CaribPR Wire

W. Dave Dowrich, VP of Investment at Goldman Sachs, 2nd from r., with Chairman of the CTO, Ricky Skerritt, l; Minister Minors of Bermuda, 2.d from l., and Brian Lilly, r., CEO of Lilly Broadcasting and owner of WSEE TV and One Caribbean Weather, premier sponsors of the event. (Sharon Bennett image)

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. June 10, 2011: The Caribbean is being urged to compete for the global “wallet share” and step up the promotion of “its investment story.”

That’s the advice from W. Dave Dowrich, vice president of investment at Goldman Sachs and the keynote speaker at the inaugural Invest Caribbean Power Forum, convened by digital media solutions company, Hard Beat Communications and the Caribbean Tourism Organization in New York City on Thursday, June 9, 2011.

Dowrich, addressing a packed room at the New York Marriot Marquis Hotel in Times Square, insisted that the Caribbean’s investment “product” stacks up against most other regions of the world, including the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India and China) on several fronts, such as political stability, accessibility and ease of doing business.

But “where we fall down is in selling and telling our investment story, i.e. the ‘Promotion – P’ of the principles of marketing,” he said of the CARICOM region, whose combined Gross Domestic Product is put at US$90 billion.

Comparing the Caribbean to private companies going public and the need to ensure that their story continues being told to their existing and future investor base, Dowrich said the Caribbean and its leaders must see investment in a similar vein.

“We therefore need to be sure that at every opportunity, our story is told on a consistent basis and told by credible and trust worthy folks such as our senior ministers, and then reinforced by our teams on the ground, who can ‘talk the talk’ of those that need to hear it,” he said.

Dowrich was one of four speakers who addressed the event yesterday. Others included Minister of Business Development & Tourism of Bermuda, Patrice Kimberly Minors; Martin Mohabeer, the Guyana-born Managing Director of Spackman Group and CEO of Spackman Capital and David Brillembourg, CEO of the Brilla Group.

Minors for her part insisted that Bermuda remains open to doing business while Brillembourg advised that attention be turned to Latin American pension funds as potential investors in the Caribbean region.

Mohabeer announced the SEAF Caribbean Growth Fund, insisting that the Caribbean small business market is “tremendously underserved.”

“With this fund we hope to change that,” said Mohabeer, while adding that the fund will make investments in small to middle enterprise firms specializing in IT, media and technology and construction among other sectors.

Among the over 120 attendees at the event were several money managers from the New York’s investment community as well as top tourism officials from the Caribbean including the Hon. Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization and Minister of Tourism and International Travel for St. Kitts/Nevis, Ricky Skerritt; Hon. Richard Sealy, Minister of Tourism, Barbados; Hon. Ed Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica; Commissioner of Tourism of St. Eustacius, Clyde Van Putten; Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Hugh Riley; Sylma Brown Bramble, director of CTO North America; Alec Sanguinetti, Director General of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, Josef Forstmayr, President, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, and other top CTO officials as well as  Caribbean directors of tourism.

“This event surpassed our expectation,” said Felicia Persaud, CEO of Hard Beat Communications, which conceptualized and co-presented the event with the CTO. “We look forward to making this an annual part of Caribbean Week in New York.”

“The Caribbean Tourism Organization was proud to team up with Hard Beat to present this event, since in these tough economic times, investment in the Caribbean is critical and the CTO believes strongly in continuing to boost the tourism sector of this vibrant region by presenting investment opportunities for its members,” commented Brown-Bramble.

The Bermuda Department of Tourism and the Pennsylvania-based WSEE TV and OneCaribbeanWeather.com, both part of Lilly Broadcasting Corporation, were the official sponsors of the ‘Invest Caribbean Power Breakfast.’

Additional sponsors included the PR Newswire, CaribPR Wire, The Bahamas Weekly, News Americas Now and the Caribbean American Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

ABOUT HARD BEAT COMMUNICATIONS

Hard Beat Communications brands itself as a Digital Media Solutions Company. The company does this through its Digital Content Creation and Dissemination and syndicated digital newswire – New Americas Now, formerly CaribWorldNews, its CaribPR wire release dissemination section, part of the PR Newswire; its Media Buying and Event Promotions arm and its New Media Solutions department.

