Note: The delegation convenes on Wednesday, November 15 at 9:30 a.m. at Cannon 118.
The Haiti Democracy Project has launched one of at least three Haitian delegations to be on Capitol Hill this week making the case for a job-generating measure for Haiti’s poor. Our delegation will be on the Hill on Wednesday, November 15 and Thursday, November 16.
Our delegation of Haitian-American leaders, and industry leaders from Haiti, will see some six members of Congress and an equal number of senior staff to explain the benefits to Haiti and the United States of the HOPE trade concession.
The jobs long ago left the United States. This segment of the world apparel trade is dominated by China, where one factory produces more than all of Haiti. The Haiti Democracy Project delegation will be a composite of:
- Haitian-American state legislators
- Haitian-American professionals in the Haitian League
- Thinktank and human-rights leaders
- Industry leaders from Haiti
On the schedule (in flux)
- Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.)
- Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.)
- Sen. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio)
- Rep. Corinne Brown (D-Fla.)
- Rep. William Delahunt (D-Mass.)
- Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.)
Staff for:
- Rep. Kendrick B. Meek (D-Fla.)
- Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D-N.Y.)
- Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.)
- Rep. E. Clay Shaw (R-Fla.)
- Rep. William Thomas (R-Calif.)
- Senate Finance Committee
One of the other delegations will include Haitian-American superstar Wycliff Jean. There will also be the finance minister of Haiti and members of the senate and deputies.
Preliminary schedule
Preliminary Schedule (it will change)
Wednesday, November 15
Manchester Trade: Briefing on HOPE
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.)
Legislative aide to Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.)
Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.)
Rep. Corinne Brown (D-Fla.)
Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.)
Aide to Rep. Chris van Hollen (D-Md.)
Rep. William Delahunt (D-Mass.)
Sen. Mike DeWine
Reception in honor of Wycliff Jean and Haiti delegations
Thursday, November 16
11:00 a.m.
Legislative aide to Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D-N.Y.)
Legislative aide to Rep. E. Clay Shaw (R-Fla.)
Legislative aide to Rep. Kendrick B. Meek (D-Fla.)
Professional staff member, House Ways and Means Committee
Senate Finance Committee
Prospective delegation members
Dr. Bernier Lauredan (president of the Haitian league; physician in Trenton, N.J.)
Jocelyn McCalla (executive director of the National Coalition for Haitian Rights)
Patrick Simon (vice-president of Haitian League; IT entrepreneur in Virginia)
Jacques Laurent (vice-president of Haitian League; financier in Georgia)
Carolyn Rose-Avila, director of Florida Association of Voluntary Agencies for Caribbean Action
To be joined on Thursday, November 16 by:
Lionel Delatour, founding board member of Haiti Democracy Project
Maryse Penette Kedar, past minister of tourism and current president of ADIH, the Haitian manufacturers? association
Georges Sassine, leading Haitian entrepreneur