CaribPR Wire

Commentary By Christopher Chaplin



CaribPR Newswire, PHILADELPHIA, PA, Weds. July 15, 2009: It is now time for Caribbean governments to get directly involved in at least one area of U.S. domestic policy. Every 10 years, the United States embarks on the process of counting every person in the country.

The US Census is mandated by the Constitution and the next Census is scheduled to take place beginning April 2010. Census data are used to distribute Congressional seats to states, to make decisions about what community services to provide, and to distribute $300 billion in federal funds to local, state and tribal governments each year.

Historically, Caribbean Americans have not responded to being counted in the Census very well. According to NY US Census officials, some largely West Indian areas in NY had response rates as low as in the 20-45 percent range during the last Census in 2000. These low response rates have the effect of lost federal funding in these areas as well as lower political clout. Additionally, ask any marketing company targeting the Caribbean Diaspora in the United States what is the biggest issue it faces and you will likely be told that it is the lack of demographic data on Caribbean nationals

So why should the US Census matter to regional governments and people? The reasons are economic and political in nature. Firstly, an increased count of the number of people in largely Caribbean communities, whether in Brooklyn, New York or Ft. Lauderdale, Florida results in increased federal funding to those communities. New York Census Coordinator, Stacy Cumberbatch, estimates that each person who does not fill out the census form results in lost federal funds to New York City of $2,700.

These lost funds result in reduced services to residents in these cities and the disproportionate impact is on immigrants and especially West Indians in cities with a strong Caribbean presence.

The second and perhaps more important reason is political. I have long held the view, having been exposed to a number of Caribbean ambassadors since I was a student in Washington DC and subsequently over a twenty plus year span, that Caribbean nations have been largely fortunate in the quality of their Foreign Service personnel. Caribbean embassies and consulates have been staffed with some of the brightest and best, especially in the areas of foreign policy and trade.

However, Caribbean nations have failed miserably in organizing their Diaspora into potent political forces the way Israel, Ireland and even Mexico have. This has resulted in weak coordinated political responses from the Caribbean Diaspora to changes in U.S. policy that affect the Caribbean.

With President Obama in office and the Census taking place next year, the next four years present a perhaps once in a generation opportunity for Caribbean countries to build a potent political voice in the United States and the Census is as good a starting point as any.

I would suggest that regional governments begin the process of getting involved by executing on the following:

1. Census 2010: Supporting CaribID, a volunteer organization founded by Guyanese-born journalist, Ms. Felicia Persaud, that has made history by advocating for Caribbean nationals to get their own Census category on future forms and for nationals to `Stand up and Be Counted` in 2010. CaribID seeks to ensure an accurate count of all Caribbean nationals; to get them their own origins category on the Census form, and is an active partner of the 2010 US Census.

Carib ID has adopted a number of measures and principles that Caribbean governments can review, sign on to and adopt as messages to their Caribbean nationals in the US. These measures and principles can be communicated through each government`s information ministry and information attaches stationed in the United States.

2. Build a Database: The need for a database containing the name and contact information of every Caribbean national in the United States should be obvious. The technology and expertise to do it are already within the Caribbean Diaspora. What is needed is the political will to do it.

3. Support Congresswoman Yvette Clarke`s Bill : Advocated for by CaribID and recently introduced in the congress by Congresswoman Yvette Clark, (D-NY), this measure calls for language in the census forms to include a category for Caribbean nationals to identify themselves. The bill has been supported by Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Kristin Gellibrand (D-NY) and needs further support.

The greatest danger we face in building a strong Caribbean Diaspora is disunity. If Caribbean nations adopt a common set of guiding principles, even though there may be disagreement on some specific details, we can go a far way in building a political force capable of affecting US domestic and foreign policy in positive ways. And the time to start that process is now.



NOTE: Mr. Chaplin is a Founding Member of CaribID2010 and Co-Chairman of Team Jamaica Bickle Philadelphia. He is a Director of Hard Beat Communications Inc. and CaribPR and Co-Publisher of Caribbean World News.

CaribPR Wire, PHILADELPHIA, PA, Tues. June 23, 2009:  The focus will shift to Census 2010 in Philadelphia this afternoon as CaribID joins the regional Census bureau and the Mayor`s Commission on African and Caribbean Affairs, for a census briefing.
The briefing is aimed at highlighting the importance of the next census to the Caribbean and African communities.
Today`s briefing will be presented by the Philadelphia Regional Census office and will be co-hosted by City Councilmember Jamie Blackwell along with CaribID and the Mayor`s Commission.
Both the Mayor`s Commission on African and Caribbean Affairs and CaribID officials argue that the census count is important to ensuring not just federal funds or voter representation but also to measure the economic impact and purchasing power of both the Caribbean and African communities.
CaribID, the movement to get Caribbean nationals accurately counted and their own ancestry category on the U.S. Census form, reiterates that Caribbean nationals must fill out the next Census form and write in their country of origin on question 8 while ticking `No Not Hispanic.` The origin question has absolutely nothing to do with the ethnic or race question on the form and as such, claims by some groups that the movement is divisive is completely absurd.
A Caribbean Count bill, introduced in the House by Congresswoman Yvette Clarke on April 23rd and Senators Chuck Schumer and Kristin Gillibrand on May 20th calls for a Caribbean ancestry category on census forms. So far Congressman Charles Rangel and Gregory Meeks have signed on as co-sponsors of the measures, HR 2071 and S 1083.

