Sophia Martelly, the First Lady of Haiti, went at the invitation of the Presidents and members of the Haitian organization "Women in Democracy" and of the Chamber of Commerce Haitian-American (Hamcham) of Florida, to the second edition of "Women in Production", the largest arts and crafts fair of Haitian women, held this year on 5 and 6 May, at the Miami Beach Convention Center, Florida.

Speaking at the official opening, attended by Ms. Katherine Fernandez Rundle, Miami-Dade Prosecutor, of the Mayor of Miami Beach, Ms. Matti Herrera Bower, members of the consular corps and many friends of Haiti, the First Lady stressed the possibilities offered by this fair to the Haitian women entrepreneurs, to conduct their businesses inside and outside of Haiti. "Thank you for having invested in a public/private activity to empower Haitian women."

While welcoming the opening of Haiti to the business, which manifests itself once again in this show-window of Haitian women's entrepreneurship, the First Lady stressed the fundamental role always played by the women in the Haitian economy. "The President of the Republic of Haiti and his team are increasingly aware of their importance in the development and reconstruction of Haiti."

Welcoming the quality of the products featured in this new edition, Sophia Martelly believes that "Women in production" marks the return of Haitian women entrepreneurs at work. Indeed, the initiative has facilitated many jobs, offered livelihood to many people and given hope to thousands of women artisans coming mostly from rural communities of Haiti. The First Lady took the opportunity to remember the arrival of Mother's Day to be celebrated May 13 in Miami and 27 in Haiti and encouraged participants to buy the products featured, "to support the autonomy of Haitian women and celebrate all the wonderful mothers of the life."

The Office of the First Lady welcomes favorably the nitiative "Women in production" and welcomes in particular the determination of Yannick Mézile, the Minister for Women and women's rights, which has be able to establish a common platform of concrete action for the advancement of women, of Haitian girls and of all their communities.

HL/ HaitiLibre