CAW 47 - The Mighty Sparrow: A Living Legend

The Mighty Sparrow: A Living Legend

continued on page 8

BY VANDELL PARK

The word “legend” is said todefine a story told over manyyears, handed down by genera-

tions, but not verifiable as being true.Legend also connotes the exploits anddeeds of an individual much talkedabout while that person is still alive.Well, the story of Slinger Francisco,known as The Mighty Sparrow isbeing told even while he is still alive.This legendary character etched hisname in history as arguably the bestcalypsonian of all times. His outstand-ing career as a calypsonian spans from

Brian Figeroux, Esq.

1944 to the present, even though hecommenced his carnival singing in theyear 1954. Throughout this lengthyperiod, The Mighty Sparrow’s achieve-ments became so pronounced that he isalso called the Calypso King of theWorld. Over the years Slinger Fran-cisco accumulated a multitude of titlesand awards totaling some 186, to thepoint where he himself once declared:“I may have to move into my trophyroom and move the trophies andawards into the house since the trophyroom will soon become too small forthe number of trophies I’m collecting.”

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HOT TOPIC: Life in Jamaica Less Than Irie ... see page 6

Letitia “Tish” James: A Real Voicefor the People

Former Homeowners Can Get on the Pathto Homeownership Again... see page 9

VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.CAWNYC.COM TO ADVERTISE IN OUR PUBLICATION CALL 718-771-0988

FREE A D.B.A. OF I.Q. INC. ISSUE 47 VOLUME 11

Robert Cornegy for 36th District...see page 11

The campaign of Council Member Letitia“Tish” James continues past theDemocratic Primary of September 10th and

will take a second run at the DemocraticNomination for the New York City PublicAdvocate’s Office. This is the only race that isbeing contested on October 1st and for many peo-ple the thought of coming out for another electionis the last thing they want to do but they arewrong. This race is important because the PublicAdvocate office is critical in the three citywide

Countdown to Affordable HealthCare...see page 10

CARIBBEAN NEWSBRIEFS2Caribbean Consulates

Anguilla845 Third AvenueNew York, N.Y. 10022Tel: 212-745-0277

Antigua & Barbuda610 Fifth Avenue, Suite 311New York, N.Y. 10020Tel: 212-541-4117

The Bahamas231 East 46th StreetNew York, N.Y. 10020Tel: 212-421-6420

Barbados820 Second Avenue, 5th FloorNew York, N.Y. 10017Tel: 212-551-4325

Belize675 Third Avenue, Suite 1911New York, N.Y. 10017Tel: 212-949-1240

Dominica800 Second Avenue, Suite 400HNew York, N.Y. 10017Tel: 212-949-0853

Dominican Republic1500 Broadway, Suite 410New York, N.Y. 10036Tel: 212-768-2480

Grenada 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400KNew York, N.Y. 10017Tel: 212-599-0301

Guyana 370 Seventh Avenue, 4th FloorNew York, N.Y. 10001Tel: 212-947-5110

Haiti 271 Madison Avenue, 17th FloorNew York, N.Y. 10016Tel: 212-697-9767

Jamaica 767 Third AvenueNew York, N.Y. 10017Tel: 212-935-9000

Martinique 444 Madison Avenue, 16th FloorNew York, N.Y. 10022Tel: 212-838-6887

Montserrat845 Third AvenueNew York, N.Y. 10022Tel: 212-745-0200

Panama1212 Avenue of the Americas, 6th FloorNew York, N.Y. 10036Tel: 212-840-2450

St. Kitts & Nevis414 East 75th Street, 5th FloorNew York, N.Y. 10021Tel: 212-535-5521

St. Lucia 800 Second Avenue, 9th FloorNew York, N.Y. 10007Tel: 212-697-9360

St. Maarten675 Third Avenue, Suite 1807New York, N.Y. 10017Tel: 800-786-2278

St. Vincent & The Grenadines801 Second Avenue, 21st FloorNew York, N.Y. 10017Tel: 212-687-4981

Trinidad & Tobago125 Maiden LaneNew York, N.Y. 10038Tel: 212-682-7272

For more Consulate information go towww.cawnyc.com/directory

VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR MORE NEWS AND INFORMATION

Abu Bakr blanks Commission of Inquiry

Prominent Barbadian jurist Sir DavidSimmons recently called on theTrinidad and Tobago government to

review the Commission of Inquiry legisla-tion after the leader of the Jamaat-alMuslimeen group failed to appear beforethe Commission probing the circumstancesthat led to the failed 1990 coup against thethen government of prime minister ANRRobinson.This is the second occasion that Yasin Abu

Bakr has blanked the Commission and SirDavid, who is chairming the Commission,said the government should look at similarlegislation in Canada in its review of thecurrent act.

“The government should give very seri-ous consideration to reforming theCommission of Inquires Act. The govern-ment should look at Canada and see someof the relevant legislation that operates inCanada within the context of the Charter of

Rights and within the context the humanrights provisions of the Constitution,” hesaid.

He said a useful precedent may be foundin the Canadian legislation, adding “it is allvery frustrating because of the absence ofAbu Bakr one is tempted to feel a sense ofletdown”.

He said some people would come to theconclusion that the Commission “was awaste of time”, but he would not share thatview.

At least 24 people, including one govern-ment legislator, Leo Des Vignes, werekilled when Yasin Abu Bakr led 114 mem-bers of his Muslim group in coordinatedattacks on the Parliament and the Trinidadand Tobago Television (TTT) station in hisattempt to overthrow the then rulingNational Alliance for Reconstruction(NAR) administration on July 27, 1990. Bakr later appeared on television andannounced that the government had beenoverthrown, and that he was negotiatingwith the Trinidad and Tobago DefenceForce. He called for calm, and said thatthere should be no looting.

A number of people including formerprime minister Basdeo Panday has testifiedbefore the Commission which held its lastpublic sitting.l

Barbados delegation seeks to lureinvestors from Britain, USA

St. Lucia Businesses Call on Governmentfor VAT Reduction

Finance Minister Christopher Sinck-ler is leading a delegation to Britainand the United States hoping to

attract new investments to Barbados.The delegation, which includes Gover-

nor of the Central Bank of Barbados, Dr.Delisle Worrell, will meet with bankersand potential investors with a view toupdating them on this island's recent eco-nomic performance.

“In addition, they will have one-on-onemeetings with large institutional investorswho usually purchase emerging marketssovereign debt or who may have previ-

ously purchased Barbados' internationalbonds,” a government statement said.

Sinckler said that he anticipates that thefour-day trip “will assist in preservingBarbados' credit worthiness, while main-taining the confidence of prospectiveinvestors that this country is an economi-cally stable and secure place to invest”.

Earlier this year, the Central Bank saidthe local economy had contracted duringthe first six months of the year with themain foreign exchange sectors—tourismand international business and financialservices -also suffering a decline.l

At least 24 people were killedwhen Yasin Abu Bakr led 114members of his Muslim group

in coordinated attacks

The St. Lucia Employers Federation(SLEF) is calling on the governmentto lower the near one-year old Value

Added Tax (VAT) so as to provide “somebreathing space” to local business in theface of job losses and business closures.

"This reduction will provide memberssome breathing space as the slowdown inthe economy continues to bite deep intotheir cash flows," said SLEF executivedirector Joseph Alexander.

The private sector group wants the VATreduce from 15 to 10 per cent and

Alexander is also contending that shouldthe government decide against collectingthe 15 per cent VAT up front from business-es and collect the tax after they have soldtheir goods, employers would have thebreathing space needed in the current eco-nomic downturn.

Explaining the plight of some businessesin St. Lucia, Alexander advised that mostoperate via an overdraft system which theyhave to maintain.

