The 6th Annual Virgin Island Billfish Tournament for Haiti is August 12 - 13, 2016. The Captain's meeting for the event is August 11, 2016. All proceeds from the tournament go to benefit the Pere Basile Moreau School in Haiti. To learn more about the Pere Basile Moreau School in Haiti kindly visit our school page here. To make a donation to the school visit our donate page here. Five boats are schedule to compete during the tournament. They are the Abigale, Gulf Rascal, Sodium, Betsy, and the Marlin Prince.
Neltjeberg Bay Enterprises, LLC, and Moss Construction are our sponsors for this year's tournament. To become a sponsor for the 6th Annual Virgin Island Billfish Tournament for Haiti contact Caribbean Rose, Inc. via email at caribbeanrosevi@gmail.com. You can also call Captain Eddie/Marlin Prince at phone number 340-998-3446.
A special Thank You goes to Pure Balance Yoga, Neptune’s Fishing Supplies, Pump a Bike, Fish Tails Bar and Grill, Petite Pump Room, Sibs on the Mountain, Mahogany Run Golf Course, Greg James, and Captain Eddie Morrison. They all have made donations to make this year's tournament a success.
Pere Basile Moreau School Update 2/27/2015
Since the devastating earthquake that shook Haiti in January of 2010, Pere Basile Moreau School has grown back stronger than ever as an oasis of peace and learning a neighborhood and a country that continues to struggle. It is now one of the most beautiful, well equipped, high performing, and innovative schools in all of Haiti.
Basile Moreau School now serves over 1000 students from preschool through high school in buildings that have been redesigned and rebuilt to withstand that natural disasters that continue to threaten Haiti. The primary school building, which sustained significant structural damage, has been strengthened and reopened to students in January of 2013. The secondary school building, which was destroyed during the earthquake, has been rebuilt in accordance with seismic building codes and boasts modern facilities including a nurse's office, a chemistry lab, a computer lab, and a tablet e-library. Funding from last year's Caribbean Rose fishing tournament also supported the construction of a new computer lab for the primary school building.
The school has just completed a major beautification project, involving the removal of all remaining debris from the earthquake, the installation of a beautiful entryway, a grassy, tree-lined courtyard that not only enhances the appearance of the school, but also helps to keep the secondary classrooms ringing the courtyard cool. The school now also has a grass soccer field and equipment for student use.
Compelled by the beautiful campus and top quality education for some of the poorest Haitian students, benefactors have stepped forward to fund 100 scholarships for poor families in the community to attend Basile Moreau for the next five years. Named after the primary benefactor, these Linehan Scholars demonstrate academic aptitude, financial need, and a commitment to the Basile Moreau community.
All Basile Moreau students are now taking computer classes in one of two fully functional 40-unit computer labs, where they learn everything from basic document creation, typing, to coding. The school library now features a collection of tablets provided in collaboration with the organization Library for All, a digital library system that enables students to have access to thousands of grade level appropriate titles in both French and English, while also tracking readership and student engagement. Working with leaders from the University Of Notre Dame's Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE), the school leadership worked with experts to design a student health clinic at the school, staffed by a highly qualified nurse and Basile Moreau alumnus. The clinic has already made a lifesaving and immediate impact responding to immediate injuries and illnesses and providing preventative care through vaccinations, student monitoring, and health education. The nurse is now seeing approximately 150 cases a month, and will begin classroom instruction of health classes in March. Holy Cross and Notre Dame Leaders believe this can be a replicable model of school-based health care for schools throughout Haiti.
Basile Moreau has also taken steps to enhance the English curriculum at Basile Moreau. In consultation with faculty from ACE's English as a New Language program at Notre Dame, Basile Moreau has added English courses in the primary grades and purchased a new curriculum. Each summer ACE professional volunteers continue to enhance English language abilities of students and staff, while also supporting the implementation of other innovative programs at Basile Moreau, like a pilot of Khan Academy, a free-computer based-math curriculum, and increased use of the web-based e-book catalogue in French and Creole, Library for All.
