Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to the life and acheivements of Parren James Mitchell, the first black Congressman to represent the State of Maryland, 1 of the 13 founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus, CBC, and a champion of civil rights. Mr. Mitchell was a powerful force in the 20th century resurgence of Black political strength in the United States and I was proud to serve with him in the Congress.

Born in Baltimore, MD, on April 29, 1922, Parren Mitchell was the ninth of 10 children in his family. He earned a bachelor's degree from Morgan State College in 1950 and was the first Black to earn a master's degree from the University of Maryland--College Park in 1952, after a successful suit that granted him fair admission, Mitchell returned to his undergraduate institution to teach sociology and serve as the assistant director of the Urban Studies Institute. He was also a commissioned officer of the 92nd Infantry Division during World War II, receiving the Purple Heart.

Having amassed more than 3,000 awards and 14 honorary degrees, Mitchell was a leader in politics and business. He served on the Supreme Bench of Baltimore City from 1954 to 1957 and as executive director to both the Maryland Human Relations Commission and Baltimore Community Action Agency.

Mr. Mitchell was elected to the 92nd United States Congress in 1971 and reelected for seven successive terms. As the first Black to head the House Committee on Small Business, his greatest triumph was in leading a fight to ratify bills providing special aid to Black business owners on the grounds that Blacks had been subjected to discrimination for generations. In addition to heading the Small Business Committee, he was also Democratic whip at large, the senior member of the House Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs Committee, and chairman of its Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy.

In 1980, Mitchell founded the Minority Business Enterprise Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc., MBELDEF, whose accomplishments include a successful lawsuit against Burger King in 1988 for discriminatory practices in awarding franchises.

As a mentor to African Americans committed to improving American civil rights, such as former president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, NAACP, Kweisi Mfume, Mitchell was selflessly committed to uplifting his people and was even referred to during his chairmanship of the CBC as ``the Little General.''

Parren is remembered in Congress as a soft-spoken yet eloquent speaker with a large presence. Former Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Richard Lugar asserted it was Mitchell's impassioned plea for sanctions against South Africa that persuaded him to accept a tougher measure than the Senate originally backed in 1985.

Parren, along with other family members have dedicated their careers to public service and specifically to representing the people of

Baltimore for many years. His brother, Clarence Mitchell, Jr., the late civil rights activist, was the chief lobbyist for the NAACP for 30 years and was instrumental in the passage of several civil rights bills. Two of his nephews, Clarence M. Mitchell III and Michael B. Mitchell, Sr., were elected as Baltimore city councilmen and Maryland State senators. His nephew, Keiffer Mitchell, is currently serving as a Baltimore city councilman and plans to campaign for the upcoming mayoral election in Baltimore city. His legacy of inspiring others to serve the public still lives on.

In remembering the life of Parren Mitchell, I am grateful to have known him personally and am confident that America is a better place because he lived.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the life and contributions of the late Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and to acknowledge the 50th anniversary of the independence of Ghana, which is being recognized and celebrated this year. Kwame Nkrumah is the father of his nation, Ghana, and its anniversary of independence is an appropriate time for us to recognition his contribution. I introduce into the Congressional Record an article from CaribNews by Michael D. Roberts.

Dr. Nkrumah was born on September 21, 1909 in Ghana, the same country he led to liberation from Great Britain and was elected as Prime Minister in 1960. He attended college in the United States, studied philosophy, and developed an interest in the ideas of Marcus Garvey. Realizing the need for self government, he served as General Secretary of the United Coast Gold Convention, a political party interested in Ghana's independence. Involvement in this movement was unconventional and by all means unpopular. Despite, the lack of popularity, Dr. Nkrumah, had a vision not only for Ghana, but for all African countries. His leadership inspired 23 other African nations to gain independence in just 3 years after his election.

In addition to inspiring African countries to gain independence, Dr. Nkrumah envisioned unity. His vision to unite African countries was embodied with his influence in founding the Organization of African unity, established on May 25, 1963. The organization focused on ways to unify African nations and to speak with one continental voice. The organization changed over the years and was replaced with the African Union in 2001.

On March 6, 2007, Ghana celebrated the 50th anniversary of its independence. Celebrations were held all over the country and attended by world leaders. I pay honor and homage to Kwame Nkrumah for dedicating his life to Ghana democracy and working towards unifying African nations. His legacy and work still lives on with the celebration of Ghana's independence 50 years ago.

[From CaribNews]

Kwame Nkrumah: The Man and His Times--Ghanaian Political Visionary,

Pan-Africanist and Advocate of African Unity

(By Michael D. Roberts)

The African Antecedent: Setting the Stage for Africa's

Independence

``Our independence is meaningless unless it is linked up

with the total liberation of the African continent.'' Kwame

Nkrumah, Accra 1957.

Those words were uttered 6 years before the formation of

the Organization of African Unity (OAD) on the 25th May 1963.

It was an organization formed with the express purpose of

uniting all of Africa but from the onset those leaders who

signed this historic document in Ethiopia, were divided by

insularity and a profound lack of vision. That is all of them

except one.

Today his vision has been realized and modified, perhaps

for better or worse--no one knows--in the development of the

African Union (AD) that came into being in 2001. This new

organization replaced the OAU that many felt had did its time

and served its purpose but was unrealistic and lacked any new

mechanism for dealing with the vagaries of modern, emerging

Africa and the rest of the world.

But his vision and steadfast belief in African Glory has

made him a legend in his lifetime and clearly one of the

great sons of Africa. Today, he stands tall for his

contribution to African political consciousness and African

unity. He was a man whose ideas were far advanced for the era

in which he served. In 2007 Africa needs to revisit his life

and times. His name was Kwame Nkrumah. As Ghana's leader he

had developed a reputation of total commitment to the

improvement of not only the people of Ghana, but all of

Africa. In a very real way the building blocks for today's

modem Africa is the sacrifice and vision of leaders like

Nkrumah. Observe that on the eve of the signing of the

document that would formally ratify the OAU this was the

warning that Nkrumah gave to African leaders about the

powerful forces lined up against the continent:

``Our essential bulwark against the sinister threats and

other multifarious designs of the neocolonialists is in our

political union. If we are to remain free, if we are to enjoy

the full benefits of Africa's rich resources, we must unite

to plan for total defense and the full exploitation of our

material and human means, in the full interests of all our

peoples. To go it alone will limit our horizons, curtail our

expectations, and threaten our liberty . . . Unless we meet

the obvious and very powerful neocolonialists' threats with a

unified African front, based upon a common economic and

defense policy, the strategy will be to pick us off and

destroy us one by one.''

