CARIBBEAN TODAY


F nT U R 6


LWW-crbbatoa.co


U.S. Census 2010 holds key to welfare of Caribbean Americans


 DAWN A. DAVIS
Are Caribbean-born
 immigrants moving
 out of Dade and
Broward, the two South
Florida counties with tradi-
tionally the highest concentra-
tion of those from the region?
 According to the latest
United States Census Bureau
estimates, this seems to be the
trend.
 A three-year comparison
of social characteristics of
Miami-Dade County shows a
slight decline in residents with
West Indian ancestry.
Specifically, out of an estimat-
ed total population of 2.4 mil-
lion for 2006, 2007, and 2008,
West Indians accounted for
7.3 percent of the total for
2006 and 2007. However, by
2008 that number declined to
7.1 percent.
 More significantly, howev-
er, the Caribbean population
in Broward County shows the
higher downward trend. Over
the three years (2006-2008)
the numbers have dropped
steadily. Of the total 1.8 mil-
lion residents in the county,
the Caribbean population was
estimated at 12.8 percent for
2006, 12.6 percent for 2007
and 12 percent for 2008.
These numbers reflect a
notable drop for a population
that had been on the rise for
the past 10 years.
 However, this trend does


not only apply to West Indian
residents, but foreign immi-
grants in general. The data
also show some decline in for-
eign residents across the coun-
try.
 It appears foreigners are
either returning home or mov-
ing to other parts of the U.S.
And, while there is specula-
tion as to why, there are no
definitive answers. A casual
survey of several
Caribbean-born
South Florida
residents
revealed that
some have relo-
cated to, or are in
the process of,
moving to areas
such as Atlanta,
New York and
the Carolinas in
search of cheaper The Statue of L
housing, higher dom in the U.S.
paying jobs and learedtoembi
lower cost of living. Others
are returning to the Caribbean
for various reasons, including
economic hardships.

MARKETING
 But, no matter where eth-
nic populations reside, the
U.S. federal government is
pulling out all the stops to
ensure more citizens and resi-
dents participate in the 2010
Census. Besides being much
shorter than past surveys,
there is a big marketing push
to reach immigrant popula-


tions and undocumented resi-
dents, groups that historically
have not responded well to
the census.
 With hundreds of billions
of dollars at stake, and con-
gressional representation for
states with residents correctly
documented through the cen-
sus, local and national officials
are partnering with the U.S.
Census Bureau to get their
 residents
 counted.


 File photograph
liberty is a symbol of the free-
Caribbean immigrants have
race.
 The U.S. Census
 2010 website
 makes it clear.
 "Census data _
 directly affect how
 more than $400
 billion per year in -
 federal and state
 funding is allocat- The 2010 cen
 ed to communities stand and be
 for neighborhood
 improvements, public health,
 education, transportation and
 much more", the website
 explains. "That's more than $4
 trillion over a 10-year period.


Spending just a few minutes to
fill out your census form will
help ensure your community
gets its fair share of federal
and state funding".
 A voice for immigrant
rights, Cao Anh Quan, chair-
man of the Refugee Advisory
Council in the State of
Florida, in a recent address to
the Census 2010 Refugee &
Immigrant Committee put it
this way:
 "Now more than ever, our


 File photograph
nsus offers Caribbean immigrants a chance to
counted in the U.S.

 country needs us. Now more
 than ever, we the people are
 its government. Now more
 than ever, we have traveled
 too far not to overcome. Let's


go count our people. Let's
commit to each other to begin
this journey as a part of the
Brotherhood of all nations".

FEDERAL AID
 Florida, with its large eth-
nic population, including
Caribbean nationals and
Latinos, could pick up much
needed federal funding if all
its residents are included in
next year's census. Aware of
this, the Census Bureau has
already started its push.
Bureau personnel met with
ethnic media recently in a bid
to reach those with historically
low response rates. As such,
readers, bloggers, viewers of
media such as El Nuevo
Herald, El Sentinel,
Caribbean Today, Telemundo,
Facebook and Twitter are
expected to reflect informa-
tion about the census.
 With only 10 questions,
and thus more ut, r-friendly",
the census appears less intimi-
dating than in the past. And,
immigrant advocacy groups
are pleased that Question 9
allows individuals to specify
nationality. Specifically, race
must be selected, but there is
also room to include nationali-
ty, for example Jamaican,
Trinidadian or Guyanese.
 But New York-based
immigration attorney Joan
Pinnock, in her presentation to
delegates at the recent
(CONTINUED ON PAGE 12)


Ex-commissioner joins Bermuda's ruling party, hopes to break color barrier


 IVAN CLIFFORD

HAMILTON, Bermuda, -
Saying it is time for
Bermudians to play their
part in breaking down racial
barriers, former Police
Commissioner Jonathan
Smith has joined the predomi-
nantly black Progressive
Labour Party (PLP) that has
been in power for 11 years.
 Smith, who is white and
the brother of former
Education Minister Tim
Smith, said he refuses to be
corralled "into a political
camp because of the legacy
Bermuda has had."
 The former education
minister in the United
Bermuda Party (UBP) gov-
ernment, in reacting to his
brother's decision to joining
the ruling party, said "sadly,
we have historically defined
people by which political
party they join. This is as
much the fault of individual
biases as it is legacy of both
the UBP and PLP.
 "It will be refreshing
when we can define political
parties around how we expect
them to govern. If he can help


by making the PLP govern-
ment more accountable, trans-
parent and responsive, then
Bermuda should be the better
for it.
 "While I might not share
the same political affiliation, I


Smith


am hopeful he can have a pos-
itive impact. It will certainly
make for more interesting
political debates around the
family dinner table," he
added.

BERMUDA'S WALL
 Smith joined the PLP in
August after previously turn-
ing down requests to join both
the ruling party and the main
opposition United Bermuda


Party (UBP).
 "Bermuda is a better
place when the status quo is
challenged," he said. "Race
has been Bermuda's Berlin
Wall. Some choose to sit on
the wall; some cower behind
it; some hold it up. I'm con-
vinced that the majority of


Bermudians have chosen to
knock it down.
 "In knocking it down, all
must play a part in building
the foundation for the future.
We simply cannot keep doing
things the way we have always
done."


said that he believes future
generations of black and white
Bermudians dL, r\ L so much
more than the legacy of what
we've been left.
 "It's up to all of us to play
our part, to forge that way for-


The former top policeman (CONTINUED ON PAGE 12)



IjS ,, ,_ \ Souti Florinda's Public Radio Stion


WYou can take a vacation in the islands overnight
 courtesy of Sounds of the Caribbean. You'll hear
* every variety of Caribbean music from Reggae and
 Calypso to Soca, Dance Hall, Steel Pan and more,
from its earliest roots to the most contemporary hits.
 So, tune in with your favorite hosts "Rass" David
 Reuter, Jeanette "the Dutchess" Drew and Richard
 "Richie Rich" Davis.
 Tuesday through Fridays, lam 5am :- ..
 Saturday, 1 am 7am .. :
 Sunday, midnight 6am ---:
 :::


December 2009