|
HAITI AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE
Biden vows that U.S. will continue helping
Haiti
Vice President Joe Biden met with South
Florida's Haitian community, restating the administration's commitment
to the quake-struck nation.
BY JACQUELINE CHARLES
jcha...@MiamiHerald.com
Vice President Joe Biden was all ears on
a visit Monday to Little Haiti, reiterating the Obama administration's
commitment to Haiti and promising to follow up on concerns by Haitian-Americans
who want to be involved in their homeland's rebirth following the devastating
earthquake.
``We are going to work with the people of
Haiti, we are going to work with the diaspora, we are going to work with
all of you,'' Biden said, telling two dozen Haitian-Americans that the
administration was in it for the long haul.
Biden first met with South Florida's Haitian
community days after a Jan. 12 earthquake struck Haiti. He returned Monday
as promised, walking around the U-shaped room inside the Little Haiti Cultural
Center, greeting each of the 26 in attendance as if they were old friends:
bear hugs for the Rev. Jean-Mary of Notre Dame d'Haiti Catholic Church,
kisses on each cheek for singer Farah Juste and firm handshakes for the
men.
Last week, the United States was among the
largest donors for Haiti's reconstruction, pledging $1.15 billion over
the next 18 months during an international donors conference at the United
Nations. Even before the earthquake, the United States was Haiti's largest
donor.
In total, foreign aid donors pledged nearly
$5.3 billion to jump-start Haiti's rebuilding efforts, and $9.9 billion
for the next decade.
The amounts far exceeded what Haitian officials
thought they would get, but it was still less than what Haitian government
officials say their quake-ravaged country will need to rebuild.
The government estimates that Haiti will
need $11.5 billion for the next 18 months, and $34.4 billion over the next
decade to build everything from hospitals to schools, to government ministries.
``We have no reduced commitment. The president
continues to remain committed to rebuilding Haiti, and rebuilding it better,''
Biden said. ``We made a promise and it is a promise just not to pick up
the rubble but also to try and get Haiti on its feet, and quite frankly
on their feet in a way they haven't been for some time.''
Among those joining Biden were several elected
officials, some of whom were singled-out by the vice president: North Miami
Mayor Andre Pierre; City of Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado, North Miami Beach
Councilman Philipe Derose, and Florida State Rep. Ronald Brise. The group
also included presidents of groups representing Haitian lawyers and doctors.
At the top of activists' lists is the fate
of an estimated 55,000 visa petitions the U.S. government has approved
on behalf of Haitians to join their families in the United States.
Haitian community activists say the administration
can admit the Haitians under hardship exceptions without congressional
approval.
``The families are here in the United States,
they are waiting for them to come in and I think the government understands
they should expedite those visas as quickly as possible,'' Pierre said.
``The vice president said they are looking into it, which was very important
for me.''
Pierre and others also raised issue with
the detention of dozens of Haitians who were being held by U.S. immigration
authorities after entering the country illegally right after the earthquake
aboard U.S. military flights. About three dozen were released last week
but only after agreeing to a final order of deportation.
Brise and others shared their concerns about
the lack of a voting seat for the diaspora on the Interim Haiti Recovery
Commission that will guide Haiti's rebuilding. Haitians abroad sent an
estimated $2 billion to Haiti -- as Biden pointed out, 30 percent of the
country's gross domestic product.
``This would be one of the defining moments
for the community,'' he said.
As for Biden's visit, Brise said: ``The reiteration
of the commitment is important.''
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/04/05/1564983/biden-vows-that-us-will-continue.html#ixzz0kWAZEK43 |
