In the Caribbean’s fight against COVID-19, there are many battlegrounds: in the hospital wards with medical professionals lacking supplies to protect themselves, in homes where families struggle with food insecurity, and in children disconnected from their own education, left anxious about their future.
In response to these ever-growing needs, organizations large and small have emerged inside the Caribbean-American community to provide support on these front lines. Working within America’s own pandemic challenges, these groups have gotten creative, finding new ways to fundraise and channel support where needed. But in navigating this new normal there’s still a lot that needs to be done.
Christian-based non-profit Food for the Poor (FFTP) is no stranger to crisis. Founded in 1982, the group provides food, housing and financial aid to 17 countries throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. Even though the organization has seen almost 40 years of dire need, Mark Khouri, executive vice president and chief operating officer, calls these times unprecedented.
“People are lining up in long lines to get food because their income has [been] cut,” he said. “When you see that happening in a country like the United States of America, imagine what happens to those countries where their level of income is not the same.”
The organization, based in Coconut Creek, Fla., has sent more food than usual to countries throughout the region. Pandemic-related unemployment, especially from the tourism industry, has dramatically increased the number of people asking for help “just to be fed.”
“They were getting overwhelmed,” Khouri said of the program’s in-country partners. “We had to double down [with] so much more food.”
This need still persists. Rather than buying supplies in America and shipping them abroad, FFTP tries to stimulate the local economy by purchasing directly in the country they’re supporting and delivering locally. They urge readers to make a donation online so they can continue to support work on the ground.
Members of the Caribbean American Cultural Group gathering necessary supplies. (L-R): assistant secretary Michelle Irons, Vice president Fiona Williams, Karl Godfrey, president Dawn Bloomfield and past president Neville Lake.
Since 1984, the Caribbean American Cultural Group (CACG) has merged fellowship and philanthropy among members of the Caribbean community in Port St. Lucie and the Treasure Coast. The organization has actively fundraised for the community through social activities such as domino competitions, sports days and their annual Treasure Coast Jerk Festival, as well as sponsoring scholarships, sourcing school supplies, organizing toy drives and building holiday gift baskets. But this personal, hands-on approach to giving back was disrupted by the pandemic.
“Just like most nonprofits and businesses [during] COVID-19, we have to adapt to the new environment,” CACG President Dawn Bloomfield said.
In response, they innovated, transforming their formal donation events into drive-thru donation programs. So far, the group has collected more than 11,000 pieces of personal protective equipment to support hospitals, both in Florida and Jamaica. “We started the drive and within two weeks the response was overwhelming,” Bloomfield said. “We partnered with the local businesses in the area, especially the Caribbean businesses, and also with the Nurses Association of Jamaica in England, who donated to the initiative.”
This ongoing program will collect supplies, especially for rural hospitals. For people who want to participate but feel uncomfortable leaving their homes, the CACG also accepts online donations through their web page.
Next, the group plans to source computers to help students in the Caribbean with remote learning. “I know that a lot of the high school students, especially in the rural areas, do not have the resources for remote learning, [like] a laptop or even a tablet,” Bloomfield said. “So we will also be shipping things next month [for] high school students to be able to continue their lessons from home.”
Fried shrimp "boxed" lunch with tartar sauce on the side. Photo: David I. Muir
Chef Creole restaurant chain has been a longtime local favorite for those craving authentic Caribbean food on the double, thanks to their menu filled with Haitian and Bahamian classics. It’s the vision of the founder and owner, local celebrity chef Wilkinson “Ken” Sejour, who was born in The Bahamas to Haitian parents. They now have five locations across Miami. Their Chef Creole North Miami location is fully outfitted for COVID-19 social distancing protocols with a speedy and efficient drive-thru and limited outdoor dining options. For my visit, I opted to eat at the tables outside. After considering a few choices, I was informed the chef had recommendations. So I abandoned my search and settled in for the fun.
The menu at Chef Creole North Miami has all the familiar favorites. Think griot (Haitian-style fried pork), oxtails, fried fish and a variety of flavored wings. I was offered a surf-and-turf medley featuring stewed conch, fried shrimp and oxtails.
Chef Creole’s stewed conch ― served with rice and beans, extra crunchy fried plantains and a fresh salad ― was a flavorful encounter. The conch meat was quite succulent and tender, unlike the typical spongy texture I find with most locally-served conch. Instead, this conch was almost flaky, presented in a creamy sauce of sautéed onions and herbs. The end result is a spicy, salty combination that pairs well with the starchy sides.
Chef Creole North Miami offers COVID-19 friendly outdoor dining options. Photo: David I. Muir
Their fried shrimp was done to golden brown perfection. Delicately battered, the shrimp dish offered a balanced array of seasonings that didn’t overwhelm the seafood flavor. It was served with fresh vegetables and a side of Haitian-style pikliz (pickled relish) that was the perfect dressing. Do note, however, that Chef Creole’s signature pikliz is extremely spicy. It should only be consumed with a cool drink close by.
