[Stephanie Balmir-Villedrouin] said the site of the village is known for its historic values to Haiti "and the idea is to create another form of attraction and give a value to the visitors when they go to the destination".
The TPS designation for Haiti will remain in effect through July 22, but Haitian nationals who have continuously resided in the U.S. since Jan. 12, 2010 must file their applications for TPS no later than Jan. 18. Failure to submit the required applications with any required fees and the biometrie fee, or a properly documented fee waiver request, will result in the rejection of the application. TPS was granted to Haitians following the devastating earthquake of Jan. 12, 2010, which claimed over 200,000 lives in Haiti.
American professional basketball player Udonis Haslem will be visiting Jamaica August 11th for the 2nd year to host a Basketball camp (Hoop For Hope) for 500 youths in Ocho Rios Jamaica and in the Mountains of Nine Mile (Home of Bob Marley).
Udonis will make major donations to schools and girls home in the island of Jamaica which includes over 300 pairs of shoes, 100 computers, uniforms, basketballs and feminine products for Windsor Girls Home.
The trip is organized by Jamaican, Wesley Frater who is based in South Florida and the founder of Tournament of Champions, INC a Scholarship Negotiations, Sports Event Planning & Management, Athletic Training, School Consulting, and Caribbean Basketball Scouting Services company.
Starting last month, with the Jamaica Tourist Board's (JTB) launch of its Island Potluck Series, sisters Michelle and Suzanne Rousseau, in the 12-part series scheduled to run every other Thursday on the JTB's YouTube channels, will participate in making some the best dishes originating from the Caribbean country. The aim is to allow viewers to see the landscape of Jamaica like a dinner table, with dishes unique to each corner of the island. They will also learn about the history of the island's food, and how Jamaica's multi-ethnic mix of people contributes to a blend of foods.
Jamaica again led the Caribbean's medal haul at an international track and field event by finishing fifth at the LAAF World Indoor Championship last month in Poland, with super sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce earning one of the region's two gold medals by winning the 60 meters. Cuba's Yarisley Silva claimed the Caribbean's other gold by winning the women's pole vault. Teammates Ernesto Reve and Pedro Pablo Pichardo won silver and bronze, respectively, in the men's triple jump to propel the Spanish-speaking nation to a top 10 finish in the medal standing.
Led by batsman Jermaine Blackwood, who narrowly missed a hundred in the first innings and scored a maiden first class century in the second and spinner Damion Jacobs, who took eight first innings wickets, Jamaica won the trophy which was inaugurated five years ago in honor of the late Jamaica and West Indies batting legend George Headley, and living Barbados and West Indies batting legend Sir Everton Weekes.
Mayor [Rudolph Giuliani] proclaimed Monday, August 4, "Jamaica Independence Day" in the city. He presented Jamaica's consul general to New York - Fay Baxter-Collins - and Jamaica's permanent representative to the United Nations - Ambassador Patricia Durrant - with a written proclamation of "Jamaica Independence Day".
The reception to the idea was favorable. In 1994, further discussions were held with Mexico, Columbia and Venezuela and with Argentina and Chile. The response was positive and to further support the idea, the ambassadors of the Latin American countries who were accredited to Jamaica, and Spain's ambassador, formed the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean as a forum for exchanging ideas and considering financial participation by their governments. In 1994, the Latin American-Caribbean Centre was created to facilitate economic, trade, research and cultural ties between the Caribbean and Latin America. The center's fundamental objective is to build strong commercial, cultural and academic ties between the Caribbean and Latin American regions and among the Caribbean countries. According to Ms. Insanally, "Economic development is one of the principal objectives of LACC. Expanding trade, investment, and tourism between the Caribbean and Latin American countries will generate income and employment, as well as stimulate technological modernization and international competitiveness. Academic and cultural development are important ends in themselves, and they also stimulate business relationships, and vice versa."
* Friday, June 10 - The Rhythms of the Caribbean Ball, 7 p.m. to midnight at The Plaza Hotel New York. Hosted by NBC anchor Jenna Wolfe. A "barefoot" black tie affair. Tickets start at $350 and a portion of the proceeds go to finance scholarships to Caribbean nationals pursuing careers in tourism. The Caribbean Travel & Cultural Fair will take place 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 8 at Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal. Admission is free. It will feature Caribbean performers and entertainers, as well as a Caribbean wedding organized in collaboration with the Global Bridal Group.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC - The Barbados-based Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) has signed an agreement with the Institute of Critical Thinking at the University of the West Indies (UWI) that could result in a "paradigm shift from role learning and regurgitation to real thinking".