14
FREE! Florida’s Caribbean Sun NEWS YOU CAN USE! Vol. 6 No. 7 July 2009 – See story on page 24 – N ew legislation has been introduced in Congress which, if passed, will provide for up to five years imprisonment for persons who collect money or anything of value from undocumented immigrants claiming that they could help regularize their immigration status. The Immigration Fraud Prevention Act of 2009, developed by Congresswoman Yvette Clarke of New York and Senator Dianne Feinstein establishes immigration fraud as a federal crime. “The United States cannot allow our nation’s immi- grants to be preyed upon by corrupt ‘immigration specialists’. Unfortunately, a growing number of fraudulent ‘immigra- tion specialists’ are preying on immigrants and citizens alike who retain their services. They promise to help immigrants navigate the system only to charge exorbitant fees and file bogus paperwork,” Congresswoman Clarke told Caribbean Sun during a briefing on Capitol Hill recently. The goal of the new act is to create a new crime to penalize those who engage in schemes to defraud persons seeking legal counsel or assistance in connection with federal immigration laws. The Act establishes a new section in the fraud offenses of the criminal code which would make it a federal crime to “wilfully and knowingly defraud or obtain or receive money or anything else of value from any person by false or fraudulent pretenses, representations or promises.” Persons committing such crimes would face a fine, imprisonment of not more than five years, or both. The proposed legislation also authorizes the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to investigate individuals suspected of committing such crimes. New legislation will provide for jailing immigration “specialists” Caribbean American leaders meet in Washington – Continued on page 13 – Caribbean nationals urged to be counted in 2010 census C aribbean nationals residing in the United States, regardless of their immigration sta- tus, are being encouraged to be counted in the 2010 census. It is important that every Caribbean resident in the United States be counted “so that collectively we can be consid- ered as a force in American society and receive benefits like other immigrant groups,” say Caribbean American community leaders. The 2010 census formed part of a briefing at the White House and on Capitol Hill last month in which Caribbean Sun publisher Wesley Kirton participated. The briefings were organized by the Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS) and a high powered team from the Department of Commerce, which conducts the census, briefed Caribbean American business and commu- nity leaders at the White House. The team pointed out the importance of every resident being counted and assured that all information collected remained confidential by law. The infor- mation collected will not be shared with any other government agencies or departments. Several Caribbean American organizations, including the Institute of Caribbean Studies and CaribID have launched campaigns to inform and educate Caribbean nationals about the importance of participating in the Census. There is also an effort to have a separate box for Caribbean nationals on the census form but this will not be possible in time for next March when the census will begin. This box will be included in the 2020 census, if a bill currently before Congress, is passed. A new organization has been set up in Washington, DC to promote and pro- tect the interest of small and medium size Caribbean owned businesses across the United States and in the Caribbean basin region, it was announced during the closing session of the fourth annual Caribbean American Business Expo and Conference, held last month in Orlando. New Organization will protect, promote interest of Caribbean owned small business Expo participants want problems addressed, timely provision of information The announcement was made by former US Assistant Secretary of Labor Debbie Misir who is a director of the newly incorporated body, known as the US/Caribbean Basin Re- source Network. Misir was among members of a panel assessing the deliberations of the – Continued on page 16 – USAID’s James Goggin cuts the ribbon to open the Expo. Veteran US Ambassador Harriet Elam Thomas has the attention of this group. Photos by Chantal Boodhoo Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (center) with FL State Rep. Hazel Rogers and ICS President Claire Nelson White House Associate Director, Michael Barnes (center) welcomes Florida businessman Tem Kudakwashe and his wife Violet to the briefing

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Florida’s Caribbean Sun 1

FREE!

Florida’s Caribbean SunNEWS YOU CAN USE! Vol. 6 No. 7 ● July 2009

– See story on page 24 –

New legislation has been introduced in Congress which, if passed, will provide for up to five years imprisonment forpersons who collect money or anything of value from undocumented immigrants claiming that they could help

regularize their immigration status.