"Therefore having to pay the 15 percentVAT before goods have been sold plus tak-ing care of their overdraft all at the same

time impacts severely on the cash flow ofbusinesses which become yet another rea-son for job losses and the closure of busi-nesses," Alexander said.

"If things were booming it would not bethat difficult. The 15 per cent is just toohigh in these harsh economic times," headded.

The VAT went into effect on October 1last year after the government agreed to aone month extension of the fiscalmeasure.l

Newsbriefs source: www.caribbean360.com

Finance Minister Christopher Sinckler


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Mondays 6pm-8pmDates: October 14, 21, 28 and November 4 & 11

represented the first significant expan-sion of the City’s residential recyclingprogram since it was created in 1989.

As, Chairperson of the Contracts, in theNYC Council, she was one of the mem-ber that led the fight to ensure thatMWBEs were included in the CityContracting process and that mayor’sOffice and City Agencies were in com-pliance with the law at the time andpushed for expansion of the MWBE pro-gram to ensure that more New Yorkerswould have a shot at the AmericanDream of owning and operating their

Letitia “Tish” James. While defending the rights of working

class families to live safely and securely,she introduced the Safe Housing Act thatbecame Law in 2007, that ensured thatthousands of families in rental buildingsreceive prompt and full repairs to theirapartments, once again showing hercommitment to fight for the average NewYorker. She has been a champion ofenvironmental issues by expanding plas-tic recycling, a new clothing and textilerecycling program, and improved publicspace recycling. This legislative package

offices, along with the Mayor’s and theComptroller’s offices. Most people don’tknow that the Public Advocate is next inline to run the city of New York if any-thing were to happen to the mayor. Thatis something to consider when looking atthe next Public Advocate because thenext Public Advocate needs to be able towork as the chief executive of this city ona moment’s notice.

The Public Advocate also serves as anombudsman for city government, provid-ing oversight for city agencies, investi-gating citizens' complaints about cityservices and making proposals to addressperceived shortcomings or failures ofthose services. The next Public Advocatehas to be someone who is a champion ofthe people and will work for the benefitof the public with an experience andcommitment from years of public serv-ice.

The next Public Advocate has to be avoice of the people not in just theory butin the real world with a record of stand-ing up against corporate interests for theworking people of New York, who wasa leader in the City Council on endingStop and Frisk, who fought for MWBEsin securing more opportunities and whohas supported and is the co-sponsor oflegislation in the City Council granting“green card” holder the right to vote inmunicipal elections and also supportsdriver licenses for undocumented work-ers and that person is Council Member

own business and succeeding on a fairplaying field.

As the saying goes, biography matters,and Council Member James’ career inand around government shows that shehas had a longstanding commitment toworking with and helping people but alsothe ability to get things done within theconfines of government in a way thatdoesn’t compromises her ethics andintegrity as a public official. She is anattorney, who upon graduating fromHoward Law School worked for LegalAid she represented countless youngindividuals in the criminal justice sys-tem. She also was appointed, by thenGovernor Eliot Spitzer, to be the firstAssistant Attorney General in Charge ofthe Brooklyn Regional Office. In thatposition, she resolved hundreds of con-sumer complaints and investigatedpredatory lenders who prey on first-timehomebuyers.

Council Member James’ experience,commitment to bettering the lives of allNew Yorkers and her support from thou-sands of supporters and friends who havebacked Council Member James, showsthat as Public Advocate she will be ableto get the job done from the first day.She will be a strong and committed voicefor the average New Yorker because withTish you get a fighter and a dedicatedpublic official who will always speaktruth to power. That is why we urge youto vote for Letitia “Tish” James for onRunoff Day, Tuesday, October 1, 2013.l

A Voice for the People/continued from the page 1

NEWS ISLAND FOCUS: JAMAICA6


Life in Jamaica Less Than Irie

The unemployment rate in Jamaica,West Indies is extremely high dueto the inconsistencies in the econ-

omy and failed promises of politicians.Jamaicans have to depend on remit-tances, skills and agriculture to bolstertheir family and themselves.

As of 2013, the unemployment rateboosted its way to 14.20% in the firstquarter of 2013, according to TradingEconomics. With its high unemploymentrate, Jamaica’s economy is under greatpressure.

Among those who are strongly affectedby the lack of employment are youths. Itis one of the most critical issues plaguingyouths along with Jamaica’s educationsystem.

Antoinette Green, an independentyoung female is among those that areunemployed. In order to survive, Greenmakes a living by selling fruits and veg-etables along the busy streets inMandeville, Manchester. “It’s a dailystruggle for me because we are all sellingthe same thing. I have to compete withthe other vendors just to make somemoney, said Green.

Dressed in tattered street clothes, sittingon a bucket with her products perfectlydisplayed, Green seeks the attention ofbusy commuters to patronize her. “If Idon’t sell anything out here today, I can’t

feed my two children, I have to sell atleast three breadfruits so I can go hometo feed my children,” said Green in a toneof desperation.

Green is not the only youth who isunemployed and has to become a streethiggler. Roger Stevens is also a youngmale devoted to selling his agriculturalproduce to survive the deplorable condi-tion of Jamaica’s economy. In a boister-ous plea for attention, Stevens implorespatrons to buy from his stall.

When asked about his educationalbackground and why he resorted tobecoming a street vendor, Stevens said,“My parents didn’t have the proper funds

to send me and my little sister to school,so since I was 12 years old, I rotated shiftwith my mom just to find food for me andmy sister. The government nah do noth-ing fi we, me a suffer, sometime me guhah me bed hungry”.

After graduation from high school orcollege, there are limited opportunitiesfor youths to find employment. However,most of them turn to crime and violence,while most females become vulnerable tosexual exploitation and adolescent preg-nancy.

Apart from self-employment, thosewho face unemployment depend onremittances which are the highest foreigncurrency earner for the Jamaican econo-my.Another method for survival in theunemployment crisis in Jamaica is Cash-for gold. “It is a risk to walk in the citywith your gold jewelry because they willthief it from you and pawn it,” saidDenise Smith. The market for gold is indemand and fast cash is what unem-ployed youths are hungry for. The statusof the troubled economy is causingyouths to make drastic choices.

Most youths blame the poor leadershipof politicians who are believed to be cre-ating a false hope and vision for theyouths of Jamaica. Everton Jamesbelieves that the failures of Parliamentand their greediness for money droveJamaica down the gutter.

“I realize that we as a people are notgoing anywhere, them blind us with afalse image of what Jamaica is going tolook like and what they are going to dofor the dying youth,” James said. “Themtrick us to vote for them telling us theyhave and are going to create jobs, butnothing nuh change it just get worst,them thief up the money.”

Cash-for-gold, remittances, agricultureand self-employment aren’t the onlysource of survival that youths are famil-

iar with. Their new and most popularskill, that is spreading across the countrylike a virus, is the scamming business,particularly lotto scamming. Scammerstrick their victims into believing theywon the lottery and in order to collecttheir winnings, they must pay taxesupfront. Their main targets are the elder-ly.

“Since there is nothing out here for meto do, why not make money the easy way”said a scammer who has been in the busi-ness for two years. The young malescammer who chooses to remain anony-mous, is the breadwinner for his family.Two years ago, he went into the businesswith his best friend who died as a resultof gun violence.

Another source of income for youths isselling marijuana, also known as ganja.Though it is illegal, it’s at an all-timehigh. Not only are they selling the herb,but some youths are using it for their ownpurpose. However, in efforts to prohibitthe use of marijuana, the Jamaican gov-ernment is doing all in its power to avoidlegalization of the drug.

“It is a big money-making business,”said herbalist Andrew Wilson. Wilson isa youth who recently graduated highschool and has to face life on his own.Daily, he enters his field where his herbis planted. “I’m just waiting for it to befully grown so I can cure it and sell it tomake a little money; this is all I havedoing to make it in this cold world yuhnuh,” said Wilson.

