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THURSDAY AUGUST 27, 2026
ENROLLMENT
CRISIS Dozens of South Florida schools at risk of closure
A deepening enrollment crisis across South Florida is forcing school officials to consider closing or restructuring dozens of campuses, as Broward and Miami-Dade grapple with thousands of empty seats and changing demographics. Broward County Public Schools officials on Tuesday began considering the possible closure of 10 schools, just months after the district approved the shuttering of six campuses. Meanwhile, Miami-Dade County Public Schools has identified 26 schools for reassessment or comprehensive review. continues on A7 – Enrollment Crisis
US reportedly preparing to revoke up to 200,000 visas of asylum seekers The U.S. government is preparing to revoke the business and tourist visas of as many as 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the United States, according to a report by The Associated Press.
If implemented, the move would represent the largest single mass visa revocation in U.S. history and could face legal challenges. Citing State Department documents it obtained and two U.S. officials, the AP reported that the State Department is expected to announce the revocation of B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to people who later sought asylum in the United States. The action is expected to be carried out in
coordination with the Department of Homeland Security. “We are coordinating with DHS to identify and revoke the nonimmigrant visas of foreigners who have come to the United States claiming to be short-term visitors, but then file for asylum to stay here permanently,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott told the AP. Pigott did not confirm how many visas could ultimately be affected, saying the
number would remain fluid as revocations are carried out on a rolling basis. According to the AP, losing a B1 or B2 visa would not automatically result in immediate deportation. Officials said many people with pending asylum cases would instead be recategorized while losing their status as business or tourist travelers. The reported plans come as the U.S. government continues to tighten immigration and visa policies. continues on B4 – 200,000 visas
W H AT ’ S I N S I D E
NEWSMAKER Machel Montano: From Trinidad to Brooklyn and Beyond a3
CARIBBEAN Caribbean urged to brace for worsening heat, drought as El Niño strengthens A4
TRINIDAD 64 Beyond Carnival: 10 ways Trinidad and Tobago has shaped the world A8
SPORTS Shaw reclaims PFA Women’s Player of the Year crown B7
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The making of Soca King
Machel Montano From Trinidad to Brooklyn and beyond Long before Machel Montano became the “King of Soca,” collecting Road March titles and carrying the sound of Trinidad and Tobago to stages around the world, Brooklyn was one of the places that helped shape his ambitions. More than four decades later, that relationship has come full circle. The Brooklyn Public Library has opened “Journey of a Soca King: The Exhibition,” celebrating Montano’s life, career and cultural impact through costumes, trophies, vinyl records and other artifacts from his personal archive. Created by the Machel Montano Foundation for Greatness, the exhibition opened Saturday at the Central Library and traces the journey of a child performer who would become one of soca’s most influential and internationally recognized artists. “Brooklyn helped raise me. I lived here, I learned here, and some of my earliest audiences were right in these neighbour-
hoods,” Montano said. “So, for this work to come back to Brooklyn, in a place that is free and open to anybody who walks through the door, means everything,” he added.
From child performer to soca star Born Nov. 24, 1974, in Trinidad and Tobago, Montano began performing publicly at just 7 years old. His parents, Winston “Monty” Montano and Elizabeth “Lady” Montano, recognized his musical ability early, and his family became instrumental in developing his career. At 9, Montano and his older brother, Marcus, helped form Pranasonic Express with friends and neighbors. The group was later renamed Xtatik and became central to Montano’s rise. Brooklyn entered his story early.
In 1984, at age 9, Montano received a scholarship to participate in Marie Brooks’ summer programming in the borough, attending workshops that helped develop his skills. He also performed at the Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden alongside calypso legends including the Mighty Sparrow, the Mighty Shadow and Lord Kitchener. His debut album, “Too Young to Soca,” arrived in 1985, when he was 10. The following year, he appeared on the U.S. television talent competition “Star Search,” giving soca exposure to an American audience
while he was still a child. By the 1990s, Montano and Xtatik had become major forces in Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival. Montano also lived on Utica Avenue in Brooklyn during the decade and recorded “Big Truck” there. The song became his first Road March winner in 1997.
Taking soca to the world Over the decades that followed, Montano developed a reputation for high-energy, largescale performances while building a catalog of Carnival hits including “Mr. Fete,” “Pump Yuh Flag,” “Ministry of Road,” “Like Ah Boss,” “Waiting on the Stage,” “Fast Wine,” “Soca Kingdom” and “Famalay.” He has won a record 12 Road March titles, according to the Brooklyn Public Library, while becoming one of the genre’s most persistent advocates for expanding soca beyond Caribbean Carnival. His international collaborations have included Shaggy, Buju Banton, Wyclef Jean, Pitbull, Major Lazer, Calypso Rose, Superblue, Bunji Garlin and Skinny Fabulous. In 2016, he joined Major Lazer onstage at Coachella, bringing soca to one of the world’s most prominent music festivals. In recent years, Montano has increasingly focused on preserving and studying the culture he helped popularize. He received an honorary Doctor of Arts degree from the University of Trinidad and Tobago in 2018 and later returned as a student, earning a master’s degree in Carnival Studies in 2024. That year, he also entered the National Calypso Monarch competition for the first time and won with “Soul of Calypso,” adding one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most prestigious traditional music titles to a career largely synonymous with soca. Trinidad and Tobago awarded Montano the Hummingbird Medal Gold in 2022 for his contribution to culture. His personal archive, maintained by the Machel Montano Foundation for Greatness, was inscribed in 2024 on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register for Latin America and the Caribbean. Materials from that collection now form part of the Brooklyn exhibition.
A legacy for another generation The exhibition follows the release of the 2026 documentary “Like Ah Boss: Journey of a Soca King,” centered on Montano’s 16 performances during Trinidad and Tobago’s 2015 Carnival season. The film is scheduled to be projected on the facade of the Central Library on Sept. 3. Related programming will also take place at library branches across Brooklyn’s Caribbean communities. For Montano, the exhibition is as much about what comes next as what he has already accomplished. “What moves me most is thinking about a young person walking in, seeing the costumes and the trophies and the records, and understanding that this came from a small island and reached the world,” he said. “I hope every child who visits leaves knowing their culture deserves that kind of space.” For an artist who began performing at 7 and has spent more than four decades trying to take soca to the world, having that journey documented in Brooklyn carries particular significance. “The Caribbean community built a home here,” Montano said, “and this exhibition is a way of acknowledging the mark we as a people have made on this city.”
A4 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, AUGUST 27 – SEPTEMBER 2, 2026 | CNWNETWORK.COM
CARIBBEAN NEWS
Caribbean urged to brace for worsening heat, drought as El Niño strengthens including during 2009-2010 and 2014-2016. The phenomenon can also contribute to extreme humid heat, wildfires and marine heatwaves capable of triggering coral bleaching. Similar combinations of climate extremes were recorded during the exceptionally hot years of 2010, 2023 and 2024. While El Niño is typically associated with reduced Atlantic hurricane activity, Van Meerbeeck cautioned that the region still faces the threat of damaging tropical systems. He pointed to Tropical Storm Erika in 2015, which became one of Dominica's worst natural disasters after triggering widespread flooding and landslides despite the storm not making direct landfall.