The Immigration Fraud Prevention Act of 2009, developed by Congresswoman Yvette Clarke of New York and SenatorDianne Feinstein establishes immigration fraud as a federal crime. “The United States cannot allow our nation’s immi-grants to be preyed upon by corrupt ‘immigration specialists’. Unfortunately, a growing number of fraudulent ‘immigra-tion specialists’ are preying on immigrants and citizens alike who retain their services. They promise to help immigrantsnavigate the system only to charge exorbitant fees and file bogus paperwork,” Congresswoman Clarke told CaribbeanSun during a briefing on Capitol Hill recently.

The goal of the new act is to create a new crime to penalize those who engage in schemes to defraud persons seeking legalcounsel or assistance in connection with federal immigration laws.

The Act establishes a new section in the fraud offenses of the criminal code which would make it a federal crime to“wilfully and knowingly defraud or obtain or receive money or anything else of value from any person by false orfraudulent pretenses, representations or promises.”Persons committing such crimes would face a fine, imprisonment of not more than five years, or both.

The proposed legislation also authorizes the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to investigateindividuals suspected of committing such crimes.

New legislation will provide for jailing immigration “specialists”

Caribbean American leadersmeet in Washington

– Continued on page 13 –

Caribbean nationals urgedto be counted in

2010 censusCaribbean nationals residing in the United States, regardless of their immigration sta-

tus, are being encouraged to be counted in the 2010 census. It is important that everyCaribbean resident in the United States be counted “so that collectively we can be consid-ered as a force in American society and receive benefits like other immigrant groups,” sayCaribbean American community leaders.

The 2010 census formed part of a briefing at the White House and on Capitol Hill last monthin which Caribbean Sun publisher Wesley Kirton participated. The briefings were organizedby the Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS) and a high powered team from the Department ofCommerce, which conducts the census, briefed Caribbean American business and commu-nity leaders at the White House. The team pointed out the importance of every resident beingcounted and assured that all information collected remained confidential by law. The infor-mation collected will not be shared with any other government agencies or departments.

Several Caribbean American organizations, including the Institute of Caribbean Studiesand CaribID have launched campaigns to inform and educate Caribbean nationals aboutthe importance of participating in the Census. There is also an effort to have a separate boxfor Caribbean nationals on the census form but this will not be possible in time for nextMarch when the census will begin. This box will be included in the 2020 census, if a billcurrently before Congress, is passed.

A new organization has been set up in Washington, DC to promote and pro-tect the interest of small and medium size Caribbean owned businesses across the United

States and in the Caribbean basin region, it was announced during the closing session of thefourth annual Caribbean American Business Expo and Conference, held last month in Orlando.

New Organization will protect, promoteinterest of Caribbean owned small business

Expo participants want problems addressed, timely provision of informationThe announcement was made by former US Assistant Secretary of Labor Debbie Misirwho is a director of the newly incorporated body, known as the US/Caribbean Basin Re-source Network. Misir was among members of a panel assessing the deliberations of the

– Continued on page 16 –

USAID’s James Goggin cuts the ribbon to open the Expo. Veteran US Ambassador Harriet Elam Thomas has the attention of this group.Photos by Chantal Boodhoo

Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (center) withFL State Rep. Hazel Rogers and ICS

President Claire Nelson

White House Associate Director, Michael Barnes (center) welcomes Floridabusinessman Tem Kudakwashe and his wife Violet to the briefing

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Florida’s Caribbean Sun 3

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How can we ask for bettertreatment when worse is

happening at home?We at Caribbean Sun have been following the news reports about the depor-tation of Guyanese and other Caribbean nationals from Barbados andTrinidad and Tobago. While we accept that these and any other countrieshave the right to manage their immigration policies in the best interest oftheir people, we find it quite interesting that such immigration policies arebeing pursued against Caribbean nationals resident in Caribbean countrieswhile the Caribbean Diaspora is actively engaged in lobbying the US for com-prehensive immigration reform which seeks a “ kinder, gentler” approach todealing with the issue of deportation.

Just last month there was a White House briefing organized by the Instituteof Caribbean Studies (ICS) on a range of issues affecting the Caribbean re-gion and the Caribbean Diaspora including immigration reform and the is-sue of deportation. The White House team included Valerie Jarret, senioradviser and assistant to the president for intergovernmental affairs and pub-lic engagement. Caribbean American community leaders got a sympatheticear and there seemed to be recognition that the deportation policy needs tobe revisited.

