MEI Healthcare Inc. Partners with Caribbean Countries To Build Multi-million-dollar Regional Oncology Facility
April 24, 2012
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla., April 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — MEI Healthcare Inc., a leading provider of healthcare strategies and equipment solutions for medical facilities around the world, is partnering with the government of Antigua and Barbuda, the governments of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and Global Health Partners, Ltd., to begin construction of The Cancer Centre Eastern Caribbean at Mount St. John Medical Centre in St. John, Antigua. Groundbreaking for the new $13.5 million (EC dollars) facility will take place Thursday, April 26.
“Our partnership will provide accessible, high-quality cancer care for a population that is underserved,” said Gordon Baltzer, CEO of MEI Healthcare Inc. Baltzer will be speaking at the groundbreaking. “Currently, patients need to be treated abroad, which is costly and incredibly difficult for patients and their families. As a result, many patients have gone without treatment.”
The Cancer Centre Eastern Caribbean will provide high-quality medical, radiation and surgical oncology services. The facility will include state-of-the-art technology capable of administering intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). The centre will be used as the hub for consultation services being offered to the participating member countries.
“Nearly 1,000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed each year in the OECS and, of those, approximately 400 will need radiotherapy at some time in their disease course,” said Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister, The Hon. Baldwin Spencer in a prepared statement. “I recognize that currently there are no facilities in the Eastern Caribbean that are truly comprehensive and offer both surgery and radiation…(and) it’s important for us to develop the facilities necessary to provide support to patients who have cancer.”
The Hon. Arthur T. Porter, M.D., Chair of the Board of MEI and a key driver of this project, stated, “MEI insures that the Eastern Caribbean will have the technology platform to deliver modern day cancer therapy at a level commensurate with that of the USA, Canada or Europe.”
During a regional healthcare symposium in 2009, government officials expressed interest in developing a partnership with the private sector to equip a cancer center in Antigua with the latest oncology services and technical expertise. The “partnered care” model being used to create the facility is a cost-effective solution to bringing the latest technology to the region.
MEI provides business development, capital equipment funding strategies and growth consulting services to physicians, hospitals and healthcare systems worldwide.
About MEI Healthcare Inc.
Headquartered in Coral Springs, Fla., MEI is a comprehensive healthcare strategy firm that works with physician groups and medical centers to provide turnkey healthcare solutions. MEI and its subsidiaries, MEI Development Group, MEI Healthcare Capital, MEI Informatics, MEI Healthcare International and MEI Healthcare Foundation, offer its clients more than 40 years of healthcare business experience and the value-added benefits of its strategic alliances. For more information, visit http://www.mei.com.
Count Down Begins To Team Jamaica Bickle At The Penn Relays
April 23, 2012
News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. April 23, 2012: The countdown has begun to Team Jamaica Bickle’s participation at this year’s annual Penn Relays, set for April 26-28 at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
Volunteers of the not-for-profit organization, based in New York, are busy fundraising to help cover the meals, accommodation and transportation of the many Caribbean athletes who will participate at this year’s running of the relays.
Formed in 1994 under the leadership of Irwine G. Clare Sr., to provide much needed support for Jamaican athletes who compete at the annual Penn Relays Carnival, the group recently held its annual pre-Penn reception and honored two of Jamaica’s most prolific Olympians – Grace Jackson and Bertland Cameron. Both were also presented with proclamations from the office of Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke in honor of their outstanding contributions to sports both on and off the track.
The Team Jamaica Bickle annual Reception and Awards Ceremony was held on Thursday, April 12, in New York and was hosted by fellow Olympian and Master of Ceremonies for the evening, Devon Harris, who captained Jamaica’s 1998 Winter Olympic Bob Sled Team.
Other Olympians on hand to cheer them on were Alfred Daley, 400m specialist, who shared the stage with Lennox Miller, Donald Quarrie and later, a younger Bertland Cameron, Andria Lloyd, who represented Jamaica in the 1996 Olympics 4x100m relays and Danny McFarlane, silver medalist in the 4x400m, Olympic games.
Jamaica’s Minister of Sports without portfolio, Natalie Neita-Headley delivered a special recorded message to the honorees on behalf of the Government and people of Jamaica, in which she spoke of her, “delight in joining Team Jamaica Bickle and the Diaspora in celebrating Jamaica’s best assets; her people…against the backdrop of Jamaica’s 50th Anniversary of Independence.”
