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PAGE 2 MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2005 THE NEW YORK SUN NEW YORK PAGE 2 MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2005 THE NEW YORK SUN CAFTA Sparks Divided Reactions in City’s Caribbean Communities By DANIELA GERSON lines of those who say the agreement cultural workers in the Dominican ers in the garment trades. Last month, NEW StaffYORK Reporter of the Sun will enable the poor countries to enter Republic as well, he said. when President Fernandez of the Do- In neighborhoods where events the global market, and those who say “Most of the things that we sell in minican Republic came to New York across the Caribbean Sea are often felt American interests will abuse them. bodegas, like fruit and vegetables to promote CAFTA, Mr. Laranceunt as keenly as developments here, the A leading organizer of the support- and agriculture, these products stood in front of City College protest- Central American Free Trade Agree- ers is a Dominican-born entrepre- come from those countries at a very ing the pact. ment has sparked an intense and divid- “We wanted to let the president ed reaction. know that this treaty does not benefit CAFTA Sparks Divided Reactions in City’s CaribbeanOne immigrant from Communities the Dominican the Dominican people in the Domini- Republic, Rafael Chavez, was so em- can Republic nor the people in the phatic in his opposition to CAFTA, as United States,” he said. Low-wage jobs By DANIELA GERSON lines of those who say the agreement cultural workers in the Dominicanthe pending erpacts in on the trade garment is known, trades. Last month, in New York will be lost to countries that he almost fell off his wooden where working conditions are worse Staff Reporter of the Sun will enable the poor countries to enter Republic as well, he said. stool on St. Nicholaswhen Pr Avenueesident in FernandezWash- of the Do- and even abusive, he argued. In neighborhoods where events the global market, and those who say “Most of the things that weington sell in Heights.minican “No, Republic no, no,” Mr.came to New York The basic lesson comes from NAF- across the Caribbean Sea are often felt American interests will abuse them. bodegas, like fruit and vegetablesChavez said,to shaking promote his hands CAFTA, in the Mr. Laranceunt TA, Mr. Laranceunt said. His mother, as keenly as developments here, the A leading organizer of the support- and agriculture, these productsair. The proposalstood to in decrease front of sharply City College protest- an immigrant from the Dominican Re- Central American Free Trade Agree- ers is a Dominican-born entrepre- come from those countries atbarriers a very to tradeing thebetween pact. the United public, arrived in the early 1960s and ment has sparked an intense and divid- States and the“We Dominican wanted Republic to let the president raised four children on a job in the Gar- ed reaction. and five Centralknow American that this countries, treaty does not benefit ment District. NAFTA, he said, drove he said, would create negative trade jobs like that overseas. One immigrant from the Dominican dynamics similarthe Dominican to Mexico’s people prob- in the Domini- Some economists have said the ar- Republic, Rafael Chavez, was so em- lems from NAFTA.can Republic nor the people in the gument is false. The Mexican econo- phatic in his opposition to CAFTA, as “The governmentUnited willStates, do ”well, he said. but Low-wage jobs my is experiencing a 2.4% annual the pending pact on trade is known, the poor?” Mr.in ChavezNew York asked. will “Never, be lost to countries growth rate, which is often attributed that he almost fell off his wooden never, never.”where working conditions are worse to NAFTA. stool on St. Nicholas Avenue in Wash- Yet anotherand immigrant even abusive, from the he Do- argued. The message of growth from free- minican Republic, Osvaldo Leonard, high price,” he said. “We are going to flowing trade between countries is the ington Heights. “No, no, no,” Mr. who was eatingThe lunch basic across lesson the av-comes from NAF- sell the same product we are already message that the presidents of the six Chavez said, shaking his hands in the enue, was justTA as,M adamantr. Laranceunt that a more said. His‘We mother, think that CAFTA buying, at a cheaper price and a bet- Latin American countries included in air. The proposal to decrease sharply global-marketan approach immigrant would from lower the Dominicanwould Re- be good. But it ter quality.” the pact — besides the Dominican Re- barriers to trade between the United prices here andpublic, in thearrived Dominican in the Re- early 1960s and In fact, as the Washington Post republic, they are Costa Rica, El Sal- States and the Dominican Republic public, helpingraised the poor. four