Jesse Jackson Raises Awareness About Haiti Food Crisis

BY JONNELLE MARTE
From the Miami Herald
The Rev. Jesse Jackson came to Miami on Sunday to raise awareness of the food crisis strangling the people of Haiti, where a 6-pound bag of rice sells for $4.

The sharp increase in food prices in the country -- where the average daily salary is less than $2 -- already has caused rioting and six deaths. And things could get worse, Jackson warned, if action is not taken quickly.

His voice booming over the congregation of the 93rd Street Community Church in Northwest Miami-Dade County, Jackson talked about how the typical meal for some in the country's most destitute slums now consists of a mud cake.  ''We as America have some obligation and some need to address the Haitian crisis, and we ought to,'' Jackson said.

Last week, the crisis in Haiti made international headlines after Haitians took to the streets as the price of rice, a staple in the Haitian diet and a barometer for how expensive life has become, rose. The situation has destabilized the government.

In his sermon and at a later rally, Jackson called on South Floridians and the United States to come to the aid of Haiti.

''[Haiti] needs federal intervention,'' said Jackson, who plans to lead a delegation to Haiti in the coming weeks. ``We should intervene with food and drinkable water and medicine, and a commitment to debt relief.''

Jackson's sermon and South Florida visit came just hours before U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek boarded a plane headed to Port-au-Prince, where he plans to meet with Haitian business officials and President René Préval on Monday morning to discuss the impact of the food crisis on Haiti's 8.5 million citizens.

Meek said he wants to see how U.S. aid is being spent in Haiti in light of the current crisis. During his meeting with Préval he will be joined on the telephone by Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.

Both plan to update Préval on efforts to modify the U.S.-friendly HOPE trade bill, which Haiti has been pushing to help create more jobs.

HOPE, or the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act, provides duty-free access to the U.S. market for woven and knit clothing made in Haiti from fabrics from other countries.

''The cornerstone of the trip is to make sure that the U.S. commitment meets the need in Haiti in terms of food and economic incentives,'' Meek told The Miami Herald in an interview after the sermon. ``The second issue is to make sure we can push the HOPE II act.''

After two years of relative political calm, Haiti plunged into instability last week after Haitian senators fired the prime minister, blaming him for deadly demonstrations that left scores of businesses ransacked. More than 60 Haitians were injured, and a U.N. anti-riot police officer was killed in Port-au-Prince.

Meanwhile, the international community, which has invested billions of dollars in Haiti in the past few years and until recently had been touting its success, is growing increasingly concerned over the country's stability.

In recent days, tons of food aid has flooded the nation, but many fear that without more long-term solutions the current tenuous calm will be shattered and Haitians will again take to the streets.

Over the years, difficult economic times in Haiti have led to increases in the flow of migrants to South Florida. So far this year, 737 Haitian migrants have been interdicted by the Coast Guard -- almost half the total of migrants stopped last year. Last week alone about 250 were turned back.

''I want you to let those that you know, those that you can reach out to, that there are people who are in crisis,'' Meek told the crowd before heading to the airport.

Jackson rallied the group as he stressed the importance of helping the poor and shared details about the hardships in Haiti.

He told those gathered at the church, located at 2330 NW 93rd St., that Haiti has had its rice market undercut by other countries like the United States, that ''dump'' rice into the country and sell it cheaper.

Some churchgoers said Jackson's words helped them get a better grasp on the issue.

''I know that [the Haitians] are going through some pretty hard times,'' said Diana Warfield, who drove from Dania Beach to hear Jackson.

``We do need to get together and take care of that. I think it was great for him to come and speak to us here at home.''