CaribPRWire, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. June 12, 2009: CaribID, the movement to get Caribbean nationals accurately counted and their own category on the U.S. Census form, has kicked off its own multi-media PSA campaign to encourage Caribbean Americans to participate in the 2010 Census. The radio commercials began running on several Caribbean programs across the U.S. last Friday, including on Caribbean Riddims in South Florida and CaribVoice Radio and on the entire Caribbean World News Network syndicates in nine states across over two dozen programs. This weekend, Stephen Hill, CEO of CIN TV, will roll out the CaribID television commercial, the first in a series, across his New York network that reaches millions weekly. Caribbean TV programmers in Atlanta and Connecticut will follow suit. The CaribID banner ad is already receiving play on a number of websites including South Florida Caribbean News, Toronto Lime, Caribbean Images, Tropical Fete and Caribbean Internet Network as well as on CaribWorldNews. While the CaribID messages and promos continue to be widely viewed and shared across the web from Youtube to other social networking platforms. The CaribID message is simple: its urges all Caribbean nationals to fill out the 2010 Census form and write in their country of origin under Question 8 while ticking, `No Not Hispanic.` CaribID founder, Felicia Persaud, who has been on a media blitz of interviews recently and whose message was also quoted in the Washington Post on Thursday, June 11, thanked the many Caribbean media entities who are stepping up to partner in the movement and help share the message by offering time and space to the tune of thousands of dollars. Meanwhile, several events and organizations are also sharing the word to their large groups. On June 18th, the Caribbean American Business Association of New Jersey will host Persaud and CaribID while Reggae on the River and the D.C. Caribbean Carnival are also partnering in the effort to spread the word. In Philadelphia, on June 23rd, CaridID will co-host a Census briefing with officials of the Philadelphia Regional Census Office and the Mayor`s Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs and Councilman Jannie Blackwell. CaribID D.C. coordinator, Ann Walters, urged other event promoters, media programmers, organization heads and the diplomatic corps to get involved in the effort and quit sitting on the sidelines.  `The diplomats especially who represent the Diaspora, from the many consuls to the ambassadors in D.C., , must use their power as well to share this message at all levels since at the end of the day, a growth in power of the Caribbean Diaspora means more recognition for the Caribbean region,` said Walters. She also pushed all congressional lawmakers, who express their concern for the Caribbean and all themselves friends of the community, to use this Caribbean Heritage Month to sign on as co-sponsors to the recently introduced bills in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. The legislative process to obtain a Caribbean ancestry category on the form gained momentum on April 23rd with the historic introduction by Congresswoman Yvette Clarke of the Caribbean Count bill. On May 20th, New York Senators Charles Schumer and Kristin Gillibrand answered Carib ID`s call and introduced the companion bill. The Senate bill, like the House bill, states that in conducting the 2010 decennial census and every decennial census thereafter, the Secretary of Commerce shall include, in any questionnaire distributed or otherwise used for the purpose of determining the total population by states, a checkbox or other similar option by which respondents may indicate Caribbean extraction or descent. Data generated by the census is used not only to determine voter representation, but also to help equitably distribute federal funding from a wide range of government programs. And Census data is an invaluable resource to private industry, helping businesses make sensible decisions about how and where to expand their capital.  An accurate count of the Caribbean community will highlight their purchasing power and economic impact both in the U.S. and global markets. New York City Census officials insist that the undercount in New York alone is highest among Afro-Caribbeans. Supporters of the CaribID movement to date include a number of media houses, chief among them One Caribbean radio, Edmond Braithwaite, Bobby Veira and Ave Brewster; Sherra Pierre Marche of Cbean Media.tv;  CaribVoicerado.org, The Caribbean Voice newspaper, WBAI`s Ian Forrest and Habte Selassie, CIN TV`s Stephen Hill, Whatz Up TV, ZYNC TV`s Eion Saunders, Caribbean Lifestyle TV, Ken Webb of Webb Internet Radio, Caribbean Riddims` Eddy Edwards, Jason Walker and Bruno Gaston of WFRG radio, TSO Production`s Sharon Gordon, Caribbean Vibes and The Caribbean Internet Network`s Michael Callendar, Tropical Fete, Anthony Turner, South Florida Caribbean News`s Ian Hamilton, Images Newsletter, Francine Chin, Sharon Ghanny, Bharatie Khemraj, Pastor Gilford T. Monrose, June Minto, Jamaican Diaspora Presidents, Patrick Beckford and Marlon Hill, Street Hype, Patrick Buddington, NAJASO`s Roy Davidson, Allison Skeete and Toronto Lime among others. To volunteer or for PSA`s email [email protected] . For more information, log on to www.caribid2010.com .

