The Haitian League :: Accomplishments

Recent Success and Experience

June 2008 – Partnership with Haitian-American Leadership Council: Announcing plans to convene first “National Congress and Convention of Haitian-Americans” in Newark, New Jersey, October 10-12, 2008

May 2008 – Haiti chapter convenes with fledged board of directors: Program emphases will be on Lakou-Haiti project, catchment lakes and microcredit loans to low-income Haitians.

April 2008 – Lakou-Haiti spends “Earth Day” in Pandiassou: Team of experts of The Haitian League meets with Frère Armand Francklin and his staff to examine and begin transformation of his Pandiassou farm to full-scale Lakou-Haiti capability. Also delivered approx. $200,000 worth of medicines and office equipment.

March 2008 – Workbooks for creating “Lakou-Haiti” installations: Preparation of detailed workbooks to assist launch of Lakou-Haiti projects from pre-existing schools, farms and job-training facilities in Haiti. Goal is to have at least one installation in each commune [township].

March 2008 – haitisos.com: Website created to announce and begin emergency program to collect motorized farm equipment for shipment to Haitian farmers.

March 2008 – International meeting of partners to launch first Lakou-Haiti project: Frère Armand Francklin and staff meet with representatives and specialists of The Haitian League in Newark, New Jersey. Plan for Pandiassou location to become first Lakou-Haiti installation.

February 2008 – Meetings with Haitian National Leadership: A delegation of The Haitian League visits Haiti, meets and confers with President Préval and cabinet ministers on future of national policies for agriculture, education and skilled employment. Introduction to Frère Francklin Armand and first tour of his demonstration farms in central Haiti.

January 2008 – Four-point program to activate Haitian Diaspora: Publication of program emphasizing a) regular high-level visits by Haitian government officials to Haitian communities in the United States and Canada, b) creation of a Haitian Development Bonds program, to be called “H-BONDS”, c) a Diaspora investment and repatriation program and d) an intensified cultural and solidarity program.

December 2007 – Cast-of-Characters Study, Haiti and the Origin of HIV/AIDS: Completion and distribution of detailed paper on the scientific team whose molecular genetics research on the origin of HIV/AIDS [in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science] sparked widespread adverse reaction from Haitian officials and health professionals.

July 2007 – National Environmental Initiative Conference, Jacmel, Haiti: Representatives of The Haitian League attended and participated in the National Environmental Initiative Conference of Alternative Gifts International.

January 2007 – International observers, Haiti national elections: A delegation of The Haitian League served as international monitors during mayoral and other local elections throughout Haiti.

October 2007 -- Dedication of American Revolutionary War Memorial, Savannah Georgia: A delegation of The Haitian League attended and celebrated the installation of a Haitian war memorial commissioned by the Haitian-American Historical Society to honor the contribution of Haitian soldiers in the War for Independence during the “Siege of Savannah” in 1779.

May 2007 -- United Nations Symposium on Environmental Refugees: A delegation of The Haitian League attended and participated in a symposium of the United Nations University, “Environmental Refugees: The Forgotten Migrants” at United Nations Headquarters, New York.

March 2007 – Appeal for emergency attention to the plight of Cité Soleil residents: The Haitian League analyzes needs of Cité Soleil and calls for $7 million program to improve living conditions, reduce cost of living, increase environmental quality and freedom of choice in habitation and employment. Three-point program includes creating a) an international commission to seek, disclose and weigh the burden of life in Cité Soleil and b) a Diaspora Trust Fund to marshal aid from Haitians abroad, c) a complete redesign of land use in Cité Soleil and the capital city, Port-au-Prince.

November 2006 – “HOPE for Haiti” cooperation with U.S. Congress: The Haitian League joined representatives of other Haitian-American organizations for visits to U.S. Congress in advance of successful approval of favorable trade regulations for Haitian textile goods.

November 2006 – “Lakou-Haiti” Sports Module: Haiti-born professional basketball Sam Dalembert endorses and joins efforts of The Haitian League to promote sports development as a vehicle for education and employment opportunities in Haiti.

October 2006 – International meeting of chapters and affiliates, New Jersey: Reports, presentations and approval of plans of action for “Lakou-USA” and “Lakou-Haiti.” Georgia chapter of The Haitian League announces plan for lakou project in Belladère, central Haiti, near the border with Dominican Republic.

September 2006 – Haitian Bateys in Dominican Republic: Delegation of The Haitian League conducts fact-finding trip about poverty conditions in Haitian agricultural camps (“bateys”) in the Dominican Republic.

June 2005 - A six-member delegation of The Haitian League attended the appended “Summit on Tourism and Economic Development in Haiti” at the Deauville Beach Resorts, Miami.

May 2005 - White House Reception and Observance, Haitian-American Heritage Month: Coordinated 100+ delegation of Haitian-Americans and Haitian nationals, May 18, for White House reception and State Department/USAID staff briefings on U.S.-Haiti foreign relations, aid and development planning. [press release and Presidential letter appended below.

April 2005 - Northeast Regional Conference, Newark, New Jersey: 200+ participants for 3-days’ regional conference, including Haitian national government and other delegates [program appended below]. Budget approx. $55,000 cash, $40,000 in-kind.

February 2005 – Washington, D.C.: Delegation of The Haitian League to White House opening of the African American Museum.

Fall 2004 - Hurricane Jeanne Disaster Relief: Delegation of The Haitian League brought $950,000 of emergency medicines to Haiti for the victims of Hurricane Jeanne.

August 2004 – White House: At the White House’s request, a 38-member nationwide delegation of the Haitian American Leadership attended a briefing session on Haiti, August 6.

July 2004 - Pignon: Delegation of The Haitian League visited Dr. Guy Theodore, his staff and medical facilities and agricultural demonstration farm in Pignon, central Haiti.

Fall 2003 – Statistical Study, Haitian Population in the United States: The Haitian League commissioned a detailed analysis of population data of Haitian Americans living in the United States.

The Haitian League Meets President and Prime Minister: Propose Jobs, Environment, Diaspora Action

The first week of February, 2008, seven delegates of The Haitian League [THL] traveled from the United States to Haiti to meet President René Préval and Prime Minister Jacques-Eduard Alexis about three important League initiatives:

The Lakou-Haiti program for technical skills Development and rural renewal.
A four-point Diaspora Investment and Repatriation Plan and
A National Congress of Non-governmental Organizations (www. haitianleague.org)

In meetings February 4 and 5, League president, Bernier Lauredan, M.D., explained that these three programs were specifically designed with the Haiti’s official nation building agenda in mind. In other words, they are meant to be partnerships in the overall development picture, not stand-alone charity from Haitians living abroad.

At Palais National, Haiti, February 5, 2008’s THL meeting. From left, Michael Spinelli, Allison Cappella, Fr. Armand, Prés. Préval, Lucie Oligario, & Bernier Lauredan, M.D. On the first initiative, President Préval agreed that the Lakou-Haiti program could help the government achieve three-year goals for agricultural and water resources. The President asked his domestic affairs advisor, Frère Armand Francklin, to familiarize the delegation with current projects and then help the League introduce the Lakou program nationwide. To start, Francklin showed the delegation his own farm community in the Artibonite region where residents conduct a variety of agricultural education activities operate a tree nursery and have made numerous ponds for aquaculture and irrigation. Francklin said the League would be welcomed to start its first Lakou there, with emphasis on agriculture, reforestation and development of lakes and ponds, perfecting what exists, then adding whatever modules they desired. Francklin asked for League input to a memorandum of understanding, and Dr. Lauredan chose Max Antoine II and Jean Marie Innocent to meet again and begin to make the relationship official.

President Préval made a special request to the League for motorized farm equipment. The President said, “If you get them, we’ll bring them here!” Therefore, the League is urgently seeking tractors and other equipment from American farmers, gardeners and suppliers; all items and cash contributions are tax-deductible (www.haitisos.org).

On the second initiative, President Préval indicated that he will soon name a governmental commission on Haiti’s Diaspora. For that body, he promised to include the Haitian League and affiliates. In a nod to Dr. Lauredan’s request for more frequent visits to the U.S. by Haitian government leaders, Frère Armand offered to extend his next visit to the States to address and work with members of The Haitian League at a gathering tentatively scheduled for March.

On the third initiative, Prime Minister Alexis said he was very interested in the idea of an NGO Congress in Haiti. The Congress is proposed for this mid-summer, but the schedule primarily depends on adequate funds to invite the leaders of hundreds of organizations, Haitian and foreign, who are working in and out of Haiti, and the people.

The Haitian League Contributes, Attends and Celebrates Dedication of Haitian Revolutionary War Memorial, Savannah Georgia

THL’s Dr. Lauredan with his daughters at the new “Savannah monument” October 10, 2007, Savannah, Georgia – This past weekend, five members of The Haitian League attended and celebrated the dedication of a new war memorial that uniquely honors the service and sacrifice of Haitian soldiers during America’s War for Independence, 1775-1783. The memorial, set in historic Franklin Park, in the Atlantic seacoast city of Savannah, Georgia, concerns the famous October 9, 1779 “Siege of Savannah.” In this battle, colonial soldiers, aided by French troops that included several hundred armed “chasseurs volontaires de Saint Domingue” -- volunteers from the Caribbean colony that become independent Haiti in 1804 -- tried to break the British hold on the city. Although they were decisively unsuccessful, with many dead and wounded, the battle signified the beginning of international military assistance to the new American nation and the end of British political dominance in North America. Four years later, the British surrendered the thirteen colonies to the Americans, and twenty years after that, the French surrendered its Saint Domingue to Haiti. The league assisted the monument in in-kind services, and facilitation (travels to Haiti, DC, Canada, etc)

The monument was designed and created by Florida sculptor James Mastin. It depicts life-size Haitian soldiers in the midst of battle, perched on a high pedestal. The memorial is inset with plaques naming those who, together, collected approximately a half-million dollars to bring the memorial “to life.” The project has been an ambitious effort of the Miami-based Haitian-American Historical Society, with the approval and cooperation of the City of Savannah, beginning in the fall of 2002. Although the Siege of Savannah was pivotal in the war, the event is not generally known, written about or taught.

In his remarks for the occasion, Savannah’s Mayor Otis Johnson said: “Without the Haitians’ contribution, we [Americans] would be speaking with a British accent today.” Notably, in addition to hosting the monument, Savannah has also begun to assist the city of Saint Marc in Haiti, where it is said that the original “chasseurs” embarked for American soil more than two hundred years ago. U.S. Congressman Kendrick Meek (D-Fl) stated, “Completion of this memorial is a milestone in establishing the historic presence of Haitians in the United States and a testament to their continuing participation in American society. Jean V. Geneus, Haiti’s Minister of Haitians Living Abroad, and special representative of President René Préval to the monument dedication, said, “Haitian Americans, more than two million, now need to coalesce to improve their standing in United States and help Haiti outgrow its underdevelopment”. “We are lucky these Boatpeople came to our rescue, said former Savannah’s Mayor Floyd Adams”, whose administration facilitated the existence of the monument.

“The untold history underlies the contribution of free men of color to US Independence and its continued contribution today,” said Honorable Sybil Elias, NJ first Haitian American Judge and Co-founder of the Haitian League. “It is unfortunate that this valuable contribution of Haitians to US Independence is not part of American History taught to us in school”, said 15 year old Bernice Lauredan, who, along with her 11 year old sister Sabrina, attended the unveiling.

When and Why Haitians Emigrated:

In recent times, large-scale emigration from Haiti to the U.S. and elsewhere began in the 1950s. At first, those who left were members of Haiti’s educated upper and middle classes, searching for peace and tranquility and a better standard of living. Skilled professionals such as doctors, lawyers, teachers, and engineers resettled in areas such as New York, Chicago, Indiana and Boston. Not long thereafter, Haiti began to experience a “brain drain”, as professional opportunities diminished within the country and political repression exponentially increased. One indication of the magnitude of the outflow is the fact that between 1957 and 1963, only 3 out 264 graduates of Haiti’s state-sponsored medical school remained in the country. Many lawyers, engineers, nurses, teachers, and technicians in all fields also left the country.