The Caribbean is being urged to step up preparations for worsening heat and drought conditions as a strengthening El Niño threatens to bring potentially severe climate extremes across the region in the coming months. The Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) said the warning comes as the region enters the peak of its Heat Season, which runs from August to October, while increasingly dry conditions are raising concerns ahead of the climatological Dry Season beginning around November. CIMH climatologist Dr. Cedric Van Meerbeeck said El Niño strengthened rapidly from weak to moderate conditions between May and July 2026. Forecasts now indicate the climate phenomenon could reach very strong levels between October and December and persist into March 2027. The outlook calls for below-normal rainfall
stretching from the Guianas across the Lesser Antilles and into the Greater Antilles, along with more frequent hot spells. By October or November, drought conditions could affect much of the Windward and Leeward islands and the ABC Islands, as well as parts of Jamaica, Hispaniola and The
Bahamas. Those conditions could persist into early 2027, increasing the risk of water shortages and wildfires across affected countries and territories. El Niño has historically been associated with severe drought across the Caribbean,
“The risks signalled by the science earlier this year are now beginning to materialise. We are seeing an emerging climate disaster whose impacts combine heat, drought, and marine extremes. Unlike a hurricane, the impacts will continue to build over months. We must respond to the unfolding slow-moving crisis with the seriousness we bring to other major climate threats. – Taylor
Professor Michael Taylor, co-director of the University of the West Indies Climate Studies Group Mona, said climate risks identified earlier this year are now beginning to emerge. “The risks signalled by the science earlier this year are now beginning to materialise,” Taylor said. “We are seeing an emerging climate disaster whose impacts combine heat, drought, and marine extremes. Unlike a hurricane, the impacts will continue to build over months. However, that should not lessen the urgency or scale of our preparations. We must respond to the unfolding slow-moving crisis with the seriousness we bring to other major climate threats, since what we do now determines the options available to us later.” Experts warn the developing conditions could have widespread consequences for agriculture, food security, public health, water and energy supplies, tourism and regional supply chains. Rain-fed agriculture in Belize and Jamaica is among the areas of particular concern. CIMH Principal Dr. David Farrell said governments and other stakeholders should continue using climate information to guide planning and preparedness. “Proactive measures are vital for mitigating the impacts of extreme weather events on climate sensitive sectors, communities, and national economies,” Farrell said. CIMH is encouraging governments, businesses and communities to closely follow monthly Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum updates as the region moves toward the Dry Season and continues through the peak of the Heat Season.
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CARIBBEAN NEWS
Celene Hall crowned Miss Universe Jamaica 2026 Twenty-five-year-old businesswoman, artist and philanthropist Celene Hall was crowned Miss Universe Jamaica 2026 on Sunday night, emerging victorious following the coronation at the AC Hotel Kingston. Hall, who represented Portland, received the crown from Miss Universe Jamaica 2025 Dr. Gabrielle Henry, who made her first public appearance at the pageant since her accident in Thailand last year while representing Jamaica at the international Miss Universe competition. The Portland native was one of the night’s biggest winners, capturing five sectional awards before taking home the coveted crown. Hall won Most Aware, the Altruism Award, Best in Evening Gown, Best in Swimwear and the Essence of Style Award. Beyond the pageant stage, Hall has spent the past five years building a career in shipping and logistics, while also pursuing her interests in art and community service. She is the founder of The Hummingbird Foundation, a nonprofit organization through which she leads outreach and support initiatives. Hall said she hopes to use the Miss Universe Jamaica platform to create meaningful change while continuing to challenge herself. Meanwhile, 26-year-old medical doctor Tianna McDaniel was named first runner-up. McDaniel also won the Most Photogenic Award. Kadejah Anderson, a 30-year-old creative, marketing professional, model and singer, finished as second runner-up. Other sectional winners included Andrea Hill, who received the Congeniality Award; Miss Universe Jamaica St. Catherine Marci-Lee Smith, who won the Personality Award; Marsha Roberts, who received the Spirit of the Pageant Award; and Alanda Newman, who was named Runway Star.
Barbados, Venezuela agree to expand energy and agricultural ties Barbados and Venezuela have agreed to deepen cooperation on energy and food security, including expanded trade in petroleum products, agricultural investment and fisheries, following high-level talks between Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez. Mottley visited Venezuela on Monday, where the two leaders held a high-level working meeting involving ministers and other officials from both countries. The talks resulted in a joint declaration outlining plans for expanded cooperation across energy, agriculture, fisheries, education, culture, tourism, trade and transportation. On energy, the two countries agreed to develop commercial exchanges involving hydrocarbons and petroleum derivatives while providing training opportunities for Barbadian personnel in Venezuela. Venezuela is also expected to provide technical assistance and training in land exploration and the recovery of oil fields, while the two governments will establish a technical working group to monitor implementation of their agreements. The countries will also explore cooperation and investment in renewable energy and related infrastructure. The agreement comes as Barbados continues efforts to strengthen its energy security while pursuing its transition toward renewable energy. Food security also featured prominently in the discussions, with Bridgetown and Caracas agreeing to develop a joint agricultural work plan addressing climate change, resilient agricultural systems, livestock
management, soil health, and research and development. The countries plan to develop a bilateral protocol governing export and import permits and requirements for meat products and improve information sharing between their agriculture ministries. They will also explore joint investment in fisheries, including processing, value addition and logistics, as well as investment in agricultural lands aimed at increasing food supplies and strengthening food security. The governments said the initiatives are intended to help mitigate external shocks and uncertainty while expanding economic opportunities in both countries. Mottley and Rodríguez also agreed to establish a Binational Joint Commission to coordinate issues of mutual interest. The
commission is expected to meet annually, alternating between the two capitals. The two governments said implementation of the initiatives outlined in the declaration would begin immediately, with their foreign ministries reporting on progress every six months. During the visit, Mottley also toured a field hospital established in Guarenas following the June 24 earthquakes in Venezuela. Mottley expressed condolences to Rodríguez over those killed in the disaster, while the Venezuelan president thanked Barbados for deploying rescuers, sending humanitarian assistance and establishing the hospital, which the joint declaration said has treated more than 2,600 people.
Caricom hires external counsel amid challenge to Barnett’s reappointment The Caribbean Community (Caricom) has hired external legal counsel to handle its response to Trinidad and Tobago’s challenge to the process used to reappoint Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett. Caricom Chairman and St. Lucia Prime Minister Phillip J. Pierre confirmed the move Monday, saying the regional grouping had taken steps to ensure the process remains transparent. Pierre was speaking following a recent visit to Port of Spain, where he met with Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to discuss the matter. He described the meeting as “very cordial,” saying the two leaders updated each other on their respective positions regarding a proposed advisory opinion from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). “Basically, the prime minister wanted an update. I went to give an update on the advisory opinion … and what was the state of play on the opinion that the government of Trinidad and Tobago requested on the appointment of the secretarygeneral of CARICOM,” Pierre said. He said Trinidad and Tobago had prepared its position, while Caricom’s response would be reviewed by the external law firm. Pierre stressed that both Barnett and Caricom’s regular legal counsel have recused themselves from the process. “They’re not involved in the process at all. Neither the secretary-general of Caricom nor the counsel of Caricom is involved in the process. The process has been handled by external counsel,” he said. “Caricom has employed external counsel, so we want to ensure that the whole process is transparent.” According to Pierre, the external counsel has been provided with documents and precedents relating to the appointment of Caricom secretariesgeneral, while Trinidad and Tobago is expected to present its case to the judges. He did not indicate when that process would take place. Caricom leaders agreed at their summit in St. Lucia last month to seek an advisory opinion from the CCJ after Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica raised concerns about the procedure used to reappoint Barnett, the first woman to serve as Caricom secretary-general. Trinidad and Tobago has maintained that its objection is neither personal nor political. In a 22-page letter to regional leaders, Persad-Bissessar said her government’s concerns centered on the legality of the process and whether it complied with the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. Late last month, the Trinidad-based CCJ said it had not yet received an official request from Caricom for an advisory opinion on Barnett’s reappointment, although it acknowledged reports that a request could be forthcoming. Under the court’s procedures, copies of a request for an advisory opinion are to be served on all Caricom member states and the secretary-general within 14 days of receipt. Those served would then have 42 days to make written submissions. The CCJ said an advisory opinion would ordinarily be issued no later than six months after a hearing.