Nkrumah's prophetic and visionary words were based on his

profound study of how Europe colonized Africa and his

experiences abroad. His study of Garveyism, the ideology of

Marcus Mosiah Garvey, lent his thoughts and actions a sense

of African pride and independence. But more than that Nkrumah

demonstrated selfless leadership and completely dedicated

himself to the emancipation of his people.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to enter into the Record an opinion editorial published in the CaribNews newspaper the week of May 17, 2007 titled ``Caribbean Aims to Cash in on Face Time with Bush''. This article expresses the importance of the CARICOM Summit meetings to be held in Washington, D.C. from June 19-21, 2007.

The heads of states of the 15 nations that comprise the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will be in Washington meeting with the Administration, as well as members of Congress. During their meetings in Washington, they wish to discuss U.S.-Caribbean trade relations, cooperation in education and security initiatives, immigration, disaster preparedness and mitigation, and other issues arising from our important relationships with our Southern neighbors.

A Summit of this magnitude and with the full leadership of CARICOM represents the first of its kind under the Bush Administration. I commend the Administration's initiative in establishing stronger and more consistent relationships with island states whose strategic importance has been recognized by their designation by former Secretary of State Colin Powell as our ``third border.''

This Summit comes at an important time for the American people as we celebrate the contribution of millions of Caribbean-Americans during Caribbean American Heritage Month. It is estimated that over 2.6 million Caribbean-Americans currently live in the United States. People from the Caribbean have contributed to the building of this great nation as the earliest and largest source of Black immigrants to the

Madam Speaker, I rise today to respond to and support the testimony by Mr. John Feinblatt, Criminal Justice Coordinator for the City of New York before the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Domestic Policy Subcommittee on May 10, 2007, regarding illegal guns and the Tiahrt amendment.

First, I applaud Michael Bloomberg for his leadership with reducing crime in New York City. Crime fighting is tough and it requires strong and bold leadership to be effective.

Second, I along with other Members of Congress formed the bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Illegal Guns in January of 2007. This task force was formed during the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Summit held on January 23, 2007 in Washington, DC. The bipartisan task force is solely concerned about illegal guns and crime control. Let me be clear that the task force supports the Second Amendment and believes in protecting the rights of responsible and legal gun owners. We oppose the traffic in illegal guns which presents a danger to our society.

Third, to begin to address the problems associated with crime and illegal guns, members of the task force and other Members of Congress sent a letter to the leadership of the Commerce Justice and Science Subcommittee requesting Mr. Mollahan and Mr. Frelinghuysen to change the language in the Tiahrt Amendment.

We support providing local law enforcement agencies with the tools and information they need to fight crime, particularly getting information on gun trace data.

Lastly, day in and day out, reports are aired in local and national media outlets about people being wounded and killed by guns. I'm certain that the vast majority of those incidents are committed with illegal guns. This is deeply troubling and disheartening to me. Action is needed and it is needed now.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay honor to a great man, Ambassador Val McCombie, of Barbados and to enter into the record an article from Carib News by Tony Best titled, Diplomat Who Paved The Way For Others. He passed away after a lengthy illness and was funeralized on May 9, 2007.

Val McCombie inspired me in so many ways. He was a man who had a commanding presence, but was not commanding at all. He was powerful, but gentle. Further, he was well respected, articulate, and giving.

Serving as a public servant was the calling on his life. Early in his career, he spent a great deal of his time teaching French and Spanish to young people. Pursuing the desire to represent the people of Barbados, he became the Ambassador to the United States. Serving as an ambassador provided him an awesome opportunity to bridge a gap between Caribbean nations and Latin American nations. His great ability to lead and serve paved the way for other public servants, some of which he mentored.

I'm honored to have known him and feel blessed to have had the opportunity to learn from such a dignified man. I urge young people and my colleagues to learn more about his life and contribution to Barbados.

Diplomat Who Paved the Way for Others

(By Tony Best)

Two diplomats who took turns occupying the same

Ambassadorial office offered different assessments of the man

who had set the standard they later followed. ``He built a

career strengthening relationships'' between CARICOM and

``the rest of Latin America,'' said Michael King, Barbados'

current top diplomat to the U.S. and the Organization of

American States.

Sir Courtney Blackman, King's immediate predecessor,

succinctly summed up the diplomat's career in a different

way. ``He was an Ambassador's Ambassador,'' said Sir

Courtney. Both men were reflecting on the life and career of

Valerie Theodore McComie, Barbados' first resident Ambassador

in Washington, who later became the first person from the

English-speaking Caribbean to be elected Assistant Secretary-

General of the OAS, a position he held from 1980-1990.

McComie died in Washington on Friday after a lengthy illness.

Called ``Val'' by his friends and colleagues, the linguist

and educator who once taught French and Spanish to students

in Barbados and St. Kitts-Nevis, English to Venezuelans and

French-speaking students in Martinique and France and both

languages to Americans and Ghanaians in high schools in the

U.S. and Africa used his facility with language to advance

the Caribbean's cause on the international stage. He did that

during a diplomatic career that began in 1967 and ended in

the early 1990s.

Along the way, he served as Barbados' Ambassador in

Caracas, the first diplomat from the country to do so; its

non-resident envoy to Brazil; and Alternate-Governor to the

Inter-American Development Bank.

Born in Trinidad and Tobago on April 1, 1920, McComie

received his early education in his birthplace and Barbados,

before he went on to London University in England which

awarded him a Bachelor's degree in mediaeval and modern

languages; and later the University of Bordeaux in France and

the University of California at Los Angeles. As Barbados'

first resident Ambassador in Washington McComie was his

country's eyes and ears in the U.S. capital and in Latin

America at a time when Caribbean nations were just beginning

to extend their diplomatic links to Latin America.

Whether it was at the OAS headquarters or along

ambassador's row, McComie was at home, so to speak. ``He had

a tremendous presence and in any room he stood out, tall,

handsome and very comfortable with strangers,'' Sir Courtney

said. But even more than that, he earned the respect of the

Latins, who were skeptical of the interest the small English-

speaking nations with a British orientation were showing in

the OAS, first with Trinidad and Tobago's membership in the

Western Hemisphere body. Next was Barbados. ``The respect was

tremendous and it came from all of the ambassadors and their

governments,'' added Sir Courtney who served in Washington

in the 1990s. ``It was that respect that enabled him to

become the Assistant Secretary-General of the OAS.''

