AfrICANDO 2003 Conference Report

AfrICANDO 2003 was held at the New Radisson Hotel on 1601 Biscayne Bvld. Miami Florida, from July 22-26,2003. The conference opened on July 21, 2003 at 2:00PM with conference registration and Exhibitor set-up on the first day. July 22, 2003 - Day Two of the conference started at 8:00AM with conference registration and Exhibit Booths opening at 8:30AM for all conference participants and the general public. At 9:00AM, Mr. Babacar Mbow, International Program Coordinator for the Broward County Library introduced Mr. Fred Oladeinde, President of The Foundation for Democracy in Africa, who gave the welcome address. Bill Jackson, Director for African Affairs in the United States Trade Representative made the opening remarks. The first panel session for AfrICANDO 2003 opened at 9:45AM and discussed the topic, "The African Growth and Opportunity Act and Doing Business in America" and was moderated by Gilbert Colon, (Deputy Director) of the US SBA-Miami with other panelists comprising of Dr. Abdul Quader Shaikh, Sr. International Economist & Regional Coordinator for Africa & the Middle East - U.S. Department of Commerce, Sam Smoots, Regional Manager for the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, John Richter, Special Advisor to the Chairman for Africa - Export-Import Bank of the US, Arthur Westneat, Private Sector Advisor for USAID, and Randy Hernandez, Coordinator for ETAP. The afternoon session started with Master of Ceremonies Dwayne Wynn, President of the Afro-Caribbean Trading Group, Inc./ Chairman, Mayor's African Trade Taskforce, introducing Mr. D. Daniel Sokol, Associate with Steel Hector & Davies, LLP who served as Luncheon Speaker on the topic “FTAA Trade Policy and How it interfaces with AGOA”.

After the lunch period, a Tourism Workshop took place at Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau facilitated by Sandra E. Daley-Francois with Hon. Massek Ndiaye, Minister of Tourism for the Republic of Senegal making brief remarks on the importance of Tourism to the government of Senegal economic agenda. The afternoon session ended with a presentation by Marisol Valenzuela, Executive Director for the International Accreditation Registry (IAR) on the criteria used by IAR to assess companies' compliance with set standards.

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The evening session commenced with the opening reception, which included opening remarks from Mr. Fred Oladeinde, President of The Foundation for Democracy in Africa, Mr. Anthony D. Okonmah, Executive Director for The Foundation for Democracy in Africa, and Dr. Gershwin T. Blyden, Executive Director for the Institute for Democracy in Africa. Also in attendance during this session was Commissioner Dennis C Moss, Chair of the Transportation Committee, Commissioner Jose ”Pepe” Diaz and Carmen Morris who introduced Hon. Alex Penelas, Mayor of Miami-Dade County to make welcome remarks to all participants and officially declared the Trade Exposition and conference opening. Dr. Amany Asfour, President, Egyptian Business women Association, offered the vote of thanks to conference participants, sponsors and supporters.

July 23, 2003 - the third day of the conference started at 8:30AM with Exhibitors opening their booths at 8:30AM, and by 9:00AM Mr. Douglas Baker, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Service Industry's, Tourism and Finance, US Dept of Commerce made the opening remarks for the session. The morning session was comprised of two panels discussing the topic “The Impact of Tourism on the Economy” with Bryant J. Salter, Director of African Trade Expansion, & Enterprise Florida serving as moderator.

Other panelists included: William Anderson, Director Planning & Research for Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, Patsy Lewis, Professor, University of the West Indies - Mona Campus, Dr. William Stronge, Director and Professor of Florida Atlantic University-Office of International Programs/Florida Cultural Alliance, Mr. Amadou Toure - Cabinet Chief of Ministry of Tourism, Senegal. Dr. Patrick Mat Matlou, Deputy Director General of Tourism for the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, South Africa.

The second panel discussing ”Constructing a Tourism Infrastructure” was moderated by Dr. Peter U. C. Dieke, Associate Professor, The Emirate Academy of Hospitality Management, and featured panelists John Crow, President of Crow Hospitality Investment Group, LLC, Jake Henderson, Jr., Vice President of Henderson Associates, Dr. Joseph T. Isaac, Acting Director for Baltimore City Community College, Scott Lagueux, Partner/Director of Ports and Maritime Consulting Division, Bermello, Ajamil & Partners, Youga Sakho, Director General of SAPCO, and Zukiswa Nkheieonye, Deputy Director for International Tourism Liaison, Department. of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, South Africa.