A6 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, AUGUST 27 – SEPTEMBER 2, 2026 | CNWNETWORK.COM
HAITI NEWS IACHR warns of risks to Haitians following US termination of TPS
Night of Terror At least 30 dead as gangs unleash ‘night of terror’ in Haiti’s Kenscoff At least 30 people were killed in Haiti’s hillside community of Kenscoff on Sunday night in an attack blamed on a coalition of criminal gangs led by Viv Ansanm, as the country continues to grapple with escalating gang violence. The Office of the Prime Minister condemned what it described as a “heinous attack” and said security forces had been placed on high alert, with reinforcements being deployed to the area overlooking the capital, Portau-Prince. “Kenscoff will not be abandoned,” the office said in a statement, adding that “the government’s authority will be restored, without weakness and without delay, throughout all of Kenscoff.” Kenscoff Mayor Jean Massillon described the assault as “a night of
terror,” as reports emerged of gang members storming the town center, attacking residents and setting fire to homes and vehicles. Videos circulating on social media appeared to show the aftermath of the violence, including bodies lying in pools of blood. The attackers also targeted a church where people who had already fled gang violence were sheltering. “They entered many homes and killed people; they also sequestered and kidnapped many others. A lot of people called us and said they had relatives who were killed. Some people said they saw more than 40 dead along the route, but we can’t confirm that yet,” Massillon said. He said his cousin, who works as a member of his security staff, was among those missing following the
attack. “We’re looking for him, trying to retrace his steps. We tried calling him, but couldn’t find him. We don’t know if he’s been kidnapped or killed.” Haitian human rights group RNDDH estimated that between 30 and 40 people were killed in the overnight attack, while another 15 to 20 were wounded. The latest violence comes as Haiti struggles to contain armed gangs that have expanded their control and launched increasingly deadly attacks in and around Port-au-Prince. According to data from the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, or BINUH, at least 1,642 people were killed and 745 injured as a result of violence during the first three months of 2026.
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The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has expressed concern over the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haitian nationals in the United States, warning that returning people to Haiti could expose them to serious human rights and security risks. In a statement Monday, the IACHR called on the United States to ensure international protection for Haitians when there are substantial grounds to believe their return would put their lives or personal safety at risk. Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, allows eligible nationals of designated countries to temporarily live and work in the United States when conditions such as armed conflict, natural disasters or other extraordinary circumstances make it unsafe for them to return home. Haiti was first designated for TPS in 2010 following the devastating earthquake that struck the country. The designation was subsequently extended and modified as conditions in Haiti evolved. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced in June 2025 that it would terminate Haiti's TPS designation. On June 25, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the termination to take effect, while an Aug. 5 decision by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia confirmed that the Department of Homeland Security could proceed with the move. Haiti's TPS designation was terminated effective July 27, 2026. While U.S. authorities determined that conditions in Haiti no longer met the statutory requirements for TPS, the IACHR said that assessment should be considered against the situation currently unfolding in the Caribbean nation. “The situation in Haiti continues to be confronted with dire challenges to citizen security, individual protection, and enjoyment of human rights, which may significantly impact those returned to the country,” the commission said. The IACHR noted that gangs were estimated to control between 80% and 90% of Port-au-Prince in 2026, with their presence also extending into the Artibonite, Centre and South-East departments. Citing data from the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, the commission said at least 613 people were killed and 375 injured in gang-related clashes in La Plaine de Cul-deSac between March 6 and July 31. As of May 13, approximately 1.47 million people were internally displaced across Haiti, representing about 12% of the country's population.
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64 Years of Independence: Has Jamaica or T&T Benefited More? J
amaica and Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) attained independence on Aug. 6 and 31, respectively, in 1962. With both countries commemorating 64 years of independence this year, some people have expressed interest in which of the two has achieved and benefited more from political independence. Some people are inclined to say T&T has benefited more economically, but with an important qualification: Trinidad's naturalresource advantage makes the comparison somewhat unfair to Jamaica. It's ironic that when Jamaica pulled out of the former West Indies Federation, one of the reasons expressed by anti-federalists headed by Sir Alexander Bustamante, then Jamaica's opposition leader, was that the other nine members of the federation, including T&T, would be a drain on Jamaica's economy. But in 1962, the economic difference between Jamaica and T&T was striking. T&T already had a higher income per person, about $704 versus Jamaica's $458, so T&T had a distinct economic advantage. Today, the gap is considerably larger. World Bank data put 2024 GDP per capita at approximately $18,733 in T&T and $7,754 in Jamaica, or roughly 2.4 times higher in T&T. The difference isn't merely GDP. The UNDP's latest Human Development Index places T&T at 0.807, ranking 72nd, and Jamaica at 0.720, ranking 117th. That's a substantial difference in the combination of income, education and life expectancy. But here's where the comparison becomes interesting. T&T is extraordinarily fortunate to possess oil and natural gas. The 1973-74 oilprice explosion transformed the country's finances. Real GDP grew at an extraordinary 9.6% annually from 1974-79. Jamaica had bauxite, but bauxite isn't remotely comparable to having large petroleum and natural gas revenues. Jamaica also had to import its oil, making the 1970s oil shock particularly damaging. Its real GDP fell about 21% between 1974 and 1980. On the other hand, Jamaica has achieved some remarkable accomplishments. Foremost, Jamaica developed a remarkably durable democracy. Despite periods of intense political violence, especially in the late 1970s, Jamaica has maintained competitive elections and alternation between the JLP and PNP.
Jamaica also built an internationally recognizable national brand. In music, athletics, culture, tourism and its diaspora, Jamaica's influence is vastly greater than its population or economic size would suggest. Bob Marley, reggae, dancehall, Rastafarian culture, Jamaican cuisine, sprinting and the enormous Jamaican diaspora have given Jamaica a global cultural footprint T&T simply hasn't matched. Without the advantage of the oil that T&T has, Jamaica has accomplished something extraordinary with its public finances in recent decades. After decades of extraordinarily high debt, Jamaica undertook painful fiscal reforms and dramatically reduced its debt burden. Jamaica entered independence with government debt of only about 20% of GDP but eventually experienced enormous debt accumulation before reversing course. Some people believe T&T hasn't fully taken advantage of its natural-resource assets. The nation had an opportunity to transform itself into something like a small Caribbean version of Norway: a highly diversified, prosperous, technologically advanced economy with enormous sovereign savings and world-class institutions. But it didn't fully accomplish that. The country invested heavily in state enterprises, infrastructure and social programs, and its citizens unquestionably benefited from the oil wealth. But the economy remained heavily dependent on hydrocarbons. T&T may have done better than Jamaica economically, but not as well as it could have done. When asking whether average citizens in T&T and Jamaica have experienced a substantial improvement in their standard of
Enrollment Crisis The moves underscore a broader challenge facing public education in South Florida, where officials point to declining birth rates, the region’s high cost of living, changing immigration patterns and competition from other school options as factors contributing to falling enrollment. In Broward, Superintendent Howard Hepburn said the district currently has about 60,000 empty seats and lost another 11,000 students between the first day of the previous school year and the start of the current one. “It is a tough decision for myself and also for the board, but we have to be fiscally responsible at the same time,” Hepburn said. The 10 Broward schools being considered for closure are Banyan Elementary, Coral Springs Elementary, Silver Lakes Elementary, Dolphin Bay Elementary, Hollywood Park Elementary, Lloyd Estates Elementary, Oakridge Elementary, Forest Glen Middle, Walter C. Young Middle and William Dandy Middle. “No one on this board wants to hurt the communities that we represent,” School Board Chair Sarah Leonardi said. “Everyone up here understands this is an extremely painful process for everyone involved.” The district says closing and consolidating schools is necessary to “right-size” a
living since 1962, it seems T&T citizens have had the clear advantage. T&T's oil and gas resources enabled the country to provide relatively high wages, extensive social services, infrastructure and a higher standard of living. The historical record shows that by the 1970s and 1980s, Trinidad had achieved exceptionally high literacy, electricity and potable-water access and other quality-of-life indicators. But if the question is which country used political independence to build a sustainable, diversified and well-governed society, the gap becomes much narrower, with Jamaica ahead. The area where neither country can claim great success is crime and security. Both have suffered serious violent crime problems. Although emergency crime-control measures can reduce violence in both countries, neither has solved the underlying problem. From an economic viewpoint, T&T has benefited more after 64 years, primarily because history handed it a much better economic hand. Jamaica had to play with a weaker hand. And in some respects, Jamaica's achievements — maintaining democracy, creating a remarkably influential national culture, building a globally important tourism industry, producing world-class athletes and artists, and eventually bringing its enormous debt burden under control — are quite impressive. T&T has produced better material and human-development outcomes, while Jamaica has perhaps made the more impressive achievements relative to the resources and circumstances with which it started. T&T has had considerably more naturalresource wealth than Jamaica since 1962, but it has not converted that advantage into the kind of diversified, resilient economy that could have evolved. Jamaica, meanwhile, never had Trinidad's oil windfall or the luxury of becoming overly dependent upon it. Instead, Jamaica made great, determined and successful attempts to make gains from mining its cultural and athletic assets, building Jamaica into an outstanding international brand. Despite their respective shortcomings, both nations have progressed over the past 64 years, validating the decisions that made them politically independent nations.