children on a job inneeds the Gar- to protect the ported this month, the agreement vador, Guatemala, Honduras, and and five Central American countries, “I am in fmentavor of District. free trade,” NAFTA, Mr. he rightssaid, drove of the workers, would have little effect on bodegas, Nicaragua — promoted on a joint trip Leonard said. “It will help the because America does not levy high to America last month. he said, would create negative trade campesino a greatjobs deal.”like that overseas. improve the salaries, tariffs on imports from the As part of the trip, Mr. Fernandez dynamics similar to Mexico’s prob- With PresidentSome Bush economists strongly back- have said the ar- Caribbean. About 80% of American visited the editorial room of El Di- lems from NAFTA. ing the agreement,gument it is is up false. to Congress The Mexicanand econo-the environment.’ imports from CAFTA countries al- ario/La Prensa to drum up support. “The government will do well, but to decide whethermy is CAFTAexperiencing becomes a 2.4% annual ready arrive without tariffs. The The next day the paper wrote an edi- the poor?” Mr. Chavez asked. “Never, law. It will beg arowth tough battle.Therate, which meas- is often attributed greater effect would be on American torial supporting the treaty. Noting never, never.” ure faces staunchto NAFTA. opposition on Capi- neur, Jose Fernandez. The president exports, many of which still face the impressive show of unity exhibit- Yet another immigrant from the Do- tol Hill, with DemocratsThe message opposing of growth it of thefrom Bodega free- Association of the Unit- steep tariffs in those countries. ed by the Latin American leaders, the mainly on human-rights and labor ed States, he has organized his 7,200 While Mr. Fernandez has worked to paper urged its readers to “support ERIN FITZSIMMONS minican Republic, Osvaldo Leonard, high price,” he said. “We are goinggrounds, to andflowing many trade Republicans between countriesmembers is to the send letters to Congress show Congress the community’s sup- the presidents on DR-CAFTA, writing PROGNOSTICATOR Lou Solomon, the Jets attorney in the West Side stadium legal who was eating lunch across the av- sell the same product we are alreadyswayed by powerfulmessage industry that the groups presidentsto show of the their six support for the meas- port, an international vice president that while it is an “imperfect propos- battle, says that the Jets will find a way to get a stadium built. enue, was just as adamant that a more ‘We think that CAFTA buying, at a cheaper price andlobbying a bet- againstLatin the American agreement. countriesure. included It will drive in down the price of im- for UNITE-Here, Wilfredo Larance- al,” they would defer to the leaders of global-market approach would lower would be good. But it ter quality.” In local Latinothe pact neighborhoods, — besides thethe Dominicanports, helping Re- New York City con- unt, has been organizing in favor of the those countries, who “see it as the prices here and in the Dominican Re- In fact, as the Washington debatePost re- is beingpublic, drawn they largely are along Costa sumers,Rica, El and Sal- will improve life for agri- treaty. UNITE-Here is a union of work- best deal they could negotiate for A Lawyer for the Jets Speaks Out public, helping the poor. needs to protect the ported this month, the agreement vador, Guatemala, Honduras, and their nations.” In Queens, an organizer of the Cen- “I am in favor of free trade,” Mr. rights of the workers, would have little effect on bodegas, Nicaragua — promoted on a joint trip tral American group Centro Hispano On the Status of a West Side Stadium Leonard said. “It will help the because America does not levy high to America last month. Cutlatcan, Eduardo Varonha, is not campesino a great deal.” improve the salaries, tariffs on imports from the As part of the trip, Mr. Fernandez convinced the leaders have the com- With President Bush strongly back- Caribbean. About 80% of American visited the editorial room of El Di- mon people in mind. After meetings A senior lawyer at Proskauer Rose, the state Public Authorities Con- ing the agreement, it is up to Congress and the environment.’ imports from CAFTA countries al- ario/La Prensa to drum up support. with unions, he said he realized the Lou Solomon, 49, is head of litigation trol Board’s failure to approve it to decide whether CAFTA becomes ready arrive without tariffs. The The next day the paper wrote an edi- pact would not help residents of his na- for the firm’s international practice last week, will these lawsuits be tive El Salvador. group and co-head of its antitrust and thrown out? law. It will be a tough battle.The meas- greater effect would be on American torial supporting the treaty.

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