PARIS, France, Friday May 14, 2010 – Members of the Haitian diaspora responded with "massive and spontaneous" aid immediately after the January 12th earthquake, with thousands of professionals leaving jobs abroad to go and assist their compatriots, according to a government minister.
Now the Haitian authorities are hoping that even more expatriates will return to settle in the Caribbean country as it undertakes its immense reconstruction programme.
"We are asking skilled Haitians living abroad to return because we need to fill the void in the professional sector," said Edwin Paraison, minister for Haitians living abroad, as he visited Paris at the start of a European tour this week.
"We were touched by their massive, spontaneous and generous reaction after the earthquake," he added. "But we have to focus on long-term efforts as we move ahead."
The aim of his tour is to promote the government’s mobilization plan to entice professionals back, with offers of good salaries, housing and transportation, Paraison said.
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