord of graft and greed involving six officials who together built a corridor of corruption stretching from Queens and the Bronx to Rockland County and all the way up to Albany itself. We will continue pursuing and punishing every corrupt official we find, but the public corruption crisis in New York is more than a prosecutor’s problem.”

Under New York State law, a person seeking to run for a citywide position in New York City may not have his or her name listed as a candidate on the ballot if he or she is not a registered member of the party having the primary contest unless he or she receives the approval of at least three of the five chairmen of the county committees for that party. The approval is given in the form of what are known as Wilson Pakula certificates, which are signed by the approving chairmen.

Senator Malcolm Smith, 2nd from r. at Senator John Sampson's, r.,, Spirit of Essence Awards, at the El Caribe, in Brooklyn, NY, 10-11-08. NYS Senator Kevin Parker is at l. (Photo: Hayden Roger Celestin)

Jasmin, previously a trustee and deputy mayor of Spring valley, was sworn in as mayor on Monday December 7, 2009. She is the first woman to hold the title of “Mayor of Spring Valley NY” since the incorporation of the village in 1902 and is the first Haitian American woman to hold the post.

NBC Weekend Today show anchor, Jenna Wolfe. (NBC image)

Several Caribbean countries still fail to recognize same sex unions and in at least six, same sex sexual activity is illegal. Gay life in the region is still fairly secretive.

If Wolf and her girlfriend of three years, NBC News correspondent Stephanie Gosk, were to go to any Caribbean country, including Jamaica where she was born, and Haiti where she grew up; or even Puerto Rico where her father grew up, their union would not be recognized.

Infact, only Martinique and Guadeloupe in the Caribbean recognizes same sex relationships. Should the couple decide to get married and move to the Caribbean to raise their baby daughter, that marriage would not be recognized anywhere in the region.

Further, Wolfe, 39, and Gosk, 40, could not engage in same sex, sexual activity in six Caribbean countries.

Homosexuality – both male and female – is illegal in Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Dominica, Grenada and Barbados.
However, Wolfe could actually have sex in Jamaica, which along with, Saint Kitts and Saint Lucia, only makes male homosexuality illegal but not female.

In several of the British dependent territories, however, as well as Haiti or Puerto Rico and the U.S.V.I., homosexuality is very legal. San Juan is, however, hailed as the “gay capital of the Caribbean” and offers gay guesthouses, nightclubs, bars, and dance clubs.

Grenadian sociologist Claude Douglas argues that the wider Caribbean’s attitude to homosexuality is changing.

Douglas, a lecturer at St George’s University, says tolerance has increased significantly in recent years and partly blames the United States’ cultural invasion of the Caribbean.

Douglas makes his case in his 60-page book, Homosexuality in the Caribbean – Crawling Out of the Closet, which examines the rise of this alternative lifestyle in the region and says he envisages “homosexuality is becoming an alternative and acceptable form of human sexuality in the Caribbean.”

News Americas editor, Felicia Persaud, back row, 2nd from right, was among the panelists at the during the International Writing and Public Relations Seminar held on Tuesday, March 26 at the UWI Western Jamaica Campus in Montego Bay. Other panelists were L- R- Johnson JohnRose, Barbara Ellington, Melanie Reffes, and Irwine Clare, at far R. In the front row are Janet Silvera, Karesha Allen and Odette Soberam Dyer of the UWI Western Jamaica Campus and organizers of the event.

Caribbean Tourism Organizations’ communication specialist and multiple award-winner, Johnson Johnrose, led the seminar on March 26th, which focused largely on standing out with a public relations message in a crowded marketplace.

“You have to be different,” said Johnrose. “Find creative ways to stand out from the crowd and get noticed.”

The CTO media executive also urged the public relations professionals gathered at the seminar to “think like a reporter!”

“It means being able to separate real news about your company from promotional puffery; being able to deliver a sharp story angle that will be of real interest to the news reading or viewing public and being able to deliver this angle in a professional, courteous way,” he advised.

Johnrose then welcomed four other media professionals to probe the topic: ‘Writing for Tourism’ and ‘What Gets Thrown in File 13.’ The Gleaner’s corporate affairs editor, Barbara Ellington; New York City radio talk-show host, Irwine Clare; Montreal-based freelance writer, Melanie Reffes and CaribPR and News Americas’ founder, Felicia Persaud, each weighed in on the topic, offering valuable tips to the seminar participants on what not to include in press releases.
Ellington cautioned public relations officers to avoid sending the same press release to varied editors at the newspaper and sending photographs that tell no story.