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system with significantly more classroom capacity than students. But community members questioned whether closing campuses addresses the underlying reasons families are disappearing from the public school system. “There’s been a lot of focus on closing schools or absorbing schools to meet the decline in enrollment rather than finding what is the cause of our decline,” one speaker said during Tuesday’s workshop. Others warned that closing neighborhood schools could have consequences beyond the classroom, disrupting networks of childcare, enrichment programs and other services built around schools and the families they serve. Hepburn said several factors appear to be driving the decline. “I think the affordability and the birthrate are definitely a correlation,” he said. “Also immigration policies, many of our newcomers are not coming to the country right now, which South Florida is a hotbed for immigration, and also the advancement of school choice.” The latest proposal follows Broward’s decision last school year to close six campuses as part of its response to declining enrollment. And the district may not be finished. School Board member Allen Zeman
suggested even the current number of closures may not be enough to match the scale of Broward’s enrollment losses. “Twenty-seven, to be clear, is 16.6% of our schools while our enrollment is going down 40%,” Zeman said. “It’s less than half. I don’t think that’s bold — I think that’s right.” A similar examination is underway in neighboring Miami-Dade. The district’s Attendance Boundary Committee has identified 12 schools for reassessment and another 14 for comprehensive review as officials consider whether continuing to operate them in their current form best serves students and the district. Schools being reassessed include Brentwood Elementary, Carol City Middle, Golden Glades Elementary, Lake Stevens Elementary, Myrtle Grove Elementary, Lorah Park Elementary, Paul L. Dunbar K-8 Center, Center for International Education, Greenglade Elementary, Hammocks Middle, Kendale Elementary and Village Green Elementary. Another 14 campuses are under review: Natural Bridge Elementary, North County K-8 Center, North Dade Middle, Emerson Elementary, Lillie C. Evans K-8 Center, Ludlam Elementary, Kelsey L. Pharr Elementary, Orchard Villa Elementary, Gloria Floyd Elementary, Lamar Louise
Curry Middle, Marjory Stoneman Douglas Elementary, Olympia Heights Elementary, Riviera Middle/Tropical Elementary and South Miami Heights Elementary. According to the committee, reassessments consider factors including enrollment trends, facility use, academic programming, financial sustainability, building conditions, transportation, community impact and opportunities for future growth or redevelopment. Schools placed under review are not necessarily being considered for repurposing or closure. Instead, they will undergo a broader evaluation to determine whether continued operations are in the educational, operational and financial interests of the district and its students. In Broward, Tuesday’s workshop marks the beginning of what is expected to be a months-long process. School officials are expected to take a final vote on the proposed closures in December. For families and communities across South Florida, the decisions could reshape the public school landscape as the region’s two largest districts confront a reality increasingly difficult to ignore: fewer students and tens of thousands of classroom seats left unfilled.
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Beyond Carnival
or a country of fewer than 2 million people, Trinidad and Tobago has left an unusually large cultural footprint. The twin-island republic, which celebrates 64 years of independence on Aug. 31, is internationally synonymous with Carnival. But its
10 ways Trinidad and Tobago has shaped the world metal containers and discovered they could produce different pitches by shaping their surfaces. Today, it is Trinidad and Tobago's national instrument. Its significance has gained international recognition. In 2023, the United Nations declared Aug. 11 World Steelpan Day, and in 2024, Trinidad and Tobago registered the steelpan as a geographical indication, formally linking the instrument to its place of origin.
traditions traveled with Caribbean migrants, helping influence major celebrations in cities including London, Toronto and New York. Elements such as masquerade, steelpan and calypso and soca music became central features of Caribbean diaspora festivals. The result is that pieces of Trinidad's Carnival culture can now be experienced thousands of miles from Port of Spain.
Literary giants Trinidad and Tobago has produced writers whose influence stretches far beyond the Caribbean. V.S. Naipaul, born in Chaguanas in 1932, won the 2001 Nobel Prize in Literature. His acclaimed works include “A House
Calypso influence extends far beyond the annual festival. From an instrument invented on the streets of Trinidad to music heard at celebrations around the globe, record-breaking athletes and writers whose works became international classics, here are 10 ways Trinidad and Tobago has made its mark on the world.
Steelpan Perhaps no contribution is more distinctly Trinidadian than the steelpan. Developed in Trinidad during the 1930s and 1940s, pan evolved as musicians experimented with
Long before soca, there was calypso. Developed in Trinidad, calypso grew from a mixture of African and Caribbean musical traditions and became known for storytelling, satire and social commentary. By 1914, calypso recordings were already being made in New York. Artists including the Mighty Sparrow and Lord Kitchener later helped carry the music internationally, establishing a foundation for generations of Caribbean performers who followed.
Soca Trinidad didn't stop at calypso. Soca emerged in the 1970s through the experimentation of
Garfield Blackman, better known as Lord Shorty, who sought to fuse calypso with East Indian musical influences. The genre has since become the dominant soundtrack of many Caribbean Carnivals, with Trinidadian performers including Machel Montano, Superblue, Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons helping take it around the world.
Carnival culture Yes, we're going beyond Carnival — but its international impact is impossible to ignore. Trinidad and Tobago's Carnival
for Mr. Biswas,” which drew heavily on Trinidadian life. The country also produced historian and intellectual C.L.R. James, whose works include “The Black Jacobins” and the celebrated cricket memoir and social commentary “Beyond a Boundary.”
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1976 Montreal Olympics, giving independent Trinidad and Tobago its first Olympic gold medal. Since then, athletes including Ato Boldon, Richard Thompson, Keshorn Walcott and the country's relay teams have kept the red, white and black prominent on international podiums.
A barrier-breaking Miss Universe In 1977, Trinidad and Tobago's Janelle Commissiong changed pageant history. The Port of Spain-born beauty
An outsized cultural footprint Perhaps Trinidad and Tobago's greatest export is the way its traditions continue to travel. Its music fills Carnival routes from the Caribbean to North America and Europe. Steel orchestras now perform around the world. Its writers are studied internationally, its athletes have rewritten record books and its food has followed Trinidadian and Tobagonian communities across the diaspora.
