Gullah Geechee Group, Inc.

250 Layne Blvd.  Unit #201/ 4747 Lambs Rd. #16E

Hallandale Beach, Florida 33009/ N. Charleston, SC 29418

954-253-2535c 843-277-2664o

www.gullahgeecheenews.com, sas59@yahoo.com

February 9, 2012

To Interim Dr. Leonard Jeffries, Bro. James Watusi Branch, Bro.A. Menelik Harris, and the WADU family

Please add these condolences to all the many that are coming in about the loss of the esteemed Baba Dudley Thompson. Regrettably, we will not be present at the February 10, 2012 services in Jamaica.

Thanks to our founding board member, the late WADU Elder Kwame Afoh, our founding Gullah Geechee Group, Inc. President Sherry A. Suttles was able to meet and spend some quality time with the founding President of WADU Baba Dudley. His picture and bio were on the Afrika Page of our early issues of www.gullahgeecheenews.com. And Ms. Suttles conversed with him several times about WADU, SRDC, PADU, the 2009 WADU Atlanta Commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the first Pan Africa Convention, and the Ethiopia WADU trip in 2010. She co-hosted WADU Florida January birthday fetes.   

It was daunting to realize that this small man of 95 years, with a giant voice both vocally and philosophically, was there in the first days of Pan Africanism with Ghanaian President Kwame Nkrumah, attorney to Kenya’s Mau Mau President Jomo Kenyatta, and other Caribbean leaders like himself.

It was reassuring that he worked to bring all of the sometimes divided modern day Pan Africanists together on North American shores, with the oftentimes equally struggling African Nation State leadership, for this worthy cause of a United Africa including the Motherland African Diaspora.

The Gullah Geechee Group, Inc., an IRS 501c3 tax exempt, nonprofit, charitable and educational organization stands ready to continue this unification work set forth so determinedly and diplomatically by Baba Dudley.  We know that Elder Kwame Afoh would want that. The four-states of NC, SC, Fl, and GA of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor through Penn Center has identified 42 African, Caribbean and South American countries with which there are G/G ties from the days of enslavement.

As President of the GGG, Inc., Ms. Suttles has already pledged to work with the NAADUC to elect representatives to the African Union. As a newly elected Vice President of the Republic of New Afrika, Ms. Suttles will continue to monitor for this U.S. Nation State the best position it should take as an independent government. (Two of the RNA base states SC and GA are in the Cultural Heritage Corridor --Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana are the others). We all seek to respond to the Africa Union’s 2003 open invitation to the Diaspora for participation as a possible 6th Region. 

GGG will make a donation to an appropriate commemorative action, like a monument or scholarship fund, when such future plans are specified. Our hearts go out to Baba’s wife Cecile whom we met, too.

Thank you, Sherry A. Suttles

Sherry A. Suttles, President, GGG, IRS 501c3 tax exempt, nonprofit, charitable, educational organization

 Brother Dudley Thompson, January 19, 1917 - January 20, 2012

WADU

Prime Minister saddened by death of Ambassador Dudley Thompson

Ambassador Dudley Thompson

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has expressed deep sadness at the passing of Ambassador Dudley Joseph Thompson. Ambassador Thompson died Friday morning, one day after his 95th birthday. Mrs. Simpson Miller said she was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Mr. Thompson, an outstanding Jamaican politician, diplomat and statesman, and a personal and dear friend for more than four decades.

Mrs. Simpson-Miller said Ambassador Thompson’s passing is exceptionally painful for her, as it was only recently after her electoral victory, that he called with a most heart-warming congratulation. She further described Mr. Thompson as a man of firm convictions, articulate, sharp on his feet and witty, who loved his country with a passion and served it with honour and distinction. The Prime Minister also expressed profound condolences to his widow Cecile, children, grandchildren, and great grandchild.
   
