Caribbean News
Florida bills, affects Caribbean and other minority groups
Rashaed Esson
Staff Writer
#USA, May 30, 2023 – Florida passed several bills and the laws under these bills will affect the Caribbean populations in the state alongside other minority populations and not in a good way.
The bills were signed into law by Governor DeSantis and one of them is the Senate bill 266, Defunding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, passed on Monday May 15th. It will put an end to university diversity equity and inclusion (DEI) programs throughout Florida.
It will see the barring of tertiary educational institutions spending tax dollars to develop, promote, sustain, and expand initiatives that support diversity, equity and inclusion.
DeSantis in highlighting his reasoning for such actions expressed that the idea of DEI attempts to impose orthodoxy on universities, “and not even necessarily in the classroom, but through the administrative apparatus of the university itself,” he maintained. He further highlighted that people will be treated as individuals, with this removal of DEI’s.
He also described it as imposing an ideological agenda, saying that it is wrong. Additionally, he continued to say that the way DEI has been implemented across America is better viewed as representing “discrimination, exclusion, and indoctrination,” which “has no place in our public institutions.”
Now the importance of DEI programs to Caribbean people, in this case students, is that Caribbean nationals and first-generation Americans have utilized the DEI programs to secure tertiary education. Also, generally people who
fit the category of existing on the margins of sexual orientation, religion, socio-economic status, and race and ethnicity; will also be affected for obvious reasons.
Consequently, these affected populations could experience difficulty being treated fairly as this could encourage further discrimination. In fact, certain individuals may even use this newly passed bill as justification for hateful behavior as well as making things more difficult for the highlighted minority populations, in seeking educational and inclusion opportunities.
DeSantis further justified his actions by describing DEI as a dividing factor among individuals with ‘superficial criteria,’ while also expressing that people who wish to pursue things like gender ideology should attend the University of California emphasizing that in Florida they want to focus on the “classical mission of what a University is supposed to be.”
Another bill was passed on May 10th, 2023, Senate Bill 1718.
It was passed in the name of anti-illegal immigration as expressed by DeSantis who said, “The legislation I signed today gives Florida the most ambitious anti-illegal immigration laws in the country, fighting back against reckless federal government policies and ensuring the Florida taxpayers are not footing the bill for illegal immigration.”
The bill comes following the end of Title 42, bringing what DeSantis described as the Biden Border Crisis, which he says has ” wreaked havoc across the United States and has put Americans in danger.”
The bill stipulates:
- More severe penalties for human trafficking. Business owners with 25 or more employees are now required to use the e-verify system to ensure the employees hired are legally eligible.
- Healthcare providers that accept Medicaid are required to collect data on the immigration status of their patients.
- $12 million from the General Revenue Fund will enact the “unauthorized alien transport program” – an initiative that transports illegal immigrants to sanctuaries in Democrat-led cities and states.
- The issuing of Identification Cards (ID) to illegal immigrants, which invalidates ID cards issued in other states.
This bill can also potentially affect illegal Caribbean immigrants in Florida, especially since the population of illegal migrants throughout America on a whole is high.
Caribbean News
Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts celebrate a night of wins, and take home a total of 16 titles at the 32nd Annual World Travel Awards
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (October 6th, 2025) – CaribCon, the Caribbean conference celebrating culture, innovation, and creativity, will welcome some of the region’s most influential voices to its inaugural edition in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The event, set to be a dynamic gathering of thought leaders and cultural icons, will feature impactful panel discussions, inspiring and intimate fireside chats and a flow of knowledge from some of the Caribbean’s brightest and best in the creative sector.
Elizabeth “Lady” Montano
Jamaica’s own Dr. Terri-Karelle Johnson, celebrated communications specialist, media personality, and global keynote speaker, will headline CaribCon as the official keynote speaker. Known for her ability to connect authentically and inspire audiences worldwide, Dr. Reid will share her insights on Caribbean identity, storytelling, and the power of representation in shaping global narratives. Another highlight of CaribCon will be the presence of Elizabeth “Lady” Montano, mother and former manager of soca superstar Machel Montano. Lady will launch her award-winning book, King of Soca, in which she is positioned as the ultimate insider, chronicling the evolution of one of the Caribbean’s most iconic entertainers. She will also share her invaluable experiences on nurturing talent, building a brand, and sustaining longevity in the competitive music industry in an intimate fireside chat. Adding further star power to the event is Simon Baptiste, CEO of Question Mark Entertainment, co-founder of ODOS, a global collective network spanning over 1000 professionals in 35 countries, film director, talent manager and creative strategist. Baptiste will bring his expertise to conversations on shaping the region’s creative sector and talent.
Simon Baptiste
“CaribCon is where the Caribbean’s voices, ideas, and creativity converge,” says Omega Simmons, founder of CaribCon and CEO of SOS Media. “Having leaders like Terri Karelle, Lady Montano, and Simon Baptiste share their stories and expertise truly embodies the spirit of this event. Their presence reinforces the power of Caribbean culture to inspire and influence on the world stage.” CaribCon will take place at the Shore Club in Providenciales, the Turks and Caicos Islands, from October 23rd to 26th. Attendees can look forward to networking opportunities, panel discussions, and meaningful dialogue to foster an ecosystem that develops the region’s creative sector and propels it onto the global stage.
Sponsors are:
Signature Experience Partners: Ministry of Tourism, Experience Turks and Caicos, and The Shore Club.
Other sponsors: PPID, Invest TCI, InterCaribbean Airways, Subtronic Sounds, Spotlight Communications.
Hotel partners: Ocean Club Resorts, Waterloo Hotel Management, The Somerset on Grace Bay and Ports of Call Resort.
For more information, tickets, and updates, visit www.caribcon.co or follow @caribconhq on all social media platforms.
For more information please email: contact@caribcon.co
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