CTAug2006.qxd 8/8/06 8:29 AM Page 1 PRESORTED AUGUST 2006 STANDARD ® U.S. POSTAGE PAID MIAMI, FL PERMIT NO. 7315 Tel: (305) 238-2868 1-800-605-7516 [email protected] We cover your world Vol. 17 No. 9 [email protected] Haiti’s former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune, who was jailed under the previous inter- im administra- tion, has finally been released from prison following an order by the More undocumented aliens, country’s Appeal Court, including thousands of Caribbean page 2. immigrants, will be squeezed out of America’s work force by a new U.S. Department of Homeland Security program urging employers not to hire them, page 2. Jason and Laura Henzell man- MAXIMUM EFFECT age “Jake’s”, the Jamaican seaside Treasure Beach resort ~ Singer Maxi of cotton candy-colored cot- Priest has more tages, which has become syn- than 20 years in the onymous with the best in inter- national literary arts, page 7. music business and many hits to match. His style, born from a combination of his Caribbean roots and international exposure, is hard to pin down, but he doesn’t mind at all, Two Caribbean-born boxers, page 17. O’Neil Bell, left, and Glen Johnson, are getting ready for more glory in the ring. Bell is looking to defend his world cruiserweight title, while Johnson wants to take back the light heavyweight crown, page 20. INSIDE News . 2 Lifestyle . .11 Arts/Entertainment . 17 Business . 22 Tourism/Travel . 7 Food . .12 Sport . 20 Back To School Feature . 23 Viewpoint . 9 Books . .16 Politics . 21 Region . 27 CTAug2006.qxd 8/8/06 8:29 AM Page 2 2 CARIBBEAN TODAY August 2006 www.caribbeantoday.com NEWS New push to squeeze illegal aliens out of U.S. work force GORDON WILLIAMS (ICE) arm will partner busi- accomplish greater industry Dahlia Walker-Huntington. However, if the new pro- nesses in a program that will compliance and corporate due “There is a lot of uncertain- gram forces them to comply panic wave set off ensure that employers weed diligence through enhanced ty…People are scared. with the rules of not hiring among undocumented out immigrants not legally federal training and education “(IMAGE) will clearly illegal immigrants, or face Aaliens in the United allowed to work in the U.S. of employers”. have an impact on the steep fines, the employers will States a few months ago, leav- The new program is called That proposed compli- Caribbean businesses…One have no choice but to cut ing thousands of Caribbean the ICE Mutual Agreement ance should do little to ease way or the other it is going to them from their payrolls. immigrants jittery and con- between Government and the prevailing tension existing have some “It’s the bottom line,” fused, could be further height- Employers (IMAGE), which, in the undocumented alien impact,” she said Tanya Ragbeer, president ened by a recent Department according to a press release Caribbean community, espe- added. of the Greater Caribbean of Homeland Security (DHS) issued by the DHS, “is designed cially after ICE’s recent According American Chamber of decision to intensify its push to build cooperative relation- announcement to increase its to Walker- Commerce (GCACC), which towards a legal American ships between government and efforts to round up illegal Huntington, lists some 150 Caribbean busi- work force. businesses to strengthen hiring immigrants on the job. many ness owners among its mem- The DHS last month practices and reduce the unlaw- “Months ago there was a Caribbean bership. announced that its Immigration ful employment of illegal aliens. wave of panic,” said Miami- business own- “If that is what the gov- and Customs Enforcement The initiative also seeks to based, Jamaican-born attorney ers tend to be Walker-Huntington ernment demands, then we as sympathetic a people are going to have to to the problems faced by ille- comply.” gal immigrants seeking According to Walker- employment. They also hire Huntington, when ICE them because they believe announced its stepped up ini- they can trust them more than tiative a few months ago, she others not from the region. was “flooded with calls” from people who did not know NO CHOICE (CONTINUED ON PAGE 4) Ex-Haiti P.M. Neptune released from prison PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, a small village near Port au CMC – Haiti’s former Prime Prince - on Feb. 11, 2004. Minister Yvon Neptune, jailed On leaving the prison, the under the previous interim 59-year-old former leader, who was on a (liquids only) hunger strike for the past 15 months, told journalists “the fight will continue” since there were still a number of other political prisoners in jail who should be released. “This is not exactly the way