Task force striving to be voice for all

By LESLIE CASIMIR
Herald Staff Writer

People from all corners of Dade County have been selected to serve on the Immigration Emergency Fund Advisory Committee. Vidal will chair the committee.

Of the 17 members, there are four activists working in the Haitian community: the Rev. Thomas Wenski, who heads Notre Dame D'Haiti Catholic Church; Rudolphe Moise, a doctor with a health clinic in Little Haiti; Cheryl Little, executive director of the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center; and Jacques Despinosse, president of the Haitian-American Democratic Club.

The first meeting is Wednesday, when Lt. Gov. Buddy McKay is expected to attend, said Virginia Sanchez, director of Metro-Dade County's Governmental Affairs. It is now unclear whether the public can attend the meeting, she said.

The committee's task will be to recommend to Gov. Lawton Chiles how to spend the money and whether it should go to agencies that already help immigrants.

``The manager wanted various members of Dade County represented in the committee so that all groups have a voice,'' said Dean Taylor, an assistant county manager.

Despinosse commended Vidal on the move to include members of the Haitian community. He and others said that in the past, Haitians have been snubbed in helping with decision-making.

``We all want to make sure that the Haitian community gets its fair share,'' Despinosse said.

Alejandro Aguirre, deputy editor of Diario Las Americas.

Oscar Bustillo, chairman and chief operating officer of Republic National Bank.

Cynthia Curry, vice president for business and finance at Florida International University.

Maria Dominguez, executive director of the Human Rights Institute at St. Thomas University.

Rabbi Simcha Freedman, executive director of Florida Friends of Boys Town Jerusalem.

Sandra Gonzalez-Levy, senior vice president and public relations director of Barnett Bank Tower.

Dewey Knight III, administrator of Home Health Care.

Joseph Lacher, president of Florida operations of Bell South.

Cristina Mendoza, vice president and general counsel at Knight-Ridder.

Carlos Palomares, president of Citibank Florida.

Ruth Shack, president of Dade Community Foundation.

Dorothy Weaver, president of Intercap Investments.