Statement from Mr. Harvey Dupiton

Secretary General of the United Nations Association of Haiti

Occasion of Six Month Anniversary of Haiti Earthquake

Prayer Service & Olympic Rally, St Patrick’s Cathedral, New York, July 12, 2010

A warm welcome to everyone.   Thank you Father (Miguel) Auguste, in advance, for the reflection you are about to deliver.  Thank you to Father (Joseph) Tyrell, Msgr (Robert) Ritchie, for the hospitality.  Thank you to special guests from the diplomatic corps,  H.E. & distinguished friends from the Permanent Missions to the United Nations of Haiti, Benin, the African Union, Kuwait, Qatar, Brazil & the Dominican Republic. Thank you Neal Johnson from the New York Special Olympics.  

Today, United Nations Association Haiti joins this assembly in marking the six-month anniversary since the tragic earthquake of January 12 that has changed lives forever in Haiti.  More than 250,000 people perished, over 1.5 million people have been displaced out of a population of 9 million, and every Haitian family left with at least a lost loved one.  All that calamity… to what end? Is it a blow from which Haiti will not recover, or is there a silver lining in the disaster, a blessing in disguise for Haiti? 

 Today we are here inside the great walls of St Patrick’s Cathedral to show unwavering faith –even in the face of the loss of a dear mom, a dad, an uncle, an auntie, a son or a daughter, a cousin or grand-parent, or simply a friend fallen to prey. 

The blow was so severe that we could still be crying out today–in anguish.   But instead, many of us have turned to the task of rebuilding. For instance, 33-year-old Ketly Louis is quoted in yesterday’s New York Times as saying that, despite all that has happened,  “I feel so content, so comfortable and so lucky to have this place.” She was referring to her new home to which she was welcoming visitors into her new home.  And Ketly is not alone among those who have begun to press forward with their lives despite what happened on January 12, 2010.  The Times reports the presence of ledgers and prayers such as “God take care of us” written on walls.  The Haitians still have faith that the Good Lord is still on the side of Haiti.

On this occasion, we give thanks.  Thank you to the American people and to the people of the world for your generous support to the Haitian people in the aftermath of the earthquake.   We could not have dug ourselves out of the rubble if it were not for your goodwill, your heavy equipments, your make-shift clinics, your tons of supplies, and your millions of dollars of donation. 

On this occasion, we are thankful.  Thankful for the lives that have been spared and placed on the road to recovery and success.     

On this occasion we pray.   We pray for all the lost ones, especially the children, who could not have done anything wrong to deserve dying asphyxiated & crushed.  W e pray that those of us who are left standing make of this tragedy a turning-point for Haiti, and for Haitian communities everywhere.

On this occasion we take stock. As Haitians, have we done enough for the nation during the last six months? Have those of us in the Diaspora done our part during the past six months?-- Regardless of what the likes of the Red Cross, or the UNICEF or the UN may have done or failed to do.  Have we kept in mind always that Haiti is a Haitian responsibility not an international one?  Have we collectively asked and insisted that our leaders answer the following question: are they doing all they can on the national scale to bring people of the country together as one? 

With these questions in mind, we ask you on this occasion to rally behind the Haitian community of the Diaspora in their efforts to bring to Haiti a much deserved nation-wide event-- the Haiti 2010 Street Olympic--scheduled to take place in Haiti this August, but in serious jeopardy because of current slow progress toward raising the $450,000 budget needed to stage the Street Olympic.  The Olympic is an investment in Haiti’s future that has been months in the making and has already involved  the effort and vision of hundreds of collaborators. It aims to give Haiti’s children, especially the disabled, a sporting chance at building their self confidence, optimism and knowledge this summer.  While the immediate goal of an « Olympic » is simply to afford the youth access to various sporting and educational activities this summer and beyond,   its raison d’etre is to help to create of a better future for island’s young people. 

At stake in all efforts to create this better future is the state of a nation--- a nation where poverty is still outracing progress ; society is in disarray; institutions are weakened, and the national spirit is at a low.  (Not even the turn of events at the World Cup in South Africa, was favorable to the Haitian people who for the most part are passionate fans of Brazil, Argentina & Italy by order of preference).  But perhaps the greatest current concern is the failure to this point to channel the post-earthquake wave of good will and volunteerism manifested by Haitians in the Diaspora into a new wave of benefits for Haiti’s children and their parents.  The Olympic is a Rallying Point for all who want to help Haiti, and to pitch in as hands-on volunteers.  In the words of  the Most Reverend Guy Sansaricq,  “The (Olympic) Program (I hope) will prepare the upcoming generation of Haitians to appreciate the importance of effort and discipline in the pursuit of national reconstruction. ” 

Again, United Nations Association Haiti is inviting all to pray for Haiti and to mobilize support for the Haiti 2010 Street Olympic.  UNA-Haiti believes that investment in children everywhere is priority #1 and that this priority has a special urgency in Haiti, where half of the country’s population is under the age of 17. 

There is no long-term silver-lining for Haiti without a national and diasporic collective effort, one that involves not only government, but broad-based community participation at the grassroots level.   The Olympic concept is just one out of many ways to speed the healing of the country.  Today I am calling on the international community to target its assistance well so that it supports a national rebuilding plan which is inclusive of all of the country’s stakeholders, including the more than 2 million Haitians living abroad in the Diaspora community.  

Thank You.  (A Moment of Silence)

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