If you’ve never had oxtails, I would certainly recommend that you start the journey right here. Chef Creole’s oxtails have the luscious texture of the best beef stew. However, don’t go for them if you are averse to an ample amount of fat in your meal. The extra richness makes these oxtails fall-off-the-bone fabulous, with the most exquisite blend of spices. The beefy flavor remains most prominent, yet the seasoning has its own identity and clearly stands out as the chef’s stamp of individuality. Depending on your palate, this dish may be a tad spicy, but it’s still manageable.
In all, Chef Creole gets an A for authenticity for all three dishes I sampled. It’s clear that Chef Ken has ensured his signature flavor is embedded in each selection. And while this is a fast casual dining establishment, the flavor profiles ensure total satisfaction, taking you on a delicious trip across the Caribbean Sea.
Chef Creole North Miami is located at 13105 W. Dixie Highway, North Miami, Fla. Hours of operations are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Monday to Wednesday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Thursday to Saturday.
For her Genin Pa Presse collection, Haitian-American fashion designer Glavidia Alexis uses Haitian priestesses as her central muse.
“As a designer, inspiration comes from anything. Our sole purpose is to make it wearable.” So says Haitian-American fashion designer and stylist Glavidia Alexis, whose regal creations bestow an air of ethnic elegance. She muses about even the most abstract sources of stimulation. “I can be inspired by a lizard. Do I like the texture of his skin? Do I like the sebum that he produces? Do I like the color that comes out when he’s mating?”
It took her a while to work up the courage to develop her Genin pa Presse collection. “Its inspiration starts from vodouism and what each entity and spiritual deity represents. And the colors of each look or each collection signifies each spiritual object.”
Glavidia’s lemon-hued yellow priestess dress honor Kouzin Azaka, a hardworking, brave farmer spirit who brings good fortune. Congo and Togo colors are interpreted with rich vibrancy and layered textures.
Trained in London and Italy, the daughter of vodou priestess Mambo Vivi was inspired by the elaborate dresses her mother would wear in her role as a spiritual leader. But vodou garb has a conventional aesthetic, and Alexis “didn’t want to be offensive to the traditional silhouettes and colors and shapes.”
Isabella’s skull-embellished, androgynous look, complete with top hat, cane and jacket, is an homage to the powerful male spirit, Bawon. Replicate the vibe in everyday wear with a black, high-waisted skirt with white ruffled top.
In reworking time-honored style, she started at home. She estimates that she may have made nearly 100 dresses for her mother over a three year period. A very supportive Mambo Vivi, who has an impressive social media following, shared Alexis’ looks with her instagram followers, who then began switching up their styles in homage to fashion. “That’s when I knew I had something,” said Alexis. “I think of it as a form of flattery. It was the kind of confirmation that I needed.”
A nod to the lighter garb of a baptismal ceremony, the white kaftan is ideal for a trip out on the water. Necessary dramatic detail was infused in elaborate embroidery.
With the implied approval of their virtual family, Alexis got to work. She took care to think about everyone the collection could represent. Her most elaborate dresses invoke the priestess, but other, more subdued designs represent the wider vodou community including dancers, servers and drummers, for example.
At its core, the collection honors the spirits (loa) at the heart of the ceremony. Alexis refers to the colors and textures, and the essence of deities like Danbala, the creator of life; Azaka, the spirit of the harvest; Ezili Dantor, parallel to the Black Madonna; and Bawon Samedi, father of the spirits. Most Haitians, though, worked in the fields, or enjoyed dancing. The silk and satin appropriate for celebrating the high spirits aren’t quite the right wear for these more mundane activities, so you’ll find cotton and burlap in Alexis’ style files as well.
An ornate green and gold priestess dress inspired by Glavidia’s mom honors Danbala (St. Patrick). The rich fabric can be worn at weddings, galas and Vodou ceremonies.
The spirits and the practitioners are reflected in outfits that go from light brunches to fancy dinners, or from a day at the office to a day on the yacht. Though her pieces are often ornate, she encourages people to dress them up or down. “I’m also a stylist so I like my separates to be interchangeable.”
Alexis’ work is a balance between her source of inspiration and the customer she’s creating for. She’d like it if people would dress for the lifestyle they envision without creating a bubble for themselves in their own minds. “You can be inspired by a lifestyle and not be tied to that lifestyle,” she says. Even if you’re dressing up that way.
Carl Juste's portrait of striker Elmore Nickelberry, at motel where Martine Luther King Jr. was assassinated.
Filled with breathtaking challenges that have tested our faith and endurance, 2020 has been a year like no other. But, depending on the lens you look through, the pandemic, protests, polarization, misinformation and other maladies we are living through might simply seem like incidental variations on centuries-old themes. Among this turmoil, the tools of an artist can dissect the complexities of the present and connect it to the past. Inspired by their island heritage and history, Caribbean-American artists continue to make Caribbean art during COVID-193, producing work replete with lessons and stories of survival. We talked with four of them about how their creative process has evolved to meet the times and how 2020 has reshaped their sense of purpose.