CaribPRNewswire, WASHINGTON, D.C., Mon. June 8, 2009: As the 2010 Census approaches and the Seventeenth Annual Caribbean Carnival Extravaganza marks the beginning of the summer, the D.C. Caribbean Carnival and CaribID are partnering with the U.S. Census Bureau to ensure that everyone is counted.
The Carnival Extravaganza kicks off with a parade at 11am Saturday, June 27 at Georgia and Missouri Avenues in the District.    The Georgia Avenue parade route ends at Benjamin Banneker Park on Tenth and G Streets with entertainment, food, and exhibits.   Festival events continue Sunday from 12-7pm.   The Census Bureau is participating in the parade and exhibiting at the festival.       D.C. Caribbean Carnival Executive Director Loughton Sargaent says, `This is an excellent opportunity for the Caribbean Carnival to play an instrumental role in ensuring that the word gets out to the general community in Washington D.C. about the importance of standing up and being counted in 2010.`  
CaribID Founder Felicia Persaud added, `Respect for Caribbean nationals starts with being counted in the Census, since numbers are valued most.   In 2010, let us get our numbers up by filling out and returning the Census form to ensure we truly count.   Let us make sure we spread the word to our neighbors, our friends and all family members that come March 2010, we must stand up and be counted.` Fernando E. Armstrong, United States Census Bureau Philadelphia Regional Director, states, `We are proud to partner with the DC Caribbean Carnival and CaribID.    Alliances such as these are vitally important to achieving a complete census count.   We rely on these community leaders who are trusted messengers to help spread the word about the importance of the census to the community and to reinforce that completing the 2010 Census is easy and safe because all information remains confidential.` The U.S. Census Bureau is relying heavily on its partners to achieve a successful 2010 Census.     Partners play a significant role in educating the public and their constituents about the importance of the census.   Census results are the basis for congressional representation as well as the distribution of federal, state and local funds totaling more than $300 billion annually for programs and services.   Programs and services include education, housing, health care services, job training, transportation, and more.   For more information, visit the Philadelphia Regional Census Center online at www.census.gov/2010census.    The U.S. Constitution requires a population and housing census every 10 years.   The effort employs some of the most sophisticated technical and operational knowledge and tools available, as well as a work force of 1.4 million temporary employees to count everyone.   Census Day is April 1, 2010.

Carib PR Newswire, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. May 29, 2009: Whatz Up TV, one of New York City`s more popular Caribbean television program is bringing politics to the people this Caribbean Heritage Month with a “Rumble in Da Hood” political debate.
Patrick Fuller and Shaun Walsh of Whatz Up New York, which airs on CIN (the Caribbean International Network on Time Warner Channel 73 every Sunday evening at 7:30 p.m., will present the second in a series of debates featuring political hopefuls facing off against their incumbent rivals.
The Rumble in Da Hood debate will features candidates in the run for the 45 th councilmatic race in Brooklyn, New York. The heavily Caribbean-populated district of Flatbush, which encompasses the district, is currently headed by Vincentian doctor, Kendall Stewart, who has held the seat since 2001.
Councilmember Stewart will be defending his seat against challengers Dexter Mckenzie, Rodrick Daley, Erlene King, Jumaane Williams and Sam Taitt.
The Rumble in Da Hood debate is set for Ink Well Jazz Comedy Jazz Caf

