19 January, 2004
Haiti and the Dominican Republic: New Relations in the XXI Century.
The Batey Relief Alliance, in collaboration with the Columbia University and Barnard College, will sponsor its 2nd International Conference entitled, Haiti and the Dominican Republic: New relations in the 21st Century. The forum will be held on Friday, February 27th, 2004, from 2:30 p.m. ? 6:30 p.m., at Barnard College, The Julius S. Held Lecture Hall (304 Barnard Hall) in New York City, New York.
This forum provides an opportunity for key academic leaders and government representatives to gather and engage in an exchange of ideas with community organizers and leaders, students and faculty, and the general public about current and future opportunities for bilateral partnerships in the achievement of mutually beneficial solutions that honor and respect each society?s way of life.
“Despite the current crisis in Haiti, and the absence of possibly both countries’ government representatives, the conference will go on schedule,” said Ulrick Gaillard, Executive Director of the Batey Relief Alliance.
Speakers for this event will include: Dr. Ruben Silie, author and Executive Director of the Dominican?s Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO) and Lic. Nexcy DeLeon, former editing reporter of Dominican?s Daily Newspaper El Listin Diario and BRA Dominicana?s current Board President. Michele Wucker, author, ?Why the Cocks Fight: Dominicans, Haitians, and the struggle for Hispaniola? and senior scholar at the New School University, will be the moderator. “Previously scheduled to speak were: Joseph Antonio, Haiti?s Foreign Minister and Dr. Francisco Guerrero Prats, Dominican’s Foreign Minister. But the Dominican’s office of foreign affairs declined yesterday to participate — citing the situation in Haiti as the main reason. The Haitian government has not said if they too will decline to participate,” added Gaillard.
The purpose for this forum is: to assess historical realities and political misconceptions that have plagued the two societies for more than a century; to highlight positive economic, cultural and diplomatic initiatives that illustrate partnership efforts between the two States; to identify the opportunities and challenges of expanding bilateral collaboration with the support of an organized civil society and the international community; and to offer a framework that helps create, respect and sustain bilateral commitments.
The themes to be discussed are: The main actors in the relations between Haiti and Dominican Republic, Cooperation as a political axis with Haitì, Migration and frontier issues in the context of insular relations, and Contributions and vision of the Batey Relief Alliance to help improve bi-lateral relations, including efforts to enhance the conditions of the inhabitants of the bateyes and other localities where Haitian immigrants reside. “This conference is crucial given the current situtation in Haiti, and the public must attend in full as they will find the greatest opportunity to ask key questions and understand better the complexity in the bilateral relations between the two States,” concluded Gaillard.
The conference?s registration fee is $50. Students and Faculty pay a special rate of $10 (with Photo ID). Seats are very limited. Registrants will be invited to attend a pre-conference cocktail at 1:00 p.m. and an after-conference reception at 7:00 p.m.
Please RSVP to Ulrick Gaillard at (917) 627-5026 or bra@bkreative.net. Mail your check payable to Batey Relief Alliance, at P.O. Box 300565, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11230. You may also pay at the door.
The Batey Relief Alliance (BRA) is a not-for-profit humanitarian aid entity that unites local grassroots organizations, government agencies, universities and the international community in a strategic partnership to help create a productive and self-sufficient environment for poor marginalized populations in the developing world. Toward this end, BRA Dominicana is actively involved in addressing the socio-economic ills facing thousands of children, their families and others languishing in the bateyes, urban and rural slums and the frontier zones of the Dominican Republic and Haiti ? by raising public awareness ? facilitating thoughtful dialogues ? and delivering services in primary health care, HIV/AIDS prevention/education, child development, domestic violence, improved water and sanitation, shelter reconstruction, micro-credit projects, legal aid and education.
For more information about BRA, visit our new website at www.bateyrelief.org. Contact Ulrick Gaillard at bra@bkreative.net or (917) 627-5026.
