Former Presidents Bush and Clinton Visit Caribbean Craft in Haiti
Last month, former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush toured Haiti to raise aid and investment for a country still rebuilding from a devastating January 12 earthquake. It is the first joint visit to Haiti for the two former leaders, who were tasked by President Obama with leading the U.S. fundraising effort.
They met with President Rene Preval on the grounds of the collapsed national palace, then walked through the tarps-and-tent city on the adjacent Champ de Mars, the national mall filled with 60,000 homeless quake survivors living in squalor. Both men, surrounded by Secret Service agents, Haitian police and U.N. peacekeepers, waded into the giant encampment to shake hands with earthquake survivors.
They also visited entrepreneurs who are doing their part to contribute to the economic recovery of Haiti. Joel and Magalie Dresse, owners of Caribbean Craft, are two such entrepreneurs. Caribbean Crafts works to both coordinate producers and export their products wholesale. They have created jobs for hundreds of local artisans, providing income for over 500 families in 2008. Haitian artisans have gained a sense of dignity and empowerment by becoming wage earners, either independently or as in-workshop artisans. After so many of these artisans lost their homes, Joel and Magalie opened up theirs, setting up tents and temporary housing and workspace for hundreds of artisans.
An AP story reported:
Clinton said they hoped to get all the aid agencies working together to make the most of the huge global outpouring of support.
Bush told reporters their purpose was to see the devastation first hand and “remind the American people there is still suffering and work to be done here.” He said they also wanted to encourage entrepreneurship in Haiti to create jobs and grow the economy.
“Hopefully, our visit will remind people that Haiti needs help,” Bush said.
Joel and Magalie were pleased to show the former leaders around the temporary workshop and discuss the impact of assisting the artisan sector. Bush and Clinton were impressed with the workshop, the artisans, and also the quality of the craft. Former President Clinton purchased a papier mache giraffe, stating it was Mrs. Clinton’s favorite animal.
Joel commented, “Now that the emphasis is on job creation here in Haiti, it is imperative that we fight to bring these cultural goods, global style items to the global market. All this can only be possible with the presence of an entity like Aid to Artisans who can assist us in developing and promoting Haitian craft.”
