Communiqué
HSP’s Priorities and Action Agenda
Links to Photo Gallery and Donation Pages
Highlights of the Pilgrimage
October 14-18, 2015, a diverse group of African American and Haitian American professionals, e.g., educators, lawyers, engineers, health administrators, entrepreneurs, journalists, social/political activists and young emerging leaders journeyed to Haiti for an extraordinary Pilgrimage to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Founding of the Haiti Support Project (HSP). The highlight of the Pilgrimage was the tour of the magnificent Citadel and the Sans Souci Palace near the town of Milot — where HSP established the Model City Initiative in partnership with the Local Development Committee of Milot and Destination Haiti Foundation. The goal of the Model City Initiative is to transform Milot into a destination, a Mecca for cultural-historical tourism as the foundation for people-based social and economic development. The Delegation was warmly received by a large contingent of school children who had received school supplies and scholarships from HSP. Leaders of the Delegation were impressed with the continued improvements of the Citadel and the discipline and décor of the horse teams, guides and vendors who play an integral role in making the tour experience safe and memorable. The Delegation also had an opportunity to enjoy time at the beach at the Comier Plage Hotel.
Another highlight was the visit to Hinche in the Central Plateau where the Delegation was received in Papay by Chavannes Jean Baptiste and the Peasant Movement of Papay (MPP) at the organization’s Education and Training Center. It was Chavannes who extended an invitation to Dr. Ron Daniels to bring and African American Delegation to Haiti in 1995. That visit resulted in the founding of the Haiti Support Project. MPP is the largest peasant organization in Haiti. Thousands of peasants receive training in various innovative methods of agro-ecology, economics and management at the Training Center. The Delegation was able to see first-hand some of these methods and techniques during a tour of the compound. Dr. Ron Daniels thanked Chavannes Jean Baptiste for his initial invitation and the constructive relationship HSP and MPP have maintained for the past twenty years.
In Port Au Prince, the tour the Museum of the Heroes was like a sacred experience. Participants absorbed information from the exhibits on the heroic, bloody and triumphant struggle of the enslaved freedom fighters who defeated the Spanish, British and ultimately the armies of Napoleon Bonaparte of France to establish the world’s first Black Republic! The exhibits also catalogued Haiti’s long history of occupation and interventions by the U.S. government, which interrupted and complicated the quest for democracy and development. On the lighter side, the Delegation experienced the incredible wealth of Haitian arts and crafts at the historic Iron Market – where they did their part to boost the local economy by bartering and buying a large quantity of goods!
The Pilgrimage concluded with a Reception with friends of HSP at the Hotel Karibe. A number of Friends/Guests expressed appreciation for HSP’s steadfast support for the democracy and development in Haiti. In his remarks, Dr. Daniels noted that the Institute of the Black World 21st Century has convened a National African American Reparations Commission in the U.S. that has joined with the CARICOM Reparations Commission in emphatically raising the experience of Haiti as the most egregious case for Reparatory Justice.
General Observations
• Several friends of HSP stressed the critical importance of the success of the current presidential election cycle to build respect for democracy and the rule of law. The inclusion of the Fanmi Lavalas Party, which was excluded from previous elections, may contribute to the legitimacy of the outcome of the presidential election. HSP has consistently taken a position that all political parties should be included in all elections to strengthen the democratic process.
• Millions of Haitians are no longer living in tent cities in Port Au Prince and the surrounding areas after the devastating earthquake, but the failure of the Government and international aid agencies like the Red Cross to construct massive numbers of affordable housing units has resulted in Haitians migrating to various locations to squat on and develop settlements using whatever means at their disposal. This failure to produce needed housing and the absence of anything resembling coherent planning continues to contribute to an environment of chaotic development in and around Port Au Prince.
• While there are some noticeable improvements in buildings, roads and infra-structure, it is totally mystifying why it takes up to six to seven hours to travel from Cap Haitien to Port Au Prince. Sections of the roads leading to and from Cap Haitian to Port Au Prince can only be described as abysmal. This is an obvious deterrent to commercial development.
• Anecdotally, there were complaints that far too many government contracts for major construction and other projects are being awarded to Dominican business interests to the exclusion of Haitians. There appears to be simmering resentment regarding this issue.
• Over the past five years, under the leadership of the Ministry of Tourism, dramatic improvements have been made in the Citadel and the National Park where it is located. As noted above, the professionalism of the personnel and vendors at the Citadel and the National Park is apparent. The upgrade of the runway and facilities at Cap Haitien Airport now make it possible to receive large jet aircraft. American Airlines has a daily flight to Cap Haitien from Miami. These improvements portend a brighter future for the Milot/Cap Haitien region in terms of cultural-historical tourism.
HSP Priorities and Action Agenda
• The dramatic improvements in the Citadel and National Park and the upgrade of the airport in Cap Haitien pave the way for cultural-historical tourism to become a driving force in Haiti’s social and economic development. In addition, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line will soon give approval for more than 50,000 of its passengers that land at Lababee near Cap Haitien to take tours of the Citadel and Sans Souci Palace. The question is who will be best positioned to benefit from the pending explosion of tourism? HSP’s agenda is to promote socially responsible Black ownership of the incredible cultural/historical assets of the First Black Republic in a manner that will maximize benefits for the people.
• Therefore, HSP will vigorously continue its effort to identify African American and Haitian American investors to partner with the Local Development Committee of Milot and the Destination Haiti Foundation to create a people-based infra-structure of enterprises in Milot that will benefit the majority of residents rather than a few. Participants in this Pilgrimage have expressed an interest in assisting HSP, the Local Development Committee and Destination Haiti Foundation to create the financial investment plans and structures to achieve this goal.
• Collaborating with friends/supporters in Atlanta and Miami, HSP will explore the feasibility of organizing quarterly cultural/historical tours from those cities to visit the Citadel and Sans Souci Palace and other important sites in the Milot/Cap Haitien region via direct flight to Cap Haitien. These tours will contribute to the local economy and further demonstrate the capacity of the local residents to conduct such tours in a professional manner.
• HSP is seeking donations or grants to expand the micro-credit lending fund from $10,000 to $25,000 to enable more vendors and entrepreneurs to start, consolidate and expand small businesses based on the criteria of producing and marketing items made in Haiti. The Micro-Credit Lending Fund administered by the Local Development Committee in Milot promotes self-sufficiency by insisting that those who secure loans produce and/or market products made in Haiti
• HSP will intensify the effort to forge a partnership with the Peasant Movement of Papay to increase production and marketing of the Moringa plant as a self-support economic development venture of mutual benefit.
• The Local Development Committee and Destination Haiti Foundation are eager for the Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation and Fraternity to honor its commitment to build a “model school” in Milot as a component of the Model City Initiative. The President of the Foundation has also indicated a willingness to explore ways of contributing to other social and economic needs in Milot.
• HSP has launched a crowd sourcing campaign to raise $25,000 to secure additional school supplies and scholarships for the children of Milot.
• Beginning with this Pilgrimage Delegation, a Skills Bank will be initiated as a way of assisting our partners in Haiti to match individuals with specific needs and/or opportunities for socially responsible engagement. Participants in this Delegation have also committed to create a HSP Face Book Support Group to facilitate the development of the Skills Bank and to mobilize human and material resources to bolster the Model City Initiative and other HSP initiatives.
Links to Visit
View Photo Gallery of Pilgrimage VI >>
Donate School Supplies and Scholarships for Haiti’s Children >>
HSP Contact Information
info@ibw21.org | www.ibw21.org | 1.888.774.2921