The issue of immigration reform was also raised during briefings on CapitolHill last month and indeed one Member of Congress pointed to the need forthe Caribbean to get its act together in a veiled reference to what is currentlytaking place in Barbados.

Our simple question is how are Caribbean Americans to successfully seekbetter treatment of our Caribbean (including Trinis and Bajans) undocu-mented residents here in America if in fact what is happening in the region isjust as bad or worse than that which we are seeking to correct in the US?

We must not return to the days of coups

As Caribbean Sun was going to press we learnt of the removal from office ofthe legitimately elected president of Honduras and his forced exile. We vehe-mently condemn this coup and call on the international community to takeconcerted action to ensure that this recklessness by sections of the Honduranmilitary is not successful and that President Zelaya returns to his country tocarry on his responsibilities as head-of-state.

This is a real opportunity for the organization of American States (OAS) todemonstrate that it is not a “talk shop” but a hemispheric organizationwith the political will to ensure respect for its Charter. This coup must beoverturned. We in this hemisphere cannot return to the dark days of thepast when military coups were allowed to succeed bringing with them ruth-less dictators.

Regardless of what wrongs President Zelaya might have done, he is the legiti-mately elected president of Honduras and cannot be removed from officeother than by a legitimate process which allows the people of Honduras to sodecide. His holding of a referendum to determine whether the people of Hon-duras wished to change the Constitution of their country to address the issueof term limits for the presidency, cannot be and is not illegal. He was askingthe people to decide.

We cannot and must not return to the days of coups in the Americas!

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Derek Walcott,Rex Nettleford

among honoreesScores of Caribbean nationals flocked to the Miramar Cultural Center recently to honortwo distinguished Caribbean legends, Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott of St. Lucia andProfessor Emeritus Rex Nettleford of Jamaica, at the first annual Caribbean AmericanHeritage Commemorative Gala.

Under the distinguished patronage of the Caribbean Consular Corp, the event honoredoutstanding Caribbean nationals who have contributed to the development of the Region’s

culture and heritage acrossthe Diaspora.

Both were presented withthe Caribbean AmericanBook and Art Fair Heritageawards by Consuls Gen-eral of St. Lucia, Mr. KentHippolyte and Mrs. SandraGrant Griffiths of Jamaica,respectively.

Other awardees includedJamaica’s cultural ambas-sador, Mrs. Norma Darbyof the Jamaica Folk Revue,and Belizean author, Ms.Zell Edgell.

Two awards - CaribbeanCultural Award and Carib-bean Media award werepresented posthumously toMr. Selman Lewis (1948-

2008) of Trinidad, and Mr. Clint O’Neil (1944-2004) of Jamaica.

Selman Lewis was founder of the Miami Carnival now celebrating its 25-year, and hasbeen acclaimed one of the largest Caribbean celebrations in the USA.

Known as the reggae ambassador, Clint O’Neil was responsible for popularizing that genreof music on airwaves across the Diaspora while pioneering Caribbean broadcasting inSouth Florida. (South Florida Caribbean News).

Awardees at the Caribbean American HeritageCommemorative Gala held recently at the MiramarCultural Center. Professor Emeritus of Jamaica, Hon.Rex Nettleford, O.J.,(L) Nobel Laureate Derek Walcottof St. Lucia (R). Sharing in the moment was Jamaica’sConsul General Sandra Grant Griffiths (center).

Talks underwayabout pre-clearancefor entering the US

Talks are underway between Tourism Ministers of the Caribbean and the UnitedStates State Department, for the placement of pre-clearance facilities in the region,which will allow for quicker and easier immigration clearance for American visitorsto the Caribbean.

Jamaica’s Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett, made the announcement at a reception hostedby the Washington Post newspaper at its Washington DC U.S.A headquarters recently, fordelegates attending the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s 2nd annual tourism summit.

He said that, if approved, the measure will go a far way in improving the turnaround timefor aircraft entering the Caribbean. In addition, he said, airlines would be able to avoid theheavy tax they currently pay, as well as make the Caribbean a more affordable vacationdestination for American visitors.

Minister Bartlett, who was the keynote speaker, told the delegates that the discussion withthe State Department also focused on amendments to existing duty- free policies, whichplaced most Caribbean destinations at a competitive disadvantage.