Basile Moreau is truly becoming a model school for the country and a center for innovation, transforming the lives of its students and leading the way for the future of Haitian education.
6th Annual Virgin Island Billfish Tournament for Haiti
Caribbean Rose, Inc. proudly supports the Pere Basile Moreau School in Haiti. Since 2010, Caribbean Rose, Inc. has assisted with rebuilding the school and renewing education on the island. We also support the Marine Vocational Program (MVP) on the island of Saint Thomas, USVI.
Caribbean Rose Inc. would like to congratulate the winners of the 5th Annual Virgin Island Billfish Tournament for Haiti. First place goes to Gulf Rascal with three blue marlins. Second place goes to Reel Tight with three blues marlins. Third place goes to Therapy with two blues marlins. A special Thank You goes out to Bellows International, Neltjeberg Bay Enterprises, and all support staff that made this tournament a success. All the winners above decided to give their respective winning back to Caribbean Rose Inc. so it can continue to support the Pere Basile Moreau School in Haiti.
Caribbean Rose, Inc. will also like to take this time to thank all of our raffle donors for the 5th Annual Billfish Tournament for Haiti. Here is a complete list of all prizes raffled off for the Tournament. (All proceeds from the raffle will go to support the Pere Basile Moreau School in Haiti) :1 Gift Certificate Mahogany Run, 4 Gift Certificates to Sibs on the Mountain, Tennis lessons from Greg James, Purse from Cindie Kennedy,Two custom designed T-shirts from Outbred Apparel , with 25% discount on orders of 10 or more, 30% on orders of 20 or more, Two T-shirts from David Wirth, Hawaiian Fishing Hook necklace, David Wirth, Gift certificate Phoenix Hair Visions/ shampoo, Gladys’ Famous Hot Sauces, $100 gift certificate Neptune’s Marine, Shimano rod and reel, Neptune’s Marine, $25 gift certificate Island Time Pub, $100 gift certificate for Virgilio’s, courtesy of Amos McCoy, Gift certificate from FRESH, $100 Gift certificate from Northside Bistro, Gift Certificates from Duffy’s, Betsey’s gift certificates, $100 gift certificate China King, Energizing Pyramid, Rhiannons, Cooler, Ace Hardware,
Epernay gift certificate, Gift certificate from Epernay.
A Special Thanks to our silent auction donors: Trip to Puerto Rico, including two round-trip tickets, courtesy of Law Office of Pamela Colon, Half Day Island Hopping on Marlin ETC with captain, NBE, Paintings by Bill Gerritsen, Lithograph by Mitch Gibbs, and a Pump a Bike courtesy of CJ Awnings. To learn more about the Pere Basile Moreau School in Haiti kindly visit our school page at http://www.caribbeanrose.org/pere-basile-moreau.html.
The VI Jaguars Basketball Team will compete in the 2017 Positive Guidance Small Fry Invitational Tournament March 3 - 4, 2017. Teams from St. Thomas and St. Croix are scheduled to compete. Kindly like this post to show your support. Stay tuned for more information.
Haiti is one of the hardest hit areas from damage caused by Hurricane Matthew. Caribbean Rose, Inc. supports Holy Cross Missions in the relief effort on island. To donate to Holy Cross Missions, visit their donate page here. There will be a tab on that page that indicates how to donate online.
Caribbean Rose, Inc. is a non-profit organization that was created to improve the lives of the homeless, disabled, students, and children in the United States Virgin Islands and the Caribbean. For the last 6 years Caribbean Rose, Inc. has proudly support the Pere Basile Moreau School in Haiti. After a 7.0 magnitude Earthquake hit the island in 2010. Every year since Caribbean Rose, Inc. has held an annual fishing tournament with the proceeds going to support the School. In the wake of Hurricane Matthew we kindly ask for donate to assist with the relief effort. You can make a donation via Caribbean Rose, Inc. by visiting our donate page here, Please mark all donations on the Caribbean Rose website as "Hurricane Matthew Relief". We will forward the proceeds to Holy Cross Missions.
