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Wyclef pleads: 'evacuate Port-au-Prince'
Haitian born musician Wyclef Jean is overcome with emotion while discussing his recent visit to his earthquake-stricken homeland and how his organisation Yele Haiti, is helping with relief efforts on Monday January 18 in New York City. (AP Photo / Diane Bondareff)
Published on: 1/18/2010.
NEW YORK — Haitian-born musician Wyclef Jean defended his charity on Monday in the wake of questions about its practices while calling on the international community to enable the evacuation of his homeland’s earthquake-ravaged capital.
“Port-au-Prince is a morgue,” Jean said at a Manhattan press conference, recounting how he collected the corpses of small children and adults from the festering streets on his recent trip. Tears streamed down his face as he looked into the camera, speaking to his countrymen.
Residents should be evacuated to tent cities outside Port-au-Prince to allow for aid to reach them and so cleanup can begin in earnest, Jean said, asking for help from around the world in building encampments.
“We need to migrate at least 2 million people,” Jean said, promising to draw on his status as one of Haiti’s favorite sons to aid in such an effort. “I give you my word, if I tell them to go, they will go. But they need somewhere to go to,” Jean said.
The musician made the plea for an evacuation at the behest of Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive and President Rene Preval, said Hugh Locke, the president of The Wyclef Jean Foundation Inc.
The organization, also known as the Yele Haiti Foundation, has drawn fire in recent days as groups that vet charities raised doubts about its accounting practices and ability to function in a nation devastated by last week’s earthquake.
Jean gave an impassioned defense of the organization, which has received more than $2 million in donations in just a few days.
“My dad always told me, if you’re a man with a clear conscience, speak with a clear conscience and the world will know,” he said. “Have we made mistakes before? Yes. Did I ever use Yele money for personal benefit? Absolutely not.”
An Associated Press review of tax returns and independent audits provided by Jean’s foundation showed that it was closely intertwined with Jean’s businesses.
Among the mistakes by the young organization, Locke said, was the decision to buy $250,000 of airtime from Telemax S.A., a for-profit TV station in Haiti that is majority-owned by Jean and another foundation board member.
Locke said that Yele believed it was getting a good price for airtime in a nation where many are illiterate and rely on the TV for information. The decision would be handled differently now, he said.
The foundation plans to send donated supplies to Haiti on a plane provided by FedEx on Saturday. It is still deciding how donated funds will be spent, considering such options as mobile schools for refugee camps and security forces to escort supplies, Locke said. (Associated Press)
“Port-au-Prince is a morgue,” Jean said at a Manhattan press conference, recounting how he collected the corpses of small children and adults from the festering streets on his recent trip. Tears streamed down his face as he looked into the camera, speaking to his countrymen.
Residents should be evacuated to tent cities outside Port-au-Prince to allow for aid to reach them and so cleanup can begin in earnest, Jean said, asking for help from around the world in building encampments.
“We need to migrate at least 2 million people,” Jean said, promising to draw on his status as one of Haiti’s favorite sons to aid in such an effort. “I give you my word, if I tell them to go, they will go. But they need somewhere to go to,” Jean said.
The musician made the plea for an evacuation at the behest of Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive and President Rene Preval, said Hugh Locke, the president of The Wyclef Jean Foundation Inc.
The organization, also known as the Yele Haiti Foundation, has drawn fire in recent days as groups that vet charities raised doubts about its accounting practices and ability to function in a nation devastated by last week’s earthquake.
Jean gave an impassioned defense of the organization, which has received more than $2 million in donations in just a few days.
“My dad always told me, if you’re a man with a clear conscience, speak with a clear conscience and the world will know,” he said. “Have we made mistakes before? Yes. Did I ever use Yele money for personal benefit? Absolutely not.”
An Associated Press review of tax returns and independent audits provided by Jean’s foundation showed that it was closely intertwined with Jean’s businesses.
Among the mistakes by the young organization, Locke said, was the decision to buy $250,000 of airtime from Telemax S.A., a for-profit TV station in Haiti that is majority-owned by Jean and another foundation board member.
Locke said that Yele believed it was getting a good price for airtime in a nation where many are illiterate and rely on the TV for information. The decision would be handled differently now, he said.
The foundation plans to send donated supplies to Haiti on a plane provided by FedEx on Saturday. It is still deciding how donated funds will be spent, considering such options as mobile schools for refugee camps and security forces to escort supplies, Locke said. (Associated Press)
4 comment found!
: 1/20/2010
Wyclef do your thing like you have been doing for years, I suspect if it wasn't for you many of us wouldn't even know where Haiti was, so thanks. Pople will always try and know those who are striving for better whether it be personally or collectively, I pray for your people and hope that everyone donates something regardless of how small.
Colonialists!! : 1/20/2010
Wyclef My brother, May Jah give you strength to push on!! Where are the Colonial Powers that devided this Island. We can send men to the moon and spend billions on fighting illegal wars, and a nation on our door step is the poorest and most unfortunate of our neibours...How can this be?? Most of us have too much and our brothers have nothing. GIVE THE EXCESS TO HAITI!!!!
Wyclef : 1/19/2010
Wyclef is no thief. This man has been spending millions of his own money for years to help the poor people in Haiti when no one else cared. People need to focus on these recent 'fly-by-night' charities that are appearing out of the blues before sending their money to them.
Tall Order : 1/19/2010
Wyclef Jean, we know you mean well and you obviously have the best of intentions in calling for the migration of 2 million Haitians. But migrate them where? That's a tall order. Migration seems to suggest permanent re-settlement and with all the negative press that term "immigration" is garnering these days, I would not be surprised to see stiff international resistance to this plea (for the most obvious reasons). Maybe asking for the education and training of Haitians in the type of skills sets that will allow them to rebuild the infrastructure and housing of their country is a better call. Also a serious push must get underway to pressure France to return that $20 billion that it "stole" form Haiti. Anyhow Wyclef, you are doing the right thing, do not let this moment slip away, agitate, agitate, agitate.....
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