"Currently the districts only dilute the voting strength of Haitian-Americans," he said. "If the county does not increase the number of seats, the chances are that within the next 10 years you will see a Haitian American and an African American fighting for the same seat," he said. "This would cause deep ethnic division. And we already have enough ethnic division." "In the past Commissioner Gwen Margolis has supported the idea in principal. And Commissioner Dorrin Rolle has questioned the timing of it," he said.
The recent push to add a seat to the Miami-Dade County Commission for Haitian Americans should be lauded. However, the proposal made by a coalition of Haitian Americans should to be researched and analyzed more. The proposal just may tip the balance of power away from the Black community it intends to help. In December the Haitian American Grassroots Coalition proposed the charter amendment aimed at carving out two new districts -- one for Haitian Americans and the other for hispanics. The group's proposal would increase the number of commissioners from 13 to 15.
I am not sure what the reasons why "the arena on Vezina" was left empty on Carifiesta weekend while fans of Caribbean culture had to travel all the way to the West Island from place as far as the South Shore, Cote des Neiges, and La Salle to get a taste of Machel, Tall Pree, Traffik, and others. And perhaps the reasons are really not that important. The CCFA, as public trustees, are in no position to allow private and personal issues to get in the way of denying its use to anyone who wishes to use it for the benefit and promotion of Caribbean culture (save for the fact that they might cause material damages for which the CCFA might be held liable). given the fact that the CCFA is in no position to organize expensive parties (because of current and past financial losses) the next best thing would be to allow private individuals that opportunity. This is something which has been done in the past with some kind of honoraria going to the CCFA.