Here is a first-hand account of the damage caused by Hurricane Mathew by Father Enzo Del Brocco on October 7, 2016.
“After first attempt yesterday to fly out to Jeremie, which was aborted after ten minutes due to bad weather, we were able to fly out by helicopter this morning to reach Dame Marie, La Serengue (Abricot) and Jeremie which are all places where the St Luke Foundation for Haiti is present with schools and clinics. We planned also to visit Les Cayes and De Varennes, but for the weather conditions and the amount of fuel at our disposal for the helicopter, we were ultimately only able to visit Dame Marie, La Serengue (Abricot) and Jeremie today. The team flying today included Nebez, the director of the St Luke Foundation, Raphael, member of the St Luke team, the St Luke photographer Julmane, Msgr Decoste, Bishop of Jeremie, who was in Port au Prince for a bishop’s meeting when the hurricane hit and was not able to reach his diocese after the hurricane and felt very badly for this like the shepherd away from his flock, and myself.
Communication with these areas has been totally interrupted since the hurricane, and we had not heard at all from our staff in those areas. Even the bishop who was traveling with us did not know what conditions we would find as all communication had been cut off with his diocese. In fact, we had to go by helicopter because the main bridge to go to the southwest part of Haiti was washed away by the hurricane. Planes can’t land currently either as the airstrip in Jeremie is dirt, and is full of mud.
The duration of the flight to Dame Marie is one hour by helicopter. Half way to Jeremie today rain was hitting the windshield of the helicopter, and we started to worry that we had to abort again, but fortunately we were able to go through. The raindrops on the windshield seemed to me like to many teardrops and while we were flying, I was thinking of how many tears Hurricane Matthew had provoked.
Just before arriving to Jeremie, the helicopter turned slightly inland to reach Dame Marie, where the eye of the hurricane passed. I remember visiting previously the past two years, and remember that compared to the rest of the country the province of Grand Anse had very lush vegetation. What struck me immediately as soon as we turned inland was to see how Hurricane Matthew chopped acres and acres of trees. The province of Grand Anse is particularly isolated, and paradoxically one of the most vegetated places that remained in the country, which has otherwise been so heavily deforested. The hurricane is always a natural disaster, no doubt. But with our human hands we can increase the disaster by not treating the earth as the common home given to us by God, through deforestation, pollution, poor building construction, lack of urban planning, so often the result of poverty.
When we arrived to Dame Marie, we saw houses spread throughout the vegetation without their roofs, and the rivers grown three times their size. It was heartbreaking. When we were approaching Dame Marie, it was hard to understand even what we were looking at arriving by helicopter. From the air we could see the roof of the parish church blown away and so of the houses, but we saw many colors. Getting closer, we saw that it was clothes hanging everywhere to dry after all those days of rain.
We landed on the football field. The pilot was afraid to land, thinking that the people would assault us in search for food, and just wanted to go from one place to another by air. We are well known in the area, and Nebez is originally from there, so we landed. The pilot gave us 15 minutes on the ground because of the weather conditions. As we landed we were surrounded by hundreds of people who began to clap hands, sing and praise God for our arrival. It was almost like they were visited by God. More than bringing food, blankets, clothes or water, I think today it was very important to them to know that they were not abandoned, they are not alone and that they belong to a bigger family. When we left they knew that we will return because of the relationship we have built there and that has always involved the local community.
Nebez and Raphael met with the mayor and leaders of the local community to understand the needs so to better organize and gave them a donation for immediate food and water supplies for the next several days until we can return. They also went to visit our St Luke school in Dame Marie, which has lost its roof in the hurricane.
Meanwhile, the Bishop and myself went to visit the pastor of the local church and the two religious communities who are there. What impressed me while we were walking with the Bishop was to see him as a lamb led to slaughter more than a strong shepherd walking with his flock because I could read on his mind his deep concern for his people.