The pandemic set in just as mixed-media artist Vickie Pierre was completing a residency. “I was deadlocked. I didn’t want to get in my car. I didn’t want to be in my studio,” she said, describing those first few days back in Miami. “Creatively, I was stunted. I didn’t work for about two months.
“Then the murders started happening,” Pierre said, referencing the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others. “And then you’re just left shocked and immobilized.”
Pierre focused on completing pieces for a scheduled exhibition at the Fredric Snitzer Gallery in Miami. Part of an ongoing series, “Poupées in the Bush” is a surrealistic exploration of abstract Black female bodies adorned with gold leaf, flowers and elements of tribal dress. She also tried to complete works that focused on race, ethnicity and the Caribbean ― but she was stuck.
“My mind was really on what was going on and not really on how to resolve these pieces,” she said. “I realized it was because I needed to do something about that feeling of anger and sadness.”
Using repurposed materials from perfume bottles to plastic butterflies, artist Vicki Pierre creates her latest installation “Black Flowers Blossom (Hanging Three).” Courtesy of Fredric Snitzer Gallery, Photography by Zachary Balber
So, she created a new installation: “Black Flowers Blossom (Hanging Tree).” It pulls ideas from her brainstorming notebook and from her thoughts about this tense, painful moment in American history. “I wanted to do a work that spoke to these deaths, systemic racism and historical racism, and how it affects just the general atmosphere,” she explained.
Pierre pulled imagery from multiple historical periods and places as a “nonlinear recognition of what’s going on,” and as representation of “a collective history.” This new direction proved challenging for her, in part, because she’s not comfortable using overt racial imagery. In most of her work, meaning lies just below the surface. Incorporating these more visceral fragments of the past felt necessary, she argued, to show that our identity is shaped, in part, by history.
Details of “Black Flowers Blossom (Hanging Tree).” Courtesy of Fredric Snitzer Gallery, Photography by Zachary Balber
In Pierre’s personal life, that history includes growing up in New York with a Haitian family speaking English and Creole and the new-to-her sense of community pride among Miami’s Haitian residents.
Paper and fabric collage: “It’s the God in Me and I Shall Live This Way Forever”
“I never thought of myself as a Caribbean person. I thought of myself as a New Yorker; I thought of myself as Black. That’s how I existed in New York,” she said. “Coming to Miami, the Caribbean is so prominent. It’s something I’ve sort of slowly integrated into. The funny thing [is], I feel like it was always present in my work in some way, but I never recognized it and acknowledged it as such.”
The phrase “new normal” — a term bandied about to describe the crises of 2020 — never sat well with Miami-based photographer Carl-Phillipe Juste. He has spent a career chronicling society’s most vulnerable as a photojournalist for the Miami Herald and as an art photographer exploring communities around the world.
From where he’s standing, “there is no ‘new normal’ [because] nothing has ever been normal. Normal is the luxury of the rich and the privileged. Most of the people on this planet are not privileged. Most of them probably don’t have a home where they feel safe, or an environment which they can control.”
Carl Juste’s photo “Waiting for Change” features two young Haitian girls in the time of Arestide.
Uncertainty is familiar terrain for Juste, who fled with his family in 1965 from political persecution in Duvalier-ruled Haiti. Instead of despair, Juste learned from his parents’ response to upheaval, that we find resilience and hope only when working together. He saw this firsthand watching his parents Viter and Maria Juste become powerful advocates for Miami’s growing Haitian refugee community in the 1980s, in what would become Little Haiti.
The result, for him, became an intense appreciation for the importance of community. “We get to believe the individual is so powerful it can control all circumstances. It cannot. No one comes on this planet alone,” he said. This collaborative spirit continues to feed his work, starting with the Iris Photo Collective ― an organization he founded to bring together artists of color to tell stories about their communities, which are too often ignored in the public eye.
Responding to the unique turmoil of now, he has directed Exile At Home, a series with WLRN and Miami Book Fair featuring still images, video and written narratives collected from people who shared their experiences with COVID-19. Another collaboration, Imagined Visions of Hope, featured small collections of photographs submitted by artists from around the world that the group hopes to exhibit on five continents. Juste is also one of seven photographers from Florida, Oregon, New York and Washington, D.C. contributing to Defiance ― a project inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, and for which they hope to secure funding to display in February.
Little about 2020 has changed his photography, which looks toward the possibilities of the future even as he dissects the present. “For my process, I’m interested not about me,” he said. “I’m more interested in what other people think about the same subject because then I have something to engage with. I want people to talk to each other. I don’t want people sitting there trying to think how I was thinking or how I was feeling. I don’t go around asking what I am, I go around asking why it is.”
