Happy Kwanzaa!

It's with some sadness I wish you an enjoyable holiday season, and God's blessings in 2016! A most loving person and good friend Howard passed away on Xmas Eve. He has been and will remain an inspiration for doing good works for me and many others! I am so very grateful to have met him, and shared great times with him, and with Lisa and Sidney, and his other family members and good friends! A caring, loving, humble, simply an honourable man Howard Hacker! Knowing this outstanding gentle man, he would want us to carry on merrily and smartly now and in the future. I know he would want us to enjoy life to its fullest without him as he did so many times whether he was present or not at a particular music, sporting, or boating event, or lime!
I know too that he would like us to incorporate the Nguza Saba as part of the guiding philosophy of life partly because he had a great appreciation of the cultural arts, and mostly because he was a person of sound principles!
Tomorrow Sunday is his funeral in Toronto. Tomorrow many of us will celebrate Kujichagulia. Howard too had Self-Determination. Today is celebration of Umoja. He too believed in Unity! As we continue to celebrate Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity) and Imani (Faith) over the next six days, we will give thanks for the wonderful life of Howard, and we certainly will not forget how beautifully he touched our hearts, and minds now, next year, and beyond!
Peace,
alex

Andre speaks to Canadian Broadcasting Corporation about turning pro!

Up to this point in my life, I haven’t had to make too many critical decisions. At least nowhere near a decision as big as this. I actually feel like I’ve matured a lot with the responsibility of taking something like this into my own hands and making it happen.

It’s official – I’m Andre De Grasse: professional track and field athlete.

How did this all come about? It’s pretty interesting actually. I know I told everybody that I wasn’t going to be going professional until after my senior year at USC, but things have a way of moving in a different direction when certain points are brought to your attention. Maybe some people can relate.

I mean this in no arrogant way at all – but last season, it’s like nothing could go wrong. At the NCAA Championships, I had a great performance as an underdog. At the Pan Am Games, I had a great performance as a favourite, with the pressures of not disappointing the home crowd (pressure I downplayed of course).

Then at the world championships, I was able to stand on the podium with the likes of Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin with a bronze medal from the 100-metres around my neck.

 

It’s like the stars were lining up for me to do something other than put my USC uniform back on. “What did I just do?” all of a sudden turned into, “What am I going to do?”

I knew that I had to get my degree. Not only because my mom would kill me if I didn’t, but also because I know I can’t run forever, and eventually I’m going to have to have something to fall back on to be productive after my track career.  At first, I thought I had to choose between being a student or being a professional sprinter. I think it was a real game changer when I found out I could go professional and still be in school. Suddenly, going professional became a real option.

But I liked being in school. It seemed like a part of my life that I wanted to just see through as a regular student-athlete. I took a lot of pride in being a Trojan, and I enjoyed going into battle draped in the cardinal and gold.

Being a professional always came across as such a giant step for me. A little intimidating when I thought about it at first. I didn’t even know if I was going to be able to handle it. And yeah, I heard whispers of what kind of money I could make, but I didn’t know if the numbers were for real.

Those whispers eventually became louder and louder though. It was like, “Wait, I can make how much!”

Enough to make anybody have to re-evaluate.

 

I distinctly remember coming home from school one day.  That morning, I woke up for 5 a.m. practice to do hills. It was rough that morning too because I was up pretty late the night before writing a 10-page paper. Had a full day of classes and had to walk home carrying my air-board because the battery was dead. All I wanted to do was just lay down somewhere as soon once I got home.

I share an apartment with three students I didn’t really know and split a bedroom with one of them. I opened the door and slowly made my way to my room, kicking pizza boxes and soda cans out of the way. I stopped and took a glance around. As I took in the smell, I said, “What is that?”

I saw the dirty plates, liquor bottles, scattered clothing and a space where privacy was no option. In that very moment, I asked why I was doing this to myself.

I now realized that I needed to take advantage of some of the things that I kept hearing I was eligible for with the success that I had last season. I didn’t feel good about living the way that I was living, and it had actually gotten to the point where I had outgrown having to deal with circumstances like that. I remember breaking down my living situation to a friend of mine and he laughed and said,“Yo, aren’t you supposed to be the third fastest man in the world?”

 

Andre De Grasse uses his air-board to get around the USC campus. (Natalie Tedesco/CBC)

I must say making the decision to become a professional was such a huge lift off of my shoulders. I really wasn’t happy. I actually felt a little depressed going through every day and thinking about things that were missing in my life, and how a lot of things could be so much easier for me with one simple decision.

But who knows, maybe if I had decided to go pro earlier, I would have somehow been questioning whether or not I rushed into the decision. Or maybe I would have been wondering whether or not I made the right choice. I guess in a way it’s a good thing that I waited. I literally had gotten to the point where it was absolutely clear to me that I had to declare myself a professional. ASAP. 

And now here I am.