By any objective assessment, McComie performed his OAS

duties with aplomb, ever mindful though of the gap in

influence between the Secretary-General and the Assistant.

Still, he paved the way for Chris Thomas, the Trinidad and

Tobago diplomat, who succeeded him. His ability to play the

diplomatic game with ease and his record of getting results

allowed him to serve as a role model for many of the young

people in the Caribbean who aspired to diplomatic careers.

``He was a pioneer in our foreign service and a driving force

behind our membership in the OAS in 1967 and he ably

performed the duties of Ambassador in Venezuela when we

opened a mission in Caracas in 1974,'' said King. ``He was a

mentor to many people. He was able to use his brilliance as a

teacher to encourage many young diplomats to develop their

careers in the area of representation. ``

Less than four years ago at a ceremony in which he was

being awarded the Order of Christopher Columbus by the

Dominican Republic, Luigi R. Einaudi, at the time the OAS

Assistant Secretary-General, described McComie as a

visionary, who like Columbus ``sailed unchartered waters, who

came to harbors that became the ports and bridges of the

future.'' But it was Barbados' Prime Minister, Owen Arthur,

who best summed up McComie record, when he told the OAS

General Assembly in Barbados in 2002 that ``his contribution

as an educator in Barbados and St. Kitts-Nevis helped to

encourage many key decision-makers in newly independent

states to become more aware of our Latin neighbors at a time

when political contact could have been said to be almost

nonexistent.''

Little wonder, then, that the Barbados leader, speaking for

the entire Caribbean told him ``Val, we all owe you debt of

gratitude for having the foresight of and appreciation for

the value of cross-cultural contact.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the great accomplishments of one of this Nation's most accomplished community activists and physicians, Dr. Muriel Marjorie Petioni.

Dr. Petioni has been a role model for all women and is especially beloved in my Congressional District. Born on January 1, 1914, in Trinidad, young Petioni immigrated to the U.S. in 1919, settling with her family in New York City, where her father soon became a prominent Harlem physician and activists in the Carribean nationalist movement. She followed her father and other relatives into the medical field, working locally at Harlem Hospital after she graduated from Howard University's School of Medicine in 1937.

Her community and its residents have never been far from Dr. Petioni's mind. After a short break during the 1940s to get married and start a family, she returned to the medical profession in 1950, setting up her practice in the same office that her father had decades earlier. She maintained that practice for over 40 years, working diligently to ensure that hardworking residents and their families received the proper attention they deserved. When Harlem Hospital stumbled on financial difficulties in the 1980s, she founded the Friends of Harlem Hospital Center to raise private funding for the institution.

Dr. Petioni has also been a tireless educator, working hard to open up the doors of college and medical school to all underrepresented groups, especially women and African Americans. In 1974, she founded the Susan Smith McKinney Steward Medical Society for Women, a professional association of black women physicians. Named after the first African American female doctor, the organization provides institutional support for students and its members. Dr. Petioni has also worked with the Coalition of 100 Black Women to develop mentorship programs to encourage and guide young black women into the medical field.

Dr. Petioni's efforts have also led to her involvement with local government officials to ensure equal access to healthcare. She served for 30 years as a school physician for Central Harlem for the New York City Department of Health and as supervising physician for East and Central Harlem from 1980-1984. Today, Petioni is on the board of a number of non-profit institutions and government agencies, including the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, the Columbia School of Social Work, the Harlem Council of Elders, and the New York and Harlem branches of the American Cancer Society.

Numerous organizations and institutions have deservedly showered Dr. Petioni with awards and other honors. The venerable National Medical Association, which has named their annual Women in Medicine Luncheon after her. This May, New York's Barnard College is bestowing her with The Barnard Medal of Distinction, the school's highest award, for her ``service to the Harlem community as a physician, community activist and philanthropist for over 70 years.''

It is great to see such a good friend receive the accolades she so rightly deserves for the years of service that she has given to our community and Nation. Going strong at 93 years of age, she continues to be a trailblazer and an inspiration, a New Year's Day gift to us all that has touched the lives of countless children and families.

Madam Speaker, I rise to draw attention to the life of a remarkable woman, who despite all her illnesses lived a wonderful life. Alice Bernice Hill was afflicted with asthma and other diseases early in her life, yet through all her ailments lived past 85.

Born in Harlem Hospital on December 1, 1919, Alice was sent to the West Indies for ``two years, one month and eight days'' due to her severe illnesses. She never had a lot of money, and had even less when on disability, and still she was able to support herself.

In her early years, Alice was forced to join the workforce to support her family, as required by the welfare program. She later rose through the ranks and became a union administrator, with groups like the International Ladies Garment Workers Union and the United Auto Workers. Through union courses at Cornell University, she obtained a bachelor's degree in labor relations.

Her efforts to refuse to let her ailments cripple her saved her life. Surviving a stroke, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and arthritis, lived on to watch her brother Arthur, six nieces and nephews, two grandchildren and one grandnephew grow.

Truly a woman of great dignity and honor, Alice is deserving of this recognition for her strength, intelligence, and compassion. I ask my colleagues in the House to join me in recognizing the life of Alice Bernice Hill and her relentless strength.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ambassador Val McComie, of Barbados, a consummate professional and diplomat who established a high bar for his nation in the achievements of his illustrious career. I place in the Congressional Record a tribute by Ambassador Michael King to Val McComie.

Today, I had the honor and privilege to speak at the funeral service for Ambassador Val McComie. My heart was warmed to see the outpouring of love by his family members and friends who attended the service to pay their final respects to a great man. It was obvious that he touched the lives of many with his wisdom, knowledge, and commitment to public service. He will be missed by many, but he leaves a legacy that will continue to inspire all those who knew him.

I was very encouraged by the tribute to Ambassador Val McComie by Ambassador Michael King, which was read at the funeral service today. I will reflect on the tribute when I think of my friend and his contribution to my life, democracy, and the people of the Caribbean.

Tribute to the Honourable Valerie T. McComie, C.H.B.

The Honourable Valerie Theodore McComie, C.H.B. was a

quintessential Caribbean man. His whole life was spent

teaching his students, his colleagues and interlocutors--and

anybody with a keen ear--about the dynamics of Caribbean

politics and society.

