Edwin Paraison, Minister of Haitians Living Abroad to Visit HAUP today at 2PM

Tuesday, March 9, 2010 – We are pleased to announce that Haitian-Americans United for Progress, Inc. has been selected as the Haitian community organization which Mr. Edwin Paraison, Minister of Haitians Living Abroad, will visit today at 2pm. HAUP is located at 221-05 Linden Boulevard, Cambria Heights, NY 11411.

WE ARE INVITING YOU TO BE PART OF THIS DIALOGUE.
KINDLY CONFIRM YOUR ATTENDANCE BY CALLING SOPHIE CHERY-DORVAL AT 718 527 3776 X 17.

This is the first visit of a high Haitian government official to NYC. His portfolio includes facilitating Haitian Diaspora involvement and investment in Haiti either through for-profit or non-profit initiatives. The Diaspora and its allies have responded generously to the emergency. Support is needed
for the long term, and greater involvement of Diaspora is crucial to Haiti’s future.

Paraison, who became Diaspora Minister in November 2009, is an Anglican priest, diplomat and human rights advocate. He resided for more than 26 years in the Dominican Republic, where from 1986 to 1994 Mr. Paraison served
as the Director of the Anglican Church’s Haiti division.

In 1994, he received the prestigious “Anti Slavery Award” from Anti-Slavery International (ASI) in recognition of long-standing efforts to promote the
rights and welfare of Haitian migrant workers in the sugar cane fields of the Dominican Republic.

As a career diplomat, Mr. Paraison served at various levels for nine consecutive years, including in the position of Consul General in Dominican Republic in 2004.

In 2005, Mr. Paraison created the “Fundacion Zile” to promote cooperation and solidarity between Haiti and Dominican Republic. From 2004 to 2006, Mr. Paraison served as the representative of the Haitian Diaspora for the Caribbean and Latin America in the committee for National Dialogue set up by the transitional government.