America's relationship with Haiti has always been very complicated. I often say to people, "Before we came to America, America came to us in the form of the American occupation from 1915 to 1934. "
Haiti, Haiti, the further I am from you, the less I breathe. Haiti, I love you, and I will love you always. Always.
The first time Haiti had free and fair democratic elections was 1990, when I was elected.
People think that there is a country there that these people are only around when they are on CNN. I don't think that's limited to Haiti.
Haiti is extremely stratified socially with a number of large families controlling most of the economy, and import-export.
Haiti was a French colony, but in 1804, the slaves rose up and defeated the French and formed the Republic. For the last 200 years, Haiti has had a very unfortunate history.
When I came in, Haiti was not governed by Haitians anymore. Probably mostly by NGOs. And that has done what to Haiti? It has weakened our institution.
Everything in Haiti right now is a priority.
Haiti kind of gets a hold of you.
Only, in Haiti, I realized, is it possible to drink rum and haggle with a god.
We still have our people working in the cane fields in the Dominican Republic. People are still repatriated all the time from the Dominican Republic to Haiti. Some tell of being taken off buses because they looked Haitian, and their families have been in the Dominican Republic for generations. Haitian children born in the Dominican Republic still can't go to school and are forced to work in the sugarcane fields.
We rushed to Haiti. We Adopt in Asia. We empathize with Africa. But struggle to humanize our struggles here in the states.
I'm happy to be part of this chorus of people who are trying to tell more complex stories about Haiti.
I have a huge heart for Haiti and will tell the world how we can help!
We must consider bringing forward legislation that will facilitate the creation and implementation of businesses in Haiti. Overall, we must better position the country to compete for new market opportunities.
I would love to work with the artisans and take it to another dimension, the same way I did in Haiti.
I think that looking forward it's easy to imagine more constructive help for Haiti.
The structure of apartheid is still rooted in the Haitian society. When you have apartheid, you don't see those behind the walls. That is the reality of Haiti.
We should be focused on the Haiti earthquake victims, not on what contracts your company should get, if you're a friend of Bill [Clinton].
I plan to be a part of Haiti's reconstruction and future.