The limbo “How low can you go?” has become recognizable around the world, but the limbo has deep connections to Trinidad and Tobago. The dance was traditionally practiced in Trinidad and Tobago before moving into clubs and theatrical performances in the 1940s and 1950s. Trinidadian dancer Julia Edwards was instrumental in transforming and popularizing limbo as an international performance spectacle. It subsequently spread throughout the Caribbean and to North America and Europe.
Cricket legends Few countries Trinidad and Tobago's size can claim a cricket legacy quite like it. Brian Lara remains one of the game's most celebrated batsmen and became synonymous with West Indies cricket during his international career. Other Trinidad and Tobago greats have
included Learie Constantine, Deryck Murray and more recently Kieron Pollard. The country's Queen's Park Oval has also been one of the historic homes of West Indies cricket.
Olympic history Trinidad and Tobago's impact isn't limited to cricket. Sprinter Hasely Crawford became a national hero when he won the men's 100 meters at the
queen became the first Black woman to win Miss Universe when she was crowned in the Dominican Republic. According to the Miss Universe Organization, Commissiong used her reign to advocate for women's rights and the human rights of people of African descent. Her victory made her an international symbol of representation at a time when global beauty competitions overwhelmingly favored white contestants.
That influence is particularly striking for a nation that only gained independence from Britain on Aug. 31, 1962. Sixty-four years later, Trinidad and Tobago remains a relatively small country geographically. Its contribution to global culture has been anything but.
B2 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, AUGUST 27 – SEPTEMBER 2, 2026 | CNWNETWORK.COM HAPPY
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A Taste of Trinidad and Tobago
dishes you have to try
Trinidad and Tobago may be famous for Carnival, soca and steelpan, but the twin-island nation has another cultural attraction worth celebrating this Independence Day: its food. The country’s cuisine reflects centuries of migration and cultural exchange, bringing together African, Indian, Indigenous, European, Chinese and Middle Eastern influences. The result is a food culture where curry, coconut milk, pepper sauce, chickpeas, seafood and fresh herbs coexist — sometimes on the same plate. As Trinidad and Tobago marks 64 years of independence on Aug. 31, here are 10 foods that offer a taste of the country.
Doubles For many Trinidadians, doubles needs no introduction. The beloved
street food consists of two pieces of soft fried bara filled with curried chickpeas, known as channa, then dressed with sauces and chutneys that can include tamarind, mango, cucumber and plenty of pepper. Doubles emerged in Trinidad in the 20th century and is now sold across the island, particularly in places such as Curepe, Debe, St. James and Port of Spain. It's commonly eaten for breakfast, although there's really no wrong time for doubles.
Roti
Trinidad and Tobago's large Indo-Caribbean population has left an unmistakable mark on its cuisine, and roti is among the best examples. Dhalpuri — a thin roti filled with ground split peas — can be wrapped around curry chicken, goat, channa, potato or other fillings. Paratha, better known locally as “buss up shut” because its torn layers resemble a tattered shirt, is another favorite, typically served alongside curries rather than wrapped.
Bake and shark Few dishes are as closely associated with a particular Trinidad destination as bake and shark is with Maracas Bay. The sandwich combines fried bake with seasoned fried shark and is then customized with an almost intimidating selection of toppings and condiments, including garlic sauce, tamarind, pepper sauce, coleslaw and vegetables. Trinidad's tourism authorities go as far as saying a visit to Maracas Bay isn't complete without trying one.
Pelau
Curry crab and dumplings Cross over to Tobago and one dish immediately demands attention. Curried crab and dumplings is widely regarded as Tobago's signature dish. Crab is cooked in a
deeply seasoned curry and served with thick dumplings that soak up the sauce. Tobago's tourism agency describes it as one of the island's essential food experiences, and eating it properly is a hands-on affair — cracking shells and getting every bit of meat from the crab is part of the experience.
If you're looking for Trinidadian comfort food, start with pelau. The one-pot dish typically combines rice, pigeon peas and meat with coconut milk, herbs and vegetables. One of its defining steps is browning the meat in caramelized sugar, giving the finished dish its characteristic color and depth of flavor. It's the kind of meal that works equally well at home, at a party or packed into a container for a day at the beach.
Callaloo Callaloo appears throughout the Caribbean, but Trinidad and Tobago has its own distinctive version. Traditionally built around dasheen leaves and okra, it is cooked with ingredients such as coconut milk, pumpkin, herbs and seasonings and may include crab or salted meat. The result is a thick, savory dish commonly served alongside rice and meat.
Pholourie Small, fried and dangerously easy to keep eating, pholourie is another product of Trinidad and Tobago's Indo-Caribbean culinary heritage. The seasoned split-pea fritters are served hot, usually with tamarind, mango or another chutney. They're a fixture among street-food vendors.
Saltfish buljol and bake A traditional breakfast can mean bake paired with buljol, a mixture of salted fish with tomatoes, onions, peppers and other seasonings. The saltfish is shredded and combined with the fresh ingredients, producing a dish that is salty, bright and flavorful. Pair it with warm coconut bake or fried bake and you've got one of the country's classic morning meals.
Aloo pie Trinidad clearly knows its way around fried dough. Aloo pie is made by stuffing dough with seasoned mashed potato before frying it until golden. Vendors commonly split the finished pie and add channa, chutneys and pepper sauce, turning a seemingly simple snack into something far more substantial. Together, these dishes tell part of Trinidad and Tobago's story. Indian migration brought culinary traditions that evolved into distinctly Trinidadian roti, doubles and pholourie, while African influences remain deeply embedded in dishes and ingredients across both islands. The result, 64 years after independence, is a cuisine that is difficult to put into any single category — and unmistakably Trinidad and Tobago.
