A delegation of South Florida Caribbean leaders attended the 11th Annual Legislative Conference sponsored by the Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS) June 24-26 in Washington, D.C. The group, which included [Hazelle Rogers], State Rep. Yolley Roberson, Councilman Aster Knight, North Miami City Clerk Alix Desulme, attorney Marlon Hill, Hulbert James, Roxanne Valies, and Maria Kong, also attended a White House census briefing that focused on Question 8 and 9. James, chair of the South Florida census committee, was selected as one of three national co-chairs of the National Caribbean Community Census Committee.
The Clarke bill calls for all questionnaires "used in the taking of any decennial census of the U.S. population, to include a checkbox or other similar option so that respondents may indicate Caribbean extraction or descent". "In conducting the 2010 decennial census and every decennial census thereafter, the Secretary of Commerce shall include, in any questionnaire distributed or otherwise used for the purpose of determining the total population by states, a checkbox or other similar option by which respondents may indicate Caribbean extraction or descent", states the bill. [Felicia Persaud] said the Clarke bill gives the Caribbean community renewed impetus to ensure they lobby around this cause and most importantly, fill out and return the 2010 Census form, especially by writing in their country of origin under Question 8. The origin's category is not an ethnic category so this will not divide the black or Asian or any other ethnic group that may perceive this as a 'divide and rule' strategy, Persaud added.