I wanted it to happen but the essential thing is that I am going to go, but the fight will continue,” he said. JOY As news of his release spread, scores of people took Neptune to the streets of Port au Prince to celebrate. Gonsalves told administration, was released the Caribbean Media from prison late last month Corporation he was overjoyed following an order by the that the former leader had country’s Appeal Court. His release has been welcomed by Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, who was one of the key leaders of the Caribbean pushing for Neptune to be let out of prison. On July 27, a frail Neptune was carried out the National Penitentiary by two United Nations soldiers who took him to a waiting ambulance which then transported him to a U.N. Aristide hospital to undergo medical checks. Neptune, who served as been freed. prime minister under former “I am overjoyed. He President Jean-Bertrand ought to have been released Aristide, was arrested and earlier and I am very pleased detained 25 months ago on to see that the democratic accusations he masterminded institutions are working in the what Aristide’s opponents call country…CARICOM as a a “massacre” in La Scierie - (CONTINUED ON PAGE 6) CTAug2006.qxd 8/8/06 8:29 AM Page 3 August 2006 CARIBBEAN TODAY 3 NEWS www.caribbeantoday.com U.S. revokes visa of Guyana’s top cop U.K. Privy GEORGETOWN, Guyana, been revoked, but in the ment,” Jagdeo said. CMC – Guyana’s President last two years it has taken a The U.S. Embassy also Council favors Bharrat Jagdeo has called on tough stance against nationals revoked the visa of former the United States Embassy suspected to be involved in the Home Affairs Minister Ronald embattled here to justify revoking the visa illegal drug trade. Two months Gajraj, who had been accused of acting Police Commissioner ago, the U.S. Embassy also can- of involvement in extra-judicial Henry Greene. celled Greene’s diplomatic visa. killings. But even though a T&T chief justice The U.S. embassy can- “Now if you revoked one Presidential Commission of celled Greene’s visitor’s visa on visa, why not revoke both at the Enquiry cleared him of any PETER RICHARDS July 21, the same day he was same time. If you were so con- wrongdoing, the U.S. govern- scheduled to take over from cerned about his involvement, ment refused to lift the travel PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, retiring Police Commissioner then all of his visas should have ban imposed on him. CMC – The London-based Winston Felix. been revoked at that time...I Jagdeo said the revocation Privy Council has ruled against “I find the timing very want answers,” Jagdeo said. of Greene’s visa would affect any immediate arrest of the strange because if there was In a statement last month, his credibility. embattled Trinidad and Tobago Chief Justice Satnarine Sharma this ongoing investigation it Greene denied any involve- Guyana’s acting Police Commissioner “It must. It must cast a should have been done much ment in the illegal drugs trade Henry Greene, left, has a chat with out- shadow because it leaves on a charge of attempting to earlier,” Jagdeo said. and expressed outrage that going Commissioner Winston Felix at a doubts in the minds of all pervert the course of public jus- Jagdeo reminded that attempts were being made to recent function. Guyanese and they (U.S.) have tice, even if the state gets the Greene “held some critical “besmirch my good character.” some obligation to all of us as Court of Appeal to overturn an the evidence of its claims public injunction preventing his arrest. positions,” including crime or even the reason for the visa a country to say, here are the chief and acting commissioner EVIDENCE reasons why we revoked the A statement issued late revocation, “since Greene has last month by the lawyers rep- of police on several occasions. Jagdeo said that his agreed to this. visa and we have provided evi- “So I find the timing very administration wanted evi- dence to your government and resenting the chief justice said “If we find there is evi- that the ruling goes into effect strange and I have asked the dence of Greene’s involvement dence of wrong doing, we will then shift it to us if we don’t U.S. government to provide us in illegal activities before it move on it,” he said. “immediately upon the deliv- remove him. If he is involved, ery of the said judgement of with specifics,” the president took any action. then there must be evidence “If they give us the evi- said. “We did not move against dence I am prepared to make the Court of Appeal”. of his involvement and they On July 27, the three- Felix based on rumors or any- should provide that to Mr.