At 14.20% in unemployment rate,many Jamaicans, specifically youths,have a grim outlook on their future andthe economy. Known to have the 7thslowest growth rate in the world accord-ing to the Jamaica Observer, youths areseeking ways to survive in the cold econ-omy. Their only option for survival liesin their very hands.l

BY TIFFANY THOMAS

With its high unemployment rate, Jamaica’s economy

is under great pressure. Among those who are

strongly affected by the lack of employment are the

youths.It is one of the most critical issues plaguing

youths along with Jamaica’s education system.

FAMILY MATTERS 7


BROOKLYN: 26 Court Street, Suite 701. Tel: 718-834-0190

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NEW YORK IS NOW A NO-FAULT DIVORCE STATE

Why Are My Parents Divorcing?For many people, their parents'

divorce marks a turning point intheir lives, whether the divorce

happened many years ago, or is takingplace right now.

About half the marriages in the UnitedStates today end in divorce, so plenty ofkids and teens have to go through this.But when it happens to you, you can feelvery alone and unsure of what it allmeans.

It may seem hard, but it is possible tocope with divorce — and have a goodfamily life in spite of some changesdivorce may bring.

Why Are My Parents Divorcing?Parents divorce for many reasons.Usually divorce happens when couplesfeel they can no longer live together dueto fighting and anger, or because the lovethey had when they married, haschanged. Divorce can also be becauseone parent falls in love with someoneelse, and sometimes it is due to a seriousproblem like drinking, abuse, or gam-bling. Sometimes nothing bad happens,but parents just decide to live apart.

Did you know it’s really common forteens to think that their parents' divorceis somehow their fault? Just try toremember that parents' decisions to splitup have to do with issues between them,and not because of something you might

have done or not done.Some kids feel guilty about what hap-

pened, or wish they had prevented argu-ments by cooperating more within thefamily, doing better with their behavior,or getting better grades. But separationand divorce are a result of a couple'sproblems with each other, not with theirkids. The decisions adults make aboutdivorce are their own.

If your parents are divorcing, you mayexperience many feelings. Your emo-tions may change frequently, too. Youmay feel stressed out, angry, frustrated,or sad. You might feel protective of oneparent or blame one for the situation.You may feel abandoned, afraid, wor-ried, or guilty. You may also feelrelieved, especially if there has been a lotof tension or fighting at home. Thesefeelings are very typical and talkingabout them with a friend, family mem-ber, or trusted adult can really help.

How Will Divorce Change My Life?Depending on what happens in your

family, you might have to adjust to manychanges. These could include things likemoving, changing schools, spendingtime with both parents separately, andperhaps dealing with parents' unpleasantfeelings about one another.

Your parents may go to court to deter-mine custody arrangements. You could

end up living with one parent most of thetime and visiting the other, or your par-ents may split their time with you evenly.At the beginning, it means you mighthave to be flexible and might have morehassles to deal with for a while.

Some teens have to travel between par-ents, and that can create challenges bothsocially and practically. Over time youcan figure out a new routine that worksfor all of you. Often, it takes awhile forcustody arrangements to be finalized.This can give people time to adapt tothese big changes and let families figureout what works best.

Money matters may change for yourparents, too. A parent who didn't workduring the marriage may need to find ajob to pay for rent or a mortgage. This

might be something a parent is excitedabout, but he or she may also feel nerv-ous or pressured about finances. Thereare also expenses associated withdivorce, from lawyers' fees to the cost ofmoving to a new place to live.

Your family may not be able to affordall the things you were used to before thedivorce. This is one of the difficultchanges often associated with divorce.There can be good changes too — buthow you cope with the stressful changesdepends on your situation, your person-ality, and your support network.l

1995- 2013. The NemoursFoundation/KidsHealth®. Reprintedwith permission.

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Fridays: 1pm to 3pmDates: October 25 & November 1, 8, 15 and 22

The Calypso King rose to fame withsongs such as: “Jean and Dinah,” Dan Isthe Man in the Van,” “Mae, Mae,” “Tento One,” “Happy School Days” and“Miss Mary,” winning some eightCalypso King titles and eight road marchtitles. While Lord Kitchener took Calypsomusic to England and Harry Belafonteintroduced the Caribbean genre to theAmerican audience selling over 1 millioncopies with his album “Calypso,” it wasThe Mighty Sparrow who continued towoo the hearts of Calypso fans across theworld with his unique style of lyrics andsinging. He incorporated social commen-tary, politics and even flirtatious and attimes controversial and provocative vibesin his lyrics, evoking numerous debates,even drawing a ban to some of his musicfrom being played on the national air-waves, in particular his 1965 song“Congo Man” which many dubbed asinterracial revenge, interracial sex, canni-balism and very offensive towards blackor African people and women. The ban onthis particular song was not released until1989.

Yet amid the controversies, The MightySparrow continue to shine on the worldstage performing at the invitation of gov-ernment officials across the world, andeven for President Barack Obama forwhom he specifically wrote the song“Barack the Magnificent” in support ofthe incumbent president’s run for theWhite House. The legendary achieve-

ments of this humble yet King ofCaribbean Calypso and Soca are toonumerous to mention in a single article.Perhaps a special publication might beforthcoming in his honor, but for now theman is recognized as one who broughtlaughter and joy to many dispirited heartsand propelled actions through his songson a number of social issues both on theinternational arena and locally in hisnative Trinidad and the Caribbean.

The Mighty Sparrow who is currentlyhospitalized here in New York and is saidto be alive and well contrary to falsereports of him being dead, will forever beremembered by many. His work will con-tinue to be heard in homes, dance halls,cars and even on the airwaves much to thedelight of his many fans. His story willcontinue to be told for generations tocome thus making it one legend thatcould be verified as true.l

The flower and the birdie: CalypsoRose with the Mighty Sparrow

I am sexy and I know it!

Back in 2008: The Mighty Sparrow, (second from left) with then, presidential hopeful Barack Obama and New York attorney, Brian Figeroux, far right,

flanked by Gerry Hopkins, far left.

The Mighty Sparrowcontinued from the page 1

Amid controversies, the MightySparrow continued to shine

MONEY MATTERS 9


The housing market is re-emerging,building strength and showingsigns of robustness that just a few

years ago seemed almost impossible.Back then, millions of homeowners wereaffected by a weak economy and theinability to keep pace with the financialdemands of monthly mortgage paymentsand the associated expenses. As a result,many faced the reality of foreclosure andshort sales, threatening that crucial aspectof the American dream. But today, whatstarted off as a glimmer of new hope in thehousing sector is shining brighter, andmany people who lost their homes arelooking for new avenues to rebuild whatthey worked so hard for.

When the housing bubble burst, a stag-gering number of Americans were affect-ed — 4.8 million borrowers lost a home toforeclosure, while a further 2.2 milliongave up their homes in short sales, accord-ing to national data. The recovery of thehousing market has been slow, but theconfidence of once-foreclosed-uponhomeowners has grown along with it.Sixty-five percent of Americans in anational monthly housing survey in Aprilsaid they would rather buy a home ratherthan rent if they were going to move. Witha new perspective on saving and makingwise investments, many of those affected

are now eager to get back to being home-owners.

Many former homeowners have learneddifficult lessons, and their road back tohomeownership will be signposted withchallenges. However, it may be possiblefor them to regain their dreams. These tipsmay help set prospective buyers on theright path:

*Talk to a reputable lender about own-ing a home again. Having someone onyour side to help you through the processis important, but it's essential that that per-son has the experience and knowledge tohelp you make an informed, affordablelending choice. An experienced lender canexplain the time limits that affect buyerswho faced foreclosure or short sale; thereis generally a set amount of time thatneeds to pass before you're eligible to beconsidered again for mortgage approval.