CaribWorldNews, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. May 20, 2009: The push by Carib ID for a Caribbean origin category on the U.S. Census form is gaining momentum, with the introduction on Tuesday of a companion senate bill.
New York Senators Charles Schumer and Kristin Gillibrand on May 19, 2009, introduced the companion bill to Rep. Yvette D. Clarke’s Caribbean Count Bill, (H.R. 2071), which was introduced on April 23rd.
The Senate bill, like the House bill, calls for all questionnaires used in the taking of any decennial census of the U.S. population, to include a checkbox or a similar option be included so that respondents may indicate Caribbean extraction or descent.
CaribID founder, Felicia Persaud, said Tuesday she is delighted at the way the effort, started only a year ago, has gained momentum.
`Caribbean nationals continue to be undercounted across the U.S. because they simply are not filling out the Census forms due mainly to the fact they simply do not feel represented on the form,` said Persaud.  `This  movement and the bills we`ve been able to lobby for and secured to date are indications that lawmakers like Congresswoman Clarke and Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, recognize the importance of Caribbean nationals and their input and contribution to the political, economic and social growth of this country.`
“”I want to commend Senators Gillibrand and Schumer for demonstrating great leadership by introducing the Senate companion to HR 2071: Caribbean Count Bill,”" said Rep. Yvette D. Clarke.   “”Census Day is less than a year away, and it is imperative that every household participate in order to ensure an accurate count.  Data generated by the Census is used to help equitably distribute federal funding from a wide range of government sources. A higher response rate from the Caribbean immigrant community would help ensure that more public resources are available to all New Yorkers.”"  Clarke, also reiterated that “”the bill does not call for an additional race category, but rather a self-identifying ancestry category/national origin in order to get a more accurate count of people of Caribbean descent living in the United States.”"
 ”"New York City is one of the most diverse cities in the world and must be fully represented in the census,”" Senator Schumer said. “”Including this checkbox would surely provide better representation of our great city and its Caribbean American population. New Yorkers of Caribbean descents are an essential part of the New York City population and they deserve to be accurately counted.”"
“”It’s time to make sure all New Yorkers are counted fairly and accurately in the census,”" Senator Gillibrand said. “”New York’s Caribbean community contributes so much to our economy, our diverse culture and the way of the life that makes New York the great state it is. By failing to recognize Caribbean families in our census data, we are failing to obtain a true picture of the people, families and communities that make up New York and all of America. It’s time to make this important change.”"
The Companion bill proposed by Schumer and Gillibrand states that in conducting the 2010 decennial census and every decennial census thereafter, the Secretary of Commerce shall include, in any questionnaire distributed or otherwise used for the purpose of determining the total population by states, a checkbox or other similar option by which respondents may indicate Caribbean extraction or descent.
Meanwhile, on the House side, Congressman Charles Rangel, who recently introduced a similar bill for nationals from the Dominican Republic, signed on as a co-sponsor of Clarke`s H.R. 2071.
Data generated by the census is used not only to determine voter representation, but also to help equitably distribute federal funding from a wide range of government programs.
And Census data is an invaluable resource to private industry, helping businesses make sensible decisions about how and where to expand their capital.  An accurate count of the Caribbean community will highlight their purchasing power and economic impact both in the U.S. and global markets.
Caribbean nationals are being urged by CaribID officials to fill out the 2010 Census form and write in their country of origin under question 8 while ticking `No Not Hispanic` and filling in their race.
CaribID officials also are urging all to join in spreading the word and lending their support to the movement.
`So far, CaribID has done this on its own, with its own resources and a few hands,` said Persaud. `Now is the time for all to join the movement, especially the media and organizations that stand to benefit the most from this effort.`
Added CaribID D.C. representative, `It is important that we continue to lobby other member of congress for their support of this bill and point out the value and importance of having this box on the census form. We are interested in helping to making sure that we do not leave money on the table for much of the needed social programs that are in jeopardy of budget cuts.`
To help email [email protected] . For more log on to www.caribid2010.com . 
Supporters of the CaribID movement to date include a number of media houses, chief among them One Caribbean radio, Edmond Braithwaite, Bobby Veira and Ave Brewster; Sherra Pierre Marche of Cbean Media.tv;  CaribVoicerado.org, The Caribbean Voice newspaper, CIN TV`s Stephen Hill, Whatz Up TV, Caribbean Lifestyle TV, Ken Webb of Webb Internet Radio, Caribbean Riddims` Eddy Edwards, Jason Walker and Bruno Gaston of WFRG radio, TSO Production”"s Sharon Gordon, Caribbean Vibes and The Caribbean Internet Network’s Michael Callendar, South Florida Caribbean News’s Ian Hamilton, Patrick Buddington and Toronto Lime among others.

By Felicia Persaud
CARIBWORLDNEWS/CARIBID  
CaribPR Wire, Fri. May 8, 2009: The comments are harsh and the reality like a cold water bath on an icy winter day. `We deal with diverse groups on the Census form and Caribbean is not on the form last time we checked;` `What numbers are we talking of here? What

Caribbean Census Bill Not A Race Category CaribPR Newswire, NEW YORK, NY, Tues. April 28, 2009: The Caribbean Census bill introduced in the Congress by Congresswoman Yvette Clarke on April 23rd is not a push for a race category but one for an accurate self-identifying ancestry category, CaribID official insisted Monday. The clarification comes in response to a number of media reports that erroneously reported that the bill is a call for a race category and therefore is a move to divide some ethnic groupings, particularly the African American or black bloc. CaribID founder, Felicia Persaud, insisted that the bill is to enable Caribbean nationals, who are of varied races, cultures and identities across the 26 countries in the Caribbean region to not only tick their race group on the Census forms, but like Hispanics, be able to tick their ancestry as well. FACTS & MYTHS ABOUT THE CARIBBEAN CENSUS BILL Myth It

CaribPR Newswire, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. April 24, 2009: A historic bill that calls for Caribbean nationals to have their own origins category on the U.S. Census form was on Thursday introduced by Caribbean American Congresswoman, Yvette D. Clarke of New York’s 11 th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Clarke bill calls for all questionnaires `used in the taking of any decennial census of the U.S. population, to include a checkbox or other similar option so that respondents may indicate Caribbean extraction or descent.`
The bill was lobbied for by Carib ID founder, Felicia Persaud. The movement`s goals are specific: to get Caribbean nationals accurately counted and their own origins Census category on all census forms.
`In conducting the 2010 decennial census and every decennial census thereafter, the Secretary of Commerce shall include, in any questionnaire distributed or otherwise used for the purpose of determining the total population by states, a checkbox or other similar option by which respondents may indicate Caribbean extraction or descent,` states the bill.
Congresswoman Clarke said, as a daughter of Caribbean immigrants herself, she is especially `proud of the measure and sees `it as a great accomplishment.`
`We introduced a bill which would draw attention to the 2010 census to help get the message out and help ensure the hard to count population are reached,` the congresswoman told CaribWorldNews Thursday. `It would push to provide an origins check box to allow Caribbeans and those with ancestry to check that category. We examined the form and found this to be lacking. Being specific on the Census form will allow the federal government to be able to allocate resource to communities of Caribbean nationals and their descendants.`
 
The congresswoman, who last weekend was part of a group of Congressional members invited to accompany President Barack Obama on his first trip to the Caribbean and Mexico since he took the Oath of Office Congress to Trinidad and Tobago for the 5 th Summit of the Americas from April 17

