Congressman Gregory W. Meeks Meets with Haiti’s Prime Minister Garry Conille

WASHINGTON, DC--Thursday, February 09, 2012--Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (NY-06) a senior member of the Foreign Services Committee had a productive meeting today with Haiti’s Prime Minister Garry Conille, who this week led a high-level delegation to the United States.

Prime Minister Conille thanked the Congressman for his continued support, noting that for the first time in 35 years, Haiti has means to do what needs to be done. Rep. Meeks renewed his support and assured the prime minister that the large, active, skilled Haitian-American community of New York’s Sixth District remains eager to help Haiti recover from the devastating earthquake of 2010. Prime Minister Conille responded he would look to the Diaspora to help rebuild Haiti. Haiti, he said, “looked to Haitian-Americans for investment in the country’s future.” Most important, the prime minister stated, “those providing assistance or doing business in Haiti should leave their skills and expertise behind – that is, that they transfer competencies to Haitians.”

The Prime Minister’s delegation included: Haitian Senate President, Dieuseul Desras; Minister for Women’s Affairs, Yanick Mezile; Deputy President of the Commission for Foreign Affairs, Gerard George; Presidential Advisor, Patrick Rouzier; Advisor to the Prime Minister, Tatiana Wah; the Prime Minister’s Executive Secretary, Jean Max Bazin; and Hansy Pierre Louis representing the Ministry of Economy and Finance.