Community
Haiti, Land of Emigration
- Tuesday, December 20, 2011 2:06 PM
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) – Haiti is a land of emigration, said Daniel Supplice, the Minister of Haitians living abroad (MHAVE), when celebrating Monday December 19 the International Day of migration in Haiti. The Minister made a true plea for the integration of Haitians from abroad in the decision-making positions in the country.
"This day is very important. It should allow leaders to define a migration policy”, stated Minister Daniel Supplice. The denial of citizenship, the refusal to accept people of Haitian descent in the ground of Dominican Republic for example, depend on the absence of migration policy," added the holder of MHAVE.
Mr. Supplice explained that initially, Haiti was a country of immigration. They are citizens from elsewhere, who have inhabited this land that was named Ayiti Kiskeya or Bohio. And after the proclamation of independence, the process continued. Emigration began timidly in the late 19th century to know a great expansion in the early of 20th century.
The sociologist regrets that the land of the Tainos has become a country of emigration, because, according to him, "we have never guaranteed a minimum of well-being to the citizens so that they remain in the country.
To make possible an effective participation of migrants in the political life of the country, the Ministry of Haitian Living Abroad recommends to: Identify the Haitians living abroad; maintain better relationships with elected officials of Haitian descent in their host country; and provide the integration of Haitians living abroad in a logic of return to homeland.
For his part, Patrick Camille, responsible for legal affairs of the Group of support for Returnees and Refugees (GARR), said that the fact of facilitate voting abroad by identifying the Diaspora, is one tools for the active participation of the community in public life of their country, but not alone. Compatriots abroad require that participation and their struggle is legitimate. It does not intend to participate only by the money transfer. They ask for more.
In addition, the Executive Coordinator of the GARR Colette Lespinasse highlighted the reluctance of the Haitian authorities to grant naturalization to immigrant families who, after decades, or more than one hundred years in the country, are not accepted as Haitians.
To this, the minister Supplice lamented that in 208 years of existence as a nation, we could not grant citizenship to 4,000, people. It is not normal, he said, that after 140, 150 years of presence in the country, a family living in Haiti cannot obtain citizenship.
The ceremony ended with a presentation of certificate "Honour and recognition" to personalities who have worked for the rights of migrants. This award given posthumously to Sonia Pierre, to Colette Lespinasse and Sister Claire Bernard, expressed high appreciation of the Haitian government to them.