During the 1960s, semi-skilled Haitians from the middle and lower urban classes joined the Diaspora, leading in increasing number those heading toward the U.S., Canada, Africa and Europe. The flow continued during the 1970s and 1980s. As increasing numbers of those Haitians established themselves, principally in the New York area, family and friends from back home began to visit -- between 1956 and 1985, the US government issued over one million entry visas to Haitians. It is estimated that 50 per cent of these visa holders overstayed their time limit, hoping to establish permanent residence in the U.S.

Between 1956 and 1985, the US government issued over one million entry visas to Haitians. From the 1970s, Haitian enclaves in Miami and other nearby South Florida cities began to grow in number and size.

The greatest exodus occurred with a new phase of migration from Haiti to the U.S. when, in 1972, several sailboats carrying Haitians arrived in South Florida. Migrants in this new phase were the poorer Haitians, those who could not afford exit visas or airplane tickets but could, by selling their land or possessions, raise the amount charged by boat captains for the 700-mile trip to Florida. Hence was born the phenomenon of “Boat People”. Of note, the geographic proximity of the United States may have had a bearing on their destination, as shown in the diagram below. Most of these immigrants came from villages and towns scattered around Haiti rather than from the capital, Port-au-Prince.

As a result, from the 1970s, Haitian enclaves in Miami (now known as “Little Haiti”) and other nearby South Florida cities began to grow in number and in size. As Haiti experienced deepening poverty and pervasive repression under dictatorial rules, the boatpeople’s exodus increased. During the 1970s and 1980s, some 50,000 to 80,000 arrived in Florida. In 1981 alone, up to a thousand arrived in South Florida either directly or by way of the Bahamas. An unknown number perished at sea. This not only underscored the desperation of Haitians fleeing economic and environmental desperation and political violence, but also made Haitians and Haitian-Americans alike the subject of negative headlines in the media.

The Haitian Leage Accomplishments In the 1990’s, the flow of boatpeople temporarily ceased in the wake of a democratic election and the widespread expectation among Haiti’s poor that the election of President Jean Bertrand Aristide would end the era of repression and signal an increase in opportunities and living standards. By the end of 1991 however, following a violent military coup d’état, Haitians were once more taking to boats. Between late-1991 and early-1992, the United States intercepted 37,000 Haitians on the high seas. During the ensuing 1991-1994 military rule in Haiti, thousands more fled the country, mostly by boat. During this period of desperate outpouring, some who fled were accorded refugee status, and some were resettled to various locations around the U.S., leading to a skewed distribution of Haitians geographically. Today, this is reflected in the census table, as shown below.

Since the 1994 removal of Haiti’s military regime, the country has not experienced as massive an outpouring of refugees. But the Haitian Diaspora is still fueled by occasional arrivals of boatpeople in South Florida, the continuing emigration of family and friends by air, and by the Diaspora’s own internal growth. Now, 80% of the total Haiti-derived population of 2.1 million or more is considered to be Haitian-Americans.

The Effects of Haiti’s Diaspora:

In America, the growth of Haiti’s Diaspora has brought along a fourfold phenomenon: First, the Haitian Diaspora has historic, strong and deep civic roots. Its leaders now increasingly shape the debate on issues related to their American communities and interests as well as to Haiti’s. For examples, Marie St. Fleur is now a Massachusetts State Representative, Yolie Robertson is a Florida State Representative, Kwame Raoul is an Illinois State Senator, and Jo Celestin is a North Miami former mayor, and so on. Most of these civic leaders closely follow developments “back home” and continually ponder how best to maintain their connections and pursue their interests. United States national and local politicians now are taking a keen interest in Haitian Americans. They acknowledge their concerns and court their votes. The White House hosted a “Haitian American Flag Day” and Presidential and cabinet-level staff routinely invites Haitian-American leaders to Washington, D.C. to advice on Haiti-related policies. Making the best of their voting strength, the Haitian Diaspora and friends have pressed Congress to enact favorable trade legislation. Recently, former Congressman Tim Foley introduced a bill (HR611) to recruit and send Haitian-Americans to Haiti to serve as development advisors, etc. (www.haitianleague.org/appendices).

Second, Haitian-Americans have a notable professional life. They own or manage thriving businesses and are doing fairly well in areas such as entertainment and professional sports. Dumarsais Simeus leads Simeus Foods, Texas; internationally-known musician and cultural advocate Wycleff Jean leads the influential “Fugees” band; Samuel Dalembert is the skilled center for the Philadelphia 76ers in the National Basketball Association. Further, Haitian-Americans have attained high rank as officers in U.S. armed forces (www.haitianleague.org/appendices).

Third, there is now a two-way flow between the U.S. and Haiti, with first-, second-, and even third-generation Haitian-Americans “returning home” to visit family and friends, and to explore options for contributing to Haiti’s improvement. Members of the Haitian Diaspora send cash transfers to Haiti annually totaling more than US$1.5 billion (Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, International Migration, 2006. Publication). For many in Haiti, these remittances are a critically important component of their budget; the money is used to pay costs of education, health care, housing and the purchase of basic necessities. The Haitian League believes, however, this support is poorly coordinated and has not resulted in the meaningful development that Haitian-American remitters intend.

Fourth, the growth of Haiti’s Diaspora in the U.S. has sparked the interest of the Haitian Government to create a “Ministre des Haitiens Vivants a l’Etranger” (MHAVE). As part of that interest, the Government has begun to take steps to attract Diaspora members back towards Haiti, especially as investors. The response has been slow, partly because Haitians and Haitian-Americans abroad are still wary of news of widespread insecurity and disappointed by continuing corruption, failure of justice and the Government’s indecision about such issues as dual nationality. Signs of national stability and security are still mixed but may be improving. Small states such as Israel and even Santo Domingo have already attracted Haitian attention as possible models for Diaspora participation in national development. Those paths may be feasible for Haiti, too. All in all, the time may be ripe for focused Diaspora influence and participation in Haiti’s future.

Four Proposals to Develop Diaspora Potential

1. High-level, Substantive Visits to U.S. and Canada

Proposal 1. Have frequent, coordinated visits of Haiti’s President, Prime Minister and special delegations to population centers in the U.S.

The Haitian League recommends that Haiti’s national government and civic leaders immediately begin a regular and frequent program of scheduled and well-publicized visits to large Haitian communities in the U.S. and Canada. These should be substantive information-sharing and problem-solving encounters, not photo-opportunities. For meaningful participation and investment in Haiti’s future, Diaspora members need to know the actual conditions, problems and needs of the cities and countryside. They need to compare and contrast past development efforts, and decide where to put their valuable time, energy and money and how to coordinate and safeguard them. Transparent and truthful fact-finding would also avoid repeating the unsuccessful “Voye Haiti Monte” (VOHAM) campaign of the 1990’s that left a bad impression on the Diaspora and discouraged broad response.

The Haitian League and other regional and grassroots organizations would welcome the opportunity to provide local hospitality to visiting delegations. The events would also demonstrate the skills of Diaspora organizations and whet their appetites for involvement back in Haiti

The visits can also be an occasion for real-time fundraising and pledging of future support for Haiti’s development. Funds would be accumulated and managed by local Diaspora trustees, fully audited, and expended for projects agreed upon by the donors and their Haitian community partners.

2. Haiti Aid and Investment Development Fund (H-AID)

Proposal 2. Create, support and promote a “Haiti Aid and Investment Development” Fund (H-AID) to spark the donation and sale of bonds to Haiti’s Diaspora and friends of Haiti.

The Haitian League recommends creating a fiscally-sound and completely transparent “Haiti Aid and Investment Development Fund” (H-AID) to spark the donation and sale of bonds to the Diaspora and friends of Haiti. Solicitations for and the use money would be managed and determined by agreement and oversight of the donors and recipients themselves, with guidance of the Government of Haiti to insure good coordination with nation-building priorities.

As noted above, in the wake of widespread expectation among Haiti’s poor that a democratic election in the early 1990s would lead to the demise of repression and an increase of opportunities for life and livelihoods, the Haitian Diaspora poured millions of dollars into a foreign aid basket called “Voye Haiti Monte” (VOHAM). Unfortunately the fund was squandered. Therefore, to regain Diaspora confidence today, any national aid program must offer skillfully-crafted anti-corruption measures, with a large dose of accountability and transparency. That program has yet to appear.

The Haitian Diaspora is extremely charitable and self-sacrificing; it remits more than US$1.5 billion annually, excluding hefty transfer service fees, to support relatives and friends in Haiti. But, in a sense, this money is mainly used to purchase imported “chicken legs” and thus does nothing for the country’s urgent need for self-reliance, community development, rural renewal, alternative energy, reforestation, water and sanitation.

Therefore, The Haitian League envisions H-AID as a program that could both accumulate funds through guaranteed bonds maturing over the long term, but also as a secure service to electronically receive and transmit Diaspora remittances on a non-profit basis, which fees would be instantly convertible to development bonds. In this way, remitters will accumulate equity in Haiti’s future, not throw their fees out the window to unknown stockholders in private finance companies.

3. Facilitation of Diaspora Investment and Repatriation

Proposal 3. Create, promote and support a “Bureau of the Diaspora and Friends of Haiti” in every embassy and consulate near population centers in the U.S. and Canada. The mission will be to attract Diaspora members back to Haiti, both in person and in spirit.

The Haitian League recommends serious consideration of a nation-building package of civic, economic, social and environmental incentives to attract Diaspora members and their resources back to Haiti. As Haiti’s diplomatic corps is the country’s front line for promoting and delivering such a package, this means major improvements in the funding, staffing, presence and conduct of Haitian embassies and consulates worldwide, especially those in the U.S. and Canada. For this, The Haitian League recommends the creation of a Bureau of the Diaspora and Friends of Haiti.

Clearly, Haiti’s Diaspora will not again be fooled by unscrupulous “voleurs” who, in the guise of development and foreign aid agents, once preyed upon the sympathies and bank accounts of Haitian refugees and migrants. Today’s Diaspora members are too smart to pour their life-savings, home equity, business assets and other property into shaky investments in Haiti. And, reading the signs of still-shaky security, they will not risk the kidnapping, ransom, injury and/or death of themselves and their employees in the process.

So assuredly, it will take a grand effort to attract the Diaspora back to Haiti, whether in person or in spirit. But this is an unavoidable challenge. The Diaspora’s purchasing power alone probably dwarfs what Haiti can expect from internal tax revenue, bilateral grants and international bank loans. The prerequisites for return are also unavoidable, e.g. firm grip on day-to-day security, improved public services, enhanced justice and anti-crime systems, etc. But every small improvement will pay dividends. The Haitian League knows that Haitians abroad do not want to ignore their homeland; in fact they continually seek meaningful and rewarding involvement. For them, a Bureau of the Diaspora and Friends of Haiti would be a definite pole of attraction and initial involvement.

Beyond charity and absentee investment, it is probably too early to assess Diaspora inclination to physically migrate back to Haiti. Who, for example, would relocate their business or family, or even retire, to such a poor country in the throes of population explosion, hardship and environmental distress? But there will be exceptions – “reverse pioneers” of a sort – and they should be found and encouraged. Already, The Haitian League and other U.S.-based organizations have chapters in Haiti and are ready to assist returnees. Time will tell when the tide will begin to turn.

4. Cultural and Solidarity Program

Proposal 4. Create, support and promote a Diaspora cultural exchange and solidarity program especially for second- and third-generation Haitian Americans.

As per the table below, the vast majority of the Diaspora have been born and raised in the United States, and a similar case can be made for all other adopted countries. Given Haiti’s long-time period of migration, over some 50 years, these figures are not farfetched. This growing, college-graduated population will soon replace their aging Haitian parents and will have more economic and political clout.