*Make an honest assessment of yourcredit situation. In the current mortgageapproval environment, having a foreclo-sure or short sale on your financial recordwill affect what options you may have forloan approval. You can access your creditreport from any of the three agencies bygoing to www.annualcreditreport.com;everyone is entitled to a free annual report.

Former Homeowners Can Get on thePath to Homeownership Again

If you need help in making sense of yourfinancial status and information on how toimprove it, you can enroll in a homeown-ership seminar that provides useful tipsand reminders on handling the financialresponsibilities of homeownership.

*Prepare a down payment. Homebuyersre-entering the housing market after fore-closure or a short sale, typically need tohave a down payment — in most cases 20percent— ready before purchasing ahome. In addition to those funds, thinkabout additional expenses you might haveto pay, such as closing costs. Showing theability to handle the financial responsibil-ities of homeownership beyond themonthly mortgage payment like taxes,homeowner's insurance, utilities and otherhousehold expenses will be extremely

important in achieving loan approval.

*Get pre-approved. It's a good idea forprospective homebuyers, even those whoare re-entering the market, to work withlenders who offer a pre-approval program.The pre-approval process helps borrowersdetermine and understand their budgetbefore diving into a home search, allow-ing them to shop more confidently.

Homeownership is still part of theAmerican dream, even for those who'vedealt with foreclosure. To ensure that yournext home is your dream home, plan care-fully, get help and take a proactiveapproach to answering the tough ques-tions. l (BPT)

FREE BANKRUPTCY CONSULTATION

Documents Required:*List of debts*Your most recent tax returns*Correspondence from creditors*Lawsuit documents*Social Security and ID*List of assets

Collection Harassment:*Profane or Abusive Language*Threats/Yelling*Family or Neighbors Called?

Save Your:*Home*Business*Car*Health*Peace of Mind/Health*Marriage/Relationship

Filing a Chapter 7, 11 or13 bankruptcy may be

your only choice!

STOPCreditors’Harassment!

STOPLawsuits!

STOPForeclosures!

Get the legal help you need NOW! Call 718-834-0190!

For a FREE CONSULTATION call the Law Offices of Figeroux & Associates

Visit www.figeroux.com26 Court Street, Suite 701Brooklyn, NY 11242 Tel: 718-834-0190

Homeownership is

still part of the

American dream,

even for those

who've dealt with

foreclosure.


OBAMA ADMINISTRATION10

Real Estate Transactions forBuyers & Sellers, ForeclosureInoculation & Financing YourBusiness through Home

Ownership


Date: Thursday, November 7, 20136pm to 8pm

Buying a home is an exciting expe-rience, but it can also be over-whelming if you don’t understandthe entire process. Knowing whatto expect will help you make theright decisions about your homepurchase. So, whether you are con-sidering homeownership for thefirst time or currently own a homeand need help with your mortgage,or interested in building a realestate portfolio, this seminar pro-vides you with the important toolsand resources you need today.

RSVP:Telephone: 718-722-9217Email: [email protected]: www.mynacc.org

Location: 26 Court Street, Suite 701, downtown BrooklynSpace is limited.

Must register to attend.

BY KATHLEEN SEBELIUS

Countdown to Affordable Health Care

September 23 saw us reach yetanother milestone on the road toaffordable health care: 100 days to

coverage. For years, millions ofAmericans have been denied the securityand peace of mind of having health insur-ance. Too many have been priced out,locked out, or dumped out by insurancecompanies.

But thanks to the Affordable Care Act,all of that is changing. January 1, 2014marks a New Day, when coverage will bemore accessible and affordable. On thatday, coverage begins for those whosigned up in the Health InsuranceMarketplace by December 15, 2013.

The Marketplace is a new, simpler wayto purchase health insurance –all in oneplace. You can go online to find and com-pare options, see if you qualify for lowercosts, and select coverage that meetsyour needs and budget.

Here’s what else is happening onJanuary 1:•Health insurance plans can't refuse tocover you or charge you more justbecause you have a pre-existing healthcondition, such as diabetes or asthma.•More people than ever will qualify forMedicaid.•Insurance companies will no longer beallowed to limit lifetime coverage foressential health benefits.

•The small business tax credit expands.

Of course, the New Year isn’t the onlyimportant date coming up. October 1,2013, marks the beginning of an intensesix-month long open enrollment and pub-lic education campaign. You can enrollthrough the end of March.

Many will enroll online atHealthCare.gov. For some, it will be eas-ier to enroll by phone (1-800-318-2596),in person (Find Local Help), or by mail.To make the process even easier, we havetrained assisters to help answer all ofyour coverage questions.

Spread the word to your friends, neigh-bors, and colleagues that new options foraffordable, quality health coverage are insight.l

Kathleen Sebelius is the Secretary ofHealth and Human Services

Timeline for 2013IMPROVING QUALITY AND LOW-ERING COSTS•Improving Preventive Health Coverage.To expand the number of Americansreceiving preventive care, the law pro-vides new funding to state Medicaid pro-grams that choose to cover preventiveservices for patients at little or no cost.Effective January 1, 2013. Learn moreabout the law and preventive care.•Expanding Authority to Bundle

Payments. The law establishes a nationalpilot program to encourage hospitals,doctors, and other providers to worktogether to improve the coordination andquality of patient care. Under payment“bundling,” hospitals, doctors, andproviders are paid a flat rate for anepisode of care rather than the currentfragmented system where each service ortest or bundles of items or services arebilled separately to Medicare. For exam-ple, instead of a surgical procedure gen-erating multiple claims from multipleproviders, the entire team is compensatedwith a “bundled” payment that providesincentives to deliver health care servicesmore efficiently while maintaining orimproving quality of care. It aligns theincentives of those delivering care, andsavings are shared between providers andthe Medicare program. Effective no laterthan January 1, 2013.

INCREASING ACCESS TO AFFORD-ABLE CARE•Increasing Medicaid Payments forPrimary Care Doctors. As Medicaid pro-grams and providers prepare to covermore patients in 2014, the Act requiresstates to pay primary care physicians noless than 100% of Medicare paymentrates in 2013 and 2014 for primary careservices. The increase is fully funded bythe federal government. EffectiveJanuary 1, 2013. Learn how the law sup-ports and strengthens primary careproviders.•Open Enrollment in the HealthInsurance Marketplace Begins.Individuals and small businesses can buyaffordable and qualified health benefitplans in this new transparent and compet-itive insurance marketplace. EffectiveOctober 1, 2013.l

VOTE 2013 11


In November, Cornegy, is offering hisleadership to District 36 in the NewYork City Council. Carnegie ran for

the position in 2009 but was defeated bythe then incumbent, Albert Vann. The seatbecomes vacant due to Vann being termlimited out. Carnegie says his love forpeople and his interest in being directlyinvolved in their welfare has motivatedhim to run for the position since serving inthis capacity will allow him direct accessto resources that can benefit the communi-ties within the district: “I am a preacher’skid and we have been in the business ofservant leadership from a very tender age.My dad, though deceased, has left us witha mandate to be helpful to the communitywhich we serve and to give a voice to thevoiceless. My reason for running is aboutensuring that necessary resources arebrought back to our communities wherethey belong. I come out of a movement ofempowerment, and following the trailwhere the resources are led me to CityCouncil. I’ve been on the ground for many,many years advocating for empowermentof people of color. Bed-Stuy being one ofthe last community of black home owner-ship, of black small business and entrepre-neurship, are in need of some leadershipand guidance on the City Council levelthat will allow them not only to sustainthemselves, but to grow also and that’s whyI am sharing of myself to help themachieve their goals.”

