It is really irritating to hear about and see Caribbean efforts described - in face-to-face conversions as well as intimated online - as one looking for handouts. This is about the rules. And respect for the rules. And by so doing, respecting all of us. And when our rights are abridged, we shall respond. Fiercely too, if we must. I see one of our colleagues under attack for calling these attacks plainly, bigotry <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigotry> [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigotry]. That is his judgment and he has an absolute right to discomfit those who carry that seed. We are different people with different styles of engagement. But make no mistake, we know when a hand is raised against us. And, what we must do. There are no sacred cows. At least not where reason lives. It was a watershed moment for me when one of my longtime colleagues, the hardest worker among Caribbean ALS representatives, one who is slow to anger, describe the situation as us being treated as if we were, literally and figuratively, slaves! I am responsible for the original draft of the LACRALO Principles and the Rules of Procedure. The original version of the Principles and Rules of Procedure were finalized with the assistance of Nick Ashton-Hart, then [ICANN] Director of At-Large. Ditto the revised 2008 version that created the role for a permanent Chair. This narrative that claims 'we do not understand the rules' is as long-running as it is incredible. The ONLY suggestions for change from those who claim lack of understanding was an attempt at Costa Rica to create more LACRALO posts with titles and to discriminate against Internet users depending on where they live. One or other of us have been involved in all the heavy lifting. There was a time when the only ones we could call on to do real work were Andres Piazza and Carlos Dionisio Aguirre. Add Fatima Cambronero to that list. Those were the days Carlos was just learning English. We saw the struggle and how determined he was to participate. So we formed a principle; we will never support discrimination based on language or language proficiency. People will grow. Contrary to what the bigots would say, the UWI ALS and other Caribbean ALS have supported and voted many Latins as representatives and leaders. I have voted and supported, among others, the following persons: Carlos Dionisio Aguirre, Jose Ovidio Salgueiro, Sergio Salinas Porto, Fatima Cambronero, Natalia Enciso, Sylvia Herlein Leite, Jose Arce, and Juan Manuel Rojas. Yes, some more enthusiastically than for others. At that much maligned and fabricated Mexico City GA, the UWI ALS cast its vote for one Sergio Salinas Porto. The record will show the UWI ALS is the only Caribbean ALS to ever vote for FLUI-associated members for leadership, despite their seeming gut-level opposition to Caribbean representation. We always look for the redeeming attributes. I have gone against the advice of my Caribbean peers, even my own business partner, to vote for candidates who did not speak English as representatives. That was on principle. My principles do not operate on a sliding scale. My principles cannot be situational. -Carlton Samuels ============================== Carlton A Samuels Mobile: 876-818-1799 *Strategy, Planning, Governance, Assessment & Turnaround* =============================