Jamaica’s, Deputy Consul General to New York, Ms. Sharon Burrell Green and Christopher Castriota, newly appointed community relations officer, as well as a contingent from the Jamaica Tourist Board New York tri-state region: Kenton Senior, Ruth West, Marcia Sinclair and Anthony King, were out in full force.
Vincent HoSang and daughter Sabrina HoSang, TJB’s partner and life-time sponsor, of Caribbean Food Delights, spoke of their steadfast support for the program. Sponsors Western Union, LIME, UJAA and Tower Isle Patties all brought messages of support.
David Squeeze Annakie, with his power brands, Linkup Media, 93.5 FM WVIP) and BioLife Energy Systems, made an unexpected but much welcomed boost to Team Jamaica Bickle at the organization’s annual reception and awards, presenting them with a $11,000 check to help in its drive to fund its Penn Relays 2012 operations. TJB’s big push for 2012 is to raise upwards of $60,000 to help defray accommodation costs for the athletes, reducing the per night rate per student to $50 from the prevailing $110 per night…a more than 50 percent cut.
“We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and we thank the community whole heartedly. It was indeed a special evening as we celebrate the nation’s 50th Anniversary of Independence,” said Irwine Clare.
Team Jamaica Bickle, Inc. has supported dozens of athletes and athletic programs for the past 17 years. Currently, TJB services extend to a delegation of approximately 750 Athletes, coaches and volunteers from Jamaica; other Caribbean countries (which includes Trinidad and Tobago and St. Vincent & The Grenadines), as well as from the USA.
In 1999, Team Jamaica Bickle became the first Jamaican organization to be a participating sponsor at the Penn Relays, thus allowing us to partner with our corporate friends. As a result, the Jamaican flag became the first foreign nation’s flag to be flown at the Penn Relays, a distinction unmatched. Over the years, TJB has received several proclamations and awards from numerous local and national entities.
Guyana Wins Big At CTO/Travelmole Sustainable Tourism Awards
April 23, 2012
Acting Guyana Tourism Minister, Irfaan Ali, at STC 13, held April 15-18, 2012 in Guyana.
News Americas, GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Mon. April 23, 2012: The Caribbean nation of Guyana, host of the 13th annual Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Sustainable Tourism Conference was also the big winner at the CTO/TravelMole Sustainable Tourism Awards.
Guyana walked away with three of the five awards at the Awards ceremony, which brought down the curtains on the 13th Annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development (STC-13) at the Guyana International Conference Centre.
The Caribbean Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Award was presented to Guyana’s Rupununi Learners Inc., a wholly unique and worthwhile project which strives to improve the quality of life of the Rupununi inhabitants by enhancing literacy and numeracy, providing access to information and preserving indigenous and local knowledge. Jamaica’s Hotel Mockingbird Hill was also commended in this category.
The Community Benefit Award was awarded to Guyana’s Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development for its long term commitment to conservation and community development, making it the perfect model for other areas. The Bahamas National Coastal Awareness Committee and the Mero Enhancement Committee in Dominica were also highly commended.
The Biodiversity Award went to Guyana’s exceptional Mangrove Reserve Women Producers Project for its fantastic work at positively impacting an economically depressed area of Guyana whilst aiding community development. The Caribbean Research & Management of Biodiversity Foundation (CARMABI) received a special mention in the category.
The 2012 awards comprised five categories covered all aspects of sustainability, from overall excellence, to accommodation, community, heritage and biodiversity. The awards were judged by a panel of three tourism and environmental specialists; Jacqueline Kuehnel, Principal at JK Consulting Enterprises in Canada, Andrew Rhikkie Alexander, Eco-agro Community Participation Tourism Specialist for Guyana and St. Lucia, and the CTO’s Sustainable Tourism Product Specialist, Gail Henry.
Winner of the Sustainable Accommodation Award went to the Accra Beach Hotel and Spa in Barbados for positively impacting the local supply chain and community whilst minimizing negative environmental impact, and contributing to conservation of local culture. Special mentions were also given to Hotel Mockingbird Hill and The Tyrall Club in Jamaica.
Kalinago Barana Aute in Dominica took home the “Heritage Protection Award”, for its excellent work in preserving and educating visitors about the last remaining Kalinago people in the Caribbean, whilst harnessing effective community development. The Colours Entertainment & Junkanoo Organization in the Bahamas was also recognized in this category.
The CTO and TravelMole awards are aimed at identifying, recognizing and showcasing sustainable tourism best practices in the Caribbean, which embrace sustainable tourism concepts and core values, and which helps to enhance the tourism product offerings.
