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Remarks by Ambassador Janet A. Sanderson
Dedication of New Embassy Compound
June 23, 2008
Your Excellency, the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Representatives of the Government of Haiti
Members of the diplomatic corps
Honored guests;
Colleagues and friends;
Thank you very much for joining us this afternoon. This event, the dedication of the New Embassy Compound of the United States of America, marks more than a major milestone in the life of this mission. It symbolizes the strength and continuity of the links between the United States and Haiti. And it celebrates a relationship which has endured for more than two centuries.
It is only fitting, therefore, that we are joined today by special guests who epitomize those ties. Permit me to make special acknowledgment of His Excellency, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Clerisme, the principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Craig Kelly; my predecessor and friend, Ambassador Timothy Carney; my partner on the island, Ambassador Robert Fannin, the U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic and Dr. Lisa Fannin; and Mr. Adam Nam, Managing Director of the Office of Overseas Buildings. Here today as well are many friends of the United States whose lives have touched, and who have touched in their own way the many American officials who have passed through our doors throughout the years. You are very welcome.
The building in which we sit is a wonderful new facility which will shelter, protect, and, I hope, inspire generations of Americans diplomats to come. It will serve as a focal point: for people, for ideas, for energy. And, I hope, it will draw forth from its inhabitants the very best of their efforts to promote our interests here in Haiti.
As you can imagine, getting to this dedication wasn’t easy. This building represents an enormous commitment of time, energy, and resources. Over five-and-a-half million hours of labor; 280 miles of electrical conduit and wire; and 35,000 cubic yards of local concrete were used in its construction.
And perhaps most importantly, it represents people. During the peak of construction, we employed more than 1300 Haitian workers to build this edifice. The work of Haitians and American mingled here to create the structure that you see today; its legacy lives on in the skills those workers developed while on the job here.
Please join me in applauding all those – from the architects to the contractor to each of the thousands of workers who had a hand its construction – for their efforts in making this $75 million marvel a reality. And furthermore, let me make special note of my mission colleagues, particularly in Management, GSO, and RSO, who did wonders moving us from our buildings downtown to this new facility under the most difficult of circumstances in April.
It is only fitting that as we built this compound over the past two and a half years, Haiti was engaged in a construction project of its own: building a future as a democratic state. That challenging work is still in progress. Haiti’s friends wait eagerly for it to regain the momentum of the past two years and move forward into the future. We look to it to realize the needs of the Haitian people, people who have waited patiently – and far too long - for opportunity.
For it is people that are indeed Haiti’s strength, and I see it everyday within the walls of this embassy. One of the reasons I am so proud of our new Embassy is that at long last it will provide the employees of this Mission – Haitians and Americans – a facility that matches the outstanding quality of their work. And the excellence of that work continues here among us.
It continues, for instance, in the efforts of our Warehouse Manager Jean Laforet. Jean had been selected as the most outstanding State Department Foreign Service National Employee in the Western Hemisphere. Mr. Laforet symbolizes the dedication of the more than 600 Haitian employees of this Mission, without whom this Embassy could not function. We are very proud of them.
Jean had been selected as the most outstanding State Department Foreign Service National Employee in the Western Hemisphere. Mr. Laforet symbolizes the dedication of the more than 600 Haitian employees of this Mission, without whom this Embassy could not function.
This building that we dedicate today is more than just bricks and mortar. It is the embodiment of a relationship, a relationship which has changed and grown over the years. Just as we – American and Haitian - worked together to build this facility, so we must work together to provide those opportunities that are so badly needed in Haiti. If this Embassy can play a role in realizing a better future for Haiti, then we have indeed built an Embassy worthy of our relationship, both past and future.
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