CCJ Slams Barbados Electoral Authority
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FREE Vo l . 29, Is s u e 20 w w .caQUEENS/LONG r i b b e a n l i f e n SLAND/BRONX/MANHATTAN e w s .co m M a y 18 – M a y 24 , 20 18 ANTIGUA HIT BY SCANDAL Investment and trade minister resigns May 17 By Bert Wilkinson ibbean. Apart from Guyana, Trini- Prime Minister Gaston dad and Suriname, there are Browne had last October W ed at last few other countries in the Car- relieved Michael of his min- ibbean Community which are isterial position after British A fter w aiting 47 years, Mr. and Mrs. Dennis B ernard w alk d o w n the aisle as h usband perennially plagued by corrup- authorities had informed him and w ife. See story o n P ag e 20. P h o to by N elso n A . King tion scandals such as Antigua about an ongoing investigation and the latest one to hit the into allegations that he had island has triggered the resig- demanded bribes from British nation of one of its most high property tycoon Peter Virdee profile ministers. but Michael was reappointed CCJ slams Barbados electoral authority Businessman Asot Michael, after the ALP had won all but a longtime senior function- two seats in general elections By George Alleyne right of these persons to vote in are entitled to vote, once they ary in the governing Antigua in March. Michael was last year Attorneys for Common- this month’s elections. apply to be registered, the Elec- Labor Party (ALP) will resign briefly detained at London’s wealth citizens living in Bar- Following a recent High toral and Boundaries Commis- as investment and trade min- Heathrow Airport and ques- bados out-manoeuvred the Court and Appeals Court rul- sion (EBC) last week however ister on May 17 in the midst of tioned but was released and island’s electoral authority by ing that non-Barbadian citizens announced that its own inter- an international bribery scan- allowed to travel. getting an urgent appeal to the of the British Commonwealth pretation means it is not com- dal involving several police Saying he did not want to Caribbean Court of Justice and who were legally resident in pelled to register such persons jurisdictions-Germany, the further tarnish the name and within 48 hours winning the Barbados at least three years Continued on Page 8 United Kingdom and the Car- Continued on Page 8 $ % && ' ! "! #$ % ! ! " " # $# % ! " ! # & ! " ! # '())) $ * $ * & ' ( ) * ' ( !" # + * ! ! , - . 1 2 / 3 ! / ! 3 4 ! 5 #$ " ,/ 0 2 Caribbean Life, May 18–May 24, 2018 BQ Pa n e l o x a m i n e Ha i t i a n Di a s p o r a n d i s t o r y By Alexandra Simon The Brooklyn Historical Society is hosting a panel featuring two Haitian- American speakers who are going to dis- A ntig u a and B arbu d a P rim e Minis- cuss Haitian identity and history in obser- ter G aston B row ne w ith A m bassa- vation of Haitian Heritage Month on May d o r Franklyn K ing Frank-I” Fran- 23. The society is hosting the discussion cis. G o vernm ent of A ntig u a and B arbu d a “Celebrating Haitian History,” and bring- ing together journalist and founder of the Haitian Times, Garry Pierre-Pierre, and Antigua professor and scholar Dr. Carolle Charles. The pair will analyze how history between the United States and the island nation apologiz es to have led to how both countries are viewed today, said a program director. “They’re going to talk about the Rastafarian Diaspora, living here in Brooklyn, and how the history of the United States has impacted and shaped the way Haiti and community its people are viewed in America,” said Marcia Ely. Just months after President Trump By Nelson A. King allegedly made derogatory comments The government of Antigua and Bar- about Haiti and immigrants, which buda was expected Monday to formally quickly prompted reaction and protests apologize before the Organization of — and two months before the Tempo- American States (OAS) on discrimina- rary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians tion against the Rastafarian commu- expires in July — the head of state is nity, hoping to improve relations with sure to come up during the discussion. the religious group. And that subject is an opportune time “Ambassador to the United States to revisit and examine how the Haitian and the OAS, Sir Ronald Sanders, will community has had to grapple with simi- Jo urnalist and fo und er o f T h e H aitian T im es, G arry P ierre-P ierre w ill be a address the Permanent Council of the lar issues, added Ely. p anelist at Celebrating H aitian H istory” a d iscussio n abo ut H aitian