Please join our host His Excellency Raymond A. JOSEPH, Ambassador of the Republic of Haiti, and his staff for an enjoyable event hosted by the Embassy of Haiti on the evening of Tuesday, April 21, 2009 - POSTPONED
The Ambassador will review various aspects of history, culture, and issues of her nation.

Following comments, attendees will be able to ask questions and meet with members of the embassy staff. The reception will include a nice assortment of food and beverages.

Reserve now!

When: Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 6:30-8:30pm - Postponed due to diplomatic delegation in from Haiti; sorry about any inconvenience. Will announce new date as soon as this is rescheduled.

Where: Embassy of Republic of Haiti, 2311 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009

More details to follow on this event! But now, save the date.
Parking: Free, on-street parking, after 6:30p.

Metro: Dupont Circle/Red Line

Price per person:

Current members: Wharton Club: Early Bird through 4/10: $35/person. You can register now if you're a member.

You may also bring one guest for an additional $35

After that date, $42/person.

Non-members: $45/person through 4/10, $52/person after.

Click on hotlink to reserve. Prices include reception with food and beverages.

Reservations: Required in advance. Your name and other registration information will be provided to the embassy for security reasons, as we hope you can understand. Limited capacity; subject to availability.
Click here to make your reservations!!! (Below is from the Embassy's website)

Background on Republic of Haiti:

Tourism: From the Embassy's site - an Overview:

Welcome to Haiti, the very heart of the Caribbean, to this authentic and very special land, so capable of offering you an unforgettable and rich cocktail of savory flavors.

Haiti stands out because of its personality, the outcome of a wonderful blend of its history, its culture, and its incomparable artistic creativity. Haiti’s tourism is unlike any other in the Caribbean because this industry is slowly moving towards the bridge where the island’s charm, with a taste of the colonial past, meets the paradise forged under the Caribbean sun.

It is therefore in the footsteps of its historical past and of the present, of the cities and provinces, of cultures and their expressions, of hotels of international standard, and pleasant small inns.

From VisitHaiti.net

Haiti is a truly fantastic, spellbinding country to visit with beautiful beaches, stunning mountain landscapes, plateaus, lush forest, plains and of course cities and towns filled with things to see and do. It is the third largest country in the Caribbean, and Haiti has a fascinating history with an extremely rich culture. Incredible music - the famous “compas” style which shares some similarities with Cuban music as well as jazz, impressive art, historical sites, the famous carnival or Mardi Gras held every year, a delicious cuisine which is influenced by Spanish cuisine and the friendly, welcoming people - Haiti really does seem to have it all.

Some facts for the visitor
Language: French and Haitian Creole
Population: estimated to be over 8,500,000
Capital city: Port-au-Prince
Total area: 27,751 square kilometres (slightly less than 11,000 sq. miles)
Time zone: UTC/GMT -5
Currency: Haiti Gourde

Weather
Being in the Caribbean, the climate is hot, with some humidity. Generally you can expect temperatures of around 30 degrees Centigrade during the day and around 20 degrees Centigrade at night, although at higher elevations you can of course expect sometimes much lower temperatures. There are two rain seasons, one of which starts in April and continues into May, and the second which is in September and October. Mudslides may occur during the hurricane season of August and September. If you intend to do any off the beaten track type trekking, it is probably better to avoid these months. The weather can affect not only how easily you get around but also the services and facilities that are available.

Things to see and do in Haiti
Of course there is the bustling capital city of Port-au-Prince with a population of around one million people to explore. The Museum of Haitian Art and other museums, colorful markets and street vendors, churches, galleries, a cathedral, Defly Mansion, plus all the restaurants, shopping and entertainment you could want. For Haiti tourism is an important part of the economy. The Presidential Palace is located in the park Champs de Mars. On the North coast there are some lovely beaches, green mountains and Haiti’s incredible Citadelle, which overlooks Cap Haitian. Below the Citadelle is Christophe’s Sans Souci Palace. In the South you will find rain forest, more beaches, the national park Parc Macaya and even waterfalls. The town of Jacmel has a thriving art scene and Artists from all over the world visit.

Hotels in Haiti
As far as accommodation goes, hotels in Haiti range from modest to luxurious. Bear in mind that if you are planning to visit during the carnival, it is essential to book as far ahead as possible to ensure you get the standard of accommodation you desire, as hotels are heavily booked during this period.