Could Waste To Energy Be The Answer To Lindeners Woes?
April 18, 2012
resident of the Waste to Energy Division and Regional Vice President for Europe and Africa, Naanovo Energy Inc.
News Americas, LILENDAAL, Guyana, Weds. April 18, 2012: A panelist at the first green investment forum at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Sustainable Tourism Conference believes a waste to energy plant could help solve the problems of residents of Linden, Guyana.
Lindeners in Guyana are on strike in the South American country to protest an imminent increase in electricity rates in the bauxite community. According to Demerara Waves.com, official figures show that Lindeners pay between $5 and $15 per kWh.
Tony Fiddy, President of the Waste to Energy Division and Regional Vice President for Europe and Africa, Naanovo Energy Inc., says a waste to energy plant in Guyana could lower the electricity costs tremendously.
“In St. Kitts we will be building a plant and selling power for US.20 cents to the government there, resulting in a huge savings that will be passed along to the consumer,” said Fiddy, a panelist on the forum organized by Felicia Persaud’s Hard Beat Communications and the CTO.
“We’d love to be in Guyana,” added the UK-based Fiddy, whose company will be building a plant in St. Kitts and son adding St. Lucia and Jamaica to the regional investments as well. “We may be able to create 40 mega watts of clean power and possibly create some 200 jobs.”
The forum also featured Loreto Duffy-Mayers, Project Manager for the Caribbean Hotel Energy Efficiency Action (CHENACT) Programme and Ujjwal Bhattacharjee, a specialist in renewable energy and energy efficiency with a focus on technology, investment and policy and a consultant on the CHENACT project. It was held from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at the Guyana International Conference Centre in Liliendaal, Guyana.
Persaud, who co-convened and moderated the forum, urged the 100 delegates to remember that”investing in clean energy is not just environmentally responsible, but good business.”
“No region offers more long-term growth prospects for renewable energy than the Caribbean,” said Persaud. “Last year, according to the UN Environment Program, investors pumped a record two hundred and 11 billion US dollars into renewables globally and this is projected to grow to 1.7 trillion by 2020. Of the 211 billion, $72 billion was invested in developing countries vs. $70 billion in developed economies. South and Central America secured $13.1 billion of that amount. The Caribbean was not accounted for in this study.
“And so it is a challenge to The Caribbean region to position itself to take advantage of this new sector sustainably and with transparency. Our leaders must begin to think outside the box and be unafraid to move beyond the traditional sectors – for instance out of a dying sugar industry, to ethanol,” she added.
“We must tap investment into this sector to create new jobs and limit our dependence on the up and down prices of oil and grow our economies like our south American neighbors and really make a mark on this generation.”
The Caribbean Tourism Organization has been staging its Annual Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development, otherwise known as the Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC), since 1997.
Guyana President Says Plan Is To Focus On Community Tourism
April 18, 2012
Guyana President Donald Ramotar, r., presents a book of photographs of the Rupununi to CTO SG Hugh Riley. (News Americas image)
News Americas, GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Tues. April 17. 2012: As the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s 13th annual Sustainable Tourism Conference inched to the close on Tuesday, Guyana’s President Donald Ramotar insisted the country is committed to promoting its “unique tourism product” with a focus on “community-based” tourism.
His comments came at a cocktail reception he hosted for foreign delegates to the conference on the lawns of State House in Georgetown, Guyana.
President Ramotar told the gathering, that included Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Hugh Riley, that his government plans to support measure that will “strengthen and expand community involvement in the development of our tourism product.”
“We have a varied tourist product,” said Ramotar. “It is therefore no accident that we are beginning to receive international accolades and recognition for the efforts in sustaining this product.”
The President also revealed that his administration plans to host an extensive marketing seminar in the U.S., targeting tourism operators, media and specialist to promote investment and expansion opportunities in Guyana using the proposed increase in its recommended budget for the tourism ministry this year.
Unfortunately, at press time, the opposition Alliance for Change’s Chairman, Khemraj Ramjattan, proposed cuts of G$200.7M to the sector to Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, who wrapped up debate on the budget and several hours after the minister indicated that he was prepared to meet the opposition parties on their budget concerns.
Acting tourism minister, Iraffan Ali, responding to the AFC’s proposal to cut the employment allocation in the tourism budget, said it would see more than 50 percent of the contracted staff of the ministry out of a job immediately and stymie Guyana’s ability to meet international standards and regulations with the development of laboratories.