Cornegy says his platform as a candidate

for the vacant city council position is sim-ple: “one of the major tenants of my plat-form is small business and economicdevelopment. I believe what the Presidentsays, that this country will right its shipbased on giving small businesses andentrepreneurship the capacity to grow.One of the things that I will do immediate-ly and having done the preliminary workon it is creating a small business incubatorfor Bed-Stuy and Crown Heights that willgive access to capital as well as technicalassistance to small businesses so that theycan grow and employ more. There are sev-eral small businesses in the community ofBed-Stuy and Crown Heights that havecommitted to employing some 80% withina 2 or 3 mile radius. That’s a boom for theeconomy. There are people working, andthere are businesses owners who under-stand that if we support them, they willsupport the economy of the community. Wehave a platform for education, making surethat there is reform for mayoral control. Inthe 36th District, we have the lion’s shareof charter schools and we want to makesure that people in our community aregiven an opportunity to benefit from choic-es and not have the Department ofEducation (DOE) infringe upon us in away that is unnatural, there needs to bemore parental involvement in the schoolsystem so that the children can understandthat there is community support behindtheir efforts. Police presence in schools isan area that I will personally tackle shouldI win the position. The idea that schoolsafety has evolved almost into a paramili-tary has been detrimental for our kids. It

allows for a structured conceivable growthfor our children, but the way the schoolsecurity is implemented and the way thepolice have taken over security in ourschools signal a move in the wrong direc-tion and that is one of the reforms I amtalking about. Mayoral control of theEducation Department has some good ele-ments that will benefit the school system,but the way it was implemented underMayor Bloomberg was far from what wasintended, thus major reforms have to bemade if it is to continue. My educationplatform is one that says, unfortunately,that all of our young people will not be col-lege ready, but we need to make sure thatwe have technical programs that are avail-able to them so that we can have a pipelineto jobs in the various industries that relat-ed to labor and the unions instead of apipeline to prison, and we can do that. Wecan get in cahoots with our unions andmake sure that we are funneling some ofour young people who have shown apropensity to use their hands and could beskilled laborers, and there is no disrespectin that.”

Cornegy says another area of focus forhis campaign will be that of reforming thestop and frisk policy that is currently beingused by the mayor and police departmentagainst people of color here in New YorkCity: “Stop and frisk is a state-wide initia-tive, not just a city-initiative. Why does itwork well in other parts of New YorkState? Why is it that in Utica and Syracusewe are not having issues? So we know thatit’s the implementation, therefore our

mayor and our police commissioner has tobe held accountable for the implementa-tion of this system.”

Cornegy is hoping that he can alsobecome a strong advocate forComprehensive Immigration Reform firstwithin the City council and then on thefederal level. He pointed out that themayor and City Council members canlobby for certain immigration changeswithin the city: “As a council person I dohave under my purview the ability to callon the state and federal levels to do manythings. I am acutely aware of the situationbecause in Bed-Stuy, my Caribbean neigh-bors and friends are fearful to apply forcitizenship for fear of deportation despitecontributing significantly to the social andeconomic system of this country…somepeople feel like this country is not friendlyto Caribbean immigrants. Other immi-grants have opportunities and have accessto a system that allows them opportunitiesfor citizenship if they seek it. My friendsfrom the Caribbean, Latin America andother places are very fearful that that sys-tem is not designed to assist them in theirprocess of citizenship.”

Cornegy currently works as a policy ana-lyst for the City of New York on the com-mittee of the aging and veterans. Cornegyearned a Bachelor of Science degree fromSt John’s University in 1989 and a MBA in2003. He also played professional basket-ball for the Philadelphia 76ers, from 1989to 1990, before moving to play profession-al basketball in Europe from 1990 to2000.l

Robert Cornegy, Jr., Preacher’s KidSeeks to Represent District 36BY VANDELL PARK

NEWS SMALL BUSINESS MATTERS12

Money is the lifeline of any busi-ness, so whether you’re startinga business or running an existing

one, securing financing is a major factor,especially for small businesses. Manybudding entrepreneurs find the task daunt-ing and don’t even know where to begin.

Here’s a simple yet practical guide onhow to go about preparing to apply for asmall business loan.

1.What criteria do banks look for inmaking small business loans?Different banks or lending institutions mayhave different standards, but in general, inorder to consider your application for asmall business loan, banks will require:•The loan must be for a sound businesspurpose. For SBA-guaranteed loans, thebusiness must be eligible based on size,use of loan proceeds and the nature of thebusiness (no lending, speculating, passiveinvestment, pyramid sales, gambling, etc.)•You and your partner(s) are of good char-acter, have experience and good personaland/or business credit history•Ability to pay back the loan- reasonableto strong collateral (personal and businessassets) is very important. SBA expects theloan to be fully secured, but we will notdecline a request to guaranty a loan if theonly unfavorable factor is insufficient col-lateral. And of course, owners must havepersonal equity investment in the busi-

ness/skin in the game.

2. What information will you need?Different lenders may require more orfewer documents, but in general, you willneed:•Personal and business credit history•Personal and business financial statementsfor existing and startup businesses and aswell as a projected financial statements•Strong, detailed business plan (includingpersonal information such as bios, educa-tion, etc.)•Cash flow projections for at least a year,and•Personal guaranties from all principalowners of the business

3. How can you set yourself up from thebeginning to make the process easier?(i.e., accounting systems, etc.)Be prepared; be thorough; be truthful.•Choose your lending institution carefully.Larger banks tend to shy away from smallloans as they are less profitable and takethe same amount of underwriting and serv-icing. That doesn’t mean large banks donot make small loans; it is just more diffi-cult.•Approach banks or lending institutionsyou have worked with or are a customer of•Explore community banks and CreditUnions•Talk to a lending officer and find outexactly what documentation they require•Be thorough, bring everything they ask.

Many loan applications are denied or faceunnecessary hurdles because of incompleteapplications.Even before you start gathering and organ-izing the information required by lendersto consider your application, you shouldeducate yourself regarding business loansso you can understand and discuss intelli-gently with the lending officers when thetime comes.

4. What is the typical size of a smallbusiness loan?Small businesses come in many sizes, froma start-up of a one-person company, tohundreds of employees, and their financialneeds vary accordingly, so “typical” alsovaries. That said, in the banking industrythe median small business loan is about$130,000 - $140,000 with the highestaround $250,000. SBA small businessloans range from about $5,000(microloans) to $5 million (largest guaran-teed) with the average loan around

$371,000.5. How can you get financing to start abusiness since many banks want to fundgrowth?Start-ups are probably the most difficultventures when it comes to securing financ-ing. Many start-up businesses seekfinancing from family, friends and creditcards. If the credit is sound, the businessplan strong and you have enough personalresources to invest and collateral to guar-antee, smaller, community banks andother community financial institutions andCredit Unions may consider lending youmoney.

Your best bet by far is SBA assistance.Begin by visiting SBA's website , whereyou will find a wealth of information notonly on how to secure a small businessloan, but equally importantly, other serv-ices and training opportunities to help yousucceed.l

6-Step Guide: How to Get a Business LoanBY NATALE GORIEL, SBA COMMUNITY

LEARN TO EARNBecome A TAX PRO!

REGISTER NOW:Date: Monday, November 25, 2013 at 6pmLocation: 26 Court Street, Suite 701, Brooklyn

Website: www.mynacc.orgEmail: [email protected]: 718-722-9217

We’ll Teach You Everything You Need to Know!

Attend our FREE NACC Seminar that will introduce you to taxpreparation opportunities. In a recession, when jobs are hard

to find, why not start your own tax preparation business.

