Ayitinou.com

India celebrated its 64th anniversary of independence 15 August 2011. In Port-au-Prince, the little Indian community in Haiti, the Indian contingent of MINUSTAH in collaboration with the Consulate of India in the country have marked this date in style.
Like the previous two years, Indian soldiers of the UN Mission for Stabilization in Haiti (MINUSTAH) have chosen to donate blood on behalf of the Haitian Red Cross. Some 76 bags of blood were collected during the day on August 14, 2011. "We greatly appreciate this gesture," said Richard Cassendi Jean, the head of communication, promotion and marketing of Blood Safety Program (PNST). He also believes that the Indians behave as global citizens by donating blood to a sister nation.

This is the third day of blood collection as the Indian contingent of MINUSTAH organized to benefit Haitians. "This is how we choose to show our friendship to the Haitians on the occasion of our Independence Day," said Hemraj Gupta, the commander of the Indian contingent of MINUSTAH. He also recalled that this activity coordinated by the Honorary Consul General of India in Port-au-Prince is one of the social activities of the Indian contingent. Commander Gupta cited the cleanup, repair of road and mobile clinic often undertaken by men of his troop. "From November 2010 to July 2011, it has provided free medical care to 677 Haitians," he suggested as an example.

The country has an annual need of 30 000 to 40 000 bags of blood. The PNST happens somehow to hold up to the coup. The churches said Cassendi Richard John for some time become a good partner PNST. He invited other organized groups of society to become partners in the blood safety program.

When India is closer to Haiti

India achieved independence 15 August 1947 from Britain. Until 1996, relations between India and Haiti were friendly. Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been established for just 16 years, September 27, 1996. An honorary consul was appointed for both sides. That of Haiti is based in Mombai. The Indian ambassador accredited in Port-au-Prince is in Havana. It is also accredited to Santo Domingo.

India is a member of MINUSTAH. Its contingent includes some 500 soldiers and police. Meanwhile, a small Indian community of nearly 200 members are present in Haiti. It consists mainly of professionals, businessmen and volunteers from the congregation of the Sisters of Charity. The cultural evening held to celebrate the Independence Day was an opportunity for Indian nationals to meet. It was also an opportunity for soldiers to show they do not know just how to handle arms, but also dance, sing, joke, etc..

The Indian government has been among providers of aid to Haiti after the devastating earthquake of January 12, 2010. "India had donated five million U.S. dollars for the victims", said the Indian Ambassador Shri Deepak Bhojwani who came to celebrate Independence Day in Port-au-Prince with the members of Indian soldiers MINUSTAH. He also recalled that his country had contributed to the Fund for the Reconstruction of Haiti (FRH) managed by the World Bank.

Even if he is in Havana, Shri Deepak Bhojwani Ambassador said that his country attaches great importance to Haiti. He said regularly visit Haiti to consolidate relations between the two countries. "I hope that India will establish an embassy in Port-au-Prince," he said. Meanwhile, India plans to consolidate its relations with Haiti in the areas of education and commerce. India provides about 20 scholarships annually to Haiti development. "We want to help Haiti develop expertise to rebuild," suggested Mr. Bhojwani.

Expressing the wish to see Haiti recover from the damage of the earthquake of 2010, the Indian ambassador believes that Haiti can learn much from his country, particularly in the construction field. Agriculture, information technology, pharmaceuticals, electrical energy are some areas, he said, when India could help Haiti. Shri Deepak Bhojwani Ambassador recognizes that language and distance barriers are two relations between the two countries.