The AFC motion comes up for consideration on Wednesday when discussions on the estimates of expenditure begin.
Haiti’s Disaster Risk Management and Recovery Experience Showcased at Prestigious Global Meeting in Washington, D.C.
April 17, 2012
Haiti’s Cornerstone Decentralization Program, Katye Pam Poze, gains wide reception as innovative “bottom-up” approach to disaster reduction & management based on community integration and sustainable development.
WASHINGTON, April 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Thierry Mayard-Paul, Haiti’s Chief of Staff and Minister of the Interior, Territorial Collectivities and National Defense, led the Haitian delegation that shared Haiti’s disaster risk management and recovery experience with a cadre of top-level experts from approximately 38 nations, at the highly-regarded Consultative Group meeting of the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR). Haiti was the only Western Hemispheric country invited to attend the event as a Developing Country, for the period 2012- 2013.
Mayard-Paul described the Martelly Administration’s vision for emergency preparedness and response, stating: “the 2010 earthquake demonstrated that development will never be successful if we don’t build risk reduction at our core. That is why the Martelly administration is committed to making disaster risk reduction and management, a critical priority across the government.”
Coming into Office, President Martelly’s new Government boosted preparedness and response capacity by strengthening the Civil Protection Directorate, as well as sub-national efforts. This work continues and will remain important as Haiti heads into the hurricane season. The Haitian delegation provided specific examples, for instance, of how the government has integrated risk reduction as a centerpiece of its recovery efforts within the 16/6 project. This is a US$78-million project seeking to rehabilitate 16 neighborhoods to relocate residents of six large camps in the metropolitan area, impacting 30,000 people.
Mayard-Paul gave many examples of fruitful collaborative efforts between donors, NGOs, and federal and local governments. “However, they are independent programs that are not fully integrated under one single, comprehensive Disaster Risk Reduction & Management strategy.” As a result, the government –through the Ministry of the Interior– is developing a policy framework for longer term disaster risk reduction and management that will be integrated into the new national development plan.
“Development progress and risk reduction will only be successful if they are tied to local development,” added Mayard-Paul. “That is why we recently launched Katye Pam Poze, the cornerstone program for the government’s National Decentralization Agenda.” Disaster risk reduction and management are intrinsically embedded within KPP. This way, capacity is built at the community level across the country, under an innovative “bottom up” or grassroots approach, but in complete alignment with the national strategy.
Mayard-Paul encouraged potential partners present at the meeting to help Haiti make a significant impact in disaster risk reduction and management. “We know we can’t do this alone. We need long-term development partners to support the government’s identified priorities,” said Mayard-Paul. “That’s why organizations like GFDRR and the World Bank (WB) are critical, and why this meeting is so important to Haiti.”
The Minister cited eight key areas of potential support from international partners:
• Building institutional capacity at all levels– for example, supporting Katye Pam Poze’s emergency risk reduction and response modules.
• Contributing to build infrastructure and processes — from basic physical work space to the creation of a single national emergency warning system.
• Supporting knowledge and innovation – by financing university research to identify new ways to tackle risk whilst channeling efforts of the young.
• Funding research and assessments –information gathering and sharing is one of Haiti’s major challenges.
• IT/online infrastructure, software and training so that databases and critical information can be shared.
• Helping build comprehensive disaster risk reduction programs in priority cities and departments since reducing risk across the whole country at the same speed is impossible.
• Build national capacity to assess, monitor and reduce risks. In particular, build on the progress made on seismic risk reduction while also strengthening cyclone/hydro capacity.
• Supporting communications and public awareness campaigns.
“The Government of Haiti is charting a new course on disaster reduction and management, one based on resilience, best practices and community integration ensuring sustainable development,” concluded Mayard-Paul.
The Haitian delegation also included Elizabeth Landers, Adjunct Chief of Staff, Ministry of the Interior; Jean-Elie Germain, Project Manager for disaster risk reduction, OXFAM GB Haiti; Yolene Surena, Coordinator, IDA Project “Disaster Risk Management and Reconstruction”; and the staff members of the GFDRR: Gaetano Vivo, Disaster Risk Management Focal Point for Haiti and Jean-Baptiste Migraine, Disaster Risk Management Specialist at the World Bank.
GFDRR, (www.gfdrr.org/gfdrr/12CG) is Co-Chaired by the World Bank and the Government of the Netherlands. The CG meeting serves as a focal point for the United Nations’ international efforts to mitigate and minimize disasters such as the January 2010 earthquake that devastated Haiti.