Simmering with frustration and hope, a crowd stands tall with fists raised high in Jamaican artist Basil Watson’s bronze tabletop sculpture, “Boiling Point.” Among them, one figure steps forward and points to a better future, looking back as if urging the others to join him. Depicting the resilience of the human spirit, this piece resonates with current, guttural public cries for change. Incarnating the spirit of 2020, it reflects attitudes toward the nationwide Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality, the public health fight against the COVID-19 pandemic that disproportionately kills Black Americans, and the heated presidential election that exposed the nation’s economic and racial divides.
But Watson made “Boiling Point” in 1986, not 2020. The piece was inspired by the fight to end Apartheid in South Africa.
Watson’s 1986 bronze work, “Boiling Point”
“[These are] things we are discussing today and have discussed for decades,” said Watson, who now lives in Atlanta. “It focuses on protest, on sacrifice, [and] on leadership.” It’s the enduring poignance that inspired him to find funding and a public home for a large-scale version of the sculpture, specifically at a location where victims of police brutality were killed.
Creating such monuments to what Watson calls “the heroic in mankind” has been a central focus throughout his remarkable career as a sculptor, known for his expressive approach to the human figure. His works include public commissions in Jamaica, depicting national luminaries like Usain Bolt and Louise “Miss Lou” Bennett-Coverley.
His most recent projects turn to heroic figures from his adopted city Atlanta: from a personal project sculpting a bust of civil rights activist and U.S. Representative John Lewis to a towering commissioned statue of Martin Luther King, Jr., greeting visitors outside the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Watson’s bronze bust of celebrated Senator John Lewis.
Such work exploring who we honor, and why, feels perfectly suited for this moment in history. To Watson, American public sculpture has often been valued primarily for its artistic merits detached from intended themes or historical context. Now, a growing movement has demanded public artworks — in particular Confederate monuments — be weighed in their complete social context.
“With all my time at home, with the pandemic and social protests that have been taking place, it has focused my attention on social issues that have been with me for my entire life,” he said. “Martin Luther King Jr., for instance, when he was killed I was [about ] 10 years old. Growing into my teens, the effect of that on the world and Jamaica was strong.”
The artist at work on monument honoring Martin Luther King Jr.
This influence of Watson’s heroes “was always there,” he said. “But I think the recent past has refocused on a lot of those issues. ”
In 2019 (when viral pandemics were only the stuff of cinematic nightmares), painter and muralist Nate Dee found himself visiting his parents’ native Haiti, participating in the Port-au-Prince mural showcase Festi Graffiti. Something clicked as he walked through the event. Surrounded by the vivid hues of Haitian public art, he realized that his parents’ homeland had quietly affected his own artistic approach ― that there is something uniquely profound about artists bringing joyful color to places and people that need it.
“Traditional Haitian art is very vibrant and very bright even when they’re discussing things that are heavy and grim,” noted Dee. In his earliest days as a graffiti artist, the Fort Lauderdale-based painter discovered the power of color, which he translated into his current paintings and murals filled with chromatic, mythical figures.
Right now, this feels more true than ever for Dee, whose full name is Nathan Delinois. The color-driven perspective inspired his latest collaborative project with fellow Florida artist, Mojo ― a mural in Miami’s Brownsville neighborhood that they titled, “Know Peace.”
Miami mural “Know Peace” is a collaborative work by Nate Dee and Mojo.
The work offers “a different take on what activism might look like and what resistance might look like,” he explained. “I saw this quote that was something like, ‘Just to be happy in these times is an act of resistance.’ We wanted to create a mural that was a nod to what’s going on, but also focused on the other side of that: holding on to your happiness, holding on to your love and holding on to your joy.”
This year has inspired a subtle shift in Dee’s creative process. He now feels drawn to create more public art rather than small individual paintings because these “would have the biggest impact.” Events like the Black Lives Matter protests have inspired him to reflect on how he approaches themes of identity in his works and the purpose of his public art.
Dee hopes his colorful works draw viewers into reflection on the grand themes of life rather than tying directly to a specific instance in time or making a particular declaration. Yet, the death of George Floyd spurred him to directly address the world. Drawing inspiration from the Spray Their Name campaign in Denver, Dee also designed a print work and donated his profits from it to the cause.
He believes these unique opportunities provided by public art projects spark conversation, whether that’s how a neighborhood views itself or how the work communicates to the larger world. “You’re creating a dialogue among people who aren’t always heard, or who don’t always have access to the conversation,” Dee said. “Public art is a way of organizing and creating open dialogue with people.”
For design partners Tavia Forbes and Monet Masters, creating beautiful living spaces has always been about building relationships. Each client of their acclaimed Atlanta-based design firm Forbes + Masters brings an opportunity to learn a new story. “We really try to get to know them. Where they like to shop for clothes, or where they traveled recently,” explained Forbes. “All of our projects reflect what has been stuck in our clients’ heads.” To create these connections, they’ve learned to leverage their shared Jamaican heritage — and all the confidence, boldness and gregariousness that comes from it — to draw out their clients’ best selves.
