25500: Hermantin(News)Summit bolsters Haiti's image (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>


Posted on Sun, Jun. 26, 2005




MIAMI BEACH


Summit bolsters Haiti's image

A first-ever Haiti-U.S. Tourism and Economic Summit in Miami Beach sought to 
rally Haiti's international community to come visit the country.

BY JOSELLE GALIS-MENENDEZ

jgalis-menendez@herald.com


Global headlines have described Haiti as a country plagued by political 
violence, a pileup of kidnappings and killings.

But despite U.S. government warnings to steer clear, Saturday's first-ever 
Haiti-U.S. Tourism and Economic Summit was brimming with optimism and urgency.

The daylong event at Deauville Beach Resort on Collins Avenue in Miami Beach 
was sponsored by MWM & Associates, a North Miami-based company dedicated to 
improving Haiti's international image.

Magaly Prezeau, executive vice president of MWM, said the international press 
has taken stories and statistics from Haiti's worst areas and draped them over 
the entire country.

''If a crime happens in Overtown or Liberty City, they don't shut down Miami 
Beach. That would be ridiculous'' she said. ``They're trying to shut down the 
whole country.''

A May 26 travel warning issued by the U.S. government warns of ineffective 
policing in Haiti and the possibility of random violent crime, kidnappings, 
carjackings and assaults.

''This travel warning is being issued to warn American citizens of the 
continued dangers of travel to Haiti,'' the State Department update on Haiti 
reads. ``Due to the volatile security situation, the department has ordered the 
departure of nonemergency personnel and all family members of U.S. Embassy 
personnel.

``The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer travel to Haiti and 
urges American citizens to depart the country if they can do so safely.''

The warning remained in effect Saturday.

But at the Deauville, about 300 supporters, including the Haitian consuls from 
Miami, Chicago, New York, Boston and Canada, visited booths housing nonprofit 
organizations such as Sustain-a-Village and an homage to Miss Haiti 
International 2005, Nayeli Fanfan.

The positive spin is intended to rally members of the global Haitian community 
so they will visit the country as tourists, starting a trend.

But for now, they are taking it one step at a time. Prezeau said that today, 
MWM's mission is to improve the country's image.