“Return!” Senegal offers land to Haitians -- 1/24/2010 (GIN) — Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade made an offer of land to homeless Haitians, saying they could “return to their origin.” Haitians were sons and daughters of Africa since Haiti was founded by slaves, he said, including some thought to be from Senegal.
“Senegal is ready to offer them parcels of land — even an entire region. It all depends on how many Haitians come,” said presidential spokesman Bemba Ndiaye. Coumba Gawlo Seck, a renowned female Senegalese musician, said she is teaming up with other musicians to produce a mega concert, the proceeds of which will go towards helping Haitian people. Artists expected to be part of the project are Ivorian star Alpha Blondy, Oumou Sangare of Mali, Congolese Papa Wemba, among others. After the earthquake that devastated one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere, Liberia offered Haiti $50,000 to be used for material aid. An editorial this week in Liberia’s Daily Observer asked: “How can we afford not to give? … The relations between Liberia and Haiti go back a long way … Haiti and Liberia were the first two Black countries whose people came out of slavery and formed independent countries — one in the western hemisphere and the other on the continent of Africa. “In the early 40s, Liberia searched around the world for doctors to man the Liberian Government Hospital in Monrovia. Haitian doctors came to Liberia’s rescue … These Haitian medical personnel laid the foundation for the government hospital until a team of American doctors set up the National Public Health Service here under the Point Four program of U.S. President Harry Truman. “In their footsteps, other Haitians came to Liberia and contributed to Liberia’s development. Should we not now share in their moment of distress? Should we be so narrow-minded as to wonder whether we can afford it? That is not the African tradition. We are indeed indebted to them … “Today, it is Haiti; tomorrow, it could be us.” _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l