We walked through he streets of Dame Marie and saw the church with the roof completely blown away and the benches scattered and blown apart throughout the church. We visited the community hospital and that’s when I cried as I saw people laying on the floor crying and abandoned. I was impressed while we were walking with the Bishop how people stopped him saying, “praise God that the Lord has visited his people” and asking him with concern how things were in Jeremie. On our way back to the helicopter it was amazing to see women washing clothes, cooking, drying the corn or the rice in the sun, to see the notebooks and books of the children drying in the sun hoping to go back to school as soon as possible.
Once at the helicopter, it was beautiful to see the children playing on the field doing cartwheels around us. Before we left, the Bishop prayed with the people he said that our houses have been destroyed, our lives have been disrupted, our tress and crops have been chopped off, but we are all alive, and this is already a grace. All the people began to shout “Amen, hallelujah!” The next few weeks are going to be critical, and we are thinking not only to bring supplies, but also to set up a hospital tent.
It is worth mentioning that we were first people to reach Dame Marie after the hurricane. As such, even the Vietnamese employees of Natcom asked us to bring letters with their needs to fix the cell phone antennas to the central office in Port au Prince. Even the senator of Dame Marie gave us the phone number of the president of the senate of Haiti to contact him so that the government can realize that he is there, as he had no means to contact them since the hurricane.
From Dame Marie we took off to go to La Serengue (Abricot) to visit the community which is home of the St Luke foundation St Augustine school, recently inaugurated in the past year. When we approached by air and saw the school roof blown away, it really broke our heart. Thank God the water tower remained standing, as did the guest house that is under construction. Even here when we arrived on the field, people from every corner came jumping, singing and clapping their hands calling Nebez their “papa”. Walking with them up to the school, we could see the poor houses made of mud and wood washed away. Only one person died in the community there, thank God.
When we arrived to the school, despite the roof that was blown off, seeing the building still strong and holding as founded on a strong rock, we all just clapped our hands. We only had 20 minutes on the ground. Nebez quickly organized the people, and gave a great talk inviting the people to live this moment as the first christian community, sharing everything among themselves, and staying together through this as a family. In fact in these next days they will prepare and eat meals all together at the school. Thank God that our school building is there! The roof may be knocked off of the second floor, but from the first floor the building continues to serve and unite the community in this moment of emergency.
After Nebez gave instructions on how to live the next days with the donation he left on behalf of the St Luke foundation until we can organize to return, the Bishop again prayed with the people and gave his blessing. After this, we returned to the helicopter and took off to Jeremie, so that the Bishop could return to where he lives.
While we were flying over Jeremie before landing we saw the cathedral completely open on the top. The roof had been blown off, and was heartbreaking to see. But mostly it was heartbreaking to see the people with houses destroyed, built so poorly and with such poor materials to begin with. When we landed in the football field, the people recognized the Bishop and started to run towards him. It was beautiful to see. What came to mind was when Jesus said "I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me” (Jn 10:14). But again, I saw more a lamb than a shepherd, who was ready to carry on his shoulders the burden of his people. We had to leave him quickly, but promised him that we would return to help him and his people.
We headed back to Port au Prince and now we have begun to plan our actions to take in the next few days, including with Dr. Augustin the head of the St Luke medical and Fr. Rick.
In closing, I would like here to talk about the resilience of our Haitian brothers and sisters. They are like a boxer in a boxing ring. Knocked down, and the count to ten is on, but they are always able to stand up before the final countdown. Not even the hurricane can knock them out. It makes me think too of what is now a prophetic image of Our Lady of Sorrows, the patroness of our congregation, that we had painted on the side of our new residence which bears her name that will face the entrance of the new St Luke hospital. Our Founder, Paul of the Cross used to compare Our Lady of Sorrows to a rock on which the waves slam but cannot move her. As I contemplated this, I saw Our Lady holding Christ’s shroud firmly but gently as a mother holds her child. The wind and the waves batter her as she appeals to God on behalf of the Haitian people. There is sorrow in her face but confidence too. Why else would she be on that sharp rock but for her faith!
