Scammers at Work, Haitians beware of the TPS Rip-off Artists
Unscrupulous!

That's the best description of the scammers who believe that the tragedy in Haiti, the deaths of an estimated 200,000 and the widespread destruction of most of Port-au-Prince was a golden opportunity to rip-off those Haitians in the United States traumatized by the tragedy which has befallen their birthplace.

As soon as the Obama Administration announced that it was granting Temporary Protected Status, TPS, to thousands of Haitians in the United States, a move that offers the immigrants a reprieve from deportation, the tricksters moved in. They began a campaign to get those eligible to apply for the concession to pay as much as $2,000 to complete an application process that involves following some simple procedures and filling out a form.

What a shame!

Within a week of the earthquake, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it was granting the long-sought TPS to Haitians so they can remain in the United States legally, with the right to work. It made eminent sense to give it to them. Sending Haitians whose only infraction of the law was overstaying their allotted time in the country would have compounded the tragedy. The Caribbean nation is in a terrible state. Its economy has come to a standstill, the government was thrown off its stride and ability to run the country and food, water and medicines are in short supply.

Deporting the hardworking, law-abiding immigrants to a place where people are being buried in mass graves to avoid a health crisis and where jobs have simply disappeared because of the widespread earthquake damage would have been asking them to bear an unconscionable and traumatic burden.

But it didn't take fraudsters long to come up with a nefarious scheme to take money from grieving people whose only hope now lies in their ability to live and work in the United States and be able to send money to relatives who wish to rebuild their lives.

That's why we welcome the steps being taken by several elected officials, including Congressional representatives Charles Rangel, Gregory Meeks of Queens, and Yvette Clarke of Brooklyn to mount an extensive program of information sharing about the application process and even free legal clinics designed to help Haitians through the process.

Here are some things Haitians who are eligible for TPS should know:

• After information about TPS has been published in the Federal Register and it the law of the land, Haitians have 180 days in which to apply.

• The procedure is simple and straightforward and lawyers, immigration specialists and others would be ripping off the unsuspecting and vulnerable folks by demanding a hefty fee for filling out a form.

• The so-called immigration intermediaries will be unable to fulfill their promises of getting quick and easy approval of applications because they know some people at the Citizenship and Immigration Bureau, to grease the wheels of the process, if you will.

• There are far too many offers of free assistance from reputable organizations in and out of New York City, Miami and elsewhere in the country for people to fall for the scam.

• TPS will run out in 18 months in the first instance but it can be extended by the executive branch by the government when the time comes.

• There are two fees payable to the federal government, one for $50 and the other $350 to get the application process completed. Anything more than that is a rip-off, pure and simple.

• Those eligible for TPS must have been in the United States on January 12, the day of the earthquake.

Clearly, though, TPS should have been granted to Haitians a long time ago, years. Congressman Alcee Hastings of Florida introduced bills in the House of Representatives on two occasions to prod the Bush administrating into action. But it never happened. It took the awful wreckage of the Haitian capital and the stench of death everywhere to convince the Obama White House to move on it promptly. In the process, though President Barack Obama acted wisely after the earthquake to ease the pain and the anxiety of Haitians and others in the U.S. adversely affected by the act of nature on January 12th.

For that we say thanks not only to Obama and Janet Napolitano, the Secretary of Homeland Security, but to the Congressional Black Caucus and newly appointed U.S. senator from New York who quickly seized on the opportunity to correct an obvious miscarriage of justice. If Nicaraguans can benefit from TPS why not Haitians? That was the perplexing question which went un answered for years. In the meantime, Haitians must be on the look out for the scammers who will come to you offering what they will say is a helping hand but which is really an opportunity to steal your money.

In short, don't listen to their offers and don't pay them the fees they request.

 

Rebuilding Haiti, the Task ahead for the International Community
“The colossal work of reconstruction.”

The apt words of Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive painted a graphic but realistic picture in Montreal of the task ahead now that the international community is moving with alacrity to the next level to help his country in the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12th. First, it was the rescuing of victims trapped in the rubble of buildings in Port-au-Prince. Next it was the relief effort to tend to the injured, homeless and the hungry.