ABOUT THE CTO

The Caribbean Tourism Organization exists to increase significantly the inclusion of the Caribbean region in the set of destinations being considered by travelers. The CTO, with headquarters in Barbados, comprises 32 member countries, including English, French, Spanish and Dutch countries and territories, as well as private sector allied members. Every year, the CTO presents “Caribbean Week In New York,” which Caribbean Week in New York is a celebration of the sights, sounds, colors, culture and unique vacation attributes of the Caribbean.

New York City Comptroller John Liu

Carib PR Newswire, NEW YORK, NY, June 3, 2011: New York City Comptroller John Liu, who helps manage $646 million in pension funds for New York City, is set to address the inaugural Invest Caribbean Power Breakfast next Thursday in mid-town Manhattan.

Liu will bring remarks to investors, Caribbean ministers of governments and entrepreneurs at the June 9^th event at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City at the ‘Investing in Paradise’ forum, that is being presented by digital media company, Hard Beat Communications and the Caribbean Tourism Organization during Caribbean Week in New York.

Liu serves as the 43rd Comptroller of the City after being independently elected in 2009. He is hailed as a “trailblazer” and “pioneer,” since he is the first Asian American elected in New York City – both to legislative office in 2001 and citywide office in 2009

 Panelists of the investment event include Martin Mohabeer, the Guyana-born Managing Director of Spackman Group and CEO of Spackman Capital; W. Dave Dowrich, Vice President at Goldman Sachs, and David Brillembourg, CEO of the Brilla Group.

The Hard Beat/CTO forum will be moderated by Professor Temisan Agbeyegbe, professor of Economics at Hunter College and Graduate Center, City University of New York and a research associate with The Caribbean Center for Monetary Studies, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.

Brian Lilly, CEO of Lilly Broadcasting; Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization and St. Kitts/Nevis minister of tourism, Ricky Skerritt and several Caribbean tourism ministers of government, commissioners and directors of tourism as well as officials of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, including Secretary General Hugh Riley and others from the business, travel and investment community will also be in attendance.

The Pennsylvania-based WSEE TV and OneCaribbeanWeather.com, both part of Lilly Broadcasting Corporation, are the official sponsors of the ‘Invest Caribbean Power Breakfast.’

Additional sponsors include the PR Newswire, CaribPR Wire, The Bahamas Weekly, News Americas Now and the Caribbean American Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

For more informationor for last minute registration, log on http://investcaribbeannow.com/.

Carib PR Newswire, NEW YORK, NY, May 27, 2011: Entrepreneurs looking to meet investors or do business in the Caribbean have just days left to book their spot for the Investing in Paradise power forum.

Invest Caribbean 2011 is set for June 9^th from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City and tickets are going fast for business owners seeking to network with Martin Mohabeer, the Guyana-born Managing Director of Spackman Group and CEO of Spackman Capital; W. Dave Dowrich, Vice President at Goldman Sachs, and David Brillembourg, CEO of the Brilla Group.

Additionally, the event is also slated to feature New York City comptroller John Liu, who helps manage $646 million in pension funds for New York City; Brian Lilly, CEO of Lilly Broadcasting; Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization and St. Kitts/Nevis minister of tourism, Ricky Skerritt and several Caribbean tourism ministers of government, commissioners and directors of tourism as well as officials of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, including Secretary General Hugh Riley and others from the business, travel and investment community.

The Investing In Paradise event is presented by digital media company, Hard Beat Communications and the Caribbean Tourism Organization in Caribbean Week.

The Hard Beat/CTO forum will be moderated by Professor Temisan Agbeyegbe, professor of Economics at Hunter College and Graduate Center, City University of New York and a research associate with The Caribbean Center for Monetary Studies, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.

The Pennsylvania-based WSEE TV and OneCaribbeanWeather.com, both part of Lilly Broadcasting Corporation, and the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, are the official sponsors of the ‘Invest Caribbean Power Breakfast.’

Additional sponsors include the PR Newswire, CaribPR Wire, The Bahamas Weekly, News Americas Now and the Caribbean American Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

Register at http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=7phqhyn6&oeidk=a07e3p448ple41d4ad3. or for more information log on http://investcaribbeannow.com/.