He noted that visitors to Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands enjoy a duty-free allowance of US$1,000, while visitors to other Caribbean nations are allowed onlyUS$500. He informed that Jamaica is now looking at amending the duty-free laws toallow incoming passengers to purchase duty-free items.

The Tourism Minister, in the meantime, said that the two-day tourism summit was “verysuccessful”, noting that the meetings with representatives from the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank, regarding financing tourism projects in the Caribbean, werefruitful.

He pointed out that the Caribbean as a tourist destination needs to take a serious look at re-defining itself to meet the emerging global economic challenges.

...if approved, the measure will go a far way in improving theturnaround time for aircraft entering the Caribbean. In addi-tion, he said, airlines would be able to avoid the heavy tax theycurrently pay, as well as make the Caribbean a more afford-able vacation destination...

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Caribbean nationsneed not play role

of supplicantThe nations of the Caribbean, while notequal to the United States in size, powerand influence need not play the role ofsupplicant but should adopt a unified ap-proach to engaging the new Administra-tion of President Barack Obama in orderto ensure positive results.

This was the message delivered to partici-pants in the fourth annual CaribbeanAmerican Business Expo and Conferenceby veteran United States diplomat Ambas-sador Harriet Elam Thomas. AmbassadorThomas was the guest of honor and key-note speaker at a plenary luncheon of theconference. The luncheon was sponsoredby Caribbean Supercenter supermarket.

Speaking on the subject “Strategies forEngaging the new Administration of Presi-dent Barack Obama” the ambassador iden-tified four pillars- a unified approach, re-spect for indigenous talent, strategic plan-ning and the clear identification of mu-tual interests-upon which Caribbean nations and the Diaspora should build their effortsfor successfully engaging the new administration,

Ambasador Thomas pointed out that “the new face of America has the opportunity and theability to engage adversaries and to bridge divisions” and that with the election of a uniquelymulticultural president “now is the chance for the US to improve its global image andfrom there its security.”

Against this background, the ambassador said, there is scope for the Caribbean, as neigh-bors, partners and friends of the United States, to work with the new administration “tomeet the common challenges we face.” She said that the Caribbean Diaspora had a piv-otal role to play in engagement with the new administration.

While navigating the various US government agencies is daunting, Thomas said any sucheffort “should tap into the valuable resources of the well informed, well placed CaribbeanAmerican leaders in the US.”

Ambassador Harriet Elam Thomas

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Florida’s Caribbean Sun 7

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QC AlumniAssociation formedin Central Florida

Fund-raising brunch July 19A new chapter of the Queen’s College Alumni Association has been formed in Central Florida.

The Queen’s College Alumni Association of Central Florida (QCAACF) was establishedon May 15, 2009 as a non-profit organization. The main purposes of the Organization are“to help assure the stability of Queen’s College which contributes to academic excellencein Guyana, to provide financial and other forms of material assistance to Queen’s Collegeof Guyana and to provide material assistance and counsel to Guyanese students in theUnited States”, a press release from the new association said.

The first elected officers of the Organization are Paul Daly (President), Omawale Omawale(Vice President), Roger Zitman (Secretary), Rene Sumner (Treasurer), with Tommy Smithand Andre Pestano as committee members. The chapter, which is inviting membershipfrom all former QC students living in Central Florida, is a member of the InternationalCommittee of the Queen’s College Alumni Associations (ICQC) that currently has otherbranches in Toronto, New York, UK, South Florida and Guyana (QC Old Students Asso-ciation www.qcosa.org.gy

QCAACF plans to be represented at the next annual business meeting of ICQC to be held inGuyana, October 30, 2009. The occasion will also be marked by a reunion celebrating the165th anniversary of the founding of the school. More information on ICQC can be ob-tained through the web site www.icqconline.net. Notable recent contributions to the schoolfrom ICQC chapters include The Vernley Ward Scholarship and a computer laboratory.

The QCAACF’s first fund-raiser will be a brunch to be held on Sunday July 19th (11.00 amto 2.00 pm) at Sunquest Plaza, 1044 Plaza Drive, Kissimmee Florida 34743. The cost of thebrunch is $20 and will feature a wide selection of West Indian dishes. A warm invitation isextend to all West Indians, their families and friends to enjoy the brunch and help support theillustrious Guyanese and West Indian tradition represented by Queen’s College.

