28542:Hafad (announce): Haitian Family Day - HAFAD - Press Release - 07/02/06 -- NEW YORK CITY

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: "HAFAD@Rockmasters.com" <jeanelie@aol.com>


HAITIAN FAMILY DAY - HAFAD
SPECIAL PRESS RELEASE
July 2, 2006

For Immediate release to the community

Due to the overwhelming number of requests and inquiries
that we have been receiving recently about HAFAD, we feel
obligated to issue this preliminary press release regarding
the status of the Haitian Family Day picnic for 2006.

After 3 years of existence, HAFAD has become the most
 anticipated event for Haitian Families in New York. It is
seen as the one day that Haitians from all generations and
social classes get together with families and friends in
the spirit of brotherhood, unity and love to greet each
other and celebrate as on big family.

At this time the decision to hold HAFAD at Eisenhower park
or a neighborhood park in Long Island is still in question.
After HAFAD2005 last year, we put in a request in October
of 2005 to have HAFAD2006 on July 15, 2006 at Eisenhower
park. We then received an acknowledgment from Eisenhower
park that the date was reserved for us. Early this year we
contacted the park to get the final confirmation and the
contract so that we could get the ball rolling. We were
told that the date was still reserved for us but we had to
wait for official confirmation and final paperwork to be
ready before we start advertising. Continued requests in
February, March and April, led to the same response that
they were still preparing the paperwork. At the end of
April, we were suddenly told that we could no longer get
that date because they had scheduled their own event for
that date and no other dates in July or August were
available. Also the new quoted price to hold the event a
the park became prohibitive and was equivalent to telling
us that we could not have the park. As we started
contacting town officials and influential Haitians in Long
Island, it started a long series of communications via
phone calls, letter writing and meetings with town & park
officials. Other Parks in Long Island have also been
contacted and pressure is being put on by Haitians in
influential positions and other town officials,  including
the office of the county executive Thomas Suozzi, to allow
Haitians to hold the 4th Annual Haitian Family Day picnic.

It was very intriguing that after having held this event
successfully for 3 years without any incidents and after
having received a proclamation from the county executive
last year giving recognition to HAFAD, that we would meet
these roadblocks in 2006. I believe that now, there is the
realization that a mistake was made in denying our date.
They are now seeing the determination of the Haitian
community and the importance of the Haitian Family Day
picnic. The issue would just not die as more people kept
getting involved to find an explanation and a resolution.

Where are we now.

At this point, negotiations are still taking place to find
an open date and location that will be suitable for the
event in late August or early September. Being that it is
so late in the game, finding such a date may or may not
happen. In case of the latter, we have the option to have
an event of a smaller scale at an alternate location to
keep the tradition going as many have suggested.

Let's just hope for now that the people working on the case
will find a resolution and that the Haitian Family Day
Picnic (HAFAD2006) will take place.

I will keep you informed of further developments. If you
have contact with any person in influential position, you
may contact them to express your opinion or send me your
feedback and I will forward.

Please pass this information to your contacts so that the
whole community can be up to date.

Sincerely,

HAFAD Picnic committee.


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