A Hard Beat Communications White Paper
It is no secret that the power of the diverse markets in the U.S. has gained in recent years. The minority is fast becoming the majority but while the focus has been on the power of the Hispanic, black and Asian markets, lost in the mix is the ethnically diverse, economically viable, Caribbean American market or West Indians, as they

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. April 8, 2009: CaribID, the movement to get an accurate count of Caribbean nationals in the U.S. by the Census, was the lone Caribbean organization that on Tuesday joined New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg at his 2010 Census kick-off.
The city announcement by the mayor was held at the Queens Public Library in the diverse area of Jamaica Queens, home to many Caribbean residents, and featured many representatives from the African, Asian, African American and Latino communities.
Bloomberg on Tuesday officially announced the appointment of Stacey Cumberbatch as the City Census Coordinator while telling the media and community organizers gathered that NYC has the highest percentage of `hard-to-count` residents in the country.
He stressed that for 2010, the city is hoping for a 100 percent response rate, working closely with the U.S. Census Bureau Regional Office, key city agencies and community organizations, cultural and educational institutions, faith-based organizations, labor unions, immigrant advocacy groups and others. 
Bloomberg reminded those gathered that facts are dependent on numbers and it’s the numbers that determine how annual federal funds are distributed to New York City to fund schools, counter-terrorism and security efforts, and social service organizations. Elected representation at the federal, state and local levels is also determined by the Census, he said, while revealing that in the 2000 Census, the response rate in the city was 55 percent, well below the national average of 67 percent. For the significant Caribbean communities in Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx, the response rate was at 35 percent, well below the city average. Addressing the concerns of many undocumented immigrants, the mayor reiterated that a key component to the city’s outreach effort will be informing the public that under federal law, the personal information collected by the Census is entirely confidential, and cannot be shared with any federal, state, or city agency. Mayor Bloomberg was joined at the announcement by top members of the New York/NY Census, including Lester A. Farthing, the U.S. Census Bureau’s New York regional director.
`The partnership and collaboration taking place now in 2009 with the Census Bureau and Mayor Bloomberg’s Census Office will prove to be invaluable in reaching our goal of getting the most accurate count in 2010 for New York City,` said Lester A. Farthing, the U.S. Census Bureau’s New York Regional Director.  `We want residents to know that the 2010 census is easy, it’s safe and it’s important; by law, answers provided to the Bureau cannot be shared with any other agency or person, and this will be the shortest questionnaire ever.`
`The Census is a critically important issue to our City and I want to thank the Mayor for focusing on it by establishing the NYC 2010 Census Office, with the mission of ensuring that all New Yorkers are aware of the upcoming 2010 Census and encouraged to participate,` added Cumberbatch. `I look forward to working with the regional census office, City agencies and communities across New York City to do everything we can to ensure every New Yorker is counted.` 
The mayor earlier in the day signed an executive order to create the NYC 2010 Census Office.
For more on CaribID and the movement and how you can be an ambassador in the process, log on to www.caribid2010.com .

  CARIBPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs. April 2, 2009: More than five dozen Caribbean community leaders and the media gathered in Brooklyn, New York, the borough with the most migrants from the Caribbean region, to mark Census Day 2009 on Wednesday April 1 and the message was clear to all across the country – `Stand Up and Be Counted` or face being ignored by the U.S. government, politicians and corporations. `If you don`t fill out the Census form you simply don`t exist in America,` said Felicia Persaud, founder of CARIBID, the movement founded by Felicia Persaud to get Caribbean nationals counted and a self-identifying origins category on the Census form which hosted the Brooklyn kick-off event.
The 2010 Census will begin next April 1, 2010 with questionnaires mailed to all households beginning next March.
Persaud insists now that every Caribbean national across the U.S. must become ambassadors in the process, urging every family member, friend, co-worker, colleague, church member, customer, et al, to fill out the form.
`Everyone is busy but please remember that if you want social services in your city, if you want sponsorship and advertising dollars, if you want investment or for your business to grow, everything we do starts with the Census,` said Persaud. `So it is important that we use all tools available