So how does this change my plans leading into Rio? Well, instead of my race schedule being set and me conforming to it, I will be able to pick and choose my races strategically with my coach and my agent to cater to me and my end goal.

Getting around Los Angeles has always been a hassle since I’ve been here. No more Uber or air-boarding to get where I need to go. I can get myself a car and drive. I don’t have to be stuck in a living situation where I am forced to cater to other people’s living habits. I can have my own place where I can keep my surroundings the way I please. 

Eat better. Sleep better. Be happier. This is the short list, but to sum it up, I’m now in a position where my mind can be in the right place for me to be able to make my graduation walk and make my pursuit towards that podium in Rio. My life can be in order, and my mind clear.

I’m excited. I mean how can you not be excited when the Olympics are approaching, but the feeling has grown a lot more now that I see these changes coming into my life. I want that Olympic medal so bad. I gotta have it.

A lot of people may want to see how I react now that I’m not an unknown anymore. It’s hard to hide now with the stats that I have, so there are people out there who are actually gunning for me. It’s like they believe that I’m not hungry anymore. They couldn’t be any more wrong.

I don’t have an Olympic medal yet. And I’m still not considered the best in the world. So yeah, I’m hungry. Until I have those things, you better believe I’m hungry.

Rio 2016. Time to eat. Let’s get it.

Bim at 49 years of Independence wins "Destination of the Year"!

NEW YORK (December 2, 2015) – Barbados wins big in 2015 with the recognition of the island as ‘Destination of the Year’ 2015 and acknowledgment for the opening of its newest resort, Sandals Barbados, dubbed  the ‘New All-Inclusive Resort of the Year’ by Caribbean Journal in their coveted Caribbean Travel Awards.  Based on the efforts demonstrated by the tourism sector and marketing reach made throughout the year, the Caribbean Travel Awards highlight the “Best of 2015” for readers of Caribbean Journal with followers that span over 60,000 readers a month in the Americas and internationally.

"We are honored to be named Caribbean Journal's "Destination of the Year," acknowledged the Honorable Richard Sealy, Minister of Tourism and International Transport. “This accolade is sincerely appreciated and we see this as manifestation of our efforts to improve the destination product. I salute all the stakeholders whose dedication has contributed significantly to this recognition. Barbados has benefited with the recent increase in airlift options for travelers from all markets and we fully intend to continue the positive trajectory of growth as we move into 2016."

“It is great to see Caribbean destinations using cutting edge marketing and creativity to draw new travelers,” stated Alexander Britell, Editor in Chief of Caribbean Journal. “Barbados has had a tremendous year in that regard and our team of Caribbean experts is proud to honor them for that achievement.”

This honor comes at a historic moment for Barbados, celebrating its 50^th anniversary of independence this 2016. With the addition of new JetBlue routes from the Boston market and Mint service for the luxury set, the island continues to strengthen its connection to travelers in the US market. Offering a colorful and culturally driven variety of events and activities for every niche, consumers continue to view the destination as the ultimate in sun, sand and sea.

For a complete list of all the awards from the initial Caribbean Journal Caribbean Travel Awards, please visit www.caribjournal.com.

###

About Barbados

The island of Barbados offers the most authentic Caribbean experience with its exceptionally rich culture and history rooted in remarkable landscapes.  Rated as one of the world’s sexiest beaches in 2008 by Concierge.com; Barbados’ Crane Beach in St. Philip stands as a premier destination for travelers.  Barbados is also the first Zagat-rated Caribbean island and is known as the culinary capital of the Caribbean. Barbados has hosted several world class events including: The annual Barbados Food & Wine and Rum Festival; the 2006 PGA World Golf Championships-Barbados World Cup, the ICC Cricket World Cup Finals in 2007, the Sentebale Charity Polo match with Prince Harry of Wales in 2010, and the ICC Twenty20 Cricket Finals for 2010, and the Rihanna LOUD concert in 2012. Accommodations range from picturesque plantation houses and villas, to quaint bed and breakfasts and award-winning, five-star resorts. Grantley Adams International Airport offers even more non-stop and direct service from a growing number of U.S., making Barbados the true gateway to the Eastern Caribbean.  Barbados was voted eighth in the World by Trip Advisor’s "2008 Travelers' Choice Destination Awards" in its Top 100 Destinations category.  For more information on travel to Barbados, visit www.visitbarbados.org, follow on Facebook athttp://www.facebook.com/VisitBarbados, via Twitter @Barbados.

About Caribbean Journal

Caribbean Journal was founded in 2011 with one vision: to provide news, commentary and analysis in a way that the Caribbean had not yet seen. It is now the Caribbean’s leading digital newspaper, with 24/7, original content covering news, travel, politics and opinion from more than 20 countries and territories. Caribbean Journal’s Travel section is the premier source for Caribbean travel and trade news — from the latest hotel openings to secret vacation escapes. And CJ’s Opinion section provides a central platform for the region’s best ideas.