The U.S. ambassador to Haiti appealed for more engagement of the Haitian diaspora, telling a group young professionals in Miami that businesses in Haiti can benefit from their mentorship and knowledge as successful entrepreneurs.
“They need your help, your advice in order to scale up their enterprises to the next level,” Michele Sison said, delivering Saturday’s keynote address at the Haitian-American Chamber of Commerce of Florida’s annual 20 Under 40 Top Young Professionals award ceremony. “Together, you are a strong force that could help shape the Haitian-American partnership in the years to come. We want to partner with Haiti in that.”
Sison’s appearance at the event came as Haiti’s Lower Chamber of Deputies in Port-au-Prince held a confirmation hearing on nominated Prime Minister Jean Henry Céant, 61, and his 18-member ministerial cabinet.
Early Saturday morning, following a marathon session that lasted nearly 16 hours, the Haitian Senate voted 21 in favor, five against and two abstentions to ratify the new government and Céant’s political program.
While senators spent seven hours debating the eligibility of ministers, Lower Chamber President Gary Bodeau prevented such debate from taking place before Céant announced his political program. Still, some deputies raised the issue nevertheless, citing a video of ministers’ cars lined up outside of the government tax office in Port-au-Prince late at night soon after their nominations were published by President Jovenel Moïse. Continue reading