“Jamaicans are very expressive, and we definitely got some of those vibes from our families,” said Forbes. “So we’re able to break walls, break barriers, and get them to talk to us in ways that they otherwise wouldn’t have,” added Masters.
Interior design partners Tavia Forbes and Monet Masters of Forbes + Masters. PHOTO: Michael Phillip Scott
This intimate approach comes naturally to both designers, who first developed DIY skills and stylistic sensibilities early on because of their fathers. Forbes, who was born in Mandeville, Jamaica, shadowed her dad at work as a contractor and custom cabinet builder. Masters, who lived both in Los Angeles and Houston, grew up watching her father shape stand-out living spaces. He didn’t just want to live in his home. He wanted to be inspired by it.
“At one point, our living room consisted of green leather sofas and green carpet that matched exactly. We had a fish bowl coffee table that lit up bright blue [and] purple,” Masters said. “You knew it was only about style when the fish died within two weeks. Then it was just the table full of water and rocks.”
Forbes’ laughter spilled over the story. “I’ve never heard this!” This energetic exchange perfectly captures the friends’ creative partnership, as we discussed more engaging stories behind three of their design projects.
Living Room Redux
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Forbes Masters
When a young doctor in South Carolina wanted to enliven her living room for entertaining, Forbes + Masters had to charm details out of the shy client. They discovered an eclectic playfulness that shone through in her precious books and art pieces, which they took care to showcase with custom, built-in shelving. To complement these elements, the duo had fun sourcing seating that had unique geometric shapes, but also felt comfortable for guests.
Choosing the right pieces proved tricky, however, as they wanted chairs that would not obstruct views of the backyard. This led to some special finds, like the rolled-back armchairs they reupholstered in houndstooth. “Trying to find a stylish chair that doesn’t take up volume can be very difficult,” noted Masters. “These had a lot of personality and didn’t shoot up high in the air like a balloon chair or wingback would.”
Dining in the Tropics
Photo Credit: Kimberly Murray
A mother, daughter and grandchild in Georgia wanted a bright, whimsical design for their first formal dining room. Inspired by their clients’ Puerto Rican heritage, Forbes + Masters tapped into the colorful, nature-centric spirit of island living.
The room was fortunately blessed with bountiful light through French doors, which they framed with intricately embroidered drapery featuring a botanical motif. Textured wicker and caned detailing on the dining chairs also helped “hint at that island vibe,” said Forbes. They also chose a grasscloth wallpaper with silver and gold leafing, as the natural hues and soft glimmer “reminded us of sand when you’re on the beach,” Forbes noted.
For statement lighting above, they went hunting for a chandelier that mimicked a cascade of tree branches, but their first find was beyond the budget. For a thrifty-chic solution, they first found a similar, smaller fixture for a fraction of the price, buying two units and painting the champagne-gold hardware a contrasting black hue to play up its organic lines. They then hung both at different levels to command the same attention as the pricier piece.
Photo Credit: Kimberly Murray
Bedroom Beach Fantasy
Photo Credit: Kimberly Murray
A film executive asked Forbes + Masters to update her bedroom to fulfill her dream of “a beach house in landlocked Atlanta” that matched the monochromatic tones throughout the rest of the house. “She’s never home, so we wanted to create a retreat for her,” said Masters. “We wanted a space that was calming and would still feel natural.”
Photo Credit: Kimberly Murray
Instead of leaning on a more conventional coastal style, the pair used interesting textures to capture the relaxed mood of a seaside escape. On the wall, they created an artistic focal point by framing gauzy, striped Élitis wallpaper with white trim. Plush textiles also invited more relaxation, like the blue velvet on the curvaceous settee and bouclé upholstery on the headboard and bed frame. More texture came through accents like the bleached driftwood above the headboard, and delicate lamps that “looked artistic and handmade,” Masters said. “Like something you would buy near a beach town.”
“God himself says that you have to forgive to be forgiven. I don’t forget what happened. But I do forgive.”
A soft-spoken Haitian immigrant living in New York, Abner Louima was just 30 years old when, on August 9, 1997, police officer Justin Volpe falsely accused him of assault outside a nightclub.
At the 70th precinct station in Brooklyn, Volpe and his fellow officers inflicted an hours-long attack on Abner Louima in one of the most shocking documented cases of police brutality in U.S. history. Louima sustained life-threatening internal, external and psychological injuries. Now, after 23 years, he credits faith, family, and the resilient spirit of Haiti and the Caribbean for making it this far.
“We are survivors. We can overcome any adversity,” he said.
His is a tale as old as time for African Americans. But for newer immigrants in the African diaspora, inherent targeting of Black people at the hands of rogue police officers is a newly familiar phenomenon. This diaspora, having left their homelands in search of the great American Dream, has come to learn that too often Black families in the United States are left mourning the death of targeted loved ones and wondering whether justice will ever be served. Louima recognizes that he’s one of only a few.
