Join me Saturday morning at eight for WCLK's The Local Take. I'll be talking about the recent devastating earthquake in Haiti and what you can do to help.
Haiti declared its sovereignty on January 1st, 1804. Haiti is the first independent nation of Latin America and the Caribbean, the second republic launched in the Americas. Haiti is also the first country to abolish slavery and the only state in history established by a successful slave revolt led by Toussaint L’Ouverture.
The country hasn’t experienced stability in quite some time. The 2010 Earthquake devastated the country. The assassination of the president earlier this year was a new challenge to face. Then last Saturday, August 14th, a 7.2 Earthquake hit the country. Days later, tropical storms arrived. In the past, NGOs have collected monies that never made it to the island. I collected and donated money to Haiti through CARE in 2010. I wanted to speak with someone from the country to get better news and learn about legitimate ways to get help to the people who need help.
Chenet Nerette has worked in the field of Healthcare Information System Management and currently works as a journalist. He co-founded Radio Continental – Power 102.1FM, which has audiences in Boston, MA, and Atlanta, GA. He is launching a new platform Haiti on Demand to assist his homeland.
I ask Nerette about the current state of affairs for everyday Haitians. He shares that it is heartbreaking. He mentions that first, the presidential assassination on July 7th, an earthquake on August 14th, and tropical storms hit the island three days later on August 17th.
The death toll has continued to rise, but the numbers are relatively low compared with the 2010 earthquake. Nerette explains that the 2021 earthquake struck harder in rural areas. He mentions the video footage that is showing in the United States. It is heartbreaking to see his people suffer.
I ask for legitimate ways to donate to the cause in Haiti. In 2010 billions of dollars were raised, but few funds made it to the people. He speaks about the Consulate General Office in Atlanta located at 2911 Piedmont Road. You can contact them via email or telephone at 404.228.5373.
My girlfriend, Carolyn Hyppolite, shared a GOFUNDME page for a hospital in Haiti Hospital Caramed Les Cayes.
Nerette is launching a platform so that those from the Haitian diaspora can help. He says that between 70 and 80,000 people of Haitian descent live in Georgia.
You can reach Nerette via email (power1021fm@gmail.com) or telephone at 617-785-6928.