Unfortunately most of these second and third generations of refugees and migrants have never visited Haiti. Pervasive unrest and insecurity have been cited as reasons for their hesitation, but nonetheless there is a curiosity about the homeland. Undeniably, this new generation loves to dance “compas”, admire and collect Haitian artwork, enjoy and prepare Haitian food, follow the news about Haitian athletes, and of course value the Haitian flag and the history of freedom struggles. (www.haitianleague.org/appendices).

But the new Diaspora generation cannot be expected to create sufficient “push” factors for a large cultural movement back to Haiti. Haitians themselves must create a variety of “pull” factors – affordable transportation, safe accommodations, authentic cultural events, ecotourism and learning experiences, etc. -- and then actually want to have tens of thousands of newcomers of Haitian heritage coming to the country. This call for a national “welcome wagon” mentality would attract the support of many, including The Haitian League.

May 25, 2007 Haiti Meeting Notes

Attendees: Jean Geneus, Minister of Diaspora, Bernier Lauredan, THL, Max Antoine, II, THL Lucie Oligario, THL

Max Antoine introduced the delegation and Dr Lauredan presented the NGO conference and Lakou Haiti. On behalf of the Government of Haiti, Mr. Geneus extended his welcome to the delegation.

As to the Annual congress, this is a very interesting Instrument to evaluate and validate ONG work in Haiti, he said. PADFand CHF could be interesting partner. Need to do something but not to get the ONG in trouble. ONG are very defensive (careful point).

Planning to have a conference in October is good for this year, but over the years will be better in July to facilitate the Diaspora and their children to visit Haiti. The Government can give the support; can also have help from all the ministers. Need to ask for specific assistance. For example the Minister of Diaspora can offer Autobus; the minister of Social affairs can facilitate peasant participation. ONG are very close to the peasant community. Approche sectorielle (section temoinage). All the ONG are in different sectors.

Inject priority actions for the NGO Past, future and present Prepare report and plan of action: Agriculture, land use and supplies Also responsibility should be taken at the congress for Health (prevention disease) immigration refugee. Government, parliament and everyone should participate. Will need a letter outlining specific assistance requested from his office

As to Lakou Haiti, Ministre of Diaspora will arrange a meeting with President Préval for a THL delegation, perhaps by the end of the month of June, pending the approval of an official request noting terms, conditions, and composition of the delegation. Strongly suggest the inclusion of personalities such as Judge Elias and Samuel Dalembert.

Dr Lauredan:
The Diaspora seems to be alienated, left behind in the reconstruction Haiti. Countries like Israel and our neighbor Santo Domingo first call on their Diaspora for the reconstruction of their homeland. What the new initiatives undertaken to involve your Diaspora?

Mr. Geneus: We are aware of the criticism and have open line of communication, invite the Diaspora as observers, and are working on constitutional Reinforcement (commission of double nationality). As to the rejected $10 million legislation designed for Diaspora repatriation that has been reintroduced to Congress, there wasn't enough explanation for the apparent rejection.

The Ministre of Diaspora wants THL to make a proposal. When and Where the Diaspora wants me within a 2 weeks’ notice and I will be there. I am available to help anyway possible. The Diaspora ought to be a Public Relations tool for Haiti, Invest in tourism, assists to rebuild the image of the country, etc.

Dr Lauredan suggests that Haiti needs a “counter puncher” to attack the bad publicity in the world of Journalism and Stuart Leiderman could fill that role with his dedication to Haiti.

Max Antoine suggests a Diaspora initiation of such undertaking. A source of funding is still a question. Mr. Max Antoine and Dr. Lauredan will send the letters and do the follow up. The proposal “Diaspora investments and repatriation” was sent a month later, we are still awaiting an answer.

March 1, 2007 “$7,000,000 Appeal of The Haitian League in Favor of Cite Soleil"

The Haitian League, its chapters and affiliates hereby appeal to the international community, and especially Haiti’s Diaspora, to acknowledge and relieve the dire plight of almost a half-million poor and vulnerable Haitians in the Cité Soleil section of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. These people live in virtual captivity. They have a crisis that deserves immediate attention.

Residents of Cité Soleil have been virtually ignored in Haiti’s national recovery and development process.
As a result they are among the poorest, ill-fed, ill-housed and unemployed people in the world.
Many are economic migrants and environmental refugees from the countryside, victims of storms, erosion, deforestation, rising costs of living and absence of essential community services, who constantly flee to the capital city in search of refuge.
Instead, they find an overcrowded, expensive and unfriendly city that offers no life-support. For them, the capital city and environs is an unexpected, deadly trap.
Recently, gangs and bandits, Haitian police and U.N. occupation forces have used cité soleil as their battleground. The residents have been caught in this crossfire; they have been injured, kidnapped, killed and terrorized.
In a sense, Cité Soleil could be considered Haiti’s “Gaza Strip.”

There must be an objective and functional answer to this crisis. Cité Soleil requires and deserves significant improvement in quality of life -- jobs, schools, water, electricity, sanitation and responsible government. In addition, the residents need a plan of escape. Clearly, the whole capital city needs to be reshaped and renewed; part of the population needs to be resettled and meaningfully employed elsewhere in the country. This is the humane course of action and makes good development sense.

Therefore, The Haitian League is appealing for an immediate and intelligent response to the crisis of Cité Soleil where the voices of the residents will be heard loudly and clearly. Three steps are recommended:

1. International Commission -- The first is a three-month “international commission on Cité Soleil” to seek, disclose and weigh the burden of life in Cité Soleil, the pressures and the fears, and the likely outcomes depending on several redevelopment scenarios. The estimated cost for this step is $1 million.

2. Diaspora Trust Fund -- The second is a six-month program to rapidly bring Haiti’s Diaspora into the icture. In the United States, this population of more than two million contains unexplored sources of funds, expertise, family ties and capability to monitor and influence the pace and quality of improvements in Cite Soleil. In this program, The Haitian League will establish a “Diaspora Trust Fund” through which money and other resources for the rescue of Cité Soleil will pass, be reviewed, safeguarded and dispatched. The estimated cost is one million dollars to accumulate a working fund of at least $5 million.

3. Urban Redesign -- The third step is a year-long experimental redesign of Cité Soleil and the capital city, resulting in detailed plans for safer, cleaner and civil neighborhoods and a variety of pilot projects and facilities. The estimated cost for this step is $5 million.

The total for all three steps over twelve months is seven million dollars. The Haitian League will see these funds from all possible donors, but particularly from the Haitian Diaspora and from others who care about Haiti and its people.

Bernier Lauredan, M.D., for The Haitian League lauredansr@aol.com

January 26, 2007

Dr. Condoleezza Rice,
US Secretary of State
Washington, DC

Dear Dr. Rice:

On behalf of the 2,500,000 Haitian and Haitian-Americans in the United States, I thank for your commitment to Haiti and the invitation extended to us to meet Administration officials and staff. These are encouraging signs of inclusion.

As you may be aware, Haitians in America have demonstrated and continue to demonstrate a keen interest in the affairs of their troubled homeland:

According to the World Bank, the growing Haitian-American Diaspora remits approx. $1,400,000,000 to family and friends annually; this is comparable to more than the total budget of the Government of Haiti itself.
Haitian-Americans and their friends and colleagues tirelessly continue to advocate for Haiti, serve as advisors to state government, , create development programs such as the “Lakou-Haiti” project of The Haitian League and monitor Haiti’s national elections

Currently, the general perception, including Haitian-Americans’, is that there is a lot of money spent “in” Haiti, including millions of dollars through USAID, but very little money spent “on” Haiti. In apparent disregard of the 2005 OECD Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, , foreign aid to Haiti seems largely piecemeal and without sufficient coordination with the Haitian Government, the Haitian Diaspora, international non-governmental organizations, charities and economic institutions. The result is a large drawer of non-audited receipts in the world’s most disadvantaged and deforested country [153rd out of 177 in UN 2004 list of HDI], 75% unemployment, 60% illiteracy, malnutrition, streets filled with garbage, poor infrastructure, widespread discontent and lawlessness, and emigration to Florida’s shores and cities, 500 miles away.

Therefore, we request your earliest establishment an official Haiti Advisory Group to a) work face-to-face with U.S. Government executive-level departments, e.g. State, Justice, Agriculture, Energy, Environmental Protection, USGS, NASA, b) bridge the cultural divide between America and Haiti, and c) develop and counsel the Haitian and American governments on better systems and mechanisms to impement transparent, accountable and sustainable projects that will meet Haiti’s needs.

Respectfully submitted,

[Signed]

Bernier Lauredan, M.D.
President,
The Haitian League

Haitian Americans Press Congress to Support HOPE Act

U.S. Cong. William Delahunt, D-Mass. “lost his seat” to 13-year old Haitian American, Alexander Laurent of GA. during The Haitian League’s visit to Washington to support the H.O.P.E. bill, Nov. 15-16, 2006. From left to right, Patrick Simon, Wash., DC, J. Laurent, GA, Cong. Delahunt, Gerald Gourdan, MD, C. Rose-Avilla, FL, and Dr. Bernier Lauredan, N.J

On November 15-16, 2006, four members of The Haitian League -- Patrick Simon [Washington, D.C.], Jacques and Alexander Laurent [Georgia] and Dr. Bernier Lauredan [New Jersey] joined Haiti’s Minister of Finance, plus YeleHaiti’s Wycleff Jean and members of the Haiti Democracy Project to visit and urge members of Congress to pass the “Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act.” Also known as the HOPE Act, this legislation would allow Haitian manufacturers to include some yarns and fabrics from China in the garments they assemble and export duty-free to the United States.

The purpose of HOPE is to re-energize Haiti’s much-needed, labor-intensive garment industry that was once a major employer in this Caribbean country. Haitians have the lowest per capita income in the Western Hemisphere – barely a dollar a day – and suffer from rising prices, failing security, chronic corruption and political strife. International trade competition has further robbed Haiti’s workers of steady, modest income. HOPE’s passage could help them begin to recover lost jobs and balance the trading field for one of America’s nearest neighbors -- and second oldest Western democracy.

The delegation spent the two days canvassing members of both the House and Senate, where even the skeptical welcomed them and sympathized with their cause and concerns. Congressmen assured The Haitian League members that the H.O.P.E. bill would likely be combined with other proposed legislation and voted on before adjournment this year. “We need to get it done during this ‘lame duck’ Congress,” said the incoming House Ways and Means Chairman, Charles Rangel, New York.

Other topics discussed included a role for Haiti’s Diaspora in the development of Haiti (HR611), the possible reintroduction of the more comprehensive Haitian Economic Recovery [HERO] Act, the Lakou-Haiti and Lakou-USA projects of The Haitian League, and the possible inclusion of a specific category for Haitian-Americans in the next U.S. census.

Cong. Jan Schakowsky (Dem-Illinois), a proponent of Haiti and a supporter of Senator Barak Obama, indicated that the Government of Israel will probably be willing to help, mainly in agriculture once she receive the Lakou Haiti proposal. The office of Cong. Kendrick Meek (Dem-Florida), indicated that he will undertake to work with Rep. Barbara Lee (Dem-California), to reintroduce the HR611 Diaspora Bill. The offices of Senators Bill Nelson (Dem-Florida), and Hilary Clinton (Dem-New York), and Cong. Eliot Engel (Dem-New York), will address the Diaspora issue with members of Congress and President Préval during the December 11, 2006 projected U.S. Congressional delegation trip to Haiti and Dominican Republic. Cong. Corinne Brown’s (Dem-Florida) office will do the follow-up on the U.S. Census matter.