“I’m thankful because God wants me alive to speak about my own story. Most of the people that have been victimized really don’t have a chance to speak,” he said. Acknowledging his higher calling, he grants, “If God saved my life, he saved it for a reason.”
In a rare occurrence, Abner Louima’s perpetrators were tried and convicted. In a separate civil case, he was awarded the largest settlement in a police brutality case in New York City’s history — $8.7 million. His abusers were jailed; Volpe is still serving time in a 30-year sentence.
At the time of Volpe’s conviction, Louima became the icon of a movement. Black leaders, like Al Sharpton and Johnny Cochran, and advocates from around the world, rallied around him. An international campaign arose, much like the groundswell that followed the recent murder of George Floyd. Yet even now, a solution remains out of reach.
“I didn’t think that I would be talking about [police brutality] 20 years later, but it seems like nothing will change,” Louima said.
Though faith and family have been his support, dealing with the trauma is an ongoing battle.
“Each time there’s a case of police brutality or police misconduct, it brings back all the memories,” he said. But, “you have two choices. Either you let it affect you, or you deal with it. I have no choice but to deal with it.”
Today, living in South Florida, Louima is a real estate developer and philanthropist. Connecting with fellow survivors has become a central part of his healing process. He finds comfort offering them guidance and support as well as advocating for legal reform to deter future police abuse.
In the immediate aftermath of his own ordeal, Louima said the support of the community, particularly from the Haitian diaspora, “gave me courage.” Still, as long as the problem persists, so will he.
“We have to keep fighting until we get systemic change,” he said. “They are not going to hand it to us. So we have to keep fighting.”
From families to small businesses, all have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and many have been left in financial uncertainty. In response, residents can get COVID-19 support in Miami-Dade County, offering pandemic assistance services particularly among the county’s Black, Indigenous and immigrant communities. With support from the federal Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and other partners, the county is offering financial aid and social services for the people at its heart.
Family: For families, this includes programs addressing basic living expenses like food and housing. In collaboration with Feeding South Florida, the county hosts weekly drive-thru food pickups at more than 20 community distribution sites. On Saturdays, families can source fresh-picked, locally-grown produce at the Miami-Dade County Auditorium. Those struggling with rent also may receive relief up to $5,000 over three months through Miami-Dade County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
Military: Veterans and current U.S. military personnel also can access housing support if they need it. The Military and Veterans Housing Assistance Program helps cover past due rent or mortgage payments for up to three months, with a maximum of $5,000. Veterans may receive funds for other critical expenses like groceries, medical supplies and baby care products through the Basic Needs Program, which provides vouchers up to $1000 for individuals and $2,000 for families.
Small Business: Businesses in hospitality, transportation, and even arts and entertainment can apply for grants and loans provided through the county. Small business owners with 25 or fewer employees who operate in Miami-Dade are eligible for assistance through earmarked funding. This relief addresses financial needs including employee payroll, supply expenses, utilities and disruption or reopening costs. The Small Business Assistance Forgivable Loan Program, in particular, distributes loans of up to $25,000, with 0% interest and no origination fees.
“The pandemic has placed a shock on our families and businesses, but with these safety nets in place we can bounce back and hopefully come out and make innovations that will allow us to withstand future shocks,” said Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
Learn more about how the COVID-19 Pandemic Assistance Program in Miami-Dade county can suppoort at miamidade.gov/covidhelp.
Ocean views at the amazing spa at Curtain Bluff Resort in Antigua.
Photo credit: Steve Bennett/UncommonCaribbean.com
Quarantine fatigue combined with the public’s increasing ability to cope with the constraints of post-COVID life have more people longing to escape to the warmth of the West Indies this winter. COVID-19 Caribbean travel at present, however, is anything but business as usual. Borders to many destinations remain closed. Entry protocols and quarantine requirements also vary throughout the region — as do restrictions on visitor activities in certain places.
So how best can you navigate the new normal of COVID-19 Caribbean travel while still enjoying the islands? Here’s a look at what to expect when exploring these select tropical shores.
Belize
Photo Credit: Patrick Bennett/UncommonCaribbean.com
For a quick and breezy getaway, it’s hard to beat Belize right now. Recently relaxed entry requirements mean that visitors no longer need to quarantine upon arrival. No application is necessary to visit either. Assuming you arrive with proof of a negative COVID test, or test negative at the airport, then you’re free to roam — mostly.
This is because the government of Belize still advises travelers to use businesses that are part of their Tourism Gold Standard Program, which means they adhere to all health guidelines related to COVID-19. Such services include hotels and resorts, tour operators, attractions, rental car companies, taxis, restaurants and gift shops.
Visitors are strongly encouraged to limit their fun in Belize to businesses-certified operations under the Tourism Gold Standard Program. All are clearly listed in the convenient Belize Health App, which all visitors must download and initiate within 72 hours of arrival in the country.
Curaçao
View of the skyline along the Punda side of Curaçao’s capital city, Willemstad.