Martin Mohabeer, Managing Director of Spackman Group and CEO of Spackman Capital is among the panelists.

Carib PR Newswire, NEW YORK, NY, May 20, 2011: They are collectively responsible for managing billions in assets daily and on June 9, 2011, a trio of U.S.-based investors and money managers will share their expertise and discuss opportunities they’ll consider for investment, at the inaugural Invest Caribbean 2011 Power Breakfast.

The Investing In Paradise event, presented by digital media company, Hard Beat Communications and the Caribbean Tourism Organization in Caribbean Week, is set for set for June 9^th from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.

The forum will feature Martin Mohabeer, the Guyana-born Managing Director of Spackman Group and CEO of Spackman Capital, who currently helps manage $1.3 billion in assets under management by the Hong Kong-based, privately-held investment conglomerate; W. Dave Dowrich, Vice President at Goldman Sachs, which has over 900 billion under its management; and David Brillembourg, CEO of the Brilla Group, who has founded two successful companies, executed over 30 M&A transactions and has raised nearly $150 million over the past decade from private and institutional investors.

Additionally, the event is also slated to feature New York City comptroller John Liu, who helps manage $646 million in pension funds for New York City.

Mario Gonzalez, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company; Brian Lilly, CEO of Lilly Broadcasting and Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization and St. Kitts/Nevis minister of tourism, Ricky Skerritt will also address participants while several Caribbean tourism ministers of government, commissioners and directors of tourism as well as officials of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, including Secretary General Hugh Riley and others from the business, travel and investment community will be in attendance.

The Hard Beat/CTO forum will be moderated by Professor Temisan Agbeyegbe, professor of Economics at Hunter College and Graduate Center, City University of New York and a research associate with The Caribbean Center for Monetary Studies, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.

“This is no talk shop but its where real capital meets investment opportunities,” said Felicia Persaud, CEO of Hard Beat Communications.  “Entrepreneurs, lenders, developers, hotel chain/management company executives, investment bankers, vacation ownership executives, financial advisors, real estate and financial intermediaries, builders, consultants, lawyers, architects and designers or anyone seeking to do business in the Caribbean, learn about investment opportunities there, raise capital to grow or expand your business or network with top investors and ministers of government should all make it a date to attend this event.”

“The Caribbean is a perfect destination for investment, given its stable governments, its tax incentives, its close proximity to the U.S. and it’s very high literary workforce and its superb beauty and climate,” added Sylma Brown Bramble, director of CTO North America.

The Pennsylvania-based WSEE TV and OneCaribbeanWeather.com, both part of Lilly Broadcasting Corporation, and the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, are the official sponsors of the ‘Invest Caribbean Power Breakfast.’

Additional sponsors include the PR Newswire, CaribPR Wire, The Bahamas Weekly, News Americas Now and the Caribbean American Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

Tickets are going fast so register today at http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=7phqhyn6&oeidk=a07e3p448ple41d4ad3. Or for more information log on http://investcaribbeannow.com/.

Carib PR Newswire, NEW YORK, NY, May 13, 2011: Meteorologist Joey Stevens and his parrot have become the most famous weather forecasters in the Caribbean on OneCaribbeanWeather.com and WSEE TV, the CBS affiliate of the Caribbean region.

It is little wonder then why the Caribbean’s most famous weather channel, with some four million viewers daily in over 25 countries – from Antigua to Puerto Rico, has joined forces with the organizers of Invest Caribbean 2011, to present the inaugural investment power forum.

The Pennsylvania-based WSEE TV and OneCaribbeanWeather.com, both part of Lilly Broadcasting Corporation, is an official sponsor of the Hard Beat Communications and Caribbean Tourism Organization’s ‘Invest Caribbean Power Breakfast,’ set for June 9^th from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.

Lilly Broadcasting operates a number of enterprises worldwide including 24-hour weather broadcasting in the Caribbean.

The event is being billed as a high powered networking event and not a talk shop and will include Vice President at Goldman Sachs, W. Dave Dowrich, David Brillembourg, CEO of the Brilla Group and several Caribbean ministers of government.

