Haitian ambassador speaks at University

In her introduction of the ambassador, Wilson School Dean Christina Paxson emphasized that the Jan. 12 earthquake caused 200,000 deaths and 300,000 injuries and left 1 million people homeless.

But while the catastrophe has dominated recent conversation about Haiti, Joseph argued that Haiti’s future will be shaped by a history of accomplishments that extends back to Haiti’s founding in 1791.

Joseph, who was appointed ambassador in 2005, prodded the audience with questions, pausing after each one to gauge the response.

“How many of you know that Haiti was the first independent black nation in the world?” Joseph asked. “How many of you know that Haiti was the second independent nation in the Western Hemisphere? And how many of you know the contribution of Haiti to the United States?”

After that question, Joseph paused, then said, “Oh. Fewer hands.”

To attain such successes in the future, Joseph argued, the country will not just have to rebuild, but build in new directions.

Though he noted that “this earthquake has shaken up everyone and everything,” he said that despite the destruction, what many see as Haiti’s tragedy is truly Haiti’s opportunity.

“I really believe that the earthquake has given us a jolt to do things differently,” Joseph said in an interview before his lecture.

During the lecture, Joseph emphasized an increase in tourism as a key to the country’s development. He lauded projects that will promote tourism, such as a recently completed $50 million Royal Caribbean pier in Labadee, a port on the country’s northern coast.

The ambassador spent much of his talk stressing the importance of tourism, encouraging audience members to “start coming to Haiti.”

He added that tourists should not worry about safety. In recent years, Haiti’s reputation had been damaged by reports about the violent situation in Cite Soleil, a shantytown area in Port-au-Prince, the capital. But Joseph emphasized the strengths of Haiti’s security.

“Don’t be afraid of Haiti as far as security concerns,” Joseph said in the interview. “Haitians are the most welcoming people in the world.”

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Joseph also addressed the need to improve Haiti’s infrastructure by creating housing for people currently in “flimsy abodes” and by building highways.

The role of ambassador is to keep Americans focused on his island nation’s trajectory, he said.

“Since January 12, I’ve been traveling the country where people invite me to speak about Haiti, and by this, I’m keeping alive questions about Haiti. As [President Barack] Obama told me on January 27, ‘Ambassador, very soon Haiti will be off of the front pages,’ ” he explained in the interview.

Verging into immigration policy, Joseph said during the lecture that Haiti would benefit from allowing its citizens to hold multiple citizenships, which its constitution prohibits.

He said the country has experienced a diaspora of productive citizens because of the prohibition, explaining that many Haitians who have left the country choose to retain citizenship of other countries rather than of Haiti.

While dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake has taken priority, he said, citizenship reform should be addressed as soon as possible. He added that the change could help to develop the nation’s middle class.

Joseph said his visit to the University left him impressed with the willingness of students and community members to be involved relief efforts. He also took advantage of the opportunity to meet Josue LaJeunesse, a janitor in Whitman College. LaJeunesse launched a philanthropic project with his brother to bring water to his home village in Haiti, and he has raised additional money in response to the earthquake.

“So far, I think this [visit] has been successful,” Joseph said in the interview. “I’ve heard lectures with graduate students and faculty people with projects that will be helpful: water projects, energy projects.”

Joseph has also recently visited Yale and South Florida University, and he will be going to the University of California, Los Angeles, later this week.