Clare shared an insight into the radio market in the Caribbean American community of New York City, telling those gathered that press releases will not work with this group unless it’s an infomercial.

Reffes cautioned PR practitioners against use of terms such as “iconic,” “opening later this year,” “for the first time ever” and “soon.”
“Buzz words have no news value,” said Reffes.

Persaud, for her part, urged seminar delegates, to know their audience – both the media and the audience that media reaches – before sending out media releases.
“Geo target,” she said. “There is no one size fits all rule! Each media is different and each media market is different.”

The NYC-based journalist turned media entrepreneur, also urged PR representatives to also learn to write for the digital era, ensuring their press releases are search engine optimized and adding external links to press release headlines and leads to increase rankings.

The seminar was organized by UWI students Janet Silvera, Karesha Allen and Odette Soberam Dyer for the project ‘Forging New Paths in Education’ and sponsored by the Tourism Enhancement Fund, Sandals Resorts International, Caribbean Airlines, Glamour Destination Management and the Jamaica Tourist Board.

Each year, the award is made to individuals living in the City of Philadelphia and surrounding communities who exemplify the spirit of giving, support and service to the Caribbean community in Philadelphia. Previous recipients include Mr. Kenny Gamble, Founder of Universal Companies; Philanthropist Dr. Walter Lomax; Philadelphia Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell; State Representative Dwight Evans, Mr. Stanley Straughter, Chairman of the Mayor’s Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs and Edwin Roberts, an Olympic athlete from Trinidad and Tobago.

Mary Young was born in Montego Bay, Jamaica and graduated from Montego Bay High School. She attended Alpha Commercial College in Kingston and subsequently migrated to the United States in 1974. Mrs. Young worked in corporate America while attending Washington Business Institute in New York. She has worked as a sales associate, manager and division manager for Aerus and is now a franchise owner of multiple locations of the same company for 30 years. Mrs. Young has also been a real estate agent for Prudential Fox & Roach in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Mary has been married to husband Roy Young for 34 years and the couple has three children; one son and two daughters. She is also the proud grandmother of four boys.

Community involvement is a part of Mary’s already hectic lifestyle. Organizations dear to her include, but not limited to, Team Jamaica Bickle, Jamaica Trade Council, the Caribbean Festival & Cultural Committee, Prudential Fox & Rosch charities, Team in Training Leukemia & Lymphoma Society charities and the Jamaica America Bar Association North East.

Kevin O. Francis has always enjoyed and loved track and field. Competing for Central High School in track and cross-country he immediately excelled and was able to finish as a High School All American and Public League Champion. His efforts helped him to transition to college athletics at Penn State University where he excelled before a major injury curtailed his training in his sophomore year. Kevin used the time during his recovery to learn training techniques, bio-mechanical analysis and kinesiology techniques. After college he became interested in youth athletics based on the need he saw for the proper training that was not always present for these athletes. Using the knowledge and experience he acquired in college and working with former teammates who were now running and coaching professionally, he began coaching athletics. This year marks his 8th year coaching and has seen him transition to starting his own USATF/AAU track club Ballistic Response Athletics. The athletes he’s coached in this time have gone on to 16 PA State Championship Qualifications, 7 PA State Medalists, 11 USATF/AAU National Qualifiers and 5 National High School All-Americans.

Kevin also currently coaches Jamaican World Junior 4×100 Silver Medalist and NAIA Champion/NCAA Qualifier Gayon Evans. He also serves as the Secretary of Sports for the Coalition for Jamaica.

Jessie Joseph is the CEO of Brown Sugar Bakery which is located in West Philadelphia. Brown Sugar is a cornerstone of Caribbean life in Philadelphia and has been opened for over thirteen years. Mr. Joseph is a native of Trinidad and Tobago and immigrated to the United States in 1975. He further attended school here to pursue business courses which then assisted him in opening a small health food store and he grew the business from there.

Brown Sugar’s menu is based on Trinidad’s cuisine but he does incorporate the cuisine of other Caribbean islands. Jessie has acquired the building where the bakery is located and is looking to keep his loyal customers happy. His advice to new business owners is to focus on hard work, dedication and education.

