22549: (Hermantin)Miami-Herald-Gov. Bush unveils new Haiti panel (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Posted on Tue, Jun. 29, 2004


REBUILDING HAITI


Gov. Bush unveils new Haiti panel

By JACQUELINE CHARLES

jcharles@herald.com


Florida Gov. Jeb Bush -- a target of criticism during his reelection
campaign for not doing enough to help Haitian migrants -- spent Monday
morning brainstorming with Haitian-American leaders about rebuilding their
homeland.

The meeting follows the Republican governor's surprise visit earlier this
month to the troubled Caribbean nation at the invitation of interim Haitian
Prime Minister Gerard Latortue.

It also comes in a presidential election year when the GOP, working
aggressively to reelect the governor's brother, President George W. Bush, is
heavily courting Haitian-American voters in a state where every vote counts.

''This is not about politics,'' Bush said in a brief interview after his
meeting at the University of Miami, where he announced the formation of a
new Haitian commission. ``This is about making a difference in a country
that is our neighbor.''

Sidney Charles, chairman of the Caribbean and Haitian Americans for Bush
Coalition, said the governor is addressing a constituency in need.

''He is sincere and he is trying to do the right thing,'' said Charles, a
North Miami businessman who was among those invited by Bush. ``If anything,
he wants to make sure Haiti is successful so that he doesn't have to worry
about a problem in the state of Florida.''

Still, even Charles could not dismiss the potential of the Haitian-American
vote -- or the impact another Haitian crisis could have -- in a state where
both the president and Democratic contender John Kerry are close in the
polls and Bush won the 2000 presidency by just 537 votes.

Charles said while he does not know how many of Florida's 230,000 Haitian
Americans are registered Republicans, he believes the numbers are growing
every day. He credits the increase to Washington's involvement in the latest
Haitian political saga, which eventually led to former Haitian President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide's Feb. 29 departure.

''I am getting calls from all over the country,'' Charles said. ``There are
huge demands for Haitians who want information about the Republican Party
and campaign.''

IMPACT UNCLEAR

But absent any polls, no one can say for sure what role the Aristide factor
will play in the November elections.

Interest from a governor who has not always been regarded as sympathetic to
the Haitian cause could potentially make a difference.

On the eve of the 2002 gubernatorial election, Bush lost substantial
credibility in the Haitian-American community when he rejected
then-Congresswoman Carrie Meek's request to lobby his brother on behalf of
more than 200 migrants who came ashore in Key Biscayne.

Bush now appears to be extending a helping hand.

Bush invited a diverse group of 20 Haitian-Americans to Monday's task force
meeting at the governor's office on the UM campus. Some were Republicans;
others Democrats. Some were supporters of Aristide's Lavalas Family Party;
others, opponents who marched against it.

''This community can make a major contribution not only to enhance the
quality of life here and in South Florida but also in Haiti,'' Bush said.
``I don't think they've been asked before and I want to be a catalyst for
that to happen.''

COMMISSION LIMITED

Bush, who will announce more details about the commission's makeup and
members in the coming weeks, said it will be limited in scope. He envisions
it as a clearinghouse for Haitian-Americans and others looking to get
involved in rebuilding Haiti.

It will most likely avoid controversial issues, such as the current push by
some Haitian-American and immigration activists for Temporary Protected
Status for all Haitians living here illegally. That status temporarily
shields Haitians from immediate deportation.

Bush has gone on record as saying he would be inclined to support the
reprieve, but needs to know more about it.

''We are not trying to reinvent the wheel,'' he said of his commission.
``There are a lot of great organizations in the state that are interested in
this subject.''

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