Referring to the Haitian-American community, Cong. William Delahunt (Dem-Massachusetts) -- who temporarily lost his seat to 13-year old Alexander Laurent of Georgia (see photo, page one) -- said that it represents an important political force, if organized. Dr. Lauredan said that help may be on its way with the Lakou-USA project of The Haitian League (www.haitianleague.org/lakou.usa), but that funds are needed. Delahunt pledged his support as soon as he could review the proposal.

Of note, according to The Haitian League’s commissioned report, based on U.S. Census Bureau data, more than 2 million Haitians and Haitian-Americans live in the country, excluding the more than 15,000 who either work in or retire to Haiti.

Then, our own Haitian star, Wycleff Jean, rocked the Senate Floor in an unprecedented evening of entertainment that attracted the members and staff of many offices in both the House and the Senate.

Haitian-American Youth Cheer Athlete Sam Dalembert in Philadelphia

Samuel Dalembert (Center) greets his Haitian American “Sammy D’s Swat Team”

A contingent of nineteen young Haitian Americans (above) from New Jersey and Philadelphia, wearing Haitian flag scarves and carrying Haitian flags, served as “Sammy D’s Swat Team” at the Sunday November 5, 2006 game of the Philadelphia 76’ers versus the Miami Heat. Samuel Dalembert, a star of the Philadelphia team, rewarded his fans by playing twenty minutes of the game, making forty percent of his shots at the basket and nine big rebounds to help Philadelphia win the game, 107-98.

Following the game, Dalembert invited his faithful troupe to a post-game meet-greet-and photo opportunity. He thanked them and exhorted them to excel in school and in the sports of their choice. “You are bound to succeed when you gave it your best,” he said.

“He makes us proud,” said New Jersey 8-year old Bernard Lauredan (front center), a basketball and Dalembert fan. “It is so nice to have your own hero,” said Pennsylvania 15–year old Shakira, hugging Dalembert. “He is so genuine,” said New Jersey 15-year old Britney Charlotin. “We need to form a fan club to honor our heroes in music, sports and everything,” she exclaimed.

Dalembert, now 25 years old, 6 feet 11 inches and 250 lbs, left Haiti at the age of 14. He lived with his parents in Montreal, Canada and then attended New Jersey’s Seton Hall University for two years before the 76ers drafted him in the first round of the 2001 National Basketball Association [NBA] draft. Dalembert was the twenty-sixth overall pick. To date, Dalembert is the only active Haitian player in the Association.

Philadelphia basketball star center Samuel Dalembert in Captown, South Africa Teaching players in South Asia

The 76ers center is also at the center of many community service projects, even worldwide. He is very active in the “Basketball without Borders,” a global program that brings people together to discuss important social issues, such as HIV/AIDS prevention, while emphasizing the importance of education and healthy living. Basketball Commissioner David Stern has said, "The NBA is proud to work together with FIBA [International Basketball Association] to help young people from diverse national and economic backgrounds to come together and learn through the sport of basketball."

"NBA players have a great passion for the game and for contributing to the community," said NBA legend and Community Ambassador Bob Lanier. Basketball without Borders combines the best of the NBA -- community outreach and basketball development -- and brings it all over the world to touch lives and make a lasting difference."

Sam Dalembert, shown here draped in his Haitian flag, has a more-than-passing interest in conditions in his strife-torn country. He has contributed more than $72,500 to aid his homeland. In March, 2004, he presented a $22,500 donation to the American Red Cross to provide medical assistance and supplies, and at the aftermath of Hurricane Jeanne, he contributed another $20,000 to assist the relief efforts in Haiti.

Dalembert is especially committed to assisting Haitian youth here and in Haiti. He has pledged to continue to instill hope in the youth generation through activities such as FIBA and the planned “Samuel Dalembert Sport Centers” for the Lakou-USA and Lakou-Haiti programs of The Haitian League www.haitianleague.org/ These projects are modeled on the traditional family compounds – “Lakou” – that once provided protection and livelihoods for poor Haitians in the early years of that country’s independence.

The Lakou-USA program will establish neighborhood centers to offer legal and cultural help to recent immigrants, family counseling, remedial education, job preparedness and placement programs, sports recreation including basketball, baseball and soccer, and other social and cultural services that are presently lacking in Haitian communities in the United States.

The Lakou-Haiti program will provide emergency employment and rural renewal, establishing fast-track, intensive education and job-skills training courses that will include a sports module for teaching and promoting basketball, baseball and soccer, in locations across the country. This program is The Haitian League’s answer to the plight of approx. 2,500,000 youths from the ages of 15-25 who are uneducated, unemployed and easily recruited to a life of crime.

Perhaps, some day, Basketball without Borders will expand its horizon to sun-filled Haiti, 500 miles from the shores of Miami Heat.

Dr. Bernier Lauredan, author of “who is raping the children”, is a pediatrician and the co-founder of The Haitian League, Inc, http://www.thehaitianleague.org, a non-profit international community service, and Leadership and education organization based in Irvington, New Jersey, with chapters in the United States and Haiti. Mr. Stuart Leiderman is a specialist in environmental refugees and ecological restoration of damaged homelands. He is based in New Hampshire and serves as a friend and advisor to The Haitian League.

“Notable Quotes”

“The conference has accomplished its goal of gathering the Haitian American and Haitian leadership to work together to better the lives of Haitians here in the United States and in Haiti. Lakou centers in Haiti shall create structures to adapt to the needs and the economic and social realities of such a poor country. Educating Haiti’s young and unemployed shall bring hope, cohesion and renewal to rural areas and decrease lawlessness. We will soon launch a pilot project in Belladère, along with other centers in Haiti’s ten departments. This challenge is well worth our efforts,”
said Dr. Bernier Lauredan, President, The Haitian League.

“The mission of The Haitian League’s Lakou Project is ‘way overdue. We need to get it started as soon as possible, with significant cooperation and assistance from both the Haitian and U.S. governments, said Nancy Charles, of the Haitian League Florida delegation.

“Seeing the large number of Haitians and Americans sitting around a conference table, debating about projects to rebuild our homeland Haiti, has left me with a profound sentiment of hope and respect for The Haitian League and its founder and my colleague, Dr. Bernier Lauredan. Haiti is in dire need of almost everything: education, health care, water, agro-industry, etc. Its government cannot have the answers for so much…We, Haitians living abroad, ought to support actions such as the U.S. Congressional Resolution HR611 “Haiti Reconstruction Ability Act” to be voted this session, and programs of non-profit civic organizations such as The Haitian League. We should set forward and serve our ‘alma mater’ so that we can soon redeem our title of Haiti as “La Perle des Antilles,”
said Gracial Mayard, M.D. and Haitian radio personality of Brooklyn

“Haiti is a country with a population of two million hopeless kids looking for work. This six-month fast-track program of Lakou centers in Haiti is a positive solution to the development of the country, explained Mr. Jan Roc of The Haitian League’s Haiti chapter.

“The meeting represented a very positive action from the Diaspora to focus on cooperation on the development of Haiti. In that sense, the “Lakou” represents a brilliant new proposal in favor of the rural sector of Haiti and to promote human development. Therefore, I’m grateful to the delegates from Atlanta, of The Haitian League-Georgia who committed to build the first Lakou center in Haiti’s border area, in the commune of Belladère, and to establish a sister city program between Belladère and Atlanta,”
said Max Antoine II, Exec. Director of the Commission for Development Border of Haiti

“While media attention has constantly focused on sporadic violence in a tiny portion of Haiti, the fact is that 99.9% of Haiti is ‘alive and well’ and seeking tourism and industrial development,” said Michael Spinelli, past president of the American Association of Travel Agents and Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Haitian League.

“The Lakou Project is modeled on Haiti’s traditional small rural community or family compound that is both productive and protected. The new Lakou model will add elements of intensive education and job training for thousands of Haitian youth and others each year. The Lakou subjects and skills cover the spectrum of critical needs, including construction, agriculture, research, technology, business, culture and tourism, ”
said Stuart Leiderman, advisor to the Haitian League.

This is the most important step of Haiti’ Diaspora to positively help Haiti. The Government of Haiti has to positively encourage the Diaspora by adopting double nationality to end the system of taxation without representation,
said Frantz Bourget, of the Haitian League Georgia delegation.

I am excited to see the progress being made on unifying the Haitian community in the U.S. with those in Haiti. I look forward to the day when we can all speak with one voice - Ayiti Cherie (Haiti, I cherish you.). The Haitian League is proving that careful planning and determination yields positive results,
said John Rigdon, Technology adviser to the Haitian League.

It is great to be a part of the Haitian League's aggressive grass roots approach to addressing the crisis in Haiti. With the increase support of the international private sector and the Haitian government, substantial changes can be made,
said Simona DeFeo, Independent Growth Consultant and Advisor to the Haitian League

“The meeting was not a brainstorm but a ‘brain hurricane” concluded New Jersey Judge Sybil Elias, co-founder and legal advisor of the Haitian League”.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY- Lakou USA

Lakou Haiti In cooperation with community organizations, including religious institutions, the Haitian League proposes to create a network of Lakou-style community centers in the United States where individuals, families and neighbors can find refuge and seek the attention, guidance and organizing skills they need to build self-reliance, exercise self-determination and create peaceful communities. The Haitian League will work with various Haitians constituencies to foster education around civic duties. The centers will be integral parts of the organizational structure and function of The Haitian League, especially to identify Haitian needs and trends and to offer democratic leadership training for Haitians' success in public and private life. The centers could also serve as research depots on Haiti for colleges and universities, and other interested parties.

The Haitian League recognizes the need for coordinated programs of individual, family and community development in areas of large Haitian enclaves in America, especially Florida. The need comes from the continuing desire of Haitians to achieve acceptance, assimilation, educational opportunities and employment security within the competitive and complicated American society. The Haitian League proposes to create a network of interconnected urban community centers, fashioned in the spirit of the traditional Lakou family compound or sanctuary village, occasionally spelled Lakou of 17th and 18th century Haiti. These were locations where individuals, families and neighbors gathered for the safety, attention, guidance, organization and productivity they needed to create peaceful and prosperous communities. The goals of this new network of community centers are to create, enjoy and increase the blessings of educational opportunity, sustained employment and happy marriages and family life, while eliminating such plagues as delinquency, divorce, maternal and infant mortality, child and spousal abuse, teen age pregnancy, addiction and suicide.

The community centers will become the basic operating units of local chapters of The Haitian League, and their doors will be open to the public, without prejudice. They will be carefully and creatively designed to honor and celebrate Haitian traditions, identify Haitian needs and offer a range of professional quality counseling, education, recreation, leadership training and career development programs. The centers will be artistically Haitian in appearance, feel and hospitality so that visitors, especially youths and newcomers to America or immigrants from Haiti's countryside to its large cities will be able to gather comfortably and settle into communities with the basic things they need and without fear of being scrutinized or preyed upon by strangers or charged unreasonably for goods and services.

The Haitian League envisions the first Lakou-style centers for Haitian communities in and around Miami, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Newark, New York, Boston and Chicago. These are metropolitan areas that are chronically under served by existing facilities, educational, employment, health and social services and where Haitian residents are typically low-income, unemployed or chronically underemployed by reason of job scarcity or lack of skills and education. Outside the United States, centers are envisioned for Montreal and Toronto in Canada and for the large coastal cities of Haiti.

Are Haitians Better Off in the “Bateys” Than They Are Back Home?

By Dr. Bernier Lauredan, with Stuart Leiderman, September 2006

It is often reported that more than two million Haitian men, women and children live in despicable conditions within the slums and agricultural plantations of the Dominican Republic. Less-often reported are comparisons to the awful conditions these Haitians left behind.

Recently, three representatives of The Haitian League visited the Dominican Republic to interview and record on videotape the lives of Haitian migrants in and around Higuey and Punta Cana, popular tourist destinations at the far eastern tip of the country. On August 11-14, The Haitian League met and Dr. Lauredan (right) interviewed members of a local Haitian church -- Josue Royer, Evans Janvier, Bazil Alberto, Jean Arel – and other hotel and agricultural workers. This brief report is the result of that visit.