Former Guyana President Wants Tourism Officials To Look Outside The Box
April 17, 2012
News Americas, LILLENDAL, Guyana, Mon. April 16, 2012: Former Guyana President Bharrat Jagdeo is urging regional tourism officials to look beyond the “easy” and “mundane” and think outide the proverbial box when it comes to sustainable tourism in the Caribbean.
Jagdeo, who was supposed to keynote the conference but who instead addressed the less than 200 delegates gathered at the Guyana International Conference Center via video as part of STC 13 due to his role as a good will ambassador for the forest regions of Congo, Borneo-Meknong and Amazonia, said the region must ensure the tourism product offered is “sustainable” and “viable” consistently.
Pointing to the four degrees rise in global temperature, Jagdeo said the Caribbean’s future is at risk from climate change. He agreed with experts that it is probably one of the more important issues impacting the region to date, more than economic shifts, since the Caribben could lose most of its beaches, a major tourism attraction, while its corals and forests will die.
“Therefore, that is the future that we are contemplating right now. And it is incumbent that tourism officials, many of who are very influential, help Governments to be aware of the problem because we have too many Governments that are sleep – walking on this issue,” said the former President.
He urged the region to become more competitive in competing for the tourist dollar by combining the natural beauty of the sun, sand and sea tourism with other forms of tourism, including medical and l while also trgeting inter-regional travel through the promotion of cheaper flights and an easier immigration process.
The UN Champion of the Environment winner added tht there needs to be an expansion in preparing tourism operators to target the developing markets of China, Brazil and India on the language and culture of these new emerging markets so there is not sole reliance on the tourism dollars of the developed world visitor.
“We have to be much more aggressive in how we pursue those markets because the only way we can be sustainable or economically viable, is if we aggressively pursue those markets,” said Jagdeo.
“What I’m advocating for is using, combining our traditional tourism products, with products, new products. I think a combination of the two will ensure that remain viable in the future and that we remain attractive, very competitive,” he urged delegates.
The conference continues on April 17th through the 18th. Delegates will be involved in study tours to experience various local models of sustainable tourism at work on April 17th.
Caribbean Tourism Organization’s STC 13 Opens In Guyana
April 16, 2012
CTO Chairman Rickey Skerritt, c., cuts the ribbon to declare STC 13 open. He is helped by Guyana Minister Irfaan Ali at l. and CTO SG, Hugh riley, r. (NAN image)
News Americas, LILLENDAAL, Guyana, Sunday, 15, 2012: “Guyana’s decision to better manage its vast forest resources, and to be responsible in its development strategy, is attracting more and more attention from the world of travel & tourism, especially the adventure-tourism markets.”
That’s the word from Ricky Skerritt, chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization and minister of tourism of St. Kitts & Nevis. Skerritt made observation as he declared opened the CTO’s 13th annual Sustainable Tourism Conference, (STC 13) at the Guyana Conference Center at Lillendaal, Guyana on April 15th.
The conference, that is being hosted by the Guyana government and is being presented under the theme “Keeping the Right Balance: Sustaining Our Resources,” aims to bring new insight into advancements in evolving special interest tourism niches such as adventure tourism.
The Guyana government chose to protect virtually its entire 40 million acres of rain forest, meaning that approximately 80 per cent of the natural land asset of Guyana is being preserved through deliberate and responsible decision-making by its government.
Acting Guyana Tourism Minister, Irfaan Ali, insisted his country is focused on improving the tourism sector and has expanded funding in its annual budget to focus on new efforts that help make the country an internationally recognizable destination for sustainable tourism.
The opening ceremony included two interpretative dances presented by the Guyana Dance Company that captured the spirit of the environment and how if not preserved the spirit of the forest and the environment, including its plants, animals and flora will die.
The event was emceed by broadcaster, Rovin Deodat and attendees included Guyana ministers of government, Leslie Ramsammy and Ashnee Singh as well as Guyana communications expert, Kit Nascimento and former Guyana tourism minister, Maniram Prashad and former director of tourism, Donald Sinclair.
The formal conference opens Monday morning with a video address from former President of Guyana and UN Champion of the Environment, Bharrat Jagdeo and a keynote address from the current acting President, Sam Hinds.
Guyana May Get Tourism Hospitality Institute
April 16, 2012
News Americas, LILLENDAAL, Guyana, Mon. April 16, 2012: The blank stare and service without a smile attitude of many in the service and tourism sector of Guyana has seemingly not gone unnoticed by the Guyana government.
