Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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Miami Herald - Friday, July 16, 2004
Ashley Fantz, afantz@herald.com
Officials from about 25 Latin American and Caribbean nations gathered with Broward leaders in Tamarac to take small steps toward enhancing economic exchange between Broward's diverse communities and residents' home countries.
"The communities tend to keep to themselves, isolate themselves in neighborhoods specific to Brazilians or Haitians or whatever. They meet at their local barbershops or grocery stores," said Delbert White, the owner of a small technology firm in Fort Lauderdale.
A 30-year resident of Broward, White is originally from Barbados.
He said that creating a forum to unite the groups is not as simple as, say, designing a website or creating an online forum for comments and suggestions.
In a war-on-terror climate, he noted, "A lot of people who are new to the country don't want to register their name on any website for fear the government could use it."
Those cultural obstacles must be conquered before the focus can turn to transportation, telecommunication, tourism, and trade. But some specifics were discussed on Thursday.
Commissioner John Billingsley Jr. of Lauderdale Lakes, which hosted the event, said the North Broward Hospital District has expressed interest in working on a plan to deliver HIV medicines to areas such as Haiti. Also, Nova Southeastern University, known for its international law and international relations courses, expressed interest in placing satellite schools in Central and South America.
Other ideas were discussed, including a Broward trade show to showcase goods that could be traded wholesale.
The only practical measure to come out of Thursday's meeting was from the Broward County Commission, which said it will provide office space at Port Everglades this fall for consul generals' business associates.
"I don't think anyone expected to do anything more than talk to each other here," said Marie Brea Hippolite, owner of a loan management business in Fort Lauderdale.
From Haiti, Hippolite said she remembers moving to Pembroke Pines a decade ago and realizing she was the only Haitian on her block.
"Now you can't go two feet without seeing someone who is from another country," she said.
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