According to the interviews, as many as 3,000,000 Haitians reside in what is today known as the Dominican Republic. This is roughly one-third of the country’s population. Not all are recent arrivals. Significant migration has occurred over the past forty years, being especially pronounced during times of strife and coups in Haiti.

But, indeed, some Haitians have lived there for centuries: Originally, the natives called the whole island “Quisqueya,” “Haiti,” or “Bohío.” Then Christopher Columbus landed, named it “Hispaniola,” and that soon became Spain’s slave-labor colony of “Santo Domingo.” When Spain abandoned the western third of the island in the early 1600s; France occupied and filled it with their own slaves, calling the colony “Saint Domingue.” By 1795, France gained the rest of the island. At the turn of the century, slave revolts freed the western third to become the independent nation of “Haiti.” Defeated, France ceded back the eastern remainder to Spain, who briefly re-established “Santo Domingo” until Haiti captured it, too, in 1822. It held the entire island for twenty-two years until Spanish resistance regained the eastern portion and established the Dominican Republic in 1844.

Among Haitians in today’s Dominican Republic, The Haitian League learned that many have done well for themselves and have successfully assimilated among the Dominicans. Others have not done so well. Interviewees described several categories of migrants:

First, there is a minority comprising wealthy elite. Some own factories, mainly in the country’s “French Zone” (an area briefly occupied by the French after World War II); others own businesses such as the Coca-Cola plant owned by Henri Namphy, a former Haitian president and army general. Other manufacturing companies were moved across the border during times of Haitian unrest. Other migrants include Haitian baseball players, lawyers and former politicians who brought their money with them when they fled Haiti. Some assumed Spanish names.

Second, there is a middle class, mostly urban, that includes teachers, professors, marginal owners of “casa de campo” and construction workers. But the bulk of this class is Haitians working in the tourism and hospitality industries; these are often university- and higher-education graduates who left Haiti for the prospect of better pay. “But, we are here against our will,” said Evans Janvier, spokesman [“Porte parole”] of the group interviewed by The Haitian League. “The tourist trade hires us mainly for our language skills -- French, English, and Spanish -- because that’s what tourists speak. Our pay is low, 800 pesos per month on average [approx. US$24 at current exchange of approx. 33 pesos per US$], but still, that is better than being unemployed in Haiti. Fortunately, we may receive tips and commissions for our service; with this addition we can rent an apartment -- on average, 600 pesos a month [slightly less than $30/month] -- feed our families and have some residual to send back to Haiti.”

“Actually,” Janvier continued, “we cannot wait until Haiti’s tourism industry resumes, so that we can go back home and rejoin our wives and children. Although we travel back and forth from time to time, visas to re-enter the Dominican Republic are mandatory; they cost some $500 [16,500 pesos] and must be renewed at the end of each year.”

A large sub-group of urban Haitians, approximately 100,000, live in the slums and squatter neighborhoods surrounding the Bavaro-Punta Cana tourist resorts on the Dominican east coast. These slums are similar to Haiti’s “Cite Soleil” in Port-au-Prince. According to Janvier, the residents are well-armed and probably involved in drug activity. The police seldom go there..

“In any case,” Janvier said, “we are better off than the plantation workers that you will meet in the next few days. Those “batei,” started migrating to the Dominican Republic in the 1960’s, as a result of a $22 million agreement between the two countries during the time of the Duvalier regimes. Although the contract has never been publicly-released, it can be seen at certain universities. I’ve seen some of the main points: Haitian contract workers, men only, were supposed to get some 50 pesos a week -- then, $10 -- plus a room with amenities.

For these illiterate workers, that was much more than they could earn in Haiti at seven gourdes a week, about $1.20 to $4.80 a month.

“Over the years,” Janvier continued, “these workers began receiving their friends, wives and children from Haiti. They all ended up staying in the bateys where some of them also found employment. This, combined with the official migrant labor quota, swelled the number of Haitians -- men, women and children alike – seeking work. And obviously, without schooling, all these workers remained poor and stayed “batei.” This worsened the historic ill-will and friction between Haitians and Dominicans.

A clear-skinned young lady in her early twenties, Marie-Anne, said, “I just got here three months ago, to get away from the “chimeres” [gangsters and bandits in Haiti]. My mother and I were raped when they entered my house three months before I left the country. I was attending a university in Haiti but life was so difficult. I sought the assistance of my uncle to escape Haiti, and since then, I’ve been here. I’m married to a “batei” but I don’t have any children yet. I am hoping to get a job in the tourism industry, even as a maid, to better the condition I have now.”

“I have been working here for forty years under the same conditions, said Andre, a retired “batei”. Now I’m getting a few pesos as retirement but not enough for me to survive. They still allow me to keep my one room apartment, my children are now old. My sons are working here and my daughters are working as maids in the tourism industry.”

The group visited another batey and met “Josephine,” a stay-at-home mother of six children who lived in a 2-room apartment. She had a small kitchen and there was a latrine outside. One of the babies, who appeared to be about ten months old, was crawling in the mud outside. She had a big belly and whitish hair, typical of Kwashiorkor, a protein deficiency. Josephine said, “My husband got a promotion to become a “sugar cane weigher”; that’s allowed us to have better housing compared to the rest of the workers. Living here is hard, the little money my husband brings home is not enough to feed our children. More importantly even my older child can’t go to School.”

Upon Dr. Lauredan’s questioning she explained, “There aren’t enough schools around. The few available are so far away, and we have no means of transportation even if our children were ever admitted.” She repeated, “The life is hard here, but it’s better than Haiti. At least we have a place to stay, and are able to wake up in the morning.”

The next day, The Haitian League met with its hosts and reflected on the tour of bateys. José Royer said, “We have been trying to fight for better conditions in the bateys, and we have had churches, Haitian pastors, organizations in the U.S. and others visit them. As you can see, and by their own admission, “batei” live in unfavorable conditions, but not any worse then they were living in Haiti. The biggest issue citizenship; the international community and the Governments of Haiti and the Dominican Republic need to address the legal status of the workers and their families, especially to allow the children to attend school so that, one day, they can escape the bateys. There is also a need to improve hygiene in the bateys and the overall living conditions.” “ As for Haiti,” Royer continued, “it is unlikely the workers will want to return. It is also unlikely that the country can absorb an extra two million, given what the other eight million are already going through.”

The Haitian League had the opportunity to share the Lakou education and training proposal with their hosts, with the idea that establishing Lakou centers in the bateys – especially the construction module -- might lead to better workers’ housing. For that, it would help if the government donated the necessary land. Such steps could better the condition of these people. The Haitian League thanked their hosts and said they look forward to more discussion and would consider any plans of action.

August 2, 2005

Janet Rudasill
Acting Director
Strategy and Program Office
USAID, Bureau for Latin America & the Caribbean

Dear Ms. Rudasill:

On behalf of The Haitian League, I thank you for your July 27, 2005 letter in response to our proposal to involve the Haitian Diaspora in the recovery of Haiti.

I am pleased to learn that our commitment to assist Haiti’s transformation parallels yours and that you are also interested in seeking the involvement of the Diaspora. Indeed at the May 18, 2005 Haitian American Day at the White House, both Mr. Natsios and Mr. Franco pledged to include Haitian Americans in the process. The Town Hall conference is meant to do just that, with the added flavor of reconciliation since political candidates in Haiti are eager to attend.

I have just returned from Haiti on July 30, 2005 and had the opportunity to consult with different sectors, including peasants, and experts in different fields of the conference content. While in Haiti, I was informed that a very attractive plan of Development was drawn in 1981 but is collecting dust in Haiti. Governor Jeb Bush’s commission on Haiti has recently made some suggestions and potentially there are other plans by different political parties in Haiti. The consolidation of all these plans, including suggestions the Haitian Diaspora and the International community, approved by all parties on the record at the neutral campus of the Florida International University will be a format useful for decision-makers. In addition this can be the venue for a reconciliation meeting for the fragmented political segments of Haiti.

While I appreciate your concerns about the expertise to lead the conference, please be advised that we have secured experts, such as Dr. Parnell Duverger from the University of Miami, Dr. Paul Latortue from the University of Puerto Rico, and Dr Stuart Leiderman from the University of New Hampshire, etc to lead the conference.

We are seeking your assistance to assist you!

Sincerely yours,

Bernier Lauredan, MD.
Chairman, The Haitian League,
CC: Adolpho Franco, Andrew S. Natsios

July 19, 2005

Prime Minister
Gerard Latortue
Office OF the Prime Minister
Port-Au Prince, Haiti.

Dear Prime Minister Latortue:

With pleasure I am writing to you about the attached “International Conference about Haiti’s Future” that will be held at Florida International University, September 28-October 1, 2005. On behalf of The Haitian League, we are looking forward to enlist the expertise and help of your office, concerned ministries of your government, NGOs, Peasants’ representatives, and private and University sectors in the following critical pre-conference tasks:

Nominating and selecting core conference participants. As described in the conference details below, we want to directly recruit at least 300 core participants: 100 Haitian nationals, 100 Diaspora members and 100 from the foreign NGO, donor, banking and government communities. This core should be ready and willing to review and prepare conference materials this summer and represent a wide spectrum of innovative leadership, thinking, teaching, research, artistry and program management concerning the future of Haiti. Thus, I want to offer you the opportunity to suggest or nominate core conference participants.

Publicizing the conference. Florida International University has generously offered us rooms, facilities, equipment and other resources to accommodate a conference of 1000 people. Thus, we would be grateful for your earliest possible help in publicizing the event through your mailing lists and other means of distribution.
Preparing critical area reports and national plan elements. As described below, there are 12 conference subject areas of concern: agriculture, economic development, infrastructure, education, justice, health, Environment/energy/ conservation, culture and heritage, civil society, immigration/refugees, international relations, infrastructure and security.

Each of these subjects requires a certain amount of effort this summer to compile, summarize and analyze documents for the conference sessions

Raising funds for conference expenses. There is a special need to fund travel expenses for Haitian national delegates. We estimate $50,000 for that particular core portion of conference participants. The Haitian League would be grateful for any direct contributions from your office or any other source you deem appropriate, any referral to associates, and letters of support that we can take to potential funders.

Thank you again for your widest possible circulation of this letter and the appended material. Please call or write with any questions or comments.

Regards and best wishes,

Bernier Lauredan, Sr., M.D., Chairman, The Haitian League

United Nations, January 18, 2006 “Promoting Security in Haiti”.

At the invitation of Haiti Democracy Project, a Washington, DC-based organization, a delegation of Haitian-American community leaders met with members of the United Nations to express concerns over increased insecurity – I including kidnappings -- in Haiti and the eventual credibility of the upcoming election. Specifically, the delegation met with the UN Acting Director of Europe and Latin America divisions and with two deputies, and with the ambassadors of Brazil, Nicaragua and United States at the United Nations. The Open Society Institute funded the grant proposal " Engaging the Haitian Diaspora in the U.S. Policy Process.”

From the United Nations:

Wolfgang Weisbrod-Weber, Acting director, Europe and Latin America division, Office of Operations, Department of Peacekeeping Operations, United Nations
Hermina Van Hoye, political affairs officer, Europe and Latin America division
Rafael Peralta, political affairs officer, Europe and Latin America division
Contact person: Kevin Doyle, (212) 963-8495:
2:00 -3:30 PM

Ambassador Wolfgang Weisbrod-Weber opened the meeting and thanked the delegation for its attendance. He said that the function of the Security Council-sanctioned UN mandate in Haiti was three-fold:

1. Security
As to-Development and security, the report indicates that Haiti is relatively calm except for some hot spots including Cite Soleil and Belair.