His strong love and appreciation for the Inter-American

System played a major role in convincing the Government of

Barbados to join the Organisation of American States in 1967

and to service the Permanent Mission with quality staff with

the necessary professional and linguistic skills to interact

effectively with their colleagues from the rest of the

Hemisphere.

Val mentored anyone who was willing to listen to his wise

advice and to benefit from his institutional memory. His

knowledge of Latin America and the key decision-makers was

incredible and one could only marvel at his ability to keep

abreast of the rapid changes of government during a period

when the word ``democracy'' was not often part of the lexicon

of the Region.

He was a stickler for detail and thorough preparation and

he always felt that all diplomats should not take the floor

to speak unless they had full access to facts and knowledge

about the subject. He demanded and expected a certain level

of excellence in the area of diplomatic representation.

As Assistant Secretary General from 1980-1990 Val was a

major source of advice to several CARICOM leaders on matters

related to the Inter-American System. He relished the role

like a kid in a candy store. Sometimes his frankness was not

appreciated but he never wavered from his strong views.

I had the privilege to be in La Paz in October 1979 when he

created history by winning a very close election to the post

of Assistant Secretary General. It was not an easy task for

him and the delegation of Barbados but there was no doubt

that the esteem with which he was held in the Hemisphere was

the primary reason for his success. His re-election by

acclamation in Brazilia in 1984 bought similar joy to us.

Val loved sports, especially cricket and football. He

always reminded me that he was close to selection for the

Barbados Cricket Team. I can also recall the joy he felt when

he returned from the 1982 Football World Cup in Spain and the

attention he paid to subsequent events.

He followed in death by 100 days, his good friend, the

Honourable Oliver Jackman, C.H.B., who also had the great

honour of serving as Ambassador of Barbados to the

United States of America and the Organization of American

States. They were among the first persons selected to

represent Barbados immediately following the granting of

Independence in November 1966. All of you will agree that

Barbados, the Caribbean and the Inter-American System are

better off from their leadership and commitment to improving

the quality of life and the promotion of justice for all

citizens of the Hemisphere.

On behalf of the Government and people of Barbados I wish

to express our sincerest expression of sympathy to his wife,

Elia and daughter, Gail and the rest of the family.

I wish to end by reading the first verse of the poem ``Los

Heraldos Negros'' (Black Messengers) by the great Peruvian,

Ceasar Vallejo:

``Hay golpes en la vida, tan fuertes . . . Yo no se!

Golpes como del odio de Dios; como si ante ellos, la resaca

de todo lo sufrido se empozaro en el alma . . . Yo no

se!

In English:

There are in life such hard blows . . . I don't know!

Blows seemingly from God's wrath; as if before them

The undertow of all our sufferings is embedded in our souls .

. .

I don't know!

May he rest in peace!

Madam Speaker, today I rise to praise Harry Belafonte, legendary musician and world renowned entertainer, for a lifetime of activism for equality and human rights for people across the globe. His passion, sincerity, and empathy for those who are overlooked and underprivileged have inspired many to act and have brought about significant change in our society.

Harry Belafonte's courage to speak out against the war in Iraq, to support the victims of Hurricane Katrina, and to fight for an end of the AIDS epidemic is a mirror to his integrity and undying commitment to improving society Amy Goodman reflects on his endless service in her article ``Harry Belafonte, The Lion at 80'' published by Carib News. Harry Belafonte is a true humanitarian for his lifetime of endless work for all.

[From the Carib News, Apr. 3, 2007]

Harry Belafonte, The Lion at 80

(By Amy Goodman)

Harry Belafonte just turned 80. The ``King of Calypso'' was

the first person to have a million-selling album and the

first African-American to win an Emmy, and is perhaps the

most recognizable entertainer in the world. On Saturday,

March 3, I attended his birthday party at a restaurant

adjoining the New York Public Library.

The setting seemed very appropriate, as Belafonte himself

is a living library of not only the civil rights movement but

of liberation struggles around the world. In 1944, just

before shipping out as a U.S. Navy sailor in World War II, he

was banned from the Copacabana nightclub in New York. Ten

years later, he headlined there. He knew Rosa Parks, Paul

Robeson and Eleanor Roosevelt. He corresponded with the

imprisoned Nelson Mandela when the U.S. government considered

the South African leader a terrorist.

Belafonte was a close confidant of the Rev. Martin Luther

King Jr. He spoke daily with King. The FBI was listening.

Taylor Branch, the award-winning author of a trilogy of books

on King, was at Harry's party. Belafonte describes how

Bunch's final book in the trilogy, ``At Canaan's Edge,''

uncovered extensive FBI wiretaps of their conversations.

For fighting for the right to vote and to end segregation,

Belafonte says: ``We were looked upon as people who were

insurgents, that we were doing things to betray our nation

and the tranquility of our citizens. That engaged the FBI.

Everything we talked about was tapped.'' The FBI even went to

his house when he was away and frightened his

wife and children. He tells me: ``The essential difference

between then and now is that no previous regime tried to

subvert the Constitution. They may have done illegal acts.

They may have gone outside the law to do these, but they did

them clandestinely. No one stepped to the table as arrogantly

as George W. Bush and his friends have done and said, `We

legally want to suspend the rights of citizens, the right to

surveil, the right to read your mail, the right to arrest you

without charge.''' His criticism is not limited to President

Bush (whom he called, while visiting President Hugo Chavez in

Venezuela, ``the greatest terrorist in the world'').

President Bill Clinton crashed Belafonte's birthday party,

which was taking place as the Democratic presidential

contenders battled for the African-American vote. Sens.

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were in Selma, Ala., for the

42nd anniversary of the famous voting rights march from Selma

to Montgomery. [Bill Clinton went to Selma to join his wife

for the commemoration.]

In his remarks, Clinton toasted Harry: ``I was inspired by

your politics more than you can ever know. Every time I ever

saw you after I became president, I thought that my

conscience was being graded, and I was getting less than an

A. And every president should feel that way about somebody as

good as you.''

I asked Harry how he felt about Clinton showing up. ``I'm

very flattered, OK, but I'm mindful of all the things that

need to be done.'' In his succinct reply, a lifetime of

struggle remembered, a keen edged skepticism, ``He knows what

I think. He said I didn't give him an A.'' I then asked him

about both the Clintons and Obama going to Selma.

``We are hearing platitudes, not platforms. What do they

plan to do for people of color, Mexicans, for people who are

imprisoned, black youth? What are their plans for the

Katrinas of America?''

