ARTICLE - AID OF THE DIASPORA

THE DIASPORA SENDS MORE MONEY ANNUALLY TO HAITI THAN INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE
(Haiti Libre) -

Daniel Supplice, the Minister of Haitians Living Abroad (MHAVE) explained on a radio of the capital about the Haitian diaspora "...the diaspora expects many things, and contrary to what people think, the priority of the diaspora is not dual citizenship. It is obvious that the diaspora wants a dual citizenship. It's not a question of legal status or of migration, I think that they, the [Haitians living abroad] have the impression of not being accepted as being Haitian. They perceive that as a rejection. Regardless of their passport, they remain attached to their country of origin, they are culturally Haitian, they consume Haitian food, dance Haitian, dress Haitian, they live Haitian; thus, in this respect, they think that not granting them this privilege to remain Haitian, is an attack on their culture, their identity... [...]

By cons, what the diaspora wants above all is that we recognize their economic importance in the country's survival. Official figures from the World Bank say that economic assistance to Haiti has increased from 500 million U.S. dollars in 2000 to just over $2 billion today [mainly from the North American diaspora). The diaspora sends more money annually to Haiti than international assistance. Are we aware of what that means ?"