The Sugar Babies

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The Sugar Babies is a feature-length documentary film about human trafficking from Haiti into the Dominican Republic. The film reveals the complicity between the government of the Dominican Republic and the sugar industry in exploiting Haitian immigrants.

The film is written, shot, produced and directed by Amy Serrano, produced by Siren Studios and the Hope, Courage and Justice Project [New Orleans] and funded in part by the New York-based Human Rights Foundation. Its executive producer is Claudia Chiesi, Producer is Thor Halvorssen, Constance Haqq is Co-Producer and Salvador Longoria and Tico Pujals are Production Associates. The 99 minute film was edited by Jason Ocasio, the music score is by Bill Cruz and it was narrated by Edwidge Danticat.

Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Controversy 3 See also 4 References

[edit] Synopsis

Though Haitian immigrants have traditionally labored in the sugarcane fields, known as bateys, controlled by individuals such as the sugar barons Alfonso and Pepe Fanjul, and the wealthy Dominican Vicini family (owners of the Grupo Vicini collection of companies and of the Diario Libre newspaper), allegations of modern-day slavery have met with a swift response from the sugar barons and ultra-nationalist Dominicans.

[edit] Controversy

The film will enjoy its official "World Premiere" at the Montreal International Haitian Film Festival but preview screenings in Paris and Miami have led to heated controversy.^{[1] [2]}

The Miami screening of the film, which included many members of the hispanic media of South Florida and from the Dominican Republic, was the subject of a cease and desist order one hour before the time of screening, as well as a bribery scandal when several radio producers came forward and denounced that Dominican diplomats had offered them bribes (envelopes filled with cash amounts ranging from $400-$2000) to disrupt the screening and give the film a bad review.^{[3] [4]} As a result, coverage of the film in the Hispanic media bordered on the absurd including criticism of what the director wore to the screening and segment-by-segment criticism of every element in the film. false

The Paris screening of the film was also the subject of a sabotage attempt. .^[5]

[edit] See also

• The price of sugar
• Christopher Hartley

[edit] References

1. ^ http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2007/06/29/c1a_SUGAR_CANE_0629.html
2. ^ http://www.miamiherald.com/416/v-print/story/153614.html
3. ^ http://www.dominicanoshoy.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12566&Itemid=46
4. ^ http://www.dominicanoshoy.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12617&Itemid=46
5. ^ IPS Inter Press Service