Support ouradvertisers . . .

Tell them you saw their ad inflorida’S caribbean sun!

Page 9: Caribbean Sun News July 09 Part 1[1]

Florida’s Caribbean Sun 9

By Claremont Kirton, Head of the Department of Economics,University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica

Chairperson: Ms. Ann-Marie de Goveia, Assistant to the Dean, College of Business, UCF

Mr. Wesley Kirton, Executive Chairman, Caribbean American Business Expo

Orange County Sheriff, Jerry Demings

Representative of the Mayor, Mr. Reginald McGill, Director, Constituency Services

Dr. Arlington Chesney, Executive Director, Caribbean Agriculture Research and Devel-opment Institute (CARDI)

Mr. George Rodon, Chief of Staff, Office of the Orange Country Mayor, HonourableRichard Crotty

Mr. Michael Schiffhauer, Director of Field Operations, Enterprise Florida Inc, Represent-ing Governor Charlie Crist

Mr. Alonzo Fulgham, Acting Administrator, USAID

Mr. Keith Gooden, Expo Executive Director

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

I am honoured to represent the University of the West Indies at this most important andtimely Caribbean-American Business Expo and Conference. Our Vice Chancellor, Pro-fessor E. Nigel Harris sends his best wishes for a suc-cessful event and has asked me to extend apologiesfor his absence. I also bring greetings from our Prin-cipal of the UWI Mona Campus, Professor GordonShirley who has given his full support to our pres-ence here as part of UWI’s role in informing the Car-ibbean Diaspora about our activities.

As an integral part of our University’s StrategicPlan 2008 – 2012, we are focusing on UWI attain-ing three “firsts”:

1. UWI must be the University of first choice for Car-ibbean nationals in the region and the Diaspora seekinghigh quality undergraduate and graduate education.

2. UWI must be first in providing new knowledgethrough research contributing to Caribbean growth,development and transformation.

3. UWI must be the first port of call for Caribbeangovernments as well as private sector interests in theregion and the wider Diaspora wishing advice andtechnical expertise for policy development, strategicplanning and programme implementation

A critical strategic aim of our University is to be-come internationally recognized as a centre of excel-lence in research, knowledge creation and innova-tion on matters related to the Caribbean and its large Diaspora and small-island develop-ing states internationally. UWI is seeking to strengthen and expand the research activitiesof our faculties and departments geared towards addressing priority areas aligned to spe-cific developmental needs of our Caribbean region and its Diaspora.

In the Department of Economics at Mona, which I chair, we have established a CaribbeanDiaspora Economy Research Group (CDERG) comprising faculty members and graduatestudents. CDERG has conducted a number of studies on migration related issues, focus-ing mainly on remittances from various host countries, including US, to the home coun-tries of the Caribbean region. We recognize how important the Diaspora is for our Carib-bean development and continue to work in this area.

As you are all aware, the United States of America (USA) is an important desti-nation country for migrants from all over the world. The most recent statistics(Migration Policy Institute, 2006) indicate that there are 35.7 million documentedmigrants living in this country. Of these, about 3.5 million (or 10%) are fromthe Caribbean. The leading source countries from the Caribbean region are Cuba(28.5% of total documented Caribbean migrants), Dominican Republic (23.5%),Jamaica (16.7%), Haiti (11.7%) and Guyana (10.2%).

Focusing on the State of Florida, the available data indicate that, as at July2007, the Caribbean-born migrant population was 1.2 million or 42.3% of the2.9 million foreign-born population living in the State. These data indicate thatthe leading Caribbean source countries are Cuba (57% of total Caribbean docu-mented migrants in Florida), Haiti (17.5%), Jamaica (13.1%), DominicanRepublic (6.1%) and Trinidad and Tobago (3.9%)

In analyzing Caribbean migration to the US, we examine briefly some of the impacts ofmigration on both the host or destination country (in this case USA) and the home orsource countries (Caribbean countries).

An important benefit to the US economy arising from the activities of Caribbean migrantsrefers to meeting the labour market demands for jobs in specific sectors, such as manufac-turing and services. Of the top four Caribbean source countries of migrants in Florida(Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica), on average, 13.3% were employed insales, 6.5% in production and 12.6% in the service industries (US Census Bureau, 2000).The three main sectors in which Caribbean migrants are employed here in Florida are

education (18.6%), retail trades (12.2%) and manufacturing (6.2%).

