a1747: News from the BRA (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: "Batey Relief Alliance, Inc. [BRA]" <bateyrelief@mindspring.com>


News from the Batey Relief Alliance

BRA held high level meeting with Dominican and Haitian governments:
BRA's Executive Director, Ulrick Gaillard, met recently with the Dominican's
State Sugar Council (CEA) Executive Director Manuel Baez, Haiti's new
ambassador, Guy Alexandre and Haiti's Consul General, Edwin Paraison in
Santo Domingo. The meeting was held in the organization's effort to maintain
a neutral path for both governments to work together as partners with BRA
towards bringing relief to those suffering in the bateyes.  Since BRA's
presence in the DR, both the CEA and the Haitian Embassy have joined hands
with the Alliance to carry out humanitarian projects in the bateys. The
Dominican's Department of Health (SESPAS) is a partner to BRA.

Ulrick Gaillard  later on held a tete-a-tete with the Haitian Ambassador
regarding the embassy's hope to have the Batey Relief Alliance assist the
government of Haiti in its quest to document Haitians living in Dominican's
territory. Other international organizations are expected to join BRA in the
project. The proposed joint effort is currently being studied by BRA's
policy Board. BRA News.
-----
Visas for Haitians to be reduced:
The Dominican Chancellor’s office will reduce the amount of visas issued to
Haitians wanting to come to the DR. Hoy reports that in recent months, too
many visas have been issued and the procedures being used by Dominican
consuls in Haiti are “not good.” Foreign Relations Minister Hugo Tolentino
Dipp said that during the last three months, the consuls authorized two or
three thousand visas more than the quota, up to 3,500 a month. He said the
quota will be reduced based upon the findings of an investigation. “We have
done the investigation and are going to present it to the President. There
is an excess of visas and the issuing procedures are not good. We are going
to correct the procedure to make it more formal.” DR1News.
-----
Thousands of Haitian documents delivered:
The Haitian Embassy in the DR has produced more than 17,000 birth
certificates and passports for Haitians living in the Dominican Republic
without documentation. The delivery of the documents began on March 2 in
embassy offices in the National District, El Seybo and the Municipality of
Consuelo in San Pedro de Macoris, reports El Caribe. Haitian consul Edwin
Paraison says, “We are trying to cover as much of the Haitian population in
the Dominican Republic as possible.” He says the documentation project could
run for two years and recognize some 400,000 Haitian nationals living in the
DR without identification. Meanwhile, the Haitian National Police are
reportedly training a special unit that will be in charge of guarding the
Dominican/Haitian border against illegal immigration. The Haitian consul
says that in order to be effective, there needs to be a police or military
officer stationed every ten or 15 meters along the border. He predicts the
unit could be active in less than a month. DR1News.
---
BRA's July medical mission on schedule:
The Batey Relief Alliance, in collaboration wih the Haitian Association of
Physicians Abroad, is scheduled to send a team of health specialists to the
bateys of San Pedro de Macoris to deliver desperately needed medical
assistance to the impoverished population, including those identified as
Haitian migrant workers and their families. Care is free to all without
regards to sexual orientation, sex, national origin or race. The medical
operation is set for July 12 - 21, 2002.  BRA expects to receive donations
in medicines, medical supplies and equipment from the Catholic Medical
Mission Board, Direct Relief International, Bayer Corporation, Heart to
Heart.  Last year, BRA spent more than US 1 million in health care in the
bateys. This year the amount may reach as high as US $2.5 million. BRA News.
---
BRA to provide mobile eye care:
The BRA is currently raising funds to purchase a mobile clinic to provide
eye care to the impoverished population living in remotely located bateys.
Local schoolteachers and promoters will be trained to do vision screening.
Cases will be referred to the clinic for further testing and treatment -
including prescription of eyeglasses and drugs.  Cases of cataract and
glaucoma that require surgery will done on site or through referrals to
BRA's local partner organizations, the SESPAS and the Lions Club.  The
mobile eye care clinic is set to be in operation starting February 2003.
 -----

MEMBER OF GLOBAL HEALTH COUNCIL
www.bateyrelief.org
Batey Relief Alliance, Inc. (BRA)
Ulrick Gaillard, Executive Director
P.O. Box 300565
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11230-0565 USA
(917) 627-5026
bateyrelief@mindspring.com

Maria Virtudes Berroa, Regional Director
Apartado Postal 5085
Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana
(809) 383-1547
bra.dominicana@mindspring.com