U.S. Ambassador to Haiti: much work is needed to rebuild the country

The United States ambassador to Haiti delivered some sobering statistics as he spoke to a crowded auditorium on Sept. 13 at Florida International University’s Modesto Maidique Campus about the United States’ role in Haiti’s reconstruction.

Kenneth Merten, a career member of the Foreign Service, was introduced to the audience by FIU Provost Douglas Wartzok and by the director of the School of International and Public Affairs, John F. Stack, Jr.  Merten spoke of the challenges involved in reconstructing the battered nation, eight months after the earthquake.

“We need to help them build something better,” he said.

United States ambassador to Haiti, Kenneth Merten, spoke to FIU faculty, staff and students at the MARC Pavillion.

Merten joined the diplomatic corps in 1987 and has served two diplomatic assignments in Haiti.  Most recently, he has served as a Deputy Executive Secretary to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and earlier to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

The number of homeless people in Haiti after the earthquake is equivalent to the population of Palm Beach County, 11,900 temporary shelters have been built and one third of the U.S. service personnel in the country lost their homes at the time of the disaster.

Attendees, including students, faculty and members of the Haitian community, had the chance to ask questions to the ambassador that ranged from plans to reconstruct the country, corruption and the upcoming elections.

“They have will and desire to move forward,” said Merten when asked about the Haitian’s government role in reconstruction.  “They have done things that they have not gotten credit for.”

Media Contact: Anna Carolina Lopes at 305-348-2232