In 1965, Belafonte was on the original Selma march with Dr.

King before they reached Montgomery. Jude's Catholic Church

offered its grounds to the thousands of marchers. Belafonte

called in artists from around the country. Tony Bennett came,

as did Pete Seeger (both were at Harris birthday party),

Sammy Davis Jr., Mike Nichols, the conductor Leonard

Bernstein, Odetta and Joan Baez. In the rain, they built

their stage in the mud with donated caskets from local

mortuaries.

The stakes were incredibly high. People were shot and

killed, people were beaten. Viola Liuzzo, a white Detroit

homemaker, was fatally shot by Klansmen while driving

marchers back to Selma. Weeks before, police shot a man named

Jimmie Lee Jackson, who later died. Despite all that,

Belafonte says that the stakes are higher today.

Like the two stone lions that guard the New York City

Public Library, Harry Belafonte-fierce, fearless, and

focused--protects the soul of struggle. Even as he enters his

ninth decade, this lion does not sleep tonight.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the life of my friend, Val McComie, who after a distinguished career and a lifetime of service, passed away on May 4, 2007, and to enter into the Record his obituary.

Ambassador McComie dedicated his life to public service. He served as a secondary teacher, and then embarked upon a career in diplomacy that saw him reach and contribute at the very highest levels. He began at the entry level of the Barbados Diplomatic Service, then rose quickly through the ranks to become his nation's ambassador to Venezuela from 1974 to 1976, and Assistant Secretary General of the Organisation of American States from 1980 to 1990. His dedication to public service is noteworthy. I'm particularly proud of his interest in human rights and environmental issues. His legacy within the inter-American community will live on.

I will keep his wife, Elia Garcia McComie and daughter Gail McComie in my thoughts and prayers.

Obituary--Val McComie, Former Assistant Secretary General of the

Organisation of American States

Val McComie, 87, a former ambassador of Barbados to the

United States and Assistant Secretary General of the

Organisation of American States, died May 4 after a lengthy

illness at the Washington Home hospice in Washington, DC.

Ambassador McComie was born in Trinidad and received his

secondary education in Trinidad and Barbados. He attended the

University of London, graduating in Modern Languages. He

completed post-graduate studies at the University of Bordeaux

and the University of California, Los Angeles.

Val McComie taught at secondary schools in Barbados,

Arizona, and Ghana, and then joined the Barbados diplomatic

service after the country became independent in 1966. He was

appointed as ambassador to the United States and permanent

representative to the OAS in 1968. He was instrumental in

negotiating Barbados' entry into the OAS and the Inter-

American Development bank. He subsequently served as

ambassador to Venezuela from 1974 to 1976.

Ambassador McComie was elected as Assistant Secretary

General of the OAS in 1979, and served with distinction for

two successive terms from 1980 to 1990. He retired in 1990.

He was well known in inter-American circles for his

outstanding and successful efforts at creating greater links

of understanding and practical cooperation between the Latin

American countries and the countries of the English-speaking

Caribbean. He also encouraged the promotion of human rights

and environmental concerns in the hemisphere.

His first wife, Margery Clarke McComie, died in 1956.

Survivors include his wife of 32 years, Elia Garcia McComie

of Washington; a daughter from his first marriage, Gail

McComie of Fort Lauderdale, FL, and two sisters.

Madam Speaker, I stand before you today to acknowledge the business achievement of Cheryl McKissack Felder and to enter into the Record an article from the Carib News.

I am so proud to acknowledge the achievements of Cheryl McKissack Felder, descendant of Moses McKissack, a slave who became a master builder and one of America's first contractors. Ms. McKissack is a part of a family that has a long history of entrepreneurship and accomplished architects. She obtained a BS degree in civil engineering from Peabody Demon stration School and a M.S. degree from Howard University. Her career began at the Department of Defense where she was involved with quality assurance and control for government research projects. Later, she worked for firms in New York City as a civil engineer and estimator. A major project that she worked on involved the restoration of the Schomburg Theatre. Following in the footsteps of her ancestors, she opened the architecture and design firm McKissack and McKissack in 1999.

Her firm has worked on several significant projects including the Lincoln Financial Field football stadium and the US Airways International Terminal both in Philadelphia. Most recently the firm was selected to oversee the reconstruction of the Vanderbilt Rail Yards as a part of the Atlantic Yards Project in Brooklyn New York. Being selected for this project is remarkable and I congratulate Cheryl McKissack and her firm.

I'm extremely happy to know that minority owned firms are being selected for projects that will enhance the economic and residential life for New York City residents. The Atlantic Yards Project will provide much needed jobs, housing, and commercial real estate. For that I'm grateful and wish Cheryl McKissack and her firm well on this and other future projects.

Cheryl McKissack Felder, CEO Of The McKissack Group Inc. Takes On First

Phase Of Atlantic Yards Project

Construction crews recently kicked off the prep work needed

for the first phase of The Atlantic Yards project in

Brooklyn, a residential and commercial development that will

include an arena for the Nets basketball team. Under the

Atlantic Yards Community Benefits Agreement, negotiated with

Forest City Ratner Companies (FCRC), qualified minority- and

women-owned contractors were among the firms given due

consideration for execution of the project.

Cheryl McKissack Felder, CEO of The McKissack Group,

confirmed to Carib news that her firm has been selected to

oversee the reconstruction of the Vanderbilt Rail Yards. A

firm with a proven track record of having successfully

executed similar projects, CEO Cheryl McKissack comes from a

family of architects that started with an enslaved Ashanti

ancestor in 1790.

As a slave, Moses McKissack first became a master builder

under the tutelage of his owner, William McKissack, one of

America's first contractors. Grandfather Moses McKissack

founded the family business in 1905. Felder's father, William

DeBerry McKissack, took it over in 1968 and Felder's mother,

Leatrice Buchanan McKissack managed the business after her

husband died.

Felder attended Peabody Demonstration School, earning a

B.S. degree in civil engineering in 1981 and M.S. degree in

1983 from Howard University. At the United States Department

of Defense, Felder provided quality assurance and quality

control for government research projects, including MX

missile silos, the United States Embassy anti-terrorist

program and a large space structures project for NASA.

From 1985 to 1989, she worked as a civil engineer for

Weidlinger Associates and, in 1989, she served as an

estimator for Turner Construction, both New York City firms.

