The first Haitian Diaspora day was celebrated this past April 20th. For many of the 2.5 million Haitian migrants living mainly in the DR, USA and Canada, this national day is a major step officially recognizing the diaspora community exists and implicitely acknowledges its different contributions. Activities were held in Haiti and in various locations worldwide, such as Switzerland, Washington D.C. and Chicago.
The main objective in Haiti was to inaugurate the yearly celebration of the National Diaspora Day as an integration tool that allows Haitians, and their descendants living abroad, a place to participate in laying the fondation of sustainable development in Haiti.
Congratulations to all Haitians for celebrating this important sector of society. Many thanks to the Haitian Diaspora Minister, Mr. Edwin Paraison for this recognition effort and incredible mission accomplished! His staff and co-workers were thorough, welcoming and did their part to uphold the important tasks in organizing the day’s activities and accommodating the numerous guests at Ritz Kinam II.
Haiti Diaspora’s remittances are estimated at over 1.5 billion dollars, in a country where the gdp is 6.5 billion. Those statistics should make the Diaspora major contenders in Haiti’s economy, yet the group struggles to represent a coherent movement. Collectively, its sum is impressive but in reality, it’s never added to relieve more than a family’s member pain and discomfort, or a friend’s emergency. Most often, it’s a best effort and a hard earned monthly contribution wired back home.
Learning to pool energies, to create sustainable livelihoods and contribute effectively to national development that will change Haitians lives are some of the challenges on the Diasporas’ agenda. These are some of the areas diaspora organizations can examine where workable solutions will make a difference.