CARIBPR Newswire, NEW YORK, NY, Dec. 19, 2008:   The Caribbean`s only PR Wire Service, CaribPR Wire, has signed on as a sponsor for the 2009 Jamaica Jazz and Blues festival. CaribPR Wire officials say it is only apt that the service, which offers g uaranteed placements in dozens of Caribbean media and distribution to hundreds of multimedia Caribbean regional and US/Canada And UK-based Caribbean publications, join hands with the Caribbean`s best music festival. The Jamaica Jazz and Blues is set for January 22-24, 2009 in Montego Bay, Jamaica and fans are being urged to make travel plans this holidays in order to avoid the last minute rush. Unlike other wire services, CaribPR Wire specializes in this niche market and is also owned by Caribbean nationals. The service was founded by Caribbean-born journalist Felicia Persaud as a means to allow companies seeking to reach this economically viable market, be able to easily do so. Unlike many wire services, CARIBPR Wire offers guaranteed placements at a fraction of the cost. CaribPR Wire`s other advantages include no word count limit as well as no charge for the first photograph included with a release. Additionally, your release will be featured on CaribPRwire.com, so you can access it any time! CaribPRWire has effectively compiled a database of hundreds of Caribbean media houses, journalists in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean region. Your press release gets E-blasted to each media house or journalist covering the Caribbean, MOMENTS following your approval. And your release also is sent to hundreds of top Caribbean community leaders, giving your company or client, wider coverage. CaribPR Wire also offers translation services in Spanish, French and Creole; press release creative and feature writing services, editing and professional proof reading services, photography coverage, event planning, and digital marketing and web creative services. Some of our clients who recognize our effectiveness include Courts Caribbean, Sagicor USA, Air Jamaica Jazz, Reggae Sumfest, Eastman Industries, Team Jamaica Bickle and More Magic Solutions among others. CaribPR Wire is owned by Hard Beat Communications, Inc., the minority-certified PR, AD and news agency specializing in the Caribbean and Caribbean ethnic market. The Caribbean is made up of just over 40 million people – in the English, French, Dutch and Spanish speaking region while Caribbean nationals overseas in the `Caribbean Diaspora` total millions more and are credited with contributing approximately $8 billion in remittances to economies in the Caribbean region each year according to the Inter-American Development Bank 2007 Study. In the U.S. alone, their median income is considered higher than native-born blacks, and in some U.S. cities, more than native-born Americans.
For more information log on to caribprwire.com or email us at: [email protected] .   

CaribPR Newswire, NEW YORK, NY, October 31, 2008: Thursday October 30, 2008 was declared `Courts Caribbean Grand Opening Celebration Day in Brooklyn, USA ` by the Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz as the renown Caribbean furniture, electronics and appliance chain, Courts Caribbean, part of the Unicomer Group, officially added the 94 th store to its map.
The declaration came as the chain`s first North America store opened it doors in the Caribbean immigrant-populated borough of Brooklyn, New York at 2822 Church Avenue, between Nostrand and Rogers Avenues – for business.
The debut included a two-part VIP launch event on Thursday evening, October 30 th , as top city elected and appointed officials, joined the media, suppliers, community leaders, special guests and top Courts managers and regional directors, in celebrating Courts Caribbean Brooklyn.  
Representing the Office of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs, Guillermo Linares, welcomed the store stating, “”It is so wonderful to see that we have an enterprise that has emerged in the Caribbean, has demonstrated success and has decided to follow the Caribbean family to Brooklyn.`  
“”Courts Caribbean made a good decision in choosing Brooklyn to do business and an even better decision to choose East Flatbush ,”" added Yvonne Graham, special assistant to Brooklyn Borough President Markowitz.  
The event began at the New York Marriott Hotel at the Brooklyn Bridge before guests were shuttled to the Brooklyn location for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and official first glimpse.  
Among the dignitaries bringing remarks there were New York State Senator Kevin Parker; New York Assemblyman, Nick Perry and New York Councilman, Kendall Stewart.  
Senator Parker insisted that given the economic downturn in the U.S. economy, Courts` decision to open in Brooklyn was truly welcomed, “”Courts coming here is really a sign of vitality in the community of Brooklyn and the Caribbean ,”" said Parker, who also presented a proclamation to Unicomer CEO, Mario Siman and Country Manager of Courts USA, Felix Siman, III.  
Assemblyman Nick Perry

By Felicia Persaud I have been so busy of late that writing down my many controversial reactions to the range of issues that has occurred in recent times has been all but impossible. But after reading Ricky Singh`s article on the trials of CMC, aka, Cananews, I simply had to weigh in

CaribPR Newswire , New York , NY :  The United States Ambassador to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago , Dr. Roy L. Austin, headlines a list of outstanding individuals who will be presented with CACNY Role Models of Distinction Awards on Thursday October 2nd, in Brooklyn , New York . The St. Vincent and the Grenadines-born Austin is the lone man along with six exceptional women to be presented with special awards by The Caribbean American Center of New York, Inc., on Thursday October 2, 2008 at 6: 30 p.m.  at the Grand Prospect Hall, 263 Prospect Avenue in Brooklyn , NY 11215 . Over 400 guests from the tri-state area, including high level government and corporate officials and community leaders are set to gather to recognize Dr. Austin along with Ambassador La Celia A. Prince, St.Vincent & the Grenadines Ambassador to the USA; Ms. Marisa Rivera-Albert, former President of the National Hispana Leadership Institute; Ms. Jeanne B. Mullgrav, Commissioner-NYC Department of Youth & Community Development; Ms. Janice Weinman, President of Kids in Distressed Situations; Ms. Antonia Yuille-Williams, Director of Public Affairs for Con Edison in New York and  Ms. Patricia Reddock, President of the 67th Police Precinct Council in Brooklyn South. “”This year is especially important, since five of our Role Models are from the Caribbean .  We as parents need to expose our children to positive role models like these every chance we get”" said CACNY Executive Director, Jean Alexander. “”Both Austin and Prince are from St. Vincent and the Grenadines while Mullgrav is from the Dominican Republic , Rivera-Albert from Puerto Rico and Reddock is from Jamaica . “”We are delighted to have at least 30 minority youths present at the event to meet and learn from our honorees during a special face to face meeting.  In addition, Ambassador La Celia Prince has volunteered to immediately to meet with these young people to begin to mentor our future leaders.  This alone speaks volumes about this young role model!”" CACNY Role Models of Distinction Awards was established in 2005 to offer solid alternatives to some Inner City “”at risk”" youth, particularly those from single parent families. CACNY services are presented with the support of entities like Moet Hennessy USA , Tiffany’s, Turner Construction, Con Edison, NY Daily News, The Carnegie Corporation, K.I.D.S., Petra B. Corporation and others. Alexander insists that CACNY’s mission remains unchanged since 1987:  to empower and enhance the quality of life for immigrants and minorities by providing educational programs, citizenship advocacy, employment and skills training and other humanitarian services with a strong focus on young people who are considered “”at risk.”"  Programs include CACNY Youth Compass Program, Children in Homeless Shelters and the annual Role Models of Distinction Awards. The non-profit organization has served over 62,000 needy adults, small children and teenagers at NO CHARGE since 1987. Tickets to the fundraiser are $125. Proceeds will go towards underwriting the attendance of 30 youths to the event. Please call CACNY at:  718-625-1515 or Donna Charles: 646-229-4625: Stanley Browne: 973-893-9091 or Gala Dinner Chairperson – Elenora Bernard: 718-856-1583 or 917-559-6522.
 