Felder also served as the estimation manager for the $2.5

million restoration/addition of the historic Schomburg

Theatre. In 1991, she formed The McKissack Group (TMG), a

full service construction management firm now with offices in

New York City and Philadelphia. In 1999, Felder launched

McKissack and McKissack Associates, an architecture and

design company.

As The McKissack Group's chief executive officer, Felder

managed construction of the US Airways maintenance hangar in

Philadelphia. She also served as project executive for the

Medgar Evers Academic Building and Student Support Services

buildings in Brooklyn, New York. Felder was the principal in

charge of Philadelphia's $395 million Lincoln Financial Field

football stadium, the $450 million US Airways International

Terminal in Philadelphia and the $1.5 billion renovation and

reconstruction of the School District of Philadelphia.

As Felder intimated, the prep work will involve the

reconstruction of the Vanderbilt Rail Yards and is expected

to extend for some two years into 2008, alongside the works

for construction of the arena. In her view, this represents a

great economic boost for Brooklyn in terms of the creation of

jobs. In spite of protest from some community groups, the

inclusion of an affordable housing component as part of the

plan will also ensure that not all of the residents will be

permanently uprooted.

``The At1antic Yards'' CBA is an important milestone for

New York's construction industry,'' she said. ``By including

diverse firms--and diverse individuals--from the start, I

think this project is living up not only to the extraordinary

standards of Forest City Ratner, one of the most committed

and progressive companies out there today, but living up as

well to the values of Brooklyn, where inclusion is a way of

life and diversity is a badge of honor.''

In response to queries regarding challenges faced in the

industry, Ms. McKissack remarked that she is fully cognizant

of the myriad challenges faced by minorities with regard to

venture funding and career advancement. However, on the

strength of a stellar family reputation in the construction

field, her firm has acquired an excellent track record and

will continue to maintain the tradition and performance

standards commensurate with that of the oldest minority-owned

professional design and construction firm.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the birth of Walker Smith Jr., a boxing phenomenon, whose boxing style was so smooth and sweet that he earned the nickname ``Sugar Ray.''

Sugar Ray Robinson was born Walker Smith Junior on May 3, 1921 in Ailey, Georgia. His family relocated to Harlem, New York to escape the racial injustice of the South when he was just 12 years old.

After a few years of living in Harlem, he was introduced to the sport of boxing. Since he was too young to register, he borrowed a registration card from his friend, Ray Robinson. He used his name to begin boxing under the Amateur Athletic Union. His boxing style was unique and drew crowds. A boxing coach, George Gainford, thought his style was sweet as sugar and others agreed. Thus, he was called Sugar Ray Robinson.

It was his unique style that made him a boxing legend. It all began in 1940, when he won the New York Golden Gloves championship. He was just 19 years old. Immediately after that victory, he became a professional boxer. By 1946, he became the world welterweight champion, a title he held for 5 years winning 91 straight matches. His success continued when he entered the middleweight division. He held the middleweight title five times from 1951 to 1960. He retired from boxing in November of 1965 after his last fight. His outstanding boxing record includes a total of 202 professional fights of which he won 175, and during his career he came to define boxing as ``the sweet sacrifice.''

Due to health conditions, he passed away on April 12, 1989, at the age of 67. He was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1967 and created a foundation for youth in California. A postage stamp was created in his honor in 2006. I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 359, recognizing the athletic achievements and commitment to young people of this great American boxer.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to enter into the Record an opinion editorial published in the CaribNews newspaper the week ending March 20, 2007 titled ``Caribbean-U.S. Summit In Washington: A Photo-OP or Meeting Of Substance, Only Time Will Tell.'' As well as, an article written by Tony Best, appearing the same week in the CaribNews paper, entitled ``Caribbean Leaders and President Bush to Meet; In Washington, In June, U.S.-Caribbean Relations, Economic Development, Trade To Be High On Agenda.'' Both articles comment on the Administration's sudden interest with the Caribbean nations in the Western Hemisphere.

The White House has invited the leaders of the Caribbean nations (CARICOM) to a dialog regarding strengthening relationships between these countries and the United States. I am glad to see the Administration is reaching out to our Western Hemisphere neighbors, since these relations have been neglected far too long, making the U.S. an increasingly isolated nation among Western Hemisphere states and placing CARICOM-U.S. relations at an all time low.

It is imperative that the United States find a way to pragmatically assess and be responsive to the social and economic challenges facing our neighbors in accordance with Washington's long-term political interests, since the region is often described as our ``Third border.'' CARICOM leaders have accepted Washington's invitation and are interested in addressing trade issues, as well as competitiveness and investment in mutually beneficial ways.

In addition, CARICOM leaders during their visit to Washington will be reaching out to the members of Congress most interested in and with the jurisdiction over the issues affecting the Caribbean and the members of the Diaspora here in the United States.

As we continue to strengthen our national economy and improve our standing in the international community it is important that we devote serious attention to strengthening U.S. relations throughout the Western Hemisphere.

Caribbean Leaders And President Bush To Meet In Washington In June,

U.S.-Caribbean Relations, Economic Development, Trade To Be High On

Agenda

(By Tony Best)

Caricom leaders are going to the White House in June to

meet with U.S. President George W. Bush.

And the invitation list are to Presidents and Prime

Ministers, ranging from St. Vincent's Prime Minister, Dr.

Ralph Gonsalves, who is the current Chairman of Caricom,

Haiti's Rene Preval, Guyana's Bharrat Jagdeo, Jamaica's first

female leader, Portia Simpson Miller, and St. Lucia's Sir

John Compton, to Trinidad and Tobago's Patrick Manning,

Antigua's Baldwin Spencer, his counterpart in St. Kitts-

Nevis, Dr. Denzil Douglas, and Grenada's Dr. Keith Mitchell,

not to mention Barbados' Owen Arthur, the Bahamas' Perry

Christie, Dominica's Roosevelt Skerrit and Suriname's Ronald

Venetiaan.

In short, quite unlike the invitations, which the White

House sent out to a handful of Caribbean leaders a few years

ago to sit down with President Bush over breakfast, a glaring

attempt to snub those countries, which opposed the invasion

of Iraq, all of Caricom's heads of government are to be

invited this time around.

Although President Bush has met with a few of the region's

leaders from time to time, the upcoming summit will be the

first of its kind in Washington with Caribbean Prime

Ministers and Presidents since Bush took office.

It is being arranged at a time when the Bush Administration

is under fire throughout the Western Hemisphere for virtually

ignoring Caribbean and Latin American economic and social

issues.