And from Destination360.com:

The island still has enormous beauty to offer. Factor in that the government and people of Haiti are trying their best to restore the island into a tourist haven, and you have all the makings for a sublime trip to an island rediscovering itself. The palm trees and gingerbread houses of Jacmel make the city one of the most beautiful locations in all of the Caribbean. The fading white of the buildings and voodoo artwork give the city an exoticism that reminds one of why this used to be one of the top tourist spots in the entire Caribbean.

The vibrant Haiti culture is most alive in its religion, music and food. Though the official religion of the country is Catholicism, a throwback to when the French ran the island, it is their continuing practice of voodoo that gives the culture of Haiti its exotic appeal. Though the French tried in vain to keep control of the island, Haiti became the second nation in the Americas (after the United States) to achieve independence. The most prominent remainder from French culture is the food, which borrows equally from creole, traditional African dishes and the spices of Latin America. The music of Haiti is significantly different from the rest of the Caribbean – kampa and zouk are the most popular forms here, and have more in common with jazz than the island beats found in places such as Cuba and Trinidad.

Despite the messy history of Haiti, the country is indeed becoming more tourist-friendly. Fear mongering and trumped-up State Department warnings are the only reminders of what Haiti used to be. Luckily, the people of Haiti are more concerned with what the island is turning into: one of the best kept secrets and one of the great examples of political and economic renewal in all of the world.

Haiti at a Glance: Official Name: Republic of Haiti

• Location and Area: Western part of the island of Hispaniola with an area of 27,750 square Km (10,714 square miles); 50 mi. east of Cuba; 800 mi. southeast of Miami
• Capital: Port-au-Prince
• Official Languages: Creole, French
• Population: 8 million with a growth rate of 1.8% per annum; 95% African descent, 5% mixed
• Government: Republic type of government with a President directly elected by the people; a Prime Minister designated by the President from the majority party in the two-chamber Parliament, or in the absence of a majority, in consultation with the legislative leadership. President, H.E. René G. Préval (1996-2000); Prime Minister : Post vacant (December 1997).

Currency: Gourde; US$ 1 = Gdes 16.75 (September 1997)

GDP: Gdes 4,312 million; annual rate of growth; +5% (projected 1997)

Minimum Wage: 36 gourdes per day

Time Zone: EST; GMT-5

Climate: Temperature is warm, ranging year-round from 70-93° F in the coastal regions, and 50-75 in the mountainous areas; rainy seasons are April-May and August-October.

Highways: The highway system includes 4,050 km (2,515.5 miles) of roads; 950 km (590 miles) paved; 950 km (590 miles) otherwise improved; 2150 km (1,335 miles) unimproved.

Ports: Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haïtien are the two major ports. Other ports include Miragoâne and St. Marc.

Airports: Maïs Gaté International Airport in Port-au-Prince; served by the following carriers: ALM, Air Canada, Air France, American Airlines, COPA, Haiti Trans-Air, Halisa Air, Air Jamaica

Telecommunications: 55,000 telephone lines; 49 AM/FM radio stations; 5 television stations in Port-au-Prince (cable television from Canada and the United States is also available); 1 Atlantic Ocean satellite station. {To call Haiti from the United States dial : 011 (Access Code) + 509 (Country Code) + Local Phone Number (6-digit number).}

Energy: Three electric plants serve the Port-au-Prince area. Their installed capacities are 141 Megawatts, but their actual production is 50 Mw. Haiti uses a 110 Volt, 60 cycle system.

Trade: The United States is the main commercial partner of Haiti. It accounts for about 60% of the flows of exports and imports. Primarily Haiti exports coffee, mangoes, sisal and essential oils, while it imports petroleum products, foods, beverages and fats. For the fiscal year of 1992-93, exports (FOB) and imports (CIF) total respectively US$88.30 million and US$181.50 million.

Good Reasons to Invest in Haiti
A Country Committed to Free Enterprise

The Haitian Government is committed to a free-market system. It guarantees to all persons and corporations involved in business in the country the following rights and privileges:

• Free disposal of their properties;
• Freedom to hire and fire in accordance with the provisions of the Labor Code;
• Freedom to engage in commercial and industrial activities within the limitations of the Constitution and the Commercial Regulations Code;
• Protection of trademarks, patents, labels, and all other forms of intellectual property rights;
• Minimal intervention by the State in the market: Government regulated prices are reduced for five products and services including: oil, energy, telecommunications, transportation, and the minimum wage.
• Furthermore, Haiti has signed treaties and conventions with many industrialized countries, in order to reciprocally protect foreign investments: with the United States in 1953 and 1983; France in 1973 and 1984; Germany in 1975, and Canada in 1980.