Boston First Baptist Church and Mattapan's Saint Angela's Catholic Church choirs uplifted the service with songs. Rev. Father Charles Gabriel of Dorchester's St Matthew Catholic Church gave thanks to God for the country's blessings. Rev. Gary Theodat of Golgotha Seventh Day Adventist of Roslindale asked for deliverance for Haiti, while Reverend Nicholas Homicile of the Baptist Tabernacle of the Evangelical Voice prayed for unity. The President of the Association-of Haitian Pastors of New England, Rev. Pastor Paul Daniel of Evangelical Baptist Church of the North Coast, closed the worship with a prayer of consecration and the final blessings. The reflection part of the gathering ended with a series of short and precise messages.
"While the work of the Jamaican Diaspora is being praised for its success in keeping the linkage with Jamaica very strong, I submit that a look at the experience of other Diasporas will provide us with valuable lessons of how we can even more effectively utilise the resources available to us to enhance both the Diaspora as well as our homeland."
When Mr. [Jean Berard] died of pleurisy, "Toussaint discreetly supported his widow. He even postponed his own wedding until Madame Berard's death. Although themselves childless, [Pierre Toussaint] and Juliette (a slave whom Pierre freed) Toussaint went on to co-found one of New York City's first orphanages. During an epidemic of yellow fever, while thousands fled the city, the Toussaints stayed behind to nurse the sick. He and his wife donated funds for New York's first Catholic school for blacks." Did you also know that these Haitians send almost $1 billion back to their families in Haiti every year. This amount makes up about 15 percent of Haiti's GNP. This goes a long way to help the balance of payment and foreign currency. This amount is also close to double Haiti's total exports and almost double the international assistance Haiti receives.
HAUP's Chairperson, Mr. Yves Merry Telemaque is counting on private matching contributions to provide desperately needed funds to keep the Queens Community Center functioning at its current location at 221-05 Linden Blvd. in Cambria Heights, Queens.
ATLANTA, Georgia: The Jamaican community in Atlanta, commenced a week long series of activities to celebrate Jamaica's 43rd year of independence with a Thanksgiving service at the Holy Cross Episcopal Church Hall on Sunday, July 31, 2005. Approximately three hundred Jamaicans and well wishers were in attendance. The sermon was delivered by Bishop Charles DuFour, Roman Catholic Bishop of Montego Bay. Jamaica's Honorary Consul to Atlanta, Vin Martin, read the Prime Minister's message. The first lesson was read by Allan Alberga, President of the Atlanta Jamaican Association and the second lesson was read by Tamara Cox. Union of Jamaican Organizations in Atlanta is comprised of Atlanta Jamaican Association, Atlanta Montego Bay Sister Cities, Benevolent Missions of Atlanta, Calabar High School Alumni Association, Clarendon College Alumni Association, Caribbean Sports and Social Club, Integrity Children's Fund, Kingston College Alumni Association, Queen's High School Alumni Association, St. Hugh's High School Alumni Association, Carilanta Players, Tropical Sports Club and United for Jamaica.
Haitian Catholic artists are as excited about this event as the rest of the community is. Some of them will attend the convention, and Jean Robert Themistocle, one of the pioneers of the organization of Haitian Catholic artists in the diaspora, composed a song based on the theme of the convention. The guests at the convention will be the first to hear and to sing this song with Jean Robert. It is a time of great grace for the Haitian community in the diaspora.
[Peter Adrien], 37, born in Antigua and resident of Miami since age 14, was invested as a new judge last Friday for the 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida, Dade County. Surrounded by family and friends at the Dade County Courthouse on Flagler Street, the new Judge Adrien promised to bring a new vigorous effort to his role behind the robe. As an attorney, Adrien participated in the teen court program, which he felt was a good diversionary program for teens that had made bad mistakes in their lives got second chances. Adrien liked the program and stated as a judge he will try to find alternative programs that may help keep certain defendants, especially teens from getting criminal records that could haunt them for the rest of their lives.
One group of Black immigrants have become involved in the economic and political life of Miami, and their power is being felt in North Dade. I call this the New Haitian Revolution. It began on many fronts. I remember listening to some Black American men laughing-at Haitians because family members would pool their money to buy a home. Multiple families would live in the house, and then the families would pool together and buy another house. Eventually, all of the Haitian families would own a home. I wonder what those same Black men are saying now, when Haitians now own homes and their detractors are still renting. This was the start of a quiet new Haitian revolution. Haitians working together to improve their economic fortunes - a method employed by other successful immigrant groups such as Jews and Cubans. The revolution took place quietly, but it is now clear that there is a new power group in this community. Haitians have started successful medical practices, radio stations, law firms, and other businesses. They have taken over the politics of the City of North Miami, and are one of the new power groups being courted by anyone running a county wide race.
"We shouldn't celebrate a scheme that brought women from the West Indies to Canada and kept many of them under domination and subordination by Canadian families," says Ms. [Antonia Sealy], a founding member of several community groups. "Personally, I regret making the decision to come on that scheme," she says. "I had a comfortable life in Barbados and a good job in the public service, but I was young and I wanted to travel and seek other opportunities. Had I known better I would have waited and sought out a commonwealth scholarship," she said. Ms. Sealy says that nothing she was told before leaving Barbados could have prepared her for the life of "subordination" at the homes of various families in Toronto.
