Americans must have been taken aback as they saw images of the leader of the free world, on TV, the Internet and in print drumming and jigging last week. One Lauderhill resident queried whether the leader was succumbing to the stress of the job, while another speculated that he just wanted to cast off the conservative profile, as they saw the images of President George W. Bush dancing to the music of Senegalese performers from the West African Dance Company. Bush’s jig came at the conclusion of a session that dealt with a serious subject – malaria. The occasion was the White House, for the first time commemorating Malaria Awareness Day, while observations were being held elsewhere in the world.

More than one million people die each year from malaria, which is directly associated with mosquito bites. The disease is the leading cause of death of African children under age five. Tens of millions of people suffer chronically. In a statement Bush said that on the Malaria Awareness Day his administration renewed its commitment to lead the world toward the urgent goal of turning the tide against malaria in Africa, and around the globe. He also stated that the deadly disease is both preventable and curable. That requires distributing insecticide-treated bed nets, expanding insecticide spraying, providing anti-malaria medicine to pregnant women and delivering cutting-edge drugs to people with the disease.

In 2005, Bush launched a five-year, $1.2 billion initiative to combat malaria in African nations like Angola, Tanzania, and Uganda, among the nations with the worst outbreaks of Malaria. At that time the president challenged the private sector to join the U.S. government in reducing the disease's mortality rate by half in targeted nations, which later included Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda and Senegal, Benin, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali and Zambia.

Fire destroys Umoja Village in Liberty City

A fire completely destroyed Umoja Village, a homeless protest camp in Liberty City Miami last week. The fire, suspected to be caused by a lighted candle, destroyed wooden and cardboard shacks that were erected by some 50 protesters last October.

The residents, mostly homeless people, had erected the camp on a vacant lot at the corner of Northwest 17^th Avenue and 62^nd Street in Miami to protest Miami’s lack of affordable housing.

Reports are that shortly after an unattended candle apparently fell in one of the wooden shanties, a raging fire, which according to some of the residents, “sounded like a whirlwind,” raced through the camp displacing the 44 residents. According to a spokesman for the Miami Fire Department, the man who lived in the shack had gone out for the night, leaving the candle burning. No one was hurt as a result of the fire.

Despite the destruction to the camp, the protestors are unwilling to leave, electing to stay and continue making a statement regarding affordable housing. Miami police arrested a dozen people who refused to leave, including the organizer of the camp, Max Rameau who had erected a tent on the land. Others heeded the order to leave and took refuge in shelters provided by the city.

Saturday, May 5

The Greater Caribbean-American Chamber of Commerce’s 7th Annual Tri County Charity Golf Classic & Awards Banquet Palm Aire Country Club 2600 Palm Aire Drive North Pompano Beach 12pm For more info 954.294.1130/944.730.8875

Join M-DCPS and the Association of Haitian Educators for A Conference on Education "yon Konferans Sou Edikasyon" at North Miami Beach Senior High School 1247 North East 167th Street North Miami Beach, FL 33162 from 8:30 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. For more info: 305.995.2719

The Jamaican Diaspora Southern United States will host a half day mini-conference on Saturday, at the Inverrary Hotel, 3501 Inverrary Blvd in Lauderhill from 10am to 2pm.

Friday, May 11

Basil Dawkins’ “Uptown Bangarang” by Sunshine Theatre Company

Richmond Heights Middle School 15015 SW 103rd Ave. Miami at 8pm

For more info: 954.437.9062 or 954.437.3147 or visit: www.sunshinetheatrecompany.com

The Jamaica Ex-Police Association of South Florida, Inc. is now accepting applications for its annual USA and Jamaican Scholarships.

The Jamaica scholarship will be awarded on Monday May 28, 2007 after the association’s renovation project of Richmond Police Station, St. Mary Jamaica.

And, the South Florida Scholarship will be awarded at the Jamaica Ex-Police Association Annual Ball on Saturday June 16, 2007 at the Hilton Hotel, Dania Beach Florida.

This is the fourth year of the association’s scholarships and Jamaica Police Station’s Renovation Project. Applicants are reminded to submit their applications in a timely manner.

The troubled Miami-Dade Housing Agency is about to be taken over by the federal government by all media accounts. According to the reports this outcome is as a result of Miami-Dade county leaders’ refusal to relinquish control during negotiations between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the county. The take-over by the feds could come as early as next week.

However, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez, does not intend to give up the county’s control over the housing agency. He said he is sure HUD will attempt to take over the agency, but also said he foresees a court battle. CNWeekly News has learnt that Alvarez alerted the county’s attorney, Murray Greenberg, to be ready for a lawsuit.

A spokeswoman for HUD, D.J. Norquist, said the department intends to take the necessary steps to protect the interests of Miami’s most vulnerable families as well as U.S. tax-payers.