The Luncheon Speaker for the day was Hon. Massek Ndiaye, Minister of Tourism for the Republic of Senegal, and after the Lunch session, some participants went on an afternoon site visit; behind the scenes at The Dolphin Mall .A special roundtable discussion concerning the Opportunities and Challenges for Africa-US Air Service also took place during the afternoon session with Miguel Southwell serving as facilitator and Sergio Lopez, FAA Miami International Field Office contributing. A Select group of Ministers and Airlines Executives from African countries and the US were in attendance during this discussion.

July 24, 2003 - Day Four of the conference commenced with Exhibits opening at 8:30AM, and at 9:00AM presentations were given by Dr. Amany Asfour, President, Egyptian Business women Association and June Arunga from Kenya (this event was rescheduled from the previous day). The Plenary speech concerned the topic, “Terrorism and Tourism" and was given by Brian Abbott. The morning session ended with two panels discussions. The first discussed “Cruise Industry Trends” with Anne Kalosh U.S. Editor for Seatrade Cruise Review moderating, and other panelists included Jean Elis, Peter A. M. Cox, Director of Destination Planning & Development, Cunard Line & Seabourn Cruise Line, Khalid Salahuddin, Deputy Director for the Port of Miami, Ronald J. Thomason, Vice President of Operations for SeaSecure, and Ms. Violet Tsepane, Senior Administration Officer/International Tourism Liaison of the Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism, South Africa. The second panel discussed “The Future of Global Tourism” with Dr. Gaynelle Henderson-Bailey, President of Henderson Associates/Henderson Travel moderating, and other panelists included Simon Newton-Smith, VP Sales for South African Airlines-North America, Miguel Southwell, Assistant Director Business Development for Miami Aviation Department, and Dr. Marcia Taylor, Visiting Lecturer for Georgia State University. The Luncheon Speakers for the day was Jorge L. Arrizurieta, Executive Director for Florida FTAA, Inc. and Becky Norton Dunlop, Vice President of External Relations for The Heritage Foundation.

The afternoon session began with a site visit Behind the Scenes at Parrot Jungle - a Wildlife Tourism Site, while a select group attended a panel discussion held in place of the Presidential Roundtable Discussion previously scheduled and later cancelled due to the inability of the President of Senegal H. E. Abdoulaye Wade to attend the conference. The panelists for this panel included (among others):
- Donald W. Muncy, Democracy Specialist for USAID discussing “Democracy and Governance”,
- Bridgett Wagner, Director of Coalition Relations of The Heritage Foundation, discussing “Index of Economic Freedom: Millenium Challenge Account Roundtable”,
- Peter Dieke, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Tourism for the Academy of Hospitality Management, United Arab Emirates, discussing “Public-Private Partnerships on Tourism Development in Africa”,
- Fred Oladeinde, President of The Foundation for Democracy in Africa, discussing “The Western Hemisphere Diaspora Network" (WHADN),
- Dr. Karl S. Wright, Executive Vice President and Provost, Florida Memorial College, discussing “The Critical Role of Education in African Development”,
- Dr. Piyush C. Agrawal, Chairman of the American Medical Depot, discussing "Pharmaceuticals and Medical Equipments / Supply Logistics”,
- Scott Lagueux, Partner/Director of Ports and Maritime Consulting Division, Bermello, Ajamil & Partners discussing “Infrastructure Development”, and
- Mr. Abdoulaye Agne, FDA Private Sector Adviser, discussing “Regional Strategy for Tourism Development in Africa”
The fourth day of the conference concluded with a Gala Dinner featuring the presentation of the “Medal of Glory Award” to His Excellency Abdoulaye Wade, President of the Republic of Senegal. The medal was received on his behalf by the Senegalese Cabinet Director, Honorable Lamine Ba. Traci Cyod of Hot 105 Radio Station served as the mistress of Ceremonies, and Dialu Africa (Movement of Culture) provided entertainment for the Gala Dinner.