For added freedom of movement along your Caribbean travels, Curaçao is another great option right now. The guidelines here allow you to rent a car and experience the island as usual, assuming you wear a mask in public and maintain the same six feet of social distance we’re all advised to follow here in the United States.
Before you can visit Curaçao though, U.S. travelers must complete some mandatory tasks. First, you need to complete an online digital immigration card and digital Passenger Locator Card, available at dicardcuracao.com. You will need to fill out these documents at least 48 hours prior to departure and carry a hard copy with you during your stay. Travelers are required to show printed proof of a negative result from a certified COVID-19 test upon arrival. Tests must be taken within 72 hours of travel, and results must remain on your person during the entirety of your stay. You’re also required to upload a copy of your negative test result to the website.
No visit to Curaçao is complete with a taste of local dishes like Karni Stobá. Photo Credit: “Steve Bennett/UncommonCaribbean.com
To cover any health concerns, the Government of Curaçao requires visitors to be adequately insured for medical care, including possible quarantine extended stays. During this pandemic, however, travel health insurance is a smart decision no matter where you visit.
Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua’s luxury escape, Curtain Bluff Resort, which reopened Oct. 24. Photo credit: Steve Bennett/UncommonCaribbean.com
If a more extended Caribbean escape is what you have in mind, Antigua and Barbuda may be just what you’re looking for. The twin-island nation is offering a Nomad Digital Residence (NDR) visa program that lets visitors live and move freely within the country for up to two years.
Ideal for professionals and students with the flexibility to work or study remotely, the NDR program carries fees of $1,500 for single applicants, $2,000 for couples and $3,000 for families of three or more persons.
Hiking through the Bolans area of Antigua showcases that there’s much more to this special destination than its 365 beaches. Photo credit: Steve Bennett/UncommonCaribbean.com
All visitors to Antigua and Barbuda must have proof of a negative COVID test taken within seven days of arrival. The only exception applies to kids 12 and under, who are not required to be tested. At-home test results are not accepted, and travelers must complete a Traveler Accommodation form prior to travel.
Jamaica
Select guest rooms at the Jamaica Pegasus in Kingston have been converted into office suites to accommodate digital nomads. Photo credit: The Jamaica Pegasus
“Resilient Corridor” is the buzzword travelers must know when visiting Jamaica these days. There are actually two of them. One extends from Negril along the north coast to Portland. The other encompasses the New Kingston Business District. If you’re visiting Jamaica, that’s where you’ll be.
While roaming freely throughout the island is not currently an option, visitors can explore within the Resilient Corridors with limited restrictions. For instance, all taxi transportation must be with operators licensed under the Tourist Board Act. As well, visitors are required to stay at hotels that have received COVID-19 compliant certification. You’re not allowed to hop around to different hotels either—a policy that would help streamline contact tracing should the need arise.
As with Antigua, your length of stay can be quite extensive in Jamaica. Select hotels have launched “workation” packages to give digital nomads the unique opportunity to live, work and play in paradise. The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, for instance, offers a workation package for a 30-night minimum stay, with rates starting at just $3,499—a savings of more than 70% off.
More so now than ever, we need to show some love and support for our creators across the Caribbean diaspora. So, why not support unique Caribbean brands while treating that special someone in your life? With this in mind, we rounded up a handy guide of 10 amazing Caribbean gift ideas for the whole family. From hand-crafted rum to chic accessories, all these Caribbean gift ideas are available online for purchase.
A New Kind of Wild, Zara González Hoang
Inspired by her father’s experience moving from Puerto Rico to New York as a child, author and illustrator Zara González Hoang’s moving and colorful tale for children captured the spirit of the adage, “Home is where the heart is.” penguinrandomhouse.com
I am A Promise, by Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
A retelling of Jamaican Olympic gold medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s uplifting journey to stardom, the charming picture book encourages young readers to stay steadfast with determination to achieve their dreams. akashicbooks.com
Fitted with sustainable cork and lined with faux leather, the Friday Bag is compact and water-resistant. Jamaican-born designer and founder Sonja M. Salmon created this completely vegan luxury carry-on for the avid globetrotter or weekender.
Bottled in Haiti and infused with fresh cane juice, barks, citrus peel, and seven botanicals, this dry craft rum makes a delicious addition to holiday festivities. Served best on the rocks with an orange peel, or stirred into classic cocktails.
A part of the Urchin Collection, this pendant light by Jamaican ceramic artist Victoria Leigh Silvera makes a great addition to any home, featuring organic details inspired by Caribbean marine life.
Cop this cute tote handmade in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The design features a classic Caribbean madras print, velvet-lined interior, detachable chain strap, and subtle glass bead and gem embellishments.
Territory Six: Tropic Spiral Holographic Ankara Sandal
Made for the modern fashionista, add the Tropic Spiral Holographic ankara sandal to your shoe collection! This stylish wedge features a shiny holographic accent, ankara print and ankle-tied straps.