About Team Jamaica Bickle
Team Jamaica Bickle is a non-profit organization that provides food and hospitality services for the visiting athletes and officials from Jamaica and the Caribbean attending the annual Penn Relays. The group provides over 600 visiting athletes and coaches with food, transportation and accommodation in Philadelphia while the athletes participate in the Penn Relays which takes place this year from April 24 – April 27.

A Communication Analysis and Planning, (CAP) project, the two-part ‘International Writing and Public Relations’ seminar, will probe ‘Writing for Tourism’ and ‘What Gets Thrown in File 13.’ It is making its debut at the Queen’s Drive campus in the tourism Mecca of Montego Bay.

The five presenters are Caribbean Tourism Organizations’ communication specialist and multiple award-winner, Johnson Johnrose; CaribPR and News Americas’ founder, Felicia Persaud; Montreal-based freelance writer, Melanie Reffes; New York City radio talk-show host, Irwine Clare, and The Gleaner’s corporate affairs editor, Barbara Ellington.
Some 70 persons have already registered for the course sponsored by the Tourism Enhancement Fund, Sandals Resorts International, Caribbean Airlines, Glamour Destination Management and the Jamaica Tourist Board.

Johnrose, a career journalist, broadcaster and media trainer, with nearly 30-years-experience, and who has written extensively on issues of interest and concern to the Caribbean region, including politics, economics and tourism, will lead the session on ‘Writing for Tourism.’

The CTO communication specialist has been a guest lecturer in journalism, delivering training for journalists throughout the region. He helps to train public figures on how to speak to the press and in crisis communication. Among those who seek his expertise, are heads of government and senior public servants.

All five presenters will discuss issues from incorrect punctuation to simple things such as putting the date on the media release that land on their desks in the segment tagged ‘What Gets Thrown in File 13.’

“A release could have been written a year ago or yesterday, and was pulled from the generic pile of releases and has no news value, so it’s important to ensure a simple thing such as the date is included,” commented Gay Nagle Myers, senior editor of Travel Weekly Magazine.

“We also want the people sending media releases to drop the chipper salutation, which includes, ‘Hi Gay, how are you, what have you been up to? I know you will be interested in this hot news…(usually about new bedspreads or duvet covers,” she added.

One of the major challenges these panelists say they face daily on the job is the constant calls asking when the media releases would be carried. “We get hundreds of releases. We’ll use what is news,” said Myers.

Another burning issue the presenters say, is public relations coordinators making certain types of requests, “such as the issue of the publication with the story in it, as if we are mailing houses.”

They are suggesting that once an article has been carried, the proper thing to do is subscribe or visit the pertinent website to read it.

According to them linen updates, renovated lobbies or the addition of flat screen TVs carries no news value.

“And please, no head shots of the GM (general manager) in a suit when the release is about his love for Harley motorcycles,” said Melanie Reffes. “And never tell us the freshwater swimming pool is the second biggest in the Caribbean without adding the source of such a claim and which pool is the biggest.”
The seminar is free to public relations students, public relations practitioners, journalists and bosses who cannot comprehend why a media release may not have been carried.

For more information contact Janet Silvera at janet.silvera99@hotmail.com

Snoop Lion

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Mar. 22, 2013: The rhythm is definitely reggae as are the back ground chorus, but then comes the artist formerly known as Snoop Dogg – now Snoop Lion, and you find yourself thinking firstly – what the crap is this?; and secondly, how did this get made?

Is it rap? Is it reggae? Or is it simply, Snoop’s attempt at mimicking Jamaica’s greatest art form – reggae music? Sounds simply like what it is – a rapper trying to sing reggae – in a silly, sing songy, slowed down way! Just listen to La La La and you’ll get the drift.

And sure Diplo, the producer, should be given high marks for production. But he simply can’t turn a rapper into a reggae artist over night.

So while Calvin Broadus Jr. or Snoop, has reinvented himself and shifted from rap to reggae and away from releasing violence ridden lyrics to trying to be a Rasta, the move that has yielded “Reincarnated,” and set to be released on April 23rd, is hardly likely in my opinion to make it on to the Reggae Grammy list.

And no visit to the birthplace of Bob Marley and Peter Tosh or being renamed by reggae statesman, Bunny Wailer, as Snoop Lion, is going to help that!
Snoop, do us a favor please! Stick to what you know best and RAP!

See more on this story from my One Caribbean Television segment today:

OCTV News