Message from Ambassador Bocchit Edmond on the occasion of the 11th commemoration of the earthquake of January 12, 2010.

"In the name of the Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in the United States of America, I salute the memory of the hundreds of thousands of people who perished in the earthquake of January 12, 2010, which devastated large portions of the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area. Eleven years later, we are still saddened by their disappearance. On this day of commemoration of the earthquake, we, at the Embassy, therefore, join all of our fellow Haitians who share the sentiments of remembrance, of tolerance and forgiveness, as we meditate on our losses while urging Haitians to reconcile, to make peace, and to create the necessary conditions for the Republic of Haiti that is better governed, more prosperous, with more solidarity among Haitians, and more resilient to the vagaries of climate change and natural disasters.

Like their Excellencies Jovenel Moïse, President of the Republic ofHaiti and Head of State, and Joseph Iouthe, Prime Minister, Head of Government, we, at the Embassy urge all our compatriots, wherever they may be in the world, to unite so that national reconstruction can finally materialize. I, the Ambassador together with the staff of the Embassy and Consulates of Haiti in the United States of America, believe that the best way to honor the memory of our loved ones is for ail of us to facilitate the advent of a united motherland where ail its daughters and sons would work tirelessly for the advent of concord, reconciliation, and peace.

May this 11th commemoration of the earthquake foster national awareness among all Haitians as well as their offsprings, wherever they are in the world so that our dear Haïti can recover its greatness and its splendor on a national terri tory where all can live the good life. This involves dialogue, harmony, understanding, and the desire to create conditions to promote direct investments by the Haitian private sector, by compatriots in the diaspora and by foreigners alike, to create jobs and to enable the State to have more resources to provide more basic services to the population.

Long live in Haiti! "

HL/ HaitiLibre