2. Political reconciliation
As to political reconciliation the success is not measurable. It is probably due to lack of cooperation of the interim government. Much work remains to be done. As to election, they have been rescheduled multiple times. They are now scheduled to take place on February 7 2006, date set by the Haitian government. We believe this election will take place with all the assistance of the OEA, the UN and other countries. OEA is mainly in charge of assisting the electoral process. Many observers have already been dispatched to Haiti for the election.

3. Haiti Development:
The international committee has committed over 1 billion dollar, of which 600 million have been disbursed to the interim government of Haiti. An additional 20 million dollars was disbursed for the election.

Haiti lacks capacity; therefore part of the funding was dedicated to writing projects. Part of long-term Development plan, which has begun include

Road repaired
Hospital rehabilitation
Minimize system challenge
Broad based government
Security

On behalf of the delegation, Dr Lauredan thanked the Ambassador for taking the time to meet Haitian Americans. He also thanked the UN for its assistance and continued commitment to Haiti, but the situation, he said, is more volatile than what is reported.

People are dying—kidnappings are rampant at a rate of more than 14 a day. There were 42 kidnappings reported as of January 18, 2006 for the New Year. The country is at a standstill; more than 1,500 people -- including 78 police officers and nine U.N. peacekeepers -- have died in violence. Two Jordanian troops were gunned down last week at a checkpoint in Cite Soleil, The UN troop commander apparently committed suicide. Given that businesses are Frequently closed, the average 80% unemployment has increased significantly. The country is in a state of chaos. This precarious security environment may jeopardize the elections and its results. People are afraid to leave their houses, businesses are closed, and there is no nightlife. The country is at a standstill.

Mr. Ambassador, about a month ago I was inside of a bank in Haiti with a friend, a UN convoy was a few feet away. Suddenly, I heard a ‘Mardi Gras’-type band surfaced on the main road from the airport leading to the capital. Gunshots suddenly sprayed over the streets, everybody at the bank was face- down. At the end some 20 cars were hijacked, some 50 people were dead in the street and the UN convoy was standing still looking at the scene.

Mr. Ambassador, the UN has been in Haiti for two years, but Haiti has witnessed an increase in insecurity, and more importantly an increase in kidnappings, which have isolated the country. Given the election has been postponed many times, and there is no running water, no jobs, no electricity and plenty of garbage on the street:, Is there something missing in the equation as to the mission giving to the UN by the Security Council?

You have also indicated that 600 million dollars were disbursed, and only 60 million is so far accounted for, would you know what has been done with the other 540 million?

Dr Faustin: May I also ask what causes the failure of the mission, why nothing is being done about development, whether or not you believe that under these conditions, the results of the election will be credible?

Ambassador Wolfgang Weisbrod-Weber said that Haiti is a difficult country, with a difficult problem. It is probable that the UN mission in Haiti had prevented many kidnappings. The United Nations mission was not to overtake the function of the Haitian government. The Government of Haiti in collaboration with OEA set the election. If they don’t occur, the UN may have to consider other options. As to the political reconciliation, this may be considered as a failure, and this failure may have resulted from the Haitian government’s non-cooperation. Haiti National Police of Haiti are technically non-functional. It will take time, Our experience in other countries indicate that at least 7 years period is required to transform a non-functional country back to normality. In addition Haiti lacks capacity and many projects require elaborate proposals/plans. This has absorbed a good amount of time with many Europeans providing service to Haiti projects that have absorbed part of the money. You have to carefully balance the work of the mission as it relates to government interference. It is a long-term work and it will take a minimum of 7 years to get the work done in Haiti. We learn from our mistakes. As to accounting of the money disbursed, you may have to contact UNDP.

Vicky Carney added that although she was not speaking on behalf of her husband (the Actual US Charge d’ Affaire in Haiti) the Haitian American Delegation has been polite and diplomatic in the presentation of the state of its motherland. She said that she has just returned from Haiti and the situation is deplorable. Something needs to be done to create an atmosphere conducive to fair, free and credible elections.

Dr. Hazel made similar comments, as well as Alice Blanchet and the Boston delegation.
Dr Faustin indicated that the 2.5 million-Haitian Diaspora has a lot of capacity, but has not been invited to the table. Ambassador Wolfgang Weisbrod-Weber concluded that the UN mission expires on February 7, 2006. It is going to be another UN Security Council’s mandate for the UN Mission to continue in Haiti. This may be the suitable time for the involvement of the Diaspora. If the Government of Haiti and OEA are unable to organize the elections, the UN should be in the position to assist. The meeting was adjourned at 3:30 PM.

4:15-4:45 PM.
Ambassador Henrique Valle
Acting ambassador of Brazil to the United Nations
Ambassador Cesar Mayoral
Ambassador of Argentina to the United Nations
Permanent Mission of Argentina to the United Nations
1 U.N. Plaza, 25th floor
Contact person: Agnes Kovacs, (212) 688-6300, ext. 20

Ambassador Cesar Mayoral opened the meeting and thanked the delegation for its attendance. He said there is little interest in Haiti but the country is in our continent and the Governments of Argentina and Brazil have been working hard for the return of a democratic Government in Haiti.

The situation, he said, is more volatile than what is reported. On behalf of the delegation, Dr. Faustin and Ronel Odatte thanked the Ambassador for taking the time to meet Haitian American delegation. Dr. Faustin thanked the Ambassador for taking the time to meet Haitian Americans. He also thanked the UN for its assistance and continued commitment to Haiti, and expressed is sorrow for UN troops’ lives lost.

People are dying—kidnappings are rampant at a rate of more than 14 a day, Dr Faustin said. There were 42 kidnappings as of January 18, 2006 for New Year. The country is on standstill; more than 1,500 people – the Including 78 police officers and nine U.N. peacekeepers -- have died in violence. Two Jordanian troops were gunned down last week at a Checkpoint in Cite Soleil, The UN troop commander apparently committed suicide. Given businesses are closed; the average 80% unemployment has increased significantly. . People are afraid to leave their houses, businesses are closed, and there is no nightlife. The country is standstill-- in a state of chaos.

This precarious security environment may potentially jeopardize the elections and the credibility of its results thereafter.

There are many kidnappings in Brazil and Nicaragua as we speak, Ambassador Henrique Valle said. There are only small pockets of resistance in Cite Soleil in Port-Au- Prince and the rest of the country is relatively calm. If the assessment is true, he believes that election can be held. He also said that he does know the number of UN troops in Port-Au-Prince. A new Brazilian Commander is bound to Haiti with new determination. The mission is stabilization, not a combatant force. The suggestion to storm the slums will result in casualties not compatible with our mission in Haiti. Haiti has social issues that need attention and hopefully a new, responsible Government shall be empowered with the assistance of the International community.

The meeting was inconclusive and was shortened in the interest of time as the Brazilian Ambassador and the delegation had other commitments.

From the United States mission:
Ambassador Alejandro Wolff,
Prem Kumar, Deputy U.S. representative to the United Nations
Political adviser for Security Council affairs: Latin America and South Asia.
U.S. Mission to the United Nations:
140 East 45th St., eighth floor, NY, NY
Contact person: Mary Metzger, (212) 415-4410
5:00 – 6:30 P.M..

Prem Kumar extended his gratitude as host while awaiting the availability of the Ambassador. He also invited the delegation to coffee and cookies. The meeting was called to order soon thereafter.

Prem Kumar introduced Ambassador Alejandro Wolff, who thanked the delegation for coming. According to information at his disposal, he said, only small pockets of insecurity exist in Haiti, mainly at Cite Soleil and that the rest of the country is reported calm and favorable to election. There is an increase in monitors and experts on election. The US has a keen interest in promoting democracy and fair election in Haiti and made available significant amount of resources to that end. There is hope these election will be a boost to the country and its people. He is pleased to meet with Haitian Americans to verity if the assessment fits the reality.

On behalf of the delegation, Dr Casimir thanked the Ambassador for taking the time to meet Haitian Americans. He also thanked the UN for its assistance, but the situation, he said, is more volatile than what is reported. People are dying, and kidnappings and rapes are rampant. The country is on standstill, given businesses are closed; the average 80% unemployment has increased significantly. The country is in a state of chaos. This precarious security environment may jeopardize the elections and its results.

Ambassador Wolf then asked whether anyone else wanted to add anything before he replied.

Dr. Faustin added that upon information gathered at the UN, it appeared there is a misconception. There is a vibrant Haitian Diaspora, including professionals in all fields at all levels, particularly in the US, Canada and Europe. We are the one who send over one billion dollars a year -- more than three times Haiti’s National Budget -- to support our extended families in Haiti. Neither the US nor the UN has ever called on us for advice.

Dr Lauredan added that the UN has just advised us that Haiti lacks capacity, and close to $60 million of $1+ billion pledged to Haiti’s development have been dedicated to writing projects while there is no job creation, no electricity, no running water and plenty of wastes in the streets. It even appears, he added, that there is little accounting for the remaining $540 million of $600 million reported disbursed. In the US alone, close to 2.5 million well-educated Haitian Americans have all the capacities and more stakes in Haiti than many others now involved, but no one has called upon us. Dr. Lauredan handed the Ambassador the appended fact sheet on the present state of affairs in Haiti, including suggestions for more American involvement in the development process in Haiti -- the country only 500 miles from Florida’s shores, with the descendants of those who reinforced the American Colonial Army in the battle for Savannah, Georgia during the War for Independence.

Ed Hazel MD, of the Haitian Physician Association Abroad, Dr. Mona D-Phanor of the Boston Delegation, Alice Blanchet, Pasteur Garry Theodate of the Boston Clergy, and Dr. Philius Nicolas of the New York Clergy echoed the same above mentioned sentiments, in addition to underlining the near- anarchic atmosphere in Haiti, which may jeopardize the scheduled election and its results.

Ambassador Alejandro Wolff said the US has always been supportive of Haiti and plans to continue providing support. Indeed, significant resources are now being provided, including some 20 million dollars toward a fair electoral process. Listening to the group, there seemed some suggestion the US should send the Marines or some mercenaries to Haiti. This is definitely not an option. Instead the US is working with the UN to assist Haiti in its path o democracy and will continue to do so in the future. As to the elections, information provided seems to indicate its likelihood. Observers have been dispatched to Haiti. I do not know if Haitian Americans are included. Were your concerns ever brought to Washington by any chance?

Dr. Lauredan, Dr. Hazel and Alice Blanchet said that these concerns were brought to the White House attention at least in two different occasions. Ambassador Alejandro Wolff said he would bring our concerns to Washington as to the request to include Haitian Americans in the process.

In closing, Dr. Lauredan apologized to Ambassador Wolf as to any apparent request for mercenaries to be sent to Haiti. We are just concerned and committed Haitian Americans, willing and able to be part of the process to bring Haiti back to the path of democracy and sustained development, he said. The meeting adjourned at 6:30 PM.

THL Delegation at Haiti Tourism Summit Miami, Florida June 25, 2005

A 6-member delegation of The Haitian League, composed of Bernier Lauredan, MD (Irvington, NJ), Marie Lorvanis (Edison, NJ), Nancy Charles (Orlando, Fl), Yanick Martin (Miami, FL), Dr. Paul Latortue (PR), and Gabriel Dejoie (Port St. Lucie, FL), attended the appended MWM & Associates sponsored summit on Tourism and Economic Development in Haiti held at the Deauville Beach resorts, Miami, FL.

Objectives:

To support the effort, and learn from it in the planning of The Haitian League sponsored International Town Hall Conference, “La Nouvelle Haiti”, to be held at Florida International University on September 29-October 1, 2005.

June 24, 2005 Pre- Meeting activities:

AM: Visit the Florida International University Kovens Conference Center:

Nancy Charles, Yanick Martin, Marie Lorvanis, Patrick Smyrth, and Bernier Lauredan, MD, met with FlU’s Dr. Carol Boyce Davies, Director of African World Studies, Seenu Ramalingam, Director of the Kovens Center, and the Director of Media.