BENEFITSlGain a new professional and marketable skilllWork flexible hours: days, nights or weekendslIncrease your incomelSave on tax preparation feeslEnhance your tax knowledgelReduce your own tax bill

Become a member of NACC. Visit www.mynacc.org

SAVE THE DATE:Thursday, June 19, 2014

Multicultural Business ExpoPresented by the New American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) in partnership with the African-American International

Chamber of Commerce (AAICC) and the Hispanic-American International Chamber of Commerce (HAICC)

8:00am - 8:00pmNew York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge, 333 Adams Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

One day. One location. Endless Opportunities.Day includes:lWelcome VIP Breakfastl20+ Empowering SeminarslGreat ExhibitslCocktail Reception AwardslGreat Networking

Exhibit tablesstart at

$695.00. Bookyours today.

For exhibitor space and sponsorship opportunities, please call 718-722-9217 or visit www.mynacc.org


NEWS FINANCE & TAXES14

The Affordable Care Act, or healthcare law, contains new healthinsurance coverage and financial

assistance options for individuals andfamilies. The Internal Revenue Service(IRS) will administer the tax provisionsincluded in the law.

Do I need to do anything right now toget ready for the changes coming in2014?•The premium tax credit can help makethe cost of purchasing health insurancecoverage through the Marketplace moreaffordable for individuals and familieswith low to moderate incomes.

•You may have received a letter fromyour employer providing informationabout the new Marketplace, and anyhealth insurance coverage your employermay offer. For more information aboutcoverage options through the Market-place, visit HealthCare.gov. If you havequestions about the coverage offered byyour employer, please contact youremployer.

Considerations for 2013•Open Enrollment for the Health Insur-ance Marketplace: The open enrollmentperiod to purchase health care coverage

through the new Health Insurance Mar-ketplace begins Oct. 1, 2013. When youget health insurance through the Market-place, you may be able to get the newadvance Premium Tax Credit that willimmediately help lower your monthlypremium.

•Filing Requirement: If you do not have atax filing requirement, you do not need tofile a 2013 federal tax return to establishfuture eligibility or qualify for futurefinancial assistance, including theadvance Premium Tax Credit to purchasehealth insurance coverage through aHealth Insurance Marketplace.

•W-2 Reporting of Employer Coverage:Certain employers are required to reportthe value of the health insurance coveragethey provide. The value of health carecoverage as reported by your employer inbox 12 and identified by Code DD onyour Form W-2 is not taxable.

•Itemized Medical Expenses: You candeduct your unreimbursed medical anddental expenses that exceed 10 percent ofyour adjusted gross income on your 2013tax return. The 7.5 percent threshold willremain for those 65 and older for taxyears 2013 through 2016.

•Other ACA Tax Provisions: AdditionalMedicare Tax, Premium Rebate for Med-ical Loss Ratio, Health Flexible SpendingArrangements, Health Saving Accounts,and Net Investment Income Tax.

Looking ahead to 2014•Premium Tax Credits: To claim the pre-mium tax credit, you must get insurancethrough the Marketplace. You can elect tohave advance tax credit payments sentdirectly to your insurer during 2014, orwait to claim the credit when you fileyour tax return in 2015. If you choose tohave advance payments sent to yourinsurer, you will have to reconcile thepayments on your 2014 tax return filed in2015. •Individual Shared Responsibility Pay-

ment: Starting January 2014, you andyour family must either have health carecoverage, have an exemption from cover-age, or make a payment when you fileyour 2014 tax return in 2015. Most peo-ple already have qualifying health carecoverage and will not need to do anythingmore than maintain that coveragethroughout 2014.

•Change in Circumstances: If you arereceiving the advance Premium TaxCredit to help pay for your insurance cov-erage, you should report changes such asincome or family size to your Market-place. Reporting changes will help tomake sure you are getting the properamount of assistance.l

Source:www.irs.gov

Affordable Care Act Tax Provisions forIndividuals and Families

The Affordable Care Act wasenacted on March 23, 2010. Itcontains some tax provisionsthat are in effect and more thatwill be implemented during thenext several years. For a list ofprovisions for which the IRS hasissued proposed and/or finalguidance, visit www.irs.gov.


NEWS CV1

nHEALTH nENTERTAINMENT nRELATIONSHIPS nRECIPES nSPORTS nHOROSCOPE

Caribbean Kitchen Corner

“My genius husband came up withthis quick and spicy concoction. Ithas become one of my favoritemeals!"— Sarah S.

Ingredients1 tablespoon olive oil 2 skinless, boneless chicken breasthalves - cubed 1 (8 ounce) can pineapple tidbitswith juice 1/4 cup shredded coconut2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 teaspoon jerk seasoning mix1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon chili powder 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepperflakes Salt and ground black pepper totaste

Directions1.Heat olive oil in a skillet overmedium heat. Cook and stir chick-en until no longer pink and juicesrun clear, 7 to 10 minutes. Stir in

Visit www.cawnyc.com for the latest Caribbeannews, sports, information and more!

SUBMITTED BY SARAH S.ALLRECIPIES.COM

Joel’s Jerk ChickenPineapple

the pineapple and its juice,coconut, brown sugar, jerk sea-soning, cinnamon, chili pow-der, red pepper flakes, salt andpepper. Reduce heat to low andsimmer 15 minutes.2.Bring a large pot of lightlysalted water to a boil. Add pastaand cook until al dente, 8 to 10minutes; drain. Toss chickenmixture with drained pasta orrice.l

• PREP 15 mins • COOK 25 mins • READY IN 40 mins

Will a Caribbean-AmericanWin the Next Miss America? Miss New York, Nina Davuluri,

made history last weekend asthe first contestant of East

Indian heritage to wear the Miss Americacrown.

Shortly after winning the prestigioustitle, the 24-year-old beauty expressed herdelight that the almost century-old pageantsees beauty and talent of all kinds.

"I'm so happy this organization hasembraced diversity," she told reporters ather first press conference after becomingthe reigning Miss America in AtlanticCity."I'm thankful there are children watchingat home who can finally relate to a newMiss America," she added.

Her pageant platform was "celebratingdiversity through cultural competency,"while her talent routine was a Bollywoodfusion dance.

Davuluri, a native of Syracuse, NewYork, plans to become a doctor, and willuse the $50,000 scholarship she won aspart of the pageant title to apply to medicalschool.

Her victory led to a flurry of negativecomments on social media from users whowere upset that someone of Indian her-

Trini Model OnANTM: “I’m Livinga Dream”

Renee Bhagwandeen is living the dream. Her dream—of being on America’s Next Top Model (ANTM). “Iwish my grandmother could be alive to see this,”

says the Bhagwandeen “It’s an opportunity I never wouldhave expected.”

A dual citizen of Trinidad and the US, where she migrat-ed at the age of six, Renee entered the Miss Trinidad andTobago Miss Universe pageant in 2011 and 2012 coppingthe Miss Photogenic Award in 2011 . She was selected fol-lowing that show to represent Trinidad and Tobago at theMiss International Woman where she was the runner up andthe winner of the Miss Photogenic Award. Her success therequalified her to be the official delegate at the MissInternational Beauty Pageant where she again won MissPhotogenic, becoming the first ever black woman to winthat award in that pageant. Renee said the show, ANTM hastaught her the right way to do things and to be comfortablein her own skin. Renee said post-ANTM she wants to getinto acting and promote our Caribbean heritage. l

Miss American 2014Nina Davuluri is ofEast Indian heritage

itage had won the pageant. Of course, this historic achieve-ment wasn’t all roses for Davuluri either. Upon her crowning,Twitter overflowed with angry, post-9/11 racial hatred. “MissNew York is an Indian. With all due respect, this is America”chimed one tweeter. Another angrily writes, “How the fuckdoes a foreigner win Miss America? She is a Arab! #idiots.”Actually, no she’s not an “Arab,” she’s an American-bornHindu of South Asian descent.