“The Caribbean Tourism Organization is proud to team up with Hard Beat and the Caribbean American Chamber of Industry and Commerce to present this event since in these tough economic times, investment in the Caribbean and Latin America is critical and the CTO believes strongly in continuing to boost the tourism sector of this vibrant region by presenting investment opportunities for its members,” said Sylma Brown Bramble, director of CTO-USA Inc.

“We’re very proud to team up with a company that’s already investing in the Caribbean and sees the bright future the region holds,” said Hard Beat Communications CEO, Felicia Persaud of the WSEE TV and the One Caribbean Weather partnership. “Anyone serious about doing business in this region or networking with potential investors should book one of a few spots today.”

Additional sponsors include the PR Newswire, CaribPR Wire, The Bahamas Weekly, and News Americas Now.

For additional sponsorship opportunities log on to: http://investcaribbeannow.com/ or for individual tickets register at http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=7phqhyn6&oeidk=a07e3p448ple41d4ad3

David Brillembourg

CaribPR Newswire, NEW YORK, NY, May 2, 2011: “

The Caribbean is, now more than ever, a unique investment opportunity!”

That’s the assessment of one top investor, who insists he lives and breathes the Caribbean. David Brillembourg, founder, chairman & chief executive officer of private equity real estate firm, Brilla Group, is adamant that the region is ripe for investment.

Brillembourg will bring this outlook to the 2011 Invest Caribbean Power Breakfast, presented by Hard Beat Communications and The Caribbean Tourism Organization, in collaboration with the Caribbean American Chamber of Industry & Commerce, and set for June 9, 2011 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.

 Brillembourg is among the top speakers, who include Vice President at Goldman Sachs, W. Dave Dowrich and will feature top Caribbean ministers of government, investors and entrepreneurs and key sponsors including WSEE TV and OneCaribbean Weather.

 Brilla’s investments are focused primarily on luxury beachfront hotels and resorts in the Caribbean even as foreign direct investment in the Caribbean and Latin American region grew strongly last year, jumping from US$5.5 billion in the first semester of 2009 to US$20.8 billion in the same period of 2010 according to The Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLAC).

 China’s Ministry of Commerce alone reported that foreign direct investment in Caribbean countries by Chinese firms totaled nearly $7 billion in 2009, a more than 300 percent increase from the 2004 foreign direct investment of $1.7 billion.

 Brillembourg sees the opportunity. “The Caribbean is a unique and long-lasting investment,” he added, insisting that anyone serious about investment should get on board.

 He reiterated that the region looks solid throughout with lots of opportunities out there.

 “For example, Turks and Caicos is coming out of the crisis well. But there is more than one location to look out for; all are maturing and diversifying. This is a wonderful time to be in the Caribbean,” said the seasoned entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience in investing also in South Florida, Mexico, Central America and Colombia. “As a result of the global financial crisis and dislocation of real estate markets, the hotel sector was seriously affected due to the lack of funds and financing available for this sector. This macroeconomic situation caused the expected supply for new luxury coastal properties in the Caribbean, which were at different development or building stages, to rapidly drop (approximately 72%).”

Sponsors of Invest Caribbean 2011 include silver sponsor, WSEE TV and OneCaribbeanWeather.com; the PR Newswire, CaribPR Wire, The Bahamas Weekly, and News Americas Now.

For additional sponsorship opportunities and breakfast tickets log on to: http://investcaribbeannow.com/ or call 646-820-5694.

Carib PR Newswire, NEW YORK, NY, April 29, 2011: The countdown has begun to the inaugural Investing in Paradise power breakfast, set for June 9, 2011 in New York City. The Invest Caribbean forum, presented by Hard Beat Communications and The Caribbean Tourism Organization, in collaboration with the Caribbean American Chamber of Industry & Commerce, is set for the New York Marriott Marquis from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.

The son of Barbadian migrants and vice president at Goldman Sachs, W. Dave Dowrich, will deliver keynote remarks at an event that will be attended by several Caribbean ministers of government, directors of tourism, investors and entrepreneurs.

 “Investing in the Caribbean is really an excellent choice for an emerging market investor given its tax incentives, established tourist market, available land and year round amazing weather and beauty,” commented Hard Beat’s CEO Felicia Persaud. “This event is also perfect for those persons seeking investment information or looking for investors as well as for Self Invested Personal Pension investors who do not feel they are getting enough out of their pension plan, and would prefer to manage their own fund, switching their investments as they see fit,” added Persaud. Seats are going fast. To reserve your space register now at: www.investcaribbeannow.com.