Now, it’s time to think about reconstruction, a task that will require the strength and the commitment of the entire international community, including the United States, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and other regions of the world. It’s not simply the responsibility of rich nations. In a sense it demands all hands on deck.

For as Bellerive told participants in an international conference in the Canadian City on Monday, “in 30 seconds, we lost nearly 60 per cent of our gross national product because all of Haiti's resources were concentrated in a small area around our seat of government.We have to decentralize. It’s the only way to avoid the same problem happening in Haiti again.” The conference attended by representatives from Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, Latin America and other parts of the world are a key step in the process of rebuilding the shattered country. Just as important, the presence of representatives from the Caribbean, especially P.J. Patterson, a former Prime Minister of Jamaica, who is speaking for Caricom and officials of Haiti's neighbor, the Dominican republic on the international coordinating committee responsible for arranging an international conference in the DR sends a strong signal that the rebuilding of Haiti must be a global effort and not one simply for donors to sit and decide on their own the shape, form and progress of the reconstruction effort. The decision to appoint Patterson, a former Chairman of Caricom as the region’s representative on the panel is an excellent choice. It was made, appropriately enough after a number of Caricom prime ministers – Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica, the current Caricom chairman; Patrick manning of Trinidad and Tobago, David Thompson of Barbados, Hubert Ingraham of the Bahamas, and Bruce Golding of Jamaica were consulted. It reflects the region’s confidence in the former Jamaican leader whose commitment to the development of Haiti and to regionalism stands without question.

Sitting on this vital panel are representatives of key countries and among them are the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, the European Union, the Rio group, the Organization of American States and the Inter-American Development bank. The old saying, “to whom much is given, much is expected,” is relevant to the panel. The Committee’s responsibility and the massive reconstruction which Stephen Harper, Canada's Prime Minister correctly estimated could take at least a decade is awesome.

“It was not an exaggeration to say that at least 10 years of hard work awaits the world in Haiti,” Harper told the international leaders gathered in Montreal. “We must work to ensure that every resource committed, every relief worker, every vehicle, every dollar is used as effectively as possible.”

That's true. But what's also a fact is that Haiti must be at the center of the development strategy, meaning it can’t be shunted aside by the U.S., France, Canada and other rich countries which are expected to donate much of the money.

That's why when the Coordinating Committee designates a working group to draft a strategic plan for the reconstruction that Haiti and the Caribbean must have front row seats and Haiti and the Dominican Republic a strong hand. We believe that Patterson will seek to ensure that the place at the table for the region is guaranteed.

Haiti has a plethora of skills at home and abroad from which it can draw in the preparation of the development strategy and its implementation. The same holds true for the rest of the Caribbean region.

Haiti has been ruthlessly brutalized in the past by both France and the United States. France, the former colonial master which Haitian revolutionaries defeated to gain independence more than 200 years can’t be allowed to dominate the reconstruction. After all, its unconscionable demand for reparations from the country after it achieved its independence in the early 19th century hasn't been forgotten. The United States which helped France to collect the reparations by taking over the Caribbean nation in the 1920s has a moral obligation to ensure that the fairness which it abandoned almost 90 years ago to press France’s claim doesn't suffer a similar fate this time around.

What's really needed is a Marshall Plan for Haiti, one that takes conditions in Haiti, the Dominican Republic and the rest of the Caribbean into consideration. Of course, Haiti and its people must be the priority, no questions asked.

 

To Be Equal
Help Haiti Now

By Marc H. Morial

(NNPA) - My faith in the essential goodness of the American people and our government has been strengthened as I have witnessed the extraordinary mobilization of relief efforts on behalf of the nation of Haiti following the devastating January 12 earthquake that has taken the lives of perhaps as many as 100,000 or more of its citizens.

As I watch the screaming, tear-stained scenes of death and anguish unfolding on the nightly news, I cannot help but recall that only five years ago, my own hometown of New Orleans might have disappeared into the abyss of forgotten history were it not for the compassionate outreach of millions of people in this country and around the world. As President Obama said, it is times like these that remind us of our common humanity. But, as governments, the United Nations, and relief organizations scramble to rescue an already distressed nation from a crisis of biblical proportions, there is still a desperate need for all of us to donate whatever dollars, supplies and expertise we can. As in New Orleans, this tragedy also challenges the United States and other countries to change long-standing policies that have contributed to Haiti's status as the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. But, first things first.