On our way to Jeremie the sky was full of rain drops that reminded me of tears. On the way home the sky was clear but my eyes were full of tears. It is an obligation to have been the eyes and ears on behalf of our friends and supporters who are so concerned for those affected by this disaster, and now to be their voice to you on their behalf. These are people who are already so vulnerable of being invisible to the outside world, and I am humbled today to have had the chance to help share their story.
Fr Enzo Del Brocco
St Luke Foundation and
Passionisti Haiti Mission of Our Lady of Sorrows”
03/26/2017
The 2016 Paradise Showdown defending champions, Chicago Marquette Best, once again took first place, narrowly defeating the VI Jaguars Basketball Team for the title. The St Croix/Tortola All Stars took third place. The VI Jaguars Basketball Team will compete in the 49th Annual International Small Fry Basketball tournament April 10 - 13, 2017. This will be the final Tournament of the season.
01/31/2017
The VI Jaguars Basketball Team will host the 6th Annual Virgin Island Small Fry Paradise Showdown this Friday March 24, 2017 through Sunday March 26, 2017 at the Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School. Teams from Chicago, and St. Croix will compete in the tournament. Admission is free. Concessions will be on sale.
2017 Small Fry Paradise Showdown Schedule
Friday March 24, 2017 - 6:00 pm
VI Jaguars vs St. Croix Positive Guidance
Saturday March 25, 2017 - 10:00 am
St. Croix Positive Guidance vs Chicago Best
Saturday March 25, 2017 - 1:00 pm
VI Jaguars vs Chicago Best
Sunday March 26, 2017
Games to be announced.
July 31, 2017 - August 1, 2017
7th Annual Virgin Island Billfish Tournament for Haiti
Caribbean Rose, Inc. also supports the Virgin Islands Jaguars Youth Basketball Team. The team recently competed in the 2017 Paradise Showdown January 13 - 16, 2017.
They also competed in the 48th Annual Small Fry International Basketball Tournament this past week (April 4th – 7th, 2016) at the World Wide of Sports Center in Orlando, FL. With their hard work and determination, they were able to be in the running and came in 3rd place.
The Lives We Impact
Caribbean Rose, Inc. will like to let the community know that the V.I. Jaguars 12 and under Basketball team will have tryouts from noon until 3:00 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays at the Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School gymnasium starting October 26, 2015. The Jaguars compete in the International Small Fry Basketball Association.
The League is for players no taller than 5 foot 1 inches and may not be older that 12 as of September 1, 2015 in the year immediately prior to the competition season, which is from January until spring. A smaller basketball is used and rims are 8 feet, 6 inches off the ground. The team participates in several basketball tournaments throughout the basketball season. All travel related expenses are paid by Caribbean Rose, Inc.
For more information, contact Mary Beth Kopko at caribbeanrosevi@gmail.com or call Wayne Harvey at 340-513-8740.
kindly like this post to show your support to Caribbean Rose, Inc. and to the VI Jaguars Basketball team. To learn more about Caribbean Rose, Inc, and the VI Jaguars Basketball team visit Caribbean Rose website at http://www.caribbeanrose.org/.
Caribbean Rose, Inc. also supports the Virgin Islands Jaguars Youth Basketball Team. The team recently competed in the 2016 Paradise Showdown on March 18th – 20th, 2016.
They also competed in the 48th Annual Small Fry International Basketball Tournament this past week (April 4th – 7th, 2016) at the World Wide of Sports Center in Orlando, FL. With their hard work and determination, they were able to be in the running and came in 3rd place.
