[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 167 (Thursday, December 16, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2161]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                            HAITI EARTHQUAKE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. YVETTE D. CLARKE

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 16, 2010

  Ms. CLARKE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to draw attention to the 
plight of Haiti. As we all know, Haiti suffered a devastating 
earthquake in January 2010. The magnitude 7 quake claimed the lives of 
hundreds of thousands of Haitians, displaced over a million and left 
the capital of Port-au-Prince and outlying country areas in ruins.
  Haiti's road to recovery has been long and arduous. Despite 
overwhelming support from the international community, the success of 
redevelopment and rebuilding efforts has been extremely limited. Even 
today, thousands remain in international displacement camps, many 
overrun with disease and violence. To date, more than a thousand have 
died due to the cholera outbreak. Even more continue to suffer in 
unspeakable poverty and squalor.
  One of the strongest obstacles to meaningful recovery in Haiti has 
been a political environment long plagued with corruption and 
dishonesty. Despite the presence of over 100 observers, Haiti's 
presidential election two Sundays ago was overrun with allegations of 
fraud and overtly questionable practices. It is my hope that the 
election results are indeed as accurate as possible and that the former 
First Lady Mirlande Manigat and ruling party candidate Jude Celestin 
are the true, democratically elected candidates to participate in the 
Presidential run-off.
  Although Haiti experienced numerous political and economic problems 
prior to the earthquake, the current level of challenges the Haitian 
people are facing is no longer tolerable. The United States and the 
international community cannot continue to accept the pace at which 
Haiti's recovery is taking place, while human lives are at stake. We 
can all do better, and to choose complacency over deliberate action 
would be a grave insult to humanity.
  As we approach a new year and a new Congress, I urge my colleagues to 
never forget Haiti and the challenges its people continue to face. As 
the Representative of a large Caribbean-American constituency and as a 
daughter of Caribbean, Haiti has always been close to my heart. 
However, my commitment to helping Haiti does not solely come from my 
constituency or my familial background. It comes from my identity as a 
public servant and a citizen of the world. In all of my work, I will 
continue to give the people of Haiti a voice. I will not give up until 
my colleagues recognize Haiti and Haiti resurges as the pearl of the 
Caribbean once again.
  Let us never forget that as we unite with the people of Haiti, 
Haitian-Americans and the Haitian Diaspora to assist with the 
development of this great nation, we are forever guided by the words 
etched indelibly on the Haitian flag, `L'Union fait la force' (Loon yon 
feh la force) . . . through unity, there is strength!

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