African Canadian Legal Clinic Closes Premier Announces Media Fund
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
www.TheCaribbeanCamera.com April 5, 2018 ISSUE NO: 28/42 TEL: 416.412.2905 FAX: 416.412.3605 BARBUDA NOT FOR SALE Philman George (left) and Lori Beazer will join fellow Barbudans in Toronto to discuss a plan of action to stop the government of Prime Minister Gaston Browne (right) from changing the law to permit “outsiders” to purchase land in Barbuda. See story on Page 3 African Canadian Premier announces Grenada Legal clinic Media Fund Spicemas closes Page 2 Page 5 Page 8 www.thecaribbeancamera.com THE CARIBBEAN CAMERA Thursday, April 5, 2018 1 NEWS African Canadian Legal Clinic closed Up to yester- what by then was many in the Black day, the phone kept already known in the community say they are ringing at the Afri- community. puzzled by the decision can Canadian Legal "Yes, the clinic has of the Ontario gov- Clinic (ACLC) in closed down," she told ernment to withdraw Toronto. the Caribbean Camera. funding to the ACLC But no one was Earlier this year, and redirect the money there to take the calls. two Ontario govern- to a new organization. And no recorded ment ministries had As one well known message came on to let announced that they community activist callers know that the would cut their funding noted, " if the funders ACLC had finally closed for the ACLC which had a problem with its doors - effectively last year was the focus the board and man- shut down by the On- of considerable media community across the ues to be providing the it would withdraw agement of the clinic, tario government which attention after it was GTA." Black community and funding of the ACLC, those problems could withdrew its funding for alleged that the ACLC "The Ministry of Black youth with access effective September 30, have been resolved the more than 20 year board and management Children and Youth to the resources and 2017. without cutting off old community institu- had " engaged in finan- Services and the Min- supports they need to Every dollar of funding and effective- tion. cial mismanagement." istry of the Attorney succeed," it added. funding currently ly shutting down the Several months A joint statement General will be working The current service provided to ACLC will clinic which has been ago, many in Toron- from the Ministry of the closely with these agen- contract with ACLC be redirected to a new providing an important to's Black community, Attorney General and cies to help ensure there relating to the Attor- organization to provide service to the communi- angry about the funding the Ministry of Children is no gap in services ney General’s Direct dedicated services to ty for so many years." cut, said they expected and Youth Services said and that existing clients Accountability Program the Black community, Margaret Parsons, that the clinic would be that " the government experience a smooth (DAP) ended March 31 said a news release executive director of closed. has made the decision transition to other last. from the Ontario gov- the ACLC, could not be And yesterday one to transition funding to service providers," the Last August, Legal ernment. reached for commentl of the board members other community agen- statement noted. Aid Ontario (LAO) Incensed by the (See editorial on of the AFLC confirmed cies that serve the Black " Our goal contin- had announced that shutdown of the ACLC, Page 6) 2 THE CARIBBEAN CAMERA Thursday, April 5, 2018 www.thecaribbeancamera.com NEWS Barbudans in Toronto plan to take action over land issue Barbudans in Toronto are "hop- ping mad" over the decision by the government of An- tigua and Barbuda to make changes in the law that would permit "outsiders" to purchase land in Barbuda. They say that Gaston Browne Lori Beazer Philman George they and fellow Bar- budans "back home" ally" homeless. the legislation. lieved to be residing in were never consulted She explained that " Who is he pro- Canada, most of them by the government of following the islanders' tecting?" in the Greater Toronto Prime Minister Gas- emancipation from " He has got to Area. ton Browne over the slavery, the land they know that this is proposed repeal of the acquired was handed wrong. This is dirty 2007 Barbudan land down to their descen- politics," she re- reform Act. dants and has been marked. And they are con- communally owned Philman George, cerned that the Browne since then. also known as the government, back in When Barbuda Rhyming Chef, who power after the recent gained its independence hails from Barbuda, general elections in from Britain in 1981, also expressed his which his ruling Anti- the custom survived, concern about the gua Labour Party won and was enshrined in land situation. 