MVP (Marine Vocational Program)
Tryout for the 2016 Virgin Islands Jaguars Basketball Team
Caribbean Rose, Inc. proudly supports the Pere Basile Moreau School in Haiti. Since 2010, Caribbean Rose, Inc. has assisted with rebuilding the school and renewing education on the island. We also support the Marine Vocational Program (MVP) on the island of Saint Thomas, USVI.
10/6/2016:
The VI Jaguars Basketball Team has registration and tryouts from noon until 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays at the Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School Gymnasium. The Jaguars compete in the International Small Fry Basketball Association. Competition begins Oct. 22, 2016.
The league is for players no taller that 5-foot-1 and they may not be older than 12 years of age as of September 1 in the year immediately before the competition season, which is from January until spring. The team will consist of 12 players.
In Small Fry competition, a smaller basketball is used and the rims are 8 feet, 6 inches off the ground. For more information, email Mary Beth Kopko at caribbeanrosevi@gmail.com or call Wayne Harvey at 340-513-8740.
Caribbean Rose, Inc. is a non-for-profit organization created to improve the lives of the homeless, disabled, students, and children in the United States Virgin Islands, as well as assist in charitable work throughout the Caribbean. We proudly support the Pere Basile Moreau School in Haiti, VI Jaguars Basketball Team, and the MVP (Marine Vocational Program) at Ivanna Eudora Kean High School. We hope you enjoy your time here on our website and appreciate your financial support. Feel free to contact us about our upcoming events scheduled throughout the United States Virgin Islands and please look for continuous updates about future events.
Caribbean Rose, Inc. proudly supports the Pere Basile Moreau School in Haiti. Since 2010, Caribbean Rose, Inc. has assisted with rebuilding the school and renewing education on the island. Each year Caribbean Rose, Inc. hosts an annual billfish tournament. The 7th Annual Virgin Island Billfish Tournament for Haiti will be July 31, 2017 - August 1, 2017. To become a sponsor for this years tournament feel free to fill out our form on our Contact Us page.
Caribbean Rose, Inc. also supports the VI Jaguars Small Fry Basketball Team. Small Fry Basketball, founded in 1968, provides an opportunity for shorter boys and girls to excel in the sport of basketball, travel, and have fun. The program is developmental, yet extremely competitive, with an opportunity to meet new friends and compete on the international level. The Association consists of teams from all over the United States, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
The team competed in the 2017 Puerto Rico Invitational January 13 - 16, 2017. On March 3, 2017 the team competed in the 2017 Positive Guidance Tournament on the island of St. Croix. The team won the tournament by win all of its games. The team will host the 2017 Small Fry Paradise Showdown March 24 - 26, 2017. Finally the team will compete in the 2017 Small Fry International Tournament April 10 - 13, 2017 in Orlando, Florida,
The Virgin Islands is home to some of the best sports fishing in the world. The abundance of fish, the beautiful waters, and the perfect climate, draw thousands of visitors each year to enjoy our seas. The Marine Vocational Program, “MVP,” recognizes the need to introduce, instruct and include the children of the Virgin Islands in the sport and the Marine Industry.
Caribbean Rose, Inc., in conjunction with Neltjeberg Bay Enterprises, LLC., joined with Ivanna Eudora Kean High School and the Virgin Islands Department of Education to establish the MVP to teach sports fishing skills to high school students. Captain Eddie Morrison, along with mate Travis Morrison, work with up to 4 students each semester. Several students to date have received certificates for their participation and completion in the course.
The Spring 2015 semester began on April 11, 2015. Four students graduated from the program on June 6, 2015. Their names are Kerniah George, Clemon Lewis, Shelton Aunondieu, and Alistair Greene. The Fall 2014 semester began on December 12, 2014. Three students graduated from the program on February 21, 2015. Their names are Isiah Williams, D'Andre A. Barry, and Robert Camacho. Graduation was held February 21, 2015.
Interested High School students can contact their Guidance counselor about the program. For more information contact Captain Eddie Morrison at 340-998-3446. All classes are held on Saturdays.