Transcript: Mayor Adams Delivers Remarks at Flag-Raising Ceremony for Haiti

May 21, 2024

Sandra Dieudonné, Supervising Attorney, Catholic Charities: Thank you so much, Commissioner Castro. Now we will have remarks by Marie Andrèe Amy, Consul General of Haiti in New York. 

Marie Andrèe Amy, Consul General of Haiti in New York: Bonsoir tout le monde. Bonsoir. 

Crowd: Bonsoir!

Andrèe Amy: Bonsoir tout le monde. Okay. Today, we celebrate the 221st anniversary of our flag. A symbol much deeper than a simple piece of fabric. The bicolor embodies our indomitable spirit and our collective ability to overcome challenges. It tells the story of people who, despite the hardships, rise again and again. 

Throughout our history, in the face of natural disasters, political crisis, and economic turbulence. Our people have always demonstrated remarkable strength and solidarity. Our flag symbolizes its tenacity, this unique ability to remain united and resilient whatever the circumstances. The courage of Haitians is not only a response of adversity. It's a virtue engraved in our identity.

Every time the world thought we were failing, we held firm, relying on our rich cultural heritage to face the future. With determination, our struggle for the independence and our continued resistance and living this testament to the courage that defines us. Our resilience is also demonstrated in our ability to preserve and celebrate our unique culture through music, dance, literature, and the arts. We express our identity and strength. Our community, each cultural event is for us a mark of resilience. Also, a reminder of our strength and our pride. 

The flag that we honor today in the city is the cry of our collective soul, a call to maintain this resilience, and build a future where every Haitian can flourish. The Haitian Consulate in New York plays a vital role in serving a vital link between our motherland and our vibrant and diverse diaspora. In close collaboration with different Haitian communities. We work, we strengthen, the type that unite us for programs that cultivate courage and nurture resilience. 

Here in New York, our initiative aimed to encourage our diaspora to fully integrate in the city life while maintaining a vibrant and enriching connection with Haiti. We firmly believe that our strength lies in our ability to unite our talents and resources for mutual development. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that every Haitian in our community feels supported and valued. Through educational initiatives, economic opportunities, and cultural events, we encourage Haitian New York diaspora to be engaged and proactive. 

Thank you for flying high the colors of the Haitian flags, a symbol of courage and unity. Long live Haiti, land of bravery and resilience. Long live in New York, the city that never sleeps. Thank you so much to all. 

Porez Luxama, Executive Director, Life of Hope: Thank you. again. Thank you. Merci, madame. The mayor is all ready and it's the privilege to welcome Commissioner Castro, to welcome our mayor in the great city of New York. Thank you, Mr Castro

Commissioner Manuel Castro, Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs: Let's hear it for Haiti. Viva Haiti New Yorkers. All right. As I said earlier today, I am very proud to serve under the leadership of Mayor Eric Adams, an administration that has invested over $3 million in Haitian immigrant serving groups, but that from the beginning we have stood by the side of our Haitian immigrant communities to call for support of Haiti and for justice for Haitian immigrants who are arriving to our country. 

With that, please join me in welcoming the mayor of the City of New York, Mayor Eric Adams. 

Mayor Eric Adams:. Listen, when you think about it, I just want to take a moment as we do the flag raising. I really want to thank the consul general for her powerful words, but all of our hearts go out to the people of Haiti at this time, right here in our hemisphere, as we watch individuals raise their voices about those atrocities that's playing out on a global level. Let's not forget Haiti. Let's not forget what Haiti means for this hemisphere, what it represents. 

Right here, I like to believe this city is the Port-au-Prince of America with 150,000 Haitians living in this city. As you celebrate the 20 years of independence, it's a very rich independence in the spirit of Toussaint, who was willing to fight for freedom instead of surrendering to enslavement. That is something that all of us should lift up our strong beliefs in, and particularly those of us who are of African ancestry. 

He was representative of what it meant to defend his land. He paid a price for that, but the price that he paid could never take away his historical contribution to the richness of the Haitian people. I stand with Haiti during my trip during the hurricane and visiting there, standing with the people of Haiti. I stand with Haiti now as we deal with the human hurricane that is sweeping across the country and it's imperative that we find a time to return to Haiti and give our support. 

I want to thank HALEFO, the law enforcement agency, who went down during a time of need in Haiti and will continue to do so. I stood with Reverend Sharpton and other Haitian leaders a few months ago as we called for our country to clearly recognize that the crisis in Haiti should not be taking place in this hemisphere of the globe. 

We need to raise our voices and not remain silent of what's playing out on the streets of Haiti every day. It's impacted children, it's impacted families, it's impacted businesses, and it's impacted the stability. I will continue to raise my voice as we raise the flag today of over 20 years of independence to the Haitian community.

Dieudonné: Now we will have mayoral citations and the photo ops.

Lovely Paulemon, Community Services Senior Manager, Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs: Good afternoon everyone, happy Heritage Month, Haitian Heritage Month. My name is Lovely Paulemon, I'm here with my colleagues from the mayor's office and my commissioner. 

We wanted to recognize someone who's been doing amazing work in the community from HCC under the leadership of Dr. Peck. Nahomie Lolo, because of time, we won't read the whole citation, but she's been very active in the Haitian communities for the past 10 plus years. Naomi, congratulations. 

We have another citation from Ms. Hogla Foreste, who's not here because she traveled, but she's been doing amazing work at Life of Hope. We call her Madam Hogla. Father Juan is going to accept the citation on her behalf. Thank you. Let's take a picture of that.

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