CARIBBEAN TODAY


-usw^caribbeantodj..c..


Property tax deadline

 for Broward County


Mar. 31 is the last day for
Broward County, Florida prop-
erty owners, which includes hun-
dreds of Caribbean Americans,
to pay 2006 property taxes with-
out interest and penalties.
 Pursuant to Florida
statute, taxes become delin-
quent on April 1, at which
time interest and penalties are
assessed. Taxes not paid by
May 23, 2007, will have a tax
certificate (lien) sold to pay
the delinquent taxes.


 To make a payment via
the Internet, using a credit
card or electronic check, visit
www.broward.org/revenue. A
fee will be assessed for credit
card payments, but no fee is
charged for electronic checks.
 To make a payment via
the Integrated Voice Response
System using a credit card, call
1-800-601-1069 (a fee will be
assessed for credit card pay-
ments).
0


Caribbean will borrow

more in 2007 ~ study


NEW YORK, CMC Gross
long-term borrowing by Latin
American and Caribbean coun-
tries will increase slightly in
2007, the international financial
ratings company, Standard &
Poor's Ratings Services stated
in a report issued last month.
 The report, entitled
"Borrowing By Latin American
And Caribbean Sovereigns To
Expand In 2007", is Standard &
Poor's third annual survey of
government debt issuance in
the region.


 operational by
KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent,
CMC Barbados Prime Minister
Owen Arthur says the much-
touted Regional Development
Fund (RDF) should be in opera-
tion by July and called on
regional countries to pay up
their contributions.
 The anticipated $250 mil-
lion fund is a critical component
of the Caribbean community
(CARICOM) Single Market
and Economy (CSME), Arthur


 "Standard & Poor's finds
that gross long-term borrowing,
including official and commer-
cial debt, by 25 Latin American
and Caribbean sovereigns
should reach US$427 billion in
2007," said the company's credit
analyst Joydeep Mukherji.
 "Gross borrowing by
local and regional governments in
Latin America and the Caribbean
is also expected to grow very
modestly in 2007."


July Arthur
said. However, he explained
that all CARICOM states must
now be prepared to honor the
contribution schedule, which
would see countries collectively
contributing $120 million to the
RDF over a four-year period.
 The RDF is designed to sup-
port development projects in the
sub-regional Organization of
Eastern Caribbean States
(OECS).
0


 TAGHRID G. HASSAN
 ATTO RN EY AT LAW
 ADMITTED IN FL, N.Y. & N.J.

 HURRY! APPLY FOR YOUR
 CITIZENSHIP BEFORE -
 THE APPLICATION FEES
 INCREASE IN APRIL 2007!
 REASONABLE RATES
EGREENCARDS, FIANCEE VISAS, FAMILY PETITIONS,
WORK PERMITS, CONSULAR PROCESSING, WAIVERS, BOND AND
REMOVAL HEARINGS, APPEALS AND CITIZENSHIP
r DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE, MARITAL AGREEMENTS,
CHILD CUSTODY, CHILD SUPPORT AND ADOPTION
 Tel: (954) 862-1763
 12555 Orange Drive, suite 218, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33330
 Fax: (954) 625-6863 Email: taghridhassanca'hotmail.com
 Tice hir, ig 'fa ,awy.r is an impirlt~ t decision Lil Ehfcld riot be basrlm sliIy upop ai ,.r1ispients.
 Bel rc6 you o.hiu;..a k is t.) wp.1 yOu ['v written ilnfor ,i' aiop a-ut our qJlifirq .Tjin' f an M xpr1ennfe..


Several business interests attended last month's luncheon session to promote trade and investment opportunities between a
group of New York-based Pakistani entrepreneurs and the Caribbean during Cricket World Cup in the region. They included, from
left, Junaid Mirza, director of Travel Treat, Inc.; Mahmood "Max" Shaukat, chief executive officer, Digital TV; Kirk Kennedy, execu-
tive director of JAMPRO, Jamaica's trade agency; and Dr. Basil K. Bryan, consul general of Jamaica to New York. A group of New
York Pakistani entrepreneurs will be attending the CWC which begins this month.


 Miami-Dade to conduct free

 business, counseling seminars


This month, the Miami-Dade
Enterprise Community Center
will conduct its "Emerging
and Expanding Business
Seminars Series".
 The seminars, which are
free and open to the public,
are expected to offer informa-
tion on local business taxes,
certificates of use, tangible per-
sonal property taxes, sales and


use taxes, Miami-Dade County
business incentives, business
contracts, loans, lines of credit,
business technology, how to
start a successful business and
a business plan lab series.
 Those that register can
receive the ECC Certificate
Program upon completing the
seminar series.
 The seminars are to be


held at 3050 Biscayne Blvd.,
Suite 201 in Miami and are to
be divided into two parts con-
sisting of the "Emerging
BtuIni i, and the "Expanding
Btliii 'series.
 For more information,
305-579-2730 or visit the ECC
at www.ezonetrust.org
0


Getting back to budget basics ~ Tips to create a realistic, workable budget


(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18)
ment, child care, education,
retirement and savings, among
other specific interests, activi-
ties and goals. Savings are
vitally important. Even $25 a
month can be a big help. A
little cash cushion can prevent
you from falling deeper into
debt when emergencies occur.
 Monthly evaluations -
A budget shouldn't be set
in stone. As incomes and
expenses fluctuate, budgets


need to be adjusted according-
ly. Take a close look at your
budget at the end of each
month. Have you noticed any
poor spending habits? Are
there areas where you can
trim funding? As you track
your spending, you will
inevitably come across areas
where you can free up money
to use more effectively.
 To locate a reputable
financial advisor, visit the
Better Business Bureau at


www.bbb.org or visit
www. takechargeamerica.org
for more information.
Information obtained from
Take Charge America, a
nonprofit organization which
offers a variety of services
including financial education,
credit counseling and debt
management.
0


CRICKET BUSINESS


Regional Development Fund


 Consider Metropolitan Baptist Church, an exciting, growing, multi-ethnic
 S multi-cultural congregation, meeting at I
 7200 Davie Road Extension, Hollywood, FL 33024
 SUNDAYS: 10:00 a.m. with Sunday School at 9:00a.m. Joyful worship,
 warm fellowship and anointed preaching await you.
 Visit us next Sunday-for an experience of blessing! 10:00 a.m.
 For more information call the Church Office: 954.963.0634
Rev. Hervin Green Proclaiming Jesus Christ as Savior & Lord! Rev Clinlon Chisholm
 Pastor www.metropolltanbaptistonline.com Associate Pastor


March 2007


momm- I ............... ........ ........ "Il""Ill""Ill!"",""","
I BusinIESS/TnX ip t n n n i n G