Dr Davies said that THL needs to consult LAC and that Dr. Cadelly; Associate Professor for Modern Language at FIU has worked with LAC before and shall be of great support, in addition to added intellectual content. She advised us to make the request directly to Dr. Raul Moucarz, Vice Provost, Biscayne Bay Campus and Stephan Sauls, Vice Provost of Government Relations. She highly suggested the assigning of someone to deal directly with the University

She suggested some sponsors such as the port of Miami and Africando, a Washington DC-based nonprofit organization. Her Department she continued can participate as a sponsor, pending inventory of available resources, and that we should seek the University total resource as a partner, except food. She said that a previous group had come up with the idea for political debates of Haitian Candidates, although attractive but has not materialized. She also said that bringing 100 Haitians on a boat can be a good Public relation strategy and the Port of Miami could probably provide space and support.

Seenu Ramalingam and the Director of Media promised full cooperation. They said that FIU can publicize the conference, provide contact, space, and technology (webcast, Audio and Video, satellite transmission, telecast, direct telephone to the conference Room) so Haitians in Haiti and elsewhere can participate live in the conference. He also said that Food contactors are available and even our own credentialed chef can be acceptable, pending approval of the University. As to Hotels and transportation, the University has special arrangements with nearby facilities for bulk rate, and VIP transportation. As to sponsors, he suggested Royal Caribbean, the port of Miami, grants, and Community organizations. We then had a tour of the 10 retrofitted different conference rooms, including the large one with balcony overlooking the water, capable of accommodating about 1000.

Dr Lauredan has appointed and Dr Jean Robert Cadelly has gracefully accepted the assignment to represent the League in dealing with FIU. Dr. Lauredan was to send the letters to Dr. Cadelly, who will meet the Provosts and Dr. Davies (done).

Dr. Cadelly and Yanick Martin will work with FIU and the port of Miami on the feasibility to at least have the 100 core Haitians from Haiti board a boat nearby to the shores of the University, not as boat People but concerned Haitians, to charter a new course for Haiti.

Yanick will work with a licensed vendor to provide Haitian food. Sharisma will contact the other aforementioned parties.

In conclusion, we were all satisfied of the facilities and Seenu will rework a contract to reflect the needs of the projected 3 day-Town Hall conference.

PM: Delegation attended the Press Conference:

The Delegation attended the 6:00 PM event press conference. On behalf of the League, Nancy Charles thanked the sponsors, exhorted them for their courage and invited them to continue the quest for a better Haiti.

June 25, 2005 During the Conference activities:

Members of the delegation made contacts with organizations, businesses and potential attendees, including Mr. William Large, Deputy Chief of Staff of Fl. Gov. Jeb Bush, representatives of different organizations, including American Express, Haitian American Chamber of Commerce, …etc

Sharisma will email the proposal to all contacts and do the follow up.

June 26, 2005 post Meeting activities: Meeting on the League’s International Town Hall Conference, “La Nouvelle Haiti”

THL’s Dr. Bernier Lauredan, Nancy Charles, Marie Lorvanis, Yanick Martin, Gabriel Dejoie, Dr Paul Latortue were joined by Sony Gay ( Naples, FL), Patrick Jabouin ( Miami, FL), Patrick Delatour ( Haiti), Dr. Jean Robert Cadelly ( FIU), and Fritz Fougy ( Embassy of Haiti in Washington).

In opening the meeting to order, Dr. Lauredan thanked everyone for attending the Sunday breakfast meeting and proceeded with the mission of the conference.

Committee members:

The following have accepted to serve on the Event Committee:

South Florida

Yanick Martin
Rachel Denis
Patrick Jabouin
Dr. Jean Robert Cadelly (Adviser and Liaison at F.I.U).

Central Florida:

Nancy Charles (Orlando, Tampa)
Sony Gay (Naples, Ft Myers, St. Pete,),Gabriel Dejoie (Port St. Lucie)

The Haitian League’s Northeast Leadership Conference and Awards Dinner Ball April 30 - May 1, 2005

"Haiti Avant Tout"

Part of proceeds to benefit Hurricane Jeanne victims in Haiti

Saturday Morning, April 30, Rouzeau Manor, Orange, NJ

Welcome & Invocation - Hon. Sybil Elias & Rev. Nicolas
National Anthems
Opening Remarks: Dr. Bernier Lauredan, Chairman, The Haitian League
Remarks by Elected Officials
"Haiti, The State of the Country,”: Jean Robert Jean-Noël, Dir. de Cabinet, Bureau de Premier Ministre
"Solutions for Haiti Economic Empowerment and Recovery”: Dr. Paul Latortue, Dean, School of Business, Univ. of Puerto Rico

Saturday Afternoon, April 30, Rouzeau Manor, Orange, NJ

Buffet Luncheon
"Health and Human Services Initiatives” - Dr. Guy D. Theodore, Architect of Pignon
“The History of The Haitian League” - Gerard F. Duré
Open Forum, Questions & Answers with Conference Guests
Final Thoughts/Benediction, Hon. Sybil Elias & Father Beaubrun

Saturday Evening, April 30, Robert Treat Hotel, Newark, NJ

Opening Remarks, Invocation and National Anthems: Hon. Sybil Elias & Father Beaubrun
Dinner -- Entertainment by Rosy Cadet, Gaetana and Dancers
Remarks and Award Presentations
Closing Remarks & Recognition -- Sybil Elias, Dr. Bernier Lauredan
Musical Entertainment by ZIN.

Sunday Morning, May 1, Robert Treat Hotel, Newark, New Jersey

Prayer Breakfast Meeting, Ronald L. Rice, NJ State Senator and Newark Deputy Mayor

February 2005

Dr. Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of State
State Department
Washington, DC.

Dear Dr. Rice:

On behalf of The Haitian League [THL], I thank you for the February 26, 2005 White House opening of the African American Museum and for your pleasant encounters with THL representatives during last month's Presidential Inauguration events.

As we are heading to the March 1, 2005 White House briefings, we also congratulate you on becoming our first African-American Secretary of State, who is also fluent in French. This combination of qualities is appreciated by Haitians and Haitian-Americans.

HAITIAN AMERICAN ADVISORY GROUP: While Haiti experienced severe political and ecological disasters last year; President George Bush nevertheless stated that, "Haiti has a bright future." We believe you share this sentiment, too. Further, the Agency for International Development recognized and endorsed our call for a Haitian American Advisory Group on federal aid for Haiti's recovery. The attached transcript of White House briefings on Haiti shows that the Assistant Administrator for Latin America and the Caribbean, Mr. Adolfo Franco, indeed announced the Government's willingness to establish that group, and we received that as a serious commitment to action.

As a matter of old business, however, the group has not yet materialized. We are ready to submit names for your consideration so that that group can convene its first meeting this spring. Please advise when and to whom to submit names and when we can expect announcement of your choices and the date of a first meeting.

THL'S INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCES: This year, The Haitian League will be holding a set of regional leadership conferences, plus an international conference entitled "Haiti avant tout", in Miami, Florida from September 29-October 1, 2005. We extend our invitation to you to speak during the Miami event about any State Department reshuffling of policy with regard to Haiti, or about any of your own initiatives to bring Haitians and Americans closer together. Please let us know if your schedule will permit your joining us in Miami.

THL supports solid initiatives to improve conditions and opportunities in Haiti and among Haitian-Americans here in the United States. We thank you for your work thus far and we look forward to continuing, productive relations with you and your staff.

Thank you,
{Signed}
Bernier Lauredan, MD,
President, The Haitian League,

Saint Barnabas’ Healthcare System reaches Out to Aid Haiti’s Hurricane Victims.

By Dr. Bernier Lauredan, with Stuart Leiderman, October, 2004

September-October, 2004 Receding floodwater from Hurricane Jeanne” flows through Gonaives, Haiti, forcing people from their homes; 3000 dead, 900 missing The saying goes, “If you want to know who your friend is, just wait for adversity to strike.” A year ago last fall, floodwater and sudden adversity struck our Haitian friends when “Hurricane Jeanne” hit the port city of Gonaives. The storm caused more than 3000 deaths, 900 missing and 250,000 homeless.

It was a chilling and somber moment. The only hospital in Gonaives was destroyed; the shady houses, the crops, the donkeys, the people’s spirit and most of everything else were gone. Diseases were triggered and are still spreading. New Jersey’s response was quick and generous. Haitian and Haitian-American residents -- who total more than 150,000 out of the more than 2.5 million in the United States – and friends of Haiti were very kind to Gonaives. Besides their prayers, they gathered $5,000 in cash, plus large amounts of rice and clothing. New Jersey’s business community also contributed, including the generous support of press and broadcasters such as the Star Ledger newspaper and WNBC Channel 2, WCBS Channel 4 and WOR Channel 9.

The Saint Barnabas Healthcare System also came to the rescue through the genuine humanitarian effort of Paul Mertz, Executive Director of the Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, and Dr. Jules Titelbaum, Chairman of the Children’s Hospital at Newark Beth Israel. Together, they donated almost a half-million dollars worth of emergency medicines, bandages, antibiotics and medical equipment. Other companies, such Pfizer, also contributed emergency medicines. On October 21, 2004, a five- member delegation of The Haitian League, chaired by Dr. Bernier Lauredan, traveled to Haiti and delivered $950,000 worth of emergency medicines and supply to the Red Cross in Haiti. Additional clothing, food and other items were later shipped by boat directly to Gonaives and distributed by churches and affiliated community organizations.

Even in the best of times, Haiti is a very poor country. Situated in the Caribbean Sea, five hundred miles from the shores of Florida, its mountain villages and coastal cities are highly vulnerable to floods and mudslides because they lie in the path of seasonal hurricanes and because the resulting floods and landslides that come from severe environmental degradation. For many years, Haiti’s growing population, and the people’s need for firewood, farmland and living space have caused extensive and almost total deforestation. Without forests, the hills and mountains cannot hold back the rainfall. Thus, even small storms cause major catastrophes; social, economic and ecological disasters that set the country back many years.

Damaging storms can strike at any time. Earlier in 2004, on May 23, a sudden rainstorm came across Haiti’s interior, sending water, rocks and mud through the valleys, causing 1261 deaths, 1414 missing persons, 2399 destroyed houses, and 30,000 homeless in the towns of Mapou and Fond Verettes. One can say, “When it rains, it pours” in Haiti. Reversing this pattern requires a national policy of ecological restoration, so this is has become a high priority for The Haitian League.

Haiti, whose predominantly slave population fought and won independence from France two hundred years ago, has cherished that democratic beginning but has never really risen out of crushing poverty. Except for a small privileged class with plenty of money for the basics and luxuries, native Haitians are extremely poor and have suffered under foreign and tyrannical rule, poor land management and exposure to severe storms and hurricanes. Now, Haiti as a country is one of the world’s most disadvantaged, 153rd out of 177 listed in the 2004 Human Development Index of the United Nations Development Program.

Chronic malnutrition is widespread; severe-to-moderate stunting affects 42 percent of Haiti’s children under five years old. And while easily preventable, maladies such malnutrition and diarrhea kill 28% and 20% percent, respectively, of children up to age five. The reason is not that Haiti’s parents squander their money on fancy clothes, toys, computers, travel and entertainment, but simply because both money and food are scarce. Originally, Haiti was fertile, but it no long produces enough to eat; the food supply covers only 55 percent of the population, and daily food insecurity affects 40 percent of households. Haiti, along with Afghanistan and Somalia, are the three nations with the worst daily caloric deficit per inhabitant: 460 kcal/day. Some 2.4 million Haitians, approximately a third of the entire population, cannot afford to buy the minimum 2,240 daily calories recommended by the World Health Organization.