CaribPR Newswire , NEW YORK , NY , Tues. Aug. 12, 2008: CaribbeanWorldNews is set to debut across 26 islands in the Caribbean later this month. CWN has reached a deal with Tempo TV to power the launch of Tempo News across their Caribbean platform. The newscast will air across the Tempo TV channel in 26 Caribbean countries, reaching over 2.5 million people. The TV deal is an extension of the online news partnership between the two entities, which dates back to Tempo`s launch in 2005.   `This partnership marks another step in the CaribbeanWorldNews Network`s growth as a credible Caribbean news organization and allows us to truly fulfill our goal of being the pulse of Caribbean nationals worldwide,` said CWN founder, Felicia Persaud. `The Tempo deal combined with our radio syndication across the US, our online reach daily and our New York TV newscast on Whatz Up TV places us in an enviable position, thanks to our many valued partners and loyal readers.` `CWN`s powering of the Tempo newscast allows us to now reach millions per month in both the Caribbean Diaspora and the region and that allows us to offer companies looking to target these markets a lot more than other media houses,` added Chris Chaplin, VP at CWN`s parent company, Hard Beat Communications, who brokered the deal. `With this agreement, it is a pleasure to continue and strengthen our partnership with Caribbean World News, a company that like Tempo is committed to the upliftment of the Caribbean and Caribbean people by providing them on all possible platforms with relevant and current information about our community,` said Frederick (`Mr. Tempo`) Morton ,Jr., Founder, Chairman and CEO, Tempo Networks, LLC. CaribbeanWorldNews (formerly Hard Beat News), was founded in 2004 by Persaud, an award-winning Guyanese-born journalist, with the primary objective of being the daily newswire for Caribbean nationals overseas. Today, the CaribbeanWorldNews newswire website (www.caribworldnews.com) ranks in the top 100,000 sites and reaches thousands more with its syndicated postings and broadcasts online, on radio and on TV. CaribbeanWorldNews also syndicates a radio report weekly on several partnering stations across the U.S. Caribbean Diaspora, including on WKAT 1360 AM and WAVS 1170 AM in South Florida; 1430 WGFF AM in Atlanta, Power 92.3 FM in Chicago, WDJZ 1530 AM in Connecticut, 96.3 FM WHUR-FM    in Washington and WRRW 100.9 FM in Virginia. CaribbeanWorldNews ` weekly report is also in video format on WHATZ UP TV on the CIN platform, Time Warner Channel 73 in New York City and online at Cbeanmedia.tv and CaribWorldNews.com. The CaribbeanWorldNews Network is owned by Hard Beat Communications, a minority-certified, PR and Ad agency which serves the Caribbean and ethnic markets. Tempo is the Caribbean

CaribPR Newswire , NEW YORK , NY , Weds. July 23, 2008: Caribbean governments and the private sector in the region as fast focusing on the vast Caribbean Diaspora market in the U.S. even as a U.S.-based company continues to increase its specialty in this niche group. Hard Beat Communications, owned by two Caribbean nationals and an African-American, has been engaged by several Caribbean companies to date in their quest to reach the economically viable Diaspora.
`There has really been an increasing interest by the Caribbean private sector to market to the Caribbean Diaspora,` said Hard Beat CEO Felicia Persaud, who has worked with entities like Courts Caribbean, Sagicor USA, Air Jamaica Jazz and Reggae Sumfest in their quest to tap the national market. `More and more entities are realizing the wealth to be found in this community and are actively pursuing this market but most of all are looking for entities like Hard Beat that know the market like the back of their hands. We are Caribbean and are part of the Diaspora so the knowledge we offer is unbeatable.`
Hard Beat has become a leader in targeting this emerging market ever since it burst on the scene three years ago, setting trends with the launch of its minority-certified agency focused specially on the Caribbean Diaspora and Caribbean market simultaneously and as the founder of CaribPR Wire, the only PR Wire focused on the Caribbean and the only daily news service for Diaspora nationals, CaribbeanWorldNews.com.
Hard Beat recently completed a campaign for Sagicor USA as the company sought to target the Caribbean marketplace in South Florida and is working with Courts Caribbean as they make their North American debut in the U.S. later this year.
Chris Chaplin, a Jamaican-born former banker who joined Hard Beat as a vice president last year, says Hard Beat`s personalized service, knowledge of the market nationally and connections to Caribbean Diaspora organizations is what keeps clients coming back.
Service offerings include event planning, full scale marketing, both traditional and non-traditional; advertising bookings, focus group coordination and digital branding and ROI measurement through collaboration with CBeanMedia.
The Caribbean Diaspora market is rapidly expanding. Last year alone, members of this niche group sent back US$5 billion to their homelands, more than foreign direct investment combined in those countries. And according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, $19 billion in two-way trade occurred between this part of the world and the U.S. alone in one single year.
`To reach the Caribbean Diaspora marketplace today means targeting them directly, through the media and groups that serve only them and not merely as the ‘black` or Asian community,` says Persaud. `It means working with entities and individuals who have a clear knowledge of the distinct culture, customs, habits and countries that make up this melting pot.”"
For more log on to: http://www.caribpr.com/agency.asp .