Born in Panama on January 19, 1917 to Daniel and Ruby Thompson, Dudley Thompson was a life member of the People’s National Party, and was elected Chairman of the PNP in 1979. He was a PNP Senator during the years 1962- 1978, and was leader of Government Business in the House of Representatives in 1978. He served as Member of Parliament for St. Andrew Western in 1978 to 1983; Minister of National Security in 1978; Minister of Mining and Natural Resources from 1977 to 1978 and Minister of State, with the responsibility for Foreign Affairs from 1972-1975.  

Dudley Thompson was Jamaica’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Namibia.
He was also Jamaica’s chief representative in the conference on the Law of the Sea and played a leading role in securing Jamaica as the permanent headquarters for the International Seabed Authority. He also introduced the Office of the Ombudsman to Jamaica. Ambassador Thompson practised law in Jamaica, East Africa, Dominica, the Bahamas, and Bermuda, and served as president of the Jamaican Bar Association.

He received his early education at the Mico Teacher Training College, was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University in 1947, and later called to the bar at Gray’s Inn (London). A freedom fighter and Pan Africanist, he was a leading member of the team of lawyers who represented the former leader of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta, in the 1950s. At the time of his death, Ambassador Thompson was the President of the World Africa Diaspora Union.

David Horne, PhD.

January 28, 2011, African Unity
   council meeting, Wash., DC

KWANZAA UNITY DECLARATION, 2011

AFTER THE PAN AFRICAN UNITY SUMMIT, DECEMBER 16, 2011

We, the undersigned collective leadership, commit ourselves to the items of agreement below. We ask you to join us if you and your organization are (a) committed to building the African Union and to contributing to the unification and development of Africa, (b) committed to assist and participate with the African Diaspora in joining the AU as voting members, and (c) committed to recognize Africa as your motherland and to use your networks to spread the word of the AU-Diaspora process and implementation. In order to accept the AU’s invitation to join it as voting members, we must present a united voice. Our acceptance is already late and does not need to be delayed any longer. Please join us in this effort.

We agree to:

I. Currently go on record in accepting the operational definition by the African Union of the African Diaspora, to wit: " The African Diaspora consists of all peoples of African origin living outside the continent, irrespective of their citizenship and nationality, and who are willing to contribute to the development of the Continent and the building of the African Union." Secondly, for purposes of recruitment, clarification and education in North America, and other regions, we agree to recognize Africa as the motherland, and we understand the current AU operational definition to include both the historical Diaspora and the modern Diaspora. At some point in the near future inside the AU we will move to have these two additional components annexed to the official AU definition of the African Diaspora.

II. Abide by these Common Denominator Principles/Practices for Pan African collective work:

1. Principle of Mutual Respect: That mutual respect for colleagues and fellow warriors and reverence and respect for African traditions and heritage will guide our deliberations and work;

2. Principle of Inclusiveness: That the talent, skills, intelligence and creativity needed to increase African capacity and achieve Pan African unification is not and will not be determined by one’s political affiliation/ideology, gender, religion, language or class;

3. Principle of Unity Without Uniformity: That African descendants can be unified without uniformity and that forming Pan African partnerships for economic and political networking is necessary for moving forward ;

4. Principle of Consistency: That Diasporans should work consistently and relentlessly to join and fully participate in the African Union as voting members, bringing all available resources, experience, diplomacy and skills to that effort;

5. Principle of African Democracy: That as members of the African Diaspora, we must work to develop inclusive democratic institutions for implementing the principles and goals of achieving the United States of Africa/Union of African States.

6. Principle of Equivalent Capacity Building: That the African Diaspora Sixth Region must be developed to a level equivalent to a viable African Regional Economic Community.