Current projections indicate that there will be a labour shortage in several industries (includ-ing manufacturing) in the US by 2010. Immigrant labour is expected to provide a solution tothese labour shortages especially, but not exclusively, in the lower-skilled and semi-skilledjobs. The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) has reported that by 2020,new immigrants would fill 10 million new jobs in manufacturing, representing the principalsource of skilled workers in this sector. These would include technical specialists and ter-tiary-educated managers. Immigrants will also be able to access new jobs in other areas suchas agriculture, construction, health care and the hospitality industry.

Another benefit for the host country is that immigrants establish their own micro- andsmall businesses which generate income not only for themselves, but also create employ-ment in various economic sectors. A recent study by the Employment Policy Foundationreports that without the contribution of immigrants, the current output of commodities andservices in the US would be reduced by US $1 trillion.

Immigrants contribute to the US economy through their tax payments, which enhancegovernment revenues. They also purchase commodity and services domestically which,given the large number of immigrants residing in the US, contributes to revenue growth inboth the public and private sectors. In essence, Caribbean migrants continue to play animportant role in the growth and development of the US economy, and more specificallythe State of Florida.

Caribbean migrants make a significant con-tribution to the economic growth and devel-opment of their individual, source or homecountries. The main contribution is remit-tances, which include both financial trans-fers and in-kind goods (shipped mainly inbarrels) to households in their respectiveCaribbean countries. Latest data indicatethat over US$2.5 billion is remitted annu-ally through formal financial channels fromUSA to the Caribbean. The top three recipi-ent countries of remittances from the US areDominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica.Remittances from US to Jamaica for Janu-ary – December 2008 amounted to US $1.1billion (Bank of Jamaica data).

In addition, Caribbean-born school alumni and profes-sionals often donate technical equipment and assistanceto aid in the development and support of the health sys-tems in their home countries. According to a report byUNECLAC, Jamaican physicians have, on several oc-casions, returned home, not only to donate supplies andequipment to support the country’s health system, butalso to perform critical surgical procedures.

Caribbean migrants returning to or visiting their homecountry have, to some extent, impacted the tourismindustry. Byron (1994) remarked that “returning mi-

grants are increasingly attracted to jobs in the tourism sector”. These migrants bring withthem the various skills obtained in senior positions in the tourist sector overseas. In manyinstances, they start their own micro and small enterprises, which provide services for thetourism sector. Caribbean tourism revenues have also increased as a result of migrantsvisiting their respective home countries for holidays as well as special occasions such asreligious and national celebrations, as well as family-oriented activities.

Caribbean migrants contribute to revenue generation in the development andexpansion of the telecommunications sector both in the home and source coun-tries, as many frequently call their relatives and friends. Survey data, using asample of 2,800 immigrants in the USA, report that about 10 % of all Caribbeanmigrants surveyed called their homes monthly, 15 % called fortnightly, 25 %called weekly, while 30 % called two or more times a week. Almost 30 % of thesepersons called for periods in excess of 30 minutes.

Nostalgic trade involves the trade of goods from their home country which have someintrinsic value to migrants in the host country. Examples of these include for Jamaicainclude ackee and white rum and sweet bread and flying fish from Barbados. Purchases ofnostalgic commodities tend to have a psychological impact on migrants as these supportthe feeling of maintaining links with their home country. These purchases also support thegrowth of businesses in the Caribbean countries as well as in USA. Many migrants at-tempt to maintain the diets to which they are accustomed at home, consuming products ofthe home country. In a survey of almost 3,000 migrants, of those from Caribbean coun-tries, the majority indicated that they purchase goods from their home country.

As I indicated earlier, our Diaspora Economy Research Group in the Department of Eco-nomics, UWI, Mona (CDERG) has been involved in a number of studies that assess theeconomic impact of remittances on countries in the Caribbean. We have generated somevery useful results on issues such as the impact of remittances on poverty; the uses ofremittances; and the methods of remittances transfers; and we have provided policy recom-mendations for Caribbean governments. Understandably, our focus has been on Jamaica,although some work has been done on other English-speaking Caribbean countries.