CARIBPR Newswire, NEW YORK , NY , Fri. July 25 2008: Social networking specifically for Caribbean nationals has gotten a shot in the arm with the establishment of the www.Cbean.tv platform. CbeanMedia.TV founder, Trinbagonian, and experienced technologist, Sherra Pierre March, says Caribbean nationals now have a space of their own to create their own web page, and post their own video, audio, blog and create forums,   and need not look only to MY SPACE` and `YOU TUBE.`
` www.CBEAN.TV is `Our User Generated Content Platform and is similar to ‘MY SPACE’ and ‘YOU TUBE.`   We are the first company that sits on a Content Delivery Network that is not merely just a website,` said Pierre Marche, Former vice president for Digital Content Management at Pearson and CIO for both   Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and Sesame Workshop. `What we have developed here is a platform for Caribbean niche-specific content,   created by Caribbeans; a place where they can really feel at home and showcase themselves

Tampa, Florida, July 16th, 2008- Sagicor Life Insurance Company today announced its sponsorship of University of South Florida Athletics, specifically USF Football. The sponsorship is the first in the U.S. for Sagicor, which entered the U.S. life insurance market in 2005 with a $58M acquisition of American Founders Life.
The partnership, which was negotiated by the USF-ISP Sports Network, is a multi-year agreement from 2008-2011 involving naming rights and a variety of online, media and on-premise promotional and hospitality components.
“”A partnership with USF is exciting for us in many ways,”" said Ken Marshall, president and CEO of Sagicor Life. The Sagicor Group sponsorship strategy focuses on sports and education and the University of South Florida encapsulates both perfectly. College football is truly an American sport and way of life and we are proud to be associated with it.”"
“”It’s a pleasure to welcome Sagicor Life Insurance to the USF family,”" said Doug Woolard, Director of USF Athletics. Our corporate partners play a vital role in supporting our student athletes, as well as our mission to compete at the national level in each sport. We appreciate Sagicor’s support and we look forward  to assisting them in growing their U.S. business through their association with the Bulls.”"
As part of the sponsorship, Sagicor will also encourage fan participation via an online promotion using the USF Bulls Web site ( www.gousfbulls.com ) called “”Luv-A-Bulls”". Fans will be invited to submit photos of their children dressed in Bulls branded apparel. Winning photos will appear on the video board during the home games at Raymond James Stadium.
“”Sagicor’s corporate advertising and messages celebrate and feature photographs of children. In most of the countries in which we operate, these children are sons and daughters of our employees. We want to create an exceptional and personal experience for the USF fans out there by getting more people involved,”" added George Estock, Divisional General Manager for Sagicor’s Eastern Division.
Sagicor established U.S. headquarters in the Tampa Bay area in November 2007, both to house key corporate functions and service the company’s Eastern Division. Less than 18 months after launching its growth strategy, AM Best Rating Company upgraded Sagicor’s financial strength rating to “”A-”" (Excellent) with a “”stable”" outlook for future performance.
About Sagicor Life Insurance Company: Sagicor Life Insurance Company is a full-service life insurance company offering a wide range of competitive products consisting of term and whole life, indexed life and annuities and critical illness products. Licensed in 44 states and the District of Columbia, Sagicor Life is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sagicor Financial Corporation, one of the oldest insurance groups in the Americas, with operations in 22 countries including the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Sagicor Life products are marketed though a multi-tiered distribution system. Administering more than $2.2 billion of in-force insurance business and managing approximately $475 million in assets, Sagicor Life is committed to offering our customers world-class service with integrity and value. For more information visit www.sagicorlifeusa.com
About Sagicor Financial Corporation: Established in 1840, Sagicor Financial Corporation’s (Sagicor) insurance operations are dominant in most of the countries in which it operates. Based on its strong core earnings, profitability and more than adequate levels of risk-based capital, Sagicor’s  Caribbean operations have been consistently rated “”A”" Excellent by AM Best.
Listed on the London, Barbados and Trinidad Stock Exchanges, Sagicor’s balance sheet continues to exemplify prudence and the capacity to support future expansion programs. Sagicor will continue to seek out growth opportunities through acquisitions and strategic partnerships to expand geographically. For more information visit www.sagicor.com # # #