As recovery and relief efforts intensify, we recommend the following:

It is clear that right now, cash donations are the best way to help. We are urging everyone to donate to the Haiti Support Project's Haiti Relief Fund at www.ibw21.org. Headed by noted political scientist and scholar, Dr. Ron Daniel's, IBW, or the Institute of the Black World 21st Century, is committed to an enhanced quality of life and the overall development of Black people and the Global Black Community. The group's Haitian Support Project provides humanitarian and economic assistance to Haitian nongovernmental organizations seeking to ameliorate the dire conditions of the Haitian people, most of whom live on less than $2 dollars a day. You can also go to www.whitehouse.gov/Haiti Earthquake to choose another organization to contribute to.

While we applaud President Obama's swift response and commitment of $100 million in immediate emergency relief, we urge the government to take further steps to rectify years of U.S. trade and immigration embargoes that have had adverse consequences for the people of Haiti. We are pleased that, in the wake of this disaster, the Obama Administration has halted deportations and has granted Temporary Protected status to 100,000 Haitian nationals who, prior to January 12, 2010, have been living in the United States illegally. This will allow them to continue living and working here for the next 18 months.

For years, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), the IBW and others have been fighting for more aid and engagement with Haiti. CBC Chairwoman Barbara Lee has made an impassioned plea that we take this opportunity to bring more of those efforts to fruition. We agree. In our view, the United States has both a moral and political obligation to lead a comprehensive plan for the reconstruction of Haiti, like the Marshall Plan, to ensure that the physical infrastructure and human lives are permanently rebuilt.

Marc Morial is President and CEO of the National Urban League.

 

Haiti is Crying Out for Help

By Rev. Al Sharpton

(NNPA) In 1964, the world honored the greatest civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., with the Nobel Peace Prize for having contributed the most to the furtherance of peace among men. He was - and is - upheld to the highest standards of dignity, humanity, strength and philanthropy. Always on the side of the down trodden, and diligently working to empower the disenfranchised, MLK dedicated his life to assisting those who were the most fragile among us. As a student of this impeccable human being’s teachings, I can think of no better way to honor him than to help the most delicate among us at this very moment – the citizens of Haiti. Words simply cannot articulate the depth of despair and human suffering taking place in our neighbor to the South. Haiti, already ranked as the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere with extreme poverty, lack of adequate education, crumbling infrastructure and imposed economic sanctions, is now on the verge of a severe catastrophe. As far back as two years ago, we witnessed reports of families being forced to eat mud pies and mud cookies due to scarcity of food and rising inflation. This most recent global economic crisis only exacerbated the situation, and now after a 7.0 earthquake, we cannot even fathom the extent of anguish transpiring. Haiti has a unique history that is surprisingly very closely linked to our own. It became the world’s first Black-led Republic, and the first independent Caribbean state when it overthrew its French colonizers in the 19th century. The U.S. shares a special relationship with the nation, for Haitian troops fought in the crucial battle of Savannah in the American Revolution, and the Louisiana Purchase would have never taken place were it not for the defeat of the French in the Caribbean. We unequivocally owe a debt of gratitude to Haiti for our mere existence. So as its people struggle to survive, search for loved ones, seek food, look for shelter and eventually rebuild, we must – we must – be there every step of the way. Without the support of the Haitians there would be no us; without our support now, the rich cultural heritage of the Haitian people will forever be lost in a cloud of human despair and frailty. Centuries of poverty, violence and natural disaster plagued Haiti. It’s biggest underlying social issue - the disparity between the impoverished Creole-speaking Black majority and the French-speaking minority - remains largely unaddressed. And the sheer fact that 1% of this French minority owns nearly half of the country’s wealth is beyond troubling and unjust. But before we even begin to tackle these complex social issues, we must first save the people, the culture, the livelihood of Haiti. Port au- Prince, Haiti's capital, suffered the brunt of this devastating earthquake. A bustling city with millions of residents that encompass both the extremely destitute and the well off, are now crying out for the world’s help. The city itself, where even the President’s palace wasn’t spared destruction, is comprised of a large population of young people (some estimates say nearly 40%- 50%) who need immediate assistance today – and tomorrow. The ripple effects of this natural disaster are yet to be witnessed, as much of the island nation depends heavily on Port-au-Prince for its sustainability. I commend President Obama for pledging $100 million in aid and the physical support of our troops to our Caribbean neighbor. The outpouring of money and relief pledges worldwide is a positive, motivating sign indeed. But the breath and depth of destruction is beyond human comprehension, and we must work to ensure that such aid reaches those who need it the most. We must continue our efforts in the days, weeks, months and even years as time passes by, for the need will continue beyond today. And we must act swiftly, thoroughly and without delay. I myself pledge to do my best to assist Haiti and our Haitian brothers and sisters - for I know that our greatest civil rights leader would have wanted us all to do just that.