III. Gain approval for and to implement, in compliance with the Statues of ECOSOCC’s mandate that representatives should be

elected, the Town Hall/Community Council of Elders model that has been developed and utilized in North America and elsewhere within the last five years to elect African Diaspora delegates/representatives for the African Union. This method advocates the election of 4 members for ECOSOCC from the USA and 1 member from Canada. This body also recommends, using the same or a very similar democratic method, that 3 representatives are elected from Central America, 3 from the Caribbean, 4 from South America/Brazil, 4 from Europe and 1 from the Middle East/Asia, totaling 20 in all. That total of 20 is currently designated by the AU and can only be changed once we are inside the AU as voting members.

IV. To immediately form and establish the North American African Diaspora Unity Council (NAADUC), whose membership will be based on organizations agreeing with the three stipulations noted above in the Introduction. Each member organization will have one vote on all issues, there will be a rotating chairperson for one year elected by the body, with the chair for each succeeding year being the Vice Chair-designate elected at the annual meeting, which will be held in Washington, D.C., unless changed by majority vote. There will also be at least bi-monthly digital meetings, and the Secretariat members for coordination and record keeping will be the AU Ambassador’s designated staff working with the staff of the current year’s chair. Other operational items will be voted upon as needed.

*** All Pan African organizations which attended the AU Ambassador’s Unity Summit on December 16, 2011, are automatically included in NAADUC membership, upon written and oral agreement with this letter. All others who choose to join us, based on agreeing with all of the above, please contact paduorganizing@gmail.com.

There will be a NAADUC meeting the last Saturday of January, 2012 in Washington, D.C. to formalize all of the above and move forward in engaging the African Union and the rest of the African Diaspora. NAADUC will be a reference model for others in the African Diaspora.

SIGNED

Dr. Ruth B. Love Dr. David L. Horne PG Senghor Baye

___________________ ___________________ ___________________

Ruth B. Love David L. Horne Senghor Baye President, RBLEnterp. International Facilitator, SRDC President-General, UNIA-ACL Co-Chair, W. Afr. Ener. Proj. International Facilitator, PADU Member, PADU Berkeley, CA Los Angeles, CA Washington, D.C

Oscar Brathwaite Dr. Chenzira Kahina Opal Young

_____________________ __________________________ _________________________

Oscar Brathwaite, CABE Dr. Chenzira Kahina, Per Ankh CCOE of RUF/Harvest Institute Founding President, Can Co-Chair and Co-Founder, V.I President/Exec. Secr. Toronto, Canada Virgin Islands Los Angeles, CA

Reginia Rogers Ras Marvin Sidney Francis Martin

______________________ _________________________ ________________________ Reginia Rogers ,UNIA-LDF Ras Marvin, CBPO Sidney Francis Martin, CABO Lead Counselor People’s Chair President Washington, D.C. Atlanta, GA New York & Bluefields, Nicaragua

Geuka Amefika Rev. Al Washington Nana N. Sankofara

___________________________ ____________________________ __________________________

Geuka Amefika, NBLC Rev. Al Washington, Africa-USA President Nehanda Sankofara, President, Florida Chamber of Commerce Mothers for Africa, the Los Angeles, CA Sekyiaabea Foundation

Anthony Akili Nkrumah

_______________________________

Anthony Akili Nkrumah, Chair The Nkrumah Brotherhood Philadelphia, Penn.

                                         Remembering Haiti (Earthquake 2nd anniversary)

This is for all our brothers & sisters who died in the earthquake. Pass it on....

By Geno Lexis & Friends: http://youtu.be/ACInyC12D4Q

HK4L.COM

DefendHaiti interviews Ezili Dantò of HLLN: The person
July 2011  - http://bit.ly/rma0WJ


‎"If I had a magic wand – I’d wish a world where Christopher Columbus and
Bartholomew De la Casas had not been born and the indigenous world and planet
left in peace".--Ezili Dantò (Go to: http://bit.ly/rma0WJ )



