Intl. Community Pledges 10 Billion to Help Rebuild Haiti
On March 31, leaders and members of the International Community along with representatives of the Haitian community at home and abroad met at the United Nations to discuss a plan for the rebuilding of Haiti. The plan was submitted by the government of President Rene Preval and Prime Minister Jean Max Bellerive. and involves the decentralization of the country.
During the conference, the widow of Jean Dominique, Michèle Montas, acted as the spokesperson for the millions of citizens of Haiti who demand full participation, and recognition of their right to have their voices heard in the rebuilding of the country.
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, urged that the women of Haiti be fully included as equal partners in the rebuilding effort.
President Preval made a plea for the country to be built on a foundation of education for all its citizens.
President Bill Clinton encouraged all stakeholders, including government officials, NGOs, and investors to learn from the mistakes of the past and to commit to building a Haiti that is sustainable rather than a country that is dependent on charity. He noted that the success of Haiti was an issue on which all the nations of the Americas were in agreement including Venezuela, Cuba, and the United States of America.
By the end of the conference, 10 billion dollars had been pledged to the rebuilding effort.