Dismissing the invective, she responded: "I have to riseabove that. I always viewed myself as first and foremost Amer-ican."

Is Miss America showing diversity? Perhaps, an Americanof Caribbean descent will be the next Miss America? l


NEWS HEALTHCV2

Did you know a stroke occursevery 40 seconds on average?About 795,000 Americans suffer

a new or recurrent stroke each year,according to the American StrokeAssociation. If you or a loved one hassurvived a stroke, recovery dependslargely on the severity of the brain dam-age. With love, support and patience, thejourney toward a new normal can begin.A stroke is life changing for the patient aswell as his or her support network. Somepeople make a full recovery, while otherssuffer from various disabilities. In addi-tion to working closely with a doctorthrough a personalized recovery pro-gram, joining a support group is a greatinitial step. When coping with the after-math of a stroke, it can help to be sur-rounded by others with similar experi-ences. Some difficult parts of strokerehabilitation may include:

Communication challengesDifficulties communicating can be someof the most frustrating effects of stroke.Depending on where the brain is dam-aged, it's not uncommon to suffer partialor total loss of the ability to talk, read,write or understand what people say. It'simportant to be patient and stay positive.Make it a goal to practice communicating

at least once a day. Relax, take your timeand use communication aids as neces-sary, like cue cards. Using fewer wordspaired with gestures or tone of voice canhelp streamline communication. Manypeople benefit from speech and languagetherapy.

Family and friends need to rememberthat improving communication skillsengages stroke survivors so they feelmore connected and less isolated, animportant part of rehabilitation.

Physical movementGetting out of the house and being able

to move independently provides a senseof freedom during recovery. Many strokesurvivors regain the ability to walk, butmay suffer from side effects that make itmore difficult. Foot drop is a commonside effect, which means difficulty liftingthe front of the foot when walking, somuch so that it may drag, which can be atripping hazard.

Foot drop may be a temporary or per-manent condition caused by stroke. Thegood news is there are options to help.Vibration therapy provided throughaffordable products can help increasemobility and retrain muscles and nerves

Life After Stroke: Advice for Physicaland Emotional Recovery

in the leg and foot to respond as theyshould while walking.

Emotional adjustmentWhen adjusting to life after stroke, sur-vivors often experience a flood of emo-tions. Grieving for loss of physical andmental abilities is normal and a healthypart of the adjusting process. But whennormal sadness continues for extendedperiods, it can turn into depression andneeds to be treated immediately by amental health professional.

Stroke survivors also often feel anxiety.Extreme worry or fear can cause restless-ness, fatigue, muscle tension, poor con-centration and irritability. Both depres-sion and anxiety are common for strokesurvivors. The good news is they can betreated, and there are many coping mech-anisms, so be sure to ask your doctor.

Whether adjusting to physical impair-ments or the emotions of suffering froma major health scare, it's important toremain positive. Loved ones are a crucialpart of rehabilitation and can provide sup-port when it is needed most. It might takeyears to adjust to a new normal after astroke, both for the victim and the fami-lies, but patience and love can help ensurea speedier recovery for everyone.l (BPT)

FREEDOM FROM FREEDOM FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCEDOMESTIC VIOLENCEA Day of Beauty, Wellness& Confidence Building

FREE Self-Improvementaudio book to thefirst 25 registrants

Register at www.mynacc.org. Email: [email protected]

Join us for this special empowerment workshop as we seek freedom from domestic violence.

Topics:nIdentifying & breaking cycle of domestic violencenA plan for financial freedomnYour rights as a victimnHow to be a champion for victimsnSpecial issues for immigrantsnBeauty makeovers and nutrition tipsnConfidence building exercises

and more!

Saturday, October 12, 2013from 11am-3pm

Location: Citi Field next to the Bullpen38-2 126th Street, Flushing, Queens

FREE Parking in Lot A

Light refreshments will be served

Sponsored by:


LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS CV3

For better or worse, richer or poorer—that's the promise most couples makewhen they face one another at the

altar. When it comes to finances and younglove, it can be easy to fall into some com-mon pitfalls that can haunt couples longafter the wedding day.

"Communication is a key part of a strongmarriage, and it's also the basis for astrong financial partnership," says BarrettBurns, president and CEO of a credit solu-tions company. "Being proactive before andplanning ahead of the wedding while stick-ing to a financial plan, will help guardagainst common financial mistakes that canoccur early in a couple's life together."

To start your new life together with astrong financial foundation, check off a fewimportant money to-dos before you say "Ido!"

1. Have the debt talkAll couples must have the debt talk. It maynot be romantic, but it is necessary in orderto plan a bright future together. Be open andhonest about debt, savings and spendinghabits, even if they are less than perfect.

Financial turmoil is one of the top reasonscited for divorce, so understanding eachother's finances today and what goals youhave for the future, will help reduce stresson your partnership. With the average col-lege student graduating with $26,600 instudent loan debt, according to The Projecton Student Debt, young couples need to

create a plan for managing debt and savingfor the future.

2. Control wedding spendingThe "big day" is a defining moment in life,but it's important for couples to rememberit's just one day of many that they willspend together. Weddings and relatedevents cost a whopping $28,427 on aver-age, according to theknot.com, and thatdoesn't even include the honeymoon."When it comes to young couples planninga dream wedding, the plastic tends to berelied upon," says Burns. "It's important tobe realistic about how much you can spend.Becoming over-extended on credit cards isa common mistake, and this type of high-interest debt is not the wisest way to beginyour lives together."

The best course of action when it comesto wedding planning is to create a budgetand stick to it. It's not necessarily bad to usecredit, especially if you can take advantageof a credit card rewards program, but Burnsadvises only charging or borrowing whatyou know you can pay back in a reasonableamount of time as keeping high balancesand missing payments can have significant-ly negative impacts on your credit score,which in turn leads to stress.

3. Work together to build a positive cred-it profileMarried couples do not have joint creditfiles or credit scores. Each individual has

their credit files with the credit reportingcompanies and their own credit scores, butin some cases like when joint accounts andco-signed loans are created, the actions ofone can impact the other.

"It's common for younger people who arejust beginning their financial independenceto not have much, if any, credit history. It'simportant to be proactive and take steps tobuild a positive credit profile and score soyou can demonstrate to lenders that you area good manager of credit," says Burns.

Get a copy of your credit report andresolve any issue you may have with theinformation presented in it. If you have alimited credit history, carefully consider thebenefits of joint accounts, but keep in mindthat the positive financial actions like pay-

ing bills on time and keeping balances low,as well as actions that can have negativeimpacts like missing payments will influ-ence the couples' individual credit scores.

"The importance of paying bills on timecannot be understated," says Burns. "A sin-gle missed payment can drop each person'scredit score 80 to 100 points. This canaffect a couple's ability to get the best inter-est rates and terms for a loan."

Another important step in building creditafter a marriage is to make sure that allfinancial lenders are aware of namechanges. "If you choose to change yourname after you are married, make sure allyour accounts have your current informa-tion, otherwise positive actions may not getreported correctly or in a timely manner,"Burns says.

4. Shop around for rates"Whether you're taking out a personal loanor selecting a credit card, you absolutelymust shop around for rates," advises Burns."Don't just take the easiest or first option.You want to get the best deal available withlow interest rates and reasonable terms."

When shopping for rates, Burns notes todo so within a two-week period of time.Credit inquiries from auto and mortgagelenders and credit cards issued from banksand credit unions are only counted once ifdone in a two-week period causing just aslight decrease to credit scores.l(BPT)

For Richer or Poorer: Don't Let Newlywed BlissTurn into Financial Nightmare

GREEN CARD SLAVERY?Don’t put up with ABUSE anymore! We can get a Green

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ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!


SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENTCV4

Trinidad and Tobago has retained itsstatus as the smallest nation ever toqualify for the FIFA World Cup fol-

lowing the suspension of Cape Verde fromthe final round of qualification in Africa.

Cape Verde defeated Tunisia 2-0 to wintheir group but was disqualified for field-ing an ineligible player.

They would have entered the 10-teamplayoffs that decides Africa's five repre-sentatives in Brazil next year but FIFAsaid its disciplinary committee decidedthat Fernando Varela should have beenserving a suspension and Cape Verde weresubsequently thrown out of the playoffsand replaced by Tunisia.

Cape Verde – an archipelago of 10islands in the central Atlantic Ocean, 350miles off the coast of western Africa- hasa population of 500,000 and seemed to bein with a fighting chance of qualifying forBrazil. Had they done so, they would haveerased the record held by Trinidad andTobago, a Caribbean nation with a popula-tion of more than a million people.

None of the qualified nations nor any ofthose still in the running, has a smallerpopulation than T & T.l

Indian A cricket captain Yuvraj Singhsays he has high expectations of theGuyanese fast bowler Ronsford

Beaton and has compared him to the for-mer West Indies fast bowler CurtlyAmbrose. Singh made his comparisonsafter smashing a blistering century to leadIndia to a 77-run victory over West IndiesA in the first one-day match at the MChinnaswamy Stadium.

“Beaton is the future fast bowler for theWest Indies,” said Singh. “He reminds meof Curtly. Obviously Curtly was great, butI think he has lot of potential and I think itwas a very good attack”.l

Source: www.Caribbean360.com

T&T Retains Status forWorld Cup

Beautiful, sultry, and soulful Jamaicansongstress Tessanne Chin has auditioned forthe popular reality vocal show The Voice.

The Voice is an innovative vocal competition show,which features four stages of try outs. The first beginswith the blind audition, then the battle rounds, theknockouts and finally, the live performance shows.

During the blind auditions the decisions from thesuper star panel of coaches, Blake Shelton, Cee LoGreen, Adam Levine and Christina Aguilera, arebased solely on voice and not by looks. The coacheshear the artists perform yet, don't get to see them. Ifthe coaches are impressed by the artists voice, he/shepushes a button to select the artist for his/her team.

Known for her hit singles "Hideaway" and "Messenger" Tessanne Chin and her teamRanch Ent. has confirmed that Tessanne has auditioned for The Voice.

As we look forward to The Voice and watching Tessanne's audition, Tessanne wantedto say “Thank You! Soooo overwhelmed by all the love and support!!! Makes me wannacry, thank you so much for all your kind words and for believing in me," saysTessanne.l

Jamaican SongstressAuditions for The Voice

Visit www.cawnyc.com forthe latest Caribbean news,

sports, information and more!

PromisingGuyanese FastBowler Comparedto Curtly Ambrose

Call 718-771-0988 ext 112for registration information.

FREE LegalConsultations forSpousal AbusePetitions.

Call 718-222-3155.


CIVIL RIGHTS 19National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality,Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation

This year has seen a sharp escalationin a full spectrum of attacks on thepeople. Yet even through some of

the most repressive attacks that the gov-ernment has made, there are signs of hopein the nationwide eruptions of outragedpeople and communities who are fightingback. We have a heavy responsibilitygoing into the 2013 National Day ofProtest to Stop Police Brutality,Repression and the Criminalization of aGeneration, to stoke these sparks of resist-ance into a movement that can not onlystop but reverse these escalating attacks.

In Bakersfield, CA, 33-year old DavidSilva was hogtied and savagely beaten todeath by law enforcement officers, whohad found him passed out on a street. Thevicious killing of 30-year old MelissaWilliams and 40-year old TimothyRussell, shot down in a hail of 137 bulletsby Cleveland police, has been describedas a modern-day lynching. As of yet, thethirteen officers are still on the job. In anassisted living home in Chicago, 95-yearold John Wrana was killed by police afterbeing tasered and shot with a bean baground. Witnesses say that Miami Beachpolice high-fived each other after taseringto death 18-year old graffiti artist IsraelHernandez-Llach. Police around the coun-try continue to kill young Black men withimpunity, such as 25-year old Cary Ball,Jr., killed in a hail of 25 bullets by St.

Louis, MO police, and 16-year oldKimani Gray, shot seven times by NYPD,three times in the back. In Dallas, TX, thelast time a killer cop was indicted was in1973. Dallas police have killed 250 since,with 68 Black men killed since 2001.Over and over, we hear the justificationsfor police brutality and killing. The reasonMiami-Dade police gave for restrainingand choking 14-year old TremaineMcMillian, that he gave “dehumanizingstares,” shows just how much lawenforcement expects impunity.

This system also criminalizes certaincommunities by protecting from prosecu-tion those who kill people of color. Fromthe Bronx judge's overturning of indict-ments against the cop who killed theunarmed Black teenager RamarleyGraham, to the mistrial declared in thekilling of seven-year old Aiyana Stanley-Jones by Detroit police, the system's pros-ecutors always seem to forget how toprosecute when one of their own is ontrial. The soft touch that Florida policegave to Trayvon Martin's killer and theacquittal of racist vigilante GeorgeZimmerman epitomizes the racism inher-ent in the justice system, as the trial wasconducted and covered in the media asthough Martin was the one on trial. As aGuardian columnist has written, the ver-dict of the Zimmerman trial declares“open season on black boys.”

Meanwhile, as the culture of cop watch-ing becomes more pervasive and morepeople document the violent acts of lawenforcement, the criminalization ofrecording police intensifies. Three NYCcop watchers were arrested during theunrest after Kimani Gray’s killing, aHawthorne, CA man’s dog was shot andkilled by police after the man was arrestedfor filming a police barricade, and Detroitpolice roughed up and arrested a newspa-per reporter for filming an arrest evenafter she identified herself as press.

In the face of escalating brutality andrepression, people’s determined resistancemust grow not just to fight for justice andagainst repression, but also to change peo-ple’s understanding of what is needed andpossible today. Advocacy and publicdebate to decriminalizemarijuana/cannabis has clarified the epi-demic of criminalization and demoniza-tion of whole groups of people throughunconstitutional raids and mass incarcera-tion, and how the “War on Drugs” is real-ly a war on the poor and people of color.Other efforts seek institutional changesthrough legal and legislative means, suchas the Community Safety Act reform billsand "Floyd" lawsuit victories against theNYPD. Efforts by activists and civil rightsorganizations have also resulted in callsfrom the UN Human Rights Committeethat challenge police violence and impuni-

ty. These efforts contribute to the neededsocietal discourse about the racist realityof “Stop-and-Frisk” policies, police bru-tality, repression, and the criminalizationof Black and Latino peoples, breaking thesilence and strengthening the resolve ofmany to take independent political actionto end these daily horrors for so manypeople. The National Day of Protest wel-comes and must give voice to the greatestconcentration of diverse and disparatevoices and forces in order to beat back thegenocidal trend of vicious police brutalityand repression, and change the currentequation.

October 22nd is a day that people aroundthe nation have mobilized every yearsince 1996 for a National Day of Protest toStop Police Brutality, Repression and theCriminalization of a Generation. It is cru-cial that we bring forward a powerfulNational Day of Protest in cities andtowns across the U.S. to challenge theongoing violence against the people. ThisOctober 22nd, stand with thousandsacross the country to express our collec-tive outrage, creativity, and resistance inresponse to the crimes of this system. OnOctober 22nd, WEAR BLACK, FIGHTBACK!.l

This is an edited version. For fill versionvisit www.october22.org. To start buildingfor an event in your area, [email protected]

CAW 47 - The Mighty Sparrow: A Living Legend

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