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Forwarded by Ezili's Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network
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Ezili Dantò's Note: Azor begins his journey to Anba Dlo
Azor, Haiti rasin artist dies July 16, 2011 at the Sodo pilgrimage in Haiti.
Yon gwo mapou tonbe. Jete dlo, jete dlo. Ginen, ouvrè baryè a pou li.. Gen
yon zèb Ginen lan pòt la. RIP Azor. Haiti drumming and Vodun gained
international renowned and respect because of you. Pour libation. Limen balen
pou li. Sodo li pwale. Legba, louvri baryè pou gwo mapou sa a. Sanba Azor,
"kilè wap vini wè n ankò wale..." Bat tanbou nou yo fò Ginen Fran. Yon gwo
gason rantre Anba Dlo pou vinn kenbe nachon Ginen an pli djanm. Jete dlo, jete
dlo.

Azor died at Sodo July 16, 2011 - Haiti great Vodun drummer, Sanba Azor!
http://bit.ly/r6G8Ar


RIP Azor-Bat tanbou fò Ginen Fran.Yon gwo gason tonbe.Azor ale jwen Zanset yo
pou kenbe nachon Ginen pli djanm.Jete dlo http://bit.ly/nhTjHp

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Recommended HLLN Links:
DefendHaiti interviews Ezili Dantò of HLLN: The person
July 2011  - http://bit.ly/rma0WJ

Haiti Epistemology
http://bit.ly/fBCE8B

Ezili’s HLLN is a Haiti-led, Haiti-capacity building front-line organization
- http://bit.ly/8UMnmz


Video - CrossTalk on Haiti: Failed aid
http://bit.ly/onB6DA

Video - Disaster Capitalism in Haiti, New Orleans, Congo & Pakistan -
http://bit.ly/d4m7eB

Video - The secret behind the rush to #Haiti
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T33dI6f8G0U

Audio - Avatar Haiti
http://bit.ly/h3LK7O


HLLN Letter to ICE

Secretary Janet Napolitano
Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington , DC 20528


Dear Secretary Napolitano;

Re: Comments on ICE’s Proposed Policy for Resumed Removals to Haiti
http://www.ice.gov/news/library/policies/

Haiti has suffered tremendously through man-made imported UN cholera to the Jan
12, 2010 apocalyptic earthquake. Already a deportee has died from cholera.
Resuming deportations is simply inhumane, against all principles of
international human rights and right to life. Please STOP all deportations to
earthquake and cholera-ravaged Haiti.

President Obama promised Haitians a change from past US draconian immigration
policies singling out Haitians for unfair and abusive immigration treatment.
This resuming deportations while over 200,000 Haitians have been infected with
imported cholera; over 1.5million Haitians are still displaced and homeless
from the earthquake that killed 300,000 in 33 seconds; with 98% of the rubble
still un-removed and donation dollars being pilfered by large and small
NGO/NPOs just ADDS to Haiti's unremitting agony while continuing an official
disregard and unequal treatment of Haitian right to life, safety, asylum and
dignity in a manner no other nation has had to endure at the hands of United
States policymakers - both Democrats and Republicans.

This is not the "change" expected from President Obama and his Administration.
(See Letter to OBAMA, 2008: What Haitians and Haitian-Americans Ask of the New
US Congress and President - http://bit.ly/lbrml)

Please reconsider Secretary Napolitano, take the right, decent and legal
action. Stop all deportations to Haiti immediately. Stop all roundups and
detention of Haitian nationals in the United States and release those currently
in custody.


Sincerely,

Ezili Dantò
Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network
March 11, 2011
erzilidanto.com/zili

*
Notes:
1. See Letter to OBAMA, 2008: What Haitians and Haitian-Americans Ask of the
New US Congress and President - http://bit.ly/lbrml)

2. Support real and direct aid to Haiti. Stop deportations, grant humanitarian
parole to approved Haiti nationals and acknowledge the private
investments/remittances of the ordinary Haitian national, not foreign aid, is
more effective in Haiti aid reconstruction. Support Haiti remittances by
stopping all deportations to Haiti - http://bit.ly/gVkVpW

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