Wednesday, at the Hotel Karibe, Stéphanie Auguste the Minister of Haitians Living Abroad (MHAVE), in the presence of many personalities of the country including the President of the Republic Jovenel Moïse and his wife Martine, the Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant, the Minister of the Interior Max Saint-Albin, the Secretary of State for the Integration of People with Disabilities, Gérald Oriol Junior, the Director General of MHAVE Yolette Mengual, parliamentarians, members of the diaspora among others, launched the commemorative activities of the National Diaspora Day (JND) around the theme "Advocating for a better integration of the Haitian diaspora".

n her remarks, Minister Auguste undertook to strengthen the ties between the diaspora and the country "it is time that the relations between Haiti and its diaspora take a more positive and productive turn. And we are publicly committed to taking all necessary steps to make these relationships not only more positive and productive, but also more effective and efficient. And this process of continuous innovation will take place in the perspective of a plea for a better integration of the Haitian diaspora," arguing further that "the diaspora should no longer be regarded as a simple automated banking machine that provides money and keeps our economy alive... Our Diaspora must now become a real economic force and a real engine of development on which Haiti can validly rely."

In his speech, President Jovenel Moïse made a plea in favor of direct involvement of the diaspora in the management of public affairs "We must stop hypocrisy! We must work towards the election of representatives of the Diaspora in the Haitian Parliament. For this purpose, we are considering the creation of 3 additional constituencies to the existing 118; One in North America, one in the Europe/Asia zone and one in the Caribbean... In this perspective, the Diaspora will have three deputies and one Senator in Parliament," promised the President, who said he would discuss that at length during the holding of sectoral States General of the Nation.

HL/ HaitiLibre