his- OAS on Monday morning to advise that “There are a lot of misconceptions tory, id entity, and culture at the B ro o klyn H istorical So ciety o n May 23 . the Prime Minister of Antigua and Bar- about the Haitian communities here, and Laura F uchs buda, Gaston Browne, has apologized to the struggles they face here and at home the Rastafarian community for decades — and that strongly ties in with Haitian of discrimination against them,” said an identity,” she said. “Brooklyn has the larg- New York Times editorial,” she said. to be what it is. Antigua and Barbuda government state- est population of Haitians in the city, so One of the major topics to be discussed “I just hope people have a better ment on Saturday. we wanted to put together what we think is the United States occupation of Haiti understanding of the contributions “He will also inform the Council of is a great panel that can address that.” from 1915-1934, and Haitian immigra- Haiti made to the United States,” said other measures that the government The event will be moderated by Hai- tion to the states — particularly to New Garry Pierre-Pierre. “The Haitian Revo- has taken or intends to take to enhance tian-American comedian and writer Tan- York, said Garry Pierre-Pierre. lution had a huge impact on the Unit- the rights of Rastafarians who are a ael Joachim, and each will bring a set of “The occupation I believe — was a ed States because after Haiti defeated minority group in Antigua and Bar- different experiences and viewpoints that time that really shaped the relationship France, Napoleon’s need for money buda,” it added. encompass what it means to be Haitian, between Haiti and United States for the after the war is what led him to sell the The statement said Sanders’ report said Ely. worse and we’re going to briefly look at Louisiana Territory, which allowed the is in keeping with Inter-American “We have Carolle, who concentrates that invasion,” he said. “We’re also going United States to double in size and pave Democratic Charter of the OAS, which on Haitian society and Haitian immi- to take a look at migration from the late the way for westward expansion.” requires the elimination of all forms of grant communities, Gary, who is like 60s to present. It was a difficult time and “Celebrating Haitian History” discrimination and intolerance, as well the grandfather of Haitian press in the Haitians faced a lot of prejudice and rac- at Brooklyn Historical Society [128 as respect for cultural and religious city, and we’re having Tanael moderate ism to get where we are now.” Pierrepont St. between Clinton and diversity in the Americas, including the because he came to our attention for his Ely said the event will shed light on Henry streets in Brooklyn Heights, Caribbean. historical international relationships that www.brooklynhistoricalsociety.com, “Implementation of the Charter may be unknown to many, and allow (718) 222-4111]. May 23; 6:30-8pm. $5 requirement to eliminate discrimination visitors to learn about the Haitian expe- (Free for members.) and intolerance contributes to strength- rience. ening democracy and citizen participa- “It’s fascinating and important history. tion in all the 34 active member states of We hear about Haiti in the news regularly the OAS, and the Antigua and Barbuda and there has always been a lot of inter- government is proud to show its deep action with our government and Haiti,” commitment to the rights of all citi- she said. “But many people in Brooklyn zens,” Sanders said. might not realize that there’s a big Hai- He said Browne “readily agreed to tian community right here in our midst, his request to be joined on Monday by and this is an opportunity to learn about Ambassador Franklyn Francis, a leading our neighbors.” member of the Rastafari community, to Pierre-Pierre says without Haiti, the also address the OAS Permanent Coun- B aruch Co lleg e so cio log y p ro fes- history of the states would have had a dif- cil on the actions of the Antigua and so r and sch o lar D r. Caro lle Ch arles is ferent outcome and people should be well- H aitian-A m erican stand -up co m e- Barbuda government. also a p anelist. informed about the history that allowed it d ian Tanael Jo achim . BQ Caribbean Life, May 18–May 24, 2018 3 U pdated aily t w w .caribbeanlifenew s.com CARIBBEAN R OUNDUP T H E E W S R O M A C K O M E C a r i b b e a n The CARICOM and Commonwealth secretariats recently signed a new Mem- orandum of Understanding (MoU) to further strengthen cooperation between the two organizations.