July 25,2003 - the Fifth Day of the Conference - began with some participants of the conference taking a Cruise to the Bahamas in order to attend a Bahamian Government Briefing while landlocked participants happily witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Foundation for Democracy in Africa and the New College of Florida. The entire Friday program that took place in Miami was comprised of activities involving Youth Leadership. Opening remarks for the Youth Leadership Program were provided by H.E. Zac Nsenga, Ambassador of the Embassy of The Republic of Rwanda, Dr. Gershwin T. Blyden, Executive Director of The Institute for Democracy in Africa, Dr. Winnie Hernandez-Gallegos, Youth and Education Program Director for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Dr. Robert B. Ingram, Co-chair of The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida, and Dr. Sarah E. Moten, Coordinator of the Education for Development and Democracy Initiative-USAID/ Bureau for Africa.

The Africando 2003 Youth Leadership Program events included: a "‘Brian Quest’ Competition”; a debate and presentation of essays by students on the topic: "Conflict Resolution Model Construction”; as well as speeches on the topic: "Ethics and Time Management" given by Robert A. Meyers, Executive Director of the Miami-Dade County Ethics & Public Trust, Robert Henderson, Jr., CEO of the Henderson Financial Group, Miami, Florida.

Saturday, July 26, 2003 - the last day for AfrICANDO 2003 - included events such as: a panel discussing the “Diaspora African Heritage” moderated by Carole Boyce Davies, Florida International University, and including panel speakers Dr. Nemata Blyden, Assistant Professor in the Department of History, George Washington University, Dr. Carolyn Cooper, Professor of Literary & Cultural Studies, University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Dr. Kojo Yelpaala, McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, and Dr. Molara Ogundipe, English Department, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff
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The official ending of the conference took place at the Bayfront Amphitheatre with conference participants joining members of the public in the FDA-IDA sponsored AfrICANDO Arts and Culture Folk Life Festival - a one-day event designed to highlight the African influence that exists throughout the world. This multi-cultural program featured local and international artists in various fields including music, dance, portraiture, jewelry, etc selling their wares and enjoying the Miami sun with conference participants and other friends of Africa. Special presentations at the festival included:
- An official cake-cutting in celebration of Miami's birthday,
- A "Recognition of Historical Community Organizations" featuring Dr. Dorothy Jenkins Fields, Founder of The Black Archives History and Research Foundation of South Florida, Inc,
- A "Presentation of the City of Miami Proclamation" featuring Manuel A. Diaz, Mayor of the City of Miami, Florida, Johnny Winton, Chair of the City of Miami Commission, and Arthur E. Teele, Co-Chair of the City of Miami Commission.
- AfrICANDO Youth Leadership Trophy Awards Ceremony where awards recognizing achievements of students that took part in the Youth Leadership Program were presented by H.E. Zac Nsenga, Ambassador of the Embassy of The Republic of Rwanda, Dr. Gershwin T. Blyden, Executive Director of the Institute for Democracy in Africa, Dr. Winnie Hernandez-Gallegos, Youth and Education Program Director for W. K. Kellogg Foundation, Battle Creek, Michigan, and Dr. Sarah E. Moten, Coordinator, Education for Development & Democracy Initiative, Washington, DC
The AfrICANDO Art & Culture Festival Concert began at 3:00PM and featured Masters of Ceremony: Jamusa, WAVS, 1170 AM Radio, and Dexter Angry, Hip Hop Comedian entertained the audience and introduced the performers which included:
Reggae Ambassadors (Formally of Third World) (Jamaican Artists)

Mubfanila (African American - R&B Group)
Sweet Vibes (Haitian artists)
Paola Fernandez & Music W (Latin American artists)
Maraj (Cultural Dancer)
Aina (Afro-Cuban artist)
Soca Man Cliff & Wyle Fyer Band (Dominican Soca/Calypso)
North Side Steel Orchestra (Trinidadian Steel Pan)
Malichi Smith (Jamaican Dub Poetry Spoken Word)
Body Motion Dance Theatre Group (Caribbean Cultural)
9 to 5 Hustlers (Caribbean/American Rap artists)
Askenaz (St. Kitts/East Caribbean singer)
DJ Moses (American DJ)