15 of the 17 seats in the 2007 land act which He told the Parliament, would now prevented the purchase Caribbean Camera be pushing "full speed of land by outsiders . he grew up with the ahead" with changes in But on September understanding that the land reform legis- 11 last, Browne an- he had "the right to lation. nounced that he wanted land which he owns A group of Barbu- to reform the law so in Barbuda. dans plans to hold a that communal land "I went back to meeting shortly to dis- be turned into freehold Barbuda and went cuss what action should territory, to be bought through the proper be taken " to stop the and sold. He also wants steps of securing my Browne government in to change the definition land. Now I am won- its tracks" on the land of a Barbudan, so that dering if that land is issue. anyone who can claim still mine. Lori Beazer, a “residency” can buy and "I don't know longtime resident of sell land . because the land Toronto, is actively in- Parliament had its Act is very confusing volved in planning the first reading of The Bar- the way it's written. meeting. buda Land Amendment You not really sure In an interview with Bill of 2017 on Decem- if you have access or the Caribbean Camera, ber 12 last. not and how things Beazer who said she Beazer said she are really going to owns three houses in would like to ask Prime change." Barbuda , now describes Minister Browne who More than 2,000 herself as "generation- is asking him to repeal Barbudans are be- www.thecaribbeancamera.com THE CARIBBEAN CAMERA Thursday, April 5, 2018 3 NEWS Jeffers calls for plan to deal with anti-Black racism in the workplace community proac- chaired by Arlene Commissioner with as the Ku Klux Klan tivist, wrote a letter Wallace, was called to the OHRC, to discuss (KKK). to Ontario Premier discuss the problem of the proposed oversight In his letter to Kathleen Wynne calling anti-Black racism in the board. the Premier, Jeffers for the establishment workplace In an interview had made reference to of a civilian oversight " I recently con- with the Caribbean several cases of persons Board of the Human tacted the office of the Camera last December, who were affected by Rights Commission Premier and was told Mandhane had said the "racism in the work- (OHRC) with a standing a reply to my letter was OHRC already has civil- place. sub-committee to ad- sent out but to date I ian oversight through Noting the im- dress anti-Black racism have not received it," part-time Commission- pact of workers being issues. Jeffers said. ers appointed by the “victimized, harassed Kenneth Jeffers Arlene Wallace He still has not But he is not pre- Lieutenant Governor. and humiliated,” Jeffers received a reply to his pared to just sit and But she said that had said that few peo- letter, Jeffers told a wait on a reply from Jeffer’s concerns about ple would know “of the In an interview af- ore than five meeting of the Expose Wynne, he said. Anti-Black racism are domino effect on family ter the meeting, Jeffers months ago, Toronto Committee at Since he sent the "serious matters and and friends when their explained why he felt it Kenneth the Edithvale communi- letter to Wynne, Jeffers deserve serious consid- mental health becomes M was necessary to make Jeffers, a member of the ty centre last Thursday along with lawyer eration." severely challenged.” representation directly Toronto Police Service evening. Knia Singh met with Several persons at Jeffers told the CR-Share Ad-Indra+Justin_CR-Share Ad-Indra+Justin 12/21/17 4:58 PM Page 1 to Premier Wynne. Board and longtime The meeting, Renu Mandhane, Chief the meeting affected meeting that a plan has "We need legislative by the problem spoke to be drawn up to deal change and as head of about their experienc- with the problem . the provincial govern- Our spacious, elegant facilities es. And part of that ment, Premier Wynne One of them who plan is to publicize as offer families beautiful chapels, visitation suites is in a position to bring was a member of widely as possible the this about," and reception lounges with ample parking. staff in the in the City problems which many "It's not enough of Toronto, said he in the black community just to march on the were traumatized by face in the workplace street to bring about the presence of three both in the private and change," he remarked. custodial staff dressed public sector. Indra Seelal-Crichton Justin Carmichael Funeral Counsellor Licensed Funeral Director 647-704-2820 416-668-0818 [email protected] [email protected] 905-305-8508 www.chapelridgefh.com 8911 Woodbine Avenue, Markham • 737 Dundas Street East, Mississauga Beautiful Facilities, Fair Prices and Unparalleled Service.