16048: (Hermantin) Sun-Sentinel-Haitian leaders swap accusations (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Haitian leaders swap accusations

By Leon Fooksman
Staff Writer
Posted June 28 2003

DELRAY BEACH · A dispute between the Haitian American Community Council and
the agency's former deputy director has boiled over, going from the radio
airwaves to the Police Department.

Sharon Hogarth, a consultant for the council, filed a police report Thursday
in Delray Beach, claiming former employee Karlie Richardson called and
threatened the staff. Richardson filed her own complaint Wednesday, with
Boynton Beach police, saying that Daniella Henry, the council's executive
director, will harm her "physically in the future" as a result of Richardson
having "political issues" with Henry.

The two sides traded barbs in separate appearances on a Haitian radio
program following Richardson's departure from the agency last month.

Richardson was terminated for misconduct and threatening Henry, said board
member and attorney Willie Jones. Richardson who said she was having
problems with Henry, was ordered to take several days off and never told to
return.

The dispute comes as the council is under scrutiny from three of its four
government backers.

Palm Beach County and Children Services Council of Palm Beach County found
potential conflict-of-interest issues and problems with administrative
oversight. The city of West Palm Beach is investigating whether managers in
the Delray Beach-based agency have steered AIDS clients toward landlords
with ties to the Haitian Council.

Board member Barry Silver resigned Friday, saying he "didn't have the time
to wade through all this." Silver, a Boca Raton attorney, said he will
remain active with the organization.

In a news conference Friday, Jones said the agency will remain in operation
despite the accusations. He said Richardson has spread untrue rumors about
the council because she wants to take it over.

"She has an ax to grind with the executive director," Jones said.

Jones produced an affidavit signed this week by Wisline Sainvilien, who said
he came to the agency in April seeking help with a divorce. After being told
by a receptionist that the agency doesn't handle divorces, Richardson
offered to help him for $150, he wrote in the affidavit. The affidavit
doesn't say what Sainvilien would have received for the $150.

Richardson said she has never heard of Sainvilien.

"What do I know about divorces? I'm not a lawyer," she said.

About 50 supporters showed up Friday to defend Henry at news conference in
front of the council's main office in Delray Beach. As Jones spoke, Ford
Euloge -- who said he is the owner of Total Immigration Service, an
immigration company -- began barraging Jones with accusations that the
council was improperly taking money from clients. Jones dismissed all the
accusations as unfounded.

Euloge, posing initially as a reporter, persisted and others in the crowd
grew hostile. Jones then ended the meeting.

Leon Fooksman can be reached at lfooksman@sun-sentinel.com.

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