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INVITATION TO BID ITB-26-JOC1 FOR JOB ORDER CONTRACTING FOR MDCPS MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS FOR *OPEN MARKET *SHELTERED MARKET FOR SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISES (SBE) *SHELTERED MARKET FOR MICRO BUSINESS ENTERPRISES (MBE)
JOC26OC-1, JOC26OC-2, JOC26OC-3, JOC26OC-4, JOC26OC-5, JOC26OC-6, JOC26SC-1, JOC26SC-2, JOC26SC-3, JOC26SC-4, JOC26MC-1, JOC26MC-2, JOC26SC-HVAC-1, JOC26SC-HVAC-2, JOC26SC-HVAC-3, JOC26SC-ROOF-1, JOC26SC-ROOF-2, and JOC26SC-ROOF-3 The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida (Board), intends to award to six (6) Open Market Job Order Contracts ("JOC"), four (4) Small Business Job Order Contracts, and two (2) Micro Business Job Order Contracts, three (3) Small Business HVAC Job Order Contracts, and three (3) Small Business Roong Job Order Contracts joint ventures for continuing (term) contract(s). The maximum initial value for JOC26OC-1, JOC26OC-2, JOC26OC-3, JOC26OC-4, JOC26OC-5, and JOC26OC-6 is $2,000,000 with two (2) possible extensions of $2,000,000 each within each term. The terms of the contract will be for Twelve (12) Months and may include two (2) renewal options for one (1) additional year each. The maximum initial value for JOC26SC-1, JOC26SC-2, JOC26SC-3, and JOC26SC-4 is $500,000 with two (2) possible extensions of $500,000 each within each term. The terms of the contract will be for Twelve (12) Months and may include two (2) renewal options for one (1) additional year each. The maximum initial value for JOC26MC-1 and JOC26MC-2 is $200,000 with two (2) possible extensions of $200,000 each within each term. The terms of the contract will be for Twelve (12) Months and may include two (2) renewal options for one (1) additional year each. The maximum initial value for JOC26SC-HVAC-1, JOC26SC-HVAC-2, and JOC26SC-HVAC-3 is $500,000 with two (2) possible extensions of $500,000 each within each term. The terms of the contract will be for Twelve (12) Months and may include two (2) renewal options for one (1) additional year each. The maximum initial value for JOC26SC-ROOF-1, JOC26SC-ROOF-2 and JOC26SC-ROOF-3 is $500,000 with two (2) possible extensions of $500,000 each within each term. The terms of the contract will be for Twelve (12) Months and may include two (2) renewal options for one (1) additional year each. The Board reserves the right to limit the number of concurrent continuing contracts held by a single rm. The Board also reserves the right to utilize alternate delivery methods. Only prime rms certied by Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) as a Small Business Enterprise may participate in Job Order Contracts JOC26SC-1, JOC26SC-2, JOC26SC-3 JOC26SC-4, JOC26SCHVAC-1, JOC26SC-HVAC-2, JOC26SC-HVAC-3, JOC26SC-ROOF-1, JOC26SC-ROOF-2, and JOC26SC-ROOF-3. Only prime rms certied by Miami- Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) as a Micro Business Enterprise may participate in Job Order Contracts JOC26MC-1 and JOC26MC-2. The Board adheres to a policy of non-discrimination in educational programs/activities and employment and strives afrmatively to provide equal opportunity for all. Refer to Board Policy 6320.02 for Small/Micro Business Enterprise Program Certication. Pursuant to Board Policy 6320.02, the Board has applied a mandatory subcontracting assistance level of twenty-ve percent (25%) for SBE/MBE rms to Job Order Contract JOC26OC-1, JOC26OC-2, JOC26OC-3, JOC26OC-4, JOC26OC-5, and JOC26OC-6 to encourage participation by SBE/MBE rms. Job Order Contracts JOC26SC-1, JOC26SC-2, JOC26SC-3, JOC26SC-4, JOC26SC-HVAC-1, JOC26SC-HVAC-2, JOC26SC-HVAC-3, JOC26SC-ROOF-1, JOC26SC-ROOF-2, and JOC26SC-ROOF-3 are set asides for Small Business Enterprises. Job Order Contract JOC26MC-1 and JOC26MC-2 are set asides for Micro Business Enterprises. MANDATORY PRE-BID CONFERENCE: Date/Time: Thursday, September 10, 2026 at 10:00 am, local time Sign-in Period: 10:00 am to 10:20 am, local time Location: Miami Dade County School Maintenance Operations Building in Room 215 2nd Floor Training Room at 12525 N.W.28th Avenue Miami, Florida 33167 QUESTIONS: Written questions regarding this solicitation will be accepted until 11:00 am, local time, Friday, September 18, 2026. Questions may be submitted to Marvin Francisco at 278386@dadeschools.net and a copy to the Clerk of the School Board at CeliaRubio@dadeschools.net. Pertinent Questions and Answers (Q&As) will be posted under legal advertisement in the “INFO” icon at: https://capitalapps.dadeschools.net/solicitations/defaultjocs Sealed bids will be received by The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida, for the contract listed herein, until 1:00 P.M. local time, Thursday, October 15, 2026, at the Perla Tabares Hantman School Board Administration Building, 1450 NE Second Avenue Lobby in the N.E. Fifteenth (15th) Street Entrance, Miami, Florida, 33132. Location: Perla Tabares Hantman School Board Administration Building, 1450 NE Second Avenue Lobby in the NE Fifteenth (15th) Street Entrance, Miami, Florida, 33132. Deadline: Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 1:00 pm Instructions: Bidders can drop off their bids at the 1450 NE Second Avenue Lobby in the NE Fifteenth (15th) Street Entrance, Miami, Florida, 33132 on Thursday, October 15, 2026. On the day of the Bid Opening, bids will be received in the Lobby. After 1:01 pm the bids will be opened at the same location, Perla Tabares Hantman School Board Auditorium. A picture ID is required to enter the premises. REQUIREMENTS: This is an abbreviated ad; the complete legal advertisement with Mandatory Pre-Proposal Conference information, insurance requirements, Contractor’s Pre-Qualication requirements and detailed instructions for this solicitation, including the selection procedures, are available at the above address or at: https://capitalapps.dadeschools.net/solicitations/defaultjocs Intending Bidders may obtain the bid and contract documents on or after Thursday, August 20, 2026 by downloading them using the link provided below: https://fortive.box.com/s/2efx7xaj665exm8wbe0ac5lio8tp4ogd In accordance with Board policies, a Cone of Silence, Registered Lobbyist requirements and Protest Procedures are hereby activated. Failure to comply with requirements of this legal advertisement and/or Board policies shall be grounds for disqualication. These, and all related Board policies, can be accessed and downloaded at: https://www3.dadeschools.net/SchoolBoard/policies/home Protest - Purchase Approval and Competitive Bidding Process Requirements, Board Policy 6320 Failure to le a protest within the time prescribed and in the manner specied in Board policy or in accordance with F.S. Section 120.57(3) shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under F.S. Chapter 120. Protest of Bid Award Any person who is adversely affected by the Board's decision or intended decision, shall le a Notice of Protest in writing with the Clerk of the Board, who shall maintain an ofce in the Board Administration building, within seventy-two (72) hours after the posting of the Board's decision or intended decision/action and shall le a Formal Written Protest within ten (10) calendar days after ling the Notice of Protest. The protesting Bidder shall also be required to post a bond, consistent with this rule. Failure to le a Notice of Protest or failure to le a Formal Written Protest shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under F.S. Chapter 120.57. The formal written protest shall state with particularity the facts and law upon which the protest is based. Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays shall be excluded in the computation of the seventy-two (72) hour time period provided by this paragraph. The Board’s notice of intended action shall be posted the Friday preceding the Board’s Fiscal Accountability & Government Relations Committee meeting immediately prior to the Board meeting at which the contract will be awarded or approved. The notice of intended action can be found on the Procurement Management Services’ website at: https://capitalapps.dadeschools.net/solicitations/defaultjocs , under the NOTICES section located on the top left hand side of the page. The Board’s monthly Committee meetings are posted on the District’s Master Calendar page, which can be accessed via the following link: https://www3.dadeschools.net/Meetings/home . To nd the Board Committee meeting for the current month, search under the “School Board and School Board Committee Meetings” category from the drop down menu, which can be found under the MEETINGS LISTING section of the page. Parties interested in obtaining records related to any items noted in the notice of intended action shall submit a public records request to the District at prr@dadeschools.net . Such public records requests shall be addressed in accordance with Chapter 119 of the Florida Statute. If a public records request is related to an intent to protest, parties may wish to include a notation of such intent in their request. All vendors must comply with Board Policy 6320.02 and the procedures described in the Ofce of Community Partnerships, Education and Business Access (OCPEBA) Administrative Procedures Manuel in effect at the time the vendors enter into an agreement with the Board. All vendors will be required to submit a monthly compliance report via the M-DCPS Online Business Compliance System for compliance with the use of Small/ Micro (SBE/MBE) subcontractors. All vendors will be required to submit monthly compliance reports online at: http://miamidadeschools.sbecompliance.com. Please contact the Ofce of Community Partnerships, Education and Business Access at 305-995-1307 or via email at CPEBA@dadeschools.net for questions on the submittal of monthly compliance reports. The Board adheres to a policy of non-discrimination in educational programs/activities and employment and strives afrmatively to provide equal opportunity for all.