In 2006, CDERG conducted an in-depth survey of remittance recipients which focused onthe impact of remittances on household behaviour in Jamaica. This generated some im

Claremont Kirton

– Continued on page 26 –

Diaspora contributing to US,Caribbean Development

Address to Florida Caribbean Business Expo and ConferenceOfficial Opening Ceremony, June 10th, 2009

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10 Florida’s Caribbean Sun

FLORIDA’S 4TH CARIBBEAN-AMERICAN

Telecoms Engineer Wesley Sadler (R) makes a point to businessman SylvesterChang and Dr. Mark Kirton, Institute of International Relations, Trinidad and Tobago

UWI Booth at the Expo

Guests at one of the Expo Luncheons George Rodon, Chief of Staff to MayorCrotty speaking at the opening ceremony

The Caribbean Supercenter booth Visiting dignitaries with members of the Maya dance group

Panel discussing the Caribbean American Relationship in this era of change Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings addressingthe opening ceremony

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Florida’s Caribbean Sun 11

BUSINESS EXPO AND CONFERENCE

Visitors to the expo view the CARDI booth Expo sponsors receive their Certificates of Appreciation

A section of the audience at the opening The Grace Booth

USAID Representative for Barbados andthe Eastern Caribbean, James Goggin

delivers the keynote address

Some members of the team drafting the final conference report

Orange County Sheriffs Office Booth Culinary delights sponsored by Golden Krust restaurants

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12 Florida’s Caribbean Sun

Pledge ofscholarships atBusiness Expo

Importance of educationstressed during conference

The importance of preparing a cadre of well trained Caribbean entrepreneurs for thefuture was one of the recommendations emerging from the 4th annual CaribbeanAmerican Business Expo and Conference held last month and in keeping with this,a pledge was made to provide scholarships to suitably qualified young people fromthe Caribbean.

The pledge of the first scholarship, made by Jamaican American businessman Karl Chung,would be for studies by a Caribbean national at the University of the West Indies MonaCampus in Jamaica and will be named in honor of Mr. Chung’s mother. The criteria forapplication for the scholarship is currently being worked out between Mr. Chung andUWI officials.

And, Mike Singh, president and chief executive officer of Miami-based Telkom Caribepledged the provision of 25 scholarships for post graduate training in information andcommunication technology management, telecommunication engineering and related fieldsat the National Singapore University and Nanyang Technological University, both locatedin Singapore.

Singh told the closing session of the expo and conference that the two educationalinstitutions with which his company has close ties, have pledged to assist the Carib-bean and that given the intense discussion on the importance of education and train-ing at the event, he had initiated the process to have 25 scholarships provided over afive year period.

He said the criteria and modalities for making the pledge a reality would have to be workedout and perhaps this could be done through a joint effort between the two Singapore insti-tutions and the University of the West Indies.

Both Chung and Singh were panelists during the expo and conference and used the oppor-tunity to discuss their initiatives with the University of the West Indies, which was alsorepresented at the event, held June 10-12, in Orlando.

Telkom Caribe CEO, Mike Singh holds the rapt attention of a group of UCF studentsduring the recent Expo

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Florida’s Caribbean Sun 13

CaribID has lobbied to get a Caribbean Count billin both the House of Representatives and the Sen-ate. Unfortunately, these bills cannot become lawin time for March 2010, “so we need your helpcollectively to urge every Caribbean reader, lis-tener, viewer, to not just fill out the form but towrite in their country of origin under question 8while ticking ̀ No Not Hispanic.` It is a simple butpowerful message of change that we can all col-lectively obtain in a matter of months,” wroteCaribID’s Felicia Persaud in a recent e-mail com-munication to media owners.

Strategies for informing and educating Caribbeannationals in America about the census and the im-portance of their being counted was the focus ofintense discussion during the Capitol Hill brief-ings. Advice on which boxes Caribbean Ameri-cans should check and the need for them to writein their country of origin, how Caribbean nation-als of Indian extraction might best identify them-selves and other key issues were discussed. A pub-lic education program will soon be launched andCaribbean Sun will be keeping our readers up todate on how they can ensure they are counted.

Caribbeannationals urged to

be countedin 2010 census–Continued from page 1 –

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14 Florida’s Caribbean Sun