It is scheduled for June 21 when many of the Caribbean

leaders are due in Washington for the U.S. Conference on the

Caribbean. While the White House agenda has not been

finalized, diplomatic sources say trade, investment, economic

and social development and U.S. role in the Western

Hemisphere may be discussed.

It is not yet known how many of the Prime Ministers and the

Presidents would attend the conference or accept the

invitation to the White House session.

``It's too early to indicate what will be discussed at the

conference but it is our expectation that most if not all of

the Prime Ministers and Presidents as well as the foreign

Ministers will be traveling to Washington for the

conference,'' Elsworth John, St. Vincent's Ambassador in

Washington and coordinator of the conference told the New

York Carib News.

But Michael King, Barbados' Ambassador to the U.S.,

pinpointed a few issues, which might be discussed during the

Caribbean conference.

``We are hoping that all 15 heads of government will attend

from our region,'' said King. ``The conference is going to

look primarily at three or four issues, mainly the

strengthening of the relationship between the U.S. and

Caricom with a view to addressing the priority areas for the

Caribbean's future growth and development. We will be looking

at such issues as trade, competitiveness and investment in

mutually beneficial and reinforcing ways. Obviously, we would

be looking at deepening and broadening the dialogue between

the Governments and peoples of Caricom and the United

States.''

John said that when Caricom leaders met recently in his

country under the Chairmanship of Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, St.

Vincent's Prime Minister, they approved the broad outlines of

the conference and approved the summit with President Bush.

``The conference was discussed at the recent Caricom Heads

of Government Conference held in St. Vincent & the

Grenadines.

The Heads of Government meeting signed off on the

conference and supported the program as it was structured,''

he explained. ``The meeting with President Bush is scheduled

for the Thursday, the final day of the conference which

begins on June 19th and ends on the 21st. It will be at the

White House.''

Dr. Gonsalves, current Chairman of Caricom, has already

urged the region's leaders to ``clear their calendars for

that particular time'' so they could participate in the

conference and the meeting with President Bush, said John.

The conference will be part of the celebrations marking

Caribbean Heritage Month that is being observed across the

United States in June to underscore the contributions of

Caribbean immigrants and the countries themselves to

America's prosperity.

After much prodding, President Bush last year signed into

law a Bill that designates June as Caribbean Heritage Month

and West Indians in such places as New York, Washington,

Miami, California, Boston, Philadelphia and Baltimore are

planning a variety of cultural, economic, religious and other

social events to draw attention to the region.

``Caribbean Heritage month is important to all of us,''

said King.

John put it differently.

``This conference comes at a time when the United States is

beginning to show a lot more interest in its relationship

with this Hemisphere,'' he said.

``This conference came out of a meeting between the U.S.

Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, and the foreign

ministers from the Caribbean where it was decided that it

would be a good idea for the leaders from the Caribbean to

come to Washington to meet with the President in a summit and

the Foreign Ministers to meet with the Secretary of State.

But the plans go beyond Caribbean and U.S. Government

officials sitting down and talking about political and

economic issues.

``We felt that it was an opportune time for us to have a

people to people connection, seeing that there are so many

people from the Caribbean in the Diaspora,'' John added. ``In

addition, we want to establish closer links between the

businesses, the private sector from the Caribbean and the

United States. What we are doing is to proceed on all of

those fronts in our preparations for the conference.''

Hence, sessions on the Diaspora, the private sector and

culture and a meeting with key Congressional leaders,

including Congressman Charles Rangel, Chairman of the

powerful Ways and Means Committee.

``We are in the process of having consultations with the

State Department on exactly what the content of the

discussions will be,'' said John.

The World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and the

Organization of American States are also being consulted on

the plans for the different sessions.

Mr. Bush is winding up a week long tour of Latin American

nations where he was met with demonstrations and criticisms

from thousands of citizens who oppose the Bush foreign

policy, especially the war in Iraq.

Caribbean-U.S. Summit in Washington--A Photo-Op or Meeting of

Substance, Only Time Will Tell

After six years of lost opportunities, the Bush

Administration has decided to open the White House doors to

all the leaders of the Caribbean whose countries form

Caricom. What a pity it has taken so long for the United

States Chief Executive, George Bush, to do what was right and

to come to terms with the realities of the Western Hemisphere

in general and the Caribbean in particular.

The invitation to the Presidents and Prime Ministers to a

sit down meeting shouldn't simply be a photo opportunity but

a chance to open up a meaningful dialogue with countries that

have been principled allies of the United States for

centuries.

The summit which is scheduled for June 21, the end of a

three day U.S. Conference on the Caribbean can be made into a

meaningful exercise with sessions, not simply at the White

House but on Capitol Hill, with the Congressional Black

Caucus and other lawmakers who have the Caribbean's interest

at heart. Meetings with the Diaspora and the private sector,

all with the goal of advancing the economic and social

development of the countries in the region can be useful to

the process of bringing people together and helping the

region to attain its goals. Although trade, investment,

immigration and broad areas of economic and social

development are expected to dominate the agenda, it's our

hope that the region would resist the temptation to put 30

items on an agenda for a series of short meetings. That has

prevented previous meetings from turning out to be productive

exchanges of views.

How much better it could have been if the high-handedness

of Republicans in and out of the White House and the Congress

hadn't been a fact of life for the Caribbean. Only if the

Bush Administration and the Republicans in the House and

Senate had recognized the importance of treating small

countries with dignity and respect, instead of trying to make

them feel as if they were Lilliputians that should be

ignored.

Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton thought it was

useful to travel to the Caribbean to exchange ideas and

discuss programs and policies with America's neighbor, but

not this Chief Executive.

Indeed, Bush behaved in such an unfortunate manner by

seeking to snub those countries and their leaders who

disagreed with the invasion of Iraq and the resulting debacle

that he dissipated so much goodwill. For at a time when Bush

should have been making friends with his natural allies he

sought to punish many of them by declining to meet with

critics of his policy. That pettiness is unbecoming of the

most powerful nation in the world.

Tony Blair, the British Prime Minister and Mr. Bush's

principal ally in Iraq had the good sense to schedule a

meeting in London, invited all of them for a session in

London, so they could talk about the way forward,

economically and socially for the Caribbean.

That's why Caribbean-U.K. relations are so warm.