Acting President, Sam Hinds, filling in as the keynote speaker of the 13th annual Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Sustainable Tourism Organization conference for former President Bharrat Jagdeo, told the less than 200 delegates gathered at the opening day today, that the country aims to set up a hospitality institute soon.
“We are working hard to improve…” said Hinds. “We will be focusing on developing a tourism culture to ensure a total country experience.”
Hinds gave no time line on the launch of such an institute but said it is recognized that the education of Guyanese, especially those working in the tourism sector, has to change, since they are the real natural resource of the sector.
He said the Guyana government has expanded its allocation of resources in its budget to focus more on promotion of the tourism sector, since they believe the country can become a leading sustainable tourism destination globally. He said there are plans underway to expand the Ogle Airport to ensure it can accept smaller jets, including LIAT planes, and t upgrade the Lethem Aerodrome to create a viable way to harness tourists between Guyana and Brazil.
Highlighting activities like sports fishing, the Surama Amerindian village in the Rupununi and tours of the rain forest, including Kaiteur, or as he put it: “the Niagara of the Caribbea,” Hinds urged all Guyanese to work together for the preservation of the environment, including by keeping their surroundings clean and ensuring the Guyanese “Amazonian” experience was truly enjoyed.
And to that end, Hinds said his government is hoping to promote the ‘tri-South American’ tourism package, where visitors can also visit Brazil, Suriname and Guyana. A road links a Brazil and Guyana currently, and he said there are talks betweeen the governments of Guyana and Suriname to link those two nations also by road. So far, Suriname Airways has resumed service to Guyana and vistors can also take a boat over to the neighboring nation from Guyana’s Corentyne coast.
CTO Chairman Ricky Skerritt, for his part, urged delegates to look beyond the “awkwardness” and see the host country as an example of a “case study in sustainable tourism.”
The conference continues on April 17th as delegates get to experience the real Amazon with tours to interior locations like Kaiteur, Orinduik, Iwokrama and Surama, Annai and Aranaputa.
AFRICAN CARIBBEAN POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (ACPAC) ANNOUNCES ENDORSEMENTS OF 2012 PENNSYLVANIA STATE CANDIDATES
April 15, 2012
The African Caribbean Political Action Committee completed its endorsement process for the 2012 Pennsylvania State Primary elections. The Candidates were evaluated based on their responses to the committee’s questionnaire and a rigorous interview process.
The endorsements process focused on candidates with a significant number of African and Caribbean individuals and/or businesses within their districts. ACPAC encourages registered voters in the African and Caribbean community, and all voters in the City of Philadelphia to vote for, support, volunteer for and donate to the campaigns for the following individuals:
186th District
ACPAC decided to stay neutral – both candidates that participated (Jordan Harris & Damon Roberts) are very well qualified, and are in line with the committee’s values. ACPAC would be very happy to work with either candidate the voters decide to send to Harrisburg
188th District
Again, ACPAC decided to stay neutral. The incumbent (James R. Roebuck) has a solid history of advocating for the educational needs of constituents, and the challenger (Fatimah Muhammad) is an excellent candidate, who has a solid resume of work in and for the community. Both candidates have been supportive of the community, and ACPAC would be very happy to work with either one of these candidates.
192nd District
ACPAC is endorsing the candidacy of Will Mega. There is no doubt that Will Mega is aligned with the values of the committee’s community as demonstrated by the advocacy he has engaged in on the behalf of community members – even without the pulpit of elected office. ACPAC will be happy to work with him if elected, and will support his campaign efforts.
198th District
ACPAC unanimously endorses Malik Boyd in this race. The pragmatic and common sense approach to addressing issues plaguing the community he displayed are exactly what you would expect from a business owner; and will provide a breath of fresh air in Harrisburg. His Parental Involvement Tax Credit plan as his approach to educational reform separates him from the pack of candidates that have chosen to focus strictly on being for or against vouchers.
202nd District
ACPAC endorses Numa St Louis, a well-qualified candidate. As a Haitian-American, he is very aware of the issues facing the African & Caribbean community, and the immigrant community at large. ACPAC expects him to provide a voice for the hitherto voiceless members of his district, and will be very happy to work with him.
African Caribbean Mission Statement
African Caribbean PAC (ACPAC) is a Political Action Committee dedicated to social, political and economic inclusion for residents in the African Caribbean Diaspora. ACPAC also supports United States polices that strengthen bi-lateral relations and create economic opportunities for Caribbean and African Nations.
