Press Release from the Amer­i­can Jew­ish World Service

http://ajws.org/who_we_are/news/archives/press_releases/ajws_calls_on_congress_to_bring_haitian_voices_into_reconstruction_talks.html

Orga­ni­za­tion Pres­i­dent Ruth Messinger con­cerned that no Haitians will be included in today’s Sen­ate For­eign Rela­tions Com­mit­tee Hearing

In advance of today’s hear­ing held by the Sen­ate Com­mit­tee on For­eign Rela­tions con­cern­ing Haiti’s recon­struc­tion, Amer­i­can Jew­ish World Ser­vice pres­i­dent Ruth Messinger expressed her con­cern that Hait­ian voices be heard as plans for rebuild­ing begin:

“I want to thank the com­mit­tee for tak­ing up this crit­i­cal issue and the count­less gov­ern­ment offi­cials for their ded­i­ca­tion and desire to do what they can to assist Haiti in this time of need.

“While I am pleased that this impor­tant hear­ing is being held and believe that the wit­nesses called have impor­tant infor­ma­tion to share with Con­gress, I am dis­ap­pointed that the wit­ness list is devoid of Hait­ian voices. Haiti’s recon­struc­tion should be led by Haitians.

“Amer­i­can Jew­ish World Ser­vice has been sup­port­ing grass­roots orga­ni­za­tions around the world for 25 years includ­ing part­ners in Haiti for more than a decade. Above all else it has taught us that suc­cess and devel­op­ment must come from the peo­ple. It is my sin­cere hope, and I know I share this view with many oth­ers, that Haiti is rebuilt by Haitians respond­ing to the needs and desires of the Hait­ian people.

“Coun­tries around the world includ­ing the United States do have an essen­tial role to play in pro­vid­ing every­thing from resources to tech­ni­cal sup­port, and I look for­ward to see­ing an improved process for col­lab­o­ra­tion with more Hait­ian voices as we move for­ward. This is the best way to ensure U.S. recon­struc­tion dol­lars help cre­ate a sus­tain­able Haiti.”

AJWS has raised more than $5 mil­lion for its Hait­ian grantees since the earth­quake. The money raised will enable these community-based orga­ni­za­tions — par­tic­u­larly women’s groups — to actively par­tic­i­pate in response efforts, rebuild­ing of local insti­tu­tions, recap­i­tal­iza­tion of the rural sec­tor and long-term sus­tain­able development.