Lauderhill Vice Mayor Dale Holness (center) has the ears of Civil Rights icon Ambassador Andrew Jackson (right) and State Representative Ronald Brise - Photo by U. Bennett
Civil rights icon, Ambassador Andrew Young has proposed growing small businesses through international trade as the way out of the United States’ economic malaise.
He pointed specifically to South Florida and the benefits that trading with neighboring countries could bring to the struggling region. The Ambassador was speaking on Tuesday at a fundraiser to support the redevelopment of Haiti and the campaign of Lauderhill Vice Mayor, Dale Holness for the Broward County Commission District 9 seat, at the Fort Lauderdale Woman’s Club in Downtown, Fort Lauderdale.
“Business is there [in the international community], and if there are people who work hard and don’t mind fighting for it, it will go a long way,” Ambassador Young said, adding that we have to “grow the economy from the bottom up.”
Young, the former mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, said it takes a special kind of leadership to move people into action to take advantage of the opportunities that are available to them. He lauded Holness as a strong and exceptional leader, telling guests, “If you let Dale down, you let me down.”
Ambassador Young, who is chairman of the Southern Africa Enterprise Development Fund (SAEDF), has worked extensively in trade and investment with Africa. However, he said South Florida has two viable trade and investment partners, Haiti and Brazil, where there is a wealth of opportunities now.
“We need to look at Haiti and Brazil; that’s where the future is, but it’s going to take Europe money, Asian money and Arab money.” He said it doesn’t matter where the money comes from, but it will be necessary to conduct business.
Vice Mayor Holness reiterated the opportunities available for international trade, pointing out that in 2008 Haiti ranked 29th in international trade with South Florida, to the tune of $900 million; and Brazil, number one, with $13.65 billion.
Holness said developing small businesses is necessary to drive the economy forward and ensuring that minority businesses get county contracts is a key element.
Saving Haiti is saving mankind
Turning his attention to Haiti, the Ambassador said, “We have to see to it that as much investment as possible comes into Haiti and there needs to be a partnership.” He suggested that persons investing in Haiti should partner with a Haitian there to enhance and sustain development.
He said the United States is greatly indebted to Haiti, highlighting that Toussaint L’Overture defeated Napoleon Bonaparte in Haiti in the 18th century before he could invade Louisiana. France ended up giving the Louisiana area to the United States for a paltry sum.
Philoclès Saint-Fleur, the Mayor of Cap Haitien, Haiti [speaking through translator, Pastor Henoc Paulicin] paid homage to Ambassador Young and called on Haitians in the Diaspora and friends of Haiti to be proactive in rebuilding that country.
Mia Pean is one such Haitian who is working to get medical supplies to Haiti. She was overwhelmed with the support she got from Holness and others to raise funds and organize to get the supplies to her homeland.
Saint-Fleur, who is also president of the Association of Northern Mayors in Haiti, said, “We need to change the way people view Haiti, so people will invest.”
He said it was time to stop meeting and move toward action, adding that despite all the assistance given to Haiti so far, people are still living in tents – which poses an additional potential for disaster in the hurricane season.
“Saving Haiti is saving mankind,” Saint-Fleur said. “Together we are able; yes we can.”
State Representatives Ronald Brisé and Hazelle Rogers also spoke at the event.