B4 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, AUGUST 27 – SEPTEMBER 2, 2026 | CNWNETWORK.COM
COMMUNITY & THE DIASPORA
US-based Jamaican nonprofit donates J$60M in medical supplies to Percy Junor Hospital A United States-based Jamaican diaspora organization has donated more than JMD$60 million worth of medical equipment and supplies to Percy Junor Hospital in Clarendon as part of an ongoing partnership aimed at strengthening healthcare services at the facility. Right Now For Jamaica (RNFJ), a Maryland-based nonprofit, officially handed over its latest donation, valued at approximately US$400,000, on Friday. The donation included hospital beds, resuscitation equipment, IV poles, recliners, mattresses, overbed tables, tablets, computers and other medical and patient-care supplies. The equipment is expected to improve patient care and strengthen the hospital’s capacity to serve communities in Clarendon and surrounding areas. Speaking at the handover ceremony, Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Efficiency, Innovation and Digital Transformation, Ambassador Audrey Marks, praised RNFJ for responding to the hospital’s needs following Hurricane Melissa. Marks said representatives of the organization visited the facility and consulted with staff to determine where assistance was most urgently needed. “They saw the pressure on the operating theatre, the needs of the paediatric unit and the challenges affecting out-patient services. We talked about equipment, rehabilitation, trauma readiness, digital systems and the clinical environment in which health care
200,000 visas from A1
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau on Monday criticized the use of visitor visas by people who subsequently apply for asylum in the United States. “People in the US and all over the world are fed up with bogus asylum claims,” Landau wrote on X. “Asylum isn't supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration law.” He cited the case of a Colombian national who entered the United States on a tourist visa in 2015 and subsequently applied for asylum. B1 visas are generally issued to people traveling temporarily to the United States for business, while B2 visas cover travel for purposes including tourism, visiting family and receiving medical treatment. It remains unclear exactly how many B1 and B2 visa holders have sought asylum and would be affected by the planned action. Current applicants for the visas are required to demonstrate that they intend to leave the United States after their temporary stay. The potential mass revocation would follow a broader increase in visa enforcement by the State Department. According to the AP, the department has revoked approximately 175,000 visas over the past 18 months involving people convicted or accused of crimes, as well as some people who publicly opposed U.S. policies. The administration has also increased scrutiny of so-called birth tourism, in which foreign women travel to the United States to give birth, allowing their children to acquire U.S. citizenship at birth. According to the AP, State Department documents indicate that the review of existing B1 and B2 visa holders began after the department received information about asylum applications from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
professionals were asked to work,” Marks said. “We saw a team of doctors and nurses doing their best with what was available to them.” Marks also praised the hospital’s staff for continuing to provide care despite resource constraints, noting that in the weeks following Hurricane Melissa, Percy Junor Hospital treated patients from as far away as St. Elizabeth. The latest donation builds on RNFJ’s
previous investment in the hospital, including the RNFJ-PJH Ambulatory Clinic unveiled earlier this year. The $30 million modular, container-based facility features eight fully equipped examination rooms, triage capacity, procedural surgical care, office space and patient recovery bays. It also supports primary care, pediatric services and specialist consultations. “Critically, resilience has been built into the facility, with backup power, an independ-
ent water supply, and off-grid capabilities,” Marks said. The tablets and computers included in the latest donation are also expected to support Percy Junor Hospital’s planned transition to an electronic medical records system. RNFJ President Dr. Maurice Miles said the organization was established by Jamaicans in the diaspora following Hurricane Melissa as they sought ways to support the country’s recovery. Many of the organization’s members have backgrounds in healthcare and education and traveled to Jamaica last November to assess the hurricane’s impact and identify areas where assistance was most needed. Miles said those assessments led RNFJ to select Percy Junor Hospital as its primary focus. RNFJ Director Rosalee Gordon said the organization intends to help the hospital’s healthcare workers provide quality care while also supporting education initiatives in Jamaica. Gordon also acknowledged Matter NGO and Jamaican-founded company Yassuh for supporting the organization’s work. RNFJ Vice President Dr. Trudy Hall described the organization as a long-term partner of the hospital. “Every day you save a life, a child is cared for… every day someone gets care to go back home to their families. RNFJ is here as a longterm partner to help you do that,” Hall said.
Miami-Dade awards $225,000 to 36 small businesses, nonprots The Miami-Dade Economic Advocacy Trust has awarded $225,000 in grants to 36 small businesses and nonprofit organizations across Miami-Dade County as part of its 2026 Business Empowerment Blueprint Grant Cycle. The funding was distributed through two grant programs aimed at helping established and emerging businesses strengthen their operations and pursue growth. Eighteen established businesses received $10,000 each through the Small Business Capitalization Grant, which is intended to help recipients strengthen operations, scale infrastructure and expand workforce capacity. Another 18 emerging businesses received $2,500 each through the Business Resource Grant to help establish an operational foundation for long-term stability. The Miami-Dade Economic Advocacy Trust, or MDEAT, said recipients are located across North, Central and South MiamiDade and represent 10 county commission
districts. “What we're celebrating isn't just 36 grants, it's 36 businesses that are now stronger, better resourced, and better positioned to grow right here in Miami-Dade County,” MDEAT Executive Director William “Bill” Diggs said. “From North Dade to South Dade, these entrepreneurs represent the resilience and ambition that drive our local economy, and we're proud to invest directly in their success.” Recipients include businesses and organizations operating in a range of sectors, including health care, child care, consulting, food services, media and retail. Among the recipients of $10,000 grants are A Divas Dream Boutique, Sprout Up, Tidy Pets and Upright Spine Center in South Miami-Dade; Dream Clean, Italian Vice and She Got Game Media in Central MiamiDade; and Fit Fast Food, Rod Helping Hands and Single Life Ministries in North MiamiDade.
Recipients of the $2,500 grants include Birts Legal, Prime Printing Global, RejuvaSkin MedSpa and Well-Spoken in South Miami-Dade, as well as Cazeau Family Daycare, Grace Home Healthcare, Marlos Roasted Corn and Sweet Treats by Nathalie in North Miami-Dade. MDEAT will formally recognize the recipients during its 2026 Business Empowerment Grant Reception on Thursday, Aug. 27, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the North Dade Regional Library in Miami Gardens. The event will bring together grant recipients, community partners and MDEAT leadership to celebrate the businesses and organizations selected during this year's grant cycle. MDEAT said it will continue working with the recipients through technical assistance, networking opportunities and future funding initiatives under its broader Business Empowerment Blueprint framework.
Former Sweetwater commissioner sentenced to 18 months for PPP fraud A former City of Sweetwater commissioner has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining nearly $950,000 through the Paycheck Protection Program. Sophia Lacayo, 48, of Doral, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles after pleading guilty to wire fraud, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida announced. Sweetwater, informally known as "Little Managua", " is located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. According to court records, Lacayo submitted or caused fraudulent PPP loan applications to be submitted on behalf of three companies to obtain pandemic-relief funds for which they were not eligible.
Lacayo owned Lacayo Trade Group Inc. and exercised significant control over QC Tax Pro Systems LLC and QC Trade Group LLC, prosecutors said. The loan applications allegedly inflated the companies’ payroll expenses, employee numbers, revenues and wages paid. Prosecutors said Lacayo supported the applications with falsified documents, including fraudulent IRS forms, fabricated payroll records and a falsified bank statement. The scheme resulted in approximately $948,325 in PPP loans being issued to Lacayo and the companies, according to federal prosecutors. The total included two loans of $251,465 each obtained on behalf of QC Tax, a
$117,500 loan for QC Trade and a $327,895 loan for Lacayo Trade. “Sophia Lacayo exploited an emergency program intended to keep workers employed and small businesses alive, using fabricated tax forms and false payroll records to obtain nearly $950,000,” U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones said. “As a former elected official, she knew the importance of public trust but chose fraud instead. This sentence holds her accountable for stealing pandemic-relief funds from American taxpayers.” At sentencing, the court noted that Lacayo had already repaid more than $444,000 in advance restitution, which was used to reimburse lenders for the fraudulent loans.
