25043: Hermantin(News)Renew our focus (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

HAITI

Renew our focus



By Mark R. Schlakman

May 9, 2005

Gov. Jeb Bush recently released the final report of his Haiti Advisory
Group. While some may question the governor's underlying motivation, it is
clearly appropriate for Florida's governor to identify ways to improve the
quality of life in the Republic of Haiti.

It was 10 years ago when Gov. Lawton Chiles departed on an unprecedented
journey from Tallahassee to Port-au-Prince to meet with President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide. That meeting underscored Florida's unique
relationship with the Caribbean and came at a time charged by dramatic
spikes in migration from Haiti and Cuba.

Chiles visited Port-au-Prince's overcrowded orphanages, its shockingly
ill-equipped hospitals and its infamous Cite Soleil. He toured Haiti's
devastated landscape. He met with civil society, the business sector, the
international community and various non-governmental and human rights
organizations to determine ways that Florida could help Haiti as the island
nation lurched toward democracy and struggled to achieve some semblance of
security and economic stability.

Upon his return to Tallahassee, the governor asked the Florida Association
for Volunteer Action in the Caribbean and the Americas, a private
not-for-profit organization created by the Florida Legislature in 1981 at
Gov. Bob Graham's behest, to re-engage in Haiti. Since its inception, FAVACA
has facilitated short-term training and technical assistance intended to
improve environmental, social and economic conditions in the region.

Chiles traveled back to Port-au-Prince the following year to meet with
President Rene Preval, Haiti's newly elected leader and later that year
launched the Florida/Haiti Initiative. Florida entered into cooperative
agreements to promote economic development and facilitate training for
disaster managers and health care professionals. Florida's Haitian-American
community provided input that shaped certain project priorities. Federal
dollars supported a series of workshops for members of Haiti's Parliament
and their state counterparts. Similarly, mayors from Haiti participated in
professional exchange programs in Florida. The state's colleges and
universities were involved.

Current circumstances may be distinguishable; however, the underlying
imperatives are strikingly similar. Floridians and Haitians share a future
that is inextricably interwoven. It is, therefore, in the best interests of
all Floridians to extend a helping hand to their Haitian neighbors.

Elections are looming just over the horizon. But history suggests that even
credible elections by themselves won't strengthen the atrophied institutions
of Haitian civil society. The people of Florida are well-positioned to play
a limited but meaningful role toward these ends.

Governor Bush can be an important catalyst. Hopefully, this report will
prove to be more than simply an end in itself.

Mark R. Schlakman is , a FAVACA board member and a program director for the
Center for the Advancement of Human Rights at Florida State University. He
served as Gov. Chiles' staff lead for the Florida/Haiti Initiative.


Copyright © 2005, South Florida Sun-Sentinel