Every country goes through cycles of good times and poor and, of course, disasters can strike at any time. For now, Haiti depends on the rest of world to supplement its meager earnings, agriculture and manufacturing. Therefore, tax-deductible contributions and other gifts to Haiti can be made through The Haitian League, 22 Ball Street, Irvington, NJ 07111 and online at http//www.haitianleague.org. It is indeed never too late to do a good deed.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Shaka Georges (862) 812-0595
September 27, 2004

White House Briefs Haitian-Americans On Haiti Unrests.

At the White House’s request, a 38-member nationwide delegation of the Haitian American Leadership attended the briefing session on Haiti unrests on August 6, 2004. Mr. Joseph V. Thelusca, a GOP Political strategist and Special Assistant to the Haitian League’s chairman, was designated to coordinate logistics for the delegation.

Stephan Lingberry, White House Liaison’s Deputy Director, called the meeting to order at 10:00 AM. As briefing’s facilitator, he welcomed and thanked the delegation on behalf of the White House for the occasion and underlined the significance of our presence. He further indicated that each speaker will first give his or her briefing, and the attendees will be allowed a limited number of questions. He, then, introduced the National Security Council (NSC) team, representing Dr. Condoleezza Rice.

NSC Indicated that the US Government is dedicated to its support for Haiti. The 3000- Haitian police force is in the process of reconstituting with the aim to have a 16,000 strong force to support the interim government to carry the 2005’s Election. The Brazilian led UN Mission is in Haiti to assist. The US government has already committed $16 millions to the interim Government to carry the elections. The International community, including the US, has pledged $1.85 billion and the UN $230 million for rebuilding Haiti.

In response to Alice Blencher’s concerns about the 2005’s Election, particularly as to the technical apparatus, and the need for conflict resolution, he replied that the reconstitution of the Haitian Police still remains the key.

Danielle Fignole Benjamin expressed concerns about the failure of the Administration to actively seek the advice and participation of the Haitian Americans in the process. They hinted that that briefing might be the beginning.

Stephan Lingberry then introduced Alfonso Franco. He said that economic development; mainly sustained private sector job, is the main US objective. The US has already committed $230 millions to the Interim Government for job creation, and security. An additional $122 millions is committed to infrastructures, education and Nutrition. In the long-term, he added, the Diaspora, with the skills, education and the US acquired connection, should be in a fertile soil of competitive environment for exports, investments and commerce.

In response to Dr. Lauredan’s formal request to form a commission of Haitian Americans to advise the US on Haiti’s affairs, Mr. Franco replied that President Bush as well as Prime Minister Latortue is open to the idea. USAID, he added, has been conducting forums in the Haitian American Community, mainly in New York, Florida and Massachusetts and that Florida Governor Jeff Bush has already formed a State Commission. It is projected that the experience gained shall be helpful in forming a US Commission of Haitian Americans.

Stephan Lingberry then introduced the other NSC member. The priority is to rebuild the country, she said. Lack of security and economic opportunities threaten the stability of the Country, she added. The United Nation plan is to preserve the constitutional process through the rules of disengagement and a Haitian chosen leader. As to Haitians without a green card, the temporary worker program and TPS are open avenues, she said.

Stephan Lingberry then introduced HUD Secretary Alfonso Jackson, who brought special greetings from President Bush. He said that in contrast to the past administration’s cabinet level appointees, this president’s cabinet includes eight African American Assistant Secretaries, who are chief Executives of their Department. The 9:00 AM cabinet meeting starts with Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Rod Paige and himself. Republican Senators enacted the civil Rights Act, this president creates an African American Museum, this president is chartering a course for a sustained rebuilding of Haiti, for the first time a Martin Luther portrait is on the wall of the White House, he said. In contrast only 9% of Blacks voted for this President, while 80% blacks vote for Democrats, he added.

In lieu of a question, Dr. Lauredan handed Secretary Jackson a copy of the 2003 Haitian League’s commissioned report, which is based on 2000 US Census Bureau’s data, reveals that at least 1.5 to 2 million Haitian- Americans and upward live in the United States, excluding some 15,000 eligible Haitian-American voters, who either retired or live and work in Haiti. In view of the Haitian Americans’ manifest in politic, some overtures are suggested, he added. Secretary Jackson said that he will discuss the report with the President.

Stephan Lingberry thanked the delegation for coming. He extended a special thank you to Joe Thelusca for his assistance. The meeting was adjourned at 11:45 AM.

From the White Housed

Alfonso Jackson,
US Secretary,
HUD

Aldolfo Franco,
Assistant Director,
USAID,Latin America and Haiti

2 speakers from NSC.
Stephan Lingberry,
Deputy Director,
White House Liaison Office.

From the Haitian American leadership

Haitian League, Inc:
Bernier Lauredan, Sr., MD (NJ)
Jonathan Saint Preux, Esq. (NJ)
Parnell Saint Preux (Haïti)
Nancy Charles. (Fl).
Mary Lorvanis (NJ)
Roger Monel (NJ)
Jean Lamothe (NJ)
Iseult Lucas (NJ)
Margaret St Preux (Haïti)
Gary Myrthil, MD (GA)
Joe V. Thelusca (NJ)
M. Jose L. Bonhomme (DC)
Danielle F Benjamin (DC) (Spec. guest)
Carl Craig, (FL). (Spec. guest)
Angelo Goussse, MD, (FL) (Spec. guest)
Rev. Jean Dupoux (NJ) (Spec. guest)
Melissa Leon (DC) (Spec. guest)

Haitian American Republican Caucus:
Lucy Orlando (FL)
Andy Castor, MD (FL)
Josephine Legros (FL)
Gomez Accime (FL)

Assoc of Haitian Physicians:
Edward Hazel, MD (NY)

Haitian Evangelical Clergy:
Dr. Philius Nicolas, (NY)

Haitian Centers Council:
Dr. Henry Frank (NY)

Haiti Democracy Project:
Alice Blanchet (NY)

Others:
Claude Lafontant (FL)
Rev. Israel Jean Leon (NJ)
Pierre Paul Cadet, MD (FL)
Marvin Dejean (FL)
Marc Vilain (FL)
Yanick Latortue (NY)
Rev. Emil Etienne (FL)
Frantz Etienne (FL)
Sidney Charles (FL)
Parnell Duverger (FL)
Hans Mardy (FL)
Lucienne Mathelier (FL)
George Plummer (NY)

CONFERENCE CALL ON THE UNRESTS IN HAITI

Date: March 1rst, 2004

Purpose of the meeting;
The Diaspora has not thus far played any significant role in the series of events that have resulted in the departure from Haiti of President Jean Bertrand Aristide and might if not organized as one voice, plays no role in the resolution of the crisis and the future of Haiti. Several prior discussions among some participating have identified the need for an organized leadership. Misinformation, solicitations from the politicians and the media has made this need the more urgent. Mr. Patrick Gaspard, Vice president for political Affairs at 1199, called the meeting to order, with Dr Hazel recording the minutes. Dr Hazel indicated that English will be used as the designated language but noted that Creole or French could also be used by the participants

The Situation on the Ground
Mr. McCalla expresses concern about the leaders of the rebel groups who have prior history of Human right abuse. Two of them were even convicted, one for drug trafficking, the other for murder. The sight of Guy Philipp and Mr. Chambling parading Port au Prince Streets seems to indicate that the power might fall into the wrong hands. Thus, the urgency for the Diaspora to insure that it is part of the solution by developing a sustained and active process of engaging the US media and the politicians. After all the US still has the upper hand on what goes down in Haiti

Vacuum of leadership
Dr. Lauredan, representing The Haitian League, stated that there is a vacuum of leadership in the Haitian American community. This partly explains the lack of response to the crisis. There has not been any specific plan or proposal put forward by a consensus of the Diaspora. The 200 years of Haiti Independence has been marked by repeated coup d’états. The availability of gun for hire as a result of the high unemployment rate has been feeding this lack of stability and the emergence of the chimeres, etc.…Bringing economic opportunity and stability to the country will offer other viable options to the people of the country, short of politics.

Safety Issues
Mr. Gaspard asked Mr. McCalla to elaborate further on some key elements that should be part of the dialogue with US elected officials, the media and the international community. Mr. Mc Calla stated that we could not constitute a substitute to the payers in Haiti but it is obvious that in order to build Democracy Haitian Americans should be included in the process, which at this stage seems to require a two parallel tracks. On one side of the equation, we should establish a structured mechanism to engage the US leadership on a sustained way. On the other side, we must develop concrete proposals to deal with the different aspects of the Haitian issue.

For example, it has become clear that the Haitian police cannot ensure safety and security in the country. The US and the UN have decided to send International Peace Keeping Troup for a 3-month period. It is unclear on who will participate in the disarmament of the thugs with guns in the country and the establishment of new police force.

What is sure is that police enforcement will require a larger and well-trained Haitian police Force, which will not be ready in 3 months. Haitian American members of Police departments throughout the US have indicated their interest in participating in a contingent that would go to Haiti to participate in maintaining law and order and the training a new Police force. Such an initiative will require funding from the Federal Government and the blessing of their local government. It will therefore have to be sold to both parties.

US election and the situation in Haiti.
Mr. Gaspard stressed the importance of Florida, home of thousands of Haitian Americans. The security issue in Haiti may be a campaign issue in the US presidential election; therefore the funding for such a force is a priority is vital.

Communication and legitimacy
Pastor Nicholas stated that multiple meeting and discussion are taking place among Haitians about the crisis in our native land and asked a question that will be put to us: How could we call ourselves a united leadership speaking on behalf of the community and who give us the mandate? Ms. Yanick concurred and recommended that while we are working on proposal, reporting back to our respective organizations we need to keep the people and ourselves we want to represent informed of our plans and the developments in Haiti.

Long Term objectives
Mr. Armand informed the participants of efforts by his organization which has remained the service of a development exert from the Check Republic to work on a development plan for Haiti. He sees the need for a process to deal with issue of development that will involve all sectors of Haitian society

Spoke person
Mr. Rouzeau indicated his displeasure about the recycling of certain solutions that were tried in1990 have failed and created the current crisis, the use of international force being one of them. Invalid short-term solutions will remain invalid for the long term. But beyond his personal opinion he emphasize that the group will need to identify a spoke person to avoid confusion.

Call for unity
Mr. Moses made a plea for the inclusion of all sectors currently on the scene in Haiti. The message of unity could come from the Diaspora that should preach by their own example of incorporating everyone in this effort.

Humanitarian Crisis
Mr. Alexis indicated the humanitarian crisis is also a priority that we should include in our agenda. This crisis implicates other aspects of Haitian life and its impact on the Youth was brought to the forefront by Ms Lucille who put on the line a representative of an organization dedicated to the welfare of children it seeks to achieve through counseling and other means

The Haitian American Agenda as to US agenda
Mr. Mc Calla remarked that the priority for the US shared by both parties seems to be limited to preventing Haitian refugees from reaching Miami coast. This group should redefine the Haitian American agenda when it comes to Haiti and make the Haitian American agenda the US agenda for Haiti. Participants put several ideas the table but Mr. Gaspard reiterated the call for an organized and efficient process that will speak to power and effectuate real changes.

Where we go from here
Dr. Hazel thanked all the participants and reminded them that they were selected as a core group because of their affiliation with the power structure of this country (The Republican and the Democratic Party) and their large constituency (organized unions, community, professional and church organization, etc…). He characterized the conference call as a first step in a process aimed at organizing a united Haitian American leadership that will remain permanently involved in the resolution of the current crisis and the development of viable institutions in Haiti. Mr. Gaspard indicated that the formulation of a short and clear statement is now indicated. The current initiative could further evolve into a united lobbying operation that will help shape the national debate on Haiti.

The next steps will include:

The drafting of a statement endorsed by all the participating groups,
A timetable for meetings with more members of the community
The setting of an administrative structure
The selection of a spoke person
The formation of working sub groups
The development of a platform

Respectfully submitted
[Signed]
Bernier Lauredan, M.D.