Sak Pase

It’s been a week in Haiti.  Mwen byen (I’m well).

2013 Carnaval des Fleur

To my surprise I arrived just in time for the three-day festival, Carnaval des Fleur held in Port-au-Prince. Very similar to Mardi Gras, but think more people, crazy energy, less nudity, and Haitian musicians in place of our brass bands. I got a true Haitian experience dancing in the crowd and drinking the award winning local beer, Prestige.  

For two more weeks, I’ll be in Haiti thanks to the Partners of the America's Legislative Fellowship funded by the US State Department. The fellowship promotes professional exchanges for fellows to work abroad with organizations on projects. While in Haiti, I am working with the Center for Facilitation of Investment (CFI).  As it’s name suggest, CFI’s objective is to facilitate and promote private investment in Haiti. I was introduced to CFI through the Haiti New Orleans Heritage Task Force. My project with CFI will look at developing the Port of Miragoane as a regional economic development hub.

Val Adrien- APN, Me, Vladimir Leborde - CFI,

Elodie Lefort - CFI & Joseph Henry - APN

Besides Carnaval, this first week has been spent getting oriented to my new environment, setting up in my new office, and taking meetings, like the one I had with the Autorite Portuaire Nationale (National Port Authority) to get caught up to speed on the Port of Miragoane project.   

More to come, so please read my blog for updates on my travel and progress on my project.

Orevwa!