Yesterday, Representative Yvette D. Clarke joined Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Special Envoy to Haiti former President Bill Clinton, Haiti President Réne Préval, Secretary General of the UN Ban Ki-Moon, other international dignitaries, and other Members of Congress for the opening session to the Haiti Donor’s Conference at the United Nations. The goal of the conference was to examine Haiti’s vision for the future as well as mobilize international support for its long-term recovery while addressing their developmental needs. Rep. Clarke released the following statement:

“I was pleased to witness such an outpour of international support for our sisters and brothers in Haiti at the Donor’s Conference. The additional economic pledges made by the international community are indeed monumental. Now that we have an idea of the post-disaster needs of Haiti and how much funding we have to address these needs, we can now move forward in rebuilding a ‘new Haiti’.

“As the Representative of the second largest Haitian population in the country, I will be working with my constituents to help support the Haitian government as they address the findings of the Post Disaster Needs Assessment. Many of the first and second-generation Haitian immigrants in my district have invaluable firsthand knowledge of their country and a kinship with its people. In addition, their time here in the United States has allowed them to learn new trades and develop best practices which they can readily share with their Haitian brothers and sisters. Utilizing the skills of the Haitian Diaspora will maximize the resources available for relief efforts and promote efficiency in the delivery of critical goods and services.

“As the world moves forward to help rebuild Haiti, I will continue to urge those in charge of the rebuilding efforts utilize the resources, knowledge, and aspirations of Haitians themselves. I look forward to witnessing the fruit of our collective labor, and hope that together we rebuild a Haiti that will once again be known as the “La Perle D’Antilles (The Pearl of the Antilles).”

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