CNWNETWORK.COM | NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, AUGUST 27 – SEPTEMBER 2, 2026 –
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ENTERTAINMENT
Oliver Samuels brings ‘Where Dere’s A Will, Dere’s A Criminal’ to South Florida Michael Dawson, CEO of Whirlwind Live Performances, is making a bold prediction about Oliver Samuels’ latest production, Where Dere’s A Will, Dere’s A Criminal. In an era where statements can quickly go viral, a producer with Dawson’s experience might be expected to temper his promises. Instead, he is doubling down on his claim that the production could help return Jamaican live theater to its glory days. Asked whether he wanted to rephrase his bold assessment of the play, Dawson stood firmly behind it. “I said what I said. I have been taking Jamaican theater over the world for 14 years. Blessed to work on some great productions, but the way Oliver wrote and starred in this one....he wanted to make a statement and he did...this play will reignite Jamaica theater for
years to come....its that funny...its that good....I put my entire reputation on it,” Dawson said. Dawson, who is typically reserved in his assessments, said several elements of the production set it apart, including Samuels’ interaction with audiences and the play’s storyline. “Its Oliver's interaction with the audience, its his monologues....its the plot about 'Wills' and the fight for 'Dead Lef'....it is Oliver's best work yet in my opinion,” he
said. Whirlwind Live Performances will bring Where Dere’s A Will, Dere’s A Criminal to South Florida over Labor Day weekend. The production is scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, at Everglades High School in Miramar, followed by an 8 p.m. performance Sunday, Sept. 6, at the Coral Springs Center for the Performing Arts.
Usain Bolt engaged to longtime partner Kasi Bennett Jamaican track icon Usain Bolt is set to marry his longtime partner, Kasi Bennett, after reportedly proposing during his 40th birthday celebrations in Kingston. Bolt reportedly asked Bennett to marry him while the couple was celebrating at the rooftop of One Belmont. He presented her with a five-carat engagement ring during the proposal. The engagement comes more than a decade after Bolt and Bennett began their relationship, which has grown from a largely private romance into one of Jamaica’s most recognizable celebrity partnerships.
Bennett, a Jamaican model, entrepreneur and philanthropist, has been a constant presence in Bolt’s life through the latter years of his record-breaking athletics career and his transition into life after competitive track and field.
From private romance to public partnership Bolt and Bennett reportedly began dating around 2013, keeping their relationship mostly away from public attention in its early years. The couple’s romance came into the spotlight during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, when Bennett publicly supported Bolt as he added to his already remarkable Olympic legacy. In the years since, Bolt and Bennett have occasionally offered fans glimpses into their relationship and family life, while continuing to keep many aspects of their personal lives private. The reported proposal now marks a new milestone for the couple, following years of public interest and speculation over whether the eight-time Olympic gold medalist would eventually tie the knot with Bennett. The pair share three children. Their first child, daughter Olympia Lightning Bolt, was born in 2020. They welcomed twin sons, Thunder Bolt and Saint Leo Bolt, the following year.
B6 – NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, AUGUST 27 – SEPTEMBER 2, 2026 | CNWNETWORK.COM
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Shaw reclaims PFA Women’s Player of the Year crown Khadijah “Bunny” Shaw has once again been recognized as the finest player in English women’s football, with the Jamaican international capturing the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Women’s Player of the Year award. The Manchester City striker’s latest triumph places her among an elite group in the history of the prestigious honor. Shaw becomes only the third player to win the PFA Women’s Player of the Year award multiple times, joining English stars Lucy Bronze and Fran Kirby. It is the second time in three seasons that Shaw has claimed the award. Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes won the corresponding PFA Men’s Player of the Year honor. Shaw’s award comes after a remarkable campaign in which she continued to redefine the standards for goal scoring in the Women’s Super League. The 29-year-old Jamaican scored 21 goals in 22 appearances, powering Manchester City to its second WSL championship and securing the Golden Boot for an unprecedented third consecutive season. That achievement alone placed Shaw in a class of her own. She is now the first player to win three WSL Golden Boots, moving beyond two-time winners Vivianne Miedema and Sam Kerr. But Shaw’s season was about more than consistency. When Manchester City needed decisive moments, the Jamaican repeatedly delivered them. One of Shaw’s most spectacular performances came against Aston Villa, when she erupted for four goals. She also recorded a hat-trick against Tottenham before adding two more goals against West Ham on the final day of the league campaign. That brace carried additional significance. With it, Shaw became the first player to
score at least 20 goals in three separate WSL seasons, a remarkable testament to her sustained dominance at the highest level. Her numbers were not simply the product of one extraordinary campaign. They represented a sustained scoring standard that has now become synonymous with the Jamaican forward. Shaw’s impact extended beyond league competition. She scored five additional goals in cup play, including the opening goal in the FA Cup final as Manchester City lifted the trophy. That contribution completed a season in which Shaw combined individual excellence with team success, helping City capture both the WSL title and the FA Cup. Her ability to deliver in decisive matches ultimately strengthened the case for another PFA crown. For Shaw, the latest award represents
another major milestone in a career that continues to grow in stature. She is now part of an exclusive trio of multiple-time PFA Women’s Player of the Year winners, while her record three WSL Golden Boots further underline her place among the competition’s all-time elite. At 29, the Jamaican has already established a level of sustained excellence few players have matched. And with another PFA award now added to her collection, Shaw’s influence on English women’s football continues to reach new heights.
Lloyd Barker’s Montreal legacy immortalized with Wall of Fame honor Lloyd Barker’s remarkable contribution to Canadian soccer received its highest recognition Saturday when the former Jamaican international was inducted into CF Montreal’s Wall of Fame. The 55-year-old Barker was honored during halftime of CF Montreal’s match against the LA Galaxy, adding another milestone to a career that helped establish him as one of the most accomplished players in the club’s history. Now known as CF Montreal, the organization was previously called Montreal Impact during Barker’s playing days. For the Jamaican, the ceremony represented a return to a club where he spent some of the defining years of his career and built a legacy that has endured decades after his playing days ended. Barker, who grew up in Harbour View and also represented Harbour View FC, became a central figure in Montreal’s rise during the 1990s and early 2000s. He helped the Impact capture championship titles in 1994 and 2004 while also playing a key role in three consecutive regular-season title-winning campaigns from 1995 through 1997.
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His consistency and longevity placed him among the club’s statistical leaders. Barker played 191 regular-season matches, the seventh-highest total in club history. His 34 goals and 31 assists rank him fourth all-time in both categories. Those numbers tell only part of the story of a player whose influence extended across different versions of the club and different eras of the sport. Barker’s contribution to Montreal soccer was not limited to the outdoor game. He also represented the Impact in indoor soccer in the National Professional Soccer League during the 1997-98 and 1999-2000 seasons. Across those campaigns, he recorded 12 goals and seven assists, further demonstrating his adaptability and attacking value. His individual achievements were equally impressive. In 1995, Barker was selected to the APSL First All-Star Team and received the Giuseppe Saputo Trophy as Montreal’s Most Valuable Player. The club later recognized his broader contribution in 2006 by naming him a member of its Builders. Saturday’s ceremony added another distinction to that growing list. Barker became the eighth player in club history to be inducted into the Wall of Fame, placing him alongside the most influential figures to have worn the Montreal colors.
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