Past wek, the Honorable Dr. Garry Conille, Prime Minister of the Republic of Haiti, and HE Ali Bin Fahad Al-Hajri, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the United States and Chairman of the Qatar Haiti Fund for the Reconstruction of Haiti, met to discuss the Qatar Haiti Fund, a $20 million pledge by the State of Qatar that was made at the United Nations’ International Donors' Conference Towards a New Future for Haiti on March 31, 2010.

During their meeting, the Ambassador informed the Prime Minister that the Qatar Haiti Fund Board convened yesterday to discuss numerous proposals and recommended the selection of nine projects totaling more than $10 million U.S. Dollars in grants as the first commitment of the Qatar Haiti Fund. These grants are focused in four primary areas—Healthcare, Housing, Education, and Capacity Building—and will benefit the Haitian people.

At the meeting yesterday, the Ambassador was joined by the distinguished members of the Qatar Haiti Fund Board who are providing key advice and guidance throughout the selection process [the Senator William Jeanty, Senate of Haiti (Nippes); the Right Honorable Michaëlle Jean, UNESCO Special Envoy for Haiti, former Governor General of Canada and Chancellor of the University of Ottawa; Dr. Norman C. Francis, President, Xavier University of Louisiana; and Wyclef Jean, Roving ambassador of Haiti].

" [...] on behalf of our board members, I thank the Honorable President, Michel Martelly, the Prime Minister, and Government of Haiti for working with us to help the Haitian people. We stand in solidarity with our Haitian brothers and sisters [...] We make these grants as partners with the Haitian people in order to secure a better future for those who have suffered so much for so long," said Ambassador Al-Hajri, adding that the Board will continue to review proposals in order to commit the remainder of the Qatar Haiti Fund proceeds "We plan to target those funds towards projects that will have a lasting impact to improve the lives of as many Haitians as possible."

Prime Minister Connille thanked the people of Qatar on behalf of the Haitian government: "We express our immense gratitude for the generous gift from the people of Qatar. Qatar is a leader in the international relief community. The grants it announced by Ambassador Al-Hajri today are a shining example of the global role played by our friends from Qatar."

S/ HaitiLibre