 

Construction Begins on King National Memorial at the Mall

By Karen Brundidge
Contributing Writer NNPA

For 13 years, Ed Jackson has been steeped in a struggle to make a dream come true. He is chief architect for the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the Northeast side of the Tidal Basin lining up with the Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson memorials.

President Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. President Lincoln saved the Union and signed the Emancipation Pro - clamation. Scholars credit King with providing the road map for all Americans to realize the ideals of equality and justice.

“For me, I am still holding my breath, Jackson said. “I can’t exhale until we have the final dedication.”

The memorial, scheduled to open next year, would be the first to honor a Black man on the National Mall. It will cost $120 million, only $13 million of which remains to be raised.

“We hope people continue to help support the memorial to complete the dream,” said Dina Curtis, director of the memorial project. Anyone can make a donation by going to www.buildthedream.org or calling 1- 888-4-THE-DREAM.

It’s a dream 26-year-old DC resident Ebony Jackson has also been waiting for. Jackson is an employee of a tourist shop near the site of the King Memorial. She knows that many civil rights icons contributed to the movement, but she is glad that Dr. King is having his statue built where every American and tourist can see it.

“Now kids will say I've seen Jefferson, Lincoln, and now we finally get to see Dr. Martin Luther King,” Jackson said. “I am excited that he will have a place on the mall.” People working on the project are excited, too, anticipating that this will bring people together even more.

“I think the memorial is significant. It says that Dr. King belongs to us all; he advocated nonviolence to achieve social change. And that affects all cultures and all people,” said Dina Curtis, among the project workers.

Preparation for construction began just before Christmas, but a wooden fence blocking off the construction trailers on Independence Avenue is the only sign that construction has began. In the next few weeks, people driving by can expect to see big earth zoning equipment, cement, and to hear the familiar sounds of bulldozers going to work.

When finished, the three-acre memorial will feature a 28-foot-tall statue of King with his arms folded across his chest. According to the memorial project’s website, natural elements water, stone, and trees are used to underscore the themes of justice, democracy, and hope. Large majestic trees like pine, oak and magnolias will exhibit seasonal change and annual growth.

It was about 20 years ago when six men were sitting around a kitchen table in Silver Spring, Md., discussing the possibility of a memorial the civil rights icon. These men were members of Alpha Phi Alpha and they thought that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who belonged to the same fraternity, should have a revered place on the National Mall, just as he did in history. They headed to Capitol Hill to try to lobby legislators to support their idea. In 1996, Congress passed a bill authorizing a King monument on the Mall. The National Capital Planning Committee approved the site in 1999. But it took the memorial foundation 13 years of intense fundraising effort to raise most of the $130 million needed to construct the memorial and to break ground.

Last weekend, several young people braved sub-zero temperatures at the Mall to peak at the site where their hero will be in majestic display a year from now. They were touched, they said. Fifteen-year-old Charles Hall said he would work hard to fight stereotypes of young Black youth. He wants to keep the legacy alive by focusing on education.

“I've been staying on top on my grades to make sure that I don't kill the dream,” he said. On January 18, Metro DC will be honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in a variety of ways, including a “day on,” instead of a “day off.” Many will be volunteering and working in their communities, instead of just sitting at home watching television or playing video games. Volunteerism on MLK day is the appropriate spirit of the day, they said.

“We all need each other, and it shows the patriotism, love, and appreciation for him,” said 35-year-old Amadu Cham from Maryland. “It is not about one race over another. We are all brothers and sisters; we are all one people.”