Nearly four months after the earthquake that rocked the island nation of Haiti, some two millions displaced individuals in the capital city of Port-au-Prince are still left to fend for themselves for their very basic needs. The Haitian-American Community in South Florida played key role in coordinating with counterparts on the ground in Haiti a lifeline that helped those who could be saved on the aftermath of the January 12, 2010 cataclysmic earthquake that has destroyed most of the nation's infrastructure in the southerrn and western parts of the country. The herculean task of rebuilding the nation will require collaboration within and outside of Haiti among Haitian nationals themselves as well as their determination to place a solid foundation capable of preventing similar catastrophe from reoccuring in the future.
The City of North Miami Mayor Andre Pierre and the Haitian-American Grassroots Coalition (HAGC) have teamed up with other Haitian-American organizations in South Florida to conduct a townhall meeting to provide to the community a comprehensive update relative to relief and recovery efforts conducted by Haitians and friends of Haitians in the United States. This meeting will be held this Wednesday, May 5th, 2010 at 6:00 pm at North Miami Senior Adult Education Center at 13110 NE 8 Avenue Miami, Florida 33161. Community leaders are expected to share with participants first hand information regarding relief effort and the need for Haitians in the diaspora to stay focus on the task at hand.
Community stakeholders and local leaders will share the latest as to Where are We Now and Where We Want to Go? There is high expectation that the initiative to rebuild Haiti should be left to Haitians at home and abroad. There is however a growing frustration and suspicion that there are segments in the Haiti political apparatus that preferred no involvement from the Haitian Diaspora, stated Jean-Robert Lafortune of the Haitian-American Grassroots Coalition (HAGC) a Miami-based group that has provided guidance to government agencies, US based corporations, and the Obama Administration regarding the US led efforts for the Haiti Relief.
Agencies and organizations serving the South Florida Community will be available to lend assistance to newly arrived earthquake victims from Haiti. Those victims who entered the country with B-2 visas, known as tourist visa are facing tough times since they are not eligible to receive any type of social service assistance. Limited assistance has been made available to those who are recipient of the humanitarian parole program for a short period of time. At a ceremony held at the White House Rose Garden last March, President Barack Obama praised the U.S Cavalry such as first responders, personel from the American red Cross and the 82 Airborne, nurses and other support personels for their deployment in Haiti on the aftermath of the earthquake. He reiterated to President Garcia Rene Preval the US commitment to stand with Haiti today and tomorrow. Vice-President Joe Biden stated the same position when he met in January and March 2010 in Little Haiti with several community leaders.