Sponsors to date include the PR Newswire, CaribPR Wire, The Bahamas Weekly, and News Americas Now.

Carib PR Newswire, NEW YORK, NY, April 22, 2011: An investment banker at full-service global investment banking and securities firm Goldman Sachs, born to Barbadian parents in Toronto, Canada, is set to deliver the key note address at the 2011 Invest Caribbean Power Breakfast this June in New York City.  

Wendell Dave Dowrich, Vice President of Risk and Capital Markets in the Financial Institutions Group at Goldman Sachs, will address Caribbean ministers of tourism and delegates of the June 9^th event, set for 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the New York Marriott Marquis in NYC.

The event, part of Caribbean Week in New York, is being presented by the Caribbean Tourism Organization and digital media solutions firm, Hard Beat Communications, Inc., in collaboration with the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Dowrich, whose responsibilities at Goldman include providing risk management advice to insurance companies, with specific focus on capital markets reinsurance, will speak on the prospects for international investment in the Caribbean region.

Before Goldman, Dowrich worked at Credit Suisse and prior to that appointment, was the Head of Corporate Planning & Analysis for Swiss Re’s life reinsurance business for North America, where he was responsible for performance measurement, performance enhancement, capital management and management reporting for the North American operations.

 He began his career in employee benefits consulting in Toronto, Canada before relocating to Barbados to become a member of the management team of the Barbados reinsurance operations of a Canadian insurance company.

Dowrich attended primary and secondary school in Barbados and holds an Honors Bachelor of Science degree from University of Toronto, Canada, with majors in Actuarial Science and Applied Statistics, as well as an MBA with a major in Finance, from Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.  He is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

David Brillembourg, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of the Brilla Group, a private equity real estate firm focused exclusively on acquiring luxury beachfront hotel and resort assets in South Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and Colombia, will also speak at the event that is set to feature top Caribbean Tourism Organization officials, government ministers and directors, New York City elected officials and investors, lenders and entrepreneurs.

“For the very first time in the history of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Caribbean Week in New York, an investment component has been added and we’re very proud to be working with the CTO to make this happen,” said Hard Beat Communications CEO, Felicia Persaud. “This event is a must attend for interested in investing in ‘Paradise’ or for those seeking to learn of the opportunities there.”

Sponsors to date include the PR Newswire, CaribPR Wire, The Bahamas Weekly, and News Americas Now.

For additional sponsorship opportunities or breakfast tickets call 646-820-5694 or log on to: http://investcaribbeannow.com/.

ABOUT THE CTO

The Caribbean Tourism Organization exists to increase significantly the inclusion of the Caribbean region in the set of destinations being considered by travelers. The CTO, with headquarters in Barbados, comprises 32 member countries, including English, French, Spanish and Dutch countries and territories, as well as private sector allied members. Every year, the CTO presents “Caribbean Week In New York,” which Caribbean Week in New York is a celebration of the sights, sounds, colors, culture and unique vacation attributes of the Caribbean.

ABOUT HARD BEAT COMMUNICATIONS

Hard Beat Communications brands itself as a Digital Media Solutions Company. The company does this through its PR Wire and Digital Content Creation and Dissemination and syndicated digital newswire – New Americas Now, formerly CaribWorldNews, its Media Buying and Event Promotions arm and its New Media Solutions department.
 

ABOUT THE CARIBBEAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

The Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (CACCI), founded in August 1985, is a statewide membership organization, which has developed expertise in providing business assistance to small and start-up business owners, in areas of business planning, financing, procurement, certification, expansion, and export/import opportunities.

Carib PR Newswire, NEW YORK, NY, April 15, 2011: Investing in the Caribbean region’s tourism sector will be the focus of a power breakfast this June, presented by the Caribbean Tourism Organization and Hard Beat Communications, Inc., in collaboration with the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Hard Beat Communications, a digital media solutions company specializing in the Caribbean and Latin American market, is teaming up with the Caribbean’s regional tourism agency and CAACI to present the Invest Caribbean 2011 Power Breakfast on June 9, 2011 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. in New York City.

