Presidential
Martelly Calls for the Haitian Diaspora to Organize Themselves
- Monday, 25 April 2011 11:55
After meeting with the Consulate of Haiti in Miami, President-elect Michel Martelly held a speech to a crowd in Little Haiti where he harped on the need for the Haitian diaspora to mobilize.
This is developing, DH will provide video and more info as they become available, visit this article later today.
In a series of tweets by Jacqueline Charles Caribbean Correspondent of the Miami Herald, she reported the President-elect was speaking in English. He said that the diaspora had been left out by previous governments but their inclusion is his top priority.
Charles also tweeted that present at the speech was Luther Campbell, Simone Duvalier, Jean Monestime and the Mayor of North Miami Andre Pierre.
Martelly said that the country can not be rebuilt without the support of the Haiti diaspora. He said Haitians can excel in a free market when there is a stable government.
Martelly also asked Haitian-Americans to organize themselves and address the fact that 60 percent of youth jailed in Florida are Haitians.
Martelly spoke in Creole to the Haitian attendees saying, "you know who I am... I'm honest and a hard worker." But one person alone cannot save Haiti.
"All of us together can change Haiti. That is why you never hear me talk about reconciliation. Today we all have to realize we are all Haitians... we have to put our heads together."
Martelly said the disorder in Haiti will end and that he wants the world to stop showing negative photos of Haiti.
The President-elect has also advocated for electronic voting to end fraud. (According to the OAS, 30% votes in the runoff were fraudlent)
He also said that the pending constitutional amendments are threatened by the crisis occurring with the legislative results.
Martelly spoke about structuring a new state lottery to provide revenue to strengthen the state.
Martelly has challenged 4 million in the diaspora to put in $2 per month into an account to fund projects.
Martelly said all consuls and embassies should be centers of investments, not just focusing on visas and passport.
He says 'they' are doing politics with insecurity in Haiti. There is no real insecurity in Haiti, he said.
Source: @jacquiecharles on Twitter , NBC Miami (photo) , The Miami Herald
