Chairman/Editor-in-chief:
Rovan G. Locke, Ph.D.,
Consulting Editors:
Professor Ali A. Mazrui and
Lloyd B. Smith,
Pesident:
Malik E. Locke
Senior V.P. Operations/
Finance:
Reichland Anderson,
Senior V.P. Marketing and Sales:
Carolyn Kenedy,
V.P. Informational Systems:
Leona Minto,
V. P.  of Marketing:
Leroy A. Gordon -Jamaica;
Paula Powell: Editorial Consultant and Sanchia Allen-Sports/Public Affairs,
Design & Production:
Norris Grandison,
Secretary/Treasurer:
Winsome Vaughn Burke,
Business Development Consultant: 
Ashton Douglas,
Special Consultant Circulation/Distribution Coordinator:
Trevor "Peppa Rock" Wynter
Publisher: The Michigan
Communication Group.

 

 
 
 visit us at www.publix.com

Traveling Notary 786-326-5204 Dade & Broward

The Roasted Pepper 9893 Pines Blvd Pembroke Pines 954-450-8800 WWW.THEROASTEDPEPPER.COM

Need To See A Lawyer On Immigration Matter and Concerns? JNBS Provides The Service Of An Immigration Lawyer FREE OF COST To Our Customers. On The Third Friday Of Each Month Commencing FEBRUARY 20, 2004 The Representative Office 5039 N. State Rd. 7 (Sunshine Plaza) Call 1-800-390-7850 or    954-485-0444

Group issues ultimatum to
Bush on FCAT 
By Sandra Hernandez
Staff Writer

May 12, 2003
MIAMI · More than two dozen black church leaders, elected officials and community leaders gathered Sunday in a Miami church to issue an ultimatum to Gov. Jeb Bush: rethink the FCAT testing policy or face an economic boycott.
“Mr. Bush, you have 10 days and if you don’t adjust the FCATs then we will boycott this state in a way you have never seen,” said state Sen. Frederica Wilson, D-Miami. 
The boycott would go after key industries such as sugar, citrus and tourism products. Wilson and other black leaders say last week’s test results are hurting thousands of students statewide who failed to pass and could now be held back a year or not graduate.
In Broward County, more than 2,000 high school seniors face an uncertain future that could include not graduating.
The group, which includes church leaders from the Miami-Dade and Broward County area, are asking Bush to meet with them to discuss the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, or FCAT. 
“We need to slow down and reassess the purpose of the FCATs,” said Bishop Victor T. Curry, pastor of New Birth Baptist Cathedral of Faith in Miami.
Curry, who is leading the possible boycott, said the group was not against standardized testing but oppose using a single test to determine who is promoted.
“This test carries too much weight. If you don’t pass the `jebcat’ then that child is retained. You need to factor in other things and not just rely on one test,” Curry said.
Protesters say they think the action is necessary because Bush has refused to meet with political leaders.
“I’ve asked him to meet with me and he hasn’t,” Wilson said. “We could try and sign 100 petitions and it wouldn’t make a difference to the governor. But we can do this and maybe his friends will pressure him to rethink this issue.”
They denied a boycott would unfairly hurt working class and poor communities who might be the first to feel the economic pinch.
“You can’t blame the state’s economic troubles on the boycott,” said Curry.
Protesters cautioned the protest shouldn’t be viewed as a black issue. 
“Don’t buy into this `It’s us versus them’ because we’re all in this boat together,” said Michael Dyson, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania who attended the news conference. 
Sandra Hernandez can be reached at shernandez@sun-sentinel.com or 954 385-7923.

Need a Mortgage in
Jamaica?

Need to use the equity in your property in Jamaica?

Contact the JN Representative Office Sunshine Plaza
(corner of North State Rd 7
and Commercial Blvd)

Phone:(954) 485-0444 or
1-800-390-7850

**************************

[ Home ] [ Up ]

Hosted by: A.A.A. Services Inc.
Send mail to support@aaaservices.homeip.net with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2003 The Caribbean-American Commentary News Paper
Last modified: November 23, 2003