Confirmed speakers to date include W. Dave Dowrich, Vice President – Investment Banking at Goldman, Sachs & Co. and David Brillembourg, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of the Brilla Group, a private equity real estate firm focused exclusively on acquiring luxury beachfront hotel and resort assets in South Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and Colombia.

Ministers, commissioners and directors of tourism from several nations are set to attend the event and present investment opportunities from their nations.

“This event will allow for executives of corporations to showcase their product and services to a very exclusive niche group of high powered business executives and for entrepreneurs seeking investment to be able to pitch their ideas for seed or expansion capital to key investors,” said Hard Beat Communications CEO, Felicia Persaud.

“The Caribbean Tourism Organization is proud to team up with Hard Beat and CAACI to present this event since in these tough economic times, investment in the Caribbean is critical and the CTO believes strongly in continuing to boost the tourism sector of this vibrant region by presenting investment opportunities for its members,” said Sylma Brown Bramble, director of CTO-USA Inc.

Media sponsors include the PR Newswire, CaribPR Wire and News Americas Now.

For sponsorship opportunities  call 1-800-789-3062 or 646-820-5694 or log on to: http://investcaribbeannow.com/. For tickets register at https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?llr=7phqhyn6&oeidk=a07e3p448ple41d4ad3

ABOUT THE CTO

The Caribbean Tourism Organization exists to increase significantly the inclusion of the Caribbean region in the set of destinations being considered by travelers. The CTO, with headquarters in Barbados, comprises 32 member countries, including English, French, Spanish and Dutch countries and territories, as well as private sector allied members. Every year, the CTO presents “Caribbean Week In New York,” which Caribbean Week in New York is a celebration of the sights, sounds, colors, culture and unique vacation attributes of the Caribbean.

ABOUT HARD BEAT COMMUNICATIONS

Hard Beat Communications brands itself as a Digital Media Solutions Company. The company does this through its PR Wire and Digital Content Creation and Dissemination and syndicated digital newswire – New Americas Now, formerly CaribWorldNews, its Media Buying and Event Promotions arm and its New Media Solutions department.
 

ABOUT THE CARIBBEAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

The Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (CACCI), founded in August 1985, is a statewide membership organization, which has developed expertise in providing business assistance to small and start-up business owners, in areas of business planning, financing, procurement, certification, expansion, and export/import opportunities.

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. Mar. 31, 2010: With the return day for all Census forms set for tomorrow, April 1, Carib ID, the movement started in 2008 by Felicia Persaud to get Caribbean nationals accurately counted across the U.S., is urging all Caribbeans to make sure they fill out and return their 2010 U.S. Census form while writing in your Caribbean country of origin or ancestry under the Some Other Race section of Question 9.

“We need every single Caribbean national in the U.S. to make sure they count by filling out the form, writing in their ancestry and returning it,` said Persaud on Wednesday. “Census numbers determine every aspect of our lives in this country and right now we are largely invisible as we have no accurate means of identification on the form. We must make sure we end this trend by counting not just our ethnicities but our nationalities this Census so we can all win.”

Carib ID is urging all to help stem the tide of low Census return rates in Caribbean communities across the country by taking pride in their ancestry and documenting their presence in the U.S.

The organization reminded nationals that failure to take the Census means millions left at the table and little to no funding for social services in their communities while for Caribbean media, organizations, festivals and event promoters, Census numbers are used to determine sponsorship and advertising dollars.

For the undocumented, it is imperative that they fill out and keep a copy of the form as it provides them with proof that they are living in the U.S. so that once immigration reform comes around, they can take advantage and get a green card, said Carib ID.

ABOUT CARIB ID
Carib ID is a historic initiative from Hard Beat Communications and an endorsed effort by dozens of Caribbean media partners and key groups and individuals across the U.S. to secure an accurate count of Caribbean nationals. For more, log on to www.caribid2010.com.

ABOUT FELICIA PERSAUD
Felicia Persaud is founder of the ethnic PR and advertising agency, Hard Beat Communications, Inc., (www.hardbeatcommunications.com); CaribPR Wire, the PR wire of the Caribbean (www.caribpr.com) and CARIB ID and publisher of CaribWorldNews (caribworldnews.com).