Congressional Black Caucus Asks President Bush to Resume Aid to
Haiti
November 8, 2001
The Honorable George W. Bush
President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We, the Congressional Black Caucus, would very much like to
meet with you to discuss the current foreign policy of the US
towards Haiti. It is our opinion that our current policy is
contributing to the continued attrition of the quality of life of
Haiti's people, which, if left unchanged could lead to horrendous
outcomes for the western hemisphere's poorest people. The United
States has the ability to provide humanitarian aid to Haiti. In
this time of crisis we must not apply a double standard to this
country, just as we have helped other countries at political
impasses, we must also help Haiti.
The Congressional Black Caucus believes that it is wrong to
impose an inflexible policy which conditions US relations and aid,
be it loans or grants, entirely on a country's political process.
It is our understanding that the US has allowed individual
countries to work out their own political issues internally as
long as all relevant parties are included in the process.
Mr. President, the people of Haiti are suffering. Our current
policy towards Haiti must be reviewed and changed to address the
current state of economic devastation. In Haiti, AIDS and HIV are
rising at alarming levels. The illiteracy rate remains at over
45%. In addition, the country's infrastructure is in dire straits.
Haiti has very few, if any, decent roads, very little potable
water, and the fuel situation is catastrophic. It is imperative
that the US remove its blockade of essentially all aid to Haiti,
particularly the loans currently held up at the Inter-American
Development Bank. Your help is critical in bringing about this
change.
We are requesting to meet with you to resolve this pressing
issue in the very near future. We would ask that you contact
either the office of Congressman Conyers or Congressman Hilliard
to schedule this meeting. We look forward to working with you and
await your response.
Sincerely,
Signed by all 38 members of the CBC
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