Made from 100% reclaimed wood, this lightweight, fashionable and eco-friendly watch by the Jamaican brand features a stylish rosewood design that’s fitted with a stainless steel back case and buckle.
Eternalize your love with the Forever With You band ring by Trinidadian jewelry designer Josanne Mark. Permanently etched with your significant other’s fingerprints, this luxurious memento carries intimate sentiments.
Haiti Design Co. is founded on the premise of community empowerment. Pieces such as this simple, but timeless and well-crafted, leather card holder is just part of the company’s mission to foster entrepreneurship among local artisans.
Act of God — these three words universally strike at the heart of every small business. In contracts and insurance policies, the dreaded phrase describes the unpredictable chaos that can be conjured by the forces of nature, laying waste to even the best-laid plans. Caribbean-American small businesses, particularly those in South Florida, are no strangers to weather catastrophes. The prolonged economic crisis caused by COVID-19, however, is unprecedented. “It’s brought a high level of uncertainty to the market, especially in areas that are common among Caribbean entrepreneurs such as hospitality, retail, and food and beverage,” says Kurt Dyer, a Jamaica-born business adviser and vice president of strategic operations at Fortune 500 construction firm, Lemartec.
Kurt Dyer
He argues that businesses can endure such trying times with a willingness to sacrifice and adapt. For Caribbean-American small businesses navigating this uncharted territory, Dyer breaks down the essential steps to regroup and reevaluate. “In a very real sense, business is like being at war,” he explains. “You have to be thoughtful, weighing the pros and cons of advancing or retreating. But if you don’t take these things into consideration, then you become a casualty.”
Cut Overheads
Faced with reduced revenue, many Caribbean-American small businesses turn to emergency loans to continue forward. Dyer advises first curtailing operational costs before assuming debt. “You need to evaluate how you manage your business and look for efficiencies,” he says.
For renters, he recommends calculating the potential benefits of breaking the lease. Removing such a major expense from the books may be worth paying the penalties for leaving early. But first, “know your terms,” he advises. “What are your exit clauses? Then do a cost-benefit analysis to understand what you are going to lose.” In addition, “a great CPA (Certified Public Accountant) can help you find tax benefits from your losses.”
To reduce cash outflow, Dyer also advises that owners renegotiate with suppliers for payment flexibility. “If they normally give you a 90-day credit, ask if they can extend it to 120 days,” he suggests. “For them, it’s always better to have a paying customer than a non-paying one.”
Perhaps the hardest cut — but the most necessary — is to personnel. Dyer acknowledges this is an emotional choice for tight-knit small businesses. However, furloughing employees now is better than losing the business forever. “You are doing them a disservice when you keep them and can’t afford them,” he notes. “You then won’t have a business to which they can return.” Instead, Dyer advises that owners focus on individuals that best serve their current needs. “You want to have someone in your shop that can help you navigate this storm.”
Adapt Your Business Model
With continued social distancing protocols, it’s far from business as usual for those who normally operate based on face-to-face interactions. “If you still hold the mindset that the fundamental tenets of your business remain the same after COVID-19, you’re going to fail,” advises Dyer. “Businesses that survive have to readjust their business model to meet the market.”
Many operations can find alternate revenue streams by using social media to market and sell to their customers. Others can pivot to more socially distant operations. For example, Dyer has seen businesses like restaurants successfully transition from on-site service to delivery and curbside pick-up. “They are now in a better position for the future because they had to adapt,” he says. They also may have expanded their possible customer base.
Reach Out for Advice
When looking for new ways to innovate, it’s important to connect with knowledgeable people for guidance. They could be more experienced entrepreneurs in the same field, or those with specialized skills — from building online sales platforms to applying for grants. “Because during a crisis, alliances matter,” says Dyer. “There’s wisdom through counsel.” Chambers of commerce are a fruitful resource, offering workshops where members exchange strategies.
Risk-Proof for the Future
Dyer predicts that market instability will extend well into 2021 as COVID-19 cases continue to rise. Despite recent breakthroughs in vaccines, wide scale inoculation won’t be possible for at least a year. In response, businesses need to manage their risk exposure.
In the short term, this means preparing for more closures. “If you’re in an environment where they’ve had shutdowns in the past, plan for a shutdown (again),” he notes. Preserve any operational adjustments made for social distancing, so you can reenact them quickly, as needed.
This is a good time to reevaluate contracts for additional protections. “If you didn’t pay attention to your lease agreement before, you sure are going to pay attention now,” jokes Dyer, who recommends discussing business interruption clauses with landlords. He suggests examining how your business insurance specifically addresses losses due to a pandemic. It’s also a great time to seek better terms from vendors, like discounts for quicker payment cycles.
Thinking about the big picture, Dyer sees the positive potential of reinventing in response to the pandemic; these current challenges could become opportunities in disguise. “It’s about taking the lessons we learned forward,” he said. “You’re always trying to get lighter and more agile during a time of crisis. But it’s also in these times when we become the most innovative.”
