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.

The Haitian American Nurses Association of Florida, Inc. (HANA) will host its 23rd Annual Scholarship Fundraising & Awards Gala on Saturday, April 14, 2007 from 7:00 PM-2:00 AM at the J.W. Marriot Hotel, located at 1109 Brickell Avenue, Miami Florida 33131. This years’ gala theme is “Diversity in Health Care” as it will be fitting with the National Nurses Week 2007 Theme: “Nursing -- A Profession and a Passion”.

Please join HANA in celebrating 23 years of community service in health care in Florida and abroad. Honorees include: Hilda Alcindor, RN, Dean of the School of Nursing in Leogane, Haiti, Kertch Conze, Esq., Ariol Eugene, Esq., Project Medishare, Dr. Barth Green, Professor and Chairman, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, and Wyclef Jean, Artist.