The conference and the summit offer Bush and the Caricom

heads a chance to address questions of common concern such as

Washington's future role in efforts to strengthen economic

and trade links within Caricom itself and in the Hemisphere

as a whole.

For their part, the Prime Ministers and Presidents can send

a strong message to Congress that the unresolved immigration

mess, including the deportation of all criminal aliens,

regardless of their individual histories, was damaging the

Caribbean's social system.

It's important that the dialogue in Washington reaches out

to the Diaspora across the United States. With the exception

of Trinidad and Tobago, remittances and other forms of

assistance from the Caribbean immigrants abroad are a vital

source of foreign exchange, so much so that in Jamaica's case

they top the list while in others they amount to number two

or three. Caricom has paid lip service to the Diaspora, with

officials making periodic forays into North America and

England but avoiding the creation of any permanent method of

communication and follow-up to initiatives that are talked

about but allowed to fall by the wayside.

If that problem isn't addressed the conference during

Heritage Month would end up as yet another exercise in

futility.

In the past, town meetings have been held, presentations by

leaders were scheduled and made but afterwards, nothing

happened.

For instance, cricket World Cup has started and the

promised collaboration with U.S.-based Caribbean firms and

other interests have not materialized.

A somewhat similar thing is happening with the Caribbean

Single Market and Economy. Caricom as an institution should

use this conference to put meaningful and permanent links and

establish effectively relationships with the communities that

pump more than $2 billion in foreign exchange annually into

the economies back home.

Madam Speaker, I wish to express my full support for commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade as called for by H. Res. 272, which was introduced by Representative Barbara Lee.

The Transatlantic Slave Trade is a very important part of world history that should never be forgotten. Millions of men, women, and children were forcibly removed from their homeland, packed into ships under inhumane conditions, and then after being lucky enough to survive the treacherous high seas, sold like

pieces of disposable property to slave owners. Further, to add insult to injury, they were treated horribly by their masters throughout their lives. For those that survived the voyage, their strength is still unbelievable and nothing short of a miracle. For these and other reasons, Americans and people all over the world should be reminded of their immeasurable suffering and how the abolishment of the Transatlantic Slave Trade impacted the end of that atrocity.

The abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade was a pivotal step to the full abolishment of slavery in Great Britain and the United States. Since this action was monumental, it needs to be commemorated. A commemoration offers an opportunity to educate youth and remind others of the importance of ending the Transatlantic Slave Trade. There simply is not enough attention given to educating people on the history of slavery. Although it represents a dark part of history, it needs to be highlighted and explained.

It has been said and it is true, that America is a melting pot. Since our great country is so diverse and will continue to grow, every opportunity to commemorate and share history should be seized. I encourage my colleagues to support this important resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to enter into the Record an article, ``Harlem's Uptown Renaissance Experience,'' published April 3, 2007, by the CaribNews. The article, written by Robert Rodney, celebrates the Uptown Restaurant's contribution to the new Harlem Renaissance.

During the Harlem Renaissance, also known as the New Negro Movement, African American art, literature, music, and culture came to the fore. Beginning sometime around 1919, depending on which historian you reference, and ending in the mid 1930s, the Harlem Renaissance was a time for celebrating all things black. Harlem, the community, provided all those who visited, with pulsating excitement and unparalleled liveliness while cultural productions by African Americans gained world wide attention while redefining blackness.

In addition to the contributions of literary heroes like Zora Neale Hurston, Countee Cullen, and Langston Hughes; artistic achievements of masters like Romare Bearden, Aaron Douglass, and William H. Johnson; intellectuals and visionaries like James Weldon Johnson, Marcus Garvey, and Jessie Fauset, the cultural production of food, typically associated with African people throughout the Diaspora, was also celebrated during the Harlem Renaissance.

The Uptown Renaissance Restaurant, which opened its doors in 2004, is quickly gaining recognition for its blend of authentic soul food, savory steaks, and hearty salads. Serving food that one would easily find at popular House-Rent Parties--where hosts would welcome guests into their homes in exchange for financial contributions that would be used to pay rent--the Uptown Renaissance Restaurant is contributing to the revitalization of Harlem in what most people are calling the New Harlem Renaissance.

It is important to remember the past, especially as we continue to shape our future. I encourage everyone to visit the Uptown Renaissance Restaurant. Tell them I sent you.

[From the CaribNews, Apr. 3, 2007]

Harlem's Uptown Renaissance Experience

(By Robert Rodney)

The Uptown Renaissance restaurant opened its door in April of 2004, as ``the Ultimate Blend of Steaks, Soul Food and Salads''. The restaurant boasts a delectably comprehensive menu from breakfast through dinner, where hearty and tasty servings are the order of the days and nights with customers coming back for more. Owners and operators of the Uptown Renaissance restaurant, the husband and wife team of Rene and Claudia Calliste pride themselves on an all-Halal meat service, a pork free environment complimented by healthful whole wheat breads as stable or accompaniments to respective dishes. From Monday through Thursday, the doors of Uptown Renaissance are open from 7 a.m. to Midnight, on Friday and Saturday, they are open around the clock. The establishment astutely recognized the importance of their community, and therefore remained sensitive to its needs by ensuring that the clientele from the surrounding community continue to feel welcome while simultaneously catering to consumers from all areas.

The other day I had the pleasure of visiting the Uptown Renaissance restaurant to dine and experience one of their specialties, the Barbecue Fish. Now, let me tell you this, I am a Jamaican and a lover of fish and I have consumed fish that have been prepared in many different ways; escoveitched, fried, roasted, jerked, you name it I have had it, but never barbecued.

So I'll admit that I was a little skeptical about having barbecue fish but I was pleasantly surprised by the presentation, the generous servings and most of all the taste. This meal was comprised of well seasoned fried breaded whiting covered with a nice, not too heavy barbecue sauce served with generous portions of collard greens, sweet yams, macaroni and cheese with corn bread on the side. I totally enjoyed this meal and now had discovered a new way of having my favorite fish thanks to Uptown Renaissance. I would definitely recommend this dish to all fish lovers.

I also enjoyed the ambiance of the place, I found it to be very relaxing with an intimate tone. The service I must say was very pleasant and professional and the prices for the portions that you are served cannot be beat.

I would encourage every one to go to the Uptown Renaissance and experience a new trend in dining. Rene, Claudia, Eleanor and crew are always ready to welcome and give you the royal treatment.

The Uptown Renaissance Restaurant is located at 108 West 116th Street, in Harlem, New York.